These are three of the most searched crypto bot platforms, but they're built differently. Bitsgap and 3Commas are subscription services that connect to the exchange you already use through API keys. Pionex is an exchange with bots built in: you deposit funds on Pionex, pay no bot subscription, and pay its trading fees instead.
| Bitsgap | 3Commas | Pionex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Connects to your exchanges via API | Connects to your exchanges via API | Bots run inside the Pionex exchange |
| Entry price | Basic $23/mo yearly ($29 monthly) | Starter $15/mo yearly ($20 monthly) | No bot subscription |
| Free option | Free plan + 7-day PRO trial, no card | Free trial | Most bots free to use |
| Mid tier | Advanced $55 yearly / $69 monthly | Pro $38 yearly / $50 monthly | n/a |
| Top tier | Pro $119 yearly / $149 monthly | Expert $105 yearly / $140 monthly | n/a |
| Entry-tier bot limits | 3 grid, 10 DCA, 3 COMBO | 5 DCA, 2 signal, 2 grid (spot only) | n/a |
| Exchanges | 17 supported | 9 supported | Pionex only |
| Trading fees | Set by your exchange | Set by your exchange | Spot 0.05%; futures 0.02% maker / 0.05% taker |
Prices in USD as listed on October 27, 2026. Prices and promos change; confirm on the tool’s site before buying.
Bitsgap: grid, DCA and COMBO bots across 17 exchanges
Bitsgap lists four plans. Free ($0) gives 3 COMBO bots on Evedex, 20 active bots in demo mode and unlimited manual trading. Basic is $23/mo billed yearly ($29 monthly) with 3 grid bots, 10 DCA bots, 3 COMBO bots and 30-day backtests. Advanced ($55 / $69) raises that to 10 grid and 50 DCA bots, and Pro ($119 / $149) to 50 grid and 250 DCA bots with 365-day backtests. Every plan comes with a 7-day PRO trial and no card required. Bitsgap lists 17 supported exchanges, including Binance, Coinbase Advanced, Kraken, OKX, KuCoin, Bitget, Gemini, Crypto.com and Hyperliquid.
3Commas: the most bots per dollar at the top end, plus futures
3Commas Starter is $15/mo billed yearly ($20 monthly): spot only, 1 API key per exchange, 5 DCA bots, 2 signal bots and 2 grid bots. Pro ($38 / $50) adds futures, 5 API keys per exchange, 20 DCA bots, 20 signal bots and 10 grid bots. Expert ($105 / $140) goes to 25 API keys, 1,000 active bots of each type and read/write developer API access. All plans list a demo account, webhook execution, Pine Script execution and 9 exchanges. 3Commas is also pushing "QuantPilot", which it describes as an agentic platform where AI builds, tests and optimizes strategies.
Pionex: no subscription, but you trade on Pionex
Pionex doesn't sell a bot subscription. Its help center says bots like Spot Grid, Futures Grid, DCA and Rebalancing are free to use, and you only pay trading fees when a bot executes: 0.05% on spot (maker and taker) and 0.02% maker / 0.05% taker on futures. The exceptions are Futures Moon, Leveraged Grid and Margin Grid, which charge no trading fees but take 20% of total profits when you close, reduce or withdraw profit. Grid bots pay the fee on every triggered buy and sell, so tight grids can eat into profit. Trade-off: your funds sit on the Pionex exchange instead of your usual exchange, and availability varies by region.
Which one should you pick?
- You want to keep funds on your current exchange: Bitsgap or 3Commas.
- You want futures bots on a budget: 3Commas Pro is the cheapest futures-capable tier of the two subscriptions.
- You want lots of grid/DCA bots across many exchanges: Bitsgap's 17 exchanges and generous Advanced/Pro limits.
- You don't want a monthly bill: Pionex, as long as you're fine depositing on Pionex and paying its trading fees.
- You're just learning: Bitsgap's free plan and demo bots, or a 3Commas demo account, before risking real money.
No bot guarantees profit. Grid and DCA bots do well in choppy markets and can sit in losing positions during strong trends.
How we checked
Every price, plan limit and feature on this page was read from the tool’s own pricing, help or product pages on October 27, 2026 (links under Sources). We don’t copy numbers from other review sites. Where a vendor didn’t publish a figure clearly, we say so instead of guessing. Vendors change prices and run promotions often, so treat the table as a snapshot and confirm on the vendor’s site before you pay. Spot something out of date? Email us and we’ll re-check it.
FAQ
Is Pionex really free?
Pionex doesn't charge a subscription or activation fee for most built-in bots, but every executed trade pays its trading fee (0.05% spot; 0.02%/0.05% futures maker/taker). Futures Moon, Leveraged Grid and Margin Grid instead take 20% of profits.
Is Bitsgap or 3Commas cheaper?
At entry level, 3Commas Starter ($15/mo yearly) is cheaper than Bitsgap Basic ($23/mo yearly), but Starter is spot-only with 2 grid bots. Bitsgap also has a $0 Free plan with demo bots and 3 COMBO bots on Evedex.
Does Bitsgap have a free trial?
Yes. Bitsgap says all plans come with a 7-day free trial of the PRO plan and no credit card is required.
Which exchanges do Bitsgap and 3Commas support?
Bitsgap lists 17 supported exchanges (including Binance, Coinbase Advanced, Kraken, OKX and KuCoin). 3Commas lists 9 exchanges on its pricing page.
Sources
- https://bitsgap.com/pricing
- https://3commas.io/pricing
- https://help.pionex.com/en/articles/14993683-pionex-trading-fee-overview