Trading bots
TradingAgents: what it does, cost and setup
Multi-agent LLM framework for stock research decisions. Research only.
Checked 2026-10-24
| Cost | Free and open source. You pay for the LLM API calls it makes, or run a local model. |
|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes |
| Open source | Yes |
| Runs on | Self-hosted (Python) |
| Source | GitHub: TauricResearch/TradingAgents |
What TradingAgents does
TradingAgents (TauricResearch) is a multi-agent LLM financial trading framework. An InvestingStack audit of 20 open-source trading agents found it is a research framework that outputs a buy, hold or sell decision per ticker and date and does not place orders. Pair it with a paper trading account if you want to track its calls. Educational only, not financial advice. Trading involves risk of loss.
How to set up TradingAgents
- Clone the repo and follow its README.
- Point it at an LLM API key or a local model and set a spending cap on the key.
- Log its decisions against an Alpaca paper account instead of acting on them.
TradingAgents vs alternatives
TradingAgents vs Freqtrade
TradingAgents writes a research decision. Freqtrade executes a rules-based strategy. Many people use an LLM for research and keep execution in tested code.
TradingAgents alternatives
- Freqtrade: Free, open-source Python crypto trading bot with backtesting and dry-run. (Free (GPL-3.0). You pay for your own server and any exchange fees.)
- Hummingbot: Open-source framework for crypto market making, with an AI harness. (Free (Apache 2.0). You pay for hosting and exchange fees.)
Used in these setups
TradingAgents FAQ
Does TradingAgents place trades?
No. Per the InvestingStack audit, it outputs a buy, hold or sell decision and stops there.
What does TradingAgents cost?
The code is free. Each run calls an LLM, so cost depends on the model you pick.
Can I run TradingAgents with a local model?
Running a local model through Ollama avoids API costs, but check the README for supported providers first.
Sources
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