Autopilot and ZuluTrade: what each one is, and what to compare

I'm Chris, one of the co-founders of Autopilot. ZuluTrade comes up a lot when people search for copy trading. People then ask whether Autopilot is the same thing.

It isn't, and the differences are worth knowing before you pick either. Here they are.

One thing first, because we're an SEC-registered investment adviser and I have to say it. Autopilot is the app. The actual investment advice comes from Autopilot Advisers, LLC. If you want the full legal version of anything in here, it's on our disclaimer page.

1) What ZuluTrade is

On its own website, as read on September 23, 2026, ZuluTrade describes itself as a social trading platform built around copy trading: you copy the actions of experienced traders it calls Leaders, which it ranks on performance, stability and trading behavior.

It lists forex, commodities, cryptocurrencies, indices, and stocks, and says you can link accounts at brokers on trading platforms like MT4 and MT5, or open one with its co-branded brokers. Its site says the service is regulated by the Hellenic Capital Markets Commission in Greece.

2) What Autopilot is

Autopilot is an app where you follow a Portfolio in the brokerage account you already have. Autopilot Advisers, LLC is a registered investment adviser. You give Autopilot Advisers limited authority to send orders to the account you already have. When the Portfolio changes, we send them and your broker fills them. The money stays put.

The Portfolios come from many sources: independent Pilots who create and manage their own, AI-model Portfolios run by Pilots, and trackers Autopilot builds on public SEC filings.

3) Where they actually differ

What you're following. ZuluTrade copies individual traders' trades. On Autopilot, you follow a Portfolio, and Autopilot Advisers keeps your account aligned with it. We don't call it copy trading, and Copy trading vs following a Portfolio explains why.

What's in play. ZuluTrade lists currencies, commodities, crypto, and indices alongside stocks. Portfolios on Autopilot hold stocks and ETFs. Those asset types behave very differently, so this one matters.

Who's regulated, and where. ZuluTrade names a Greek regulator. Autopilot Advisers is registered with the SEC in the US.

4) What to compare

What assets you actually want exposure to.

Whether you want to copy a trader's individual trades or hold a Portfolio.

Where the regulator is, and whether the service is offered where you live.

What it costs at your balance. For Autopilot, that math is in What Autopilot's fee actually means at your balance.

5) What it costs

On ZuluTrade: its pricing is on its site.

On Autopilot: A flat cash subscription, not a percentage of your balance. Per our Form CRS dated February 2026, Basic Tier has no Base Advisory and Licensing Fee, and Premium Tier is $29.99 to $199.99 a quarter or $99.99 to $699.99 a year. Pilot subscriptions are separate and add on for each Pilot you subscribe to. Because it's a flat dollar amount, it's a bigger share of a small account than a big one, so do the math at your balance.

I'm not going to tell you we're better, because that isn't something I can prove to you.

TLDR: ZuluTrade is a copy trading platform for following traders across forex, commodities, crypto, indices, and stocks, regulated in Greece. On Autopilot, Autopilot Advisers, an SEC-registered adviser, keeps your existing brokerage account aligned with a Portfolio of stocks and ETFs you choose. Compare assets, structure, and regulator.

Frequently asked questions

Autopilot vs ZuluTrade

ZuluTrade is a copy trading platform where you copy traders it calls Leaders across forex, commodities, crypto, indices, and stocks, regulated in Greece. On Autopilot, Autopilot Advisers, LLC, an SEC-registered adviser, keeps your existing brokerage account aligned with a Portfolio of stocks and ETFs you choose.

ZuluTrade alternatives

If you want to follow a Portfolio of stocks and ETFs in a US brokerage account you already have, Autopilot is one option. Compare the assets offered, how following works, the regulator, and the cost at your balance.

Is Autopilot or ZuluTrade better for following investors in my own brokerage?

I won't claim either is better. They're built differently. ZuluTrade copies traders' trades across many asset types. On Autopilot, you hold a Portfolio of stocks and ETFs in your own brokerage, with Autopilot Advisers, an SEC-registered adviser, sending the orders.

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Since Autopilot Advisers is an SEC-registered investment adviser, we have to put disclaimers on stuff like this. They're below, and the full version is on our disclaimer page.

Disclosures

© Autopilot Holdings Corporation 2026 — All rights reserved. “Autopilot” refers to Autopilot Holdings Corporation and its wholly-owned, and separately managed subsidiaries, including Autopilot Advisers, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. All investing is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested, and past performance is not indicative of future results. View our Customer Relationship Summary and other important information at joinautopilot.com/disclaimer.

This information is provided by Autopilot for educational and illustrative purposes only and is not a recommendation, an offer to sell or the solicitation to buy any security. Autopilot relies on information from various sources believed to be reliable, including information from Clients, Pilots and other third parties, but cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of that information. Autopilot does not provide tax or legal advice and you are encouraged to consult with professionals before making investment decisions.

Autopilot is not affiliated with, sponsored, or endorsed by the companies listed, described, or featured on its site. Company logos or trademarks used do not imply endorsement and are the property of their respective owners.

Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. You should carefully consider your investment objectives, risk tolerance, and time horizon before investing through Autopilot.

Autopilot Advisers, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Additional information about Autopilot is available in our Form ADV Part 2A, available at adviserinfo.sec.gov or joinautopilot.com/adv.

Autopilot provides limited investment advisory services focused on Portfolio selection and suitability assessment. Our services are not intended to replace comprehensive financial planning. We recommend consulting with a qualified financial advisor regarding your complete financial situation.

This content is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment, legal, or tax advice and should not be relied upon as the basis for any investment decision. You should consult with qualified professionals regarding your specific circumstances.

Autopilot does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. You should consult with qualified tax and legal professionals regarding your specific circumstances.

Autopilot does not hold client assets. All investments are held at the brokerage firm you select and connect to Autopilot. Your brokerage firm is responsible for trade execution, custody, and reporting. Autopilot is not responsible for your broker-dealer’s services, fees, or execution quality.

Autopilot’s services depend on technology systems, third-party APIs, and internet connectivity. System outages, API disruptions, or connectivity issues may temporarily affect service availability or trade execution timing.

Client account holdings are designed to track the Portfolio you’ve selected, but your actual holdings and performance may differ from the Portfolio due to execution timing, market conditions, brokerage capacity constraints, fractional share availability, and other factors outside Autopilot’s control.

For Portfolios inspired by publicly disclosed trading activity, there may be a delay between when a Pilot executes a trade and when that trade becomes publicly available and is incorporated into the Portfolio. This timing delay may affect the suitability or performance of trades when executed in client accounts.

ZuluTrade is not affiliated with Autopilot and has not endorsed it. Descriptions of third-party services are based on that service's own public website as read on September 23, 2026 and may change. Nothing here is a claim that any product is best. Fee amounts are quoted from Form CRS dated February 2026 and may change.