# 3Commas vs Pionex (2026): Subscription Bot vs Free Exchange Bots Compared

> 3Commas vs Pionex, checked Nov 2026: $20/mo subscription across 15 exchanges vs free built-in bots with 0.05% trading fees. Custody, bots and verdict.

Source: https://whichbot.ai/compare/3commas-vs-pionex/

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# 3Commas vs Pionex

3Commas[7.4](https://whichbot.ai/methodology/)/ 10
Pionex[7.8](https://whichbot.ai/methodology/)/ 10

Short answer · updated 2026-11-02
**Pick Pionex** if you want grid bots for free and don't mind keeping your coins on Pionex itself: there's no subscription, you pay 0.05% per spot trade. **Pick 3Commas** if you want your funds to stay on your own exchange (15 supported) and need DCA, Signal and TradingView automation, starting at $20 a month. It's custody vs cost: Pionex holds your funds; 3Commas doesn't, but leaked users' API keys in 2022.

## Side by side: price, fees, exchanges, bots

Every field re-checked on the vendor's own pricing or feature page on the date shown. "Not published" means the vendor doesn't state it publicly.

| | [3Commas](https://whichbot.ai/bots/3commas/) | [Pionex](https://whichbot.ai/bots/pionex/) | 
| WhichBot score | [7.4](https://whichbot.ai/methodology/) [how?](https://whichbot.ai/methodology/) | [7.8](https://whichbot.ai/methodology/) [how?](https://whichbot.ai/methodology/) | 
| Price tiers (monthly / annual) | Starter $20/mo · Pro $50/mo · Expert $140/mo
Annual: $15 / $38 / $105 per monthchecked 2026-11-02 · [source](https://3commas.io/pricing) | No subscription: built-in bots are free to runchecked 2026-11-02 · [source](https://www.pionex.com/en/) | 
| Free plan or trial | Free trial on every plan (length not published on the pricing page); demo account on all planschecked 2026-11-02 · [source](https://3commas.io/pricing) | Yes: bots are free; you only pay trading fees. Demo trading availablechecked 2026-11-02 · [source](https://www.pionex.com/en/) | 
| Fees beyond subscription | No per-trade fee listed; you pay your exchange's trading feeschecked 2026-11-02 · [source](https://3commas.io/pricing) | Spot 0.05% maker / 0.05% taker · Futures 0.02% maker / 0.05% taker · Leveraged tokens 0.10%checked 2026-11-02 · [source](https://www.pionex.com/en/fees) | 
| Exchanges | **15**
Binance, Binance TR, Binance US, Bitfinex, Bitget, BitMEX, Bitstamp, Bybit, Coinbase Advanced, Gate, Gemini, HTX, Kraken, KuCoin, OKX
Bitget is futures-onlychecked 2026-11-02 · [source](https://help.3commas.io/en/articles/3108964-available-exchanges-and-supported-features) | **1**
Pionex itself (bots run on its own exchange; no outside exchanges)checked 2026-11-02 · [source](https://www.pionex.com/en/) | 
| Bot types | DCA, Grid, Signal bots, SmartTrade, Pine Script® and webhook execution, API (Expert)checked 2026-11-02 · [source](https://3commas.io/pricing) | Spot grid, futures grid, copy bot (others are listed in the app; not all on the public pages)checked 2026-11-02 · [source](https://www.pionex.com/en/) | 
| Custody | Non-custodial (exchange API keys)checked 2026-11-02 · [source](https://help.3commas.io/en/articles/3108964-available-exchanges-and-supported-features) | Custodial: Pionex holds your fundschecked 2026-11-02 · [source](https://www.pionex.com/en/) | 
| Known security incidents | 2 incidentschecked 2026-10-30 · [details](https://whichbot.ai/bots/3commas/) | none knownchecked 2026-10-30 · [details](https://whichbot.ai/bots/pionex/) | 
| | [Visit 3Commas](https://whichbot.ai/go/3commas) | [Visit Pionex](https://whichbot.ai/go/pionex) | 

Affiliate disclosure: links to Cryptohopper, Bitsgap, WunderTrading, Coinrule, TradersPost and TradingView are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no cost to you. 3Commas and Pionex links are plain links (no affiliate deal). Commissions never change scores or verdicts.

## Who should pick which

- **Pick Pionex if…** you're starting small, want grid or futures-grid bots without a subscription, and are fine holding funds on a custodial exchange.
- **Pick 3Commas if…** you already trade on Binance, Kraken, Coinbase, OKX or another major exchange and want bots there, or you run TradingView strategies via Pine Script® or webhooks.
- **Consider instead…** [Bitsgap](https://whichbot.ai/bots/bitsgap/) (free plan, 17 exchanges, non-custodial) or [WunderTrading](https://whichbot.ai/bots/wundertrading/) (lifetime free plan, TradingView signal bots).

## Pros & cons

3COMMAS

### Pros & cons

ProNon-custodial: funds stay on your exchange
Pro15 exchanges
ProDCA, Grid, Signal bots and Pine Script® execution
ProFree trial plus a demo account
ConSubscription from $20/mo
ConConfirmed Dec 2022 API-key leak
ConFutures need Pro ($50/mo)

[Visit 3Commas ↗](https://whichbot.ai/go/3commas)

PIONEX

### Pros & cons

ProNo subscription; bots are free to run
ProLow published fees: 0.05% spot, 0.02%/0.05% futures
ProDemo trading
ProNothing to connect, no API keys
ConCustodial: Pionex holds your funds
ConOnly trades on Pionex
ConFees scale with volume, so very active bots can cost more than a flat plan

[Visit Pionex ↗](https://whichbot.ai/go/pionex)

## FAQ

### Is Pionex really free?

Running Pionex's built-in bots has no subscription. You pay Pionex's trading fees: 0.05% maker and taker on spot, 0.02% maker / 0.05% taker on futures, per its fee page.

### When is 3Commas cheaper than Pionex?

Roughly when a bot trades more than about $40,000 a month: 0.05% of $40,000 is $20, the price of 3Commas Starter. Your exchange's own fees still apply on 3Commas, so compare those too.

### Is Pionex custodial?

Yes. Pionex is an exchange, so bots trade with funds you deposit there. 3Commas is non-custodial and trades through API keys on your own exchange.

### Can I use Pionex bots on Binance?

No. Pionex bots only run on Pionex. 3Commas, Bitsgap and Cryptohopper connect to outside exchanges like Binance.

### Which is better for beginners?

Pionex has less setup: no keys and no plan to choose. 3Commas has a demo account and more control.

## More comparisons

[3Commas vs Cryptohopper](https://whichbot.ai/compare/3commas-vs-cryptohopper/)[Cryptohopper vs Bitsgap](https://whichbot.ai/compare/cryptohopper-vs-bitsgap/)[3Commas alternatives](https://whichbot.ai/alternatives/3commas/)[Best AI trading bots](https://whichbot.ai/best/ai-trading-bots/)[Best crypto trading bots](https://whichbot.ai/best/crypto-trading-bots/)[Best free trading bots](https://whichbot.ai/best/free-trading-bots/)[Bot deals](https://whichbot.ai/deals/)
Trading bots can lose money. WhichBot scores rate safety, custody, price and coverage, not profits. [How we score](https://whichbot.ai/methodology/).

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**Affiliate disclosure:** some links may be affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Bots never pay for placement or score. **Not financial advice:** trading bots can lose money. Data last checked 2026-11-02; each field shows its own check date.