FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Everything EA and indicator developers ask before opening their store — licensing, payments, domains, and plans.
Questions by topic
Getting started
What exactly is Pipsoshop?
Pipsoshop is a platform — like Shopify, but built for MetaTrader — where you create your own store to sell MT4 and MT5 Expert Advisors and indicators. You get a storefront, automated license keys bound to MetaTrader accounts, secure file delivery, and checkout through your own Stripe, PayPal, or crypto accounts. See how it works.
Do I need a website or any coding skills to start?
No. Your store goes live on a free subdomain the moment you sign up, with product pages, checkout, and a customer area already built. You upload your compiled EA or indicator files, set prices, and share your link. The only optional code is a few lines in your EA to call our license validation API.
How long does it take to make my first sale?
The store itself is live in about a minute. Most sellers upload products, connect a payment provider, and are able to take orders the same day. Start with the 15-day free trial — no credit card needed.
Can I migrate from a marketplace like MQL5 Market?
Yes. Many sellers keep their marketplace listing and run their own store alongside it — the store gives you direct customer relationships, your own pricing, and no commission. If you have an existing customer base, contact us and we'll help you plan the migration.
Licensing & piracy protection
How do the MT4/MT5 license keys work?
Every purchase automatically generates a license key for the buyer. The license is bound to their MetaTrader account numbers — you control how many demo accounts, live accounts, and PCs each license allows. Your EA validates the license against our API, so a shared key simply stops working.
What stops customers from sharing my EA files?
The file alone is not enough — your EA checks its license at runtime via a heartbeat API call. If the license is suspended, expired, or used on an account it isn't bound to, validation fails. You can suspend or revoke any license instantly from your dashboard. Read more on the features page.
Do I have to change my EA code to use licensing?
A small addition: your EA calls the validation endpoint (typically from OnInit and a timer). We provide the endpoint and examples — it's a standard WebRequest call in MQL4/MQL5. Indicators work the same way.
Can I offer free trials of my EA?
Yes. Any product can be set to free-trial mode with a trial length you choose. Trial licenses expire automatically and can convert to paid without the customer reinstalling anything.
Can I sell subscriptions instead of one-time licenses?
Both. Each product can be one-time purchase, recurring subscription, or free trial. Subscription licenses suspend automatically when the customer's payment lapses.
Payments & payouts
How do I get paid?
Directly. You connect your own Stripe account, PayPal account, or NOWPayments (crypto) account to your store. Customer payments go straight to you — Pipsoshop never holds your money and takes no commission on sales.
Does Pipsoshop take a percentage of my sales?
No. You pay a flat monthly subscription for the platform and keep 100% of every sale (minus your payment processor's standard fees). Compare that to marketplace commissions on the pricing page.
Can I accept cryptocurrency?
Yes — connect NOWPayments and your store accepts Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, and other major coins alongside cards and PayPal.
Can I offer discount coupons and run an affiliate program?
Both are built in. Create percentage or fixed-amount coupons with usage limits and expiry dates, and set a per-product affiliate commission so your customers and partners earn by referring buyers.
Store & domains
Can I use my own domain name?
Yes, on plans that include custom domains. Point your domain at your store and SSL is provisioned automatically. Until then, your store runs on a free subdomain that works from day one.
Can I customize how my store looks?
Your store's colors, logo, homepage sections, policies, and contact details are all editable from the dashboard. Higher plans add white-label presentation, so your brand is the only one your customers see.
Can I show backtest results on my product pages?
Yes — upload your MT4/MT5 strategy report and your product page displays profit factor, drawdown, Sharpe ratio, win rate, and an equity curve. Verified numbers sell better than screenshots.
How do my customers get support from me?
Every store includes a ticket-based support system, product reviews, a knowledge base, and FAQs you control — so support stays organized instead of scattered across Telegram chats and emails.
Plans & billing
What happens when my free trial ends?
If you haven't subscribed, the store is suspended — nothing is deleted. Your products, licenses, and settings are preserved, and you can reactivate any time by subscribing to a plan.
Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan later?
Yes. Upgrades unlock new limits immediately; downgrades apply at the next billing period so you never get cut below your current usage.
Do I need a credit card for the trial?
No. The 15-day trial starts without any payment method. You only add billing details when you're ready to sell.
Is there a refund policy?
Yes — refund requests within the refund window are reviewed and processed from your billing page. See the pricing page for plan details.
Didn't find your answer?
Ask us anything about licensing, migrations, or plans — a human who knows MetaTrader replies within one business day.
Free for 15 days · No credit card
Your EAs already work. Now make them a business.
Launch your store on a free subdomain, upload your first EA or indicator, and let licenses issue themselves. Upgrade only when you are ready to sell.