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Template: EA Review

Tested an EA and want to share your experience? This template helps you write a fair, helpful review that others can trust. Include pros, cons, real metrics, and honest opinions.

Quick Wins

  • Test first – don't review until you test at least 2-4 weeks
  • Be specific – exact numbers, not "worked well"
  • Show both sides – pros AND cons
  • Include metrics – win rate, drawdown, ROI
  • Stay fair – focus on facts, not emotions

Template: Full EA Review

Use for: Complete review after testing an EA

Title: [EA Name] Review – [Your result summary]

Example: "Gold Grid Pro v2.1 Review – 18% gain in 3 weeks, 12% drawdown"

---

**EA Tested:** [Full EA name and version]
**Testing Period:** [Start date] to [End date] ([X] weeks/months)
**Account Type:** [Demo or Live]
**Broker:** [Broker name]
**Pair(s) Tested:** [XAUUSD, EURUSD, etc.]
**Timeframe:** [M1, M5, H1, etc.]

---

## Testing Setup

**Account Details:**
- Starting balance: $[amount]
- Lot size: [0.01, 0.1, etc.]
- Leverage: [1:100, 1:500, etc.]
- Spread: [average spread during test]

**EA Settings Used:**
- [Key setting 1]: [Value]
- [Key setting 2]: [Value]
- [Key setting 3]: [Value]
- (List the most important settings, not everything)

**Why I chose these settings:**
[Brief explanation - e.g., "Used developer's recommended settings for XAUUSD M5" or "Optimized for low risk (0.5% per trade max)"]

---

## Results

**Performance Metrics:**
- Total trades: [number]
- Winning trades: [number] ([X]%)
- Losing trades: [number] ([X]%)
- Profit/Loss: $[amount] ([X]% ROI)
- Maximum drawdown: [X]% (occurred on [date or situation])
- Average trade duration: [minutes/hours/days]
- Best trade: +$[amount]
- Worst trade: -$[amount]

**Equity Curve:**
[Attach screenshot of equity curve or MyFXBook link if available]

---

## What Worked Well (Pros)

1. **[Pro #1]**: [Describe in detail]
   - Example: "Trailing stop worked perfectly during strong XAUUSD trends, locked in 15-20 pip profits consistently"

2. **[Pro #2]**: [Describe in detail]
   - Example: "Risk management kept losses small - no single loss exceeded 2% of account"

3. **[Pro #3]**: [Describe in detail]
   - Example: "EA handled volatile London session well, paused trading during extreme spreads"

[Add 3-5 pros total]

---

## What Needs Improvement (Cons)

1. **[Con #1]**: [Describe in detail]
   - Example: "Struggled during ranging markets - 5 losing trades in a row when XAUUSD stayed flat for 3 days"

2. **[Con #2]**: [Describe in detail]
   - Example: "No built-in news filter - opened trades 2 minutes before NFP, got slipped hard"

3. **[Con #3]**: [Describe in detail]
   - Example: "Documentation unclear about required minimum deposit - I started with $500 but should have used $1,000+"

[Add 3-5 cons total - be honest]

---

## Comparison to Advertised Performance

**What the seller claimed:**
- [Claim 1, e.g., "70% win rate"]
- [Claim 2, e.g., "15% max drawdown"]
- [Claim 3, e.g., "Works on demo and live"]

**What I actually got:**
- [Result 1, e.g., "65% win rate - close enough"]
- [Result 2, e.g., "12% max drawdown - better than claimed!"]
- [Result 3, e.g., "Worked on demo, haven't tried live yet"]

**Verdict:** [Accurate / Mostly accurate / Overhyped / Misleading]

---

## Who Should Use This EA

**Good for:**
- [Type of trader 1, e.g., "Intermediate traders who understand grid strategies"]
- [Type of trader 2, e.g., "People with $1,000+ accounts"]
- [Type of trader 3, e.g., "Traders who can monitor during volatile news"]

**NOT good for:**
- [Type of trader 1, e.g., "Complete beginners - needs understanding of risk"]
- [Type of trader 2, e.g., "Small accounts under $500"]
- [Type of trader 3, e.g., "Set-and-forget traders - requires some monitoring"]

---

## Would I Recommend It?

**Overall Rating:** [1-5 stars] ⭐️

**My verdict:**
[Write 2-3 sentences summarizing your honest opinion]

Example: "If you understand grid trading and have proper risk management, this EA can be profitable. Results matched expectations. Not a holy grail, but a solid tool for the right trader. I'm continuing to run it on demo and considering live."

**Would I buy it again?** [Yes / Maybe / No]  
**Would I recommend to a friend?** [Yes / Maybe / No]

---

## Tips for Others Testing This EA

1. [Tip #1, e.g., "Start with 0.01 lots to see behavior before scaling up"]
2. [Tip #2, e.g., "Avoid trading during major news - add external news filter"]
3. [Tip #3, e.g., "Test on ICMarkets or Pepperstone - tight spreads matter for this strategy"]

---

## Developer Support

**How was support?**
- Response time: [Fast (<24hr) / Slow (2-3 days) / No response]
- Helpfulness: [Very helpful / Somewhat helpful / Not helpful]
- Documentation quality: [Clear / Adequate / Confusing]

[Add any specific notes about your support experience]

---

## Final Thoughts

[Wrap up with any additional observations, warnings, or recommendations. Keep it helpful and fair.]

Template: Quick Review (Short Version)

Use for: Faster review or initial impressions

Title: [EA Name] – Quick Review After [X] Weeks

---

**EA:** [Name and version]  
**Testing:** [X] weeks on [demo/live]  
**Pair:** [XAUUSD, etc.]  
**Result:** [Brief summary, e.g., "+12% gain, 15% drawdown"]

**Pros:**
- [Pro 1]
- [Pro 2]
- [Pro 3]

**Cons:**
- [Con 1]
- [Con 2]
- [Con 3]

**Rating:** [X]/5 stars

**Bottom line:** [One sentence verdict]

[Optional: Attach screenshot of results]

How to Write a Fair Review

1. Test Long Enough

Minimum testing time:

  • Simple strategies (MA cross, breakout): 2-4 weeks
  • Grid/Martingale EAs: 4-8 weeks (need to see drawdown cycles)
  • Long-term swing EAs: 8-12 weeks

Why: One good week doesn't prove anything. You need to see how the EA handles different market conditions.

2. Use Real Metrics

Don't say:

  • "Made good money"
  • "Worked pretty well"
  • "Some losses but overall positive"

Do say:

  • "+$340 profit on $2,000 account (17% ROI)"
  • "65% win rate over 87 trades"
  • "Max drawdown hit 18% during NFP week"

Numbers = credibility.

3. Be Honest About Cons

Every EA has weaknesses. Mentioning them makes your review more trustworthy.

Good reviews include:

  • What the EA struggles with
  • When it performed poorly
  • What could be improved
  • Who shouldn't use it

4. Compare to Claims

Check seller's listing:

  • What win rate did they claim?
  • What drawdown did they show?
  • What account size did they recommend?

In your review, say if results matched, exceeded, or fell short.

5. Include Context

Your review is more helpful when you explain:

  • Your experience level
  • Your risk tolerance
  • Your broker and spread
  • Your account size
  • Any custom settings you used

Two traders can get different results with the same EA because of these factors.

What Makes a Great Review

✅ Tested for adequate time (weeks, not days)
✅ Specific metrics (%, $, trade counts)
✅ Both pros and cons (balanced)
✅ Screenshots or proof (equity curve, statement)
✅ Fair tone (fact-based, not emotional)
✅ Helpful tips for other testers
✅ Clear recommendation (who should/shouldn't use it)

What Ruins a Review

❌ Too soon ("tested for 2 days")
❌ Vague ("worked great!")
❌ Emotional ("this EA SUCKS!")
❌ No proof (no screenshots, no metrics)
❌ Unrealistic ("100% win rate!")
❌ One-sided (only pros or only cons)
❌ Off-topic (complaining about broker, not EA)

Mini-FAQ

Q: Should I review free EAs?
A: Yes! Free EAs deserve reviews too. Helps others decide if they're worth testing.

Q: Can I update my review later?
A: Yes. Edit your post if you have new results after more testing. Add "Update:" section at the top.

Q: What if the EA blew my account?
A: Still review it! Warn others. Explain what happened, what settings you used, and what went wrong. Just stay factual, not angry.

Q: Should I reveal my exact settings?
A: Share key settings (lot size, stop loss, etc.) but you don't need to list every parameter. Focus on settings that impacted results.

Q: What if my review is negative and the seller gets mad?
A: Stay factual and polite. If you tested properly and reported honestly, your review is valid. Sellers can respond to reviews—that's healthy discussion.

End Note

Reviews help the entire community make better decisions. Whether your experience was good or bad, sharing it helps others avoid mistakes or find good tools. Be thorough, be fair, and be honest.

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