Strategy Lab Pricing
Strategy Lab uses a pay-per-experiment model. You pay only for the AI optimization cycles that actually run.
Cost Structure
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Per experiment | $0.50 |
| Maximum experiments per optimization | 30 |
| Maximum cost per optimization | $15.00 |
These are single-pair prices. Multi-pair runs cost a little more per experiment; see Multi-Pair Runs below.
How Billing Works
Wallet Balance Required
Strategy Lab charges are deducted from your TradeStaq wallet balance. You must have sufficient balance before starting an optimization.
| Experiments Planned | Balance Required |
|---|---|
| 5 | $2.50 |
| 10 | $5.00 |
| 20 | $10.00 |
| 30 | $15.00 |
Your wallet only needs to cover this estimate for the optimization to start. Nothing is held or taken from your wallet at the start, so your balance stays available while the optimization runs.
One Charge at the End
You are charged once, when the optimization finishes:
- You pay only for experiments that actually ran. If the AI fails to return a usable mutation, that experiment is free.
- The charge is never more than the estimate you saw when you started.
- If your wallet can no longer cover the next experiment (for example, because you spent the balance elsewhere), the optimization stops early, finishes normally, and charges only for the experiments it ran.
Stopping Early
If you stop an optimization early:
- You are charged only for experiments that completed
- The best strategy version found so far is saved, but held: it does not become your latest version unless you click Use this version anyway
Example: You start a 20-experiment optimization (estimate $10.00, so you need at least $10.00 in your wallet). After 7 experiments, you see a strong result and stop early. You are charged $3.50 (7 x $0.50) once at the end, and the rest of your balance was never touched.
What Counts as an Experiment
Each mutation-backtest cycle counts as one experiment:
- AI generates a mutated version of the strategy
- The mutation is backtested on the training data (70%)
- Results are scored and compared with the current best
All three steps together count as a single experiment, regardless of whether the mutation was accepted or reverted. The final check of the best version on out-of-sample data (30%) runs once at the end and is not charged as an experiment.
Multi-Pair Runs
If multi-pair runs are available on your plan, each experiment can be tested on several pairs (see Running an Optimization). The price per experiment depends on how many pairs that experiment was actually tested on:
per experiment = base rate + (pairs actually tested - 1) x extra-pair rate
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Base rate | $0.50 |
| Each extra pair | $0.10 |
- A candidate that is stopped after one pair pays the single-pair price.
- Experiments where the AI fails to return usable code, cancelled experiments and experiments stopped by the time limit are free.
- The price you see before the run is a maximum. Your bill is never above it.
Example: 4 pairs and 20 experiments are quoted at $16.00 (20 x $0.80). A typical run stops some candidates early and is billed $12.00:
| Experiments | What happened | Charge |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | AI returned unusable code | Free |
| 1 | No change, tested on 1 pair | $0.50 |
| 5 | Stopped after 1 pair | $2.50 |
| 3 | Stopped after 2 pairs | $1.80 |
| 9 | Tested on all 4 pairs | $7.20 |
| 20 | $12.00 |
The largest possible multi-pair run, 5 pairs and 30 experiments, has a maximum price of $27.00.
Adding Wallet Balance
Top up your wallet from the dashboard:
Dashboard -> Settings -> Wallet -> Add Funds
Wallet funds are used for Strategy Lab experiments, marketplace purchases, and other platform services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do failed experiments still cost money?
An experiment that ran is charged whether the mutation improves the strategy or not, because it used AI computation and backtesting resources. Experiments that did not improve the strategy are still valuable — they inform the AI about what not to try next. The exception is when the AI fails to return a usable mutation: no backtest runs, so that experiment is not charged.
Is there a free trial?
Strategy Lab does not have a separate free trial, but new accounts may receive promotional wallet credits. Check your wallet balance in the dashboard.
Can I set a budget limit?
Yes — the maximum experiments setting acts as your budget cap. Set it to the number of experiments you are willing to pay for. You can always stop early, and you pay only for the experiments that ran.
Next Steps
- Running an Optimization — Start your first optimization
- Strategy Lab Overview — How the engine works
- Wallet Settings — Manage your wallet balance