# Simulated vs Copied Execution at Perpetual Futures Prop Firms > Simulated execution fills orders inside a firm’s own system against a price feed, with nothing sent to a market. Copied execution mirrors orders onto a real venue, so fills and funding can reflect that market. Evaluations are generally simulated, and what happens after funding differs by firm, so read the terms. **Source:** https://propfirmpal.com/perpetuals/guides/simulated-vs-copied-execution **Generated:** 2026-11-11 **Publisher:** Prop Firm Pal - independent prop firm comparison _Prop Firm Pal earns affiliate commission from some listed firms. This is disclosed on-site and does not affect the computed ranking order._ --- _Updated 2026-11-10._ > **Note:** General information, not financial or legal advice. Rules differ by firm and change; check the firm’s own terms before you buy. ## What simulated execution means In a simulated account, the firm’s platform decides how an order is filled, using a price feed and its own fill rules. No order reaches an exchange. Slippage, partial fills and liquidity are modelled rather than experienced, so a fill can look better or worse than a real market would have given. ## What copied execution means In a copied setup, a trader’s orders are mirrored to a real venue. Fills can reflect real depth and fees, and the firm has real market exposure. A firm may copy all orders, some, or only those of certain traders, and its documents are the only way to tell. ## What to check A few questions show what you are actually buying. - Which price feed fills your orders, and is it the same one that enforces drawdown? - Does the firm say whether funded accounts remain simulated? - Are fills adjusted for size, or is a large order filled at the top of the book? - Is funding real, modelled or absent, and which one applies in each stage? ## Frequently asked questions ### Are prop firm evaluations real trading? Evaluations are generally simulated. You are demonstrating a strategy under rules, not trading in a live market. ### Does simulated mean I will not be paid? No. Payment comes from the firm under its terms, and many firms pay from simulated accounts. The firm’s terms and track record are what to check. ### How do I know which model a firm uses? Read its terms and any disclosure about funded accounts. Where a firm publishes it we record it on the funding comparison. 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