Is intraday trading really profitable in the long term? Let�s discuss it

I�ve been operating intraday for a couple of years and while at first it seemed profitable, it�s getting harder and harder to keep numbers positive. Between spreads, slippage, mental wear and fake breaks, I�m starting to wonder if it�s really possible to live on intraday trading or whether it�s pure smoke. Has anyone here been here for more than 3 years with consistent results? Or do we all end up going on swing trading or leaving this? I�d like to read honest opinions, not copied theories of books.

The key is to have a clear advantage, military discipline and to know when NOT to operate. But yes, it is exhausting and not for anyone.

If it's hard for you to stay positive, it's because you're probably overexploiting or using an outdated strategy.The market changes, and if you don't change with it, you're fried.

I don�t think it�s smoke, but it�s a trap for many. The illusion of fast winning makes people skip the hard work of testing, analyzing and filtering inputs.

I left the intraday after 1 year burned. I now swing and do much better. Less stress, more clarity, and better decisions.

It depends on the pair you operate and the session. It�s not the same to operate GBP/JPY in London as USD/CAD in the Asian session. The price stock changes a lot.

What they say makes sense. Maybe I�m forcing tickets into dead sessions or relying too much on a strategy that worked months ago but no longer. What tools do you use to validate that your system is still valid?

I use backtesting every two weeks and forward testing every month. If my winrate drops by 55%, I check absolutely everything.

Honestly, if you don't have an external source of income or large capital, intraday is an elegant way to self-destruct your account. Hard, but real.

Not everything is so black. I operate DAX and Nasdaq in 1 minute graphics with very good results. But I don�t follow typical patterns, I operate levels and momentum live. That�s right, it�s like being in a daily war.

And how do you handle the emotional issue? Because what kills me is not so much the technique, but the wear of losing 3 trades in a row and staying focused.

Thank you for your answers. I�m seeing that most agree that it�s a complicated terrain. Some achieve it, but it�s more exception than rule. I don�t know whether to throw the towel or adjust the focus...

Do not throw away the towel, adjust the position size, filter the inputs more and use alerts instead of standing all day in front of the screen. Sometimes with less, you win more.

Many believe that more time in front of the graph is equal to more control. Error. More time = more temptation to operate garbage.

I combine intraday with scalping only on scheduled news, and the rest of the time I leave pending orders with automated management. I took off a lot of pressure.

If you really want to stay on this, my advice is: I chose a single pair, specialize in it, and I knew their cycles as if I were your partner. That was my salvation.

Good thread. Much is talked about glamour of intraday trading, but few show the real face: anxiety, fatigue errors, burnout and broken beads. Well raised.

Does anyone use bots to operate intraday? I tried two EAs in M5 and M1 but either burn the account or come in late. Experiences?

Yes, I used a bot based on volume and delta, but without human intervention it becomes dangerous. I let you throw alerts at me but the trigger is pushed by me.

To those who continue to earn in intraday, what percentage of successes do they have and what is their average risk/reward? I would like to compare it with my stats.

Very good question. In my case, RR of 1:1.5 and 52% correct before this bad streak. But lately it dropped to 45%. That�s why I�m rethinking everything.

Do you use dynamic or fixed management? Because with RR 1:1.5, if you keep that ratio and 50% correct, you should stay positive.

Most fail because they have neither a clear statistical advantage nor a stable emotional system.

I've been breaking accounts for 7 years. 2 years. 1 year without operation. 4 years gaining little by little. The secret: patience, humility, and adaptability.

Thank you for opening this thread! It's nice to see real debate and not just buy this miraculous course.

Intraday trading is not for impatient or dreamers. You have to have an elephant stomach and memory to learn from each shit.

I'm going to save this thread. There is more wisdom here than in a thousand YouTube videos. Keep sharing experiences.

Intraday trading is not profitable in the long term for 95% of those who try it. But if you are at 5%, it is a money-making machine. You decide where you are.

I have operated intraday during the last 6 years and, after a lot of trial and error, I can confirm that yes is profitable... but not the way the majority believes. What makes it profitable is not the system, nor the magical indicators, nor the term you operate, but your ability to adapt, keep disciplined and understand the context of the market. Operating every day as if it were equal to the previous one is a fatal error. The market changes its structure constantly, and your strategy must adjust with it or you stay out of play. One of the things that most influenced me in my profitability was to learn to read the action of the price without relying exclusively on indicators. Yes, I still use EMAs and levels, but only as a reference. What commands is how the price reacts in key areas, how does the volume behave and how does the market move around the news. That maximum reading is not learned in one day; it requires thousands of hours to observe and err. But once you connect with that logic, it all starts to make more sense. Another key point is risk management. At first, I lose accounts because it works as if it was a casino.

Thanks for sharing! Very complete and realistic. It serves me a lot to read experiences like this.

But do you really think reading the price action without indicators is enough to operate with confidence?

That's a brilliant explanation, especially the cutting after two loser trades, and I'll apply that from today.

That's what followed the process, not the money should be framed.

And how do you handle mental fatigue after so many years doing intraday every day? Doesn't it burn you?

Thanks for the contribution, I needed to read something like that after a very hard week.

Don't you think that following such strict rules can limit opportunities if the market turns in favor right after?

Thanks for sharing your experience, made me see that the problem is not my strategy, but my head.

Very helpful about emotional detachment. I�m in that process and it costs horrors.

You say you're up for price action, but how do you define key areas if you don't use indicators as support/resistance?

Didn't you think about automating part of your rules to completely eliminate emotional bias?