🧠 Freqtrade Complete Step-by-Step Installation Guide (2025)

For Windows, Linux, macOS & Raspberry Pi

Learn how to install, configure, and run the Freqtrade crypto trading bot seamlessly on any platform — including Windows, Linux, macOS, and Raspberry Pi.
This guide covers Docker, Script, Manual, and Conda installation methods, with official download links, common errors, troubleshooting tips, and optimization suggestions.

🔍 What is Freqtrade?

Freqtrade is an advanced open-source cryptocurrency trading bot written in Python.
It allows traders to automate trading strategies, perform backtesting, and execute real-time trades across multiple exchanges like Binance, KuCoin, Bybit, OKX, and Kraken.

Freqtrade is designed for both beginners and developers — offering an intuitive setup, strategy flexibility, and deep technical control.

⚙️ Key Features of Freqtrade

✅ Automated Crypto Trading – Fully Python-based algorithmic trading
✅ Backtesting & Hyperopt – Optimize and test strategies before going live
✅ Telegram Integration – Manage and monitor your bot remotely
✅ Web UI Dashboard – Real-time performance and market insights
✅ Multi-Exchange Support – Works with all major crypto exchanges
✅ Customizable Strategies – Create and modify strategies using Python
✅ Active Open-Source Community – Regular updates and support

💻 Minimum System Requirements (By Operating System)

💡 Pro Tip: For backtesting and Hyperopt, use 8 GB+ RAM and at least a quad-core CPU (Intel i5 / Ryzen 5).

🐳 Installation Using Docker (Recommended for All OS)

Docker offers a fast, isolated, and platform-independent setup.
It eliminates Python version conflicts and simplifies upgrades.

🧩 Step-by-Step Docker Setup

1. Install Docker & Docker Compose
   • Windows/macOS: Download Docker Desktop
   • Linux: Install Docker Engine
   • Install Docker Compose if not included
2. Create a Working Directory mkdir ft_userdata && cd ft_userdata
3. Download Docker Compose File curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/freqtrade/freqtrade/stable/docker-compose.yml 💡 Alternative: Right-click → “Save As” → docker-compose.yml
4. Pull the Latest Freqtrade Image docker-compose pull
5. Create User Data Directory docker-compose run --rm freqtrade create-userdir --userdir user_data
6. Generate Configuration File docker-compose run --rm freqtrade new-config --config user_data/config.json
7. Start Freqtrade in Detached Mode docker-compose up -d

✅ For Raspberry Pi users:
Edit docker-compose.yml
Replace:

image: freqtradeorg/freqtrade:stable

with:

image: freqtradeorg/freqtrade:stable_pi

⚠️ Common Docker Errors & Fixes

💡 To Update Freqtrade:

docker-compose pull && docker-compose up -d

⚙️ Installation Using Setup Script (Linux/macOS)

Freqtrade provides an official setup script that automatically installs dependencies, creates a virtual environment, and installs required packages.

🧩 Setup Steps

1. Install Prerequisites
   • Python 3.10+
   • Git
   • TA-Lib (macOS users only)
2. Clone Repository git clone https://github.com/freqtrade/freqtrade.git cd freqtrade
3. Run Setup Script ./setup.sh -i
4. To Update Later ./setup.sh -u

⚠️ Common Errors & Fixes

🧰 Manual Installation (Advanced Users)

Manual installation offers maximum control — best for developers and custom environments.

🪟 Windows Manual Installation

1. Install:
   • Python 3.10+ (64-bit only)
   • Visual Studio Build Tools
   • Git for Windows
2. Setup Freqtrade: git clone https://github.com/freqtrade/freqtrade.git cd freqtrade python -m venv .env .env\Scripts\activate pip install -r requirements.txt pip install -e .

💡 Use only 64-bit Python. 32-bit versions are unsupported.

🐧 Linux / 🍎 macOS Manual Installation

1. Install Dependencies sudo apt update sudo apt install git python3 python3-venv python3-pip build-essential -y
2. Clone Repository git clone https://github.com/freqtrade/freqtrade.git cd freqtrade
3. Create Virtual Environment python3 -m venv .env source .env/bin/activate
4. Install Freqtrade pip install -r requirements.txt pip install -e .

💡 For macOS (M1/M2):

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
brew install ta-lib
xcode-select --install

⚠️ Common Manual Installation Errors

🔬 Installation Using Conda (All Platforms)

Anaconda / Miniconda simplifies Python environment management.

🧩 Steps

1. Download Conda
   • Anaconda (Full suite)
   • Miniconda (Lightweight)
2. Clone Repository git clone https://github.com/freqtrade/freqtrade.git cd freqtrade
3. Create & Activate Environment conda create -n freqtrade python=3.10 conda activate freqtrade
4. Install Dependencies pip install -r requirements-common.txt pip install -e .

✅ Recommended for Windows & macOS (especially Apple Silicon).

⚠️ Common Conda Errors & Fixes

🧠 Best Installation Method by Platform

⚡ General Troubleshooting Tips

📈 Conclusion

Installing Freqtrade in 2025 is simpler, faster, and more reliable than ever.

• 🐳 Docker → Fastest and most stable for all users
• 🧩 Conda → Best for Python users or Apple M1/M2 devices
• ⚙️ Script / Manual → Ideal for advanced users and developers

Once installed:
✅ Build and test strategies
✅ Use the Web UI for real-time tracking
✅ Connect Telegram for live trade alerts

🚀 Start trading smarter and automate your crypto strategy today!

🔗 Official Docs: https://www.freqtrade.io/en/stable/

💬 FAQ – Freqtrade Installation (2025)