A crypto arbitrage scanner is a software tool that monitors prices across multiple exchanges in real-time and alerts you when profitable differences appear. Without a scanner, you'd need to manually check prices on 10+ exchanges simultaneously — which is impossible for a human but trivial for software. Here's everything you need to know about how scanners work, what features matter, and how to use one effectively.
Think of a scanner as your personal assistant that sits in front of 17 screens at once, watching every price change on every exchange, doing math on every pair, and tapping your shoulder when it spots a profitable trade. Here's what happens under the hood:
If you've never used a scanner before, the dashboard can look overwhelming. Here's a breakdown of every column and what it means:
The cryptocurrency being traded (e.g., BTC/USDT, ETH/USDT). Click to see the spread history chart and details.
Where to buy cheap and where to sell expensive. The arrow shows the direction of the trade. Always buy on the left, sell on the right.
The raw percentage difference in price. A 3% spread means the sell price is 3% higher than the buy price. But this is BEFORE fees — don't trade based on this alone.
The actual dollar amount (or percentage) you'd earn after ALL fees are deducted. This is the only number that matters. If net profit is negative, skip the trade.
How long this spread has existed. Fresh = more likely to still be there when you trade. < 5 min: excellent. 5-15 min: good. > 30 min: probably being arbed by bots already.
Available withdrawal networks (TRC-20, ERC-20, Arbitrum, BSC, etc.). Pick the cheapest one. If only ERC-20 is available, factor in the higher gas cost.
Run in your browser, no installation needed. Data is processed on the server. Best for: beginners who want simplicity. You can access from any device — phone, tablet, laptop.
Software you download and install (e.g., ArbitrageScanner.io). Often faster data updates but requires Windows/Mac. Some require you to input your exchange API keys.
Find AND execute trades automatically. Higher risk (gives software access to your exchange accounts) but removes the speed bottleneck. Suitable for experienced traders with $5,000+ capital.
Simple alerts via Telegram when spreads exceed a threshold. No dashboard, just notifications. Good as a complement to a full scanner, not a replacement.
Not all scanners are equally accurate. Here's what to watch for:
If a scanner only shows "2.5% spread" without subtracting fees, you can't trust the numbers. ArbiScreen deducts maker/taker fees AND withdrawal fees before showing profit.
Prices change every second. A scanner updating every 5 minutes shows stale data. Look for 30-60 second refresh intervals minimum.
Some scanners show spreads on trading pairs that have zero liquidity. The price difference exists on paper, but you can't actually execute a trade. Check the 24h volume on both exchanges before trading.
A scanner might show a 5% spread, but if the cheaper exchange has suspended withdrawals for that coin, you can't transfer it. Good scanners mark when networks are unavailable.
Test any scanner's accuracy yourself: find a spread on the scanner, then manually check both exchange prices and calculate fees. If the scanner's net profit matches your manual calculation within $1-2, it's accurate.
17 exchanges, net profit calculator, spread age tracking, withdrawal networks. Free tier — no credit card required.
Open Scanner →No. ArbiScreen is a read-only scanner — it shows you opportunities, you execute trades manually on the exchanges. You never share your exchange passwords or API keys with ArbiScreen. This is the safest approach.
Every 60 seconds. The scanner pulls fresh price data from all 17 exchanges simultaneously. The '⏱ Age' column tells you exactly how long each opportunity has existed.
Yes. ArbiScreen is a web app that works in any browser — Chrome, Safari, Firefox — on desktop, tablet, or mobile. No app download needed. Bookmark app.arbiscreen.com for quick access.
Absolutely. ArbiScreen's free tier gives you access to all 17 exchanges, all pairs, net profit calculation, and spread age tracking. The Pro tier adds Telegram alerts and API access — useful later, but not needed to start.
A scanner SHOWS you opportunities. A bot EXECUTES trades automatically. ArbiScreen is a scanner — you make the final decision on every trade. Bots are riskier (they have access to your funds) but faster. Start with a scanner, consider a bot later.
17 exchanges total: 11 global (Binance, Bybit, OKX, KuCoin, Gate.io, MEXC, Bitget, HTX, Kraken, BingX, CoinEx) and 6 regional (Luno, VALR, BtcTurk, Paribu, WazirX, CoinDCX).
