Photon is a Solana web trading terminal that charges a documented 1% on every buy and sell, with limit orders, DCA and MEV protection but no copy trading. It scores 6.6/10 (ninth): clean record and simple pricing, but thin features and fading usage.
Photon at a glance
Photon, at photon-sol.tinyastro.io, was the first web terminal many Solana memecoin traders used. According to Photon Guides, it offers:
- The Memescope screener with filters for new launches
- A live new-pairs feed
- Limit orders with stop loss and take profit
- DCA orders
- Smart-MEV protection routing
- Up to 5 wallets per account and auto-buy/auto-sell triggers
It is web-only, with no Telegram bot, no native app, no copy trading and no wallet tracker. Separate Photon versions exist for BNB Chain and Base.
Usage has fallen sharply. Photon Guides reports that monthly fees peaked around $84.6 million in January 2025. DefiLlama now shows about $483,000 in 30-day fees (DefiLlama, checked September 25, 2026). Most traders moved to Axiom and similar terminals.
Photon fees
Photon's fee docs state a 1% fee "of the initial token amount" on both buys and sells, collected in SOL. Their example: spending 5 SOL on a buy costs 0.05 SOL in fees.
There are no volume tiers or published cashback. On top of the 1%, you set Solana priority fees and Jito tips yourself, and the DEX or launchpad takes its own cut.
That makes Photon's headline cost the same as GMGN and BONKbot, and higher than Axiom or Trojan after cashback. See Solana trading bot fees compared.
Photon referral code
Photon has referral links, but no published discount for new users or commission rate we could verify. Trojan's comparison describes Photon's program as points-based (Trojan blog), though Trojan is a competitor. Our Photon link is an affiliate link.
Is Photon safe?
We found no confirmed breach of Photon. Photon Guides also reports none, but notes at least one clone site that drains wallets. Phishing clones are the main risk for any terminal, so bookmark the real URL and never enter your private key on a site you reached from an ad or a DM.
On custody, Photon creates a Solana wallet at sign-up and shows the private key once, according to Photon Guides, which quotes Photon as having "no way of granting you access to the site if you lose access to, or control of, your Wallet." Save the key securely and export only when needed. More in are Solana trading bots safe?
How Photon scores
| Factor | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fees (30%) | 6.0 | Flat 1%, no discounts |
| Features (30%) | 5 | Limit, DCA, MEV, token feed, multichain (separate sites) |
| Security (25%) | 9.0 | No confirmed incident |
| Usability (15%) | 7 | Fee docs, web UI; no app or Telegram |
Weighted rating: 6.6/10. Method: about page.
Photon vs alternatives
- Axiom vs Photon: Axiom is cheaper for active traders and has many more tools.
- Padre (Terminal): another web terminal with TWAP and multichain.
- GMGN: adds copy trading and apps at the same 1%.
New to terminals? Start with what is a Solana trading terminal, or browse the full ranking.
Photon's features in more detail
Memescope. A screener for new launches with custom filters, so you can hide tokens that don't meet your rules.
Limit orders with SL/TP. Set a buy or sell price and attach a stop loss or take profit.
DCA. Spread a buy over time. Among web terminals in our ranking, Photon is one of the few with documented DCA; Axiom doesn't list it.
Auto-buy and auto-sell triggers. Automatic entries and exits based on conditions you set.
Multi-wallet. Up to 5 wallets per account, per Photon Guides.
Mobile access. There's no native app. Photon Guides says mobile users export the private key into Phantom's in-app browser, which adds risk: every place a key is imported is another place it can leak.
What it costs, in practice
Photon's 1% is taken from the initial token amount on each side of a trade, collected in SOL. A 2 SOL buy costs 0.02 SOL in platform fees, and selling that position costs 1% of the proceeds. Add your priority fee, any Jito tip, and the venue fee; on a Pump.fun bonding-curve token, that's another 1.25% each way (Pump.fun).
Getting started safely
- Bookmark the official site, photon-sol.tinyastro.io. Clone sites exist, so never reach Photon through an ad or DM.
- When Photon shows your private key at sign-up, write it down offline. According to Photon Guides, it's shown once.
- Fund with a small amount of SOL, then make a test trade and a withdrawal.
- Turn on MEV protection and set your default priority fee and slippage before your first real trade.
Who should use Photon
Good fit: traders who want a simple web terminal with limit orders and DCA, and who value a clean record over new features.
Look elsewhere if: you want copy trading (best copy trading bots), Telegram (best Telegram bots), cashback (Trojan) or a mobile app (FOMO).
Verdict
Photon still does the basics well: a clear 1% fee, limit and DCA orders, MEV protection and a clean record. But with no copy trading, no mobile option and a shrinking user base, most traders will be better served by Axiom, GMGN or Trojan.
Risk note: Memecoin trading is high risk, and clone sites target terminal users. Any platform can be hacked or shut down. Only deposit what you can afford to lose.
