MetaTrader 4
The platform most traders learned on, with the stability and tooling that made it the standard.
Platform overview
MetaTrader 4 has been the default retail trading platform for well over a decade, and the reason is not nostalgia. It is light, it is fast, it rarely breaks, and it does what a trading platform needs to do without getting in the way. Charting covers nine timeframes and thirty built in indicators, with a further library of thousands of custom indicators produced by the trading community over the years. Order placement is direct: market, limit, stop and trailing stop, with one click execution available if you want it. Automated trading is where MT4 genuinely stands apart. The MQL4 language and the sheer volume of existing Expert Advisors mean that almost any strategy you can define has either been built already or can be built quickly by a developer who knows the platform. The built in strategy tester lets you backtest against historical data before you commit capital to an idea. The desktop version is the most complete. The web terminal requires no installation and runs in any modern browser, which is useful when you are working on a machine you do not control. The mobile app is designed for monitoring and managing open positions rather than detailed analysis.
Features
Specification table
Scroll horizontally to view all specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Best suited to | Forex focused trading |
| Timeframes | Nine |
| Built in indicators | Thirty |
| Graphical objects | Twenty four |
| Pending order types | Not available |
| Depth of market | Not available |
| Built in economic calendar | Not available |
| Automated trading | Expert Advisors in MQL4 |
| Strategy tester | Built in |
| Desktop, web and mobile | Available on all three |
Feature detail blocks
Charting
Charting covers nine timeframes and thirty built in indicators, with a further library of thousands of custom indicators produced by the trading community over the years.
Order placement
Order placement is direct: market, limit, stop and trailing stop, with one click execution available if you want it.
Automated trading
The MQL4 language and the sheer volume of existing Expert Advisors mean that almost any strategy you can define has either been built already or can be built quickly by a developer who knows the platform.
Device availability
The desktop version is the most complete. The web terminal requires no installation and runs in any modern browser. The mobile app is designed for monitoring and managing open positions rather than detailed analysis.
MT4 vs MT5 comparison
Scroll horizontally to view all specifications
| Feature | MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Best suited to | Forex focused trading | Multi asset trading |
| Timeframes | Nine | Twenty one |
| Built in indicators | Thirty | Thirty eight |
| Graphical objects | Twenty four | Forty four |
| Pending order types | Not available | Six |
| Depth of market | Not available | Available |
| Built in economic calendar | Not available | Available |
Getting Started
Frequently Asked Questions
Choose your device from the options above. Installation takes a couple of minutes.
Your account number, password and server name are sent to you when your account is approved, and are also available in your client portal.
By default only a subset is shown. Right click in Market Watch and select the option to show all symbols.
Yes, a macOS version is available, and the web terminal works on any operating system.
Place the file in the relevant data folder within the platform, then restart. Our support team can walk you through it.
Usually because the stop or limit level is too close to the current price, or the market is closed for that instrument.
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The industry standard for forex traders.