MetaTrader 4 Trading Platform — What is MT4? (2024)

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MetaTrader 4 Trading Platform — What is MT4? (1)

MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is a popular downloadable online trading platform created by the Russian software firm MetaQuotes Software Corp. Released in 2005; the MT4 trading software became immensely popular with retail forex traders. Popularity is mainly due to its simple-to-use features and the potential to even aid automatic trading by enabling users to develop their own trading scripts and trading robots (commonly known as expert advisors).

In this article

    Key Takeaways

    • MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is a reliable and user-friendly online trading platform.
    • Multiple timeframes and chart types help you to do technical analysis in various ways.
    • Two types of market orders and four types of pending orders allow traders to use different approaches to enter and exit markets.
    • A robust strategy tester and features such as auto trading are also built in MT4.
    • With MT4, you can trade on a desktop PC, web browser, and mobile devices.

    How MT4 works?

    MT4 is the most popular online trading platform for accessing worldwide markets and the most efficient software for retail foreign currency trading (i.e. especially developed for individual online traders). You can trade on real market prices and increase your profit potential by using trading tools such as live news feeds, charting tools, and even trading robots.

    MT4 Main Features

    • Expert Advisors, built-in and custom indicators
    • One-click trading
    • Do your technical analysis with over 50 indicators and charting tools
    • MetaQuotes Language 4 helps create custom indicators and expert advisors
    • Multiple order types, stop-loss, take profit and trailing stop
    • Nine timeframes
    • Export/import of historical data
    • Internal mail delivery system
    • MetaQuotes Marketplace

    Is MT4 trialled and tested?

    Along with the emergence of internet trading platforms, a fast-rising part of the foreign exchange market formed, consisting of people who could access global markets and trade online through brokers and banks: retail forex. This market category enabled small investors to enter and trade with lower sums of money than that employed by financial institutions.

    The need for technically more complex trading systems, particularly for retail forex trading, increased, as did consumers' need to trade the global markets directly. The MetaTrader 4 online trading platform, released in 2005, was the kind of software that enabled many retail forex traders to speculate and invest in currency exchange and other financial products from nearly any location on the planet.

    Currently, thousands of traders use the MT4 platform in their daily trading practices, benefiting from a wide range of features that help them make better investment decisions, such as automated trading, mobile trading, one-click trading, news feed streaming, built-in custom indicators, the ability to handle a large number of orders, and an impressive number of indicators and charting tools.

    MT4 is today's ultimate trading programme in nearly every part of the world, suitable for novice and seasoned traders with diverse trading experience and tactics.

    MT4 and Automated Trading

    Online investors are familiar with automated trading as a useful tool for automatically processing trade orders with exceptionally quick response times. This is done with the help of expert advisors (EAs), a set of predetermined trading rules (such as entry and exits) put up by traders using MetaTrader 4's MQL programming language.

    The MT4 platform's cutting-edge technology includes automated trading as a fully integrated function, allowing it to execute orders at a pace that would be unachievable with manual trading. For many traders, this saves a significant amount of time from the routine of market monitoring and trade execution.

    Backtesting (the practice of testing trading methods on historical prices) is another benefit of automated trading since it applies trading rules to past market data. On implementing effective backtesting, traders may readily analyse and fine-tune trading ideas, which they can subsequently employ in their own trading practices for improved outcomes.

    MQL4

    The MT4 platform implements trading strategies using MQL4, a proprietary scripting language that allows traders to create their expert advisors (i.e. trading robots), custom indicators, and scripts, as well as test and tune their EAs using the MT4 strategy tester.

    MQL4 has a plethora of capabilities that allow traders to analyse previously received and current quotations, track price movements using built-in technical indicators, and manage and continually monitor their trading orders.

    MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 4 for Mobile were created with all of the needs and ensuring flexibility at its finest, with mobility at its heart. This is why, in addition to Windows and Mac-based PCs, the MT4 mobile trading option enables investors to access the trading platform straight from their smartphones and tablets.

    Managing a trading portfolio as well as several trading accounts and/or monitoring them is, therefore, realistically doable while on the road.

    The ability to manage multiple trading accounts from a single interface and from portable devices such as smartphones, pocket PCs and tablet PCs gives investors a distinct advantage in trading, while the software's compatibility with the iOS operating system allows Mac users to monitor market changes 24 hours a day and place trades directly from their iPhone or iPad.

    MT4 mobile trading makes it exceptionally simple for online investors to monitor the worldwide markets at any time and from anywhere, place and execute orders instantaneously, and maintain their accounts even while away from their home PCs. Furthermore, mobile trading offers a broad range of analytical options as well as the graphical presentation of quotations for optimal account management.

    Because the MT4 mobile trading choices are the same for smartphones and tablets as they are for desktop and laptop PCs, online investors may trade at the same pace and with the same trading tools for the best outcomes.

    People also ask

    What is MetaTrader 4?

    MetaTrader 4 (MT4), created by MetaQuotes, is one of the world's most popular forex trading platforms. When you trade with us using MT4, you can trade CFDs on various popular currency pairs, stock indices, and commodities. Expert Advisors (EAs) are automatic programmes that monitor the markets and may be programmed to trade on your behalf in MT4. You may design your robot or utilise an existing EA.

    What exactly is a MetaTrader 4 trial account?

    Our trial account allows you to test all of the platform's capabilities in a risk-free environment. A demo user may experiment with trading methods and approaches utilising $100,000 in virtual money. ​

    Is spread betting available in MT4?

    The MT4 platform does not support spread betting, but you may trade CFDs, including FX, stock indices, and commodities.

    What is auto trading on MT4?

    One of the most powerful capabilities offered on the MT4 platform is auto trading, sometimes known as algorithmic trading. It's a cutting-edge function that enables you to test and implement Expert Advisors (EAs) and technical indicators you've created or purchased.

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    MetaTrader 4 Trading Platform — What is MT4? (2024)

    FAQs

    MetaTrader 4 Trading Platform — What is MT4? ›

    First, you should know that MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is simply a trading platform used by tons of traders and brokers. Traders use it to view real-time currency prices, open or adjust orders, get technical and fundamental analysis. Meanwhile, brokers use the MT4 platform to reach a broader audience.

    What is MT4 used for? ›

    MetaTrader 4, also known as MT4, is an electronic trading platform widely used by online retail foreign exchange speculative traders. It was developed by MetaQuotes Software and released in 2005. The software is licensed to foreign exchange brokers who provide the software to their clients.

    Is MT4 good for beginners? ›

    MetaTrader 4 is the ideal platform for beginning traders. Its user-friendly and intuitive interface gives you access to a variety of markets. You can even automate your trades or try a demo account first. But ultimately, your success with MT4 will depend on your trading strategy.

    Is MT4 a good trading platform? ›

    When it comes to features, MetaTrader 4 stacks up pretty well against the competition. In fact, it provides most of the industry's standard features. In addition, it boasts unique things like automatic trades through its coding language. If you compare it to say, Robinhood, MetaTrader 4 has far more going for it.

    Is MetaTrader allowed in the US? ›

    Outside of the US it is very common to trade Stock CFDs (Contracts For Difference) which are great given the right broker, but CFDs are not allowed in the US and therefore the only way to use MT4 or MT5 to trade stocks would be to trade stock CFDs using a foreign broker that accept US residents as clients...

    Does MetaTrader 4 use real money? ›

    MetaTrader 4 offers numerous features to traders for streamlining and automating their trades. It also offers advanced charting tools to help traders make informed decisions. By connecting MetaTrader 4 to a broker, traders can create live trading accounts and trade with real money.

    How much does it cost to use MT4? ›

    Does MetaTrader 4 cost money? MetaTrader 4 is completely free to use, whether you have a demo or live account. That said, you can still incur trading costs charged by your broker (or market-maker) in the form of spreads and commissions when you buy or sell securities such as forex and CFDs.

    What is the disadvantage of MT4? ›

    Cons of MT4:

    Limited Asset Coverage: MT4 is primarily designed for Forex trading and doesn't provide the same level of access to other asset classes like stocks and commodities, unlike its successor, MetaTrader 5 (MT5).

    Do I need a broker to use MetaTrader 4? ›

    You can not use MetaTrader platforms for trading without a broker. MT4/MT5 are trading platforms that offer tools and features for analysing quotes and making trades. Nevertheless, this act can be done with a broker's open trading account and connect to the platforms via the menu.

    How do you get money on MT4? ›

    MT4 doesn't have a deposit or withdraw function, but you can fund by logging into My IG and clicking 'add funds' next to your MT4 account in the dashboard. You can also transfer funds to and from your MT4 account using your other IG accounts, by going to the 'live accounts' tab and clicking 'transfer funds. '

    What is the minimum deposit for MetaTrader 4? ›

    The minimum deposit for Metatrader 4 is around $50 and $100 for competitive brokers, and this applies for IronFX too.

    Do people still use MT4? ›

    MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) are two of the most popular trading platforms in the world. MT4 was released in 2005, while MT5 was released in 2010. As of January 2023, there are over 40 million active MT4 users and 10 million active MT5 users. There are a few key differences between MT4 and MT5.

    Why do people prefer MT4? ›

    Although MT4 was specifically built for Forex trading, the platform can also be used to trade other assets such as stocks, indices, and commodities via CFDs. Both beginners and experienced traders appreciate MT4 because it is multi-functional, user-friendly, and allows users to customize the interface to their needs.

    Why was MT4 banned in the US? ›

    The two MetaTrader apps were banned on Apple's App Store in 2022 for their alleged use by fraudsters targeting the US citizens and residents.

    Why was MT4 banned? ›

    In September 2022, a ban on the MT4 and MT5 apps in Apple's App Store, which affected all markets, made headlines. Though the reasons for the decision were unclear, there was speculation that it was related to trading scams published in the iOS app store, impersonating popular trading platforms.

    Can US traders use MT4? ›

    MT4 has been the standard for FX, both with U.S. regulated brokers and offshore brokers. MT5 is more often used for U.S. Futures Trading. MT5 unlike 4 comes in two versions: Netting and Hedging.

    Why do most traders use MT4? ›

    The MT4 platform is known for its advanced charting capabilities, which allow traders to perform robust technical analysis to make informed trading decisions.

    Why does everyone use MT4? ›

    With automated trading or algorithmic trading, users of the MT4 platform can develop and deploy trading robots (known as Expert Advisors, or EAs) to open or close trades in combination with technical indicators. Most trading strategies can be implemented using EAs.

    Why do traders use MT4? ›

    Traders using both platforms say that MT4 and MT5 have custom programming languages. The difference is that MT4's programming language is easier to launch, develop, and install. MT4's programming language is ideal for new traders because it only requires minimal steps to set up its functionality.

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