If you’ve spent any time researching forex brokers, you’ve run into this question fast: MT4 or MT5?
Most articles on this just list features side by side and call it a day. That’s not especially useful. What actually matters is how each platform behaves once you’re trading on it — and after years of using both, here’s what I’d actually tell someone deciding between them.
Why This Question Still Comes Up
MT4’s massive installed base is the only reason this debate hasn’t been settled already.
MT5 has been around since 2010, so by now you’d expect MT4 to have quietly disappeared. It hasn’t. A huge amount of the retail forex world — custom indicators, expert advisors, entire trading communities — is still built on MT4’s older scripting language (MQL4). That installed base is the entire reason this comparison still matters in 2026 rather than being settled a decade ago.
Where They Actually Differ
The gap looks small on a spec sheet, but it shows up the moment you’re actually trading.
| MT4 | MT5 | |
| Markets | Forex-focused | Forex, stocks, futures, more |
| Order types | 4 pending order types | 6 pending order types |
| Timeframes | 9 | 21 |
| Scripting language | MQL4 | MQL5 (faster, more modern) |
| Existing EA/indicator library | Massive, long-established | Smaller, growing |
The timeframe and order-type differences look minor on paper, but they show up in practice. MT5’s extra timeframes matter if you’re doing any kind of multi-timeframe analysis — on MT4 you’re stuck interpolating between what’s available. The additional pending order types on MT5 (buy stop limit, sell stop limit) give you more precise entries without babysitting the charts.
The EA Question Nobody Skips
MQL4 and MQL5 don’t talk to each other, and that alone decides the choice for a lot of traders.
If you’ve bought or built expert advisors over the years, this is usually the deciding factor, full stop. MQL4 and MQL5 aren’t compatible — an EA written for MT4 won’t just run on MT5. If your entire strategy depends on a specific EA or indicator you already own, check whether the developer has ported it to MT5 before you switch. Plenty haven’t, because the MT4 user base is still large enough that there’s no rush for them to migrate.
If You’re Starting From Scratch
With nothing tying you to MT4, MT5 is the more future-proof pick.
With no existing EAs or strategies tying you to MT4, MT5 is the more sensible pick. It’s the platform actively getting new features, it covers more asset classes if you ever want to trade something other than forex, and the extra timeframes and order types give you more room to work with as your approach develops. The learning curve between the two is close to nothing — if you know one, you can sit down at the other and be productive within an hour.
Try Both Before Committing
A demo account settles this faster than any article can.
You don’t have to guess. A demo account lets you run both platforms side by side with virtual funds before deciding, which is a better use of an afternoon than reading ten more comparison articles.
| Platform | Get started |
| MT4 | Info |
| MT5 | Info |
Not ready to commit either way? Our full AvaTrade review covers WebTrader as a third option, plus AvaTrade’s regulation and account types in more detail.
Risk Warning: Trading forex and CFDs involves significant risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. Past performance is not indicative of future results. This is general information, not personalized financial advice. Always ensure you understand the risks before trading, and only trade with capital you can afford to lose.