What is MetaTrader?
MetaTrader is world’s most popular trading platform for traders to wide range of assets. MetaTrader offers all you need for online trading on one interface, It is the gateway between you and the trading markets. MetaTrader gives traders the ability to conduct a wide range of trading activities, including charting and technical analysis, monitoring the markets, and automating trades through Expert Advisors. It is considered the platform of choice and is offered by most reputable brokers, including Friedberg Direct. On the platform you will find a powerful combination of analytical technologies and leading trading tools that allow traders to implement even the most complex technical trading strategies. Let’s take a look at the MetaTrader in more detail.
There are two versions of the MetaTrader Platforms currently available in Friedberg Direct:
- MetaTrader 4 – Available on desktop, mobile and web
- MetaTrader 5 – Available on desktop, mobile and web
No matter which platform you choose, you will find it does not cause your computer speed to lag. The software is light and will not overload your systems, making for fast trading and immediate execution, important factors to consider when trading in the fast-paced and sometimes volatile markets.
Why Trade With MetaTrader Platforms?
Besides being easy to download and install, MetaTrader has many trading capabilities and features that other trading platforms simply lack. Follow instrument price fluctuations and examine the trading charts implement complex strategies and studies while plotting the trends to help you make credible trading decisions. The platform showcases and supports the following chart types: Candlestick, Line, Heikin Ashi as well as Renko charts.
Setting up your trading orders is simple; you can easily set predefined stop losses and take profit orders to trigger automatically. The trailing stop loss and pending orders are just as easy to set up.
Learn from your back-trades as the platform offers the convenience to view your trading history:
- Download your historical trading data per currency pair
- Create/request detailed reports on the positions you take
- Track past charts and graphs to keep a summary of trends per instrument
The MetaTrader 4 is really a superb platform for forex trading which explains its broad scope of popularity among retail traders, however, if you intend to implement more advanced strategies then perhaps the MetaTrader 5 would be right for you.
What is MetaTrader 5?
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) is the newest iteration of the popular MetaTrader platform. While the MT5 is newer, it is not necessarily an upgraded version.
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 are trading platforms with back-testing capabilities, as well as graphical interfaces that look fairly similar. By design, however, MT5 was meant to meet the needs of non-forex and U.S. markets in a manner that MT4 could not. Essentially, MT5 is not necessarily better than MT4, but rather just different.
Here are the different features that the MT5 platform offers in comparison to its older sister, the MT4:
- New Order Types – The MetaTrader 5 platform has two additional order types that are not available on its predecessor. These are ‘buy stop limit’ and ‘sell stop-limit’. Additionally, MT5 also supports partial order filling policies.
- Added indicators and widgets – MT5 has 8 additional built-in indicators, and 13 more graphical objects than MetaTrader 4. This means that traders can perform more in-depth technical analysis in the financial markets using MetaTrader 5.
- Economic Calendar – MetaTrader 5 has an integrated, comprehensive Economic Calendar tab that shows news release schedules, the impact levels, previous data, and market consensus.
- Improved Strategy Tester for EAs (Expert Advisors) – MT5 features a multi-threaded strategy tester that has noticeably faster execution speeds when testing programmed trading strategies. In addition, featuring an Agent Manager that enables remote optimisation, the MT5 strategy tester also allows for concurrent multi-currency pair back-testing.
- Timeframes – MT5 has 21 timeframe charts, which is exactly 12 more than is available on MT4. This can give traders more room for performing a deeper analysis of their favourite assets.
- Funds Transfer – Traders can easily transfer funds between accounts on MT5 if the accounts are within the same server. This helps to streamline processes, offering clients convenience and flexibility.
- Market Depth – By hitting the ALT+B buttons, traders can view the depth of market, which is a graphical representation of bids and offers of an underlying financial asset, depending on trading volume. This is a functionality that can allow traders to execute trade orders at the best possible price.
- Netting – MetaTrader 5 supports the netting accounting system that allows only one position to be held for any particular financial asset.
- Email System – The MetaTrader 5 email system supports the sending of emails with attachments.
- Tradable Assets – Alongside forex as CFDs, traders can also trade indices, futures, cryptocurrencies, bonds and options on the MetaTrader 5 platform. MT5 has an expanded instruments list of over 1,000 assets compared to the average 250 on MetaTrader 4.
MetaTrader 4 vs MetaTrader 5
The more recently launched MetaTrader 5, is not that different from its prototype MT4, even though it is advertised as substantially more advanced. The MT5 offers more advanced charting systems, as well as deeper analytical tools, you can also trade Cryptocurrencies on the MT5, and it is faster at executing.
The MetaTrader 4 is considered an excellent platform for the forex trader, however, if any of the above-mentioned functions appeal to you more, then you can opt for the MetaTrader 5 . MT4 is still the most widely used and downloaded platform on the market though.
| Feature | MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 |
| Availability to brokers | Very popular | Very popular |
| User-friendly and easy to navigate | Extremely easy | Extremely easy |
| Roll-over and Hedging | Possible | Possible |
| Programming Language used | MQL4 | IDE |
| Number of order execution types | 3 | 4 |
| Number of Pending Order Types | 4 | 6 |
| Depth of Market | No | Yes, but not available from the beginning |
| Technical Indicators | 30 | 38 |
| Timeframes | 9 | 21 |
| Economic Calendar | Not Available | Available in MT5 apps |
| Reports | Tables only | Tables + Charts Everything can be exported to Excel |
| Open Trades View | Lots only | Lots, Quantity + Milliseconds |
| Docked Charts | Not available | Available |
| Market Watch | Less detailed | More details + easy navigation |
| Partial Order Filling | Not available | Available |
| Email System | No attachments | With attachments |
| Strategy Tester | Single threaded | Multi-threaded + Multi-currency + Agent manager |
| Netting | Not supported | Not supported |
| Exchange Trading | Not supported | Not supported |
| Funds Transfer between Accounts | Not supported | Supported |
Why Trade with AvaTrade and MetaTrader?
Here are just a few reasons that hundreds of thousands of traders have chosen to trade at AvaTrade, with the MT4.
- Fully Regulated Broker
We have collected multiple awards over the years, including Best Broker. Plus we also boast over 10 years of industry experience and we have a presence in over 150 countries. - More Markets
Over 250 assets to trade on. Variety of the most popular instruments including forex, commodities, indices, bonds, ETFs and individual stocks trading. - Deep Analysis
Enjoy more than 30 advanced charting & analytical tools, including trading strategy back-testing on the MT4. - Flexible Conditions
Competitive spreads to trade on the most popular assets in the industry. - Mobile Trading.
Trade with MT4 or MT5 on your tablet or mobile phone with our free Android & iOS trading apps. - Full Support
Get free daily market analysis, quality education materials and live multilingual support 24/5.
What is MetaTrader – Main FAQs
- How do I open an MetaTrader 4 trading account with AvaTrade?
Getting your own MT4 demo or live account is quite easy at AvaTrade. Simply register for an account in under two minutes, then head over to the MetaTrader 4 page on our website, where you can download the MT4 platform. When you launch MT4 you can enter either your demo or real account credentials (these are sent to you via email when you register) and log into the platform. From there you can access all the powerful features MT4 has to offer.
- Can I use the MetaTrader 4 platform on my smartphone?
MT4 is a cross platform application that can be downloaded for desktop use, accessed as a web trader in an internet browser, or installed as an application on your mobile device. There are mobile versions for both iOS and Android operating systems, so you can have the power of MT4 in your pocket no matter which device you use. Plus, the versions will all synch with each other, so when you place an order on your PC version of MT4 in the morning you can go in and modify it later in the day on your smartphone.
- Is the newer MetaTrader 5 version better than the MetaTrader 4 version?
Both MT4 and MT5 are the official versions created and distributed by MetaQuotes Software. The new MT5 version is considered to be superior for stock trading and order management, while the older MT4 platform is considered to be superior for forex trading. As a matter of fact, most retail traders will notice little difference between the two platforms. They both provide the basic trading functions and features needed to trade successfully.
