📖 MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView: Choosing the Right Platform for Your Trading Style
The trading platform you choose directly determines how your Forex strategy plays out: execution speed, order handling, analytics, and automation must work for you—not against you. In this guide, we compare MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView from an experienced Forex trader’s perspective and map optimal “style → platform” pairings.
Goal of this guide: align the key requirements of different styles (scalping, intraday, swing, algorithmic, discretionary) with platform capabilities; show each platform’s strengths and weaknesses; provide a clear comparison table; offer concrete recommendations.
🎯 Trading Styles and Platform Requirements
Scalping
- Minimal latency and slippage at execution.
- One‑click trading, hotkeys.
- Stability during volatility spikes.
- Fast drag‑and‑drop adjustment of levels on the chart.
- Analytics are secondary—the priority is responsiveness and the order book (DOM).
Intraday Trading
- Balanced speed and analysis.
- Reliable order transmission.
- Flexible multi‑window workspace.
- Alerts and quick instrument switching.
- Comfortable management of multiple positions.
Swing Trading
- In‑depth technical analysis (timeframes, indicators, drawing tools).
- Incorporation of news and the economic calendar.
- Convenient control of pending orders.
- Carrying positions overnight.
- Stability and data integrity take precedence over raw speed.
Algorithmic Trading
- A capable strategy language and a comfortable editor.
- Multi‑threaded/multi‑symbol backtester.
- Strategy optimization tools.
- Stable 24/5 execution on a VPS or in the cloud.
- Access to the order book (DOM) when needed.
Manual (Discretionary)
- Interface ergonomics and ease of use.
- Powerful charts and drawing tools.
- Chart trading (drag‑and‑drop stop/take‑profit).
- Alerts and cross‑device synchronization.
- High‑quality mobile apps.
ECN — an execution model via external interbank liquidity without a broker’s dealing desk; DOM/Depth of Market — the order book across price levels.
Key point: the “right” platform depends on your style. Scalpers need speed and DOM; swing traders need analytics; quants need a language and tester; discretionary traders need a comfortable interface.
📜 Historical Context: How We Got MT4/MT5, cTrader, and TradingView
- MetaTrader 4 (MT4) — mid‑2000s. Quickly became the retail Forex de‑facto standard thanks to simplicity, a lightweight client, and the explosive growth of indicator and EA ecosystems.
- MetaTrader 5 (MT5) — a natural evolution: more powerful architecture, multi‑asset support, and an expanded strategy tester. Downsides: incompatibility with MQL4 and community inertia slowed migration.
- cTrader — launched in 2011 to meet ECN traders’ and developers’ needs, focusing on transparent execution and C# robots (cBots), plus an open API.
- TradingView — grew in the 2010s from a browser‑based charting tool into a universal platform for analysis and community. Later, trading via integrated brokers was added.
Key point: experienced Forex traders today have four mature options—each with a distinct character and specialization.
💻 Platform Overview: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView
MetaTrader 4 (MT4)
A classic Forex terminal. Strengths: familiarity, a “lightweight” client, and a huge ecosystem of indicators/EAs. Limitations: an aging UI and fewer timeframes with less built‑in analytics vs. MT5.
✅ Pros
- Proven stability and lightweight client.
- Vast community and add‑on library (indicators, EAs).
- Full automation via MQL4 (expert advisors).
❌ Cons
- Aging interface; fewer timeframes and features than MT5.
- Geared to Forex/CFDs; limited multi‑asset reach.
- No code compatibility with MT5 (requires rewriting).
MetaTrader 5 (MT5)
A modern multi‑asset terminal: more timeframes, an expanded tester, improved order types/execution modes, and access to the DOM. The tester is multi‑threaded and multi‑symbol, making strategy optimization convenient.
✅ Pros
- 21 timeframes and up to 100 simultaneous charts; expanded technical toolkit and drawing objects.
- Multi‑threaded, multi‑symbol strategy tester; full automation in MQL5.
- DOM/Depth of Market (Level II), improved order types and execution modes.
❌ Cons
- Not compatible with MT4 code (requires an MQL5 port).
- Relatively “closed” architecture with limited UI customization.
- Some user issues actually stem from broker infrastructure, which can spill over into platform perception.
cTrader
A Spotware platform centered on ECN execution, thoughtful UX, and strong algorithmic support in C# (cTrader Automate/cBots). Favored by scalpers and intraday traders for speed and DOM.
✅ Pros
- Modern, customizable interface; trade from charts; ergonomic drawing tools.
- Fast ECN execution; depth of market (Level II).
- C# algorithms (cBots), marketplace, and clear documentation.
❌ Cons
- Not available at all Forex brokers (smaller footprint than MetaTrader).
- Fewer ready‑made indicators/bots vs. the MT4/MT5 ecosystem.
- Moving from MQL4/5 requires rewriting in C#.
TradingView
A leading platform for chart analysis and trader communities. Top‑tier charts, a huge library of Pine scripts, and seamless sync across devices. Trading integrations depend on the list of supported brokers in the Trading Panel.
✅ Pros
- Hundreds of built‑in indicators/strategies, 110+ drawing tools; a library of 100,000+ community scripts.
- Cross‑platform (web/desktop/mobile) with cloud layout sync.
- Social ideas/charts, publishing, alerts, multi‑market coverage (incl. Forex).
❌ Cons
- Trading via broker integrations (not all brokers are supported).
- No native auto‑trading: Pine strategies produce signals; execution requires external connectors/APIs.
- Notable free‑plan limits; some users criticize support.
📊 Platform Comparison Table
| Platform | Speed/execution | Algorithmic trading | Mobile | Editor/code | Charts/indicators | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MT4 | High (lightweight client) | MQL4 (EAs), auto‑trading | iOS/Android (basic) | MetaEditor (MQL4) | 9 TFs, 30 indicators (baseline) | PC; Web (via broker) |
| MT5 | Very high; DOM/Level II | MQL5, multi‑threaded tester | iOS/Android (more complete) | MetaEditor (MQL5) | 21 TFs; expanded technical toolkit | PC/Web |
| cTrader | Very high; ECN/low latency | C# (cBots), Open API | iOS/Android (full‑featured) | cTrader Automate (C#/.NET) | Modern charts, convenient drawing tools | PC/Web |
| TradingView | Medium (via broker integration) | Pine Script (signals; no native auto‑execution) | iOS/Android (strong apps) | Web editor (Pine) | 400+ built‑in; 100,000+ public scripts | Web/Desktop |
Note: actual execution speed depends not only on the platform but also on broker infrastructure (servers, routing, data centers), your connection, and your VPS.
📐 Metrics for Choosing a Platform and Infrastructure
Latency to the broker’s server
Measured by ping and the actual delay between order submission and confirmation. For scalping, aim for single‑digit to tens of milliseconds; for swing trading, more is acceptable. Reduce latency with a VPS in the same data center as your broker’s trading server.
Slippage and requotes
Track average slippage (in points) on your typical instruments and during news events. The less, the better. Requotes are undesirable for scalping; their presence signals a need to reassess your broker or terminal.
Execution reliability
The share of orders filled without errors or cancellations, plus the frequency of partial fills. Keep a log: instrument, order type, time sent, fill details, and broker comments.
Usability and cognitive load
How many actions are needed for a routine task (open, move a stop, reverse). Evaluate hotkeys, trading from charts, and interface customizability.
Algorithmic stack
MQL4/5 vs. C# (cBots) vs. Pine: language, tester, optimization, integrations. Match these to your skills and desired development speed.
🧭 One‑Day Testing Checklist
- Open demo accounts with 2–3 brokers using different platforms (MT5, cTrader; optionally MT4) and compare ping/spreads on your pairs.
- Simulate the morning open: submit a series of market and limit orders; measure confirmations and slippage.
- Test chart trading: drag stops/take‑profits, reverse a position, partially close—count clicks and seconds.
- Set alerts and evaluate mobile clients: do notifications arrive, and is managing a position from your phone convenient?
- For algorithmic trading, run a “baseline” backtest: identical parameters on MT5 and cTrader—measure run time, stability, and ease of reviewing results.
- Record metrics in a table: ping, average slippage, share of requotes/rejections, subjective usability 1–10—then pick a winner.
📊 Case Studies: How a Platform Feels in Action
⚖️ Recommendations: Platform for Your Style
📈 Scalping
- cTrader with an ECN broker (DOM, crisp execution, quick actions).
- Alternative — MT5 with a VPS and access to the DOM.
- TradingView is not ideal for “pure” scalping due to the integration layer.
⏱️ Intraday
- Balance analysis and speed.
- Do analysis in TradingView (powerful charts).
- Execute in MT5 or cTrader.
- If you want an “all‑in‑one” setup—MT5 or cTrader.
📊 Swing/Position
- Emphasize analysis and multi‑market coverage → TradingView as the main analysis screen.
- Place trades via a broker connected in TV or directly in MT5/MT4.
🤖 Algorithmic
- MT5 (multi‑threaded/multi‑symbol tester, MQL5).
- Or cTrader (C#, Open API).
- MT4 is acceptable for legacy stacks, but new development is better on MT5.
🖐️ Manual (Discretionary)
- If charts/ideas/sync are critical—TradingView for analysis + execution in MT5/MT4 with your broker.
- If speed and a classic terminal matter—MT5 or cTrader.
❓ FAQ
Can I combine TradingView and MetaTrader in one workflow?
Yes. A common workflow is analysis in TradingView (multi‑market, ideas, scripts) and execution in MT4/MT5 with your broker. Ensure data sources are aligned (time zones and data providers may differ).
Why do MT4/MT5 have low ratings on Trustpilot?
Some negative reviews reflect experiences with certain bad‑actor “brokers,” yet the platform is still mentioned. That skews perception: Trustpilot aggregates user stories, while MetaQuotes doesn’t deal directly with retail clients (support is via brokers).
Where can I see the list of supported brokers in TradingView?
In the bottom Trading Panel of your account. The list isn’t static—integrations are added or updated—so check directly in the interface.
Is MT4 “worse” than MT5 for analytics?
By default, yes: MT5 offers more timeframes, a broader analysis toolkit, and a more powerful tester. Still, MT4’s massive add‑on ecosystem and lightweight client are valued by scalpers and many “old‑school” traders.
Does TradingView have native auto‑trading?
No. Pine strategies generate signals/alerts; auto‑execution requires external connectors/APIs or a broker integration.
✅ Conclusion
There’s no single “right” platform—only the one that’s optimal for your style, stack, and infrastructure. Scalping tends to benefit from cTrader/MT5, swing trading from TradingView, and algorithmic work from MT5/cTrader. All else equal, test combinations and measure key metrics (time to confirmation, stability during news, UX efficiency)—that yields a tangible edge in execution quality and decision‑making.