hanybee
New Member
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) are two popular trading platforms developed by MetaQuotes Software Corp. Both are widely used for trading forex, stocks, and commodities, but they have some key differences. Here’s a comparison to help you decide which might be better for your trading needs:
MetaTrader 4 (MT4):
- Release Date: 2005
- Market Focus: Primarily forex trading, but also used for CFDs (Contracts for Difference).
- Charting Tools: MT4 offers a robust set of charting tools, but it’s generally more basic compared to MT5.
- Indicators: MT4 supports 30 built-in indicators, with many more available through custom scripts.
- Expert Advisors (EAs): MT4 has a strong reputation for EAs and automated trading, with a large number of existing EAs and custom indicators.
- Order Types: Limited to market, limit, and stop orders.
- Timeframes: 9 different timeframes for charting.
- Depth of Market: Limited or absent in many versions.
- Programming Language: MQL4, which is specific to MT4. Custom scripts and EAs are written in MQL4.
MetaTrader 5 (MT5):
- Release Date: 2010
- Market Focus: Broader market focus, including forex, stocks, futures, and commodities.
- Charting Tools: MT5 offers more advanced charting tools and a more modern interface.
- Indicators: MT5 includes 38 built-in indicators and additional tools for more comprehensive technical analysis.
- Expert Advisors (EAs): MT5 supports EAs, but they are programmed in MQL5, which offers more functionality and better performance compared to MQL4.
- Order Types: Includes additional order types like buy stop limit and sell stop limit orders.
- Timeframes: 21 different timeframes, allowing for more granular analysis.
- Depth of Market: Enhanced depth of market (DOM) functionality provides more detailed order book information.
- Economic Calendar: MT5 includes an economic calendar directly within the platform, which is useful for fundamental analysis.
Key Differences:
- Market Coverage: MT5 supports a wider range of financial instruments beyond forex, including stocks and commodities.
- Order Types and Timeframes: MT5 offers more advanced order types and additional timeframes for more precise trading strategies.
- Programming Language: MQL5 is more powerful and versatile compared to MQL4, enabling more complex EAs and indicators.
- Depth of Market and Economic Calendar: MT5 provides more detailed market depth and an integrated economic calendar.
Conclusion:
- Choose MT4 if: You’re focused primarily on forex trading and prefer a well-established platform with a large library of existing EAs and indicators.
- Choose MT5 if: You need a more advanced platform with additional features for trading a broader range of assets, and you’re interested in leveraging more sophisticated charting tools, order types, and programming capabilities.