MetaTrader 5

Most brokers will require basic information to verify your identity, trading objectives, and risk appetite.

From your account dashboard, you can make deposits and withdrawals. Minimum deposits vary between brokers. Payment fees also depend on the provider and method selected.

Trading costs, commissions, and leverage levels are flagged when you sign up for an account. Forex traders may see a swap charge against their account. A swap fee is interest earned or paid on trades kept overnight.

Technical Analysis

MetaTrader 5 offers 38 built-in technical indicators, including:

• Exponential moving averages (EMAs)
• Volume profile
• MACD-2 lines
• Pivot points
• B-clock
• Zig zag
• Renko

Custom indicators are also available from Code Base and the Market.

Over 100 price charts are available on the platform with 21 timeframes, ranging from one-minute to one-month. This makes the platform suitable for analyzing both short-term and long-term price trends.

Additional Tools

MetaTrader 5 is home to real-time international news streams and an economic calendar. The software also has a Depth of Market feature to see liquidity, plus one-click trading and a vast library of historical market information, such as NSE stock data.

MetaTrader 5 allows for separate accounting of orders and trades, plus support for all types of trading orders and execution models.

The two accounting modes are:

• Netting – Adopted on exchange markets
• Hedging – Used for trading

For further guidance on how to build a trading strategy, see here.

Customization

The MetaTrader 5 web terminal has been designed with personalization in mind.

Gateway Java and Python APIs, for example, enable integration so users can run:

• Custom indicators – Indicators can analyze price data following predetermined rules.
• Scripts – Scripts can perform almost any function on the platform, such as adding indicators to a chart or closing all pending orders.
• Libraries – This is a portfolio of tasks that share segments of popular custom applications on MetaTrader 5.

Note you can also personalize the look and feel of the platform, including choosing between the light and dark mode.

Expert Advisors

Automated trading is available through expert Advisors (EAs). Following predetermined criteria, algorithms will automatically execute trades on your behalf.

The MQL5 programming language allows for the development, backtesting, and optimization of expert advisors.

The MQL5 Wizard is a helpful tool for beginners who want to start trading robots. For advanced traders, there are additional tools provided by MQL5 IDE, such as the MetaEditor which is used to develop and refine trading robots and indicators, and the Strategy Tester which tests trading strategies using historical data. Expert advisors can also be purchased directly from the Market, or free downloads can be found at Code Base. Detailed tutorial PDFs are available online that explain how to get started with MetaTrader 5 robots.

The mobile app has everything a pro needs to operate, including a complete set of trading orders, such as pending orders and level 2 prices, with up to 32 quotes. Mobile traders also benefit from fast switching between financial instruments on charts, free financial news, push notifications, 30 technical indicators, and 24 analytical tools. Additionally, the History Center can be used to view price quote history. The Android mobile app (APK) can be downloaded from the Google Play Store, while iPhone users can download it from the Apple App Store. Alternatively, the platform is available through the WebTrader login page on your mobile browser. A tutorial for MT5 mobile beginners is offered by most brokers. Note that the time zone is set by the broker and cannot be changed from your iPhone or Android device.

The free MetaTrader 5 demo account is an excellent preliminary step to take before opening a real live account.

Beginners can get familiar with trend analysis and order execution. You could test a strategy on shares, for example, without risking real money. You could also play around with different lot sizes in a forex strategy, or try trailing stops and risk management tools. Note 1 lot equals 100,000 of your base currency while a mini lot equals 10,000 and a micro lot equals 1,000.

A useful tip for new traders is to keep a trading journal, documenting what does and doesn’t work. For further guidance on demo accounts, see here.

MetaTrader 5 Brokers List

MetaTrader 5 is available at some of the best-established stock and forex brokers, particularly in the UK and US:

• Interactive Brokers
• Admiral Markets
• Trading 212
• JFD Brokers
• JP Markets
• Binary.com
• IC Markets
• Just2Trade
• 24option
• Oanda
• XPI
• XM
• IG

Support

Support is available to MetaTrader 5 customers through several avenues.

Head to the ‘Help’ page for key topics, including:

• Getting started
• Charts & graphs
• Price analysis
• Copy trading
• Mobile trading
• Trading signals
• Automated trading

For common issues, such as no connection, the platform keeps closing, or you’ve forgotten your password, most brokers operate a live chat or telephone support service. To get complex topics explained and standard templates, user manuals and guides in PDFs or online videos are a good place to start.

However, arguably the greatest source of support is the online MetaTrader 5 community. If you’re having issues with the platform not updating, connecting or working, or if you want a review of keyboard shortcuts and hotkeys, you’ll find forums with users willing to help. Avid users are also great for updates on how to get the most out of the latest version of MetaTrader 5.

Errors

Common platform errors include:

• ‘Market closed’ – Appears when you try and place a trade outside of trading hours
• ‘Off quotes’ – If connectivity drops, the platform can’t display current prices
• ‘Can’t place order’ – Usually happens if you try to place a trade without sufficient capital in your account
• ‘Unsupported filling mode’ – Brokers use different symbol filling modes, so check the filling mode accepted by your symbol

Head to the ‘Contact us page’ to speak to a manager from one of MetaTrader’s representative offices.

MetaTrader 5 Vs MetaTrader 4

MetaTrader 5 certainly isn’t as widely used as MetaTrader 4, but it still has a lot to offer.

The key difference is that MetaTrader 5 is geared towards the advanced trader. MT5 offers 38 technical indicators while MT4 has 30. MT5 has 44 graphical objects to MT4’s 31. And MT5 has 21 timeframes while MT4 has nine.

MetaTrader 5 is also considered a multi-asset platform, whereas MetaTrader 4 is primarily used by forex traders. Finally, MetaTrader 5 has two market orders, six pending orders, plus two stop orders, whilst MT4 offers two market orders and four pending orders. But the price of MT5’s additional tools is that beginners and those looking for an uncomplicated platform might be deterred.

So when it comes to the choice of MetaTrader 5 or MetaTrader 4, consider your needs. MT5 is probably the best fit for advanced traders seeking a state-of-the-art platform, but MT4 will suffice for most.

MetaTrader 5 vs NinjaTrader 8

For forex traders, there is a MetaTrader vs NinjaTrader debate. Both platforms are aimed at experienced traders using sophisticated strategies.

The benefit of NinjaTrader is that it promises more customisation than MetaTrader 5. The downside is it’s not as readily available as MetaTrader. This means less choice when it comes to brokers and a smaller online community. In contrast, the MetaTrader 5 community is extensive, ensuring help is always on-hand, be it you want to change the platform’s time zone indicator or view the latest update release notes.

Overall, MetaTrader 5 is more widely available and still offers ample customisation.

Final Word

For experienced traders wanting a multi-asset platform and access to powerful trading tools, MetaTrader 5 is a sensible option. The server allows you to operate multiple accounts with different brokers.

It also has excellent automated trading capabilities and copy trading. Overall, for complex trading strategies, MetaTrader 5 is among the best.

FAQ