If you are planning to launch a forex brokerage, one of the most critical decisions you will have to make revolves around which trading platform is best suited for you. More often than not, you will boil your options down to MT4 vs MT5. The two MetaTrader trading platform software have been front and center in the forex trading landscape for over a decade. As a result, nearly 100% of the time, when brokers are recognized as having a leading trading platform, one of the two options will be MT4 or MT5.
So, which trading platform should your brokerage use?
This detailed guide will assist you in making the decision of whether to go with MT4 or MT5, taking a deep dive into comparison and features, and including tools and insights to make a determination about which trading platform is most appropriate for your individual forex trading operating system.
What Is MT4?
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is the world’s most popular forex trading platform. After being released in 2005, MT4 takes the crown because of the rapid speed of execution and the execution reliability of the average trader. Even to this day, millions of traders who do forex trading prefer MT4 to other trading platforms, due mainly to its simplicity of use and the strong community standards that support the platform.
Key MT4 Features
- Best for trading only forex
- Simple to keep it simple
- Massive library of EAs (Expert Advisors)
- Great charting tools
- Lowest operating cost for brokers
- Massive global user base
MT4 is still widely used today because traders love the platform, but as technology and financial markets advanced, so too did the introduction of a new platform called MT5 with more technologies.
What Is MT5?
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) is a developed multi-asset version that is essentially an upgrade of MT4, which now includes trading commodities, indices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies,o along with forex. MT5 is faster, more flexible, and much stronger, which is especially appealing now to modern brokers that want to provide multiple trading services to their clients.
Key MT5 Features
- Multi-asset platform (forex + stocks + indices + crypto)
- Execution is much faster than MT4
- More tools and indicators to chart
- Depth of Market (DOM)
- Hedging and Netting Options
- A larger number of timeframes and pending orders
- Designed and built to operate multiple large brokers
Many new brokerages prefer MT5 because it can accommodate retail and larger institutional clients in a better operating model.
MT4 vs MT5 – MetaTrader Platforms Comparison
Below is a simple, easy comparison between each of the platforms to get a better decision.
1. Asset Classes Supported
| Feature | MT4 | MT5 |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| Commodities | Limited | Yes |
| Indices | Limited | Yes |
| Crypto | Limited | Yes |
| Stocks | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
Conclusion: If you want to offer multi-asset trading, MT5 is the better choice.
2. Speed & Performance
MT5 utilizes a more sophisticated architecture than MT4, which results in:
- Faster order execution
- Higher processing capacity
- Better performance in high volume trading environments
MT5 clearly wins here.
3. Trading Tools and Indicators
MT5 provides:
- 38+ indicators
- 21 timeframes
- 6 types of pending orders
While MT4 offers:
- 30 indicators
- 9 timeframes
- 4 pending orders
For a trader experienced with technical analysis, MT5 is the clear winner.
4. Hedging & Netting
MT4:
- Supports hedging only
MT5:
- Supports both hedging and netting systems
- Makes it suitable for global markets
If your brokerage wants to offer trading where netting is acceptable (for example, in the USA), MT5 is essential.
5. User Interface
MT4 is simplistic and easy to use. Traders love it because it is:
- Clean
- Minimal
- Easy to customize
MT5 is modern and advanced but slightly more complex for beginners.
6. EA & Algorithmic Trading Support
MT4 uses the MQL4 programming language.
MT5 uses MQL5, which is:
- Faster
- More powerful
- More flexible for algorithmic trading
If your customers are previous EA users or are actively algorithmic trader, then MT5 is more future-proof.
7. Server & Backend Requirements
MT5 requires:
- More server resources,
- More complex backend systems,
But it also delivers:
- More responsive,
- More stable,
- More institutional grade execution.
If you want your brokerage to be scaled globally, then MT5 is better positioned for longer-term growth.
8. Licensing & Cost
MT4 white label configuration is cheaper, simply because it is older and simpler.
MT5 white label configuration comes at a premium, but offers more value.
Budget Tip:
- If you want lower startup cost, MT4 may function well for your broker.
- If you want longer-term growth potential, then MT5 is worth the price premium.
Which Is Better for New Forex Brokers?
Choose MT4 if you want:
- More basic forex only brokerage,
- Easier to setup,
- One of the preferred platform for beginners,
- Larger EA library,
Choose MT5 if you want:
- Multi-asset trading,
- Faster execution,
- More advanced trading tools,
- Ability to scale to global markets,
- Better, institutional level infrastructure.
We see today that many brokers offer both MT4 & MT5 offer both configuration because both groups of traders are different.
MT4 vs MT5 – Which Do Traders Prefer?
Most professional and modern online traders prefer MT5 because it has:
- Faster execution speed
- More trading tools
- Multi-asset support
- Improved compatibility with automated trading
Nonetheless, many traders still enjoy MT4 for its simplicity and legacy support for expert advisors (EAs).
If your forex brokerage wants to market to a global audience, using the MT5 trading platform will keep you ahead of the competitive market.
What Platform Do Large Brokers Use?
Most big forex brokers worldwide use:
- MT5 as the main platform
- MT4 as an ancillary platform for traders who prefer a classic trading experience
Both MT4 and MT5 trading platforms working together allow for great flexibility and greater mass market reach.
How to Choose the Right MetaTrader Platform for Your Brokerage
In order to make the right choice between MT4 versus MT5, determine:
- Your Budget: MT4 costs less. Using MT5 as your main platform is an investment for long-term growth.
- Your Target Market
- If traders want multi-asset trading, choose MT5.
- If traders only trade forex based pairs, MT4 is probably fine.
- Your Business Goals
- If you want to have a basic brokerage, MT4 could be a fine option.
- If you want a global scalable brokerage, MT5 is the better option.
- Competition: Most upstart brokerages are shifting toward the use of MT5 to keep in line with trading industry trends as we push toward 2025.
Conclusion – MT4 vs MT5: Which Platform Wins?
Both MT4 and MT5 are solid platforms, but which one is better will depend on your business model.
MT4 is best for:
- Low-budget startups
- Forex-focused brokers
- Beginner traders
MT5 is best for:
- Multi-asset brokerages
- Scalable global operations
- Professional and algorithmic traders
- Long-term business growth
If you want your brokerage to be ready for the future, MT5 is the better platform, as it is packed with features, speed, and performance along with better trading tools that today’s traders expect.
Need MT4 or MT5 Setup for Your Brokerage?
Device Doctor India provides:
- MT4/MT5 white label setup
- Forex CRM integration
- Website development
- Payment gateway setup
- IB & affiliate system
If you need set up for a fully functioning, fast, and professional forex trading platform, Device Doctor India will help you set up your brokerage in 30 days.
Please request more information at: devicedoctorindia.in
Generally speaking, MT4 would be simpler for beginning traders. The simple interface and the availability of numerous tutorials makes MT4 the easier choice. However, MT5 has advanced tools that would make it a better platform for traders who are committing to long-term trading.
Yes. MT5 uses a more up-to-date and advanced architecture. MT5 is quicker at executing trades, allows for more order types, and has more comprehensive market depth than MT4.
Not at this time. Adoption rates for MT5 are rising, but some brokers are still using MT4 as many previous clients have built their trading experience around MT4 system. A growing number of newer brokers provide both systems.
No. MT4 is composed of MQL4 code, while MT5 uses MQL5 code. Indicators/EAs written in either system, cannot be converted to the other without codes changes.
MT5 is the more appropriate trading platform for newer brokerages in 2025. MT5 supports an increased number of trading instruments, has increased performance, better analytics, and aligns better with market evolution than MT4, which was the industry standard. MT4 is still very functional and suitable for traders, but MT5 will be the more beneficial platform.
