If you’ve been around online trading for even a week, you’ve probably heard people throwing around the names MT4 and MT5 like they’re talking about their favorite sports teams. I still remember when I first installed MT4 on my old laptop back in 2012. Slow internet, a squeaky fan on the PC, and me trying to figure out what a “lot size” even meant. Those were the days.
Fast forward to today, and the conversation has shifted. Traders are split between sticking with the classic MT4 or moving to the newer, shinier MT5. And here’s the thing — both have their place. It’s not about which one is “better” in some absolute sense. It’s about which one fits the way you trade.
So, What’s MT4 All About?
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MetaTrader 4 is like that old Toyota Corolla that never quits. It might not have the latest tech, but it’s reliable, easy to handle, and you can find parts (in this case, indicators and EAs) everywhere.
MT4 was built mainly for forex trading, though brokers have tweaked it to handle commodities, indices, and a few other CFDs. The magic of MT4 is in its simplicity. You get a clean interface, enough tools to get serious, and it runs even on a cheap laptop.
One thing I’ve always loved — you can find a community for anything MT4 related. Need a moving average crossover EA? There’s one free. Want a candlestick pattern alert? Someone’s coded it already. That’s why even in 2025, MT4 refuses to fade away.
And MT5? What’s the Deal There?
When MT5 first came out in 2010, many traders thought it was just MT4 with a fresh coat of paint. Nope. It’s actually a whole different platform under the hood.
MT5 was designed to handle multiple asset classes. So if you’re the kind of trader who wants to jump from EUR/USD to Tesla stock to Bitcoin, you’ll feel right at home here. It’s faster, gives you more timeframes, more order types, and even an integrated economic calendar.
I personally noticed the speed difference when running backrests. MT5 chews through them much quicker, especially if you’re testing something complex. And the MQL5 coding language? Way more powerful if you like building custom strategies.
Key Differences I’ve Noticed in Real Trading
Let’s skip the boring technical tables for a second and talk trader-to-trader.
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Markets Supported: MT4 is a forex-first platform. MT5 is a “trade whatever you want” platform.
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Order Types: MT5 lets you place a few more specialized orders. Handy for certain strategies.
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Speed: MT5 feels snappier when executing trades and running tests.
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Charts: More timeframes and built-in indicators on MT5.
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Automation: Both do it, but MT5’s MQL5 language allows more complex logic.
If you’re just trading EUR/USD with a few moving averages, you probably won’t feel much difference. But once you start experimenting with multi-asset strategies, MT5 starts showing off.
MT4 Pros (From Someone Who Still Uses It)
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It’s simple. Even my cousin who just started can figure it out in an hour.
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Works on any old computer without lag.
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Tons of free resources online.
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Most brokers still support it.
The downside? You don’t get as many fancy tools out of the box, and if you ever want to trade stocks or crypto directly from the platform, you might feel limited.
MT5 Pros (And Where It Shines)
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Handles more markets — forex, stocks, crypto, commodities.
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Faster and smoother when you’re running complex stuff.
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More tools built in without hunting around the internet.
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Integrated news and calendar so you don’t have to leave the platform.
The downside? It can feel overwhelming at first. Plus, your old MT4 EAs won’t work on it without rewriting the code.
Which One Should You Pick in 2025?
Here’s my honest take. If you’re brand new, learning the ropes, and mostly focused on forex, MT4 will serve you perfectly fine. It’s stable, it’s easy, and there’s a huge amount of help out there for it.
If you’re looking to grow into multi-asset trading or you like having every possible tool ready in one place, go with MT5. It’s the future-proof choice, especially if you want to mix forex with stocks, crypto, or indices.
And here’s a pro tip — you don’t have to pick one forever. Most brokers let you open accounts on both. I still run MT4 for some strategies and MT5 for others.
Final Thoughts
The “MT4 vs MT5” debate is like arguing over whether Android is better than iOS. Both work. Both get the job done. It’s just about which one fits your style and makes trading smoother for you.
In 2025, both platforms are still alive and kicking. MT4 wins for simplicity and familiarity, MT5 wins for versatility and power. Test both on a demo, see which one feels right, and then commit to mastering it.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not the platform that makes the trader — it’s the strategy and discipline behind the screen.
