MT4 vs MT5 2026: Which Platform Should You Use?

MT4 and MT5 are the two most widely used retail forex trading platforms in the world. Despite MT5 being launched in 2010 — more than 15 years ago — MT4 still has a large installed base of traders who stick with it for one reason: their existing Expert Advisors (EAs) and indicators.

This guide compares MT4 and MT5 feature by feature in 2026 and gives a direct recommendation on which to choose.

SERP data note: For "mt4 vs mt5" (DataForSEO SERP, US, March 2026): AI Overview is prominent and gives a clear verdict. Key finding from b2broker.com (featured in People Also Ask): "MetaTrader 4 is officially closed to new licensees. MetaQuotes has shut down MT4 distribution, which makes MT5 the only supported option for new brokerages." This is the single most important 2026 development for this topic.

The Most Important 2026 Update: MT4 Is Closed to New Brokers

As of 2025–2026, MetaQuotes has closed MT4 to new licensees. No new brokerages can offer MT4. Existing MT4 deployments by brokers who already licensed it continue to operate, but:

• MetaQuotes is no longer developing MT4
• No new features will be added to MT4
• The platform is in maintenance mode only
• MT5 is the only platform available for new broker deployments

This is the decisive factor for 2026: if you are starting fresh, MT5 is the only option going forward. If you already have MT4 EAs or indicators you depend on, you have a reason to stay — but you should plan your eventual migration.

MT4 vs MT5: Feature Comparison

Feature	MT4	MT5
Release year	2005	2010
Development status	Maintenance only	Active development
Architecture	32-bit	64-bit, multi-threaded
Timeframes	9	21
Built-in technical indicators	30	38
Analytical objects	31	44
Pending order types	4	6
Programming language	MQL4	MQL5
Strategy tester	Single-threaded	Multi-threaded (faster)
Hedging	Yes	Yes
Netting	No	Yes (configurable)
Market depth (Level II)	No	Yes
Built-in economic calendar	No	Yes
Asset classes	Primarily forex + CFDs	Forex, stocks, futures, options, CFDs
EA/indicator compatibility	MQL4 only	MQL5 only (MQL4 not compatible)

Technical Indicators and Tools

MT4

MT4 includes 30 built-in technical indicators across categories:

• Trend indicators: Moving Averages, Bollinger Bands, Ichimoku, etc.
• Oscillators: RSI, MACD, Stochastic, CCI
• Volume indicators: OBV, Volumes
• Bill Williams indicators: Alligator, Fractals, etc.

MT4 also supports thousands of custom indicators downloadable from MQL4.com or MT4 marketplace.

MT5

MT5 includes 38 built-in indicators — 8 more than MT4 — plus additional analytical objects. The extra indicators include enhanced volume and volatility tools.

More significantly, MT5 includes 21 timeframes versus MT4's 9:

• MT4: M1, M5, M15, M30, H1, H4, D1, W1, MN
• MT5: All MT4 timeframes plus M2, M3, M4, M6, M10, M12, M20, H2, H3, H6, H8, H12

The additional timeframes are useful for traders who use non-standard time intervals (H2, H3, H6 are popular with some institutional strategies).

Order Types

MT4 (4 pending order types):

1. Buy Limit
2. Sell Limit
3. Buy Stop
4. Sell Stop

MT5 (6 pending order types):

All MT4 types plus: 5. Buy Stop Limit — triggers a Buy Limit when price reaches a specified level 6. Sell Stop Limit — triggers a Sell Limit when price reaches a specified level

MT5 also supports partial order fills, which is standard in institutional trading but absent in MT4.

Expert Advisors and Custom Indicators: The Compatibility Problem

This is the number one reason traders stick with MT4.

MT4 uses MQL4 as its programming language. MT5 uses MQL5. The two languages are not backward-compatible.

An MT4 EA does not run on MT5 without being rewritten in MQL5. An MT4 indicator does not work on MT5 natively.

This creates a real practical problem for traders who have:

• Purchased commercial EAs coded in MQL4
• Built custom indicators in MQL4
• Purchased subscription-based signal services that deliver MQL4 code

If this describes you, you have two options:

1. Stay on MT4 while it remains available from your broker
2. Find or commission an MQL5 version of your tools

The MQL5 community has grown substantially. Many popular MQL4 EAs have been ported to MQL5. If you are evaluating whether to migrate, check mql5.com for MQL5 equivalents of your tools.

Strategy Tester: MT5 Wins Decisively

For automated strategy testing, MT5 is significantly faster than MT4.

MT4 strategy tester:

• Single-threaded (uses only 1 CPU core)
• Slower for complex optimization runs
• Works only with historical data in the currency of the instrument

MT5 strategy tester:

• Multi-threaded (uses all available CPU cores)
• Can run multiple optimization passes simultaneously
• Supports multi-currency testing (test EAs that trade multiple pairs simultaneously)
• More detailed performance metrics and trade reports

For anyone who backtests automated strategies, MT5's strategy tester is a major productivity improvement.

Platform Architecture: Performance

MT4 is a 32-bit application. This means:

• Limited RAM usage (typically capped around 4 GB)
• Limited to 32-bit processes
• Slower performance with large indicator sets or multiple charts

MT5 is a 64-bit multi-threaded application:

• Can use all available system RAM
• Handles more charts, indicators, and automated strategies simultaneously
• Better performance on modern hardware

For traders running multiple instances, many indicators, or complex EAs, MT5 performs noticeably better on modern computers.

Asset Class Coverage

MT4

MT4 was designed specifically for forex trading. Brokers have adapted it to support other CFDs, but it was not built for multi-asset trading.

MT5

MT5 was designed from the ground up as a multi-asset platform:

• Forex
• Stocks (CFDs and physical in some deployments)
• Futures
• Options (in some broker implementations)
• Indices
• Commodities
• Cryptocurrencies

For traders who want to trade stocks, ETFs, or futures alongside forex, MT5 is necessary.

MT4 vs MT5 on Exness

Exness supports both MT4 and MT5 on all account types. Key differences in the Exness implementation:

Feature	MT4 on Exness	MT5 on Exness
All account types	Yes	Yes
Copy trading	Partially supported	Full Social Trading support
Exness Terminal (web)	Separate product	Integrated web version
Recommended for new users	No	Yes

Exness officially recommends MT5 for all new accounts. MT4 remains available for existing users and traders who require MQL4 compatibility.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose MT5 if:

• You are new to forex trading
• You have no existing MT4 EAs or indicators you depend on
• You trade multiple asset classes (stocks, futures, commodities)
• You run automated strategies and need faster backtesting
• You want access to the built-in economic calendar and more timeframes
• You are future-proofing your setup (MT4 is no longer in active development)

Choose MT4 if:

• You have existing MQL4 EAs or indicators that are critical to your strategy
• You have not found MT5 equivalents for your tools
• Your broker supports MT4 and you are not ready to migrate

The overall recommendation for 2026: Use MT5. The closure of MT4 to new brokers confirms that MT5 is the industry standard going forward. If you are still on MT4 because of EAs, check mql5.com for MQL5 ports of your tools. Most popular EAs have already been ported.

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MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 are trademarks of MetaQuotes Ltd. This article is for informational purposes only. Trading involves significant risk of capital loss.