Researched and written by Laurent Find the best MetaTrader 4 brokers offering competitive spreads, reliable execution, and full support for Expert Advisors. Every broker below has been verified for MT4 availability across desktop, mobile, and web terminals so you can trade on your terms with the platform trusted by millions of retail forex traders worldwide.
A globally recognized multi-asset broker offering access to over 1,000 instruments with ultra-fast execution and multi-tier regulatory oversight across four jurisdictions.
| Broker | Risk % | Popularity | Min Deposit | ECN Deposit | Leverage | Platforms | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Exness A high-volume global broker processing over $4 trillion in monthly trading volume, known for instant withdrawals, unlimited leverage on qualifying accounts, and a dominant presence across Asia and Africa. FCA CySEC FSA +2 | 78.79% | | $10 | $200 | 1:2000 (1:30 in EU) | MT4 MT5 cTrader TV Exness Terminal | Visit |
| 3 AvaTrade An award-winning CFD broker regulated on five continents, known for its proprietary AvaTradeGO app and extensive educational resources tailored to newer traders. CBI ASIC FSCA +2 | 76% | | $100 | — | 1:400 (1:30 in EU) | MT4 MT5 cTrader TV AvaTradeGO | Visit |
| 4 Pepperstone An Australian-born execution specialist trusted by active traders for razor-thin spreads, institutional-grade liquidity, and support for all major third-party platforms. FCA ASIC CySEC +2 | 75.5% | | No min | $200 | 1:500 (1:30 in EU) | MT4 MT5 cTrader TV | Visit |
| 5 HFM A globally regulated multi-asset broker formerly known as HotForex, offering diverse account types with leverage up to 1:2000 and a strong footprint across Africa, the Middle East, and emerging markets. FCA CySEC DFSA +3 | 71.37% | | No min | — | 1:2000 (1:30 in EU) | MT4 MT5 cTrader TV HFM App | Visit |
| 6 Eightcap A fast-growing Melbourne-based broker integrating directly with TradingView, offering raw spreads from 0.0 pips and deep cryptocurrency CFD coverage alongside traditional forex pairs. ASIC FCA CySEC +1 | 76.09% | | $100 | $100 | 1:500 (1:30 in EU) | MT4 MT5 cTrader TV | Visit |
| 7 ActivTrades A London-headquartered broker with over two decades of operation, offering up to £1M in additional insurance coverage and consistently tight spreads on major pairs. FCA CSSF CMVM +1 | 68% | | No min | $1000 | 1:400 (1:30 in EU) | MT4 MT5 cTrader TV ActivTrader | Visit |
| 8 Tickmill An ECN-focused broker consistently ranking among the lowest-cost providers globally, with raw spreads starting at 0.0 pips and commissions as low as $2 per lot per side. FCA CySEC FSCA +1 | 70% | | $100 | $100 | 1:500 (1:30 in EU) | MT4 MT5 cTrader TV | Visit |
| 9 IC Markets An Australian-born ECN broker renowned for ultra-tight raw spreads and deep liquidity, making it the top choice for scalpers, algorithmic traders, and high-volume professionals worldwide. ASIC CySEC FSA +2 | 70.53% | | $200 | $200 | 1:500 (1:30 in EU) | MT4 MT5 cTrader TV | Visit |
| 10 Admirals Formerly Admiral Markets, a multi-regulated European broker offering an expansive product range of 8,000+ instruments with transparent pricing and strong educational content. FCA CySEC ASIC +1 | 73% | | $25 | $100 | 1:500 (1:30 in EU) | MT4 MT5 cTrader TV Admirals App | Visit |
A high-volume global broker processing over $4 trillion in monthly trading volume, known for instant withdrawals, unlimited leverage on qualifying accounts, and a dominant presence across Asia and Africa.
An award-winning CFD broker regulated on five continents, known for its proprietary AvaTradeGO app and extensive educational resources tailored to newer traders.
An Australian-born execution specialist trusted by active traders for razor-thin spreads, institutional-grade liquidity, and support for all major third-party platforms.
A globally regulated multi-asset broker formerly known as HotForex, offering diverse account types with leverage up to 1:2000 and a strong footprint across Africa, the Middle East, and emerging markets.
A fast-growing Melbourne-based broker integrating directly with TradingView, offering raw spreads from 0.0 pips and deep cryptocurrency CFD coverage alongside traditional forex pairs.
A London-headquartered broker with over two decades of operation, offering up to £1M in additional insurance coverage and consistently tight spreads on major pairs.
An ECN-focused broker consistently ranking among the lowest-cost providers globally, with raw spreads starting at 0.0 pips and commissions as low as $2 per lot per side.
An Australian-born ECN broker renowned for ultra-tight raw spreads and deep liquidity, making it the top choice for scalpers, algorithmic traders, and high-volume professionals worldwide.
Formerly Admiral Markets, a multi-regulated European broker offering an expansive product range of 8,000+ instruments with transparent pricing and strong educational content.
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MetaTrader 4 (MT4) was released in 2005 by MetaQuotes Software and quickly became the most widely used retail forex trading platform in the world. More than a decade and a half after its launch, MT4 continues to dominate the retail trading landscape; industry estimates suggest that over 80% of forex brokers still offer it, and millions of traders use it daily. Its longevity is a testament to a design that struck the right balance between power and accessibility for retail market participants.
The platform was developed specifically for leveraged forex and CFD trading, providing everything a retail trader needs in a single package: real-time charting, technical analysis tools, one-click order execution, and a built-in programming environment for automated strategies. MT4 is offered by virtually every multi-asset broker, and because the platform interface is standardized, traders can switch between brokers without needing to relearn the software. This portability, combined with a massive ecosystem of third-party tools and communities, has cemented MT4's position as the industry default.
Although MetaQuotes has shifted its focus to the newer MetaTrader 5, the company has not discontinued MT4 and continues to provide security patches and server-side updates. For brokers, MT4 remains commercially attractive because of its enormous user base and the vast library of existing Expert Advisors and custom indicators that traders have built over the years. For traders, the platform offers a proven, stable environment that works reliably even on older hardware and slower internet connections.
The headline feature of MetaTrader 4 is Expert Advisors (EAs): fully automated trading programs written in the MQL4 programming language. EAs can analyze price data, generate trading signals, and execute orders without any manual intervention, making MT4 the platform of choice for algorithmic retail traders. The built-in Strategy Tester allows traders to backtest their EAs against historical data before deploying them on a live account, providing a structured way to validate automated strategies.
MT4 ships with 30+ built-in technical indicators covering trend, oscillator, volume, and Bill Williams categories. Beyond the defaults, traders can install thousands of custom indicators created by the MQL4 community or code their own using the integrated MetaEditor IDE. The charting engine supports nine timeframes, from one minute to one month, and provides three chart types: bar, candlestick, and line. One-click trading, available directly from the chart, streamlines order placement for scalpers and day traders who need speed.
Additional features include a built-in alerts system that can notify you of price levels or indicator conditions via pop-up, email, or push notification to the MT4 mobile app. The platform supports multiple order types including market, limit, stop, and trailing stop orders. For traders who want to follow rather than build strategies, MT4 integrates with the MQL5 Signals service, allowing you to copy trades from experienced signal providers directly within the platform. This combination of automation, analysis, and community resources is why MT4 remains the benchmark for retail trading platforms.
MetaTrader 4 is available across three primary interfaces: the desktop terminal, mobile apps, and the web terminal. The desktop version runs natively on Windows and offers the full feature set, including Expert Advisor execution, the Strategy Tester, and the MetaEditor for writing custom indicators and scripts. Mac users can run MT4 through compatibility layers such as Wine or PlayOnMac, and several brokers offer pre-packaged Mac installers that bundle the necessary compatibility tools for a smoother setup experience.
The mobile apps for iOS and Android deliver core trading functionality (charting, order management, account monitoring, and push notifications) in a touch-optimized interface. While mobile MT4 does not support Expert Advisors or custom indicators (a deliberate design choice to conserve battery and data), it is a reliable companion for monitoring positions and placing manual trades on the go. The web terminal, accessible through any modern browser without installation, provides an intermediate feature set that is useful on shared or restricted computers.
System requirements for the desktop version are minimal by modern standards: Windows 7 or later, 512 MB of RAM, and approximately 50 MB of disk space. This lightweight footprint means MT4 runs comfortably on budget hardware and can even be installed on virtual private servers (VPS) for uninterrupted Expert Advisor operation. Many brokers partner with VPS providers to offer free or discounted hosting to active traders, ensuring that automated strategies can run 24/5 without relying on a home internet connection.
No. MetaQuotes stopped selling new MT4 licences to brokers, but brokers that already hold licences can continue offering the platform indefinitely. You can still open and trade on MT4 accounts today with established brokers.
MT4 remains the better choice if you focus exclusively on forex and rely on Expert Advisors built in MQL4, since MQL4 and MQL5 are not compatible. MT5 offers more timeframes, faster execution, and multi-asset support, but MT4's larger library of community tools gives it an edge for pure-forex strategies.
Each MT4 installation connects to a specific broker's server, so you cannot simply log into a different broker's account using one MT4 download. However, you can install multiple separate MT4 instances on the same computer, each connected to a different broker.
Yes, MT4 Expert Advisors continue to work as long as you are running an up-to-date build and your broker still supports the platform. The MQL4 ecosystem remains active with thousands of EAs available, though no new official MT4 features will be added by MetaQuotes.
MT4 itself has no minimum deposit requirement; that figure is set entirely by the broker you choose. Minimum deposits across MT4 brokers range from $0 (no minimum) up to several hundred dollars, with many regulated brokers setting a $10–$100 starting threshold.