10  Best MT4 Forex Brokers in UK 2024

How to compare MT4 Brokers

When comparing MT4 brokers, it is important to pay special attention to a few factors that will significantly impact your trading costs and trading experience.

To compare MT4 Forex brokers, we:

• Confirmed the brokers’ regulation. MT4 brokers in the UK are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). FCA-regulated brokers follow very strict rules that ensure they treat traders fairly and safeguard trader funds.
• Checked the trading costs on the brokers’ MT4 accounts, ensuring that they were the same as those advertised on their websites. 
• Checked the number of tradable instruments available on MT4 for traders in the UK. However, it’s important to note that MT4 only natively allows trading on Forex, indices, and commodities. To trade other instruments, these brokers must employ a special MT4 plugin. 
• Assessed the brokers’ execution method and speed. MT4 brokers will use either instant execution, STP execution, or market execution, which we will cover in more detail below. We ensured that the MT4 brokers were transparent about their execution policies and provided fast trade execution.
• Tried out the brokers’ trading tools. Some MT4 brokers offer tools and plugins that enhance the trading experience and transform the trading platform into a more functional and feature-rich trading terminal. 
• Ensured that the MT4 brokers offered excellent Forex educational materials, including specific MT4 tutorials, guides, and tips. 
• Checked that the MT4 brokers offered up-to-date and frequent market analysis curated by an inhouse research team.
• Contacted the brokers’ customer support teams. MT4 can be tricky to install and customise, so we ensured that these MT4 brokers had a responsive, knowledgeable, and polite customer support team available via many channels (live chat, telephone, and email) with at least 24/5 availability. 

Our Broker Score and Trust Rating

FxScouts’ Broker Score and Trust Rating constantly evolve to reflect the forex market’s dynamics. We ensure transparency by incorporating regulator data and user insights. Our in-depth reviews consider over 200 metrics across seven key categories:

• Trust Rating: Assessment of broker reliability and reputation
• Trading Costs: Spreads and fees for clear comparisons
• Platforms: User-friendliness and features
• Asset Selection: Forex, stocks, and other available instruments
• Transactions: Simple and straightforward deposits & withdrawals
• Education: Support for beginners and developing traders
• Customer Support: Accessibility, responsiveness, and expertise

Learn how we set the standard for broker reviews. Explore our in-depth review process here.

What is MetaTrader 4 (MT4)?

MetaTrader 4 is the most popular Forex trading platform in the world and has been for the last fifteen years. It connects traders to brokers so they can trade Forex and other CFDs.

MT4 was built by MetaQuotes – a Russian software company – in 2005, and it revolutionised the retail Forex industry. MT4 offered retail Forex traders an institutional-grade trading platform so anyone with an internet connection was on equal footing with professional Forex traders. 15 years later, MT4 is still the industry standard for several reasons:

• MT4 is a high-speed and customisable trading platform, complete with a charting suite where charts can be overlaid with indicators from MT4’s library. 
• MT4 allows users to build or buy expert advisors (EAs), indicators, and other algorithmic trading tools using MQL4 and use them to automate their trading.
• MT4’s algorithms and customisable charts allow retail traders to analyse market movements with precision and speed. Trades can then be made in an instant due to the platform’s execution speed.
• MT4 is available on mobile, tablet, in a web browser and as a downloadable application.

Is MT4 a Broker?

No, MetaTrader 4 is not a broker. It is a trading platform, which can be connected to a Forex broker to trade Forex and other CFDs. MT4 is a third-party trading platform, which means that you own the licence to the software, and you can use it with multiple brokers. MT4 is also free to download and use.

Which brokers have MT4?

These are all regulated brokers we have reviewed which support MT4 sorted by overall score.

How do I get started with MT4?

The quickest way to get started with Metatrader 4 is to download it yourself. You can download it directly from the MetaTrader website or from any MT4 broker. If you download it directly from MetaTrader website you will be asked to open a free demo account, which will allow you to test the features of the trading platform.

All MT4 brokers will offer demo accounts too – and you should always use one before opening a live account, especially if you are new to MetaTrader. The best MT4 brokers will offer detailed educational resources for the trading platform, including video tutorials and downloadable PDF guides.

What is the Difference Between MT4 and MT5?

MT5 is the newer version of MetaTrader, released in 2010, though it still lags behind MT4 in terms of popularity. The first significant change is that MT5 has native support for trading exchange-traded assets like shares, futures and ETFs, whereas MT4 does not – though most MT4 brokers have since added this capability to their MT4 systems.

The second major change is MT5’s new scripting language, MQL5, which allows for more accurate backtesting of Expert Advisors (EAs). It is important to note that EAs built for MT4 will not run in MT5 (and vice versa) due to the incompatibility of their scripting languages.

MT5 also boasts a cleaner interface and comes with an integrated news feed, a sentiment tracker, and more charting capabilities. MT5 is finally seeing support from the trading industry, with some MetaTrader brokers abandoning MT4 in favour of the newer version.

Is MT4 for Forex Trading Only?

MT4 was initially founded as a Forex-only trading solution, but these days you can trade all CFDs with it. While MT4 was not originally designed to trade stock CFDs, some brokers have since added this capability. That said, don’t be surprised to see that some MT4-only brokers offer no stock CFDs at all – or a very limited selection.

What are MT4 Charts?

When you first open MT4 you will be greeted with the screen above. Like all trading platforms, charts are the main focus in MT4, and this is where most of your attention will be spent. The MT4 charts will show you the current and historical price of up to four different asset classes at the same time. Charts are the most valuable tool traders have for analysing the movements of Forex pairs and other CFDs.

In MT4, each chart can be fully customised. Traders can choose between Candlesticks, Bar Charts or Line Charts and each chart can be colour-coded and saved as a template.

What Charting Tools Does MT4 have?

Aside from customising the appearance of charts in MT4, there are a number of key charting features and tools that traders can use to enhance their trading experience.

Zooming: Each chart can be zoomed horizontally and vertically, to close in on a specific time period or set of bars.
Period Changes: MT4 allows traders to use nine different data periods, from 1 minute to 1 month. Some technical indicators and line studies will only be helpful when used with certain data periods, so this capability is especially important for technical analysis.
Objects: Also called graphical objects, these are lines, shapes and arrows that are imposed over charts to assist with technical analysis. Common graphical objects include support/resistance lines, trendlines, as well as Fibonacci, Gann, and Andrews’ tools. Objects will not be removed when the time period changes.
Indicators: Indicators are technical analysis tools that can identify market trends and help traders predict future price movements of an asset. MT4 comes with a number of the most common indicators already installed, but more can be added from the MetaTrader Market. Like graphical objects, indicators can be superimposed over the chart and will not be removed if the time period is changed.

Does MT4 support copytrading?

Yes, MT4 can support copytrading in a few different ways. The most common method is through MT4 trading signals. Trading signals in MetaTrader 4 allow traders to automatically copy other traders in real-time. Many successful traders provide their Forex trades in public access either for free or for a reasonable fee, these are known as signal providers.

MetaTrader 4’s signal service is easily accessible. You will need an active trading account and an MQL5.com account. Once you have both you will be able to access the signal providers database. From this database, you can see the names of the signal providers, how long they have been active, and other important information like total profit, the number of followers and maximum drawdown.

MetaTrader 4 can also be used in conjunction with popular copytrading solutions such as myFxBook, Duplitrade and ZuluTrade. These third-party copy-trading solutions have a carefully curated selection of traders to follow, therefore decreasing the risk of following a loss-making signal provider. Be aware that these other services have an additional cost.

Does MT4 support Automated Trading?

Yes, MT4 does support automated trading. Aside from copytrading through the MT4 signal service, traders can automate their trading via Expert Advisors (EAs) and technical indicators. This type of automated trading is also called algorithmic trading, as the EAs are algorithms built specifically for trading.

It’s important to recognise the difference between EAs and indicators. EAs fully automate your trading and will trade for you within the parameters of the algorithm. Indicators will only analyse the market, allowing you to decide whether to trade or not based on the information given. EAs can be turned on and off easily from within MT4.

EAs and indicators can be downloaded and purchased from inside MT4, in the Market tab of the trading platform. Some EAs are free, others can be purchased outright or rented on a monthly or yearly basis.

In addition to the MetaTrader Market, thousands of free EAs and indicators can also be found in the MT4 Code Base.

How to Automate Trading in MT4 Using at EA?

Once an EA has been purchased or downloaded from the Market or Code Base, it’s a simple process to start automating your trading with it. First, you will need to find the location of the EA on your computer and copy it to the Experts folder in your MetaTrader 4 folder (usually on the C drive of your computer).

Launch the main MT4 application, and then look for the Expert Advisors section, which should be located under the Navigator tab on the left side of the main screen. Then click on the + icon and select the EA, which should now be visible. Once it has been selected you can drag it onto the charts to ensure that it’s active.

Can I Build My Own EAs?

Yes, anyone can build an EA using the MQL4 integrated programming language. MQL4 is a high-level object-oriented programming language based on the concepts of the popular С++ programming language.

What Are the Risks of Using an EA for Automated Trading?

Before you start using an EA with a live account, it should always be used with a demo account until you are happy with its performance. Most EAs will come with a short guide from the developer explaining how best to use it, and it’s important to understand this information completely before use.

Even though performance can be difficult to evaluate over a short time period, practice with a demo will be useful as a guide to the future. Even the best MT4 EA can’t take fundamental events such as geopolitical variables into account when automating your trades.

It’s also important to consider lot size when using an EA, you should never trade more than your account balance and risk management strategy will allow.

What is EA Backtesting in MT4?

Backtesting is using historical data in MT4 to see how an EA would have performed in the past. While this does not guarantee success of an EA in live trading, it does give you an idea of how the EA will function over a certain time period. This is especially useful if you backtest using a particularly volatile period, where the EA’s function would be disturbed by political or financial events outside of its purview.

Should You Use MT4?

If you are just starting your trading career you may want to consider moving straight to MT5 or cTrader instead. But if you have been using MT4 and you are happy with it then keep on using it.

MT4 is old, and MetaQuotes is actively trying to get Forex brokers to switch to MT5. MT4 is still the industry standard, but it will eventually be replaced. MT5 and cTrader also have more built-in functionality and have a more modern, cleaner layout.

But if you have been using MT4 for some time, then your version is probably heavily customised. Algos built for MT4 will not function in MT5 or cTrader, so any customisations you have made will be lost.

MT4 will eventually be replaced, but its popularity means that is not going to happen anytime soon. But if you want to move to a more modern platform, or you are just starting out then you should check out MT5 or cTrader.

Conclusion

MetaTrader 4 is central for so many traders in their development towards becoming professional traders. It will be here for many years to come and will continue to help new traders launch a trading career. If you’re trying to get the most out of your charts and focus without the distraction of fancy tools, then it remains a candidate to satisfy 90% of all your trading needs.

MT4 is the most popular Forex trading platform in the world and has been for the last fifteen years. The launch of MT4 in 2005 changed the retail Forex industry almost overnight. It offered retail Forex traders an institutional-grade tool: Anyone with an internet connection was now on equal footing with professional Forex traders. 15 years later, MT4 is still the industry standard for several reasons:

1. MT4 is the lowest-latency and a highly customisable trading platform, complete with a cutting-edge charting suite offering market charts overlaid with indicators from MT4’s library. 
2. MT4 allows users to build or buy expert advisors (EAs), indicators, and other algorithmic trading tools using MQL4. 
3. MT4’s algorithms and customisable charts allow retail traders to analyse market movements with precision and speed. Trades can then be made in an instant due to the platform’s execution speed.
4. MT4 is available on mobile, tablet, in a web browser and as a downloadable application.

This versatility makes MT4 the world’s leading trading platform.

Forex Risk Disclaimer

Trading Forex and CFDs is not suitable for all investors as it carries a high degree of risk to your capital: 75-90% of retail investors lose money trading these products. Forex and CFD transactions involve high risk due to the following factors: Leverage, market volatility, slippage arising from a lack of liquidity, inadequate trading knowledge or experience, and a lack of regulatory protection. Traders should not deposit any money that is not considered disposable income. Regardless of how much research you have done or how confident you are in your trade, there is always a substantial risk of loss. (Learn more about these risks from the UK’s regulator, the FCA, or the Australian regulator, ASIC).

Our Rating & Review Methodology

Our overall Forex Rankings report and Directory of CFD Brokers to Avoid are the result of extensive research on over 180 Forex brokers. These resources help traders find the best Forex brokers – and steer them away from the worst ones. These resources have been compiled using over 200 data points on each broker and over 3000 hours of research. Our team conducts all research independently: Testing brokers, gathering information from broker representatives and sifting through legal documents. Learn more about how we rank brokers. 

Editorial Team

 

Chris Cammack
Head of Content

Chris joined the company in 2019 after ten years experience in research, editorial and design for political and financial publications. His background has given him a deep knowledge of international financial markets and the geopolitics that affects them. Chris has a keen eye for editing and a voracious appetite for financial and political current affairs. He ensures that our content across all sites meets the standards of quality and transparency that our readers expect.

 

Alison Heyerdahl
Senior Financial Writer

Alison joined the team as a writer in 2021. She has a medical degree with a focus on physiotherapy and a bachelor’s in psychology. However, her interest in forex trading and her love for writing led her to switch careers, and she now has over eight years experience in research and content development. She has tested and reviewed 100+ brokers and has a great understanding of the Forex trading world.

 

Ida Hermansen
Financial Writer

Ida joined our team as a financial writer in 2023. She has a degree in Digital Marketing and a background in content writing and SEO. In addition to her marketing and writing skills, Ida also has an interest in cryptocurrencies and blockchain networks. Her interest in crypto trading led to a wider fascination with Forex technical analysis and price movement. She continues to develop her skills and knowledge in Forex trading and keeps a close eye on which Forex brokers offer the best trading environments for new traders.

 

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