MT4 vs MT5 for expert advisors: which platform should you use?
For new EAs, MT5 is the stronger platform. Its strategy tester can use real tick data, test several symbols at once and optimise across many CPU cores, and most new EAs come out for it first. MT4 still works and still gets updates. EA files don’t run on both, so your choice comes down to the EA you want and what your broker offers.
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 look alike, and both run expert advisors, but they are separate platforms with different programming languages, testers and position rules. For anyone running or buying EAs, those differences matter more than the charts. Here is MT4 vs MT5 compared on the points that affect automated trading.
MT4 vs MT5 at a glance
| Feature | MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 |
|---|---|---|
| EA language and files | MQL4 (.mq4 source, .ex4 compiled) | MQL5 (.mq5 source, .ex5 compiled) |
| Tester modelling | Every tick, Control points, Open prices only | Every tick based on real ticks, Every tick, 1 minute OHLC, Open prices only, Math calculations |
| Multi-symbol testing | No, one symbol per test | Yes, multi-currency |
| Optimisation | Single-threaded | Multi-threaded, with remote agents and the MQL5 Cloud Network |
| Forward testing | Not built in | Built in (1/2, 1/3, 1/4 or a custom date) |
| Position accounting | Hedging (opposite positions allowed) | Netting or hedging, set per account by the broker |
| Timeframes | 9 | 21 |
| Pending order types | 4 | 6, adding Buy Stop Limit and Sell Stop Limit |
| Updates | Still updated (build 1490, October 2026) | Updated frequently |
The strategy tester: the biggest difference for EA users
MT5’s tester is the main reason most EA developers have moved to it. Its “Every tick based on real ticks” mode replays the broker’s recorded tick history, including real spreads, instead of simulating ticks from one-minute bars. MT4 can only model ticks from bar data, and its “modelling quality” figure measures how complete that data is.
MT5 can also test a portfolio EA across several symbols in one run, spread an optimisation across every CPU core, other computers and the MQL5 Cloud Network, and hold back the latest part of the history as a forward test. The forward test shows whether optimised settings still work on data they weren’t tuned on. Our guide to backtesting an EA in MT5 walks through each setting.
Hedging vs netting: why some EAs fail on MT5
A netting account allows only one position per symbol, so a new buy order on EURUSD adds to or reduces the existing position. A hedging account allows several positions on the same symbol, including opposite ones, which is how MT4 has always worked.
Grid EAs, EAs that open several trades at once, and EAs that hedge buys against sells need a hedging account. If one runs on a netting account, its trades merge into a single position and its logic breaks. Many forex brokers open MT5 accounts in hedging mode, but check before you run an EA ported from MT4.
Can you run an MT4 EA on MT5?
No. A compiled .ex4 file only runs in MT4 and a .ex5 file only runs in MT5. MetaQuotes describes MQL5 as “maximally compatible” with MQL4, but there are enough differences that programs have to be rewritten or ported, and the result needs retesting. If you own an EA for one platform, ask the developer whether they sell a version for the other.
Is MT4 being discontinued?
There is no announced end date. MetaQuotes still releases MT4 updates, with build 1490 out on 2 October 2026. Trade press reported in 2018 that MetaQuotes had stopped selling MT4 licences to new brokers, which is why newer brokers and many prop firms offer only MT5. MetaQuotes also sets minimum versions: since 1 July 2025, desktop terminals older than MT4 build 1440 and MT5 build 4755 can’t connect to broker servers, so keep your platform updated.
Which should you choose for EAs?
- Choose MT5 if you are starting fresh, want realistic real-tick backtests, run multi-symbol EAs, or trade with a prop firm or broker that only offers MT5.
- Stay on MT4 if the EA you rely on exists only for MT4, it has a long live record there, and your broker still supports it.
- Either way, the EA matters more than the platform. A weak strategy doesn’t improve on MT5.
Moving an EA from MT4 to MT5
- Get the MT5 version of the EA from its developer; don’t try to rename files.
- Open an MT5 demo account in hedging mode with the same broker, symbols and leverage.
- Install the EA using our MT5 installation guide, then load its set file.
- Backtest on real ticks and compare the trades with your MT4 history over the same months.
- Run both side by side on demo for a few weeks before switching your live account.
Still on MT4? Our step-by-step guide shows how to install an EA in MT4, and whichever platform you use, a forex VPS keeps it trading around the clock.
MT4 vs MT5 FAQ
Is MT5 better than MT4 for EAs?
For testing and development, yes: real-tick testing, multi-symbol tests, faster optimisation and built-in forward testing. For running a specific EA, the better platform is the one that EA was built and proven on.
Can I use my MT4 EA on MT5?
Not directly. The .ex4 file won’t load in MT5; you need an MT5 version, rewritten in MQL5 and tested again.
Is MT5 better for scalping?
Execution speed depends on your broker and VPS more than on the platform. MT5’s advantage for scalpers is the tester: real tick data shows whether a scalper survives real spreads.
Do prop firms use MT4 or MT5?
Many offer MT5, some still offer MT4, and several use other platforms such as cTrader or their own. Check the platform list before you buy an EA for a challenge.
Risk warning. Trading forex and CFDs on margin carries a high risk of losing money. Better testing tools reduce mistakes but don’t make an EA profitable.
Sources, checked 6 November 2026: MT5 strategy tester · MT4 tester settings · MT5 netting and hedging · MQL4 to MQL5 migration · MT4 release notes · MetaQuotes minimum builds