Online trading has become a mass phenomenon, with new investors joining the ranks with Metatrader 4 every day to try their hand at it. The high influx of traders has led brokers to implement elaborate software available to the investor so that he can perpetrate actions of buying and selling financial assets in a secure and feature rich environment.
Some have developed customized proprietary platforms, but the majority of brokers have decided to opt for winning solutions already tested, such as the famous MetaTrader 4, whose most salient aspects will be analyzed in the following paragraphs.
What is meant by MT4 Broker
The successful online trading platform called MetaTrader 4, abbreviated for simplicity as MT4, was developed in 2005 by the Russian company MetaQuotes Software Corp. and represents the industry benchmark for private traders. Although it has many years behind it and a newer version, called MetaTrader 5, is available, MT4 remains the most popular and appreciated release by investors and brokers.
The success of MT4 comes from the winning combination of 3 elements: rich intrinsic features, high customization and ease of use.
MetaQuotes Software Corp has designed a complex software, but with a user friendly interface, dedicated to the trading of Forex and CFD (Contracts for Difference) instruments, offering a wide range of charts and technical indicators that allow a 360° analysis and operation with financial markets.
Among the most appreciated tools, there are Expert Advisors, trading bots that allow you to open or close a position for a given asset automatically, without having to operate personally. Another element that makes MT4 one of the most desirable solutions out there is its wide usability on different hardware devices, with a transversal compatibility that also includes older PC operating systems, smartphones and tablets.
Why Use the MT4 Platform: Benefits and Limitations
MetaTrader 4 has redefined the concept of online trading, dramatically simplifying trading operations in the financial markets and offering a number of winning utilities compared to more basic web platforms, all through secure, free downloadable software.
The main limitation of MT4 comes from the need to download, install and initialize it, forgoing the portability and immediacy of web-based platforms. Another element to consider is its seniority, in fact its interface may discourage younger and inexperienced traders.
Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers
The longevity and quality of MetaTrader 4 has allowed it to remain among the elite of the most popular software in the industry. In fact, many brokers, from the smallest to the most famous ones, do not give up including MT4 as an accredited solution in their platform, being, along with its successor MT5, an attractive and beneficial suite. Some of the most famous brokers that employ MT4 include Admiral Markets, ActivTrades, Avatrade and Markets.com.
Admiral Markets
Admiral Markets is an Estonian based broker founded in 2010, which allows you to trade Forex and CFDs on stocks, cryptocurrencies, metals and many other assets.
Among its unique features is an add-on called MetaTrader Supreme Edition, which complements MT4 with additional functionality, such as new Expert Advisors and indicators, aimed at enhancing the user experience.
There are no deposit or withdrawal fees, while the spreads make it competitive with most brokers. The only unconvincing element is the high commissions to be incurred in case of account inactivity, amounting to $10.
As far as security and transparency is concerned, Admiral Markets can enjoy a high standard, as it is accredited and regulated by the FCA, ASIC and EFSA supervisory bodies.
ActivTrades
With over 20 years of online trading experience, London-based broker ActivTrades is one of the most reliable brokers on the market and is also accredited by the Italian CONSOB.
Although the product offering is limited to CFDs and does not include new generation assets such as cryptocurrencies, the platform does offer some unique features, primarily a free insurance policy assigned by default that protects each client up to £1,000,000. In addition, especially to favor access to newbies in the industry, the possibility to operate with a demo account is granted.
ActivTrades does not charge commissions on trading transactions, except for CFDs on stocks. As a result, the cost of each transaction is derived solely from the spread.
AvaTrade
With a total trading volume of more than $60 billion per month, the Irish broker AvaTrade, in its ten years of experience, has managed to win the approval of more than 20,000 customers.
Today it allows trading in Forex, commodities, stock indices, ETFs, shares and cryptocurrency, making it one of the most comprehensive brokers in terms of asset offering.
In addition to the guarantee deriving from the presidium of regulatory institutions such as ASIC and FSCA, the 256-bit SSL encryption represents a great protection for the trader and all the operations carried out through the platform.
There are no commissions for opening and closing positions and spreads are competitive.
Markets.com
With over 2000 assets available, Markets.com is a specialist Forex and CFD broker that has been trading since 2008. To protect the trader, the platform has an operating license from CySEC and is also registered with CONSOB.
It is particularly appreciated as it offers educational content, providing free training aimed at increasing knowledge of the financial markets.
Although the minimum deposit is not the most affordable in the broker landscape, Markets.com does not charge commissions and offers free trading for all trades that are opened and closed within the same day.