MT4 vs MT5: Which is Better for Your Trading Needs
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Published: 2024-07-11 08:17:15


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<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Choosing the right trading platform for trading is really important if you want to succeed in forex trading. Many people talk about two main choices: MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Traders all over the world, even those forex trading in Pakistan, use these platforms a lot. In this article, we will look at what each platform can do and help you figure out which one might work best for how you like to trade.</span></p>
<h2 style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400;">What is MT4 and MT5?</span></h2>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">To make a good choice, we need to know the basics of each platform. So let&rsquo;s answer this simple question: What is MT4 and MT5.</span></p>
<h3 style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(67, 67, 67); font-weight: 400;">MetaTrader 4</span></h3>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">MetaQuotes Software created MetaTrader 4, or MT4, in 2005. Many traders started using it because it was easy to navigate and had good features. Here's what MT4 offers:</span></p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;">
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A simple design that's easy to understand</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Good selection of charting tools, with 30 built-in indicators</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A way to use computer programs (called Expert Advisors) to trade for you</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">9 different timeframes to look at the market</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Works with many forex brokers</span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(67, 67, 67); font-weight: 400;">MetaTrader 5</span></h3>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">MetaQuotes Software developed MetaTrader 5, or MT5, in 2010 to improve on MT4. It's like MT4 in many ways but brings additional features to the table:</span></p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;">
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Better chart tools with more than 80 built-in indicators</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">21 different timeframes to look at the market in more detail</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">You can trade more than just forex pairs</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Better ways to manage and execute trades</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A calendar that shows important financial events</span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400;">What is the Difference Between MT4 and MT5?</span></h2>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) differ in what they can do and who they're made for. Both have good trading tools, but knowing their differences can help you pick the right one.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">MT4 is mostly used for forex trading. It's simple and works well, so traders who like to keep things easy when trading money often choose it. MT5 is for traders who want to do more. It lets you trade more assets and has better tools for analyzing the market.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">So if you&rsquo;re asking yourself, ''what is difference between mt4 and mt5'', here are some big differences:</span></p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;">
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Asset Classes: MT4 is mostly for forex and CFDs. MT5 lets you trade more assets, like stocks and futures.</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Timeframes: MT4 has 9 timeframes, but MT5 has 21. This lets you look at the market in more detail.</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Indicators: MT5 has over 80 built-in tools to help you understand the market. MT4 has 30.</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Programming Language: MT4 uses MQL4, while MT5 uses MQL5, which can do more but is harder to learn.</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Market Depth: MT5 includes a depth of market feature, which is absent in MT4.</span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<h2 style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400;">Forex Trading App Options</span></h2>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">People trade using their phones more and more these days. Forex trading apps help traders watch currency markets, take trades, and manage their positions while they're not at home. Let's look at some apps many traders use:</span></p>
<h3 style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(67, 67, 67); font-weight: 400;">MetaTrader Mobile Apps</span></h3>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Both MT4 and MT5 have mobile versions that work a lot like their desktop versions. These apps give you:</span></p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;">
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Real-time quotes and charts</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">All types of trading orders</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Charts you can interact with, including technical indicators</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Financial news and messages sent to your phone</span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(67, 67, 67); font-weight: 400;">OctaTrader App</span></h3>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The <a href="https://my.octapk.info/downloads/mobile-app/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Octa trading app</a> is an app from OctaFX. It's special because it has:</span></p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;">
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A user-friendly interface for both new and experienced traders</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Advanced tools for looking at charts with many indicators</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">One-click trading for quick trade execution</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A demo account so you can practice without using real money</span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(67, 67, 67); font-weight: 400;">OctaTrader and its Offerings</span></h3>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">OctaTrader, which OctaFX gives to traders, has lots of things that different traders might like:</span></p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;">
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Competitive spreads starting from 0.4 pips</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Leverage up to 1:500 (but this depends on the rules where you live)</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Islamic (swap-free) accounts for traders asking "is forex trading halal?"</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Ways to learn more, like online classes and guides about trading</span></p>
</li>
</ul>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">OctaTrader has some nice features, but it's a good idea to look into it more and maybe try the demo account first. This is true for any broker you're thinking about using.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Remember, choosing between MT4 and MT5, and picking a broker, should fit with your trading goals, how much you know, and what currencies you want to trade. Whether you're doing forex Pakistan or somewhere else, these choices can make a big difference in how well you do with trading.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Traders choose platforms based on what they need, their experience, and what they want to trade. The Octa trading app has become very popular because it lets traders use the markets on their phones. It shows up-to-date prices, has good chart tools, and offers different ways to place trades. This helps meet the needs of many Pakistani traders.</span></p>
<h2 style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400;">Forex Trading in Pakistan</span></h2>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">More and more people in Pakistan are trying forex trading these days. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) keeps an eye on forex activities to make sure everyone follows the rules. This helps create a safe place for traders to operate.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Pakistani traders often like to trade currency pairs such as EUR/USD, USD/PKR, and GBP/USD. The forex market is open 24 hours a day, 5 days a week. This means traders can buy and sell currencies at times that work best for them.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Brokers like Octa give Pakistani traders good platforms to use for trading world currencies. It's important to know that forex trading in Pakistan is allowed by law if you use approved brokers. The Octa trading app makes it easy for people to trade. It has a simple design that both new and experienced traders can use.</span></p>
<h3 style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(67, 67, 67); font-weight: 400;">Is Forex Trading Halal?</span></h3>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Many Muslim traders in Pakistan ask, "Is forex trading halal?" The answer isn't simple and depends on how you trade. Islamic finance principles suggest that forex trading can be okay if it follows certain guidelines:</span></p>
<ol style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;">
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Islamic Accounts: Many brokers, including Octa, offer swap-free or Islamic accounts that don't involve interest (Riba), aligning with Sharia principles.</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Actual Exchange: Forex trading is generally considered halal when it involves real currency exchange rather than speculation or gambling (Maisir).</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Transparency: Clear terms and conditions, like those provided by Octa, help reduce uncertainty (Gharar) in transactions, which is important in Islamic finance.</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Responsible Trading: Islamic scholars emphasize the importance of careful, responsible trading and avoiding excessive risk-taking.</span></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">For example, a trader using a swap-free account to buy and sell currency pairs without holding positions overnight might be trading in a halal way. But it's always good to ask an Islamic teacher for personal advice.</span></p>
<h2 style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400;">Making the Right Choice</span></h2>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Selecting the right platform for forex trading in Pakistan requires careful consideration of your goals and trading preferences.</span></p>
<h3 style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(67, 67, 67); font-weight: 400;">Assessing Your Trading Needs and Goals</span></h3>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Before you choose between MT4 and MT5, or any other platform, think about these things:</span></p>
<ol style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;">
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">How much you know about trading: If you're new, MT4 might be easier. If you've been trading for a while, MT5 has more advanced tools.</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">What you want to trade: If you only want to trade forex, MT4 might be enough. If you want to trade other things too, like stocks, MT5 could be better.</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The tools you need: Think about what kind of charts and indicators you like to use. MT5 has more indicators and timeframes than MT4.</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">If you want the computer to trade for you: Both platforms let you use robots to trade, but they use different programming languages (MQL4 for MT4, MQL5 for MT5).</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Trading on your phone: If you plan to trade on-the-go, check the mobile app versions of these platforms. The Octa trading app has both MT4 and MT5 versions.</span></p>
</li>
</ol>
<h3 style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(67, 67, 67); font-weight: 400;">Comparing MT4 and MT5 for Your Trading Style</span></h3>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Let's look at MT4 and MT5 for different ways of trading:</span></p>
<ol style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;">
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Scalping: MT4's faster execution speed might be preferable for quick, short-term trades.</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">In-depth multi-timeframe trading: MT5's additional timeframes and indicators could be beneficial for in-depth analysis.</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Trading different asset classes: MT5 lets you trade stocks, commodities, and forex.</span></p>
</li>
</ol>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Consider the following scenario: A trader in Karachi wants to focus on EUR/USD and GBP/USD, using charts and sometimes letting a robot trade for them. For this trader, MT4 might be better because it's good for forex and works well with trading robots.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Remember, the best platform depends on what you need. Many brokers, including Octa, let you try their platforms for free. This can help you see which one you like best before using real money.</span></p>
<h2 style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400;">Conclusion</span></h2>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">When we look at MT4 vs MT5, both are excellent options for forex traders, but each has its perks. MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is simpler and focuses on forex, which is good if you just want to trade currencies. It has lots of custom indicators and Expert Advisors that people have made, which is great if you want robots to do some trading for you. MetaTrader 5 (MT5) lets you do more things, like trade stocks as well as forex. It has more advanced tools for looking at charts and understanding the market.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">For Pakistani traders who want a good, complete trading system, OctaTrader is a great choice. It offers competitive spreads and educational resources tailored to your needs. Whether you're new to forex Pakistan or have been doing it for a while, OctaTrader has tools to help you trade better.</span></p>
<p style="line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 12pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><em><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Try OctaTrader and see how its easy-to-use design, diverse asset classes, and 10/10 customer support can make your trading better.</span></em></p>