PLATFORM COMPARISON
MT4 vs MT5 expert advisors: which should you use?
An EA written for one platform will not run on the other — not with a converter, not with a patch. That single fact decides which products are even available to you, so it is worth settling before you buy anything.
Short answer
MT4 and MT5 expert advisors are not interchangeable: MQL4 and MQL5 are different languages with a different order model. If you are starting now, choose MT5 — new EAs target it and its strategy tester is far better. If you already run MT4 EAs you depend on, there is no urgency to move.
The one fact to establish before you buy anything
An expert advisor written for MT4 will not run on MT5, and the reverse is equally true. MT4 EAs are MQL4; MT5 EAs are MQL5. Different languages, different order model, no compatibility layer. Converting one is a rewrite.
This catches people constantly. They buy an EA, discover it does not load, and assume the file is broken or the vendor sold them something faulty. Nothing is broken — it is the wrong platform. Check which terminal your broker gave you before you buy, because most brokers offer both and quietly default you to one.
What actually differs
| MT4 | MT5 | |
|---|---|---|
| EA language | MQL4 | MQL5 — not compatible |
| Strategy tester | Single-threaded, one symbol | Multi-threaded, multi-currency |
| Timeframes | 9 | 21 |
| Order types | Basic set | Adds buy/sell stop-limit |
| Account models | Hedging only | Hedging and netting |
| Active development | Effectively frozen | Ongoing |
| Existing EA library | Very large | Smaller but growing |
| Economic calendar built in | No | Yes |
The strategy tester row is the one that matters most if you intend to evaluate anything yourself. MT4 tests one symbol on one thread, which makes a serious multi-instrument backtest impractical. MT5 does it properly, and that is a large part of why current development happens there.
When staying on MT4 is the right call
- You already run EAs you depend on. They will not transfer. Replacing working tools to gain features you may not use is a bad trade.
- The specific EA you want is MT4-only. Plenty of well-regarded older systems were never ported, and a proven MT4 system beats an unproven MT5 one.
- Your broker only offers MT4. Uncommon now, but it happens, and the platform follows the broker.
Judging an EA is the same on either platform
Platform choice determines what you *can* run. It says nothing about quality. A martingale EA is exactly as dangerous in MQL5 as in MQL4, and an unverified track record is unverified on both.
So apply the same evidence test either way: a verified live account, out-of-sample results, a stated drawdown, visible losing periods, fixed position sizing, and a refund window. We set those out as seven checks for any expert advisor, and none of them depend on which terminal you are running.
Two related questions come up constantly alongside this one. Is MetaTrader 5 safe deals with the platform itself, and what to check on an MQL5 Market listing matters because MT4 and MT5 products are separate listings and marketplace purchases are generally not refundable.
For the record: our own bot is MT5 only, and trades XAUUSDm. If you are on MT4 you would need an MT5 account with your broker — free, and usually a two-minute job. We would rather say that here than have you find out after paying.
Common questions
Can an MT4 expert advisor run on MT5?
No. MT4 EAs are written in MQL4 and MT5 EAs in MQL5, and they are different languages with a different underlying order model — MT5 supports netting and hedging account types and a different position structure. An MQL4 file cannot be loaded into MT5, and converting one is a rewrite rather than a conversion. This is the single most important thing to establish before buying any EA: which platform it targets, and which platform your broker gave you.
Is MT5 better than MT4 for automated trading?
For new automated systems, generally yes. MT5 has a faster strategy tester with genuine multi-currency and multi-threaded backtesting, more timeframes, a richer order type set, and it is the platform MetaQuotes actively develops — MT4 has had no meaningful feature work for years. The honest counterweight is that MT4 has a far larger library of existing EAs and indicators, simply because it had a fifteen-year head start.
Should I switch from MT4 to MT5?
If you are choosing now, start on MT5 — new development targets it and your broker almost certainly offers both. If you already run MT4 with EAs you rely on, there is no urgency: they will not transfer, and rebuying tools you already own to gain features you may not need is a poor trade. The clearest reason to switch is wanting a specific MT5-only product, or needing the strategy tester to evaluate something properly.
Which platform does Tech Kick Bot use?
MT5 only, and deliberately so. The engine relies on the MT5 order model for the way it attaches stops after fill — a requirement of ECN execution on brokers like Exness, which reject orders arriving with a stop loss and take profit already attached. It trades XAUUSDm, and if your broker has given you an MT4 terminal you would need an MT5 account with them to run it. Most brokers offer both and the switch is free.
Further reading
Educational information only, not financial advice. Trading leveraged products carries substantial risk of loss. Last updated 2026-08-19.