MetaTrader 4 Copy Trading Review 2024

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The MetaTrader 4 platform is still the most popular trading terminal among traders, so many brokers offer access to it even if they have their proprietary platform. Therefore, many platforms for copying trades also work with MT4. This terminal connects both the proprietary copy trading services and independent social trading platforms providers, such as MyFxBook or ZuluTrade. Also copy trade is available on MetaTrader 4 from the official Traders Union MQL5 working with MT platforms.

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What is copy trading?

What is copy trading?

Social trading has become very popular over the past 10 years and the first trade copying service was developed in 2010. Since then, similar platforms have appeared both at brokers and as independent stand-alones. Brokers use them to attract clients and expand their functionality.

After the trader (strategy provider) opens a trade, it is automatically opened in the trading terminal for all subscribers. If the transaction is profitable, all those who have opened it get profit. However, if the strategy provider opens a trade at a loss, everyone will also suffer losses. Therefore, it is necessary to be cautious about your choice of traders.

The first copy trading service was developed in 2010. Since then, over 50 such platforms have appeared. Both proprietary services and independent platforms, such as MyFxBook and ZuluTrade are among them. Moreover, MetaTrader has an official community called MQL5, which also has a service for copying trades.

MetaTrader MQL5 copy trading review

MQL5 is the leading service of the MetaTrader 4. This is the official community of traders working with the MetaTrader terminals, and a large number of tools for trading terminals are provided here. In particular, there is an app store for MT, an overview of trading instrument quotes, an economic calendar, a VPS for trading, and much more.

At MQL5, copy trading is represented by 1050 signal providers. To get acquainted with them, go to the Signals section, which is located in the upper menu of the platform.

Trader statistics

Trader statistics

Trader statistics

MQL5 provides a large amount of information about strategy providers. In particular, traders are provided with 8 criteria for choosing a trader.

The list includes:

  • reliability – shows the risk

    reliability – shows the risk level of the trader's trading strategy;

  • calendar

    the number of weeks the account has been active;

  • coordination

    the number of subscribers;

  • purse

    current balance;

  • profit

    profit;

  • cash

    initial deposit;

  • rising

    replenishment;

  • decrease

    withdrawal.

The information is presented in the form of figures, charts, and infographics, so it is quite convenient to get acquainted with the data about the trader.

it is quite convenient to get acquainted with the data about the trader

It is also worth noting the financial data.

The platform provides users with three charts:

  • increase in funds;

    profit
  • profit;

    payment
  • the capital to balance sheet ratio.

    libra
bar-chart

There is a line of averages on the charts, so you can compare the financial success of a trader with the average on the platform.

The drawdown chart is also available on the service

The drawdown chart is also available on the service. The data here is presented as a percentage ratio by date.

Drawdown

Social network and forum

Social network and forum
mql5

is a full-fledged social network of traders. It implements the functions of communication between traders and obtaining useful trading information. First of all, this is a forum. The MQL5 forum is quite active, and new topics are regularly created here.

However, there is a disadvantage

However, there is a disadvantage. The forum is not structured, and all topics are created in a single section. You will have to search information manually for copy trading. This can take a long time, given that there are almost 47,000 topics on the forum. You can also get the information you need by creating your own discussion group. Click on the Create a Topic button.

You can also get information in the trader's profile providing trades for copy trading

You can also get information in the trader's profile providing trades for copy trading. The platform has a blog where signal providers can publish the latest news about the markets or write about news or changes for subscribers. You can find the trader's blog in his account. Click the What's new section to read it.

How to monitor traders to whom you subscribe

How to monitor traders to whom you subscribe

How to monitor traders to whom you subscribe

The statistics of the account managers to whom you subscribe are monitored through the My Subscriptions section. Here are the key data about managers. In particular, you will be able to view the profitability, the number of transactions, and the types of transactions, etc.

The statistics of the account managers

MQL5 copy trading network review in 2024

A platform for copy trading

A platform for copy trading

MQL5

Regulation

Regulation

Depends on the broker

Terminals

Terminals

MT4, MT5

The number of brokers offered

The number of brokers offered

Most brokers that work with MT4 and MT5

Top brokers

Top brokers

AvaTrade, XM, IC Markets, Pepperstone

The minimum investment for copy trading

The minimum investment for copy trading

From $1. Set by the broker and signal provider

Commission for using the service

Commission for using the service

No

Traders' commission

Traders' commission

From 1 to $1,000 per month. The average is $50

Types of accounts

Types of accounts

Set by the broker

Network size

Network size

1050 signal providers

Markets

Markets

Forex, CFD, cryptocurrencies, stocks, and commodities. The list of markets depends on the broker you select.

How to get started to copy traders on MT4

The mechanism for subscribing to traders on different copy trading platforms is implemented in different ways. Let's consider the procedure for copying trades in MetaTrader 4 using the example of MQL5.

Registration

Registration

You need to have trading accounts with a broker and a copy trading service to copy trades via MQL5. Click on the Create an Account button on the main page to open an account on MQL5.

The form includes only two items:

  • 1 user name

    user name;

  • 2 email address

    email address.

After that, you will get an email with a login password to the email address specified. Next, log in to the platform. You can also register via Google or Facebook.

metatrader-4-copy

How to copy trade via MQL5

How to copy trade via MQL5

The connection is made directly through the copy trading service for some brokers cooperating with MQL5. After you log in and follow the copy trading page, select a trader. Detailed statistics are provided in the accounts of the MQL5 signal providers, but after you go to the platform, you will see a brief overview.

The following data is provided there.

  • 1

    percentage return;

  • 2

    profitability curve;

  • 3

    signal security;

  • 4

    percentage of algorithmic trading usage;

  • 5

    number of subscribers.

You can use filters or categories to customize your search.

You can use filters or categories to customize your search

When you find a suitable strategy provider, follow his profile. The Copy button is located on the top panel. If the signals are paid, the subscription price will also be indicated on the button. In the example below, the subscription price is $30, so the button says “Copy for 30 USD per month”.

When you find a suitable strategy provider, follow his profile

After that, you will see a window on MQL5 to confirm your subscription. Here you will also find brief statistics of the signal provider.

you will see a window on MQL5 to confirm your subscription

How to customize copy trading via MT4

How to customize copy trading via MT4

Some brokers subscribe to signals via a trading terminal. If you need to connect in this way, open a trading terminal after registering in MQL5. Next, open the Toolbox menu and select Signals. You will see a list of signal providers that is identical to the one available on MQL5.

Some brokers subscribe to signals

After that, open the Tools menu and click on Options.

After that, open the Tools menu and click on Options

You will need the Community item in the Options menu. After that, MetaTrader 4 will prompt you to create an account in MQL5. If you have done this before, select “If you have an account, please log in”. Here you specify the username and password from MQL5.

You will need the Community item in the Options menu

After completing the authorization, select the trader to copy from among the list that appears after clicking on Signals. Click on the nickname and click Subscribe.

After completing the authorization, select the trader to copy from among the list that appears after clicking on Signals

Next, configure the copy trading. The MQL5 platform on MetaTrader 4 will prompt you to specify the following parameters:

  • 1

    copy Take Profit and Stop Loss;

  • 2

    synchronization of positions without confirmation (if you clear a tick box, each transaction copied will need to be confirmed manually);

  • 3

    closing the trade if the deposit amount goes below the values allowed (specify the amount);

  • 4

    limit of spreads for execution.

After that, just click OK and all the trades that the signal provider will open will be opened in your MetaTrader 4 terminal.

just click OK and all the trades that the signal provider

How to copy the best traders in MetaTrader 4

The choice of traders differs, depending on the platform you use for MT4 copy trading. Let's consider how to choose a strategy provider, using the example of the MQL5 platform. First of all, the search will help you find a trader on MQL5. This is an effective way if you know the nickname of the strategy provider.

In the search, you can select:

  • monitor

    trader's name

  • wireframe

    account name

  • rate

    the broker

    that the strategy provider works with.

Moreover, there is a server search on MQL5. The list includes servers of all companies that are partners of MQL5.

Moreover, there is a server search on MQL5
menu

The category’s availability is among the MQL5 search options. After clicking them, the service will automatically sort from best to worst.

The categories on the platform are as follows:

  • 1

    by maximum profit;

  • 2

    by signal reliability;

  • 3

    by profitability for the month;

  • 4

    intraday trading;

  • 5

    signals for traders with a deposit bot more than $50;

  • 6

    has been reviewed;

  • 7

    the leverage is up to 1:100;

  • 8

    uses automated trading.

Filters

Filters

You can also search for suitable traders using filters. MQL5 offers subscribers 10 options for choosing trading signal providers.

The list includes:

  • 1

    leverage ratio;

  • 2

    the amount of profit per month (as a percentage);

  • 3

    maximum drawdown;

  • 4

    trader activity;

  • 5

    percentage of profitable trades;

  • 6

    initial deposit amount;

  • 7

    account activity time (in weeks);

  • 8

    number of transactions per week;

  • 9

    number of users copying trades;

  • 10

    subscription cost.

MQL5 filters have their own features. In particular, users can choose between netting and hedging traders. You can also select the "Close by FIFO" option. It is intended for traders who work according to the FIFO (First In, First Out) rule.

MQL5 filters have their own features

The pros and cons of MT4 copy trading

👍 Pros

A well-known platform that many brokers and traders work with

Support for a large number of copy trading services

👎 Cons

Adjust the options for copy trading can be complicated

Can I make money by copying traders on MT4?

Can I make money by copying traders on MT4?

MT4 copy trader services help you get extra profit. Moreover, trades are displayed in your trading terminal, so you can gain extra trading experience and master the traders' strategies. The profitability of a copy trading depends on the degree of risk of the signal provider's strategies, and the trading instruments used, etc.

However, the MetaTrader social trading services don't provide a guaranteed profit. There are also risks here. If the strategy provider opens a losing trade, all subscribers will suffer losses. Therefore, it is extremely important to follow the rules of capital management and choose the best traders.

How to use ZuluTrade copy trading in MT4

zulutrade is one of the most popular services for copying trades. A large number of brokers cooperate with it. Moreover, it is among the few trade copying services that have their own licenses for financial activities. A special feature of ZuluTrade Copy Trading is the availability of the Combos service, where the copy trading platform offers a ready-made set of strategies.

ZuluTrade pros and cons

👍 Pros

Simple and user-friendly interface

Well-developed statistics

Proprietary licenses

👎 Cons

Blog and forum are rarely updated

There are commissions for using the service

Filters work inefficiently

Main features of the provider

Regulation

Regulation

Greece and EU (HCMC), USA (CFTC), Japan (KFB)

The number of brokers offered

The number of brokers offered

34

Top brokers

Top brokers

AvaTrade, FXCM, IC Markets, TickMill, EverFx, WelTrade, Axi, InstaForex, FX Open, AAAFx, Oanda, Swissquote

The minimum investment for copy trading

The minimum investment for copy trading

Is indicated by the broker. On average from $50 to $1,000. Combos service is from $2,000

Commission for using the service

Commission for using the service

Profit Sharing Plan: $30 monthly subscription + 25% share of profits. Classic Plan - depends on the broker chosen. On average, $20 per standard lot for a currency pair.

Brokerage commission

Brokerage commission

Execution fees are charged according to your broker's terms.

Types of accounts

Types of accounts

Profit Sharing, Classic

Network scale

Network scale

Over 1,000 strategy providers

Markets

Markets

Forex, CFD, cryptocurrencies, stocks, commodities. The list of markets depends on the broker you choose.

How to use MyFxBook Copy trading in MT4

myfxbook Autotrade is a copy trading service (link to the term) that directly cooperates with 39 brokers. Here you can find options to copy trade and tools for self-analysis of the market. It is worth noting that Copy trading is provided free of charge on MyFxBook (commissions and markups can be set by brokers). The platform doesn't charge any connection fees and pays remuneration to the strategy providers themselves.

MyFxBook pros and cons

👍 Pros

Copying trades on the platform is free (a commission may be charged by brokers)

Convenient analytics for traders

You can try copy trading on a demo account

👎 Cons

There are no filters for searching traders (only sorting is available)

The interface is outdated and obsolete

The connection is slow

Main features of the provider

Regulation

Regulation

Doesn't accept funds from users, doesn't need licensing

The number of brokers offered

The number of brokers offered

39

Top brokers

Top brokers

Tickmill, IC Markets, FxOpen, Pepperstone, Axi (Axitrader)

The minimum investment for copy trading

The minimum investment for copy trading

$1,000

Commission for using the service

Commission for using the service

0%*

Signal providers

Signal providers

185

Brokerage commission

Brokerage commission

Depends on the broker

Types of accounts

Types of accounts

Depends on the broker

Markets

Markets

Forex, CFD, crypto, indices, commodities (depends on the broker)

* a commission may be charged by brokers

What are MT4’s fees for copy trading?

The fees for copy trading on MetaTrader 4 depend on several factors. First of all, they vary, depending on the brokers. Companies can set their own commissions or mark-ups. Due to this, they pay affiliate remuneration to the platforms that provide copy trading.

A copy trading service commission may also be charged. In particular, this is practiced by ZuluTrade.

There are two tariff plans here:

Profit-Sharing

this type of account provides a commission of $30 per subscription and 25% of the transaction profit.

Classic

this plan is calculated as the price per trading lot. The price may vary depending on the broker. The average commission is $20 per lot.

The MQL5 copy trading service doesn't charge commissions for transactions, but there are payments to traders. The commission is charged in the form of a subscription. The cost varies from 1 to $1,000, the average cost is $50. Some traders provide signals for free.

As for MyFxBook, the platform doesn't charge a commission either for transactions or strategy providers’ benefits. The service gets revenue from advertising and partner fees from brokers and independently pays remuneration to clients.

Summary

metatrader

MetaTrader 4 is a popular trading platform. It is used by many brokers, so many copy trading services work with this terminal. Brokers offer both their own services and independent platforms, such as MyFxBook or ZuluTrade. However, MQL5 is still one of the most popular independent services. This is a copy trading service from the official MetaTrader community.

Each platform has its features, advantages, and disadvantages. The principles of connection and the terms of commissions also differ because they depend both on the site and directly on the broker you work with. MetaTrader alone is not a broker, so before choosing a platform, it is important to read the terms of copy trading in the company you cooperate with.

Expert review

The MetaTrader 4 trading terminal, despite its “age”, is still among the most popular. It provides clients with huge opportunities and it is possible to work with a large number of tools for independent trading (if there are no tools, you can add them), and use automated trading, etc. However, the main advantage is that many copy trading services are focused on MT4.

With the help of copy trading on MetaTrader 4, you can get extra income but also valuable information about the trading strategies of successful traders. If you cooperate with MQL5, you can even choose a signal provider through the trading terminal. The choice of selecting a copying transactions service depends on your preferences, but the pool is quite large.

Antony Robertson

Antony Robertson,

Traders Union Financial Analyst

MetaTrader 4 copy trading reviews

  • 1

    Cecilia Erickson, 29, New York

    I decided to choose MQL5 for copy trading since I work with MT4 and am a member of the Union. I was attracted by a good range of traders. After a year of work, I can say that the service helps to make a profit. However, I consider the commission in the form of a subscription to be a disadvantage since you have to pay not only for profitable but also unprofitable transactions.

  • 2

    Blak Clifford, 44, New Jersey

    I use ZuluTrade to copy trades via MetaTrader 4. I like that it is quite simple to connect to and it is convenient to choose traders. Moreover, I also appreciate the Combos service. However, the commissions of this copy trading service, in my opinion, are quite high. This is the main disadvantage.

  • 3

    Angel Gimson, 42, Washington, D.C.

    I've been working with MetaTrader 4 for a long time, but I decided to try copy trading only 5 months ago. To do this, I chose the MyFxBook platform because I also use it for analytics in independent trading. The platform is stable and allows you to make a profit. The commission policy is very profitable. Only the outdated interface spoils the impression.

FAQ

Can I connect copy trading to the online version of the MT4 trading terminal?

Some copy trading platforms offer the ability to connect to the online version. However, connecting to desktop terminals is more popular.

Are there any traders offering only auto trading?

This also depends on the platform you are working with. For example, there are such traders on MQL5.

Can brokers charge a commission for connecting to MT4 copy trading services?

It depends on a broker’s policy. As a rule, the commission is charged in the form of a mark-up to the spread in each direction.

Team that worked on the article

Johnathan Maverick
Financial Markets Expert

Johnathan M. is a U.S.-based writer and investor, a contributor to the Traders Union website. His two primary areas of expertise include finance and investing (specifically, forex and commodity trading) and religion/spirituality/meditation.

His experience includes writing articles for Investopedia.com, being the head writer for the Steve Pomeranz Show, a personal finance radio program on NPR. Johnathan is also an active currency (forex) trader, with over 20 years of investing experience.

Knows about
Forex, commodity trading, investing

Experience
Johnathan has been doing freelance writing – primarily on finance, small business, and investing – for over 20 years. He has ghostwritten several books, including complete guides to forex trading, spiritual autobiographies, and a book on cosmetic dentistry. He has also done a lot of editing and proofreading work (the Corporate Finance Institute hired him to edit over 2,000 existing articles on its website). In addition, he has published one novel – "A Cross of Hearts" (available on Amazon).

Johnathan’s experience includes writing 5-10 articles per week for Investopedia.com for about two years, and being the head writer for the Steve Pomeranz Show, a personal finance radio program on NPR. He is an active currency (forex) trader, with over 20 years of investing experience, having worked as a broker, financial advisor, and personal investing tutor. He has written literally thousands of articles and blog posts on an extremely wide variety of subjects, including virtually every conceivable investing/trading topic.

Education
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Bachelor of Science (BS), Psychology

Glory Faleke
Contributor

Glory is a professional writer for the Traders Union website with over 5 years of experience in creating content in the areas of NFT, Crypto, Metaverse, Blockchain, or Web3 in general. Over the last couple of years, Glory has also traded on different cryptocurrency and NFT platforms including Binance, Coinbase, Opensea, and others. “I understand a lot about this space, being familiar with CEX, DeFi, and DEX, as well as operating across the Ethereum, Binance, and Polygon networks. Also, I know the intricacies and subtleties of NFTs and crypto, thus I am able to bring to table the best content and help connect with the audience better.”

Knows about
NFT, crypto, metaverse, blockchain, Web3

Alumnus of
Brooklyn College

Mirjan Hipolito
Cryptocurrency and stock expert

Mirjan Hipolito is a journalist and news editor at Traders Union. She is an expert crypto writer with five years of experience in the financial markets. Her specialties are daily market news, price predictions, and Initial Coin Offerings (ICO). Mirjan is a cryptocurrency and stock trader. This deep understanding of the finance sector allows her to create informative and engaging content that helps readers easily navigate the complexities of the crypto world.