MetaTrader vs cTrader
Side-by-side catalog fields and editorial notes. Missing values show as Not verified.
The search phrase is “MetaTrader vs cTrader.” The stored left profile is MetaTrader 5, the current retail default in this catalog. MetaTrader 4 remains a separate row if your files are still `.ex4`. cTrader is Spotware’s ECN platform listing, tagged ctrader and ecn, with a Free pricing tier.
Neither row is a social charting website. Neither row is a US equities direct-access desk. If the ticket is futures ATM, look at NinjaTrader Desktop. If the ticket is portable markup, look at TradingView.
This page places catalog fields next to each other. Empty cells stay Not verified. We do not rank spreads. We do not invent a “better ECN” trophy. Confirm the broker’s listed platforms on a broker profile before you migrate an Expert Advisor.
The longer editorial is TradingView vs MetaTrader 5 vs cTrader. Also see how to choose a forex broker when the missing piece is the venue.
Some links on this page may earn TraderFolio a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes the figures shown. How we compare · Affiliate disclosure · Risk warning
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free catalog tier for the terminal. Broker commissions and VPS are a different bill. | Free catalog tier for Spotware’s ECN platform. Venue costs are not on this row. |
| Charting | Desktop terminal charts tied to the broker login. The pane is only as honest as the venue feed. | Clean charting with depth of market. Tagged ctrader and ecn in this catalog. |
| Indicators | MQL5 indicators and Expert Advisors. Files live on the terminal. | cBots and cTrader Automate. Different language, different live story than MQL5. |
| Screeners | Market Watch and symbols the broker attached. Not a global equity screener. | Symbols the broker attached. Depth of market is the point, not a Finviz heatmap. |
| Alerts | Terminal alerts and EA logic. They fire where the platform is running. | Platform alerts on the cTrader install. Treat vendor routing claims as unverified here. |
| Automation | MQL5 Expert Advisors are the point of the terminal. | cBots. Confirm the broker actually lists cTrader before you rewrite an EA. |
| Ease of use | Install, broker login, and symbol mapping. Huge retail install base. | Cleaner default UI in this catalog description. Still a broker-attached terminal. |
| Best for | FX and CFD traders whose indicators, EAs, and fills already live on MetaTrader 5. | FX traders whose broker lists cTrader and who want DOM and cBots instead of MQL5. |
| Ratings | No catalog star rating on Traderfolio. | No catalog star rating on Traderfolio. |
| Integrations | The broker is the integration. Check a broker profile for MT5. | The broker is the integration. Check a broker profile for cTrader. |
Empty or uncited fields show as Not verified. This table does not invent a winner or a star score.
FAQ
- Is cTrader a MetaTrader killer?
- No. They are both broker terminals in this catalog. The language, the EA archive, and the venue list differ. Switch only if the desk you fund actually offers cTrader.
- Should I convert my EA to a cBot?
- Not as a hobby. MQL5 and cBots are different live stories. If the EA already pays the rent, keep MetaTrader 5 unless the venue forces a move.
- Where does TradingView fit?
- TradingView is a charting desk. See [TradingView vs MetaTrader](/compare/tradingview-vs-metatrader) and [TradingView vs cTrader](/compare/tradingview-vs-ctrader). Plenty of people chart on one and fill on the other.