Open an account
The broker creates a trading login and assigns a server. Demo and real accounts are separate credentials.
Extensive educational section
Trading platforms: from first entry to confident operation
Trading with an online broker is conducted through a platform: it receives quotes, displays charts and the account, sends orders to the broker and helps monitor positions. We will systematically go through MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, cTrader and TradingView — without omissions or unclear terms.
Basics
How trading works through the platform
The platform is the interface between the trader and the trading account at the broker. It is not the broker itself and usually does not determine the spread, commission, leverage, or instrument set: these parameters are set by the broker and the specific account type.
Connect the platform
Install the application or open the web version, then log in with your login, password, and server.
Place an order
You select the instrument, direction, volume, order type, Stop Loss and Take Profit.
The broker executes
The platform sends the order to the broker. Price and execution quality depend on the market and account conditions.
The main difference: The chart helps make a decision, the platform sends the command, and the broker executes it under the trading account’s terms. Therefore, the same interface across different brokers may display different symbols, spreads, commissions, and execution modes.
Full guides
Select platform
Each card leads to a standalone guide with a table of contents, practical steps, pitfalls, FAQ, and official sources.
MetaTrader 5: full guide
Installation, account connection, interface, charts, symbol specification, orders, positions, MQL5, strategy tester, and mobile version.
Open full guide →MetaTrader 4: full guide
How MT4 is structured, where Market Watch, Navigator and Terminal are located, how to work with orders, templates, indicators and MQL4 Expert Advisors.
Open full guide →cTrader: full guide
cTrader ID, Watchlists, charts, Trade Watch, Quick Trade, volume in lots and units, DOM, cBots and automation in C# or Python.
Open full guide →TradingView: full guide
Supercharts, quote sources, watchlists, indicators, alerts, Paper Trading, broker connection, Pine Script and idea testing.
Open full guide →MT4 or MT5
A fair comparison of the interface, markets, timeframes, orders, testers, MQL4/MQL5 languages, and account and software compatibility.
Compare platforms →Order types in MT5
Market, Limit, Stop and Stop Limit: where the right command is located, when the order is triggered, and why the execution price may differ.
Parse orders →Automation
Each platform has its own ecosystem
MT4 uses MQL4, MT5 — MQL5, cTrader — cBots and Automate, TradingView — Pine Script. Code and settings cannot be considered interchangeable: first study the specific platform's documentation and test the algorithm on a demo account.
How to choose
Don't just look at the appearance
| Criterion | What to check | Why this is important |
|---|---|---|
| Broker and account | Does the chosen broker support the platform for your region and account type? | A login for one platform usually cannot be used on another without a separate account. |
| Tools | Forex, metals, indices, CFD stocks, futures or other desired markets. | The set of symbols is determined by the broker, not the software name. |
| Manual trading | Order placement speed, graphical trading, DOM, mobile app. | The workflow should reduce the likelihood of error, not add to it. |
| Automation | MQL4, MQL5, C#/Python in cTrader or Pine Script in TradingView. | Programs from different ecosystems cannot be transferred with a single click. |
| Quotes | Data source, latency, trading sessions and broker symbol. | The analytical chart and price in the trading ticket may come from different sources. |
| Devices | Windows, macOS, Web, Android, iOS and workspace synchronization. | Features of the desktop, web, and mobile versions may differ. |
Our brokers
Which platforms to start with
Actual availability depends on the legal entity, country, product and account type — check it before registering.
| Broker | Platforms | What to learn with us |
|---|---|---|
| Tickmill | MT4 and MT5; additional options may depend on the product and region. | MT5, MT4, comparison. |
| IC Markets | MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView; TradingView connects via cTrader integration. | cTrader, TradingView, MT5. |
| FP Trading | MT4, MT5 and cTrader; product and platform availability depends on the region. | MT5, MT4, cTrader. |
First, explore the platform on a demo account.
Check the symbol lookup, contract specification, order creation and modification, S/L and T/P, history and log. After that, compare brokers and the platforms available to them.
CFD and margin trading involve high risk.
Correct order
Practical route
- Select the platform supported by your broker and the required account type.
- Open a demo account and log in using the exact server name.
- Add the required symbols and read the specification of each instrument.
- Configure charts, time zone, watchlists, and notifications.
- Learn how to create, modify, and cancel each order type.
- Calculate the position size and set a risk plan before submitting the order.
- Check the trade history and error log.
- Only after consistent practice decide whether a live account is needed.
Official sources
Where to check changes
We explain platforms in plain language, and we verify technical changes against developer documentation and broker pages.
- MetaTrader 5 Guide
- MetaTrader 4 Guide
- cTrader Help Center
- TradingView Help Center
- IC Markets Platforms
- Tickmill Platforms
- FP Trading Platforms
Go to the platform or broker
Before registering, check the country of service, legal entity, available platforms, and the terms of the specific account.