An MT4 broker is a broker that opens a trading account for you and connects it to MetaTrader 4. The platform is developed by MetaQuotes, but MetaQuotes does not sell accounts or market access: without a broker, MT4 is only good for looking at charts. It is the broker that sets your costs, the assets available, the account types and the entity that holds your money.
This guide covers the criteria for choosing an MT4 trading broker, how to connect an account to the platform and our pick of MetaTrader 4 broker: Vantage, which offers MT4 and MT5 with five account types.
Our pick: Vantage offers MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, a Standard STP account from a $50 deposit and a free demo account. Open an MT4 account with Vantage
What is an MT4 broker?
A MetaTrader 4 broker (also called a MetaTrader broker) obtains a license from MetaQuotes and installs the platform on its own servers. It provides the prices, executes your orders and holds your account. MetaQuotes makes this clear on its website: the company is not a broker and does not provide any brokerage services.
In practice, an MT4 broker gives you three things:
- a login and a server to connect the MT4 terminal (desktop, WebTrader, Android, iPhone);
- a list of instruments: currency pairs, indices, gold, oil, sometimes stocks as CFDs;
- account conditions: spreads, commission, leverage, minimum lot size, minimum deposit.
The software is the same everywhere: whether it’s a European or international MetaTrader broker, an MT4 broker cannot change how the charts, indicators or Expert Advisors work. MetaTrader 4 brokers do, however, offer very different costs, assets and services. To learn about the platform itself, read our MT4 (MetaTrader 4) guide and our complete MetaTrader guide.
To go further, also read our guides “Broker Portugal 2026” and “Broker Réunion Island 2026“.
How to choose an MT4 trading broker: the criteria
The right MT4 broker is the one whose entity, costs and tools match the way you trade. This table sums up what to look at with any MetaTrader 4 broker, and what Vantage offers on each point.
| Criterion | What to check | At Vantage |
|---|---|---|
| Entity and regulator | Company name, regulator and license number in the legal notices | VIG Group (FSC Mauritius, GB20026165); Vantage Markets (Pty) Ltd (FSCA, 51268); Vantage Global Limited (VFSC, Vanuatu) |
| MetaTrader versions | MT4 only, or MT4 and MT5 in the same client portal | MT4 and MT5, plus TradingView and the Vantage App |
| Account types | Commission-free account, ECN account, cent account, swap-free | Standard STP, Raw ECN, Pro ECN, Cent, Swap Free |
| Minimum deposit | Amount needed to open the account you want | $50 ($10,000 for Pro ECN) |
| Cost per trade | Spread + commission, on the instruments you trade | From 1.1 pips with no commission (STP); from 0.0 pips + from $3 per lot per side (Raw ECN) |
| Margin | Margin call and stop-out levels | 50% and 20% (STP and ECN accounts) |
| MT4 tools | VPS, tool packs, signals, Expert Advisors | Smart Trader Tools, Forex VPS, EAs and signals supported |
| Client funds | Segregation, insurance, dispute resolution | Segregated accounts, insurance via WTW up to USD 1M per claim, member of The Financial Commission |
| Demo | Free demo on the broker’s server | Free demo, $100,000 in virtual funds |
1. The entity and its regulator
Look in the footer for the exact company name, its regulator and its license number, then check them on the regulator’s register. The same group may have several entities with different rules (leverage, protection, recourse): the one that applies to you is stated in your account-opening documents.
2. The real cost per trade
Compare spread and commission together. A “commission-free” account with a wider spread can cost as much as an ECN account with a raw spread plus commission. Add swaps if you hold positions for several days.
3. The account type
STP, ECN, cent, swap-free: with MT4 brokers, these names cover different fee structures. A cent account is for testing a trading robot with small amounts; an ECN account is aimed at scalpers and high volumes.
4. Leverage and margin
Look at the leverage offered and, above all, the margin call and stop-out levels. Our article on leverage in MetaTrader 4 and 5 explains how to read and adjust it.
5. The tools around MT4
VPS, indicator packs, copy trading, signals: these services make the difference if you run Expert Advisors or trade from several devices.
6. The demo
A demo on the broker’s server lets you test execution and spreads before you deposit. Our MetaTrader demo account guide explains how to open one.
Vantage: our MT4 broker
Vantage is the MetaTrader 4 broker we recommend. It offers both versions of MetaTrader, with Expert Advisors supported on its MT4 and MT5 setups, and accounts available from a $50 deposit.
What Vantage offers on MT4
- MT4 on desktop, WebTrader and mobile, with the usual MetaTrader 4 charts, indicators and drawing tools.
- Smart Trader Tools: a tool pack Vantage adds to MT4 to extend the standard platform.
- Expert Advisors and signals: trading robots and MetaTrader signal subscriptions work on Vantage accounts.
- Forex VPS: an external server to keep an EA connected at all times.
- More than 1,000 CFDs: forex (more than 40 pairs), indices, commodities, stocks, ETFs and bonds.
- 24/7 support.
Vantage accounts available on MT4
| Account | Minimum deposit | Advertised spread | Commission (per lot per side) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard STP | $50 | from 1.1 pips | $0 |
| Raw ECN | $50 | from 0.0 pips | from $3 |
| Pro ECN | $10,000 | from 0.0 pips | from $1.50 |
| Cent | $50 | from 0.0 pips | $0 to $3 |
| Swap Free | Swap-free account, for traders whose beliefs rule out paying or receiving interest | ||
Trading starts at 0.01 lot. Client funds are held in segregated accounts, and VIG Group has “excess of loss” insurance taken out through Willis Towers Watson, of up to USD 1,000,000 per claim subject to the policy terms.
Vantage’s entities
The legal notices on the website list VIG Group, authorized by the Financial Services Commission of Mauritius (license GB20026165), Vantage Markets (Pty) Ltd, authorized by South Africa’s FSCA (license 51268), and Vantage Global Limited (Vanuatu). Before opening an account, check which entity appears on your account-opening documents: its terms are the ones that apply.
Explore Vantage’s MT4 accounts
Diversifiez votre patrimoineInvestissez dans l’artDes tableaux originaux, pièces uniques signées par l’artiste. Un actif tangible, loin des écrans et des cotations.Voir les tableaux →How to find a broker in MetaTrader 4 from the platform
The platform has a built-in broker search: just type the broker’s name to display its servers. On desktop:
- Open MT4, then click File > Open an Account.
- Type your broker’s name in the search field (for example “Vantage”) and select the server given in your account-opening email.
- Choose existing account, then enter the login and password provided by the broker.
- Confirm: the account appears in the Navigator window and quotes are displayed in Market Watch.
On mobile, the process is the same from the account management menu: search for the broker, choose the server, then log in. A single terminal can store accounts with several MetaTrader brokers, but only shows one at a time.
Opening an account with a MetaTrader 4 broker: the steps
Opening a live account with a MetaTrader 4 broker is done online:
- Sign up on the broker’s website (email, country of residence, password).
- Identity verification: ID document and proof of address, required under anti-money laundering rules.
- Account selection: MT4 platform, account type, base currency and leverage.
- First deposit using one of the accepted payment methods.
- Connect to MT4 with the login, password and server name received by email.
If you prefer MetaTrader 5, the process is the same: see our MT5 broker guide.
MT4 broker FAQ
Which broker is the most reliable?
A broker’s reliability shows in the facts: entity name, regulator, a license number you can verify on the official register, segregation of funds, recourse mechanisms and track record. These are the points to compare, entity by entity, before opening an account.
What is the best MT4 broker?
The best MT4 broker depends on your profile: costs, assets, tools and entity. We recommend Vantage for its complete MetaTrader offering (MT4, MT5, Smart Trader Tools, VPS, five account types). Our best MetaTrader broker guide details the selection criteria.
Is MT4 free?
Yes. MetaTrader 4 is free to download and the demo account costs nothing. On a live account, you only pay the broker’s trading costs: spread, any commission, and swaps if you hold a position overnight.
Can you use MT4 with several brokers?
Yes. A single terminal can store accounts from several brokers, but you only see one account at a time. Many traders install a separate copy of MT4 for each broker to keep their charts and Expert Advisors apart.
Do all MT4 brokers offer MT5?
No. MetaTrader 4 was released in 2005 and is still widely used, but some brokers offer only one version. At Vantage, MT4 and MT5 are both available in the same client portal, so you can switch from one to the other without changing broker.
Conclusion: which MT4 broker should you choose?
Choosing an MT4 broker starts with checking the entity, then comparing fee structures and tools. MetaTrader 4 is the same from one broker to the next; what changes is the account behind it. For access to MT4 and MT5, with accounts from $50 and a demo to test the platform, Vantage is our pick.