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Expert Advisors (EAs)

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Written By
James Barra
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Written By
James Barra
James is an investment writer with a background in financial services. As a former management consultant, he has worked on major operational transformation programmes at prominent European banks. James authors, edits and fact-checks content for a series of investing websites.
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Edited By
Jemma Grist
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Edited By
Jemma Grist
Jemma is a writer, editor and fact-checker focused on retail trading and investing. Jemma brings a unique perspective to the forex, stock, and cryptocurrency markets and works across several investment websites as a researcher and broker analyst.
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Fact Checked By
William Berg
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Fact Checked By
William Berg
William contributes to several investment websites, leveraging his experience as a consultant for IPOs in the Nordic market and background providing localization for forex trading software. William has worked as a writer and fact-checker for a long row of financial publications.
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Updated
Jul 24, 2024

Expert Advisors (EAs) are programable trading robots available on MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. This tutorial will explain how Expert Advisors work and how to set them up on MT4 and MT5. We also cover the pros and cons of trading forex, stocks and more with EAs.

Expert Advisor Brokers

Click a broker for details
  1. 1
    FOREX.com
    Active Trader Program With A 15% Reduction In Costs
    Ratings
    4.9 / 5
    4 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4.6 / 5
    4.6 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4.8 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    3.6 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    $100
    0.01 Lots
    1:50
    NFA, CFTC
    Forex, Stocks, Futures, Futures Options
    MT4, MT5, TradingView, eSignal, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
    Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller, ACH Transfer
    USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, PLN
    Go To FOREX.com
  2. 2
    IG
    Forex trading involves risk. Losses can exceed deposits.
    Ratings
    4.9 / 5
    4 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    4.9 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    4.9 / 5
    5 / 5
    4.6 / 5
    4 / 5
    $0
    0.01 Lots
    1:30 (Retail), 1:250 (Pro)
    FCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA, FINMA, CONSOB, AFM
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting
    Web, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
    PayPal, Wire Transfer, Mastercard, Credit Card, Visa, Debit Card
    USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, ZAR, SEK, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD
    Go To IG
  3. 3
    Pocket Option
    50% Deposit Bonus
    Ratings
    2 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    2.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    3.3 / 5
    3.3 / 5
    3 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    4 / 5
    4.2 / 5
    $50
    $1
    MISA
    Binary Options, Currencies, Commodities, Stocks, Indices, Cryptos
    Web, MT4, MT5
    Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Bitcoin Payments, Volet, Perfect Money, Visa, Mastercard, Debit Card, WebMoney, FasaPay, Ethereum Payments, Maestro, JetonCash, Airtel
    USD
    Go To Pocket Option
  4. 4
    OANDA US
    CFDs are not available to residents in the United States.
    Ratings
    4.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    2.8 / 5
    4 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    4.7 / 5
    3.7 / 5
    $0
    0.01 Lots
    1:50
    NFA, CFTC
    Forex, Crypto with Paxos (Cryptocurrencies are offered through Paxos. Paxos is a separate legal entity from OANDA)
    OANDA Trade, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist
    Wire Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, Debit Card, ACH Transfer
    USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD
    Go To OANDA US
  5. 5
    xChief
    $100 No Deposit Bonus
    Ratings
    4 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    3.7 / 5
    3 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    3.3 / 5
    0 / 5
    0 / 5
    $10
    0.01 Lots
    1:1000
    ASIC
    CFDs, Forex, Metals, Commodities, Stocks, Indices
    MT4, MT5
    Wire Transfer, Bitcoin Payments, Credit Card, UnionPay, Skrill, Neteller, WebMoney, Perfect Money, Debit Card, Ethereum Payments, FasaPay, Volet
    USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF
    Go To xChief
  6. 6
    InstaTrade
    Ratings
    2.5 / 5
    3 / 5
    3 / 5
    3 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    3.3 / 5
    4.8 / 5
    4.4 / 5
    $1
    0.01
    1:1000
    BVI FSC
    FISP, CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Cryptos, Futures
    InstaTrade Gear, MT4
    Visa, Mastercard, Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, Bitcoin Payments, Ethereum Payments
    USD, EUR, RUB
    Go To InstaTrade
  7. 7
    Plexytrade
    120% Cash Welcome Bonus
    Ratings
    1.5 / 5
    2.5 / 5
    2.5 / 5
    3.3 / 5
    2.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    0.5 / 5
    0.5 / 5
    4.8 / 5
    4.7 / 5
    $50
    0.01
    1:2000
    CFDs, Forex, Indices, Stocks, Commodities, Crypto
    MT4, MT5
    Bitcoin Payments, Ethereum Payments
    USD, EUR
    Go To Plexytrade
  8. 8
    Coinexx
    100% Deposit Welcome Bonus
    Ratings
    2.5 / 5
    2.5 / 5
    2.8 / 5
    3.3 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    3 / 5
    0.8 / 5
    1.3 / 5
    0 / 5
    0 / 5
    0.001 BTC
    0.01 Lots
    1:500
    Forex, Commodities, Indices, Cryptocurrencies
    MT4, MT5
    Bitcoin Payments, Ethereum Payments
    USD
    Go To Coinexx
  9. 9
    World Forex
    100% Deposit Bonus
    Ratings
    2.5 / 5
    3.3 / 5
    3 / 5
    2.8 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    3.3 / 5
    2.5 / 5
    2.8 / 5
    1.3 / 5
    1.3 / 5
    $1
    0.01 Lots
    1:1000
    SVGFSA
    Forex, CFD Stocks, Metals, Energies, Cryptos, Digital Contracts
    MT4, MT5
    Wire Transfer, Debit Card, Credit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Google Wallet, Apple Pay, Perfect Money, Bitcoin Payments, Volet
    USD, EUR, RUB
    Go To World Forex

This is why we think these brokers are the best in this category:

  1. FOREX.com - Founded in 1999, FOREX.com is now part of StoneX, a financial services organization serving over one million customers worldwide. Regulated in the US, UK, EU, Australia and beyond, the broker offers thousands of markets, not just forex, and provides excellent pricing on cutting-edge platforms.
  2. IG - Founded in 1974, IG is part of IG Group Holdings Plc, a publicly traded (LSE: IGG) brokerage. The brand-US offers spread betting, CFD and forex trading across an almost unrivalled selection of 17,000+ markets, with a range of user-friendly platforms and investing apps. For 50 years, IG has maintained its position as an industry leader, excelling in all key areas for traders.
  3. Pocket Option - Established in 2017, Pocket Option is a binary options broker offering high/low contracts on forex, stocks, indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies. With over 100,000 active users and a global reach, the platform continues to prove popular with budding traders.
  4. OANDA US - OANDA is a popular brand offering exceptional execution, low deposit requirements and advanced charting and trading platform features. The top-rated brand has over 25 years of experience and is regulated by trusted agencies, including the NFA/CFTC. Around the clock support is available for short-term traders, alongside flexible contract sizes and automated trade executions.
  5. xChief - xChief is a foreign exchange and CFD broker, established in 2014. The company is based offshore and registered with the VFSC and FMA. Users can choose between a wide selection of accounts and base currencies, making ForexChief accessible to global traders. The brand also stands out for its no deposit bonus and fee rebates for high-volume traders.
  6. InstaTrade - InstaTrade, based in the British Virgin Islands, is an online broker specializing in fixed income structured products and active trading through CFDs. Its zero-spread accounts, excellent research notably through InstaTrade TV, and access to the popular MT4 alongside its own web-accessible InstaTrade Gear, make it an attractive option for short-term traders at every level.
  7. Plexytrade - Established in 2024 and headquartered in Saint Lucia, Plexytrade is an ECN/STP broker. Geared towards active traders, it supports four account options, crypto deposits and withdrawals, plus very high leverage up to 1:2000 made possible by its unregulated status.
  8. Coinexx - Coinexx is an unregulated broker that provides leverage up to 1:500 on forex, commodities, indices and cryptocurrencies with deep liquidity, pure ECN spreads and negative balance protection. The broker uses crypto as base currencies and has low minimum deposit requirements of 0.001 BTC.
  9. World Forex - World Forex is an offshore broker registered in St Vincent and the Grenadines, offering commission-free trading with a $1 minimum deposit and 1:1000 leverage. Digital contracts are also available, offering beginners a straightforward way to speculate on popular financial markets.

FOREX.com

"FOREX.com remains a best-in-class brokerage for active forex traders of all experience levels, with over 80 currency pairs, tight spreads from 0.0 pips and low commissions. The powerful charting platforms collectively offer over 100 technical indicators, as well as extensive research tools."

Christian Harris, Reviewer

FOREX.com Quick Facts

Bonus OfferActive Trader Program With A 15% Reduction In Costs
Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsForex, Stocks, Futures, Futures Options
RegulatorNFA, CFTC
PlatformsMT4, MT5, TradingView, eSignal, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
Minimum Deposit$100
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:50
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, PLN

Pros

  • FOREX.com offers industry-leading forex pricing starting from 0.0 pips, alongside competitive cashback rebates of up to 15% for serious day traders.
  • There’s a wealth of educational resources including tutorials, webinars, and a stacked YouTube channel to help you get educated in the financial markets.
  • The in-house Web Trader continues to shine as one of the best-designed platforms for aspiring day traders with a slick design and over 80 technical indicators for market analysis.

Cons

  • Despite increasing its range of instruments, FOREX.com's product portfolio is still limited to forex and CFDs, so there are no options to invest in real stocks, real ETFs or real cryptocurrencies.
  • Funding options are limited compared to leading alternatives like IC Markets and don’t include many popular e-wallets, notably UnionPay and POLi.
  • FOREX.com's MT4 platform offers approximately 600 instruments, significantly fewer than the over 5,500 available on its non-MetaTrader platforms.
Visit FOREX.com
FOREX.com Review

IG

"IG continues to provide a comprehensive package with an intuitive web platform, best-in-class education for beginners, advanced charting tools bolstered by its recent TradingView integration, real-time data, and fast execution speeds for experienced day traders."

Christian Harris, Reviewer

IG Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting
RegulatorFCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA, FINMA, CONSOB, AFM
PlatformsWeb, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
Minimum Deposit$0
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:30 (Retail), 1:250 (Pro)
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, ZAR, SEK, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD

Pros

  • The proprietary web-based platform continues to caters to traders of all levels, with advanced charting tools and real-time market data useful for day trading, while IG has also added TradingView integration.
  • The ProRealTime advanced charting platform is free as long as certain modest monthly trading activity requirements are met.
  • IG is amongst the best in terms of its range of instruments, which includes stocks, forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies, plus recently added US-listed futures and options, providing ample diversification opportunities.

Cons

  • While there is negative balance protection in the UK and EU, there is no account protection or guaranteed stop losses for US clients.
  • IG applies an inactivity fee of $12 per month after 2 years, deterring casual investors.
  • Stock and CFD spreads still trail the cheapest brokers like CMC Markets based on tests.
Visit IG
IG Review

Pocket Option

"Pocket Option excels for its easy-to-use web platform which provides a best-in-class user experience for short-term binary traders. The $50 minimum deposit is also accessible for beginners while opening an account is really easy. Looking at the negatives, Pocket Option still trails alternatives in its market offering and regulatory credentials."

Jemma Grist, Reviewer

Pocket Option Quick Facts

Bonus Offer50% Deposit Bonus
Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsBinary Options, Currencies, Commodities, Stocks, Indices, Cryptos
RegulatorMISA
PlatformsWeb, MT4, MT5
Minimum Deposit$50
Minimum Trade$1
Account CurrenciesUSD

Pros

  • The MetaTrader platforms offer integrated analysis with helpful technical summaries for short-term traders
  • The web platform shines for its straightforward design and usability that will appeal to beginners looking to speculate on popular financial markets in a few clicks
  • The range of payment methods beats the majority of rivals, providing fast, secure and convenient deposits for traders in most countries

Cons

  • You need to deposit $1000 to access the extended list of 250+ assets, otherwise just 130+ assets are available
  • The maximum binary contract length of 4 hours is restrictive for longer-term trading strategies. Alternatives like Videforex offer binaries up to 1 month
  • Pocket Option offers a slimmed down iteration of the MT4 and MT5 that doesn't provide the full charting package for advanced traders
Visit Pocket Option
Pocket Option Review

OANDA US

"OANDA remains an excellent broker for US day traders seeking a user-friendly platform with premium analysis tools and a straightforward joining process. OANDA is also heavily regulated with a very high trust score."

Jemma Grist, Reviewer

OANDA US Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsForex, Crypto with Paxos (Cryptocurrencies are offered through Paxos. Paxos is a separate legal entity from OANDA)
RegulatorNFA, CFTC
PlatformsOANDA Trade, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist
Minimum Deposit$0
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:50
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD

Pros

  • Beginners can get started easily with $0 minimum initial deposit
  • There's a strong selection of 68 currency pairs for dedicated short-term forex traders
  • The proprietary OANDA web platform continues to deliver a highly competitive charting environment, including 65+ technical indicators powered by TradingView

Cons

  • It's a shame that customer support is not available on weekends
  • The range of day trading markets is limited to forex and cryptos only
  • There's only a small range of payment methods available, with no e-wallets supported
Visit OANDA US
OANDA US Review

xChief

"xChief continues to prove popular with investors looking to trade highly leveraged CFDs on the popular MetaTrader platforms. The broker's rebate scheme and investment accounts will particularly appeal to seasoned traders. However, the lack of top-tier regulatory oversight is a major drawback."

William Berg, Reviewer

xChief Quick Facts

Bonus Offer$100 No Deposit Bonus
Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsCFDs, Forex, Metals, Commodities, Stocks, Indices
RegulatorASIC
PlatformsMT4, MT5
Minimum Deposit$10
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:1000
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF

Pros

  • xChief delivers a high-quality day trading environment via the MT4 and MT5 platforms, with market-leading charts, indicators and tools
  • Traders can access a copy trading solution via the MetaQuotes Signals service
  • The low minimum deposit of $10 will appeal to beginners, as well as the beginners’ guides in the Library

Cons

  • Fees and minimums are imposed on most withdrawal methods, including a €60 minimum for SWIFT bank transfers
  • The broker trails competitors when it comes to research tools and educational resources
  • The total range of 150+ assets is much lower than most competitors who typically offer hundreds
Visit xChief
xChief Review

InstaTrade

"Although InstaTrade offers active trading on a comprehensive platform, it stands out with its fairly unique Fixed Income Structured Product (FISP), providing passive investment opportunities with up to 50% returns in 6 months if conditions are met. "

Christian Harris, Reviewer

InstaTrade Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsFISP, CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Cryptos, Futures
RegulatorBVI FSC
PlatformsInstaTrade Gear, MT4
Minimum Deposit$1
Minimum Trade0.01
Leverage1:1000
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, RUB

Pros

  • VPS hosting caters to algo trading strategies with a dedicated physical server providing rapid execution speeds as low as 9 milliseconds.
  • Despite an average investment offering of around 300 assets, InstaTrade offers a particularly strong suite of currency pairs, catering to advanced traders seeking opportunities in volatile exotics.
  • InstaTrade claims to "guarantee" returns through the structured element of its passive trading solution (FISP), with applications approved within 24 hours.

Cons

  • Marketing of the FISP, especially phrasing around the “guarantee of profitability” and the “elimination of risks of trading on financial markets” raises concerns.
  • InstaTrade sports one of the most cluttered websites and client cabinets in the industry, potentially overwhelming new traders, especially compared to XTB’s intuitive trading journey and resources.
  • InstaTrade is registered in the offshore jurisdiction of the British Virgin Islands, resulting in limited regulatory safeguards for retail investors.
Visit InstaTrade
InstaTrade Review

Plexytrade

"Plexytrade is a newcomer in the brokerage scene with attention-grabbing features like 1:2000 leverage, zero spreads on select instruments and fast execution speeds of less than 46 milliseconds. However, the absence of regulation is a significant concern, while the non-existent research and educational tools place it far behind industry frontrunners."

Christian Harris, Reviewer

Plexytrade Quick Facts

Bonus Offer120% Cash Welcome Bonus
Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsCFDs, Forex, Indices, Stocks, Commodities, Crypto
PlatformsMT4, MT5
Minimum Deposit$50
Minimum Trade0.01
Leverage1:2000
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR

Pros

  • Plexytrade accommodates a range of trading methods and short-term strategies, including scalping, hedging, and automated trading.
  • US residents are accepted as clients, distinguishing Plexytrade as one of the rare offshore brokers that cater to US-based traders.
  • Despite lacking regulation, Plexytrade provides negative balance protection and reinforces safety protocols by holding client funds in segregated accounts.

Cons

  • Deposits and withdrawals are exclusively facilitated through cryptocurrencies, as Plexytrade does not support bank cards, bank wire transfers, or e-wallets.
  • There are no research and educational materials, falling short of alternatives like IG, while access to the economic calendar is restricted to clients with balances of $500.
  • There are no social or copy trading features for inexperienced traders to replicate the trades of more experienced investors, trailing category leaders like eToro.
Visit Plexytrade
Plexytrade Review

Coinexx

"Coinexx best serves short-term traders willing to foregoes regulatory protections in return for highly-leveraged CFDs and trading accounts, deposits and withdrawals processed in cryptos like BTC. "

Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

Coinexx Quick Facts

Bonus Offer100% Deposit Welcome Bonus
Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsForex, Commodities, Indices, Cryptocurrencies
PlatformsMT4, MT5
Minimum Deposit0.001 BTC
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:500
Account CurrenciesUSD

Pros

  • The virtual private server (VPS), hosted near the firm’s data center in Amsterdam, offers 24/7 connectivity, low latency and 99.99% uptime, catering to algo traders.
  • Coinexx uses an ECN model that facilitates ultra-tight spreads from 0 pips, which alongside high leverage up to 1:500, may serve fast-paced, high-volume trading strategies.
  • Coinexx is one of a limited pool of brokers to support the ActTrader platform, which is highly customizable with detachable widgets, as well as 48 indicators, 11 timeframes, and price quotes up to 8 decimal places.

Cons

  • Despite operating for over 7 years, Coinexx still hasn’t secured any regulatory approvals, respected industry awards or the full confidence of our experts.
  • Aside from 7 calculators (forex, margin, pip, currency, commission, swap, PnL), Coinexx offers very little in terms of additional tools, with no education or research features to support traders.
  • Although it supports near-instant account funding in 25+ cryptos, the absence of fiat deposit options at Coinexx will be severely limiting for many traders.
Visit Coinexx
Coinexx Review

World Forex

"World Forex provides both highly leveraged CFDs and digital contracts, making this a good broker for clients who want flexible and rewarding ways to trade. The copy trading service will also appeal to newer traders."

Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

World Forex Quick Facts

Bonus Offer100% Deposit Bonus
Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsForex, CFD Stocks, Metals, Energies, Cryptos, Digital Contracts
RegulatorSVGFSA
PlatformsMT4, MT5
Minimum Deposit$1
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:1000
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, RUB

Pros

  • Educational content
  • Low deposit of $1
  • Copy trading solution

Cons

  • No negative balance protection
  • Withdrawal fees apply
  • Weak regulation
Visit World Forex
World Forex Review

How Expert Advisors Work

Expert Advisors are trading algorithms, also known as bots, that can be deployed on the MT4 and MT5 platforms. EAs are built in the IDE (Integrated Development Environment) and can be used to trade forex, indices and commodities, amongst others. They are essentially designed to execute positions and strategies based on pre-determined criteria.

The built-in MetaEditor facilitates the development and testing of automated trading strategies on both MetaTrader platforms. And importantly, 950+ bots are available for free from Code Base while 1,700+ paid-for Expert Advisors can be purchased from the MetaTrader Market. Alternatively, EA developers can sell individual robots via the Freelance service. Paid for bots range from $10 up to several thousand US Dollars.

Expert Advisors

Parameters

Fundamentally, Expert Advisors follow a long list of yes/no rules that they consider when either alerting you to a potential trading opportunity or automatically executing positions themselves.

For those interested in the fully automated route, EAs can be left to open and close positions around the clock, seven days a week. Of course, regular monitoring and refinement are advised as profits aren’t guaranteed.

Pros

Versatile

One of the key selling points of Expert Advisors is that they can be used to develop a range of complex trading strategies, based on an unlimited set of criteria. They can be applied to scalping strategies, intraday trading systems, and swing trading setups. Importantly, they can also be tested against historical market data to gauge results.

Emotion

Another significant advantage is that Expert Advisors take the emotion out of trading. Algorithms are not affected by recent trades that have gone sour. Instead, they make decisions based entirely on logic and pre-agreed parameters.

Time

EAs can save time. Instead of manually monitoring the forex or stock market and entering and closing positions all day, an Expert Advisor can do it for you. This frees up more time to explore new markets and develop fresh strategies.

Price

Finally, EAs can be cost-effective. Users can download free bots from Code Base or pay for more advanced algorithms from the MetaTrader Market. You can also pay for bespoke bots to be built using the MetaQuotes Freelance service.

Of course, as with most things, good EAs are likely to come with a hefty price tag and even those do not guarantee consistent returns.

Cons

24/7 Trading

To run a forex EA around the clock, you will need to set up a Virtual Private Server (VPS), which often comes at a cost.  And even then, it’s best to keep regular checks on progress to avoid risking substantial losses.

Profits

Unfortunately, there are scams and misrepresented EAs on MT4 and MT5. Often promising high returns with limited evidence to support claims and no track record of profits, these are to be avoided.

Beginners should carefully review bots before downloading a free solution or paying for an EA. The Code Base and Market both publish important metrics about the Expert Advisors available, including a rating, setup guidance, risk parameters, and suitable markets.

News

Expert Advisors are entirely data-driven so they don’t always respond to news events as you would expect. They aren’t able to predict all market reactions and trends so they cannot be left entirely to their own devices.

Getting Started

How To Enable Expert Advisors In MT4

Open up the MetaTrader 4 terminal and select the ‘Options’ menu under ‘Tools’. A window will then appear with the Expert Advisor section. You can then click to ‘Allow automated trading’. The platform should then enable the use of EAs.

Using Expert Advisors On MT4

To add Expert Advisors to your forex MT4 account, open MT4 and locate ‘File’. Next, click ‘Open data folder’ and choose ‘MQL4’. You should then be able to choose between ‘Expert Advisors’ and ‘Indicators’, depending on the type of input you want. You can then copy over the desired file or bot. Once complete, restart the MT4 terminal and the EA should be available in the ‘Navigator’ window.

If the Expert Advisor is available in Code Base, then the process of adding it is far simpler. Just find the desired EA or indicator and hit the ‘Free download’ or ‘Buy Expert Advisor’ buttons. Once downloaded, you can activate the EA by dragging it onto your chart and setting your variables.

How To Enable Expert Advisors In MT5

Open the MetaTrader 5 terminal and select the ‘Platform option’. Next, navigate to the ‘Expert Advisors’ tab in the pop-up menu and make sure the ‘Automated trading’ box is ticked. Once ticked, EAs can be used on your desktop or mobile MT5 application.

Setting up Expert Advisors on MT5

Using Expert Advisors On MT5

Similar to MT4, open the terminal and select ‘File’. Next, click on the ‘Open data folder’ and choose ‘MQL5’. You can then select either ‘Expert Advisors’ or ‘Indicators’. From there, you can copy over the file. Now you simply need to refresh the application and the new EA should be available in the window. Once visible, you can drag and drop the bot onto your chart to adjust any parameters.

Testing EAs

The good news is that most Expert Advisors on Code Base and the MetaTrader Market have user reviews. Many of the premium bots and indicators for sale also come with a free demo solution so that you can backtest algorithms against historical market data. Robots are usually scaled back in terms of features with the simulator, but they still give you a good indication of future performance.

Helpfully, Code Base and the Market both list the best performing Expert Advisors in 2024 and split out bots by different markets and strategies, such as forex or gold and day trading or longer-term investing.

Creating Your Own Expert Advisors

Established traders may want to build their own bot for personal use or sell their algorithm. For this, users will need to develop bots in the respective platform programming language. For MetaTrader 4, this is MQL4 while for MetaTrader 5, this is MQL5.

EAs are developed in the intuitive IDE (Integrated Development Environment) alongside MetaEditor. These are important tools that help you build, test and refine MT4 and MT5 robots to operate on forex, stock or commodity markets. Fortunately, there is a host of useful tutorials and guides online, as well as MQL4 and MQL5 forums. Other useful tips and recommendations on building your own trading bot can be found at IG and Pepperstone.

Once you have built your Expert Advisor, you can put it to work on your account, offer it as a free download on Code Base, or sell it on the MetaTrader Market.

Bottom Line

Expert Advisors are algorithms that automatically monitor the markets and execute trades based on pre-defined criteria. EAs can be used for trading popular financial markets, including forex, on both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. A collection and database of useful tutorials and bot builder programmes are available online, especially on the MetaTrader website.

To download an EA today, head to Code Base or the MetaTrader Market.

FAQs

Are Expert Advisors Safe?

There is no guarantee of profits when trading with EAs. Whilst some of the best bots do generate decent returns, these can be pricey and often out of reach for beginners. Always check reviews of free bots before hitting download and be wary of installing Expert Advisors from third-party websites, as they could contain malicious code or be operating a scam.

Do Forex Expert Advisors Really Work?

Some FX Expert Advisors produce regular returns trading major, minor and exotic currency pairs. Of course, they will only operate effectively if trade parameters have been set up correctly. Check user reviews before downloading any free forex EAs and also backtest bots against historical data before risking funds.

Are Expert Advisors Profitable?

Some EAs have cracked creating impressive returns while others produce consistent losses. How successful a bot is ultimately depends on how well it has been developed and refined. The best performing EAs can be found on the MetaTrader Market but may come with a hefty price tag, sometimes costing thousands of dollars.

What Platforms Can You Use Expert Advisors On?

Expert Advisors are primarily available on the MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms. With that said, automated trading systems and services can also be found on other popular terminals, including cTrader.

Are Expert Advisors Allowed In Trading Competitions?

This is entirely dependent on the company running the competition. EAs are allowed in the FTMO trading competition, for example, however some companies restrict their use. As a result, it’s best to check terms and conditions before signing up. Importantly, it is worth noting that retail Expert Advisors are legal in most major trading jurisdictions.