Platforms

Sometimes — many brokers allow opening a new account on a different platform under the same client profile, but the original account cannot usually be "switched" to a new platform because each platform has its own account ledger. Funds may need to be transferred internally. Confirm with the broker before assuming positions or open orders carry across.

Yes — for some product types. You can install Store products, start and manage cloud cBots and use multi-platform plugins from cTrader Mobile. Store custom indicators and desktop plugins can be installed to your cTrader ID from mobile but require Windows or Mac to actually run.

Yes, if the bot is running as a cloud cBot instance. Cloud instances run in cTrader's hosted environment 24/7 and do not depend on your device staying open, removing the need for a VPS for most users. Local cBots stop when the desktop app closes or the computer disconnects.

No. Store custom indicators cannot be added to cTrader Mobile charts. Mobile supports built-in indicators only. If your workflow requires mobile, alternatives are built-in indicators, price alerts, cloud cBots that handle the logic on the server side and multi-platform plugins that include analytical UI.

Sometimes — some brokers run a single account model across multiple platforms (e.g. cTrader and TradingView via broker integration). Most brokers operate cTrader and MT4/MT5 as separate account pools, so the same email may have several accounts with different platforms and conditions. Confirm with the broker before assuming positions, balances or history will be visible across platforms.

No. MQL4 and MQL5 indicators do not run in cTrader. cTrader custom indicators are written in C# or Python using the cTrader Algo API. If the MQL source code is available, a developer can rebuild the indicator for cTrader; if only the compiled .ex4 or .ex5 file is available, the logic has to be reverse-engineered from observed behaviour.

No. MT4 EAs are MQL4 code and do not run in cTrader. cTrader uses C# or Python via cTrader Algo. To use the same strategy in cTrader, the logic must be rewritten as a cBot — file conversion is not enough.

No. MT5 EAs are MQL5 code and do not run in cTrader. The cTrader equivalent is a cBot written in C# or Python in cTrader Algo. Conversion requires re-implementing the strategy logic, order handling, indicator references and symbol mappings.

NinjaTrader is a US-focused platform centred on futures and equities, with C# strategy development through NinjaScript and a separate marketplace. cTrader is FX/CFD-centred globally, with C# and Python in cTrader Algo, cloud cBots, native multi-platform apps and the cTrader Store. The platforms target different markets and toolchains; code does not transfer between them.

No. The cTrader cloud is a free hosted execution environment for cBots, provided by cTrader, running on a Linux backend. A VPS is a virtual server you rent, install cTrader Windows on and use to run local cBots or custom indicators 24/7. The cTrader Cloud is simpler, free and limited to cBots that compile against cross-platform references. VPS is paid, more flexible and lets you run Windows-only libraries, desktop plugins and custom indicators continuously.

Cloud execution runs the cBot in cTrader's hosted Linux-based environment, independent of your device. Local execution runs the cBot on your Windows or Mac machine and depends on the app, CPU, RAM and internet staying available. Cloud execution is free, hands-off and best for continuous strategies. Local execution gives full .NET access and is best for development, debugging and cBots that need Windows-specific libraries.

cTrader is a modern multi-platform trading system with C# and Python algo development, cloud cBots, native Web and Mobile, Open API, MCP and a Store ecosystem. MT4 is an older platform centred on MQL4 expert advisors, with a large legacy ecosystem of EAs and indicators but limited modern tooling. EAs do not run in cTrader; cBots do not run in MT4. Many brokers offer both so traders can use legacy MT4 strategies alongside modern cTrader workflows.

cTrader and MT5 are both modern platforms with different design choices. cTrader uses C# and Python (cTrader Algo, formerly cTrader Automate); MT5 uses MQL5. cTrader has cloud cBots, native multi-platform apps, Open API and the cTrader Store ecosystem. MT5 has its own marketplace, strategy tester and stronger native support for futures and stocks at brokers that offer them. EAs from MT5 do not run in cTrader.

cTrader Web, Mobile, Windows and Mac share one account ecosystem but support different Store workflows. Web and Mobile can start and manage cloud cBots and run multi-platform plugins. Windows and Mac add local cBot execution, Store custom indicators, desktop plugins, backtesting and optimisation. Pick the app by workflow, not by preference alone.

The best platform for a beginner depends on what they want to do. cTrader Web is easy to start, runs in any browser, includes cloud cBots and exposes the Store ecosystem. cTrader Mobile suits monitoring and casual manual trading. MT4 has a large library of legacy material; TradingView is best for chart learning. Pick by workflow, not by perceived popularity.

For developers, cTrader offers C# and Python in cTrader Algo, Open API for external apps, the WebView plugin SDK for cross-platform plugins and MCP servers for AI-agent workflows. MT4/MT5 has a large MQL ecosystem with extensive legacy code. TradingView is strongest for Pine Script chart studies and alerts but not for full execution stacks. cTrader is the most balanced for developers building modern, production-grade automation.

cTrader Mobile supports manual trading, account management, cloud cBots (start, stop, manage), multi-platform plugins, built-in indicators, copy trading and price alerts. It does not support Store custom indicators, desktop plugins, local cBots, backtesting or development workflows — those are desktop-only.

cTrader Web supports manual trading, account management, cloud cBots (start, stop, manage), multi-platform plugins, charting with built-in indicators and copy trading. It does not support Store custom indicators, desktop plugins, local cBot execution, backtesting or optimisation — those are Windows/Mac features. Web is best for monitoring, on-the-go trading and cloud-cBot control.

cTrader Windows and Mac are required for Store custom indicators, desktop plugins, local cBot execution, cBot and indicator development in C# or Python, backtesting and optimisation and full workspace and chart-layout control. Anything that runs as cloud or a multi-platform plugin also works on Web and Mobile; the desktop-only list is the set of features that depend on the desktop chart and algorithm engines.

Use cTrader Windows or Mac for local algo work — coding, backtesting, optimisation and custom indicators. Use any cTrader app, including Web and Mobile, when the workflow is a cloud cBot that runs in cTrader's hosted environment independent of your device. A practical setup is to develop and test on desktop, then start the live strategy as a cloud instance so it keeps running with your computer off.

All four cTrader apps — Web, Mobile, Windows and Mac — support cBots through cloud execution. Windows and Mac additionally support local execution. Cloud cBots can be started from any app and continue running 24/7; local cBots run on your machine and stop when the desktop app closes.

All cTrader apps support cloud cBots. Once started, a cloud instance runs in cTrader's hosted environment until you stop it or it errors out, with no requirement to keep the app or device open. Default limits are typically one cloud instance on a demo account and up to ten on live accounts; brokers can vary these. Cloud instances on demo accounts auto-stop seven days after start.

Store custom indicators run on cTrader Windows and Mac only. Web and Mobile include built-in indicators and can manage Store products through your account, but Store custom indicators cannot be added to mobile or web charts. Plan around this when choosing your primary trading device.

cTrader Windows and Mac support local cBot execution. A local cBot runs directly on your machine, which means the app and device must stay open and connected for the bot to keep trading. If continuous operation matters, run the cBot as a cloud instance instead.

TradingView is the most-used charting environment, with the largest indicator library and the most social analysis features. cTrader, MT4 and MT5 include native charting that is sufficient for most strategies, with cTrader's chart engine being the most modern of the three. Many traders combine TradingView for analysis with cTrader for execution and Store products.

For futures trading, NinjaTrader and other US-focused platforms are typically stronger because their data feeds, brokers and product structures are built around CME, CBOT and NYMEX futures. cTrader is FX/CFD-centred and may offer CFDs on futures-tracking instruments through some brokers, but that is not the same as direct exchange-traded futures access. Pick by the actual contract type you need.

For FX and CFD trading bots, cTrader is a strong choice because of cloud cBots, C# and Python development in cTrader Algo, the Store ecosystem and Open API for external integrations. MT4 and MT5 also serve FX bot workflows through their MQL ecosystems. The decision usually comes down to language preference, broker availability and whether you want cloud execution (cTrader) or VPS-only local execution (MT4/MT5).

Platform availability depends on the broker because each broker chooses which platforms to license, integrate and support for their clients. A broker may offer cTrader globally but not in one region or MT5 to professional clients only. Country, account type and client classification all factor in. Check the broker's account-opening flow to see which platforms are actually offered for your situation.