✨ Introduction to MT4 Automated Trading
The brand-new copy-trade technology gives everyone the opportunity to easily copy the trade positions of experienced traders. There are many different methods to perform automated trading, including:
Automated Trading via the use of Expert Advisors (Forex Robots) | » Learn more on EAs
Trade on a PAMM Account (Trade via a PAMM Manager) | » Compare PAMM Accounts
The MT4 trading platform includes a fully-featured framework for automated trading. It supports all popular copy trading methods, including Expert Advisors (EAs), Social Trading, and PAMM Accounts. In this guide, we will demonstrate how to use the MT4 copy-trade system (2nd method).
🔔 Metatrader-4 Signals
MetaTrader 4 allows traders to automatically follow, or copy, the trade positions of others (signal providers). Note that every MT4 user can also become a signal provider and earn money if others choose to follow them. Information on how to become a signal provider is provided at the end.
When selecting signal providers, you can check whether they use Expert Advisors in their live accounts or if they trade manually.
In order to copy and trade signals via MT4, you need:
(1) An active MT4 trading account provided by a Forex broker (easy and free to sign up)
(2) MQL community registration (easy and free to sign up, the information below)
(3) Some funds to trade (minimum 300-400 USD)
📶 Copy Metatrader-4 Signals in six (6) Steps
MT4 trade signals can be easily followed since they are integrated into any MetaTrader account and can be found under the “SIGNALS” tab, as shown in the image.
These are the six (6) steps to use MT4 signals:
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Register for free in the MQL5 Community (you can register via the MT4 platform by clicking the 'Signals' tab and then 'Register an MQL Account' on the right).
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Open your MT4 trading platform, go to 'Tools' in the main menu, select “Options,” then go to the 'Community' tab to log in to the MQL5 community.
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Go to the 'Signals' tab located at the bottom of the MT4 platform.
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Select your signal providers by double-clicking the signal directly or by right-clicking it in the list, choosing 'Details,' and then clicking 'Subscribe.'
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Agree to the terms of service and enter your MQL5 password.
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Specify the percentage of your capital you want to risk and set a stop-loss amount. This stop-loss will protect your account by stopping trading if your balance reaches a set minimum.
That’s all—your signals are now activated and running on your MT4 account.
Paid MT4 Signals (Payment Methods)
MT4 offers both free and paid signals, with paid services generally being more reliable over time.
Subscription fees can be paid directly through your MQL5 account or via other payment systems. MetaTrader 4 supports various payment methods including:
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Cards (Visa, MasterCard, UnionPay)
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eWallets (PayPal, Skrill, WebMoney, Neteller, ePayments)
📌 Eight (8) Tips When Choosing MetaTrader-4 Signal Providers
Not all signal providers are suitable for trading. Here are a few tips to help you choose the right providers:
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Make sure the signal provider trades on a Real Account, not a Demo Account. This means they risk their own money and are motivated to manage overall portfolio risk.
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Select providers who have opened at least 50–70 positions, preferably more than 100–150.
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Look for a smooth performance curve visible in the 'Equity Curve.' Avoid providers with large drawdowns in their performance.
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Compare the average winning trade amount to the average losing trade amount.
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Review the best and worst trades. If a provider’s worst trade loss is $4,000 but the best trade gain is only $2,000, they may be using risky martingale strategies. A good provider should have a Profit/Loss ratio of 3:1 or better, meaning their best trades earn significantly more than their worst losses.
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Generally, paid signals tend to be more reliable and profitable than free signals over the long term.
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If you plan to trade large amounts, thoroughly research the provider’s profile to ensure you are following a professional trader.
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Finally, follow the golden investment rule: diversification. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket—in this case, choose more than one signal provider.
📊 MetaTrader-4 Filters When Copying Trading Signals
Here are some filters you can apply when copying MT4 signals:
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General Account Risk Management
As mentioned earlier, when subscribing to a signal, you can set the amount of capital you are willing to risk on that particular signal. -
Dollar-Amount Stop-Loss
Copy traders can set a specific dollar stop-loss level. If this limit is reached, the trade is automatically closed. -
Set Conditions to Exit Trade Positions
You can create rules to stop trades from a specific provider. For example, you may set a conditional rule to limit your account’s exposure if a position grows beyond a certain percentage, effectively creating an exit strategy similar to a trailing stop.
Other parameters available when copying MT4 signals include:
• Enable or disable real-time trade signal subscription
• Synchronize trade positions automatically without confirmation
• Set maximum slippage deviation in pips
Monitoring MT4 Trade Signals
Copy-traders can access detailed information about their subscriptions under the ‘My Statistics’ tab, which includes:
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Growth graph
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Time (in weeks)
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Max DD (maximum drawdown in percentage)
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PF (Profit Factor, the ratio of gross profit to gross loss)
📳 Becoming an MT4 Signal Provider
How to Become an MT4 Signal Provider — 6 Basic Steps
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Create an MQL ID -Register and get your unique MQL5 Community account.
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Register as a Signal Provider -From your MT4 platform, go to the ‘Signals’ tab and sign up as a provider.
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Describe Your Trading Strategy -Write a clear and concise description of how you trade.
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Register as an MQL Seller -In your MQL5 Community profile, register as a seller to be able to charge subscription fees.
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Open at Least 5 Trade Positions in the First Month -Ensure these trades have a drawdown below 70% to qualify.
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Set Your Monthly Subscription Fee -You can charge from $20 up to thousands of dollars depending on your strategy and reputation.
Promoting Your Signal Service via the MQL5 Community
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You can allow other MQL5 community members to promote your signals using affiliate links.
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Affiliates earn commissions for every new subscriber they bring.
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You can set your affiliate commission rate — up to 50% of your subscription fees.
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Manage your affiliate program from the ‘Signals’ > ‘My Signals’ tab in your MQL5 profile.
Revenue Split
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80% of subscription fees go to you, the signal provider.
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20% is taken by MetaQuotes as the platform fee.
This system encourages providers to grow their subscriber base by leveraging community marketing while earning a significant share of the subscription income.
💼 Forex Brokers Offering the MetaTrader-4
MT4 continues to dominate thanks to its extensive ecosystem of custom tools, broker-friendly infrastructure, and widespread trader familiarity. Although MT5 and cTrader are gaining popularity, MT4 remains essential for brokers who want to retain algorithmic traders and serve emerging markets. Its gradual phase-out will largely depend on MetaQuotes’ decisions rather than market demand. For traders, this ensures ongoing access to a reliable, proven platform; for brokers, offering MT4 remains critical to maintaining a competitive edge.
MT4 BROKER |
COMPANY | TRADING | ACCOUNT | MORE |
ROBOFOREX |
Established: 2009 Regulated: FSC Belize Client Account Segregation: Yes US Traders: No Swap-Free Accounts: Yes |
ECN/STP
|
Promotion: Rebates, Interest on Balance, Credit Bonuses Minimum Deposit: $10
Wire, Cards, Skrill, Neteller, UnionPay, Western Union, PerfectMoney Account Currencies: Euro, US dollar |
Good for day trading and scalping.
|
TITAN FX
|
Established: 2014 Regulated: FSC of the Republic of Vanuatu Client Account Segregation: Yes US Traders: No Swap-Free Accounts: No |
ECN/STP
|
Promotion: Free VPS and Demo Competitions Min. Deposit: 200 USD
Cards, Bank Wire, Neteller, Skrill, UnionPay |
ECN Forex Broker, specializing in Asian Traders by offering tight spreads and a Free VPS. |
AXI |
Established: 2007 Regulated: ASIC, FCA UK Client Account Segregation: Yes US Traders: No Swap-Free Accounts: Yes |
ECN/STP
|
Promotion: Autochartist, PsyQuation Coaching Minimum Deposit: $10
Wire, Cards, Skrill, Neteller, BPay Account Currencies: Euro, US dollar, Pound Sterling, and 7 more currencies |
AXI is a nice place for automated trading offering very tight spreads, good order execution, and safety of trading funds. |
🔗 Discover More: » ECN / STP Forex Brokers | » Compare Forex PAMM Accounts
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