I’m new and looking to get into a demo account. Also looking to start analyzing charts. TradingView, MT5, MT4? Which one and why?
Of the ones you mentioned, TradingView is far by the best, in my opinion. Its only drawback is that the free version is limited, and its best versions are paid-for versions. However, you can actually use the top, best version free if you trade at Oanda (they have their own, top, best version of it and it’s called “advanced charting”. It doesn’t say TradingView but it is actually TradingView! This is quite a common thing, called “White-labelling”).
C-Trader is also very, very good and is free. Far superior to MT. A really nice platform. Its only problem is that it’s not available/licensable for anyone US-resident.
These are by far the top two platforms, for beginners, IMO.
The worst, to avoid at all cost, IMO, really for countless reasons, is MT4. It’s horrible. It’s unreliable. It’s archaic. It’s no longer supported or updated by the manufacturer (Metaquotes) which has also publicly announced that it will soon be withdrawn. It doesn’t even display some of the everyday indicators correctly! It was originally invented for dreadful, dishonest, unscrupulous counterparty-brokers to be able to manipulate the prices against their own customers using a thing called the “MT4 Dealer Plug-in”. The continued presence and promotion of MT4 is very high on the list of reasons why so very few retail forex traders ever become steadily successful - it truly stacks the deck against them.
MT5 is marginally better and safer than MT4, but still really very bad, IMO, compared with C-Trader or TradingView (and also displays some indicators incorrectly!).
A high proportion of this forum’s members use MT4 (I’m very sorry to say) and are used to it, and many have automated stuff “plugged into it” and are resistant to change for that reason. But for someone starting off now, to choose voluntarily to use an MT product would honestly be one of the biggest mistakes you can make, IMO.
Thousands of people switch from MT (to C-T or TV) and wish they’d done so earlier, but you’ll almost never hear of anyone switching back! 
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You didn’t specify BEST for WHAT?
Trading? Charting?
The very word demo suggests that you try it and see what works for you.
Me, I love Tradingview for charting but the trade placement is terrible.
I have used Metatrader 4 for years, so that is where I trade.
Nobody can decide for you, and you already know the various options.
Good Luck.
Why do you say trade placement is terrible? I think MT4/5 is horrible to use.
Trading view seems to have the best features for me. The charting etc is excellent and I love the fact that I can use the position tool to set my entry, SL & TP and the just set my risk %. Very simple and saves me making mistakes.
cTrader looks like it’s got some great features. I think you can set different take profit points, have a break even stop loss or an ATR trailing stop etc. I’ve not used cTrader but it really seems to be developing some good features that users want.
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Metatrader is ■■■■■■■■. I’m pretty sure the only people who recommend it are people who’ve never tried anything more modern, more user-friendly or better designed, but have stuck with MT 4 or 5 just because they’re used to it and scared of learning how to use a new one. It’s unimaginable that anyone who’s actually used both MT and Tradingview, or both MT and cTrader, could really prefer MT?
Have you tried ACT trader. It was the one that started way before MetaQuotes even existed. It is the platform behind many large brokers example FXCM trade station is built on ACT Trader. You can find some good brokers already offering it in both onshore and offshore market.
some of the brokers that offer it are
- fxview
- aaafx
- hirose
Some offshore brokers that offer it are
- Coinexx
- hankotrade
- market101
It’s stable, rock solid and been around for over 25 years now. Offers rest API and fix API for all sorts of algo Trading
Clarifying
Which one is the best for trading?
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Hi @rodlong07,
I’m using all of them. The best is still base on your need.
I don’t use MT4 anymore, since MT5 has more features. I use MT5 a lot since I rely on many self build trading bot. The same with cTrader, they have cAlgo that allow me to create many cBots.
About tradingview, I use it for sharing and educational purpose only. I need a platform that robust and versatile. Tradingview(TV) can’t fit this purpose.
TV has good appearance. But, it’s not robust enough. Reason is simple, it’s web based. Event it has desktop application, it’s still under web platform. No matter how sophisticated their technology, web application still can’t defeat the performance of desktop application. TV can’t compare to MT4/5 and cTrader in term of performance.
When you need to be agile, MT4/5 and cTrader provide a lot of shortcut, useful for a very active trader. TV is enough when you trade it occasionally.
Next, if you are an active trader everyday, you will some realize, there is delay in TV. It’s not good when you use it for scalping.
Many other things, I can’t mention it one by one. But it doesn’t mean TV is not good. I love TV, because under TV, all information about an instrument can be accessed easily. This is the biggest advantage of using TV. You also can share and read many idea and trading concept in TV.
So all back to what do you need. For beginner, TV may be can satisfy you. When you know more, don’t reluctant to explore other platform.
For me MT5 is the best platform, i can be outdated for some, but I’m talking about performance and making money. I don’t really bother with the appearance. I care more on which platform can serve me the best in order to generate income.
Be practical only, not being sentimental 
TradingView is perfect for beginners—user-friendly, packed with indicators, and great for learning from other traders’ ideas.
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Ctrader, for the good reasons given above by @Davuutnoob .
Tradingview is also more than adequate for trading, as well as excellent for charting.
Your trading aspirations and endeavors can only ever be affected beneficially, rather than detrimentally, by resolutely avoiding Metatrader, especially for trading.
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