StoneX Trading offers MetaTrader 4 and it is a good option if you want to use MT4 with an established UK broker.
However, I still think StoneX Trading’s main proprietary platform is better for most traders. It is easier to use and gives you better access to StoneX's own trading tools and wider offering. MT4 really comes into its own if you specifically want to automate your trading, use Expert Advisors or have already built your trading setup around MetaTrader.
StoneX Trading adds nine Expert Advisors from FX Blue, including Sentiment Trader, as well as custom indicators and an economic calendar. You can use EAs to monitor markets and automatically execute trades based on rules you have set.
There is also VPS hosting, which is a genuinely useful addition for serious automated traders because you can keep your EAs running during trading hours without leaving your own computer switched on.
Overall, StoneX Trading is a good MT4 broker if you want the reassurance and service of a large established financial services group alongside MetaTrader. But unless you specifically need MT4, I would probably use StoneX Trading’s main platform instead.
Pricing
StoneX Trading says MT4 traders get the same tight spreads and fast execution available through its proprietary platforms.
There is no minimum deposit if you fund your MT4 account by bank transfer, although card deposits have a £100 minimum. Obviously, that doesn't mean you should open an account with a tiny balance because you still need enough money to cover the margin requirements of the positions you are trading.
As MT4 is primarily aimed at leveraged forex and CFD trading, you also need to factor in the spread and any overnight financing charges rather than looking solely at whether there is an account fee.
If you are an active trader, execution quality is just as important as the headline spread. A fractionally cheaper spread isn't much use if you regularly suffer from poor fills when markets are moving quickly.
Market Access
This is the main area where I think you need to be aware of the difference between StoneX Trading's MT4 account and its main trading platform.
MT4 is primarily designed for trading forex, commodities and indices, rather than providing access to everything StoneX Trading offers.
The current StoneX information doesn't give a specific number of markets available through MT4, so I would remove the old claim that there are around 84 markets unless StoneX confirms that figure is still correct.
For traders who mainly want to trade currencies and the major indices and commodities, that isn't necessarily a problem. But if having the widest possible choice of markets is important to you, StoneX Trading's main platform is likely to be the better option.
Platform & Apps
MT4 is old, but it is still one of the most popular trading platforms in the world, particularly amongst forex traders.
The main reason people still use it is not because it looks particularly good – it doesn't – but because there is a huge ecosystem of indicators, Expert Advisors and automated trading strategies built around it.
StoneX Trading provides nine Expert Advisors from FX Blue, including Sentiment Trader, which you can adapt to your trading style. You can also use custom indicators, advanced charts, drawing tools and different timeframes, as well as dealing directly from the charts.
There are MT4 apps for both iPhone and Android, with one-click trading, charts, indicators and drawing tools, so you can access the same MT4 account when you are away from your main trading computer.
But personally, if I was sitting in front of a screen trading manually, I'd use StoneX Trading's own platform. MT4 makes much more sense if you have a particular indicator, EA or automated strategy that you specifically want to run.
Customer Service
One of the reasons for choosing StoneX Trading for MT4 rather than one of the hundreds of MetaTrader brokers available online is the broker behind the platform.
MT4 is just the software you use to trade. Your actual account, pricing, execution and customer service come from StoneX Trading.
That distinction is important because there are an enormous number of MT4 brokers and they are certainly not all equal. With StoneX Trading you are dealing with an established financial services business rather than choosing a broker simply because it happens to offer MetaTrader.
StoneX Trading also offers dedicated customer service, and there is online chat support if you have problems with your account or platform.
For me, that is one of the strongest reasons to use StoneX Trading for MT4.
Research & Analysis
MT4 is primarily a technical analysis and automated trading platform rather than a research platform.
You get professional charting with a wide range of technical indicators, chart types, drawing tools and timeframes, and you can trade directly from charts. StoneX Trading also provides custom indicators and a customisable economic calendar to help you keep track of market-moving events.
Where MT4 becomes much more interesting is automated analysis. StoneX provides nine Expert Advisors from FX Blue, which can monitor markets for trading opportunities and execute orders according to rules you have defined.
There is also VPS hosting for EAs, allowing automated strategies to run during trading hours without relying on your home computer being switched on and connected to the internet.
However, if you want StoneX's broader market research, trading ideas and proprietary analytics rather than running your own technical strategies, I think the main StoneX Trading platform is the better choice. MT4 is really for traders who know why they want MT4.