cTrader vs. TradingView vs. MetaTrader 4

An overall comprehensive side-by-side comparison of cTrader vs TradingView vs MetaTrader 4. We have researched three of the most popular and powerful trading platforms to provide South Africans with a detailed comparison between cTrader, TradingView, and MetaTrader 4.

This is a complete guide to cTrader vs. TradingView vs. MetaTrader 4.

10 Best Forex Brokers in South Africa for 2025

Rank

Broker

Review

Regulators

Min Deposit

Official Site

#1

Read Review

ASIC, FSA, CBI, BVI, FSCA, FRSA, CySEC, ISA, JFSA

$100

Visit Broker

#2

Read Review

FSCA, CySEC, FCA, DFSA, FSA, CMA

$0

Visit Broker

#3

Read Review

CySEC, MWALI, FSCA

$25

Visit Broker

#4

Read Review

CySEC, FCA, FSA, FSCA

$100

Visit Broker

#5

Read Review

CBCS, CySEC, FCA, FSA, FSC, FSCA, CMA

$10

Visit Broker

#6

Read Review

CySEC, ASIC, FSA, BVI, FSCA

$25

Visit Broker

#7

Read Review

ASIC, CySEC, FSA, SCB

$200

Visit Broker

#8

Read Review

ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, FSA, FSC, CMA

$100

Visit Broker

#9

Read Review

FCA, CySEC, FSCA, SCB

$100

Visit Broker

#10

Read Review

FSCA, FSC, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA

$5

Visit Broker

#1

4.8/5

User Score

Sign Up

#2

4.7/5

User Score

Sign Up

#3

4.7/5

User Score

Sign Up

#4

4.4/5

User Score

Sign Up

#5

4.7/5

User Score

Sign Up

#6

4.0/5

User Score

Sign Up

#7

4.7/5

User Score

Sign Up

#8

4.8/5

User Score

Sign Up

#9

4.5/5

User Score

Sign Up

#10

4.9/5

User Score

Sign Up

cTrader vs. TradingView vs. MetaTrader 4 Comparison Review

1. ✅ cTrader vs. TradingView vs. MetaTrader 4 Comparison Table
2. ✅ Overview of cTrader and its Features
3. ✅ Overview of TradingView and its Features
4. ✅ Overview of MetaTrader 4 and its Features
5. ✅ Pros and Cons of cTrader, TradingView, and MetaTrader 4
6. ✅ What is a Forex Trading Platform?
7. ✅ Understanding Trading Software
8. ✅ How to Choose the Right Trading Platform in South Africa
9. ✅ The Best brokers in South Africa
10. ✅ Conclusion
11. ✅ Frequently asked questions

In this in-depth guide, you’ll learn:

• What is a Forex Trading Platform?
• Understanding Trading Software
• Overview of cTrader and its Features
• Overview of TradingView and its Features
• Overview of MetaTrader 4 and its Features
• cTrader vs. TradingView vs. MetaTrader 4 Comparison Table
• Pros and Cons of cTrader, TradingView, and MetaTrader 4
• How to Choose the Right Trading Platform in South Africa
• The Best Brokers in South Africa

cTrader vs. TradingView vs. MetaTrader 4 Comparison Table

Overview of cTrader and its Features

According to the cTrader website, there are currently nine brokers that have a partnership and can subsequently offer cTrader:

It was designed by Spotware to simplify the work of traders and brokers. However, cTrader has often been eclipsed by one of its rivals, MetaTrader, by MetaQuotes. However, cTrader’s reputation continues to increase among brokerages.

A significant algorithmic breakthrough that has had a major impact on the trading community, cAlgo facilitates automated trading on the Foreign Exchange Market. The cTrader trading platform is an expert resource for ECN brokers and is a product of cTrader Limited.

cTrader was designed to meet the specific needs of no-dealing desk brokers; as a result, the platform offers many tools that significantly boost the efficiency of transparent and direct executions.

If you are interested in the real-world stock market, continue reading to discover the major benefits of cTrader and how to operate this exceptional trading platform. The cTrader platform is neat and inviting. It provides a pleasant atmosphere and a self-explanatory workspace.

cTrader is neat and well-organized. Therefore, you will have no trouble navigating the interface and learning the platform quickly. Furthermore, the design was simple, so the navigation was intuitive.

The cTrader platform displays the following three Depth of Market options:

• Standard Depth of Market: This function enables traders to track market dynamics while monitoring consolidated quotes from the brokerage’s liquidity.
• Price Depth of Market: This executable ladder permits more accurate entries and scalping strategies.
• VWAP Depth of Market: This function assists in monitoring the anticipated VWAP and spread (especially useful for more experienced traders who work with larger and different volumes).

While MetaQuotes systems can only provide a single sort of Depth of Market function, cTrader review claims that this trading software is a pioneer in offering three different Depth of Market functions.

Overview of TradingView and its Features

TradingView’s API allows for connections to a total of 36 different brokerages, including:

More than 30 million monthly traders and investors use TradingView, making it the most popular charting platform. As a result, TradingView is widely regarded as the top stock analysis tool and one of the top stock screeners.

TradingView launched a little over a decade ago, in 2011, and has expanded tremendously. As a result, more and better trading tools are available, including a desktop platform.

TradingView is a social network, asset research tool, and charting platform. Buying and selling is not my main priority. Instead, TradingView supports transaction submission from a select group of brokerage companies.

TradingView is a technical analysis program with advanced charting and statistical features. Different chart formats, timeframes, technical indicators, insights into trade volumes, and research tools are available to users.

Additionally, users can access robust sketching tools and may choose between a bright and dark mode for visualization.

TradingView’s subscriptions are as follows:

• Pro – 14.95 USD / 270 ZAR
• Pro+ – 29.95 USD / 542 ZAR
• Premium – 59.95 USD / 1,084 ZAR

TradingView Basic permits the opening of a single chart. TradingView Premium allows up to eight charts per screen, each of which may have various stock symbols, timeframes, and technical indicators.

Premium customers may even utilize second-based time intervals when exporting graphic data. In addition, customers get immediate access to live trading tools and may trade straight from a chart via broker interfaces.

The TradingView Desktop platform takes it further by incorporating more power, speed, and adaptability. In addition, the desktop platform has native support for multiple monitors. Finally, it enables traders to create several tabs that may include various charts.

For instance, a trader with six monitors may build six unique layouts, one for each display. Each style can display distinct data and charts. In addition, Snaps is an incorporated element of TradingView. People publish the most recent market news and daily stock and cryptocurrency snapshots here.

In addition, the News Flow feature streams the newest news from major investing media providers such as Reuters, InvestorPlace, and Seeking Alpha for investment categories such as equities, cryptocurrencies, foreign exchange, indices, futures, bonds, and the global economy.

TradingView works with several brokerage systems. Connecting TradingView to a brokerage’s trading platform enables users to trade straight from TradingView.

Overview of MetaTrader 4 and its Features

MT4 API allows for connections to many different brokerages, including:

MetaTrader 4, or MT4, is a high-end trading platform that enables users to design and execute sophisticated deals. In addition to a large variety of market indicators for use in trading, this MetaQuotes Software product allows users to do technical analysis of markets.

Among the many areas where it finds application, contracts for differences (CFDs) and foreign exchange (forex) trading stand out as particularly well-suited, and the installation and usage of MetaTrader are utterly costless.

Since its inception in 2005, MetaTrader has been the choice of traders worldwide. The software firm MetaQuotes was responsible for its inception. Different versions exist, as the name indicates, with MetaTrader 4 being the most widely used.

Despite the release of MetaTrader 5 in 2010, many traders continued to utilize MT4, despite its many useful functions, its lack of in-house support staff stands out.

Earnings for MetaTrader 4 come from licensing the trading platform’s software to brokers with whom customers may set up real trading accounts. To begin trading, you must first choose a brokerage and fill out an application.

The moment your application is approved, you will get a user ID and password from your broker and be able to begin trading with your funds on the platform.

After that, the brokerage firm you choose will establish the fees you incur. You may expect them to set the rates for making trades and other platform-related expenses.

Brokerages should be aware that MetaTrader 4 comes at a price. There is a one-time $100,000 cost for each license. In addition, it is estimated that brokerages will spend additional tens of thousands of dollars a year on hosting, bridging, and support services.

Brokers vary in their services, so it is important to compare them thoroughly before signing up with one. To put it simply, MetaTrader 4 is a powerful trading platform that lacks very few features.

While more experienced traders would benefit more from the platform’s features, beginners should have little trouble understanding and using the UI.

In addition, customers could use a wealth of instructional materials and courses to help them learn the platform in its totality, despite the lack of actual customer assistance.

Customers can automate their trades by writing custom indicators in MT4’s proprietary coding language, which is one of the platform’s most valuable features.

You can also mimic the actions of successful traders using the program, which supports more than 30 languages. Although MT4 is most often associated with the foreign exchange (FX) market, it is also suitable for trading in other markets, such as options and futures.

Neither human nor automated financial advisers are available via MetaTrader 4. Instead, there are several MT4 features to which everyone has access. In addition, however, certain brokers provide extras like live adviser help.

MetaTrader 4 is available for download and installation on desktop computers running Mac OS, Windows, or Linux. In addition, downloading the MetaTrader 4 app on your iOS or Android device allows you to use MT4 on the go.

However, Apple removed the app in late September 2025. There was no official announcement or confirmation of the cause for the removal. However, some online buzz suggested that it was due to the iOS-compliant app’s connection to Russia.

Your iOS device must run iOS 9.0 or later to use the app. In addition, another benefit of MT4 is that the Google Play version, which works with Android devices, has a rating greater than 4.5 stars.

Pros and Cons of cTrader, TradingView, and MetaTrader 4

cTrader Pros and Cons

TradingView Pros and Cons

MetaTrader 4 Pros and Cons

What is a Forex Trading Platform?

Brokers in the financial markets offer their clients a trading platform and a graphical user interface. It might be a web-based portal, a mobile app, a stand-alone downloaded software, or any mix of these.

Traders may use the features of currency trading platforms to place buy and sell orders in the foreign exchange market. In addition, forex brokers make the platforms accessible to their customers.

Most forex brokers provide an integrated trading and research platform via which clients may place orders and see relevant market data. However, others offer their proprietary trading platforms.

There is a plethora of options for regular and institutional customers alike on the currency trading platforms provided by several brokers.

For their own purposes, banks and brokers may develop proprietary currency trading systems accessible only via institutional trading channels to serve the institutional trading market.

The use of advanced technology like predictive forecasting software and online trading, in combination with forex charting packages offered by many platforms, may provide traders a significant advantage in the foreign exchange market.

A trader’s requirements and level of expertise will determine which charting software will serve them best. Technical analysis, trading volume, transaction length, and chart viewing device are all factors that should be considered.

In addition, expert traders will take notice of the pricing and other information sources used by charting solutions, checking to ensure they are current, trustworthy, and accurate.

Understanding Trading Software

Using their financial intermediaries, investors may place orders, initiate, and cancel trades, and monitor transactions using a trading program. Considering the gradual elimination of floor trading, self-directed trading accounts have become the method of choice for most investors.

Self-directed trading accounts include all the capabilities necessary for placing transactions and tracking investments.

Brokers employ tools like chat rooms, charts, fundamental data, and technical analysis indicators to entice new investors to their platforms.

Accessible application programming interfaces (APIs) also contribute to trading software’s enhanced capabilities by facilitating the integration of separate applications.

Commercial and prop (proprietary) trading platforms are the two main types of trading software. The commercial platforms cater to retail investors and day traders by providing tools for exploration and education, such as maps and news feeds.

On the other side, prop platforms are tailored to the needs of major brokerages and the way they do business.

How to Choose the Right Trading Platform in South Africa

Financial products such as currencies, stocks, bonds, and derivatives may be traded and analyzed using trading software on computers connected to a network and a financial intermediary such as a broker, market maker, or stock exchange.

You can easily practice with virtual money at most Forex firms before committing any real cash. Consider taking advantage of the demo periods offered by several brokers before settling on a forex trading platform.

Programmatic Trading

Programmatic trading is an option on certain exchange platforms; it enables users to conduct transactions mechanically without physically initiating each transaction by clicking a button.

The automated trading system’s response to user input may also be evaluated in a testing environment.

Responsiveness of the platform

Slippage is a crucial part of trading that many individuals who dabble in the financial markets, particularly the Forex market, overlook. For example, a stop-loss order might be executed at a poorer value if a trader places it just before a high-volatility event generates a gap.

Due to heightened volatility, such orders cannot be processed at the requested price. However, they will be fulfilled at the next available price. As a result, there will always be little variations in pricing that we may or may not even notice.

With a good broker, however, slippage may affect not just your stop-loss order (negative slippage) but also your take-profit order (positive slippage) (positive slippage).

Suppose you avoid trading when important news is announced or during periods of low trading activity. In that case, your existing broker can keep your slippage to a minimum.

Overall Reliability

A user’s preference for a desktop program versus a web-based (Java) app could vary depending on their specific computer setup. When trading, it is crucial that you choose a platform that works well with your style.

Traders need a stable platform, so ensure it does not crash or freeze often, particularly during major economic news or events worldwide. More important than how a platform look is how dependable it is.

A trader who is willing to take risks and make huge deals often should always seek a reliable trading platform that seldom, if ever, experiences downtime. However, a trader who is not active and cautious trader could have greater leeway since they do not need to monitor the market constantly.

Order Placement

New orders, including market orders, limit orders, and other order types, may be placed in most trading software. In addition to seeing prices in real-time, users may also view daily trading data, including the percentage of deals that were profitable and the amount of money gained or lost.

Technical Analysis

Modern trading platforms offer interactive charts, chart patterns, and technical indicators that help investors monitor and understand stock price fluctuations and market shifts.

Users could also add their resistance lines, indicators, and sector comparisons to their charts and store those adjustments for later use.

Demo Trading

Most trading platforms provide an option for “paper trading,” in which virtual currency is traded without any actual risk being incurred. As a result, users may put their trading talents to the test with virtual funds before risking any of their own money.

Users could experiment with different approaches to determine what produces the best results before committing any actual cash.

User-Friendliness of the Interface

Regarding trading, “user-friendly” implies that you can quickly and easily perform actions like placing an order or closing a transaction.

The ability to place several order types with a single click, handle stop-loss, limit, and other order kinds, and trade with little effort are all benefits traders may wish to consider.

In addition, a platform’s ease of use improves when its navigation is simple. Additional charts and tools, if provided by a platform, should be intuitive to use and designed for rapid chart opening.

Because they rely so much on the trading platform, this is a particularly crucial issue for aggressive traders (scalpers).

Analysis Tools

Analyzing your trades after they have been completed is essential for understanding the efficacy of your trading method and how to enhance it. Without analytical tools, investors would be flying blind and have difficulty consistently turning a profit.

The ability to trade automatically

Some trading systems let you add your own algorithms that automatically place trades if a given predefined condition is satisfied. These algorithms may both recommend investments and execute such orders for you.

You should verify these recommendations, but if you realize they provide a return, you may start letting the program invest automatically according to the parameters you set.

Overall Data Security

Keeping your personal information safe is paramount, so looking for a trading platform that takes security seriously makes sense.

To know how well your data is protected as it travels across the internet, you should investigate the data encryption method your chosen platform employs. Honest exchanges protect their users with the server and programmatic firewalls.

They utilize two identical servers that are kept in sync so that if one server fails, the data may be restored from the other.

The Best brokers in South Africa

This article lists the best brokers that offer trading solutions to traders in this article. In addition, we have further identified the brokers that offer additional services and solutions to traders.

Best MetaTrader 4 / MT4 broker in South Africa

Overall, Axi is the best MT4 broker in South Africa. Axi is a popular Australian broker that offers some of the best support for MetaTrader 4 traders.

In addition, Axi provides a customizable experience with MT4 and NextGen plugins, allowing South Africans to take their trading to the next level.

Best MetaTrader 5 / MT5 broker in South Africa

Overall, XM is the best MetaTrader 5 broker in South Africa. XM is well-regulated in several areas, providing traders with a choice between flexible trading accounts. In addition, XM provides an MT5 trading account that gives South Africans 1,000 financial instruments over several asset classes.

With XM, South Africans can use the MT5 account and market depth indicators, hedging, full EA functionality, and several other tools to add an edge to their trading.

Best broker in South Africa for beginners

Overall, Admirals is the best broker in South Africa for beginners. Admirals is a beginner-friendly broker with an extensive range of educational materials, including articles, webinars, and tutorials.

Active support is also provided through Trading Central, where traders can get chart analysis and recommendations from analysts.

Best Low Minimum Deposit broker in South Africa

Overall, FBS is the best Low Minimum Deposit broker in South Africa. With FBS, South Africans can start trading from 1 USD / 18 ZAR and apply leverage up to 1:3000 to enter larger trades. In addition, traders can use FBS’ MT4, MT5, or the FBS Trader to access global financial markets.

Best ECN broker in South Africa

Overall, Exness is the best ECN broker in South Africa. Exness offers accounts that feature ECN pricing, and traders can easily start trading international markets with low fees. In addition, Exness offers zero-pip spreads on instruments such as EUR/USD.

Best Islamic / Swap-Free broker in South Africa

Overall, IC Markets is the best Islamic / Swap-Free broker in South Africa. There are two Islamic Account options with IC Markets, providing Muslim traders with some versatility. In addition, forex trading spreads start from 0.0 pips, and there are no additional charges on the Islamic Account.

Best Trading App in South Africa

Overall, Skilling is the best trading app in South Africa. South Africans can use the Skilling app on iOS and Android. In addition, the app is beginner-friendly, and it also has a Trading Assistant that helps traders navigate the mobile app.

With the Skilling app, traders can transfer and withdraw funds, search for instruments, and create customized watchlists. There are many technical indicators to choose from, and the charts are comprehensive.

Best ZAR broker in South Africa

Overall, HFM is the best ZAR broker in South Africa. HFM is a popular broker in South Africa, with a market share of over 11%. With HFM, South Africans can easily trade using a ZAR-denominated account.

Deposits and withdrawals to and from HFM are fast and free, with a range of local options.

Best Lowest Spread broker in South Africa

Overall, FxPro is the best lowest-spread broker in South Africa. FxPro offers some of the lowest Forex spreads via cTrader. These spreads start from 0.0 pips, and the commissions start from 9 USD per turn. FxPro is a popular and trusted broker in South Africa that is FSCA-regulated.

Best Nasdaq 100 broker in South Africa

Overall, Capital.com is the best Nasdaq 100 broker in South Africa. Capital.com is a popular CFD broker with over 90,000 clients worldwide and 5,600 tradable instruments. Capital.com offers Nasdaq 100 in addition to several other CFDs on indices.

Best Volatility 75 / VIX 75 broker in South Africa

Overall, Pepperstone is the best Volatility 75 / VIX 75 broker in South Africa. Pepperstone is a large, well-regulated broker in South Africa that provides access to over 70 technical indicators, auto trading features, and the ability to trade VIX 75 with spreads from 0.16 pips and leverage up to 1:10.

Best NDD broker in South Africa

Overall, LiteFinance, previously known as LiteForex is the best NDD broker in South Africa. LiteFinance offers STP and ECN execution on trades, ensuring that South Africans get the best pricing aggregated from global liquidity providers.

In addition, LiteFinance offers a choice between account types and powerful trading software.

Best STP broker in South Africa

Overall, AvaTrade is the best STP broker in South Africa. AvaTrade serves hundreds of thousands of traders around the world. In addition, South Africans can trade 1,260 instruments via MT4, MT5, and AvaTrade’s proprietary trading platforms.

AvaTrade is an STP and Market Maker broker charging spreads from 0.9 pips EUR/USD on the retail account.

Best Sign-up Bonus broker in South Africa

Overall, JustMarkets is the best sign-up bonus broker in South Africa. JustMarkets is a versatile broker with competitive trading conditions. JustMarkets offers all verified South African traders a 30 USD no-deposit bonus that they can use to start trading different markets and testing software.

Conclusion

The benefit of using an online trading platform is that investors from all over the globe have access to the same assets.

Because no two traders have the same trading requirements or goals, there are many factors to consider while deciding on the best Forex trading platform for beginners and experienced traders.

Traders should consider the features offered and the costs associated with a trading program before making a final decision. Most brokers allow clients to test out their platforms before opening an account.

South Africans should take their time determining whether a trading platform has all the functionality they need and can look at the features of many trading platforms before making a final selection.

10 Best Forex Brokers in South Africa for 2025

Rank

Broker

Review

Regulators

Min Deposit

Official Site

#1

Read Review

ASIC, FSA, CBI, BVI, FSCA, FRSA, CySEC, ISA, JFSA

$100

Visit Broker

#2

Read Review

FSCA, CySEC, FCA, DFSA, FSA, CMA

$0

Visit Broker

#3

Read Review

CySEC, MWALI, FSCA

$25

Visit Broker

#4

Read Review

CySEC, FCA, FSA, FSCA

$100

Visit Broker

#5

Read Review

CBCS, CySEC, FCA, FSA, FSC, FSCA, CMA

$10

Visit Broker

#6

Read Review

CySEC, ASIC, FSA, BVI, FSCA

$25

Visit Broker

#7

Read Review

ASIC, CySEC, FSA, SCB

$200

Visit Broker

#8

Read Review

ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, FSA, FSC, CMA

$100

Visit Broker

#9

Read Review

FCA, CySEC, FSCA, SCB

$100

Visit Broker

#10

Read Review

FSCA, FSC, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA

$5

Visit Broker

#1

4.8/5

User Score

Sign Up

#2

4.7/5

User Score

Sign Up

#3

4.7/5

User Score

Sign Up

#4

4.4/5

User Score

Sign Up

#5

4.7/5

User Score

Sign Up

#6

4.0/5

User Score

Sign Up

#7

4.7/5

User Score

Sign Up

#8

4.8/5

User Score

Sign Up

#9

4.5/5

User Score

Sign Up

#10

4.9/5

User Score

Sign Up

Frequently asked questions

Which is better in South Africa, MT4 or cTrader?

Advanced traders often choose cTrader over the widely used MetaTrader 4. MT4 is easier to learn and use, and it is quicker.

It also offers a large library of automated bot programs called Expert Advisors. In contrast to MT4, cTrader offers better charting, more features, and a deeper market.

Which is more accurate, MT4 or TradingView?

While both platforms provide a wide range of useful indicators and tools, TradingView offers much more of both.

For example, traders can deposit and withdraw funds through the TradingView mobile app. In contrast, you will not find such a feature in MT4.

Why is cTrader so popular in South Africa?

Manual trading, market research, algorithmic trading, and copy-trade solutions may all be accomplished on the cTrader platform.

The adaptable and simple interface is a big plus for me. In addition, technical indicators and charting tools are many and exactly accurate.

Can I integrate MT4 and TradingView?

TradingView currently only allows MT5 accounts to connect to the broker. Thus, if you have an MT4 account, you will not be able to use TradingView.

Could I trade directly from TradingView in South Africa?

You cannot place trades from TradingView. However, when the TradingView Web Platform supports your broker, you could begin placing trades through the broker.

After signing into their brokerage accounts (or creating new ones), TradingView customers may start receiving streaming data from their brokers and placing orders with them.

Addendum/Disclosure

No matter how diligently we strive to maintain accuracy, the financial markets are volatile that could shift and change at any given time, even if the information supplied is correct at the time of going live.