MetaTrader vs cTrader: Which Is Better for a Prop Firm Trader?

If you’ve just joined a prop firm or are about to take a challenge, you’ve probably wondered which trading platform to use: MetaTrader vs cTrader. They’re two of the most popular platforms in the industry, but which one suits your trading style best?

In this article, we’ll break down MetaTrader vs cTrader feature by feature so you can decide which platform fits your prop firm trading goals. You’ll learn:

1. What MetaTrader and cTrader are
2. How they differ in execution, charting, automation, user experience, and more
3. Each platform’s unique strengths
4. A clear verdict on which one makes the most sense for your trading style

MetaTrader vs cTrader: What Are These Platforms?

MetaTrader has been around for years, and most traders have used it at some point, especially MetaTrader 4 (MT4). Launched in 2005, MT4 was the standard during the early boom of retail forex trading. MetaTrader 5 (MT5) arrived in 2010, adding more timeframes and asset classes, including stocks, commodities, and futures.

cTrader, on the other hand, is modern and built for traders who care about speed, performance, and design. Its interface is smooth, charts are sharp, and automation is built in via cAlgo, which runs on C#. From the moment you open cTrader, it feels like a proper desktop trading app. cTrader was built to give traders more control over their trading experience. It’s order execution is lightning-fast  and automation comes built-in through a tool called cAlgo, which runs on C#. 

MetaTrader vs cTrader: Feature Comparison

User Interface

The user interface is how you interact with the platform, including charts, menus, order windows, and buttons.

• MetaTrader: Familiar, but dated. Adjusting risk or lot size is manual, and chart tools are basic unless you add plugins.
• cTrader: Visual, fast, and intuitive. You can see stop loss and take profit in monetary terms and adjust orders directly on the chart.

Feature	MetaTrader 5 (MT5)	cTrader
Dark Mode	Yes	Yes
App Languages	22	23
In-App User Guide	No	Yes
Multiple Chart View	No	Yes
Customizable Watchlists	No	Yes

🏆 Winner: cTrader

MetaTrader vs cTrader Charting Tools 

Charts are your workspace for spotting trading opportunities.

Feature	MetaTrader	cTrader
Chart appearance	Functional but dated	Sleek and highly customizable
Drawing tools	Standard set	Extensive drawing tools available
Timeframe options	Standard (1 min to monthly)	Includes custom timeframes eg you can choose from a wider range of timeframes.
Multi-screen support	Limited	Supports multi-screen chart setups
Advanced visuals (heatmaps etc.)	Requires external plugins	Some advanced tools built-in or easier to access
Personalized chart view	Clunky	Simple and flexible

🏆 Winner: cTrader

Order Execution 

Execution speed and reliability matter, especially in volatile markets.

• MetaTrader: Supports market, limit, and pending orders, but speed depends on your broker.
• cTrader: Designed for fast, transparent execution with depth of market (DOM) visibility and partial fills.

Order Execution	MetaTrader 5 (MT5)	cTrader
Types of Orders	Basic options available such as Market, Limit & Stop Orders	More options like  Fill or Kill (FOK), Immediate or Cancel (IOC).
Slippage Control	Less control over price changes	You can set how much price can move when you set a “Market Range” order.
Partial Order Fills	Doesn’t always allow that	Can fill part of your trade if needed
Market Depth View	Not always available	Shows how many buyers and sellers exist using Depth Of Market.
Setting & Changing Orders	Less visual and more manual	Easy to drag and change on chart
How Trades Are Handled	Depends on the broker setup	Goes straight to the market (no middlemen)

🏆 Winner: cTrader

MetaTrader vs cTrader Risk Management

Risk management tools are key for prop firm traders.

• MetaTrader: Displays stop loss/take profit in pips or price only; dollar risk must be calculated manually.
• cTrader: Dollar risk, reward-to-risk ratio, and position sizing are displayed automatically.

Feature	MetaTrader 5 (MT5)	cTrader
Risk Display	Doesn’t show dollar risk by default	Shows dollar risk before you place a trade
SL/TP Input	Set in pips or price only	Set in pips, price, or dollar value
Reward-to-Risk Ratio	Not shown unless you use custom tools or plugins	Automatically shown when setting up a trade
Position Sizing Help	You need to calculate it yourself	Automatically adjusts position size based on your stop loss

🏆 Winner: cTrader

Automation & Bots

This is also known as algo trading and it involves using scripts or bots to trade on behalf of traders.

• MetaTrader: Supports Expert Advisors (EAs) with a huge library and community.
• cTrader: Uses cBots in C#, smaller community but professional-grade tools.

Feature	MetaTrader 5 (MT5)	cTrader
Automation Name	Expert Advisors (EAs)	cBots
Programming Language	MQL5	C#
Marketplace Availability	Large public library of free and paid bots	Smaller, more professional-focused
Strategy Tester	Built-in	Built-in

🏆 Winner: cTrader

MetaTrader vs cTrader Ease of Use

• MetaTrader: Very familiar; lots of tutorials online.
• cTrader: Cleaner, more visual, and beginner-friendly straight out of the box.

Mobile & Web Experience

• MetaTrader: Functional app, limited web access unless broker enables it.
• cTrader: Smooth mobile and full-featured web app, syncing seamlessly across devices.

Feature	MetaTrader 5 (MT5)	cTrader
Mobile App	Basic and functional, but outdated UI	Smooth, modern, easy to navigate
Web Version	Only available if broker sets it up	Full-featured, accessible from any browser
Cross-Device Sync	Limited	Seamless sync across desktop, web, and mobile
Visual Experience	Feels dated	Clean and responsive design on all screen sizes
Speed and Stability	Depends on broker setup	Fast and stable out of the box

🏆 Winner: cTrader

MetaTrader vs cTrader Broker and Prop Firm Support

• MetaTrader: Supported by nearly all brokers and prop firms; common for funded account challenges.
• cTrader: Growing in popularity, but not as widely supported yet.

Feature	MetaTrader 5 (MT5)	cTrader
Prop Firm Availability	Widely supported by almost all major prop firms	Limited support, but growing slowly
Broker Compatibility	Available with most brokers worldwide	Supported by fewer brokers
Default Platform for Challenges	Commonly used in funded account challenges	Rarely the default option
Popularity	Industry standard	More common among advanced or tech-focused traders
Getting Paid Out	Most payouts handled via MT4/MT5 platforms	Less common but supported by select prop firms

🏆 Winner: MetaTrader

What Makes Each Platform Unique?

Unique to MetaTrader 5 (MT5)	Unique to cTrader
Long-standing user base	Modern, sleek UI
Huge library of EAs, indicators	Built-in transparency: DOM, volume, slippage
Compatible with most brokers	Better charting tools out of the box
Popular among serious brokers	Ideal for beginner and professional traders

Which Should You Use?

If you’re new to prop firm trading and want speed, clean charts, and beginner-friendly design, cTrader is a great choice.

If your prop firm only supports MetaTrader, or you want access to EAs and a huge library of plugins, MetaTrader may be more flexible.

Ultimately, understanding the differences between MetaTrader vs cTrader will help you pick the platform that fits your trading style and goals.

MetaTrader vs cTrader: Final Verdict

Both MetaTrader and cTrader are powerful platforms. MetaTrader is widely supported and great for custom tools and automation, while cTrader offers a faster, cleaner experience ideal for newer traders. If your prop firm allows it, try both and see which feels more natural – knowing your platform is the first step to trading success. At Maven, we help traders get set up on the right platform for their goals, whether you’re aiming for speed, automation, or a smoother trading experience.