MetaTrader 4 in Australia: brokers, setup and how to use MT4 in 2026
Written by an ex-institutional trader. What MetaTrader 4 is, why it is still the most popular retail forex platform, which ASIC-regulated brokers offer it in Australia, how to download and use it, and how expert advisors work.
Direct answer
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is the most widely used retail forex platform in Australia, and four ASIC-regulated brokers offer it: Pepperstone, FP Markets, Fusion Markets and AvaTrade. MT4 is free to download from your broker, runs on Windows, Mac (via web or workaround), web browser, iOS and Android, and is best known for its enormous library of expert advisors (automated trading robots) and custom indicators written in the MQL4 language.
MT4 is forex-focused, light and reliable, which is why it remains popular despite MetaTrader 5 being the more modern, multi-asset platform. If you rely on a specific MT4 expert advisor, MT4 is the right choice; if you are starting fresh, it is worth reading the MT4 vs MT5 comparison before committing. Plus500, the other major ASIC broker, does not offer MetaTrader at all.
What is MetaTrader 4?
MetaTrader 4 is a trading platform built by MetaQuotes and released in 2005. It became, and remains, the most widely used retail forex platform in the world, and the default that most Australian forex traders learn on. You do not get MT4 from MetaQuotes directly; your broker provides it, branded to their accounts, and you trade through the broker on the platform.
Its staying power comes down to three things: it is light and reliable, it is forex-focused without unnecessary clutter, and it has the largest ecosystem of third-party expert advisors and indicators of any platform, accumulated over nearly twenty years. Newer platforms have more features, but none has MT4's library or its familiarity. This guide covers which Australian brokers offer it, how to get set up, and how its automated-trading tools work.
Disclosure: SatoshiMacro may earn a commission if you open a broker account through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Commissions never influence our testing-based rankings. See our full affiliate disclosure.
ASIC brokers offering MT4 in Australia
MT4 is only useful if your broker supports it, and not all do. Four of the ASIC-regulated brokers covered on this site offer MetaTrader 4, each with its own strengths around the platform.
| Broker | Open |
|---|---|
| Pepperstone AFSL 414530 |
|
| Fusion Markets AFSL 385620 |
|
| FP Markets AFSL 286354 |
|
| AvaTrade AFSL 406684 |
Plus500 does not offer MetaTrader 4. CFD Service. Your capital is at risk.
The platform is identical across all four; what differs is cost and execution. For an expert-advisor trader running many trades, the commission gap matters most, which points at Fusion Markets on cost or Pepperstone on execution. For the full broker comparison, see the best forex brokers in Australia ranking.
How to download and set up MT4
Getting onto MT4 in Australia is a short process:
- Open an account with an ASIC-regulated broker that offers MT4 (one of the four above) and verify your identity.
- Download MT4 from the broker's platform page or your account dashboard. It is available for Windows, web browser, iOS and Android. Mac users generally use the web version, since the native Mac build was discontinued.
- Log in using the MT4 account number, password and server name the broker gives you. Demo and live accounts each have their own login details.
- Add charts and place a trade. Open a chart for your pair, set your volume in lots, and use the buy or sell buttons. Start on a demo account until the workflow is second nature.
There is no platform fee. Your costs are the broker's spread, commission and any overnight swap, not the software itself.
Expert advisors and indicators
The real reason MT4 endures is its automation. An expert advisor (EA) is a program that runs inside MT4 and trades according to coded rules without manual input. Written in the MQL4 language, EAs range from free community scripts to paid commercial robots, and MT4 has the deepest library of them anywhere because it has had the longest to accumulate one.
Two practical points matter for Australian traders. First, an EA only trades while the platform is running and connected, so anyone running an EA seriously uses a VPS (virtual private server) to keep it online around the clock rather than leaving a home computer on. Second, because EAs are written in MQL4, they do not run on MetaTrader 5, which uses MQL5. If your strategy depends on a specific MT4 EA, that ties you to MT4, which is the main reason to choose it over the newer platform. Custom indicators work the same way: a vast MT4 library exists, but those indicators are MT4-specific.
A standing warning: be sceptical of EAs sold with promises of guaranteed returns. Most are not profitable, and a leveraged automated strategy can lose money as fast as it can make it. Test any EA thoroughly on a demo account first.
MT4 on mobile
MT4 has full iOS and Android apps, free from the app stores, and most Australian traders use them alongside the desktop platform. The mobile app handles charting, order placement and account management well, though it cannot run expert advisors, which need the desktop or a VPS. For monitoring positions, reacting to moves and placing manual trades on the go, the mobile app is more than capable, and it syncs to the same account as your desktop MT4.
MT4 or MT5?
If you are choosing a platform from scratch rather than coming to MT4 for a specific tool, it is worth stopping to compare. MetaTrader 5 is the newer, more capable platform: multi-asset, faster, with more order types, more timeframes and a better strategy tester. MT4's advantage is its expert-advisor library and its lighter, forex-focused simplicity. The honest default for a new trader with no legacy tools is MT5; the reason to choose MT4 is a specific MQL4 EA or indicator you rely on. The full breakdown is in the MT4 vs MT5 comparison, and the MetaTrader 5 Australia guide covers the newer platform in detail.
Sources and references
- MetaQuotes, developer of MetaTrader 4, for platform features and the MQL4 expert-advisor framework.
- ASIC Connect register, used to verify each broker's Australian Financial Services Licence.
Broker platform availability and pricing reflect live-account testing across the brokers reviewed on this site. Last reviewed: 2026-06-01.
Frequently asked questions
Which Australian brokers offer MetaTrader 4?
Among the ASIC-regulated brokers covered on this site, Pepperstone, FP Markets, Fusion Markets and AvaTrade all offer MetaTrader 4. Plus500 does not, because it runs its own proprietary platform. If MT4 is essential to you, those four brokers are your shortlist, and the choice between them comes down to cost, execution and what else they offer alongside MT4.
Is MetaTrader 4 free in Australia?
Yes. MetaTrader 4 is free to download and use. You get it from your broker rather than paying MetaQuotes directly, and there is no platform fee on top of normal trading costs. What you pay is the spread and commission on your trades, plus any swap on positions held overnight, which are broker costs rather than platform costs. Expert advisors and custom indicators may cost money if you buy them from third parties, but the platform itself is free.
How do I download MetaTrader 4 in Australia?
Open an account with an ASIC-regulated broker that offers MT4 (Pepperstone, FP Markets, Fusion Markets or AvaTrade), then download MT4 from the broker's platform page or from your account dashboard. You log in with the MT4 account number, password and server name the broker provides. It is available for Windows, web browser, iOS and Android; Mac users typically use the web version or a workaround, as the native Mac build was discontinued.
What is an expert advisor in MetaTrader 4?
An expert advisor, or EA, is an automated trading program that runs inside MT4 and can place and manage trades according to its coded rules without you doing it manually. EAs are written in the MQL4 language, and MT4 has the largest library of them of any retail platform, built up over nearly two decades. They range from free community scripts to paid commercial robots. EAs only work while the platform is running, so serious users often run them on a VPS so the EA trades around the clock.
Is MetaTrader 4 good for beginners?
Yes, in the sense that it is reliable, light and well-documented, with countless tutorials available. The basic workflow of opening a chart and placing a trade is simple. The complexity comes only if you go deep into expert advisors and custom indicators, which beginners can ignore at first. That said, a beginner starting fresh should weigh MT4 against MetaTrader 5, which is the more modern platform; the MT4 vs MT5 comparison covers that decision.
Does Plus500 have MetaTrader 4?
No. Plus500 runs its own proprietary web and mobile platform and does not offer MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5. If you specifically want MT4, you need one of the brokers that supports it: Pepperstone, FP Markets, Fusion Markets or AvaTrade. Plus500 suits traders who prefer a single simple platform without MetaTrader, but it is not an option for anyone committed to MT4.
