MetaTrader 5, or MT5, was developed to become MT4’s successor in the year 2010. However, a lack of backwards compatibility with the MT4 meant that the trading algorithms, or “Expert Advisors,” that were developed for MT4, did not work with MT5. As a result, many CFD brokers and traders stayed with the old version instead of upgrading to the MT5.
Most CFD brokers today offer their traders the choice between trading on the MT5 or the older MT4. And due to the larger selection of Expert Advisors on the MT4, many traders choose to stay with this platform. Just as with MT4, MT5 is also available in several different versions: A downloadable version for desktop computers, a web-based version, and as a mobile app.