is there any real reason left to stay on mt4 in 2026

[jack_online]

the practical answer is migration timing. dont switch mid-strategy. wait until you have a quiet period, port one indicator at a time, run both terminals in parallel for a few weeks and confirm the mt5 version gives identical signals before you trust it live.

[Leo]

is mql5 really that different from mql4? i can read basic mql4 and tweak inputs but im not a real programmer.

[christianm]

mql5 is object-oriented where mql4 was more procedural. for simple input tweaks youll be fine. for anything with custom indicator buffers or order management the structure changed a lot, orders use a position/deal model now instead of the old order pool. budget real time if your EA does anything clever.

[Dominic]

honestly the multi-core backtesting alone sold me my optimization runs went from overnight to like 20 minutes. if you optimize parameters at all that one feature pays for the whole migration headache.

[dreamchaser]

counterpoint on backtesting: mt5 multi-core is faster but the tick model can give you falsely smooth results if you use the wrong mode. on 'every tick based on real ticks' it is genuinely better, on the open-price mode it lies to you just like mt4 did. speed without the right tick data is just faster wrong answers.

[lowkeysam]

real ticks mode or dont bother.

[silentcore]

for the original question: if your broker is actually deprecating mt4, the decision is made for you, migrate now while you have time rather than in a panic when they pull the plug. if mt4 is still supported and your setup is profitable, theres no urgency. let the strategy lead the decision, not the platform marketing.

[Liam Parker]

do indicators bought from third parties usually come in both versions or do you have to repurchase for mt5?

[Dean]

depends on the seller. reputable ones give you both mt4 and mt5 builds with one license. cheap marketplace junk often sells them separately to double dip. check before you buy and ask the seller directly, get it in writing.

[midnightzone]

this thread convinced me to finally start porting my indicators this weekend. been putting it off for a year out of pure laziness. wish me luck