XM Trading Platforms: MT4, MT5, WebTrader and the XM App

XM offers four ways to trade: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, a browser-based WebTrader and its own XM App for iPhone and Android. MT4 and MT5 are available on Windows, Mac and mobile, and XM also supplies an MT4 Multiterminal for running several accounts at once. The choice matters because each trading account is tied to one platform, and several markets, including stock CFDs, are only available on MT5.

There is no cost for any of the platforms. What changes between them is the range of markets, the analysis tools and how you manage several accounts.

MT4 or MT5 at XM

XM's Help Center puts the main difference in one sentence: MT4 doesn't offer trading on stock CFDs. MT5 gives access to every instrument XM lists.

If you want shares, crypto or weekend gold, choose MT5. Traders who already run MT4 robots or indicators can stay on MT4, which remains fully supported, and XM lets existing MT4 clients open an additional MT5 account at any time. Our XM stocks guide covers the MT5-only markets.

One login per platform

An MT4 account can't log in to MT5, and the reverse is also true. XM's Help Center confirms you need a separate trading account for each. You can hold up to 10 active trading accounts plus one Shares account under the same details, so running an MT4 account for old robots beside an MT5 account for shares is straightforward.

If you can't find XM's server when logging in to MT4, the Help Center's fix is to open File, then 'Open an account', add a new broker, type XM and scan. Your server name is in your welcome email and in the My Accounts section.

Expert Advisors and automated trading

Both MT4 and MT5 at XM support Expert Advisors and trading robots. Two limits are worth knowing. EAs stop working when you log out or go offline, and trailing stops also become inactive while you are offline, although ordinary open positions and pending orders stay on the server. Anyone running a robot around the clock therefore needs a computer or virtual server that stays connected. Our XM scalping and EA guide covers XM's rules for automated strategies.

The XM App

XM's own app works with both MT4 and MT5 accounts. New users can open an account in it, existing clients can open extra MT4 or MT5 accounts, and trades placed in the app show up in MetaTrader and the other way round. You can also deposit, withdraw and move money between accounts, verify documents, and use TradingView charts. Our XM App guide goes through its features.

Server time and your charts

XM's servers run on GMT+2 in winter and GMT+3 in summer, and the time on the platform can't be changed. XM explains the reason: aligning with this time zone avoids small Sunday candles, which keeps technical analysis and back-testing cleaner. Daily candles close at the same time as the New York session, so indicators built on daily data line up with most other brokers using the same convention.

Speeding up a slow platform

• Reinstall the platform and check your internet connection.
• Close charts and windows you aren't using.
• If the New Order button is greyed out, check your account is verified, funded, and that you're trading an instrument enabled for your account.
• On micro accounts, pick symbols with the 'micro' suffix, such as EURUSDmicro; greyed-out symbols aren't enabled for trading.
• Still stuck? Contact XM's support by live chat or at [email protected].

Which XM platform should you use?

• Beginners: the XM App or MT5, for the widest market choice in one place.
• Existing MT4 users with robots: stay on MT4 and add an MT5 account for shares.
• Several accounts at once: MT4 Multiterminal.
• Shared or work computers: WebTrader in the browser, with nothing to install.

MT4 Multiterminal and Mac

XM supplies MT4 Multiterminal for Windows, which lets you watch and trade several MT4 accounts from one window, handy for money managers or anyone splitting strategies across accounts. Both MT4 and MT5 are available as downloadable terminals for Mac, and XM's MT5 login also works in the browser WebTrader. On MT5 you can trade every XM market: crypto CFDs, stock CFDs, real stocks, stock indices, forex, precious metals, energies and commodities.

Two passwords to keep apart

Your XM Profile password logs in to the XM account area and app; each trading account has its own password for MetaTrader and the WebTrader. If a platform login fails, check you're using the trading account password and the right server, not your Profile password. XM's Help Center also notes that not all your accounts can sit on the same trading server, so check each account's server name.

Frequently asked

Related reading

• XM App
• XM stocks, shares and Turbo Stocks
• XM for scalping and EAs
• XM demo account
• XM trading hours
• Our full XM review