# MetaTrader 4 vs cTrader

The clearest difference is update cadence: cTrader at weekly against MetaTrader 4's every 2 months. MetaTrader 4's advantage is ratings volume (82K vs 1.8K) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for MetaTrader 4 against 4.8 for cTrader. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MetaTrader 4 has 82K ratings behind it against 1.8K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 93% of MetaTrader 4's written reviews are positive against 87% of cTrader's.

MetaTrader 4 ships an update every 2 months, cTrader weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MetaTrader 4 | cTrader |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (82K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metatrader-4/id496212596/reviews)** | [4.8 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ctrader-cfd-trading-and-charts/id767428811/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **82K** | 1.8K |
| Positive reviews | **93.4% of reviews** | 87.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 21 MB | 240 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [MetaQuotes Software Corp.](https://appshunter.io/developer/413251712) | [Spotware](https://appshunter.io/developer/767428815) |

## What reviewers say

### MetaTrader 4

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/metatrader-4/id496212596)

Trade currency markets and analyze quotes with real-time data and advanced charting tools. Perform trading operations, manage orders, and access financial news. Connect to hundreds of brokers for a comprehensive trading experience.

**Highlights:** Real-time currency quotes, Full set of trade orders, High-performance interactive charts, 30 technical indicators, 24 analytical objects, Financial news and sound notifications, Secure chats with other traders

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Mobile-friendly
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 Runs well
- 🚀 Efficient trading experience
- 🚀 Quick execution speeds

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional glitches and bugs
- 🔍 Limited chart customization and indicators compared to desktop
- 🔍 Inability to set parameters and save them for quick execution

**Reported bugs**

- Chart customizations and drawings disappearing when switching accounts or restarting the app
- Occasional freezing or lagging of the app
- Inconsistent behavior when accidentally switching between buy and sell orders

**Requested features**

- Add more technical indicators
- Allow setting parameters for trades and saving them for quick execution
- Prevent loss of chart customizations and drawings when switching between accounts
- Add price alerts and push notifications
- Improve ability to adjust stop loss and take profit levels directly on the chart


### cTrader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ctrader-cfd-trading-and-charts/id767428811)

Trade global assets like Forex, metals, and stocks with advanced charting and analysis tools. Customize your trading experience with price alerts, trade statistics, and a user-friendly interface. Access all your accounts in one place for seamless on-the-go trading.

**Highlights:** Trade Forex, Metals, Oil, Indices, Stocks, ETFs, Advanced technical analysis tools, Customizable price alerts, Trade statistics and performance review, Multiple chart types and drawing tools, One-click trading with QuickTrade Mode, Symbol watchlists and account management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast execution
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🔒 Robust security features
- 💡 Advanced charting and analysis tools
- 👍 Easy to manage trades and adjust SL/TP

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and loading issues
- 🔋 Slow load times on some devices
- 👎 Limited customization options
- 👎 Removal of useful features in recent updates
- 👎 Inconsistent performance across platforms

**Reported bugs**

- Equity/balance panel not accessible on iOS
- Inconsistent order execution and slippage issues
- Inability to sort orders and positions by price or TP/SL

**Requested features**

- Add candle timer and settings to customize TP levels
- Improve mobile app to match desktop functionality
- Implement dark mode and more chart customization options
- Synchronize indicators and drawings across platforms
- Add more advanced risk management tools


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MetaTrader 4 free?

MetaTrader 4 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is cTrader free?

cTrader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, MetaTrader 4 or cTrader?

MetaTrader 4 is rated higher. MetaTrader 4 averages 4.8 out of 5 from 82K ratings, while cTrader averages 4.8 from 1.8K ratings.

### Do MetaTrader 4 or cTrader have ads?

Neither MetaTrader 4 nor cTrader shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MetaTrader 4 or cTrader?

MetaTrader 4 ships an update every 2 months, and cTrader weekly. Most recently, MetaTrader 4 was updated on October 21, 2026 and cTrader on October 20, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*