Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Backtrader VS MetaTrader5

Compare Backtrader VS MetaTrader5 and see what are their differences

Backtrader logo Backtrader

Backtrader is a complete and advanced python framework that is used for backtesting and trading.

MetaTrader5 logo MetaTrader5

World-leading multi-asset platform that allows trading Forex, Stocks, Futures and CFDs.
  • Backtrader Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-30
  • MetaTrader5 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-07

Backtrader features and specs

  • Versatility
    Backtrader supports a wide variety of data sources and formats, as well as different types of financial instruments, allowing for extensive backtesting and live trading capabilities.
  • Community and Documentation
    The platform has a strong community and comprehensive documentation, making it easier for new users to get started and for experienced users to troubleshoot and optimize their strategies.
  • Python Integration
    Written in Python, Backtrader allows users to leverage Python's extensive ecosystem of libraries for data analysis, machine learning, and other financial computations.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source project, users can modify and extend the platform to meet their specific trading and testing needs without restrictions, and contribute to its development.
  • Flexibility in Strategy Design
    Backtrader offers a flexible and intuitive framework to design complex trading strategies, enabling users to test multiple strategies with different parameters efficiently.

Possible disadvantages of Backtrader

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Despite its flexibility, new users may find Backtrader's extensive features and options overwhelming, requiring a significant amount of time to learn and effectively utilize.
  • Performance Issues
    For very large datasets, Backtrader might experience performance bottlenecks or require additional optimization, as Python is not the fastest language for high-frequency backtesting.
  • Limited Technical Support
    As a community-driven open-source project, Backtrader might lack the formal technical support and customer service that comes with commercial trading platforms.
  • Complexity in Live Trading
    Transitioning from backtesting to live trading can require significant additional setup and potential custom development, especially in integrating broker APIs.
  • Outdated Resources
    Some educational materials and tutorials may be outdated, leading to confusion due to interface or feature updates that are not well-documented.

MetaTrader5 features and specs

  • Multi-Asset Platform
    MetaTrader 5 allows you to trade a variety of asset classes including Forex, stocks, commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies.
  • Advanced Charting Tools
    The platform offers advanced charting tools with a wide range of technical indicators and graphical objects for detailed market analysis.
  • Automated Trading
    MetaTrader 5 supports algorithmic trading via Expert Advisors (EAs), which can automate trading tasks based on predefined strategies.
  • Market Depth
    The Market Depth feature provides an insightful view of available bids and offers, enhancing your market analysis.
  • Economic Calendar
    An integrated economic calendar allows traders to monitor market-moving events and news directly within the platform.

Possible disadvantages of MetaTrader5

  • Complexity
    The platform can be overwhelming for beginners due to its extensive features and advanced tools.
  • Limited Broker Support
    Not all brokers support MetaTrader 5, limiting its accessibility depending on your broker of choice.
  • Learning Curve
    There is a steep learning curve to fully leverage all the advanced features and customization options MetaTrader 5 offers.
  • Resource Intensive
    The platform can be resource-intensive, requiring a robust computer system for optimal performance, especially when multiple charts and indicators are used.
  • Transition from MT4
    Users transitioning from MetaTrader 4 to MetaTrader 5 may face compatibility issues, as not all scripts, indicators, and EAs are transferable.

Backtrader videos

Backtrader Python Review

More videos:

  • Review - Algorithmic Trading with Python and Backtrader (Part 1)
  • Review - Backtrader Live Forex Trading with Interactive Brokers (Part 1)

MetaTrader5 videos

Which Forex Trading Platform is BEST? (MetaTrader 4 vs cTrader)

More videos:

  • Review - Why I Switched From MetaTrader to TradingView - TradingView Review
  • Review - MetaTrader 5 - Forex Trading Platform Review and Introduction

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Backtrader and MetaTrader5)
Finance
7 7%
93% 93
Development
100 100%
0% 0
Investing
2 2%
98% 98
Tool
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Backtrader and MetaTrader5

Backtrader Reviews

We have no reviews of Backtrader yet.
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MetaTrader5 Reviews

TradingView Alternatives For Budget Conscious Traders
MetaTrader platforms are known for their many features including robust alert systems and the ability to “hijack” the visual backtester to perform full replays during backtesting. These platforms support algorithmic trading through Expert Advisors (EAs) and have a large library of custom indicators and trading tools. While MT4 and MT5 are very versatile they require a...
Source: medium.com
Top 8 Forex Tester Alternatives in 2024
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) are widely-used trading platforms that include basic backtesting functionalities. These platforms are popular due to their availability and versatility, but they come with some limitations.
Source: forextester.com
5 MetaTrader alternatives for Apple devices (Jan 2023)
iOS devices with MetaTrader apps already installed can continue to use them, but they will not receive software updates, creating potential security risks. The problem does not affect Android mobile devices because MetaTrader platforms continue to be freely downloaded and installed from Google PlayStore. But this is not a solution for the millions of users who have no...
Source: smnweekly.com
Alternatives to MetaTrader
The brokers that support MetaTrader and other similar platforms purchase the rights to the software; the servers are run by the broker, and it’s just the software itself that is supplied by MetaQuotes, the company that developed MetaTrader.
What Are The Alternatives To MetaQuotes' MetaTrader MT4 And MT5 Platforms For Brokers?
It has been over 2 weeks since LiquidityFinder broke the story on Saturday 24th September that Apple had removed MetaQuotes' MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) apps from its App Store. This move by Apple, with still no official explanation from either Apple or MetaQuotes, has left a huge amount of uncertainty in the trading industry, both for brokers and end clients....

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Backtrader seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 3 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Backtrader mentions (3)

  • My reality of trading and how i wish i had never started.
    I do like what I see and hear about backtrader.com. I would say they are a notable exception to my general rule of not trusting or using backtesting frameworks. However, I still think it is important to understand how the framework you are using works. So if you are using backtrader for backtesting you still need to put in the time to understand the backtesting engine. Source: about 2 years ago
  • My reality of trading and how i wish i had never started.
    What about backtrader.com? And I feel like it would be step 2 after you at least have something to backtrade and test haha. Source: about 2 years ago
  • I need to know what can go wrong with my 'masterplan'
    Backtesting is basically applying your strategy on historical price data to see if it makes money. I've used Backtrader it works decently well: https://backtrader.com/. Source: over 3 years ago

MetaTrader5 mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of MetaTrader5 yet. Tracking of MetaTrader5 recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Backtrader and MetaTrader5, you can also consider the following products

quantra - A public API for quantitative finance made with Quantlib

TradingView - The best charting tool for crypto and stocks

QuantConnect - QuantConnect provides a free algorithm backtesting tool and financial data so engineers can design algorithmic trading strategies. We are democratizing algorithm trading technology to empower investors.

eToro - The social investment network that connects traders from around the globe and enables them to share...

Quantopian - Your algorithmic investing platform

Robinhood - Free stock trading service.