Skip to content

CFDs are leveraged products. CFD trading may not be suitable for everyone and can result in losses that exceed your deposits, so please consider our Risk Disclosure Notice and ensure that you fully understand the risks involved. CFDs are leveraged products. CFD trading may not be suitable for everyone and can result in losses that exceed your deposits, so please consider our Risk Disclosure Notice and ensure that you fully understand the risks involved.

How to get started with MT4 for Mac

MT4 is an advanced trading platform, suitable for traders who are after an effortless algorithmic trading experience. Here, we explain how to download MT4 for Mac, and some additional software which you might find useful.

Trader Source: Bloomberg

How does MT4 work on Mac?

MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is designed for use on Windows but there are still ways to trade on MT4 from a Mac. Perhaps the most-used method is to use an MT4 virtual private server (VPS). A virtual private server is a service which hosts an instance of the MT4 platform at a remote location.

You access a VPS by signing in with your login credentials once you have requested access from a VPS provider – such as IG. Our VPS is hosted by Beeks in London, and it offers fast execution and reliable platform uptime for traders who want to reduce the lag time between their order being placed, and their order being executed.

An MT4 VPS can also give you peace of mind that technical issues such as a slow internet connection or power cuts will affect your trading experience.

Another way that you can access MT4 on a Mac is through a web-based MT4 platform. This is an instance of MT4 which runs in a browser, rather than requiring a download as is the case with the standard MT4 platform.

Please be aware that sites which show you how to download MT4 on a Mac could be infected with malware, and downloading MT4 from these websites might harm your Apple device.

How to use MT4 on Mac

If you use MT4 on a Mac with a VPS, the experience is very similar to using a Windows device. You can place orders and close your positions from your Mac through the VPS service.

MT4 is also known for its automated trading functionality, and programs such as Expert Advisors and Autochartist make this possible. With IG, you get access to some of the most popular Expert Advisors for free, as well as full access to the Autochartist package.

Features of MT4 on Mac

  1. Automated trading. MT4 is one of the most complete and user-friendly automated trading platforms available to traders who like to build their own algorithms, or those who prefer to use off-the-shelf solutions
  2. Add-ons and indicators. When you use MT4 with IG’s VPS on Mac, you get access to our full range of free indicators and add-ons, which can be used to both customise the platform and signal you to market movements
  3. Full market offering. IG offers a large selection of the most popular forex pairs on the market including EUR/USD, USD/JPY and GBP/USD. We also offer cryptocurrencies including bitcoin, litecoin and ether

How do you start trading on MT4?

Here's how to start trading on MT4 with Mac:

  1. Open a live IG account. You can open an account with IG quickly and easily
  2. Download the IG Academy app. Available for iOS and Android
  3. Sign up for an MT4 VPS. Get fast and reliable execution

The information on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG Bank S.A. accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients. See full non-independent research disclaimer.

Discover how to trade the markets

Explore the range of markets you can trade – and learn how they work – with IG Academy's free ’introducing the financial markets’ course.

What is the number one mistake traders make?

We reveal the top potential pitfall and how to avoid it. Discover how to increase your chances of trading success, with data gleaned from over 100,000 IG accounts.


For more info on how we might use your data, see our privacy notice and access policy and privacy webpage.

You might be interested in…

Find out what charges your trades could incur with our transparent fee structure.

Discover why so many clients choose us, and what makes us a world-leading provider of CFDs.

Stay on top of upcoming market-moving events with our customisable economic calendar.