MT4 Grey Label for Startup Brokers: A Compatibility and Risk Assessment
Choosing MT4 is a dependency decision. Assess compatibility with your tools, the risk that availability or support changes and the cost of leaving.
Compatibility inventory
List the expert advisors, indicators, CRM, bridge and payment integrations you need and confirm each supports MT4. Mark any gap and its cost. See our MT4 grey label page.
Vendor roadmap risk
Platform vendors have shifted focus to MT5. Ask the provider about support commitments, timelines and conditions. Record the answers and revisit them regularly.
Integration coverage
Check management interface support and any plugin dependence. Differences between MQL4 and MQL5 affect tool portability.
Cost of leaving
Estimate migration effort: tools to rewrite, clients to communicate with, integrations to rebuild. See the MT4 versus MT5 decision matrix.
Decision
Choose MT4 only if compatibility is confirmed and the risk is acceptable. Otherwise evaluate an MT5 grey label. Keep the migration plan current.
Exit criteria
Define in advance the conditions that would trigger a move to MT5: loss of vendor support, key integration dropping MT4, or client demand shifting. Assign an owner to monitor each.
Explicit exit criteria turn a vague worry into a monitored risk.
Compatibility inventory
List every dependency on MT4: expert advisors, indicators, scripts, partner tools, reporting and CRM connectors, with owner, source availability and an MT5 equivalent where known. Rank by client impact. The inventory quantifies the cost and risk of staying and of leaving.
For each item record whether source is available, who maintains it and how long conversion would take.
Decision table
| Factor | Evidence | MT4 | MT5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Client dependence on MT4 tools | Survey | ||
| Integration coverage | Vendor confirmation | ||
| Provider support horizon | Written statement | ||
| Cost over 3 years | Quotes | ||
| Cost of later migration | Estimate |
Use the table to document the choice and set exit criteria.
Vendor roadmap and exit criteria
Track provider and vendor announcements. Define exit criteria: loss of provider support, key integration dropping MT4, or client demand shifting beyond a threshold. Assign an owner to monitor each and review quarterly.
See our MT4 versus MT5 guide for the scoring approach.
Worked example: EA conversion estimate
Ten EAs are in use. Three have source and simple logic (low effort), four have source but external dependencies (medium) and three have no source (replace or retire). Estimate effort per group, owners and client impact, and decide which to convert first.
The estimate gives a cost range for migration and a prioritised plan.
Communication plan
Prepare notices, tutorials and a timeline for any move, and test messaging with a small client group. Provide a support channel dedicated to migration questions.
Contract terms specific to MT4
Review support commitments for MT4, notice for withdrawal of support, price protection, migration assistance and data export. Request explicit statements and place them in the agreement.
Without them, you carry the platform lifecycle risk alone.
Frequently asked questions
What should a compatibility inventory include?
EAs, indicators, scripts, partner tools and connectors with owner, source availability and equivalents.
How do I set exit criteria?
Define measurable triggers and owners to monitor them.
How should migration cost be estimated?
From the inventory, conversion effort and parallel running.
How often should the decision be reviewed?
Quarterly for triggers and annually in full.