cTrader vs MetaTrader 5 API
The same fields from the cTrader Open API record and the MetaTrader 5 (Python package and MQL5) record, side by side. No winner is picked: which one suits you depends on what you are building.
Independent and unofficialNewest check
Risk warning: CFDs and spread bets are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You can lose money on these products, and each provider publishes its own loss figure under FCA rules. You should consider whether you understand how they work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Automated and API trading can amplify losses through bugs, connectivity failures and runaway orders.
What the two records show
Differences you can see in the records themselves. These are counts of what this site holds, not a verdict on either API.
- cTrader Open API is a platform API, offered through the brokers that carry the platform. MetaTrader 5 (Python package and MQL5) is a platform API, offered through the brokers that carry the platform.
- This site has not yet documented individual endpoints for cTrader Open API or for MetaTrader 5 (Python package and MQL5).
- This site has decoded 53 error codes for cTrader Open API and 311 error codes for MetaTrader 5 (Python package and MQL5).
- The limits register holds 2 limit records for cTrader Open API and no limit records for MetaTrader 5 (Python package and MQL5). Each limit record carries its own scope.
- The cTrader Open API record holds a demo claim, verified at its source. The MetaTrader 5 (Python package and MQL5) record holds a demo claim, verified at its source. The wording of each is in the Demo row below.
- A quickstart is built here for both.
cTrader Open API and MetaTrader 5 (Python package and MQL5), field by field
| Field | cTrader Open API | MetaTrader 5 (Python package and MQL5) |
|---|---|---|
| Kind | Platform API, offered by many brokers | Platform API, offered by many brokers |
| API family | Protobuf over TCP/WebSocket, JSON over TCP/WebSocket, Python package, C# package | Python package (MetaTrader5), MQL5, WebRequest and sockets from MQL5 |
| How you get access | Register an app at openapi.ctrader.com; Spotware reviews new apps, so describe your use case in detail.Creating a new applicationchecked | Install the MT5 terminal from your broker, then pip install MetaTrader5 on Windows x86-64 or write MQL5 in MetaEditor. The terminal must be at build 4755 or later.order_sendchecked |
| Who can use it | Supported by all trading accounts of any cTrader affiliated brokers by default, which means both demo and live accounts.cTrader Open APIchecked | Real accounts come from brokers offering MT5; the API runs through your own local terminal.Opening an account (MT5 help)checked |
| Demo | Yes: separate demo endpoint; demo and live environments are fully separated.Proxies and endpointschecked | Yes: demo accounts can be opened from within the terminal.Opening an account (MT5 help)checked |
| Authentication | OAuth 2.0 authorisation code flow: the auth code lives 1 minute, the access token 30 days. Scopes are accounts, which is read only, and trading, which is full.Account authenticationchecked | No API keys: initialize() connects to the local terminal, optionally with account login, password and server.initializechecked |
| Streaming | Yes: spot quotes, depth of market and execution events on the same connection, at 50 requests a second per connection (5 for historical data) with a heartbeat every 10 seconds. Host live1.p.ctrader.com port 5035, SSL mandatory for TCP and WebSocket. Spotware recommends at most two connections, one demo and one live, each carrying an unlimited number of accounts of that type.Messageschecked | No push API in Python: poll ticks and bars; market_book_add subscribes the terminal to depth events. MQL5 EAs get tick events.MetaTrader for Pythonchecked |
| History depth | Trend bars and ticks by from/to timestamp with optional count; deals by range with maxRows. Cash flow history max 1 week per request.Spotware OpenApiMessages.protochecked | Bars limited to the terminal's Max bars in chart setting. Deal history by date range with no stated limit.MQL5 docs: copy_rates_fromchecked |
| Limits |
| None recorded |
| Endpoints documented here | None yet | None yet |
| Error codes decoded here | 53 | 311 |
| Official documentation | help.ctrader.com | mql5.com |
Go deeper on each side
cTrader Open API
- cTrader API page, the full record
- cTrader API quickstart, credentials to a first call
- cTrader API limits, in the table above
- cTrader API error codes, each with its fix
- cTrader Open API with Python
MetaTrader 5 (Python package and MQL5)
- MetaTrader 5 API page, the full record
- MetaTrader 5 API quickstart, credentials to a first call
- MetaTrader 5 API limits, in the table above: none recorded
- MetaTrader 5 API error codes, each with its fix
- Claude with MetaTrader 5: a safe, read-first setup
- MetaTrader 5 for Python: which platforms does it run on?
- MT5 trade history to a spreadsheet with Python
All comparisons. New to this? Getting started with API trading.