The Ultimate Guide to
Overview Of Trading Platforms For Mac
When it comes to the world of trading it can sometimes feel like Mac users have been left out. In the majority of cases when it comes to trading platforms, they’re built first and foremost for Windows machines. For traders using a Mac, one of the few options was using an application like PlayOnMac that allowed Mac users to install software for Windows however, this has its downsides as some features may be faulty or not work at all, not the ideal environment for a trading.
Nowadays there are a few more options available to Mac users with brokers now offering platforms made for mac and brokers that offer a browser-based platform, this means that clients can access a trading portal simply through their web browser, for example, Chrome, Safari or FireFox.
Every broker may not have a suitable platform for Mac users so it does mean you have to search that little bit harder to find them. To help, here is a list of the top 10 forex brokers with platforms suitable for Mac machines.
AvaTrade is an Irish broker regulating by multiple organisations including the Central Bank of Ireland, ASiC, the Financial Futures Association of Japan, the Financial Services Board in South Africa and more. AvaTrade offers over 250 financial instruments for clients and real-time news alerts and multiple platforms including a native platform for Mac users, the “Mac Trading” platform.
It’s one of the most flexible forex platforms on the market, offering charting and analytics along with forex, commodities, equities, and bonds.
Read our complete review on AvaTrade to learn more.
2 Plus500 WebTrader Platform
The Plus500 WebTrader platform is suitable for both PC and Mac traders. Clients can easily access the platform by logging into their account from their web browser, including Chrome, Safari and Firefox. Plus500 is a CFD broker that offer a wide range of instruments including stocks, indices, commodities, currencies and more. Plus500 also offer clients a suitable App across all their Apple devices including an Apple Watch App so traders can keep up to date with their trades no matter where they are.
Plus500 is a popular broker with over 155,000 users and are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, ASiC and CySEC. Traders can test out the Plus500 Webtrader here to see if it is right for them.
3 MetaTrader 4 for Mac
Is MetaTrader 4 (MT4) available for Mac?
Yes, the MetaTrader 4 (MT4) trading platform can be installed on Mac OS operating systems using a version of a free open-source software called Wine. Please note that Wine is not regarded as a fully stable application and therefore some functions may not work properly or not work at all.
How do I install MT4 on Mac?
You can install MT4 onto your Mac OS using a free third party application called PlayOnMac. PlayOnMac is a Wine-based application which acts as an emulator that allows window-based applications to run on a Mac computer.
- First download the latest version of PlayOnMac from the official website.
- Once the download is complete, you can then launch the application from the Downloads section on your system.
- Launch the PlayOnMac installer and follow the instructions on the screen to begin the installation process. As a part of the installation, you may be asked to install XQuartz, which is software necessary for running a Windows system on Mac OS.
- After you have installed the PlayOnMac application, download the MT4 installer file “mt4setup.exe”.
- After the download of the mt4setup.exe installer is complete, simply launch the installer from your Download menu and PlayonMac will automatically install the MT4 application onto your Mac computer as well as create the necessary shortcuts.
- To run the MT4 client, simply click on the client terminal icon in the PlayOnMac launch window.
Are all MT4 features available on Mac?
Yes, you will get all the trading features for MT4 on Mac OS which are available on Windows. The only limitation you might face is that some of the scripts for the Expert Advisors (EAs) may not work properly.
Is there a user manual for the Mac OS MT4 app?
Yes, on the navigation screen select “Help” > “Help Topics”.
How do I change the language in the Mac OS MT4 app?
Go to the top menu and choose View -> Languages -> e.g. Japanese and then restart the software and the user language will be in Japanese.
How do I start trading on MetaTrader 4 for Mac??
After you have successfully downloaded MetaTrader 4 on your Mac OS device, you must enter your login details, including for your relevant server which will have been provided by the broker upon registration. You will then need to make a deposit of trading funds to start real trading. Your trading account will now be live and you can gain access to the trading platform whenever you have login using the correct details.
Can the time zone in Mac MT4 app be adjusted?
Only your broker can adjust the time zone which is based on the server setting.
How do I access my MetaTrader 4 trading report on Mac?
To access your trading report on MT4 for Mac:
- Click on the “Account History Tab” at the lower terminal menu
- Right click to access the drop down menu
- Choose the option “Save as Report” from the drop down menu
XM offer Mac users the MT4 for Mac to give Mac users the same advantages of the MT4 platform as a Windows based PC such as:
- Tight spreads
- Full Expert Advisor Functionality
- Technical Analysis Tools
- Ability to Hedge trades
For individuals looking for an MT4 broker, you can view our comprehensive list of brokers who offer the MT4 platform or read our XM review.
4 eToro OpenBook
eToro is one of the most popular online brokers and has a community of over 4,000,000 users. eToro provides clients with their custom OpenBook trading platform accessible via your web browser and is known as the leading social trading platform for copy trading. One of the goals of the platforms is to provide traders with a place to keep in touch with fellow traders to communicate with and learn from one another. The network’s founder, Yoni Assia, developed eToro to introduce trading to inexperienced users.
Check out the full review of eToro to see if they are the right broker for you.
Core Spreads’ spread betting platform functions online only and gives you customisable charts. Core Trader has a sturdy collection of strategies and analytics as well as an expert advisor which can monitor the market until your chosen entry point arrives and lets you automate your trading strategy. Core Spreads have quickly become a popular broker with tight spreads, transparent pricing and strong regulation from the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK.
cTrader Limited’s offering was developed specifically to be used with ECN brokers. Pepperstone offer the cTrader with its execution and charting—it’s greatest strengths. A sparse interface makes trading intuitive, and if you’re a more technical trader, there is a range of chart layouts to suit your style.
The LCG Trader platform lets you trade across seven asset classes via your browser while giving you access to data and professional-grade charting. Many of its price improvement technologies are only accessible via London Capital Group, so they’re a significant benefit of the platform. The software has low latency and functions and offer over 5000 instruments for traders.
8 IG Web Platform
IG’s platform is more of a forex partner than a platform given the sheer berth of features it offers. You receive interfaces for spread betting and the power to manage your spreads tightly from 0.08 pips on a stable, award-winning platform. IG is one of the oldest and trusted brokers and offer clients a regulated trading platform.
Markets.com provide a friendly interface for all levels of traders, along with a low initial deposit limit. Leveraged trade is available up to 200:1, and users receive a mobile news service with their accounts. The site itself offers a range of transfer options, and the lack of broker fees for deposits is offset by a mini account limit.
10 MT4’s JForex
If you’re technically adept, JForex gives you the programming power to automate your own strategies using Java and is offered by the Dukascopy group. You receive 180 indicators, full market depth trading, bids, offers, and historical tests. The interface resembles Java’s, so experienced programmers will feel instantly at home with it. JForex also offers a plug-in that lets you use MT4 and MetaTrader signals.
