Live vs Demo: MT4 account differences

The major difference between demo and live MT4 accounts is that none of your money will be at risk when using the demo. Instead, you'll receive £50,000 of 'virtual' funds to trade. This means you have a safe and secure setting in which to learn trading, explore new strategies, or perhaps increase your risk appetite. In a live setting, this freedom is not available to you. It's also worth noting that you won't experience the same slippage or out-of-hours movements in prices with a demo account.

What are Expert Advisors

Expert Advisors (EAs) are features that allow you to get to grips with automated trading with your MetaTrader 4 demo account. They are robots or programs that will monitor markets and make trades based on the conditions you set.

Can I upgrade to a live MT4 account?

If the time has come to "go live" with your trading, it's easy to upgrade with FXCM. First, you need to open a live account with us and add MT4 to your dashboard. The next step is to deposit funds into your account so you can start trading for real. Then, all that's left is to put all your new strategies and techniques into action.

How much does a demo account cost?

It doesn't cost anything to create a MetaTrader demo account with FXCM.

MT4 - Metatrader 4 Demo Account

Forex Trading MT4 Demo

Looking to start trading the financial markets but not quite ready to start risking your capital? You can learn how to trade forex, shares, indices and more with FXCM when you sign up for an MT4 demo account. It's the safe and secure way for you to get to know the global markets. You can test new strategies and grow your portfolio without any risk. It's also free to use.

So, why not sign up for your MetaTrader 4 demo account today? Need help? Get in touch.

Risk-Free Forex Trading – Practice Today

MetaTrader 4 Demo Account Features

Trade any Expert Advisor (EA) – even scalping EAs
Trade markets in 0.01 lots; scale out of positions
Get free apps for your MT4 (EAs, scripts, indicators)

Sign Up For Free

There was a problem submitting the form.

What is an MT4 demo account?

Your MT4 demo account is a great way to get started if you're new to trading. You can even use it if you want to try something different without the risk. It gives you live access to each market that FXCM has to offer – forex, shares, indices and commodities. Once you're in, you can make your moves and open your positions as if it were the real thing.

The key difference between a MetaTrader demo and live account is that there is no money at stake with the demo. Instead, you get £50,000 of 'virtual' capital to trade. It's real-time trading with the same layout and access to add-ons as a live account. All that's missing is the risk – so you can get to grips with the markets and the MT4 platform in your own time.

Key features of an MT4 demo account

Here are just some features that make an MT4 demo account the ideal introduction to trading:

Real-time access to the most popular markets
Same layout and functionality as a live account
£50,000 of 'virtual' funds to invest as you want
Test strategies and experiment with automation
Trade with tight spreads and FXCM's leverage
Available on desktop and Android devices

How to open a MetaTrader 4 demo account

To open a demo account and get started, all you have to do is sign up for free. You can do that quickly and easily by filling in the form on this page. We need a few simple details so we're able to get you started – plus the currency you'd like to trade in.

Before you sign up, please read our demo disclaimer.

How to download MetaTrader 4

You can download the MT4 platform to use at home or on the go. It's compatible with Windows desktops and laptops as well as iOS and Android mobile devices. Downloading and installation won't take more than a few minutes. It's then just a case of signing in via your FXCM account.

It's also possible to run MT4 on your Mac – and our Help article will tell you how to do this.

Why create a demo account with FXCM?

FXCM is one of the world's leading online trading platforms. With us, you can trade with CFDs or spread bet on popular forex pairs, commodities or shares in the world's biggest companies.

There are many reasons why you should choose FXCM when opening an MT4 account:

Our award-winning customer service team is here for you 24/5
FXCM's average speed of trade execution is just 0.019 seconds^*
Free-to-use, on-demand lessons, webinars and real-instructions
Leverage lets you take a position on the smallest market moves
Trade assets in different markets: forex, commodities and more^*

*An MT4 demo account seeks to replicate real markets. But there may be a delay in pricing and some products may not be tradable on live accounts.

MT4 demo FAQs

Live vs Demo: MT4 account differences: The major difference between demo and live MT4 accounts is that none of your money will be at risk when using the demo. Instead, you'll receive £50,000 of 'virtual' funds to trade. This means you have a safe and secure setting in which to learn trading, explore new strategies, or perhaps increase your risk appetite. In a live setting, this freedom is not available to you. It's also worth noting that you won't experience the same slippage or out-of-hours movements in prices with a demo account.
What are Expert Advisors: Expert Advisors (EAs) are features that allow you to get to grips with automated trading with your MetaTrader 4 demo account. They are robots or programs that will monitor markets and make trades based on the conditions you set.
Can I upgrade to a live MT4 account?: If the time has come to "go live" with your trading, it's easy to upgrade with FXCM. First, you need to open a live account with us and add MT4 to your dashboard. The next step is to deposit funds into your account so you can start trading for real. Then, all that's left is to put all your new strategies and techniques into action.
How much does a demo account cost?: It doesn't cost anything to create a MetaTrader demo account with FXCM.