cTrader Review

cTrader is a forex trading platform and primarily a solution for FX and CFD brokers. Fast order executions and advanced trading tools are the core of cTrader, but the platform also greatly expands on copy trading, charting, algo trading, and a store and plugins.

cTrader

Platform Compatibility

cTrader works on iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and other web-based devices and is a product of Spotware Systems Ltd., a company with over 200 employees, 15 years on the market.

Best Prop Firms Using cTrader

The popularity of cTrader among forex traders makes it an excellent choice for prop firms that want to enable experienced cTrader traders to use their favorite platform during evaluation, challenges, and in funded accounts. cTrader is popular among prop firms, especially since MetaQuotes has banned some prop firms from using MT4/MT5.

A downside of using cTrader with a prop firm is that it always costs an extra license fee on top of the regular trading challenge. For that reason, beginner traders might want to stay away from cTrader to avoid those additional costs.

For example, if you use Funded Trading Plus, you pay an additional $25 fee for the challenge, while MetaTrader 5, Match Trader, and DXtrade have no additional costs.

List of prop firms offering cTrader:

cTrader Platform Features

Via https://app.ctrader.com/, you can easily test all features yourself for free. cTrader has everything needed to trade forex pairs. From traditional charting tools to more advanced trading algorithms via cBot, you can use the tool for many different purposes if you are willing to pay the additional fee.

Prop Firm Compatibility

cTrader is available with many prop firms, including FTMO, Funding Pips, but also forex brokers like IC Markets, Pepperstone, TopFX, FxPro, BlackBull, FP Markets, Deriv, Axiory, IC Trading, Tradeview Markets, and Dominion Markets.

What is cTrader?

If you’ve been trading for a while, you’ve probably heard whispers about cTrader in trading forums and communities. It’s one of those platforms that serious traders seem to really love, but it doesn’t have the massive name recognition of MetaTrader.

So what’s the deal with it?

cTrader came onto the scene in 2011, built by a company called Spotware Systems. It’s designed for forex and CFD trading with advanced charting, Level II pricing, and fast execution. The big selling point? It was built from the ground up for transparent, no-dealing-desk trading. That means you’re seeing real market prices without broker manipulation.

You can use it on your desktop, through a web browser, or on your phone , pretty standard these days, but the sync between devices actually works well (I’ll get to that later).

The Features That Actually Matter

Charting Tools (This is Where It Shines)

Look, I’ve used a lot of trading platforms, and cTrader’s charting is genuinely impressive right out of the box. You get over 70 technical indicators already built in , no need to go hunting for downloads or paying for premium packs.

There are 28 different timeframes you can use, including tick charts, which is honestly overkill for most traders, but if you’re into scalping or really granular analysis, it’s there. The chart types go beyond your basic candlesticks too , they’ve got Renko, tick charts, pip charts, all that good stuff.

One thing I genuinely appreciate: you can pop charts out into separate windows. If you’re running multiple monitors (and let’s be honest, most serious traders are), this is a game-changer.

Market Depth – Actually Useful Transparency

Here’s something you don’t see on every platform: full market depth showing exactly how much volume is available at each price level.

cTrader gives you three ways to view this: Standard depth, Price Depth, and VWAP depth. If you’re the type who wants to see where the real liquidity is sitting, this feature alone might sell you on the platform. It’s like trading with the curtain pulled back.

Algo Trading (If That’s Your Thing)

Now, I’m not a huge algo trader myself, but I know plenty of people who are. cTrader lets you build trading bots using C#, which is actually a huge deal.

Why? Because C# is a real programming language that tons of developers already know. You’re not stuck learning some proprietary language that’s only useful for one trading platform (I’m looking at you, MQL4). The feature’s called cTrader Automate, and from what I’ve seen, it’s pretty powerful for backtesting and optimization.

Risk Management Features

Here’s a clever feature I haven’t seen elsewhere: cTrader has something called Smart Stop Out that closes small pieces of your biggest positions to free up margin, rather than just nuking your entire account when you hit the margin limit.

It’s a small thing, but it could save your account in a volatile market. Plus, before you place any trade, you can see exactly what your pip value and margin requirement will be. No surprises.

Copy Trading Built Right In

There’s a social trading feature called cTrader Copy where you can either share your strategy and earn commissions, or copy other traders. I haven’t used this much personally , I prefer to do my own thing , but for newer traders or people who want to diversify their approach, it’s a solid option. No commitment required, which is nice.

Orders and Execution

You’ve got all your standard order types: market, limit, stop, and stop-limit orders. But here’s a cool detail: you can actually place pending orders on weekends when the market is closed. Perfect for planning your week ahead.

And get this , there’s literally no minimum distance for placing orders, and the freeze level is zero. That means you can put your stop loss as close to the market price as you want. Brokers using MetaTrader often impose restrictions here, so this is refreshing.

What’s It Going to Cost You?

Here’s the thing about cTrader , the platform itself is free. You just need to open an account with a broker that supports it.

But (and there’s always a but), brokers typically charge commissions based on volume traded, often around $35 per million USD. The commission gets charged in whatever currency pair you’re trading, then converted to your account currency. It’s transparent, but it adds up if you’re a high-volume trader.

If you use cTrader Copy, strategy providers can charge up to 30% on profits, 10% annual management fees, or $10 per million in volume fees. A lot of strategies are free though, so you can test the waters without paying anyone.

The real cost issue? Not as many brokers offer cTrader compared to MetaTrader. So you might have fewer broker options, and some brokers charge more for cTrader accounts than MetaTrader accounts. Do your homework on broker fees before committing.

The Good, The Bad, and The Realistic

What I Like About It:

  • The interface is clean and modern , doesn’t feel like software from 2005
  • Everything you need for serious analysis is already there (those 70+ indicators)
  • Market depth visibility is fantastic
  • Being able to place orders super close to market price is liberating
  • Works smoothly across all my devices
  • C# for algo trading makes way more sense than learning MQL

What Frustrates Me:

  • Finding a good broker that offers cTrader takes more work
  • The community is smaller, so finding help or custom tools isn’t as easy
  • Only supports 22 languages (MetaTrader supports way more)
  • Some brokers charge noticeably more for cTrader accounts
  • There’s definitely a learning curve if you want to use advanced features
  • I’ve heard complaints about the mobile app being slow to load

Who Should Actually Use This?

cTrader is perfect if you’re:

  • Serious about transparent pricing and want to see real market depth
  • A scalper or day trader who needs precise order placement
  • An algo trader who already knows C# (or wants to learn a useful language)
  • Someone who values modern, intuitive interfaces
  • Interested in exploring social trading without big commitments

Probably skip it if you:

  • Want the biggest selection of brokers to choose from
  • Need tons of third-party indicators and tools (MetaTrader wins here)
  • Prefer having a massive community for support and education
  • Are happy with MetaTrader and don’t see a reason to switch

How Does It Stack Up Against MetaTrader?

I get asked this constantly, so let me break it down honestly.

The Interface Battle: cTrader gives you way more control over customizing your workspace. You can arrange everything exactly how you want it. MetaTrader 4 feels clunky by comparison , like it’s stuck in the past (because it kind of is).

Charting Comparison: cTrader has 28 timeframes and 70+ indicators built in, while MT4 has 9 timeframes and 30 indicators. BUT , and this is important , MetaTrader has thousands upon thousands of custom indicators made by the community. So out of the box, cTrader wins. Long-term customization? MetaTrader’s library is unbeatable.

Speed: Good brokers execute cTrader orders in about 50-65ms, which is competitive with MetaTrader’s 30-40ms at the best brokers. In practice, you won’t notice a difference unless you’re doing ultra-high-frequency trading.

Programming: cTrader uses C# while MetaTrader uses MQL4/MQL5. C# is more versatile and useful outside of trading, but MQL has a massive library of pre-built scripts you can use.

The Numbers Game: Over 50% of brokers offer MetaTrader. It’s the industry standard. cTrader is growing but still way behind in adoption.

My Honest Take

After spending considerable time with cTrader, I genuinely think it’s one of the best-designed trading platforms out there in 2025. Users consistently praise its reliability, smooth performance, and responsive support, and I agree with that assessment.

The platform really delivers on the transparency promise. Being able to see full market depth and place orders with zero restrictions feels liberating compared to some of the limitations you hit on other platforms.

Is it perfect? No. The biggest issue is simply that fewer brokers support it, which means you might pay slightly more in commissions or have fewer broker options. And if you’re the type who wants access to every custom indicator ever created, MetaTrader’s massive community library still wins.

But if you care about having a modern, transparent platform with professional-grade tools and your broker supports it? cTrader is outstanding. It’s not just hype , it’s genuinely a well-built platform that respects traders who want to see what’s really happening in the market.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars , Excellent platform held back only by limited broker availability.

For most serious traders who value transparency and modern design, it’s absolutely worth trying. Just make sure your preferred broker offers it first.