An MT4 to MatchTrader trade copier lets an EA or manual routine that runs on MT4 trade a prop firm challenge on MatchTrader, a web platform that cannot run Expert Advisors. Heron Copier reads the MT4 master and opens each trade on the MatchTrader account, then follows every stop loss and take profit change and the close.
MT4 is hedging only and MatchTrader tracks positions one by one, so each MT4 ticket becomes its own MatchTrader position, and opposite trades on one symbol stay separate. Symbols are where most setups need work. Your MT4 broker and the firm's MatchTrader rarely use the same names for indices and metals, so check the slave's symbol list before the first trade and add an alias for every symbol your EA trades. If several EAs share the MT4 account, the magic number filter on the slave copies only the ones meant for the challenge. Where a firm blocks API access, the local MatchTrader slave app has a non-API mode that works through Google Chrome, with Lot Multiplier and Fixed Lot sizing only.
Both accounts run in the Heron Copier cloud with nothing to install, and you can host the .ex4 EA there as well, so nothing has to run on your own computer. The local apps for your own VPS come with every paid license too.
How to set up MT4 to MatchTrader copying
- Add your MT4 account as the master in the dashboard. Connect it with your MT4 account number, password and broker server.
- Add your MatchTrader account as the slave and pick the master it copies from. Connect it with your MatchTrader login, password and broker.
- Choose one of the six volume sizing methods for the slave and, if the brokers name symbols differently, add a symbol suffix or aliases.
- Launch. Cloud accounts are usually online in under 60 seconds, and the dashboard shows every copied trade, balance and position live.
About MT4 and MatchTrader
MetaTrader 4 came out in 2005 and is still the most common retail forex platform. Brokers and prop firms keep offering it because of its large library of Expert Advisors and indicators written in MQL4.
MatchTrader is Match-Trade Technologies' browser-based platform. Brokers and prop firms run it under their own brand, each with its own symbol names and account setup.
For everything else about each platform, see the MT4 Trade Copier and MatchTrader Trade Copier pages.
MT4 vs MatchTrader
| Detail | MT4 (master) | MatchTrader (slave) |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | MetaQuotes | Match-Trade Technologies |
| Markets | Forex, CFDs on indices, metals and commodities, and crypto CFDs, depending on the broker | Forex, indices, metals, commodities and crypto CFDs, depending on the broker or prop firm |
| How Heron Copier connects | MT4 account number, password and broker server | MatchTrader login, password and broker |
| Position model | Hedging: every trade is a separate ticket | Hedging: positions are tracked one by one |
| Trade size | Lots (usually 0.01 lot steps) | Lots |
| Symbol names | Broker-specific, often with suffixes such as EURUSD.m or US30.cash | Set by each broker or prop firm |
| API speed | 500+ requests per minute | 500 requests per minute |
| Partial closes sent to slaves (as master) | Yes | No |
| Partial closes received (as slave) | Yes | No |
| Position resync on its slaves | Yes | No |
| Local version | Yes, plus the cloud version | Yes, plus the cloud version |
| EA / cBot hosting | Yes, .ex4 Expert Advisors | No |
Things to check before you start
- MT4 and MatchTrader brokers rarely use the same symbol names. Set a suffix or explicit aliases on the slave, for example US30.cash=DJ30. Auto symbol mapping catches what is left as a last resort.
- Minimum volume and volume steps can differ between the two platforms. The default Equity-to-Equity sizing keeps risk in proportion, and per-symbol lot caps stop oversized trades.
- Trades opened by your EAs are copied too. Use the magic number whitelist or blacklist on the slave to copy only some EAs.
- Partial closes on the master are not copied to MatchTrader slaves, because of a limit in the MatchTrader API. Full closes are copied as usual.
- MatchTrader prop firms often use their own symbol names. Check the symbol list of the slave and add symbol aliases where the names differ.
Frequently asked questions
Can one MT4 master copy to several MatchTrader accounts?
Yes. Add as many MatchTrader slaves as you need, each with its own volume sizing, symbol mapping and risk limits. In the cloud every account uses one cloud seat, and the local version has no account limit.
What if my MT4 and MatchTrader brokers name symbols differently?
Add a suffix such as .m, or explicit aliases such as US30.cash=DJ30, with a per-symbol lot multiplier where contract sizes differ. Symbols that still don't match go through auto symbol mapping as a last resort.
Can I copy from MatchTrader to MT4 instead?
Yes. Every trading platform Heron Copier supports can be a master or a slave. See the MatchTrader to MT4 trade copier.
What happens if a trade fails to copy?
Turn on failed trade copy notifications to get an e-mail alert. The account logs in the dashboard also show the reason, for example a symbol that doesn't exist on the slave or a size below the minimum.
Is there a free trial?
Yes, 7 days with 2 cloud accounts. During the trial a slave copies every trade at a fixed 0.01 lot; a paid license unlocks the other sizing methods.
