📈 Professional ECN Trading Platform

cTrader: The Ultimate Platform Review 2026

cTrader is a professional forex and CFD trading platform built for ECN execution. Full Level II pricing, built-in copy trading, and powerful automation with cTrader Automate.

3+ cTrader Brokers

ECN Execution

0.0 Pips From

2011 Since

Brokers Regulated By:

FCA ✓

ASIC ✓

CySEC ✓

FSCA ✓

JFSA ✓

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Best cTrader Brokers for 2026

Our top-rated brokers offering cTrader, ranked by spreads, execution, and overall value. All brokers are regulated and expert-reviewed.

Editor's Choice

Pepperstone

4.5 ★★★★

Award-Winning Forex & CFD Broker

Spreads 0.0 pips

Min Deposit $0

Regulation ASIC

✓ Razor-sharp spreads from 0.0 pips✓ Ultra-fast execution (avg 30ms)✓ Multiple platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView

Read Review Visit Broker →

IC Markets

4.6 ★★★★

True ECN Trading with Raw Spreads

Spreads 0.0 pips

Min Deposit $200

Regulation ASIC

✓ Industry-leading raw spreads from 0.0 pips✓ True ECN execution with no dealing desk✓ $1 trillion+ monthly trading volume

Read Review Visit Broker →

GO Markets

4.1 ★★★★

Award-Winning Australian Broker

Spreads 0.0 pips

Min Deposit $200

Regulation ASIC

✓ Raw spreads from 0.0 pips✓ Multiple platforms✓ ASIC regulated

Read Review Visit Broker →

What is cTrader?

cTrader is a professional-grade forex and CFD trading platform developed by Spotware Systems. Launched in 2011, it was built from the ground up for ECN/STP trading - meaning direct market access with no dealing desk intervention.

Unlike MetaTrader 4 which was originally designed for market makers, cTrader was created specifically for traders who want transparent pricing. You see real market depth with Level II pricing, get true interbank spreads, and experience fast execution without requotes.

cTrader includes features that MT4 requires third-party plugins for: built-in copy trading (cTrader Copy), algorithmic trading environment (cTrader Automate), and a fully-featured web platform that runs in any browser.

The platform is available for desktop (Windows and Mac), web browser, and mobile devices (iOS and Android). All versions share the same modern interface and feature set, so you can trade seamlessly across devices.

cTrader Summary

cTrader is the platform of choice for serious traders who prioritize execution quality and market transparency. The Level II pricing shows you exactly where the liquidity is, the modern interface feels intuitive from day one, and features like one-click trading speed up your workflow.

The main trade-off compared to MT4 is ecosystem size. While cTrader has a growing community of cBot developers and signal providers, it can't match MT4's massive library of Expert Advisors and indicators built over 18+ years. However, for traders who want ECN execution and modern features, cTrader is hard to beat.

cTrader Quick Facts

Released: 2011
Developer: Spotware Systems
Cost: Free
Best For: ECN, Scalping
Platforms: Win, Mac, Web, Mobile
Language: C# (cBots)

Start Trading on cTrader

Pepperstone offers cTrader with:

Raw spreads from 0.0 pips
FCA & ASIC regulated
Full cTrader Copy support
Fast ECN execution

Visit Pepperstone

Should You Use cTrader?

Based on expert testing and hands-on use, here's what traders think of cTrader:

✅ 8 Reasons To Use cTrader

Level II Pricing shows full market depth with multiple liquidity levels - see exactly where the real orders are
True ECN execution means no dealing desk intervention, no requotes, and transparent pricing direct from liquidity providers
Built-in cTrader Copy lets you follow and copy successful traders without third-party plugins
cTrader Automate uses C# programming - more powerful than MQL4 with access to the full .NET framework
26 timeframes vs MT4's 9 - giving scalpers and intraday traders much more flexibility
Detachable charts allow multi-monitor setups - drag any chart to a separate screen
One-click trading with smart stop loss and take profit placement speeds up order execution
Modern, clean interface was designed from scratch for professional traders

⛔ 3 Reasons To Consider Alternatives

Fewer brokers support cTrader compared to MT4 - your broker choice is more limited
Smaller community means fewer third-party indicators and cBots available compared to MT4's massive ecosystem
C# learning curve is steeper than MQL4 for traders wanting to create custom bots

cTrader Key Features

cTrader is a feature-rich platform built for professional traders. Here's how it performs:

Feature	cTrader Performance
⚡ Execution	True ECN/STP execution with no dealing desk intervention
📊 Depth of Market	Full Level II pricing showing real market depth
📈 Charting	70+ indicators, 26 timeframes, detachable charts
📱 Devices	Desktop, Web, iOS, Android - all fully featured
🤖 Automation	cTrader Automate with C# for cBots and indicators
👥 Copy Trading	Built-in cTrader Copy for social trading
📋 Order Types	Market, limit, stop, stop-limit, and trailing stops
✨ Ease of Use	Clean, modern interface designed for professionals
💰 Cost	cTrader is completely free to download and use

cTrader Trading System

Built for fast ECN execution with sophisticated order management:

Market, limit, stop, and stop-limit orders
Trailing stops with server-side execution
One-click trading with quick SL/TP
Partial close and position management

cTrader Analytics

Advanced charting and analysis tools for technical traders:

70+ built-in technical indicators
26 timeframes (including tick charts)
Detachable multi-monitor charts
Drawing tools and pattern recognition

cTrader vs MetaTrader 4

The two most popular retail trading platforms compared side by side:

Feature	cTrader	MetaTrader 4
Depth of Market	Full Level II pricing	Limited
Execution Model	ECN/STP native	Varies by broker
Timeframes	26 timeframes	9 timeframes
Built-in Indicators	70+	30+
Copy Trading	Built-in (cTrader Copy)	Third-party only
Automation Language	C# (cAlgo)	MQL4 (larger community)
Broker Support	Limited selection	Very wide
Third-party Tools	Growing	Massive ecosystem
Interface	Modern, clean design	Dated but functional
Web Platform	Full-featured	Basic

Bottom line: Choose cTrader for transparent ECN pricing, Level II market depth, modern interface, and built-in copy trading. Choose MT4 for maximum broker choice and access to thousands of third-party EAs and indicators.

cTrader Features In-Depth

Explore cTrader's key features in detail:

📊 Level II Pricing (Depth of Market)

Level II pricing is one of cTrader's standout features. Unlike basic bid/ask quotes, Level II shows you the full order book - all pending buy and sell orders at different price levels.

This transparency helps you understand real market liquidity, see where large orders are sitting, and identify potential support and resistance levels based on actual order flow.

The DOM (Depth of Market) panel in cTrader displays this visually, showing order sizes at each price level. You can trade directly from the DOM by clicking price levels to place orders.

Why it matters: With Level II, you're seeing the same information that institutional traders see. No more guessing about liquidity or market depth.

👥 cTrader Copy (Social Trading)

cTrader Copy is the built-in social trading system that lets you automatically replicate trades from successful strategy providers. It's fully integrated into the platform - no third-party plugins required.

As a copier, you can browse strategy providers, view their detailed performance statistics (win rate, drawdown, profit factor), and allocate funds to copy their trades automatically. You control your risk with equity-based position sizing.

As a strategy provider, you can share your trading strategies and earn commissions when others copy you. cTrader handles all the tracking and attribution automatically.

Broker Tip: Pepperstone and IC Markets offer full cTrader Copy support with a good selection of strategy providers.

🤖 cTrader Automate (cBots & Custom Indicators)

cTrader Automate (formerly known as cAlgo) is the algorithmic trading environment that lets you create custom indicators and automated trading robots (cBots).

Unlike MT4's MQL4, cTrader Automate uses C# - a powerful, modern programming language. This gives you access to the full .NET framework, meaning you can integrate with databases, web APIs, and other systems that would be difficult in MQL4.

cTrader includes a built-in code editor with IntelliSense, debugging tools, and backtesting capabilities. You can also download pre-built cBots from the cTrader community.

Key capabilities:

Create custom indicators and cBots using C#
Full .NET framework access for advanced integrations
Built-in backtester with optimization
Access to market data, account info, and order management APIs

Learning curve: If you know any C-style language (C#, Java, JavaScript), you'll pick up cBot development quickly. The official cTrader Automate documentation is excellent.

🌐 cTrader Web (Browser Trading)

cTrader Web is a full-featured trading platform that runs entirely in your web browser. No downloads, no installations - just log in and trade from any computer.

Unlike some web platforms that sacrifice features, cTrader Web includes nearly everything from the desktop version: full charting, technical indicators, one-click trading, and even basic automation.

This makes cTrader Web perfect for Mac users (who don't need Wine or workarounds), traders on shared computers, or anyone who wants to check positions from a friend's laptop.

What cTrader Web includes:

Full charting with 70+ indicators
All order types and position management
Level II pricing and depth of market
cTrader Copy access
Works on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge

📱 cTrader Mobile (iOS & Android)

cTrader Mobile apps for iOS and Android bring the full trading experience to your phone or tablet. These aren't watered-down versions - they include full charting, indicators, and order management.

The mobile apps share your cTrader ID login, so your watchlists, chart templates, and preferences sync across all devices. Place a trade on your phone and it shows up instantly on your desktop.

Mobile app features:

Full charting with multiple timeframes
All indicator types
One-tap trading
Push notifications for price alerts and orders
Touch ID / Face ID authentication

Download cTrader Mobile from the App Store or Google Play.

⚡ Quick Trade & One-Click Trading

cTrader's Quick Trade feature lets you place orders with a single click, no confirmation dialogs. This is essential for scalpers and active traders where every millisecond counts.

The Quick Trade panel shows buttons for instant market orders with pre-set lot sizes. You can also set default stop loss and take profit levels that apply automatically to every order.

Even faster: enable chart trading to place orders by clicking directly on the chart at your desired price level. cTrader draws your pending orders as lines you can drag to adjust.

📈 Advanced Charting

cTrader offers professional-grade charting with 70+ built-in indicators, 26 timeframes (from tick charts to monthly), and fully detachable chart windows for multi-monitor setups.

Chart types include candlesticks, bars, lines, Heikin-Ashi, and Renko. You can overlay multiple symbols on one chart for correlation analysis.

Charting highlights:

26 timeframes (including tick charts)
Detachable charts for multi-monitor
Chart templates and workspaces
50+ drawing tools
Price alerts on any level

Download cTrader

cTrader is free to download and use. Choose your platform:

🖥️

cTrader for Windows

Full desktop experience with all features

Download for Windows → 🌐

cTrader Web

Trade in any browser - no download needed

Open cTrader Web → 🍎

cTrader for iOS

iPhone and iPad app

Download for iOS → 🤖

cTrader for Android

Android phones and tablets

Download for Android →

Recommended: Download cTrader directly from your broker for a pre-configured installation. Pepperstone and IC Markets provide installers that connect automatically to their servers.

System Requirements

Windows: Windows 7 or later, .NET Framework 4.5, 50MB disk space
Mac: Use cTrader Web (browser) or native Mac version from broker
iOS: iOS 13.0 or later
Android: Android 6.0 or later
Web: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge (latest versions)

Getting Started with cTrader

Follow these 5 steps to start trading on cTrader:

Choose a cTrader Broker

Select a broker that offers cTrader. Pepperstone and IC Markets are top choices with raw ECN spreads. Open an account and complete verification.

Download & Install cTrader

Download cTrader from your broker's website. The installer is small (under 50MB) and installation takes under 2 minutes. cTrader is also available as a web platform if you prefer no download.

Log In to Your Account

Enter your cTrader ID (cTID) credentials provided by your broker. Your cTID gives you access across all cTrader brokers with a single login.

Customize Your Workspace

Set up your charts with your preferred timeframe and indicators. cTrader lets you detach charts for multi-monitor setups. Choose between light and dark themes.

Place Your First Trade

Click on a symbol to open the order panel. Select your volume, set stop loss and take profit using the quick-trade buttons, then click Buy or Sell. Start with a demo account to practice.

Ready to start? Open an account with Pepperstone for the best cTrader experience, or compare all cTrader brokers.

cTrader Keyboard Shortcuts

Speed up your trading with these essential cTrader shortcuts:

F2 Open New Order window

F9 Open Trade tab

Ctrl+T Open Tradewatch

Ctrl+L Open Symbol panel

Ctrl+M Open Active Symbol panel

Ctrl+D Detach active chart

Ctrl+G Toggle Grid

+/- Zoom In/Out on chart

Ctrl+I Open Indicators list

Esc Cancel drawing mode

cTrader Awards & Recognition

cTrader has won multiple industry awards for its platform innovation:

2023

Best Multi-Asset Trading Platform

Finance Magnates

2022

Best Forex Trading Platform

Global Forex Awards

2022

Most User-Friendly Trading Platform

FX Empire

2021

Best Trading Platform Technology

Forex Expo

How to Choose a cTrader Broker

Not all cTrader brokers are equal. Here's what to look for:

True ECN Execution

The main benefit of cTrader is ECN execution. Ensure your broker offers genuine ECN access with no dealing desk intervention and transparent pricing.

Raw Spreads

cTrader brokers typically offer raw spread accounts with spreads from 0.0 pips plus commission. Compare the total trading cost (spread + commission).

cTrader Copy Access

If you're interested in social trading, check if the broker fully supports cTrader Copy with a good selection of strategy providers.

Regulation

Choose brokers regulated by tier-1 authorities like FCA, ASIC, or CySEC. This ensures your funds are protected and the broker operates fairly.

cTrader FAQ

What is cTrader?

cTrader is a professional forex and CFD trading platform developed by Spotware Systems. Launched in 2011, it's designed specifically for ECN/STP trading with features like Level II pricing (full depth of market), built-in copy trading, and algorithmic trading via cTrader Automate. It's available on desktop, web, and mobile.

Is cTrader better than MT4?

cTrader has advantages for certain traders: better depth of market visibility, more intuitive modern interface, 26 timeframes vs MT4's 9, built-in copy trading, and native ECN execution. However, MT4 has a larger community, more third-party EAs and indicators, and wider broker support. Choose cTrader if you prioritize transparent ECN pricing and modern features.

Is cTrader free?

Yes, cTrader is completely free. When you open an account with a cTrader broker, you get full access to the platform at no cost. Brokers make money from spreads and commissions on your trades, not from platform fees.

What is cTrader Copy?

cTrader Copy is the built-in social trading feature that lets you automatically copy trades from successful strategy providers. You can browse providers by performance statistics, set your risk parameters, and diversify across multiple providers. Unlike third-party copy trading, it's fully integrated into the platform.

What is cTrader Automate (cAlgo)?

cTrader Automate (formerly cAlgo) is cTrader's algorithmic trading environment. It uses C# programming language to create custom indicators and automated trading robots called cBots. C# gives access to the full .NET framework, making it more powerful than MT4's MQL4, though with a steeper learning curve.

Which broker has the best cTrader?

For 2026, Pepperstone and IC Markets offer the best cTrader experience. Both provide raw ECN spreads from 0.0 pips, fast execution, tier-1 regulation (FCA/ASIC), and full support for cTrader Copy and Automate features.

Can I use Expert Advisors (EAs) on cTrader?

cTrader uses cBots instead of EAs. While MT4 EAs won't work directly on cTrader, cBots serve the same purpose - automated trading. cBots are written in C# rather than MQL4. There are conversion services available, but it's generally better to find or create native cBots.

What is Level II pricing?

Level II pricing (Depth of Market or DOM) shows you the full order book - all the buy and sell orders at different price levels, not just the best bid/ask. This lets you see real liquidity, identify support/resistance levels, and understand market depth. cTrader displays this clearly in its DOM panel.

Can I use cTrader on Mac?

Yes, cTrader works on Mac through cTrader Web, which runs in any browser without installation. There's also a native Mac version available from some brokers. The web platform has nearly identical functionality to desktop.

Is cTrader good for scalping?

Yes, cTrader is excellent for scalping. The combination of Level II pricing, quick trade execution with one-click trading, 26 timeframes (including tick charts), and no dealing desk intervention makes it ideal for scalpers. The platform was specifically designed for fast-paced ECN trading.

Ready to Trade on cTrader?

Experience true ECN trading with raw spreads, Level II pricing, and built-in copy trading. cTrader is free to download and use.

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