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VPS for MetaTrader 4 and 5: how to choose a server for trading
An Expert Advisor in MetaTrader works only while the terminal is open. A home computer is poorly suited to this: a reboot after an update, a power or internet outage — and the robot misses a trade or fails to close a position. A Forex VPS solves the problem: the terminal runs around the clock in a data centre, and you connect to it via remote desktop from any device.
Ping to the broker's trading server
The key parameter is latency not to you but to the broker's trading server. Ping affects execution: the longer an order takes to arrive, the further the price can move in the meantime. For scalping and high-frequency EAs this is noticeable; for position trading, hardly at all.
Most brokers' trading servers sit in a handful of financial data centres: in London, New York, Amsterdam and Frankfurt. That's why the table above shows Windows servers in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and the USA by default. How to find your location:
- Ask the broker's support where the server for your account is physically located.
- Open the server list in the terminal — MetaTrader shows the ping to each of them.
- Rent a VPS in the same city and compare the ping: within one city it's usually under 1–2 ms, between London and New York about 70 ms.
There are separate selections for London and New York servers: Forex VPS in London and in New York.
How many resources the terminals need
Windows Server itself takes 1.5–2 GB of memory. One MT4 terminal with several charts uses 150–300 MB, MT5 usually more, and with a long quote history and heavy indicators up to a gigabyte.
- 2 GB RAM, 1–2 cores — one or two terminals with simple EAs.
- 4 GB, 2 cores — up to five terminals, the usual choice for several accounts.
- 8 GB or more — many accounts, the strategy tester and optimisation right on the server.
It's best to take an SSD or NVMe disk with room to spare: MT5's tick history takes gigabytes. Other Windows configurations are collected in the Windows VPS section.
Uptime and setup
- Look at the host's stated availability and at how it carries out scheduled maintenance.
- Move Windows update installation to the weekend, when the market is closed; otherwise the server will reboot mid-week.
- Add the terminals to startup so they come back up on their own after a reboot.
- Set a strong RDP password, restrict login by IP and enable two-factor authentication in your broker account.
Payment
Hosts with servers in London or New York differ in which payment methods they accept: cards are common, and many also take cryptocurrency. We show the payment methods for each plan and convert prices into your currency, so the right option is easy to find with sorting and filters.