Need an Expert Advisor, custom indicator, or utility script written for MetaTrader 5? At barmenteros FX, we have been writing production MQL5 code since MetaTrader 5 became commercially viable. MQL5 is a C++-based, object-oriented language — it rewards careful architecture and punishes shortcuts. Every project we deliver is built for the broker environment it will actually run in, not just for the Strategy Tester.
What You Get
- Fully compiled `.ex5` file ready for immediate MetaTrader 5 deployment
- Complete MQL5 source code with full ownership — no licensing restrictions, no obfuscation
- Written documentation: inputs, parameters, configuration, and broker compatibility notes
- Strategy Tester validation report for Expert Advisor projects (backtest + forward test where applicable)
- Post-delivery support covering bugs and adjustments within the original scope
What MQL5 Can Build
MQL5 is MetaTrader 5’s native programming language. It supports four distinct program types — each for a different purpose:
| Type | Purpose | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Expert Advisor (EA) | Automated trading robot — opens, manages, and closes positions | When you want a strategy executed automatically without manual intervention |
| Custom Indicator | Visual overlay calculating values beyond MT5’s built-in indicator set | When standard indicators do not match your analysis method |
| Script | One-time execution tool — runs on demand, then stops | When you need to automate a manual task: bulk order close, trade audit, data export |
| Library / Include File | Reusable function module shared across multiple programs | When the same calculation logic serves multiple EAs or indicators |
Most client projects are one of three things: a new EA from a trading strategy specification, a custom indicator replicating a manual analysis technique, or a module extending an existing system.
How It Works
- Submit Your Project: Describe the trading idea or technical requirement. For EA projects, include strategy rules, entry/exit conditions, and risk management parameters. The more specific the specification, the more accurate the quote.
- Fixed-Price Quote in 48h: We review the specification and respond with a fixed price. No hourly rates, no open-ended billing — you know the total cost before any work starts.
- Development and Testing: We write the MQL5 code, test in the MetaTrader 5 Strategy Tester, and iterate. You receive progress updates and can request adjustments before final delivery.
- Delivery and Support: You receive the `.ex5` compiled file, full MQL5 source code, and documentation. The 30-day support window covers bug fixes and adjustments within the original scope.
What Makes MQL5 Different From MQL4
The most consequential difference for production trading is the execution model.
MQL4 treats every trade as an independent order — you can hold five separate buy orders on EURUSD simultaneously, each with its own ticket. MQL5 on netting-mode accounts (the standard for institutional environments and most retail brokers outside of MetaQuotes demo accounts) aggregates all trades on the same symbol into a single position. An EA that manages individual orders by ticket number breaks immediately on a netting account.
Before writing a single line of order management code, we confirm whether your broker account runs in hedging mode (like MT4) or netting mode. This determines the entire execution architecture. It is the most common oversight in MT4-to-MT5 migrations — and the fastest way to turn a working strategy into a non-functional one.
MQL5 also provides a full object-oriented Standard Library — `CTrade`, `CPositionInfo`, `COrderInfo`, `CHistoryOrderInfo` — that handles execution details MT4 developers managed manually. Production-grade MQL5 code uses these classes. Raw order function equivalents exist in MQL5 but bypass the safety checks and error handling built into the Standard Library.
Pricing
| Project Type | Price Range | Entry Point |
|---|---|---|
| Custom Expert Advisor | $200–$2,500 | $200 |
| Custom Indicator | $150–$1,200 | $150 |
| Script / Utility | $150–$500 | $150 |
| MT4 to MT5 Migration | $300–$2,500 | $300 |
Fixed prices. No hourly billing. The quote covers complete delivery including source code, documentation, and post-delivery support.
Who This Is For
Good fit:
- Traders with a tested manual strategy they want automated in MetaTrader 5
- Traders whose broker offers MT5 and want to build on the current platform rather than maintain aging MT4 code
- Teams needing a reusable MQL5 library module to share logic across multiple EAs or indicators
- Traders migrating from MT4 who need a proper architectural rebuild, not a recompile — see MT4 to MT5 migration: what it actually involves
Not the best fit:
- Traders with no strategy — we implement your logic, not ours
- Budgets under $150 — the minimum viable scope for a production-quality MT5 indicator is $150; for an EA it is $200
- MT4-only brokers — if your broker does not support MetaTrader 5, there is no reason to develop for it
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between MQL4 and MQL5 programming?
MQL4 is the programming language for MetaTrader 4; MQL5 is the language for MetaTrader 5. The syntax is similar — both are C-family languages — but the execution model is fundamentally different. MQL4 uses an order-based model where each trade is an independent order with its own ticket. MQL5 uses a position-based model on netting-mode accounts: all trades on the same symbol aggregate into a single position. An EA that manages individual tickets in MQL4 cannot be ported to MQL5 without rewriting the order management layer. MQL5 also provides an object-oriented Standard Library (`CTrade`, `CPositionInfo`) that handles execution details MT4 developers managed manually.
Can you write MQL5 code for a strategy I have already traded manually?
Yes — that is the most common starting point. Send a description of your entry rules, exit conditions, and risk management parameters: position size, stop loss, take profit, and any time or session filters. The more precise your rules, the more the delivered EA will match your expectations. If parts of the strategy are ambiguous or discretionary, we flag them during the specification review and ask for clarification before writing code.
Does the delivered MQL5 code use the Standard Library (CTrade, CPositionInfo)?
Yes. All production EA code from barmenteros FX uses the MQL5 Standard Library. `CTrade` handles order execution with built-in error handling and retry logic. `CPositionInfo` and `COrderInfo` provide broker-compatible methods for reading position and order state. Using raw function equivalents in MQL5 bypasses these safety layers — something we avoid in production code that will run on live accounts.
How long does a typical MQL5 project take?
Simple indicators and scripts typically deliver in 3–5 business days. Standard EAs (single strategy, single instrument) deliver in 7–10 business days. Complex EAs (multi-symbol, multi-strategy, custom risk management layers) take 2–4 weeks depending on scope. These timelines assume a complete specification at project start. Unclear or changing requirements extend delivery.
What happens if there is a bug after delivery?
The 30-day support window covers bugs — code that does not behave as specified in the original project brief. If something does not match the agreed specification, we fix it at no charge within that window. Scope changes (new features, strategy modifications, additional instruments) fall outside the warranty and are quoted as separate projects. After 30 days, fixes and modifications are quoted at the standard rate for the scope involved.
Related Services
- Expert Advisor Programming — EA development for both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5
- MT5 Programmers — Platform-focused MT5 development and EA delivery service
- EA Debugging and Code Review — Structural audit of existing EAs before or after going live