Prop firms keep shifting off MetaTrader to TradeLocker and Match-Trader
Since MetaQuotes' 2024 restrictions on prop firms, the industry has been diversifying away from MT4/MT5 toward web-first platforms like TradeLocker and Match-Trader. TradeLocker, launched in 2023, now lists 60+ partner brokers and prop firms.
What’s changed
In February 2024, MetaQuotes (maker of MT4/MT5) restricted a wave of prop firms — and the industry responded by diversifying its platforms. Web-first options like TradeLocker (launched 2023, now with 60+ partner brokers and prop firms) and Match-Trader have picked up the slack, alongside cTrader and DXtrade. US-based Top Tier Trader, for example, migrated fully off MetaTrader.
Why it matters for traders
Platform choice is no longer an afterthought. The newer platforms offer native TradingView charting, cleaner mobile apps, and built-in risk tooling — but it also means the firm you pick may not run the MT4/MT5 you’re used to. Several firms in our directory already run these: Alpha Capital Group, FunderPro, BrightFunded and AquaFunded all use TradeLocker and/or Match-Trader. Check the platform before you buy — it’s now a real differentiator.
Prop-firm terms change often — always confirm the current details on the firm's official site before you buy.