Traders Proxy or a VPN for trading
The short answer
Traders Proxy covers only your trading platform, and works with any platform that has a proxy setting. Your broker sees one steady address, shared with other Traders Proxy customers. For privacy on public Wi-Fi, a VPN is the right tool.
Verdict. VPN or proxy for trading, your whole device, or one app
A VPN covers every app on your device, and suits a network you don’t trust. Traders Proxy covers only your trading platform, and gives your broker one steady, shared address.
What is the difference? Traders Proxy covers one app. A VPN covers your whole device.
Traders Proxy works with any trading platform that has a proxy setting, such as MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), TradingView Desktop and Optuma. Only that platform uses it, so your browser, calls and downloads stay on your normal internet. Phone apps generally have no proxy setting.
Use the platform’s own proxy setting. MT4 setup, MT5 setup and the other platform guides show where. A proxy set for your whole computer sends more than your platform through us, and that uses your plan’s data.
Each platform’s maker decides which of its connections use that setting. The comparison below is for the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 desktop terminals.
A VPN routes your whole computer through one general tunnel. Traders Proxy connects only your trading app, puts the port your platform uses first when a server is busy, and drops WebRTC leak ports before a connection opens. Nagle’s algorithm is off so small order packets leave at once.
How do they compare, and why does each difference matter?
Each row below ends with what the difference means for your trading.
| What differs | Traders Proxy | A VPN | Why it matters to you |
|---|---|---|---|
| What goes through it | Only the terminal you set up. | All your device’s internet traffic. | With us, your plan’s data goes on trading, and the rest of your computer is unchanged. |
| Encryption it adds | None. Your platform’s own encryption stays intact. | Encryption between your device and the VPN’s server. | On Wi-Fi you don’t trust, only a VPN protects your other apps. |
| The address your broker sees | Our server’s, shared only by Traders Proxy customers. | The VPN server’s, usually shared among many customers. | Either way your broker sees a shared address, so check its terms. |
| How steady that address is | One steady address. It changes if you change your broker’s city or we replace a server. | We haven’t tested any VPN. Ask the service whether yours stays the same. | An address that keeps changing shows your broker a new one each session. |
| Data lost near your broker | Recovered locally inside your broker’s city, once you pick that city in your dashboard. | Sent again from your computer, across the whole distance to your broker. | That wait can delay an order or trigger a disconnect in a busy moment. With us, recovery covers a short distance. |
The VPN column describes how VPNs commonly work. Yours may differ, so check its own documentation.
Our plans and prices are on the pricing page.
What does our server do that a VPN does not? It recovers dropped broker packets in that city.
When the internet loses a piece of data, everything behind it waits for it to be sent again. Distance makes the wait longer. The internet’s own standard says how that wait is worked out.
A VPN passes your platform’s data along as it is. So a lost piece is sent again from your computer, all the way to your broker.
Our server opens its own connection to your broker. Any packet lost on that leg is recovered inside your broker’s city, not from home. Dead sockets are also cleared so your platform can reconnect.
This helps only on the connection between our server and your broker. It also needs your broker’s city set in your dashboard, from our server cities. We don’t promise lower ping. Distance sets the minimum.
How can I check it myself? Time it, so the numbers are yours.
In a busy session, time how long your terminal takes to connect and show live prices, without us and then with us. Our connection check has a stopwatch. No test you run by hand can time an order.
Timing it without us needs no account, while timing it with us needs a plan. If the times match, stop renewal in your dashboard before your renewal date. You keep access for the period you paid for.
If your platform can’t connect through us and support can’t fix it, we refund your first payment within 7 days on a monthly plan, or 14 days on a yearly plan or Founder 50. This doesn’t affect your rights under the Australian Consumer Law. Read how refunds work for the full terms.
Do both give my broker a shared address? Usually, so check its terms either way.
Most VPN services share each address among many customers. Ours is always shared, and never private. So your broker’s rules on shared addresses apply whichever you pick.
Do trading firms and brokers allow a VPN or a proxy? It depends, so read their rules.
It depends on the firm. Traders Proxy is not a way round any rule, and it doesn’t change where you are.
| Firm | What its help page says | What it means for a proxy |
|---|---|---|
| FTMO | VPN and VPS use is generally allowed. The exception that page names is the United States. Avoid logging in from there, or setting your location there. | It doesn’t mention proxies, so ask FTMO first. Its United States rule is about where you are, and a server elsewhere doesn’t change that. Treat it as covering a United States server too. Check the broker’s city in your dashboard before you connect. |
| Topstep | VPNs and proxy services are not permitted. | A rule like this covers Traders Proxy. Don’t use it on that account. |
We have no link with either firm, and rules change. Topstep is here as an example of a rule that names proxies.
Warning. Check your own terms first
A rule written about VPNs can cover proxies too, and brokers set their own terms. If your broker prohibits proxies, don’t use one. Treat a firm’s VPN ban the same way.
When is a VPN the right tool? When you need every app covered.
- You want everything on your device encrypted on a network you don’t trust, such as public Wi-Fi.
- You want voice or video calls covered. They don’t go through Traders Proxy.
- You want one tool for every app on your device.
Frequently asked questions
Is a proxy better than a VPN for trading?
They do different jobs. A proxy covers one app’s connection and adds no encryption. Traders Proxy uses the proxy type your platform offers. See proxy types for trading.
Does a VPN work with MT4 or MT5?
It should. A VPN covers all your device’s internet traffic, your terminal included. Whether your broker or firm allows it is a separate question, so check their terms.
Does a VPN add delay on MT4 or MT5?
We can’t say, because we haven’t measured any VPN. Through us, we don’t promise lower ping, as distance sets the minimum. We recover broker-side packet loss locally in your broker’s city and clear dead connections so your platform can reconnect.
Does Traders Proxy protect me on public Wi-Fi?
No. It adds no encryption of its own, so use a VPN on a network you don’t trust. Whatever encryption your platform uses stays intact, and we never decrypt it.
Can I run a VPN and Traders Proxy together?
Yes, but your terminal then reaches our server through the VPN first. If your VPN can leave one app out, leave the terminal out.
Field reports · Verified forum threads
Real forum reports, what our system does, and where it stops.
Every quote below links to the forum thread or vendor guide where it appeared. Underneath each quote, see which parts of our system work together on it and where our server stops.
A full-tunnel VPN conflicts with MetaTrader or drops
“Since 2 days, all my metatraders 4 (macos, ios and windows 11) stop to connect to trading accounts unless I deactivate my ExpressVPN. I have been working with MT4 + ExpressVPN seamlessly during 3 years and since 2 days it just does not work anymore.”
How local trading avoids it. Only the trading app you set up uses Traders Proxy. Everything else stays on your normal internet.
- Only the app you set up is routedPrimary
Where it stops. A system-wide or browser proxy routes more. If you keep a full VPN switched on as well, we haven't tested the two together.
A system-wide consumer VPN freezes or crashes cTrader Desktop
“I switching my VPN from "Automatic (Recommended)" to "Wireguard" and it seams freezing problem been fixed.”
How local trading avoids it. Only the trading app you set up uses Traders Proxy. Everything else stays on your normal internet.
- Only the app you set up is routedPrimary
- Built-in
HTTPproxy loginSupporting
Where it stops. It is not a VPN. A VPN or system-wide proxy running on top of it routes more apps, and cTrader on Windows accepts HTTP only.
A firewall, router or ISP drops the platform's broker connection but lets ordinary web traffic through
“General ports like 443 work fine, but the specific broker ports (e.g., 1950 for RoboForex) fail to connect, while other random ports respond correctly.”
How our system handles it. Your platform connects to our server through its built-in SOCKS5 or HTTP proxy setting, and our server opens the broker connection from inside the datacenter.
- Built-in
SOCKS5loginPrimary - Own separate connection to your brokerPrimary
- Unanswered broker server gives up fast and reportsSupporting
Where it stops. Works only if your network still lets you reach our server. We cannot repair a faulty home router or an ISP outage.
A firewall, router or ISP drops the platform's broker connection but lets ordinary web traffic through
“The MT5 trading server mt5.metaquotes.net runs on port 1950. We have closed all the "left" ports at our company, including port 1950.”
How our system handles it. Your platform connects to our server through its built-in SOCKS5 or HTTP proxy setting, and our server opens the broker connection from inside the datacenter.
- Built-in
SOCKS5loginPrimary - Own separate connection to your brokerPrimary
- Unanswered broker server gives up fast and reportsSupporting
Where it stops. Works only if your network still lets you reach our server. We cannot repair a faulty home router or an ISP outage.
Sources
- EFF, choosing the right VPNChecked
- Cloudflare, how a VPN works and shared IP addressesChecked
- WireGuard, how a VPN worksChecked
- Internet standard for lost dataChecked
- MetaQuotes, MT4 server settingsChecked
- MetaQuotes, MT5 server settingsChecked
- MetaQuotes, MT4 for AndroidChecked
- MetaQuotes, MT5 Android settingsChecked
- FTMO FAQ on VPN and VPSChecked
- Topstep, prohibited conduct rulesChecked