The best trading journal for MT5 is one that pulls your MetaTrader 5 history in automatically with your read-only investor password, so you never export a report again. TradeReview, TradeZella and TradesViz all connect that way, with no Expert Advisor to install and nothing left running on your computer. Edgewonk syncs too, but through MT5’s FTP report publishing, so trades only arrive while the terminal is open. Myfxbook tracks MT5 accounts but is a statistics and verification site rather than a journal.
The difference shows up the first week you trade from your phone or a VPS. This page compares how each journal connects to MetaTrader 5, what you need to keep running, and what each costs. Prices come from each vendor’s pricing page, last checked in October 2026.
For the general roundup, read how to choose a trading journal. For forex-specific fields such as lots, pips and swap, see the forex trading journal.
Three ways a journal connects to MT5
Every MT5 journal uses one of three methods. Knowing which one you are buying saves a lot of support tickets.
- Server-side sync with an investor password. You give the journal your MT5 server, login and investor password. The journal logs in on its own servers and reads your history on a schedule. Nothing runs on your computer, and it keeps working when you trade from the MT5 phone app.
- FTP report publishing. MT5 can publish an account report to an FTP address at intervals. The journal reads those reports. It only works while your MT5 terminal is open, so trades placed on mobile wait until you next open the desktop.
- An Expert Advisor (EA) or script. A small program runs inside your terminal and sends each fill. It is fast, but again only while that terminal is running.
If none of those suits you, every journal also accepts a file: in MT5, open the History tab, right-click, choose Report, then HTML, and upload it. Switch the terminal language to English first: the importers we checked ask for an English report.
Investor password vs trading password
MT5 accounts have two passwords. The trading (master) password can place and close trades. The investor password can only view the account. A journal needs only the investor one. Never give any journal your trading password; if a journal asks for it, pick another journal. Your broker or prop firm usually sends the investor password with your login details; in MT5 it is often in the Mailbox tab.
MT5 trading journals compared
| Journal | MT5 auto sync | How it connects | Needs MT5 open? | Free plan | Paid from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TradeReview (our product) | Yes, on Pro | Investor password, server-side, hourly | No | Yes (manual + first file import) | $9.90/mo (sync on Pro, $19.90/mo) |
| TradeZella | Yes | Investor password, no FTP or EA | No | No | $35/mo |
| TradesViz | Yes | Investor password (server), EA, or FTP | No, with server sync | Stocks only | $19.99/mo |
| Edgewonk | Yes | FTP report publishing | Yes | No | $197/yr |
| Myfxbook | Yes | Server update, EA, or paid Live Update | Only with the EA | — | Live Update is paid |
The best trading journals for MT5
1. TradeReview: best for MT5 auto sync on a low budget
TradeReview is our product, so weigh this entry accordingly. MT5 Auto Sync is on the Pro plan ($19.90/mo or $199/yr) and works with any MetaTrader 5 broker. You enter the server, login and investor password; TradeReview imports your full history on first connect, then syncs every hour. Stocks, forex and crypto traded through MT5 are supported. Setup is in the MetaTrader 5 sync guide.
- Best for: forex and CFD traders who want MT5 history synced without paying TradeZella prices, and who want native iOS and Android apps.
- Free plan: manual logging and your first MT5 file import, no card. Basic ($9.90/mo) adds more file imports.
- Trade-off: hourly sync, not real time. No market replay, and it is not a prop-firm rule tracker.
Many brokers have their own setup page; browse them on supported brokers.
2. TradeZella: best for prop-firm traders on MT5
TradeZella connects to MT4 and MT5 with your investor password, with no FTP setup or Expert Advisor, and keeps HTML file upload as a fallback.
- Best for: prop-firm evaluation traders who want replay, backtesting and a big community.
- Free plan: none.
- Paid: Essential $35/mo, Pro $59/mo, Ultra $99/mo (checked 2 October 2026).
- Trade-off: the most expensive option here, and public reviews often mention bugs and sync issues.
3. TradesViz: most ways to connect MT5
TradesViz offers all three methods: FTP, a real-time EA, and server-side sync with your investor password that runs on its own MT5 servers, so no client has to stay open.
- Best for: stats-heavy MT5 traders who want hundreds of charts and real-time fills.
- Free plan: stocks only, so forex and CFD trades from MT5 need Pro.
- Paid: Pro $19.99/mo ($179/yr), Platinum $29.99/mo.
- Trade-off: a dense interface with a real learning curve.
4. Edgewonk: best for psychology, if you keep MT5 open
Edgewonk’s MetaTrader sync uses MT5’s FTP report publishing. It works with any MT4 or MT5 account, live, demo or funded, and new trades transfer each time you open the platform.
- Best for: discretionary forex traders whose edge is discipline and process.
- Free plan: none; 14-day money-back guarantee.
- Paid: $197 per year.
- Trade-off: trades placed from the MT5 phone app wait until the desktop terminal is open, and Edgewonk itself runs in the browser only.
5. Myfxbook: performance statistics, not a journal
Myfxbook is where many forex traders first connect MT5. It offers three connection methods: a server-side update every 2–4 hours, an EA that updates every five minutes while the platform is open, and a paid real-time Live Update.
- Best for: tracking and publicly verifying account performance.
- Trade-off: it is built for statistics and sharing results, not for notes, setups and a weekly review of your decisions.
How to pick an MT5 journal
- Trade from the phone or a VPS? Pick server-side sync (TradeReview, TradeZella, TradesViz). FTP and EA methods stall when the desktop terminal is closed.
- Several MT5 accounts or a prop-firm challenge? Check how many accounts each plan allows. Some cap accounts tightly on entry plans.
- Also trade stocks or futures elsewhere? Choose a multi-market journal so everything sits in one place, not an MT5-only tracker.
- Tight budget? Start with a free plan and a single HTML import to see whether you will actually review your trades before paying for sync.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a trading journal connect directly to MT5?
Yes. Journals such as TradeReview, TradeZella and TradesViz log in to your MT5 account on their own servers with your investor password and import your history automatically. Others use MT5’s FTP report publishing or an Expert Advisor, which only work while your terminal is open.
Is it safe to give a journal my MT5 investor password?
The investor password is read-only: it can view the account but cannot place, modify or close trades. That is why journals ask for it instead of the trading password. Never share the trading password, and disconnect the journal when you stop using it.
How do I export my MT5 trade history?
In the MT5 desktop terminal, open the History tab, right-click, choose Report and then HTML, and save the file. Upload that file to your journal. Switch the terminal to English first, since most importers expect an English report.
Does MT5 sync work with prop firms?
Usually, yes, as long as the firm gives you a normal MT5 login, server and investor password. Many prop firms on MT5 do. Check your firm’s dashboard for the investor password or ask its support.
Bottom line
If you trade on MetaTrader 5, the connection method matters more than the feature list. Pick a journal that syncs server-side with a read-only investor password so trades arrive even when you trade from your phone. TradeReview is the budget option with native mobile apps, TradeZella suits prop-firm traders in its community, TradesViz suits traders who want real-time fills and deep stats, and Edgewonk suits traders focused on psychology who keep MT5 open.
A journal is a record-keeping tool, not financial advice; it shows you what your trading is doing, not what to trade. You can start a free journal and import one MT5 report today.