# Broker Compatibility

> **BananaEA is designed to work seamlessly with major MetaTrader 4 brokers worldwide. This guide helps you choose the right broker and ensure optimal performance.**

**🔥 Latest Optimization Sets**: Download broker-specific optimization sets from <https://my.itradeaims.net/latest-optimization-sets/>

***

## 📋 Quick Navigation

* [What Makes a Broker Compatible?](#what-makes-a-broker-compatible-with-bananaea)
* [Broker Risk Classification](#broker-risk-classification)
* [Recommended Brokers](#recommended-brokers)
* [Prop Trading Platforms](#prop-trading-platforms-compatibility)
* [Safety Testing Protocol](#safety-testing-protocol)
* [Broker Specification Check](#how-to-check-your-broker)
* [Emergency Actions](#emergency-actions)

***

## 🎯 What Makes a Broker Compatible with BananaEA?

BananaEA works with **any MT4 broker**, but performance varies significantly based on:

### ✅ **Critical Compatibility Factors**

**1. Standard Contract Specifications**

* `MODE_LOTSIZE = 1.0` (standard for most pairs/indices)
* Accurate tick data for backtesting
* Consistent spread values during trading hours

**2. Symbol Naming Conventions**

* Standard symbols: `EURUSD`, `DE40`, `US30`, `GBPUSD`
* Custom suffixes supported: `EURUSD.r`, `DAX40.c`, `GER40`
* BananaEA v3.11.2+ includes **enhanced symbol recognition**

**3. Execution Quality**

* Low slippage on market/pending orders
* Reliable stop-loss/take-profit execution
* Minimal requotes during high volatility

**4. MT4 Platform Stability**

* Stable server connections during trading hours (08:00-20:00 CET)
* Clean historical data for Strategy Tester
* Professional API for EA communication

***

## ⚙️ BananaEA Version Requirements

### **Current Production: v3.11.2+**

**Enhanced Broker Compatibility Features**:

* ✅ **All compatibility issues resolved**: FTMO, CMC Markets, prop trading platforms
* ✅ **Enhanced Symbol Recognition**: Works with all broker symbol formats
* ✅ **Professional Interface**: Revolutionary AUTO/MANAGE toggle
* ✅ **Universal prop firm support**: FundedNext, FTMO, MyFundedFX, and more

**Recommended**: Always use **v3.11.2-Production** or later for optimal broker compatibility.

***

## 🎯 Broker Risk Classification

### 🟢 **FULLY COMPATIBLE - Recommended Brokers**

**✅ Top-Tier Retail Brokers** (Battle-Tested):

* ✅ **Pepperstone** - Our development broker since 2014 [*👉 Read full review*](https://itradeaims.gitbook.io/banana-ea/backtesting-and-optimization/broker-compatibility/pepperstone-broker-review)
  * Institutional-grade data quality
  * Razor-tight spreads (DAX: 9-10 points typical)
  * 11 years proven reliability with BananaEA
  * All 7,000+ optimization runs executed on Pepperstone servers
* ✅ **IC Markets** - Extensively tested, professional execution
  * Standard contract specifications
  * Reliable during high volatility
  * Global presence with multiple entities
* ✅ **OANDA** - Strong track record across all regions
  * Clean historical data for backtesting
  * Consistent spread pricing
  * Professional MT4 infrastructure
* ✅ **XM** - Popular choice for international traders
  * Good execution quality
  * Multiple account types supported
  * Reliable order management

**✅ Prop Trading Platforms** (v3.11.2+ Fully Compatible):

* ✅ **FTMO** - Complete compatibility (all login issues resolved)
* ✅ **MyFundedFX** - Thousands of successful users
* ✅ **City Traders Imperium** - Professional interface supported
* ✅ **The5%ers** - Enhanced symbol recognition active
* ✅ **E8 Markets** - Full compatibility confirmed
* ✅ **Apex Trading** - Standard specifications work perfectly

**What makes them "fully compatible":**

* Standard `MODE_LOTSIZE = 1.0` contract specifications
* Clean tick data for accurate backtesting
* Reliable execution during volatile market conditions
* Professional MT4 server infrastructure

***

## 🥇 Recommended Brokers

### **Our #1 Choice: Pepperstone** (No Affiliation)

**Why we've used Pepperstone exclusively since 2014:**

* 📊 **All BananaEA optimization reports** run on Pepperstone UK Edge10
* 💰 **€83,247 YTD backtest performance** achieved on their data
* 🎯 **7,064,083 ticks modeled** in our 2025 comprehensive analytics
* ⚡ **58.26% modeling quality** consistently maintained
* 🔒 **Zero broker-related failures** across 11 years of development

[**👉 Read Full Pepperstone Review (Unbiased)**](https://itradeaims.gitbook.io/banana-ea/backtesting-and-optimization/broker-compatibility/pepperstone-broker-review)

### **Strong Alternatives**

**IC Markets** - Second choice for global traders **OANDA** - Excellent for US-based accounts\
**XM** - Good for beginners with smaller accounts

***

## 🏆 Prop Trading Platforms Compatibility

**BananaEA v3.11.2+ is fully compatible with all major prop trading platforms.**

### **Verified Prop Firms** (Zero Issues)

**✅ FTMO** - Most popular funded trader program

* All login/connection issues resolved in v3.11.2+
* Enhanced symbol recognition works flawlessly
* Thousands of successful users worldwide

**✅ MyFundedFX** - Rapidly growing platform

* Extensively tested with BananaEA
* Standard contract specifications
* Excellent execution quality

**✅ City Traders Imperium, The5%ers, E8 Markets, TopstepTrader**

* All fully compatible with v3.11.2+
* Professional interface supported
* Standard EA functionality works perfectly

### **Special Configuration Notes**

**⚠️ FundedNext** - Requires attention

* **CRITICAL**: Uses `MODE_LOTSIZE = 10.0` (10x standard)
* Requires v3.11.2+ with enhanced broker compatibility
* **Test extensively on demo before live trading**

### **Prop Firm Best Practices**

1. **Always test on demo first** - Verify EA behavior matches expectations
2. **Start with micro lots** - Use 0.01 lot size for first 5-10 trades
3. **Monitor risk calculations** - Ensure position sizes match your risk settings
4. **Check contract specifications** - Verify `MODE_LOTSIZE = 1.0` (or 10.0 for FundedNext)

***

### 🟡 **MEDIUM RISK - Test Before Trading**

**Regional/Smaller Brokers**:

* **Verify contract specifications** before live trading
* **Test with micro lots** (0.01) for first 5 trades
* **Enable debug logging** to monitor calculations
* **Check MODE\_LOTSIZE value** in broker specifications

### 🔴 **HIGH RISK - Special Attention Required**

**Prop Firms with Modified Specifications**:

⚠️ **FundedNext**:

* **CRITICAL**: Uses contract size = 10.0 (10x standard)
* **RECOMMENDED v3.11.2-Production+** - includes all latest improvements and bug fixes
* **Status**: Now compatible with latest version
* **Required**: Test extensively on demo first

⚠️ **Similar Prop Firms**:

* Any broker with `MODE_LOTSIZE > 1.0`
* Special contract configurations
* Modified tick specifications

***

## 🛡️ Safety Testing Protocol

### **Before Trading with ANY Broker**:

#### **Step 1: Version Check**

```
✅ Verify BananaEA is latest production version
✅ Check compilation date is October 3, 2025 or later
```

#### **Step 2: Demo Testing**

```
✅ Test on demo account with identical broker conditions
✅ Start with 0.01 lot size trades
✅ Enable ShowDebugLogs = true
✅ Monitor at least 5 trades
```

#### **Step 3: Calculation Verification**

```
✅ Check risk amounts match your expectations
✅ Verify position sizes are appropriate
✅ Monitor Expert tab for calculation warnings
```

#### **Step 4: Live Trading Transition**

```
✅ Start with micro lots (0.01) for first week
✅ Gradually increase to normal lot sizes
✅ Monitor daily for unexpected position sizes
```

***

## 🔍 How to Check Your Broker

### **Method 1: Expert Tab Monitoring**

Enable debug logging and check for these values:

```
[BROKER] Contract Size: 1.0 ← Should be 1.0 for most brokers
[BROKER] Tick Size: 0.0001 ← Standard for EUR/USD
[BROKER] Tick Value: $1.00 ← Standard for USD account
```

### **Method 2: Manual MarketInfo Check**

Add this code to EA or script:

```mq4
Print("Contract Size: ", MarketInfo(Symbol(), MODE_LOTSIZE));
Print("Tick Size: ", MarketInfo(Symbol(), MODE_TICKSIZE));
Print("Tick Value: ", MarketInfo(Symbol(), MODE_TICKVALUE));
```

### **Warning Signs**:

* Contract Size > 1.0 (especially 10.0)
* Unusual tick sizes for standard pairs
* Positions larger than expected
* Risk calculations seem wrong

***

## 🚨 Emergency Actions

### **If You've Been Trading with Older Version**:

1. **Stop Trading Immediately**
2. **Check Recent Trades**:
   * Were positions larger than expected?
   * Did risk seem higher than settings?
   * Any unusual losses?
3. **Update to v3.11.2-Production+**
4. **Test on Demo** before resuming
5. **Contact Support** if you experienced losses due to this bug

### **If Positions Are Too Large**:

1. **Close All Positions Manually**
2. **Update EA Version**
3. **Test with Micro Lots**
4. **Verify Calculations**

***

## 📞 Support & Reporting

### **Report Broker Issues**:

* **Email**: Include broker name, account type, and MarketInfo values
* **Logs**: Attach Expert tab logs with debug enabled
* **Screenshots**: Show position sizes and risk calculations

### **New Broker Validation**:

We're actively testing more brokers. Contact support to add your broker to our compatibility list.

***

## ✅ Verified Broker List

### **Fully Tested & Compatible (v3.11.2-Production+)**:

| Broker      | Account Type | Status                      | Notes                        |
| ----------- | ------------ | --------------------------- | ---------------------------- |
| FTMO        | Prop Trading | ✅ Verified                  | Thousands of users           |
| IC Markets  | Standard     | ✅ Verified                  | All account types            |
| FundedNext  | Prop Trading | ✅ Fixed v3.11.2-Production+ | Includes latest improvements |
| OANDA       | Standard     | ✅ Verified                  | All regions                  |
| Pepperstone | Standard     | ✅ Verified                  | Standard specs               |

### **Testing in Progress**:

* Apex Trading
* MyForexFunds
* The5ers
* TopStep

**Your broker not listed?** Contact support for compatibility testing.

***

## 🔮 Future Safety Measures

### **Future Features (v3.11.2-Production+)**:

* **Automatic broker detection** and warning system
* **Built-in compatibility database** for known brokers
* **Real-time risk validation** with automatic position size limits
* **Enhanced debug logging** for easier troubleshooting

**Stay Safe**: Always update to the latest version and test thoroughly before live trading.