Do You Need a VPS for TradingView to MT5?

Last updated 4 November 2026 · By the TradingView Link team

Short answer

Only if your computer can't stay on. TradingView runs alerts on its own servers, so it doesn't need your PC, but MT5 does: the terminal and the Expert Advisor (EA) have to be open and logged in for an order to be placed. A home PC works if it stays on. If it can't, a small Windows VPS costs about $17 to $40 a month.

What has to stay running?

Which parts of a TradingView to MT5 setup need your PC
Part	Where it runs	Needs your PC on?
The TradingView alert	TradingView's servers	No
TradingView Link's webhook	Our servers	No
MT4 or MT5, with the EA on a chart	Your PC or VPS	Yes
Stops and targets already on a trade	Your broker's servers	No

So the one thing a VPS does is keep the terminal and EA running. You can close your TradingView chart and browser either way.

Should you use a home PC or a VPS?

A home PC is enough if:

You're testing on a demo account.
It's a desktop that can stay on, with sleep mode and automatic restarts turned off.
You trade in hours when you're around to notice a problem.

A VPS is worth paying for if:

You use a laptop, or your power or internet drops now and then.
Your strategy trades overnight or while you're away.
A missed exit would cost you more than the monthly fee.

What happens if MT5 is off when an alert fires?

New orders wait or get missed. After a short disconnection, the EA can still place alerts that arrived while it was offline, as long as they're within its order-recovery timeout. Our documentation explains the setting.
Stops and targets keep working. They sit on the order at your broker, so they don't need your PC.
Trailing stops pause. The EA moves them, so they only follow the price while it's running.

How much does a VPS cost?

These are the smallest suitable plans we found on 4 November 2026. Any Windows VPS works, so this isn't a complete list.

Windows VPS plans for running MT5, checked 4 November 2026
Host and plan	Price	Notes
ForexVPS Core	£30 a month, or £21.60 billed yearly	1 to 2 platforms, 4 GB memory
NYCServers Basic	$20.83 a month, or $16.67 billed yearly	1 to 2 trading accounts
QuantVPS Starter	$29.99 a month	Aimed mostly at futures traders, and lists MT4 and MT5

ForexVPS showed us its prices in pounds, and the others in dollars. Disclosure: the ForexVPS link is an affiliate link, so we may earn a commission if you buy through it. We earn nothing from the other two.

Some bridges include hosting in their price, so add a VPS to our price when you compare. This comparison shows which bridges include it.

Does MetaQuotes' built-in VPS work?

Not for TradingView Link. MetaTrader offers its own virtual hosting, from $10 to $15 a month, and for many EAs it's the cheapest option. But MetaTrader's help says "DLL calls are completely forbidden in the virtual platform", and our EA uses a Windows network library (a DLL) for its live connection. Use a regular Windows VPS, where you control the terminal's settings.

Does a VPS make trades faster?

Only a little. Your bridge plan sets most of the delay:

TradingView Link speed by plan
Plan	Speed
Free	~20 seconds
Basic	~3 seconds
Standard	~1 second
Pro	Sub-second

A VPS near your broker's server only shortens the last step, from the EA to the broker. That matters most on the Pro plan and for short-term strategies. When a host advertises sub-millisecond speed, it means that last step, not the whole path from TradingView.

How do you set up MT5 on a VPS?

Rent a Windows VPS, ideally in a location close to your broker's server.
Connect with Remote Desktop, then install your broker's MT5 and log in.
Install the EA, allow WebRequest and DLL imports, and attach the EA to one chart, as in the MT5 guide. On MT4, follow the MT4 guide.
Turn on Algo Trading and send a test alert on a demo account.
Close the Remote Desktop window, but don't sign out or shut down, so MT5 keeps running.
Add MT5 to the Windows Startup folder, so it reopens if the VPS restarts.
Remove the EA from your home PC, so you don't have two copies running on one webhook.

Can you run it on a Mac, on Linux or on a phone?

Mac and Linux: MetaQuotes offers installers that run the terminal through Wine. We haven't tested our EA that way, so try it on a demo account, or use a Windows VPS and connect from your Mac.
Phones: the MT4 and MT5 apps don't run Expert Advisors, so a phone alone isn't enough. It's fine for watching your trades.

Test it before you rent anything

Run the full path on your own PC with a demo account. The free plan includes 5 alerts a month, and you can add a VPS when you go live.

Start free → Compare plans

Frequently asked questions

Can I turn my PC off after setting the alert?

Not if that PC runs MT4 or MT5. TradingView keeps firing alerts, but no order is placed while the terminal and EA are off. After a short disconnection, the EA can still place alerts within its order-recovery timeout.

Do I need TradingView open on the VPS?

No. Alerts run on TradingView's servers, so the VPS only needs MT4 or MT5 with the EA on one chart.

Can I use MetaQuotes' built-in VPS with TradingView Link?

No. MetaQuotes says DLL calls are completely forbidden on its virtual hosting, and our EA uses a Windows network library for its live connection. Use a regular Windows VPS instead.

How much memory does the VPS need?

One terminal with the EA on one chart is a light job. ForexVPS rates its 4 GB plan for 1 to 2 platforms, so start with the smallest plan and move up only if you add terminals.

Can my broker give me a free VPS?

Some brokers offer one if you meet a deposit or trading-volume requirement, so ask yours. Check that it runs Windows and lets you install your own EA.

Can I run the EA on my phone?

No. The MT4 and MT5 phone apps don't run Expert Advisors. You can watch and manage trades from your phone while the EA runs on a PC or VPS.

Can I use a VPS for a prop-firm account?

Check your firm's rules first, because some limit EAs and copied trades. Our prop-firm page links to the rules at FTMO, FundedNext and The5ers.

More on those rules: prop-firm EA rules at FTMO, FundedNext and The5ers.

Sources

MetaTrader 5 help: virtual hosting and migration (DLL calls)
MQL5 VPS plans
MetaTrader 5 help: installing on a Mac
TradingView: about webhooks
VPS prices from each host's own site, linked in the table above