Platform setup
Choose MetaTrader 5 or cTrader, follow the correct connection workflow for that platform, and verify a broker account before sending live alerts.
Last updated: 2026-10-01
PineHook can send the same TradingView alerts to MetaTrader 5 and cTrader. The connection steps differ because MT5 runs PineHook inside your terminal, while cTrader connects through your cTrader ID.
Choose your platform#
| Platform | How PineHook connects | What you need | Setup guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 5 | The PineHook Expert Advisor runs in your MT5 terminal. | MT5 on Windows and the PineHook EA bundle | Connect MetaTrader 5 |
| cTrader | PineHook connects to an account that you authorize through cTrader. | A cTrader ID with access to the broker account | Connect cTrader |
Nothing to install for cTrader
cTrader users do not download an EA, run a terminal on a VPS, enter an API key, or give PineHook a broker password. You approve account access on cTrader's own authorization page.
Steps for either platform#
Whichever platform you choose, you will need to:
- Create a PineHook license for the destination platform.
- Connect one broker account to that license.
- Check the broker's symbol names and volume rules, then adjust the per-license symbol mapping and lot size conversion if needed.
- Create a TradingView webhook alert with the license key.
- Send a small test trade on a demo account and confirm it in Signal Logs and at the broker.
The documented Default Mode commands use the same alert syntax on both platforms. Broker rules and account mode can still affect how an order behaves. The command reference calls out those cases.
How licenses are assigned#
To copy one alert to multiple accounts, connect a license for each destination and add them to a copier.
An MT5 license connects to one running MT5 account. A cTrader license is assigned to one cTrader broker account. If you copy one strategy to several accounts, create a license for each destination and add those licenses to a Trade Copier.