An Expert Advisor only works while MetaTrader is running and connected. A Virtual Private Server keeps it online 24/5. Here is what a VPS solves and what it doesn't.
An Expert Advisor is only as reliable as the computer it runs on. If your laptop sleeps, Windows restarts for an update, or your internet drops, the EA stops managing trades - including trades that are open without a stop loss.
What a VPS is
A Virtual Private Server is a remote Windows machine in a data centre. You connect to it with Remote Desktop, install MetaTrader 5, attach your EAs and disconnect. The terminal keeps running even when your own computer is off.
What it solves
- Uptime. Data centres have redundant power and network. Your home connection does not.
- Latency. A VPS close to your broker's servers can cut order round-trip time from 150-300 ms to a few milliseconds. For scalping and news strategies this changes fills.
- Separation. Your trading machine is not also your browsing, gaming and downloading machine.
- Access from anywhere. You can check terminals from a phone through Remote Desktop or a web dashboard.
What it does not solve
- A bad strategy is still a bad strategy.
- Windows updates can still restart the server. Schedule updates or plan for an automatic restart of MetaTrader.
- MetaTrader itself can freeze or lose connection. You still need monitoring.
- Security is your job: strong passwords, restricted Remote Desktop access and two-factor authentication on anything web-facing.
Choosing a VPS
- Location: close to your broker's trade server (often London, New York or Amsterdam for forex brokers).
- Memory: each MT5 terminal uses roughly 150-400 MB depending on charts and symbols. A 2 GB server can run a few terminals; more accounts need more RAM.
- CPU: EAs are light, but optimisation and many terminals need more cores.
- Disk: SSD, with room for tick history and logs.
- Provider: cloud providers (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) or forex-specific VPS hosts. Some brokers offer a free VPS above a certain balance.
Running several accounts on one VPS
Install one portable MetaTrader 5 copy per account, each in its own folder, so they do not share settings or logs. Then add:
- automatic restart if a terminal closes,
- an alert if an account disconnects or stops trading for longer than expected,
- a simple dashboard showing balance, equity, open positions and EA status for every account.
Bottom line
If an EA trades real money, it should live on a VPS with monitoring. The cost is small compared with one missed stop or one weekend gap with no EA watching.
Trading forex and gold carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for every investor. Past performance and backtests do not guarantee future results. This article is education, not financial advice.