You open a Trade245 demo account from the Trade245 client portal, then trade it on MetaTrader 5 with virtual money, so you can practise without risking a cent. MT4 is no longer offered, so every Trade245 demo runs on MT5: desktop, WebTrader or the iOS and Android apps.
This guide shows how to set up the demo, log in to MT5, what to practise and how to move to a live account when you are ready. For our full assessment of the broker, read the Trade245 review.
Comparing Trade245 with FSCA-regulated brokers? These brokers hold South African authorisation:
- XM review: FSCA FSP 49976, MT4 and MT5
- Trade Nation review: FSCA FSP 49846, fixed spreads and zero commission
- HFM review: FSCA FSP 46632, MT4 and MT5
How to open a Trade245 demo account
- Create a client portal profile. Go to trade245.com and click Register. Enter your name, email, mobile number and country (South Africa).
- Log in to the portal at my.trade245.com.
- Open a demo trading account. Choose the demo option, select MT5 and pick your base currency (ZAR or USD).
- Save your login details. Note the MT5 account number, password and server name shown in the portal or sent by email.
- Install MT5 or open WebTrader and log in with those details.
As at October 2026, Trade245’s redesigned public website does not describe its demo account; the option sits inside the client portal. If you cannot see it, ask support on live chat, which runs 24 hours a day, 6 days a week.
How to log in to your demo on MT5
Desktop (Windows or macOS)
Open MT5, go to File and choose Login to Trade Account. Enter your demo account number and password, select the demo server named in your portal, and click OK. A connection bar at the bottom right shows when you are live on the server.
Mobile (iOS or Android)
Install MetaTrader 5 from the App Store or Google Play. Tap Settings, then New account, search for Trade245 (or type the server name from your portal), choose the demo server and log in with your account number and password.
WebTrader
If you prefer not to install anything, Trade245 offers MT5 WebTrader in your browser. Log in with the same demo details.
What to practise on the demo
A demo is most useful when you treat it like real money. Use it to get these right before you fund an account (our guide to forex demo accounts covers the basics):
- Position sizing. Trade245’s minimum trade is 0.01 lots. Learn how a lot size translates into rand per pip on the pairs you trade.
- Stop-losses and take-profits. Set them on every trade, including pending orders.
- Margin. On the standard accounts, Trade245 issues a margin call at 50% margin level and stops you out at 30%. Watch your margin level in the MT5 Trade tab as positions move.
- Spreads at your trading hours. Note how wide spreads get around news and at the daily rollover.
- MT5 tools. Try the economic calendar, market depth and one-click trading before you need them live.
Demo vs live: what changes
A demo uses the same MT5 platform but not the same experience. Live orders can fill at a different price during fast markets, swaps apply to positions held overnight, and spreads depend on your account: from 2 pips on No Bonus, Bonus 300 and Weekly Cashback, and from 0.0 pips on the R5,000 VIP account. The biggest change is emotional. Losing real money feels different, so start small when you switch.
Moving from demo to a live account
When your demo results are consistent, open a real account. Our Trade245 registration guide walks through each step, and the Trade245 minimum deposit guide explains what each account needs, from R100. Verify your account before you fund it, and test a small withdrawal early: Trade245 says withdrawals are processed within hours, but user reviews on Forex Peace Army and WikiFX report delays and repeated document requests.
FAQs
Is the Trade245 demo account free?
Yes. A demo trades with virtual funds and needs no deposit.
Does Trade245 offer an MT4 demo account?
No. Trade245 is MetaTrader 5 only, so its demo accounts run on MT5.
Does the Trade245 demo account expire?
Trade245 does not publish a demo expiry period on its current website. If a demo stops connecting, check the portal or ask support on live chat.
Can I use the Trade245 demo on my phone?
Yes. Install MetaTrader 5 from the App Store or Google Play and log in with your demo account number, password and server.
Trading CFDs is high risk. Leverage can magnify losses, and you may lose your deposit. Only trade with money you can afford to lose.
FSCA-regulated alternatives to Trade245
Trade245 operates through Red Pine Capital (Pty) Ltd (FSP 46044), with RocketX (Pty) Ltd (FSP 52142) as the counterparty to your CFDs. If you want to compare it with other brokers that hold South African authorisation, start with these reviews:
- XM review: FSCA FSP 49976, MT4 and MT5
- Trade Nation review: FSCA FSP 49846, fixed spreads and zero commission
- HFM review: FSCA FSP 46632, MT4 and MT5
