In trading, trends are your friend—just as long as you know how to catch them early and ride them out. Whether you are trading your own funds or are on a prop firm trading plan, identifying solid trends and trading them smartly can be the difference between profitable success and frustrating losses.
The MetaTrader 5 platform (MT5) offers a wide variety of built-in indicators, plus support for thousands of custom tools. But not all indicators are created equal—especially when it comes to trend trading. In this article, we’ll explore the best MetaTrader 5 indicators trend traders should use in 2025 and how to apply them effectively to your strategy.
1. Moving Average (MA) – The Classic Trend Filter
If you have to employ a single trend indicator on MetaTrader 5, use the Moving Average. It’s one of the most elementary and ubiquitous tools for establishing the direction of the market.
Best practices:
Use a 50-period or 200-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) to determine long-term trend direction.
Use shorter EMAs (9, 21) for trend entries or exits in faster-speed markets.
Use two moving averages (e.g., 21 EMA and 50 EMA) as a crossover approach.
In MT5:
It’s in Insert > Indicators > Trend > Moving Average. It’s customizable too, and you can switch the period, method (SMA, EMA, etc.), and color.
2. Average Directional Index (ADX) – Trend Strength Measurement
It’s simple to look at a trend—it’s a different story entirely to know if it’s powerful enough to trade. That’s where the ADX indicator is useful. This bullish indicator tells you the power of a trend without looking at its direction whatsoever.
How it works:
An ADX reading over 25 shows a strong trend is in place.
An ADX reading under 20 generally shows a range-bound market.
It’s most commonly used as part of other indicators to confirm entries.
On the MetaTrader 5 terminal, it’s found at Indicators > Trend > Average Directional Movement Index.
Pro tip:
Use ADX as a trend filter—only enter trades when the ADX confirms the trend is good enough to trade.
3. Ichimoku Kinko Hyo – All-in-One Trend Indicator
Ichimoku can seem intimidating at first, but to trend traders like us, it’s one of the most complete tools available in MetaTrader 5. It combines trend direction, momentum, and support/resistance into a single graphic.
Key components:
Kumo Cloud – shows trend direction and strength.
Tenkan-Sen and Kijun-Sen – are short-term moving averages for entry and exit.
Chikou Span – confirms trend strength and timing.
Ichimoku is ideal for those who like an independent system and not overlaying multiple indicators.
To use in MT5:
Go to Insert > Indicators > Trend > Ichimoku Kinko Hyo and experiment with default or adjust for your timeframe.
4. MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence) – Trend Momentum in a Flash
Another favorite for trend trading on the MetaTrader 5 platform is MACD. It blends moving averages and momentum into an easy-to-read oscillator.
How to use it:
When the MACD line crosses over the signal line, it shows bullish momentum.
If the MACD line crosses down, it reflects bearish momentum.
The histogram shows the strength of that momentum.
MACD is especially well-suited for trend continuation trades, allowing you to stay with the trade for as long as the trend stays healthy.
It can be accessed under Insert > Indicators > Oscillators > MACD in MT5.
5. Parabolic SAR – Trend Direction with Built-In Exit Signals
If you’re looking for something simple and visual, the Parabolic SAR is a favorite among trend traders. It appears as dots on the chart that flip from above to below price, showing the current trend direction.
When to use it:
Ideal for trailing stop placement in trending markets.
Helps confirm trend continuation or early signs of reversal.
Works best when market is already trending sharply.
In MetaTrader 5, locate it under Insert > Indicators > Trend > Parabolic SAR and adjust the step and maximum values to fine-tune sensitivity.
Bonus: Custom Indicators Worth Trying in 2025
Credit to the MT5 community and MQL5 marketplace, there are hundreds of custom indicators available. Some worth trying in 2025:
Trend Dashboard – shows several timeframes’ trends in a single panel.
Super Trend – graphically depicts trend direction and potential reversal points.
TMA (Triangular Moving Average) Bands – filters out noise for continuation trend trades.
The majority of these are free to download or purchase via the MetaTrader 5 marketplace and install with a few clicks.
How to Combine Indicators for Maximum Effect
Though all these tools work quite well individually, their combination makes an even more powerful system. Here’s an easy trend strategy with 3 MT5 indicators:
Moving Average (50 EMA) – determines trend direction.
MACD – confirms trend strength.
Parabolic SAR – offers entry/exit signals or trailing stops.
Together, this gives you directional bias, confirmation, and an inbuilt exit strategy—ideal for prop firm traders to gain performance goals with discipline.
Final Thoughts
The MetaTrader 5 platform has everything a trend trader needs to succeed—if you know how to use the right indicators. Novice or experienced trader scaling a prop firm account, building your strategy around sound trend tools is one of the best things you can do.
In 2025, competitiveness in prop firm trading means combining market intuition with platform precision. Use these MT5 indicators to track strong trends, reduce false alerts, and trade confidently.