ScalpEA v2 (MT5) — review, price and free alternatives

ScalpEA v2 stands out because it was developed iteratively by Martin Vrlik with assistance from generative tools, blending human-coded rules and adaptive decision layers. The algorithm combines volatility detection, trend bias, and micro-level mean reversion to enter and exit trades typically within minutes. The strategy works best during active Asian and European sessions on gold where liquidity and micro-momentum are present, while it reduces activity during low-volume periods to avoid slippage. Risk management is built into the core: stops are placed conservatively relative to recent ATR, dynamic lot sizing scales with account balance, and a nightly filter prevents holding positions into low-liquidity windows. Expected performance characteristics include a higher win rate with modest per-trade returns, contributing to steady compounding rather than occasional large winners.

ScalpEA v2 is best categorized as moderate risk when used with recommended sizing and conservative leverage. The stop loss strategy uses ATR-based stops plus session-aware limits to prevent oversized losses during volatile spikes. Position sizing is adaptive, with lot sizes scaled to a target percent risk per trade which can be set by the user; this encourages predictable equity erosion in adverse runs. Vulnerabilities include thin liquidity periods, news events, and extreme momentum trends where scalp exits can be impaired. A recommended starting account size for live deployment is $5,000 to $10,000 with professional-grade broker execution and realistic expectations about drawdown occurrences.

Install the ScalpEA v2 expert file into the MT5 Experts folder and restart the platform so the robot appears in the Navigator. Attach ScalpEA v2 to a clean XAUUSD chart and enable automated trading in MT5, then set risk percentage, maximum spread, and session activity windows in the inputs. Use brokers with raw spreads and fast execution; avoid brokers with large re-quotes or high commission variability. Optimal chart timeframes are M1 and M5 for entry logic and M15 for context checks. Run forward testing on a demo account for at least 500 trades or 3 months to validate behavior before moving to a funded account.