MetaTrader 5 is one of the most popular retail platforms for trading forex and CFDs, but your experience depends heavily on the broker behind it. As our team has been reviewing brokers since 2011, we have developed a comprehensive methodology for identifying the best brokers. Using the thorough FXEmpire methodology and my personal experience as a trader and broker reviewer, I’ve identified the top MT5 brokers that every trader should know.
*AvaTrade doesn’t allow CFD trading in Spain; only Futures are available.
Watch our video on Best MetaTrader 5 Forex Brokers:
Our team of experts has identified each broker’s strengths and weaknesses using FXEmpire’s comprehensive methodology.
Now, let’s delve into the selected brokers.
Founded in 2005 in Australia, FP Markets is our best overall broker for international traders due to a product offering that is above the industry standard. This includes access to over 10,000 tradable instruments from MT5, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, and the Iress platforms with competitive spreads, high-quality trade execution, and several MT5 plugins and add-ons.
Key Features:
We found that the broker offers access to the MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4 trading platforms across multiple devices. In my own personal experience, I have found MetaTrader 5 to be a great platform. While there is a bit of a learning curve, there are a lot of educational videos and support available.
I enjoy the fact that MT5 allows you to trade multiple asset classes, offers more than 30 different timeframes, a wide range of indicators, and advanced features for algorithmic and copy trading. A great feature of FP Markets is that you can also upgrade your MT5 platform with additional plugins and tools offered by the broker.
This includes the AutoChartist plugin for MT5, which provides automated technical analysis trading ideas, a Traders Toolbox providing more indicators for MT5, and auto trading capabilities with Myfxbook. I find the AutoChartist plugin a great addition to help speed up technical analysis research. With over 10,000+ markets available to trade on and top-notch customer service, FP Markets is a top MT5 broker to consider.
The Belize-based RoboForex was established in 2009 and offers trading CFDs on forex, commodities, and indices, as well as a great range of real stocks and stock CFDs. I discovered that RoboForex achieves an average order execution speed of 45 milliseconds, beating the industry average of 60 milliseconds.
Key Features:
RoboForex provides Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting for even faster order execution speeds (of around 5 milliseconds) and stable internet connectivity. The service costs $5 per month but is free if you trade at least three lots per month. The broker operates a hybrid STP/ECN execution model without a dealing desk, providing better liquidity and more competitive spreads.
I found the RoboForex Pro account has a $10 minimum deposit requirement and features zero commissions and floating spreads from 1.3 pips, which is a bit higher than the 1.08 pip industry average. However, I found more favorable spreads on the Prime account, which features a $2 round-turn commission per traded lot and raw spreads from 0.0 pips. The Prime account also has a minimum deposit requirement of $10, making it a top option to benefit from RoboForex’s order execution model.
Founded in 2007, IC Markets is an Australian broker that is well-known for providing the best trading platforms and fees for high-volume and high-frequency traders. With IC Markets, you can access the MT5, MT4, cTrader and TradingView platforms with low spreads.
Key Features:
In our live fee test with the broker, I found that its trading fees are very competitive and much better than the industry average. The live spread for EUR/USD during the London open on the commission-free Standard Account was just 0.8 pips, which is far better than the industry average of 1.08 pips.
As my style of trading is very short-term, I prefer the IC Markets Raw Spread Account, which offers spreads from 0.0 pips and a commission of $3.50 per lot, per side, which is in line with the industry average. When checking the live spread for GBP/JPY, I found that it averaged just 1.2 pips on the commission-free trading account during the London open. In my years of trading, I have seen some retail brokers easily quote 5.0 pips for this pair.
The broker’s standout feature is the ability to upgrade MT5 with extra tools. The MT Advanced Trading Tools package includes 20 indicators like a correlation matrix, stealth orders, sentiment trader, and more. The broker also offers the MT5 AutoChartist plugin, which scans all the markets for different technical analysis chart patterns setting up. It’s a great way to find trading setups more quickly.
Founded in 1996, Swissquote went public in 2000 and is now listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, employing more than a thousand people worldwide. It offers a top range of trading tools, markets and platforms designed for nearly all types of trading styles.
Key Features:
I found that Swissquote provides access to trading, investing, banking, and robo-advisory tools, which is a great all-around solution for your finances. From the MT5 platform, you can trade on 400+ markets, covering spot forex, forex options, stocks, commodities, bonds, and indices.
The standout feature is Swissquote’s trading ecosystem, which provides fast average execution speeds of 9 milliseconds with a 98% fill rate. I found this to be a great option for scalpers and day traders who need precise trade execution. I also found the Autochartist plugin a great trading tool as well as it scans thousands of markets for different candlestick and chart patterns across different timeframes.
The scanner lets you know if the pattern is emerging, the quality of it and a price forecast. This is a useful tool for beginners to learn more about technical analysis patterns and for advanced traders to find opportunities a lot faster.
Founded in 2019, Errante is regulated by CySEC and the FSA of Seychelles. The broker provides 4 different types of accounts to trade forex, stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptos from the MT5, MT4, cTrader, and TradingView trading platforms.
Key Features:
I found that there are four different account types to choose from:
You can trade from the MT5 platform with each account type. The platform can be accessed via desktop download on Windows, web browser on Mac, or via the MT5 mobile trading app. While the MT5 platform is generally offered for free, the minimum deposit for each account type varies greatly, so be sure to identify your trading needs first.
Founded in 2016, Capital.com is a financial derivatives broker that stands out for providing a strong ecosystem for automated traders, including the ability to trade over 5,000 CFDs on MT5, using the FIX API with competitive fees.
Key Features:
The MT5 platform has become the gold standard of trading platforms for automated traders. It allows traders to execute Expert Advisors (EAs) to run automated trading strategies. EAs can be built and tested using the strategy tester, or they can be purchased from MetaTrader Market.
Capital.com goes one step further to support algo traders with its FIX API solutions. This service allows you to access raw spreads directly from an exchange’s order book and achieve ultra-fast execution, precise entries, and significantly reduced slippage. I also found Capital.com’s universal trading account a good match for algo traders, as it offers zero commissions and floating spreads from 0.6 pips, which is much better than the industry average.
Founded in 2001, ActivTrades is a well-rounded broker offering access to over 1,1100 tradable instruments from the MT5, MT4, TradingView, and ActivTrader platforms. It’s customised MetaTrader add-ons help traders to squeeze maximum gains from volatile markets.
Key Features:
What impressed me, in particular, were ActivTrades’ progressive trailing stop and pullback entry orders. These allow contrarian traders to gain more favouable entries in volatile markets and to squeeze maximum returns by regulating their market exposure. This is because a trailing stop loss indicator will trail your stop loss as the market moves in your favor helping to secure more upside while limiting the downside.
The broker offers full functionality of MT5, including over 100 analytical tools, 21 timeframes, and multiple chart types. Additionally, the broker offers an intuitive strategy tester and historical data for automated traders interested in backtesting the parameters of their strategies and refining the conditions.
Founded in 2011, FXTM offers access to over 1,460 CFDs from the MT5 and MT4 platforms with a helpful Pro Trading Tools plugin. Its standout feature is the ability to access up to 1:3000 leverage in the forex market, helping your capital to go further.
Key Features:
As FXTM is mostly licensed by Tier 2 or Tier 3 regulators, it can offer high leverage of up to 1:3000 in the forex market. This means you can control a position size of $3,000 with only $1. This is useful for aggressive styles of trading like scaling into trades and scalping, but it does come with more risk. The Pro Trading Tools plugin for MT5 complements this style of trading as the mini-terminal indicator offers a customized trading ticket for faster trade execution and built-in risk management calculations to help know what your overall leverage is at any given time.
Holders of an Advantage account have the opportunity to apply to become a strategy manager on the FXTM Invest copy trading portal. As managers, they can receive a portion of their followers’ profits, with the potential to earn up to 30%. Alternatively, you can follow other strategy managers and have their trades copied onto your own account, which is useful with the high leverage FXTM offers. It means you can follow many different strategy managers and run a diversified portfolio.
Founded in 2006, FxPro has become the go-to broker for scalping. With no dealing desk execution, an average order execution speed of around 11 milliseconds, and a high percentage of client orders being filled at the requested or better price, the broker offers a strong ecosystem for scalpers.
Key Features:
In my live tests of the broker, I discovered several additional perks for scalpers. These include FxPro’s Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting, strong market research by Trading Central, and a wide selection of over 2,100 tradable instruments across different markets. I found the standout feature for scalpers is the FxPro Squawk service, which delivers real-time alerts and market-moving news as it happens.
For scalping, the MT5 Elite account would be my recommendation. It offers spreads from 0.0 pips, an industry-standard commission of $3.50 per lot and rebates per trade starting from $1.50 per lot. This could amount to significant savings in profitability for active traders.
Founded in 2006, AvaTrade is regulated worldwide and offers over 1,450 tradable instruments across MT4, MT5, AvaTrade Web, and Mobile apps, with some of the top copy and social trading solutions in the industry through the AvaSocial app and DupliTrade.
Key Features:
AvaTrade has partnered with FCA-regulated firm Pelican Trading to launch its AvaSocial app. From the app, you can view the performance of other traders, interact with them, ask questions, and copy their trades onto your MT4 AvaTrade account.
Another copy and social trading option is to sync your MT5 AvaTrade account with DupliTrade. I found this web platform to be user-friendly and the most professional copy trading platform around, with useful, detailed performance statistics of other traders, allowing you to copy their trades seamlessly. However, a minimum deposit of $2,000 is required to use DupliTrade.
Founded in 2009, XM is a top broker for beginner traders thanks to its comprehensive range of educational materials, commission-free trading accounts, free webinars, and a low minimum deposit of $5 to trade over 1,400 tradable instruments.
Key Features:
For beginner traders, the XM MT5 web platform and mobile apps are the most user-friendly and easiest to trade with. The broker offers free demo accounts, which you can use to practice your trading strategies and navigate the platform. In our live testing, we found the 24/7 customer support was quick, helpful and another great tool for beginners.
The XM Ultra Low Account is the best option for beginners as it offers zero commissions and low spreads starting from 0.8 pips and high leverage (depending on region). The broker’s standout feature is its education offering. It is one of the most comprehensive I’ve seen from a retail broker, and is especially suited to beginners and developing traders. I was impressed by the free webinars that run seven days a week and in 23 languages. There is a well-structured Tradepedia course that breaks down important trading concepts and knowledge into easy-to-watch videos.
Established in 2022, Trading.com is a New York-based broker licensed by the NFA and CFTC. Our review has confirmed that it is the best overall offering for US traders with access to MT5, algorithmic trading capabilities, a Reuters news feed, Trading Central research, and trading signals.
Key Features:
Trading.com US provides access to the full suite of MetaTrader 5 capabilities. This includes access to free real-time data, one-click trading, algorithmic trading tools, and copy trading signals from MetaTrader Market. Traders can also access 38 technical analysis indicators, 44 drawing tools, 21 timeframes, and order types like market, limit and stop.
The broker has a modest selection of 69 forex pairs covering major, minor, and exotics. Although it doesn’t offer other asset classes like stocks or commodities, the range of currency pairs is around the industry average. While the spreads are higher than the industry average, traders can access high leverage of up to 1:50. However, I believe the broker’s most standout feature is the market research available.
I found the Daily Update the most useful as it provides a quick update of recent market news and upcoming events that could impact the market. There is also a Reuters news feed that can help to stay up to date with breaking news, which is more ideal for short-term, active traders.
The built-in features of the MT5 platform are the same across all brokers, as that’s how MetaQuotes designed it. All of them will allow trading from the chart, offer multiple order types, chart types, indicators, drawing tools, and timeframes, and provide access to algorithmic trading capabilities and the MetaTrader Market.
However, some brokers go further by offering add-ons and plugins from third-party providers. Each broker will also offer different trading terms, fees, execution models, and instruments, so it’s important to evaluate the features of the individual broker as well and not just the platform.
Drawing on my 15-year experience of trading the markets, using MT5 and trading with different brokers, below is a list of what I believe are the most important conditions to check for.
As your broker holds the money you trade with, I would personally only trade with Tier-1 regulated brokers as they offer the strongest protections. For example, Tier-1 regulators like the FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), and ASIC (Australia) make it a regulatory requirement to segregate client funds from company funds and offer negative balance protection. The FCA and CySEC also require brokers to be part of a compensation scheme.
As great as a broker’s MT5 offering may be, if they’re not safe to trade with, then for me, that broker is a non-starter.
Discover our selection of Best regulated forex brokers.
Every broker that I have traded with and reviewed provides the MT5 platform for free. It doesn’t require a monthly subscription and data fees like other platforms, such as TradingView. But that doesn’t mean to say the broker is that cost-effective, as every broker will have different spreads, commissions, and overnight fees.
It’s also worthwhile checking the non-trading fees, like charges for deposits and withdrawals. Every broker review our team writes has all of this information in there, as we view a broker’s live fees and then stack them up against the competition. I would highly recommend reading the detailed broker reviews to get a true understanding of the costs of trading with a broker.
Discover Best forex brokers with lowest spreads.
One of the reasons MetaQuotes built MT5 is for multi-asset class trading. While MT4 was primarily built just for forex trading, MT5 was designed to also trade other asset classes like indices, commodities, futures, and share CFDs. But how you access these instruments is important. Here are the options MT5 brokers provide:
I like the MT5 desktop platform because it is fairly easy to use once you sit with it and spend some time navigating its features. Another reason I like the desktop version is that many brokers offer additional add-ons and plugins from third parties like Trading Central and Autochartist. Some of these plugins offer trading signals, built-in risk management calculators and extra indicators like a correlation matrix.
You may also be able to open a demo trading account and actually test the products and services in a virtual environment before you open a live account.
I find the MT5 platform is an excellent option for multi-asset class traders and those who frequently interchange between devices like desktop, web, and mobile. Once you get the hang of it, it’s easy to use and offers a high level of customization and automated trading capabilities.
However, it’s the quality of the broker that will determine your overall trading experience. I would do a full check of the broker’s regulation, fees, account types, customer support, and overall accessibility. Fortunately, our team of reviewers does this for you. I would recommend reading the full broker reviews and watching the platform walkthrough videos so you can make a more informed decision on which MT5 broker to trade with.
The forex and CFD analysts and editors at FXEmpire bring together seasoned trading professionals and experienced financial journalists. Many of our experts have been featured in leading publications such as Investopedia and Forbes, and all of them combine strong industry credentials with hands-on trading experience.
Dan Blystone began his career in the trading industry in 1998 on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Later, Dan gained insight into the forex industry during his time as a Series 3 licensed futures and forex broker. He also traded at a couple of different prop trading firms in Chicago. Dan is well-equipped to recommend the best forex brokers due to his extensive experience and understanding of the brokerage industry.
Jitan Solanki is a professional trader, market analyst, and educator. He day trades major currency and index markets and focuses on swing trading US equities and commodities. A qualified Market Technician, Jitan also works with trader education and brokerage companies on various projects. These include market analysis, live trading events, and broker reviews. As an experienced trader and educator, Jitan brings all his qualities in action when reviewing and recommending brokers.
Having been a retail trader since 2013, Plamen has gained an in-depth understanding of the challenges that novice traders face today. His expertise is swing trading and day trading with a heavy emphasis on psychological and fundamental analysis. Plamen’s favourite trading instruments include FX majors and gold. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics and International Relations. Plamen's broad experience has equipped him with the expertise to recommend the best forex brokers.
In more than 15 years of trading in the financial markets, Vladimir dealt with a wide range of brokers and financial instruments. His career as a day-trader at a proprietary trading firm goes back to 2007. Later, Vladimir turned to longer time frames and became an independent trader and analyst managing his own portfolio. Using his experience, he helps traders find the best broker in his reviews.
Jitan Solanki is a professional trader, market analyst, and educator. He day trades major currency and index markets and focuses on swing trading US equities and commodities. A qualified Market Technician, Jitan also works with trader education and brokerage companies on various projects. These include market analysis, live trading events, and broker reviews. As an experienced trader and educator, Jitan brings all his qualities in action when reviewing and recommending brokers.
At FXEmpire, we strive to provide unbiased, thorough and accurate broker reviews by industry experts to help our users make smarter financial decisions.