MetaTrader 5 Brokers
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) is the latest trading platform from software developers MetaQuotes. We list the best MT5 brokers, explore the range of indicators and guide you through mobile app downloads. We also compare MetaTrader 5 vs its predecessor MetaTrader 4 (MT4). Find out how to get started trading forex, stocks and futures online with the MT5 platform.
MetaTrader 5 Brokers
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Founded in Australia in 2010, Pepperstone is a highly regarded broker specialising in forex and CFDs. Serving more than 400,000 clients globally, it provides access to over 1,300 financial instruments through popular platforms like MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView. Its fee structure is both low and transparent. With regulation by reputable bodies such as the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC, Pepperstone guarantees a safe trading environment for traders at every level.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto (only Pro clients), Spread Betting FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, CMA, BaFin, SCB MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, DupliTrade, Quantower Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $0 0.01 Lots 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) -
FXCC, a well-established brokerage since 2010, offers cost-effective online trading. Registered in Nevis and regulated by CySEC, it is distinguished by its ECN conditions and absence of a minimum deposit requirement. The account opening process is efficient, taking under five minutes.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto CySEC MT4, MT5 Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $0 0.01 Lots 1:500 -
IC Markets is an internationally acclaimed forex and CFD broker, admired for its competitive pricing, diverse trading instruments, and superior technology. Established in 2007 and based in Australia, the firm is under the regulation of ASIC, CySEC, and FSA. It has successfully drawn over 180,000 clients from more than 200 nations.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Futures, Crypto ASIC, CySEC, FSA, CMA MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade, Quantower Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $200 0.01 Lots 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global) -
Founded in 2006, FxPro has built a reputation as a reliable non-dealing desk (NDD) broker, providing trading access across more than 2,100 markets to over 2 million clients globally. It has received over 100 industry awards, reflecting its favourable conditions for active traders.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Spread Betting FCA, CySEC, FSCA, SCB, FSA FxPro Edge, MT4, MT5, cTrader, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, DupliTrade, Quantower Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $100 0.01 Lots 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) -
IC Trading belongs to the reputable IC Markets group. Designed for dedicated traders, it offers highly competitive spreads, dependable order execution, and sophisticated trading tools. However, it operates from Mauritius, an offshore financial centre, allowing high leverage but within a less regulated environment.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Cryptos, Futures FSC MT4, MT5, cTrader, AutoChartist, TradingCentral Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $200 0.01 Lots 1:500 -
Eightcap, an acclaimed broker regulated by the FCA, offers exceptionally low trading costs. Recognised as the top-rated brand by TradingView's vast user base of 100 million, traders can directly access the platform. UK traders can open a live account with a minimum deposit of just £100.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities ASIC, FCA, CySEC, SCB MT4, MT5, TradingView Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage £100 0.01 Lots 1:30 -
Established in 1999, FOREX.com is now integrated into StoneX, a prominent financial services entity catering to more than one million clients globally. The broker is regulated in numerous jurisdictions, including the US, UK, EU, and Australia. It offers a vast array of markets beyond forex, delivering competitive pricing on state-of-the-art trading platforms.
Instruments Regulator Platforms Forex, CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Options, Crypto NFA, CFTC, CIRO, FCA, CYSEC, ASIC, SFC, FSA, MAS, CIMA MT4, MT5, TradingView, eSignal, AutoChartist, TradingCentral Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $100 0.01 Lots 1:30 -
Fusion Markets, an online broker since 2017, operates under the regulation of ASIC, VFSC, and FSA. Renowned for offering cost-effective forex and CFD trading, it provides various account options and copy trading solutions to suit diverse trading needs. New clients can begin trading with a simple three-step registration process.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto ASIC, VFSC, FSA MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, DupliTrade Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $0 0.01 Lots 1:500 -
BlackBull, a New Zealand-based CFD broker, offers a wide range of trading options across more than 26,000 instruments. Following a 2023 rebrand, it boasts a contemporary design and provides advanced trading tools along with ultra-fast execution speeds, averaging 20ms.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Crypto FMA, FSA BlackBull Invest, BlackBull CopyTrader, MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $0 0.01 Lots 1:500 -
Founded in 2001, easyMarkets has earned a reputation as a reliable fixed spread broker. With continuous advancements, it distinguishes itself in the market. The firm has integrated the MetaTrader suite and TradingView, and enhanced unique risk management tools such as dealCancellation.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto CySEC, ASIC, FSCA, FSC, FSA easyMarkets App, Web Platform, MT4, MT5, TradingView, TradingCentral Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $25 0.01 lots 1:2000
The best UK trading brokers offer MetaTrader 5. With that said, minimum deposits, leverage options, commissions and swap fees vary between providers as these are not dictated by MT5. You can open both demo and real live accounts upon registration with your chosen brokerage. Once you’ve received your login credentials, you can start investing in the financial markets.
As a guide, see a list of the best MT5 brokers.
What Is MetaTrader 5?
MT5 is the latest version of the popular MetaTrader 4 system. Both were created by software developers MetaQuotes and share the logo of three traders exchanging game cards.
MetaQuotes history began in 2002 with the first ever MetaTrader platform. But the developer’s popularity soared with the release of MT4, which proved a winner with retail forex traders. In 2010, MetaTrader 5 was released with slow uptake initially as investors were resistant to change. However since the news that MetaQuotes stopped selling licences to MT4, the platform’s popularity, which is aimed at experienced traders, is on the up.
MetaTrader 5 offers investing in forex, CFDs, stock and shares, indices and commodities. To access the platform, you’ll need to sign up with a broker. The MT5 software is licensed to forex brokers for a fee and then provided free of charge to traders. Both demo accounts and live accounts are available through most brokers.
Getting Started On MetaTrader 5
Download the free exe. file using the link on the broker’s website or directly from MetaQuotes. Alternatively, access via your browser using the MT5 webtrader terminal – perfect for Chromebook users.
System Requirements
MetaTrader 5 is available on Mac, PC and Linux. However, Mac users will need to download additional software such as Wine or Parallel to enable certain functionality. MT5 is increasingly difficult to pair with Macbook Pro computers due to the iOS Catalina update. Investors using Windows 7 and 8 can use MT5, though Windows 10 is preferred. The minimum processing speed is now 64 bit. 32 bit is no longer supported along with Windows XP and Vista.
Taking Positions
To make a trade on Mac or Windows, click the ‘New Order’ symbol. Fill in the details, including the lot size, (known as volume). One lot is equal to 100,000 of the base currency, so £1,000 is 0.01 lots. Add a stop loss and take profit figure and any comments for your downloadable trading journal. Review your trade and then click buy or sell. You’ll receive confirmation the trade has been placed.
MT5 Mobile
The MetaTrader 5 mobile app is available for download on both iPhone and Android (APK). Users can access respective applications via the App Store or Google Play. The MT5 mobile app is suitable for beginners. However newbies will want to spend time reading tutorials before they register for a live account and deposit for real. The mobile solution offers dozens of indicators, a range of charts, push notifications, as well as automated copy trading.
MetaTrader 5 Vs MetaTrader 4
So, which is better? MetaTrader 4 is one of the most popular platforms for forex trading. Some brokers, for example IG and OANDA, only offer MT4. But what is the difference?
Interface
MT5 has a very similar dashboard to MetaTrader 4. Users of one should be able to transfer quite easily to the other. MT5 offers 21 default time frames vs the 9 available on MT4. If you’re operating on a day trading strategy, these offer increased potential for analysis. Increased customisation means you can turn your graphs to ‘dark mode’ on MT5 (just like on cTrader), a nifty function not available on its predecessor. Keyboard shortcuts (AKA hotkeys) remain the same across both versions.
Customised chart parameters can be added using templates. These can be found in \MQL5\Profiles\Templates. You can use templates to modify chart types and colours, add EAs, other technical indicators, graphical objects or day separators. For copy trading signals, go to Help and click Signals. You’ll find a selection to choose from with a view on reliability and growth.
Orders
There are six pending orders on MetaTrader 5 vs the four on MT4. These include the buy stop limit and sell stop limit which were not available on the previous version. This is good news for savvy traders looking to implement effective risk management tools and alerts.
Technical Analysis
MetaTrader 5 offers 38 built-in indicators, beating MT4 which only provides 30. These include:
- Alligator
- Bollinger Bands
- Bears Power/Bulls Power
- Moving Averages
Custom indicators and data points, such as Volume Profile, Time Zones or MACD 2 Lines, can be added using Java, Python and MLQ5 gateway APIs. Popular custom indicators include:
- B-clock
- ZigZag
- Renko
- Pivot Points
- Exponential Moving Averages (EMA)
Functionality
Speed of execution is a high priority on MT5. Investors can enable One-Click Trading and positions can be modified, including adding a trailing stop, after they’ve been placed. Users can even deposit using a QR code.
Withdrawal of funds is simple on both platforms. Just go to ‘Options’ > ‘My Account’ and then select the withdrawal method. Level 2 Pricing (market depth) is available on MT5 with certain brokers. Not previously available on MT4, this feature allows you to assess liquidity and arguably better predict short-term price movements.
Financial Instruments
MetaTrader 5 expands the instruments available beyond currency pairs. You can now trade CFDs, futures and binary options on the following:
- Stocks and shares
- Commodities including gold and silver
- Cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin and Ripple
- Indices such as the Dax 30, Dow Jones, NSE, NASDAQ and S&P 500
Note, real stock trading is unavailable on MT5 vs brokers that offer their own platforms such as Trading 212.
Automated Trading
Expert Advisors (EA) are available on both platforms using the MT5 Codebase. Ensure your automated trading robots have gone through backtesting before you change from a demo account to real money investing. There is no history centre on MT5, so instead of using historical data to backtest, download the strategy tester.
PDF tutorials and videos for building your own EA are available through the MT5 forum or through broker education centres. API Python integration is also available.
Cost
Both MetaTrader 5 and 4 are free of charge when you sign up to a broker. Therefore price gives it the edge vs competitors, such as NinjaTrader 8, which can cost thousands of pounds depending on your asset selection. MT5 remains one of the best free trading platforms on the market.
Customer Support
The MetaTrader 5 community is vast and there are hundreds of forums filled with support and handy guides. User manual PDFs are easy to come by, with everything from charts and graphs, to Java and MQL5 explained. They can also advise how to change the platform time zone.
Help for technical queries such as MT5 not working, updating, or connecting to the server, including forgotten passwords is available through the Contact Us page. From here you’ll get assistance from an MT5 trade manager. However, most of these issues can be resolved with a simple restart or software update.
For more advanced issues, such as the commonly identified ‘off quotes’ error message (which essentially means the market is closed) or unsupported filling mode error (where your broker does not support that instrument), the forum is the best place to start. Other common errors include users who can’t place orders, have no connection or if the programme keeps closing. All of these are answered by the MQL5 community.
Final Word On MetaTrader 5
MetaTrader 5 is a new and improved platform vs the earlier MetaTrader 4. Forex traders have proved slow to adapt to the recent release and so MT4 remains popular in the community. However, increased indicators, tradable instruments, functionality such as ‘dark mode’ and more pending orders means that MT5 is widely regarded as superior. MetaQuotes could have done more to update the interface (which remains reminiscent of Windows 95) and is lacking compared to competitors such as cTrader and NinjaTrader. But overall, MT5 pips them to the post.
FAQ
What Is The Best MT5 Broker in the UK?
We have reviewed and put together a top list of MetaTrader 5 Brokers in the UK. We compare all MT5 brokers on instruments, fees, and additional factors that are important to traders.
Can I Trade Shares On MetaTrader 5?
No, MetaTrader 5 offers forex trading, CFD trading and options trading. Investors can trade options on stocks and shares but will not own the underlying asset. The range of instruments also varies between UK mt5 brokers.
Is MetaTrader 5 Better Than MetaTrader 4
MT5 is the most recent release from MetaQuotes, an update on the previous MetaTrader 4. Whilst the platform has increased functionality with more indicators, pending orders and tradable instruments, many forex traders still prefer MT4.
Is MetaTrader 5 Suitable For Mac Users?
Yes, Mac users can trade with MetaTrader 5. However, MT5 was designed for Windows computers and with the iOS Catalina update, it is increasingly difficult for Mac users to operate. To access some functionality, Apple traders will need to download additional software such as Wine or Parallel.
Is MetaTrader 5 Free?
MT5 is free to download. You’ll need to sign up to a broker to trade with real money. Brokers, such as XM, XTB, and Admiral Markets usually require a minimum deposit which varies between firms. Demo accounts are available for those that would prefer to practice before they invest.
Is MetaTrader 5 Suitable For Beginners?
Beginners should practice using a demo account before they invest real capital. Preliminary accounts are available through your broker. However, the platform is suitable for beginners. Tutorials and PDF guides are available on the MQL5 community forum for beginners before they get started on desktop and mobile trading (iPhone and Android).