7 Best MetaTrader 5 (MT5) Brokers in 2026

The best MetaTrader 5 brokers in 2026 are Admirals, Pepperstone, IC (IC Markets), FP Markets, CMC Markets, Tickmill and Exness, seven brokers that each lead on a different part of MT5. US readers need a different list. Only brokers registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and members of the National Futures Association (NFA) may offer forex trading in the US, so FOREX.com and Trading.com have their own section.

We chose these brokers with three checks. MT5 must be open to clients outside one home market, the broker’s group must hold at least one Tier-1 or Tier-2 license, and the broker’s own website must publish MT5 data we can check. MetaTrader 5 is the same software at every broker, but your costs, tools and protection depend on the company that runs your MT5 server, so each entry names that company.

In this review, we explain why we picked each broker, its pros and cons, and what it offers on MT5. We also cover US brokers, our selection method, MT5 basics, MT4 vs MT5, safety, how to choose a broker and how to open an account. The comparison table below puts all seven brokers side by side, using only figures each broker publishes on its own website.

Risk warning: forex and CFDs are complex products, and trading them with leverage carries a high risk of losing money rapidly, so responsible trading means using only money you can afford to lose. This guide is general information, not investment advice or a solicitation to open an account.

What Are the Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers in 2026?

The best MetaTrader 5 brokers in 2026 are seven international brokers that each lead on one MT5 need, so the right pick depends on how you plan to trade:

• Admirals: Best for the most complete MT5 setup, with three MT5 accounts and a free plugin.
• Pepperstone: Best for Razor pricing with 28 Smart Trader Tools.
• IC (IC Markets): Best for raw pricing, with MT5 servers in the Equinix NY4 data center.
• FP Markets: Best for a broad CFD lineup, with 800+ MT5 instruments across seven asset classes.
• CMC Markets: Best for futures CFDs, within 1,100+ MT5 instruments.
• Tickmill: Best for a $3 raw commission with hedging and automated trading allowed.
• Exness: Best for currency choice, with 100+ pairs and a free VPS.

US residents should go to the US section, which covers FOREX.com and Trading.com.

1. Admirals

Admirals is a multi-asset broker whose group holds a CySEC license through Admirals Europe Ltd, and it runs three separate MT5 account types for different traders. The figures below come from its international site, which Admirals SC Ltd runs under the Financial Services Authority (FSA) of Seychelles.

Admirals offers the most complete MT5 setup on this list. Every Admirals MT5 account gets the MT Supreme Edition plugin for free.

Pros and Cons of Admirals

The pros and cons of Admirals come down to a wide choice of MT5 accounts on one side and an offshore entity for international clients on the other.

The pros of Admirals:

• Three MT5 accounts: CFD, zero-spread and stock-investing accounts all run on MT5.
• Free tools: MT Supreme Edition adds a mini terminal, a trading simulator and a spread recorder.
• Fill record: The company reports 99.68% of orders filled at the requested price or better.

The cons of Admirals:

• Tier-3 license: International clients join Admirals SC Ltd, which holds a Seychelles FSA license (SD073). The group’s CySEC license covers only Admirals Europe Ltd.
• Regional terms: The EU site lists different spreads and deposits, so check the site for your country.
• StereoTrader condition: StereoTrader is a one-click trading panel with 35+ commands, OCO orders and dynamic trailing. Free access needs €4,000 of equity on a live account.

Admirals on MT5: Account Types, Costs and Tools

Admirals on MT5 offers 6,000+ instruments across three account types, and its international site lists these symbols, costs and tools for MT5 traders:

Invest.MT5 is what sets Admirals apart, because this account uses no leverage and buys exchange-listed stocks and ETFs inside MT5 instead of CFDs on them. Investors can therefore hold shares for the long term and trade forex on the same platform.

2. Pepperstone

Pepperstone was founded in Melbourne, and its group holds FCA and ASIC licenses. MT5 is one of its five platforms, next to MT4, cTrader, TradingView and its own platform. International clients sign up with Pepperstone Markets Ltd, which the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) licenses.

Its place on this list comes from the extras it adds to MT5, because Pepperstone clients get the 28-app Smart Trader Tools package, and the Razor account adds raw forex pricing.

Pros and Cons of Pepperstone

The pros and cons of Pepperstone balance strong MT5 extras and global reach against an offshore entity for international clients and a high share of losing retail accounts.

The pros of Pepperstone:

• 28 Smart Trader Tools: The package adds expert advisors and indicators to MT5.
• Global reach: The company reports 900,000 clients in 160 countries around the world.
• Support team: Pepperstone’s support team works 24 hours a day on weekdays and 18 hours at weekends.

The cons of Pepperstone:

• Tier-2 license: International clients join the Bahamas company, not the FCA or ASIC ones.
• Loss rate: Its risk warning says 80% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
• Account-based tools: Some tools may depend on the account type.

Pepperstone on MT5: Symbols, Costs and Tools

Pepperstone on MT5 runs both of its CFD accounts, Standard and Razor, and its international pages list these symbols, costs and tools for MT5 traders:

The Razor account is the clearest difference at Pepperstone, because it quotes raw spreads on forex and gold, with spot gold from 0.08 points, and adds a commission from $3.50 per lot per side. A gold trader can therefore compare that raw spread plus commission with the all-in spread of the Standard account.

3. IC (IC Markets)

IC (IC Markets) is the trading name that Raw Trading Ltd uses for international clients under the Seychelles FSA, while the group’s EU company, IC Markets (EU) Ltd, holds a CySEC license. MT5 runs on both IC account families, Raw Pricing and Standard.

Raw pricing is IC’s main strength on MT5. Its MT5 accounts take prices from up to 25 pricing providers, which IC says gives them deep liquidity from interbank sources.

Pros and Cons of IC

The pros and cons of IC weigh low raw pricing and open trading rules against an offshore license and leverage that IC can change at any time.

The pros of IC:

• Tight spreads: IC reports an average EUR/USD spread of 0.1 pips on Raw Spread.
• Lower commission tiers: Larger deposits cut commission to $1.50 or $1.00 per side.
• Open trading rules: IC sets no minimum order distance and allows hedging.

The cons of IC:

• Tier-3 license: International clients deal with Raw Trading Ltd, which holds a Seychelles FSA license (SD018).
• Changing leverage: IC can change leverage at any time, which can raise your margin needs.
• Restricted countries: IC does not serve the US, Canada, Iran or North Korea.

IC on MT5: Trading Instruments, Costs and Tools

IC on MT5 offers four MetaTrader account types with raw or standard pricing, and its international site lists these symbols, costs and tools for MT5 traders:

Server location is what sets IC apart, because all IC MT5 servers sit in the Equinix NY4 data center, and IC reports latency under 1 millisecond to major VPS providers there. That short distance supports fast execution for expert advisors that run on a nearby VPS instead of a home computer.

4. FP Markets

FP Markets is a multi-asset broker with group companies licensed by the Seychelles FSA, Australia’s ASIC and South Africa’s FSCA. MT5 is one of its main platforms. The choice of asset classes is the FP Markets highlight. Its MT5 page lists 800+ CFD trading instruments across seven asset classes on one platform.

Pros and Cons of FP Markets

The pros and cons of FP Markets set a broad MT5 lineup and raw pricing against mixed regulator tiers and terms that change from one regional site to another.

The pros of FP Markets:

• 70+ currency pairs: Forex traders get a wide pair list next to the other asset classes.
• Raw spreads: Major pairs start at 0.0 pips.
• No minimum deposit: FP Markets’ MT5 page states that no minimum deposit applies.

The cons of FP Markets:

• Mixed regulator tiers: A Seychelles company sits next to the ASIC one, so your protection depends on which company opens your account.
• Regional terms: Deposit rules differ between regional sites.
• Mobile limits: FP Markets notes some MT5 features are limited on mobile.

FP Markets on MT5: Symbols, Costs and Tools

FP Markets on MT5 lists 800+ instruments with raw pricing, and its MT5 and account pages show these symbols, costs and tools for MT5 traders:

Bond CFDs are the concrete difference at FP Markets, because its MT5 page lists UK long-term gilts and US 10-year Treasury Notes next to 70+ currency pairs. A forex trader can therefore add a bond position without opening a second platform.

5. CMC Markets

CMC Markets belongs to a parent group listed on the London Stock Exchange in the FTSE 250 index. It offers MT5 next to MT4, TradingView and its own platform. Its international site is run by CMC Markets Bermuda Limited under the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA), while the MT5 figures here come from its Canadian company, a CIRO member.

Futures CFDs set CMC Markets apart. Its MT5 lineup of 1,100+ CFD instruments includes futures next to forex, indices, commodities and shares.

Pros and Cons of CMC Markets

The pros and cons of CMC Markets pair a diverse range of MT5 markets and low share costs with MT5 figures that come from its Canadian company rather than its international one.

The pros of CMC Markets:

• Raw FX Active pricing: 6 major pairs start at 0.0 pips.
• No share commission: Global shares cost $0 in commission.
• Diverse range: Forex, indices, commodities, futures and shares sit in one MT5 account.

The cons of CMC Markets:

• Canadian data: The MT5 figures come from CMC’s Canadian page, so the international offer may differ.
• BMA entity abroad: International clients join the Bermuda company.
• Restricted markets: The international site is not directed at US or Belgian residents.

CMC Markets on MT5: Symbols, Costs and Tools

CMC Markets on MT5 offers 1,100+ instruments through two account types, and its Canadian MT5 page lists these symbols, costs and tools for MT5 traders:

Speed data is the concrete difference at CMC Markets, which reports an average execution time of 0.062 seconds for MT5 market orders. A day trader can use that published figure as a benchmark when testing fills on a demo account.

6. Tickmill

Tickmill is a multi-regulated broker. Its group holds licenses from the UK FCA, CySEC, South Africa’s FSCA and the Seychelles FSA, and both of its main accounts run on MT5. Tickmill pairs low spreads with a small commission. Its Raw account starts at 0.0 pips with a $3 commission per lot per side on both MT4 and MT5.

Pros and Cons of Tickmill

The pros and cons of Tickmill set flexible account rules and swap-free options against an offshore entity for international clients and a higher starting deposit.

The pros of Tickmill:

• Spread-only option: The Classic account charges no commission.
• Strategy freedom: Hedging and automated trading are allowed on every account.
• Swap-free accounts: Eligible clients can open Islamic versions of every account.

The cons of Tickmill:

• Tier-3 license: International clients join Tickmill Ltd, which holds a Seychelles FSA license (SD008), not the FCA or CySEC companies.
• $100 minimum: Both accounts start at $100, against $0 at Pepperstone and IC.
• Restricted markets: Its services are not directed at Singapore, the US, Iran, India or Japan.

Tickmill on MT5: Symbols, Low Spreads and Tools

Tickmill on MT5 runs its Classic and Raw accounts, and its account and platform pages list these symbols, costs and tools for MT5 traders:

Fast execution is the concrete difference at Tickmill, which reports a 0.15-second average execution time on MT5 and allows scalping on every account. A scalper who holds trades for seconds can therefore use the same strategy on either the Classic or the Raw account.

7. Exness

Exness runs its international website through five companies, each licensed in its own jurisdiction: Seychelles, Curaçao, the British Virgin Islands, Belize and Mauritius. Exness (SC) Ltd also holds an FSCA authorization in South Africa, the only Tier-2 license among the five. The group’s UK (FCA) and Cyprus (CySEC) companies do not serve retail clients. MT5 is one of Exness’s main platforms for CFD trading.

Exness stands out for currency choice and a free VPS. Its MT5 platform carries more than 100 currency pairs, and Exness offers a free VPS through its Personal Area.

Pros and Cons of Exness

The pros and cons of Exness set a low entry cost and raw pricing against weaker regulation, extremely high leverage and a long list of countries it does not serve.

The pros of Exness:

• $10 start: The Standard account opens with $10 and no commission.
• Raw pricing: Raw Spread costs up to $3.50 per side, or $7 per round turn.
• Copy trading in MT5: Your account can copy another trader’s orders through MT5 signals.

The cons of Exness:

• Offshore licenses: Apart from the FSCA authorization, its international site runs on Tier-3 licenses only.
• Extremely high leverage: Up to 1:Unlimited with a 0% stop out can wipe out a whole balance.
• Restricted markets: Exness does not serve the US, Canada, Europe or the UK.

Exness on MT5: Symbols, Costs and Tools

Exness on MT5 offers four account types and 200+ CFD instruments, and its MT5 and account pages list these symbols, costs and tools for MT5 traders:

The free VPS is what sets Exness apart, because each one comes with 2 CPU cores and 2 GB of RAM, against 1 CPU core on IC’s entry VPS tier. An expert advisor can therefore keep trading while your own computer is off.

Which MT5 Brokers Accept US Traders?

MT5 brokers that accept US traders must be registered with the CFTC and be members of the NFA, and on our research date the two confirmed options are FOREX.com and Trading.com. Here is how the two compare for MT5 traders:

None of the seven international brokers above appears here, because none of their international sites lists a CFTC registration. Four of them, IC, CMC Markets, Tickmill and Exness, also state that they do not serve US residents.

No US regulator ranks brokers, so there is no official #1 broker in the US. Of the two, FOREX.com covers more markets on MT5, because it adds futures to forex, while Trading.com lists forex only.

Is MT5 Forex Trading Legal in the USA?

Yes, MT5 is legal in the USA, because it is trading software, and US citizens can use MT5 as long as the forex broker behind the account is registered with US regulators.

US rules on forex trading also limit leverage for retail traders, who must post at least 2% margin on major currency pairs and 5% on other pairs, so a $100,000 major-pair position needs $2,000.

Offshore dealers are the main risk for US forex traders, because the CFTC reports more fraud complaints from customers of unregistered offshore dealers, some of which block withdrawals until the customer pays extra fees. The CFTC lists high leverage above US limits as a warning sign of fraud, and NFA BASIC, the NFA’s online database, shows a firm’s registration and disciplinary history.

FOREX.com

FOREX.com gives US MT5 traders a forex account with extra tools and access to futures through its parent, StoneX Group, and the MT5 account adds these extras:

• Tools: Over 20 expert advisors and custom indicators from FX Blue come with the account, along with integrated Reuters news.
• VPS: FOREX.com offers free VPS hosting to MT5 customers who qualify.
• Demo account: The MT5 demo comes with $50,000 in virtual funds and expires after 90 days.
• Futures on MT5: Futures and futures options run through StoneX Financial Inc. and need a StoneX futures account and an MT5 subscription.

Trading.com

Trading.com is a forex-only option for US MT5 traders, run by Trading.com Markets Inc. from its office in New York, and its US offer is narrow:

• Products: Trading forex is all you can do there, because forex is the only instrument type it lists for US clients.
• Platforms: Trading.com offers MT5 next to its own WebTrader and mobile app.

How We Chose These MT5 Brokers

We chose these MT5 brokers with a three-part gate that every broker had to pass, and then we ranked the brokers that passed by the quality of their published MT5 data:

• MT5 for international clients: The broker’s official site confirms that MT5 is open to clients outside a single home market.
• Regulation: The broker’s group holds at least one Tier-1 license (FCA, ASIC, CySEC or CIRO) or Tier-2 license (FSCA, SCB or BMA).
• Published MT5 data: The official site publishes at least two of three items: symbols on MT5, MT5 costs and MT5 tools.

The ranking then weighs three criteria together: how complete each broker’s official MT5 data is, the tier of its regulators, and its MT5 costs and tools.

All figures come from each broker’s official website, and we did not open live or demo accounts to test them. Size was not a criterion either, so one of the largest MetaTrader brokers, XM, is missing even though it reports more than 20 million clients. XM and FxPro both failed the gate because their official MT5 pages publish too little MT5-specific data to check.

US readers get a separate rule, CFTC registration plus NFA membership, because no other broker may serve them.

What Is MetaTrader 5?

MetaTrader 5 is a multi-asset trading platform that MetaQuotes released in 2010 for trading forex, stocks and futures, with more than 80 built-in analytics tools, and brokers license it and connect it to their own servers and prices.

Any forex broker that licenses MT5 from MetaQuotes can offer it, so the answer to “Which brokers have MT5?” is a long list, and the broker you pick matters more than the software itself.

Is MT5 Free?

Yes, MT5 is free to download and use with a broker account, and what you actually pay for are the broker’s trading costs, such as spreads, commissions and swaps, the overnight interest charged or paid on positions held past the daily rollover. Optional extras can cost money too, because MetaQuotes rents virtual hosting inside the platform after a 24-hour free trial, and some robots and indicators in the MT5 Market are paid. Some brokers cover the VPS instead, as IC does once a client trades 15 lots of forex and metals in a month.

Can You Use MT5 Without a Broker?

No, you cannot trade live on MT5 without a broker, but you can download the platform and open a demo account with virtual money to practice. MT5 asks you to pick a trading server when you open any account, and a live account always needs a broker’s server.

MT5 Desktop, Web and Mobile

The MT5 trading platform comes in three versions, a desktop app for Windows and Mac, a web version for any browser, and mobile apps for iOS and Android:

MT4 vs MT5: Which Trading Platform Should You Use?

MT5 is the better choice for most traders in the MT4 vs MT5 question, because MetaQuotes built it with 21 timeframes against 9 on MT4, more pending order types and exchange markets that MT4 does not cover:

MT5 suits new traders and anyone who wants stocks or futures next to forex, with more order types on one trading platform. MT4 still makes sense if you rely on MQL4 expert advisors or indicators you already own, and our guide to the best MT4 brokers covers that platform.

Switching from MT4 to MT5 takes some work, because MT5 uses a different programming environment, so MT4 expert advisors and indicators do not run on MT5 until someone rewrites them in MQL5.

Best MT5 Broker for Beginner Forex Traders

The best MT5 broker for beginners is Pepperstone, because it has a $0 minimum deposit, a $10 minimum funding amount and 28 Smart Trader Tools for MT5. Exness is the other low-cost pick among the best brokers here, with a $10 Standard account, but its unlimited leverage means a beginner should keep positions small. Traders at all experience levels can lower their risk with three checks before funding an MT5 account:

• Start on a demo account: Practice placing orders and setting stop losses with virtual money before you add real funds.
• Check the minimum deposit: Entry accounts in this list start at $0 at Pepperstone and IC and reach $100 at Tickmill, so match the account to an amount you can afford to lose.
• Check your add-ons: Confirm that the tools you want, such as Smart Trader Tools or MT Supreme Edition, come with your account type.

Is MT5 Safe?

Yes, MT5 is safe as online trading software, because MetaQuotes builds it as a legitimate platform that every broker here licenses, but your money’s safety depends on the broker entity.

MetaTrader 5 is not a broker, so “Is MetaTrader 5 a good broker?” has no direct answer, and MetaQuotes states that it provides no investment or brokerage services. The forex broker running your MT5 server sets your prices, holds your money and handles your orders.

Protection changes with the entity, even under one brand. Admirals SC Ltd in Seychelles insures client money for up to $100,000 if the company becomes insolvent, but not against trading losses. CMC Markets Bermuda gives retail clients negative balance protection, so they cannot lose more than they deposit. Tickmill’s UK and EU clients have compensation schemes of up to £120,000 and €20,000, which its Seychelles entity does not list.

Three checks tell you whether an MT5 broker is trustworthy with your money:

• Entity name: Read the account agreement to see which company will hold your money and whether it keeps client funds in segregated accounts, apart from its own money.
• Regulator tier: Check whether that company’s regulator is Tier-1, such as the FCA, ASIC or CySEC, Tier-2 or offshore.
• Register lookup: Search the license number on the regulator’s own register, or on NFA BASIC if you live in the US, which also shows a firm’s disciplinary history.

How to Choose an MT5 Forex Broker

How to choose an MT5 broker comes down to seven checks, starting with the entity you join and ending with whether the broker serves the country where you live:

• Regulation: Check the regulator of the entity you join, not only the licenses of the wider group.
• Symbols on MT5: Count the instruments offered on MT5, not the broker’s total across all platforms.
• MT5 account types and costs: Compare spreads and commission per lot on the account you will actually use, because a competitive spread on one account can come with a commission on another.
• Non-trading fees: Look for withdrawal, inactivity and currency conversion fees on the broker’s fee page, and check how long withdrawals take to process.
• MT5 tools and VPS: Check which add-ons and VPS terms the broker offers on your account type.
• Minimum deposit and demo: Confirm the minimum deposit, the payment methods you can use and that a demo account is available.
• Availability in your country: Make sure the broker serves residents of your country and offers customer support in your language.

The three brokers that publish a named MT5 add-on package offer these tools:

Symbols on MT5 deserve a close look, because a broker’s headline number can cover every platform it runs. CMC Markets’ international site lists 12,000 financial instruments across all its platforms, while its Canadian MT5 page lists 1,100+ trading instruments, so a trader who only uses MT5 should plan around the smaller MT5 number.

How to Open an MT5 Demo Account or Live Account and Connect It to Your Broker

Opening an MT5 account and connecting it to your broker takes seven steps, and the order is similar at every broker in this list:

Step 1: Choose the broker and entity, check which company will open your account.

Step 2: Register and verify, complete KYC, the identity check, with an ID and proof of address.

Step 3: Choose an MT5 account type, select MT5 and pick a raw-spread or spread-only account.

Step 4: Fund the account, deposit from the broker’s client area, not inside MT5.

Step 5:Download MT5, install it on desktop or mobile, or use the web version.

Step 6:Log in, enter your account number, password and the broker’s server name.

Step 7: Test on demo first, before your first live order, place a test trade on a demo account with the same broker.

The post 7 Best MetaTrader 5 (MT5) Brokers in 2026 appeared first on CryptoNinjas.

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