Best MT5 brokers for EAs and automated trading (2026)

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Risk warning: CFDs and forex are leveraged products. Most retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You could lose more than you deposit with brokers that do not offer negative balance protection. Nothing here is financial advice.

MetaTrader 5 is the platform most expert advisors, or EAs, are written for. An EA is a program that places trades for you from rules you set. Every broker below offers MT5 in our catalogue and holds at least one licence from a major regulator. The order is our trust rank.

MT5 brokers, ranked by trust

1

FOREX.com

United States · founded 2001

#1trust rank
Regulators
ASIC, CFTC, FCA, NFA
Platforms
MT4, MT5, Proprietary, TradingView
Broker type
DMA, Market Maker, STP
Fee level
Low

FOREX.com is a well-regarded forex broker offering broad access to forex markets through web, desktop, and mobile platforms, with research, education, and risk management tools. It operates under applicable regulatory oversight in many regions.

2

Swissquote

Switzerland · founded 1996

#5trust rank
Regulators
CSSF, DFSA, FCA, FINMA
Platforms
MT4, MT5, Proprietary
Broker type
STP
Fee level
Low

Swissquote provides forex and multi-asset trading through proprietary and third-party platforms, with research, education, and customer support. It is well-regarded for a broad product range, clear pricing, and tools suitable for different experience levels.

3

Pepperstone

Australia · founded 2010

#10trust rank
Regulators
ASIC, BaFin, CMA, CySEC, DFSA, FCA, FSCA, SCB
Platforms
cTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView
Broker type
ECN, STP
Fee level
Low

Pepperstone is a well-regarded forex broker offering access to forex and CFD markets through multiple trading platforms, with tools for analysis and risk management.

4

AvaTrade

Ireland · founded 2006

#12trust rank
Regulators
ADGM FSRA, ASIC, BVI FSC, CBI, FFAJ, FSCA, ISA, JFSA
Platforms
MT4, MT5, Proprietary
Broker type
Market Maker
Fee level
Low

AvaTrade is a well-regarded forex and CFD broker offering multiple trading platforms, broad market access, and educational resources. It provides market research and risk management tools with an emphasis on platform reliability and compliance.

5

Admirals

Estonia · founded 2001

#13trust rank
Regulators
ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCA, JSC
Platforms
MT4, MT5
Broker type
Market Maker, STP
Fee level
Low

Admirals is a well-regarded forex and CFD broker offering broad market access, user-friendly platforms, and integrated research and education. It provides a range of account options and risk management tools under established regulatory frameworks, emphasizing platform reliability and client support.

6

FxPro

United Kingdom · founded 2006

#17trust rank
Regulators
CySEC, FCA, FSCA, SCB
Platforms
cTrader, MT4, MT5, Proprietary
Broker type
ECN, STP
Fee level
Low

FxPro forex broker provides access to a broad range of forex and CFD markets on popular trading platforms, with an emphasis on order execution and risk management tools.

7

Markets.com

Cyprus · founded 2008

#18trust rank
Regulators
ASIC, BVI FSC, CySEC, FCA, FSCA
Platforms
MT4, MT5, Proprietary
Broker type
Market Maker
Fee level
Low

Markets.com is a well‐regarded forex and CFD broker offering broad access to currency pairs and multi‐asset CFDs on intuitive web and mobile platforms. It provides built‐in research, education, and risk management tools to support clear, streamlined trading.

8

ThinkMarkets

Australia · founded 2010

#20trust rank
Regulators
ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCA
Platforms
MT4, MT5, Proprietary
Broker type
ECN, STP
Fee level
Low

ThinkMarkets is a well-regarded forex and CFD broker offering broad market access via MetaTrader and its proprietary ThinkTrader platform. It provides research, education, and risk management tools to support analysis and platform use.

9

Vantage

Australia · founded 2009

#21trust rank
Regulators
ASIC, CIMA, FCA, FSCA, VFSC
Platforms
MT4, MT5, Proprietary, TradingView
Broker type
ECN, STP
Fee level
Low

Vantage forex broker provides access to forex and CFD markets across multiple platforms with a choice of account types and trading tools. It offers research, education, and risk management features, and operates under applicable regulations in the regions it serves.

10

FP Markets

Australia · founded 2005

#23trust rank
Regulators
ASIC, CMA, CySEC, FSCA
Platforms
cTrader, MT4, MT5
Broker type
DMA, ECN, STP
Fee level
Low

FP Markets is a well-regarded forex broker providing access to currencies and CFDs on popular platforms, supported by research tools and education. It offers broad market coverage, platform choice, and multilingual customer support.

11

XM

Cyprus · founded 2009

#26trust rank
Regulators
ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, FCA, IFSC
Platforms
MT4, MT5
Broker type
Market Maker, STP
Fee level
Low

XM is a well-regarded forex and CFD broker providing online access to multiple markets on widely used platforms, along with research tools, education, and multilingual support.

12

HFM

Cyprus · founded 2010

#29trust rank
Regulators
CySEC, DFSA, FCA, FSCA
Platforms
MT4, MT5
Broker type
Market Maker, STP
Fee level
Low

HFM (formerly HotForex) is a well-regarded forex and CFD broker offering broad market access through popular platforms, varied account types, and risk management tools. It provides research, education, and multilingual support with a focus on transparent information and clear disclosures.

13

HYCM

United Kingdom · founded 1977

#30trust rank
Regulators
CIMA, CySEC, DFSA, FCA
Platforms
MT4, MT5
Broker type
Market Maker, STP
Fee level
Medium

HYCM is a well-regarded forex and CFD broker offering access to a broad range of currency pairs and other markets on MetaTrader platforms. It provides flexible account types, education and research resources, and multilingual support in a straightforward setup.

14

Tickmill

United Kingdom · founded 2014

#31trust rank
Regulators
CySEC, FCA, FSCA, Labuan FSA, Seychelles FSA
Platforms
MT4, MT5
Broker type
ECN, STP
Fee level
Low

Tickmill is a well-regarded forex and CFD broker that provides broad market access, platform choice, and tools for analysis, education, and risk management. It offers account options and support suited to a range of trading styles.

15

Eightcap

Australia · founded 2009

#33trust rank
Regulators
ASIC, SCB
Platforms
MT4, MT5, TradingView
Broker type
ECN, STP
Fee level
Low

Eightcap is a well-regarded forex and CFD broker offering broad market access to currencies, indices, commodities, and, where available, crypto CFDs via the MetaTrader platforms. It operates under regulatory oversight and supports trading with built-in charting and risk-management tools.

What to check before you run an EA

First, the rules. Some brokers ban scalping EAs, news trading or high-frequency strategies, or limit them to certain account types. Read the client agreement and ask support in writing.

Second, the account model. MT5 accounts are either hedging or netting. A hedging account lets you hold a buy and a sell on the same pair at once. A netting account merges them into one position. Many EAs are written for one model only.

Third, execution. An EA that trades often needs low latency and fast fills. Brokers with ECN or STP execution and servers near London or New York tend to fill faster. A VPS, a small server that runs your EA around the clock, keeps it running when your computer is off. Some brokers include one when you trade enough volume.

Fourth, costs. EAs that trade many times a day pay the spread and commission many times a day. A raw-spread account with a commission is often cheaper for them than a standard account with a wider spread. Our fee calculator compares the two.

MT5 versus MT4 for automation

MT4 EAs are written in MQL4, MT5 EAs in MQL5. They are not the same language, so an MT4 EA needs to be rewritten for MT5. MT5 has a faster strategy tester, more timeframes and a built-in economic calendar. MetaQuotes stopped selling new MT4 licences to brokers years ago, so MT5 is where new development happens.

Common questions

Do all MT5 brokers allow EAs?

Most do, but the rules differ. A few limit EAs on certain accounts or ban strategies that trade the same tick many times. Check the client agreement before you buy or build an EA.

Can I use NinjaTrader or TradeLocker instead?

Some brokers offer them. NinjaTrader is common at futures brokers and some forex brokers. TradeLocker is a newer web platform used by several prop firms and brokers. Our platform filter in the broker finder shows who offers what.

Which US brokers offer MT5?

Few. US forex brokers must be CFTC and NFA registered, and most use their own platforms. FOREX.com offers MetaTrader alongside its own platform. Check the review for the current list.

How this list is built

Brokers tagged with MT5 in the catalogue and holding at least one licence from a major regulator, ordered by our trust rank. EA rules and VPS offers change often, so confirm them with the broker before you trade.

Sources: MetaQuotes, MetaTrader 5 for traders (checked 25 Sep 2026)

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