MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 remain the most popular trading platforms among retail investors. They support automated trading via Expert Advisors (EAs), offer advanced charting, and work on desktop, web, and mobile.
When choosing a MetaTrader broker, look at three things first: regulation (CySEC, FCA, ASIC are the gold standard), minimum deposit (anything under $100 is reasonable for a first account), and execution quality (ECN brokers typically offer tighter spreads).
What to look for in a MetaTrader broker
- Regulator. A broker regulated by a tier-1 authority (FCA, ASIC, CySEC) keeps your funds in segregated accounts and offers negative-balance protection.
- Minimum deposit. For a first account, $50–$100 is plenty. Some brokers go down to $1.
- Account types. ECN accounts give you raw spreads plus a small commission, which is usually cheaper for active traders.
- Leverage. Up to 1:30 on major pairs in the EU (CySEC-regulated). Higher leverage (1:500) is still common with offshore regulators.
Our top picks
The brokers below all support MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5, are well-regulated, and accept traders from most countries. We picked them by matching the metatrader tag in our database.