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Quick answer
A MetaTrader 5 white label is a licensing arrangement where a broker offers MT5 under its own brand by leasing the platform from MetaQuotes or sub-licensing from a primary licensee. The broker handles client onboarding, payments, and customer support; MetaQuotes maintains the platform. White-label fees typically run $5,000 to $25,000 monthly depending on traffic.
A MetaTrader 5 white label is a licensing arrangement where a broker offers MT5 under its own brand by leasing the platform from MetaQuotes, the platform vendor, or sub-licensing it from a primary licensee. The trader downloads an app branded by the broker; underneath, it is the same MT5 binary that ships from MetaQuotes. The architecture, order types, and client experience are identical to a primary licence. Where they differ is in cost, liquidity routing, and risk-management infrastructure behind the scenes.
Why white label exists
A primary MT5 licence is expensive: six-figure setup, five-figure monthly fees, plus dedicated server infrastructure. A white label cuts the entry cost dramatically by sharing the underlying server cluster across multiple branded brokers. For the broker, the trade-off is less control over the deepest layer of the stack. For the trader, the trade-off is mostly invisible if the white-label provider runs a clean operation.
The MT5 architecture, briefly
MT5 runs on a multi-component server cluster:
- Access server. The endpoint your terminal connects to. Authenticates the login.
- Trade server. Matches orders, calculates margin, fires execution to the broker’s liquidity provider.
- History server. Stores tick data, account history, and reports.
- Backup and replication. Hot standby for failover.
- Gateway and bridge. Connects MT5 to external liquidity (banks, ECNs, prime brokers).
A white-label broker leases capacity on this cluster from the primary licensee. The primary licensee operates the servers; the white-label broker administers users, symbols, leverage groups, and routing rules within its assigned slice.
What is included in a white label
- Branded terminals. Custom name, logo, splash screen on desktop, web, and mobile.
- Custom symbols and leverage groups. The broker defines the products and leverage tiers it offers.
- Bridge to liquidity. The broker plugs in its own LP via the bridge, or uses one provided by the white-label vendor.
- Manager and admin terminals. Risk management dashboards, position monitoring, dealing desk tools.
- API access. For CRM integration, reporting, and automated risk processes.
What is not included
- Server-level customisation. The white-label broker cannot change MT5 core behaviour. Patch cycles and protocol updates come from MetaQuotes via the primary licensee.
- Direct vendor relationship. Support escalations route through the primary licensee.
- Performance isolation. The white-label broker shares server hardware. A noisy neighbour on the same cluster is unlikely but possible.
What to verify as a trader on a white-label MT5
From the trader’s seat, the brand on the splash screen tells you nothing about execution quality. Five things to check:
- Regulatory status of the broker. Not the white-label provider; the broker on whose books your trade actually sits. Look for a MiFID II investment firm regulator (in the EEA), an ASIC licence (Australia), or equivalent.
- Segregation of client funds. A regulated broker holds client money in segregated accounts at tier-1 banks, separate from the broker’s own treasury.
- Execution model. STP / NDD (orders pass straight through to liquidity providers) vs market maker (broker takes the other side). Both are legal; neither is a conflict if disclosed and monitored.
- Spreads and commissions on your pairs. Compare to the primary licensee or other white-label brokers running the same vendor. Material divergence means a wider markup.
- Withdrawal terms. SLA on withdrawal, any minimum, any fee. The platform brand does not change withdrawal logistics; the broker’s banking does.
How to spot the difference
You usually cannot, by design. The terminal looks identical. The order tickets, charts, and indicators are identical. The clue is in the small print: server name in the connection dialog often follows a [BrokerName]-Live or [WhiteLabelProvider]-Live convention. Some brokers publish their licence configuration; some do not.
The practical test is performance during stress: news prints, weekend gaps, sharp intraday moves. A well-run white label handles these as well as a primary licensee. A poorly-run one shows requotes, frozen quotes, or platform disconnects. The brand on the screen does not predict either outcome; the regulatory standing and capitalisation of the underlying broker does.
White label vs primary licence: trader-side comparison
| Dimension | White label | Primary licence |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal experience | Identical | Identical |
| Order types | Identical | Identical |
| Update cadence | Vendor-driven | Vendor-driven |
| Custom symbols | Broker-defined | Broker-defined |
| Server isolation | Shared cluster | Dedicated |
| Cost to broker | Lower | Higher |
| Trader-visible difference | Usually none | None |
MetaTrader 5 at Volity
Volity provides MetaTrader 5 alongside MetaTrader 4 across desktop, web, and mobile. Trading is executed by UBK Markets Ltd, a Cyprus Investment Firm authorised by CySEC under licence 186/12. Retail leverage caps under ESMA product-intervention measures: 1:30 on major currency pairs, 1:20 on non-major currencies and major indices, 1:10 on other commodities, 1:5 on individual equities, 1:2 on cryptoassets. Negative balance protection applies on retail accounts. Eligible retail clients are covered by the Cyprus Investor Compensation Fund up to EUR 20,000 per client per firm.
