MT4/MT5 White Label vs ST Trader: True Cost Comparison for Brokers in 2026

Platform choice is the second-biggest cost decision a new broker makes — and often the one that causes the most expensive regrets. MT4 and MT5 white labels dominated the industry for 15 years, and many founders default to them because they're familiar. But the cost structure has changed, the prop firm limitations are structural, and a significant portion of new brokers are now launching on ST Trader — and saving $100,000–$200,000 over their first three years in the process.

This is a detailed, honest comparison of both options for 2026. We've included real cost numbers, regulatory acceptance status, a feature-by-feature breakdown, and a three-year total cost of ownership table. Read it before you sign a platform contract.

MT4/MT5 White Label: How It Works

MetaQuotes licenses its trading platform to brokers through white label agreements. Under a white label, the broker gets a branded version of the MT4 or MT5 platform — their own server infrastructure, their own client-facing branding — but running on MetaQuotes' underlying software.

What a MetaTrader white label includes:

• The trading terminal (desktop, web, mobile) with your branding
• A MetaTrader server for trade execution and account management
• Basic back-office for account creation and management
• Connection to your liquidity provider via bridge (bridge is additional cost)

What it does not include:

• CRM — you need a separate system (B2Core, Skale, HubSpot, Salesforce)
• Client portal — requires third-party integration
• IB/affiliate management — separate integration required
• Prop firm challenge management — not a native feature; requires third-party plugins
• Payment processing — separate PSP integration

MT4 white labels are no longer available for new agreements. MetaQuotes stopped issuing new MT4 licenses and existing arrangements are on legacy contracts that cannot be extended or materially modified. For any new broker launch, MT5 is the only MetaQuotes option — and MetaQuotes itself has signalled its long-term commitment to MT5 over MT4.

The True Cost of an MT5 White Label in 2026

Here is where the MetaTrader economics surprise founders who assume "white label" means affordable:

• Setup fee: $5,000–$15,000 depending on provider. This covers server provisioning, initial configuration, and technical onboarding.
• Monthly MetaQuotes license: Entry $10,000/month (up to 1,000 real accounts, requires 3 months upfront payment of $30,000), Standard $15,000/month (25,000 accounts), Enterprise $20,000/month (200,000 accounts). These are direct MetaQuotes prices — there is no lower-cost tier available.
• Bridge cost: $500–$2,000/month for a connectivity bridge to your liquidity provider. Common bridges include PrimeXM, OneZero, and Centroid — each priced separately.
• CRM: B2Core starts at $500/month; Skale, Salesforce CRM editions, and custom builds run $1,000–$5,000/month depending on features and scale.
• Prop firm management layer (if applicable): Third-party plugins like FPFX run $500–$1,500/month. Custom-built evaluation dashboards can cost $20,000–$50,000 in development and require ongoing maintenance.
• Client portal: Typically bundled with CRM or built separately at $500–$2,000/month.

Real total cost for a functional MT5 Entry-tier stack in the first year: $154,000–$196,000, with ongoing monthly costs of $11,000–$14,000 at Entry tier — rising to $16,000–$19,000/month on Standard. The Entry tier also requires a $30,000 upfront payment (3 months) before the platform is delivered.

ST Trader: What It Is and How It's Priced

ST Trader is a white-label trading platform built by Software Technologies Ltd, designed specifically for new brokers and prop firms who need a full platform stack at lower total cost. Unlike MetaTrader, it was built to include CRM, client portal, IB management, and prop firm tools natively — not as third-party integrations.

ST Trader pricing tiers (approximate, subject to commercial negotiation):

• Starter (~$1,500/month): Core trading platform, basic back-office, client portal. Suitable for brokers in pre-launch or low volume. Does not include native prop firm tools.
• Growth (~$3,500/month): Full platform stack including native prop firm challenge management, CRM, IB management, mobile apps, and priority support. The most common starting point for serious prop firm launches.
• Enterprise (~$8,000/month): Full API access, custom integrations, dedicated infrastructure, enterprise SLA, white-glove onboarding. For brokers at scale or with complex integration requirements.

Setup fee for ST Trader: typically $5,000–$10,000 including onboarding, branding configuration, and technical integration with your liquidity provider.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Feature	MT5 White Label	ST Trader (Growth)
Setup cost	$5,000–$15,000	$5,000–$10,000
Monthly platform fee	$10,000–$20,000	~$3,500
Bridge / LP connectivity	$500–$2,000/mo (separate)	Included
CRM included	No — separate cost	Yes (ST CRM native)
Client portal	Via CRM or separate	Yes, native
IB / affiliate management	Via CRM or separate	Yes, native
Prop firm challenge tools	No — third-party plugin required	Yes, native
Mobile app	Yes (MetaTrader branded)	Yes (white-labeled)
API access	Yes (MQL5 / REST)	Yes (Enterprise tier)
Regulatory acceptance	Universal	Universal — regulated & unregulated
Vendor support	Multiple vendors	Single vendor
Migration support	N/A (entry)	Yes (from MT4/MT5)

Prop Firm Features: Where MT5 Falls Short

MT5 was designed as a retail brokerage platform. The challenge-based prop firm model did not exist when MetaQuotes built the core of the platform, and it has never been retrofitted with native prop firm functionality. Everything a prop firm needs on MT5 requires third-party plugins:

• Challenge management: Requires a plugin or custom dashboard that connects to MT5 accounts via API and tracks phase progress externally. These break when MT5 updates its server software.
• Real-time drawdown monitoring: Must be handled by a third-party risk engine that polls MT5 account data. Latency and reliability issues are common.
• Funded account provisioning: Manual process or custom automation — not native to MT5.
• Trader dashboards: Entirely custom-built or via a third-party prop firm SaaS layer, costing $500–$2,000/month ongoing.
• Payout workflows: Manual or via CRM integration — no native mechanism.

On ST Trader, all of this is native. Drawdown tracking is real-time and integrated. Challenge phases are managed in the same interface as the trading platform. Funded account provisioning is automated. This is not a marginal difference — it is the difference between running a prop firm with one person managing operations and needing a three-person ops team to handle the same volume on MT5.

Regulatory Acceptance

ST Trader is a universal platform — it works for both regulated and unregulated brokers. There is no license requirement to use it. An SVG-incorporated broker with no regulatory license can launch on ST Trader on the same day as an FCA-regulated CIF. This is the same flexibility MT5 has always had, and it matters: many new brokers launch offshore first, build volume, and pursue a Seychelles or CySEC license later. ST Trader supports that trajectory end to end.

For regulated operations, ST Trader's track record in 2026:

• Unregulated / offshore (SVG, Marshall Islands, etc.): No restriction — ST Trader operates without requiring any license
• Seychelles FSA: Explicitly accepted; common among FSA-licensed brokers
• UAE DFSA and SCA: Accepted; a number of DIFC-regulated brokers operate on ST Trader
• CySEC: Accepted; CySEC-regulated CIFs operate on ST Trader
• FSCA (South Africa): Accepted
• FCA (UK): Not yet common but technically viable; requires careful positioning in the compliance application

Regulatory acceptance of ST Trader is not a barrier for any new broker launch in 2026 — whether you're operating without a license, pursuing an offshore license, or applying to a tier-one regulator.

Migration from MT4/MT5 to ST Trader

For existing brokers on MT4/MT5 considering a move, migration involves:

• Data portability: Account history, client records, and position data exported from MT5 in standard formats. Historical trading data is archived; current accounts are migrated with balances and open positions.
• Client communication: Clients need advance notice (typically 2–4 weeks) and clear instructions for downloading and configuring the new platform. For retail brokers, a migration landing page and in-app notifications are standard.
• Timeline: A well-managed migration from MT5 to ST Trader takes 6–12 weeks from project kick-off to go-live. Rushed migrations in 3–4 weeks are possible but carry higher client churn risk.
• Churn risk: Clients who are power users of the MetaTrader platform (custom EAs, advanced charting setups) are the most likely to churn. Most retail clients adapt without significant friction.

We manage MT5-to-ST Trader migrations end-to-end. See our migration service for a detailed breakdown of what's involved and typical timelines.

Who Should Choose MT5 White Label

MT5 remains the right choice in specific scenarios:

• You have an existing MT5 client base with significant custom EA or automation adoption — migration friction would be high
• Your liquidity provider or prime broker relationship technically requires MetaTrader connectivity
• You're targeting a client segment that explicitly demands MetaTrader (common in some professional and institutional client segments)
• You're applying for an FCA license and want maximum compliance familiarity with your auditor and compliance consultant

Who Should Choose ST Trader

ST Trader is the stronger choice when:

• You're launching a prop firm and need native challenge management without a fragile plugin stack
• You're a new broker with a constrained budget who needs a full platform, CRM, and client portal at lower total cost
• You're launching unregulated (SVG, offshore) or in Seychelles, UAE, FSCA, or CySEC jurisdictions — ST Trader imposes no license requirement and is well-established across all of these
• You want a single vendor relationship for platform, CRM, and support — reducing operational complexity
• You're coming from MT4 (legacy license) and need to migrate to a new platform anyway

Total Cost of Ownership: 3-Year Comparison

Cost Item	MT5 Stack (Year 1)	MT5 Stack (Year 3 cumulative)	ST Trader (Year 1)	ST Trader (Year 3 cumulative)
Platform setup	$10,000	$10,000	$7,500	$7,500
Platform license (monthly × 12)	$120,000 (Entry)	$360,000 (Entry)	$42,000	$126,000
Bridge / LP connectivity	$12,000–$24,000	$36,000–$72,000	Included	Included
CRM	$6,000–$24,000	$18,000–$72,000	Included	Included
Prop firm plugin (if applicable)	$6,000–$18,000	$18,000–$54,000	Included	Included
Total estimated	$154,000–$196,000	$442,000–$568,000	$49,500	$133,500

The three-year saving of $300,000–$430,000 is not hypothetical — it is a function of the component costs above. For a startup broker or prop firm with a 12-month runway, that capital difference is the difference between having budget for marketing and client acquisition versus running out of money before reaching scale.

For a detailed demo of ST Trader's prop firm features, or to discuss a migration from your current MT5 setup, visit our ST Trader for Brokers page or our ST Trader for Prop Firms page. You can also book a free consultation to walk through the cost comparison for your specific scale and configuration.