You may have arrived at this page because you wanted to know if IG, one of the largest CFD and options brokers, supports MetaTrader 5 (MT5) as a trading platform. MT5 is the most recent version of the industry-leading MetaTrader platform. Some brokers let you choose between MT4 and MT5, and for years IG was not one of them.
That has changed. In this article you will find out how MT5 works with an IG account, what you get for free, how an MT5 account differs from a standard IG account, and which alternatives are worth a look. Let’s get right into it.
Does IG support MT5?
Yes. IG now supports the MetaTrader 5 (MT5) trading platform, on desktop, web and mobile, alongside MT4, TradingView, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer and its own web and mobile platforms.
This is a change from IG’s long-standing position. For years the broker offered MT4 only, and older guides across the web still say MT5 is unavailable. IG now runs a dedicated MT5 offering with its own account type, its own servers and a user guide in its help centre.
What you get with an IG MT5 account:
- 45 additional indicators and Expert Advisors at no extra cost, through Signal Centre, Autochartist and FX Blue;
- Native VPS hosting, free with qualifying accounts, across nine global servers, which matters if you run EAs around the clock;
- Desktop, web and mobile access. The desktop terminal connects directly to IG’s servers, and there is a browser terminal if you do not want to install anything;
- Both hedging and netting position management, plus 21 timeframes and a built-in economic calendar.
How to get MT5 with IG
An MT5 account at IG is a separate account, not a different view of your existing one. A few practical points from IG’s own help centre:
- You download MT5 from your account dashboard on a PC. Mac users are redirected to the MetaQuotes website for the download;
- Live accounts get a five or six-digit MT5 account number, which is different from your standard IG account details;
- When logging in, live users select IG-LIVE as the server, or type the address manually;
- The same login works across the desktop, web and mobile versions.
What to check before switching to MT5
An MT5 account behaves differently from IG’s own platforms, and the differences are the sort that only become obvious once you have a position open. IG’s MT5 user guide covers four in particular:
- Execution works differently from IG’s platforms;
- Leverage, margin requirements and the close-out process are not identical to those on a standard IG account;
- Currency restrictions apply, so check what happens if your default account currency is not supported;
- Funding goes through transfers between accounts rather than one shared balance.
Read the MT5 user guide in IG’s help centre before you move money across, particularly if you plan to run Expert Advisors unattended.
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with IG (IG UK, September 2026). You should consider whether you understand how these products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Other brokers that support MT5
IG is no longer the deciding factor if MT5 is what you are after, so the comparison shifts to spreads, commissions, market access and which extra platforms each broker adds alongside MetaTrader. These are the alternatives worth comparing.
Pepperstone
Pepperstone is a CFD broker that allows you to trade CFDs in several asset classes, such as forex, stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, and more. It gives you the widest platform choice of this group: MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView.
Disclaimer: 72-95% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.
FP Markets
Founded in 2005, FP Markets is a regulated CFD and forex broker. It offers forex trading with tight spreads, and the platform supports both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5.
Disclaimer: 75.31% of retail accounts lose money.
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers is one of the top global discount brokers, with access to an extensive range of markets where you can trade currencies, stocks, options, and many more instruments. It does not offer MT5 as a native platform, so connecting the two requires a third-party bridge and some setup on your side. If MetaTrader is central to how you trade, one of the other brokers here is the simpler route.
IC Markets
IC Markets is an Australian-based broker. It offers low spreads and a minimum deposit of $200, though the product range is limited to forex and CFDs. IC Markets supports both MT4 and MT5, giving you flexibility in deciding the best option for you.
Disclaimer: 76.27% of retail accounts lose money.
MT5 pros and cons
Pros
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Built-in economic calendar
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85 technical indicators, against 30 on MT4
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21 timeframes, against 9 on MT4
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Can display up to 100 charts simultaneously
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Multi-threaded strategy tester for faster backtesting
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Written in MQL5, so you can build more sophisticated trading algorithms
- Supports both hedging and netting
Cons
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Some features may appear too advanced for beginners
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More complex to learn than MT4
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Expert Advisors written for MT4 in MQL4 will not run on MT5
- At IG, it means running a separate account with its own login and funding
What are the differences between MT4 and MT5?
MT5 offers more advanced charting than MT4, more timeframes, a built-in economic calendar, and a longer list of technical indicators. Although both have similar interfaces, MT5 is not intended to replace MT4. The two platforms serve different user segments: MT4 attracts forex traders, since it was built around their needs, while MT5 is more widely used for CFDs, stocks and futures.
This is how IG itself compares the two:
| Feature | MT4 | MT5 |
| Timeframes | 9 | 21 |
| Technical indicators | 30 | 85 |
| Order types | 4 | 6 |
| Economic calendar | No | Built-in |
| Backtesting | Single-thread | Multi-thread |
| VPS integration | Third-party | Native |
| Programming language | MQL4 | MQL5 |
| Platform updates | Maintenance | Active development |
Source: IG’s MetaTrader 5 page, September 2026.
Beyond the specification sheet, four differences matter in practice:
- Your existing robots will not carry over. MT4 is written in MQL4 and MT5 in MQL5, so an Expert Advisor built for MT4 has to be rewritten to run on MT5;
- MT5 is faster. It is a multi-threaded 64-bit platform, whereas MT4 is single-threaded and 32-bit, which shows most clearly in backtesting;
- Netting. MT5 supports both hedging and netting, while MT4 only supports hedging. Under netting, if you go long GBP/USD and then buy again, you end up with one position rather than two;
- Asset coverage. MT4 was designed for decentralised markets, while MT5 also handles stocks, futures and commodities traded on centralised exchanges.
One more thing worth knowing: MT4 is in maintenance while MT5 is still actively developed, so the gap between the two widens with each release rather than narrowing.
Bottom line
IG supports MetaTrader 5, and the offer is more generous than a plain integration: 45 free indicators and Expert Advisors, native VPS hosting on qualifying accounts, and access from desktop, browser and phone. If you were holding off on IG because you wanted MT5, that reason has gone.
The trade-off is that MT5 at IG runs as a separate account with its own login, its own funding and execution terms that differ from IG’s own platforms. Read the user guide before moving a strategy across, especially an automated one.
If MetaTrader is the centre of your setup and you want to compare, Pepperstone, FP Markets and IC Markets all support MT4 and MT5, and Pepperstone adds cTrader and TradingView on top. The features of MT5 are not important to every trader, but if you trade outside forex, or you backtest heavily, it delivers more than MT4.
FAQs
What is IG?
Founded in the UK in 1974, IG is a well-known online broker listed on the London Stock Exchange and offers a large set of financial instruments, including forex, commodities, CFDs, cryptocurrencies, options, and more. IG says it has over 2 million active accounts globally. In the UK it operates through IG Markets Ltd, IG Index Ltd and IG Trading and Investments Ltd, all authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The instruments you can trade vary depending on your country of residence.
Does IG still support MT4?
Yes. IG offers MT4 alongside MT5, plus TradingView, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer and its own web and mobile platforms. You can keep an MT4 account if your strategies are written in MQL4, since they will not run on MT5 without being rewritten.
Does IG charge for MT5?
The platform itself is free, as it is with every broker that offers MetaTrader. IG also includes 45 additional indicators and Expert Advisors at no extra cost, and native VPS hosting free of charge on qualifying accounts. You still pay the spread, plus commission where it applies, and the usual overnight funding on leveraged positions.
What is MT5?
MetaTrader is the most popular online trading platform developed by MetaQuotes Software and used globally by traders and investors. Released in 2010, MT5 is a multi-asset platform that lets you trade currencies, CFDs, options and futures contracts. It offers 21 timeframes for price analysis, algorithmic trading applications to automate your trades, and copy trading features. You can open up to 100 charts at the same time, and IG’s own comparison puts it at 85 technical indicators against 30 on MT4.
