Answering common questions about MetaQuotes, licences, and white labels
If you’re in the forex and CFD industry, you see the name MetaQuotes everywhere. Their platforms, MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, are the global standard for traders. But for new brokers, the role of MetaQuotes Software Corp. can be confusing. Are they a broker? How do you get their software? The questions are common, and the answers are fundamental to understanding the brokerage business. This article answers the most common questions brokers have about MetaQuotes, their products, and how to get started.
What is MetaQuotes?
Let’s start with the basics. MetaQuotes Ltd. is a software development company. They are a technology provider, not a brokerage.
People often ask, “When was MetaQuotes founded?” or “Who created MetaQuotes?” They were founded in 2000. Like many tech companies, they are privately held, meaning the answer to “who owns MetaQuotes?” is that it’s a private company still managed by its founders, not a corporation you can buy stock in.
Their business model is to create and sell technology that other businesses, in this case brokerages, use to operate. They famously developed the platforms that have come to dominate the industry, but their history also includes earlier products before they struck gold with MetaTrader. Their entire focus is on building a robust, all-in-one software solution for the financial industry.
Is MetaQuotes a broker?
No. This is the single most common point of confusion, so we’ll be very clear: MetaQuotes is not a broker.
A broker is a company that offers financial services, holds client funds, and facilitates trades. MetaQuotes does none of these things. They are a B2B (business-to-business) software provider.
Think of it this way: MetaQuotes builds the kitchen. They manufacture the ovens, the high-tech freezers, and the point-of-sale systems. A broker is the restaurant that buys or leases the kitchen equipment, puts their own brand name on the door, creates a menu, and serves food to customers. MetaQuotes sells the tools; the broker uses the tools to serve clients.
They do not compete with the brokers who buy their software, and they stay focused entirely on the technology side.
What does MetaQuotes actually make?
MetaQuotes builds a complete ecosystem. When you get a licence from them, you aren’t just getting the app that traders download. You’re getting the entire back-end system.
– MetaTrader 4 (MT4)
This is the legendary platform that put them on the map. It became the industry standard because it was relatively lightweight, very stable, and focused heavily on forex trading. Its biggest feature was its user-friendliness and, most importantly, its programming language.
– MetaTrader 5 (MT5)
This is the modern, multi-asset successor. A common question is about MetaTrader for stocks. MT5 is the answer. It was designed from the ground up to handle centralized exchange trading, meaning it can support stocks, futures, and options in addition to forex. It has more timeframes, more built-in indicators, and a more advanced programming language.
– MetaQuotes Language (MQL4 and MQL5)
This is the secret ingredient. The MetaQuotes language is the built-in programming language for MT4 and MT5. This is what allows traders and developers to create their own “Expert Advisors” (EAs)—fully automated trading robots—as well as custom indicators and scripts. This open (yet proprietary) language created a massive community of developers, which in turn made the platforms incredibly “sticky.”
The Server Software
This is the part traders never see. It includes the server itself, the “Manager” application for the brokerage (to manage client accounts, trades, symbols), and other administrative tools. This back-end software is the core product that a broker licences.
How to get a MetaQuotes licence
The price isn’t one-size-fits-all; it depends on the path you take. There are two main models in the industry for getting a platform, each with a very different cost structure.
1. The main licence (the direct path)
This is the “full ownership” model, where you acquire the licence directly from MetaQuotes Software Corp.
- Characteristics: This path is for serious, well-capitalized brokerages that want full control and independence. You are the primary licence holder.
- Cost Structure:
- Upfront Fee: This is the biggest barrier. While not publicly listed, the one-time licence fee is a very significant cost, often well into the six-figures.
- Monthly Fees (Subscription-based): After the initial purchase, you pay MetaQuotes a recurring monthly fee for server support, maintenance, and technical updates. This is a fixed operational cost you must budget for.
This model is the most expensive upfront, but it gives you complete control over your operation.
2. The white label (the leasing path)
This is the most common path for new brokerages because the upfront cost is much lower.
- Characteristics: A “white label provider” (another company) has already paid the massive upfront fee for a main licence. You then lease a portion of their server. This is what is meant by an MT4 white label or MT5 whitelabel.
- Cost Structure:
- Upfront Fee: The white-label costs for setup are dramatically lower than buying a main licence.
- Monthly Fees (Subscription-based): This is where the main cost lies. You pay the white label provider a monthly fee for using their server, technical support, and often for a certain number of client accounts. This fee is generally higher than the direct MetaQuotes support fee because it includes the provider’s profit and service costs.
The next step: What about ‘white labels’ vs. integration?
This is where the path for a new brokerage splits. Because obtaining a main licence is so expensive, many look for an MT4 white label or MT5 white label solution.
A Metatrader 4 white label (also called a white label MT4) is typically a solution where a provider leases you a small part of their own main licence. It’s often a faster way to start, but it means your business runs on someone else’s licence, giving you less control.
The Protonix model: A technology partner for licensed brokers
A broker holding their own licence is only the first step. That MT4 or MT5 server is just an engine; it can’t run a business on its own. It needs to be connected to a CRM, a client area for traders, and a payment system to handle deposits.
This is where we come in.
Instead of leasing you a licence, we provide the entire ecosystem around your licence. When a broker comes to us, we handle the complex integration of their MT4/MT5 server with all the essential modules:
- A Forex CRM: A system built to manage client relationships, sales, and support, all connected to the trading platform.
- A Client Area (Trader’s Room): A professional, branded portal where your clients can open accounts, manage their funds, and see their trading history.
- A Payment Gateway: A robust cashier system to process deposits and withdrawals, which communicates with both the CRM and the trading server.
This model is for brokerages that are serious about building their own brand and owning their client relationships. You get the independence of holding your own licence, combined with our pre-built, integrated technology. You avoid the massive technical headache and cost of building your own CRM and client area from scratch.
So, to summarize: MetaQuotes is the core technology company that builds the MT4 and MT5 trading platforms. They are not a broker.
Getting a direct licence from them is the most important step for a new brokerage. But that licence is just the engine. To build the car—the fully functional brokerage—you need to connect that engine to a CRM, a client area, and payment systems.
While a white label MT4 or MT5 whitelabel provider leases you their engine, we act as the factory that builds the rest of the car around your engine. This integrated approach is the most professional and scalable way to build your brokerage, giving you full control over your licence and clients, all supported by our proven technology.
