Trusted Partners
TOOLS I USE.
HONEST REVIEWS.
Every partner on this page has been part of my trading setup — some for years. I write about what I've actually experienced: what works, what doesn't, and what you should know before signing up. No paid placements. No airbrushed reviews.
Affiliate disclosure: I earn a commission if you sign up via my links. This doesn't change what I write — the downsides are included too. Always do your own research before opening an account or purchasing any service.
IC Markets
ECN Broker
Using since 2020
2007
Founded
ASIC
+ CySEC reg.
~0.1
avg pips EUR/USD
$200
Min deposit
ECN Broker · My primary broker since 2020
IC MARKETS.
WHY I USE IT.
Every live account on this site — Apex, ATG, Imperium, Leopard, AI Gold — runs on IC Markets. After going through multiple brokers, this is where I settled. Here's the honest breakdown.
My experience
I've been running EAs on IC Markets since 2020. The main reason I stayed is execution quality — true ECN routing with raw spreads typically around 0.1–0.3 pips on majors during normal market hours, plus a fixed $3.50 commission per standard lot on MT5 Raw accounts. For algorithmic trading the low spread means backtest results tend to transfer to live performance more accurately than with spread-only brokers. IC Markets also allows any trading style — scalping, hedging, EAs — with no restrictions. Around 60% of their trading volume is reportedly algorithmic, which means the infrastructure is built for it. Equinix NY4 and LD5 data centres keep execution fast. That said, spreads do widen during low liquidity and news events, which is normal for ECN brokers.
Account type (recommended)
Raw Spread · MT5
Commission
$3.50 / standard lot
Avg EUR/USD spread
~0.1 pips + $3.50 commission
Platforms
MT4 · MT5 · cTrader
Regulation
ASIC (AU) · CySEC (EU)
Data centres
Equinix NY4 · LD5
EA trading
Fully allowed · No restrictions
Min deposit
$200 USD
Why I recommend it
✓True ECN — no dealing desk interference
✓Low spreads on XAUUSD — relevant for gold EAs
✓MT4, MT5, and cTrader all supported
✓No EA restrictions — any strategy allowed
✓Tick data downloadable for backtesting
Things to know
✕$200 minimum deposit — higher than some
✕Commission model — not for set-and-forget beginners
✕No FCA (UK) regulation — UK clients fall under FSC Mauritius
✕Spreads widen during major news events
My recommendation
Use the Raw Spread account, not the Standard — the commission is worth it for the tighter spreads. If you're in the EU, the CySEC entity offers better regulatory protections than the Seychelles entity. Check which entity applies to you when signing up.
Affiliate disclosure: I earn a commission if you open an account via my link. Past performance of any EA is not indicative of future results. CFD trading involves substantial risk of loss.
Prop Firm · I have an active funded account here
THE5ERS.
WHAT YOU NEED
TO KNOW.
The Nomad Trader EA and Imperium Pattern EA both run on The5ers funded accounts. I chose them after evaluating several prop firms. Here's the full picture — including the rules that can catch you out.
My experience
I chose The5ers primarily because of the no time limit policy — you trade the challenge at your own pace, which removes the pressure that causes most algo traders to over-leverage and blow challenges. The rules are transparent and the support team has been responsive when I've had questions. The funded account is live — real capital, real market execution. One important rule to be aware of: The5ers requires you to own the source code of any EA you use. This means third-party EAs where you don't have the MQL5 source code are technically prohibited. In practice I use my own EAs and have had no issues. Their profit split starts at 80/20 and can scale to 100% for top performers. Payouts are every 14 days with a $150 minimum withdrawal.
Daily loss limit
5% (High Stakes program)
Max drawdown
10% (High Stakes program)
Time limit
None
Profit split
80% → up to 100%
EA trading
Allowed — source code required
Payout frequency
Every 14 days · $150 min
Founded
2016 · $43M+ paid out
Max scale
Up to $4M
Why I recommend it
✓No time limit — trade at your own pace
✓EAs allowed — if you own the source code
✓Scaling plan up to $4M funded capital
✓Transparent rules — no hidden gotchas in my experience
✓cTrader accounts available alongside MT5
Things to know
✕Source code requirement for EAs — check this applies to you
✕News bracketing (pending orders around events) is prohibited
✕Challenge fee is non-refundable on failure
✕Daily and drawdown rules vary by program — always verify current terms
Important: EA source code rule
The5ers requires traders to own the source code of any EA used. If you purchase an EA and don't receive the MQL5 source (.mq5 file), you should verify with The5ers whether it complies with their current rules before trading it on a funded account. Rules can change — always check their latest terms directly.
Affiliate disclosure: I earn a commission if you sign up via my link. Prop firm rules change — always verify current terms on The5ers' website before trading. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Capital is at risk.
The5ers
Prop Firm
Active funded account
5%
Daily limit
None
Time limit
80%+
Profit split
$4M
Max scale
Dipgate VPS
Forex VPS
Using since 2022
2020
Founded
NY·LD
Server locations
99.99%
Uptime guarantee
$24.90
From / month
Forex VPS · My EAs run here since 2022
DIPGATE VPS.
3 YEARS,
STILL RUNNING.
Every EA on this site runs 24/5 on a Dipgate server. I've been on the same setup since 2022 — multiple accounts, multiple platforms, across every market session. Here's what the experience actually looks like.
My experience — 3+ years, multiple accounts
I've been running my full EA portfolio on Dipgate since 2022 — currently across multiple accounts simultaneously. The setup is dead simple: you get a Windows server via RDP, install MT5, connect your broker, and your EAs run 24/5 whether your PC is on or not. That's the core value of any VPS — platform continuity. No missed trades because your laptop went to sleep, no gaps because your internet dropped. I run Apex, ATG, Imperium, and AI Gold all on the same server without any performance issues. The Gold plan handles up to 10 simultaneous trading platforms, which is more than enough for a full EA portfolio. Every plan includes auto-startup for trading platforms — meaning if the server ever restarts, your MT5s come back online automatically without you touching anything. Support has been responsive when I've needed it — they know their way around MT5 specifically, which not all VPS providers do. After 3 years I keep renewing, which says enough.
Bronze — from $24.90/mo
2GB RAM · 2GHz · 30GB NVMe · 3 platforms
Silver — from $48.90/mo
4GB RAM · 3GHz · 50GB NVMe · 6 platforms
Gold — from $74.90/mo
6GB RAM · 4GHz · 75GB NVMe · 10 platforms
Locations
London · New York · other locations
Uptime guarantee
99.99% · No unexpected reboots
Platforms
MT4/MT5 · jForex · NinjaTrader · more
Included in all plans
Unique IP · Auto startup · Unlimited bandwidth
Support
Award-winning · 24/7
Why I recommend it
✓EAs run 24/5 regardless of your local setup
✓Handles multiple MT5 accounts simultaneously
✓Support team actually knows MT5 — not generic IT
✓Simple RDP setup — up and running in under 30 minutes
✓Forex-specific infrastructure — built for traders, not general hosting
Things to know
→Bronze plan (6 platforms) is enough for most beginners
→Windows-only — if you need Linux, look elsewhere
→Upgrade between plans is seamless with no data loss
My recommendation
Start with Bronze ($24.90/mo) if you're running 1–3 EAs. Move to Silver ($48.90/mo) once you need more than 3 platforms running simultaneously — that gets you 6 platforms, 4GB RAM, and access to NinjaTrader and TradeStation too. Gold ($74.90/mo) covers up to 10 platforms for a full portfolio. All plans come with New York and London servers — pick whichever is closest to your broker's data centre for lowest latency.
Affiliate disclosure: I earn a commission if you sign up via my link. VPS performance varies by plan, server load, and location. Always test with a demo account before running live EAs.
Quick reference
AT A GLANCE
Key facts side by side. Always verify current terms directly with each provider before signing up.
—
IC Markets
The5ers
Dipgate VPS
Type
ECN Broker
Prop Firm
Forex VPS
Founded
2007 · Sydney AU
2016
2020 · Italy
Regulation
ASIC · CySEC
Established firm
Infrastructure provider
MT5 support
✓
✓
✓ Run on VPS
cTrader support
✓
✓
✓ Run on VPS
EA trading
✓ No restrictions
✓ Source code req.
✓ Infrastructure
Min cost
$200 deposit
From $39 challenge
From $24.90/mo
Personal use since
2020
2023
2022
Affiliate link
Yes
Yes
Yes