Every cost component you should account for — upfront, monthly, variable and often overlooked — when budgeting a trading platform for your brokerage.
There are three ways to get a trading platform, each with a very different cost structure:
| Cost Component | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Setup & Onboarding | $3,000–$15,000 | One-time. Covers config, branding, LP integration, QA. |
| Monthly Licence & Hosting | $800–$3,500/mo | Includes hosting, support, updates. |
| LP Connectivity | $0–$500/mo/LP | Varies by provider. Some charge per-connection. |
| Payment Gateway | 0.5%–2% per transaction | Charged by payment processor, not platform provider. |
| KYC/AML Verification | $0.50–$2.00 per verification | Third-party verification APIs. |
| SMS Notifications | $0.01–$0.05 per SMS | Volume dependent. Opt for email-first to reduce cost. |
| Custom Feature Development | $80–$150/hr | If commissioning features beyond standard package. |
| Project Component | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Core OMS & Execution Engine | $50,000–$150,000 |
| Pricing Engine & LP Integration (FIX) | $30,000–$80,000 |
| Risk Engine | $20,000–$60,000 |
| Client Portal (Web + Mobile) | $40,000–$100,000 |
| Back-Office & Admin Panel | $30,000–$80,000 |
| Charting Integration (TradingView) | $10,000–$25,000 |
| KYC, Compliance & Reporting Module | $20,000–$50,000 |
| QA, Security Audit & DevOps | $20,000–$60,000 |
| Total (typical full platform) | $220,000–$605,000+ |
These are median estimates for an offshore development team. US/EU agency rates can double these numbers. Build time: 12–24 months.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| MT5 Server Licence (MetaQuotes) | ~$100,000 upfront + annual fees |
| Optional: Bridge to LP | $10,000–$30,000 + monthly fee |
| White-Label MT5 (via reseller) | $1,500–$3,000/mo licence |
| Customisation (limited) | Subject to MetaQuotes terms |
Note: MetaQuotes has tightened white-label availability in recent years and direct MT5 server licences are only issued to regulated entities meeting specific criteria.
| Route | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | 3-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-Label (CTATech) | ~$20,400 | ~$14,400 | ~$14,400 | ~$49,200 |
| Custom Build (mid-range) | ~$350,000 | ~$180,000 | ~$180,000 | ~$710,000 |
| MT5 Server Licence | ~$130,000 | ~$30,000 | ~$30,000 | ~$190,000 |
White-label includes $6,000 setup + $1,200/mo. Custom build includes dev + maintenance team. White-label is typically 10–15× lower cost over a 3-year period.
Building a full trading platform (OMS, pricing engine, risk engine, client portal, mobile apps, back-office) from scratch typically costs $200,000 to $1,000,000+ in development fees, plus 12–24 months of build time before a minimum viable product is ready. This is before compliance integration, LP connectivity and QA.
White-label trading platform monthly costs typically range from $800 to $3,500 per month, covering hosting, infrastructure, maintenance, support and licence fees. CTATech packages start from $1,200/month for a fully hosted, managed platform under your brand.
Common hidden costs include: LP connectivity fees charged per connection or per volume, payment gateway transaction percentages, KYC provider per-verification fees, SMS/email notification costs at volume, SSL renewal, domain registration and professional compliance review fees. Always ask for a fully itemised quote.
White-label setup fees typically range from $3,000 to $15,000 covering initial configuration, branding, domain setup, LP integration and QA. More complex setups (multiple asset classes, custom features, multi-jurisdiction CRM) cost more. CTATech provides fixed-price setup quotes with no surprise billing.
CTATech provides itemised, fixed-price proposals. No vague estimates. No hidden fees. Tell us what you need.
Flexible CTATech packages for startups and established brokers. Full transparency. Start from $1,200/month.