MT5 Account Types Explained — ECN vs Standard vs Raw Spread
The account type you trade on determines your spread, execution quality, and total cost per trade. For gold EA trading, this choice directly affects how often your EA triggers and how much profit each trade retains. Here is exactly what each account type means and which one to use.
Quick Verdict
Scalping EA (M1)
Raw Spread — lowest total cost across high trade volume.
Breakout / Trend EA
ECN — direct access, fast fills at breakout levels.
Low-frequency EA
ECN or Standard — cost impact is lower, either works.
How MT5 Order Routing Works
Before comparing account types, it helps to understand what actually happens when your EA places a trade. There are two models:
Market Maker (Dealing Desk)
The broker takes the opposite side of your trade internally. They profit when you lose. This creates a conflict of interest and typically results in wider spreads, re-quotes, and execution delays — especially on fast-moving instruments like gold.
ECN / STP (No Dealing Desk)
Your order is routed directly to a pool of liquidity providers (banks, hedge funds). The broker earns a commission on the trade rather than taking the other side. No conflict of interest, tighter spreads, faster fills.
ECN, Raw Spread, and Premium accounts all use the No Dealing Desk model. Standard accounts may use either model depending on the broker — always check before opening an account.
The 4 MT5 Account Types Compared
Standard Account
BeginnerThe spread already includes the broker's markup. Simple to understand, no extra commission line items. Trade frequency is reduced by the spread filter on scalping EAs.
EA suitability
Workable
XAUUSD Spread
1.5–3.5 pips
Commission
None
Execution
Market Maker / STP
Min Deposit
$100–$200
Pros
- ✓No commission per trade
- ✓Simple cost structure
- ✓Works with all EA types
Cons
- ✗Wider spread reduces scalp frequency
- ✗Higher total cost per trade
- ✗Spread can widen sharply during news
ECN Account
RecommendedOrders are routed directly to liquidity providers. Best execution quality and fastest fill speeds. The commission is low relative to the spread savings — total cost is substantially lower than Standard.
EA suitability
Excellent
XAUUSD Spread
0.08–0.30 pips
Commission
$3–$7 per side / lot
Execution
Direct Market Access
Min Deposit
$200–$500
Pros
- ✓Tightest spreads on XAUUSD
- ✓No conflict of interest
- ✓Fastest execution speed
- ✓Transparent pricing
Cons
- ✗Commission adds a line item to each trade
- ✗Slightly higher min deposit
- ✗Requires understanding of total cost
Raw Spread Account
Best for ScalpingThe tightest spreads available — sometimes 0.0 pips during liquid sessions. Commission structure identical to ECN. Ideal for high-frequency scalpers where every 0.1 pip matters.
EA suitability
Excellent
XAUUSD Spread
0.00–0.20 pips
Commission
$3.50–$7 per side / lot
Execution
Direct Market Access
Min Deposit
$200–$500
Pros
- ✓Near-zero spread during liquid hours
- ✓Lowest total cost for high volume
- ✓Same direct access as ECN
- ✓Best for M1 scalping EAs
Cons
- ✗Commission required per trade
- ✗Spread can widen to 0.5–1.0 pip during off-hours
- ✗Requires active session timing awareness
Cent / Micro Account
Demo-likePositions are sized in cents rather than dollars. Useful for testing EA behaviour with real money psychology at near-zero financial risk. Not suitable for serious live trading.
EA suitability
Testing Only
XAUUSD Spread
1.5–4.0 pips
Commission
None
Execution
Market Maker
Min Deposit
$1–$50
Pros
- ✓Very low financial risk
- ✓Real execution environment
- ✓Good for EA testing
Cons
- ✗Wide spreads reduce test validity
- ✗Results don't reflect live performance
- ✗Not viable for meaningful returns
True Cost Comparison — XAUUSD Per Trade
Many traders focus on headline spread and ignore commission — or vice versa. Always compare total round-turn cost.
| Metric | Standard | ECN | Raw Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical XAUUSD spread | 2.5 pips | 0.15 pips | 0.05 pips |
| Commission (per std lot RT) | — | ~$12 | ~$12 |
| Commission in pips equiv. | — | ~0.12 pips | ~0.12 pips |
| Total cost per round turn | ~$25 | ~$13–15 | ~$12–14 |
| Spread filter activations | Frequent | Rare | Very rare |
| Best for EA type | Low-frequency | All types | Scalping |
Example: Goldie Sniper EA PRO — 300 trades/month at 0.1 lot each. On a Standard account at ~$2.50 total cost per trade = $750/month in costs. On ECN at ~$1.30 = $390/month. The account type difference is worth $360/month before any other change.
Which Account Type for Each Pro-Scalper EA?
Trade frequency and stop loss width determine how sensitive each EA is to spread costs.
Up to 15 trades/day on M1. Even a 0.3-pip spread difference compounds significantly across 300+ monthly trades. Raw Spread minimises total cost.
Breakout entries on wider stops — ECN execution ensures the order fills at the breakout level, not 5 pips into the move.
1–3 trades per day with wider stop losses. Cost impact is lower than scalpers. ECN preferred but Standard is workable.
Semi-manual — you choose entries. ECN gives better fills on manual scalp entries, but Standard is acceptable for less frequent trading.
How to Check Your MT5 Account Type
Not sure what account you currently have? Use any of these methods.
Open MT5 and press Ctrl+T
This opens the Terminal panel at the bottom of the screen.
Click the Account tab
Your account number, server name, and account type are listed here. Look for "ECN", "Raw", or "Standard" in the account type field.
Watch the XAUUSD spread live
Open the XAUUSD chart during London session hours (08:00–12:00 GMT). In the Market Watch panel, the Ask–Bid difference is the live spread. Below 0.5 pips = ECN/Raw. Above 1.5 pips = Standard.
Check your broker's client portal
Log in to your broker's website. Under "My Accounts" or "Account Details" the account type is labelled. If unsure, contact support and ask specifically whether your account uses ECN/STP routing.
Account Type Mistakes That Cost Traders Money
📊
Comparing only headline spread
A "0.0 pip" Raw Spread account with $7/lot commission can cost more than an "0.8 pip" ECN account at $3/lot commission. Always calculate total round-turn cost.
🏦
Opening Standard when ECN is available
Most brokers offer ECN at the same deposit requirement as Standard. There is usually no reason to choose Standard if ECN is available at your broker.
⚡
Assuming all ECN accounts are equal
ECN quality varies by broker. Execution speed, number of liquidity providers, and rejection rates differ significantly. Check real execution statistics, not just account labels.
📰
Not widening the spread filter before news
Even ECN spreads blow out to 5–20 pips during major news (NFP, CPI). Configure the EA's spread filter to a higher value before scheduled high-impact events.
🔄
Switching account type mid-strategy
If you switch from Standard to ECN mid-month, your performance data becomes inconsistent. Backtest and forward-test on the same account type you intend to trade live.
💰
Ignoring swap rates by account type
Overnight swap costs on XAUUSD differ between account types and brokers. If your EA holds positions overnight, factor swap costs into the total profitability calculation.
Set Up Your EA on the Right Account
All Pro-Scalper EAs include a spread filter that adjusts automatically to your account type. Open an ECN or Raw Spread account, load the EA, and it handles the rest.
Goldie Sniper EA PRO
High-frequency M1 scalper. Raw Spread account recommended to maximise trade frequency and minimise cost.
Learn more →
Goldie Razor V2
Breakout EA. ECN or Raw Spread for precise breakout fills without slippage at key levels.
Learn more →
Blind Sniper X PRO
Low-frequency sniper. ECN recommended — Standard is workable given fewer trades per day.
Learn more →
Hybrid Manual Scalper
Semi-manual. ECN gives better fills on manual scalp entries. Standard acceptable for relaxed trading.
Learn more →
Ready to trade gold with the right setup?
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Get a Pro-Scalper EA →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best MT5 account type for a gold scalping EA?
ECN or Raw Spread accounts are best for scalping EAs. They offer the tightest spreads (0.08–0.20 pips on XAUUSD) and direct market access. Standard accounts have wider built-in spreads that eat into the small profit targets of scalping strategies.
What is the difference between ECN and Raw Spread accounts?
Both offer direct market access with tight spreads. The difference is in how the broker charges: ECN accounts typically charge a commission per lot on top of the raw spread, while some Raw Spread accounts bundle a small markup into the spread instead. The total cost is usually similar — always compare total cost (spread + commission) not just headline spread.
Can I run a Pro-Scalper EA on a Standard account?
Yes — all Pro-Scalper EAs include a built-in spread filter that skips entries when spread is too wide. On a Standard account, the spread filter will activate more often, reducing trade frequency. For maximum performance, ECN or Raw Spread accounts are recommended.
What is a market maker broker and should I avoid it for EA trading?
A market maker broker takes the other side of your trade rather than routing it to the open market. This creates a conflict of interest and typically results in wider spreads, re-quotes, and slower execution. For scalping EAs, ECN/STP brokers that pass orders to liquidity providers are strongly preferred.
How do I check what account type I have on MT5?
In MT5, go to View → Terminal (Ctrl+T) → Account tab. The account type is displayed next to your account number. Alternatively, check your broker's client portal under account details, or look at the spread on XAUUSD during active hours — a spread consistently below 0.5 pips indicates ECN/Raw.
Does commission on ECN accounts cancel out the tighter spread?
Rarely. On a standard lot, ECN commission is typically $3–$7 per side ($6–$14 round turn). On XAUUSD, that equates to roughly 0.06–0.14 pips in additional cost. Combined with a raw spread of 0.10–0.20 pips, total cost is still well below the 2.5–3.5 pip cost of a Standard account.