MT5 Grey Label Customization: What Brokers Can Actually Brand and Control
Customization is one of the first things new brokers ask about and one of the least clearly answered. An MT5 grey label gives you a branded way to operate on MetaTrader 5, but the depth of branding and control depends on the arrangement behind it. This guide separates what is normally yours, what is shared and what stays with the provider.
Start with what customization means
On a grey label, you operate under an arrangement with a provider that already holds the platform relationship. That shapes everything: you can usually shape the client experience on top of the platform, but you do not own the platform itself.
Treat any list of customization options as a starting point for questions, because the exact scope is set by your agreement, not by the label name. Our overview of the MT5 gray label solution explains the model in more detail.
What brokers can usually brand
Brand elements that tend to be in your hands are the ones clients meet first:
- Your company name and logo on your website, client portal and communications.
- The names of your account types and trading groups as clients see them.
- Welcome messages, emails and onboarding material.
- Where the platform allows it, branding shown in the terminal, such as the server or company name.
Ask specifically which items appear inside the trading terminal itself and which only appear on your own web properties.
What brokers can usually control
Control is about how your offer works commercially:
- The trading groups and account types you create, within the limits of your setup.
- Spread markups, commissions and leverage settings for your groups, within agreed boundaries.
- Which instruments you offer, from the symbol list available to you.
- Client account actions through the manager access your setup provides.
- Funding rules and processes, handled through your CRM and payment providers.
The number of groups and manager logins is often a listed limit. See how limits work in our guide to capacity limits.
What usually stays with the provider
Several things normally remain outside your control on a grey label:
- The platform version, updates and server infrastructure.
- The core trading server configuration and the liquidity connection that sits behind it, unless agreed otherwise.
- The terms of the underlying platform licence.
- Deep integration access that is not part of your setup.
If you need more control than this, compare it with a white label in our grey versus white label comparison.
Questions to settle before you sign
Put the answers in writing:
- Which branding elements appear inside the terminal, and which do not?
- Who can change group settings, and how quickly are changes made?
- Which symbols and account types are available, and can the list change?
- Is Manager API access included, optional or unavailable?
- What happens to your branding and clients if you leave or migrate?
Optional integrations such as CRM and API access are normally quoted separately.
A branding checklist for week one
Prepare your assets before onboarding so customization does not delay the launch: a vector logo, a short company description, colour values, names for each account type, terms and privacy pages, and a support contact. Keep one owner on your side for approvals. Then test every client-facing screen on desktop, web and mobile before inviting real clients.
A customization map
It helps to think of customization as three zones. The map below is a typical pattern and should be checked against your own agreement.
| Zone | Examples | Who usually decides |
|---|---|---|
| Yours | Website, portal, emails, account type names, support wording | You |
| Shared | Group settings, markups, commissions, leverage within limits, symbol selection | You within agreed boundaries |
| Provider | Platform version, server settings, infrastructure, licence terms | The provider |
When a feature request does not fall clearly into one zone, ask the provider which one it belongs to before you plan around it.
A worked example: a branding request that went wrong
A team designs its whole launch around a custom login screen inside the trading terminal. They commission artwork and announce the date. Only then do they confirm that the provider’s setup allows branding on the website and portal, and only a company name in the terminal.
The launch survives but loses a week and some goodwill. The cost of asking was one email. The lesson is to confirm each branding element, one by one, in writing before assets are produced.
Customizing for the client journey
Most client impressions form before the first trade. Registration, verification, funding instructions and welcome messages are in your hands, so invest there. Make the wording consistent, the steps short and the support route obvious.
Inside the terminal, check how the server name, account type names and company name appear on desktop, web and mobile. Take screenshots on each platform and review them with someone who has never seen your brand. Consistency across screens is what makes a gray label feel like your own brokerage.
Customizing trading conditions
Within your limits you can shape the offer: account types for different client segments, spreads or markups, commission structures and leverage rules. Write each account type as a one-page description: who it is for, what it costs and what limits apply. Share it with support so answers are consistent.
Be cautious about complexity. Each extra account type adds support, reporting and compliance effort. Start with a few clear types and add more when you have evidence that clients need them.
Keeping a customization register
Keep a short register of every customization: what it is, who approved it, when it was set and why. The register helps in three situations: onboarding new staff, answering client questions and negotiating with your provider or migrating later.
A register with ten lines is far more useful than memory. Update it whenever something changes.
Mistakes in customization planning
- Producing brand assets before confirming where they can appear.
- Offering too many account types.
- Forgetting to document settings.
- Assuming the provider can change anything on request.
- Not testing on every device.
Confirm, document and test, in that order.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put my logo inside the MT5 terminal on a gray label?
It depends on the provider and setup. Some allow a company name or server name inside the terminal; others limit branding to your website and portal. Confirm in writing.
Who sets the spreads and commissions?
Within agreed boundaries, you usually decide markups and commissions for your groups. The underlying pricing may depend on your liquidity arrangement.
How quickly are changes applied?
Ask. Some changes are immediate through your access, others need a request to the provider. Record turnaround times in your agreement.
What happens to my customization if I migrate?
Branding on your own channels moves with you. Platform-side settings usually need to be recreated, so keep a register and ask about migration support.