Does Semaphore run with every MT5 broker?

In principle with every broker that offers MetaTrader 5, on hedging and netting accounts, as long as Algo Trading is allowed. It does not run with MT4-only brokers. Because the companion app Semaphore Link has to run on Windows next to the terminal, you also need a Windows PC or Windows VPS.

My broker calls gold "XAUUSD.r" – does Semaphore recognise it?

Yes. Semaphore translates the usual names and suffixes itself (XAUUSDm, EURUSD.r, GOLD, USTEC, DE40 and similar). If it finds no matching symbol, it does not guess: it rejects the signal and names the reason. Then you add the mapping once in the symbol map, for example GOLD=XAUUSD.r.

Why are signals rejected on my small account?

Because the lot size from your risk is below the minimum lot. Semaphore never rounds up. With several targets it also splits the lot size into one position per target and merges parts below the minimum lot. With a minimum lot and step of 0.01 you need at least 0.03 lots for three targets.

May I execute Telegram signals on a prop firm account?

Often not. Many prop firms forbid copying third-party signals, FTMO for example. That applies regardless of the tool. Check your firm's rules before you route a channel to a challenge or funded account.

Do I need a hedging account?

For several targets, yes. On hedging accounts Semaphore opens one position per take profit, and each target closes its part. On netting accounts there is only one position per symbol with TP1 and stop; a second signal on a symbol with an open position is skipped.

Brokers for Telegram Signals in MT5 (Semaphore)

This page also contains partner links to brokers; we receive commissions for them.

A Telegram signal copier like Semaphore executes signals that someone else wrote – for a market, a symbol and a price the provider sees on their screen. Whether you get the same order also depends on your broker: what they call the symbol, how fast they execute, how small the lots may be. This page goes through the points one by one and ends with the reviewed brokers we recommend.

MetaTrader 5 and Windows

Semaphore is an MT5 program. A broker that only offers MT4 is out. You have to allow Algo Trading in the terminal; whether a broker allows EAs without restriction is listed in each review's fact box under "EAs / scalping / hedging".

There is one more thing: the companion app Semaphore Link runs on Windows on the same machine as the terminal. A broker offer with a Windows VPS is therefore useful; the MQL5 VPS from the terminal is not enough. More in the guide VPS for a Telegram signal copier.

Symbol names: gold is not called XAUUSD everywhere

Signal channels write "XAUUSD", "GOLD", "US30" or "NAS100". Brokers call the same markets "XAUUSD.r", "XAUUSDm", "DJ30.cash" or "USTEC". Semaphore translates the usual names and suffixes itself. It takes the name from the signal first, then the symbol of the chart it runs on, then symbols from your Market Watch. If it finds nothing that fits, it rejects the signal and names the reason – it never guesses.

For your broker this means: check on a demo account that every market of your channels exists and is tradable. Many gold channels also trade silver, indices or oil. What is missing cannot be executed.

Execution and slippage: late entries are skipped

Signals are traded fast, often by thousands of subscribers at the same time. Semaphore takes a new entry only if the signal is no older than 120 seconds and price has not moved more than 15 pips against the signal's entry (both adjustable). A broker with slow execution or frequent requotes costs more here than elsewhere: either the signal is skipped, or you get a worse price than the channel.

What helps: a broker with fast market execution and a VPS close to their trading server. Where the brokers' servers are located is shown in our overview of broker server locations.

Spreads on gold and indices

Most Telegram channels trade gold, often with tight stops of a few dollars. With a stop of 7 USD on XAUUSD, a 0.30 USD spread is already more than 4 % of the risk – and around news, spreads widen. On gold and indices, look at your account's spreads at the times your channels post. Raw or ECN accounts add a commission per lot; for IC Markets our fact box lists, for example, 3.50 USD/lot/side (MT, 7 USD round turn).

Hedging or netting

In hedging mode a symbol can have several positions. Semaphore then opens one position per take profit, and each target closes its part – the way the channel means it. In netting mode there is only one position per symbol: Semaphore sets it with TP1 and stop and skips a second signal on the same symbol while the first position is open. If you follow channels with several targets, use a hedging account.

Minimum lot and volume step with several targets

Semaphore calculates the lot size from your risk and never rounds up. With several targets it is split, and each part needs at least the minimum lot. An example on gold (a 1 USD price move = 100 USD per lot):

5,000 USD, 1 % risk, stop 7.25 USD: 50 USD ÷ 725 USD per lot = 0.069 → 0.06 lots, split into two targets of 0.03 each.
1,000 USD, 1 % risk, same stop: 10 USD ÷ 725 USD = 0.013 → 0.01 lots – enough for one target only, the others are merged.
500 USD, 1 % risk: 5 USD ÷ 725 USD = 0.0069 → below 0.01 lots, the signal is rejected.

On small accounts, cent or micro accounts with smaller lot units help. Which accounts a broker offers is listed in our individual reviews; the basics of the calculation are in the guide Position sizing and risk per trade.

Stops level: important for break-even

Channels often send "Move SL to entry" when price is only a few pips in profit. If the stop would then be closer to price than the broker's stops level or freeze level, it may not be set. Semaphore checks this before sending and keeps at least one spread of distance; if it is too tight, the stop is not moved, and the log says why. A stops and freeze level of 0 is therefore ideal. You see both values in the MT5 symbol properties.

Prop firm accounts

Technically Semaphore runs on every MT5 account. But many prop firms forbid copying third-party signals – FTMO for example. Before you route a channel to a challenge or funded account, read your firm's rules. Our prop firm reviews are under Prop firms reviewed.

Which brokers we recommend for Semaphore

The cards show our partner brokers in a fixed editorial order – this is advertising, and the expandable note explains how the order comes about. All of them offer MT5. The grade next to each is calculated for every broker with the same criteria. The table below contains all reviewed brokers with MT5, including those we have no partnership with.

Advertisement · Our recommendations

Our broker recommendations (partners)

The brokers we use for EA trading ourselves and have an affiliate partnership with — in editorial order. The rating next to each is produced with the same criteria for every broker.

How this order is builtpartners first · as of 01 October 2026

Selection: only the 6 brokers we have an active affiliate partnership with. Every other reviewed broker is in the table further down.
Order — partner influence: yes: A fixed editorial order of our recommendations, any further partners after that by rating. If you open an account via a partner link we earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Rating — partner influence: no: Weighted average of Costs 20%, Execution 20%, Algo suitability 20%, Regulation 15%, Conditions 15%, Deposits & support 10%, the same for every broker. Commissions do not count, and no rating is raised for partners. Methodology →
As of: 01 October 2026

IC MarketsPartner
4.6
Regulation
ASIC, CySEC, FSA
Min. deposit
0 USD
Commission
3.50 USD/lot/side
Read review Visit broker
BlackBull MarketsPartner
4.4
Regulation
NZ FSP register, FSA
Min. deposit
0 USD
Commission
3.00 USD/lot/side
Read review Visit broker
RoboForexPartner
4.3
Regulation
FSC Belize
Min. deposit
10 USD
Commission
20 USD per 1M USD volume per side — round turn ≈ 4 USD per lot
Read review Visit broker
Fusion MarketsPartner
4.4
Regulation
ASIC, VFSC, FSA
Min. deposit
0 USD
Commission
2.25 USD/lot/side
Read review Visit broker
Vantage MarketsPartner
4.3
Regulation
FSC Mauritius, FSCA, ASIC +1
Min. deposit
50 USD
Commission
3.00 USD/lot/side
Read review Visit broker
EightcapPartner
4.1
Regulation
CySEC, ASIC, FCA +1
Min. deposit
100 USD
Commission
3.50 USD / 2.75 EUR / 2.25 GBP per lot per side
Read review Visit broker

What the recommendations bring for a signal copier, according to our fact boxes:

IC Markets (grade 4.6): commission 3.50 USD/lot/side (MT, 7 USD round turn); EAs, scalping, hedging: unrestricted; free VPS: yes (IC VPS from 15 lots FX/metals per month, Global entity).
BlackBull Markets (grade 4.4): commission 3.00 USD/lot/side (6 USD RT, ECN Prime; Prime+ with rebate); EAs, scalping, hedging: unrestricted; free VPS: yes (from 2,000 USD deposit & 20 lots/month, otherwise 25 USD/month).
RoboForex (grade 4.3): minimum deposit 10 USD; EAs, scalping, hedging: unrestricted; free VPS: yes (from 300 USD equity + 3 lots/month; otherwise 5 USD/month).
Fusion Markets (grade 4.4): commission 2.25 USD/lot/side (Zero, 4.50 USD round-turn); EAs, scalping, hedging: unrestricted.
Vantage (grade 4.3): commission 3.00 USD/lot/side (RAW ECN, 6 USD round turn); EAs, scalping, hedging: EAs explicitly supported · scalping/hedging not explicitly addressed on the official pages.
Eightcap (grade 4.1): commission 3.50 USD / 2.75 EUR / 2.25 GBP per lot per side (Raw, 7 USD round turn); EAs, scalping, hedging: EAs and scalping permitted (EU) · latency arbitrage prohibited.

Symbol names, hedging or netting and the stops level are not in our fact boxes, because they can differ per account and symbol. Check them on a demo account – most easily with Semaphore in dry run: the log shows for every signal which broker symbol was chosen and which lot size would result.

All reviewed MT5 brokers

Advertising notice: our recommendations come first — brokers we have an affiliate partnership with (marked "Partner"). If you open an account via such a link we earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. The star rating is independent of this and uses the same weighted criteria for every broker. Choose "Rating" to sort purely by score.