Improving soft magnetic properties in FINEMET-like alloys with Ga addition

•The FINEMET-like FeSiNbBCuGa ribbons were fabricated and their crystallization kinetics, magnetic properties and microstructure were investigated.•In the ribbon with 6 at.% Ga content, the Bs was higher than that of FINEMET alloy by 11.4 percent while the Hc stayed the same value.•The primary crystallization of ribbons was changed from α-Fe (Si) into α-Fe (Ga, Si) phase with the gradually substitution of Si by Ga.•The precipitation of Ga could depress the partition of Si into α-Fe phase, and thus the α-Fe (Ga, Si) phase with high Ga and low Si concentration could be obtained.