Best Trading Platform For Scalping.
Forex scalping has particular trading requirements, so forex traders can get the most from their scalping strategy on the forex market. Traders should choose a trading platform from a forex broker that has fast execution with low costs.
Written by Justin Grossbard.
Written by Justin Grossbard Co Founder.
With over 20 years of investing experience and 10 years of trading, Justin co-founded Compare Forex Brokers in 2014. He has worked within the foreign exchange trading industry for several years and for several of the largest banks globally. Justin achieved Honours in Commerce and has a Master's degree from Monash University. He also owns Innovate Online offering digital marketing services with over 20 employees.
Edited by Riley Adams.
Edited by Riley Adams Senior Trading Editor.
As a Senior Financial Analyst for Alphabet with an active CPA, Riley has a vast amount of financial knowledge. He has a Master's Degree in economics at Penn State University and a B.A. & B.S., Economics at the Centenary College of Louisiana. He also owns the website Young and the Invested providing investing advice for young individuals.
Reviewed by Justin Hertzberg.
Reviewed by Justin Hertzberg Forest Park FX President.
Justin has over 13 years of experience in the forex industry and for over a decade has been the President & CEO of Forest Park FX, a CFTC registered, NFA member full-service foreign exchange and futures brokerage firm. He is also the CEO of FPFX Technologies to bridge the gap between what FX & CFD traders. He has an MBA in finance from the University of Miami Herbert Business School.
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Best Forex Trading Platforms For Scalping.
The top forex brokers with great scalping software list is.
FP Markets – Best MT5 Forex Broker For Scalping Pepperstone – Best MT4 Forex Broker For Scalping FxPro – Top cTrader Scalping Forex Broker HotForex – Great Big Data Al Trading Scalping Software FXCM – Top No Commissions Forex Broker For Scalping FXTM – Highest Leverage Forex Trading Scalping Platform Oanda – Good TradingView Web Trading Scalping Platform ThinkMarkets – Good Scalping Platform With No Commission Forex.com – Best Scalping Technical Analysis NinjaTrader Broker.
FP Markets.
Pepperstone.
Our Rating.
Fastest Limit Order Execution Speed.
Smart Trader Tools.
Large range of trading platforms.
1,300,000 client accounts.
Floating leverage.
Regulations and Licenses.
FP Markets.
Pepperstone.
ASIC (Australia)
FSCA (South Africa)
CYSEC (Cyprus)
IIROC (Canada)
DFSA (Dubai)
BaFin (Germany)
FSC (Mauritius)
SCB (Bahamas)
Brokerage.
FP Markets.
Pepperstone.
EUR/USD Avg. Raw Spread.
GBP/USD Avg. Raw Spread.
AUD/USD Avg. Raw Spread.
EUR/USD Standard Spread.
EUR/USD Fixed Spreads.
Commissions (USD Base)
Minimum Deposit.
Swap Free Account.
No Inactivity Fees.
Funding Methods.
No Funding Fees.
Markets and Instruments.
FP Markets.
Pepperstone.
Currency Pairs.
Cryptocurrency CFDs*
Index CFDs.
Share CFDs.
Commodities CFD.
Stockbroking.
Retail Max Leverage (Australia)
Major Pairs 30:1 Minor Pairs 20:1.
Major Pairs 30:1 Minor Pairs 20:1.
Major Pairs 30:1 Minor Pairs 20:1.
Major Pairs 200:1.
Pro. Max Leverage (Australia)
Retail Max. Leverage (The United Kingdom)
Major Pairs 30:1 Minor Pairs 20:1.
Major Pairs 30:1 Minor Pairs 20:1.
Major Pairs 30:1 Minor Pairs 20:1.
Major Pairs 30:1 Minor Pairs 20:1.
Pro. Max. Leverage (The United Kingdom)
Retail Max. Leverage (Europe)
Major Pairs 30:1 Minor Pairs 20:1.
Major Pairs 30:1 Minor Pairs 20:1.
Major Pairs 30:1 Minor Pairs 20:1.
Major Pairs 30:1 Minor Pairs 20:1.
Pro. Max. Leverage (Europe)
Retail Max. Leverage (UAE)
Major Pairs 30:1 Minor Pairs 20:1.
Pro. Max. Leverage (UAE)
Retail Max. Leverage (Canada)
Major Pairs: 50:1 Minor Pairs: 33:1.
Retail Max. Leverage (South Africa)
Balance: 0-50k 400:1 50k+ 200:1.
Pro. Max. Leverage (South Africa)
Retail Max. Leverage (With offshore regulators)
Balance: 0-50k 400:1 50k+ 200:1.
Accounts: Advantage & Advantage+ 2000:1 Micro Account 1000:1.
*Cryptocurrency CFDs are not available to retail traders in the UK due to FCA regulations *CFD trading is not available in the USA due to NFA and CFTC regulations, American traders spot trade in place of CFDs.
Trading Platforms + Tools.
FP Markets.
Pepperstone.
MetaTrader 4 (MT4)
MetaTrader 5 (MT5)
TradingView.
Proprietary Platform.
Automated Trading.
Social + Copy Trading.
Standard Stop Loss.
Guaranteed Stop Loss.
Demo Account.
Overall.
FP Markets.
Pepperstone.
Our Rating.
Broker Official Site Our Rating Regulation EUR/USD Spread GBP/USD Spread AUD/USD Spread MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 cTrader Execution Speed Minimum Deposit Currency Pairs Crypto CFDs Retail Leverage Prof. Leverage Visit Broker > 8.17 ASIC, CySEC 0.20 1.20 0.40 95ms $100 63+ 4+ 30:1 500:1 Visit Broker > 9.33 SCG, ASIC FCA, CySEC 0.17 0.59 0.24 85ms $0 62+ 12+ 30:1 500:1 Visit Broker > 7.93 ASIC, FSCA FCA, IIROC 0.30 0.90 0.40 150ms $300 42+ 7+ 30:1 500:1 Visit Broker > 7.46 FCA, FSCA CySEC, SCB 0.39 0.73 0.65 110 $0 69+ 30+ 30:1 200:1 Visit Broker > 6 FCA, FSCA FSC 0.3 0.5 0.5 160ms $500 63+ - 30:1 300:1.
Scalping is a unique trading strategy in which traders profit off small price changes for a financial asset. Picking a broker that a) allows scalping and b) offers a good forex trading platform is tricky given scalping relies on technical analysis tools for execution. The below list provides the best forex trading platforms for scalping.
MetaTrader 5.
Available since 2009, MetaTrader 5 (MT5) is an upgrade of MT4. The platform offers the ability to trade a wider range of CFDs, has more advanced features and faster processing power than MT4. The London Summit Awards 2022 saw the platform earn two prestigious awards “Best FX trading platform” and “Best multi-asset trading platform” , a reflection of the excellence as a trading solution the platform offers.
Advantages Of MT5.
MetaTrader 5 is a powerful all-in-one platform suitable for trading Forex pairs, Shares and Futures CFDs. The platform offers advanced technical analysis tools and features outstanding Expert Advisors and fast order capabilities designed for scalping.
MetaTrader 5 trading platform allows access to market liquidity pools and depth of market (DoM) visibility, which helps one avoid low-volume financial instruments (with little or no liquidity).
Regardless if you are a beginner or an advanced scalper, you will appreciate the following features MT5 offers:
6 pending order types (MT4 has 4) 21 Timeframe ranging from 1 minute to 1 month (MT4 has 9) 38 Technical Indicators (MT4 has 30) 44 Graphical objects (MT4 has 31)
Last but not least, MT5 offers built-in advanced reports for an effortless assessment of trading activity.
MT5 is the future if you wish to use a trading platform by MetaQuotes. In time, the MT5 community will grow, more brokers will offer the platform, and MT5 will supersede MT4.
Disadvantages Of MetaTrader 5.
Scalping brokers offering MT5 implement FIFO (first-in, first-out) accounting system. MetaTrader 5’s default setting applies the FIFO principle and, therefore, the platform does not allow Hedging. Expert Advisors and custom indicators built with MQL4 for use in MT4 cannot be used in this state in MT5. Or, they need to be coded once again with the MQL5 programming language.
FP Markets Is The Best MT5 Forex Broker For Scalping.
Our review believes FP Markets is one of the best Forex brokers for Forex scalping on the MT5 trading platform. This is based on:
Tight spreads, including some of the lowest in the industry (average EUR/USD spread of 0.1 pips) Ability to trade directly from the Depth of Market (DOM) ECN trading conditions Tier-1 regulatory licenses (ASIC and CySEC) Fast execution speed of under 40 ms.
1)Low Spreads And Costs.
FP Markets is able to offer tight spreads as it sources prices from multiple tier one liquidity providers. This allows Forex traders who employ scalping to take advantage of spreads starting from 0.0 pips using FP Markets Raw Spread account. The RAW spread account average spread on major currency pairs such as EUR/USD of 0.1 pips most of the time, which is one of the best available from brokers worldwide.
Below compares the spreads of the range of Forex brokers who advertise their average spread on their website. This table is updated monthly.
FP Markets Raw Account Spreads.
Avg. spreads are taken from each broker's website and updated monthly. Last update on 01/01/2023.
Commissions when trading with FP Markets is $3.00 side / $6.00 round turn. These commissions are in line with commission charges from other brokers making them suitable for high-volume traders. Scalpers can place orders between the spread due to no minimum order distance and a freeze level of 0. All orders, including Stop-Loss orders, can be placed at any distance from the current market price.
2) ECN Trading Environment.
FP Markets’ raw pricing along with a MetaTrader server located in the Equinix NY data centre gives STP / ECN style trading conditions. The main advantage of brokers that use STP / ECN style conditions can be summarized by low latency and minimized probability for slippage, no dealing desk, no re-quotes, and extremely fast order execution (less than 40 ms).
MetaTrader 5 offers Depth of Market, which allows traders to visualize the entire range of available prices derived directly from its liquidity providers. This ensures complete transparency of all liquidity for any currency at any moment.
3) Strong Forex Regulation.
FP Markets complies with strict regulatory standards by some of the most reputable Forex authorities worldwide. FP Markets is regulated in Australia by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and in Europe by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).
Raw Spreads + 40ms Speed + Reduced Slippage = FP Markets MT5.
Summary Of Why FP Markets Is The Best MetaTrader 5 Broker For Scalping.
Overall, The MetaTrader 5 platform powered by FP Markets is an excellent choice for scalpers. The broker has a low minimum deposit requirement ($100) and allows the use of leverage (maximum leverage for Forex is 30:1 in Australia, the UK, and Europe). Traders also have the option to practice scalping in good conditions on the free Demo Account with no risk or restrictions on scalping strategies.
Our Rating.
The overall rating is based on review by our experts.
Spreads.
Leverage.
Trading Platform.
Risk Management.
Range of Markets.
Customer Service.
MetaTrader 4.
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is comfortably the most widely adopted forex trading platform by both brokers and traders worldwide. Produced by MetaQuotes and launched in 2005, is one of the first readily available mainstream trading platforms licensed to forex brokers and available to traders for free. Brokers that offer the platform include Pepperstone, FP Markets, FxPro, ThinkMarkets, FXTM, and Oanda.
Advantages Of MetaTrader 4.
MetaTrader 4 is an easily customizable trading platform that features live quotes, real-time charts, in-depth news and analytics, a variety of technical indicators, and order management tools, and it has good Expert Advisor compatibility.
Many consider MT4 to be the “gold” standard among all trading platforms. The platform’s popularity can be attributed to a number of reasons, including:
‘Ease of use’: MT4 offers a clean and uncluttered interface that makes it easy to access information, open and close trades change colors and setting with minimum difficulty Wide Compatibility: MT4 can be used with Mac, iOS, Windows, and even Linux making them great for desktop, mobile, and tablets Flexibility: The standout feature that set MT4 apart from its competitors when launched is the ability to create custom indicators and Expert Advisors (for automated trading), change layouts, implement technical indicators Feature-rich: 31 analytical objects, 30 in-built technical indicators, 9 timeframes, multi-chart features, 4 order types, interactive charts MQL4 Language: MQL4 means advanced traders can write their own strategies. There is also a sizeable MT4 community where traders can share or buy other scripts. Over 3200 signals are available both free and paid. Backtesting: MT4 supports backtesting so you can test your scripts before placing them into action.
At its core, MT4 is an intuitive and simple platform with all the necessary tools for trading, which makes it a great platform for beginner traders but also comes with the ability to integrate more advanced features for experienced traders.
Disadvantages Of MetaTrader 4.
MQL may be considered the ‘gold standard’ for trading platforms however it does have some disadvantages.
MQL offers 32-bit processing, which may lead to slightly slower performance than 64-bit systems. MQL4 programming language is not considered the best choice of language MetaQuotes discontinued issuing MT4 licenses to new brokerages from 2022 onwards, new CFD and Forex brokers will not be able to offer this platform to their clients. MetaQuotes have ceased new development MT4 so MT4 will eventually be outdated It is not designed for exchange-traded CFDs such as shares. So some range of markets is not as diverse as other platforms.
Last but not least, the platform has a limited Depth of Market features.
Pepperstone Is The Best MT4 Broker For Scalping.
Based on our reviews, Pepperstone offers the best conditions for scalping strategies on its MetaTrader 4 platform, because it has the following:
ECN pricing model and vast network of top-tier liquidity providers Tight spreads, with the average spread on major pairs such as EUR/USD being 0.13 pips Lightning-fast order execution speed, with trades being filled in less than 30 ms 28 additional Smart Trader Tools for MT4, allowing for more precise implementation of strategies Commission discounts (rebates) for high-volume traders Leverage of 30:1 in the UK, Europe, and Australia to access the Forex market Strong Forex regulation – ASIC, FCA, FSCA, CySEC and BaFin.
With low costs and fast execution speeds, Pepperstone is a great broker to use MetaTrader 4.
1)Low Standard Account Spreads.
As an STP/ECN style broker, Pepperstone offers no dealing desk order execution with low latency and low risk of slippage. Additionally, Forex spreads remain ultra-low on the broker’s Razor trading account, starting from 0.0 pips, while the company also offers low average spreads on its entire CFD product list.
Pepperstone MT4 Spread Comparison.
Avg. spreads are taken from each broker's website and updated monthly. Last update on 01/01/2023.
In exchange for ECN-style trading conditions, Pepperstone will charge a small commission of $3.76 per side for 1 Standard Lot traded on its MetaTrader 4 platform.
Due to its co-location servers in key financial data centers and fibre-optic cable networks, Pepperstone ensures exceptional execution speeds. According to the broker, most trade orders by UK clients are filled in less than 60 ms, while the majority of orders by clients from Australia – in less than 30 ms.
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2)Copy Trading Feature.
Pepperstone offers copy trading features through 3 dedicated third-party platforms Myfxbook, MetaTrader Signals, and DupliTrade. The software solution for social trading offered by Pepperstone work seamlessly with the MT4 platform.
Myfxbook’s key strength is the verified track record, MetaTrader Signals offers thousands of trading signals, while DupliTrade offers signals from professional traders and has a minimum deposit requirement of USD 5,000.
Interbank Spreads + ECN model + Fast Speed + Copy Trading Features = Pepperstone MT4 Solution.
Summary Of Why Pepperstone Is The Best MetaTrader 4 Scalping Broker.
Overall, our team of experts considers Pepperstone as the best scalping broker with MetaTrader 4 platform. With a true ECN pricing model, spreads starting from 0.0 pips, USD 3.76 commission rate, fast execution, and copy trading feature, Pepperstone MT4 solution is the best if scalping is your preferred strategy. Pepperstone doesn’t enforce any minimum deposit requirements. Feel free to click the button below and test their MetaTrader 4 platform today.
MT4 Web Trader.
The MetaTrader 4 web trader is a leading web-based software solution that provides access to the global markets straight from your browser. The web platform is supported across all operating systems (Windows, MAC and Linux) and is compatible with any browser. The MetaTrader 4 Web platform is integrated with most MT4 FX brokers.
Advantages Of MT4 Web Trader.
Trading is more accessible via your browser, as it requires no additional software installation or downloads on your local computer. The MT4 web terminal is similar to the desktop version and includes the same trading tools and features. Scalping efficiently via the web application can be done effortlessly.
The MT4 web terminal main key advantages and benefits include:
One-click trading feature for faster execution and no secondary confirmation Ability to view all trading activity at a glance without switching between multiple windows Trading directly from the charts and modifying active orders via the drag-and-drop tool 30 industry-leading technical indicators Ensures security of your data via encrypted transmission Account order history.
Additionally, the MT4 web trader supports Expert Advisors (EAs) and scripts with the same performance as the desktop version.
Disadvantages Of MT4 Web Trader.
Some people consider the Web Trader pay layout to be a bit of data. The most common issues faced while running the MetaTrader 4 web platform include:
Page layout is sometimes considered dated Not as many indicators and graphical tools (compared to desktop version) Cannot use expert advisors with Web Trader Less customization, interface settings cannot be changed.
MT4 Web Trader – Big Data Al Sentiment Trading Scalping Software – HotForex.
Based on our reviews, HotForex offers the best sentiment analysis tools for scalpers. We consider that the brokerage offers good trading conditions for scalping based on:
Hedging is allowed hand-in-hand with scalping Interbank spreads with no markups (0.1 pips EUR/USD average spread) Dedicated 24/5 market analysis from in-house experts Free VPS hosting compatible with all automated strategies, including scalping EAs Premium trading tools tailored for scalping (Market Manager for fast order submission and sentiment trader updated every second) Maximum leverage of up to 1:1000.
1)AI Sentiment Trading Tool.
The challenges that come with scalping in fast-moving markets can be met with the right trading tools. HotForex is equipped with proprietary trading tools that can’t be found anywhere else, like the Sentiment Trader tool. This tool uses artificial intelligence (AI) to measure in real-time the market sentiment dynamics. The order flows (buy and sell ratios) are tracked using data from leading provider FX Blue Labs.
The key features and advantages offered by the Sentiment Trader tool are summarized below:
Sentiment analysis is based on real-time and historic buy and sell orders Updates every minute to stay ahead of the curve Ability to see what smart money is doing and copy their lead Unique dashboard where you can track multiple symbols at the same time The sentiment can be displayed on the price chart Flexibility to display sentiment in multiple formats: gauge, pie chart, dial.
The sentiment information can be used for better reading of the short-term price fluctuations. To the astute scalper, sentiment analysis can be used as a confirmation tool to buy and sell currencies and CFDs. Additionally, the orders can be opened and closed directly from the Sentiment Trader window without the need to go elsewhere.
2)Superior Trading Conditions.
HotForex clients can choose between 4 different trading account types (Premium, Zero Spread, HFCopy and Premium Pro), trade with variable spreads, minimum trade size 1,000 units of the base currency, quotation system using the fifth decimal and telephone trading.
In terms of tradable instruments, scalpers are allowed to trade CFDs (Contracts for Difference) on 8 different financial markets (forex, cryptocurrencies, metals, indices, shares, energies, commodities and bonds). The large number of financial instruments offered by HotForex means more trading opportunities for scalpers.
Institutional Tools + MT4 Web Trader + 8 Trading Markets = HotForex.
Summary Of Why HotForex Has The Best Scalping Sentiment Tools.
Overall, HotForex’s trading tools can be used as a personal trading assistant, proving you with highly accurate AI technology. At HotForex, scalpers can enjoy better tools, hedging and non-hedging mode, better information, a good selection of instruments and a range of account types. The minimum deposit to open an account is USD 100, but you can always use their demo account.
FXCM.
Trading Station is FXCM’s proprietary CFD and Forex trading platform, which has an intuitive user interface, offers advanced trading analytics and comes in three versions: web-based, mobile-based and desktop.
Advantages Of Trading Station.
First of all, the platform offers good chart customisability, with traders being able to expand to full-screen or detach charts, use numerous chart formats and time frames, set up price alerts, compare financial instruments with price overlays among other options.
Second, Trading Station Desktop allows for the use of automated trading strategies, along with advanced strategy backtesting and strategy optimization tools.
Third, Trading Station Desktop offers additional advanced technical indicators such as the Speculative Sentiment Index (SSI) and Real Volume, which provide strategy support with real market sentiment. Last but not least, Trading Station has market depth functionality, which visualizes multiple levels of liquidity at every price level for every trading instrument.
Disadvantages Of Trading Station.
Trading Station Desktop does not allow for the setting of price alerts or notifications. Second, Forex and CFD products are quite limited compared to FXCM’s competitors, with the platform allowing access to 39 currency pairs, 7 Cryptocurrencies, 14 Stock Index CFDs, 15 Shares CFDs and 10 Commodity CFDs.
FXCM Is The Best Broker For Scalping With Price Improvement.
Based on our reviews, FXCM turns out to be the best scalping Forex broker when it comes to execution with zero slippage or price improvement, because:
59.79% of all trade orders were executed with no slippage, according to data encompassing the first six months of 2022 28.90% of all trade orders were executed with price improvement (positive slippage) The average order execution speed was 28 ms, while Good Till Cancelled Market Orders was filled in 29 ms It has managed to ensure better pricing for retail clients, according to a recent execution study. FXCM pricing was equal to or better than the spot equivalent quoted Interbank market price in 94.84% of the time. The broker’s pricing was equal to or better than the spot equivalent quoted futures prices on the CME 81.34% of the time. It has provided high volume active traders with ultra-tight spreads on major currency pairs during peak hours – 0.2 pips on average on EUR/USD and USD/JPY, 0.3 pips on average on AUD/USD Zero-commission trading, with the only fee being built into the spread.
1)FXCM Price Improvement Technology.
Over the years, FXCM has remained dedicated to ensuring the best trading experience for its clients by increasing the quality of its pricing, transparency and execution services. And the broker’s latest slippage statistics indicate rather favorable conditions for scalpers. Data for the first half of 2022 showed that:
28.90% of all stop, limit, ‘at market’, and entry orders at FXCM were filled with positive slippage, or clients received a better price than requested, 74.18% of all limit and limit entry orders at FXCM were filled with positive slippage.
The broker’s statistics also suggested that limit and limit entry orders are most likely to be filled with positive slippage, while stop and stop entry orders are most likely to be filled with negative slippage.
2) Zero Commission Share Trading.
Not only does FXCM have no commission on popular CFDs like forex and Equities, but with FXCM, scalpers can enjoy 0% commission on share trading. FXCM is the latest CFD provider to offer no commission trading on stocks and fractional shares. FXCM is only compensated through charging the spread, which is mark-up above the Interbank spread.
28ms Speed + 28.90% of Orders Receive Positive Slippage + 0.2pips EUR/USD Spread = FXCM Trading Station.
FXCM Best Broker For Scalping With Price Improvement.
Overall, FXCM’s price improvement technology can help scalper receive better prices, less slippage and no-requotes. Scalpers can have an edge in high volatile markets due to the low-cost pricing and possible benefit from better quotes 94.84% of the time. The minimum deposit for FXCM clients is USD 50, but traders can always open a demo account to enjoy risk-free trading.
*Your capital is at risk ‘67% of retail CFD accounts lose money’
cTrader.
Released in 2011 by Spotware, cTrader was built specifically to meet the needs of ‘no dealing desk’ brokers who offer Electronic Communication Network (ECN), Straight-Through-Processing (STP) and Direct Market Access (DMA). A newcomer to the world of online trading, cTrader is a platform that grants access to the best available bid and asks prices for traders looking for more comprehensive market analysis tools and greater transparency. cTrader can be integrated with over 45 leading applications and a suite of leading add-ons.
Advantages Of cTrader.
cTrader has 3 main strengths:
Pricing transparent through Depth of Market Direct execution means fast processing and chart features that stand out compared to other platforms.
Pepperstone, IC Markets and FxPro have been long time providers of the MT5 platform.
One of the strengths of cTrader is market transparency through Level II pricing depth of market (DOM). The DOM allows market data to be visualized in three possible ways (Standard Depth of Market, Price Depth of Market and Volume-Weighted Average Price (VWAP) Depth of Market). In comparison, MetaTrader software is designed to visualize only one type of Depth of Market.
Interface And Charts.
Many traders enjoy cTrader’s clean interface, which is sleek and modern. Charts, for example, have a range of colors and choices of light and dark themes so you can customize them to your liking. The charts have a large charting area and can also be detached, which means you can move charts onto a different monitor.
Note* cTrader offers more indicators and timeframes than many other platforms offer.
Order Types.
When it comes to Order types, cTrader has 4 order types available. These order types are Market Orders, Limit Orders, Stop Orders and Market Range Orders. All offer OCO protection, with limit and stop order also offer expiry. One interesting feature is the ability to place a pending order, even if the market has closed for the day.
If you are looking for an alternate platform to MetaTrader that has great charting features and Level II pricing with fast execution option, then you cTrader is a solid option.
Disadvantages Of cTrader.
There are not many downsides associated with cTrader. As a possible disadvantage, we can mention the limited selection of available trading robots and custom indicators compared to MetaTrader software, as a different programming language is used (C#). The majority of retail Forex developers employ MQL4 and MQL5.
FxPro Is The Best Broker With cTrader For Scalping.
Our review has concluded that FxPro is one of the best Forex brokers when it comes to scalping strategies by using the cTrader software, based on:
It ensures no dealing desk (NDD) order execution with no re-quotes Trade orders executed in 37 ms on average Scalping on 4 supported financial markets (Forex, metals, indices and energies) Up to 7,000 orders are processed each second With FxPro cTrader’s Smart Order Routing, scalpers trading CFDs will receive the best available price in 100% of the cases, while their orders will be executed automatically in 99.9% of the cases FxPro is a multi-regulated Forex broker – by the FCA in the UK, by the CySEC in the EU and by the FSCA in South Africa.
FxPro No Dealing Desk Execution.
FxPro operates a no dealing desk NDD agency model that supports superior trading conditions for day traders and scalpers. By operating an NDD model, FxPro is able to offer unrestricted access and instant execution of a wide range of orders. Scalping is usually performed via flawless order execution, which is an essential component of a scalping trading strategy.
FxPro is not a true ECN broker or an STP broker, it advertises itself as filling clients’ orders with true NDD execution. However, the price execution engine that powers FxPro’s cTrader is able to deliver institutional trading conditions that are compatible with scalpers.
FxPro supports profitable trading based on:
Ultra-low latency with scalping orders being executed on average in less than 11.06ms Full price transparency – 82% of orders executed at the requested price 9% of all orders received price improvements with positive slippage Only a small portion of 0.68% of orders have received a requote Liquidity aggregated from multiple Tier-1 banks Order rooting via FxPro’s price engine Quotix Collocated servers in the hearth of Equinix Data centers (LD5 London or Amsterdam)
“99.32% No Requotes + 9% Positive Slippage + 11.06ms Order speed = cTrader”
Summary Of Why FxPro Is Among The Best Scalping Forex Brokers With cTrader.
Among scalping brokers, FxPro is the go-to solution for trading on the cTrader platform. FxPro reputation among scalping brokers is a combination of low spread, fast order execution and no requotes. FxPro offers retail investor accounts with a minimum deposit of USD 100.
*Your capital is at risk ‘84.69% of retail CFD accounts lose money’
FXTM Trader.
FXTM Trader is FXTM’s brand-new forex trading app, which is meant to revolutionize clients’ mobile trading experience. With this app traders are able to buy and sell currencies in a matter of seconds, access real-time Foreign Exchange rates and manage their trading accounts while on the go.
Advantages Of FXTM Trader.
First, the platform allows access to over 250 trading instruments – from Forex pairs to complex instruments (CFDs) on Shares, Stock Indices and Commodities. This investment app built by FXTM experts welcomes scalpers on its platform. The key features and trading tools that come with FXTM Trader include:
Clients can manage their trading accounts and trading activity from the same app The platform’s interface allows for opening, closing and modifying of positions in a matter of seconds. Enables one-click trading at your fingertips for even faster opening and closing trades Traders can enjoy state-of-the-art charting tools and popular technical indicators Clients can trade across multiple devices – they can enter a trade on their desktop terminal and exit directly from the app.
Disadvantages Of FXTM Trader.
First, FXTM Trader is available only on some of FXTM’s account types. It cannot be used as a trading option on the broker’s MT5 and FXTM Invest accounts. Additionally, the platform does not allow price alerts setting, has only a one-step login, and traders cannot access Cryptocurrencies on this platform.
FXTM Offers The Highest Leverage Ratios For Scalping.
Our review has concluded that FXTM is among the Forex brokers that offer the highest leverage ratios – a key factor for traders who employ scalping. To gain access to FXTM’s high leverage, you are required to sign up with the broker’s offshore branch regulated by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Mauritius. What makes this brokerage attractive for scalpers can be summarized as follows:
FXTM allows leverage ratios of up to 1:1000 on major FX pairs like EUR/USD, GBP/USD or AUD/USD FXTM offers tight Forex spreads starting from 0.1 pips on its ECN account Almost 96% of FXTM clients’ orders received better pricing through positive slippage, according to Nov 2022 data FXTM’s re-quote rate has remained at extremely competitive lows – around 4% of total orders, according to Nov 2022 data FXTM clients received exceptional order execution speeds on the broker’s ECN account (0.079 seconds) and ECN Zero account (0.089 seconds), according to Nov 2022 data FXTM is a multi-regulated broker – SCB, CySEC, FCA, FSCA.
1) FXTM Maximum Leverage.
When it comes to maximum leverage allowed, UK and EU-based retail clients will be offered significantly lower ratios, in line with the local regulatory framework – 1:30 on major currency pairs; 1:20 on minors, exotics and Spot Metals; 1:5 on the majority of Stock Indices and on all Shares CFDs; 1:10 on Energies. Yet, if you sign up to FXTM’s offshore entity regulated by the FSC you can access leverage ratios of up to 1:1000.
Due to FXTM’s vast pool of top-tier liquidity providers, Forex spreads are kept tight (starting from 0.1 pips on AUD/USD and EUR/USD, 0.2 pips on GBP/USD, 5.0 points on Spot Gold), while requote rates have remained at competitive lows.
Along with high maximum leverage and low minimum spreads, FXTM clients who employ scalping strategies are able to take advantage of lightning-fast execution speeds on all ECN accounts.
2) Connect MT4 With FXTM Trader.
The unique feature is the interconnectivity between the trading app and MetaTrader 4. FXTM trading software was built with flexibility so traders can buy and sell currency on the MT4 desktop and then have the option to close it via the FXTM Trader app and vice versa. In practice, the FXTM Trader should allow scalpers to move in and out of the market faster.
One-Click Trading + 1:1000 Leverage + ECN Account = FXTM Trader.
Summary Of Why FXTM Is The Highest Leverage Broker For Scalping.
Best all-around FXTM is hands down the best high leverage broker that supports scalping. With this broker, scalpers can tap into 1:1000 maximum leverage, positive slippage, no-requotes and minimum deposit as low as USD 10 (Standard Cent Account).
TradingView.
TradingView is the largest network of traders and investors on the internet, which enables them to exchange ideas, learn new tricks, or simply make use of its free Forex charting trading software. TradingView charts have been integrated with over 8,000 stock and futures exchanges and websites across the globe.
Advantages Of TradingView.
First of all, the platform features 11 customizable chart types, including Candlesticks, Renko, Heikin-Ashi or Point & Figure, traders can view up to 8 charts in a single layout at one time and traders have access to data from over 50 exchanges.
TradingView offers a variety of time frames, with intervals ranging from 5 seconds to 1 month as well as customizable time frames which come with the paid version.
Additionally, the platform features over 50 drawing tools, including Elliott Waves, Andrew’s Pitchfork, Gann Fans among others, over 65 technical indicators, including moving averages, Stochastics, Bollinger Bands, MACD, Ichimoku Cloud among others.
More, traders have access to real-time news from Yahoo Finance access Economic and Corporate Earnings Calendars and make a side-by-side comparison of trading instruments.
Disadvantages Of TradingView.
Premium subscription packages tend to be a bit costly and platform’s news feed system needs further improvement – for example, sorting news headlines based on popularity or relevance.
Oanda Offers TradingView – The Best Web Trading Platform For Scalpers.
Our review has concluded that Oanda has the best web-based trading platform for scalping, based on:
Best dealing desk environment with variable spreads Variable spreads starting from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD Industry-leading research tools, market analysis and news coverage Strong reputation – one of the oldest brokerage in the FX space founded in 1996 Fast order execution speed of 12ms Good selection of FX pairs +70 Supports algorithmic trading with the built-in Pine programming language.
Although OANDA allows scalping, we should note that it is not an ECN broker, but a market maker. This puts the no dealing desk execution of orders in question. In other words, it is possible that CFD and Forex traders face some kind of price manipulation, something that is completely out of question with true ECN brokers.
OANDA’s Web Trader, which utilizes advanced TradingView charting, is a quite responsive platform, offering a decent order execution speed (0.012 seconds) – one of the key factors for successful scalping. However, in times of extreme market volatility, Forex traders may face slippage.
OANDA is a multi-regulated broker in six tier-1 jurisdictions, as it complies with regulatory standards by Australia’s ASIC, Canada’s IIROC and UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Variable Spreads + Reputation + Advance Web Platform = Oanda.
Summary Of Why Oanda Offers The Best Web Platform For Scalpers.
Overall, Oanda is a trusted firm that allows its clients to scalp the financial markets on the powerful charting solution TradingView. It’s secure and safe to trade with Oanda, but there is certainly some room for providing a better service in terms of spreads during news releases and slippage. There are no minimum requirements to open an account with Oanda.
ThinkTrader.
Previously known as Think Interceptor, ThinkTrader is ThinkMarkets’ proprietary trading software solution compatible with all smartphones, tablets and PCs. ThinkTrader mobile is one of the leading Forex trading apps with advanced built-in technical tools and “ tailor-made commission plans” that cater to scalpers.
Advantages Of ThinkTrader.
ThinkTrader platform supply scalpers with real-time charts, general analysis tools, touch-enabled trade management functionality (featured on the mobile app) and split-screen mode to monitor several financial instruments at the same time. This proprietary trading platform has a number of built-in trading tools including:
Multiple demo accounts that do not expire 80 technical indicators 50 drawing tools 14 chart types 200 cloud-based alert delivered regardless if you’re on or offline Ability to close multiple orders or all open orders with one click TrendRisk scanner to identify opportunities Mobile App has a quad screen display with 4 real-time charts on screen.
Forex traders can benefit from professionally curated real-time news from FX Wire Pro and data release alerts that help scalpers stay on top of the game.
Disadvantages Of ThinkTrader.
While ThinkTrader is a specially developed platform, we can also note some minor drawbacks. ThinkTrader is free for download for mobile, tablet and desktop but there is no web trader version of the trading platform. Additionally, there is no VPS hosting service, ThinkMarkets only offers free VPS hosting for MT4 running strategies.
To qualify for the free hosting service offered by ForexVPS in partnership with ThinkMarkets, traders need to generate at least 15 round turn lots within a calendar month of trading.
ThinkMarkets ThinkTrader Has Low Commissions For Scalping.
Based on our reviews, ThinkMarkets is among the best low-cost scalping brokers. We consider that the brokerage offers good trading conditions for scalpers because:
It offers tight spreads on Forex pairs, starting from 0.0 pips, on its ThinkZero Account. The average spread on EUR/USD is kept at 0.1 pips due to a large pool of liquidity providers and state-of-art trading infrastructure. It operates a Straight-Through-Processing (STP), no dealing desk NDD business model Forex traders can take advantage of low latency and the fastest order execution speeds possible since ThinkMarkets’ trading servers are hosted in Equinix’s LD5 and HK4 data center Forex and Metals traders will be charged a small commission of $3.5 per side for every 1 Standard Lot traded, one of the most competitive on the market. It falls under strict regulation by reputable bodies such as Australia’s ASIC, UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), as well as with the FSA (Seychelles) and FSCA (South Africa) It allows maximum leverage of 1:500 for Forex trading under FSCA and FSA regulation and 1:30 under ASIC and FCA regulation. It requires a reasonable minimum deposit of $500.
If you’re an active trader (scalper or day trader) the three most important features you want in a broker are low commissions, faster trading speeds and a comprehensive trading platform. ThinkMarkets checks all the boxes to fulfil everything that is necessary to successfully scalp the forex market and +1,200 of other CFDs.
1)ThinkMarkets Low Commission.
With ThinkMarkets traders are charged USD 3.5 per one standard lot or USD 7.0 round-turn commission rate. The commission is only charged on the ThinkZero account and on FX currency pairs along with gold trading. The transaction cost for trading CFDs is built in the buy-sell spread. Scalpers can enjoy no commission on trading CFDs and spreads starting from 0.4 points.
Note* Currently, ThinkMarkets’ clients can only trade with variable spreads (average FX spreads from 0.1 pips) and no interventions.
The commission rate across the best forex brokers varies from as low as USD 2.0 to as high as USD 5.0 per side (see the full comparison in the table below).
ThinkMarkets Pepperstone Oanda FxPro HotForex FXTM Commission (per-side) USD 3.5 USD 3.5 USD 3.5 USD 4.5 USD 3.0 USD 2.0 Commission (round-turn) USD 7.0 USD 7.0 USD 7.0 USD 9.0 USD 6.0 USD 4.0.
2)STP Pricing Model.
ThinkMarkets also employs the Straight Through Processing (STP) pricing model, which is superior to the ECN model. While scalping goes with an ECN account, the STP account ensures lower costs of transactions and faster speeds. ThinkMarkets only uses its price engine to route your orders directly to the liquidity providers (LP).
Additionally, ThinkMarkets can guarantee “fast trade execution within milliseconds.” The fast order speed is achieved due to the strategic location of ThinkMarkets’ servers. ThinkTrader price technology is located in major Equinix co-location centers:
The London LD5 centre which accommodates over 1,000 companies Hong Kong financial hub, which accommodates over 450 companies.
ThinkMarkets trading infrastructure was built to ensure stability, low latency and fast speed. More, you can scalp the market with flexible trade sizes. The minimum trade size offered by ThinkMarkets is 0.01 or 1,000 units, which is equivalent to USD 0.1 per pip. This enables scalpers to position themselves in the market with much greater precision. More, scalpers can break large orders into smaller orders by using the flexible trade size orders offered by ThinkMarkets.
STP Model + 1,200 CFDs + Flexible Trade Size = ThinkTrader.
Summary Of Why ThinkMarkets Is Best For Scalping With Low Commission.
Overall, ThinkMarkets has the best scalping trading platform with low commissions. With ThinkMarkets, scalpers can save money on trading commissions, enjoy “razor-sharp spreads” from 0.0 pips, maximum leverage up to 500:1 (FSA and FSCA only) and trading infrastructure tailored for short-term trading. Click the button below to create your risk-free demo account.
*Your capital is at risk ‘71.89% of retail CFD accounts lose money’
Ninja Trader.
NinjaTrader offers US forex traders a powerful suite of award-winning charting software solutions and trading tools. Supporting all types of trading strategies including scalping, NinjaTrader state-of-the-art technology is designed to satisfy the unique needs of scalpers. As an award-winning forex trading platform, NinjaTrader has the recognition of the Forex community.
Advantages Of NinjaTrader.
NinjaTrader interface helps scalpers visualize the world’s leading markets without any interruptions. Additionally, the advanced technical analysis tools, fast order types, simulation and backtesting offers scalpers the best trading conditions for success. Tools like the Quantum Tick Speedometer can help scalpers make fast informed decisions through an optimized tick chart.
Traders can buy and sell currencies directly from the DOM window or right from the chart. And, with the advanced trade management solution, scalpers can better deal with fast-moving markets.
Last but not least, the NinjaTrader automated solution offers either point-and-click strategy developing (for non-programmers) or multi-paradigm programming language C-sharp for advanced programmers.
Disadvantages Of NinjaTrader.
Some key cons of the US-based trading platform are the steep learning curve, limited supported forex brokers, and the software package coming at a high fee. However, there are daily live training sessions where you can learn more about the trading platform or industry-leading support where you can connect with NinjaTrader experts and ask more questions.
There are only 8 NinjaTrader supported brokers with the biggest name including Interactive Brokers, TD Ameritrade, City Index and Forex.com. Traders can acquire a NinjaTrader lifetime license for USD 1,099 or annually lease the platform for USD 720.
Forex.com’s NinjaTrader Has Good Technical Analysis For Scalpers.
Forex.com is one of the best scalping forex brokers offering NinjaTrader based on:
Status: biggest US forex broker based on clients’ assets Low spreads starting from 0.2 pips with a fixed commission STP Pro account Active Trader Program can save you up to 18% in monthly trading costs Fast order execution speed of 40ms Large selection of forex pairs (+80 major, minor and exotic currency pairs) Regulated by the most important regulatory agency CFTC and NFA.
1)Active Trader Program.
The active trader program is the ideal solution for scalping, as it comes with an additional lower trading cost. For scalping, you can’t afford high trading costs as this will eat from your small profits. With Forex.com, as a high-volume trader, you can reduce your trading costs up to USD 9 per every 10 standard lots traded.
The minimum rebates you can earn is USD 2 per million traded with the condition to generate a minimum of USD 25 million in trading volume. This translates into an average saving of 4% of your total trading cost. Forex.com’s active trader program has 5 different benefit levels (see figure below).
For example, if your monthly volume is USD 150 million, your monthly trading rebates is USD 450 (150 x $3). Compared to other forex brokers, Forex.com has the most attractive cash rebates program. Pepperstone only offers up to 15% in cash rebates, while most other brokers don’t give such compensations.
2)STP Pro Account.
The Straight Through Processing STP pricing model was designed for providing a specialized solution for scalpers. STP trading technology is able to match orders instantly to selected liquidity providers. Forex.com sources its bid and asks prices from tier-1 LP and banks.
Note* Traders need to be aware that the STP Pro Account doesn’t support the active trader program.
Additionally, Forex.com allows orders to be placed within the bid-ask spread, giving the scalper the ability to gain the bid/ask difference. On the downside, you need to afford to scalp the market with a minimum position size of 100,000 units or USD 10/pip.
Besides the no spread mark-up feature, you can earn up to 65% in discounted commission if you’re scalping the forex market in big size. The commission reduction is based on the monthly trading volume and it’s structured into 6 different brackets (see figure below).
Active Trader Program + Rebates + 80 FX Pairs = Forex.com NinjaTrader.
Summary Of Why Forex.com Is The Best NinjaTrader Broker.
Overall, Forex.com is one of the best forex brokers for scalping the market with attractive cash rebates and reduced trading costs. The commission account is very accessible with a minimum deposit of USD 1,000 but for the STP Pro account, the recommended balance is USD 25,000. Scalpers who participate in the active trader program can get reimbursement of all deposits and withdrawal fees for wire transfers.
Best Scalping Forex Trading Platforms FAQ.
What is scalping?
Scalping represents a short period trading style that puts emphasis on making profits from small market moves, with positions, in most cases, being held active for less than one minute.
Scalpers usually strive to achieve as many small profits as possible and to preserve them. This short-term trading style reduces a trader’s risk exposure, as the probability to encounter an adverse event is smaller. We should also note that small price movements occur more frequently compared to more prolonged moves.
Who is the best Forex broker for scalping?
Based on total trading costs, order execution speed, platform robustness, liquidity and price improvement Pepperstone, IC Markets followed by FXCM offer the best conditions for scalping. The ability to offer tight spreads is the most important factor to consider when using scalping strategies and choosing a forex broker.
What is the best trading platform for scalping?
Based on our independent review, the best trading platform for scalping is MetaTrader 4, cTrader is best for automated scalping strategies, TradingView is best for web traders, and FXTM for scalping with high leverage.
More About How We Found The Best Forex Broker Platform.
Compare Forex Brokers has the best trading forex platform section that compares the leading regulated players and broker reviews. We also have a review of the best micro currency trading platforms. The information came from the top 10 forex brokers in the world and other third-party sources, including demo account information. Use our free tools to find the right broker to suit your needs from high leverage to low ECN broker spreads.
About the author: Justin Grossbard.
With over 20 years of investing experience and 10 years of trading, Justin co-founded Compare Forex Brokers in 2014. He has worked within the foreign exchange trading industry for several years and for several of the largest banks globally. Justin achieved Honours in Commerce and has a Master's degree from Monash University. He also owns Innovate Online offering digital marketing services with over 20 employees.