Forex Brokers 2023.
Tobias has been trading for well over 25 years. From traditional stock and equity investments, to higher risk vehicles such as binary options, Toby has seen many trading platforms, charts and trades. He contributes on a regular basis to daytrading.com, both as a writer, and platform reviewer. He is based in the UK.
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Updated October 21, 2022.
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William Berg.
After leaving university, William worked as an external consultant for IPO:s on the nordic market. He has done consulting for fintech working with simplifying payments and POS information gathering for retailers.
William has also helped a leading trading software and a number of different forex trading software with their localization. He has worked as a writer and fact-checker for a long row of different web publications.
Attended: Gothenburg School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg , Moscow State University.
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Which forex broker is the best? Our list of top forex brokers will help you find the best forex trading platform for you. DayTrading.com explains everything you need to know, with honest in-depth forex broker reviews that includes which trading platforms the broker provides access to. In our list of the best forex brokers, we have considered a wide range of factors including regulation, fees and spreads, payment options, forex trading platforms, charting tools, analysis options and a lot more.
The Best Forex Brokers.
Vantage.
Reliable and affordable trading since 2009. Join over 900,000 others trading on 1000+ CFD products. Trade Forex CFDs from 0.0 spreads on our RAW account through TradingView, MT4 or MT5. Vantage is ASIC regulated and client funds are segregated. Open an account less than 2 minutes.
GBPUSD Spread 0.0 via ECN EURUSD Spread 0.0 via ECN EURGBP Spread 0.0 via ECN Total Assets 1000+ Leverage 1:500 Platforms MT4, MT5.
IC Markets.
Trade Forex on 0.0 pip spreads with one of the world's leading forex brokers - IC Markets. Great choice for serious traders. ASIC regulated.
GBPUSD Spread 0.5 pips EURUSD Spread 0.1 pips EURGBP Spread 0.5 pips Total Assets 56+ Leverage ASIC and CySEC -1:30, FSA - 1:500 Platforms MT4, MT5, cTrader.
AvaTrade.
Avatrade offer 50+ currency pairs and their spreads are some of the best among any broker. They are regulated across 5 continents.
GBPUSD Spread 1.0 var EURUSD Spread 0.7 var EURGBP Spread 1.7 var Total Assets 50+ Leverage 1:400 Platforms MT4, MT5.
Forex.com.
Forex.com are a leading FX broker. Offering a large range of currency pairs and some of the tightest spreads in the industry.
GBPUSD Spread 1.0 Var EURUSD Spread 0.8 Var EURGBP Spread 0.8 Var Total Assets 80+ Leverage 1:200 Platforms MT4.
BDSwiss.
BDSwiss offer 250+ Shares, Indices, Forex, Commodities and Cryptocurrencies markets via CFDs. With spreads from 1 pip and an award winning app, they offer a great package.
GBPUSD Spread 1.7 pips EURUSD Spread 1.2 pips EURGBP Spread 1.3 pips Total Assets 50+ Leverage 1:30 Platforms MT4, MT5.
XM.
XM.com deliver ultra low spreads across a range of forex markets. Flexible lot sizes while Micro and Zero accounts accommodate every level of trader.
GBPUSD Spread 2.1 pips (var) EURUSD Spread 1.6 pips (var) EURGBP Spread 2 pips (var) Total Assets 55+ Leverage 1:500 Platforms MT4, MT5.
Eightcap.
Trade 40+ major, minor & exotic pairs with an award winning platform. Zero commission and tight spreads.
GBPUSD Spread 1.0 but 0.0 on Raw Account EURUSD Spread 1.0 but 0.0 on Raw Account EURGBP Spread 1.0 but 0.0 on Raw Account Total Assets 40+ Leverage 1:30 - 1:500 depending on local regulation Platforms MT4, MT5.
PrimeXBT.
Trade on close to 20 currency pairs, including crypto pairs. 'Covest' and follow experienced traders.
GBPUSD Spread Variable EURUSD Spread Variable EURGBP Spread Variable Total Assets 18 Leverage 1:200 Platforms Own.
Pepperstone.
Pepperstone offers spreads from 0.0 pips on the Razor account and has 60+ pairs available to trade. Lots start at 0.01. CFDs and FX are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.
GBPUSD Spread 0 pips (Via Razor) EURUSD Spread 0 pips (Via Razor) EURGBP Spread 0 pips (Via Razor) Total Assets 60+ Leverage 1:500 Platforms MT4, MT5, cTrader.
Axi.
Trade major, minor & exotic currency pairs 81.6% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
GBPUSD Spread from 0.6 pips (floating) EURUSD Spread from 0.2 pips (floating) EURGBP Spread from 0.5 pips (floating) Total Assets 70+ Leverage 1:30 - 1:400 Platforms MT4.
IQ Option.
IQ Option offer forex trading on a range of currencies. Spreads are on the high side and the brand do not excel in this area Risk Warning: Your Capital Might Be At Risk.
GBPUSD Spread 5 pips EURUSD Spread 14 pips EURGBP Spread 15 pips Total Assets 250+ Leverage 1:500 Platforms Own.
IG Group.
Trade a range of major, minor and exotic currencies.
GBPUSD Spread from 0.589 pips EURUSD Spread from 0.165 pips EURGBP Spread from 0.540 pips Total Assets 90+ Leverage 1:30 Platforms MT4.
FXCC.
Trade with spreads as low as 0.0 pips and $0 commission. Up to 1:500 leverage available.
GBPUSD Spread 1.0 pip average EURUSD Spread 0.2 pips average EURGBP Spread 0.5 pips average Total Assets 70+ Leverage 1:500 Platforms MT4.
Capital.com.
Capital.com offer a long list of forex CFD pairs for trading. All have competitive spreads. The firm also ensures negative balance protection 87.41% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
GBPUSD Spread 0.00013 pips (var) EURUSD Spread 0.00007 pips (var) EURGBP Spread 0.00015 pips (var) Total Assets 130+ Leverage 1:30 Platforms MT4.
Plus500.
Plus500 Offer forex trading via CFDs with tight variable spreads and a range of well over 70 currency pairs. Free Unlimited Demo Account. 79% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
GBPUSD Spread Variable EURUSD Spread Variable EURGBP Spread Variable Total Assets 70+ Leverage 1:30 Platforms Own.
Binary.com.
Binary.com deliver advanced forex trading via the MetaTrader5 platform and 3 Account Types.
GBPUSD Spread 1 pip var EURUSD Spread 0.5 pip var EURGBP Spread 1 pip var Total Assets 45+ Leverage 1:1000 Platforms MT4, MT5.
Videforex.
Videforex offers leveraged trading on major, minor and exotic currency pairs.
GBPUSD Spread Floating from 0.1 pips EURUSD Spread Floating from 0.1 pips EURGBP Spread Floating from 0.1 pips Total Assets 35 Leverage 1:500 Platforms Own.
Finq.com.
Forex trading is offered on 55 pairs, with spreads from 1 pip on standard accounts and from 0.8 pips on the classic ECN account.
GBPUSD Spread From 0.8 pips EURUSD Spread From 0.8 pips EURGBP Spread From 0.8 pips Total Assets 55 Leverage 1:300 Platforms MT4.
FxPro.
Trade CFDs on 70+ forex pairs with tight spreads and advanced investing tools.
GBPUSD Spread 2.39 pips (Ave) EURUSD Spread 1.58 pips (Ave) EURGBP Spread 1.74 pips (Ave) Total Assets 70+ Leverage 1:200 Platforms MT4, MT5, cTrader.
eToro.
eToro offers a selection of major, minor and exotic currency pairs. Clients can speculate on FX from the eToro trading app. 79% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
GBPUSD Spread 2 pips EURUSD Spread 1.5 pips EURGBP Spread 1.5 pips Total Assets 49 Leverage - Platforms Own.
UFX.
Trade over 60 forex pairs with advanced analysis tools.
GBPUSD Spread 3 - 5 pips EURUSD Spread 2 - 4 pips EURGBP Spread 4 - 5 pips Total Assets 65+ Leverage 1:30 Platforms Own.
ActivTrades.
Trade on the foreign exchange market with up to 1:400 leverage.
GBPUSD Spread 0.8 EURUSD Spread 0.5 EURGBP Spread 0.8 Total Assets 50+ Leverage 1:400 Platforms MT4, MT5.
Swissquote.
Trade a long list of major, minor and exotic currencies.
GBPUSD Spread 1.3 EURUSD Spread 1.3 EURGBP Spread 1.5 Total Assets 80+ Leverage 1:30 Platforms MT4, MT5.
SimpleFX.
Trade currency pairs with tight spreads and 1:500 leverage.
GBPUSD Spread 1.2 EURUSD Spread 0.9 EURGBP Spread 0.9 Total Assets 60 Leverage 1:500 Platforms MT4.
RoboForex.
Trade FX with high leverage levels.
GBPUSD Spread 2 EURUSD Spread 1.4 EURGBP Spread 1.6 Total Assets 40+ Leverage 1:2000 Platforms MT4, MT5, cTrader.
LQDFX.
Trade on FX pairs with 1:500 leverage.
GBPUSD Spread 0.1 - 1.8 pips (depending on account) EURUSD Spread 0.1 - 1.2 pips (depending on account) EURGBP Spread 0.5 - 1.7 pips (depending on account) Total Assets 71 Leverage 1:100 - 1:500 Platforms MT4.
Moneta Markets.
Trade with leverage on a range of FX pairs.
GBPUSD Spread Floating EURUSD Spread Floating EURGBP Spread Floating Total Assets 45+ Leverage Up to 1:500 Platforms MT4, MT5.
LegacyFX.
Trade FX pairs with tight spreads & leverage.
GBPUSD Spread From 0.5 EURUSD Spread From 0.6 EURGBP Spread From 0.5 Total Assets 40+ Leverage 1:200 Platforms MT5.
OctaFX.
OctaFX offers leveraged trading on currencies with floating spreads from 0.6 pips.
GBPUSD Spread 1.1 EURUSD Spread 0.7 EURGBP Spread 2.1 Total Assets 35 Leverage 1:500 (Global), 1:30 (EU) Platforms MT4, MT5.
EZ Invest.
Take positions on the foreign exchange market with leveraged trading products.
GBPUSD Spread 1.1 EURUSD Spread 0.6 EURGBP Spread 2.3 Total Assets 50+ Leverage 1:30 Platforms MT4.
How To Find The Best Forex Brokers.
Below we’ve listed the main criteria for finding the best forex brokers 2023. We will expand on each area later on in the article.
Regulation – A proper regulatory framework is key. It gives you the reassurance that the forex platform is operating within the rules the governing body has assigned. This provides an element of trust between broker and client. It guarantees that the broker offers honest trading and that they do not try to scam their clients. Choosing a broker that is regulated by a trusted regulatory body is the most important factor when choosing a broker to open an account with. All top Forex trading platforms are regulated by high-trust regulators. Fees/Commission – This is the second most important part of your global forex broker appraisal. One forex platform may charge you a tenth of the price for the same trade vs another. Take note of “hidden” fees, such as withdrawal or inactivity fees. Lower fees and commissions make it a lot easier to make a profit when trading on the forex market as high fees otherwise risk eating up your profits. Reputation – People talk. It is well worth listening to what traders say about their forex broker. Is it their favorite broker or are they dissatisfied with it. The top forex brokers generally have a good word of mouth. Operating Model – Forex brokers usually operate one of two operating models: dealing desk or no dealing desk. A dealing desk broker owns its order book, meaning they create liquidity for clients. These are known as ‘market makers’ because if there is no one to take the other side of a trade (i.e buy what you’re selling), they’ll take it themselves. No dealing desk brokers (also known as ECN brokers) connect to a larger market where filling orders is not an issue. Market Coverage – The selection of assets on offer. Does the forex platform provide the FX pair or product you’re looking for? Accessibility and Affordability – Beginner forex traders and small-timers need love too. You should never be forced into making a minimum deposit that you cannot afford to lose. Minimum deposits range from $10 to $1000 (or the £/€ equivalent). It might be worth investing more to get access to a platform that suits you better, so stay open-minded. Platforms – The forex trading platform and the tools it provides are your primary weapons in your personal war for profits. Personal preference will play a large part here, as many platforms offer very similar services, but look and feel very different. Remember many platforms are configurable, so they can be tailored to suit your needs. Strategies – Not all forex brokers allow every strategy. For instance, it’s common to see limitations on scalping, hedging and automated trading strategies (EAs). If this is what you’re interested in, you’ll need to check before you sign up that you’re selecting a forex broker suitable for scalping, for example. Mobile Apps – Being able to trade on the go may be important. Some mobile apps are superior to others. Usually, the features available on desktop are not matched on a mobile app, so access to both is recommended. Deposits and Withdrawals – The ability to move funds to and from the platform, quickly and preferably cheaply is key. Forex brokers with instant deposits for debit/credit cards and PayPal are common, so look out for these where possible. Customer Support – You need someone to talk to if you run into problems. Competent support is a must. From opening an account, to help with the platform – customer support is important. Company Background and History – Knowing the past exploits of forex brokers can give you a better idea of what it is up to now. A listed company has to publish numerous elements of information about their balance sheet, for example. Education – It never hurts to improve your understanding of how the forex markets work. Some brokers offer extensive educational tools that will enable you to take advantage of movements when they occur. Account Opening/Registration – Is it a simple process to open an account? Do clients need to be verified? These processes are not always the same and might be worth considering if opening an account has been problematic in the past.
Broker Costs.
The services that forex platforms provide are not free. You pay for them through spreads, commissions and rollover fees.
The fee structures differ from one forex broker to another, and even from one account type to another. There are two widely used basic setups.
Spread Only – All other fees (with the exception of the rollover rate) are included in the spread Blend Of Fees – Besides the spread, a commission may be charged as well.
Spreads.
Most forex brokers make money through spreads on currency pairs. This can be either fixed or variable. Fixed spreads are always constant, regardless of market volatility. Variable spreads change, depending on the traded asset, volatility and available liquidity.
Daily spreads may only differ slightly among forex platforms, but active traders (or even hyper-active traders) are opening positions so frequently that small differences can mount up.
Traders should always be looking for forex brokers with the lowest spread. 1 pip fixed spread forex brokers are out there and ECN brokers may even deliver zero spreads.
Commission.
A commission-based fee structure usually suits other tradable assets, such as stocks and shares. However, you may encounter instances where a commission is charged by forex brokers. Use a profit calculator to understand whether low spreads make up for this.
Rollover Rate.
Forex positions kept open overnight incur an extra fee, known as a rollover rate. This charge results from the difference between the interest rates of the two currencies.
Assets.
While most forex brokers offer an impressive-looking selection of currency pairs, not all of them cover minors and exotics.
For example, if you want to trade Thai Bahts or Swedish krona, you will need to double-check the asset lists and tradable currencies. These currencies are less commonly traded and therefore may not be offered by all platforms.
If you’re interested in major pairs (see below), then all brokers will cater for you.
The Aussie dollar and Swiss Franc, while considered ‘minor’ pairs, are often traded in high volume. You can read more about those here: AUD/USD or USD/CHF.
That said, there are brokers out there that will truly go out of their way to cater to their traders’ needs. Some will even add international exotics and currency markets on request. Such flexibility is obviously a major asset.
What About Crypto?
Cryptocurrency pairs are ubiquitous nowadays. Crypto/fiat and crypto/crypto pairings are both popular. This allows retail traders to match real currencies against alt-coins in order to profit from exchange rates.
The massive volatility associated with these products makes scalping a viable strategy for profitability.
Forex brokers do not usually offer spot crypto, instead, they’ll trade CFDs. The regulation of cryptocurrency varies globally. For example, for US residents, there are often difficulties accessing some of the largest exchanges due to SEC regulations. And, in the UK, all crypto derivatives are now banned.
Micro Accounts.
Not everyone trades forex on a massive scale. In fact, many forex traders are small-timers. These clients require forex platforms’ micro accounts, some of which have the US Dollar as their base currency.
Often, forex micro accounts do not even have a set minimum deposit requirement. Such cheap trading options make sense for those looking to use real money, without risking their life savings.
Forex Trading Platforms.
Besides fees, a forex broker’s trading platform is one of its largest selling points. Platforms are your portal into the investing world – giving you the ability to open and close trades but also monitor price changes and complete analysis.
They provide traders with technical analysis tools, live news feeds, diverse order types, automation, advanced charting and drawing options etc. Some may include sentiment indicators or event calendars.
We’ve provided an overview and comparison of the top trading platforms used by forex brokers below.
MetaTrader 4.
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is the original platform created by MetaQuotes. It has set many of the standards we’ve come to expect today for online analysis.
It’s famous for its in-depth analytics, which go way beyond the usual graphs and charting you’d expect. In fact, all in all, you can bring 31 different graphical studies to your results, including Fibonacci studies and Elliot wave drawing tools.
Plus, it was also one of the first to deliver analytics to mobile. You can access almost all these powerful tools on your phone just as easily as you can on a desktop.
Read a more in-depth analysis of MetaTrader 4 here.
MetaTrader 5.
It’s five years younger and sounds like an upgrade, but in fact, MT5 isn’t considered to be the better version of MT4. It really depends on what you want it for.
MT5 is geared more towards the US market and automatically complies with more US regulations than MT4 does.
While it’s true that it has more bells and whistles, like 44 graphical studies instead of 31, it’s really set up to deal better with high frequency automated trading. If that’s what you’re looking to do, then MT5 is for you, but if you’re not then you may find most of these additional features unnecessary and bulky.
The base operating software used by MT4 is not thought to run any slower than MT5, so think of it more like a slimline version of the same thing with more of what you need, and less of what you don’t.
Forex brokers will usually offer both MT4 and MT5 as options. Although MetaQuotes has stopped selling licences for MT4, so new brokers may not offer this.
Read a more in-depth analysis of MetaTrader 5 here.
Other Popular Platforms.
TradingView is also a popular choice that consistently ranks within the top 10 platforms. As the world’s top social trading network, it’s used by numerous forex brokers and is especially popular among professional investors.
NinjaTrader is praised for its advanced features and technical analysis tools. In particular, the NinjaTrader Ecosystem allows access to thousands of apps, EAs, and other add-ons created by external developers.
Bespoke Proprietary Platforms.
Another popular option for forex trading platforms is the bespoke route. Many forex brokers will offer their own “home-made” proprietary platforms alongside the usual MT4 and MT5 solutions.
The great benefit of these is that they’re usually designed specifically around a certain kind of market, strategy or currency pair. In this way, you’ll find they can often be better suited to your specific needs. But at the same time, they can be less versatile.
Proprietary solutions are in some cases less than optimal. Traders who base their strategies on the use of EAs and VPS, will struggle to find a proprietary platform that compares to MT4 and MT5. In fact, many do not offer the functionality altogether.
While we are discussing strategies: not all forex brokers support strategies such as hedging, scalping and EAs. Make sure you understand any and all restrictions in this regard before you sign up.
Mobile App.
For those who want to trade on the go, a mobile app is obviously important. While all forex brokers feature such apps these days, some mobile platforms are very simplistic.
They lack all the advanced analysis and market research features, and as such, are hardly useful. You can see a list of the best forex broker apps here.
Software.
The developers of trading software are often adding new and unique functionality to their platforms. But some also allow user-developed AI or tools to be added.
In fact, many allow users to load their own functionality to a ‘code base’ (in the case of MT4) where other users can then download those add-ons for free. This added configurability is very attractive for certain traders.
The majority of ‘off the shelf’ software falls into two camps: signals or automated trading robots (‘bots’).
Signals.
Signal platforms, as the name suggests, are set up to alert the user when certain market conditions are met.
Within this type of software, you can dictate when you receive signals and how they are sent. Speed is crucial when using signals.
The major advantage to using this type of software is that you don’t have to sit in front of a market ticker watching currency fluctuations day and night or keep yourself plugged into world politics, because you’ll be alerted to price targets as they are reached. Systems can also be configured to recognise certain patterns.
Signals can add some discipline to trading, as, in theory, trades will only be placed when certain conditions are met – reducing any made on impulse. This is a double-edged sword, though, because it still relies on your judgement to make the correct decision once the signal has been sent.
Automated Trading.
Automated trading software takes forex signals to the next logical step. Not only will opportunities be identified (based on your configuration) but the trades will also be automatically placed as per your commands.
While this might sound easier than a signal platform, if you’re going to do it properly, it requires a huge amount of homework and fine-tuning before you’re ready to set the algorithm free in the markets for it to start making you money.
Put simply, thw automated forex trading software systems – called robots or bots – will trade your money using a pre-determined set of entry and exit criteria that you decide in advance.
There are apps that you can download to check the progress of your forex bots on the move, but fundamentally it is up to them to make the right trades.
In comparison to signal platforms, the frequency of trades placed by automated forex platforms cannot be matched. This is because bots can execute faster than any human – and they can do so 24/7.
This means there is far more potential to make money, but you’re also exposing yourself to far more risk.
The robot will follow the trading rules until the balance runs out, and that can all happen very quickly if things start going wrong. Automated forex trading platforms are a domain for experienced trader only.
Tools & Features.
From charting to futures pricing or bespoke trading robots, forex brokers offer a range of tools to enhance the experience.
Again, whether the availability of these as a deciding factor in opening an account or not will be down to the individual.
Level 2 (or Level II) data is one such tool, where preference might be given to a brand delivering it.
Education.
Some traders may rely on their forex broker to help them learn to trade. From guides to classes and webinars, educational resources vary from brand to brand.
However, a broker is not always the best source for impartial advice. Consider checking other sources too – such as our Education page.
Deposits and Withdrawals.
There are some massive disparities between the costs associated with deposits and withdrawals from one broker to another. Such disparities mostly result from the internal procedures observed by different forex brokers.
At one platform, it can take as much as 5 times longer to fund an account than it does at another. The incurred costs differ quite a bit as well.
Otherwise, the payment process largely hinges on the accepted money transfer methods. It would make sense for forex brokers to adopt as many such methods as possible, yet some still fall well short of the mark.
Most forex brokers also specify minimum deposits with their accounts, which can range from $10 to $10,000. This can act as an entry barrier to less experienced clients with less capital to invest.
Payment Methods.
The most common methods are bank wire, VISA and MasterCard. The majority of forex platforms tend to accept Skrill and Neteller too.
Forex brokers with PayPal are much rarer. The same goes for forex brokers accepting bitcoin.
We are not talking about bitcoin trading, but actual deposits made using the top cryptocurrency.
Customer Feedback.
Based on actual user feedback, a forex broker’s reputation can best be gleaned from various community review sites and forums.
You have to take this type of feedback with a grain of salt, to say the least.
First of all: disgruntled traders are always more motivated to post feedback. They are not likely to be unbiased.
Secondly: not all of this feedback is factually correct. Furthermore, there is no way to actually fact-check/verify this data. Even sites like TrustPilot are blighted with fake posts and scam messages. There is no quality control or verification of posts.
That said, it is still relevant. If there’s a forex broker about which no one has ever said anything good, chances are it might have issues. To the trained eye, genuine trader reviews are relatively easy to spot.
The utter lack of community feedback is a red flag as well. People always have something to say about forex brokers. Therefore, something is definitely amiss if there is no information available in this regard.
Regulation.
Regulation should be an important consideration. Across the world, there are different regulatory bodies that govern the rules a forex broker must adhere to. Forex brokers regulated in Russia, Canada, UAE (Dubai) or Pakistan may have different responsibilities to those in the USA, Philippines or South Africa, for example.
Europe.
In Europe, ESMA (the European Securities and Markets Authority) has jurisdiction over all regulators within the European Economic Area (EEA). This includes the following regulators:
CySec (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission) BaFin – (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) FINMA (Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority)
If a forex platform is regulated by one of the above, they are permitted to provide financial services throughout Europe. Therefore, you’ll often find that forex brokers are regulated by CySEC, but accept clients from Germany, Switzerland and the rest of Europe.
In Europe, forex leverage is capped at 1:30 (or x30). Outside of Europe, leverage can reach 1:500 (x500).
Traders in Europe can apply for professional status with their forex broker. This removes their regulatory protection and allows them to trade with higher leverage.
Other rules include the duty for forex brokers to display warnings about the “ risk of losing all your money ” when CFD trading and the ban on offering binary options.
Other Global Regulators.
Outside of Europe, the largest regulators of forex brokers are:
SEC – Securities and Exchange Commission (US) CFTC – Commodity Futures Trading Commission (US) FCA – Financial Conduct Authority (UK) CSA – Canadian Securities Administration ASIC – Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
These are the most stringent global regulators. Forex brokers offering services in their jurisdictions must register with them to provide financial services legally. In other nations, the regulators are more “Laissez-faire” and regulation is not mandatory. Therefore, forex platforms operating in India, Hong Kong, Ghana, Kenya, Qatar etc. are likely to be regulated in one of the above, rather than their national regulator.
Offshore Regulation.
Regulators based in Vanuatu, Belize and other island nations are called ‘offshore regulators’. Sadly, this is not a sign that should instil confidence in the forex broker. Beyond a nominally available dispute-resolution system, such regulatory coverage offers you no protection.
Leverage.
Leverage can be a factor to consider when selecting forex platforms. However, regulation often takes the choice out of this. Leverage is capped at 1:30 by the majority of forex brokers regulated in Europe. Assets such as gold, oil or stocks are capped separately.
Note that higher leverage increases potential losses, as well as profits.
Security.
Most forex brokers will follow regulations and segregate client and company funds into separate bank accounts. This protects traders in the case of broker liquidation.
Data protection is usually legislated at a government level. In the EU, GDPR regulation applies. This restricts what forex brokers can do with your personal data, offering that added level of protection.
Account security also differs among forex brokers. Some platforms may offer the additional layer of protection of 2FA (two-factor authentication) which will protect against hacker intrusion.
Demo Accounts.
If this is all sounding like too much already and you’re feeling daunted, you can ‘try before you buy’ using a demo account. Many forex brokers will allow you to open a simulation account. This trading training software uses imaginary money to see how you would have performed had you made the decisions that you did on the real forex market.
This can be good for new traders looking to test the waters and ease their nerves, and it can also be useful for more experienced traders looking to trial new strategies and ideas in a risk-free environment. It’s the best ‘on the job’ training that you can get. The best forex trading platforms for beginners will offer this function, and it’s highly recommended that you give it a go. It’s a real advantage.
Company History.
A proper regulatory agency will not think twice about handing out cease and desist orders to dishonest brokers. It will also likely blacklist them.
This practice creates an online trail, an operational history of sorts, highlighting the past sins of currently “reputable” forex brokers.
What’s interesting about this history is how little exposure it receives. You actually have to scour the archives of regulators to happen upon such relevant bits of information.
Bonus Offers.
From cashbacks, to no deposit bonuses, free trades or deposit matches, forex brokers used to offer loads of promotions. Regulatory pressure has changed all that.
Forex platforms offering bonuses are now few and far between. Our forex bonus page will list them where offered, but they should rarely be a deciding factor in your choice.
Always check the terms and conditions and make sure they will not cause you to over-trade. Many forex brokers with welcome, low or no deposit bonuses have time limits or turnover requirements. This is particularly crucial when assessing a forex broker offering a no deposit bonus. Often, bonuses that are given without the need to deposit are non-withdrawable.
Order Execution Types.
Once you click the “Open Trade” or “Enter” button in your trading interface, you start a rather intricate process. Forex brokers use a number of different methods to execute your trades.
Exactly which method it uses for a particular trade will be reflected in the price you pay for it. Some forex platforms only support certain order execution methods. For instance, your broker may act as a market maker and not use an ECN for trade execution.
If you are looking for this method specifically, you will need to seek out an ECN forex broker.
ECNs are great for limit orders, as they match buy and sell orders automatically within the network.
Some other options that your forex broker can use are:
Order To The Floor – Mostly used for stocks. This execution type is handled manually, through actual trading floors/regional exchanges. It is therefore extremely slow. Order To Third Market Maker – This execution type involves a third party, which is a market maker. The market maker handles trade execution. Some market makers pay brokers to send them orders. Thus, your order may not end up with the best market maker. Internalization – When using this method, forex platforms match the order from its own inventory of assets. This execution method is therefore extremely fast.
Order execution is extremely important when it comes to choosing forex brokers. It also goes hand-in-hand with regulatory requirements.
Broker Reporting.
Regulators aim to make sure that traders get the best possible execution. In fact, forex brokers in Europe and the US are required by ESMA and the SEC to report the quality of the execution their services provide.
MiFID II sets clear guidelines in this regard. Online forex brokers are required to submit data concerning their execution methods as well as execution prices on a trade-by-trade basis.
In this reporting, the prices paid by forex platforms are compared to those quoted to the public. If the broker executes trades at better prices than the public quotes, it has some additional explaining to do. Plus, if it routes the trader’s order through a less-than-optimal path, it has to disclose this fact to the trader.
These examples yet again showcase the importance of a proper regulatory background.
Forex Account Types.
From cash, margin or PAMM accounts, to Bronze, Silver, Gold and VIP levels, account types can vary. The differences can be access to 0 pip spreads, Level II data, settlement or different leverage and commission. Comparison is recommended to ensure you’re getting the best deal for your capital allowance.
Micro accounts might provide lower trade size limits for example.
Retail and professional accounts will be treated very differently by both brokers and regulators. An ECN account will give you direct access to the forex contracts markets.
So research what you need, and compare it to what you are getting at your current forex platforms.
Scams.
Sadly, there are some forex brokers that are just scams. Avoid getting caught out with these checks:
Were you ‘cold called’? Reputable firms will not call you out of the blue (this includes emails, Facebook or Instagram channels) Are they offering unrealistic profits? Just stop and consider for a minute – if they could make the money they are claiming, why are they cold calling or advertising on social media? Are they offering to trade on your behalf or use their own managed or automated trades? Do not give anyone else control of your money.
If you have any doubts, simply move on. There are plenty of legitimate, legal brokers.
We have ranked forex brokers and platforms based on our own opinion and offered ratings in our tables – read more about why you can trust our opinion here – but only you can award ‘5 stars’ to your favourite!
Read who won the DayTrading.com ‘Best Forex Broker 2023‘ on the Awards page.
Difference Between A Broker And A Market Maker?
Forex brokers are intermediaries. Their primary (and often only) goal is to bring together buyers and sellers by matching orders automatically, without human intervention (STP). For this service, it collects its due fees.
Market maker forex brokers, on the other hand, actively create liquidity in the market by acting as a counterparty to traders. If there’s no one to take the other side of your trade (buy when you’re selling), they’ll take the other side of the trade. This does lead to a conflict of interest. Market makers will be profiting from your losses.
The Bottom Line.
Hopefully, you now understand some of the methods we’ve used to create our forex brokers ranking list.
Picking the right platforms for you from the extensive list of forex brokers is no easy task. But it is imperative that you get it right. While we can point you in the correct general direction, only you know your personal needs. Take them into account, together with our recommendations.
FAQs.
What Is The Best Forex Broker?
There is no single top forex broker as every client has different needs, strategies and geographical locations. For example, of the top 8 brokers in South Africa, only 5 may make the list in Dubai or India, and even then they may be topped by other firms built around the local markets. So, whether you are in New Zealand, Japan, Lebanon, China, Mexico or beyond, finding the right broker will be a completely different experience. Follow our guide above for how best to compare local brokers, or see our ranked list of brokers that accept clients in your area.
Are All Forex Brokers Licensed?
Forex broker regulation is split among the various financial and geopolitical jurisdictions in the world. While most brokers will conform to rules imposed by regulatory agencies, there are some that do not. For example, some companies intentionally set themselves up in regions not affected by the ESMA but still advertise to European customers. These are generally either scams or specialist firms that provide anonymous brokering to best protect their client information through means like not requiring KYC data on account setup.
Are There Forex Brokers That Accept Bitcoin?
Forex brokers around the world accept various payment methods for funding and emptying accounts. There are many brokers that accept wire transfer and payment (debit or credit) cards, with a growing number using and accepting PayPal, Bitcoin, Venmo and other e-wallets and payment systems.
What Is The Best Forex Trading Platform?
Much like brokers, finding the best forex trading platform is a personal and subjective task. With so many commercial and private platform providers, brokers offering their own trading software and clients with unique strategies out there, there are no clear best forex trading platforms. Plus, if you are in Nigeria, Australia, South Africa, the Philippines or Canada, the range of forex trading platforms on offer will vary with the available brokers.
MT4 and MT5 are generally safe bets and strong all-rounders, but you should do your research into what is available to you, see our list of forex trading platform for more information. Platforms may also be limited by the operating systems they can run on, so if you are looking for the best option for Mac, make sure you factor this in.
What Additional Software Do Forex Brokers Offer?
Software for forex speculation is not limited to platforms and mobile apps. Signals forex trading software provides buy and sell signals, while automation systems and bots support algorithmic investment strategies. Some automated traders use a paid or free VPS, which cuts out the middle man and allows faster order execution. Before signing up for additional features, check our automated forex trading software reviews.