4 Best STP Forex Brokers for 2026
In the Straight-Through Processing (STP) model, traders’ orders are filled directly by liquidity providers — major banks, funds, and other financial institutions — rather than by the broker itself. This gives traders access to deep liquidity and fast execution, while eliminating the conflict of interest that arises when a broker acts as the counterparty to its clients’ trades. For this guide, I selected four top brokers that tick all the boxes for those looking for STP execution.
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Our Top 4 Forex Brokers, Ranked
- Average order execution of around 40ms.
- MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, FP Markets App.
- Low fees on gold, shares, indices, and Bitcoin.
- Autochartist research and Traders Toolbox for MetaTrader.
- Advanced CXFD platform with TradingView charts.
- Trading APIs for DMA trading.
- 3 million trading and investing products.
- 1,000 CFDs (forex, commodities, stocks, ETFs, indices, cryptocurrencies, and bonds).
- MT4, MT5, TradingView + VTrade for copy trading and VT Markets mobile app.
- Cent accounts for algo testing ($50 minimum deposit).
- MT4 add-ons and PMAM accounts for money managers.
- Flexible leverage up to 1:2000.
- Copy trading via TradeCopier and VPS hosting for low latency.
Compare the Data — All 4 Brokers
| Broker | Ranking | Max Leverage | Asset Classes | Fees Score | Foundation Year | Min Deposit | Meta Trader | cTrader | Trading View | Trading Desk Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FP Markets | 4.6 Read Review | 1:500 (FSA), 1:500 (FSCM), 1:500 (Unregulated), 1:400 (FSCA), 1:30 (ASIC), 1:500 (CMA) | Forex (72), Commodities (29), Stocks (10000), Crypto (12), Indices (19), ETFs (46), Bonds (2) | 4.1 | 2005 | $100 | ECN, STP, DMA | |||
Swissquote | 4.3 Read Review | 1:100 (FINMA), 1:20 (SFC), 1:30 (MFSA), 1:100 (MAS), 1:30 (CSSF), 1:30 (CySEC), 1:30 (FCA), 1:30 (DFSA), 1:100 (FSCA) | Forex (76), Commodities (30), Stocks (317), Crypto (2), Indices (26), Bonds (3) | 2.6 | 1996 | $1000 | Hybrid, Principal Model, ECN | |||
VT Markets | 4.5 Read Review | 1:1000 (FSCM), 1:1000 (CMA UAE), 1:1000 (FSCA) | Forex (78), Commodities (22), Stocks (730), Crypto (47), Indices (33), ETFs (57), Bonds (7) | 4.5 | 2015 | $100 | ECN, STP, No dealing desk | |||
IronFX | 4.4 Read Review | 1:30 (FCA), 1:500 (FSCA), 1:2000 (BVI FSC) | Forex (85), Commodities (9), Stocks (141), Crypto (34), Indices (16), Futures (26) | 4.0 | 2010 | $50 | Market Maker |
The Best Forex Brokers, Tested
Best Overall
- $100Min Deposit
- 10180Tradable Instruments
- MediumFees
What we tested & measured
I used live and demo versions of Standard and Raw accounts opened with First Prudential Markets Pty Ltd (Australia). I ran the tests on the desktop and mobile versions of the cTrader platform. I also used MetaTrader 5 (on demo accounts) to measure FP Markets’ order execution speeds.
Why We Picked It
FP Markets passed my price testing with flying colors. The broker keeps its costs on FX Crosses, metals, stocks, indices, and cryptocurrencies tight. The only outliers were the $13 EURUSD and $40 WTI trade costs I calculated using the broker’s Standard account.
Another highlight of FP Markets is its range of trading platforms. I personally recommend going for cTrader because it is the most well-balanced of the bunch. cTrader stands out with its intuitive charting, information-rich panel (which provides a comprehensive picture of your position’s parameters), and custom-built environments for copy and automated trading.
STP enthusiasts can also use FP Markets’ cTrader platform to obtain actionable trading signals from Autochartist. Those are integrated next to the order-placing window so you can learn about viable entry and exit levels, where to place your protective stop-loss order, and more. I consider Autochartist integration a great perk for day and news traders.
Key Features:
- License and Regulation: ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), FSCA (South Africa), CMA (Kenya), FSC (Mauritius), FSA (Seychelles), St. Vincent & the Grenadines
- STP Account Parameters: Floating spread from 1.0 pips, $0 commission
- Average Order Execution: Around 40ms
- Maximum Retail Leverage: 1:500
- Available Platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, Mottai, Iress
- Other Tools: TradersToolbox (MetaTrader plugin), Autochartist
Pros and Cons
- 40ms average order execution
- Competitive trading fees
- Range of versatile platforms
- Autochartist integration
- No proprietary web/desktop platform
- No Islamic accounts
- VPS and FIX APIs are not available in all regions
- Average-to-high swap fees
Screenshots & Video from Our Test
Best Execution Speed
- $1000Min Deposit
- 454Tradable Instruments
- HighFees
What we tested & measured
I tested a Standard account opened with Swissquote Bank Ltd. I ran my tests on the proprietary CFXD platform on web and mobile and collected spreads on 18 March 2026 during the London and New York market openings. The majority of my testing was conducted on the demo account, but I used a live account to record the Swissquote’s spreads.
Why We Picked It
Over the past several years, Swissquote has carved out a reputation as the go-to option for STP traders seeking fast, precise order execution. The Swiss investment bank’s numbers speak for themselves: 9ms average order execution with a 58% positive fill rate. This makes Swissquote the premier choice for high-volume traders and scalpers.
Key Features:
- License and Regulation: FINMA (Switzerland), CSSF (Luxembourg), FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), MFSA (Malta), SFC (Hong Kong), MAS (Singapore), DFSA (Dubai), FSCA (South Africa)
- STP Account Parameters: Floating spreads from 1.7 pips, $0.3/share commission on stocks
- Average Order Execution: 9ms
- Maximum Retail Leverage: 1:100
- Available Platforms: CFXD, MT4, MT5, TradingView
- Other Tools: FIX APIs, Autochartist
Swissquote breaks the mold of STP trading with its access to deep liquidity. The Swiss investment bank provides more than 3 million investment products, including 450+ trading assets. I was also impressed by its diversity of contracts: you can trade FX, commodities, stocks, indices, digital assets, options, futures contracts, government treasuries, bonds, and more.
The company also held its own on the tradable platforms front. Swissquote’s proprietary CFXD station outclasses more conventional names like MT4 and MT5 with its superior charting. Scaling price action up and down is incredibly easy, while the high-definition chart visuals enable probing technical analysis. It allows you to zoom in on even the smallest price fluctuations – perfect for scalpers.
Swissquote’s prices are a different story, though. I observed above-average costs across the board, which is why I consider Swissquote best-suited for high-end clients who are willing to pay top dollar for Swissquote’s superior execution performance.
Pros and Cons
- Average order execution of 9ms
- 58% positive fill rate
- CFXD platform with FIX APIs integration
- 3 million trading and investing products
- Elevated spreads
- High minimum deposit (from $1,000)
- No EAs on the CFXD platform
- No copy trading
Screenshots & Video from Our Test
Best Low Fees
- $100Min Deposit
- 974Tradable Instruments
- LowFees
What we tested & measured
I opened a Standard STP account with VT Markets (Pty) Ltd and performed my tests on the desktop and mobile versions of the MetaTrader 5 platform. My fee testing (spreads and swaps) took place on 31 July 2025 during the London and New York opens.
Why We Picked It
VT Markets appeals to beginner STP traders with its low-cost accounts starting from $100, favorable costs, and reliable customer support. VT Markets has also got you covered with its broad and diverse selection of learning materials.
Key Features:
- License and Regulation: FSCA (South Africa), SCA (UAE), FSC (Mauritius), St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Unregulated)
- STP Account Parameters: Floating spreads from 1.2 pips, $0 commission
- Average Order Execution: Undisclosed
- Maximum Retail Leverage: 1:1000
- Available Platforms: MT4, MT5, TradingView, VTrade (for copy trading)
- Other Tools: Trading Central
If you want to learn the ropes, then you can turn to VT Markets’ video content library. It covers essential trading topics related to technical analysis and fundamental analysis. I also worked my way through a couple of videos dedicated to trading psychology and rated them very high. I found them very instructive on the topic of developing the right trading attitude.
VT Markets also deserves credit for offering a dedicated Cent account to traders who want to cap their account exposure. When you trade on a Cent account, your profit and loss margins are measured in cents, not in dollars.
Last but not least, beginner STP traders with VP Markets can use the readily available actionable trading signals by Trading Central. With just a few clicks, you can replicate them directly on your MT4 or MT5 platforms. Alternatively, you can replicate the trades of other, more experienced clients of VT Markets via the broker’s VTrade platform for copy trading.
Pros and Cons
- Low-deposit accounts
- Robust educational content
- Proprietary copy trading service
- Trading Central content
- Withdrawal fee in some cases
- Limited educational offering
- Additional fee for copy trading via VTrade
- The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines entity is unregulated
Screenshots & Video from Our Test
Best MT4
- $50Min Deposit
- 311Tradable Instruments
- MediumFees
What we tested & measured
I tested Standard Floating and Raw ECN accounts using the MT4 platform in August 2026. I used demo and live accounts with the Notesco (BVI) Limited entity based in the British Virgin Islands.
Why We Picked It
If STP forex trading is the most popular execution model and MetaTrader 4 is the most popular trading platform, then IronFX is the best broker to sign up with and make the most out of both.
Key Features:
- License and Regulation: FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), FSC (British Virgin Islands), FSCA (South Africa), Bermuda (Unregulated), Angulia (Unregulated)
- STP Account Parameters: Floating spreads from 1.2 pips, $0 commission
- Average Order Execution: Around 5ms (with VPS)
- Maximum Retail Leverage: 1:2000
- Available Platforms: MT4
- Other Tools: VPS hosting, MT4 Advanced, MT4 MultiTerminal, PMAM Account Management, TradeCopier
First of all, IronFX offers its clients the MT4 Advanced add-on package, which features dozens of technical indicators, drawing tools, and Expert Advisors (EAs) you can add on top of MetaTrader’s standard stack. The broker also provides free Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting for low-latency trading.
IronFX impressed me further with its diverse account types. In particular, the broker offers the MT4 MultiTerminal and PMAM Account features. Those are aimed at account managers and enable the simultaneous execution of bulk others. In simpler terms, your account manager can place the same order across all his or her clients’ accounts.
Last but not least, IronFX offers a massive 1:2000 retail leverage, which is unavailable with most other brokers in its category. It is up to you to decide whether you want to cap your market exposure with smaller leverage or use it in full.
Pros and Cons
- MT4 add-ons
- PMAM accounts
- Flexible leverage up to 1:2000
- VPS hosting
- EU entity does not onboard new clients
- Limited regulatory oversight at the BVI entity
- No alternatives to MT4
- Wide spreads on some instruments via Standard account
Screenshots & Video from Our Test
How Did I Choose the Best STP Forex Accounts?
Regulation
I only considered brokers that are regulated by top-tier financial institutions and adhere to the strictest financial requirements, ensuring maximum protection.
Best execution policy
prefer brokers that have a ‘best execution policy’, ensuring only the most favorable price quotes are fed to their clients at all times.
STP accounts
STP accounts usually offer a combination of commission-free trading and floating spreads. We only looked for brokers that provide the most favorable combinations.
Speed performance
I only considered brokers that can ensure fast and precise order execution, with an average execution speed no higher than 100 milliseconds.
Trading software
I selected brokers offering user-friendly platforms with easy learning curves, such as MetaTrader 4 and 5, which are quite popular among newbies, and lean, sophisticated, and cutting-edge platforms catering to experienced professionals. We also looked for brokers that support the best third-party tools in the industry.
Available trading instruments
I preferred brokers that offer a sufficient number of tradable instruments from different asset classes to allow traders to exploit different opportunities.
| Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Platforms & Tools | 20% |
| Fees | 17% |
| Trust | 13% |
| Tradable Instruments | 11% |
| Research | 11% |
| Customer Support | 8% |
| Deposit & Withdrawal | 8% |
| Account Types & Terms | 7% |
| Education | 5% |
All the Brokers We Tested
Update history
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About the Authors
Having been a retail trader since 2013, Plamen has gained an in-depth understanding of the challenges that novice traders face today. His expertise is swing trading and day trading with a heavy emphasis on psychological and fundamental analysis. Plamen’s favourite trading instruments include FX majors and gold. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics and International Relations. Plamen's broad experience has equipped him with the expertise to recommend the best forex brokers.
Aviva is a Senior Content Editor at FXEmpire. Her substantial contributions include refining over 150 broker reviews and 'Best Brokers Guides,' enhancing our proprietary methodology, and ensuring every fact is meticulously verified.
As a Senior Content Editor at FXEmpire, Ola has revised and fact-checked over 200 broker reviews and guides. Her profound understanding of financial markets has been crucial in developing the proprietary rating system.