Best Forex Brokers 2019
Foreign exchange is an exciting and fast-paced marketplace where fortunes are made and lost in the blink of an eye. If you want to get involved in foreign exchange trading or investing, also known as Forex, you’ll want to work with a top Forex broker.
The best Forex brokers offer a combination of safe trading environment, competitive pricing, high-tech trading tools, and fast and reliable trade order execution. Sorting through the long list of Forex brokers and picking out the best is too much work for the average trader, so we took care of the hard part and whittled down to a list of the top Forex brokers for a variety of focuses and specialties.
The brokers below represent the best forex brokers overall.
| Broker | Rating | Official Site | Regulations | Min Deposit | Max Leverage | Trading Platforms | Foundation Year | Publicly Traded | Trading Desk Type | Currencies | Commodities | Indices | Stocks | Crypto | Commission on trades | Fixed spreads | offers promotions | Official Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 4.3/5 | Visit Broker> 76.4% of retail CFD accounts lose money | ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSB, ISA, MAS | $100 | 1:30 | Plus500 | 2008 | No dealing desk | Visit Broker> 76.4% of retail CFD accounts lose money | |||||||||
 | 4.2/5 | Visit Broker> 90% of retail CFD accounts lose money | CySEC, FCA, FSC | $10 | 1:30 | MT4, MT5 | 2011 | ECN, STP | Visit Broker> 90% of retail CFD accounts lose money | |||||||||
 | 4.9/5 | Visit Broker> Your capital is at risk | BaFin, CNMV in Spain, CySEC, FCA, IFSC | $0 | 1:200 | MT4, xStation 5 | 2002 | STP | Visit Broker> Your capital is at risk | |||||||||
 | 4.5/5 | Visit Broker> Your capital is at risk | FCA, SCB | $500 | 1:30 | ActivTrader, MT4, MT5 | 2001 | No dealing desk | Visit Broker> Your capital is at risk | |||||||||
 | 4.6/5 | Visit Broker> Your capital is at risk | ASIC | $100 | 1:500 | IRESS, MT4, MT5 | 2005 | DMA, ECN | Visit Broker> Your capital is at risk | |||||||||
 | 4.2/5 | Visit Broker> Your capital is at risk | FSC | $null | 1:1000 | MT4, MT5 | 1998 | ECN, STP | Visit Broker> Your capital is at risk | |||||||||
 | 4.2/5 | Visit Broker> Your capital is at risk | CySEC | $5 | 1:500 | cTrader, MT4, MT5 | 2011 | ECN, STP | Visit Broker> Your capital is at risk | |||||||||
 | 4.0/5 | Visit Broker> TradeStation International Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom and has passport rights in the EEA (registration number 554431). TradeStation International Ltd acts as an introducing broker to TradeStation Group's affiliates and non-affiliates, such as Interactive Brokers (U.K) Limited. The material on this website is for information purposes only. Any reference on this Web site to TradeStation and its affiliated companies should not be construed as an offer or solicitation, directed to residents in jurisdictions where TradeStation or Interactive Brokers, by and through any of its affiliates, is not registered to do business. TradeStation International Ltd does not provide investment advice, trading advice, recommendations or strategic advice in respect of any security, group of securities, market segment or market. Past performance, whether actual or indicated by historical tests of strategies, is no guarantee of future performance or success. Bitcoin futures, options and CFDs are leveraged products and can result in losses that exceed deposits; therefore, you should not invest or risk money that you cannot afford to lose. TradeStation®, EasyLanguage® and the other company trademarks in the TradeStation Platform are owned by TradeStation Technologies, Inc., a technology research and development company affiliated with TradeStation International Ltd. Depending on the choice of account, the provision of brokerage and trading services to you is offered by TradeStation Securities, Inc, or Interactive Brokers (U.K) Ltd by means of the TradeStation Platform (or otherwise) and on such terms as you may agree with the respective broker-dealer. TradeStation International Ltd is not a party to any agreement that you may enter into with Interactive Brokers (U.K) Ltd for the provision of such services. We list educational workshops designed to demonstrate what we believe are the valuable benefits of using the TradeStation platform but do not endorse materials presented by third parties. | CFTC, FCA, NFA, SEC | $500 | 1:4 | Proprietary | 1982 | DMA | Visit Broker> TradeStation International Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom and has passport rights in the EEA (registration number 554431). TradeStation International Ltd acts as an introducing broker to TradeStation Group's affiliates and non-affiliates, such as Interactive Brokers (U.K) Limited. The material on this website is for information purposes only. Any reference on this Web site to TradeStation and its affiliated companies should not be construed as an offer or solicitation, directed to residents in jurisdictions where TradeStation or Interactive Brokers, by and through any of its affiliates, is not registered to do business. TradeStation International Ltd does not provide investment advice, trading advice, recommendations or strategic advice in respect of any security, group of securities, market segment or market. Past performance, whether actual or indicated by historical tests of strategies, is no guarantee of future performance or success. Bitcoin futures, options and CFDs are leveraged products and can result in losses that exceed deposits; therefore, you should not invest or risk money that you cannot afford to lose. TradeStation®, EasyLanguage® and the other company trademarks in the TradeStation Platform are owned by TradeStation Technologies, Inc., a technology research and development company affiliated with TradeStation International Ltd. Depending on the choice of account, the provision of brokerage and trading services to you is offered by TradeStation Securities, Inc, or Interactive Brokers (U.K) Ltd by means of the TradeStation Platform (or otherwise) and on such terms as you may agree with the respective broker-dealer. TradeStation International Ltd is not a party to any agreement that you may enter into with Interactive Brokers (U.K) Ltd for the provision of such services. We list educational workshops designed to demonstrate what we believe are the valuable benefits of using the TradeStation platform but do not endorse materials presented by third parties. | |||||||||
 | 3.3/5 | Visit Broker> CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Capital at risk | CFTC, NFA | $50 | 1:50 | MT4, MT5 | 1999 | Market Maker | Visit Broker> CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Capital at risk |
Pro Tip: Most of these brokers offer free demo accounts so you can test the brokers and their platforms with virtual money. Give it a try with some play money before using your own cash.
Best FX Brokers for Forex Trading
Active traders in foreign exchange markets require a well-balanced brokerage that offers powerful tools and low costs and reliable trading environment. For those looking for an overall top brokerage for Forex trading, you’ll do well with any from the list below:
- Plus500
- FXTM
- XTB
- ActivTrades
- FPMarkets
- Alpari
- OctaFX
- Tradestation – US brokerage
- Forex.com – US brokerage
- How to choose a Forex broker
Note: Not all Forex brokers accept US clients. For your convenience we specified those that accept US Forex traders as clients. You can also visit our best US forex brokers.
Plus500
Regulated By:ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSB, ISA, MAS
Foundation Year:2008
Headquarters:Building 25, MATAM, Haifa, Israel
Min Deposit:$100
76.4% of retail CFD accounts lose money
76.4% of retail CFD accounts lose moneyPlus500 is a leading CFD trading platform with support for stocks, indices, cryptocurrencies, and Forex. This commission-free brokerage charges very low spread-rates and offers fast trades on a great platform. Plus500 supports complex trades, includes negative balance protection, and makes trading an educational and hopefully profitable venture.
You can start with a free demo account to test the platform and any trading strategy. Real money accounts offer leverage of up to 1:30. This broker is based in Israel and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK. Check out our full Plus500 review here.
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FXTM
Regulated By:CySEC, FCA, FSC
Foundation Year:2011
Headquarters:FXTM Tower, 35 Lamprou Konstantara, Kato Polemidia, 4156, Limassol, Cyprus
Min Deposit:$10
90% of retail CFD accounts lose money
90% of retail CFD accounts lose moneyFXTM, short for ForexTime, is a platform with a primary focus on foreign exchange. That specialization allows it to rise above many others when it comes to Forex focused trading platforms and tools. CFDs are available on 50+ currency pairs including major, minor, and exotic pairs. Leverage is available up to 1000:1.
Spreads are competitive across all platforms with 24-hour trading open 5 days per week. FXTM is based in Cyprus and licensed by the International Financial Services Commission (IFSC), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, and other regulators in and out of the EU. A free demo account is available. Read our detailed FXTM review here.
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XTB
Regulated By:BaFin, CNMV in Spain, CySEC, FCA, IFSC
Foundation Year:2002
Headquarters:Level 34, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, E14 5AA, London, United Kingdom
Min Deposit:$0
Your capital is at risk
Your capital is at riskXTB is an award-winning CFD platform that supports Forex, indices, commodities, stock CFDs, ETF CFDs, and cryptocurrencies. For Forex, XTB supports 48 currency pairs with low-cost spreads. Customers of XTB can choose between trading on the xStation 5 or MT4 platforms. For leverage accounts, this brokerage offers leverage of up to 200:1.
XTB was founded in 2002 with a headquarters in Warsaw. It is regulated in markets across Europe by the IFSC, FCA, KNF, and CySec. XTB has a free demo account and a Trading Academy set of courses for beginner and intermediate traders. Check out our full XTB review here.
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ActivTrades
Regulated By:FCA, SCB
Foundation Year:2001
Headquarters:1 Thomas More Square London E1W 1YN United Kingdom
Min Deposit:$500
Your capital is at risk
Your capital is at riskActivTrades is an online forex and CFDs broker that was established in 2001. They were originally based in Switzerland but later relocated to London in 2005. As a UK based financial services provider, they are authorized and regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 434413).
FP Markets
Regulated By:ASIC
Foundation Year:2005
Headquarters:Level 5, Exchange House 10 Bridge St Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Min Deposit:$100
Your capital is at risk
Your capital is at riskThis brokerage offers a massive range of tradable assets through Forex, CFD, and share trading accounts. FP Markets supports the MT4, MT5, and IRESS platforms and offers leverage up to 500:1. You can trade 45 currency pairs with competitive spread or commission pricing.
FP Markets was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Sydney, Australia. It is regulated by by the ASIC in Australia. Demo accounts are available. While it is suitable for beginners, education resources are limited. Check out our full FP Markets review here.
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Alpari
Regulated By:FSC
Foundation Year:1998
Headquarters:Mauritius
Min Deposit:N/A
Your capital is at risk
Your capital is at riskAlpari is an industry veteran founded in 1998. It is headquartered in Port Louis, Mauritius and has an operations headquarters in London. The company offers services to international traders from 150+ countries, though the United States is a noteworthy gap – its membership to the US National Futures Association was revoked in 2015, forcing it out of the United States market.
This brokerage is originally from Russia. It is licensed in Belize as well as Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It supports the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms. Forex traders can access 44 currency pairs and leverage is available up to 1,000:1. It is an exciting and innovative brokerage. Read our full Alpari review here.
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OctaFX
Regulated By:CySEC
Foundation Year:2011
Headquarters:Suite 305, Griffith Corporate Centre, Beachmont, Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Min Deposit:$5
Your capital is at risk
Your capital is at riskOctaFX is a Forex and CFD trading platform with a focus on low, competitively priced spreads. It supports MT4, MT5, and cTrader trading platforms. cTrader offers the lowest costs, but does require a bit more experience. Novice traders are best starting off at OctaFX using MetaTrader 4, which supports micro accounts.
OctaFX supports 28 currency pairs, a smaller number than many competitors. You can get leverage up to 500:1 for currencies. Different leverage is available for metals, indices, and crypto trading. OctaFX was founded in 2011 and is based in and licensed in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Read our detailed review of OctaFX here.
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TradeStation – US brokerage
Regulated By:CFTC, FCA, NFA, SEC
Foundation Year:1982
Headquarters:8050 SW 10th Street, Plantation, 33324
Min Deposit:$500
TradeStation International Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom and has passport rights in the EEA (registration number 554431). TradeStation International Ltd acts as an introducing broker to TradeStation Group's affiliates and non-affiliates, such as Interactive Brokers (U.K) Limited. The material on this website is for information purposes only. Any reference on this Web site to TradeStation and its affiliated companies should not be construed as an offer or solicitation, directed to residents in jurisdictions where TradeStation or Interactive Brokers, by and through any of its affiliates, is not registered to do business. TradeStation International Ltd does not provide investment advice, trading advice, recommendations or strategic advice in respect of any security, group of securities, market segment or market. Past performance, whether actual or indicated by historical tests of strategies, is no guarantee of future performance or success. Bitcoin futures, options and CFDs are leveraged products and can result in losses that exceed deposits; therefore, you should not invest or risk money that you cannot afford to lose. TradeStation®, EasyLanguage® and the other company trademarks in the TradeStation Platform are owned by TradeStation Technologies, Inc., a technology research and development company affiliated with TradeStation International Ltd. Depending on the choice of account, the provision of brokerage and trading services to you is offered by TradeStation Securities, Inc, or Interactive Brokers (U.K) Ltd by means of the TradeStation Platform (or otherwise) and on such terms as you may agree with the respective broker-dealer. TradeStation International Ltd is not a party to any agreement that you may enter into with Interactive Brokers (U.K) Ltd for the provision of such services. We list educational workshops designed to demonstrate what we believe are the valuable benefits of using the TradeStation platform but do not endorse materials presented by third parties.
TradeStation International Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom and has passport rights in the EEA (registration number 554431). TradeStation International Ltd acts as an introducing broker to TradeStation Group's affiliates and non-affiliates, such as Interactive Brokers (U.K) Limited. The material on this website is for information purposes only. Any reference on this Web site to TradeStation and its affiliated companies should not be construed as an offer or solicitation, directed to residents in jurisdictions where TradeStation or Interactive Brokers, by and through any of its affiliates, is not registered to do business. TradeStation International Ltd does not provide investment advice, trading advice, recommendations or strategic advice in respect of any security, group of securities, market segment or market. Past performance, whether actual or indicated by historical tests of strategies, is no guarantee of future performance or success. Bitcoin futures, options and CFDs are leveraged products and can result in losses that exceed deposits; therefore, you should not invest or risk money that you cannot afford to lose. TradeStation®, EasyLanguage® and the other company trademarks in the TradeStation Platform are owned by TradeStation Technologies, Inc., a technology research and development company affiliated with TradeStation International Ltd. Depending on the choice of account, the provision of brokerage and trading services to you is offered by TradeStation Securities, Inc, or Interactive Brokers (U.K) Ltd by means of the TradeStation Platform (or otherwise) and on such terms as you may agree with the respective broker-dealer. TradeStation International Ltd is not a party to any agreement that you may enter into with Interactive Brokers (U.K) Ltd for the provision of such services. We list educational workshops designed to demonstrate what we believe are the valuable benefits of using the TradeStation platform but do not endorse materials presented by third parties.TradeStation is a US-based brokerage. While you can’t trade foreign currencies directly on the US TradeStation platform, you can access the foreign exchange market through Forex futures. Futures trade at a competitive $1.50 per contract per side. Options cost $5 per trade plus 50 cents per contract.
TradeStation is based in Plantation, Florida and was founded in 1982. With more than three decades serving clients, it is a great platform for expert and seasoned traders. TradeStation supports over 50 currency pairs. Traders utilize TradeStation’s own proprietary trading platform. Read our full review of TradeStation here.
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Forex.com – US brokerage
Regulated By:CFTC, NFA
Foundation Year:1999
Headquarters:135 US Highway 202/206 Bedminster, New Jersey, 07921
Min Deposit:$50
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Capital at risk
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Capital at riskForex.com is a leading US foreign exchange brokerage with a clear focus on Forex, as the name implies. It claims to be the largest Forex broker in the United States. This US broker is open 24 hours a day, 5 days a week. It supports an impressive 83 currency pairs with up to 50:1 leverage.
You can get started with a demo account. With a live account, fees are competitive and you can earn a rebate with high trading volumes. It supports the MT4 platform, common for international brokerages but less common in the US. As a US commodity brokerage, it is regulated by the CFTC and a member of the National Futures Association. It was founded in 1999 and located in Bedminster, New Jersey. Our full Forex.com review is here.
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How to choose a Forex broker
Every trader has different priorities and strategies when it comes to Forex broker, but there are a few common features that every trader wants in a Forex brokerage:
- Regulation and reliability – By dealing with a regulated broker, you can have the assurance that the broker has met the operating standards imposed by the regulatory body.
- Low fees – A low-fee brokerage helps you keep more of your profits for yourself. Different Forex companies charge you through commissions and/or spread markups.
- Great platform and trading tools – When you log in to your account, you should have everything you need to succeed at your fingertips. The best brokerage platforms include a desktop, mobile, and web-based option to manage your account, research and track positions, and enter trades.
- Fast trade execution – When you click the buy or sell button, a delay of a few seconds can cost you big. It’s important to work with a platform that offers real-time data and near-instant executions.
FX Empire has years of experiencing researching and reviewing brokerages and other financial companies around the world, and is a leader in reviews in the Forex and CFD (contract for difference) industries.