5 Best High Leverage Forex Brokers for 2026
Leverage is at once the defining feature of CFD trading and its biggest risk. If you are not careful enough with your leveraged exposure, your account balance can be wiped out in the blink of an eye. Still, that does not mean that leverage trading is without its perks.
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We selected only brokers offering leverage of at least 1:400 for retail traders, giving them the flexibility to implement high-volatility, short-term strategies. Since high leverage is typically associated with more speculative trading, we only considered regulated brokers that adhere to recognized industry standards. We also reviewed risk management tools such as negative balance protection, margin call levels, and stop-out thresholds
Beyond leverage, we evaluated the complete trading environment. We tested platforms for usability and performance, and recorded live spreads and commissions to compare them with the industry average and ensure competitive trading costs. We also assessed the range of tradable products and the leverage available for each asset class.
List of Top Forex Brokers with High Leverage
Best Brokers for US Traders
Best Brokers for International Traders
Trading with leverage above 1:30, especially for novice traders, bears considerable risk.
*The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) limits leverage available to retail spot forex traders in the United States to 1:50 on major currency pairs and 1:20 for all others. For forex futures, the margin and corresponding leverage are set by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME).
**AvaTrade doesn’t allow CFD trading in Spain; only Futures are available.
Compare All Listed Brokers
| Broker | Score | Fees Score | Min Deposit | Max Leverage | Platforms | Visit Broker |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
tastyfx | 4.4 | 4.6 | $0 | 1:50 (CFTC) 1:50 (NFA) | MT4, ProRealTime, tastyfx Web Platform, tastyfx Mobile App, TradingView, MT5 | Forex trading involves risk. Losses can exceed deposits. |
Plus500 US | 4.5 | 4.6 | $10 | 1:50 (CFTC) 1:50 (NFA) | Plus500 Web Platform, Plus500 Mobile App | Trading with leverage comes with a high risk and may not be suitable for everyone. |
AvaTrade | 4.5 | 4.2 | $100 | 1:400 (FSCA) 1:30 (CBI) · 1:200 (BVI FSC) · 1:30 (ASIC) · 1:400 (ADGM) · 1:25 (JFSA) · 1:30 (ISA) · 1:30 (CySEC) | AvaOptions, AvaSocial, MT5, Proprietary, MT4, DupliTrade, Ava Web Trader, AvaTrade App | Trading CFDs and FX Options entail risk and could result in the loss of your capital. |
Elev8 | 4.2 | 4.1 | $25 | 1:1000 (MISA) 1:1000 (FSCM) | MT5, MT4, Elev8Trader | Elev8's services relate to complex derivative products that are traded over the counter. Trading with leverage involves a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Investing carries risks, and individuals should carefully consider their investment objectives, level of experience, and risk tolerance before making any investment decisions. |
FXTM | 4.0 | 2.7 | $30 | 1:2000 (CMA) 1:3000 (FSCM) | MT5, MT4, FXTM Trader App | Online Forex/CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 81% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading Online Forex/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. It is the responsibility of the Client to ascertain whether he/she is permitted to use the services of Exinity Capital East Africa Ltd based on the legal requirements in his/her country of residence. |
How Did FXEmpire Choose the Best High Leverage Forex Brokers?
- High Leverage: We selected only brokers that offer leverage of at least 1:1000 to retail traders, so they can implement high-volatility strategies.
- Regulation: Since high leverage is required for highly speculative trading, we only considered regulated brokers that adhere to industry standards.
- Competitive Pricing: We measured spreads and commissions and compared them to the industry average to ensure our picks for each category afford competitive pricing.
- Reliable Trading Platforms: We tested the usability of brokers’ platforms and ensured they are practical and user-friendly.
- Tight Margin Policy: We also checked brokers’ margin call and stop-out levels to ensure they meet industry standards.
Best Overall
- $100Min Deposit
- 1472Tradable Instruments
- MediumFees
Why We Picked It
AvaTrade got my stamp of approval as the broker with the best proprietary platform – the Ava Web Trader – for high-leverage trading. It stands out with its high-definition charts and the innovative AvaProtect tool. You can use it to ensure individual positions against a flat fee. This means that you can effectively remove your risk, which is a great tool to have when trading leveraged positions.
Key Features:
- Entity for High Leverage: AvaTrades Markets Ltd, licensed and regulated by the BVI FSC
- Maximum Leverage by Asset Class: Forex – 1:400, metals and indices – 1:200; energies, cryptos, and bonds – 1:100; ETFs – 1:20; stocks – 1:10
- Margin Call and Stop-Out Levels: 110% and 90%
- Available Platforms: Ava Web Trader, MT4, MT5, AvaSocial, AvaOptions, DupliTrade
- Average Execution Speed: Unspecified
The first thing that struck me about the Ava Web Trader was its color palette. Price action really pops out from the platform’s high-definition charts, which is great for day traders and scalpers. Additionally, you can choose from more than 100 analytical tools and chart configurations to support your technical analyses.
Another highlight of the platform is the integrated research from Trading Central. You can customize your working panels and add an actionable trading signals screener right next to the charts window, which I found very practical.
Costs are another strong point of AvaTrade. I tested the broker’s commission-free account and found that AvaTrade’s spreads beat the industry average across most markets, except for Bitcoin.
Pros and Cons
- Powerful Ava Web Trader
- 1450+ assets
- Integrated market research
- Competitive costs
- High BTCUSD spread
Best for Crypto Trading
- $25Min Deposit
- 256Tradable Instruments
- MediumFees
Why We Picked It
Elevate your crypto market exposure with Elev8’s 1:200 leverage for trading cryptocurrencies, of which the broker offers 40. This is more than the industry average of 20. The Comoros-based Elev8 offers other perks for high-leverage crypto enthusiasts, including low crypto spreads and high-quality trading signals.
Key Features:
- Entity for High Leverage Trading: Elev8 Markets Ltd, licensed and regulated by the FSC (Mauritius)
- Maximum Leverage by Asset Class: Forex – 1:1000; metals, energies, and indices – 1:400; cryptocurrencies – 1:200; stocks – 1:5
- Margin Call and Stop-Out Levels: 25% and 15%
- Available Platforms: Elev8Trader, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5
I used the Elev8Trader platform to measure the broker’s BTCUSD spreads during the most active market periods – the London and New York market openings, when spreads tend to widen. My research showed that the broker’s BTCUSD spread fluctuated around $30, which came in lower than the industry average of $50.
While on the topic of fees, I was also surprised to learn that Elev8 offers swap-free trading as part of its standard setup. It means you do not have to pay interest for holding a position open overnight. This makes Elev8 a great option for swing crypto traders as well.
I found the Elev8Trader platform easy to handle and fast, which is a potent combination when trading highly volatile assets such as cryptocurrencies. I also learned that the platform features more than 50 technical indicators and drawing tools and can be boosted with Acuity’s AI-generated signals. Never miss a beat on the latest trading opportunities on Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and Elev8’s other 37 crypto assets with the AI-generated signals by Acuity.
Pros and Cons
- 1:200 crypto leverage
- Low BTCUSD spreads
- Swap-free trading on cryptos
- Advanced Elev8Trader platform
- AI-generated trading signals
- No raw-spread account
Best MetaTrader Broker
- $30Min Deposit
- 602Tradable Instruments
- HighFees
Why We Picked It
FXTM made the final cut of our list of high-leverage brokers with its massive 1:3000 multiplier for trading currency pairs. It also allows you to boost your positions 1000 times for trading cryptocurrencies, which is unavailable with most other brokers. And you can do that and much more from the ever-reliable workhorse of the trading industry – the MetaTrader 5 platform.
Key Features:
- Entity for High Leverage: Exinity Limited, licensed and regulated by the FSC (Mauritius)
- Maximum Leverage by Asset Class: Forex and metals – 1:3000; indices and cryptocurrencies – 1:1000; energies – 1:500; futures – 1:200; stocks – 1:25; and ETFs – 1:10
- Margin Call and Stop-Out Levels: 80% and 50%
- Available Platforms: MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5
- Average Execution Speed: <80 milliseconds
FXTM offers the Pro Trading Tools packaged for its clients for free. It is geared towards MetaTrader enthusiasts who want to build upon the platform’s standard stack of indicators and tools. You can use it to conduct deeper and more penetrating price action examination.
High-leverage traders can also benefit from FXTM’s fast execution speeds. According to my research, the broker averages execution speeds below 80 milliseconds. This is broadly aligned with the industry average and means a lesser risk of negative slippage.
FXTM’s other perk is the Acuity content, which can be integrated directly on the MetaTrader platform. It includes AI-generated trading signals, which help you keep tabs on the latest trading opportunities.
Pros and Cons
- Maximum retail leverage of 1:3000
- Pro Trading Tools for MetaTrader
- Acuity trading signals
- Sleek FXTM mobile app
- High spreads
Best Overall in the US
- $0Min Deposit
- 86Tradable Instruments
- LowFees
Why We Picked It
tastyfx is the US subsidiary of the IG Group – a tightly regulated broker with global outreach. We chose tastyfx as our top pick for US traders because of its solid offering across all major categories. You can trade 80+ spot currency pairs with a maximum retail leverage of 1:50, enjoy fast execution speeds, and trade on the broker’s sophisticated platform.
Key Features:
- Maximum Leverage by Asset Class: Forex Majors – 1:50; Forex Minors – 1:30; Forex Exotic – 1:4
- Margin Call and Stop-Out Levels: 100% and 50%
- Available Platforms: tastyfx Web Platform, MT4, MT5, TradingView, ProRealTime
- Average Execution Speed: 17 milliseconds
I decided to give the tastyfx Web Platform a spin, even though MT4, MT5, and TradingView were also available. The platform handled well, and I enjoyed its beautiful, wide charts. Price action was illustrated in great detail, even on characteristically volatile assets such as BTCUSD.
Tastyfx is a major financial derivatives broker with access to deep liquidity. This allows it to fill client orders swiftly. This is crucial for high-leverage trading, where even the smallest execution delays can lead to significant price discrepancies. I observed an average order execution speed of 17ms with tastyfx, easily beating the industry average of 60ms.
I also checked tastyfx’s spreads on popular Forex pairs during the London and New York market openings, when volatility tends to rise, and the bid-and-ask spread tends to widen. The spreads I captured on FX Majors, such as EURUSD, fell marginally below the industry average, while those on FX Crosses, such as GBPJPY, were aligned with it.
Pros and Cons
- 86 forex pairs
- Ultra-fast execution of around 17ms
- Tight spreads on Zero+ account
- Custom Indicators for MT4/MT5
- Instruments limited to spot forex
Best for Futures Trading in the US
- $10Min Deposit
- 64Tradable Instruments
- LowFees
Why We Picked It
Plus500 US is your go-to option for futures trading in the US, thanks to its diverse range of tradable instruments and sophisticated trading platform. I counted more than 60 futures contracts with the broker across FX pairs, commodities, equities, indices, interest rates, and cryptocurrencies. Under CFTC regulation, the maximum retail leverage with Plus500 is 1:50.
Key Features:
- Maximum Leverage: 1:50
- Margin Call and Stop-Out Levels: 100% and 50%
- Available Platforms: Plus500 WebTrader
- Average Execution Speed: <50 milliseconds
While most US brokers offer spot trading, Plus500 lets you take hold of your market exposure with its futures contracts. Since futures contracts have a predetermined expiry date and delivery price, they are unaffected by short-term volatility spikes. This makes them suitable for swing and position traders.
The first time I gave Plus500’s platform a spin was over 10 years ago, and since then, the broker has never stopped improving and innovating it. The cherry on top is the +Insights tool, proprietary to Plus500, which tracks the trading activity of millions of traders and helps you assess changing market dynamics.
High-leverage traders will also appreciate Plus500’s competitive pricing mechanism. The broker’s Standard & E-Mini contract commission starts from $0.89, while its micro contract commission starts from $0.49. There is also a liquidation-per-contract fee of $10.
*Futures contracts can be traded on margin, which gives traders greater flexibility to exploit expected and unexpected changes in volatility in the medium and long term.
Pros and Cons
- 60+ futures contracts
- Cutting-edge platform
- Low futures commissions
- Advanced market analytics
- No alternatives to Plus500 platform
How to Choose a Forex Broker With High Leverage?
What Does High Leverage Mean
High leverage in trading refers to the situation in which traders can control a large amount of money with a small amount of their own funds, with the rest borrowed from their broker. For example, a leverage ratio of 1:500 means that for every dollar in your account, you can trade $500 on the forex market. A leverage ratio of 1:1000, considered very high, means a trader can trade $1000 for every $1 in their account.
Why Regulation Matters
If you want to trade with high leverage, your first task is to find a broker that is licensed to provide financial services, including CFD trading, and is monitored by a financial regulator. These will ensure your rights are protected, and in cases of conflict of interest, you may turn to that regulatory body for assistance.
Read more about Best regulated forex brokers.
Keep in mind that not all regulators are the same. We categorize them into three tiers:
- Tier 1 – CySEC, FCA UK, ASIC, etc.
- Tier 2 – FSCA, CMA UAE, etc.
- Tier 3 – FSA Seychelles, FSC Mauritius, etc.
We have built this categorization based on the level of client protection. Tier-1 regulators impose greater restrictions on brokers and conduct tighter monitoring, while Tier 3 regulators, which are typically based offshore, are more lenient.
Learn more about financial regulators in our dedicated article.
Offshore regulation does not necessarily mean less protection. Many brokers seek offshore licensing to serve international clients. In most cases, brokers authorized by one or more Tier-1 regulators and holding offshore licenses are more trustworthy than those regulated solely offshore.
Offshore and top-tier regulators also differ in the maximum leverage they allow. Brokers based offshore will likely offer higher retail leverage, ranging from 1:500 to unlimited, while Tier-1 regulators, such as CySEC and ASIC, cap retail leverage at 1:30. If you choose to deal with a broker that offers high leverage, make sure you understand its margin call policy and whether it guarantees negative balance protection.
Check out our guides on Best CySEC-regulated forex brokers and Best ASIC-regulated forex brokers.
Monitor Margin Call & Stop-Out Levels
When trading with high leverage, even small price movements can result in significant profits or losses. That is why you must always stay sharp and monitor your positions carefully.
But if your running losses start to accumulate and your free margin (the funds in your balance that are not tied up by your open positions) drops dangerously low, several things may happen.
First, you may receive a margin call to increase your free margin – either by depositing additional funds or by closing your open positions. Second, this can then lead to the automatic termination of your open trades.
Most brokers have a 100% margin call and a 50% stop-out. Accordingly, you will receive a margin call when you have used up all your free margin. Unless you do something to increase it, the automatic termination of your open positions may commence once you have lost 50% of your used margin – the amount you have used to open the positions in the first place.
Generally speaking, the lower the margin call and the higher the stop-out, the better. Because you will then have more room to decide how to proceed in order to avoid a complete account wipeout.
You can find more information about margin calls and stop-out levels from our complete guide to safe trading.
Keep an Eye on Fees
To assess how much you’ll need to spend for opening and closing a position, consider several things:
- How much are you going to deposit
- Which asset/s do you plan to trade
- What are the spread, commission, and swap rates of these assets.
To assess how much trading EURUSD, gold, or any other CFD instrument would cost you, we use this formula: spread rate × pip value + commission.
Check out our dedicated guide for Best forex broker with the lowest spreads.
Risks of Using High Leverage
- Amplified Losses: Leverage can increase the size of your potential profits, but it also magnifies the potential losses. Keep in mind that a slight market fluctuation can lead to substantial losses when using high leverage.
- Overtrading: High leverage can encourage overtrading. A small initial deposit might tempt many traders to open larger positions or more trades than they would with their own capital alone, increasing risk.
- Fast Market Action: Markets can move quickly, and high leverage can amplify the impact of these rapid changes on your account.
- Risk of Account Blowup: With high leverage, there’s a higher risk of losing all your capital in your trading account in a very short time, particularly when markets are volatile.
- Negative Balance: If the market moves against your position, you may end up owing more than you initially invested, leading to a negative balance.
All the Brokers We Tested
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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.
- List of Top Forex Brokers with High Leverage
- How Did FXEmpire Choose the Best High Leverage Forex Brokers?
- Best Overall
- Best for Crypto Trading
- Best MetaTrader Broker
- Best Overall in the US
- Best for Futures Trading in the US
- How to Choose a Forex Broker With High Leverage?
- All the Brokers We Tested
- Update history
- Related Guides