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4 Best STP Forex Brokers for 2026

By
Plamen Stoyanov
Reviewed By
Ola Alder
Updated: Jun 16, 2026
Advertising DisclosureWe prioritize rigorous, unbiased testing through our independent review process. While our ratings are objective, we receive compensation that may influence list placement. Learn how we make money

Straight-Through-Processing (STP) is a popular execution model among forex brokers. It means that traders’ orders are getting filled by the broker’s liquidity providers. In layman’s terms, whenever you place an order with an STP broker, it will be filled externally by a major investment bank, fund, or some other financial institution.

There are two advantages to STP forex brokers. First, access to deep liquidity usually means fast and precise order execution. And second, STP brokers do not act as counterparties to your orders. This means that they do not profit from your trading losses. In other words, the risk of conflict of interest between STP brokers and traders is greatly reduced.

With all that in mind, we picked the best STP brokers across several categories.

List of Top STP Forex Brokers and Accounts

Average order execution of around 40ms. Range of powerful platforms. Mostly competitive spreads. Autochartist integration.

Average order execution of 9ms, with a 58% positive fill rate. Trading APIs for Direct-Market-Access (DMA) trading. 3 million trading and investing products.

1,000+ tradable instruments. $100 minimum deposit requirement. Cent accounts. Trading Central content. Rich assortment of video learning materials.

MT4 add-ons. Flexible leverage up to 1:2000. Free VPS hosting. PMAM accounts for account managers.

How Did FXEmpire Choose the Best STP Forex Brokers?

  • 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: We 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. I 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.
  • Intuitive software: I selected brokers offering user-friendly and familiar to most retail traders platforms, like MetaTrader and TradingView. I also looked for brokers that support tools like Trading Central and VPS hosting and have mobile trading apps.
  • Available instruments: I preferred brokers that offer a sufficient number of tradable instruments from different asset classes to allow traders to exploit different opportunities.

Our team of experts has identified brokers’ strengths and weaknesses using FXEmpire’s comprehensive methodology.

Now let’s dive into the selected brokers.

Best Overall

Contracts for Difference (CFDs) are leveraged over-the-counter derivative products and carry a high level of risk to your capital. You should only risk capital that you can afford to lose. In certain circumstances, due to fluctuations in market value you may not get back your initial investment amount. You may not only lose your initial investment but you may incur a liability to pay a further amount to cover losses. This means you can lose more money than you have invested.
  • Min Deposit
    $100
  • Tradable Instruments
    10180
  • Fees
    Low

Why We Picked It

FP Markets leads the curve among STP forex brokers with its tight fees, wide stack of trading platforms and tools, and superior execution. I pored over its order execution reports and learned that FP Markets maintains average execution speeds below 40 ms. This outstrips the industry average of 60ms and demonstrates the broker’s access to deep liquidity.

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

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.

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • 40ms average order execution
  • Competitive trading fees
  • Range of versatile platforms
  • Autochartist integration
Cons
  • No proprietary web/desktop platform

Best Execution Speed

Investing in FX & CFD carries a high degree of risk. Losses can exceed your initial investments
  • Min Deposit
    $1000
  • Tradable Instruments
    4000454
  • Fees
    High

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

Pros
  • Average order execution of 9ms
  • 58% positive fill rate
  • CFXD platform with FIX APIs integration
  • 3 million trading and investing products
Cons
  • Elevated spreads

Best for Beginners

Trading CFDs carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Leverage in CFD trading can magnify gains and losses, potentially exceeding your original capital. It’s crucial to fully understand and acknowledge the associated risks before trading CFDs. Consider your financial situation, investment goals, and risk tolerance before making trading decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Refer to our legal documents for a comprehensive understanding of CFD trading risks.
  • Min Deposit
    $100
  • Tradable Instruments
    974
  • Fees
    Low

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

Pros
  • Low-deposit accounts
  • Robust educational content
  • Proprietary copy trading service
  • Trading Central content
Cons
  • Withdrawal fee in some cases

Best MT4

Our products are traded on margin and carry a high level of risk and it is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved.
  • Min Deposit
    $50
  • Tradable Instruments
    311
  • Fees
    Medium

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

Pros
  • MT4 add-ons
  • PMAM accounts
  • Flexible leverage up to 1:2000
  • VPS hosting
Cons
  • EU entity does not onboard new clients

Meet Our Experts

The forex and CFD analysts and editors at FXEmpire bring together seasoned trading professionals and experienced financial journalists. Many of our experts have been featured in leading publications such as Investopedia and Forbes, and all of them combine strong industry credentials with hands-on trading experience.

Get to Know Our Authors

Dan BlystoneBroker Analyst

Dan Blystone began his career in the trading industry in 1998 on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Later, Dan gained insight into the forex industry during his time as a Series 3 licensed futures and forex broker. He also traded at a couple of different prop trading firms in Chicago. Dan is well-equipped to recommend the best forex brokers due to his extensive experience and understanding of the brokerage industry.

Jitan SolankiBroker Analyst

Jitan Solanki is a professional trader, market analyst, and educator. He day trades major currency and index markets and focuses on swing trading US equities and commodities. A qualified Market Technician, Jitan also works with trader education and brokerage companies on various projects. These include market analysis, live trading events, and broker reviews. As an experienced trader and educator, Jitan brings all his qualities in action when reviewing and recommending brokers.

Plamen StoyanovBroker Analyst

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.

Vladimir ZernovBroker Analyst

In more than 15 years of trading in the financial markets, Vladimir dealt with a wide range of brokers and financial instruments. His career as a day-trader at a proprietary trading firm goes back to 2007. Later, Vladimir turned to longer time frames and became an independent trader and analyst managing his own portfolio. Using his experience, he helps traders find the best broker in his reviews.

Dive deeper with our experts.Continue the conversation with traders and analysts in our community channels.

About the Author

Plamen StoyanovBroker Analyst

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.

Why you can trust FXEmpire

At FXEmpire, we strive to provide unbiased, thorough and accurate broker reviews by industry experts to help our users make smarter financial decisions.

Why you can trust FXEmpire

FXEmpire was founded in 2011, making us one of the first forex broker review sites. You can trust FXEmpire because of our thorough and unbiased review process. With over a decade of experience, we have a team of industry experts who conduct rigorous tests to ensure our reviews are accurate and unbiased. Our reviews are designed to bring clarity and confidence to the process of choosing a broker, and are based on objective criteria and measurable data. Our editorial team is composed of trading industry professionals and seasoned financial journalists, who ensure that our reviews are accurate and unbiased. Additionally, our review system is based on 9 core categories and over 250 distinct variables, which ensures that all aspects of a broker are considered before giving a final rating. So, you can trust FXEmpire to provide you with honest and informative reviews that will help you make an informed decision on which broker will best enable you to reach your financial goals.
Advertising DisclosureWe prioritize rigorous, unbiased testing through our independent review process. While our ratings are objective, we receive compensation that may influence list placement. Learn how we make money