
Broker | Features |
---|---|
Go to XTB | Excellent 24-hour customer service. More than 3000 instruments to trade. Regulated broker.(*) Warning: Your capital is at risk. 79% of retail CFD accounts lose money. XTB is a broker regulated by the FCA in the UK, by the CNMV in Spain, by the IFSC in Belize, among others. Demo Account: Yes Minimum Deposit: 0 €/$ Trading Platforms: xStation5, iOS App, Android App. Execution: Market Maker / STP Regulation: Web Page: https:/www.xtb.com |
Go to Pepperstone | Very low spreads on over 1,200 instruments. 24/7 support, fast execution and no requotes.(*) Warning: Between 74-89 % of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Pepperstone is regulated internationally by supervisors such as the UK FCA, Australian ASIC, CySEC, BaFin, DFSA, CMA and SCB.Demo Account: Yes Minimum Deposit: 200 €/$ Trading Platforms: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView. Execution: STP / NDD Regulation: Web Page: https://www.pepperstone.com |
Go to eToro | Buy stocks without commission. Automatically copy the best investors with the eToro CopyTrader tool.(*) Warning: 77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
eToro is authorised and regulated by the UK FCA, Cyprus CySEC and Australian ASIC.Demo Account: Yes, unlimited Minimum Deposit: 200 $ Trading Platforms: WebTrader, iOS App, Android App. Execution: Market Maker Regulation: Web Page: https://www.etoro.com |
Go to XM Group | Bonus of $30 without deposit and bonuses of up to $5,000 per deposit. Trade Forex with ultra-low spreads.(*) Clients registered with XM Group's EU-regulated entity do not have access to the bonds. XM broker offers its services under the regulation of CySEC in Europe, the FSC in Belize and the Australian ASIC.Demo Account: Yes, unlimited Minimum Deposit: 5 $ Trading Platforms: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5. Execution: Market Maker Regulation: Web Page: https://www.xm.com |
Go to IC Markets | True ECN account with ultra-low spreads and ultra-fast execution designed for scalping and automated trading systems. IC Markets is an Australian based broker regulated by ASIC, CySEC in Europe and the Seychelles FSA.Demo Account: Yes Minimum Deposit: 200 $ Trading Platforms: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader. Execution: ECN Regulation: Web Page: https://www.icmarkets.com |
CFD Service Go to Plus500 | Broker with more than 23 million registered customers since its inception and a Trust Pilot Score of 4.2 out of 5.(*) Warning: 86% of retail CFD accounts lose money. Plus500 is regulated by the UK FCA, Cyprus CySEC, Australian ASIC, South African FSCA, United Arab Emirates DFSA and Seychelles FSA.Demo Account: Yes, unlimited Minimum Deposit: 100 €/$ Trading Platforms: WebTrader, iOS App, Android App. Execution: Market Maker Regulation: Web Page: https://www.plus500.com |
Go to IQ Option | $1 minimum investment. Powerful and intuitive trading platform. Fast withdrawals.(*) Warning: Your capital might be at risk. IQ Option offers its services under the regulation of the European CySEC (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission).Demo Account: Yes, unlimited Minimum Deposit: 50 €/$ Trading Platforms: Proprietary Platform, iOS App, Android App. Execution: Market Maker Regulation: Web Page: https://www.iqoption.com |
Go to Exness | Low spreads as low as 0.0 pips. No swaps on most instruments. Instant withdrawals. Exness is regulated by supervisors around the world such as the FCA, CySEC, FSCA, FSC, CBCS, FSA and SDL.Demo Account: Yes Minimum Deposit: 10 $ Trading Platforms: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5. Execution: Market Maker / ECN Regulation: Web Page: https://www.exness.com |
Go to AvaTrade | One of the most regulated brokers worldwide (in 9 different jurisdictions). AvaTrade is regulated by several international supervisors such as the Central Bank of Ireland, ASIC, BVI, FSCA and FSA.Demo Account: Yes Minimum Deposit: 100 €/$ Trading Platforms: WebTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, iOS App, Android App. Execution: Market Maker Regulation: Web Page: www.avatrade.com |
Go to Eightcap | Eightcap is an online broker that is regulated by the Australian ASIC and the Bahamas SCB.Demo Account: Yes Minimum Deposit: 100 $ Trading Platforms: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView. Execution: STP / ECN Regulation: Web Page: https://www.eightcap.com |
Go to Axi | Axi broker is authorised by the UK FCA (Financial Conduct Authority), ASIC, FSA and Dubai DFSA.Demo Account: Yes Minimum Deposit: 0 €/$ Trading Platforms: MetaTrader 4. Execution: STP / ECN Regulation: Web Page: https://www.axi.com |
Go to RoboForex | $30 welcome bonus with a minimum deposit of $10 and bonuses up to $50,000 per deposit. RoboForex is a broker regulated by the FSC in Belize.Demo Account: Yes, unlimited Minimum Deposit: 0 €/$ Trading Platforms: WebTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, iOS App, Android App. Execution: STP / ECN Regulation: Web Page: https://www.roboforex.com |
Go to FP Markets | FP Markets is regulated by Australian ASIC, FSP in South Africa and Cypriot CySEC in the European Union.Demo Account: Yes Minimum Deposit: 100 €/$ Trading Platforms: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, IRESS. Execution: ECN Regulation: Web Page: https://www.fpmarkets.com |
Go to OANDA | Oanda is internationally regulated and authorised by supervisors such as the FCA, ASIC, NFA, IIROC, MFSA and BVI FSC.Demo Account: Yes, unlimited Minimum Deposit: 0 $ Trading Platforms: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5. Execution: Non Dealing Desk Regulation: Web Page: https://www.oanda.com |
Which are the best regulated brokers?
One of the most important factors when choosing an online broker is to check whether they are regulated and which body supervises and authorises their activities. Any broker that wishes to offer its services legally must be subject to regulation and control by the financial authority in which it is based. Therefore, an unregulated broker is a fraud and can lead to problems for the trader.
Regulated brokers are subject to financial legislation and supervision of their activities by the bodies that regulate them. These bodies are primarily responsible for ensuring investor protection and the proper marketing of services, transparency and non-deceptive advertising of the various products that brokers offer to their clients. Certain regulatory bodies, based on the financial regulations of the country in which they operate, also impose conditions so that investors’ capital is completely separated from the broker’s own bank accounts, in order to avoid being affected by its financial situation or being seized by its creditors in the event of a possible bankruptcy of the company.
In addition to this, the regulatory body is the body to which the trader can make any complaint against any possible malpractice of his online broker. These institutions have the power to sanction financial intermediaries, they are usually public authorities and their task is to ensure that financial legislation is complied with.
There are various regulatory bodies throughout the world and each broker may be regulated by several of them, depending on the country where its head office is located, as well as in the countries in which it operates. The main regulatory bodies include:
- The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom (one of the most demanding in the world).
- The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) in Cyprus (where many of the brokers are registered thanks to its advantageous tax policy and membership of the European Union).
- The National Futures Association (NFA) in the United States.
- The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) in Australia.
- …
After having tested and analysed numerous of the best online brokers, in the comparison table above you can see what we consider to be the best regulated brokers for investing in the stock market, forex, cryptocurrencies, indices, commodities,….
References and sources:
- List of financial regulatory authorities by country
- US Regulations for Forex Brokers
- Foreign Regulatory Agencies