EC Markets Spreads, Fees, and Commissions

Written by Zornitsa Stefanova

Zornitsa Stefanova

Zornitsa Stefanova is experienced forex and crypto analyst. She also covers various financial topics such as stocks trading and retirement investments.

, | Updated: January 8, 2026

EC Markets is a globally recognized broker celebrated for its high-speed execution and commitment to price transparency. The firm operates under a robust regulatory framework, holding licenses from 7 reputable authorities, including the UK’s FCA, Australia’s ASIC, and the FSC in Mauritius. This oversight provides a secure environment for the broker’s customers, who enjoy access to over 100 financial markets, including 48 currency pairs, indices, metals, and energies. Customers from certain regions can additionally speculate on the price fluctuations of cryptocurrencies through competitively-priced contracts for difference.

The broker is particularly appealing to cost-conscious traders due to its ultra-tight spreads, which start at 0.0 pips with certain account types. Additionally, the remarkably low barrier to entry makes EC Markets highly accessible for traders across the board. New customers can start with an initial deposit as low as $10. If interested in learning more, continue reading as we analyze the spreads, commissions, and non-trading fees to help you evaluate the total cost of trading with EC Markets.

EC Markets Trading Costs

EC Markets caters to customers with three primary account types, namely Standard, ECN, and Pro, and each is designed to accommodate different trading styles, experience levels, and financial means. The Standard account is a commission-free option with pricing built directly into the spreads, making it ideal for beginners reluctant to deal with calculating commission-related expenses. The ECN account provides raw market spreads with a small fixed commission for those seeking greater price transparency. The Pro account is tailored to the needs of high-volume traders, offering the most competitive pricing and institutional-grade execution speeds.

Standard Account Trading Costs

The Standard account at EC Markets operates on a spread-based pricing model, meaning traders do not pay separate commissions on their positions. Instead, the broker applies a markup of approximately 1 pip to the raw interbank spreads. This account is highly accessible, requiring a minimum deposit of just $10.

While spreads are variable, the minimum generally starts at 1.0 pip due to the markup. For the most liquid currency pair, the EUR/USD, the spread typically averages 1.1 pips with Standard accounts. To understand the actual cost of a trade, let’s consider a position of one standard lot (100,000 units) in EUR/USD. With an average spread of 1.1 pips, the calculation is as follows:

100,000 (Lot Size) × 0.00011 (Spread) = $11.00

In this scenario, a trader would incur a cost of $11 per side, resulting in a total round-turn cost of $22 to open and close the position. Alternatively, you can multiply the spread as listed in pips by the pip value corresponding to one standard lot, in which case you again get 1.1 pips x $10 = $11. Your expenses will average 10,000 x 0.00011 = $1.10 per side when trading mini lots, and $2.20 in total. Respectively, micro-lot traders will pay 1,000 x 0.00011 = $0.11 per side and $0.22 in total.

*The calculated costs above are based on the assumption a trader has opened a position without using leverage with a USD-denominated account. The costs may differ if you are using other base currencies. For example, the average expenses for USD/JPY will equal ¥1,140 per standard lot with a yen-denominated account rather than $7.31. This is because the cost for this pair is quoted in yen rather than dollars, reflecting the exchange rate between the two currencies.

ECN Accounts Forex Trading Costs

Traders seeking more direct market access and enhanced transparency should opt for an ECN account, whose pricing model is based on raw spreads. Unlike the Standard option, no markups are applied to the raw prices in this case. Instead, customers benefit from forex spreads as low as 0.0 pips, with an average of 0.1 pips for majors like the EUR/USD.

The barrier to entry remains low with a $10 minimum deposit despite the professional-grade environment. EC Markets charges a commission of $1.50 per side, or only $3 round-turn, for this account type. This commission rate is remarkably low, as industry averages typically range between $2.50 and $3.50 per side. To calculate the total cost for one standard lot of EUR/USD, we must also factor in the commission.

100,000 (Lot Size) × 0.00001 (Spread) + $1.50 (Commission) = $2.50

In this example, the total cost to open the position is only $2.50, representing significant savings for active traders. Customers with ECN accounts pay $8.50 less per side and $17 less in both directions compared to those who choose the Standard account option.

*The second values in this column indicate the commission customers pay when trading in micro lots.The costs for micro and standard lots include the commission expenses. We should also warn you that commission rates may vary when using base account currencies other than the US dollar. However, EC Markets does not provide information about other base currencies and lists all commissions in dollars.

Pro Accounts Forex Trading Costs

The Pro account is EC Markets’ premium offering, tailored specifically for high-volume traders who require institutional-grade conditions. This account utilizes a unique pricing model that provides commission-free trading while maintaining significantly reduced spreads. While the $5,000 minimum deposit is higher than other tiers, it grants access to spreads that start at 0.0 pips.

This structure is particularly beneficial for professional traders who want to minimize overhead without calculating per-lot commissions on every execution. Nevertheless, we should warn you that this is not a professional trading account per se since it offers the same maximum leverage as the other two types. The average EUR/USD spread on the Pro account is remarkably tight at 0.10 pips. The calculation of the average expenses for a single standard lot is quite straightforward:

100,000 (Lot Size) × 0.00001 (Spread) = $1.00

Because there are no additional commissions, the total cost to open a position is just $1, making it one of the most cost-effective options for large-scale market participants. Round-turn expenses will amount to $2 per standard lot, respectively.

Choosing the right account type ultimately depends on your trading volume, experience level, and strategy. The Standard account is the best value for beginners or casual traders who prefer a simple, commission-free pricing structure with a low entry point. The ECN account offers superior value to active day traders and scalpers due to its industry-low commissions and raw spreads. For high-net-worth individuals and professionals, the Pro account stands out as the most cost-effective choice, providing the tightest spreads without any commission overhead, albeit with a four-digit barrier to entry.

Overnight Funding Costs at EC Markets

Traders who maintain positions beyond the daily market close will encounter overnight funding costs, commonly known as swap rates. These interest adjustments occur because CFD traders borrow one currency to buy another, and each currency carries its own interest rate. At EC Markets, the trading day officially ends at 00:00 server time (GMT+2), but note that transitions to daylight saving time also bear consideration.

If a leveraged position is held past this cutoff, a swap is applied to the account. Because the spot market operates on a T+2 settlement basis, interest for the weekend is settled on Monday, meaning that holding a position from Wednesday into Thursday incurs triple swaps to cover the Friday-to-Sunday period.

EC Markets does not disclose any specific swap rates on its website. To access this data, customers must register a live or demo account, download the MetaTrader 4 or 5 platform, and check the contract specifications for each instrument. Here is an example of the overnight cost for one standard lot of EUR/USD, based on the currently listed swap rates for long and short positions.

• Long Position: 100,000 x (-0.0000896) = -$8.96
• Short Position: 100,000 x 0.0000184 = $1.84

In this scenario, a trader holding a long position would be debited $8.96 for a single night, while a short position would earn a credit of $1.84 per night. Assuming you hold the position open Wednesday through Thursday, you will pay $26.88 for long positions and earn $5.52 from short positions due to the triple swaps.

*We derived the swap rates in the table above from MetaTrader 4 on December 23, 2025. Please note these are subject to change over time due to fluctuations in the interest rate differentials between the currencies involved in each forex pair.

Swap-Free Trading Costs at EC Markets

Swap-free accounts, often referred to as Islamic accounts, are designed for EC Markets customers whose religious beliefs prohibit the earning or paying of interest. These accounts eliminate the standard overnight swap charges, allowing positions to remain open indefinitely without interest-based adjustments. EC Markets offers this feature for both Standard and ECN accounts.

The broker does not publicly disclose whether it offsets the lack of swaps through administrative fees or wider spreads. Consequently, interested traders must first open a live account and then contact the customer support team to request a transition to swap-free status.

EC Markets Non-Trading Costs

Beyond the direct costs of opening, closing, and holding orders overnight, EC Markets customers should be aware of several non-trading fees that can impact their overall balance and profitability. These charges are independent of market movements and typically have to do with account maintenance, funding, and currency conversion. While the broker maintains a relatively low-cost profile in this area, the specific charges vary depending on the regulatory entity governing your account and the payment methods you utilize.

Deposit and Withdrawal Fees

EC Markets largely avoids internal fees for transaction processing and has no additional charges for withdrawals across all its global entities. Most deposit methods are also free. A notable exception exists for POLi users registered under the Seychelles entity, who incur a 4% deposit fee. It is important to remember that while the broker may not charge you, intermediary banks may still apply their own processing fees.

Inactivity Fees

The Australian entity maintains a very specific and structured fee schedule for dormant accounts. Customers under this jurisdiction are subject to a “low activity fee” of AU$10 per month after just 120 days of no trading. If the account remains inactive for a full year, this charge escalates to a more substantial AU$50 per month. No concrete inactivity fee schedule is currently disclosed for clients registered with the broker’s other international branches. However, most legal documents published by the broker say it may impose such charges on dormant accounts but does not specify how much.

Conversion Fees

EC Markets does not explicitly detail internal currency conversion rates on its primary pricing pages. However, traders should anticipate costs when depositing or trading in a currency different from their account’s base denomination. These expenses are typically handled by third-party payment providers or banks, which apply a conversion spread to the transaction at the time of settlement.

Closing Thoughts on EC Markets Fees

All things considered, EC Markets stands out as a highly competitive player in the online trading industry, especially where ECN and Pro accounts are concerned. By offering commissions as low as $1.50 per side, the broker undercuts the industry standard of $3 to $3.50 and provides exceptional value for active traders. Non-trading costs are mostly negligible, and internal fees are limited only to a few select deposit methods. On balance, we cannot help but admit EC Markets offers superior trading conditions compared to most of its rivals, largely as a result of its record-low commissions, extremely tight spreads, and low minimum deposit requirements.

Written by Z. Stefanova