| Updated: Software is one of the key factors that can help traders choose a reliable forex broker. Trading firms tend to offer either proprietary software or popular third-party platforms, with MT4 and MT5 being the usual options.
Another platform that many traders gravitate towards is cTrader, which offers forex traders and those interested in other assets access to a modern trading platform. cTrader is supported by an increasing number of established brokers, and it is a feature-rich solution catering to the preferences of various market participants.
Plus500 USThis content applies only to Plus500 US and clients from the United States. Trading futures involves the risk of loss.
eToro50% of retail investor accounts lose money
FP Markets73.33% of retail investor accounts lose money
Pepperstone72.9% of retail investor accounts lose money
IC Markets70.64% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.Comprehensive Comparison of the Top 5 cTrader Forex Brokers
| cTrader Forex Broker | Forex Maximum Leverage | Min Deposit | Trust Pilot Rating | Regulators |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. IC Markets | 1:30 (European and Australian Retail Accounts); 1:500 (Pro); 1:1000 (FSA Clients) | $200 | 4.8 ⭐ | FSA (Seychelles), CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia), SCB (Bahamas), CMA (Kenya) |
| 2. Pepperstone | 1:30 (Retail ASIC, CySEC, FCA); 1:500 (Professional); 1:400 (CMA) | $0 | 4.4 ⭐ | ASIC (No. 414530), UK FCA (No.684312), CySEC (No. 388/20), BaFin (No.151148), DFSA (F004356), CMA (128), SCB Bahamas (SIA-F217), FSA (SD108) |
| 3. FP Markets | 1:30 (Retail)1:500 (Professional) | $50 (AU$100) | 4.9 ⭐ | ASIC, CySEC, FSA (Seychelles), FSCA, FSA (St. Vincent and the Grenadines), SCB (Bahamas), FSCM (Mauritius) |
| 4. BlackBull Markets | 1:30 (Retail)1:500 (Professional) | $0 (Standard)$0 (Prime)$20,000 (Institutional) | 4.8 ⭐ | FSA (Seychelles) (No. SD045), FMA (No. FSP403326) |
| 5. FxPro | 1:30 (Retail)1:500 (Professional) | $0 | 3.2 ⭐ | FCA (No. 509956), FSCA (No.45052), SCB (No. SIA-F184), FSA (SD120) |
Below, we have covered several online forex brokers offering cTrader. Each brand on our list is authorized by established regulators, providing a regulated trading environment for forex traders.
Top cTrader Forex Brokers
Fusion Markets was founded in 2017 with the aim of providing accessible and cost-effective trading. The broker facilitates access to multiple trading platforms to cater to all types of trading preferences. cTrader is an advanced trading platform favored for its charting capabilities, and is among the supported options.
Fusion Markets offers desktop, mobile, and web versions of the cTrader platform, providing multiple access options for its clients. cTrader offers one-click trading, three market depth settings (standard, price, and VWAP), as well as the cTrader Algo trading solution. Advanced charting, with 26 timeframes and 70+ built-in indicators, provides traders with a complete set of features. They can control the risk they are exposing themselves to through the platform’s suite of risk management tools.
Gleneagle Asset Management Limited (ABN 29 103 162 278) trading as Fusion Markets, is the issuer of the Fusion Markets Products described in this communication. Trading in Fusion Markets Products involves the potential for profit as well as the risk of loss which may vastly exceed the amount of your initial deposit and is not suitable for all investors. You should read all of these Financial Product Service Terms, the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and the Financial Services Guide (available on our website) carefully, consider your own financial situation, needs and objectives for investing in these Fusion Markets Products and obtain independent financial advice.- 2. FP Markets
FP Markets went live in 2005 and is an established multi-asset broker. The broker offers tight spreads across 60+ currency pairs, educational tools, and multiple platform options. With authorizations from major regulators such as CySEC and ASIC, this broker caters to traders from numerous jurisdictions.
FP Markets users will be able to choose from several platform options, with cTrader being one of them. They can open a standard and a raw forex account on the cTrader platform, and standard account holders will enjoy zero commission as fees are built into the spread. cTrader stands out with its rapid order execution, Level 2 pricing for enhanced market depth transparency, Smart Stop-Out mechanism for effective risk management, and a versatile selection of order types to suit different trading strategies.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 73.33% 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. BlackBull Markets is a broker that has operated since 2014. The company now operates in over 180 countries and caters to thousands of traders through licenses from the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) in New Zealand and the Financial Services Authority in Seychelles.
BlackBull Markets clients can choose from several trading platforms, including cTrader, which is available with no minimum deposit requirement. Accessible on both desktop and mobile devices, cTrader supports trading across devices. The platform supports algorithmic and copy trading, while offering a comprehensive set of risk management tools, such as stop-loss, take-profit, pending orders, and smart stop-outs, ensuring traders can manage their positions efficiently and with greater control.
Trading foreign exchange on margin carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. The high degree of leverage can work against you as well as for you. Before deciding to trade foreign exchange, you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. The possibility exists that you could sustain a loss of some or all of your initial investment and, therefore, you should not invest money you cannot afford to lose. You should make yourself aware of all the risks associated with foreign exchange trading and seek advice from an independent financial advisor if you have any questions or concerns as to how a loss would affect your lifestyle.- 4. Pepperstone
Pepperstone offers competitive trading conditions as a cTrade broker. Founded in 2010, the broker has expanded its reach to numerous markets across the globe and now holds licenses issued by FCA (UK), CySEC, ASIC, DFSA, BaFin, and CMA.
Pepperstone features several platforms, including cTrader. Pepperstone users can access the cTrader platform at any time and place, no matter what device they prefer to trade on. The ways to trade via cTrader with Pepperstone include CFD Standard and CFD Razor accounts. The platform combines advanced trading technology with institutional-grade conditions, offering Level II pricing, 50+ built-in technical indicators, Smart Stop Out system, spreads from 0.0 pips, and execution speeds from 50 ms. Traders can also benefit from cTrader Automate for C# strategy development, 24-hour US share CFD trading, and Pepperstone’s support and infrastructure.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 72.9% 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. - 5. IC Markets
Australian-based IC Markets is an established broker for forex traders, offering competitive trading conditions since its inception in 2007. The brand is authorized by regulators including ASIC and CySEC, providing regulatory oversight for client funds. Additional security measures like negative balance protection and leverage limits are also in place.
Trader can also leverage cTrader, among various other platform solutions supported by IC Markets. Regardless of the device they decide to use for their forex trading, IC Markets clients will have access to multiple advanced trading tools, including advanced order types, depth of market (DOM) display, and volume-weighted average price (VWAP) indicators. The Smart Stop Out feature, which utilizes an advanced algorithm, is designed to provide additional protection to accounts. With Level II Pricing, cTrader provides trading transparency by displaying the liquidity for each currency pair.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70.64% 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. - 6. FxPro
FxPro was established in 2006 and serves forex traders globally. FxPro provides competitive and secure trading for its members, reporting an average execution speed of under 12ms. FxPro follows regulatory guidelines imposed by regulators including FCA (UK), CySEC, FSCA, and SCB (Bahamas).
Forex traders who trade with FxPro can pick from several platforms, including cTrader. Adapted for both desktop and mobile devices, cTrader offers FxPro members low spreads, fast order execution, and access to EAs, one-click trading, 55+ indicators, 6 pending order types, 26+ chart time frames, an integrated economic calendar, detachable charts, and more.
Trade Responsibly. 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.
cTrader Forex Brokers Ranked by Trustpilot Score
| Forex Broker | Trustpilot Reviews | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. FP Markets | 9,422 | 4.9 ⭐ |
| 2. IC Markets | 48,248 | 4.8 ⭐ |
| 3. BlackBull Markets | 2,681 | 4.8 ⭐ |
| 4. Pepperstone | 3,144 | 4.4 ⭐ |
| 5. FxPro | 751 | 3.2 ⭐ |
What is cTrader?
Developed in 2011 by the fintech company Spotware Systems, cTrader is a trading platform focusing on forex and CFD products. It features a user-friendly interface with advanced analytical and order-management tools.
cTrader features a modern interface for CFD and forex trading, with charts, drawing tools, and other advanced instruments supporting technical analysis and trade execution.
Trading with cTrader excels in many aspects, particularly with its robust charting tools and technical indicators, making it a strong option for a variety of traders. cTrader’s Level II Pricing model offers detailed Depth of Market (DOM), a feature highly valued by ECN brokers. The multilingual interface of cTrader makes the platform a suitable trading solution for a global audience.
Traders who wish to adopt algorithmic trading as their primary strategy will appreciate the cTrader Algo environment integrated into cTrader, which facilitates algorithmic trading via cBots. A comprehensive API is also available for custom integrations with cTrader. On the official website of cTrader, one can find several free cBots and a variety of similar algorithms for purchase. Once you have obtained your new cBots, you can run them on the cTrader Cloud, which operates independently from the cTrader app.
cTrader Copy is a fully integrated copy trading platform within the cTrader ecosystem, designed to let traders either follow successful strategies or share their own for others to copy. It features a transparent, easy-to-use interface with clearly defined fees, detailed strategy histories, and performance statistics to help users make informed decisions. After logging in with a cTrader ID, traders can browse available strategies, compare results and costs, allocate funds, and start copying with just a couple of clicks – without any long-term commitment. Strategy providers can also benefit by promoting their strategies, earning investor fees, and expanding their audience through cTrader’s flexible social trading environment.
Designed to run smoothly across different devices, cTrader offers a desktop application that can be installed on Windows and Mac devices. However, for those who do not wish to install the platform on their computers and laptops, cTrader provides a fully functional web version that runs on any popular browser. For those who wish to trade on the go, the platform has a dedicated mobile app, which is available for both Android and iOS users.
Below you can find our video tutorial explaining how to use cTrader, recorded by Christopher Lewis, a prominent forex trader and analyst.
Main Reasons to Use cTrader
In recent years, cTrader has gained traction in forex circles, particularly among traders looking for an alternative to MT4 and MT5. There are several reasons the platform has gained market share, with features specific to the cTrader ecosystem.
- No Conflict of Interest: Since cTrader hosts and manages every operation in its ecosystem, brokers do not have direct access to cTrader’s trade execution infrastructure, meaning they cannot influence price feeds, trade records, or order routing. Instead, brokers are simply given the option to offer the cTrader platform to their clients and set up accounts, commissions, spreads, and other typical broker tasks.
- Feature-Rich Modern Platform: cTrader is a modern and advanced software suite featuring a wide range of instruments that allow users to easily track the markets, spot trends, and access features not available on all competing platforms for forex and CFD trading.
- Direct and Responsive Support: The cTrader platform is updated on a regular basis to ensure an improved experience for its users. Many of the improvements are based on traders’ feedback since every user can easily get in touch with cTrader’s support team, with contact forms including a dedicated Telegram chat group.
| Trading Platforms Comparison | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cTrader | MT4 | MT5 | ZuluTrade | |
| Supported Trading Assets | Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto | Forex, Indices, Commodities | Forex, Stocks, Futures | Forex, Stocks, Indices, CFD Crypto, Commodities |
| Chart Types | bar, candlestick, line, dots, Heikin-Ashi, HLC, renko, and range | line, bar, and candlestick charts | line, bar, and candlestick charts | N/A |
| Order Types | Market Order, Buy Limit, Sell Limit, Buy Stop, Sell Stop, Buy Stop Limit, Sell Stop Limit | Market Order, Pending Order (Buy Limit, Buy Stop, Sell Limit, Sell Stop), Stop Loss, Take Profit | Market Order, Pending Order (Buy Limit, Buy Stop, Sell Limit, Sell Stop, Buy Stop Limit, Sell Stop Limit), Stop Loss, Take Profit | Copy orders of other traders |
| Programming Language | C# | MQL4 | MQL5 | ZuluScript |
| Direct Deposit/Withdrawal Option | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Backtesting Feature | Yes | Yes (Strategy Tester) | Yes (Strategy Tester) | No |
| Automated Trading Instruments | cBots | Expert Advisors | Expert Advisors | Copy trading platform |
| Platform Pricing Options | Free | Free | Free | Free |
How to Connect a Broker to cTrader?
Traders who wish to have access to the cTrader platform and its related products must create their cTrader ID, or cTID for short. These are the credentials that are utilized every time a user wishes to access the cTrader platform while trading with any broker supporting the software. With cTrader, it is possible to open both Live and Demo accounts across different brokers. To access any of them, you can use your cTID to log in.
If you are using the cTrader platform of a specific broker, you can use your cTID to authorize any of the accounts you have created with the said broker. Meanwhile, if you are using a non-branded cTrader account, you can use your cTID to be authorized under any of the broker accounts you have created in the cTrader ecosystem.
You can set up your cTID by choosing to open an account on your broker of choice and selecting the cTrader platform. Follow the account creation steps as instructed, keeping in mind that you need to use the same email you provided during registration with the respective broker.
You can also join the cTrader ecosystem by launching a non-branded version of the platform, and you enter your email and choose a password for your future cTID logins. Once you verify your email, your cTID is ready, and you can use these credentials to access the platform on any broker supporting cTrader.
What is the Cost of Using cTrader?
If you trade on the cTrader platform, you can open both Live and Demo accounts. Demo accounts use virtual funds, allowing traders to explore the platform’s features and practice strategies without risking real capital. Traders who wish to place real-money orders can open a live account.
Any commissions charged while trading on the cTrader platform will depend on your broker. Often, brokers will charge no commission, as it will be built into the spread. Nevertheless, the platform itself is free to use, but you may be charged fees depending on the trading conditions introduced by your broker of choice.
Does cTrader Support Backtesting for Forex?
Many forex traders prefer assessing trading strategies by using the backtesting option that some platforms offer. cTrader also features backtesting, and it uses historical data to help traders review how a specific strategy would have worked in the past.
Whenever cTrader users make use of this tool, cBots will trade based on past markets, using historical data. Before they start trading, broker clients will need to determine the conditions under which the cBots will carry out the test.
Once the cBots are done, cTrader will generate a thorough report, which will include the trades performed by the cBots as well as the final balance after the test is complete. This provides insight into how effective a given strategy can be in practice. During backtesting, cBots do not use real money, so your real balance will not be affected by the cTrader backtesting tool.
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