Naylyan NazifovaNaylyan Nazifova is a Financial Research and Platform Testing Analyst at BestBrokers.com, where she reviews and tests online brokers across forex, stocks, investing and personal finance. Her experience in online trading content and broker analysis helps readers understand how platforms perform in practice, from trading tools and fees to ease of use and investor suitability.
| Expert Editor 
Eugene Lee, CFA
Eugene Lee, CFA, is the Head of Research at BestBrokers.com, where he applies more than two decades of experience in global markets, portfolio management, derivatives and fintech analysis to the evaluation of online brokers. His background in institutional investing and quantitative research helps ensure broker reviews are based on data, risk assessment and practical trading conditions. 
| 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.
eToro52% of retail investor accounts lose money
Fusion Markets74-89% of retail's CFD accounts lose money
FP Markets73.33% of retail investor accounts lose money
Pepperstone73.7% 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 6 cTrader Forex Brokers
| cTrader Forex Broker | Forex Maximum Leverage | Min Deposit | Trust Pilot Rating | Regulators |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Fusion Markets | 1:30 for ASIC Entity (1:500 for VFSC Entity) | $0 | 4.8 ⭐ | ASIC, FSA (Seychelles), VFSC (Vanuatu) |
| 2. 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) |
| 3. 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) |
| 4. 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) |
| 5. BlackBull Markets | 1:30 (Retail)1:500 (Professional) | $0 (Standard)$0 (Prime)$20,000 (Institutional) | 4.8 ⭐ | FSA (Seychelles) (No. SD045), FMA (No. FSP403326) |
| 6. 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.
As spread-only Classic accounts are incompatible with cTrader, we tested Fusion Markets using a live Zero account, where spreads start from 0.0 pips and a $2.25 commission applies per $100,000 of notional volume per side. Core assets like EUR/USD, XAU/USD, and US500 showed average raw spreads of 0.03 pips, 9 pips, and 3.3 pips, respectively. Execution speeds averaged less than 37 milliseconds.
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. The latter enabled us to engage in algorithmic trading with custom cBots built in #C.
Advanced charting, with 26 timeframes and 70+ built-in indicators, provides traders with a complete set of features. We were able to easily configure different types of charts, from standard candlesticks to Heikin-Ashi. Customers 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. Traders 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.
When testing the broker, we opted for a cTrader Raw account that enabled us to trade with a $7 round-turn commission and average spreads of 0.19 pips for EUR/USD, 9 pips for XAU/USD, and 2.5 pips for US500. We experienced negligible latency during testing as orders were filled within 40 milliseconds on average under normal market conditions. 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.
We installed the desktop version of cTrader on a Windows 11 computer, though the platform also supports older devices running Windows 7. It offers multi-chart layouts with time frames from 1 minute to 1 month, along with candlestick, bar, line, Heikin-Ashi, Renko, and tick charts. We also accessed an advanced economic calendar with previous consensus data and more than 70 integrated indicators, while cTrader Automate allowed us to develop custom indicators in C#. The Smart Stop-Out feature partially reduces positions to free up margin when equity falls below 50%, while Fair Stop-Out liquidates the largest positions first to restore margin levels.
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. For this review, we tested a live ECN Prime account connected to cTrader, recording average spreads of 0.10 pips on EUR/USD, 12 pips on XAU/USD, and 6 pips on the US500, with a $6 round-turn commission on forex and precious metals.
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. During testing, our orders were executed in under 75 milliseconds on average, with limit orders averaging 52 milliseconds.
We used the platform’s charting tools alongside integrated Trading Central and FXStreet widgets to support our market analysis. The Quick Trade settings enabled us to place orders with a single or double click directly from symbol windows, charts, or DoM panels. We also reviewed the built-in economic calendar as well, which provides overviews of macroeconomic events and their expected market impact within cTrader. However, it does not support native alerts, so we had to use BlackBull Markets’ native calendar to address this issue and receive event notifications via email.
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 cTrader 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 offers several trading platforms, including cTrader, which users can access across desktop, web, and mobile devices.
Pepperstone supports cTrader through its CFD Standard and CFD Razor accounts. We tested execution quality using a live Razor account, where round-turn commissions were $6 on forex and $7 on spot gold. Average spreads were 0.1 pips on EUR/USD, 23 pips on XAU/USD, and 4 pips on US500.
The platform combines advanced trading technology with institutional-grade conditions, including Level II pricing, 50+ built-in indicators, Smart Stop Out, and spreads from 0.0 pips. Traders can also use cTrader Automate for C# strategy development, access 24-hour US share CFD trading, and benefit from Pepperstone’s support infrastructure.
Pepperstone executed our cTrader orders within 50 milliseconds or less on average, with combined fill rates above 99.30% during the 30-day test. The platform supports market, limit, stop, and stop-limit orders, while the interface offers multiple workspaces, light and dark themes, and detachable charts. Its C# API supported strategy development and backtesting, while Smart Stop Out reduced losing positions incrementally to maintain margin requirements.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 73.7% 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 several 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.
Our team registered a live Raw Spread account on cTrader with a $6 round-turn commission for every $100,000 traded. The commission is converted into the account’s base currency at the prevailing spot rate. Average spreads with this account type came at 0.06 pips on EUR/USD, 19 pips on spot gold, and 3.6 pips on the US500.
Our live tests showed that IC Markets streams raw prices from 25 liquidity providers directly to its cTrader server, hosted in the LD5 IBX Equinix data centre. Our orders were filled within 35 to 40 milliseconds on average. We installed cTrader on a Windows 11 desktop and found it stable and responsive, though it can also run on Windows 7 devices with a dual-core CPU and 2 GB of memory.
IC Markets supports cTrader alongside several other platforms, giving clients access to advanced trading tools across desktop, web, and mobile devices. These include advanced order types, depth of market (DOM), volume-weighted average price (VWAP) indicators, and Smart Stop Out for additional account protection.
During testing, we used Level II pricing extensively, with available liquidity displayed at each price level. The platform allowed us to place orders within the spread, with no minimum distance or freeze level restrictions, and adjust stop-loss levels close to the market price for tighter risk control.
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 8 milliseconds. FxPro follows the regulatory guidelines imposed by regulators including FCA (UK), CySEC, FSCA, and SCB (Bahamas).
We tested FxPro using a funded cTrader account, which charges a $3.50 commission per $100,000 traded on forex and spot metals. EUR/USD spreads averaged 0.48 pips during testing, while spot gold and US500 averaged 17.03 pips and 8.4 pips, respectively.
FxPro offers several platforms, including cTrader. Available on desktop and mobile, it provides low spreads, fast execution, cBots, one-click trading, 55+ indicators, 6 pending order types, 26+ chart timeframes, an integrated economic calendar, detachable charts, and more.
We logged in through cTrader ID (cTID), which synchronised settings across workspaces and linked accounts. The platform has no stop or limit distance restrictions, allowing precise order placement within the spread. We also used FxPro’s BeeksFX VPS service for automated trading, with cBots running continuously at reduced latency. The Market Sentiment tool helped us monitor real-time long and short positioning directly within the platform.
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. Fusion Markets | 4,873 | 4.8 ⭐ |
| 3. IC Markets | 48,248 | 4.8 ⭐ |
| 4. BlackBull Markets | 2,681 | 4.8 ⭐ |
| 5. Pepperstone | 3,144 | 4.4 ⭐ |
| 6. 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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