Emmanuel Ifeanyi
Emmanuel Ifeanyi is a Financial Research and Platform Testing Analyst at BestBrokers.com, specialising in forex, stock and cryptocurrency trading. He is responsible for most of the site’s broker reviews, contributing detailed research and hands-on testing of trading conditions, fees, account types, available assets, usability and suitability for different types of traders.
| Expert Editor 
Eugene Lee, CFA
Eugene Lee, CFA, is the Head of Research at BestBrokers.com, where he draws on more than two decades of experience in global markets, portfolio management, derivatives, and fintech to evaluate online brokers. His background in institutional investing and quantitative research helps ensure that broker reviews are based on data, risk assessment, and real-world trading conditions. 
| Updated: FOREX.com is a multi-asset trading brand owned by StoneX Group Inc., a Nasdaq-listed financial services company. Its key strengths are its extensive global regulatory footprint, versatile selection of proprietary and third-party platforms, and access to over 7,000 tradable markets. The broker is particularly well suited to active forex and CFD traders seeking reliable infrastructure, comprehensive market research, and flexible pricing models.
Market availability varies by jurisdiction. US clients are limited to forex, futures, and futures options trading, while UK, European, Australian, and international entities provide broader catalogs of leveraged CFDs. Consequently, traders should verify pricing, leverage limits, available platforms, and regulatory protections for the specific entity governing their account agreement.
| Overall Summary of FOREX.com | |
|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 (acquired by StoneX Group in 2020) |
| Minimum Deposit | $100/£100/€100 (the broker recommends depositing at least 1,000 units of the account’s base currency to provide greater flexibility and support better risk management) |
| Tradable Instruments | Forex, futures, and futures options (US entity); CFDs on forex, indices, shares, commodities, metals, and cryptocurrencies (internationally) |
The summary highlights two different propositions. US residents receive a tightly regulated but comparatively narrow range of forex, futures, and futures options services. In contrast, international clients under non-US entities can access a much wider derivatives catalog. As a result, the broker is best evaluated only after selecting a country of residence, legal entity, account type, and platform.
Key Pros and Cons
To help you quickly evaluate FOREX.com, we have summarized its key strengths and potential drawbacks below.
Key Pros
- Operated through entities overseen by authorities including the FCA (UK), CFTC/NFA (USA), ASIC (Australia), CySEC (EU), CIRO (Canada), CIMA (Cayman Islands), MAS (Singapore), and FSA (Japan).
- Owned by Nasdaq-listed StoneX Group Inc.
- More than 80 currency pairs.
- Eligible non-US clients can access more than 7,000 leveraged markets.
- Proprietary web and mobile platforms are supplemented by MetaTrader and, in supported regions, TradingView connectivity.
- Standard spread-based and commission-based raw-pricing models accommodate different trading styles.
- Research includes in-house analysis, economic data, performance analytics, and third-party technical tools.
Key Cons
- The product range, platforms, pricing, and protections differ significantly between legal entities.
- US clients receive a much narrower product catalog than clients of the broker’s CFD entities.
- An inactivity fee of €15, or the equivalent in another currency, can apply each month after 12 months without qualifying trading activity.
- Commission terminology and amounts vary by region, requiring careful review of the local pricing schedule.
- MetaTrader accounts do not necessarily provide the same instrument range as the proprietary platform.
- The offshore Cayman entity does not provide the same statutory compensation arrangements as the UK or European entities.
Company Information
FOREX.com was established in 2001 by GAIN Capital, launching its operations from a New Jersey office. Following rapid early adoption, the company was recognized on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 as one of North America’s fastest-growing technology firms. Building on this momentum, FOREX.com expanded internationally to the UK and Japan just three years later.
In 2010, the parent company, GAIN Capital Holdings, Inc., went public on the New York Stock Exchange while simultaneously launching operations in Australia. Growth accelerated further in 2011 when GAIN Capital acquired dbFX, Deutsche Bank’s retail foreign exchange trading unit. Later, in 2017, the broker introduced its new proprietary trading platform, followed by the release of a new mobile app in 2020.
StoneX Group Inc. completed its acquisition of GAIN Capital in 2020, bringing the brand into a larger financial services group involved in institutional execution, clearing, payments, commodities, and retail trading. StoneX Group is headquartered in New York, and its shares trade on Nasdaq under the ticker SNEX.
Expanding its global footprint further, FOREX.com launched operations in mainland Europe in 2021. Meanwhile, 2024 marked a major milestone for its parent company, StoneX Group Inc., as it celebrated its 100th anniversary. Over the decades, the FOREX.com brand has earned widespread industry recognition, receiving numerous awards for its service standards and trading environment.
FOREX.com does not operate as a single, unified global company. Instead, clients contract with a local or regional StoneX or GAIN entity depending on their country of residence and product eligibility. While this multi-entity framework allows the broker to serve several regulated markets worldwide, it also means that trading conditions, available instruments, and regulatory protections are not uniform across all jurisdictions.
- StoneX Europe Ltd, regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, with a registered address at Nikokreontos 2, 5th Floor, 1066 Nicosia, Cyprus.
- GAIN Capital – FOREX.com Canada Limited, regulated by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), with an office address at 30 Independence Blvd., Suite 300, Warren, NJ 07059, USA.
- GAIN Capital Group LLC (d/b/a FOREX.com), regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and a member of the National Futures Association (NFA), with US headquarters at 30 Independence Blvd., Suite 300, Warren, NJ 07059, USA.
- GAIN Global Markets Inc., regulated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA), with its principal place of business at 30 Independence Blvd., Suite 300 (3rd Floor), Warren, NJ 07059, USA.
- StoneX Financial Ltd, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), with a registered office at 1st Floor, Moor House, 120 London Wall, London, EC2Y 5ET.
- StoneX Securities Co., Ltd., regulated by the Financial Services Agency (FSA) of Japan, with a registered office at Totan Muromachi Building 3F, 4-4-10 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0022, Japan.
- StoneX Financial Pte. Ltd. (“SFP”), regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), with a registered office at 1 Raffles Place, #18-61, One Raffles Place Tower 2, Singapore 048616.
- StoneX Financial Pty Ltd, regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), with a registered office at Suite 42.01, 264 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000.
Why Trade with FOREX.com?
A trader might shortlist FOREX.com for its long operating record, extensive currency coverage, platform selection, and regulated entities in several major financial centers. The broker also provides a more developed research environment than providers whose services are limited to execution and basic charting.
| Aspect | What We Like |
|---|---|
| Group Structure | The broker forms part of Nasdaq-listed StoneX Group rather than a privately owned, stand-alone retail trading company. |
| Regulation | Local entities operate under multiple national regulators, including the FCA, CFTC/NFA, ASIC, CySEC, FSA (Japan), MAS, and CIRO. |
| Trading | More than 80 currency pairs provide coverage beyond the most heavily traded majors. |
| Platforms | Clients may have access to FOREX.com Web Trading, the proprietary app, MetaTrader 4 or 5, and TradingView integration. |
| Pricing Models | Standard spread-inclusive pricing is complemented by raw pricing with a separate commission in supported regions. |
| Research | In-house commentary is combined with calendars, technical analysis, trading ideas, and performance analysis tools. |
| Education | Courses, articles, platform guides, and webinars cover both market concepts and practical platform use. |
The broker is most relevant to self-directed forex and CFD traders who want several platform options without moving to an offshore-only provider. It is less suitable for investors seeking a uniform global account, direct ownership of a broad share portfolio, or identical leverage and pricing in every country.
Regulation
StoneX Europe Ltd serves eligible European Economic Area customers under CySEC supervision. Retail accounts are subject to European leverage restrictions (up to 1:30 for major FX pairs), margin close-out requirements (50%), and negative balance protection. The Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) can cover eligible claims up to €20,000 if a member firm fails to return client money or assets, though normal trading losses are not covered.
GAIN Capital – FOREX.com Canada Limited serves eligible Canadian residents under the oversight of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO). Retail accounts are subject to strict leverage and margin requirements set by national and provincial regulators. As a registered investment dealer, the firm is a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF), which protects eligible client accounts up to CA$1 million in the event of broker insolvency, but it does not cover normal market trading losses.
In the US, GAIN Capital Group LLC is registered as a Retail Foreign Exchange Dealer (RFED) and Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) with the CFTC and is a registered member of the NFA. Retail forex leverage is generally capped at 1:50 for major pairs and 1:20 for others. US over-the-counter forex balances are not protected by SIPC, and retail forex customer funds do not receive exactly the same statutory segregation treatment as exchange-traded futures funds. These limitations should not be confused with an absence of CFTC and NFA oversight.
The Cayman entity offers an international route that may permit materially higher leverage (1:500) than UK, EU, Australian, Japanese, or US retail regimes. It remains regulated by CIMA, but customers do not receive FSCS or EU Investor Compensation Fund coverage. Higher leverage increases the speed at which losses can consume account equity and should not be treated as an unqualified advantage.
In the UK, StoneX Financial Ltd is subject to FCA capital, conduct, reporting, and client money rules. Under retail protection rules, traders receive negative balance protection, and crypto CFDs are prohibited. Eligible customers may refer unresolved complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service, and qualifying claims against a failed firm may fall within the Financial Services Compensation Scheme’s £120,000 limit.
In Japan, StoneX Securities Co., Ltd. operates under the regulation of the Financial Services Agency (FSA). Eligible retail accounts are covered by the Japan Investor Protection Fund up to ¥10 million per investor. Additionally, the FSA requires full segregation of client trading capital from the broker’s own operational funds. To safeguard retail traders from rapid losses, the Japanese entity limits maximum retail forex leverage to 1:25 on major currency pairs.
In Singapore, StoneX Financial Pte. Ltd. is supervised and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). As such, customers’ funds are protected in segregated customer accounts. To limit customer downside risk, MAS caps maximum retail leverage on spot forex contracts at 1:50.
Australian retail clients are protected by ASIC’s product intervention rules, including a 1:30 maximum for major currency pairs, standardized margin close-out, and negative balance protection. Australia has no direct equivalent of the FSCS for failed CFD brokers.
| Region | Entity | Authority | License | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU | StoneX Europe Ltd | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) | CySEC License No. 400/21 | |
| Canada | GAIN Capital – FOREX.com Canada Limited | Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) | Regulated Investment Dealer | |
| USA | GAIN Capital Group LLC | Regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and a member of the National Futures Association (NFA) | NFA No. 0339826 | |
| Cayman Islands | GAIN Global Markets Inc. | Cayman Islands Monetary Authority | License No. 25033 | |
| UK | StoneX Financial Ltd | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | FCA Register No. 446717 | |
| Japan | StoneX Securities Co., Ltd. | Financial Services Agency (FSA) | FSA License No. 291 | |
| Singapore | StoneX Financial Pte. Ltd. | Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) | Company Reg. No. 201130598R | |
| Australia | StoneX Financial Pty Ltd | Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) | AFSL 345646 | |
KYC Procedure for Account Creation and Depositing
Opening a live trading account with FOREX.com involves four main stages: Account Setup, Personal Details, Trading Experience, and Account Finalization. The steps outlined below describe the account application process under FOREX.com’s CySEC-regulated entity.
- Select the Region: Applications begin by selecting the applicant’s country and creating login credentials. This first choice is important because it determines the available legal entity, account types, platforms, and products. Applicants then provide their email address, username, password, name, date of birth, and phone number.
- Home Address: In the next form, applicants enter their address, city, province, postal code, country or region of citizenship, country of birth, town of birth, country of tax residence, and Tax Identification Number, where applicable.
- Trading Experience: As a CySEC-regulated entity, FOREX.com is required to verify whether account applicants are suitable for leveraged trading. The questions cover employment status, trading frequency, relevant experience and qualifications, primary purpose of trading, expected monthly trading activity, base account currency, annual income, savings, source of wealth, and planned initial deposit.
- Add Funds: Customers registered under the CySEC branch of FOREX.com can fund their accounts using several secure methods, including debit and credit cards, Neteller, Skrill, or bank transfer. Deposits must come from a payment source held in the account holder’s own name.
- Verify Identity: Upload the requested identity and address documents and respond to any compliance queries. As a regulated broker, FOREX.com must verify each applicant’s identity and residential address. The documents accepted depend on the entity, but a valid government-issued identity document and recent proof of address are typically requested. Corporate and joint applications require additional ownership, control, and authority documentation.
Demo accounts are available for the proprietary platform and selected MetaTrader services. They allow prospective users to test the software and practice order entry with virtual funds, although quoted conditions and fills cannot fully reproduce a live account. Demo access may also be time-limited by region.
Account Types
The account names offered during registration differ by country and platform. The two principal pricing models are Standard and RAW Pricing, while MetaTrader accounts may appear as separate platform-specific choices.
- The Standard Account uses a spread-inclusive pricing model designed for traders who prefer not to calculate a separate forex commission.
- The RAW Spread Account quotes lower spreads with a separate commission charged on each side of a forex trade.
Standard Account
The Standard account incorporates the broker’s forex remuneration into the bid-ask spread. There is no additional commission on spot-forex trades, although share CFDs can carry product-specific commissions. Spreads are variable (from 0.7 pips) and can widen during illiquid periods, market openings, and significant news events. Compatible platforms include FOREX.com Web/App, Desktop, and TradingView.
Platform and product access depend on residence. The proprietary FOREX.com platform generally supports the broadest non-US catalogue, while MetaTrader variants may have fewer instruments. EU base-currency options include EUR, USD, GBP, CHF or PLN, while other entities use locally supported currencies. Retail leverage follows the limits imposed by the relevant regulator.
This model may suit occasional or lower-volume traders who prioritize simple cost presentation. Its limitation is that the full spread is paid regardless of trading frequency, so active traders should compare the all-in cost with the raw account rather than comparing headline spreads alone.
RAW Spread Account
RAW Pricing separates the spread from the broker’s commission. Eligible forex pairs can display spreads from 0.0 pips, but this is a minimum rather than a guaranteed or typical spread. A commission of $5 per $100,000 notional traded is charged for opening and closing the position, and the applicable amount is shown in the regional pricing schedule. Compatible platforms include FOREX.com’s web and mobile versions.
Terms outside the EU may use another amount or account-currency equivalent. Access, minimum funding expectations, volume rebates, and platform support are entity-specific, making it essential to review the account agreement displayed during registration.
The account is intended mainly for frequent or higher-volume forex traders who can evaluate spread and commission together. It is not automatically cheaper for every trade, and it can provide a narrower product selection than the Standard account, where raw pricing is limited to foreign exchange.
MT5 Account
The MT5 Account features spread-only pricing starting from 0.7 pips with no commission. It is available through MetaTrader 5 web, mobile, and desktop terminals. Key features include Trading Central technical and market insights, integrated Reuters news, an economic calendar, proprietary FOREX.com research, and seamless account management.
FOREX.com Pro
Professional status is available in certain regulated regions to customers who satisfy prescribed eligibility tests. Designed strictly for highly experienced traders, a Professional account involves elevated financial risk. To qualify for elective professional status, traders registered under the CySEC-regulated entity must meet at least two of the following three eligibility criteria:
- Trading Activity: Executed a minimum of 40 trades of significant size within the past year, averaging 10 per quarter.
- Financial Portfolio: Hold a portfolio of financial instruments and cash deposits valued at €500,000 or the equivalent.
- Industry Experience: Have at least one year of professional work experience in the financial sector.
Islamic Account
Islamic or swap-free eligibility is not offered uniformly and must be confirmed with the relevant entity before applying. Because requests are handled on a case-by-case basis, applicants must contact FOREX.com Support directly to request a swap-free or Islamic account. Applicants should be prepared to provide identification and confirm their eligibility based on their religious requirements and location.
Demo Account
FOREX.com offers a free demo account loaded with €10,000 in virtual funds, providing a risk-free environment in which to practice trading strategies, explore platform tools, and test order execution under simulated market conditions. It serves as a useful testing environment for beginners learning market mechanics and experienced traders evaluating custom trading setups before committing real capital. The account is active for 90 days. Demo accounts created through the MT5 platform also last for 90 days but remain active if they have open trades.
Trading Fees and Other Costs
FOREX.com’s total trading cost consists of variable spreads, any applicable commissions, overnight financing, and non-trading charges. The determining variables are the legal entity, account model, instrument, platform, position size, and holding period.
- Trading Fees: spreads, commissions, and overnight financing charges
- Non-Trading Costs: account fees, deposit and withdrawal fees, currency conversion charges, and inactivity fees
Let’s analyze these features to see how FOREX.com compares with its industry rivals.
| Costs / Fees | What Is This? | At FOREX.com |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | The difference between the bid and ask prices. | Standard account spreads start from 0.7 pips. Raw account spreads start from 0.0 pips, with commissions charged separately. |
| Forex Commission | A separate transaction charge. | Applies to raw-pricing accounts; EU pricing lists a commission of $5 per $100,000 in notional value traded per side. |
| Share-CFD Commission | A charge based on the value or number of shares traded. | Share CFD commissions vary by region. UK and most European equities carry a commission of 0.08% of the trade value, Asian equities start at 0.08%, and most US shares are charged at 1.8 cents per share. Minimum commission fees are set at £10, $10, €10, or SGD 10, depending on the account currency. |
| Financing Charges | The cost or credit for holding a leveraged position overnight. | Calculated according to the product and position direction. Current rates are available through the platform. |
| Currency Conversion | Conversion of realized profits, losses, or charges into the account currency. | FOREX.com uses an exchange rate that is up to ±0.5% away from the prevailing quoted market price. |
| Deposit Fee | A broker charge for adding money. | None; standard bank charges may apply. |
| Withdrawal Fee | A broker charge for returning funds. | None; standard bank charges may apply. |
| Inactivity Fee | An account maintenance charge applied after prolonged inactivity. | Applied after 12 months without qualifying trading activity, subject to entity-specific amounts and exemptions. |
Spreads
FOREX.com uses two different pricing models for its accounts:
- Standard Account: all charges are built into the spreads.
- Raw Spread Account: offers spreads as low as zero pips but charges a separate commission.
Standard account spreads include the broker’s trading charge and fluctuate with market liquidity. The EU page advertises floating spreads from 0.7 pips, whereas Raw Spread Pricing can start at 0.0 pips before commission. However, a minimum spread of zero does not represent the average cost experienced throughout a trading session.
FOREX.com has published the following average Standard and Raw account spreads for major forex pairs:
| Instrument | Standard Account | Raw Spread Account |
|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 1.00 pip | 0.1 pips |
| GBP/USD | 1.80 pips | 0.4 pips |
| USD/JPY | 1.00 pip | 0.2 pips |
| USD/CHF | 1.40 pips | 0.3 pips |
| AUD/USD | 1.10 pips | 0.3 pips |
| USD/CAD | 2.00 pips | 0.5 pips |
| NZD/USD | 2.00 pips | 0.9 pips |
To illustrate the difference in trading costs between FOREX.com Standard and Raw accounts, let us compare them using one standard lot of EUR/USD. The example below uses the average spreads listed in the table above and assumes the position is opened and closed at the same price, with one pip equal to $10.
Standard Account
- Spread: 1.00 pip
- Total Cost: 1.00 x $10 = $10.00 per side and $20.00 per round trip
Raw Spread Account
- Spread: 0.1 pips
- Spread Cost: 0.1 x $10 = $1.00 per side
- Commission: $5 per side
- Total Cost: ($1.00 x 2) + ($5.00 x 2) = $12.00 per round trip
The Raw account offers more competitive trading conditions in this example. For larger monthly trading volumes, FOREX.com provides volume-based rebates that effectively reduce the Raw account commission.
We have analyzed how the average spreads for the Standard account at FOREX.com compare with those offered by other major brokers for several major currency pairs.
| Instrument | FOREX.com Average | Fusion Markets Average | FP Markets Average | Pepperstone Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 1.00 | 1.17 | 0.80 | 1.10 |
| GBP/USD | 1.80 | 1.14 | 1.43 | 1.20 |
| USD/JPY | 1.00 | 1.17 | 1.64 | 1.20 |
| USD/CHF | 1.40 | 1.14 | 1.67 | 1.30 |
| AUD/USD | 1.10 | 1.02 | 1.40 | 1.10 |
| USD/CAD | 2.00 | 1.12 | 1.65 | 1.40 |
| NZD/USD | 2.00 | 1.13 | 1.44 | 1.30 |
While FOREX.com delivers competitive pricing on liquid majors such as EUR/USD and USD/JPY, its spreads widen noticeably on other major pairs, including GBP/USD, USD/CAD, and NZD/USD, reaching up to 2.0 pips. This makes its Standard account less competitive overall than comparable accounts from Fusion Markets, Pepperstone, and FP Markets.
Commissions
Under the EU RAW Pricing schedule, US$5 per $100,000 traded is charged when opening a position and again when closing it. Share CFD commissions follow separate market schedules and may include a minimum ticket charge.
This means that:
- For one standard lot (100,000 units), traders pay a commission of $5.00 to open the position and another $5.00 to close it.
- For one mini lot (10,000 units), traders pay a commission of $0.50 to open the position and another $0.50 to close it.
- For one micro lot (1,000 units), traders pay a commission of $0.05 to open the position and another $0.05 to close it.
Financing Charges
Positions held beyond the daily financing cutoff can incur a debit or, in some cases, receive a credit. Forex financing is linked to tom-next rates plus the broker’s adjustment, while index, commodity, and share CFD financing uses product-specific benchmark calculations. Triple financing may be applied on the relevant weekday to account for weekends. Rates change and should be checked on the platform before holding a trade overnight.
The table below shows indicative pricing for several major currency pairs:
| Currency Pair | Long Position | Short Position |
|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | -0.68 | 0.11 |
| GBP/USD | -0.32 | -0.34 |
| USD/JPY | 0.43 | -0.93 |
| USD/CHF | 0.69 | -1.18 |
| AUD/USD | -0.08 | -0.27 |
| USD/CAD | 0.11 | -0.6 |
| NZD/USD | -0.32 | 0.02 |
Deposit Fees
FOREX.com does not charge fees for deposits, though standard bank charges may apply. For more details, see Deposit Methods.
Withdrawal Fees
FOREX.com does not charge withdrawal fees. However, banks may charge fees for incoming transactions. For more details, see Withdrawal Methods.
Inactivity Fees
An inactivity charge can apply when an account has had no qualifying trading activity for 12 months. The amount is entity-specific. Published terms for the broker’s EU entity specify a charge of €15 per month. Merely logging into the platform or processing deposits and withdrawals does not count as trading activity and will not prevent inactivity fees from being applied. Furthermore, accounts with a zero balance that remain inactive for 12 months are automatically suspended. To reactivate a suspended account, clients must contact support.en@forex.com and provide their username and account number.
Overall Fees
The pricing structure is sufficiently transparent for traders to compare Standard and Raw pricing, but there is no single worldwide fee schedule. Longer-term CFD traders must also account for financing and currency conversion charges, which can outweigh the entry spread over an extended holding period.
Desktop Trading Platforms
FOREX.com combines a proprietary browser platform with several third-party terminals. Platform availability varies by region, and opening a MetaTrader account can change the number of tradable instruments. Traders should therefore select the software and account together rather than treating the platform as a replaceable interface.
FOREX.com WebTrader
The proprietary platform runs in a modern web browser without requiring a desktop installation. It generally provides access to the broadest non-US market catalog and integrates charting, watchlists, news, account information, and order management.
- Charting: More than 80 customizable technical indicators, over 50 drawing tools, 14 time intervals ranging from one minute to monthly, and multiple chart styles powered by TradingView support technical analysis directly from the charts.
- Order Management: Market, limit, stop, and risk-management orders are available where supported by the instrument.
- Workspace: Watchlists and layouts can be organized around the markets followed by the user.
- Research: Integrated Trading Central technical analysis, actionable trade scenarios, pattern recognition, economic calendars, and real-time news are accessible directly alongside the trading interface.
The platform is suitable for discretionary traders who want the broker’s integrated product and research environment. It does not provide MetaTrader’s MQL ecosystem for automated strategies.
MetaTrader 4
MT4 is available through selected FOREX.com entities and remains focused primarily on forex and a smaller selection of CFDs. Windows and Mac desktop, browser, iOS, and Android versions are supported, although the exact market list is narrower than that of the proprietary platform in several regions.
- Automation: Expert Advisors and custom indicators use the MQL4 language. MetaTrader 4 for desktop is required to access EAs. The MetaTrader Market offers more than 950 trading robots and over 2,000 technical indicators.
- Charting: The terminal supports three chart types, nine timeframes, 30 technical indicators, 24 analytical objects, and user-created templates.
- Order Entry: One-click trading and standard pending order types are available.
- Research: FOREX.com offers MetaTrader 4 tutorials and integrated Reuters news.
- VPS Hosting: External virtual private server services can keep automated strategies connected continuously. To qualify for a free VPS service, traders must reach a notional trading volume of at least $500,000 per month. Eligibility is reevaluated monthly, and ineligible traders pay a fee of $30.
MT4 may appeal to users with existing Expert Advisors, but its older architecture and reduced product coverage are relevant limitations.
MetaTrader 5
MT5 is the newer MetaTrader option and supports more order types, timeframes, and analytical objects than MT4. FOREX.com offers it in selected jurisdictions with a broader instrument selection than its MT4 implementation, though not necessarily the complete proprietary platform range.
- Automation: Includes FOREX.com’s custom MetaTrader Apps package with nine built-in EAs, such as Sentiment Trader. Traders can also develop and backtest automated strategies using MQL or access thousands of additional trading robots and technical indicators through the MetaTrader Market.
- Strategy Testing: Multithreaded testing supports more detailed optimization than MT4.
- Market Depth: Depth-of-market information is available where supplied for the instrument.
- Research: Integrated Reuters news and market analysis are available.
- Analysis: Twenty-one timeframes, 38 built-in indicators, and an integrated economic calendar expand the analytical toolset on MT5.
TradingView
Direct TradingView connectivity is available to eligible FOREX.com customers in supported regions. It enables users to place orders from TradingView charts while retaining their FOREX.com account and pricing. The integration is useful for traders who already maintain TradingView layouts, alerts, and Pine Script indicators, but account and instrument eligibility must be checked locally.
- Getting Started: Open a FOREX.com account, create a TradingView login, and connect it to FOREX.com.
- Features: Trade directly from charts and use 80 default indicators, custom indicators built with Pine Script, the Market Screener, and dynamic alerts.
- Trader Community: Direct access to TradingView’s active community enables strategy sharing, access to community-developed scripts and indicators, strategy discussions, and live market streams.
Forex VPS
FOREX.com provides Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting to support uninterrupted execution for automated strategies using Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader platforms. Operating continuously on dedicated cloud servers, the VPS service minimizes latency by hosting trading algorithms near trade execution servers and reducing the risk of disruption caused by local hardware, internet, or power failures. Free access is offered across major global FOREX.com entities to MetaTrader 4 and 5 clients who meet monthly trading volume requirements. Accounts that fail to meet these thresholds incur a standard monthly hosting fee of $30 to maintain continuous server operation.
Mobile Trading Platforms
The proprietary FOREX.com app is available for Android and iOS. It provides live prices, charts, watchlists, alerts, order entry, position management, news, and selected account functions. Watchlists and other settings can synchronize with the broker’s web platform.
MT4 and MT5 account holders can use the respective MetaTrader mobile applications. These are capable companion terminals but do not reproduce desktop algorithm development or full strategy testing.
| FOREX.com Mobile Trading Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| Android | iOS | |
| Minimum System Requirements | Android 7.0 and up | iOS 15.0 or later |
| User Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 |
| User Reviews | 4,190 reviews | 6,100 reviews |
| Supported Languages | English, German, Japanese, Polish, Simplified Chinese, Spanish | English, German, Japanese, Polish, Simplified Chinese, Spanish |
| Forex Pairs | 80+ | 80+ |
| Other Tradable Assets | CFDs on stocks, indices, metals, commodities, and cryptocurrencies | CFDs on stocks, indices, metals, commodities, and cryptocurrencies |
| Features | Advanced charting, more than 80 tools and indicators, instant financial news from Thomson Reuters, performance analysis, market analysis, and real-time alerts | Advanced charting, more than 80 tools and indicators, instant financial news from Thomson Reuters, performance analysis, market analysis, and real-time alerts |
| Biometric Authentication | Yes | Yes |
| 2-Factor Authentication | Yes | Yes |
Trading Instruments
FOREX.com advertises more than 7,000 markets through its broader non-US service, including more than 80 currency pairs. The total is dominated by leveraged derivatives. Buying a share CFD, for example, does not transfer legal ownership of the underlying company’s shares.
The US offering is substantially narrower because retail over-the-counter CFD trading is not available there. US customers primarily access foreign exchange, futures, and futures options markets.
The table below lists the main CFD markets available across non-US locations.
| Asset Class | Number of Tradable Instruments Available | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOREX.com | Fusion Markets | Pepperstone | ||
| Number | Selection | Number | Number | |
| Forex | 80+ | Excellent | 90+ | 93 |
| Indices | 19 | Good | 15 | 26 |
| Stock CFDs | 4,500 | Excellent | 110 | 1,162 |
| Commodities | 11 | Good | 16 | 40 |
| Metals | 7 | Good | 12 | 4 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 16 | Good | 13 | 31 |
Forex
Currency trading is the core service at FOREX.com and is available across its principal entities. The range exceeds 80 pairs, although exotic crosses can have wider spreads and lower liquidity. Maximum retail leverage on major currency pairs is capped at 1:30 in the UK, EEA, and Australia, 1:50 in the US, and 1:25 in Japan, with lower limits applied to minor and exotic pairs.
FOREX.com equips traders with dedicated position-planning tools, including dynamic currency converters and margin and pip calculators that estimate position costs and risk parameters before a trade is placed. Market analysis is supported by a real-time global news feed and a daily updated economic calendar for tracking key macroeconomic releases. Clients also gain access to integrated Trading Central tools, including automated technical pattern recognition, sentiment analytics, and trade setups within the platform.
Indices
FOREX.com offers index trading across major global benchmarks, such as the US Tech 100, Germany 40, and UK 100, alongside specialized thematic indices such as AI Index 100, Green Tech, and the Magnificent Seven. This allows traders to gain broad exposure to international markets or specific sectors without relying on the performance of individual equities. Maximum retail leverage on major indices is capped at 1:20 in the UK, EEA, and Australia and at 1:10 in Japan under local FSA rules.
Stock CFDs
The catalog includes several thousand share CFDs across major global exchanges, covering large-cap equities such as Barclays, Amazon, Tesla, Meta, and Apple. Maximum retail leverage on stock CFDs is capped at 1:5 across the UK, EEA, Australia, and Japan, representing a 20% margin requirement. US residents are excluded from share CFD trading due to CFTC regulatory restrictions.
Commission charges start from 0.08%, or 1.8 cents per share for US stocks, with minimum commissions applied per trade. CFD holders do not receive physical equity ownership or voting rights and have direct counterparty exposure to the broker.
Commodities
Available commodity instruments cover major energy benchmarks, including US Crude Oil, UK Crude Oil, and Natural Gas, alongside soft and agricultural commodities such as Coffee, Cotton, Sugar, Wheat, Lean Hogs, Live Cattle, and Orange Juice. Maximum retail leverage is capped at 1:10 across the UK, EEA, Australia, and Japan. Trading costs are integrated into variable market spreads, while fundamental analysis is supported by real-time market news through an in-platform Reuters feed.
Metals
FOREX.com offers precious metals trading primarily focused on spot Gold (XAU) and Silver (XAG). Gold is available against multiple major currencies, including USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CHF, and JPY. Maximum retail leverage is capped at 1:20 for Gold, representing a 5% margin requirement, and 1:10 for Silver and other precious metals across the UK, EEA, Australia, and Japan. Pricing is spread-only, with variable market spreads for hedging and short-term positioning.
Cryptocurrencies
FOREX.com provides continuous access to popular cryptocurrency CFDs, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), and Litecoin (LTC). Bitcoin is paired against multiple fiat currencies, including USD, EUR, GBP, and AUD. Under ESMA rules in Europe and ASIC guidelines in Australia, maximum retail leverage on crypto CFDs is capped at 1:2, representing a 50% margin requirement, due to high market volatility. Crypto CFD trading is unavailable to UK retail traders under FCA prohibitions. Trading costs are built into variable spreads, and no digital wallet is required, allowing traders to take both long and short positions.
What You Cannot Trade
A standard FOREX.com CFD account does not provide physical delivery of foreign currency, commodities, or cryptocurrencies. Direct share ownership is not part of the general CFD service, and UK retail clients cannot trade cryptocurrency derivatives. Product access in the US is narrower than the advertised global market total.
Trade Execution
Under its CySEC registration, StoneX Europe Ltd operates as a market maker for FOREX.com, serving as the principal execution venue and direct counterparty for all client trades. Price quotes across all trading terminals are sourced directly from its FCA-regulated affiliate, StoneX Financial Limited. Detailed execution procedures and routing policies are outlined in the Best Execution Summary published under the Terms and Policies section of the website.
The principal model creates a potential conflict because the broker can be the customer’s contractual counterparty. Regulation, best execution duties, published execution policies, and internal controls mitigate but do not remove that conflict. Market orders can experience positive or negative slippage, particularly around news releases, market gaps, or periods of thin liquidity.
FOREX.com reports an average execution speed of 0.003 seconds. Overall order-processing reliability is reflected in a 99.85% successful execution rate, with 99.37% of all trades completed in less than one second.
Deposits
Funding options depend on the operating entity. Account base currencies also vary by region. UK accounts commonly support GBP, EUR, and USD, whereas US accounts use USD.
Base account currency options vary across the company’s entities. To request a different base currency, the trading account balance must be exactly zero. Once this is confirmed, customers can contact support to request their preferred currency.
FOREX.com generally does not charge for standard deposits, though intermediary banks and payment processors may apply their own fees or conversion margins. All deposited funds must originate from an account in the customer’s own name. Third-party payments are rejected and returned to their source as part of anti-money-laundering controls.
The table below details the processing times for popular funding methods supported by FOREX.com’s CySEC-regulated entity, StoneX Europe Ltd:
| Method | Processing Time |
|---|---|
| Cards (Visa, Mastercard, and Maestro) | Instant processing |
| Bank transfer | Within one business day |
| PayPal | Instant processing |
By comparison, the broker’s US entity accepts bank transfers, ACH payments, debit cards, and wire transfers. Offshore entities, such as the CIMA-regulated entity, support local online transfers, credit and debit cards, wire transfers, Neteller, and Skrill.
Withdrawal Methods
Withdrawals are requested through the secure MyAccount page and remain subject to identity, source-of-funds, and account-status checks. Where possible, money is returned to the original funding source. Card withdrawals are generally limited to the amount previously deposited using that card, with remaining profits routed by bank transfer or another approved method.
Internal approval and payment-network delivery are separate stages. The broker may complete its review before a bank or card issuer credits the customer. Requests can take longer when documents are outstanding, payment details have changed, or the account has open positions that leave insufficient available cash.
| Method | Internal Processing | Cost | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cards (Visa, Mastercard, and Maestro) | Immediately, unless additional information is required | None | 100 units of the account’s base currency |
| Bank Transfer | Within one business day | None (additional fees may be applied by the receiving bank) | 100 units of the account’s base currency |
| PayPal | Immediately, unless additional information is required | None | 100 units of the account’s base currency |
| US ACH | Up to 48 hours | None | $100 |
Customer Support Contacts
FOREX.com provides several communication channels, including live chat, telephone, email, and an online help center. Contact details differ by region, so customers should use the phone number and email address shown in their account portal.
The help center addresses applications, funding, withdrawals, platforms, margin, orders, and account administration. It is useful for routine queries, while identity checks, complaints, and payment investigations usually require direct contact.
| Support Contact | Available | Response |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | During published support hours | Almost instant |
| Telephone | 24 hours a day, from 10 p.m. Sunday to 10 p.m. Friday | Within minutes |
| Messages can be sent at any time | Within a few hours | |
| Help Center | Available online continuously | On the website |
- Live Chat: Available through the FOREX.com website and account area, this is the most direct option for routine platform, funding, and account questions during support hours.
- Telephone Line: Customers can contact the published dealing and support teams during the trading week:
- Cyprus – +357 800 700 27
- International – +357 220 900 62
- Poland – +48 221 045 285
- Spain – +34 919 499 395
- Germany – +49 69 8679 07331
- Canada – 1-855-317-9242
- US – +1 908-731-0750, +1 877-367-3946
- International – +1-908-315-0653
- UK – 0800 032 1948
- Japan – 03-5205-6161, 0120-288-168, 03-6868-2123
- Singapore – +65 6826 9988
- Australia – +61 1800 955 732
- Email: Regional support addresses can be used for non-urgent account inquiries:
- Cyprus, International: support.en@forex.com
- Poland: support.eu.pl@forex.com
- Germany: support.eu.de@forex.com
- Canada: casupport@forex.com
- International: global.support@forex.com
- UK: ukinfo@forex.com
- Japan: JPinfo@forex.com
- Singapore: support.sg@forex.com
- Australia: support.au@forex.com
- FAQs: The help center covers opening an account, identity checks, payments, platform use, trading conditions, margin, and common administrative tasks.
Research and Educational Materials
FOREX.com provides a well-developed combination of market analysis and trader education. The material is most useful to self-directed forex and CFD traders, although access to certain tools may depend on the account, platform, region, or live account status.
Research
Research: The broker publishes market commentary, technical and fundamental analysis, economic event coverage, and trading outlooks. Platform resources include news, calendars, sentiment data, and analytical tools. Trading Central content, SMART Signals, and Performance Analytics are available through supported accounts, helping users identify technical setups and examine their own trading behavior.
- Market Analysis: In-house articles examine currencies, indices, commodities, and major economic developments.
- Economic Calendar: Scheduled releases can be filtered by country, expected impact, and time.
- Trading Central: Third-party technical analysis and market ideas are available to eligible live account users.
- SMART Signals: Algorithmically generated market setups provide entry, stop, and target references without constituting a recommendation.
- Performance Analytics: Account-based statistics help traders review behavior, consistency, timing, and risk patterns.
Education
Education: Learning materials cover forex, CFDs, risk management, technical analysis, fundamental analysis, and platform operation. The Trading Academy organizes material by experience level, while webinars and practical tutorials address current markets and software use. The content is educational rather than personalized advice, and examples do not guarantee future results.
- Trading Academy: Structured lessons cover beginner, intermediate, and advanced trading topics.
- Webinars and Tutorials: Live or recorded sessions explain markets, strategies, and platform functions.
- Glossary: Provides definitions of common trading terms.
Security and Money Guarantees
Client money protection begins with the relevant regulatory framework. UK and European entities must segregate eligible retail client money from the firm’s own operating funds, while other regulated entities apply their local custody and client money rules. Segregation reduces the risk of client funds being used for ordinary company expenses, but it does not guarantee immediate or complete recovery after insolvency.
Compensation arrangements are jurisdiction-specific.
- Eligible UK claims may receive FSCS coverage up to £120,000.
- Eligible EEA claims may fall within the Cyprus Investor Compensation Fund’s €20,000 limit.
- Canadian retail accounts are protected up to CA$1 million in the event of broker insolvency under CIPF rules.
Retail negative balance protection applies where required by UK, EEA, and Australian rules, but professional and offshore customers may receive different treatment. Account security includes protected login processes and mobile device security features, while payments are subject to identity and return-to-source checks.
These measures address custody, insolvency, and unauthorized access risks; they do not protect against losses caused by leverage, market gaps, poor trading decisions, or adverse price movements.
Conclusion and Overall Rating
FOREX.com is a credible option for self-directed forex and CFD traders who prioritize regulatory breadth, platform selection, research, and a long operating record. Its Standard account is straightforward for occasional trading, while RAW Pricing and MetaTrader support may appeal to more active or automated users. The wider non-US service is particularly relevant to traders seeking indices, shares, commodities, and cryptocurrencies alongside currencies.
The broker is less suitable for investors seeking direct ownership of a globally consistent securities portfolio, and its regional complexity requires careful due diligence. US customers receive access to fewer asset classes, MetaTrader accounts may have reduced product coverage, offshore protections are weaker than UK or EEA safeguards, and inactivity and overnight financing charges require attention.
Overall, FOREX.com performs strongly in regulation, trading technology, currency coverage, research, and account security. Costs are reasonably transparent but cannot be reduced to a single global headline figure. Trading CFDs and other leveraged derivatives involves a high risk of loss, and this review does not constitute investment advice or a personal recommendation.
- FOREX.com was founded in 2001 and has belonged to StoneX Group since 2020.
- The brand operates through separately regulated regional entities.
- More than 80 currency pairs are available through the core forex service.
- Eligible non-US clients can access more than 7,000 leveraged markets.
- Standard and RAW Pricing accounts use different spread and commission structures.
- Proprietary, MetaTrader, mobile, and TradingView options are available, subject to regional restrictions.
- US product access is materially narrower than the non-US CFD catalog.
- An inactivity fee can apply after 12 months without qualifying activity.
- Research and education include analysis, technical tools, courses, and webinars.
- Client compensation and negative balance protection depend on the contracting entity.
About the Editorial Team