Compare real-time spreads, commissions, and total trading costs across 12 top regulated brokers for 13 major currency pairs and assets. Find the cheapest broker for your trading style in seconds.
| Broker | Spread (pips) ↓ | Total / Lot |
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A forex spread is the difference between the bid (sell) and ask (buy) price of a currency pair, measured in pips. It represents the primary cost of trading. For example, if EUR/USD has a 1 pip spread and you trade 1 standard lot ($100,000), you pay approximately $10 per round-trip trade. Lower spreads mean lower costs, especially critical for scalpers and day traders executing dozens of trades per day.
ECN/Raw accounts typically charge 0.0-0.2 pips spread plus a $3-$7 commission per lot round-trip. Standard accounts bundle costs into a wider 1.0-1.8 pip spread with zero commission. For EUR/USD, a Raw account at 0.1 pips + $3.5 commission = ~$4.50 total cost per lot, while a Standard account at 1.0 pip = ~$10 per lot. Raw accounts win for high-volume traders; standard accounts are simpler for beginners.
Spreads widen during three main scenarios: (1) Market open/close transitions, especially the Asian-London handover at 08:00 GMT and NY close at 22:00 GMT, (2) Major news events like NFP, FOMC, CPI releases where spreads can jump 5-20x normal levels, and (3) Low liquidity periods like weekends, holidays, and late Asian session. Avoid trading during these windows unless your strategy specifically targets volatility.
Based on current data, IC Markets Raw, Pepperstone Razor, and Exness Pro/Zero accounts all offer EUR/USD spreads from 0.0-0.1 pips plus $3.5 commission per lot, making the total effective cost around $3.50-$4.50 per lot. Exness has the lowest minimum deposit at $1, while IC Markets and Pepperstone require $200. For beginners, Exness Standard at 1.0 pip with no commission is often the best balance of cost and simplicity.
No. While spreads are critical, you should also evaluate: (1) Regulation tier - ASIC, FCA, CySEC offer strong protection, (2) Execution quality - low slippage and fast fill times matter more than advertised spreads, (3) Withdrawal reliability - some brokers delay withdrawals, (4) Leverage and margin rules, (5) Platform stability during news events. A broker with 0.0 pip spreads but frequent requotes costs more than a broker with 0.5 pips and clean execution.
Trading forex and CFDs involves significant risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Spread data shown is indicative, based on broker-published averages during London session liquidity, and may not reflect real-time conditions. Spreads widen during news events, market open/close, and low liquidity periods. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money trading CFDs. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Never trade with money you cannot afford to lose. This tool is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.