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Every review, ranked

Sorted by our score out of 10. Scores come from funded accounts: spreads and fees as measured, deposits and withdrawals as timed, support as tested.

50 reviews

1

Pepperstone Razor account review: still the cheapest way to trade EUR/USD and gold?

Raw Spread BrokersTop score

Pepperstone is one of the two or three cheapest places to trade FX and gold with a raw-spread account, and it pairs that with five platforms and a long list of regulators. The catch is that the low cost belongs to active traders on the Razor account. Buy-and-hold users and anyone who wants share dealing or investor education should look elsewhere.

Best for Active EUR/USD and gold traders who value low all-in cost

8.6/10

Price: No minimum deposit
Maker: Pepperstone Group
Account types: Standard (spread only) and Razor (raw spread plus commission)

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2

TradingView Review: Which Plan a Forex or Gold Trader Needs

Trading Platforms and ToolsTop score

The best charting package a retail forex or gold trader can buy, and the free tier is enough to learn on. Most people who chart one or two pairs need only Essential at $14.95 a month, mainly for more indicators and alerts. It is not a broker, so it cannot fix your execution costs.

Best for Discretionary forex and gold traders who want serious charts without a broker lock-in

8.6/10

Price: Free; paid from $14.95/mo
Maker: TradingView Inc.
Basic (free): 1 chart per tab, 2 indicators per chart, 5K historical bars, ads

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3

Kraken review: is Kraken Pro the cheapest safe way to trade Bitcoin against dollars?

Crypto ExchangesTested

Kraken is one of the better-run exchanges for trading Bitcoin and Ethereum against dollars and euros. Pro fees start high at 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker but fall with volume, security is well documented and reserves are audited. Skip the simple Buy button, which costs 1% to 1.5%, and skip Kraken if you want a tiny first-tier fee.

Best for Active spot traders who use Kraken Pro, not the simple app

8.4/10

Price: Free account; Kraken Pro tiered maker/taker fees
Maker: Payward Inc.
Maker fee, entry tier: 0.40% (Kraken Pro spot)

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4

Fusion Markets review: does $2.25 a side really beat IC Markets and Pepperstone?

Raw Spread BrokersTested

Fusion Markets has the lowest published commission of the big raw-spread names, and the Zero account is honest about it: $2.25 a side on top of spreads that start at 0.0 pips. The edge is real but modest. Cautious traders should read which entity regulates them first, because the strongest licence covers Australian clients only.

Best for Cost-focused scalpers and day traders outside Australia who already use MT4, MT5 or cTrader

8.4/10

Price: No minimum deposit; $2.25/side per lot (Zero)
Maker: Fusion Markets
Maker: Fusion Markets

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5

XTB review: does xStation make it the best all-round CFD broker for Europeans?

Multi-Asset and Social TradingTested

XTB is the most coherent broker for a European who wants forex, index and stock CFDs plus real shares and ETFs in one account. Costs are plain, regulation is broad and xStation 5 is easy to learn. The limits are a single platform focus, a 0.5% currency conversion charge and a $30 fee on withdrawals under $50. Skip it if you need cTrader, TradingView charts or raw-spread pricing.

Best for European traders who want CFDs and real ETFs in one simple account

8.4/10

Price: No minimum deposit
Maker: XTB S.A.
Minimum deposit: None

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6

BullionVault Review: Vaulted Gold Against Coins in a Drawer

Gold and Bullion DealersTested

For holdings above roughly $40,000, BullionVault is the cheapest way we know to own allocated gold you can sell in seconds: 0.5% to trade, 0.12% a year to store, insurance included. Below $10,000 the $4 monthly minimum bites and coins in a safe run level. Skip it if you want to hold the metal in your hand.

Best for Long-term gold holders with $10,000 or more, who never plan to take delivery

8.4/10

Price: 0.5% commission; storage from 0.12%/yr
Maker: Galmarley Ltd
Commission (first $75,000 a year): 0.50% buy and sell

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7

cTrader Review: Is a cTrader Broker Better Than MetaTrader?

Trading Platforms and ToolsTested

The better-built platform for a trader who cares about depth of market, clean order tickets and C# or Python automation, and it costs nothing to use. It loses on choice: far fewer brokers and far fewer ready-made bots than MetaTrader. Pick cTrader if you write or tune your own bots. Skip it if you rely on a library of off-the-shelf Expert Advisors.

Best for Manual scalpers and coders who want depth of market and C# or Python bots

8.2/10

Price: Free through brokers
Maker: Spotware Systems
Maker: Spotware Systems, sold to traders through partner brokers

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8

Tickmill review: the quiet low-cost Raw account with tier-one regulation

Raw Spread BrokersTested

Tickmill's Raw account is among the cheapest ways to trade forex under a serious regulator. Spreads start at 0.0 pips, the commission is $3 per lot per side, and the minimum deposit is $100. Licences from the FCA and CySEC cover most European clients, while the 1:1000 leverage figure belongs to a lighter offshore entity. Research and education are thin, and there is no US access, so it suits self-directed traders who already know what they want.

Best for Cost-conscious forex traders who want FCA or CySEC regulation and MT4, MT5 or TradingView

8.2/10

Price: $100 minimum deposit
Maker: Tickmill Group
Minimum deposit: $100

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9

FP Markets Review: Raw Spread Costs Plus MT5, cTrader and Iress

Raw Spread BrokersTested

A cost-competitive raw spread broker with the widest platform menu in its class: MetaTrader 4 and 5, cTrader and, for Australians, Iress. The $3 a side commission matches the usual raw account price, not the cheapest one. Choose it for platform choice and ASIC or CySEC oversight. Skip it if you want the lowest possible round-turn cost and are free to use a cheaper rival.

Best for Traders who want raw spreads and a choice of MetaTrader, cTrader or Iress

8.0/10

Price: AU$100 minimum deposit
Maker: FP Markets
Raw account commission: $3 per lot per side ($6 round turn)

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10

MetaTrader 5 review: should an MT4 trader finally make the switch?

Trading Platforms and ToolsTested

MetaTrader 5 is the better platform on paper: 21 timeframes, 38 indicators, six pending order types, a multi-threaded tester and depth of market. The switch is only painless if you trade by hand or run robots you can rebuild. If your income depends on a library of MQL4 expert advisors, staying on MT4 is the rational choice for now.

Best for Discretionary and multi-asset traders whose broker offers hedging on MT5

8.0/10

Price: Free through brokers
Maker: MetaQuotes
Maker: MetaQuotes Ltd

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11

OKX review: is the exchange plus self-custody wallet the better app for active traders?

Crypto ExchangesTested

OKX is a capable all-in-one app for active traders: deep markets, tiered fees from 0.08% maker, copy trading and a separate non-custodial wallet with a built-in DEX aggregator. Reserve proofs are published monthly. The negatives are a $505 million US settlement over anti-money-laundering failures in 2025, unavailability in the US, and uneven support. Active non-US traders fit; anyone wanting simple, US-regulated custody should look elsewhere.

Best for Active non-US traders who want an exchange and a self-custody wallet

7.9/10

Price: Spot trading fees from 0.08% maker
Maker: OKX
Spot maker fee (base): 0.08%

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12

IG review: is the biggest listed CFD broker worth the premium?

Blue-Chip Forex BrokersTested

IG earns its place for traders who put safety, market range and a long regulatory record ahead of the last fraction of a pip. Its 0.6 point EUR/USD figure is a minimum, and real average costs run higher than a Razor-style account for most sessions, which hurts scalpers first. Choose it for breadth and stability, and skip it if price per lot is your only test.

Best for Traders who want a listed, heavily regulated broker with wide market choice

7.9/10

Price: No minimum deposit by bank transfer
Maker: IG Group
Markets: 17,000+ across FX, indices, shares, commodities, crypto CFDs

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13

Interactive Brokers Review: Forex Priced Like a Bank, Sold Like a Puzzle

Blue-Chip Forex BrokersTested

For a retail trader placing 100,000-unit tickets or more, IBKR delivers some of the lowest all-in forex costs available: about 0.63 pips round turn on EUR/USD in independent testing. The $2 minimum per order punishes small tickets, and Trader Workstation is built for professionals. Beginners should look elsewhere first.

Best for Experienced traders using 25,000-unit or larger tickets who value low cost and regulation

7.9/10

Price: No account minimum
Maker: Interactive Brokers Group
Forex commission: 0.20 basis point of trade value (monthly volume up to $1 billion)

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14

Topstep Review: Is a Futures Combine Better Than a Forex Prop Firm?

Prop Trading FirmsTested

A serious, rules-first route to a funded account for traders who can work in CME futures instead of forex CFDs. Fees are modest at $49 to $199 a month, the 90% split is strong, and currency and gold contracts are all available. The end-of-day trailing loss limit is unforgiving, and no retail forex is allowed. Skip it if you must trade spot pairs or hold positions through wide swings.

Best for Futures-minded traders of currency and gold contracts who want a rules-based funded path

7.9/10

Price: Trading Combine from $49/mo
Maker: Topstep LLC
Combine price, Standard: $49 (50K), $99 (100K), $199 (150K) a month

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15

Saxo review: is a bank-owned broker worth tiered pricing for forex, gold and stocks in one account?

Blue-Chip Forex BrokersTested

Saxo is the better choice when forex is only part of what you trade. One account covers forex, gold, 23,000+ stocks, ETFs, futures and options, backed by a banking licence and a Danish deposit guarantee up to EUR 100,000. It is not the cheapest place for pure forex: Classic spreads are wider than raw-spread brokers and small tickets carry a fee. Pure day traders should go elsewhere.

Best for Investors who hold forex, gold and stocks together and want bank-grade oversight

7.9/10

Price: No minimum deposit in most regions
Maker: Saxo Bank
Minimum deposit: None in most regions (Classic)

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16

CMC Markets review: does Next Generation beat IG for chart-first forex traders?

Blue-Chip Forex BrokersTested

CMC Markets is a strong pick for a forex trader who lives on charts: Next Generation is fast, deep and backed by a listed, FCA-authorised group. Its plain accounts are not cheap, though, at about 1.3 pips on EUR/USD, and the platform has no copy trading, no retail API and no OCO orders. Choose FX Active if you trade often, and skip CMC if raw-spread pricing or automation is the priority.

Best for Chart-driven forex traders who want research and pattern tools built in

7.9/10

Price: No minimum deposit
Maker: CMC Markets plc
Minimum deposit: None stated

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17

Axi review: is the Pro account plus Axi Select a good ladder for developing traders?

Raw Spread BrokersTested

Axi's Pro account is a competitive raw-spread offer, and Axi Select is the rare funded program with no fee. The catch is that you trade your own capital first, money you can lose, and the 7% maximum loss resets a Pro-stage trader to the start. Platform choice is thin: MT4 everywhere, MT5 only on some entities, no cTrader. It suits patient swing traders who want a low-cost account and a structured path.

Best for Patient swing traders who want a raw account with a free funded-trader ladder

7.9/10

Price: No minimum deposit
Maker: Axi
Standard account: EUR/USD from 0.68 pips, no commission, $100 recommended minimum

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18

The5ers review: is its scaling plan the best route to a big funded forex account?

Prop Trading FirmsTested

The5ers suits a patient, low-risk forex trader who cares more about a long scaling ladder than a fast payday. Fees are one-time, payouts come every two weeks and the firm has operated since 2016. The catch is a 50% starting profit split, a tight 6% total loss limit and rules on news and weekend holding. If you want big leverage or a quick 80% split from day one, choose another firm.

Best for Patient forex traders who want a long scaling path, not a fast payout

7.8/10

Price: One-time program fee, varies by account size
Maker: The5ers
Programs: Bootcamp, High Stakes, Hyper Growth, Futures

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19

FundedNext review: does profit sharing during the challenge beat FTMO for consistent traders?

Prop Trading FirmsTested

FundedNext is cheaper than FTMO at most sizes, pays a share of evaluation profit, allows news trading and offers a choice of one-step, two-step and lite models. The limits are standard: 5% daily and 10% maximum loss. It is good value for a consistent trader. It is poor value for anyone who expects to pass on luck.

Best for Consistent forex traders who want a cheaper, flexible challenge

7.7/10

Price: One-time challenge fee, varies by account size
Maker: FundedNext
Stellar 1-Step: 10% target, 5% daily loss, 10% max loss, 80% split

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20

Vantage review: is the Raw ECN account cheap, and which entity will you join?

Raw Spread BrokersTested

Vantage's Raw ECN account is competitive, not the cheapest: about 0.13 pips of spread plus $6 a round-turn lot works out near 0.72 pips all-in on EUR/USD, and the $50 entry is friendly. The bigger question is the entity. FCA and ASIC clients get strong protection, while clients elsewhere often join lightly regulated offshore units. Choose it if you sit under a Tier 1 licence, and check your entity before you fund.

Best for Cost-aware forex traders under a UK or Australian licence who want MT4, MT5 or TradingView

7.7/10

Price: $50 minimum deposit
Maker: Vantage Global
Minimum deposit: $50 (Raw ECN and Standard STP)

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21

Myfxbook review: can free verified statistics prove a strategy is real?

Trading Platforms and ToolsTested

Myfxbook is the closest thing forex has to an independent audit trail, and it costs nothing. Linking an account gives you an equity curve, drawdown, and a trade log that matches the broker's own records. It does not prove skill: a verified demo, a lucky month or a padded deposit can all look good. Treat a Verified badge as the start of due diligence, and skip AutoTrade unless you accept the provider's drawdown as your own.

Best for Traders who want a free journal, or need to check a signal seller's claims

7.7/10

Price: Free
Maker: Myfxbook
Price: Free; ad-supported

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22

OANDA review: safe and open to everyone, but is it still priced for 2026?

Blue-Chip Forex BrokersTested

OANDA is a strong pick for US and UK traders who put regulation and a clean, open account process first. You can start with any amount, deposits and withdrawals carry no fee from OANDA, and the regulators are the real thing. The price of that comfort is spread-only pricing that costs more than raw-spread brokers for active traders.

Best for US and UK forex traders who put regulation and low entry barriers first

7.6/10

Price: No minimum deposit
Maker: OANDA Global Corporation
Maker: OANDA Global Corporation

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23

NinjaTrader review: is it worth it for a forex trader moving into currency and gold futures?

Trading Platforms and ToolsTested

NinjaTrader is a strong route for a forex trader who wants to trade currency and gold through regulated futures. Micro contracts need day margins from about $50, the platform is free, and commissions fall from $0.39 to $0.09 per micro side as you move from Free to the $1,499 Lifetime plan. It is a futures venue, not a spot forex broker: contracts expire, sizes are fixed and exchange fees sit on top. Casual traders should stay on the Free plan.

Best for Forex traders who want regulated micro futures on currencies and gold

7.6/10

Price: Free platform; paid plans for lower commissions
Maker: NinjaTrader Group
Plans: Free, Monthly ($99), Lifetime ($1,499 one-time)

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24

FundingPips review: cheap challenges, but are the payouts reliable enough?

Prop Trading FirmsTested

FundingPips is one of the better-value prop firms: low fees, five models, static drawdown on the main two-step route and a published Tuesday payout cycle. The catch is in the small print. Zero has a trailing drawdown and news limits, some models restrict how a single trade can drive profit, and US traders are excluded. Take the 2-Step Standard if you trade with discipline, and skip Zero if you are impatient.

Best for Disciplined non-US forex traders who want low entry fees and weekly payout options

7.6/10

Price: One-time challenge fee, varies by account size
Maker: FundingPips
Models: Zero, 1-Step Flex, 2-Step Standard, 2-Step Flex, 2-Step Pro

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25

FTMO review: is the original prop firm still worth its higher challenge fee?

Prop Trading FirmsTested

FTMO is the most established name in forex prop trading, with clear rules, a fee refunded on the first profit split and fast payouts by industry standards. It is also dearer than most copycats, and every dollar of the account is simulated. Choose it if you already trade with discipline and value reputation, and skip it if you want the cheapest attempt.

Best for Disciplined forex traders who value a proven prop firm over the lowest fee

7.5/10

Price: Challenge from €155 (10k account)
Maker: FTMO
Challenge fee, 10k account: From €155 (third-party listings of $183 on some plans)

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26

Capital.com Review: Spread-Only Pricing for Gold and Index CFDs

Multi-Asset and Social TradingTested

Fair value for a casual gold or index CFD trader who likes simple, commission-free pricing and a TradingView link for charts. Gold spreads are close to the market average rather than better than it. There are no raw spread accounts, and no MetaTrader 5. Active scalpers will pay more here than at a raw broker, so they should look elsewhere.

Best for Casual gold and index CFD traders who prefer spread-only pricing and TradingView charts

7.4/10

Price: From $20 minimum deposit by card
Maker: Capital.com Group
Commission: None on the standard account

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27

tastyfx review: the IG Group forex broker built for US residents, and what it drops

Blue-Chip Forex BrokersTested

For a US resident who wants a large, NFA-registered forex dealer owned by a listed group, tastyfx is one of the few real options. The Standard account is commission-free from 0.8 pips, Zero+ offers 0.0 pips at $5 a lot, and MetaTrader 5, TradingView and its own platform are all supported. The negatives are structural: spot forex only, first-in first-out closing with no hedging, and a 0.5% charge on non-USD quote pairs. Outside America, IG is the broader product.

Best for US-based forex traders who want an NFA-registered dealer with MT5 or TradingView

7.4/10

Price: No minimum on Standard and Zero+; Prime from $50,000
Maker: IG Group
Standard account: Spreads from 0.8 pips, no commission, 85+ pairs, $0 minimum

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28

ThinkMarkets review: does ThinkTrader justify a broker beside MetaTrader-only rivals?

Raw Spread BrokersTested

ThinkMarkets is a well-regulated broker whose raw ThinkZero account matches the usual $7 round-turn benchmark, with a tested EUR/USD spread near 0.11 pips. ThinkTrader is the reason to choose it over a plain MetaTrader shop, but it has no Expert Advisors, so it suits manual traders. Minimum deposits differ by page and entity, a monthly inactivity fee is reported, and forex pairs number only about 40.

Best for Manual forex traders who want raw spreads plus a proprietary app and tier-one licences

7.3/10

Price: No minimum deposit (Standard)
Maker: ThinkMarkets
Standard account: Spreads from 0.4 pips, no commission, leverage to 500:1

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29

JM Bullion review: an easy first gold order, if you pay by check and skip the tiny bars

Gold and Bullion DealersTested

JM Bullion is an easy, well-run first stop for a small physical gold order: a clear catalogue, free shipping over $199, insured delivery and a parent that is listed on the Nasdaq. Its weakness is price on the smallest items, where a 1 gram bar carries a premium near 28%. Buy larger coins, and pay by check, ACH or wire.

Best for First-time US buyers ordering coins or bars worth $200 or more

7.3/10

Price: Spot plus premium; free shipping over $199
Maker: JM Bullion
Maker: JM Bullion (A-Mark Precious Metals)

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30

FOREX.com review: the best fit for a US trader who wants MT5 and TradingView?

Blue-Chip Forex BrokersTested

FOREX.com is one of very few CFTC and NFA regulated choices for US retail forex, backed by a large listed parent. It offers MetaTrader 5, TradingView and a RAW account with commission. It is a fine pick for a US trader who values safety and platforms over price: spreads are average, FIFO rules forbid hedging and support is not round the clock. Skip it if you want cheap or exotic products.

Best for US-based forex traders who want regulation, MT5 and TradingView

7.2/10

Price: $100 minimum deposit
Maker: StoneX Group
Minimum deposit: $100

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31

Bitstamp review: does the oldest European exchange still make sense under Robinhood?

Crypto ExchangesTested

Bitstamp is a sound, heavily licensed exchange with a clean fee table and free SEPA and ACH deposits. Its entry tier is dear: 0.30% maker and 0.40% taker below $10,000 of 30-day volume, and 4% for card buys. Support complaints and the lack of a public proof-of-reserves page hold the score down. Fee-conscious active traders should compare Kraken Pro first; euro savers who want a bank-transfer route will find it useful.

Best for Euro and dollar bank-transfer traders who value licences over the cheapest fees

7.2/10

Price: Free account; tiered trading fees
Maker: Bitstamp by Robinhood
Founded: 2011; acquired by Robinhood in June 2025 (about $200 million)

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32

Bybit review: after the $1.46 billion hack, is it safe enough for Bitcoin and Ether derivatives?

Crypto ExchangesTested

Bybit is a deep, fast derivatives venue whose crisis handling after the February 2025 hack was better than most exchanges could manage: reserves were restored within 72 hours and withdrawals kept moving. That does not remove the custody risk that produced the hack. Fees are competitive at 0.1% spot and 0.055% perpetual taker, but regional licensing is fragmented and the interface is heavy. Keep only trading capital on it and never treat it as storage.

Best for Experienced traders using Bitcoin and Ether perpetuals who keep only trading funds on-exchange

7.1/10

Price: Spot trading fees from 0.1%
Maker: Bybit
Spot fee (base tier): 0.10% maker / 0.10% taker

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33

E8 Markets review: do its own terminal and flexible drawdown help a forex trader?

Prop Trading FirmsTested

E8 is a fair, cheap-to-enter prop firm whose flexible drawdown is real: E8 One's loss level locks once you bank profit, and Pro is fully static. But its own terminal is for perpetual futures only, so a forex trader ends up on TradeLocker, Match-Trader, cTrader or MT5 like everywhere else. Skip it if you want a fast first payout on a small account.

Best for Forex traders who want to choose their drawdown style

7.1/10

Price: One-time fee from $48 (5K) to $1,998 (500K)
Maker: E8 Markets
Account types (forex): E8 One, E8 Pro, E8 Signature

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34

Goldmoney Review: Vaulted Gold With a $10 Monthly Floor

Gold and Bullion DealersTested

Sound, audited and cheap to trade at 0.5% each way, but priced for holders of real size. The $10 monthly storage floor means you need about $48,000 of gold before the 0.25% rate applies at all, and below that you pay more. Good for a large long-term store in named vaults. A poor fit for small buyers, or anyone who wants bars at the door.

Best for Long-term holders with $50,000 or more who want audited, allocated metal

7.1/10

Price: Free account; storage fees on holdings
Maker: Goldmoney Inc.
Buy fee: 0.5% of the trade

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35

Swissquote review: is a Swiss bank's forex account worth the $1,000 entry ticket?

Blue-Chip Forex BrokersTested

Swissquote is a strong choice if the counterparty matters more to you than the last tenth of a pip. It is a bank listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, it offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and its own CFXD platform, and it charges no commission. The price is real: $1,000 to open, spreads from 1.7 pips on Standard, and one independent test measured 1.92 pips on EUR/USD in a Premium account. Cost-first traders should look at raw-spread brokers instead.

Best for Safety-minded traders who want a listed Swiss bank behind a forex and gold account

7.0/10

Price: From $1,000 minimum deposit
Maker: Swissquote Bank
Minimum deposit: $1,000 Standard; $10,000 Premium; $50,000 Prime

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36

Binance review: deepest liquidity in crypto, with a regulatory record you must weigh

Crypto ExchangesTested

Binance is the cheapest and deepest place for most retail crypto trading outside the US, and its proof-of-reserves page is more open than most rivals. But it pleaded guilty to anti-money-laundering failures in 2023 and reportedly faces a fresh US sanctions inquiry. Keep only trading balances there, and skip it if regulation is your first test.

Best for Active spot and futures traders outside the US who self-custody savings

7.0/10

Price: Spot trading fees from 0.1%
Maker: Binance
Maker: Binance

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37

XM review: a $5 account and bonus offers, a fair start or a trap for overtrading?

Global Retail BrokersTested

XM is a legitimate, widely regulated broker with a genuinely low $5 entry and a decent range of account types. The Standard and Micro accounts are expensive once spreads are counted, and the bonus marketing encourages volume. A small account is fine if you choose Ultra Low or Zero and ignore the bonuses. If you would trade more because of a bonus, skip it.

Best for Small accounts that pick Ultra Low or Zero and ignore the bonuses

6.9/10

Price: $5 minimum deposit
Maker: XM Group
Minimum deposit: $5 (Shares account needs $10,000)

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38

HFM review: does account choice and regulation beat Exness and XM in emerging markets?

Global Retail BrokersTested

HFM is a broad, long-running broker whose strength is choice: five account types, MT4 and MT5, copy trading, no deposit or withdrawal fees and a real spread of regulators. Its weakness is cost and clarity. Standard spreads average about 1.4 pips on EUR/USD, inactivity fees apply, and protection depends on which entity takes you. Good for traders who want variety, poor value for scalpers.

Best for Traders in emerging markets who want choice of account type and platform

6.9/10

Price: No minimum deposit (Premium account)
Maker: HF Markets Group
Premium account: $0 minimum, no commission

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39

AvaTrade review: fixed spreads and heavy regulation, but is it the safer beginner pick?

Global Retail BrokersTested

AvaTrade is a reasonable first broker for someone who values fixed pricing, broad licensing and a mobile app over the lowest cost. Regulation reaches ASIC, CySEC and several others, and negative balance protection is offered to retail clients. The price is a spread of roughly 0.8 to 0.9 pips on EUR/USD with no raw option, plus inactivity fees. Active or cost-driven traders should look at a raw-spread broker instead.

Best for New traders who want fixed spreads and a heavily regulated broker

6.9/10

Price: $100 minimum deposit
Maker: AvaTrade
Minimum deposit: $100

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40

FxPro review: is no-dealing-desk execution on four platforms worth wider spreads?

Global Retail BrokersTested

FxPro is a solid, well-regulated broker whose execution claims hold up in independent tests, but you pay for the choice of platforms. Standard accounts cost about 1.4 pips on EUR/USD, and even the Raw+ route is dearer than the leaders once commission is added. It suits a trader who wants cTrader or MT5 under a UK or Cyprus licence. Skip it if the lowest all-in cost is your only test.

Best for Traders who want cTrader, MT5 or Edge with a regulated, no-dealing-desk broker

6.9/10

Price: $100 recommended first deposit
Maker: FxPro Group
Minimum deposit: $100 practical, higher on Raw+ and Elite

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41

eToro review: can a beginner copy traders without the fees eating the returns?

Multi-Asset and Social TradingTested

eToro is the friendliest way to see what other traders are doing, and copying costs nothing beyond normal trading fees. But the fees that do apply are heavy for a beginner, at 1% on each crypto trade, spreads on CFDs and a currency conversion charge. Copying is a way to learn, not a shortcut to returns, and a lost copy can still drain the whole allocation.

Best for Curious beginners who want to watch and copy before trading alone

6.8/10

Price: From $50 minimum first deposit
Maker: eToro Group
Minimum first deposit: From $50 (varies by country)

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42

APMEX review: are its gold coin and bar premiums low enough to justify the service?

Gold and Bullion DealersTested

APMEX is honest, well capitalised and has the deepest catalogue of any US online dealer, but it is not cheap. A 1 oz gold bar runs about 5.2% over spot by wire and 9.58% by card, and discount rivals undercut it on common coins. Pay by wire or check, buy the odd item others lack, and price the standard coins elsewhere first.

Best for Buyers who want a specific coin or bar and pay by wire or check

6.8/10

Price: Spot plus premium; free shipping over $199
Maker: APMEX
1 oz PAMP gold bar, wire/check: About 5.20% over spot (17 Sept 2026)

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43

Bitget review: is crypto copy trading worth the risk for a forex strategy copier?

Crypto ExchangesTested

Bitget has the most complete copy trading menu of the big exchanges, with spot, futures and bot copying, cheap fees and published reserves. But it copies leveraged crypto traders, and the leaderboard itself shows how far a lead trader's headline return can sit from what copiers keep. Use it with money you can lose, or skip it.

Best for Experienced traders sizing small copy positions in crypto futures

6.8/10

Price: Spot trading fees 0.1%
Maker: Bitget
Spot fee: 0.1% maker and taker (0.08% paying with BGB)

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Plus500 review: is a simple in-house app enough for forex and gold without MetaTrader?

Multi-Asset and Social TradingTested

Plus500 is safe by regulation and easy to learn, and that is where the praise stops. Costs are slightly above average, the platform is web and mobile only, and automated trading, scalping and hedging are not permitted. Beginners who want a clean CFD app will be content. Anyone who wants MetaTrader, TradingView or expert advisors should skip it.

Best for Beginners who want one simple CFD app and strong regulation

6.6/10

Price: $100 minimum deposit
Maker: Plus500 Ltd
Minimum deposit: $100 (some sources list €50 for certain entities)

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Crypto.com review: the app, the card and the exchange once spreads and lock-ups are counted

Crypto ExchangesTested

Crypto.com is worth using for the Exchange and, for a narrow group, the card. It is a poor place to make casual purchases in the app, where the built-in spread can reach 2% against the order book. The Exchange starts at 0.25% maker and 0.50% taker and falls with volume. The rewarding card tiers require staked CRO, from $500 up to $500,000, which concentrates your money in one volatile token. Customer support complaints are frequent, and a 2022 breach cost 483 accounts about $34 million.

Best for Active crypto traders who use the Exchange and already hold CRO for card rewards

6.6/10

Price: Free app; Exchange fees tiered by volume
Maker: Crypto.com
App cost: Free to install; buys carry a spread of up to 2%

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Kitco Review: Best Gold Price Screen, Middling Place to Buy

Gold and Bullion DealersTested

Use Kitco every day for its live gold charts and news, and for a spot benchmark to check any dealer against. As a shop it is decent but not cheap: a one-ounce Gold Eagle listed roughly 5% over spot by wire, with a $5,000 minimum order. Small buyers and card payers should go elsewhere.

Best for Gold watchers who want live prices and news, and buyers of $5,000 or more paying by wire

6.6/10

Price: Spot plus premium; $5,000 minimum
Maker: Kitco Metals
Founded: 1977, offices in Montreal, Hong Kong and New York

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Coinbase review: what the easy app costs next to Advanced Trade

Crypto ExchangesTested

Coinbase is the easiest place to buy a first Bitcoin and among the most trusted names in the industry, but the simple buy screen is expensive: published estimates put its all-in cost near 1.5% to 2% on a bank-funded order, several times the Advanced Trade rate. Use Advanced for anything beyond a first purchase, and skip the app entirely if cost is your main test.

Best for Beginners who want a regulated name, then Advanced Trade for cost

6.4/10

Price: Free to join; Coinbase One from $4.99/mo
Maker: Coinbase Global
Simple buy flat fees: $0.99 under $10, up to $2.99 for $50 to $200 (third-party listing)

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Gemini review: does compliance-first justify higher fees than Kraken or Coinbase Advanced?

Crypto ExchangesTested

Gemini is one of the safest-run US exchanges: a New York trust company, SOC 1 and SOC 2 audits and insured custody. You pay for that comfort, since ActiveTrader's entry tier of 0.60% maker and 1.20% taker is well above Kraken's starting rates. It only becomes competitive at real monthly volume, and it closed accounts in the UK, EEA and Australia. Take it for compliance, not for cost.

Best for US traders who put regulation and custody above the cheapest fees

6.4/10

Price: Free account; ActiveTrader tiered fees
Maker: Gemini Trust Company
Account fee: Free to open

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Vaulted Review: Fractional Gold at the Royal Canadian Mint, Priced Fairly?

Gold and Bullion DealersTested

A legitimate, well-documented way to own small amounts of allocated gold from a phone, backed by Royal Canadian Mint storage and an annual third-party audit. It is not cheap: 1.8% to buy, 1.8% to sell and 0.4% a year. Good for beginners and monthly savers, poor for anyone with large sums.

Best for Beginners saving small monthly amounts who want allocated gold without handling coins

6.2/10

Price: Spot plus 1.8%; 0.4%/yr upkeep
Maker: McAlvany Financial Group
Buy cost (gold): 0.8% premium plus 1% spread, 1.8% over spot

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NAGA review: is the social feed and copy trading a learning tool or a distraction?

Multi-Asset and Social TradingLow score

NAGA is a regulated broker with a large social layer, and the layer is its weakness as much as its draw. The leaderboard ranks lead traders by profit and win ratio, not by drawdown, which is how a fragile strategy can look like a star. Costs are layered: variable spreads, copy fees, a reported $20 inactivity charge and slow verification. It works as a place to watch other traders, less so as somewhere to learn.

Best for Curious beginners who want to watch other traders on a small, capped budget

5.9/10

Price: Low minimum deposit; spread-based pricing
Maker: The NAGA Group
Regulator: CySEC (NAGA Markets Europe), passported across the EEA

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