Trading Accounts

Clients of FX Choice are provided with a choice of two account types: Classic and Pro. The main difference between the two is that the Classic one is commission-free, offering higher spreads, while the Pro account is commission based and provides tighter spreads due to the ECN environment. Besides, only the Pro account offers a choice of desktop platforms – MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5.

What is more, traders can choose to open Corporate or Individual accounts.

The Company. Security of Funds

FXChoice is a broker specialized in Forex and CFD trading for private clients, institutional investors and fund managers. Having around a decade of experience in the forex industry, the brokerage strives to provide excellent service and customer support. In 2016 alone FXChoice was awarded the Exceptional Customer Service accolade by LiveHelpNow on 5 occasions.

The broker offers trading in almost 40 currency pairs and various CFDs (on indices, precious metals, commodities, energies) through two robust trading platforms. With their NDD technology FXChoice is executing around 15 000 digital transactions a day.

The company behind the brand, FXChoice Ltd., is headquartered in Belize and regulated by the local International Financial Services Commission (IFSC).

IFSC has liberal control over forex brokers. Its supervision focuses on promulgation of regulation and a mandatory code of conduct, as well as the licensing process. Compliance-checking, reporting and on-going supervision are little emphasized.

Despite of the lack of strict regulatory rules, FXChoice places a special focus on security and keeps clients’ funds in segregated accounts, absolutely separate from their corporate ones.

What is more, this broker practices positive price correction. This practically means that even if traders actually slip into negative balances under extraordinary circumstances, FXChoice will simply zero out these balances. 

Trading Conditions

Minimum Initial Deposit

Unlike most forex brokers, who usually set up different initial investment for different account types, FXChoice demands $100 from both Classic and Pro account holders. This is a comparatively low initial investment for ECN environment.

Average Spreads & Commissions

This broker offers competitive variable spreads, which vary by account type. Nonetheless, trading costs on both accounts are similar, amounting to an average of 1.2 pips on EUR/USD per (ECN account holders are offered spread averaged 0.5 pips on EUR/USD incurring a commission of $ 7 per lot round turn).  So, FXChoice’s pricing is pretty attractive

Maximum Leverage

The maximum leverage level offered to FXChoice’s clients is 1:200, which is average for the industry.

Trading Platforms

The broker supports several trading platforms: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, as well as Myfxbook Autotrade.

Both the MT4 and the MT5 offer access to the forex, contracts for difference (CFDs), options and futures markets, but the MT5 also offers an option for trading in stocks. Both platforms use MQL programming languages and allow automated trading via Expert Advisors (EAs). They offer advanced charting packages, trading and analysis tools, alerts, signals, and customizable indicators.

With FXChoice MT4 is available as desktop version, mobile apps and there is also a web-based version offered, called Web terminal MetaTrader 4.

The MT5 was developed and promoted as an upgrading on MT4, yet many brokers still prefer the earlier technology, since many of MT4’s indicators and Expert Advisors (EA) are not supported on the MT5 platform. Lately, however, the MetaTrader 5 is gaining popularity among both traders and brokers, as the hedging option was added to it and a number of other enhancements were made. With FXChoice the platform is available as a PC version and mobile apps.

In addition to MT4 and MT5, FXChoice is offering the Autotrade service operated by Myfxbook. This is a social forex community and online automated analytical tool, by which you can copy the trades of any system you select, directly into your FXChoice MetaTrader 4 account, without any additional fees or software to install. 

Besides, traders who keep a monthly balance of $3,000 or more at least 5 lots per month qualify for free VPS.

Promotions

Like many other forex brokers, from time to time FXChoice offers its clients special bonuses.

Methods of Payment

This broker provides a variety of payment methods to its clients: wire transfer, credit/debit card, e-wallets: Skrill, Neteller, FasaPay, Bitcoin, Perfect Money, ePayments, Trustly, Astropay and PaySafeCard.

Accounts can be opened in USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD and Bitcoin.

Conclusion

Despite its looser regulation, FXChoice is a reliable award-winning NDD broker with more than 10 years of experience in the forex industry. It offers fast market execution and competitive trading conditions on a variety of trading platforms. To sum up the above, here are the Pros & Cons of FXChoice:

FxChoice Headquarters: 
21 Regent Street, P.O. Box 1814, Belize City

Country: Belize

Regulation: N/A

Website: MyFxChoice.com

Trading Accounts

*Leverage in the US is limited to 1:50.

** Spreads can be as low as 0.7, based on the clients’ trading
volume.

FOREX.COM currently offers two account types: Standard, and Active Trader.  The ActiveTrader account was launched in November, 2016 in Canada and US and soon it will also be rolled out to the rest of the markets where the broker operates. 

An alternative to the ActiveTrader, Premium account (currently available in UK, Australia, etc.) is available with $10 000 and offers spreads averaged 1.5 pips. It also offers 2% interest on your account balance, up to $50,000.

The Active Trader account is accessible only via the broker’s proprietary FOREXTrader platform and will not be offered to traders using the MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or any Managed Accounts and accounts referred by an introducing broker (IB).

In addition, FOREX.COM offers swap-free accounts to investors of Islamic belief.

Trading Conditions

Minimum initial deposit

In order to open an account with FOREX.COM, one has to invest just $50, which is a low minimum initial deposit. In comparison, FXCM also demands $50 from its clients as a start.

Spreads & Commission

One of the main advantages of major broker FOREX.COM is that it offers commission-free trading. Of course, this means that the company gets remuneration for its services by a mark-up. That is why FOREX.COM’ variable spreads are not among the tightest in the industry – average ones amount to 1.8 pips on EUR/USD pair. Nonetheless, you get access to a selection of trading platforms with fast execution (average execution speed is 0.05 seconds), and most importantly, your funds are safe.

In addition, ActiveTrader account holders may benefit from an average 15% reduction on our standard spreads. Spreads on this account type can be as low as 0.7 pips on EUR/USD, plus, their holders get personalized support, priority service and no account fees on the FOREXTrader Platform.

In comparison, FXCM offers variable spreads, averaged 1.5 pips on commission-free accounts. For further information, you may check out and compare real-time spreads of 15 leading brokers here. 

Maximum leverage

The maximum leverage levels offered by FOREX.COM is up to 1:200, which is considered average. Of course, the maximum leverage provided to US clients is 1:50.

If you need higher leverage ratios, many FX brokers provide such. FXCM offers leverage up to 1:400 and you may also check out a list of brokerages providing leverage up to 1:500 or higher here. You should keep in mind, however, that higher leverage involves greater risk of losses.

The Company. Security of funds

Set up in 1999, Gain Capital now has a global reach. Being one of the largest brokers in the US, it is therefore in direct competition with FXCM for the domination of the US market. It is It offers trading in currency pairs, index & commodities CFDs, precious metals, as well as exchange-traded futures and options (US clients).

First of all, GAIN Capital Group, LLC is a registered futures commission merchant and retail foreign exchange dealer with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and is also a member of the National Futures Association (NFA).

Brokers that are registered with the NFA are obliged to comply with a stringent set of rules. US regulation is one of the strictest, which is a good thing in terms of investor protection, however some of the rules imposed are considered too restrictive.

For instance, NFA-registered brokers are required to maintain a net capital of at least $20 million to guarantee customers’ positions, which is the highest minimum capital requirement worldwide.

Besides, hedging is not allowed and leverage is limited to 1:50, while European brokers are free to provide leverages up to 1:1000 or even higher than that.

The parent company, GAIN Capital Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:GCAP), is a New Jersey-based forex and CFD broker. As a global publicly traded company, regulated in 7 jurisdictions, Gain Capital meets high standards of corporate governance, financial reporting and disclosure. Generally speaking, if you choose to invest in forex.com, you may trade without worries about your funds’ safety.

Trading platforms

Forex.com offers its clients two basic trading platforms: its in-house FOREXTrader & and the popular MetaTrader 4. In addition, the brokerage also supports Tradable and its special ECN platform, GTX.

The fully-customizable FOREXTrader is equipped with advanced trading features, professional charting tools and integrated research and analysis. It comes in as web, PC varsions and full array of mobile apps (including iOS and Android devices). FOREXTrader PRO’s professional-grade trading tools include real-time charting, pattern recognition software by Autochartist, and custom-built automated trading software, called Strategy Center.

Among the FOREXTrader’s features is the Strategy Center with automated buy and sell signals, which allows traders to access 15 user customizable pre-defined trading strategies as well as build their own via the Strategy Wizard. The Strategy Center includes the ability to back test strategies against historical data and then activate them to generate buy and sell signals in real time.

Forex.com's inhouse FOREXTrader platform. Click to enlarge.

The comprehensive research and analysis includes round-the-clock updates from our expert in-house research team, real-time concise headlines from Reuters News, and professional technical analysis from industry-leading Trading Central.

With this platform, users are able to choose between instant and market execution (through the Execution Mode drop-down). Unfortunately, FOREXTrader does not allow hedging, as open positions are closed in compliance with the (First in First Out) FIFO accounting rule, applicable in the US.

Some of the new functionalities of the platform after a recent update include powerful charts with integrated one-click trading, smart trade ticket with advanced risk management option, pre-defined and customizable layouts, and more.

The most common forex trading platform - MetaTrader4 - is also supported by Forex.com. It offers competitive pricing on over 45 currencies, superior market execution and EA optimized environment. Furthermore, Forex.com’s MT4 is equipped with some unique trader tools & resources, such as live commentary from the company’s Global Research Team, real time technical analysis from Trading Central and actionable ideas from Autochartist. According to us, MT4, offered by forex.com has one significant disadvantage - it does Not offer a 3rd party bridge.

GAIN Capital’s GTX is an independent and innovative ECN designed for institutions and professional traders. It offers robust algorithmic trading capabilities that enable clients to develop and implement a wide range of trading strategies using GTX’s Java or FIX-based APIs.

Payment methods

Clients of Forex.com may use bank wire transfer, as well as debit/credit cards as payment methods.

US clients may also make deposits and withdrawals via Check and eCheck (U.S. bank accounts only), while EU clients can use Sofortbanking (online funds transfer available in the UK, Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands and Belgium only).

Conclusion

Although its spreads are not among the tightest on the forex market, we highly recommend Forex.com, for it has earned its reputation of a reliable broker with strong regulation and transparent policy. It offers reasonable conditions for trading in forex, CFDs and stocks on a wide range of platforms. Here are, in a nutshell, the advantages and disadvantages with regards to Forex.com, the retail forex brand of Gain Capital:

Company Name: FOREX.com

Website Address: www.forex.com

Headquarters: Bedminster One, 135 US Highway 202/206, Suite 11, Bedminster, NJ 07921.

Country: United States

Regulated by: NFA (USA), CFTC (USA), FCA (UK), FSA (Japan), ASIC (Australia), IIROC (Canada)

Languages: English, Chinese Traditional and Simplified, Arabic, Russian, German, and Japanese 

Phone: +1 908-731-0750

Fax: +1-908-731-0701

E-mail: [email protected]

Free Phone: Toll Free: 877-367-3946 (US & Canada)

Year of company's foundation: 1999 

Year of company's forex division foundation: 1999

Client base: Individuals (IBs, Money Managers, White Label partners, please visit www.gaincapital.com).

Services: Forex and Metals (UK and AU only). Trading 24 hours a day from Sunday 5pm ET – Friday 5:00pm ET. Commission Free trading (bid/ask spreads apply). Web-based trading platform requires no download or installation. No debit balance guarantee. Free access to charting, news and research. 24 hour customer support via phone, email and chat during trading hours. Mobile trading available. 24 Hour trading.

Languages: English, Chinese simplified and traditional, Arabic, Russian, Japanese