What is a Spread?

In forex trading, the “spread” refers to the difference between the buying price (Bid) and the selling price (Ask) of a currency pair. It’s essentially the cost of trading that the forex broker charges for providing their services.

Why are low spreads important?

• Cost Reduction: Low spreads can help traders to reduce their trading costs. Each time a trade is executed, the trader has to overcome the spread cost to get into a profitable position. The lower the spread, the less the price needs to move in the trader’s favour before they start to make a profit, and the less the price can move against the trader before they start to incur a loss.
• Higher Frequency Trading: Traders, especially those using high-frequency trading strategies like scalping and day trading, must enter and exit the markets frequently. Lower spreads mean they pay less to execute these trades.
• Increased Potential Profits: When the spread is lower, the distance to a profitable trade decreases. This can potentially increase a trader’s profitability, especially in volatile markets.

How we reviewed the brokers with the lowest spreads

At FXScouts, we have an experienced review team dedicated to evaluating Forex brokers. Our team of experts meticulously examines each broker in 7 different areas, amassing an enormous amount of data in the process. With over 200 individual metrics analysed, we invest hundreds of hours annually researching and scrutinising brokers to ensure that we only recommend the best in the Forex industry.

Of these 7 areas, we always prioritise regulation and costs. These are our priorities because traders want to know that their broker is trustworthy and isn’t overcharging them. Brokers are always altering the products they offer, and we keep our reviews updated with the latest data available. You can find out more about our in-depth review process here.

How do brokers with low spreads make money?

In the world of forex trading and other types of investment, brokers typically earn money in one of two ways: through spreads and commissions.

A spread is the difference between the buying price and the selling price of a financial instrument. The spread is essentially the broker’s profit on each trade a trader makes.

On the other hand, a commission is a fee that a broker charges for its services. This is generally a flat fee per trade or a percentage of the total volume of the trade.

Now, let’s consider brokers who offer low spreads. These brokers essentially offer to execute trades at prices very close to the market price. This can be attractive to traders because it reduces their trading costs. However, because these brokers make less money from the spread, they may charge a commission to compensate for the lower profit margins.

The commission can be seen as a fee for the broker’s service of facilitating the trade. For a broker offering low or even zero spreads, the commission may be their primary source of income.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Trading with Low Spreads

Trading with low spreads can have several advantages and disadvantages depending on your specific trading strategy and trading frequency. Here’s a breakdown of these aspects:

Advantages

• Lower Transaction Costs: Low spreads mean that the difference between a financial instrument’s bid (buy) price and the ask (sell) price is smaller. This results in lower transaction costs for the trader, especially for those engaged in high-frequency trading, such as day traders or scalpers. This can increase the net profit from each trade.
• Predictable Costs: Brokers with low spreads typically charge a fixed commission per trade, making the cost of trading predictable. This can be particularly useful for traders who trade in large volumes, as the commission fee does not increase proportionally with the trade size, unlike the cost related to spreads.
• Transparent Pricing: Low spreads coupled with a commission-based pricing model tend to be more transparent. The broker makes money from the commission, and the spreads are closer to the underlying market prices. This can provide a clearer view of the market conditions and facilitate better trading decisions.

Disadvantages

• Commissions Can Add Up: While the lower spread can reduce transaction costs, adding a commission fee on every trade can add up, especially for high-frequency traders. Therefore, the total cost of trading might not be lower than a higher spread, no-commission model, particularly for less active traders.
• Costly for Less Active Traders: For traders who don’t trade as frequently, paying a commission on every trade can become more costly than simply dealing with a higher spread. This is because the commission is charged on every trade, regardless of size, which can eat into profits for smaller or less frequent trades.
• Complex Fee Structure: Understanding and calculating costs can be more complex with a low spread and commission model. Traders need to consider both the spread and the commission in their cost analysis, which can be confusing, particularly for novice traders.

Whether a low spread and commission model is advantageous depends largely on the trader’s strategy and trading frequency. Each trader must understand their own trading habits, calculate their potential costs under different pricing models, and choose the broker that offers the most cost-effective solution for their specific needs.

How Do You Compare Low Spread Accounts?

When comparing brokers with low-spread accounts, looking beyond your trading costs is essential. Direct trading costs aren’t the only factor to consider when opening a trading account. Brokers with low-spread accounts often have other ways of generating revenue. Here are some factors to consider:

1. Regulatory Oversight: Ensure the broker is regulated by a reputable financial authority. Regulation provides a level of security and can help safeguard your investment.
2. Trading Platform: Assess the broker’s trading platform for ease of use, reliability, and available tools and features. Good trading platforms should be intuitive and stable and offer helpful features like charting tools and real-time data feeds.
3. Execution Speed: A good broker should execute trades quickly and at the price you expect. Delays in execution can lead to trades being filled at a less desirable price.
4. Customer Service: Excellent customer service is essential, particularly if you encounter technical issues or have questions about your account. Look for brokers who offer swift, knowledgeable, and accessible customer service.
5. Additional Fees: Some brokers may charge deposits, withdrawals, or account inactivity fees. Be sure to consider these costs when evaluating different brokers.

By carefully evaluating each of these factors, you can compare brokers with low-spread accounts more effectively and make a choice that suits your trading style and goals.

FAQs

What is considered a low spread at Forex brokers?

In the world of Forex trading, a spread is considered low if it’s close to 0.0 pips. However, what constitutes a ‘low’ spread can depend on the currency pair being traded. For major currency pairs like EUR/USD, a low spread is typically anything under 1 pip. For less liquid currency pairs like the minors or exotics like the USD/ZAR, spreads are usually considerably wider.

What is considered a low commission for a Forex broker account?

Commission rates can vary widely among Forex brokers, but a low commission is typically considered to be around 0.1% – 0.3% of the trade volume. In terms of fixed commissions, which are more common in ECN or STP brokers, anything around $6 – $10 per lot traded (100,000 units of currency) could be considered low.

Do some brokers offer zero-spread accounts? 

Yes, some brokers offer zero-spread accounts. Zero-spread forex brokers offer trading accounts where a currency pair’s bid and ask price are the same. This means there is no difference between the bid price and the ask price of a currency pair. However, it’s essential to note that while the spread is zero, these brokers often compensate by charging a commission on trades or using other fee structures. Therefore, traders must understand the overall cost of trading, not just the spread, before choosing a broker.

Are low-spread accounts suitable for all traders?

While low-spread accounts can save costs for high-volume traders, they might not be as beneficial for less active traders. This is because the commission costs could outweigh the benefits of low spreads for traders who don’t trade frequently.

Which Forex broker has the tightest spread?

The broker with the tightest spread is not constant, as spreads fluctuate based on market conditions and the broker’s policies. However, brokers that consistently offer tight spreads often operate using an Electronic Communication Network (ECN) or Straight Through Processing (STP) model.

Can I trade Forex without a broker?

While it is technically possible to trade forex without a broker, it’s not practical for most individuals. Brokers provide access to the trading platforms and the liquidity necessary to trade efficiently in the forex market.

What’s the Difference Between Raw Spread and a Standard Account?

A standard account typically includes all trading costs within the spread. This means you won’t pay a separate commission on your trades. On the other hand, a raw spread account usually offers spreads close to zero, with brokers charging a separate commission on each trade. The choice between the two often depends on the trader’s strategy and volume of trades.

Which currency pairs have the lowest spreads?

The most heavily traded pairs, such as the EUR/USD, GBP/USD and USD/JPY, normally have the lowest spreads, while an emerging-market currency paired with the USD, such as the USD/ZAR, will have a wider spread. In other words, the more liquid the market, the narrower the spread. That’s because the high volumes traded generate lots of profit for brokers, even though the profit margins might be narrow. 

Forex Risk Disclaimer

Trading Forex and CFDs is not suitable for all investors as it carries a high degree of risk to your capital: 75-90% of retail investors lose money trading these products. Forex and CFD transactions involve high risk due to the following factors: Leverage, market volatility, slippage arising from a lack of liquidity, inadequate trading knowledge or experience, and a lack of regulatory protection. Traders should not deposit any money that is not considered disposable income. Regardless of how much research you have done or how confident you are in your trade, there is always a substantial risk of loss. (Learn more about these risks from the UK’s regulator, the FCA, or the Australian regulator, ASIC).

Our Rating & Review Methodology

Our State of the Market Report and Directory of CFD Brokers to Avoid are the result of extensive research on over 180 Forex brokers. These resources help traders find the best Forex brokers – and steer them away from the worst ones. These resources have been compiled using over 200 data points on each broker and over 3000 hours of research. Our team conducts all research independently: Testing brokers, gathering information from broker representatives and sifting through legal documents. Learn more about how we rank brokers. 

Editorial Team

 

Chris Cammack
Head of Content

Chris joined the company in 2019 after ten years experience in research, editorial and design for political and financial publications. His background has given him a deep knowledge of international financial markets and the geopolitics that affects them. Chris has a keen eye for editing and a voracious appetite for financial and political current affairs. He ensures that our content across all sites meets the standards of quality and transparency that our readers expect.

 

Alison Heyerdahl
Senior Financial Writer

Alison joined the team as a writer in 2021. She has a medical degree with a focus on physiotherapy and a bachelor’s in psychology. However, her interest in forex trading and her love for writing led her to switch careers, and she now has over eight years experience in research and content development. She has tested and reviewed 100+ brokers and has a great understanding of the Forex trading world.

 

Ida Hermansen
Financial Writer

Ida joined our team as a financial writer in 2023. She has a degree in Digital Marketing and a background in content writing and SEO. In addition to her marketing and writing skills, Ida also has an interest in cryptocurrencies and blockchain networks. Her interest in crypto trading led to a wider fascination with Forex technical analysis and price movement. She continues to develop her skills and knowledge in Forex trading and keeps a close eye on which Forex brokers offer the best trading environments for new traders.

 

Vanessa Marcos
Financial Writer

Vanessa joined the team in 2023. Born and raised in southern Portugal, she has a BA in Journalism and a Master’s in Literary Theory, both from Lisbon University. Since 2011, she has worked in social media, copywriting, content management, ghost-writing, and SEO. Vanessa loves to write, and although she is a generalist in digital marketing, she always draws on her creativity in her work. She is constantly researching new subjects and finds the analytical depth of Forex trading fascinating.