Some of the abbreviations on this page are expanded to the regulator's full name: a broker regulated by ASIC is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission; by FCA, the Financial Conduct Authority; by DFSA, the Dubai Financial Services Authority.
What is the best forex broker with negative balance protection?
Pepperstone is the top broker with MT4 Trading Platform and negative balance protection, combined with commission-free Standard account spreads averaging 1.0 pip on EUR/USD and tier-1 regulation from the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). Negative balance protection prevents losses exceeding account deposits by automatically closing positions before balances turn negative. We also evaluated other brokers based on their risk management frameworks.
The best negative balance protection regulated Forex brokers are:
Ordered by our overall rating, highest first.
- Pepperstone - Top Broker with MT4 Trading Platform
- OANDA - Good Option for Beginners
- FP Markets - Good Option for Scalping
- IG Trading - Top Broker for a Range of Trading Products
- AvaTrade - Good Option for Day Trading
- easyMarkets - No Slippage Guarantee
- Plus500 - Top Broker With Efficient Risk Management Tools
- eToro - Best at Social Trading

Broker comparison table
| Rank | Broker | Score | Regulation | EUR/USD raw | EUR/USD standard | Commission | Min. deposit | Platforms | Leverage | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 98 | ASIC, FCA, DFSA | 0.10 | 1.10 | $3.50 | $0 | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader | 30:1 | Visit | |
| 2 | 92 | MAS, CIRO, ASIC FCA, NFA/CFTC | 0.0 | 0.94 | - | $0 | MetaTrader 4 | 30:1 | Visit | |
| 3 | 78.4 | ASIC,CySEC, FSA-S FSCA,FSC-M, CMA | 0.18 | 1.27 | $3.00 | $100 | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader | 30:1 | Visit | |
| 4 | 68.2 | ASIC, FCA, FMA | 0.16 | 1.13 | $6.00 | $0 | MetaTrader 4 | 30:1 | Visit | |
| 5 | 64.5 | ASIC, CIRO, CySEC ADGM, ISA, JFSA CBI, KNF, FSC-BVI FSCA, SFC | - | 0.8 | - | $100 | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | 30:1 | Visit | |
| 6 | 58.9 | ASIC, CySEC FSA-S, FSC-BVI, FSCA | - | 1.2 | - | 200 AUD (Australia) 25 USD (Europe & Rest of World) | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | 30:1 | Visit | |
| 7 | 58.8 | ASIC, CySEC, MAS FCA, FMA, DFSA EFSA, FSA, FSCA | - | 0.8 | - | $100 | - | 30:1 | Visit | |
| 8 | 54.9 | ASIC, CySEC, FCA MAS, MFSA, ADGM SEC, GFSC, FSA-S | - | 1.0 | - | $50 (Australia), $50-$100 (EU) | - | 30:1 | Visit |
Broker reviews
1. Pepperstone
Average spread
EUR/USD = 0.1 GBP/USD = 0.2 AUD/USD = 0.1
Platforms
MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, Pepperstone Trading App
Minimum deposit
$0
Why We Recommend Pepperstone
We gave Pepperstone an overall score of 98 out of 100. Key features we like Pepperstone include the choice of TradingView, MT4, MT5 and cTrader platforms, a large range of CFDs including 93 Forex pairs, zero deposit fees and no minimum deposits.
Our tests found the brokers have an average spread of just 0.1 pips for EUR/USD with their razor account and fast execution with 77 ms for limit orders. All these add further reasons why we like Pepperstone.
Pros & cons
- User-friendly trading interface
- Zero Deposit
- Limited options on MT5
- Undynamic swap fee
2. OANDA
Average spread
EUR/USD = 0.94 GBP/USD = 1.73 AUD/USD = 1.5
Platforms
MT4, TradingView, OANDA Trade (FxTrade)
Minimum deposit
$0
Why We Recommend OANDA
OANDA’s extremely tight standards spread illustrates why we recommend them for most beginner traders. With an average of 0.6 pips for EUR/USD, OANDA offers the lowest spreads compared to the industry average spread of 1.24 pips provided by other brokers.
Other features we like include zero minimum deposit to create an account, exceptional customer support, and incredible educational resources.
Pros & cons
- Tight spread
- Great educational resources
- Zero minimum deposit
- No MT5
- Average proprietary software
Broker Details

3. FP Markets
Average spread
EUR/USD = 0.17 GBP/USD = 0.56 AUD/USD = 0.33
Platforms
MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, IRESS
Minimum deposit
$100
Why We Recommend FP Markets
FP Markets is recommended for scalping because of its tight RAW spread, averaging 0.1 pips on the EUR/USD currency pair and an overall major pair average spread of 0.22 pips based on our summation. These offerings provide scalpers with lower fees and smaller entry and exit points, translating to larger profits on every trade. Another unique feature of FP Markets is zero-cost VPS, which provides optimal trading platform performance.
Pros & cons
- Tighter spread
- Zero-cost VPS service
- Fast order execution
- Basic educational content
Broker Details

4. IG Trading
Average spread
EUR/USD = 0.16 GBP/USD = 0.59 AUD/USD = 0.29
Platforms
MT4, TradingView, IG Trading Platform, L2 Dealer
Minimum deposit
$0
Why We Recommend IG Trading
IG arrays of trading products “10/10 in the market range category” have substantiated the reason for its recommendation. IG offers a tight RAW spread of 0.1 pips for EUR/USD currency pairs, indicating a 0.32 significant pair average spread. IG VPS service ensures traders can trade their extensive range of products on its MetaTrader 4 trading platform without glitches.
Pros & cons
- Tight Standard spreads
- Offers VPS service
- Extensive range of trading product
- High minimum deposit
- MT5 is not available
Broker Details

5. AvaTrade
Average spread
EUR/USD = 0.8 GBP/USD = 1.2 AUD/USD = 0.9
Platforms
MT4, MT5, AvaTradeGo, AvaOptions
Minimum deposit
$100
Why We Recommend AvaTrade
Based on our findings, we recommend AvaTrade as a good option for day trading because of its intuitive trading platforms (MT4 and MT5), trade automation functionality and tighter fixed spread.
AvaTrade is highly ranked among other forex brokers that offer fixed spreads. Its 0.9 pips fixed spread on EUR/USD is among the lowest, considering that other brokers offer an average of 1.8 pips on the same currency pair in our tests done by Ross Collins.
Pros & cons
- Tight fixed spread
- Mobile trading app
- Trade automation
- Average customer support
- No RAW spread pricing
Broker Details
A Broker Good For Social Trading With Account Protection
AvaTrade is a regulated forex broker and an ECN broker that provides negative balance protection and a great selection of copy trading tools.
Whether you are a beginner lacking confidence or an expert wanting to save time researching financial markets, the account mirroring services offered by AvaTrade allow you to fully automate trading while sharing knowledge and strategies with a large forex community.
AvaTrade’s risk management policies make them an ideal choice for social trading, not only does one get negative balance protection but AvaTrade uses a 100% margin call and 30% stop out for their MT4 and MT5 trade accounts (standard accounts) and 50% margin call for their MT4 and MT5 Zero accounts. These provide extra protection should one have the misfortune to have poor-performing traders signals.
Three of the best social-copy trading systems are offered by the broker to automate Forex and CFD trading. You can choose between MetaTrader Signals, DupliTrade or AvaSocial, depending on the trading platform you want to use and whether you prefer direct or indirect copy trading tools.

MetaTrader Signals
MetaQuotes proprietary copy trading service available on MT4 and MT5. The automated trading tool allows you to copy the trades made by successful investors known as signal providers. The MetaTrader Signals community consists of millions of users, with both free and paid trading signals available to copy.

AvaSocial
AvaSocial is AvaTrade’s own social trading app, built with Pelican Exchange. You can follow experienced traders, copy their positions, and message them directly, which saves time on placing orders and running your own analysis.
The app also gives you control over the traders you copy, so you can step in or stop following a strategy if its performance slips. AvaSocial is available on mobile and connects to your AvaTrade account.
DupliTrade
DupliTrade asks for a higher minimum deposit of $2,000 to sign up. The MT4 add-on allows you to search and copy expert strategy providers that match your preferred asset classes, timeframes, and risk levels.

To see if DupliTrade is the right account mirroring service for you, MT4 traders can sign up for a 30-day demo account.
6. easyMarkets
Average spread
EUR/USD = 1.2 GBP/USD = 1.4 AUD/USD = 1.4
Platforms
MT4, MT5, TradingView, easyMarkets Trading
Minimum deposit
$200
Why We Recommend easyMarkets
easyMarkets offers extensive base currencies and tight fixed spread, averaging 0.8 pips for EUR/USD currency pairs on its easy Markets and MT4 platform. All orders include a guaranteed stop loss, this plus fixed spreads means easyMarkets can guarantee no slippage. This is the basis upon which we recommend easyMarkets as the best broker on our list.
Pros & cons
- Tighter fixed spread
- Extensive base currencies
- Zero slippage
- 24/5 customer support
- High minimum deposit
Broker Details
The Best Forex Broker With Risk Management Tools
Compared to other brokers, easyMarkets offers a wealth of risk management tools. On top of negative balance protection, the broker, regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), offers free guaranteed stop-loss orders, dealCancellation and Freeze Rates through their proprietary web trading platform and mobile trading apps and MetaTrader 4 (MT4).
We rank Forex Brokers With Negative Balance Protection against every other broker we score on Best Forex Brokers (2026).
- Guaranteed Stop Loss Orders: MT4 and the easyMarkets proprietary trading platform
- dealCancellation: easyMarkets platform
- Freeze Rates: easyMarkets platform only
Spreads
easyMarkets fixed spreads can be wider than other top forex brokers. For instance, Pepperstone offers standard account holders average spreads of 1.0 pip on the EUR/USD forex pair, while the advertised average on the raw account is 0.1 pips, and Razor account holders 0.0 pips.. easyMarkets on the other hand offer minimum spreads starting from 1.2 pips on their proprietary platform and 0.9 pips when using MT4.
Free Guaranteed Stop-Loss Orders (GSLOs)

When trading with easyMarkets it is free to place a Guaranteed Stop Loss Order (GSLO). Many competing brokers such as Plus500 offer these GSLO order types but charge significant fees. The risk management feature ensures orders are executed at the exact price set by the trader with no chance of slippage.
dealCancellation
dealCancellation is a unique risk management tool offered by easyMarkets allowing traders to cancel orders after they have been executed. For a small fee, customers can reverse trades within a one, three or six-hour window, significantly reducing the high risk of forex trading. The premium feature allows clients to take advantage of volatile markets, as the order can be cancelled within the time limit chosen.

Fees are based on recent market volatility and whether you have chosen a 1, 3 or 6 expiration period. Please note, you are not able to add dealCancellation to open trades, you must select the feature when first placing an order. dealCancellation is only available on day trading products such as oil, silver, gold and forex pairs.
Freeze Rate

As well as cancelling orders, easyMarkets offers a Freeze Rate feature to customers. As CFD and forex markets are highly volatile, the Freeze Rate tool allows you to lock in the current market price you see, while providing a few seconds to press buy or sell.
Education
To learn about different risk management techniques, trading strategies and technical analysis, traders can utilise easyMarkets range of educational tools. Whether you are just learning how to trade forex and wanting to figure out how CFDs work or requiring advanced resources, there are plenty of resources freely available on the broker’s website, including webinars, a glossary and articles on how to start trading as well as outlining technical and fundamental analysis techniques.
Trading Platforms
Opening a forex trading account with easyMarkets provides you access to their proprietary trading platform as well as MetaTrader 4 (MT4). While the easyMarkets platform offers extensive risk management tools explained above, MT4 allows users to perform sophisticated technical analysis plus develop automated trading strategies using Expert Advisors. Another key difference between the two platforms is market access. MT4 offers forex pairs, commodities, indices, metals and cryptocurrency trading, while those using the proprietary platform can also trade options.

Both the easyMarkets and MT4 platforms are offered as a web trader, mobile or tablet app, with a PC desktop option also available with MT4.
7. Plus500
Average spread
EUR/USD = 0.8 GBP/USD = 1.4 AUD/USD = 1Updated 27/03/2026
Platforms
Plus500 Trading Platform
Minimum deposit
$100
Why We Recommend Plus500
Plus500 is a multi-asset platform recommended because of its extensive order types. Based on our findings, Plus500 has a vast range of tradable products like 71 Forex pairs, 98 ETFs and 300+ Options. to trade on its in-house developed trading platform.
We like the inclusion of a guaranteed stop loss which adds another layer of protection in addition to the negative balance protection.
Pros & cons
- Wide range of order types
- Extensive market choice
- Efficient risk management tools
- Has trading app
- Limited customer service options
- Inadequate educational content.
- No MT5
Broker Details
The Top CFD Provider With Negative Balance Protection
Plus500 is an established CFD provider with an excellent range of financial instruments to trade. As well as access to thousands of financial markets, Plus500 offers premium order types and negative balance protection to mitigate the high risk of trading CFDs.
The broker is regulated in Canada by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) as well as regulated by Seychelles. The broker is also regulated by Cyprus’ CySEC for European traders in Europe and MAS in Singapore. For its high trust and STP-style trading, it is the preferred choice of many professional traders.

Commission-Free Forex Trading
Plus500 offers a simple pricing structure that does not require traders to calculate account and exchange commission fees. Plus500 is a market maker broker that matches traders’ orders internally (rather than externally as with NDD brokers), and therefore only offers retail clients one account type. When trading forex, spreads are commission-free with the CFD provider charging no account management fees for deposits or rolling open positions on forex or other derivatives.

Risk Management Tools: Order Types
On top of basic order types such as stop limits, stop losses and trailing stop losses, Plus500 allows customers to place guaranteed stop-loss orders (GSLOs) for a fee. When using a free stop-loss order, traders can protect profits by specifying a price to automatically close a position. As a risk of basic stop-loss orders is the trade not being closed at the price set by the customer, the premium paid for the order guarantees trades will be closed at the specified price, regardless of gapping.

Negative Balance Protection And Margin Calls

Similarly to ThinkMarkets, the Plus500 provides negative balance protection (NBP) and enforces margin calls to ensure retail clients do not end up with negative trading account balances when markets are volatile. If a trader does not meet a margin call within the required time period, all positions will be closed at the current market price. When trading forex with Plus500 an initial margin between 33-50% is required.
CFD Trading Product Range
Plus500 offers a vast range of CFDs to trade derived from seven asset classes. With over 2,000 financial instruments in total, customers can easily develop trading strategies using the following CFDs:
- 70+ Forex pairs
- 1,800 Shares
- 30 Stock indices
- 98 Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)
- 22 Commodities
- 15 Cryptocurrencies
- 308+ Options

As well as commonly traded CFDs, Plus500 offers market access to emerging industries such as Cannabis in addition to share markets throughout 23 countries.

To start trading with Plus500, prospective retail clients can sign up for a demo account with no time limits or restrictions on virtual funds. To access Plus500’s wide product offering traders are limited to the CFD provider’s proprietary trading platform, available as a desktop, WebTrader, Android, Windows or iOS trading app.
8. eToro
Average spread
EUR/USD = 1 GBP/USD = 2 AUD/USD = 1
Platforms
eToro
Minimum deposit
$50
Why We Recommend eToro
eToro is arguably the best broker platform for copy trading and community-level support. This is helpful for beginner traders as they can copy successful experts and find help from platforms. It has a major pair average spread of 1.30, competitive charges, and strong alignment with trading stocks and ETFs.
Drawbacks for eToro include $5 withdrawal fees and a base currency limitation that accepts only the USD. However, its numerous tradable asset options and friendly interface make it a great choice.
Pros & cons
- Social trading feature
- Cost-effectiveness
- Wide range of tradable assets
- Demo account
- $5 withdrawal charge
- Uses only one base currency, USD
- Inadequate customer support and research resources
Broker Details

What Is Negative Balance Protection In Forex Trading?
Negative balance protection ensures you can only lose what you have in your trading account. Even if markets move rapidly against your trades, you will never be left with debt. Negative protection protection prevents you from losing more than your initial investment and is a critical element of margin trading.

How Do You Choose A Broker With Negative Balance Protection?
When choosing a broker with negative balance protection, you should consider the following:
1. Check Regulation
Always choose a broker regulated by the licensing body in your market, such as the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the National Futures Association (NFA) in the United States, or Securities Commission Malaysia. Go to your broker website or onto the site of the regulator in your market, such as MAS or the FMA, to see if your broker is licensed.
2. Customer Service
Find a negative balance protection broker that offers excellent customer support and demo trading accounts to practise your trades on.
3. Risk Management Tools
Choose a negative balance protection broker that offers a range of risk management tools such as risk meters and Guaranteed Stop Loss. There is a wide variety of risk management tools to choose from and the more tools you have in place, the less risk you will incur in your trades.
Pros And Cons Of Using A Forex Broker With Negative Balance Protection
- Protects against excessive losses
- Complies with regulatory protocol
- Encourages financial stability
- Offers additional peace of mind
- Some brokers charge higher trading fees to offset the cost of protection
- May encourage overtrading
- Some traders prefer to have more control over their trades and take greater risks without the need for protection


FAQs
How does negative balance protection work in practice?
What is possible to happen when you are using negative balance protection?
Is having negative balance protection a regulatory requirement in Australia?
Should Negative Balance Protection Be Used When Trading With Leverage?
Should Beginners Use Negative Balance Protection?
About the author
Justin Grossbard is the CEO & Co-Founder of CompareForexBrokers established in 2014, along with Noam Korbl and works as Strategic Head Of Research.
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