To help you find the best fixed spread broker for forex trading, our team has compared the top brokers with fixed spreads based on the financial services they offer, such as the different currency pairs, CFDs, trading platforms, account types and fixed spreads available.
With over 20 years investing experience and 10 years of trading, Justin co-founded Compare Forex Brokers in 2014. He has worked within the foreign exchange trading industry for several years and for several of the largest banks globally. He has an Honours in Commerce and Masters degree from Monash University. He also owns Innovate Online offering digital marketing services with over 20 employees.
AvaTrade – Overall Best Forex Broker With Low Fixed Spreads
AvaTrade is one of the best forex brokers that operate as a market maker with tight spreads on a range of forex pairs. The broker follows a fixed spread, no commission fee pricing structure, and with all compensation for AvaTrade’s brokerage services included in the fixed spreads.
Unlike ECN brokers that use multiple external liquidity providers to fill orders and set bid-ask prices, AvaTrade is a market maker broker. This means they use their own internal liquidity to fill orders while setting their own fixed bid-ask prices.
Market maker brokers process your trades through a dealing desk, they set their own bid-ask prices and use their own liquidity to fill your orders.
ECN or STP brokers execute orders with no dealing desk (NDD) intervention and fill your orders using external liquidity providers. NDD brokers pass on bid-ask prices, determined by multiple liquidity sources.
When trading CFDs and forex with AvaTrade, you can only sign up to fixed spread account types. While floating spreads fluctuate with changing market conditions, AvaTrade’s fixed spreads will remain the same, regardless of the forex markets current volatility and liquidity.
As fixed spreads are stable, it makes it much easier to calculate the trading strategies potential profit and losses. Therefore, if you are a beginner trader with little trading experience, trading fixed spreads provide a soft entry into forex markets.
Low Fixed Spreads
The table below compared AvaTrade’s fixed spreads to other forex broker’s fixed spreads. Across the board, AvaTrade provides you access to tight spreads and the most competitive pricing overall. For instance, when trading forex with AvaTrade major currency pairs like the EURUSD average 0.90 pips, AUD/USD 1.10 pips and the EUR/GBP 1.50 pips, much lower than competing brokers average up to 3.0-4.0 pips.
Top Fixed Spread Brokers
0.90
1.10
1.50
1.80
1.50
0.70
1.20
1.50
1.80
1.30
4.00
4.00
3.00
5.00
5.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
3.00
1.79
2.43
1.97
2.31
2.09
Data taken from broker website. Accurate as at 01/07/2022
As well as forex markets, AvaTrade provides you access to a diverse selection of CFD products. Over 250 financial instruments are available to trade, derived from currency pairs, cryptocurrencies, commodities, indices and stocks. Forex traders can diversify their trading strategies, incorporating CFDs like Bitcoin or Gold.
Trading Platforms And Tools
You can choose between MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5) or AvaTrade’s proprietary trading platforms. Each option provides different market access and trading tools. For example, MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 offer unique algorithmic trading features where you can write and execute trading robots, known as Expert Advisors. On the other hand, the broker’s web trader platform comes with inbuilt Trading Central technical analysis and pattern recognition tools.
MT4 and MT5 are available as PC or Mac desktop and web trader platforms, as well as mobile trading apps. The proprietary platforms include a web trader platform and mobile apps. AvaTrade offers two types of trading apps for online trading, AvaOptions allows you to trade option and forex markets visually, while AvaTradeGO gives you access to all asset classes.
Whichever trading platform you use, you will be able to use the following features to help you develop strong trading strategies as well as set up and manage your account.
Excellent trading conditions with tight spreads and fast order execution.
Risk management tools such as stop loss and take profit order types.
Advanced charting tools to perform technical analysis.
An economic calendar for fundamental analysis.
Social-copy trading tools for each trading platform option.
Islamic trading accounts for forex traders that follow Sharia Law.
Customer support is available 24/5 via phone, live chat and email.
Social Trading Options
AvaTrade offers an excellent range of social trading tools. If you are a beginner trader, social trading with a fixed spread broker will give you a soft entry into the world of forex and CFD trading. Four different software options are available for social copy trading, including a proprietary AvaTrade account mirroring service known as AvaSocial.
AvaSocial: The broker’s proprietary social trading mobile app offered in partnership with Pelican Trading (FCA regulated). You can engage with the AvaTrade community, chat, share ideas and copy the trades of top performing forex traders.
DupliTrade: Compatible with MT4, where you can copy experienced traders’ signals (trading strategies).
ZuluTrade: An automated trading platform where you can fully automate trading using the software account mirroring services.
MQL5 Signals: The account mirroring service is fully integrated into MT5, allowing you to follow and copy thousands of signals created by global providers.
Regulation
It is worth noting online trading comes with a high risk of losing money. Forex traders can use different tools like order types to help minimise losses, but signing up to a regulated broker and following risk warnings will help you steer clear of scams. AvaTrade is licensed as a financial services provider in seven major financial hubs around the world. The top-tier regulators ensure AvaTrade operates fairly and with transparency, with specific investor protections varying between jurisdictions.
Europe: Central Bank of Ireland (CBI).
Australia: Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
Canada: Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC).
South Africa: Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA).
Japan: Financial Services Agency (FSA) and the Financial Futures Association of Japan (FFAJ).
Middle East: Financial Regulatory Services Authority (FRSA) and Abu Dhabi Global Markets (ADGM).
Global: British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (BVI FSC).
AvaTrade Overall
Overall, AvaTrade is the best-fixed spread broker for retail investor accounts. You gain access to a range of products for forex and CFD trading, along with various tools to help you develop trading strategies and manage risk. But most importantly, you can trade ultra-tight fixed spreads, much lower than competing forex brokers.
If you want to practice trading in a risk-free environment, demo accounts are available for each trading platform. If you are looking to open a trading account and get started, AvaTrade requires you to make a small initial minimum deposit of $100.
The overall rating is based on review by our experts
8.33
Spreads
9
/ 10
Leverage
7
/ 10
Trading Platform
9
/ 10
Risk Management
10
/ 10
Range of Markets
8
/ 10
Customer Service
7
/ 10
easyMarkets – Fixed Spread Broker With Risk Management Tools
easyMarkets is a fixed spread broker that offers unique trading tools to manage the high risk of forex and CFD trading. The broker operates as a market maker, and likewise to AvaTrade, completes the hedging of your position itself using a dealing desk.
To develop trading strategies and place orders, you can choose either MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or the broker’s proprietary online trading platform. While MT4 provides risk management tools like pending order types, easyMarkets proprietary software comes with premium features not available on MT4.
Risk Management Tools
The easyMarkets trading platform offers exclusive risk management tools that can help you maximise your profits while minimising losses.
Free Guaranteed Stop-Loss Orders (GSLOs): While most brokers charge a fee for GSLOs, easyMarkets offers free premium order types. GSLOs enables you to set a price where you want your trade to be automatically closed if markets move in an unprofitable direction, with a guarantee of no slippage.
Free Take Profit Orders: The free premium order allows you to define a level of profit you are happy with, where your position will be automatically closed when markets reach a certain price.
dealCancellation: This gives you the option of cancelling an order within a 1, 3 or 6 hours. For a fee, you can reverse losing trades when market conditions move against you.
Freeze Rate: When trading, you can freeze a current market price, giving you time to perform your trade.
Negative Balance Protection (NBP): easyMarkets provides NBP to all retail investor accounts, regardless of where you live or the subsidiary you sign up to. NBP ensures your trading account will never drop below $0, as the policy automatically closes all your open positions if your balance enters a negative balance.
Risk management tools can help you reduce a trading strategies risk, yet signing up to a tier-1 regulated broker protects you from unlawful brokerage services. easyMarkets operates two subsidiaries regulated by the following financial authority:
Europe: CySEC (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission)
Australia: ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission)
Trading Accounts Types
You can choose between three commission-free account types, with easyMarkets offering discounted fixed spreads to active traders. VIP, Premium and Standard Accounts are available depending on the minimum deposit you make.
Standard Account holders can trade fixed spreads as low as 1.9 pips (EURUSD) after making a low minimum deposit of $25 (USD).
If you have a trading account balance of $2,000 (USD) you qualify for a Premium Account where you can trade discounted spreads of 1.4 pips. VIP Accounts require a higher minimum deposit of $10,000 (USD), yet you can trade fixed spreads as low as 0.9 pips.
easyMarkets Overall
If you are looking for a regulated broker that provides strong risk management tools, easyMarkets is a great option. You can use exclusive features such as free premium order types, dealCancellation and Freeze Rates to manage the high risk of trading while maximizing your returns.
FxPro is a hybrid forex broker that utilises a mix of market maker and no dealing desk execution methods. The multi-regulated broker offers forex and CFD trading brokerage services to its international client base and spread betting service to UK traders.
Trading Conditions
FxPro’s hybrid execution model allows for excellent trading conditions with fast order execution and minimal slippage.
Trades are executed at FxPro’s Equinix Data Centres in either Amsterdam or London, depending on the trading platform you are using. The broker’s cross-fibre connection with top-tier liquidity providers allows for ultra-fast execution speeds that average less than 11.06 ms.
The broker’s deep liquidity and fast order processing meant last year 99.64% of orders received positive or no requotes, with FxPro executing 91% of trades with no slippage or at a better price.
Trading Account Types
You can choose from a range of account types that suit different styles and levels of trading experience. You can trade both fixed and variable spreads, using a mixture of trading platforms and execution methods.
Fixed Spread Account: Ideal if you are a beginner wanting a simple pricing structure for CFD trading.
MT4 with instant execution and fixed spreads.
After opening an MT4 account you can trade 7 major currency pairs with fixed spreads: EUR/GBP, EUR/JPY, EUR/USD, GBP/JPY, GBP/USD, USD/CAD and USD/JPY.
Although you can trade a much greater selection of forex pairs and CFDs on MT4, only floating spreads will be available for these financial instruments.
Variable Spread Account Types: Better For Scalping, Algorithmic Trading And High-Volume CFD Trading.
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) with floating spreads and instant execution.
MT4, MetaTrader 5 (MT5) or cTrader with floating spreads and market execution.
To compare FxPro’s variable spreads with top ECN and STP broker’s like XTB, HotForex, Forex.com, City Index, FXTM and Alpari, you can find a full review of the lowest spreads here.
Spread Betting Account: The United Kingdom And Ireland Only
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) permits residents of the UK and Ireland to open a spread betting account. An alternative to CFD trading, spread betting provides tax benefits as your profits are not subject to Capital Gains Tax (CGT).
Trust And Safety
FxPro offers brokerage services through three different subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Europe and The Bahamas.
The Financial Conduct Authority, UK (FCA)
The South Africa Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA)
The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)
The Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB)
FxPro Overall
The broker offers an account type for every level and style of trading experience. Fixed spreads are available on 7 major currency pairs through MetaTrader 4.
As well as trading forex, you can also sign up to a spread betting account (UK only), or trade floating spreads on hundreds of CFDs and forex pairs.
*Your capital is at risk ‘84.67% of retail CFD accounts lose money’
What are fixed spreads?
A spread is a difference between the bid-ask (buy and sell) prices offered by a broker. There are two types of spreads being fixed and variable spreads. Each of these types can have an effect on the total trading costs you incur.
Fixed spreads do not move with market conditions and volatility, reducing risk and making it easier to determine potential gains from different trading strategies.
Variable spreads, on the other hand, fluctuate with market conditions and are constantly changing. Variable spreads are also known as floating spreads.
Fixed spreads are often offered by market maker brokers. To gain access to the best-fixed spreads available, we recommend AvaTrade, easyMarkets and FxPro for forex trading.
Are fixed spreads better?
The decision to trade fixed or variable spreads depends on your level of trading experience. If you are a beginner trader wanting to build confidence, you can reduce the high risk of forex by trading fixed spreads. Fixed spreads make it easier to develop profitable trading strategies, as bid-ask prices are not constantly changing.
If you are an experienced trader wanting to execute scalping, day trading or Expert Advisor strategies, variable spreads, although riskier, may be more cost-efficient and profitable.
Best Fixed Spread Broker Overall
AvaTrade is the best-fixed spread broker overall, offering tight spreads as low as 0.90 pips with no commission fees, excellent trading platform options plus a diverse mix of trading tools. When trading fixed spreads with the online broker, you can automate trading using algorithmic strategies known as Expert Advisors, or use the various social trading tools provided by AvaTrade.
Finally, a key reason AvaTrade is the best option for fixed spread forex trading is that the online broker operates seven subsidiaries around the world, each overseen by top-tier regulatory bodies such as ASIC in Australia and the FSCA in South Africa.
Disclaimer: If you are going to trade CFDs and derivatives with a broker, then make sure that you are trading with a broker that holds a regulatory license. There are multiple regulatory bodies around the world that can protect you from broker scams.
With over 20 years investing experience and 10 years of trading, Justin co-founded Compare Forex Brokers in 2014. He has worked within the foreign exchange trading industry for several years and for several of the largest banks globally. He has an Honours in Commerce and Masters degree from Monash University. He also owns Innovate Online offering digital marketing services with over 20 employees.
Variable spreads are lower than fixed spreads so you will pay less however fixed spreads are more stable. When a major economic or political event occurs, variable spreads can change and this change can be dramatic which may lead to significant losses, especially if you are using leverage. While these economic events are rate which makes variable spreads are the better option most of the time, fixed spreads can end up being the safer option. Beginner traders, in particular, may wish to consider fixed spreads.
Ask an Expert
Are fixed spreads better than variable spreads?
Variable spreads are lower than fixed spreads so you will pay less however fixed spreads are more stable. When a major economic or political event occurs, variable spreads can change and this change can be dramatic which may lead to significant losses, especially if you are using leverage. While these economic events are rate which makes variable spreads are the better option most of the time, fixed spreads can end up being the safer option. Beginner traders, in particular, may wish to consider fixed spreads.