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Euro Brokers2026

Tracked byIndependent review teamUpdated

European Brokers, 2026

Independent comparison of EU-regulated brokers — every broker we list holds at least one MiFID II / EEA-passportable licence (CySEC, BaFin, AMF, CONSOB, CNMV, AFM and equivalents). We track broker-published spreads and commissions against the regulator registries, surface the EU entity that applies in your jurisdiction, and note when negative-balance protection or the €20,000 ICF compensation cover applies. No paid placement, no narrative reviews — just what brokers disclose, with a clear note when disclosure is vague.

Trade-cost calculator

EUR/USD · standard lot
1.0standard lots
0.110
20
5100

Total cost per round-turn trade = average spread × $10/pip × lots + round-turn commission. Spreads are broker-published typical figures — your realised execution will vary, especially around news.

At 20 trades a month, you save $160/month ($1920/year) by choosing Libertex over XM Group.

Open account at Libertex →
BrokerSpreadCommissionTotalvs cheapestOpen account
Libertex$5.00—$5.00cheapest→
Deriv$7.00—$7.00+$2.00→
Tickmill$2.00$6.00$8.00+$3.00→
AvaTrade$9.00—$9.00+$4.00→
FxPro$3.00$7.00$10.00+$5.00→
XM Group$13.00—$13.00+$8.00→

Ranking · 6 brokers

Deposit / withdrawal method

    1. Editorial top pick

      01Libertex

      CySEC
      Open account at Libertex →

      83% of retail investor accounts lose money

      Cost / lot
      Floating
      Min deposit
      €100
      Max leverage
      1:30
      For retail clients

      CySEC-regulated (Indication Investments Ltd, licence 164/12) with ICF investor compensation and negative balance protection · Single-jurisdiction CySEC coverage — no FCA or ASIC fallback

      Fits ifYou are an EEA or Switzerland resident who wants a CySEC-regulated broker with ICF compensation and negative balance protection
      PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Libertex Platform, Mobile app

      Founded in 2012

      Full Libertex details →

    2. 02FxPro

      FCACySECSCBFSCA
      Open account at FxPro →
      Avg spread
      0.30pip
      midpoint of broker range
      Cost / lot
      $10.00
      incl. $7 commission
      Min deposit
      $100
      Max leverage
      1:500
      EU/UK retail: 1:30 · SCB (Bahamas) entity: 1:500

      Four diversified regulators (FCA, CySEC, FSCA, SCB) with 18+ years operating history · MT4/MT5 Standard accounts are spread-only at ~1.2 typical pips — only use cTrader or Raw if you want commission-based pricing

      Fits ifYou are EU or UK retail and want double tier-1 cover (FCA + CySEC) at one broker
      PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, FxPro Edge

      Founded in 2006

      Full FxPro details →

    3. 03Tickmill

      FCACySECFSAFSCA
      Open account at Tickmill →
      Avg spread
      0.20pip
      editorial estimate
      Cost / lot
      $8.00
      incl. $6 commission
      Min deposit
      $100
      Max leverage
      1:1000
      EU/UK retail: 1:30 · Seychelles entity: 1:1000

      Raw account: 0.0 from-spread + $6 round-turn — ECN-style pricing in a commission-based tier · Broker publishes "from" spreads only — realised typical is not disclosed on the accounts page

      Fits ifYou are EU or UK retail and want FCA + CySEC double cover with ECN-style commission pricing
      PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5

      Founded in 2014

      Full Tickmill details →

    4. 04Deriv

      BVIMFSA
      Open account at Deriv →
      Avg spread
      0.70pip
      editorial estimate
      Cost / lot
      $7.00
      no commission
      Min deposit
      $5
      Max leverage
      1:1000
      EU retail (MFSA Malta): 1:30 · Labuan / Vanuatu / BVI entities: up to 1:1000

      $5 minimum + 25 years of operating history (since 1999 as Binary.com, rebranded Deriv in 2020) · Forex is secondary to synthetic indices (their proprietary product) — CFD instrument breadth is narrower than ECN-focused brokers like Tickmill

      Fits ifYou trade synthetic indices (Volatility, Crash, Boom) — Deriv invented this product category
      PlatformsMetaTrader 5, Deriv X

      Founded in 1999

      Full Deriv details →

    5. 05AvaTrade

      ASICFSCACBIBVI
      Open account at AvaTrade →
      Avg spread
      0.90pip
      broker-published typical
      Cost / lot
      $9.00
      no commission
      Min deposit
      $100
      Max leverage
      1:400
      EU/UK/AU retail: 1:30 · FSCA / BVI entities: up to 1:400

      Regulated in 6 jurisdictions · Spread-only pricing at 0.9 pip = ~$9/lot round-turn — wider than ECN/Raw brokers at similar volume

      Fits ifYou are AU or EU retail and want CBI + ASIC double cover with 20 years of operating history
      PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaOptions, DupliTrade

      Founded in 2006

      Full AvaTrade details →

    6. 06XM Group

      ASICCySECIFSC
      Open account at XM Group →
      Avg spread
      1.30pip
      midpoint of broker range
      Cost / lot
      $13.00
      no commission
      Min deposit
      $5
      Max leverage
      1:1000
      EU/AU retail: 1:30 · XM Global (offshore entity): up to 1:1000

      $5 minimum makes starting cheap · Standard account EUR/USD spread 1.0–1.6 pip (broker-published range) + $0 commission ≈ $13/lot — one of the highest costs in our list

      Fits ifYou want the lowest-friction entry in our list — $5 minimum deposit
      PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Web Trader

      Founded in 2009

      Full XM Group details →

    How we score

    Full methodology →

    Editorial rating is a weighted score across four categories. The largest weight goes to actual per-lot trading cost, because it is the one metric every retail trader materially feels.

    We verify regulator status against the FCA, ASIC, CySEC and other registries. Spread figures are broker-published — copied from each broker's specification page, not live-tracked. We do not run live execution tests, time withdrawals, or open support tickets.

    Affiliate relationships do not move positions in this list. When a broker pays us more per lead, that shows in our paid-placement disclosure — not in the ordering.

    Cost of trading
    35%
    Regulation & fund safety
    30%
    Operating history
    20%
    Accessibility
    15%

    Currently tracking 14 brokers across 55 regulators · 2 regulatory actions on file · pricing verified July 14, 2026.

    Regulator registries: FCA · ASIC · CySEC · FSCA · SEC EDGAR

    Frequent questions

    8
    Which forex broker is best for new users?

    For beginners in the EU/EEA, choose a CySEC- or EU-regulated broker with a free demo account, negative balance protection and a low entry cost. Libertex (from €100, a user-friendly proprietary platform alongside MT4/MT5) is a common starting point. Prioritise a demo account, local-language support and an educational track over headline bonuses.

    What is leverage and why is it used?

    Leverage lets you trade a position larger than your deposit. In the EU/EEA, ESMA caps retail leverage: up to 1:30 on major currency pairs, and lower on other assets (1:20 major indices, 1:10 commodities, 1:5 individual shares, 1:2 crypto). So 1:30 means €100 controls a €3,000 position. Higher leverage is only available to professional clients, who give up retail protections.

    How do I verify a broker is regulated?

    Find the licence number on the broker's website and check the regulator's public register: CySEC (cysec.gov.cy), BaFin (Germany), CNMV (Spain), CONSOB (Italy), AMF (France) or the Central Bank of Ireland. EU/EEA brokers passport across the bloc under MiFID II — prefer a broker authorised by an EU/EEA regulator.

    Is it safe to hold money with a forex broker?

    EU-regulated brokers must keep client funds in segregated accounts, separate from company money, and provide negative balance protection to retail clients — you cannot lose more than your balance. CySEC-regulated firms are also covered by the Investor Compensation Fund (ICF), which can compensate eligible clients up to €20,000 if the broker becomes insolvent.

    What is the minimum deposit to start trading?

    Most EU-regulated brokers start around €100 — for example Libertex, FxPro, AvaTrade and Tickmill are in the €100 range. A sensible starting deposit for sound risk management is €200–€500, enough room to size positions without overexposing a small account.

    MT4 or MT5 — which should I pick?

    MetaTrader 5 is newer and multi-asset (forex, indices, commodities, shares), with more timeframes and an economic calendar; MetaTrader 4 remains popular for forex and Expert Advisors. Most brokers now default new accounts to MT5. Both are provided free by the broker.

    What is the difference between ECN and market-maker brokers?

    ECN/STP brokers route your orders to external liquidity providers and charge a commission on tight raw spreads; market-maker (dealing-desk) brokers quote their own spreads and may take the other side of your trade. Active traders often pay less all-in with ECN pricing, while beginners may prefer a market-maker's commission-free (wider-spread) model. Either way, use an EU-regulated broker.

    Can I trade forex from a phone?

    Yes. Every major EU-regulated broker offers iOS and Android apps — MetaTrader 4/5 or a proprietary app — with full order management, live charts and funding. A browser-based web terminal also works without installing anything.

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