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Best Forex Brokers for Beginners in 2023

By:
Dan Blystone
Reviewed By:
FX Empire Editorial Board
Updated: Sep 3, 2024

Trading the financial markets is more accessible than it has ever been. You can fund an account with as little as $10 and access a massive range of instruments—from forex to global stocks, commodities, indices, and crypto. Demand is soaring for beginner-friendly brokers that can provide new traders with the tools and support to give them a solid foundation for success.

Inexperienced traders have a distinct set of needs. To find the best forex brokers for beginners, we looked for those with:

  • An intuitive trading platform, allowing newcomers to get started with minimal friction.
  • Trustworthiness, and how each broker is regulated. We made sure that every broker is regulated by at least one top-tier regulator.
  • Account types that enable users to trade with zero or minimal risk (demo accounts and cent accounts).
  • First-class educational resources to guide fledgling traders.
  • Top-notch customer support that is on hand to quickly answer questions was also a focus.

FX Empire is an industry leader with over ten years of experience reviewing forex brokers. Considering the different needs of traders, we broke down this list into a few major categories.

List of Top Forex Brokers for Beginners

How did FX Empire choose the best brokers for beginners?

We thought hard about the needs of beginners in the forex markets and focused on the points which benefit this group of traders the most.

  • We ensured each broker has an entity regulated by a top-tier regulator and measured their overall trustworthiness.
  • We tested fees and trading costs, including spreads, swaps, inactivity, and withdrawal fees, and looked for brokers that are competitive in relation to the industry as a whole. We also checked that each broker has a high level of transparency regarding their fees.
  • We conducted a test drive for each trading platform, digging into available order types, charting, watchlists, and UX. We paid particular attention to ease of use.
  • We tested customer service across phone, chat, and email with many questions, paying attention to responsiveness and the overall quality of the support.
  • We deeply explored the available educational resources, from articles to webinars and courses. Our reviewers made sure that materials are accessible and easy to understand for beginners.
  • We made a balanced assessment using various other areas (available markets to trade, account-opening process, research, and educational resources).
  • Using our extensive database of broker reviews, we made side-by-side comparisons to choose the winning broker for each category.

Our team of experts has identified each broker’s strengths and weaknesses using FX Empire’s comprehensive methodology. Here’s how we test.

Now let’s go through the selected brokers.

Best Overall

Your capital is at risk
  • Min Deposit
    $100
  • Tradable Instruments
    10076
  • Fees
    High

Sydney, Australia-based FP Markets was founded in 2005 and has entities regulated by top-tier CySEC and ASIC. With over 10,000 instruments across stocks, indices, forex, commodities, and cryptocurrencies, traders can experiment across a broad range of markets.

Opening an account with FP Markets is fast and very simple. There are two main accounts available – the Standard Account, which is commission-free, and the Raw Account, which is commission-based, but with tighter spreads. Live chat support is on hand to help prospective traders through the account opening process.

FP Markets has an extensive range of educational materials that are great for beginner traders. These include educational videos, platform tutorials, and live webinars. A user-friendly app rounds out a solid offering for newcomers to the markets.

Pros
  • Fast, simple account opening process.
  • No withdrawal fees.
  • Impressive range of tradable instruments.
  • Competitive spreads in forex pairs.
Cons
  • St. Vincent & Grenadines entity is unregulated.

Best Educational Materials

This website is for general information purposes only and is operated by BDSwiss AG. BDSwiss AG is the BDSwiss Group’s Holding Company domiciled in Grienbachstrasse 11, 6300, Zug, Switzerland. BDSwiss AG does NOT offer any financial products or services.
  • Min Deposit
    -
  • Tradable Instruments
    298
  • Fees
    Medium

BDSwiss was established in 2012 and has grown to provide services for over a million clients worldwide. The Cyprus-based broker offers trading in a wide range of CFD assets via its beginner-friendly web and mobile platforms and the popular MetaTrader platform.

BDSwiss has focused intensely on education with the development of its Trading Academy. Clients can access in-depth and frequently updated materials, including its forex basics lessons, live webinars, educational video courses, ebooks, seminars, and one-on-one coaching. We judged the materials to be better than average for the industry and an excellent resource for new and experienced traders.

Award-winning research from Trading Central and market analysis from Autochartist is also available to BDSwiss clients. These third-party tools complement the strong educational material with actionable trading ideas.

Pros
  • Trading Academy materials are wide-ranging and insightful.
  • BDSwiss WebTrader platform is easy to navigate.
  • Diverse account types can cater to beginners and experienced traders.
  • Third-party tools.
Cons
  • Wide spreads in some instruments.

Best for Copy Trading

TRADE RESPONSIBLY: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk o osing money rapidly due to leverage. 78.07% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing you money.
  • Min Deposit
    $260
  • Tradable Instruments
    570
  • Fees
    -

NAGA has created an innovative and exciting platform for traders. Being intuitive and easy to navigate also makes it a good starting point for beginners. The CySEC-regulated broker offers trading in various instruments, including forex and CFDs on commodities, indices, cryptocurrencies, and shares.

Our test showed NAGA’s web and mobile apps are intuitive and offer cutting-edge copy trading capabilities. Traders can either trade at their discretion or automatically copy successful traders on the platform. A leaderboard shows the top-performing traders, with statistics such as the total profit, win ratio, and the number of auto copiers. Clients can copy their choice among the best traders with a single click and participate in any future gains (or losses). The platform also has an Instagram-style feed, which allows traders to share ideas and interact.

We found out that NAGA can cater well to beginners, and its educational offering reflects this. Webinars, courses, and even one-on-one tutoring are available to help traders get up and going in the markets. Clients are assigned a dedicated account manager which makes a big difference in terms of a personalized experience. If you’re a beginner with limited time to trade, NAGA could be a good fit.

Pros
  • Pioneer in copy trading.
  • Personal Account Manager.
  • Good educational resources.
  • Broad range of trading instruments.
Cons
  • Withdrawal fees.

Best Low Spreads

Trading Derivatives carries a high level of risk to your capital and you should only trade with money you can afford to lose. Trading Derivatives may not be suitable for all investors, so please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved, and seek independent advice if necessary. A Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) can be obtained either from this website or on request from our offices and should be considered before entering into a transaction with us. Raw Spread accounts offer spreads from 0.0 pips with a commission charge of USD $3.50 per 100k traded. Standard account offer spreads from 1 pips with no additional commission charges. Spreads on CFD indices start at 0.4 points. The information on this site is not directed at residents in any country or jurisdiction where such distribution or use would be contrary to local law or regulation.
  • Min Deposit
    $4
  • Tradable Instruments
    240
  • Fees
    High

Sydney, Australia-based IC Markets is licensed by multiple regulators globally, including the top-tier CySEC and ASIC. This broker has blazed a trail with fees that beat the industry average.

Our tests showed spreads as low as 0.6 pips in EUR/USD and 0.5 in the Dax 40. Tight spreads can make all the difference, especially for highly active traders. In addition, IC Markets keeps costs to a minimum by not charging an inactivity fee or any fees for deposits and withdrawals. In these areas, IC Markets is undoubtedly better than the industry average.

IC Markets delivers in education and scored full marks for this category. From our in-depth research, there is a wealth of beginner-friendly content covering technical and fundamental analysis. Regular webinars allow clients to learn from experienced traders in a live environment.

The broker provides access to the widely-used Metatrader 4 and 5 platforms, which includes a demo account option for new traders to gain experience. IC Markets could be a good match if you’re a beginner but have aspirations to develop into an advanced or professional trader.

Pros
  • Tight spreads.
  • No inactivity fees.
  • No fees for withdrawals.
  • High-quality education resources.
Cons
  • Trading platforms present a learning curve.

Best Customer Support

4.5
The information provided on this website is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice. Before acting on any information on this website you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. Investing in CFDs and Margined FX Contracts carries significant risks and is not suitable for all investors. You may lose more than your initial deposit. You don’t own, or have, any interest in the underlining assets. We recommend that you seek independent advice and ensure fully understand the risks involved before trading. It is important that you read and consider disclosure documents before you acquire any product listed on the website. The information and advertisements offered on this website are not intended for use by any person in any country or jurisdiction where such use is contrary to the local laws and regulations. Products and Services offered on this website is not intended for residents of the United States.
  • Min Deposit
    $100
  • Tradable Instruments
    30072
  • Fees
    Low

TMGM is an impressive all-around broker that scored high in all major categories. The Sydney-based ECN (Electronic Communication Network) broker emphasizes tight spreads and provides optimal conditions for traders to succeed.

From our testing, the chat support at TMGM was superior and gave us a personalized type of service, contrasting what you get at massive brokerage firms with support agents in call centers. Operators were fast to respond and trading industry savvy. TMGM also offers the convenience of being reachable via popular mobile chat platforms such as Whatsapp and Facebook messenger.

Assessing education materials, we found them suitable to help beginners via the TMGM Academy. The Beginner Stage introduces topics such as spreads, margins, and basic market analysis. TMGM would be a suitable broker for beginners who eventually aspire to become serious, active traders.

Pros
  • Super fast and reliable customer support.
  • No deposit or withdrawal fees.
  • Large range of trading instruments.
  • Fast execution.
Cons
  • Inactivity fee.

Best Trading App

0.9
Your capital is at risk
  • Min Deposit
    $0
  • Tradable Instruments
    68
  • Fees
    High

FBS is a beginner-friendly broker offering a broad range of markets and competitive fees. The company was founded in 2009 and is licensed by top-tier regulators CySEC and ASIC.

We tested FBS’ proprietary trading app, which has a well-designed, intuitive, and minimalistic interface allowing users to trade various instruments on the move. A chat feature is available within the app, so customer support is readily available. Basic order types such as market orders, limit orders, and stop loss orders are available. An economic calendar, a calendar covering earnings, and dividends for stocks are also conveniently built into the app.

FBS also went the extra mile with its educational offerings. New traders can immerse themselves in a five-week long ‘forex intensive’ course in video format. With materials ranging from the forex market basics to complex trading strategies, there is something for all levels of traders to learn.

Pros
  • Intuitive app.
  • Competitive spreads in major forex pairs.
  • Strong research and education resources.
  • Reliable customer service.
Cons
  • Range of tradable instruments has room for improvement.

Best Trading Platform

4.5
74.74% of retail investor accounts lose money
  • Min Deposit
    $300
  • Tradable Instruments
    0
  • Fees
    Medium

Founded in 1999, FXCM was one of the first brokers to bring the forex market to retail traders. It is currently owned by financial services giant Jefferies Financial Group (NYSE: JEF). Being regulated by the top-tier FCA, CySEC, and ASIC, we rate FXCM as an overall trustworthy broker.

From our hands-on testing, beginner traders can quickly master the Trading Station platform, which is well-designed, customizable, and easy to navigate. Popular features such as watchlists, alerts, 1-click trading, and trading from the chart are all available. Solid charting and a broad range of order types give traders everything they need in this well-rounded web platform. Trading Station is available via both desktop and web browsers.

Research and education are two other vital areas where, from our research, FXCM is genuinely an industry leader. News coverage from in-house analysts is top-notch. Beginner traders can take advantage of daily webinars covering trader sentiment and market highlights. A rich library of educational articles is also available.

Pros
  • Regulated by multiple top-tier agencies globally.
  • Supports copy trading.
  • Excellent research and educational materials.
  • Reliable customer support.
Cons
  • High inactivity fee.

Best for US Traders

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 79% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Capital at risk
  • Min Deposit
    $50
  • Tradable Instruments
    0
  • Fees
    -

Launched in 2001, the company is registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and a National Futures Association (NFA) member, helping it earn a high trust score in our tests. It is also owned by NASDAQ-listed StoneX (SNEX), reflecting a high level of stability.

We rated FOREX.com as an excellent choice for beginners to forex in the United States due to its strong support staff, educational resources, and user-friendly platform. Highly trained customer support agents are available 24 hours a day, five days a week. In addition, experienced market strategists provide one-on-one support for new traders in developing a trading plan. The FOREX.com Academy has well-crafted interactive courses with material tailored for new traders. The Foundations of Forex Trading live webinar series addresses practical topics like trading with ABC patterns.

The FOREX.com Web Trader platform is intuitive and features performance analytics, Reuters news feeds, market commentary, trading signals from Trading Central, and TradingView charts. The demo account provides 90 days of risk-free trading with $50,000 in virtual funds.

Pros
  • Reliable broker.
  • Extensive educational and research materials.
  • Intuitive trading platform.
Cons
  • Wide spreads in some instruments.

Our Methodology

In selecting the best forex brokers for beginners, we used the results of our advanced proprietary methodology. All of the brokers listed were among the leaders in our tests.

FXEmpire has been reviewing brokers since 2010 and has pioneered the in-depth evaluation of CFD brokers. Our process has taken years to refine and involved hundreds of reviews. We’ve gone to a granular level—with over 250 data points in our analysis of each broker—so you can feel confident in selecting the right platform. To provide the most comprehensive view, we break down the brokers according to nine different categories:

  • Trust
  • Fees
  • Platforms and tools
  • Tradable instruments
  • Customer service
  • Deposit and withdrawal
  • Account types
  • Research
  • Education

In our broker reviews, we explain complex areas like regulatory status, so you can easily understand the safety of your funds and the benefits you are guaranteed. All our winning brokers listed above have at least one entity licensed by a top-tier regulator.

Data is gathered through live testing, research, detailed questionnaires, and in-person broker demonstrations. An account is opened with each broker, focusing primarily on the services of one entity and testing using the most standard account type and platform. We conduct live tests of spreads and measure overnight swap fees and account-related costs.

Our side-by-side analysis reveals whether a broker is competitive in relation to the industry. Trading platforms take time to master, but we have already done the legwork for you, and our evaluations highlight their essential features and usability.

FX Empire abides by strict guidelines for editorial integrity. Scoring is based on objective criteria and mostly measurable data, so individual preferences or biases cannot sway our reviews. The review process is independent and follows a strict protocol. In addition, all facts are carefully checked and rechecked, as reviews are continually updated. Learn more about our methodology here.

For this best brokers page, we selected the best forex brokers for beginners. As traders have different needs, we separated the brokers into categories where they stood out as winners.

Meet Our Writers

The team of forex and CFD writers and editors at FX Empire is composed of trading industry professionals and seasoned financial journalists. Our writers have been published on leading financial websites such as Investopedia and Forbes. In addition, they all have extensive trading experience.

Get to Know Our Authors

Alex AmdorTargaryen Trickster

Defiantly the coolest dude you will ever meet

Bob MasonAirbender

Bob Mason has been an author with FX Empire since December 2016 and has had works published for publications including, but not limited to The Jerusalem Post, KITCO and The Huffington Post.

Dan BlystonePrestigious Pancake Psychologists

Dan Blystone began his career in the trading industry in 1998 on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Later Dan gained insight into the forex industry during his time as a Series 3 licenced futures and forex broker. He also traded at a couple of different prop trading firms in Chicago. Dan is well-equipped to recommend the best forex brokers due to his extensive experience and understanding of the brokerage industry.

Eva Novaauthor

James HyerczykBroker's Banter Boss

Mr.Hyerczyk is a technical analyst, market researcher, educator and trader. Jim is an expert in the area of patterns, price and time analysis, Forex and stocks.

Jitan SolankiWookiee of Wit

Jitan Solanki is a professional trader, market analyst, and educator. He day trades major currency and index markets and focuses on swing trading US equities and commodities. A qualified Market Technician, Jitan also works with trader education and brokerage companies on various projects. These include market analysis, live trading events, and broker reviews. As an experienced trader and educator, Jitan brings all his qualities in action when reviewing and recommending brokers.

Kate Leaman is a graduate of the University of Westminster and has been writing for FX Empire since its inception. She was a Broadcast Journalist specializing in finance and a journalist at Sky News. She has headed content teams for various brokerage firms and was the Head of Content at Investing.com. She has hosted various news shows and webcasts on the financial markets.

Having been a retail trader since 2013, Plamen has gained an in-depth understanding of the challenges that novice traders face today. His expertise is swing trading and day trading with a heavy emphasis on psychological and fundamental analysis. Plamen’s favourite trading instruments include FX majors and gold. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics and International Relations. Plamen's broad experience has equipped him with the expertise to recommend the best forex brokers.

svetaFinance Journalist & Market Analyst

Personal: Name: Svetlana Ni Professional Achievements: Regular author of columns and analytical articles in well-known financial publications. Participant

In more than 15 years of trading in the financial markets, Vladimir dealt with a wide range of brokers and financial instruments. His career as a day-trader at a proprietary trading firm goes back to 2007. Later, Vladimir turned to longer time frames and became an independent trader and analyst managing his own portfolio. Using his experience, he helps traders find the best broker in his reviews.

How to choose a forex broker as a beginner trader?

When looking for a beginner-friendly broker, you should pay special attention to the following points.

Can I trust the broker?

Take into account the regulatory status of the broker. Forex brokers regulated by top-tier financial authorities must undergo audits, meet capital requirements, and provide segregated accounts and negative balance protection. A compensation fund is sometimes available in the event of broker insolvency. Tip: you can search the regulator’s website to confirm the broker’s status and check for any disciplinary action. The broker’s size and operating history are also worth considering. You can usually find these on the company’s LinkedIn page.

We are aware that understanding the regulation and assessment of CFD brokers can be a complicated task for a beginner trader. That’s why we conduct thorough research on the regulation and transparency of each broker. We strongly recommend before trading read our reviews to ensure that you are trading with a reputable and regulated broker.

Is the platform user-friendly?

An intuitive, easy-to-navigate platform will allow you to launch into the trading world with minimal hitches. The most user-friendly platforms are typically browser-based platforms created by the broker. Look for easy-to-implement features such as watchlists, trading from the chart, search, news, and a customizable interface.

The MetaTrader 4 and 5 platforms have advanced features like backtesting, automated trading, and a wide range of order types but are less user-friendly. Also, check on the availability of a good, broker-designed (proprietary) mobile app. This is especially important as MetaTrader is no longer available on iOS.

Take advantage of the brokers’ demo account. Most of the brokers offer free demo accounts that provide beginners with a risk-free environment to practice and gain experience, familiarize themselves with the platform, test strategies, and improve trading skills.

Check out our dedicated guides on best forex platforms and best MT4 brokers.

Are the fees competitive?

Working with a broker that keeps costs such as the spread and overnight swap fees to a minimum can make the difference between profit and loss at the end of the day. For example, a spread of 1 pip or less in EUR/USD is competitive and makes it much less expensive to enter and exit positions in the market. This is a crucial point for day traders. Inactivity fees and fees for withdrawing funds are other areas to keep an eye on when considering a broker.

Are there account types to suit beginners?

Demo accounts allow newbies to test their strategies in a risk-free environment. The only difference is that the money is not real – demo accounts have the same trading conditions and available assets to trade as live accounts.

Read our guide on best forex demo accounts.

Cent accounts measure balances in cents instead of dollars. They allow new traders to take the important step of trading live with small positions and minimal risk.

What is the minimum deposit?

Find out the minimum initial deposit so you won’t be taken by surprise when it’s time to trade live.

What is the available leverage?

Beware of using excessive leverage, even if it is tempting. It’s an enthralling feeling to control a large position in the market. But when markets are moving fast, and you are holding a highly leveraged position, there is a high risk of losing money. Accounts can get wiped out in seconds.

Is customer support reliable?

As a beginner, having solid support on hand is essential. Check the hours of availability, for example, whether help is on hand 24/7 or only during business hours. Chat support is the most convenient, so look for an easy-to-access chat window built into the broker platform. In the case of a platform outage, it is also important to be able to contact support via phone.

Are high-quality educational materials available?

Strong educational materials can provide the guidance needed to succeed in the markets. Look for beginner-friendly materials beyond articles, such as video tutorials, live webinars, and courses.

FAQ

A forex broker is a financial services company that offers traders access to the foreign exchange market, where they can buy and sell currencies. The broker acts as an intermediary between the trader and the market, providing a trading platform, tools, and services to help the trader execute trades and manage their account.
Look for a broker that is regulated by a reputable authority, offers a user-friendly trading platform, and has competitive fees and commissions. Also, prefer a broker with access to deep liquidity that facilitates fast order execution.
A trading platform is a software application provided by the broker that allows traders to examine price action behavior, execute trades and manage their accounts. Look for a platform that is easy to use, offers a range of trading tools and indicators, and is available on multiple devices.
We rated FXCM’s Trading Station platform best for beginners. Mastering it is fairly easy, which is helped by its easy-to-navigate interface. The Trading Station has in-built analytics tools, and a broad range of technical indicators, drawing tools, order types, and more. Also, we found FP Markets as the best overall broker for beginners due to its extensive range of educational materials and user-friendly app rounds out a solid offering for newcomers to the markets.
Leverage is a tool that allows traders to control a larger amount of money in the market than they have in their trading accounts. For example, if a trader has a leverage ratio of 1:100, they can control $100,000 in the market with a deposit of $1,000. In that regard, the leverage multiplies potential profits and losses, so it should be used with caution.
You can start trading forex with as little as $10. The minimum deposit required to open a forex trading account varies depending on the broker and the account type. Usually, the higher the minimum deposit required to open an account, the better the conditions in terms of spreads and commissions. Most brokers also offer free demo accounts. But keep in mind that leverage trading entails significant risks, and starting with such a small amount will expose you to adverse market volatility.
Yes, most of the brokers offer a free demo account which we highly recommend to start your trading journey. Note you will not be able to generate any real profits there.
Based on our research, we found that IC Markets offers the most competitive trading fees. Its clients can take advantage of commission-free trading and low floating spreads.
Forex brokers typically offer several types of retail accounts, including standard accounts, mini accounts, and demo accounts. Standard accounts require a higher minimum deposit and offer more features, while mini accounts require a lower minimum deposit and have lower trading costs. Demo accounts allow traders to practice trading without risking real money.
Forex brokers typically offer several funding methods, including bank transfers, credit cards, and online payment services. Choose a funding method that is convenient and secure, and be aware of any fees or processing times.
Forex trading involves a high level of risk and is not suitable for all investors. Traders can lose money due to high market volatility and not knowing how to use leverage. There are also indirect risks, such as falling victim to a forex scam or becoming psychologically strained because of the significant stress associated with trading. That is why it is vitally important for traders to have reliable trading strategies and know who they are doing business with.

About the Author

Dan BlystonePrestigious Pancake Psychologists

Dan Blystone began his career in the trading industry in 1998 on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Later Dan gained insight into the forex industry during his time as a Series 3 licenced futures and forex broker. He also traded at a couple of different prop trading firms in Chicago. Dan is well-equipped to recommend the best forex brokers due to his extensive experience and understanding of the brokerage industry.

Why you can trust FX Empire

At FXEmpire, we strive to provide unbiased, thorough and accurate broker reviews by industry experts to help our users make smarter financial decisions.

Why you can trust FX Empire

FXEmpire was founded in 2011, making us one of the first forex broker review sites. You can trust FXEmpire because of our thorough and unbiased review process. With over a decade of experience, we have a team of industry experts who conduct rigorous tests to ensure our reviews are accurate and unbiased. Our reviews are designed to bring clarity and confidence to the process of choosing a broker, and are based on objective criteria and measurable data. Our editorial team is composed of trading industry professionals and seasoned financial journalists, who ensure that our reviews are accurate and unbiased. Additionally, our review system is based on 9 core categories and over 250 distinct variables, which ensures that all aspects of a broker are considered before giving a final rating. So, you can trust FXEmpire to provide you with honest and informative reviews that will help you make an informed decision on which broker will best enable you to reach your financial goals.