Best Direct Access Brokers Guide
Direct Access Brokers
Direct access brokers are different from traditional brokerages. They are perfect for traders who need to execute high speed trades.
With traditional brokers, trading is delayed as access to the market goes through a third party and is not direct.
Trading orders first goes to the broker and thereafter are passed on to a market maker.
The role of the market maker to find a counter party on the exchange.
This is a lengthy process when compared to direct access brokers who execute trades directly.
Lets explain direct access brokers in more detail and why they are comparatively better.
Direct Access Brokers Benefits
Day traders use direct access brokers.
Having direct access allows day traders to take better advantage of fluctuations in market prices during the day. Even those who wish to trade in volume, use direct access brokers.
Below are some of the reasons:
Speed execution
The first factor that is considered is the speedy execution of the trades. With the help of direct access brokers, traders can easily move in and move out of positions faster than a traditional brokerage.
Real market monitoring
A clear picture of the real market is revealed. The order book comes in real-time and traders can see the investors who are trading big volumes and also on which exchanges they are trading.
Real-time information helps traders with their investment strategies.
Discounts on volume
Often low commission is charged if high volume trading takes place.
Target order
As the orders with direct access brokers do not go to trading desks, traders can choose the target.
Direct Access Brokers Benefits
Here are some benefits of dealing with direct access brokers.
Low commissions
Certainly direct access brokers charge fewer commissions compared to traditional brokers but investors need to trade in high volume.
Accurate pricing
For day traders the delay in the quotes may turn dangerous. This is the reason direct access brokers provide accurate price data in real-time.
Customer service
The direct access brokers know how to serve their customers. However, it is still advised to choose such a broker who has a good reputation in serving the customers.
Platform
It is important the platform provided by the direct access brokers should be the best and have the trading tools and resources that match your investment strategy.
Direct Access Brokers Verdict
Traders get good control of their trades when using direct access brokers, this is the reason many are able to trade at the best possible price.
The trading process is speedy with direct access brokers.
Commissions and fees charged by direct access brokers are much lower than the traditional brokers.
We've collected thousands of datapoints and written a guide to help you find the best Direct Access Brokers for you. We hope this guide helps you find a reputable broker that matches what you need. We list the what we think are the best direct access brokers below. You can go straight to the broker list here.
Reputable Direct Access Brokers Checklist
There are a number of important factors to consider when picking an online Direct Access trading brokerage.
- Check your Direct Access broker has a history of at least 2 years.
- Check your Direct Access broker has a reasonable sized customer support of at least 15.
- Does the Direct Access broker fall under regulation from a jurisdiction that can hold a broker responsible for its misgivings; or at best play an arbitration role in case of bigger disputes.
- Check your Direct Access broker has the ability to get deposits and withdrawals processed within 2 to 3 days. This is important when withdrawing funds.
- Does your Direct Access broker have an international presence in multiple countries. This includes local seminar presentations and training.
- Make sure your Direct Access can hire people from various locations in the world who can better communicate in your local language.
Our team have listed brokers that match your criteria for you below. All brokerage data has been summarised into a comparison table. Scroll down.
Our brokerage comparison table below allows you to compare the below features for brokers offering Direct Access Brokers.
We compare these features to make it easier for you to make a more informed choice.
- Minimum deposit to open an account.
- Available funding methods for the below Direct Access Brokers.
- What you are able to trade with each brokerage.
- Trading Platforms offered by these brokers.
- Spread type (if applicable) for each brokerage.
- Customer support levels offered.
- We show if each brokerage offers Micro, Standard, VIP and Islamic accounts.
Top 15 Direct Access Brokers of 2020 compared
Here are the top Direct Access Brokers.
Compare Direct Access Brokers min deposits, regulation, headquarters, benefits, funding methods and fees side by side.
All brokers below are direct access brokers. Learn more about what they offer below.
You can scroll left and right on the comparison table below to see more direct access brokers that accept direct access clients
| Broker |
IC Markets
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XTB
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FP Markets
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Pepperstone
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FXPrimus
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ThinkMarkets
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Forex.com
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NordFX
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Axitrader
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forexmart
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Eightcap
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| Rating | |||||||||||
| Regulation | Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Financial Services Authority (FSA), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), FCA number FRN 522157, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), CySEC Licence Number: 169/12, Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores, Komisja Nadzoru Finansowego | Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F217 | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), The markets in financial instruments directive (MiFID) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA), Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), National Futures Association (NFA) | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), License No: 209/13 | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) | Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) |
| Min Deposit | 200 | No minimum deposit | 100 | 200 | 100 | 250 | 100 | 1 | No minimum deposit | 1 | 100 |
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| Used By | 60,000+ | 200,000+ | 10,000+ | 10,000+ | 10,000+ | 10,000+ | 150,000+ | 10,000+ | 10,000+ | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
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| Platforms | MT4, MT5, Mirror Trader, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Mac | MT4, Mirror Trader, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4, MT5, IRESS, Mac, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4, Mac, Mirror Trader, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4, Mac, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4, MT5, WebTrader, Advantage Trader Pro, TradingView, Tablet and mobile apps | MT4, MT5, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4,WEB,desktop | MT4, Tablet & Mobile apps |
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| Learn More |
Sign
Up with icmarkets |
Sign
Up with xtb |
Sign
Up with fpmarkets |
Sign
Up with pepperstone |
Sign
Up with fxprimus |
Sign
Up with thinkmarkets |
Sign
Up with forexcom |
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Up with nordfx |
Sign
Up with axitrader |
Sign
Up with forexmart |
Sign
Up with eightcap |
| Risk Warning | Losses can exceed deposits | 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. | Losses can exceed deposits | CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 78.6% 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 | Losses can exceed deposits | Losses can exceed deposits | 73% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider | Losses can exceed deposits | Losses can exceed deposits | Your capital is at risk | Losses can exceed deposits |
| Demo |
IC Markets Demo |
XTB Demo |
FP Markets Demo |
Pepperstone Demo |
FXPrimus Demo |
ThinkMarkets Demo |
Forex.com Demo |
NordFX Demo |
Axitrader Demo |
ForexMart Demo |
Eightcap Demo |
| Excluded Countries | AF, GN, SL, BW, IR, SY, MM, IQ, TG, KH, LS, YE, CI , LR, ZW, CU, LY, TZ, CG, ML, BO, LR, NE, AO, GM, NG, AG, GH, KR, KG, GN, SN, NA | US, IN, PK, BD, NG , ID, BE | US, JP, NZ | BR, KR, IR, IQ, SY, JP, US | AF, CI, CU, IQ, IR, LY, MM, KR, SD, PR, US, AU, SY, DZ, JP, EC. | AF, Yugoslavia, AO, GM, NG, AW, GH, KR, BY, GN, BO, GN, PK, BW, HT, PG, IR, PN Island, Burma MM, IQ, RW, KH, , SN, CF, JP, Sierra, Leone, TD, KG, SO, CI , LB, SZ, CU, LS, SY, of CG, LR, TJ, DJ, LY, Tanzania, EC, Laos, TG, ER, ML, TM, ET, MN, UG, Falkland Islands, NA, US of America, FJ, NI, YE, ZW | BE | No | US, JP | US |
All Direct access brokers in more detail
You can compare Direct Access Brokers ratings, min deposits what the the broker offers, funding methods, platforms, spread types, customer support options, regulation and account types side by side.
We also have an indepth Top Direct Access Brokers for 2020 article further below. You can see it now by clicking here
We have listed top Direct access brokers below.
Direct Access Brokers Table of Contents
- Direct Access Brokers Explained
- 6 Factors to Consider when Choosing Direct Access Brokers
- Are Your Direct Access Brokers Trusted And Established?
- Are The Direct Access Brokers World Leading?
- What are the Direct Access Brokers Commissions and Fees?
- What are the Direct Access Brokers Funding and Withdrawl Methods?
- Find Direct Access Brokers with Round-the-clock support?
- Make sure the Direct Access Brokers Offer Comprehensive Trader resources?
- Why do Direct Access Brokers need to be regulated?
- Direct Access Brokers FAQ
- What are the best Direct access brokers?
- What is the best Direct acc broker?
- Related Direct Access Brokers Reviews
- Related Direct Access Brokers Alternatives
- Related Direct Access Brokers Comparisons
Direct Access Brokers Explained
Trading the financial markets with Direct Access Brokers when conditions are volatile can be difficult, even for experienced traders.
Apart from the educational and other resources made available online, another important factor for traders to consider when looking for Direct Access Brokers is the platform that a Direct Access Brokers offer.
Choose Direct Access Brokers that's at the forefront of innovation and generally considered an industry-leader.
To gain access to the financial markets, you'll need Direct Access Brokers that you can rely on.
6 Factors to Consider when Choosing Direct Access Brokers
Follow these five rules for selecting a broker that's right for you:
Are Your Direct Access Brokers Trusted And Established?
Look for a broker that has a good track record/longevity in the market so that your strategy is your primary concern for navigating the markets. The top rated Direct Access broker is IC Markets. Established in 2007, and in operation for 12 years IC Markets have a head office in Australia.
IC Markets is regulated. This means IC Markets are supervised by and is checked for conduct by Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Financial Services Authority (FSA), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) regulatory bodies.
Another top rated broker is XTB.
XTB was established 2002, and in operation for 16 years XTB have a head office in Poland.
XTB is regulated. This means XTB are supervised by and is checked for conduct by Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Financial Services Authority (FSA), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) regulatory bodies.
| Broker |
IC Markets
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XTB
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FP Markets
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Pepperstone
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FXPrimus
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ThinkMarkets
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| Year Established | 2007 | 2002 | 2005 | 2010 | 2009 | 2010 |
| Head Office | Australia | Poland | Australia | Australia | Cyprus | Australia |
| Regulation | Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Financial Services Authority (FSA), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), FCA number FRN 522157, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), CySEC Licence Number: 169/12, Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores, Komisja Nadzoru Finansowego | Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F217 | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), The markets in financial instruments directive (MiFID) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) |
| Used By | 60,000+ | 200,000+ | 10,000+ | 10,000+ | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
| Negative balance protection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Learn More | Visit IC Markets | Visit XTB | Visit FP Markets | Visit Pepperstone | Visit FXPrimus | Visit ThinkMarkets |
| Risk Warning | Losses can exceed deposits | 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. | Losses can exceed deposits | CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 78.6% 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 | Losses can exceed deposits | Losses can exceed deposits |
Are The Direct Access Brokers World Leading?
Choose a broker that's at the forefront of innovation and generally considered an industry-leader. IC Markets Segregates clients funds and offers over 232 instruments. IC Markets offers both an online trading platform as well as a mobile platform giving clients easy access to markets.
In addition, IC Markets supports many popular third-party trading platforms enabling access to a variety of markets worldwide that can be traded with the assistance of expert advisors or a customizable automatic trading strategy. IC Markets is a world-leader when it comes to innovation and they are always looking at ways to improve and to maintain their competitive advantage.
Another good choice when looking for Direct Access Brokers is XTB . XTB Segregates clients funds and offers over 1,500 instruments.
| Broker |
IC Markets
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XTB
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FP Markets
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Pepperstone
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FXPrimus
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ThinkMarkets
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| Instruments Available | 232 | 1,500 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, Mirror Trader, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Mac | MT4, Mirror Trader, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4, MT5, IRESS, Mac, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4, Mac, Mirror Trader, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4, Mac, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
| Excluded Countries | US | US, AU, CA, JP, KR, KP, SG, MU, IL, TR, IN, PK, BA, ET, UG, CU, SY, BD, NG, ID, BE, LY, MO, KE, YE, VU, GY, CD, CG, AF, LA, MZ, IQ, IR | US, JP, NZ | BR, KR, IR, IQ, SY, JP,US | AF, CI, CU, IQ, IR, LY, MM, KR, SD, PR,US, AU, SY, DZ, JP, EC. | US, CAN, JP, FR, BEL |
| Forex pairs offered | 65 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 45 | 40 |
| Forex pairs offered | 65 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 45 | 40 |
| Major forex pairs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Minor forex pairs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Exotic forex pairs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrencies | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Commodities Offered | 19 | 21 | 18 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Metals | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Energies | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Agricultural | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Stocks Offered | 100 | 1696 | 10000 | 60 | 60 | 0 |
| UK Shares | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| US Shares | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| German Shares | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Japanese Shares | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
What are the Direct Access Brokers Commissions and Fees?
Ensure that your broker is transparent with fees and those dues are competitive.
The best rated Direct Access broker IC Markets offers competitive offers for Forex, CFDs, Spread Betting, Share dealing, Cryptocurrencies. IC Markets minimum deposit is 200.
Another top rated Direct Access broker XTB offers Forex, CFDs, Cryptocurrency. XTB minimum deposit is 0.
| Broker |
IC Markets
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XTB
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FP Markets
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Pepperstone
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FXPrimus
|
ThinkMarkets
|
| Min Deposit | 200 | 0 | 100 | 200 | 100 | 250 |
| Withdrawl Fees | No | varies | No | No | Varies | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | Varies | No | Yes | No | Varies | skrill 2%, neteller 2% |
| CFD Commission Fees | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
What are the Direct Access Brokers Funding and Withdrawal Methods?
When dealing with Direct Access Brokers having convenient funding and withdrawl facilities makes the trading process and your trading experience smoother.
| Broker |
IC Markets
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XTB
|
FP Markets
|
Pepperstone
|
FXPrimus
|
ThinkMarkets
|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Cards | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Paypal | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Skrill | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Payoneer | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Neteller | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Find Direct Access Brokers with Round-the-clock support?
Customer service is very important when dealing with Direct Access Brokers.
When investing and dealing with brokers customer support can be a range of customer services to assist customers in making cost effective and correct use the brokers services. It can include assistance in installation, training, troubleshooting, upgrading, and cancelation of a product or service.
Direct Access Brokers customer support can include Phone answering services, Live chat support and Email customer service support.
IC Markets support a wide range of languages including English, Japanese, Chinese, Polish, Afrikans, Danish, Dutch, German and more
XTB support a wide range of languages including English, Spanish, Czech, Chinese, German, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovenian, and Turkish
IC Markets and XTB offer support where clients are able to call or contact the helpdesk via email or a chat service.
| Broker |
IC Markets
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XTB
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FP Markets
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Pepperstone
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FXPrimus
|
ThinkMarkets
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| Support |
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| Languages | English, Japanese, Chinese, Polish, Afrikans, Danish, Dutch, German and more | English, Spanish, Czech, Chinese, German, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovenian, and Turkish | English, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Bulgarian, Arabic, Russian, French, Italian, Greek, Philippines, Latvian, Polish,Indonesian, Thai, Malay, German, Vietnamese | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic | English, Spanish, Indonesian, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Hungarian, and Malaysian | English, Chinese, and Japanese |
| Learn More | Visit IC Markets | Visit XTB | Visit FP Markets | Visit Pepperstone | Visit FXPrimus | Visit ThinkMarkets |
| Risk Warning | Losses can exceed deposits | 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. | Losses can exceed deposits | CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 78.6% 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 | Losses can exceed deposits | Losses can exceed deposits |
Make sure the Direct Access Brokers Offer Comprehensive Trader resources?
Make sure your broker offers free resources like analysis, education and risk-management tools. With a wealth of knowledge from top analysts, IC Markets and XTB work together to bring the latest news and insights to traders.
For most traders, the first – and sometimes only – concern is pursuing their 'edge'. While that is surely important, along with sound money management habits, to navigating the markets; that step alone does not represent the full preparation. As each trader dives into this important venture, it is important not to forget the most rudimentary yet crucial steps such as selecting the best broker to access the markets.
Why do Direct Access Brokers need to be regulated?
A regulated Direct Access broker lowers your risk.
Broker regulation protects consumers. Too little broker regulation can lead to poor services and possibly financial harm.
Direct Access brokers are regulated to stop fraud. The agent's working capital and clients funded account have to be separated. This amounts to fraud if client money is used to conduct the business. Regulation is required to make sure this does not happen.
Direct Access Brokers List
Funding methods
Bank transfer Credit Card PaypalPlatforms
MT4, MT5, Mirror Trader, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, MacCustomer support
Live chat Phone support Email supportAccount Types
Micro account Standard account Islamic account VIP account
Funding methods
Bank transfer Credit Card PaypalPlatforms
MT4, Mirror Trader, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile appsCustomer support
Live chat Phone support Email supportAccount Types
Micro account Standard account Islamic account VIP account
Funding methods
Bank transfer Credit Card PaypalPlatforms
MT4, MT5, IRESS, Mac, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile appsCustomer support
Live chat Phone support Email supportAccount Types
Micro account Standard account Islamic account VIP account
Funding methods
Bank transfer Credit Card PaypalPlatforms
MT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile appsCustomer support
Live chat Phone support Email supportAccount Types
Micro account Standard account Islamic account VIP account
Funding methods
Bank transfer Credit Card PaypalPlatforms
MT4, Mac, Mirror Trader, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile appsCustomer support
Live chat Phone support Email supportAccount Types
Micro account Standard account Islamic account VIP account
Funding methods
Bank transfer Credit Card PaypalPlatforms
MT4, Mac, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile appsCustomer support
Live chat Phone support Email supportAccount Types
Micro account Standard account Islamic account VIP account
Funding methods
Bank transfer Credit Card PaypalPlatforms
MT4, MT5, WebTrader, Advantage Trader Pro, TradingView, Tablet and mobile appsCustomer support
Live chat Phone support Email supportAccount Types
Micro account Standard account Islamic account VIP account
Funding methods
Bank transfer Credit Card PaypalPlatforms
MT4, MT5, Tablet & Mobile appsCustomer support
Live chat Phone support Email supportAccount Types
Micro account Standard account Islamic account VIP account
Funding methods
Bank transfer Credit Card PaypalPlatforms
MT4, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile appsCustomer support
Live chat Phone support Email supportAccount Types
Micro account Standard account Islamic account VIP account
Funding methods
Bank transfer Credit Card PaypalPlatforms
MT4,WEB,desktopCustomer support
Live chat Phone support Email supportAccount Types
Micro account Standard account Islamic account VIP account