EC Markets Review

Active forex and CFD traders

FCA ASIC FSA FSC FMA FSCA CMA

Founded 2021 · Mauritius

Why investors choose this broker

Regulated by FCA (UK) and ASIC (Australia)
ECN spreads from 0.0 pips
Low ECN commission of $1.50 per lot per side
No inactivity fee

Review summary

EC Markets is a multi-regulated forex and CFD broker offering over 100 instruments across STD, ECN and PRO account types on MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5.

Pros

Regulated by FCA (UK) and ASIC (Australia)
ECN spreads from 0.0 pips
Low ECN commission of $1.50 per lot per side
No inactivity fee
No deposit or withdrawal fees for most payment methods
Low minimum deposit of $10 on STD and ECN accounts
Supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5
Free demo account available

Cons

No individual stock or ETF trading
No proprietary web trading platform
PRO account requires $5,000 minimum deposit
STD account spreads from 1.0 pip are wider than ECN
POLi deposits carry a 4% processing fee
Limited educational resources
USA, Canada and Japan residents not accepted
Crypto available as CFDs only - no direct ownership

Company background

EC Markets is a forex and CFD broker established in 2021. The group operates through multiple licensed entities regulated across seven jurisdictions, including the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). The broker serves retail and professional clients globally, with offices in the UK, Australia, Mauritius, Seychelles, New Zealand and South Africa. EC Markets reports over 100 tradable instruments and targets active forex and CFD traders.

The broker offers three account types - STD, ECN and PRO - each designed for different trading styles and capital levels. A free demo account with virtual funds is available to all registered users. EC Markets does not accept clients from the United States, Canada or Japan.

Fees and pricing

EC Markets charges no account opening or management fees. STD accounts carry spreads starting from 1.0 pip with no commission. ECN accounts offer raw spreads from 0.0 pips with a commission of $1.50 per lot per side ($3.00 round-turn). PRO accounts, which require a $5,000 minimum deposit, offer spreads from 0.0 pips with no commission. The minimum deposit for STD and ECN accounts is $10.

Deposits and withdrawals are free for most payment methods. POLi deposits incur a 4% processing fee from the payment processor. There is no inactivity fee. Overnight swap fees apply to positions held past rollover, with triple swaps on Wednesdays. Withdrawals are typically processed within two hours during business hours.

Regulation and safety

EC Markets Group Ltd is authorized by the FCA in the UK (FRN 571881). EC Markets Financial Limited holds ASIC authorization (AFSL 414198) in Australia, FMA registration (FSP197465) in New Zealand and FSCA authorization (license 51886) in South Africa. EC Markets Limited is licensed by the FSA in Seychelles (SD009) and the FSC in Mauritius (GB21200130). EC Markets also holds a license from the CMA in the UAE. Leverage for retail clients under FCA and ASIC is capped at 1:30 for major forex pairs; up to 1:1000 is available through offshore entities.

Platform experience

EC Markets provides MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 as desktop applications, web platforms and mobile apps for iOS and Android via the EC Markets App. Both platforms support expert advisors, custom indicators and the full suite of order types. Over 100 instruments span forex pairs, spot metals (gold, silver), energies (WTI, Brent, natural gas), stock indices (US30, NAS100, SPX500, UK100) and cryptocurrency CFDs (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple).

Pros and cons

EC Markets' main strengths are FCA and ASIC regulation, ECN spreads from 0.0 pips with $1.50 per lot per side commission, a $10 minimum deposit, no inactivity or withdrawal fees, and MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 support. The main drawbacks are no stock or ETF trading, a 4% POLi deposit surcharge, the $5,000 PRO account threshold, limited educational content, and crypto limited to CFDs.

Ready to open an account at EC Markets?

Open an account directly with the broker. Confirm current fees and account eligibility on the broker's website before depositing.

Open Account

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Trading fees & commissions

STD accounts carry spreads from 1.0 pip with no commission; ECN accounts offer spreads from 0.0 pips with a $1.50 per lot per side commission; PRO accounts require a $5,000 minimum deposit and offer spreads from 0.0 pips with no commission.

Fees

Item	Fee
Cfds	Spreads vary by instrument and account type; overnight swap fees apply based on interest-rate differentials (triple swap charged on Wednesdays)
Crypto	Available as CFDs; no direct crypto ownership
Margin	Overnight/swap fees apply to leveraged positions held past rollover
Account	No account opening or management fee
Deposit	No deposit fee; POLi deposits incur a 4% processing fee
Inactivity	No inactivity fee
Withdrawal	No withdrawal fee

Trading platform & features

Platforms

MetaTrader 4
MetaTrader 5
EC Markets App
Web app
iOS app
Android app

Regulation and investor protection

EC Markets operates through entities regulated by the FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), FSA (Seychelles), FSC (Mauritius), FMA (New Zealand), FSCA (South Africa) and CMA (UAE). Client funds are held in segregated accounts at top-tier banks, separate from company funds.

Broker FAQs

Is EC Markets safe?

Is EC Markets a scam?

No. EC Markets operates through entities regulated by multiple recognized authorities including the FCA and ASIC. The group has been active since 2021.

Is EC Markets regulated and by whom?

Yes. EC Markets entities are regulated by the FCA (UK, FRN 571881), ASIC (Australia, AFSL 414198), FSA (Seychelles, SD009), FSC (Mauritius, GB21200130), FMA (New Zealand, FSP197465), FSCA (South Africa, license 51886) and CMA (UAE).

Does EC Markets keep client funds in segregated accounts?

Yes. EC Markets states client funds are held in segregated accounts at top-tier banks, separate from the company's own funds.

What happens to my money if EC Markets goes bankrupt?

Client funds are held in segregated accounts separate from company funds. UK clients under the FCA-regulated entity may have access to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to applicable limits; protections vary by the entity and jurisdiction through which you are served.

What products does EC Markets offer?

EC Markets offers over 100 CFD instruments including forex pairs, spot metals (gold, silver), energies (WTI, Brent, natural gas), stock indices and cryptocurrency CFDs. Stocks and ETFs are not available.

Does EC Markets offer forex trading?

Yes. Forex is EC Markets' primary product. The broker offers 45+ currency pairs across STD, ECN and PRO account types.

Does EC Markets offer crypto trading?

Yes, but only as CFDs. EC Markets offers cryptocurrency CFDs on assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Ripple. Direct crypto ownership is not available.

Does EC Markets offer stock trading?

No. EC Markets does not offer individual stock or ETF trading. The product range is limited to forex, CFDs on indices, metals, energies and crypto.

What does EC Markets charge for forex trading?

STD accounts charge spreads from 1.0 pip with no commission. ECN accounts charge spreads from 0.0 pips with a commission of $1.50 per lot per side. PRO accounts (minimum $5,000 deposit) charge spreads from 0.0 pips with no commission.

What is the minimum deposit at EC Markets?

The minimum deposit is $10 for STD and ECN accounts. PRO accounts require a minimum deposit of $5,000.

Is there a withdrawal fee at EC Markets?

No. EC Markets does not charge a withdrawal fee for standard payment methods. Withdrawals are typically processed within two hours during business hours.

Does EC Markets charge an inactivity fee?

No. EC Markets does not charge an inactivity fee.

Are there any deposit fees at EC Markets?

Most deposit methods are free. POLi deposits incur a 4% processing fee charged by the payment processor.

Does EC Markets have a demo account?

Yes. EC Markets offers a free demo account with virtual funds, available to all registered users.

Does EC Markets have a mobile app?

Yes. EC Markets provides iOS and Android apps through the EC Markets App, which runs on MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5.

Is EC Markets good for beginners?

EC Markets offers a low $10 minimum deposit and a free demo account, which can help beginners practise without risking capital. However, the broker's educational resources are limited compared to some competitors, and the product range is focused on forex and CFDs rather than beginner-friendly products like stocks or ETFs.

Is EC Markets good for long-term investing?

EC Markets is primarily suited to active traders. The broker does not offer stocks, ETFs or investment accounts, so it is not designed for long-term buy-and-hold investing.

Bottom line

EC Markets suits users who want a multi-regulated forex and CFD broker with competitive ECN pricing, MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 support, and a low $10 entry point. It may not suit users who want to trade stocks or ETFs, hold crypto directly, or access extensive educational resources.

EC Markets

Active forex and CFD traders

Open Account

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.