Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
FBS vs FXCM
What sets them apart
| Compare |  FBS |  FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $5Lower | $50 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Metals | Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Regulators | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission | FCA |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66.43% | 63% |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.5% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- FBS scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only FBS offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.
- Regulators: only FXCM offers FCA.
- Minimum deposit is lower at FBS: $5 vs $50.
- Markets: only FBS offers Stocks, ETFs, Metals.
- Markets: only FXCM offers Crypto.
Our verdict on each
FBS
Fbs Partners suits readers who want a plain, low cost picture from a firm regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission: the account fee is $0 and the stock trade fee is $0. The EUR/USD spread of 0.5% and the retail loss rate of 66.43% are the figures to weigh before funding.
FXCM
FXCM suits UK traders who want a single regulated account for forex, CFDs and crypto, opening from a minimum deposit of $50 with client money covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000. The licence is a known name, which matters more than a bargain headline, since 63% of retail accounts lose money.
Score breakdown
| Area | FBS | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Higher | 8.7Entry starts at $50 against a €4.64 site median, with dealing limited to forex, cfds and crypto. |
| Offer | 9.3Higher | 8.8 |
| Trust | 8.8Higher | 8.6 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | FBS | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | FCA 217689 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | FBS | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Metals | Yes | No |
If neither fits
ActivTrades has minimum deposit at $0, against $5 for FBS and $50 for FXCM.
ActivTrades reviewHow they place
| Ranking | FBS | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Forex brokers | 47 of 147 | 83 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 45 of 145 | 81 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 37 of 122 | 69 of 122 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | FBS | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Not confirmed |
| Audience | Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Tradestone Limited | Stratos Markets Limited |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2009 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | FBS | FXCM | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $5below the median | $50above the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66.43%below the median | 63%lowest quarter | 72.05% |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.5%below the median | Not confirmed | 0.65% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
FBS
Pros
- An account regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission: Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission licenses Tradestone Limited under 331/17, so the contract has a named entity behind it.
- The stock trade fee is $0 on a commission free model, so dealing in the shares and ETFs inside stocks, etfs and forex carries no ticket charge.
- The inactivity fee is $0, so a dormant balance is not quietly drained by account charges.
Cons
- The EUR/USD spread of 0.5% is the charge that lands on every forex and CFD trade, so currency traders feel it more than the flat fees suggest.
- The minimum deposit of $5 sits above CFI's $0, so readers who want the smallest opening balance have a lower floor elsewhere.
- The market list stocks, etfs and forex leaves out crypto and futures, which eToro covers in stocks, etfs and forex.
FXCM
Pros
- FCA regulation with FSCS up to GBP 85,000 protection standing behind client money.
- forex, cfds and crypto markets sit in the same account, so CFD and crypto trades stay under the same licence.
- A named UK operator, Stratos Markets Limited, sits behind the brand and the FCA licence 217689.
Cons
- The $50 minimum deposit is higher than CFI at $0 and Vantage at $5.
- The market list stops at forex, cfds and crypto, so no shares, ETFs or futures dealing sits alongside currency and crypto.
Who each suits
FBS
Who it suits
- Beginners opening a new trading account: the minimum deposit is $5 and the account fee is $0.
- Readers who hold shares and ETFs alongside forex: stocks, etfs and forex covers that mix on the same account.
- European readers who want a Cyprus regulated firm: Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission licenses the entity behind the brand.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want the smallest possible opening balance: CFI takes $0.
- Readers who need crypto or futures in the same account: eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, and those lines sit outside stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who want crypto added to a forex, CFD, stock, ETF and metals mix: Vantage covers forex, cfds and stocks.
FXCM
Who it suits
- UK retail traders who want forex, CFDs and crypto under a single FCA licence rather than several brokers.
- Traders who check the operator before depositing: Stratos Markets Limited and licence 217689.
- Anyone prepared for leverage, with 63% of retail accounts losing money.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, if you also want shares, ETFs and futures, since it lists stocks, etfs and forex.
- CFI, if you want to start without committing cash, since its minimum deposit is $0.
- Vantage, if a smaller starting deposit matters, since Vantage asks $5.
Questions about each
FBS
What does it cost to run an account at Fbs Partners?+
The account fee is $0, the stock trade fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so nothing is charged for holding the account, dealing in shares or leaving a balance idle. Deposits and withdrawals carry no charge either. What remains on a forex or CFD trade is the spread, quoted at 0.5% on EUR/USD.
How much does the EUR/USD spread cost in practice?+
The EUR/USD spread is 0.5%. On a currency pair that spread is the dealer's charge for opening and closing, so it lands on every position rather than on a ticket line. The stock trade fee of $0 and the account fee of $0 sit alongside it, which makes the spread the number to size positions around.
FXCM
What do I need to deposit to open an FXCM account?+
The published minimum deposit is $50, higher than the €4.64 median across brokers on the site. For comparison, CFI lists a minimum deposit of $0 and Vantage $5. Beyond that floor the account size is yours to set, and it shapes position sizing rather than the trading fee.
Who regulates FXCM in the UK?+
FXCM is regulated in the UK by the FCA, the sole regulator listed for the brand, and the FCA licence number is 217689. UK clients therefore sit inside the UK regulatory perimeter, with rules on how the firm holds money and treats clients. Anyone outside the UK would need to check their own regulator before opening.
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