Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
FBS vs Kraken
FBS vs Kraken: the differences
| Compare |  FBS |  Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $5 | $1Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Metals | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Crypto, Futures |
| Regulators | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission | Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Central Bank of Ireland (CBI)Covers more |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free | Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25 |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop, Kraken Wallet |
| Account fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66.43% | Not confirmed |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.5% | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | Up to 10x |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0), Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000).
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Key differences
- Kraken scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.1.
- Regulators: only Kraken offers Central Bank of Ireland, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
- Kraken is licensed in 1 more country.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Kraken: $1 vs $5.
- Markets: only FBS offers CFDs, Metals.
- Markets: only Kraken offers Crypto, Futures.
- Platforms: only FBS offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5.
- Platforms: only Kraken offers Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop.
- Features: only FBS offers Demo account.
- Features: only Kraken 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.
Kraken
Kraken suits beginners and experienced investors who want stocks, ETFs and crypto together through app and desktop access. Stock dealing is priced at $0 with entry at $1 and funding terms shown as Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25 for cost planning across small balance accounts.
Score breakdown
| Area | FBS | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3 | 9.3Stock dealing is priced at $0 with entry at $1. |
| Offer | 9.3Higher | 9.0Coverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex accessed through Kraken App, Kraken Pro and Kraken Desktop. |
| Trust | 8.8 | 9.3HigherRegisters cite 1010381 and 31000270997766. |
Licences and countries
| Country | FBS | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | |
| Ireland | Not confirmed | Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) MiCA CASP 9845003D98SCC2851458 IE_CBI PSD_EMI IE_CBI!C453020 |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 71030 |
Choosing between them
Pick FBS if offer matter most.
Pick Kraken if trust, minimum deposit, and regulators matter most.
Where these facts come from
FBS
- investing.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fbs.eu: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Kraken
- kraken.com: 9 facts, checked September 28, 2026
- support.kraken.com: 2 facts, checked September 28, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | FBS | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 110 of 471 | 16 of 471 |
| Brokers for beginners | 33 of 88 | 8 of 88 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | FBS | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Crypto, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners, ExperiencedCovers more |
| Legal entity | Tradestone Limited | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2009 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | FBS | Kraken | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $5below the median | $1below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $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 | Not confirmed | 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.
Kraken
Pros
- Stock trades priced at $0 within a model shown as commission free.
- Entry at $1, below $50 at eToro for smaller starting balances.
- Coverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex, pairing stocks and ETFs with crypto and futures.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre only, without phone or live chat help found at many rivals.
- Card funding terms run Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25, which adds cost next to bank transfer options.
- Entry at $1 sits above $0 at ActivTrades and €0 at XTB for tight budgets.
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.
Kraken
Who it suits
- You want stocks plus crypto in stocks, ETFs and forex in a single login rather than an equity only account at XTB.
- You want app led dealing through Kraken App, Kraken Pro and Kraken Desktop with modest entry at $1 rather than higher entry at eToro at $50.
Who should look elsewhere
- You want phone or chat help rather than help centre only, consider XTB or ActivTrades for wider contact choice.
- You want the lowest cash entry rather than $1, consider ActivTrades at $0 or XTB at €0.
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.
Kraken
What does Kraken charge for stock trades+
Stock dealing is priced at $0 and Kraken describes its model as commission free. Bank funding is framed separately as Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25, so card use adds cost while bank transfer terms remain distinct. Check the fee schedule before placing orders.
What is the minimum deposit to open an account+
Account entry is set at $1. That level sits below $50 at eToro, yet above $0 at ActivTrades and €0 at XTB. It keeps starting balances modest while leaving room for funding charges.
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