Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
FOREX.com vs Kraken
FOREX.com vs Kraken: the differences
| Compare |  FOREX.com |  Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100 | $1Lower |
| Markets | Forex, CFDs, Crypto | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Crypto, Futures |
| Regulators | FCA, NFA/CFTC, ASIC | Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 74% | Not confirmed |
| EUR/USD spread | 1.2% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25 |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop, Kraken Wallet |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | Up to 10x |
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Key differences
- Kraken scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.1.
- Regulators: only FOREX.com offers FCA, NFA/CFTC, ASIC.
- Regulators: only Kraken offers Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority.
- FOREX.com is licensed in 1 more country.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Kraken: $1 vs $100.
- Markets: only FOREX.com offers CFDs.
- Markets: only Kraken offers Stocks, ETFs, Futures.
- Features: only FOREX.com offers Demo account.
Our verdict on each
FOREX.com
FOREX.com suits UK retail traders who want one commission-free account covering forex, CFDs and crypto under a named UK regulator. The trade-off is the price of entry: a $100 minimum deposit sits well above the €4.64 median across the brands compared here.
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 | FOREX.com | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.3Commission-free pricing with a 1.2% EUR/USD spread, though the $100 minimum deposit is steep against the €4.64 site median. | 9.3HigherStock dealing is priced at $0 with entry at $1. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.0HigherCoverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex accessed through Kraken App, Kraken Pro and Kraken Desktop. |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 9.3Registers cite 1010381 and 31000270997766. |
Feature by feature
| Markets | FOREX.com | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | No | Yes |
| ETFs | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
Choosing between them
Pick FOREX.com if trust matter most.
Pick Kraken if cost and minimum deposit matter most.
Where these facts come from
FOREX.com
- compareforexbrokers.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Kraken
- kraken.com: 9 facts, checked September 28, 2026
- support.kraken.com: 2 facts, checked September 28, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | FOREX.com | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Demo account, Mobile appCovers more | Crypto, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Experienced |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | FOREX.com | Kraken | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100above the median | $1below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 74%above the median | Not confirmed | 72.05% |
| EUR/USD spread | 1.2%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.65% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
FOREX.com
Pros
- Commission-free pricing means the 1.2% EUR/USD spread is the cost you can actually see before you trade
- Regulated in the UK by the FCA, in the US by the NFA/CFTC and in Australia by the ASIC
- UK clients have investor protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 behind the firm
Cons
- The $100 minimum deposit sits above $0 at CFI and $5 at Vantage, so entry is the main hurdle
- Retail accounts lose money at 74%, above the 70.15% median for the brands compared here
- The range stops at forex, CFDs and crypto, without the shares, ETFs and futures that appear 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
FOREX.com
Who it suits
- UK retail traders who want one commission-free account across forex, CFDs and crypto
- Traders who want a demo account to size up the platform before funding the $100 deposit
- People who put weight on a named UK regulator and FSCS up to GBP 85,000
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone starting with a small sum, since CFI takes $0 and Vantage $5 against a $100 entry here
- Share and ETF investors, because eToro's range runs to stocks, etfs and forex
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
FOREX.com
What does it cost to trade forex on FOREX.com?+
Pricing is commission-free, so the cost sits in the spread rather than a separate deal charge. The euro against the dollar carries a spread of 1.2%, and that figure is the one to watch if you trade often or in size. The commission-free model runs across the account, not on one pair alone.
How much do I need to deposit to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $100. That is a clear step up from the €4.64 median across the brands compared here, and well above $0 at CFI and $5 at Vantage. Plan the funding before you open, because the threshold applies at the account level.
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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