Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
FOREX.com vs Zacks Trade
Where FOREX.com and Zacks Trade differ
| Compare |  FOREX.com |  Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100Lower | $250 |
| Markets | Forex, CFDs, Crypto | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | FCA, NFA/CFTC, ASIC | FINRA |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $1 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $15 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 74% | Not confirmed |
| EUR/USD spread | 1.2% | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 8.83% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $1 |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Zacks Trade Pro, Client Portal, Zacks Trade app |
| Account types | Not confirmed | IRA |
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Key differences
- FOREX.com scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only FOREX.com offers FCA, NFA/CFTC, ASIC.
- Regulators: only Zacks Trade offers FINRA.
- FOREX.com is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Minimum deposit is lower at FOREX.com: $100 vs $250.
- Markets: only FOREX.com offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Markets: only Zacks Trade offers Stocks, ETFs, Options.
- Features: only FOREX.com offers Crypto, Demo account.
- Features: only Zacks Trade offers Options.
- Pricing model: only FOREX.com offers Commission free.
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.
Zacks Trade
Zacks Trade is a US broker built for experienced traders and day traders who want options and margin, charging a stock trade fee of $1 and a minimum deposit of $250 on its IRA account. The catch is the $15 inactivity fee for anyone whose account sits idle.
Score breakdown
| Area | FOREX.com | Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 8.5HigherCheap trades at $1 a stock and $1 an option, offset by a $250 minimum deposit and a $15 inactivity fee. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.2Higher |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 8.7 |
Pick FOREX.com if, pick Zacks Trade if
Pick FOREX.com if minimum deposit matter most.
Pick Zacks Trade if offer matter most.
Availability and regulation
| Country | FOREX.com | Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| United States | FINRA 7874 | |
| Australia | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
Also worth a look
ActivTrades has minimum deposit at $0, against $100 for FOREX.com and $250 for Zacks Trade.
ActivTrades reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | FOREX.com | Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Demo account, Mobile app | Mobile app, Options |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Low fees |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Experienced, Day traders |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | LBMZ Securities Inc. |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2013 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Chat, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | FOREX.com | Zacks Trade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100above the median | $250highest quarter | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $1highest quarter | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $15above 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% |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 8.83%above the median | 8.75% |
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
Zacks Trade
Pros
- Simple per-trade pricing: $1 a stock, $1 an options contract, margin at 8.83%.
- FINRA registration under licence 7874, and client holdings sit with SIPC protection.
- Support covers email, chat and phone, so phone and chat are both available.
Cons
- The $15 inactivity fee sits above the €10 upper quartile among the brokers compared.
- A $250 minimum deposit is well above the €4.64 median on the site.
- Account types cover ira only, which rules out a taxable brokerage account for wider investing.
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
Zacks Trade
Who it suits
- Experienced traders and day traders who already know the markets they trade.
- US investors who want an IRA and plan to trade options or use margin.
- Investors who will keep trading, since the inactivity fee applies once an account goes quiet.
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, which takes a minimum deposit of $0 rather than $250.
- eToro, where a stock trade costs $0 against $1 here.
- Vantage, with a minimum deposit of $5, which suits a smaller starting balance.
Country by country
| Country | FOREX.com | Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
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.
Zacks Trade
What does it cost to trade stocks and options?+
Stocks cost $1 per trade and options contracts $1, and the account opens at a minimum deposit of $250. Margin runs at 8.83%. Every figure here applies to the IRA account, which is the account type on offer.
Is my money protected and who regulates the broker?+
Zacks Trade is registered with FINRA under licence 7874, and the legal entity behind the brand is LBMZ Securities Inc. Client holdings sit with SIPC protection, which is the scheme covering money in the account rather than the firm's own balance sheet.
Other options to compare
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