Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Freedom24 vs FXCM
Where Freedom24 and FXCM differ
| Compare |  Freedom24 |  FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | €0 | $50 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds | Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Regulators | CySEC | FCA |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Stock trade fee | €2 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 63% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.005% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | $0.65 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | EUR 7 per withdrawal | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Freedom24 App, Freedom24 Web | Not confirmed |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Freedom24 scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only Freedom24 offers CySEC.
- Regulators: only FXCM offers FCA.
- Markets: only Freedom24 offers Stocks, ETFs, Options.
- Markets: only FXCM offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
Our verdict on each
Freedom24
Freedom24 suits European investors who want stocks, ETFs, options and bonds under one CySEC-regulated roof, and who would rather not pay an annual account charge of €0. A euro minimum deposit of €0 keeps entry easy, while per-deal trading costs make it a better fit for occasional buyers than for frequent traders.
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 | Freedom24 | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2HigherCost is middling: account fee €0 and minimum deposit €0 are nil, but €2 per deal is high against the €0 median. | 8.7Entry starts at $50 against a €4.64 site median, with dealing limited to forex, cfds and crypto. |
| Offer | 8.9Higher | 8.8 |
| Trust | 8.7Higher | 8.6 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Freedom24 | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | CySEC 275/15 | Not confirmed |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | FCA 217689 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Freedom24 | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
Where these facts come from
Freedom24
- forex.wikibit.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- matchmybroker.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- ucits-etfs.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- beinoption.vercel.app: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- eupersonalfinance.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
FXCM
- brokerchooser.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- forexsuggest.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- fxcmaffiliates.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Freedom24 | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Options, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Freedom Finance Europe Ltd | Stratos Markets Limited |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2013 | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Freedom24 | FXCM | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | €2above the median | Not confirmed | €1 |
| Account fee | €0at the median | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | €0below the median | Not confirmed | €2.45 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 63%lowest quarter | 72.05% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.005%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Options contract fee | $0.65above the median | Not confirmed | $0.625 |
Median across 52 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Freedom24
Pros
- Account fee €0 and inactivity fee €0 leave the cost of holding an account at nil.
- A minimum deposit of €0 sits well under the €6.17 median for stock brokers.
- A single account covers stocks, etfs and options, so an ETF, a bond and an option sit together.
Cons
- A stock trade fee of €2 ranks 126 of 161 on the site, well behind the field.
- Withdrawals cost EUR 7 per withdrawal each.
- Currency conversion is charged at 0.005% on positions held outside the euro.
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
Freedom24
Who it suits
- Investors who want stocks, etfs and options in one account with an account fee of €0.
- Savers who prefer a euro starting point of €0 and a firm authorised in Cyprus under 275/15.
- People who trade from a phone as well as a browser, since Freedom24 App and Freedom24 Web lists the Freedom24 App and web platform.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, if the cost of each trade decides it, because its stock trade fee is $0.
- Vantage, if you would rather start with a deposit of $5 than fund the account from the first unit.
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
Freedom24
What does a trade cost at Freedom24?+
A stock trade costs €2, with options at $0.65 per contract and currency conversion at 0.005%. That per-deal cost is the number to weigh, since the account fee of €0 adds nothing to it.
Is there an account fee or an inactivity charge?+
The account fee is €0 and the inactivity fee is €0. Both rank 1 on the site, so an unused account does not start costing money. That suits investors who top up in small amounts rather than trading often.
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.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Freedom24 vs Wealthyhood
- Freedom24 vs Saxo
- Freedom24 vs Capital.com
- Freedom24 vs TradeZero
- Freedom24 vs Charles Schwab
- Freedom24 vs eOption
- Freedom24 vs Public
- Freedom24 vs Tradier
- Freedom24 vs Eightcap
- Freedom24 vs FBS
- Freedom24 vs ActivTrades
- Freedom24 vs XTB
- Freedom24 vs Mintos
- Freedom24 vs Bitpanda
- Freedom24 vs Kraken
- Freedom24 vs Traders Place
- Freedom24 vs Lightyear