Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM vs BDSwiss, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
FXCM and BDSwiss are both online brokers with distinct profiles and levels of trust. Established in 1999, FXCM is publicly traded, which often brings more scrutiny and transparency to its operations. It holds an impressive ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 95, placing it in the highly trusted category. FXCM has 4 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, showcasing a strong regulatory standing in the industry.
In contrast, BDSwiss was founded in 2012 and is not publicly traded. This broker has a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 73, indicating an average risk level. BDSwiss holds one Tier-1 license and does not have any Tier-2 licenses. While both brokers are not banks, their regulatory statuses and trust scores underscore differences in perceived reliability and oversight.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2012 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
When comparing FXCM to BDSwiss in terms of commissions and fees, it's important to consider the average spreads, account types, and available discounts. FXCM offers slightly higher forex pricing than the industry average. For its European, U.K., and Australian customers, FXCM's average spreads on the EUR/USD are 0.78, whereas customers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines experience average spreads of 1.38, which exceeds the industry standard. On the other hand, for commission-based accounts in May 2024, FXCM's average spread drops to 0.28 pips, not counting commissions. They also provide an Active Trader Rebate Program that offers tiered rebates based on trading volume, making costs more competitive for those who trade frequently. According to ForexBrokers.com, FXCM is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #24 out of 63 brokers for commissions and fees.
BDSwiss stands out with its good order execution stats but does come with higher spreads relative to industry leaders. Its Classic account offers a spread of 1.5 pips on the EUR/USD, which is on the pricier side, while the Raw account offers tight spreads starting from 0.3 pips with an additional commission of $5 per side. This amounts to an effective spread of 1.3 pips. The VIP account, however, brings the effective spread down to 1.2 pips, offering better value for high-volume traders. BDSwiss also earns a 4-star rating from ForexBrokers.com, ranking #30 in the Commissions and Fees category out of 63 brokers.
While both FXCM and BDSwiss offer solid options for traders, FXCM may appeal more to active traders due to their tiered rebate program, which can reduce trading costs for frequent traders. BDSwiss, in contrast, provides simple and transparent pricing across its account types but at a slightly higher cost. Deciding between them will depend on your individual trading volume and cost preferences.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $10-$5000 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.78 | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.78 | 1.3 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing FXCM and BDSwiss, both online brokers present a comprehensive range of investment opportunities, including forex trading as a Contract for Difference (CFD) or spot contract. For traders focusing on sheer variety, BDSwiss comes out ahead with an impressive 1,081 tradeable symbols, surpassing FXCM's offering of 440 symbols. In terms of currency pairs, BDSwiss again leads with 53, slightly exceeding FXCM's 43 pairs. Both platforms provide the opportunity for copy trading along with cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither supports the acquisition of actual cryptocurrencies or exchange-traded securities from U.S. or international markets.
Despite neither platform offering traditional stocks, BDSwiss edges out FXCM in the investment range category, earning a favorable 4-star rating versus FXCM's 3.5-star rating. This recognition is also mirrored in their rankings from ForexBrokers.com, where BDSwiss holds the 34th position out of 63 brokers, outperforming FXCM, which is placed at 47th. Whether traders lean towards a more extensive array of symbols or tailored forex pair offerings, these brokers provide solid options for those interested in CFD trading and forex pair diversity.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 1081 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 43 | 53 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Both FXCM and BDSwiss offer comprehensive trading platforms with a variety of features for traders of all levels. They both provide the convenience of simulated paper trading through free virtual demo accounts and have developed their own proprietary platforms in-house. Users can access the Windows-based desktop download and web-based platforms from both brokers. Additionally, traders can engage in copy trading with either broker, while also taking advantage of MetaTrader 4 (MT4). However, BDSwiss edges ahead by offering MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which FXCM does not. Contrastingly, FXCM includes ZuluTrade access, a feature not present with BDSwiss, and allows traders to utilize 13 columns for watch lists compared to BDSwiss's seven.
Charting capabilities are also strong with both brokers, enabling direct trading from stock charts. FXCM provides 10 drawing tools for charting, while BDSwiss offers a slightly broader range with 15 tools. When it comes to overall trading platforms and tools, FXCM holds an impressive five-star rating and is ranked sixth out of 63 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com. BDSwiss, on the other hand, receives a four-star rating and is positioned at number 24. This distinction reflects the slight edge FXCM holds in providing a more enriched trading toolset for its users.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 10 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 13 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FXCM and BDSwiss both offer accessible mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, ensuring traders can engage with the market at their convenience. Both platforms value user experience, providing essential features like stock and forex price alerts, drawing tools for trendlines, and multiple time frame viewing options on their charts. However, FXCM outshines BDSwiss with its advanced charting features, offering 59 technical studies compared to BDSwiss's 30. Additionally, FXCM provides watchlist symbol syncing across devices, allowing seamless updates between the mobile app and the online account—an area where BDSwiss falls short.
In terms of convenience, both apps allow users to create real-time quote watchlists and auto-save chart drawings. FXCM seems to have a slight edge in customer satisfaction, boasting a 4.5-star rating compared to BDSwiss's 4-star rating. Furthermore, FXCM is ranked #16 in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com, whereas BDSwiss holds the #24 spot. This indicates that while both apps are reliable, FXCM may offer a richer experience for those who prioritize extensive analysis tools and cross-platform compatibility.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, both FXCM and BDSwiss offer daily market commentary, but they diverge in several key aspects. FXCM stands out by providing forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, which BDSwiss does not. Both brokers offer tools from Trading Central, including technical analytics, yet BDSwiss offers additional research tools from Autochartist that FXCM does not. FXCM also provides a sentiment-based trading tool that reveals the ratio of long or short positions across currency pairs, a feature not available with BDSwiss. Furthermore, FXCM offers market research from TipRanks, whereas BDSwiss does not.
In terms of additional tools, neither broker offers research tools from Acuity Trading, such as the Signal Centre, but both provide an economic calendar showing global news events. Overall, FXCM receives a higher research rating of 4.5 stars compared to BDSwiss’s 4 stars. In the ForexBrokers.com rankings, FXCM holds the 11th position out of 63 brokers for its research offerings, while BDSwiss is ranked at 24th, reflecting FXCM's stronger emphasis on providing comprehensive market insights.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For newcomers venturing into the world of forex and CFDs, both FXCM and BDSwiss offer a comprehensive suite of educational resources designed to build foundational knowledge. Each broker provides over 10 pieces of educational content, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, ensuring beginners have access to ample learning materials. They both conduct monthly online educational webinars and house a searchable archive of past sessions, facilitating both live learning and convenient revisits. Additionally, they're committed to nurturing beginner skills, as evidenced by offerings of 10 beginner-focused educational videos. For those seeking to elevate their expertise, each broker presents at least 10 advanced educational videos, tailored to the needs of experienced traders.
Beyond video content and webinars, traders can deepen their understanding by using the investor dictionaries offered by both brokers, each containing definitions for more than 50 investing terms. In terms of quality, FXCM takes a slight lead with a 4.5-star rating for its educational resources, compared to BDSwiss's 4-star rating. Considering their standings among 63 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com, FXCM ranks at #14 in the education category, while BDSwiss follows at #19. Both brokers clearly emphasize the importance of education, creating a solid foundation for anyone eager to thrive in forex and CFDs trading.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that FXCM is better than BDSwiss. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #15, while BDSwiss finished with an overall rank of #36.
For traders who appreciate advanced trading tools and quality market research, FXCM is a winner, especially for algorithmic trading. Its range of tradeable markets is fairly narrow, however, and the pricing at FXCM is just average.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 73 |
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Both FXCM and BDSwiss do not provide the option to purchase actual cryptocurrencies, but they do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers FXCM and BDSwiss, both offer ACH or SEPA transfers, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires for depositing or withdrawing account funds, but FXCM surpasses BDSwiss by also providing PayPal as a payment option.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | FXCM | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | BDSwiss Review |
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| Regulation | FXCM | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2012 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FXCM | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | FXCM | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 1081 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 43 | 53 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | FXCM | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.78 | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.78 | 1.3 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | FXCM | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $10-$5000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 13 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 10 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FXCM | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FXCM | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | FXCM Review | BDSwiss Review |
| Overall | FXCM | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | BDSwiss Review |
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