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 |
FXCM and BDSwiss both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees. FXCM ranks #25 out of 63 brokers in this category at ForexBrokers.com, while BDSwiss ranks #31 out of 63. Both offer multiple account types, but their pricing structures differ in ways that can matter depending on your trading volume and the account you choose.
FXCM’s pricing is slightly above the industry average on its standard accounts. Using May 2024 time-weighted data, average EUR/USD spreads were about 0.78 pips for its EU, U.K., and Australia entities, and around 1.38 pips for its St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity. FXCM’s commission-based accounts showed a low 0.28-pip core spread (excluding commissions), translating to an effective spread near 0.74 pips after typical commissions. Active traders outside the U.K. and EU can access a five-tier rebate program that pays $5–$25 per million traded; requirements vary by region. As an example, in the U.K., a $25,000 balance and roughly $50 million in monthly volume can bring commissions down to $2.50 per side ($5 round turn), for an effective EUR/USD spread close to 0.78 pips. Spreads can widen during rollover or in volatile markets.
BDSwiss posts higher headline spreads than many leaders. On EUR/USD, the Classic account averages about 1.5 pips, the VIP account about 1.2 pips, and the Raw account carries a 0.3-pip spread plus $5 per side ($10 round turn) for an effective cost near 1.3 pips. While BDSwiss reports solid execution metrics, its fee profile is generally pricier than FXCM’s commission-based setup for active traders, especially when FXCM rebates apply.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $10-$5000 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.9 | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 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.
Comparing FXCM vs BDSwiss for range of investments: both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot. BDSwiss lists 1,081 tradeable symbols and 53 forex pairs, while FXCM offers 440 symbols and 46 pairs. Neither broker provides exchange-traded U.S. or international stocks, and neither lets you buy real cryptocurrency; instead, both offer cryptocurrency derivatives. Copy trading is available at both brokers.
For breadth, BDSwiss edges out FXCM, earning a 4/5 Range of Investments rating and ranking 35th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com; FXCM holds a 3.5/5 rating and ranks 48th. If you want a larger list of markets—especially more total products and slightly more currency pairs—BDSwiss may suit you, while FXCM still covers core needs for forex and CFDs with copy trading and crypto derivatives.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 1081 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 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.
FXCM and BDSwiss both make it easy to start with a free demo account and offer proprietary platforms alongside web and Windows desktop options. Each supports MetaTrader 4 and copy trading, and both let you place trades directly from charts. Key differences: BDSwiss also supports MetaTrader 5, while FXCM does not; FXCM connects with ZuluTrade for social trading, whereas BDSwiss does not.
For tools, FXCM provides 13 watchlist columns versus seven at BDSwiss, which can help you see more market data at a glance. According to ForexBrokers.com, FXCM earns 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, while BDSwiss earns 4 stars and ranks #24. If MT5 access matters most, BDSwiss fits the bill; if you want ZuluTrade integration and a more detailed watchlist, FXCM stands out.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading 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 [DELETED] | ||
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | ||
| 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 |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
FXCM and BDSwiss both deliver beginner-friendly forex and CFD education. Each broker provides well over 10 learning materials, plus monthly live webinars and a searchable archive of recordings so you can study on your schedule. New traders will find at least 10 beginner video lessons at both brands, along with extensive glossaries featuring 50+ investing terms to help with the basics. As you progress, both FXCM and BDSwiss also supply 10+ advanced videos to build deeper skills.
Where they differ is recognition and expert scoring. ForexBrokers.com rates FXCM’s education 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks it #14 out of 63 brokers, while BDSwiss earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #22. If you want a slightly higher-rated learning experience with similar content breadth—webinars, video libraries, and a sizable glossary—FXCM edges ahead. That said, BDSwiss still offers a solid, structured path for beginners who want to learn and practice consistently.
| 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
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BDSwiss
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|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | BDSwiss | |
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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) | |||
| 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) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | FXCM | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 1081 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 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 | 0.9 | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 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 Desktop Trading 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 [DELETED] | |||
| 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) [DELETED] | |||
| 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 | |
| Client sentiment data | 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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