Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FOREX.com vs GBE brokers, 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.
When comparing FOREX.com and GBE brokers, a few key factors come into play, especially regarding their trust ratings and regulatory standings. Established in 1999, FOREX.com is a publicly traded entity with a high Trust Score rating of 99, indicating it's highly trusted according to ForexBrokers.com. The platform holds 7 top-tier (Tier-1) licenses, which contribute to its solid reputation for safety and reliability. In contrast, GBE brokers, founded in 2013, are not publicly traded and have a Trust Score of 71, placing them at an average risk level. They possess only 1 Tier-1 license, which may not provide the same level of reassurance to potential clients as FOREX.com.
Both brokers are not banks, ensuring a focus on brokerage services. However, the difference in regulatory credentials and public trading status gives FOREX.com a distinct advantage in terms of credibility and trust. With one additional Tier-2 license, FOREX.com further strengthens its position as a safer choice for traders looking for accountability and stringent oversight. This comparison highlights the importance of considering the regulatory environment and trust scores when choosing an online broker.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2013 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of FOREX.com and GBE brokers, potential traders will find notable differences in pricing structures and services. FOREX.com is recognized as one of the top market maker brokers for its transparent execution statistics and multiple account types. However, it tends to lean on the more expensive side compared to the industry average. The standard account offered by FOREX.com, with spreads averaging 1.4 in the U.S. for the EUR/USD, is the sole option for MetaTrader clients. It caters to traders who prefer market-maker execution despite its higher spreads. On the other hand, FOREX.com’s RAW Spread account, available in several regions including Canada and the EU, presents a more competitive edge with lower spreads starting at 0.13 pips for the EUR/USD plus a commission of $7 per standard lot.
In contrast, specific average spread data for GBE brokers isn't readily available, which might pose a challenge for traders seeking clarity upfront. Despite this, GBE brokers maintain a competitive stance with a 4-star rating for commissions and fees. While FOREX.com boasts a higher rating of 4.5 stars and ranks 13th among 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category by ForexBrokers.com, GBE brokers hold a respectable 37th position. Both brokers offer distinct advantages based on trading volume and preferred execution methods, making the choice heavily dependent on the individual trader’s strategy and requirements.
Ultimately, choosing between FOREX.com and GBE brokers will depend on one's trading volume and need for specific features. For high-volume traders, FOREX.com’s commission-based RAW account with volume-based rebates might offer a financially rewarding experience. Meanwhile, traders looking for straightforward pricing structures may find GBE's offerings satisfactory, despite the lack of detailed average spread information. Both brokers provide unique advantages, making them appealing to different segments of the trading community.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing the investment offerings of FOREX.com and GBE brokers, there are clear differences in the variety of tradeable opportunities. FOREX.com provides an impressive array with over 5,500 tradeable symbols, significantly outperforming GBE brokers, which offers around 500. For forex enthusiasts, FOREX.com presents 91 tradeable forex pairs, while GBE brokers offers a slightly lower tally with 71 pairs. Both brokers give clients the option to trade forex either as a CFD or a spot contract. However, neither platform provides direct access to trade exchange-traded securities on US or international exchanges, nor do they allow the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. Instead, they both offer cryptocurrency derivatives.
Additional distinctions arise when considering extra services like copy trading. GBE brokers do support copy trading, offering an advantage for traders interested in mirroring the strategies of others, whereas FOREX.com does not. Despite this, FOREX.com's broad range of offerings has garnered them a 5-star rating for range of investments, positioning them at #7 out of 63 in ForexBrokers.com's ranking. GBE brokers, with their more limited selection, receive a 3.5-star rating and hold the #44 spot in the same category. This makes FOREX.com a compelling choice for those looking for diversity in their investments.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 91 | 71 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of FOREX.com and GBE brokers, both offer simulated trading with free virtual demo accounts, making them accessible options for beginners. While both brokers support popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, FOREX.com stands out with its proprietary platform developed in-house. Both brokers provide Windows-based desktop and web-based trading platforms, but FOREX.com lacks copy trading features, a service offered by GBE brokers. Despite this, FOREX.com offers 239 drawing tools for charting compared to GBE brokers' 15, giving traders more analytical capabilities.
In terms of user experience and ranking, FOREX.com provides the ability to trade directly from a stock chart and boasts a higher rating of 5 stars for its trading platforms and tools, whereas GBE brokers earn 4 stars. The watch list feature of FOREX.com is more customizable with 20 columns, contrasting with GBE brokers' 7. Evaluations by ForexBrokers.com place FOREX.com at #7 out of 63, a significant lead over GBE brokers, which is ranked at #57. These differences highlight FOREX.com's advanced offerings and greater emphasis on delivering comprehensive trading tools.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 20 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both FOREX.com and GBE brokers offer convenient mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, making it easy for traders to stay connected on the go. Both apps provide features such as stock or forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. They also allow traders to view multiple time frames, whether daily, weekly, or intraday.
However, there are noticeable differences between the two. FOREX.com stands out by offering 88 technical studies for charting compared to GBE brokers' 30. Additionally, FOREX.com’s app allows for watchlist symbol syncing with the online account, ensuring any changes made are reflected across all platforms, a feature not available with GBE brokers. Rated 5 stars, FOREX.com is ranked 3rd in mobile trading apps by ForexBrokers.com, while GBE brokers, with a 4-star rating, is ranked 57th. This shows that while both apps offer solid features, FOREX.com provides a more comprehensive user experience.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 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 comparing FOREX.com to GBE brokers in terms of market research offerings, both platforms provide daily market commentary and feature an economic calendar to keep traders informed about global events. However, FOREX.com stands out by providing access to forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, which GBE brokers do not offer. Additionally, FOREX.com offers technical analysis tools from Trading Central, further enhancing its research capabilities. Both FOREX.com and GBE brokers include sentiment-based trading tools, allowing traders to see the ratio of long and short positions across various currency pairs.
The difference in research offerings between these brokers is reflected in their ratings. FOREX.com receives a research rating of 4.5 stars from ForexBrokers.com, ranking 9th out of 63 brokers, which underscores its strong research provision. In contrast, GBE brokers maintains a research rating of 3 stars and is ranked significantly lower at 62nd place. Though GBE brokers do provide essential market insights, FOREX.com offers a wider range of premium research tools and news sources, making it a more comprehensive option for traders looking for in-depth market analysis.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educating beginners in forex and CFDs trading, FOREX.com stands out as a more comprehensive choice compared to GBE brokers. FOREX.com provides a wealth of educational materials, including over ten articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on forex and CFDs. In contrast, GBE brokers falls short, not meeting the same minimum content requirement. For those who prefer learning through interactive sessions, FOREX.com offers monthly webinars along with a searchable archive of past sessions, a feature entirely absent from GBE brokers' offerings.
Beginners can also benefit from FOREX.com's extensive library of educational videos, which covers both entry-level and advanced trading topics. GBE brokers does not provide a comparable selection of videos for either category. Additionally, FOREX.com includes an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms to help newcomers become familiar with essential jargon. This is another resource GBE brokers does not offer. It's no surprise that FOREX.com scores 4.5 stars for its educational resources, ranking 4th out of 63 brokers, while GBE brokers receives a modest 3 stars, placing it at the bottom of the list at 63rd. Overall, FOREX.com presents itself as a top educational hub for new traders looking to dive into the world of forex and CFDs effectively.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that FOREX.com is better than GBE brokers. FOREX.com finished with an overall rank of #5, while GBE brokers finished with an overall rank of #56.
FOREX.com is a trusted brand that delivers an excellent trading experience for forex and CFDs traders across the globe. It offers a wide range of markets and provides an impressive suite of proprietary platforms – alongside limited access to MetaTrader.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both FOREX.com and GBE brokers do not provide the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both FOREX.com and GBE brokers offer ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires for depositing and withdrawing account funds, but only GBE brokers provides Skrill 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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | FOREX.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FOREX.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Regulation | FOREX.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2013 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FOREX.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FOREX.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | FOREX.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 91 | 71 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 | FOREX.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FOREX.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $500 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | FOREX.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FOREX.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 20 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FOREX.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 88 | 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 | FOREX.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FOREX.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | FOREX.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FOREX.com Review |
| Overall | FOREX.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill