Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM vs FP Markets, 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, established in 1999, and FP Markets, founded in 2005, are both well-regarded online brokers catering to forex traders. One major distinction between the two is that FXCM is publicly traded, providing an added layer of transparency, while FP Markets is privately held. Neither broker is a bank, ensuring they focus on trading services. In terms of regulatory oversight, FXCM holds four Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, which contribute to its impressive Trust Score of 95, indicating it's highly trusted.
FP Markets, on the other hand, holds two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, earning it a still respectable Trust Score of 89, marking it as trusted. This comparison highlights that both brokers are reliable choices, with FXCM having the edge due to its higher trust rating and public company status.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2005 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
Comparing commissions and fees, FXCM and FP Markets take different tacks on pricing. FXCM earns 4 out of 5 stars for Commissions and Fees and ranks 17th of 63 brokers. FP Markets scores 5 out of 5 stars, ranks 11th of 63, and won Best in Class for Commissions and Fees in the 2024 Annual Awards.
FXCM’s forex costs are slightly above the industry average on its spread-only pricing. In May 2024, EUR/USD spreads averaged 0.78 pips for its EU, U.K., and Australia offerings (1.38 pips at its St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity). Its commission-based account averaged a 0.28‑pip core spread that month; after adding the commission-equivalent of about 0.50 pips per round turn, the all‑in cost is closer to 0.74 pips. FXCM also offers discounts for high‑volume traders: outside the U.K. and EU this comes via its five‑tier Active Trader Rebate Program ($5–$25 per million traded), while in the U.K. large accounts that trade roughly $50 million per month can see commissions drop to $2.50 per side ($5 round turn). As with most brokers, spreads can widen at rollover or during unusual market conditions.
FP Markets focuses on low-cost, commission-based pricing for forex. Its Raw ECN account averaged about 0.1 pips on EUR/USD as of October 2023, around 0.8 pips all‑in after the $6 per round‑turn commission; the Standard account averaged about 1.1 pips. The same structure applies on cTrader. For share CFDs in Australia, FP Markets’ Iress platform offers DMA with full depth of book, but ViewPoint plans can include platform and data fees unless you qualify for Premier or generate at least AUD 150 in monthly commissions—better suited to very active or higher‑balance traders. In short, FXCM’s commission-based pricing can be competitive, but FP Markets is recognized for sharper pricing overall, especially for high‑volume traders.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $100 AUD |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.9 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.9 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing FXCM vs FP Markets for range of investments: both support forex trading (CFD or spot) and offer copy trading. Each provides crypto via CFDs, but neither lets you buy actual cryptocurrency or real exchange-traded shares on U.S. or international exchanges. The standout difference is the size of the product lineup—FXCM lists 440 tradeable symbols with 46 forex pairs, while FP Markets offers about 10,000 symbols with 71 forex pairs. Reflecting this coverage, ForexBrokers.com rates FXCM 3.5/5 stars (21st out of 63) for Range of Investments, versus FP Markets at 4.5/5 stars (16th out of 63).
If you want a focused selection with familiar tools like copy trading and crypto CFDs, FXCM fits the bill. If a much larger menu of markets and more currency pairs matters most, FP Markets is the stronger choice.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 10000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 71 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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.
Comparing online brokers FXCM and FP Markets on trading platforms and tools, both check a lot of must-have boxes. Each offers a free demo (paper) trading account, a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop download, a web-based platform, copy trading, and MetaTrader 4 (MT4). Both also let you place trades directly from charts. A key difference is MetaTrader 5 (MT5): FP Markets supports MT5, while FXCM does not.
For charting and workflow, both brands include technical indicators and customizable watch lists to help you analyze markets and manage symbols. According to ForexBrokers.com, FXCM earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, while FP Markets earns 4 stars and ranks #22. If you want MT5 alongside MT4, FP Markets is a natural pick; if you value a higher-rated platform and tools experience, FXCM stands out.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FXCM and FP Markets both deliver mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, complete with price alerts, trendline drawing tools, and auto‑saved chart annotations. FXCM stands out for convenience with watchlist syncing, so changes you make on mobile appear in your online account, and vice versa. For charting, FXCM offers 59 technical studies in its app, while FP Markets uses MetaTrader’s default indicator set.
In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, FXCM’s mobile apps earned 4.5 stars and ranked #16 out of 63 brokers, while FP Markets received 4 stars and ranked #20. If you want more built‑in indicators and synced watchlists, FXCM is the stronger pick; if you prefer the familiar MetaTrader experience and can live without watchlist sync, FP Markets is a solid alternative.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | MetaTrader (Default) |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
In the FXCM vs FP Markets comparison for market research, FXCM has a slight edge. FXCM earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #11 of 63 brokers for Research on ForexBrokers.com, while FP Markets scores 4 stars and ranks #22. Both brokers cover the essentials: daily market commentary, real-time forex news from major outlets like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, Trading Central analytics, sentiment tools that show long vs. short positioning, and an economic calendar for upcoming events.
The key differences come down to extra tools. FXCM includes TipRanks research to help with idea generation and checking analyst views, while FP Markets offers Autochartist for automated chart pattern and volatility scans. Neither broker provides Acuity Trading tools such as Signal Centre. If you want TipRanks and a slightly higher-rated research experience, FXCM is the better pick; if you prefer Autochartist to support your technical analysis, FP Markets is a solid alternative.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
FXCM vs FP Markets for beginner education: both brokers offer forex and CFD education with well over 10 learning pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. Each hosts client webinars at least once a month. If you prefer video learning, both provide 10+ beginner videos and 10+ advanced videos, letting you move from the basics to more complex topics at your own pace.
When it comes to quality scores, FXCM holds a higher Education rating at 4.5/5 and ranks #13 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while FP Markets scores 4/5 and ranks #22. That edge makes FXCM a slightly stronger choice if you want higher-rated education and a clearer learning path. FP Markets is still a solid pick for beginners who value frequent webinars and a wide set of beginner and advanced videos.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | 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 FP Markets. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #10, while FP Markets finished with an overall rank of #19.
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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FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 95 | 89 |
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Online brokers FXCM and FP Markets do not allow buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Comparing online brokers FXCM vs FP Markets: both support PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers, only FXCM offers ACH/SEPA deposits and withdrawals, and Visa/Mastercard availability for either broker is not specified.
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 | FP Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 89 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | FP Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | FP Markets | |
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| Regulation | FXCM | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 89 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2005 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | FXCM | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 10000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 71 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.9 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.9 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $100 AUD | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FXCM | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | MetaTrader (Default) | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FXCM | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | FXCM Review | FP Markets Review |
| Overall | FXCM | FP Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 89 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | FP Markets Review |
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