Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM vs FXPrimus, 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 FXPrimus both serve as reputable choices for online brokerage, though they differ in their regulatory strengths and market presence. Founded in 1999, FXCM has established itself as a widely trusted broker, demonstrated by its impressive Trust Score of 95 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. This high score is supported by FXCM's holding of four Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, underscoring its commitment to adhering to top regulatory standards. Moreover, FXCM is publicly traded, allowing for greater transparency and oversight, which enhances investor confidence.
In contrast, FXPrimus, launched in 2009, has built a solid reputation, although its Trust Score stands at an average risk level of 71 out of 99. While it holds only one Tier-1 license and lacks any Tier-2 licenses, FXPrimus continues to compete in the online brokerage arena by focusing on customer service and trading conditions. However, it is not publicly traded, which may influence investor perceptions of transparency. Both FXCM and FXPrimus are not banks, which means they specialize exclusively in offering brokerage services without conducting banking operations.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2009 |
| 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 | 1 |
FXCM and FXPrimus both offer competitive structures for commissions and fees in forex trading, each receiving a four-star rating in these categories. However, FXCM ranked higher, coming in at #24 out of 62 brokers compared to FXPrimus's rank of #42 according to ForexBrokers.com. FXCM’s pricing is slightly above the industry average, with standard account spreads on the EUR/USD averaging 0.78 for clients in the EU, U.K., and Australia. In contrast, FXCM's St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity averaged a higher spread of 1.38 during the same period. Commission-based accounts at FXCM had a competitive average spread of 0.28 pips, excluding commissions, yet effective spreads increased to about 0.74 pips when commissions equivalent to 0.50 pips per round-turn trade were added.
FXCM also offers an Active Trader Rebate Program (unavailable in the U.K. or EU) with a tiered structure, providing rebates ranging from $5 to $25 per million traded, depending on the volume and tier. This is appealing for higher-volume traders, although competitors like Tickmill and FP Markets offer more attractive pricing for this group. For example, with specific account balances and trading volumes, FXCM reduces commission per side, influencing the effective spread positively.
On the other hand, FXPrimus does not have publicly available average spread data, which can make it harder for potential traders to assess its comparative pricing. Nonetheless, both brokers offer distinct advantages that cater to different trading preferences and volumes, inviting traders to weigh the benefits of their fee structures and incentives.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.78 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.78 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| 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 the range of investments offered by FXCM and FXPrimus, both brokers provide opportunities for forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts. However, FXCM stands out by offering a wider selection of 440 tradeable symbols compared to FXPrimus's 140. When it comes to forex pairs, both brokers are nearly matched, with FXCM offering 43 pairs while FXPrimus provides 42. Neither platform allows for direct purchase of exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international markets, meaning clients cannot buy shares like those of Apple or Vodafone directly, which might limit options for users interested in traditional stock investments.
Both FXCM and FXPrimus do offer copy trading features, catering to users looking to follow experienced traders. For cryptocurrency enthusiasts, neither broker provides the option to buy actual cryptocurrencies, but both do offer cryptocurrency derivatives for those interested in this market. Despite these similarities, FXCM has a nominal edge in investment range based on its ranking of #47 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared to FXPrimus's rank of #59. Both brokers share an equal user rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, indicating reasonable satisfaction levels among clients regarding their investment options.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 140 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 43 | 42 |
| 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 FXPrimus provide traders with a range of platforms and tools designed to meet various trading needs. For those interested in practicing their skills, both brokers offer free virtual demo accounts. FXCM and FXPrimus each boast their own proprietary platforms and support Windows-based desktop trading as well as web-based platforms. When it comes to popular trading software, both brokers offer the widely-used MetaTrader 4. However, FXPrimus goes a step further by also supporting MetaTrader 5, which FXCM does not provide. Copy trading is available with both brokers, but FXCM has the added advantage of offering ZuluTrade, whereas FXPrimus does not support this feature.
Charting is a crucial component of trading platforms, and FXPrimus edges out FXCM by offering more drawing tools—15 compared to FXCM's 10. However, FXCM compensates with more watch list customization, providing 13 columns compared to FXPrimus's 7. Both brokers allow trading directly from stock charts, enhancing the ease of executing trades. Despite these offerings, FXCM is rated higher for trading platforms and tools, boasting 5 stars and ranking 6th out of 62 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, FXPrimus receives a 4-star rating, ranking at 49th, highlighting FXCM's superior platform capabilities.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of FXCM and FXPrimus, both brokers offer user-friendly platforms available on iPhone and Android devices. They allow users to receive price alerts for stock and forex markets, ensuring that traders remain informed of market fluctuations. While both apps provide the capability to create watchlists with real-time quotes, FXCM holds a distinct advantage by offering seamless watchlist symbol syncing with online accounts, which is not available with FXPrimus. The technical analysis tools of FXCM are also more comprehensive, with 59 charting studies compared to FXPrimus's 30.
Both FXCM and FXPrimus enable users to draw trendlines and view charts in various time frames, such as daily, weekly, or intraday, with automatic saving of these drawings. However, FXCM's mobile app is rated slightly higher at 4.5 stars, in contrast to FXPrimus's 4-star rating. This difference is reflected in their respective rankings by ForexBrokers.com, with FXCM positioned at #16 among 62 brokers, a significant lead over FXPrimus, which is ranked at #48. Overall, for traders seeking a more feature-rich mobile experience, FXCM may be the preferable choice.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
FXCM and FXPrimus both keep traders informed with daily market commentary and provide economic calendars to track current and upcoming global events. However, FXCM offers a wider range of market research features compared to FXPrimus. Traders with FXCM gain access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, while this feature is not available with FXPrimus. In addition to market commentary, FXCM supports traders with advanced tools from Trading Central, which FXPrimus does not offer. FXCM also provides unique market research insights through TipRanks and offers a sentiment-based trading tool that provides valuable data on market positions across currency pairs.
When evaluating market research, FXCM stands out with a rating of 4.5 stars and is ranked 11th out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, FXPrimus has a 3-star rating and is positioned at 58th. While both brokers provide essential market commentary and economic calendars, FXCM's additional insights and tools create a richer research environment for traders, setting it apart from FXPrimus in terms of overall market research capabilities.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, FXCM and FXPrimus both provide a solid foundation, but there are clear distinctions in their offerings. FXCM excels by offering over 10 educational pieces such as articles, videos, and archived webinars centered on forex and CFDs. They host online educational webinars every month, with recordings available for those who prefer learning at their own pace. On top of this, FXCM makes it easier for newcomers by providing more than 10 beginner-focused educational videos and an investor dictionary featuring definitions for at least 50 investing terms, thus creating a comprehensive learning platform. This array of resources contributes to FXCM’s 4.5-star rating and an impressive rank of 14th out of 62 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com.
FXPrimus also offers a variety of educational resources, with more than 10 pieces focused on forex and CFDs, alongside monthly online webinars that are recorded and stored in a searchable library. However, FXPrimus falls short by not delivering a collection of beginner-specific videos or an extensive investor dictionary. Their educational offerings cater less to advanced traders as well, as they're lacking in advanced educational videos tailored for experienced individuals. As a result, FXPrimus holds a 3-star rating and comes in at 51st place in the education category according to ForexBrokers.com. For beginners eager to find an educational platform that grows with their learning journey, FXCM stands out as the more comprehensive choice.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that FXCM is better than FXPrimus. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #15, while FXPrimus finished with an overall rank of #53.
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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FXPrimus
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 71 |
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Both FXCM and FXPrimus do not provide the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, offering instead the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
FXCM offers a diverse range of deposit and withdrawal options including ACH, SEPA, PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, while FXPrimus supports Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, but lacks ACH, SEPA, and PayPal options.
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 | FXPrimus | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review |
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| Regulation | FXCM | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2009 | |
| 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 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 140 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 43 | 42 | |
| 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 | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.78 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.78 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $100 | |
| 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 | No |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | FXPrimus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review |
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