Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM 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.
FXCM, established in 1999, is a well-regarded online broker known for its solid regulatory standing and public listing. It holds an impressive Trust Score of 95 from ForexBrokers.com, indicating it is highly trusted. FXCM's strong regulatory position is underscored by its possession of 4 Tier-1 licenses, the highest level of trust, and 2 additional Tier-2 licenses. It is not a bank, but it assures reliability through these licenses and its presence on a stock exchange, offering clients an added layer of transparency and accountability.
Founded in 2013, GBE Brokers is a newer player in the online brokerage industry. It is privately held and, like FXCM, is not a bank. It holds one Tier-1 license, providing a basic level of high trust for its clients. However, with a Trust Score of 71 from ForexBrokers.com, GBE Brokers ranks within the average risk category, which suggests potential clients should weigh this factor carefully. Without any Tier-2 licenses, GBE Brokers may not offer the same regulatory assurance as its more established counterpart, FXCM.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2013 |
| 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 GBE Brokers both offer competitive pricing structures, though there are key distinctions, particularly in terms of commissions and fees. FXCM stands out with its multiple account options offering varying spreads. For its standard account, FXCM's spreads on the EUR/USD averaged 0.78 pips in May 2024 for its EU, UK, and Australia clients, and 1.38 pips for its St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity, which is slightly higher than the industry average. On commission-based accounts, however, the spreads averaged 0.28 pips, excluding commissions, with the effective spread nearing 0.74 pips when incorporating commission costs. Active traders might benefit from tiered rebate programs, though the best discounts are restricted by geography and trading volume.
GBE Brokers, while not providing specific spread data, matches FXCM with a four-star rating for commissions and fees. However, without detailed spread information, direct comparison on these specific metrics remains challenging. It's worth noting that GBE Brokers ranks lower than FXCM in the ForexBrokers.com ranking, coming in at #37 compared to FXCM's #24 out of 63 brokers.
Ultimately, while both FXCM and GBE Brokers receive a commendable four-star rating for their commissions and fees, FXCM offers more detailed pricing with potential rebates for high-volume traders. This makes FXCM a potentially more appealing option for those trading in significant quantities, provided their geographic location allows for participation in the rebate program. GBE Brokers, on the other hand, might keep the pricing model simpler but sacrifices transparency in the absence of detailed spread information.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $500 |
| 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 | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 GBE Brokers, both platforms cater to traders interested in forex markets by providing the option to trade currency pairs either as Contracts for Difference (CFDs) or spot contracts. However, GBE Brokers boasts a wider selection with 71 tradeable forex pairs compared to FXCM's 43. Alongside forex, FXCM offers a total of 440 tradeable symbols, while GBE Brokers provides 500, broadening the scope for investors looking to diversify within CFDs. Both brokers fall short in offering exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, implying that clients won't be able to purchase stocks like Apple or Vodafone directly.
In the realm of cryptocurrency, neither FXCM nor GBE Brokers offer the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, yet they both allow trading in cryptocurrency derivatives. For those interested in more passive trading strategies, both brokers support copy trading. Despite the differences in offerings, both FXCM and GBE Brokers share a similar 3.5-star rating for their range of investments. Within the ForexBrokers.com ranking for the Range of Investments category, GBE Brokers edges slightly ahead, coming in at #44 compared to FXCM's #47 position out of 63 brokers.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 43 | 71 |
| 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.
When it comes to comparing FXCM and GBE brokers on trading platforms and tools, FXCM offers several unique advantages. Both brokers provide simulated trading with virtual demo accounts, but FXCM stands out with a proprietary platform developed in-house. Both brokers also support web-based and Windows desktop platforms and offer the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) for those who prefer versatility. However, if you're looking for MetaTrader 5 (MT5) compatibility, GBE brokers have the edge. Yet, FXCM brings additional features like ZuluTrade for those interested in social trading, which GBE brokers do not offer.
Moreover, FXCM provides an extensive list of options for those who favor technical analysis with 10 drawing tools, compared to GBE's 15, alongside the ability to trade directly from stock charts – a feature available with both brokers. For watch lists, FXCM allows for 13 fields compared to GBE's 7, highlighting FXCM's capacity for better trade monitoring. This added user-friendliness and service versatility reflect in FXCM's higher rating of 5 stars and a better ranking of 6 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while GBE brokers earn 4 stars and rank 57th. Whether you're a seasoned trader or a newcomer, FXCM's well-rounded platform offerings make it a compelling choice.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| 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.
Both FXCM and GBE Brokers provide convenient mobile trading apps for both iPhone and Android users, allowing you to keep track of your investments on the go. With both brokers, you can receive stock or forex price alerts to stay updated with the market. FXCM's app also stands out with its ability to sync watchlist symbols between mobile and online accounts, offering a seamless experience when moving between devices, an option not available with GBE Brokers. Moreover, FXCM offers a richer charting experience with 59 technical studies compared to GBE Brokers' 30, giving you more tools for analysis.
Both platforms allow you to draw trendlines and view different time frames on charts, and they auto-save your drawings, so your work is never lost. Real-time watchlists are a feature of both apps, providing you current market data at all times. User reviews reflect FXCM's slight edge in functionality and reliability, with a 4.5 out of 5-star rating compared to GBE Brokers' 4 stars. Consequently, FXCM is ranked higher for mobile trading apps by ForexBrokers.com, securing the 16th spot out of 63, while GBE Brokers is at the 57th position.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
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 | 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 comparing online brokers FXCM and GBE Brokers for market research offerings, several key distinctions become apparent. Both brokers offer daily market commentary, providing timely insights for their clients. However, FXCM stands out by delivering forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, a feature not available with GBE Brokers. Additionally, FXCM offers robust analysis tools from Trading Central, while GBE Brokers does not. Both brokers provide a sentiment-based trading tool, displaying ratios of long and short positions across various instruments, but FXCM enhances its market research capabilities by incorporating data from TipRanks, which is absent in GBE Brokers' offering.
Further examination reveals more differences where FXCM proves more comprehensive in its market research tools. Both brokers share the provision of economic calendars detailing significant global events, yet FXCM’s overall research package has resulted in a higher rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars compared to GBE Brokers' 3 stars. FXCM’s robust suite of tools and high-quality information sources have earned it a #11 rank in the Research category among 63 brokers, significantly outperforming GBE Brokers, which ranks #62.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
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 | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing FXCM to GBE Brokers in terms of educational resources available to beginners, FXCM clearly pulls ahead. FXCM offers a rich selection of educational content, including more than 10 articles, videos, and webinars focused primarily on forex and CFD trading. They conduct online webinars at least once a month, providing a convenient way for clients to learn in real-time or access a searchable archive of previously recorded webinars. For those at the start of their trading journey, FXCM also offers a series of 10 beginner-focused videos, helping newcomers build a fundamental understanding of trading topics. Their educational resources extend to more advanced traders with a collection of advanced videos as well. Additionally, FXCM provides an investor dictionary with over 50 terms, making complex trading jargon much more accessible. With these offerings, FXCM earns a solid 4.5-star rating for education and ranks 14th out of 63 brokers in this category on ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, GBE Brokers falls short in providing similar educational opportunities for beginners. They do not meet the requirement of offering at least 10 educational pieces on forex or CFDs, nor do they host online educational webinars or maintain a searchable archive of past webinars. GBE Brokers also lacks a comprehensive set of beginner-focused or advanced educational videos, and they do not offer an investor dictionary with essential investing terms. These limitations reflect in their 3-star rating for education and their position as 63rd out of 63 brokers in the education category according to ForexBrokers.com. This comparison highlights FXCM as a more suitable choice for beginners looking to dive into forex and CFD trading with ample educational support.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
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 FXCM is better than GBE brokers. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #15, while GBE brokers finished with an overall rank of #57.
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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GBE brokers
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 71 |
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Both FXCM and GBE Brokers do not provide the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrencies, but they both offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both FXCM and GBE brokers provide a comprehensive range of deposit and withdrawal options, including ACH and SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, ensuring flexible and convenient financial transactions for their users.
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 | GBE brokers | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | GBE brokers | |
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| Regulation | FXCM | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 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 | 4 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 43 | 71 | |
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $500 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | 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 | FXCM | 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 | FXCM Review |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review |
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