Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM vs Libertex, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
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FXCM and Libertex are both long-running online brokers, but they differ a lot in how they are regulated and viewed by ForexBrokers.com. FXCM was founded in 1999 and is publicly traded, while Libertex was founded in 1997 and is not listed on a stock exchange. Neither broker is a bank. Based on ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score scale, FXCM’s score of 95 out of 99 places it in the highly trusted range.
In terms of regulation, FXCM holds 4 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, which supports its stronger trust profile. Libertex holds 1 Tier-1 license and 1 Tier-2 license, and its Trust Score of 79 puts it in the average-risk range. For traders comparing safety and oversight, FXCM appears to have the edge on regulatory strength.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 1997 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
FXCM’s commissions and fees are slightly above the industry average for forex trading, but pricing can improve if you qualify for its active trader discounts. In May 2024, average EUR/USD spreads were 0.78 pips for its EU, U.K., and Australia entities, while the St. Vincent and the Grenadines branch averaged 1.38 pips. On commission-based accounts, the average spread was 0.28 pips before commissions, though the effective cost was closer to 0.74 pips once the commission is included. FXCM also offers its Active Trader Rebate Program in some regions, which can lower costs for high-volume traders, but it is not available in the U.K. or EU. FXCM is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #17 out of 36 for commissions and fees.
Libertex is generally the cheaper choice on headline forex pricing, especially on its own platform. Its most recently published EUR/USD spread was 0.3 pips, though this was based on a single trading day rather than a full monthly average. Libertex uses a spread-plus-commission model, charging 5 euros per side on its proprietary platform and 6 euros per side on MT4 and MT5, which makes the native platform the better value for active forex traders. It also keeps extra costs fairly limited, with a 10 euro inactivity fee only after six months of no trading or account activity, and free international wire transfers. Libertex is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #21 out of 36 for commissions and fees.
Overall, Libertex has the edge for lower headline trading costs, while FXCM may become more competitive for high-volume traders who can access rebates. If you want the simpler low-cost option, Libertex is the stronger pick for commissions and fees. If you expect to trade large volumes and can benefit from FXCM’s discount tiers, FXCM can still be worth a look.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $10 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.9 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.8 | 1.3 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
FXCM and Libertex both give traders access to forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, plus copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs. Neither broker offers direct ownership of U.S. or international exchange-traded shares, and neither lets clients buy actual, delivered cryptocurrency. On the forex side, both platforms list 46 currency pairs, so their core currency offering is the same.
The main difference is in overall market choice. FXCM offers 440 tradeable symbols, while Libertex provides a much wider selection at 1,573 symbols, which may appeal to traders who want more markets to explore. Even so, FXCM is rated slightly higher for range of investments at 4.5 out of 5 stars, compared with 4 out of 5 for Libertex. In ForexBrokers.com’s ranking for this category, FXCM places 21st out of 36 brokers, while Libertex is 25th.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 1573 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 46 |
| 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.
FXCM and Libertex both give traders plenty of ways to get started and manage trades, including free demo accounts, web-based platforms, Windows desktop downloads, copy trading, and MetaTrader 4. Both also let you trade directly from charts, which can make order entry faster and easier. For everyday use, each broker offers a mix of tools that should suit beginners and more active traders alike.
The biggest difference is that FXCM offers its own in-house trading platform, while Libertex does not. On the other hand, Libertex supports MetaTrader 5, which FXCM does not. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, FXCM is rated 5 stars and ranked #4 out of 36 brokers, while Libertex is rated 4 stars and ranked #27, giving FXCM the edge overall for platform quality and trading tools.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| 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 | 43 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FXCM and Libertex both make it easy to trade from a phone, since each offers iPhone and Android apps, plus stock or forex price alerts and watchlist syncing between mobile and online accounts. That means you can track the same symbols and get notified on price moves whether you are at your desk or on the go. In this head-to-head, both brokers cover the basics well for mobile traders.
Where FXCM pulls ahead is in charting and overall app quality. FXCM’s mobile app includes 59 technical studies, lets users draw trendlines, and saves those drawings automatically, while Libertex does not offer these charting tools in its app. FXCM is also rated higher for Mobile Trading Apps at 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #16 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared with Libertex’s 4.0-star rating and #28 ranking.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 0 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
FXCM comes out ahead of Libertex for market research, mainly because it adds daily market commentary and TipRanks research on top of the basics. Both brokers give traders forex news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, along with Trading Central tools, sentiment data, and an economic calendar. Neither broker offers Autochartist or Acuity Trading tools, so the comparison here is mostly about the extra layers of analysis FXCM provides.
That edge shows in ratings and rankings as well. FXCM is rated 4.5 out of 5 for research and places 11th out of 36 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com research category, while Libertex scores 4 out of 5 and ranks 26th. For traders who want more frequent commentary and a wider mix of research inputs, FXCM is the stronger pick, though Libertex still covers the core market research tools many beginners need.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| 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.
When it comes to learning support for beginners, FXCM is the stronger choice overall compared with Libertex. FXCM offers forex and CFDs education with more than 10 learning pieces, monthly online client webinars, at least 10 beginner videos, and even 10 advanced videos for traders who want to go further. This helps new traders start with the basics and keep building their skills over time. FXCM also scores 4.5 out of 5 for Education and ranks #13 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, which points to a solid learning setup.
Libertex also provides some education, but it falls behind FXCM in several key areas for beginners. It does offer forex or CFDs educational content, but it does not meet the same level of webinar coverage or video depth, with no monthly educational webinars and no 10-video collections for either beginner or advanced traders. Libertex is rated 4 out of 5 for Education and ranks #35 out of 36, so while it still gives users access to learning materials, FXCM is the better pick for beginners looking for more guidance and a wider range of study resources.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | 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 Libertex. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #10, while Libertex finished with an overall rank of #32.
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
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 79 |
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When comparing FXCM vs Libertex for cryptocurrency trading, both online brokers do not offer the purchase of actual delivered cryptocurrency, but each does provide access to cryptocurrency CFDs instead.
FXCM and Libertex are closely matched when it comes to funding and withdrawals, with both brokers offering ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire options for account deposits and withdrawals, while Visa or Mastercard availability is not indicated for either platform.
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 | Libertex | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 79 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Libertex Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | Libertex | |
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| Regulation | FXCM | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 79 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 1997 | |
| 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 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | FXCM | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 1573 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 46 | |
| 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 | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.9 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.8 | 1.3 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $10 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | No |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 43 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | FXCM | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 0 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FXCM | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | FXCM Review | Libertex Review |
| Overall | FXCM | Libertex | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 79 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Libertex Review |
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