Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM vs Spreadex, 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 Spreadex both entered the online brokerage scene in 1999, offering a range of trading services to customers. While neither operates as a bank, FXCM distinguishes itself as a publicly traded company, providing an added layer of transparency to investors. Spreadex, in contrast, remains privately held. When it comes to regulation, FXCM boasts a solid regulatory foundation with four Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, contributing to its impressive Trust Score of 95 from ForexBrokers.com. This score places FXCM in the highly trusted category, indicating a strong level of confidence from both regulators and users alike.
Spreadex, meanwhile, holds a single Tier-1 license and does not have any Tier-2 licenses, which translates into a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 71. This score suggests an average risk for potential investors. Both brokers started their operations in the same year, but their regulatory landscapes and trust ratings vary significantly, making FXCM a more attractive option for those prioritizing comprehensive regulatory oversight and trust.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 1999 |
| 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 | 0 |
When comparing FXCM and Spreadex in terms of commissions and fees, both brokers offer competitive pricing, though some differences are notable. FXCM's forex trading costs are slightly higher than the industry average, with standard account spreads for the EUR/USD averaging 0.78 pips across its EU, UK, and Australia regions as of May 2024. In contrast, the broker's St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity shows higher average spreads at 1.38 pips. FXCM's commission-based accounts offer average spreads of 0.28 pips, but additional commissions bring the effective spread closer to 0.74 pips. Their Active Trader Rebate Program can offer significant discounts, but it's not available in the UK or EU.
Spreadex offers average spreads of 0.81 pips for the EUR/USD pair as of January 2024, with a minimum spread of 0.6 pips available 60% of the time throughout the month. While Spreadex's spreads are competitive, they generally do not provide tiered rebates akin to FXCM's Active Trader Program. As such, Spreadex users may see less variability in pricing based on trading volume, which could be an advantage for those preferring simple fee structures.
Both FXCM and Spreadex receive a commendable four out of five stars for their commissions and fees, reflecting their attractive offerings relative to the industry. However, FXCM is ranked slightly higher at 25th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for this category, compared to Spreadex's ranking of 27th. This suggests that while both brokers are well-regarded, FXCM might offer slight additional advantages in cost for certain traders, especially those trading in large volumes who could benefit from their discount programs.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.78 | 0.81 |
| 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 | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing FXCM and Spreadex in terms of their available investment options, both brokers offer forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts. However, FXCM provides a total of 440 tradeable symbols, while Spreadex significantly surpasses this with an impressive offering of 10,000 symbols. In the realm of forex pairs, FXCM offers 46, whereas Spreadex offers a slightly higher number of 52 pairs. Neither broker provides the option to purchase exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges. For cryptocurrency enthusiasts, both platforms offer cryptocurrency derivatives but do not support the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies.
FXCM distinguishes itself by offering copy trading, a feature not available with Spreadex. Despite this, Spreadex earns a much higher rating of 5 stars for its range of investments compared to FXCM's 3.5 stars. In rankings by ForexBrokers.com, Spreadex is placed 13th out of 63 brokers in the Range of Investments category, overshadowing FXCM, which sits at 47th. Overall, Spreadex offers a broader selection of investment opportunities, making it the more versatile choice for traders seeking diverse options.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 10000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 52 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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.
FXCM and Spreadex both provide simulated trading options, allowing users to practice with a virtual demo account—a useful feature for those new to trading. Both brokers also offer proprietary platforms developed in-house. However, FXCM provides a more diverse range of trading platforms, supporting Windows-based desktop downloads, web-based applications, and popular third-party tools like MetaTrader 4 and ZuluTrade. In contrast, Spreadex lacks a desktop download option and does not support MetaTrader 4 or copy trading features. These differences make FXCM's platform offerings more versatile, appealing to a broader range of trading preferences.
When it comes to charting and analysis, both FXCM and Spreadex allow traders to perform trades directly from stock charts. While FXCM boasts more options with 13 fields for customizing watch lists, Spreadex provides a slightly higher number of drawing tools, offering 11 compared to FXCM's 10. Despite some similarities, FXCM's trading tools have garnered a higher rating, earning a full 5-star rating compared to Spreadex's 4-star rating. In rankings by ForexBrokers.com, FXCM stands out with a position of 6 out of 63 brokers, whereas Spreadex is placed at 46. This signifies FXCM’s superior reputation in trading platforms and tools.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 58 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 10 | 11 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 13 | 8 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both FXCM and Spreadex provide iPhone and Android applications, offering traders flexibility across devices. Each app allows users to receive stock or forex price alerts, ensuring they can stay updated on market movements. However, FXCM takes a step further with their app's ability to sync watchlist symbols seamlessly with the client's online account, a feature not available with Spreadex. Both platforms support drawing trendlines and viewing different time frames on charts, but FXCM additionally auto-saves chart drawings, adding a layer of convenience that Spreadex does not offer.
FXCM's mobile app stands out with access to 59 technical studies for charting, compared to Spreadex, which lacks a specified number of studies. Both apps permit the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, catering to active traders. In overall user satisfaction, FXCM's app is rated 4.5 stars, outshining Spreadex's 4 stars. This preference is further supported by ForexBrokers.com, where FXCM ranks #16 out of 63 brokers for mobile trading apps, while Spreadex finds itself at #46, highlighting a notable difference in user experience and app functionality.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
FXCM and Spreadex both provide a comprehensive market research experience, including daily market commentary and access to forex news from high-profile sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. Both offer sentiment-based trading tools that help investors understand long and short position trends across various instruments, as well as economic calendars to keep users informed about current and upcoming global news events. However, FXCM sets itself apart by offering market research from TipRanks and tools from Trading Central, while Spreadex excels with its technical analysis offerings from Autochartist.
When evaluating their overall research capabilities, users have rated FXCM with 4.5 stars and Spreadex with 4 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, FXCM ranks #11 out of 63 brokers in the research category, indicating a strong position compared to Spreadex, which ranks #31. While both platforms provide valuable insights for traders, FXCM offers a slightly broader range of market research tools that may appeal to users looking for diverse analytical resources.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| 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 and Spreadex in terms of educational resources for beginners, FXCM clearly stands out. Both brokers provide a solid foundation for learning about forex or CFDs, offering at least ten educational pieces such as articles, videos, and archived webinars. However, FXCM goes above and beyond by hosting online educational client webinars monthly, a resource that Spreadex does not offer. Additionally, FXCM provides a searchable archive of these recorded webinars, giving newcomers easy access to valuable content on demand. Both brokers have committed to offering at least ten beginner-focused educational videos, yet FXCM also includes an extensive collection of advanced videos for more experienced traders, a resource missing from Spreadex's offerings.
Though both FXCM and Spreadex offer an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms, FXCM's educational resources receive higher accolades. It is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and is ranked 14th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Spreadex receives a 4-star rating and holds the 45th position in the same category. Overall, beginners looking for a comprehensive educational experience may find FXCM to be the more advantageous choice.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | 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 Spreadex. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #15, while Spreadex finished with an overall rank of #39.
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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Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 95 | 71 |
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While both FXCM and Spreadex do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, they both provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
In comparing online brokers FXCM and Spreadex, FXCM offers a wider variety of options for depositing and withdrawing account funds, including ACH, SEPA, PayPal, and Skrill, in addition to Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas Spreadex supports only Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, lacking ACH, SEPA, PayPal, and Skrill 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 | Spreadex | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Spreadex Review |
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| Regulation | FXCM | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 1999 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FXCM | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 10000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 52 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.78 | 0.81 | |
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 13 | 8 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 58 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 10 | 11 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FXCM | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FXCM | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Spreadex Review |
| Overall | FXCM | Spreadex | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Spreadex Review |
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