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7 Best Forex Brokers for Gold Trading for 2026

Updated: Nov 5, 2026
Written by: 
Dan Blystone
Edited By: 
Ola Alder
Fact Checked By: 
Amy Jones

FXEmpire has been reviewing brokers since 2011, with 75 brokers reviewed this year alone. To find the best brokers for trading gold, we drew from our hands-on research, which measures 250 data points across 9 categories.

This list is made up of 9 winners and 3 runners-up who shine in certain areas. We zeroed in on the qualities that matter most to gold traders, comparing spreads, commissions, and swap fees to the industry benchmarks. We also took into account the range of gold instruments, extended trading hours, available leverage, and supporting tools.

Every “Best” title below is tied to a number from our 2026 re-test. How we test →

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  • How this list works. Our editors choose brokers that meet this page's criteria and impressed us in testing. The list is not in score order. Brokers pay to appear on our site, which can affect which brokers we feature and where. No broker can pay to change a score or a verdict.
  • The authority on broker reviews since 2011. Traders have relied on our independent testing for over a decade.
  • 70+ brokers tested. We test leading brokers the same way, so we can compare them fairly.
  • Every broker takes the same test. One published scoring system, with 9 weighted categories and 250+ variables, all measured hands-on by our analysts.
  • Key facts are checked before publishing. An editor re-checks licenses, spreads and fees against our test data.

Our Top 9 Gold Brokers

Best Overall for Gold
Competitive gold spreads, versatile trading platforms, and excellent 24/7 customer support.
  • 6 spot gold pairs, gold futures
  • 20-cent gold spread on Standard account (vs. 33-cent benchmark)
  • Gold trading signals via Trading Central
Trading Forex and CFDs carries a high level of risk to your capital and you should only trade with money you can afford to lose. Trading Forex and CFDs may not be suitable for all investors, so please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved and seek independent advice if necessary.

Best for Beginners Trading Gold
Educational courses, live webinars, platform tutorials, along with risk-free demo accounts and no minimum deposit.
  • 26-cent gold spreads (vs. 33-cent benchmark)
  • Micro-lot trading
  • Autochartist gold signals
Contracts for Difference (CFDs) are leveraged over-the-counter derivative products and carry a high level of risk to your capital. You should only risk capital that you can afford to lose. In certain circumstances, due to fluctuations in market value you may not get back your initial investment amount. You may not only lose your initial investment but you may incur a liability to pay a further amount to cover losses. This means you can lose more money than you have invested.

Best Mobile App for Gold
Sleek and feature-rich, with AI assistance, market analysis, sentiment data, alerts and performance analytics.
  • XAU/USD spread of 30 cents
  • Spot gold, gold futures, gold ETFs
  • 3 top-tier regulators (FCA, CySEC and ASIC)
Depending on the company, 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Capital.com Group. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Lowest Standard Account Cost on Gold
Ultra-low gold spreads of 16 cents, with all major retail trading platforms, and diverse gold assets.
  • $16 gold cost is 52% lower than our industry average of $34
  • Multiple Tier-1 licenses – FCA, ASIC, CySEC, BaFin
  • No account maintenance or inactivity fees
  • Spot gold, gold forwards, gold ETFs, gold perpetual futures, tokenized gold
73–89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.

Best 24/7 Gold Trading
Extended gold trading, 21-cent gold spread, and leverage up to 1:1000 on gold.
  • Gold market sentiment data
  • Crypto/gold pairs (BTC/XAU, ETH/XAU)
  • MT4, MT5, TradingView. Vantage web platform and mobile app + proprietary copy trading area
Trading derivatives carries significant risks. It is not suitable for all investors and if you are a professional client, you could lose substantially more than your initial investment. When acquiring our derivative products, you have no entitlement, right or obligation to the underlying financial assets. Past performance is no indication of future performance and tax laws are subject to change. The information on this website is general in nature and doesn't take into account your personal objectives, financial circumstances, or needs. Accordingly, before acting on the advice, you should consider whether the advice is suitable for you having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. We encourage you to seek independent advice if necessary. Please read our legal documents and ensure that you fully understand the risks before you make any trading decisions.

Fastest Gold Execution
Group-leading execution speed of 68ms, high gold leverage up to 1:1000, and MT4/MT5 support.
  • 24/7 gold trading
  • MetaTrader add-ons and VPS hosting
  • Gold signals from Acuity
Trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs) on margin carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Before deciding to trade Contracts for Difference (CFDs), you should carefully consider your trading objectives, level of experience and risk appetite. It is possible for you to sustain losses that exceed your invested capital and therefore you should not deposit money that you cannot afford to lose. Please ensure you fully understand the risks and take appropriate care to manage your risk.

Lowest Swap Fees on Gold
Exceptionally low gold swap fees, 85% below the industry average, plus diverse gold trading instruments.
  • Multiple platforms: MT4, MT5, Ava Web Trader
  • AvaProtect tool and Guardian Angel plugin for MetaTrader
  • Copy trading via AvaSocial app and Duplitrade
Trading CFDs and FX Options entail risk and could result in the loss of your capital.

Also Worth Considering

FxPro
MT4, MT5, cTrader and FxPro WebTrader with gold ounce and gram contracts, but a 32-cent standard spread (vs. 34 cents industry average) is only average.
73% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing money. (EU, UK)
Moneta Markets
24/7 gold on MT5 at a 21-cent Direct STP spread, but a $77 swap is 18% above the industry average.
Derivatives are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how Derivatives work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Trading derivatives is risky. It isn't suitable for everyone; you could lose substantially more than your initial investment. You don't own or have rights to the underlying assets. Past performance is no indication of future performance and tax laws are subject to change. The information on this website is general in nature and doesn't consider your personal objectives, financial circumstances, or needs. Please read our legal documents and ensure that you fully understand the risks before you make any trading decisions.
Fusion Markets
17-cent gold spread with MAM accounts on four platforms, but only ASIC among its licenses is Tier 1.
All financial products involve risk and you should ensure you understand the risk involved as certain financial products may not be suitable for everyone. Trading in margin foreign exchange and derivatives carries a high level of risk and you may incur a loss that is far greater than the amount you invested. Past performance of any product described on this website is not a reliable indication of future performance.

Compare All Listed Brokers

BrokerScoreFees ScoreMin DepositMax LeveragePlatformsVisit Broker
Exness
Exness
4.6
$10
1:2000 (FSCM)
1:100 (JSC) · 1:1000 (BVI FSC) · 1:400 (CMA) · 1:2000 (FSCA) · 1:2000 (FSA) · 1:30 (CySEC) · 1:2000 (CBCS) · 1:30 (FCA)
MT5, MT4, Exness Terminal
General Risk Warning: CFDs are leveraged products. Trading in CFDs carries a high level of risk thus may not be appropriate for all investors. The investment value can both increase and decrease and the investors may lose all their invested capital. Under no circumstances shall the Company have any liability to any person or entity for any loss or damage in whole or part caused by, resulting from, or relating to any transactions related to CFDs.
IC
IC
5.0
$0
1:30 (ASIC)
1:400 (CMA) · 1:200 (SCB) · 1:5000 (FSA) · 1:30 (CySEC)
MT5, cTrader, MT4, TradingView, Zulutrade
Trading Forex and CFDs carries a high level of risk to your capital and you should only trade with money you can afford to lose. Trading Forex and CFDs may not be suitable for all investors, so please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved and seek independent advice if necessary.
FP Markets
FP Markets
4.1
$0
1:500 (FSA)
1:500 (FSCM) · 1:500 (Unregulated) · 1:500 (FSCA) · 1:400 (CMA) · 1:30 (ASIC)
MT5, cTrader, IRESS, MT4, Mottai, TradingView
Contracts for Difference (CFDs) are leveraged over-the-counter derivative products and carry a high level of risk to your capital. You should only risk capital that you can afford to lose. In certain circumstances, due to fluctuations in market value you may not get back your initial investment amount. You may not only lose your initial investment but you may incur a liability to pay a further amount to cover losses. This means you can lose more money than you have invested.
Capital.com
Capital.com
4.1
$20
1:30 (ASIC)
1:200 (SCB) · 1:30 (CySEC) · 1:300 (CMA UAE) · 1:30 (FCA)
MT4, TradingView, Capital.com Web Trader, Capital.com App, MT5
Depending on the company, 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Capital.com Group. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Pepperstone
Pepperstone
4.4
$0
1:30 (ASIC)
1:30 (ADGM) · 1:400 (CMA) · 1:200 (SCB) · 1:30 (CMA UAE) · 1:30 (FCA) · 1:30 (BaFin) · 1:30 (ADGM) · 1:30 (CySEC)
MT5, cTrader, MT4, TradingView, Pepperstone WebTrader, Pepperstone Mobile App
73–89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.
Vantage
Vantage
4.4
$50
1:30 (ASIC)
1:30 (FCA) · 1:1000 (FSCM) · 1:1000 (FSCA) · 1:2000 (VFSC) · 1:1000 (CIMA)
MT4, MT5, TradingView, Vantage App, Vantage Web Trading
Trading derivatives carries significant risks. It is not suitable for all investors and if you are a professional client, you could lose substantially more than your initial investment. When acquiring our derivative products, you have no entitlement, right or obligation to the underlying financial assets. Past performance is no indication of future performance and tax laws are subject to change. The information on this website is general in nature and doesn't take into account your personal objectives, financial circumstances, or needs. Accordingly, before acting on the advice, you should consider whether the advice is suitable for you having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. We encourage you to seek independent advice if necessary. Please read our legal documents and ensure that you fully understand the risks before you make any trading decisions.
Tickmill
Tickmill
4.0
$100
1:1000 (FSCA)
1:1000 (FSA) · 1:30 (FCA) · 1:30 (CySEC)
MT5, MT4, Tickmill Trader
Trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs) on margin carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Before deciding to trade Contracts for Difference (CFDs), you should carefully consider your trading objectives, level of experience and risk appetite. It is possible for you to sustain losses that exceed your invested capital and therefore you should not deposit money that you cannot afford to lose. Please ensure you fully understand the risks and take appropriate care to manage your risk.
AvaTrade
AvaTrade
4.2
$100
1:400 (FSCA)
1:400 (ADGM) · 1:30 (ASIC) · 1:200 (BVI FSC) · 1:25 (JFSA) · 1:30 (ISA) · 1:30 (CySEC) · 1:30 (CBI)
AvaOptions, AvaSocial, MT5, Proprietary, MT4, DupliTrade, Ava Web Trader, AvaTrade App
Trading CFDs and FX Options entail risk and could result in the loss of your capital.
Plus500 US
Plus500 US
4.6
$10
1:50 (CFTC)
1:50 (NFA)
Plus500 Web Platform, Plus500 Mobile App
Trading with leverage comes with a high risk and may not be suitable for everyone.

The Best Gold Brokers, Tested

Best Overall for Gold

Tested by: Dan Blystone October 2026
Trading Forex and CFDs carries a high level of risk to your capital and you should only trade with money you can afford to lose. Trading Forex and CFDs may not be suitable for all investors, so please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved and seek independent advice if necessary.
  • Min Deposit
    $0
  • Tradable Instruments
    7342
  • Fees
    Low

What We Tested & Measured

I opened an account with the Seychelles-based Raw Trading Limited entity and performed my gold trading tests in October 2026 using the MT5 platform. I measured gold spreads at the London and New York market opens, recorded swap fees, and calculated total trading costs for a full-sized gold contract. I also verified the broker’s regulatory status and evaluated the responsiveness and quality of customer support. Full methodology →

Why We Picked It

I recorded Standard account gold spreads of 21 cents at the London Open on October 14, 2026, which is 38% lower than our benchmark of 34 cents. IC also delivers an outstanding range of gold CFDs with 6 spot gold pairs along with gold futures. Clients have access to 4 leading platforms with strong algo trading and social trading features. I also verified that the broker has high-quality 24/7 support. Spreads and swap fees below were recorded on 14 October 2026.

Key Features:

  • XAU/USD Standard Account Spread: 21 cents
  • XAU/USD Raw Account Spread: 5 cents
  • Raw Account Round-Trip Gold Commission per Standard Lot: $7
  • Maximum Gold Leverage: 1:2000 (Raw Trading Limited, FSA Seychelles entity)
  • Available Gold CFDs: Spot gold (XAU/USD, XAU/EUR, XAU/AUD, XAU/JPY, XAU/GBP, XAU/CHF), gold futures
  • Gold Swap Fees: Swap long charge of $57.59 and swap short credit of $39.70
  • Trading Platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Raw gold 5 cents + $7 commission = $12 all-in (vs. $34 industry average)
  • Sponsored VPS hosting
  • Trading Central and Autochartist
  • 940+ educational webinars
Cons
  • Lacks 24/7 gold trading
  • No proprietary web platform
  • Gold ETFs not available
  • No structured educational courses

Best for Beginners Trading Gold

Tested by: Dan Blystone October 2026
Contracts for Difference (CFDs) are leveraged over-the-counter derivative products and carry a high level of risk to your capital. You should only risk capital that you can afford to lose. In certain circumstances, due to fluctuations in market value you may not get back your initial investment amount. You may not only lose your initial investment but you may incur a liability to pay a further amount to cover losses. This means you can lose more money than you have invested.
  • Min Deposit
    $0
  • Tradable Instruments
    10180
  • Fees
    Medium

What We Tested & Measured

I opened an account with the Saint Lucia-based FP Markets Ltd entity and performed my gold trading tests in October 2026 using the MT5 platform. I measured gold spreads at the London and New York market opens, recorded swap fees, and calculated total trading costs for a full-sized gold contract. I also verified the broker’s regulatory status and evaluated the responsiveness and quality of customer support. Full methodology →

Why We Picked It

I rate FP Markets as a strong starting point for gold traders thanks to supporting tools like courses, webinars, and platform tutorials. Support is 24/7 and available in 40 languages, which is a boon for market newbies. Demo accounts allow users to test standard and raw account types across both MT4 and MT5. If you want to go live with low risk, micro-lot trading allows you to trade small. Spreads and swap fees below were recorded on 19 October 2026.

Key Features:

  • XAU/USD Standard Account Spread: 26 cents
  • XAU/USD Raw Account Spread: 12 cents
  • Raw Account Round-Trip Gold Commission per Standard Lot: $6
  • Maximum Gold Leverage: 1:200 (FP Markets Ltd)
  • Available Gold CFDs: spot gold (XAU/USD, XAU/EUR, XAU/AUD, XAU/GBP, XAU/SGD, XAU/CNH), gold ETFs
  • Gold Swap Fees: Swap long charge of $62 and Swap short credit of $37
  • Trading Platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Education scored 5/5 - Academy courses, webinars, tutorials
  • No deposit, withdrawal, or minimum-deposit requirements (4.9/5)
  • Autochartist gold signals
  • 10,000+ instruments
  • Copy Trading
Cons
  • No proprietary platform
  • Lacks gold futures
  • VPS not available in all regions

Best Mobile App for Gold

Depending on the company, 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Capital.com Group. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
  • Min Deposit
    $20
  • Tradable Instruments
    6313
  • Fees
    Medium

What We Tested & Measured

I opened an account with the Bahamas-based Capital Com Online Investments Ltd entity and performed my gold trading tests in October 2026 using the Capital.com Web Trader platform. I measured gold spreads at the London and New York market opens, recorded swap fees, and calculated total trading costs for a full-sized gold contract. I also verified the broker’s regulatory status and evaluated the responsiveness and quality of customer support. Full methodology →

Why We Picked It

I found the Capital.com app to have a smooth, intuitive design. Technical gold traders will appreciate advanced charting with 100+ technical indicators and 23 time frames. The news and analysis feed has steady coverage of commodities markets, so you can stay alert on economic data. Price alerts and stop-loss orders are available to help manage your risk. And I especially liked the built-in performance analysis tool, tracking statistics like P/L, number of trades, win rate, and profit factor. Spreads and swap fees below were recorded on 14 October 2026. The 75-cent gold spread from my first test is wide, but spreads are variable (I retested on November 3, and the spread was 50 cents).

Key Features:

  • XAU/USD Standard Account Spread: 75 cents
  • Maximum Gold Leverage: 1:200 (Capital Com Online Investments Ltd)
  • Available Gold CFDs: spot gold (XAU/USD), gold futures, gold ETFs
  • Gold Swap Fees: Swap long charge of $39 and swap short credit of $31
  • Trading Platforms: Capital.com Web Trader and mobile app

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • 5,500+ CFD markets
  • Market sentiment data
  • Web, MT4, MT5, TradingView
  • API access
Cons
  • Lacks 24/7 gold trading
  • No raw spreads account
  • Copy trading not supported
  • No third-party research

Lowest Standard Account Cost on Gold

Tested by: Dan Blystone October 2026
73–89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.
  • Min Deposit
    $0
  • Tradable Instruments
    1494
  • Fees
    Low

What We Tested & Measured

I opened an account with the Bahamas-based Pepperstone Markets Limited (SCB) entity and performed my gold trading tests in October 2026 using the Pepperstone WebTrader platform and MT5. I measured gold spreads at the London and New York market opens, recorded swap fees, and calculated total trading costs for a full-sized gold contract. I also verified the broker’s regulatory status and evaluated the responsiveness and quality of customer support. Full methodology →

Why We Picked It

Pepperstone stood out to me for its tight spreads in standard and raw (Razor) accounts, which are both commission-free for gold trading. The standard account spread of 18 cents is 47% lower than our benchmark of 34 cents. This reflects an all-in cost of $18 round-trip for a full-sized gold contract. The broker also impressed me with its wide range of gold instruments and diverse platforms. Spreads and swap fees below were recorded on 13 October 2026.

Key Features:

  • XAU/USD Standard Account Spread: 18 cents
  • XAU/USD Raw Account Spread: 16 cents
  • Raw Account Round-Trip Gold Commission per Standard Lot: $0
  • Maximum Gold Leverage: 1:200 (Pepperstone Markets Limited)
  • Available Gold CFDs: Spot gold (XAU/USD, XAU/EUR, XAU/AUD), gold futures, gold ETFs
  • Gold Swap Fees: Swap long charge of $82 and swap short credit of $29
  • Trading Platforms: Pepperstone WebTrader/app, MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • 5 versatile platforms
  • Reliable 24/7 support
  • Copy Trading
  • 28 EAs and indicators for MetaTrader
Cons
  • Lacks 24/7 gold trading
  • Instruments limited to CFDs
  • No third-party research
  • Lacks interactive courses

Best 24/7 Gold Trading

Tested by: Dan Blystone October 2026
Trading derivatives carries significant risks. It is not suitable for all investors and if you are a professional client, you could lose substantially more than your initial investment. When acquiring our derivative products, you have no entitlement, right or obligation to the underlying financial assets. Past performance is no indication of future performance and tax laws are subject to change. The information on this website is general in nature and doesn't take into account your personal objectives, financial circumstances, or needs. Accordingly, before acting on the advice, you should consider whether the advice is suitable for you having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. We encourage you to seek independent advice if necessary. Please read our legal documents and ensure that you fully understand the risks before you make any trading decisions.
  • Min Deposit
    $50
  • Tradable Instruments
    1056
  • Fees
    Low

What We Tested & Measured

I opened an account with the Vanuatu-based Vantage Global Limited entity and performed my gold trading tests in October 2026 using the MT5 platform. I measured gold spreads at the London and New York market opens, recorded swap fees, and calculated total trading costs for a full-sized gold contract. I also verified the broker’s regulatory status and evaluated the responsiveness and quality of customer support, which could have been speedier. Full methodology →

Why We Picked It

The XAUUSD247 contract allows Vantage clients to trade gold over the weekend, which is especially useful for reacting early to geopolitical events and economic news. Vantage also shines with raw-account gold spreads of 10 cents plus a $6 commission, $16 all-in (vs. $34 industry average), an outstanding range of gold instruments, and the flexibility of 4 leading trading platforms. The broker also earned the top score for education in our rating (5/5 vs. 4.1 FXEmpire average). Traders at the global entity can also take advantage of high leverage. Spreads and swap fees below were recorded on 13 October 2026.

Key Features:

  • XAU/USD Standard Account Spread: 21 cents
  • XAU/USD Raw Account Spread: 10 cents
  • Raw Account Round-Trip Gold Commission per Standard Lot: $6
  • Maximum Gold Leverage: 1:2000 (Vantage Global Limited)
  • Available Gold CFDs: Spot gold (XAU/USD, XAU/AUD, XAU/EUR, XAU/JPY), XAUUSD247 24/7 contract (1 oz), crypto-gold crosses BTC/XAU and ETH/XAU, gold ETFs
  • Gold Swap Fees: Swap long charge of $77 and swap short credit of $36
  • Trading Platforms: Vantage Web Trading/App, MT4, MT5, TradingView

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • 24/7 gold trading
  • Education scored 5/5
  • Copy trading
  • MetaTrader add-ons
Cons
  • Lacks gold futures
  • High swap fees
  • Slower customer support
  • Instruments limited to CFDs

Fastest Gold Execution

Tested by: Dan Blystone October 2026
Trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs) on margin carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Before deciding to trade Contracts for Difference (CFDs), you should carefully consider your trading objectives, level of experience and risk appetite. It is possible for you to sustain losses that exceed your invested capital and therefore you should not deposit money that you cannot afford to lose. Please ensure you fully understand the risks and take appropriate care to manage your risk.
  • Min Deposit
    $100
  • Tradable Instruments
    649
  • Fees
    Medium

What We Tested & Measured

I opened an account with the Seychelles-based Tickmill Limited entity and performed my gold trading tests in October 2026 using the MT5 platform. I measured gold spreads at the London and New York market opens, recorded swap fees, and calculated total trading costs for a full-sized gold contract. I also verified the broker’s regulatory status and evaluated the responsiveness and quality of customer support. Full methodology →

Why We Picked It

I recorded gold execution speeds as fast as 68 milliseconds on MT% market orders (13 October), which placed Tickmill at the top of the group by far. The broker also performed well on cost, with a raw spread of 8 cents plus $6 commission, $14 all-in (vs. $34 industry average). The global entity offers high leverage of 1:1000 on gold, giving plenty of flexibility to experienced traders. Surprisingly, swap fees on gold were rather expensive, making the broker less appealing to swing traders. Spreads and swap fees below were recorded on 13 October 2026.

Key Features:

  • XAU/USD Standard Account Spread: 24 Cents
  • XAU/USD Raw Account Spread: 8 cents
  • Raw Account Round-Trip Gold Commission per Standard Lot: $6
  • Maximum Gold Leverage: 1:1000 (Tickmill Limited)
  • Available Gold CFDs: Spot gold (XAU/USD, XAU/EUR), XAUUSD.24-7 weekend contract, gold ETFs
  • Gold Swap Fees: Swap long charge of $135 and Swap short credit of $33
  • Trading Platforms: Tickmill Trader/App, MT4, MT5, TradingView

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • 24/7 gold trading
  • Gold signals from Acuity
  • Raw gold 8 cents + $6 = $14 all-in (vs. $34 industry average)
  • Educational webinars
Cons
  • High swap fees
  • Lacks gold futures
  • Inactivity fee

Lowest Swap Fees on Gold

Tested by: Dan Blystone October 2026
Trading CFDs and FX Options entail risk and could result in the loss of your capital.
  • Min Deposit
    $100
  • Tradable Instruments
    1472
  • Fees
    Medium

What We Tested & Measured

I opened an account with the British Virgin Islands-based AvaTrade Ltd entity and performed my gold trading tests in October 2026 using the AvaTrade WebTrader platform. I measured gold spreads at the London and New York market opens, recorded swap fees, and calculated total trading costs for a full-sized gold contract. I also verified the broker’s regulatory status and evaluated the responsiveness and quality of customer support. Full methodology →

Why We Picked It

My tests showed AvaTrade to have by far the lowest gold swap fees in the group, with a swap long fee of $9.50, which is 85% lower than our industry benchmark of $65. The 29-cent standard spread came in 15% under the 34-cent industry average. I was also impressed that AvaTrade covers gold across spot, futures, options, and ETF markets. Spreads and swap fees below were recorded on 14 October 2026.

Key Features:

  • XAU/USD Standard Account Spread: 29 cents
  • Maximum Gold Leverage: 1:200 (AvaTrade Ltd)
  • Available Gold CFDs: Spot gold, gold futures, gold options, gold ETFs
  • Gold Swap Fees: Swap long charge of $9.50 and swap short credit of $0.50
  • Trading Platforms: AvaTrade WebTrader/app, AvaOptions, MT4, MT5

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Gold swap long $9.50 (vs. $65 industry average)
  • AvaProtect tool
  • Trading Central gold signals
  • Copy trading
Cons
  • Limited payment options in the EU
  • Inactivity fee
  • WebTrader lacks trailing stops

How We Chose the Best Gold Brokers

Trust and Regulation

Trust is our top consideration. We verify that every broker featured in our rankings is authorized by at least one top-tier financial regulator. We also examine corporate transparency, operating history, client protections, and any past regulatory actions. Brokers that fail to meet our standards for trustworthiness are excluded, regardless of how competitive their trading conditions may be.

Gold Trading Costs

Trading costs are core to our evaluation. We measure XAU/USD spreads during the London and New York market opens. We also compare commissions charged via raw-spread accounts, overnight financing (swap) fees, and other miscellaneous costs. To earn a spot on our list, brokers must demonstrate competitive overall pricing compared to the industry averages we calculated in our tests. That being said, gold prices are very volatile, so if the fees are within reason and the broker has excellent features for gold trading, we also consider them worthy.

Range of Gold Markets

We also take into account the variety of gold-related instruments that are available. Among spot gold CFDs, we check the availability of crosses (pairs that do not include the US dollar, for example XAU/JPY). We also look for gold futures, options, ETFs, and shares in gold mining companies. We evaluate each shortlisted broker’s gold instruments. A broader selection suits more strategies and holding periods.

Hands-On Platform Testing

FXEmpire analysts test trading platforms with accounts using live market conditions. We evaluate execution speed, charting quality, available order types, supporting tools, and overall usability. Mobile apps are also tested for functionality and ease of use. We pay particular attention to the features that benefit active gold traders, like trading signals, news feeds, and fast execution.

Customer Support

In the course of our reviews, we contact brokers through live chat, phone, and email. We ask about fees, regulation, and platforms. We record initial response times and evaluate the accuracy, clarity, and usefulness of the answers. To make the cut on our list of recommended brokers, agents must both respond fast and show relevant product knowledge.

Overall Experience

Our assessment extends beyond trading conditions. We evaluate the process of account opening and deposits/withdrawals, along with research and educational materials. We look for brokers with strong technical and fundamental coverage relating to the gold market via news feeds and market analysis reports.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Finally, we compare shortlisted brokers using our proprietary broker database. Performance is measured across nine weighted categories, allowing us to identify the strongest broker for each award. Our rankings reflect measurable differences in trading conditions and service quality, rather than promotional claims.

CategoryWeight
Platforms & Tools20%
Fees17%
Trust13%
Tradable Instruments11%
Research11%
Customer Support8%
Deposit & Withdrawal8%
Account Types & Terms7%
Education5%

How a broker loses its place

Our rankings are reviewed regularly. A broker can lose its place if its score falls below 4.0 or it faces serious regulatory action. It also drops if its regulatory status cannot be verified or its trading costs or conditions change.
Read our full review process

Who Tested What

Each broker review identifies the analyst who performed hands-on testing. The names tested here correspond to the analyst who performed the evaluation for the original broker reviews. In this way, we provide a clear record of accountability for our findings. Dan Blystone ran the October 2026 gold tests; the original reviews are by Dan Blystone and Plamen Stoyanov.

The Numbers, Reconciled

Our research covers 300+ brokers, assessed using dozens of variables across nine evaluation categories. This guide features 9 selected brokers, along with three honorable mentions that performed well but did not win a category award.

How This Page Was Made

Our rankings are based on original research and hands-on testing done by experienced broker analysts. We use software tools, including AI, to assist with fact-checking and cross-referencing information. However, the final selections are made by broker analysts and the FXEmpire editorial team.

Where to Go Next

More of our best-broker guides, grouped by what you trade, the platform you use, how you trade and where you trade from.

See all our best-broker guides →

All the Brokers We Tested

See a list of all the brokers we tested and considered for this guide
4XC
ActivTrades
ADSS
Alchemy Markets
AMarkets
Anzo Capital
ATFX
AvaTrade
BlackBull Markets
Bullwaves
Capital.com
DB Investing
Deriv
DLSM
Doto
DuraMarkets
Elev8
Errante
eToro
eToro US
Exness
FISG
Forex.com International
FP Markets
FP Trading
Fusion Markets
FXCC
FxPro
FXT
FXTM
Hantec
Headway
IC
iFOREX
IG
Interactive Brokers
IronFX
IUX
JustMarkets
Libertex
LiteForex
Mitrade
Moneta Markets
MultiBank Group
OANDA
OANDA US
OneRoyal
Pepperstone
Plus500
Plus500 US
PrimeXBT
PU Prime
Rock-West
Spreadex
STARTRADER
Swissquote
tastyfx
Taurex
TenTrade
Tickmill
TIOmarkets
TMGM
Trade Set Go
TradeSmart
Trading 212
Trading.com
Trading.com US
Vantage
Versus Trade
VT Markets
XM Group
XTB
YWO

Update History

Nov 5, 2026 · Ola Alder
We rewrote the page in our new format: seven ranked gold brokers with short cards, three runners-up, a full test card for every ranked broker, and a new methodology section.
Sep 10, 2026 · Dan Blystone
We moved the page to our new template. Plus500 US now appears in the country picker as our pick for US traders, and we added a summary card, a compare table of all listed brokers, a list of every broker we tested, and this update history.
Mar 15, 2026 · Dan Blystone
We added Capital.com to the list as our Best for Day Trading pick.
Mar 16, 2025 · Jitan Solanki
We removed MultiBank from the list and added FXTM as our Best MT4 Broker pick.
Jan 7, 2025 · Plamen Stoyanov
We swapped the categories of Exness and MultiBank: Exness is now our Best Overall pick and MultiBank our Best Gold Trading Platform pick.
Nov 28, 2024 · Ola Alder
We added Pepperstone to the list as our Best Research Content pick.
Aug 5, 2024 · Plamen Stoyanov
We added FxPro to the list as our Best Execution Speed pick.
Jul 21, 2024 · Jitan Solanki
We removed BDSwiss from the list, which now features 10 brokers.
Jan 28, 2024 · Ola Alder
We added Plus500 US to the list as our Best Metal Futures in the US pick, with its own broker card, and refined its summary the same day.
We change this page's date only for a material change, logged here. Typo fixes never change the date.

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About the Authors

Dan BlystoneBroker Analyst

Dan Blystone began his career in the trading industry in 1998 on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Later, Dan gained insight into the forex industry during his time as a Series 3 licensed futures and forex broker. He also traded at a couple of different prop trading firms in Chicago. Dan is well-equipped to recommend the best forex brokers due to his extensive experience and understanding of the brokerage industry.

Ola AlderSenior Content Editor

As a Senior Content Editor at FXEmpire, Ola has edited and fact-checked more than 350 broker reviews and guides. She continually refines FXEmpire’s proprietary broker rating system and keeps a close eye on industry trends, making sure our reviews reflect the latest changes in the market.

Amy JonesFinance Editor

Amy leads the prop trading area at FXEmpire, collaborating closely with industry experts to deliver insightful and trustworthy reviews. Her work ensures that readers gain transparent, reliable guidance in navigating the fast-evolving world of proprietary trading firms.