7 Best Forex Brokers for Scalping: 2026 Edition
Finding the right broker for scalping is much harder than it looks. Most broker comparison sites will highlight low spreads and a commonly used trading platform, but scalping demands so much more. It requires fast, quality, transparent execution, deep liquidity, one-click trading execution, and low costs – not just the spread but the commission too.
- Rankings are not for sale — the order comes from our test scores; no broker can pay for a higher spot.
- The authority on broker reviews since 2011 — traders have relied on our independent broker testing for over a decade.
- 80+ brokers tested every year — we test the whole market, so we know the benchmark — and which brokers actually beat it.
- Every broker takes the same test — one published scoring system: 9 weighted categories, 250+ variables, measured hands-on by our analysts.
- Every fact is checked twice — a dedicated editor re-verifies each data point, from licenses to spreads, before publication.
Fortunately, we’ve done the hard work for you! Our team of expert traders, analysts, and researchers tests over 80 brokers every single year by opening live accounts and assessing each one through a 250-data point checklist that covers everything – from regulation and fees to execution quality and platform performance.
For this list, we focused on the needs of scalpers, such as whether each broker permits this style of trading and whether their execution model is suitable for trying to profit from short-term price movements. We also tested how each of the broker’s trading platforms handles order execution and what the live spread is for different instruments.
Below, I’ve highlighted the best brokers across 10 specific categories, such as the best for low spreads and the best for beginners, to help you choose the right broker for your needs.
List of Top Forex Brokers for Scalping
Compare All Listed Brokers
| Broker | Score | Fees Score | Min Deposit | Max Leverage | Platforms | Visit Broker |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Exness | 4.6 | 4.6 | $10 | 1:1000 (BVI FSC) 1:2000 (FSCA) · 1:2000 (CMA) · 1:30 (FCA) · 1:2000 (CySEC) · 1:2000 (CBCS) · 1:500 (FSA) | 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. |
Swissquote | 4.3 | 2.6 | $1000 | 1:100 (FINMA) 1:20 (SFC) · 1:30 (MFSA) · 1:100 (MAS) · 1:30 (CSSF) · 1:30 (CySEC) · 1:30 (FCA) · 1:30 (DFSA) · 1:100 (FSCA) | MT5, MT4, CFXD, TradingView | Investing in FX & CFD carries a high degree of risk. Losses can exceed your initial investments |
IronFX | 4.4 | 4.0 | $50 | 1:30 (FCA) 1:500 (FSCA) · 1:2000 (BVI FSC) | MT4 | Our products are traded on margin and carry a high level of risk and it is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. |
FxPro | 4.3 | 3.0 | $0 | 1:30 (FCA) 1:10000 (FSA) · 1:200 (SCB) · 1:30 (CySEC) | MT5, cTrader, MT4, FxPro Trading Platform, FxPro Mobile App, TradingView | 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) |
IG | 4.7 | 3.8 | $50 | 1:30 (FCA) 1:30 (JFSA) · 1:200 (BMA) · 1:30 (BaFin) · 1:50 (NFA) · 1:30 (ASIC) · 1:30 (FINMA) · 1:20 (MAS) · 1:30 (DFSA) · 1:30 (FSCA) | MT4, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, TradingView, IG Online Platform | 69% 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 your money |
FP Markets | 4.6 | 4.1 | $100 | 1:500 (FSA) 1:500 (FSCM) · 1:500 (Unregulated) · 1:400 (FSCA) · 1:30 (ASIC) · 1:500 (CMA) | 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. |
IC | 4.8 | 5.0 | $0 | 1:30 (ASIC) 1:30 (CySEC) · 1:5000 (FSA) · 1:400 (CMA) · 1:200 (SCB) | 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. |
How Did FXEmpire Choose the Best Brokers for Scalping?
- We first checked that each broker permits the use of short-term scalping strategies, as some brokers (typically dealing desk brokers) do not allow this style of trading.
- To scalp the market successfully, raw spread accounts are essential. We examined each broker’s account type to ensure they offer ECN, STP, or DMA trading accounts.
- After opening a live account, we tested the broker’s live spreads to ensure they beat the industry average and are low enough to execute scalping strategies.
- We tested each broker’s trading platform and looked for useful scalping tools, such as one-click trade execution, built-in trading signals, and market research
- As the quality of order execution can have a significant impact on your profitability, we researched the broker’s execution speed, handling of slippage and requotes, and any minimum order distance restrictions.
- We also reviewed each broker’s overall offering, such as the research tools it provides, educational resources, and more.
Using our comprehensive testing methodology, we have identified the best forex brokers for scalping this year. Let’s see who made the list.
Best Overall
- $10Min Deposit
- 293Tradable Instruments
- LowFees
Why We Picked It
Exness was founded in 2008 and is licensed by multiple regulators around the world but does not accept clients from Europe or the UK. The Zero account is the best option for scalpers as it offers raw spreads from 0.0 pips and a low commission from 0.05 USD per side, per lot.
- Regulation: FCA, CySEC, CMA, FSCA, JSC, FSA, CBCS, FSC BVI, FSC Mauritius
- Best Account for Scalping: Zero
- Platforms: Exness Terminal & Trade App, MT4, MT5, Copy Trading
- Scalping Features: One-click execution, free VPS, 120+ forex pairs
The Zero account also has unlimited leverage, allowing scalpers to take on many trades at one time and no minimum order distance requirement, which means you can place orders very close to the market price. Prices will always be filled as there is a no requote policy.
Of all the trading platforms available, scalpers may opt for the MT5 platform, which provides 21 different timeframes, 38 inbuilt indicators and 22 analytical tools to trade on over 120 forex pairs. The platform provides access to Depth of Market and Level 2 quotes, enabling you to see the market depth of orders at different prices. The built-in forex calendar is useful to know when economic announcements are being released, helping you to plan to capitalize on any volatility or big moves in the market.
Pros and Cons
- Raw spread accounts
- Low commission per lot
- Depth of Market from MT5
- 120+ forex pairs
- Not available for European and UK retail clients
- Offshore entities provide lower regulatory protections
Best Trading Platform
- $1000Min Deposit
- 454Tradable Instruments
- HighFees
Why We Picked It
Founded in 1996, Swissquote is a publicly traded Swiss bank listed on the SIX Swiss Stock Exchange, providing a secure trading environment for scalpers. As Swissquote is a bank itself, it provides deep forex liquidity by sourcing from its network of tier 1 banks which is ideal for scalping.
- Regulation: FINMA, CSSF, FCA, CySEC, MFSA, SFC, MAS, DFSA, FSCA
- Best Scalping Account: Prime
- Platforms: CFXD Web & Mobile, MT4, MT5, TradingView
- Scalping Features: One-click execution, DMA trading, FIX APIs, 9ms execution speed
The broker’s proprietary CFXD trading platform caters well to scalping strategies. I found the ability to set price alerts when instruments hit a specific price, build customized watchlists, trade directly from the chart and use a one-click trading button for fast execution. Our research shows that the broker’s average execution speed was 9 milliseconds last year, with a 100% fill ratio, which is far better than the industry average of 60 milliseconds.
For scalpers, the Prime Account is the best option. With spreads on EUR/USD from 1.1 pips, and a minimum deposit of $50,000, it’s not the most competitive offering but the range of trading platforms available and the features they provide, like trading signals, balance out the offering.
Pros and Cons
- Feature-rich CFXD platform
- Integrated Autochartist research
- 4 million+ instruments and products
- FIX API
- Inactivity fee
Best for Beginners
- $50Min Deposit
- 311Tradable Instruments
- MediumFees
Why We Picked It
Founded in 2010, IronFX caters well to beginner scalpers. I recommend the IronFX RAW ECN or VIP ECN account type. The Raw ECN offers spreads from 0.0 pips and a commission of $6 per lot, per side, which is high and nearly double the industry average of $3. The ECN VIP account offers spreads from 0.3 pips and zero commission. Based on my calculations, the ECN VIP account is the winner.
- Regulation: FCA, CySEC, FSC BVI, FSCA, Unregulated Bermuda/Anguilla
- Best Scalping Account: Raw ECN or ECN VIP
- Platforms: MT4
- Scalping Features: One-click execution, MT4 Advanced, Trading Central research
Another highlight of IronFX is its diverse range of educational content, which features 30 video tutorials covering platforms and trading tools, over 620 recorded webinars on YouTube, over 100 podcast episodes, 7 educational video courses and a wide range of trader psychology articles. Beginners can learn about technical and fundamental analysis, trading psychology, and risk management, which are all crucial to mastering scalping.
Pros and Cons
- Zero commission ECN account
- Comprehensive educational content
- Free VPS hosting
- MT4 add-ons
- No alternative to MT4
Best No-Dealing Desk (NDD) Broker
- $0Min Deposit
- 2090Tradable Instruments
- HighFees
Why We Picked It
Founded in 2006, FxPro is a no-dealing desk (NDD) broker. This means there is no broker intervention in your trades, with most orders being matched internally due to the high volume of its clients. I found one of FxPro’s best features for scalpers is their level of transparency in the quality of order execution.
- Regulation: FCA, SCB, FSA Seychelles
- Best Scalping Account: MT4/5 Raw+, MT4/5 Elite, cTrader
- Platforms: FxPro Web & Mobile, MT4, MT5, cTrader
- Scalping Features: One-click execution, Trading Central research, FxPro Squawk, 12ms execution speed
The broker publishes data, which most recently showed that most FxPro orders are filled in under 14 milliseconds. Nearly 80% of market orders were executed at the requested price, with 10% of client orders receiving either a better or worse price.
Furthermore, 98.59% of trades were not requoted. This means that the broker managed to fill 98.59% of trading orders which is very impressive. Some brokers may requote the price you want to trade at as they cannot fill your order which is likely due to poor liquidity from their liquidity providers or slow technology to fill orders instantly.
The broker also provides access to high-performance trading platforms for scalpers such as MT4, MT5, cTrader, and FXPro’s own Edge platform. For scalpers, the MT4/5 Elite account is the best due to offering spreads from 0.0 pips, a commission of $3.50 per side, per lot (which is line with the industry average) and the ability to access rebates starting from $1.50 per lot.
Pros and Cons
- No-dealing desk broker
- High transparency regarding execution
- Low spread and low fee trading accounts
- Advanced scalping platforms MT4, MT5, and cTrader
- Inactivity fee
Best for Tradable Instruments
- $50Min Deposit
- 19234Tradable Instruments
- MediumFees
Why We Picked It
Established in 1974, IG has been a household name in retail trading for decades. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, IG offers over 17,000 tradable instruments covering forex, stocks, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies and bonds. This is by far one of the largest selections of instruments for a retail broker we have seen.
- Regulation: FCA, BaFin, FINMA, ASIC, NFA/CFTC, MAS, DFSA, JFSA, FSCA, BMA
- Best Scalping Account: IG CFD Trading, L2 Dealer DMA (professionals only)
- Platforms: IG Web & Mobile, MT4, TradingView, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer
- Scalping Features: One-click execution, Autochartist signals, VPS hosting, DOM order book, DMA platform
In our live fee test, I found the spread on EUR/USD averaged 0.6 pips during prime London and New York trading hours, massively beating the 1.08 pips industry average for commission-free trading accounts, making it a top option for scalpers.
For professional traders, IG’s Direct Market Access (DMA) account receives quotes straight from the interbank market and IG’s liquidity sources at centralised exchanges and different investment banks, providing price transparency and liquidity for high-quality trade execution.
Pros and Cons
- 17,000+ tradable instruments
- Multiple trading platforms
- DMA trading for professionals
- Free trading signals
- The range of markets and platforms may overwhelm some beginners
Best MT5 Broker
- $100Min Deposit
- 10180Tradable Instruments
- MediumFees
Why We Picked It
FP Markets was founded in 2005 and provides access to the MetaTrader 5 platform, as well as ECN (Electronic Communications Network) and DMA (Direct Market Access) trading accounts (via the IRESS platform), making the broker ideal for scalping strategies. The Raw MT5 account is best suited to scalpers, as FP Markets offers access to a large liquidity pool and low-latency execution to minimize slippage.
- Regulation: ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, CMA, FSA Mauritius, FSA Seychelles, Unregulated SVG entity
- Best Scalping Account: Raw MT5
- Platforms: MT5, MT4, cTrader, TradingView
- Scalping Features: One-click execution, VPS hosting, DOM order book, Autochartist signals, Trading Central research
The Raw MT5 account offers raw spreads from 0.0 pips and a per-lot, per-side commission of $3.00, which is in line with the industry average. The best feature of the MT5 platform for scalping is the built-in Depth of Market and Level 2 price data, which allows you to see the volume of orders at different price levels, helping to identify areas of high liquidity.
I found the standout feature from FP Markets is the Traders Toolbox, which is a set of additional plugins and indicators for MT5, like an alarm manager, correlation matrix, stealth orders, a mini terminal and sentiment trader indicator. My personal favourite is the mini terminal as it has a built-in risk management calculator which the basic MT5 platform doesn’t have. This is great for scalpers who need to do risk management calculations in seconds directly on the chart.
Pros and Cons
- ECN and DMA trading accounts are offered
- MT5 Traders Toolbox
- VPS hosting
- Trading Central and Autochartist signals
- One entity is unregulated
Best Low Spreads
- $0Min Deposit
- 7342Tradable Instruments
- LowFees
Why We Picked It
IC Markets was founded in 2007 and caters to high-frequency and high-volume traders using MT5, MT5 and cTrader platforms. For scalpers, the cTrader Raw is the best option. IC Markets’ ECN pricing model means it quotes from liquidity providers and the interbank market with no dealing desk intervention. This allows the broker to offer fast execution speeds as their servers are located in the NY4 and LD5 data centers in New York and London.
- Regulation: CySEC, ASIC, CMA, SCB, FSA Seychelles
- Best Scalping Account: cTrader Raw
- Platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, ZuluTrade
- Scalping Features: One-click execution, Autochartist signals, VPS hosting, DOM order book, no minimum order distance restriction
It’s also why the cTrader Raw account can offer spreads from 0.0 pips, with no requotes and no minimum order distance restrictions, and a commission of $6 per round turn, per lot, which is in line with the industry average. I am a big fan of cTrader and use it in my own personal trading. The one-click trade execution, strong liquidity, and fast speeds make it possible to trade at the price you want, even in fast-paced markets like after news events. I also like the built-in risk management tool, which helps you to position size trades in seconds directly from the chart.
Pros and Cons
- ECN and raw spread trading accounts
- Low commissions, low fees, fast execution
- Multiple scalping platforms available
- High leverage and 24/7 customer service
- cTrader not available on all account types
How to Choose a Forex Broker for Scalping
Choosing a broker for scalping is not the same as choosing one for other trading styles, such as swing- or long-term trading. The checklist of what the trader needs to succeed is vastly different. Here are a few tips on what to check for.
Pricing: Raw Spreads are Essential
You may already know that as soon as you place a trade, it is instantly in the red by the size of the spread (the difference between the buy price and sell price). For scalpers trying to make a profit of 5 or 10 pips, this spread needs to be near zero.
Most standard accounts offered by brokers are commission-free, which means they incorporate extra fees in the spread. From our database of brokers’ live spread information, standard account spreads typically range from 1 pip to 1.2 pips on EUR/USD. This might sound low, but once you start placing 10 trades or more in a day, the costs quickly add up. The market also needs to travel further and beat the spread just to get you to break even.
See our guide for the Best forex brokers with lowest spreads.
This is why having a raw spread (aka zero spread or ECN) account type is crucial for scalping. These accounts will typically offer spreads direct from the broker’s liquidity providers and the interbank market of around 0.0 to 0.1 pips on EUR/USD with a fixed commission per lot, usually somewhere between $3 to $3.50 per side.
Check out our list of Best zero spread brokers.
For newbie traders, the commission per side, per lot may sound high compared to commission-free trading. After you run the numbers, most traders are very surprised. Think about it:
- Trading 1 standard lot with a 0.8 pip spread costs you $8.00.
- Trading 1 standard lot with a 0.0 pip spread and a $3.50 commission costs $3.50.
The commission-free account is nearly always the more expensive option. Scalpers need the most cost-effective option, which will be a Raw Spread or ECN account type. If the broker doesn’t offer you this, then stay away. From our list of best scalping brokers, Exness, IC Markets, FP Markets, and IronFX offer a form of Raw Spread/ECN trading accounts.
Execution Speed: 1 Millisecond Costs Money
Having your trades executed in 100 milliseconds sounds very fast, but, in fact, quite slow when it comes to trading. A slight delay in execution may be okay for swing traders looking for very big moves, but for scalpers, it can result in slippage or a requote. This is where the market has moved so fast that your price is no longer available.
This means that trading around news events is nigh impossible – unless you have a broker that offers fast execution. This means choosing a broker that offers a NDD (No Dealing Desk) execution, or STP/ECN execution, as this involves your order going straight to the interbank market or broker’s liquidity providers without human intervention – this is also known as market execution. Dealing desk brokers offer instant execution and can and do reprice orders, slow execution during heightened volatility and in some cases, may trade against you.
We’ve also listed Best ECN brokers and Best STP brokers.
Our multiple live tests have revealed that the most optimal execution for scalpers should be less than 50 milliseconds. From our list of best scalping brokers, FxPro, Swissquote and IC Markets meet this criteria.
Find more options of Best brokers with fast execution in our dedicated guide.
Stop Price Level: Check the Minimum Distance
Most traders don’t know that their broker may enforce a minimum “stop level.” This is the minimum distance from the current market price at which you’re allowed to place a stop loss or take profit order. If there is a stop level of 5 pips, this means you can’t place a stop-loss order, or take-profit order less than 5 pips away from the current market price. This isn’t ideal for scalpers who may be trying to target a 4 pip move.
I would check with the broker and in its terms and conditions that there are no minimum distance order requirements, as it could severely impact your ability for scalping. It’s important to check this before opening an account. It’s usually in
the contract specifications or legal terms and conditions. Some brokers, like IC Markets, go out of their way and advertise that they have no minimum distance order requirements.
Trading Platform: Speed and Stability are Crucial
Scalpers enter and exit the market many times a day, which means the platform needs to be fast and stable. One requirement to check for is that the platform offers one-click execution. If you have to confirm your orders via another pop-up box on your screen, you may have missed your entire trade.
Another useful feature is to look for Depth of Market (DoM), which shows you the volume of buy and sell orders at each price level. I like using this feature as it provides the ability to see where the large volume of orders is clustered. This can help to identify if the price will break through or bounce off certain price levels.
Platforms like cTrader and MT5 offer both features and are the go-to platforms for scalpers. I prefer the cTrader platform because of its built-in risk management calculator, which allows me to trade fast, yet safely. From our list of best scalping brokers, IC Markets, FxPro and FP Markets offer cTrader.
Explore the Best MetaTrader 5 brokers and Best cTrader brokers.
All the Brokers We Tested
Update history
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About the Authors
Jitan Solanki is a professional trader, market analyst, and educator. He day trades major currency and index markets and focuses on swing trading US equities and commodities. A qualified Market Technician, Jitan also works with trader education and brokerage companies on various projects. These include market analysis, live trading events, and broker reviews. As an experienced trader and educator, Jitan brings all his qualities in action when reviewing and recommending brokers.
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.
As a Senior Content Editor at FXEmpire, Ola has revised and fact-checked over 200 broker reviews and guides. Her profound understanding of financial markets has been crucial in developing the proprietary rating system.
- List of Top Forex Brokers for Scalping
- How Did FXEmpire Choose the Best Brokers for Scalping?
- Best Overall
- Best Trading Platform
- Best for Beginners
- Best No-Dealing Desk (NDD) Broker
- Best for Tradable Instruments
- Best MT5 Broker
- Best Low Spreads
- How to Choose a Forex Broker for Scalping
- All the Brokers We Tested
- Update history
- Related Guides