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Best Forex Brokers in France for 2024

Written by Zornitsa Stefanova
Zornitsa Stefanova is experienced forex and crypto analyst. She also covers various financial topics such as stocks trading and retirement investments.
, | Updated: September 3, 2024

France is one of Europe’s strongest economies and a major player on the global trading scene. A robust regulatory framework is in place to protect the integrity of the local financial industry and ensure fair trading conditions for all market participants, including retail forex traders. Many forex brokers are currently servicing customers from the country but not all are equally reliable.

After many hours of research, we compiled this list of the most trusted forex brokers in France to aid local traders in making a better-informed choice. We factored in numerous criteria during our vetting process, including regulatory background, pricing and order execution, range of tradable currency pairs, and platform features. Our team tested all recommended brokers with live accounts to ensure they offer nothing short of a superior forex trading experience to customers from France.

1Fusion Markets
Rating: 4.9 ⭐
74-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money
Top Rated
2Forex.com
Rating: 4.6 ⭐
77.7% of retail investor accounts lose money
3Global Prime
Rating: 4.4 ⭐
74-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money
4Spreadex
Rating: 4.4 ⭐
64% of retail investors lose money
5easyMarkets
Rating: 4.4 ⭐
71% of retail investor accounts lose money
6Capital.com
Rating: 4.3 ⭐
75% of retail investor accounts lose money
7Axi
Rating: 4.0 ⭐
The vast majority of retail client accounts lose money
8FxPro
Rating: 3.7 ⭐
74% of retail investor accounts lose money
9IG
Rating: 3.6 ⭐
70% of retail client accounts lose money
10XM Group
Rating: 2.2 ⭐
72.82% of retail investor accounts lose money

French Forex Brokers Ranked by Trustpilot Score

French Forex Brokers Ranked by Spread Commission

Forex BrokerEURUSDUSDJPYEURGBPGBPUSD
1. Fusion Markets0.070.130.231.01
2. Global Prime0.130.280.281.11
3. FxPro0.250.38
  • 0.1 (MT4)
  • 1.3 (MT5)
0.37
4. Capital.com0.61021.3
5. IG0.850.90.91.40
6. Spreadex0.690.90.8
7. easyMarkets0.71.01.00.9
8. XM Group0.80.91.50.9
9. Forex.com11.21.31.3
10. Axi1.21.41.11.2

French Forex Brokers Ranked by Commission per Lot

Forex BrokerCommission per lot
1. Forex.com$0 for Standard accounts; $5 per standard lot per side for Raw accounts
2. Capital.com$0
3. IG$0
4. Spreadex$0
5. easyMarkets$0
6. Fusion Markets$0 Classic Account, $4.50 round turn on Zero Account
7. Global Prime$0 Standard Accounts; $7 round turn on Raw Accounts
8. FxPro$0 on Standard Account; $3.5 per side on Raw+ and Elite Accounts
9. Axi$0 on Standard Account; $7 round trip on Pro Account
10. XM Group$0 Ultra Low Micro and Ultra Low Standard Accounts; $3.50 per side XM Zero Account

Important Note: French traders are recommended to register live accounts at brokerages authorized by the local regulator AMF or another EU-based watchdog that complies with the Markets in Financial Instruments Directives (MiFID I and MiFID II). AMF and EU-regulated brokers uphold some of the highest standards of transparency, safety, and compliance on a global scale.

Top 10 FX Brokers in France

  1. TRADE NOW 74-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money

    Fusion Markets Broker Details
    Supports FrenchNo
    French Currency (EUR)Yes
    RegulatorsASIC, FSA (Seychelles), VFSC (Vanuatu)
    Min Deposit$0
    Trading PlatformsMetaTrader4, MetaTrader5, cTrader, DupliTrade, Fusion+ Copy Trade
    Trustpilot Rating4.9 out of 1,662 reviews
    Number of Forex Pairs to Trade90+
    LeverageForex & Metals: 1:30
    Index CFDs: 1:5
    Cryptocurrencies: 1:2 (ASIC), 1:10 (FSA, VFSC)
    SpreadEURUSD: 0.07
    USDJPY: 0.13
    EURGBP: 0.23
    GBPUSD: 1.01
    Forex Commission per Lot per Trade$0 Classic Account, $4.50 round turn on Zero Account
    Deposit MethodsVisa, Mastercard, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Fasapay, Jeton Wallet, Perfect Money, Online Naira, Doku, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, USDT, Tether, Ripple, bank wire
    Withdrawal MethodsVisa, Mastercard, Bank Wire, Skrill, Neteller,Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Tether, Ripple

    Key Pros

    • Offers some of the lowest spreads
    • ASIC clients enjoy a negative balance protection
    • Supports popular trading platforms
    • Offers two copy trading platforms
    • Supports fiat and crypto payment solutions

    Key Cons

    • Does not offer investor protection
    • Traders outside Australia have no negative balance protection
    • Cannot set up an account in a minor currency
  2. TRADE NOW 74-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money

    Global Prime Broker Details
    Supports FrenchNo
    French Currency (EUR)Yes
    RegulatorsASIC (No. 385620), VFSC (No. 40256)
    Min Deposit$0
    Trading PlatformsMT4 Desktop, MT4 Webtrader, MT4 Android
    Trustpilot Rating4.4 out of 142 reviews
    Number of Forex Pairs to Trade56
    LeverageForex & Metals: 1:500
    Index CFDs: 1:100
    Cryptocurrencies: Up to 1:2 (Retail); Up to 1:5 (Pro and VFSC)
    SpreadEURUSD: 0.13
    USDJPY: 0.28
    EURGBP: 0.28
    GBPUSD: 1.11
    Forex Commission per Lot per Trade$0 Standard Accounts; $7 round turn on Raw Accounts
    Deposit MethodsVisa, Mastercard, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Gate8, Dragonpay, Fasapay, VNPay, Pagsmile, BPay, POLi, AstroPay, Bank Transfer, Interac, Perfect Money, PayID, Jeton, MiFinity, XPay, Crypto
    Withdrawal Methods

    Mastercard, Visa, Local Bank Transfer, Bank Wire Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, AstroPay, PayPal, Dragonpay, Perfect Money, Jeton, Interac, Cryptocurrencies

    Key Pros

    • Overseen by a top-tier financial regulator (ASIC)
    • No fees on deposits and withdrawals
    • Low fees for FX trading
    • Streamlined sign-up process
    • A broad range of currency pairs

    Key Cons

    • Could use more trading platforms
    • A limited range of educational resources
    • Does not offer Islamic or cent accounts
  3. TRADE NOW 77.7% of retail investor accounts lose money

    Forex.com Broker Details
    Supports FrenchNo
    French Currency (EUR)Yes
    RegulatorsASIC, MAS, FCA, CIRO, JFSA, CFTC , MiFID, CySEC
    Min Deposit$100
    Trading PlatformsMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, WebTrader
    Trustpilot Rating4.6 out of 1510 reviews
    Number of Forex Pairs to Trade80+
    LeverageForex & Metals: 1:30
    Index CFDs: 1:20
    Cryptocurrencies: 1:2
    SpreadEURUSD: 1
    USDJPY: 1.2
    EURGBP: 1.3
    GBPUSD: 1.3
    Forex Commission per Lot per Trade$0 for Standard accounts; $5 per standard lot per side for Raw accounts
    Deposit MethodsVisa, Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller, Bank Transfer
    Withdrawal MethodsVisa, Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller, Bank Transfer

    Key Pros

    • Supports a great selection of trading platforms
    • Enables easy mobile trading
    • Offers over 80 currency pairs
    • Provides a vast variety of products
    • Forex spreads can be very competitive

    Key Cons

    • Navigating platforms can be difficult for beginners
    • Instruments on MT4 platforms are significantly fewer than other platforms
    • Charges monthly fee after 12 months of inactivity
  4. TRADE NOW 75% of retail investor accounts lose money

    Capital.com Broker Details
    Supports FrenchYes
    French Currency (EUR)Yes
    RegulatorsASIC, FCA, CySEC, SCB, MiFID
    Min Deposit$20
    Trading PlatformsMetaTrader 4, TradingView
    Trustpilot Rating4.3 out of 10,796 reviews
    Number of Forex Pairs to Trade125+
    LeverageForex & Metals: 1:30
    Index CFDs: 1:20
    Cryptocurrencies: 1:2
    SpreadEURUSD: 0.6
    USDJPY: 10
    EURGBP: 2
    GBPUSD: 1.3
    Forex Commission per Lot per Trade$0
    Deposit MethodsBank transfers, VISA, MasterCard, Maestro, Apple Pay, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, Sofort, Przelewy, TrueLayer, iDEAL, Trustly, SPEI
    Withdrawal MethodsBank transfers, bank cards, Apple Pay, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, Sofort, Trustly

    Key Pros

    • Trusted by 580K+ traders across the globe
    • Trading guides for beginner, intermediate, and advanced traders
    • Mobile apps for Android and iOS devices
    • Low FX fees built into the spread
    • Negative balance protection

    Key Cons

    • There is an inactivity fee after 1 year
    • No two-step login
    • No price alerts on the web platform
  5. TRADE NOW 74% of retail investor accounts lose money

    FxPro Broker Details
    Supports FrenchYes
    French Currency (EUR)Yes
    RegulatorsFCA (No. 45052), CySEC (No. 078/07), SCB (No. SIA-F184), FSCA (No.45052)
    Min Deposit$100
    Trading PlatformsMT4, MT5, cTrader, FxPro Edge (proprietary)
    Trustpilot Rating3.7 out of 235 reviews
    Number of Forex Pairs to Trade70+
    LeverageForex & Metals: 1:30
    Index CFDs: 1:20
    Cryptocurrencies: 1:2
    SpreadEURUSD: 0.25
    USDJPY: 0.38
    EURGBP:
    • 0.1 (MT4)
    • 1.3 (MT5)

    GBPUSD: 0.37
    Forex Commission per Lot per Trade$0 on Standard Account; $3.5 per side on Raw+ and Elite Accounts
    Deposit MethodsVisa, Mastercard, Maestro, Bank Transfer, Neteller, PayPal, Skrill, Union Pay
    Withdrawal MethodsBank Transfer, Mastercard, Visa, Union Pay, Maestro, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller

    Key Pros

    • Over 2,100 CFDs across six asset classes
    • Zero fees on deposits and withdrawals
    • Floating spreads with no commissions on MT4 FX trades
    • Winner of over 100 industry awards
    • Fills orders within less than 13 milliseconds

    Key Cons

    • FX spreads are slightly higher than industry averages
    • Charges maintenance fees after six months of inactivity
  6. 6. Axi
    TRADE NOW The vast majority of retail client accounts lose money

    Axi Broker Details
    Supports FrenchNo
    French Currency (EUR)Yes
    RegulatorsASIC, FCA, CySEC, DFSA, FSA (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
    Min Deposit$0
    Trading PlatformsMT4 Desktop, MT4 WebTrader, Axi Mobile
    Trustpilot Rating4.0 out of 1,717 reviews
    Number of Forex Pairs to Trade80
    LeverageForex & Metals: 1:30
    Index CFDs: 1:20
    Cryptocurrencies: 1:2
    SpreadEURUSD: 1.2
    USDJPY: 1.4
    EURGBP: 1.1
    GBPUSD: 1.2
    Forex Commission per Lot per Trade$0 on Standard Account; $7 round trip on Pro Account
    Deposit MethodsVisa, Mastercard, Bank Transfer, Neteller, Skrill, AstroPay, Fasapay, Przelewy24, Boleto, Pix, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin, Tether, Stellar
    Withdrawal MethodsMastercard, Visa, Bank Transfer, Przelewy24, Fasapay, Skrill, AstroPay, Pix, Boleto, Neteller, Bitcoin, Ripple, Ethereum, Litecoin, Tether, Stellar

    Key Pros

    • Provides multilingual customer support
    • Standard and Pro accounts available in 10 base currencies
    • No minimum deposit requirements on Pro and Standard accounts
    • Over 70 FX pairs tradable from zero pips
    • Swift order execution and tight spreads

    Key Cons

    • A limited choice of trading platforms
    • Below-average number of tradable symbols
  7. 7. IG
    TRADE NOW 70% of retail client accounts lose money

    IG Broker Details
    Supports FrenchNo
    French Currency (EUR)Yes
    RegulatorsASIC, FCA, DFSA, CFTC, FMA, FINMA, BaFin, MAS, JFSA, FSCA, BMA (Bermuda)
    Min Deposit$50
    Trading PlatformsMT4, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime, IG proprietary software
    Trustpilot Rating3.6 out of 6,964 reviews
    Number of Forex Pairs to Trade80+
    LeverageForex & Metals: 1:30
    Index CFDs: 1:20
    Cryptocurrencies: 1:2
    SpreadEURUSD: 0.85
    USDJPY: 0.9
    EURGBP: 0.9
    GBPUSD: 1.40
    Forex Commission per Lot per Trade$0
    Deposit MethodsVisa, Mastercard, Bank Transfer, Wire Transfer, Visa Electron, Discover, PayPal
    Withdrawal MethodsVisa, Visa Electron, Mastercard, Discover, Bank Transfer

    Key Pros

    • Towering selection of over 17,000 tradable markets
    • Listed on the FTSE 250 index
    • Competitive pricing and low forex spreads
    • No fees on deposits or withdrawals
    • Demo accounts for risk-free forex trading practice

    Key Cons

    • Payment options are a bit limited
    • Customer support is slow to respond during busy hours
  8. TRADE NOW 72.82% of retail investor accounts lose money

    XM Group Broker Details
    Supports FrenchYes
    French Currency (EUR)Yes
    RegulatorsFCA (ref. no. 705428), (ASIC) (ref. No. 443670), FSC (license no. 000261/397), DFSA (ref. no. F003484), CySEC (license no. 120/10), MiFID, CFTC
    Min Deposit$5
    Trading PlatformsMetaTrader 4 and 5, MetaTrader 4 and 5 on mobile, MT4 WebTrader, MT5 WebTrader, MT$ Multiterminal
    Trustpilot Rating2.2 out of 723 reviews
    Number of Forex Pairs to Trade50+
    LeverageForex & Metals: 1:30
    Index CFDs: 1:20
    Cryptocurrencies: 1:2
    SpreadEURUSD: 0.8
    USDJPY: 0.9
    EURGBP: 1.5
    GBPUSD: 0.9
    Forex Commission per Lot per Trade$0 Ultra Low Micro and Ultra Low Standard Accounts; $3.50 per side XM Zero Account
    Deposit MethodsVisa, Mastercard. Skrill, Bank Transfer, Neteller, Apple Pay, Google Pay, UnionPay, Maestro
    Withdrawal MethodsVisa, Mastercard, China Union Pay, Skrill, Neteller, Bank Transfer

    Key Pros

    • Traders can choose from over 10 platforms
    • Covers a great number of currency pairs
    • Regulated by major authorities
    • Offers smooth trading on the go
    • Supports different account types with tight spreads and low fees

    Key Cons

    • Trading platform’s design seems outdated
    • Not listed on stock exchange
    • Charges an inactivity fee
  9. TRADE NOW 64% of retail investors lose money

    Spreadex Broker Details
    Supports FrenchNo
    French Currency (EUR)Yes
    RegulatorsFCA (No. 190941)
    Min Deposit$0
    Trading PlatformsTradingView, proprietary software
    Trustpilot Rating4.4 out of 93 reviews
    Number of Forex Pairs to Trade60+
    LeverageForex & Metals: 1:30
    Index CFDs: 1:20
    Cryptocurrencies: 1:2
    SpreadEURUSD: 0.6
    USDJPY: 9
    EURGBP: 0.9
    GBPUSD: 0.8
    Forex Commission per Lot per Trade$0
    Deposit MethodsMastercard, Visa, Maestro, Direct Debit, Check, Bank Transfer
    Withdrawal MethodsVisa, Maestro, Mastercard, Bank Transfer, Check

    Key Pros

    • Provides access to over 10,000 tradable symbols
    • Well-designed and intuitive mobile trading app
    • Offers spread betting on FX pairs
    • Commission-free FX trading with tight spreads
    • Seamless registration process

    Key Cons

    • No support for MetaTrader 4 or 5
    • Licensed by a single financial regulator (FCA)
    • Deposits under $/£50 may incur additional charges
  10. TRADE NOW 71% of retail investor accounts lose money

    easyMarkets Broker Details
    Supports FrenchNo
    French Currency (EUR)Yes
    RegulatorsCySEC (license no. 079/07), ASIC (license no. 246566), FSA (license no. SD056), and FSC (license no. SIBA/L/20/1135).
    Min Deposit$100
    Trading PlatformseasyMarkets, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView
    Trustpilot Rating4.4 out of 1,648 reviews
    Number of Forex Pairs to Trade60+
    LeverageForex & Metals: 1:30
    Index CFDs: 1:20
    Cryptocurrencies: 1:2
    SpreadEURUSD: 0.7
    USDJPY: 1.0
    EURGBP: 1.0
    GBPUSD: 0.9
    Forex Commission per Lot per Trade$0
    Deposit MethodsVisa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Skrill, Neteller, Fasapay, Sofort, iDEAL, Web Money, BPay, Bank Transfer
    Withdrawal MethodsVisa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Skrill, Neteller, Fasapay, Sofort, iDEAL, Web Money, BPay, Bank Transfer

    Key Pros

    • Offers tight spreads and low fees
    • Supports trading of over 60 currency pairs
    • Regulated by several reputable authorities
    • Supports a wide range of payment methods
    • Offers a proprietary platform

    Key Cons

    • Number of supported products is somewhat limited
    • Does not offer copy trading platform
    • Traders from certain countries may have access to fewer payment methods

Forex trading is legal in France but brokerages must satisfy an array of regulatory requirements to legally operate on French soil. Companies looking to provide forex trading services to customers from the country must gain approval from the local financial regulator, the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF). AMF authorization is beyond important as it signifies compliance with the country’s strict regulatory framework that aims to ensure fair trading conditions for all market participants and prevent illicit activities like money laundering.

French residents have access to various legal products and markets, including spot forex and derivatives like the contracts for difference (CFDs). AMF imposes various restrictions on leveraged retail trading to safeguard local consumers from the risks associated with investing in derivative instruments. Brokers are prohibited from aggressively marketing high-risk leveraged products to residents of the country. France also moved to outlaw the advertising and provision of binary options to local retail traders in the summer of 2019.

Forex Trading Regulators in France

The AMF regulates forex trading in the country under the provisions set out in the Financial Security Act of 2003, which also led to its creation. The body is responsible for the oversight of all authorized market participants, including forex brokerages, financial advisors, and asset management companies, among others.

Its primary objectives include maintaining the orderly operation of the financial markets, bolstering investor confidence, and ensuring local traders are sufficiently educated about the financial products they invest in. The AMF operates in conjunction with the Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution (ACPR). Integrated into the Bank of France, this entity monitors financial institutions and insurance companies for compliance with the country’s anti-money laundering laws.

Another mandate of the AMF is to ensure all financial companies operating in France adhere to the requirements outlined in the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II). The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) introduced this directive in 2014 as a means of unifying financial regulations across the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA). MiFID paved the way for the creation of a passporting system that enables brokers licensed in other EU countries to legally operate in France, and vice versa.

How to Identify Authorized Forex Brokers in France

Brokers authorized to serve French traders are easy to spot as they typically carry the stamp of approval of the AMF or another first-tier EU financial watchdog. As previously mentioned, MiFID laid the foundations for the introduction of a unified regulatory framework that enables EU-licensed brokers to provide cross-border trading throughout the EEA. Thanks to this passporting system, brokers registered in the EEA can distribute their products in all other member states without seeking further authorization from their financial regulators.

French clients can trade with confidence at brokers overseen by CySEC (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission), Germany’s BaFin (Federal Financial Supervisory Authority), and Denmark’s Finanstilsynet. Most European regulators, including the AMF, maintain databases of the authorized financial firms they oversee, making it easier for traders to double-check the regulatory status of the brokers they are interested in.

France Brokers Security

Forex brokers serving customers from France are subject to stringent regulations that aim to protect retail clients from unethical practices and ensure a fair trading environment for all. Companies adhering to MiFID must segregate client funds from their operational capital and store them in separate accounts at first-tier European banks. The practice ensures traders can promptly get their money back if a broker goes out of business.

Trading on margin with leveraged derivatives entails a significant risk of racking up crippling losses. EU and AMF-compliant brokers restrict the maximum leverage retail traders can use to safeguard them from running up a substantial debt. Leverage caps in France fluctuate between 1:30 and 1:2, depending on the volatility of the underlying assets.

MiFID also requires authorized brokerages to liquidate leveraged positions whenever a client’s equity drops below the minimum margin necessary to maintain them open, which is 50% under EU regulations. French customers will also benefit from negative balance protection, which prevents their trading accounts from going into the red during periods of extreme market volatility.

CFD providers authorized in France cannot actively encourage retail traders to invest in leveraged derivatives or aggressively advertise these products to the public. The French financial regulator prohibited all electronic marketing of forex, contracts for difference, and binary options in early 2017.

Brokers must inform retail clients about the risks inherent to leveraged trading by posting standardized disclaimers on their websites. The disclaimers should be clearly visible at all times and must contain the average percentage of retail clients losing their balance when trading CFDs with the respective broker. Traders who have lost money through company collapses are entitled to compensation of at least €20,000 per person as all France-authorized brokers participate in investor compensation schemes.

Negative Balance Protection at French Brokers

All forex brokers catering to customers from France offer guaranteed stop-losses and negative balance protection to retail accounts with access to leverage. This safeguard prevents inexperienced traders from losing more than their available balance and running up debt.

The mechanism is particularly useful during periods of high market volatility when leveraged trades can cause your balance to go into the red. The losses are only restricted to a trader’s initial capital, while the broker covers the rest. Negative balance protection, coupled with margin closeouts, is a powerful tool for risk mitigation and can considerably reduce your risk exposure.

Taxes on Forex Trading in France

Profits obtained from trading on the foreign exchange markets are taxable in France. Earnings generated through forex trading are thus liable for a capital gains tax of 19%. Retail traders must additionally contribute 17.2% in the form of social taxes that go toward supporting the local social security system.

A financial transaction tax is also in place, although it varies based on trade size. Various other factors can also impact taxation, including a trader’s overall income and how long they hold their positions (short-term versus long-term). We recommend you seek further assistance from a professional tax advisor to ensure you comply with all requirements of the French government.

Leverage Comparison at Locally Regulated and Offshore Brokers

As we previously explained, all AMF-compliant brokers must restrict the maximum leverage accessible to retail customers in line with the requirements outlined in the MiFID directives. Leverage enables traders to artificially inflate the size of their positions when having limited capital at their disposal. While this can potentially result in greater gains, closing one’s positions at a loss could lead to crippling debt for inexperienced investors.

These caps aim to mitigate the risk retail clients are running when using leverage to boost the size of their CFD positions. French traders can leverage their positions at maximum ratios of 1:30 for forex majors and 1:20 for forex crosses, gold, and major equity indices. More volatile financial products come with lower caps as follows – 1:10 for other commodities and non-major equity indices, 1:5 for individual stocks, and 1:2 for cryptocurrency trades.

Some brokers serve clients from France with licenses procured from offshore jurisdictions like Mauritius, Belize, the Bahamas, and the Seychelles. The regulatory frameworks in these countries differ vastly from those in France and the EU, making it possible for offshore brokers to offer considerably higher leverage to retail investors. Maximum leverage ratios for forex majors go all the way up to 1:3,000 in some cases. As appealing as this sounds, retail traders from France should exercise due caution when leveraging their positions at such high ratios as they can end up losing their shirts.

Professional Trader Requirements in France

French traders can gain access to higher leverage of 1:200 or even 1:500 provided they qualify for professional trading accounts. Locally authorized brokers require applicants to cover several criteria before they can upgrade their account status from retail to professional. Eligible clients must prove they have entered into at least 10 high-volume transactions per quarter over the previous year. The nominal value per high-volume trade should be no less than €50,000.

Additionally, applicants must have financial portfolios comprising €500,000 or more in assets. Their knowledge and trading experience are also taken into account. Customers interested in upgrading their accounts must work or have been employed in a professional position in the financial sector. They must demonstrate a sufficient understanding of how trading with derivatives works. Professional clients enjoy perks like higher leverage caps but have no access to negative balance protection, which is something to keep in mind before you upgrade to a pro account.

Trading Platforms at French Brokers

EU and AMF-regulated forex brokers are committed to delivering a seamless trading experience, accurate price quotes, and lightning-fast order execution with minimal slippage and few or no requotes. Some companies achieve this by creating proprietary trading platforms from scratch. Others use proprietary software in conjunction with third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and TradingView.

Each platform has its strengths and weaknesses, so we recommend you open free demo accounts to explore them all in further depth. Demo accounts have roughly the same functionalities as their real-money counterparts, allowing novice users to acquaint themselves with the interface and gain a proper feel of the features. Your trading style and experience level are two of the most important factors that should govern your choice of platform.


MetaTrader 4MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is primarily geared toward the needs of beginners who are just wading into the vast waters of forex trading. It is easy to work with but still has powerful capabilities and plenty of tools for charting and technical analysis.


MetaTrader 5MetaTrader 5 (MT5) can better accommodate seasoned French traders seeking to diversify their portfolios and perform more detailed market analysis. MT5 facilitates trading with additional instruments and boasts more advanced analytical tools.


TradingViewTradingView is ideal for French residents looking to exchange ideas and strategies with fellow investors as it is home to a global community of over 500 million users. Copy traders from France commonly have access to the cTrader platform, which comes with multiple order types, great charting tools, and the capability of replicating the positions of successful traders into your own portfolio.


Interested in learning more about forex trading regulations in France? You can easily expand your knowledge on this subject by following the useful links we provide below. You will find information about retail consumer protection policies, complaint procedures, licensed and blacklisted brokers, and more.

  1. AMF (Autorité des Marchés Financiers) is responsible for regulating all foreign exchange brokers registered in the country. The watchdog provides extensive information about the regulatory policies pertaining to retail customers and professional investors.
  2. Take your complaints to the AMF Financial Ombudsman when experiencing issues with a broker or another financial intermediary. Ombudsman Cohen-Branche and her team will assist you in resolving your disputes promptly and amicably.
  3. Banque de France runs a register (REGAFI) where residents can find companies authorized to engage in banking, payment or financial services according to the requirements of the Monetary and Financial Code.
  4. Follow AMF on social media for the latest announcements published by the French regulator. The watchdog maintains up-to-date accounts on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
  5. You suspect you are dealing with a shady forex broker? Search suspicious companies in the official AMF blacklist, available in French only.
Written by Z. Stefanova