| Updated: June 13, 2024When it comes to Forex trading, being familiar with the different account types traders can opt for is of essential importance. One such type is the Standard Account, with a contract size for Forex amounting to 100,000 units of the base currency. Micro, large, demo, and swap-free accounts are also available, to meet the requirements of different types of traders. They are advised to pick a suitable account based on their requirements for minimum deposits, lot sizes, and maximum allowable leverage. To spare them the hassle of searching for the best Forex brokers offering Standard Accounts, we have compiled a list of 10 premier brands.
Fusion Markets74-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money
FP Markets73.85% of retail investor accounts lose money
AvaTrade76% of retail investor accounts lose money
Pepperstone75.5% of retail investor accounts lose money
eToro51% of retail investor accounts lose money
Capital.com75% of retail investor accounts lose money
Global Prime74-89% of retail CFD accounts lose money
Admirals73% of retail investor accounts lose money
AxiThe vast majority of retail client accounts lose money
XM Group72.82% of retail investor accounts lose moneyTop 10 Brokers Offering Standard Accounts
Fusion Markets is a top-rated Forex broker, authorized and regulated by the ASIC and the VFSC. To keep things uncomplicated, the company offers Zero, Classic, Demo, and Swap-Free accounts. While the Demo account serves as an excellent educational platform for new traders, the company provides its customers with the opportunity to switch easily from Demo to Live. The difference between Zero and Classic Fusion Markets accounts lies in the associated trading costs and whether account holders prefer to have the commission incorporated within the spread or not. Minimum and maximum lot sizes for standard account holders at Fusion Markets vary between 0.01 and 100 lots.
Gleneagle Asset Management Limited (ABN 29 103 162 278) trading as Fusion Markets, is the issuer of the Fusion Markets Products described in this communication. Trading in Fusion Markets Products involves the potential for profit as well as the risk of loss which may vastly exceed the amount of your initial deposit and is not suitable for all investors. You should read all of these Financial Product Service Terms, the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and the Financial Services Guide (available on our website) carefully, consider your own financial situation, needs and objectives for investing in these Fusion Markets Products and obtain independent financial advice.- 2. Global Prime
Founded in 2010 in Sydney, Australia, Global Prime is a leading Forex broker, regulated by multiple financial authorities, including the ASIC, the VFSC, and the FSA. The company offers free Demo Accounts, giving new traders access to advanced charting and analysis tools. Switching from a Demo account to a live Standard or Raw account is easy and depends on traders’ preferences. While spreads for Standard accounts start from 0.9 pips, those for Raw accounts are 0.0 pips plus a $3.5 commission. Last but not least, the company enables advanced traders to create their Global Prime Pro Accounts and benefit from flexible leverage.
Global Prime is a trading name of FMGP Trading Group Pty Ltd (ABN 74 146 086 017) and is regulated by ASIC and licensed to carry on a financial services business in Australia under Australian Financial Services License No. 385620. Gleneagle Securities Pty Limited trading as Global Prime FX, is a registered Vanuatu company (Company Number 40256) and is regulated by the VFSC. The website is owned and operated by FMGP Trading Group Pty Ltd, ABN 74 146 086 017. - 3. FP Markets
Established in 2018, FP Markets is a regulated Forex and CFD broker, offering tight spreads, fast execution, and advanced trading platforms. The Forex account types that traders can opt for are Standard and Raw. While the first features spreads from 1.0 pips, the second offer spreads from 0.0 pips plus a commission of $3.0 per lot. The minimum deposit requirements for both account types start from $50, whereas the maximum allowable leverage is 30:1. The minimum lot size at FP Markets starts from 0.01 lots. New traders are advised to try a Free Demo account first, without risking real funds.
10 per quarter for non-AU traders; 20 per quarter and notional volume of AU$1,000,000 per 4 quarters in the last 1 year 73.85% of retail CFD accounts lose money - 4. AvaTrade
AvaTrade is yet another award-winning broker, regulated across nine jurisdictions, including the CySEC, the FSCA, and the ASIC. Traders can choose between a range of account types, with Free Demo accounts recommended for novice traders to try out first. The broker’s Standard accounts are best suited for casual traders. Besides these account types, the company offers spread betting accounts, Islamic accounts, and professional accounts. They can all benefit from the brand’s unique AvaProtect™ feature, enabling them to protect a chosen trade against losses of up to $1 million in exchange for a predetermined premium paid at the time of purchase.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. - 5. XM Group
Founded in 2009, XM has become a large and well-established financial services provider, with more than 10 million customers from over 190 countries. The trading account types at XM are Ultra Low Micro Account, Ultra Low Standard Account, and XM Zero Accounts. The base currency options for the first two types of accounts are EUR, USD, and GBP, and for the third type – USD, EUR, and JPY. The minimum deposit requirements for all three types of accounts start from just $5, enabling traders to invest an amount they feel comfortable with. Spreads for the Micro and Standard accounts start from 0.6 pips, whereas spreads for the XM Zero accounts start from 0.0 pips plus commission.
Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 72.82% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. - 6. eToro
Etoro has been among the indisputable leaders in the financial services domain since 2007, with 30 million users worldwide and an enviable trading portfolio of 5,000+ instruments. The company offers four account types, with the options being a Personal (retail) account, a Professional account, a Corporate account, and an Islamic account. The default account type is the Personal account, enabling customers to trade all supported assets, copy other traders, and invest in Smart Portfolios. All account types come with the option to open a Demo account first and practice trading without exposing oneself to risk.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. - 7. Axi
Since its establishment in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, Axi has transformed into a truly global business, trusted by thousands of traders. The broker equips its customers with competitive spreads, flawless execution, and sophisticated trading tools. A diverse range of live trading accounts are available, with the options being a Standard account, Pro account, Swap-free (Islamic) account, Premium account (exclusively offered to particular customers), and Axi Elite. Axi’s Standard account spreads start from 0.9 pips and minimum trade sizes from 0.01 lots.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. The vast majority of retail client accounts lose money when trading in CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. - 8. Admirals
Since its inception in 2001, Admirals has continually expanded the scope of its operation, thus becoming a globally renowned brokerage. The company offers two types of trading accounts – the Trade and Zero accounts, available for MT4 and MT5. Minimum deposits for both types of accounts start from €100 and the supported trading instruments include 37 currencies. The maximum allowable leverage for Forex retail customers is 30:1, and for professional customers – 500:1. Spreads start from 0.5 pips for Trade accounts and 0 pips for Zero accounts, whereas the minimum order size for both types of accounts is 0.01 lots.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 73% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. - 9. Pepperstone
Pepperstone is an award-winning online Forex and CFD broker, committed to providing traders with advanced tools and superior technology. The brand offers two types of trading accounts, the Razor and Standard accounts, to meet the preferences of more traders. Standard accounts come with variable spreads, while Razor accounts offer raw spreads plus a commission of €2.60 per lot, per side. Many customers of the company favor the Standard accounts as a more straightforward option, with all fees included in the spread.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75.5% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. - 10. Capital.com
Capital.com is a global leader in the financial services industry, with more than 610,000 registered traders and over $148 billion in monthly trading volume. The company complies with the regulatory requirements of tier-one authorities such as the FCA and the CySEC. The broker offers four types of accounts, Standard, Plus, Premier, and Invest. Standard accounts feature minimum deposit requirements of $20, spreads from 0.6 pips, no commission, and leverage of up to 30:1.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Comprehensive Comparison of the Top 10 Forex Brokers with Standard Account
| Forex Broker | Min Deposit | Account Types | Spread | Min Contact Size | Max Leverage | Markets | FX Pairs | Negative Balance Protection | Platforms | Regulators | Trust Pilot Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Fusion Markets | $0 | Classic, Zero, Pro Account | 0.9 pips Classic; 0.0 pips Zero | 0.01 | 30:1 for ASIC Entity (500:1 for VFSC Entity) | Forex, Commodities, Indices, Crypto, US Stocks | Over 200 | Yes (ASIC entity only) | MetaTrader4, MetaTrader5, cTrader, DupliTrade, Fusion+ Copy Trade | ASIC, FSA (Seychelles), VFSC (Vanuatu) | 4.8 ⭐ |
| 2. FP Markets | $50 (AU$100) | Standard, Raw, Pro Account | 1.0 pips Standard; 0.0 pips Raw | 0.01 | 30:1 (Retail)500:1 (Professional) | Forex CFDs, Shares CFDs, Metals CFDs, Commodities CFDs, Indices CFDs, Crypto CFDs, ETF CFDs | 70+ | Yes (Retail traders) | MetaTrader4, MetaTrader5, WebTrader, IRESS | ASIC, CySEC, FSA (Seychelles), FSCA | 4.8 ⭐ |
| 3. AvaTrade | $100 | Retail, Professional, Islamic, MAM | From 0.9 pips (retail), 0.6 pips (pro) | 0.01 | 30:1 (400:1 for Pro and Non-EU Accounts) | Forex, Major stock indices, Cryptocurrencies, Commodities, Bonds, Individual Shares, ETFs | 250+ | Yes (European and Australian Retail traders) | MetaTrader4, MetaTrader5, WebTrader, AvaTadeGO, AvaSocial | FFAJ (License No.1574),CySEC (No. 347/17) ISA (No. 514666577), IIROC, ADGM / FSRA (No.190018), CBI (No.C53877), BVIFSC (No. SIBA/L/13/1049), FSCA(No.45984), ASIC(No.406684) | 4.5 ⭐ |
| 4. Pepperstone | $0 | Standard Account, Razor Account | From 0.0 pips (Razor Accounts), 1 pip (Standard Accounts) | 0.01 | 1:30 (Retail ASIC, CySEC, FCA); 1:500 (Professional); 1:400 (CMA) | Forex, Indices, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Share CFDs, ETFs | 100 | Yes (Retail traders) | TradingView, MT5, MT4, cTrader | UK FCA (No.684312), CySEC (No. 388/20), ASIC (No. 414530), BaFin (No.151148), DFSA, CMA | 4.5 ⭐ |
| 5. eToro | $10 | Personal (retail) account, Professional account, Corporate account, Islamic account | 1 pip | 0.01 | 1:30 (FCA, ASIC, CySEC); 1:50 (FINRA); 1:500 (FSA) | Crypto, CFDs on Forex, Stocks, Commodities, Crypto, ETFs, and Indices | 55 | Yes (Retail traders) | eToro Investing, eToro App, TradingView, eToro CopyTrader | FCA, CySEC, ASIC, MFSA, ADGM, FSA, FINRA/FinCEN | 4.2 ⭐ |
| 6. Capital.com | $20 | Standard, Plus, Premier, Invest | 0.6 pips | 0.01 | 30:1 (Retail)300:1 (Professional) | Shares, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies | 125+ | Yes, for retail clients | MetaTrader 4, TradingView | ASIC, FCA, CySEC, SCB, MiFID | 4.2 ⭐ |
| 7. Global Prime | $0 | Standard Account, Raw Account, Professional Account | 0.9 pips Standard, 0.0 pips Raw | 0.01 | 30:1 (Retail)500:1 (Professional) | Forex, Cryptocurrencies, Indices, Commodities, Bonds | 56 | Yes (ASIC entity only) | MT4 Desktop, MT4 Webtrader, MT4 Android | ASIC (No. 385620), VFSC (No. 40256) | 4.1 ⭐ |
| 8. Admirals | $100 ($1 for Invest MT5 Account) | Trade (Standard), Invest (MT5), Zero | From 0.0 pips (Invest and Zero Accounts), 0.5 pips (Trade Accounts) | 0.01 | 30:1 (Retail)500:1 (Professional) | CFDs on Forex, Indices, Stocks, Commodities, Bonds, ETFs, Cryptocurrencies | 82 | Yes (Trade and Zero MT5 /MT4 Accounts) | MT4, MT5, WebTrader, MT Supreme Edition, StereoTrader | CySEC (No. 201/13), ASIC (No. 410681), FCA (No. 595450), JSC (No. 57026), FSCA (No. FSP51311) | 4.1 ⭐ |
| 9. Axi | $0 | Standard, Pro | From 0.0 pips (Elite and Pro Accounts), 0.9 pips (Standard Account) | 0.01 | 1:30 (Retail)1:500 (Professional) | Forex, Stocks, IPOs, Indices, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies | 80 | Yes | MT4 Desktop, MT4 WebTrader, Axi Mobile | FSA, FCA, CySEC, DFSA, ASIC | 3.3 ⭐ |
| 10. XM Group | $5 | Ultra Low Micro, Ultra Low Standard, XM Zero | From 0.0 pips (Zero Account), 0.6 pips (Standard and Micro Accounts) | 0.01 | 30:1 for CySEC and ASIC Entities (1000 for Other Jurisdictions) | Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Thematic Indices | 50+ | Yes, for retail clients | MetaTrader 4 and 5, MetaTrader 4 and 5 on mobile, MT4 WebTrader, MT5 WebTrader, MT$ Multiterminal | FCA (ref. no. 705428), (ASIC) (ref. No. 443670), FSC (license no. 000261/397), DFSA (ref. no. F003484), CySEC (license no. 120/10), MiFID, CFTC | 2.7 ⭐ |
Contract Size in Standard Trading Accounts
Contract size in Forex trading refers to the aggregate value of a contract traded in the Forex market. For example, the standard contract size for the EUR/USD currency pair is €100,000. In other words, when a trader buys or sells one contract of this currency pair, they are virtually trading €100,000. Nevertheless, it is important to note that not all trades need to feature standard contract sizes. Traders can trade in smaller increments, called lots, based on their risk tolerance and trading budget. The minimum trade size set by different brokers varies, based on the underlying asset. For Forex trading, minimums usually start from 0.01 lots.
Can You Trade Less Than One Full Lot with Standard Accounts?
Lot size indicates the number of currency units subject to a transaction, with the standard lot size in Forex trading being 100,000 units of the base currency. Traders can opt for trading in smaller increments such as mini lots (10,000 units) or micro lots (1,000 units). Minimum lot sizes for Standard trading accounts typically start from 0.01 lots (1,000 units). As far as the maximum lot sizes are concerned, these vary across different brokers and the account types they offer. Fusion Markets, for example, limits the maximum lot size for Standard accounts to 100 lots, which is, more or less, the industry standard.
What Instruments Can You Trade with Standard Accounts?
Standard accounts are the most common type of accounts in trading, with many professional and institutional traders preferring them over others. They provide users with access to standard lots of currency each worth €100,000. Standard account holders typically have access to the complete range of supported trading instruments, including Forex, CFDs, stocks, commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies, to mention a few. No matter what financial instruments users decide to trade in, they are doing so with one trading account. Thus, traders can invest in a varied range of asset classes while they control all their holdings from one account.
Standard Account Spreads and Trading Costs
Holders of Standard accounts must be aware of the costs that Forex trading entails. As one can expect, Forex trading average spreads for Standard account holders across different brokers vary. To level the playing field, traders must examine the average spreads for particular currency pairs at the Forex brokers they are interested in trading with. The average spreads for the EUR/USD currency pair, for example, typically start from 1.11 pips. Besides spreads and commissions, traders must look for information regarding other trading costs, such as rollover fees, inactivity fees, and borrowing costs.
How Standard Accounts Compare to Other Common Account Types?
With so many types of trading accounts, traders may find it difficult to pick the right one. One could hardly go wrong with a standard trading account, as it is the most popular type. Novice traders usually opt for Mini and Micro accounts to reduce the risks associated with Forex trading. In contrast, large account holders are usually provided with a broader range of products, more competitive fees, and dedicated customer support in return for a larger trading volume. Islamic accounts, or swap-free accounts cater to the preferences of traders who would like to avoid interest on their transactions.
Who Are Standard Accounts Suitable For?
Picking a suitable Forex account mandates thorough reflection as the decision can affect one’s trading success and risk management strategy. Standard trading accounts are the most common type of accounts favored by new, experienced, and institutional traders, ready to invest in the Forex market. While the typical lot size of Standard accounts is 100,000 units of the base currency, traders are not required to own this capital to open and close positions. Depending on the margin and leverage conditions brokers offer, they can still trade with a balance of $1,000. Overall, when picking a trading account, they must consider several important factors, including their risk tolerance, trading strategy, and capital.
Pros and Cons of Standard Trading Accounts
Key Pros
- Standard trading accounts come with many benefits, ranking them among the most popular types of accounts in Forex trading. Compared to Mini and Micro Forex accounts, for example, Standard account holders have exposure to more trading opportunities. They can trade larger positions, which could result in more substantial profits. Traders can benefit from higher leverage, and, subsequently, control a larger position with less capital. Furthermore, Standard account holders usually benefit from lower spreads and better execution, thus reducing their overall trading costs. Also, access to more advanced trading tools and educational resources is not to be underestimated, helping traders make informed decisions.
Key Cons
- As with everything else, Standard trading accounts come with certain drawbacks, with a higher level of risk, compared to Mini and Micro accounts, being the major one. Trading larger positions on the Forex market can lead to larger losses. To bring them to a minimum, traders must have a robust risk management approach and a clear trading plan. Higher thresholds for minimum deposits imposed by some brokers may be yet another impediment for new traders.