Best Brokers With ECN Accounts 2025
Discover the top ECN brokers for 2025, offering unmatched trading conditions, low spreads, and lightning-fast execution for active traders.
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1Established in 1999, FOREX.com is part of StoneX, a global financial services company that serves over a million customers. It's regulated in the US, UK, EU, Australia, and other countries. The broker offers a wide range of markets beyond forex and provides competitive pricing on advanced platforms.
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2Founded in 2004, Dukascopy Bank SA is a Swiss online bank and brokerage offering trading on over 1,200 instruments, including binary options. It provides various accounts (JForex, MT4/5, Binary Options) and advanced platforms (JForex, MT4/MT5) with strong tools and market data for active traders.
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3Plexytrade, founded in 2024 and based in Saint Lucia, is an ECN/STP broker. It caters to active traders and offers four account choices. It also allows crypto transactions and a notably high leverage of up to 1:2000, due to its unregulated status.
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4IC Markets is a renowned forex and CFD broker recognized for its high-quality pricing, extensive range of trading tools, and superior trading technology. Established in 2007 in Australia, it operates under the oversight of ASIC, CySEC, and FSA. It has drawn in over 180,000 traders from across 200 countries.
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5Established in 2008, Exness is a respected broker known for offering over 40 account currencies, a wide choice of CFD instruments, and an intuitive web platform with features like currency converters and trading calculators.
Top ECN Brokers Comparison
| Broker |  |
USD Account |
Fast Execution |
EUR/USD Spread |
Leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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✓ | ✓ | 1.2 | 1:50 | |
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✓ | ✗ | 0.1 | 1:200 | |
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✓ | ✓ | 0.7 | 1:2000 | |
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✓ | ✓ | 0.02 | 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global) | |
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✓ | ✓ | 0.0 | 1:Unlimited | |
| Broker | |
USD Account |
Fast Execution |
EUR/USD Spread |
Leverage |
Broker Details Comparison
| Broker | Demo Account |
Minimum Deposit |
Minimum Trade |
Leverage |
Assets |
Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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✓ | $100 | 0.01 Lots | 1:50 | Forex, Stocks, Futures, Futures OptionsForex, CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Options, Crypto | MT4, MT5, TradingView, eSignal, AutoChartist, TradingCentral |
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✓ | $100 | 0.01 Lots | 1:200 | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, Bonds, Binary Options | JForex, MT4, MT5 |
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✓ | $50 | 0.01 | 1:2000 | CFDs, Forex, Indices, Stocks, Commodities, Crypto | MT4, MT5 |
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✓ | $200 | 0.01 Lots | 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global) | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Futures, Crypto | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade, Quantower |
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✓ | $10 | 0.01 Lots | 1:Unlimited | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto | Exness Trade App, Exness Terminal, MT4, MT5, TradingCentral |
| Broker | Demo Account |
Minimum Deposit |
Minimum Trade |
Leverage |
Assets |
Platforms |
Safety Comparison
Compare how safe the Best Brokers With ECN Accounts 2025 are.
| Broker | Trust Rating |
Guaranteed Stop Loss |
Negative Balance Protection |
Segregated Accounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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✗ | ✓ | ✗ | |
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✗ | ✓ | ✓ | |
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✗ | ✓ | ✓ | |
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✗ | ✓ | ✓ | |
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✗ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Broker | Trust Rating |
Guaranteed Stop Loss |
Negative Balance Protection |
Segregated Accounts |
Mobile Trading Comparison
Compare the mobile trading features of the Best Brokers With ECN Accounts 2025.
| Broker | Mobile Apps |
iOS Rating |
Android Rating |
Smart Watch App |
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iOS & Android | ✗ | ||
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iOS & Android | ✗ | ||
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iOS & Android | ✗ | ||
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iOS & Android | ✗ | ||
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iOS & Android | ✗ | ||
| Broker | Mobile Apps |
iOS Rating |
Android Rating |
Smart Watch App |
Comparison for Beginners
Compare how suitable the Best Brokers With ECN Accounts 2025 are for beginners.
| Broker | Demo Account |
Minimum Deposit |
Minimum Trade |
Education Rating |
Support Rating |
Fractional Shares |
Demo Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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✓ | $100 | 0.01 Lots | ✗ | ✗ | ||
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✓ | $100 | 0.01 Lots | ✗ | ✗ | ||
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✓ | $50 | 0.01 | ✗ | ✗ | ||
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✓ | $200 | 0.01 Lots | ✗ | ✗ | ||
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✓ | $10 | 0.01 Lots | ✗ | ✗ | ||
| Broker | Demo Account |
Minimum Deposit |
Minimum Trade |
Education Rating |
Support Rating |
Fractional Shares |
Demo Competitions |
Comparison for Advanced Traders
Compare how suitable the Best Brokers With ECN Accounts 2025 are for advanced or professional traders.
| Broker | Automated Trading |
VPS |
API |
AI |
Pro Account |
Leverage |
Low Latency |
Extended Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | 1:50 | ✓ | ✗ |
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Yes (EAs & FIX APIs) | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | 1:200 | ✗ | ✗ |
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Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | 1:2000 | ✓ | ✗ |
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Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cBots on cTrader, Myfxbook AutoTrade | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global) | ✓ | ✗ |
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Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | 1:Unlimited | ✓ | ✗ |
| Broker | Automated Trading |
VPS |
API |
AI |
Pro Account |
Leverage |
Low Latency |
Extended Hours |
Accounts Comparison
Compare the trading accounts offered by Best Brokers With ECN Accounts 2025.
| Broker | Demo Account |
Interest on Cash |
Islamic Account |
Joint Account |
Managed Account |
PAMM |
MAM |
LAMM |
Pro Account |
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✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
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✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
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✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
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✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
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✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Broker | Demo Account |
Interest on Cash |
Islamic Account |
Joint Account |
Managed Account |
PAMM |
MAM |
LAMM |
Pro Account |
Detailed Rating Comparison
Compare how we rated the Best Brokers With ECN Accounts 2025 in key areas.
| Broker | Trust |
Platforms |
Assets |
Mobile |
Fees |
Accounts |
Research |
Education |
Support |
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| Broker | Trust |
Platforms |
Assets |
Mobile |
Fees |
Accounts |
Research |
Education |
Support |
Fee and Cost Comparison
Compare the cost of trading with the Best Brokers With ECN Accounts 2025.
| Broker | Cost Rating |
Fixed Spreads |
Inactivity Fee |
CFD Stocks Spread |
EUR/USD Spread |
Crypto Spread |
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✗ | $15 | 0.14 | 1.2 | BTC 1.4%, ETH 2% | |
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✗ | CHF 100 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | |
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✗ | ✗ | 5 | 0.7 | 1.1 | |
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✗ | $0 | 0.02 | 0.02 | BTC 42.036 | |
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✗ | $0 | 0.5 (Apple Inc.) | 0.0 | Floating | |
| Broker | Cost Rating |
Fixed Spreads |
Inactivity Fee |
CFD Stocks Spread |
EUR/USD Spread |
Crypto Spread |
Broker Popularity
See how popular the Best Brokers With ECN Accounts 2025 are in terms of number of clients.
| Broker | Popularity |
|---|---|
| Exness |
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| FOREX.com |
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| Dukascopy |
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| IC Markets |
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Why Trade With FOREX.com?
FOREX.com is a top-tier brokerage suitable for forex traders of all skill levels. It offers more than 80 currency pairs, has small spreads starting from 0.0 pips, and features low fees. The platform provides powerful charting tools that include over 100 technical indicators and multiple research aids.
Pros
- Numerous educational materials such as tutorials, webinars, and a comprehensive YouTube channel are available to assist you in learning about the financial markets.
- FOREX.com provides a selection of top trading platforms and additional features. These include Trading Central research, a SMART Signals pattern scanner, trading signals, and strategy builders.
- FOREX.com has over 20 years of experience with strong regulatory oversight, and has received multiple awards, including second place in our 'Best Forex Broker' awards. As such, FOREX.com is globally reputed as a reliable trading brokerage.
Cons
- FOREX.com has expanded their trading offerings, but these remain limited to forex and CFDs. Unfortunately, they don't provide options to invest in actual stocks, ETFs, or cryptocurrencies.
- US clients do not have negative balance protection, so you can potentially owe more than your original account deposit.
- Demo accounts have a limited time duration of 90 days, which may not be sufficient for thoroughly testing trading strategies.
Why Trade With Dukascopy?
If you're an experienced trader, Dukascopy offers the tools you need: JForex for algorithmic strategies, competitive spreads from 0.1 pips, leverage up to 1:200, and the assurance of a Swiss-regulated bank and broker.
Pros
- Dukascopy offers top-notch research, including a professional TV studio in Geneva for financial news, market analysis, and daily expert insights.
- Dukascopy provides tight spreads starting at 0.1 pips, leverage up to 1:200 (based on jurisdiction), and volume-based commissions that benefit high-frequency traders.
- The proprietary JForex platform is advanced, offering tools for algorithmic trading, detailed charting, and access to deep liquidity for traders.
Cons
- JForex offers many features, but its complexity makes it less ideal for beginner traders who might prefer simpler platforms.
- Dukascopy's withdrawal fees are higher than most competitors we've tested, especially for bank wire transfers, which may discourage traders who need frequent fund access.
- Dukascopy offers educational resources and 24/7 support, but its complex platforms and tools require extensive testing and can overwhelm new traders.
Why Trade With Plexytrade?
Plexytrade is a new trading platform offering attractive features such as a 1:2000 leverage, zero spreads on certain instruments, and quick execution speeds of less than 46 milliseconds. However, the company is not regulated which is a substantial issue, and the lack of research and educational tools puts it behind other leading platforms.
Pros
- Plexytrade is a unique offshore broker that accepts US residents as clients. This makes it one of the few offshore brokers that serve US-based traders.
- Plexytrade provides up to 1:2000 leverage, one of the highest rates available. It's designed for experienced traders who opt to bypass regulatory safeguards.
- Different VPS packages start at $50 monthly, but they are free after reaching certain deposit amounts.
Cons
- Plexytrade only accepts deposits and withdrawals through cryptocurrencies. It does not support bank cards, wire transfers, or e-wallets.
- Plexytrade isn't regulated in key regions, which raises the risk for traders who open an account or deposit money.
- The platform doesn't offer social or copy trading options. This means that novice traders cannot mirror the actions of more accomplished traders, unlike on platforms such as eToro.
Why Trade With IC Markets?
IC Markets provides excellent prices, quick execution, and smooth deposits. The utilization of sophisticated charting platforms such as TradingView and the Raw Trader Plus account makes it a preferred choice for intermediate to advanced traders.
Pros
- IC Markets provides some of the smallest spreads in the industry, offering 0.0-pip spreads on major currency pairs. This makes trading particularly cost-efficient for traders.
- IC Markets, a well-regulated and respected broker, emphasizes client security and transparency for a trustworthy global trading experience.
- You can trade more than 2,250 CFDs in various markets, such as forex, commodities, indices, stocks, bonds, and cryptocurrencies. This range enables varied trading strategies.
Cons
- The range and quality of educational materials, such as tutorials and webinars, require improvement. This lag falls behind competitors like CMC Markets and reduces its suitability for novice traders.
- Some withdrawal methods require fees such as a $20 wire charge. This can reduce profits, particularly for traders who withdraw frequently.
- IC Markets have a selection of metals and cryptos for trading through CFDs, but their range is not as wide as brokers such as eToro. This may limit options for traders who are interested in these asset types.
Why Trade With Exness?
Exness is an excellent choice for active forex traders aiming to reduce costs after lowering spreads, enhancing execution speeds, and offering trading on over 100 currency pairs with more than 40 account currencies.
Pros
- Exness was the first brokerage to reach monthly trading volumes of $1 trillion and $2 trillion, demonstrating its credibility.
- Competitive spreads for USOIL and BTCUSD in 2024 start from 0 pips, with low commissions from $2 per side.
- Exness Terminal provides an easy experience for beginners with interactive charts, and creating watchlists is simple.
Cons
- Besides a mediocre blog, educational resources are lacking, especially compared to category leaders like IG, which offer a more comprehensive trading journey for new traders.
- Retail trading services are not available in some areas, such as the US and UK, which limits access compared to leading brokers like Interactive Brokers.
- Exness has increased its variety of CFDs and introduced a copy trading feature, but it still lacks real assets like ETFs, cryptocurrencies, or bonds.
Filters
Methodology
We analyzed a wide range of online brokers to identify those offering true ECN (Electronic Communication Network) trading.
Using hands-on testing and evaluating over 200 data points, we assessed brokers based on key factors like execution speed, spreads, and overall performance.
The ECN brokers featured here are ranked by the top ratings from our detailed analysis to help you find the best fit for your needs.
What to Look For in an ECN Broker
Choosing the right ECN broker can elevate your trading experience, offering smoother execution, tighter spreads, and the transparency needed to maximize your potential profitability.
Here’s what to consider:
Low Spreads
Prioritize an ECN broker with low spreads, reducing your trading costs and allowing you to retain more of your profits.
While many brokers advertise minimum spreads, it’s more important to consider the average spreads they offer, as these provide a more realistic picture of what you’ll pay under typical market conditions.
Tight and consistent spreads are especially critical for frequent or high-volume traders, as even small differences can add up over time.
Tip: Opt for ECNs with ‘raw spreads’ (these are the actual market prices of currency pairs in forex trading, without any broker markups) and are often very low or even zero, and clear commission structures with no hidden charges.
IC Markets has trumped the competition in our tests over the years, with an average spread on the EUR/USD of 0.1 pips 24/5.
High liquidity
High liquidity in markets means you can execute trades without delay and price deviations. What’s more, spreads are tighter, meaning you pay less to trade, keeping more of your money.
Look for ECN brokers that connect traders directly to liquidity provider networks, including banks, hedge funds, financial institutions, and other traders, as these are likely to have much higher liquidity than ECNs that rely on internal pools.
Pepperstone impresses here, providing top-of-the-book liquidity, offering deep liquidity at the quoted price, helping you secure trades under optimal conditions.
Fast Execution
Brokers with fast execution minimize price slippage and allow for trading at more favorable prices.
Price slippage occurs when the market moves against you when your order is being processed, and you buy or sell at a worse price than expected.
ECNs have direct-to-market access and process orders quicker than other types of brokers. Consider execution speeds carefully when choosing your broker.
FxPro is a stellar option on this front, with average execution speeds of under 12ms.
Regulation
Regulatory bodies oversee financial markets and protect traders.
Check your broker’s regulatory status displayed on their website and make sure the ECN provider you are considering is regulated by a competent authority, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the US, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, or the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) in Australia.
Eightcap has earned our trust with authorization from three tier-one regulators (ASIC, FCA, CySEC) and reliable ECN trading conditions.
Platform
Focus on user-friendliness, the number of markets you get exposure to, and technical features such as advanced charting tools, order types, and customizable technical indicators.
Access to real-time market data, robust risk management features, and excellent integrated features like market summaries and technical insights can really enhance the trading environment in our experience.
cTrader, offered by ECN brokers like IC Markets, is a great option here, sporting 65 technical indicators and a highly customizable trading interface that’s fast and reliable.
Customer Support
Prioritize ECN brokers that provide 24/7 support channels like live chat, phone, and email with representatives knowledgeable about trading and ECN specifics.
For instance, I’ve personally tested the support at various ECN brokers over the years and Fusion Markets does a noticeably good example of explaining how their ECN-style trading conditions work in their Zero account.
Leverage
Active traders often borrow money from a broker to invest in security, stock, or currency to open larger positions than they could with their own capital, magnifying both wins and losses.
Consider your experience level and risk tolerance when choosing an ECN through leverage. Select a lower leverage ratio if you are risk-averse and choose higher ratios only if you are a capable trader with solid risk management strategies.
Check and compare the highest leverage ratio available on each ECN platform to find a level that fits your risk profile, keeping an eye on the different fees on offer.
For example, IC Trading offers high leverage up to 1:500 while Pepperstone provides leverage up to 1:30 for retail investors.
FAQ
What Is an ECN Broker?
ECN brokers are financial intermediaries using electronic communications networks (ECNs) to offer traders direct access to financial markets, a wide range of competitive bid/ask spreads, and fast execution speeds.
What Are the Pros of Using an ECN Broker?
- Anonymity – you can keep trading strategies and order flows private
- Automated trading solutions
- Direct market executions
- Greater market transparency
- Tight spreads and fast execution speeds
What Are the Cons of Using an ECN Broker?
- Access fees and commission charges
- Limited liquidity in some markets, increasing the potential for slippage
What’s the Difference Between ECN and STP Brokers?
ECN brokers provide price quotations from multiple market participants, act as a medium for liquidity providers, offer lower trading spreads, and often have access fees and commission charges, potentially increasing your trading costs.
However, STP brokers use liquidity pools to route orders to liquidity providers, such as hedge funds and banks and they generally charge commissions and earn from spreads.
The key difference is how they connect traders. STP brokers link you with various providers who might take your trade, while ECN brokers act as a central hub for all trades, making them a primary source for getting the best rates and quick transactions.