Best Regulated Brokers 2025
Explore our expert-ranked list of the best regulated brokers, selected for their transparency, strong licensing, and client fund protection
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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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2Moomoo is a regulated trading platform which is controlled by SEC. It provides a simple, cost-effective method to trade in stocks, ETFs, and various assets from China, Hong Kong, Singapore, the US, and Australia. They provide the option for margin trading, along with no deposit account and several bonus options.
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3OANDA is a well-known company that excels in quick trade executions, low deposit necessities, and impressive charting and trading platform functions. The highly-regarded brand has over 25 years of expertise and is overseen by reliable authorities like the NFA/CFTC. It provides 24/7 support for traders and offers flexible contract sizes with automated trade executions.
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4Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a top brokerage firm offering access to 150 markets in 33 countries and a range of investment services. With 40 years in the field, this company listed on Nasdaq strictly follows the rules set by authorities such as the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC. It's recognized as one of the most reliable brokers for global trading.
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5Firstrade is a US-based discount broker-dealer authorized by the SEC and a member of FINRA/SIPC. It offers welcome bonuses, advanced tools and apps, and commission-free trading. Firstrade Securities is a popular top online brokerage, and opening a new account is fast and simple.
Top Regulated Brokers Compared
| Broker |  |
USD Account |
Demo Account |
Minimum Deposit |
Minimum Trade |
Leverage |
Copy Trading |
Regulator |
Instruments |
Platforms |
Account Currencies |
Automated Trading |
AI |
Guaranteed Stop Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
✓ | ✓ | $100 | 0.01 Lots | 1:50 | ✗ | NFA, CFTC | Forex, Stock CFDs, Futures, Futures OptionsForex, CFDs, Stock CFDs, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Options, Crypto | WebTrader, Mobile, MT4, MT5, TradingView | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, PLN | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✓ | ✗ | |
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✓ | ✓ | $0 | $0 | 1:2 | ✗ | SEC, FINRA, MAS, ASIC, SFC | Stocks, Options, ETFs, ADRs, OTCs ,Futures | Desktop Platform, Mobile App | USD, HKD, SGD | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | |
 |
✓ | ✓ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | 1:50 | ✗ | NFA, CFTC | Forex, Crypto with Paxos (Cryptocurrencies are offered through Paxos. Paxos is a separate legal entity from OANDA) | OANDA Trade, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✗ | ✓ | |
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✓ | ✓ | $0 | $100 | 1:50 | ✗ | FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM | Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies | Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF | Capitalise.ai & TWS API | ✓ | ✗ | |
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✓ | ✗ | $0 | $1 | ✗ | ✗ | SEC, FINRA | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Cryptos, Fixed | TradingCentral | USD | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | |
| Broker | |
USD Account |
Demo Account |
Minimum Deposit |
Minimum Trade |
Leverage |
Copy Trading |
Regulator |
Instruments |
Platforms |
Account Currencies |
Automated Trading |
AI |
Guaranteed Stop Loss |
How Do The Top Regulated Brokers Protect Your Funds?
Explore the investor protections and fund safeguards of the most well-regulated brokers:
| Broker | Trust Rating |
Guaranteed Stop Loss |
Negative Balance Protection |
Segregated Accounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
✗ | ✓ | ✗ | |
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✗ | ✗ | ✓ | |
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✓ | ✗ | ✗ | |
|
✗ | ✓ | ✓ | |
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✗ | ✗ | ✗ | |
| Broker | Trust Rating |
Guaranteed Stop Loss |
Negative Balance Protection |
Segregated Accounts |
Mobile App Trading Compared
We ran hands-on tests of the mobile platforms from leading regulated brokers:
| Broker | Mobile Apps |
iOS Rating |
Android Rating |
Smart Watch App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
iOS & Android | ✗ | ||
|
Yes (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 |
Are The Top Regulated Trading Platforms Suitable For Beginners?
Strong regulation can mean a smoother, secure start. Discover what beginner traders can expect from top regulated platforms:
| Broker | Demo Account |
Minimum Deposit |
Minimum Trade |
Education Rating |
Support Rating |
Fractional Shares |
Demo Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
✓ | $100 | 0.01 Lots | ✗ | ✗ | ||
|
✓ | $0 | $0 | ✗ | ✗ | ||
|
✓ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ✗ | ✗ | ||
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✓ | $0 | $100 | ✓ | ✗ | ||
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✗ | $0 | $1 | ✓ | ✗ | ||
| Broker | Demo Account |
Minimum Deposit |
Minimum Trade |
Education Rating |
Support Rating |
Fractional Shares |
Demo Competitions |
Are The Top Regulated Trading Platforms Suitable For Advanced Traders?
Professionals often rely on highly regulated brokers for capital protection and assurance. Here’s how the top brokers serve experienced users:
| 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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✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | 1:2 | ✗ | ✓ |
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Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | 1:50 | ✓ | ✗ |
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Capitalise.ai & TWS API | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | 1:50 | ✓ | ✓ |
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✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Broker | Automated Trading |
VPS |
API |
AI |
Pro Account |
Leverage |
Low Latency |
Extended Hours |
Accounts Comparison
Compare the trading accounts offered by Best Regulated Brokers 2025.
| Broker | Demo Account |
Interest on Cash |
Islamic Account |
Joint Account |
Managed Account |
PAMM |
MAM |
LAMM |
Pro Account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
|
✓ | USD: 5.1% | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
|
✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
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✓ | USD: 4.8%, GBP: 4.7% | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
|
✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Broker | Demo Account |
Interest on Cash |
Islamic Account |
Joint Account |
Managed Account |
PAMM |
MAM |
LAMM |
Pro Account |
Compare Detailed Ratings Of The Most Regulated Brokers
See how brokers with top-tier regulation scored in every category during our testing process:
| Broker | Trust |
Platforms |
Assets |
Mobile |
Fees |
Accounts |
Research |
Education |
Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Broker | Trust |
Platforms |
Assets |
Mobile |
Fees |
Accounts |
Research |
Education |
Support |
Fees & Transparency: How Regulated Brokers Compare
Regulated brokers must meet standards on fee transparency. Compare costs among the most transparent, well-regulated platforms:
| 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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✗ | $0 | $0 per trade | ✗ | ✗ | |
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✗ | $0 | ✗ | 1.6 | $100 | |
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✗ | $0 | 0.003 | 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value | 0.12%-0.18% | |
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✗ | $0 | $0 per trade | ✗ | Variable | |
| Broker | Cost Rating |
Fixed Spreads |
Inactivity Fee |
CFD Stocks Spread |
EUR/USD Spread |
Crypto Spread |
Which Regulated Brokers Are Trusted By The Most Traders?
A large client base often signals strong regulatory standing and user confidence. Here's how many traders trust the top regulated brokers:
| Broker | Popularity |
|---|---|
| Moomoo |
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| Interactive Brokers |
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| FOREX.com |
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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
- FOREX.com provides top-tier forex pricing beginning at 0.0 pips. They also offer competitive cashback rebates up to 15% for dedicated traders.
- The Web Trader remains one of the top platforms for budding traders, boasting a sleek design and more than 80 technical indicators for market analysis.
- 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.
- FOREX.com's MT4 platform provides around 600 instruments for trading, which is considerably less than the 5,500+ options accessible on its other platforms.
- The funding options are not as extensive as those of top competitors such as IC Markets and lack several widely-used e-wallets, particularly UnionPay and POLi.
Why Trade With Moomoo?
Moomoo is a great option for beginner and intermediate traders aiming to diversify their investment portfolio. The brokerage's app is easily navigable and the trading fees are significantly low.
Pros
- The 'Moomoo Token' produces changing passwords to enhance transaction security - a distinctive and practical safety measure for traders.
- The fees for options contracts have been lowered from $0.65 to $0.
- Moomoo is a licensed entity with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
Cons
- The broker doesn't offer phone or live chat support, options typically provided by other brokers.
- Regrettably, even with its existing security features, this platform still lacks 2 factor authentication (2FA).
- The protection against negative balance, a standard security measure at highly regulated brokers, is not available here.
Why Trade With OANDA US?
OANDA is a reputable broker for US traders. It offers user-friendly tools for analysis and a simple sign-up process. It is very trustworthy due to heavy regulation.
Pros
- You can start trading as a beginner with no minimum initial deposit required.
- OANDA is a credible and safe trading brand, approved by top regulators such as the CFTC.
- There's a robust selection of 68 currency pairs for committed forex traders focusing on short-term trades.
Cons
- The trading markets are limited to only forex and cryptocurrencies.
- Customer support is not accessible during weekends.
- Few payment options are available and e-wallets are not supported.
Why Trade With Interactive Brokers?
Interactive Brokers is ideal for seasoned traders due to its robust charting platforms, updated data, and adaptability, especially with the IBKR Desktop application. Its exceptional pricing and advanced order features appeal to traders, and its variety of stocks remains unmatched in the market.
Pros
- IBKR provides a cost-effective platform for traders by offering low fees, narrow spreads, and clear pricing.
- There's a large selection of free or paid research subscriptions available to all traders. If you subscribe to Toggle AI, you will also receive commission refunds from IBKR.
- IBKR, primarily designed for skilled traders, has expanded its appeal recently by eliminating its initial $10,000 deposit requirement.
Cons
- Only one active session per account is allowed, which means you can't run the desktop version and mobile app at the same time. This can sometimes lead to a frustrating trading experience.
- Customer service may take time to respond, and there may be delays in fixing problems based on tests. It could be difficult to reach the customer service promptly.
- TWS's platform may be difficult for beginners to grasp because of its complexity. Plus500's web platform, on the other hand, is more appropriate for those new to trading.
Why Trade With Firstrade?
Firstrade is ideal for beginners wanting to trade US stocks without commission fees. It offers plenty of free educational resources and high-quality research, including its new FirstradeGPT tool. Users also get trading ideas from Morningstar, Briefing.com, Zacks, and Benzinga.
Pros
- Trusted US-regulated broker, member of SIPC
- Improved stock trading features now include overnight trading and fractional shares.
- Great broker for cost-conscious traders with low OTC fees
Cons
- Customer support needs improvement after testing, with no 24/7 help available.
- Visa card deposits and withdrawals are not accepted.
- Over 90% of the evaluated options lack a demo or paper trading account.
Filters
How We Ranked The Top Regulated Brokers
To rank the top regulated brokers, we sorted providers by our proprietary Trust Score, a framework designed to assess the strength and reliability of a broker’s regulatory oversight.
This score is built around several core criteria: the quality and number of regulatory licenses held, the broker’s track record with financial authorities, the transparency of its operations, and direct input from our expert review team.
Only brokers regulated by Category A authorities (such as the SEC in the US, FCA in the UK, ASIC in Australia, or CySEC in Europe) are eligible for the highest scores.
Find The Top Brokers By Regulator
Explore the best online brokers by regulatory authority below – click a regulator to see the most trusted, licensed platforms operating under their oversight.
North America
SEC-Regulated Brokers in the USA
CFTC-Regulated Brokers in the USA
FINRA-Regulated Brokers in the USA
NFA-Regulated Brokers in the USA
CIRO-Regulated Brokers in Canada
Europe
FCA-Regulated Brokers in the UK
CySEC-Regulated Brokers in Cyprus
CBI-Regulated Brokers in Ireland
BaFin-Regulated Brokers in Germany
AMF-Regulated Brokers in France
CONSOB-Regulated Brokers in Italy
KNF-Regulated Brokers in Poland
CNMV-Regulated Brokers in Spain
AFM-Regulated Brokers in the Netherlands
FINMA-Regulated Brokers in Switzerland
ESMA-Regulated Brokers in Europe
Asia-Pacific
ASIC-Regulated Brokers in Australia
JFSA-Regulated Brokers in Japan
MAS-Regulated Brokers in Singapore
SEBI-Regulated Brokers in India
SC-Regulated Brokers in Malaysia
FMA-Regulated Brokers in New Zealand
VFSC-Regulated Brokers in Vanuatu
SFC-Regulated Brokers in Hong Kong
Middle East & Africa
DFSA-Regulated Brokers in the Dubai
FSCA-Regulated Brokers in South Africa
CMA-Regulated Brokers in Kenya
Latin America
CVM-Regulated Brokers in Brazil
What To Look For When Choosing The A Regulated Broker
The growth of online trading has led to an explosion in the number of fraudsters looking to make off with traders’ money and personal data.
The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) alone took down 7,300 websites in just one year – equivalent to 20 per day – that advertised fake trading platforms and cryptocurrency investments, data shows.
The critical things to consider when selecting a regulated broker are:
Regulatory Status
The largest and most popular brokerages tend to be regulated by more than one authority from our investigations.
However, not all regulators are created equal, and the protection traders enjoy in different regions can differ substantially. It’s therefore important to choose a broker whose operations are authorized and supervised by a reputable authority in a territory with well-developed financial markets.
Pro tip: Unfortunately there’s no international standard by which the rigor of different regulators is defined. However, here at BrokerListings, we use a three-tier category – from A for best protection, to C for worst – to evaluate financial regulators.
Top broker for regulatory credentials: FOREX.com remains one of the most regulated brokers worldwide, with licenses in 10 different regions. This includes approval from several A-listed bodies including the CFTC in the US, FCA in the UK, CIRO in Canada, SFC in Hong Kong, and CySEC in Europe.
Track Record
You want a broker with a clean record, ideally free from any disciplinary action, such as fines and suspensions.
Alongside regulator databases, it’s worth checking various sources when researching a provider’s reputation, incident history, and the quality of service a trader can expect.
Again, financial websites can be a great source of information here. Brokerages that receive awards from respected financial bodies and media outlets (like DayTrading.com’s ‘Broker of the Year’ Awards) can be another good indicator of a reputable operator.
Top broker for track record: Pepperstone has scooped multiple awards down the years, including the ‘Best Overall Broker’ from DayTrading.com. It scores an average of 4+ stars out of five from 3,000+ customer reviews on TrustPilot, too. Pepperstone has also received the regulatory seal of approval from seven different bodies, including the FCA, ASIC, and the DFSA.
Pepperstone’s regulatory status, as shown on the FCA’s website
Length Of Service
When evaluating a broker’s standing, it’s important to think about how long it’s been in business and regulated.
On paper, a broker that’s received no regulatory fines may seem a better choice than a company with one on their record, for example. Yet context is important – a single fine issued several years ago may not be a concern if the company’s been operating for 20 years and has largely demonstrated strong compliance.
Brokerages that have been operating long-term (a decade or more) are also likely to have built robust protections for traders, developed great customer service, and demonstrated their ability to absorb market and economic shocks.
Pro tip: Be watchful of companies that may have rebranded or changed their names, particularly if done frequently. This could be a sign that the broker is trying to distance itself from past misconduct and/or poor customer reviews.
Remember that such changes aren’t necessarily a sign that the broker’s trying to escape past issues.
Top broker for length of service: Interactive Brokers has traded under various names since 1977, but has been using its current moniker since 2001. It executes roughly 3+ million trades every day across multiple markets including equities, gold, cryptocurrencies and forex. The company is regulated by multiple bodies from around the globe, including the CFTC, FCA, CIRO, and FINMA.
Stock Market Listing
Brokers whose shares trade on major stock exchanges are held to further levels of accountability. To keep a listing, businesses need to comply with tough governance rules and regularly publish audited financial statements.
But stock market listings aren’t just important for the purposes of legitimacy. Traders can also check in on a broker’s most recent updates to see how it’s performing, the strength of its financial foundations, and whether it’s facing risks that may endanger customers’ money.
Top broker for stock market listing: IG – which was founded as a gold-trading company in 1974 – has maintained a listing on the London and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges since 2005. It’s one of the largest companies on the UK’s FTSE 250 mid-cap index, while during its 50+ year existence, it’s obtained licenses from almost a dozen regulators across the world. These include multiple top-tier authorities including the FCA, ASIC, CFTC and the BaFin.
FAQ
What Is A Regulated Broker?
These are financial intermediaries that are authorized and supervised to provide online trading services to retail investors by one or more government-recognized bodies.
Examples of major regulators include the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Why Is Using A Regulated Broker Important?
Ensuring that the broker I choose isn’t just about avoiding potential fraud. Regulated businesses must also provide good levels of customer service, a high degree of transparency, and robust client protection from events like company insolvency.
How Can I Check That A Broker Is Regulated?
Licensed brokerages generally state their regulatory status on their websites. They will provide details of the legal body with whom they’re authorized, as well as their license number.
With this information, you should be able to verify the broker’s status via the relevant regulator’s website. As well as providing searchable databases to find such information, some authorities also publish ‘warning lists’ to help traders avoid firms that are operating illicitly.
Article Sources
ASIC taking down average of 20 scam websites a day – The Guardian