If you’re new to FX trading, you may want to take a look at our guide to FX Trading explained. This article will examine FOREX.com, one of the world’s most popular Forex broker platforms.
What is FOREX.com?
Founded in 2001, FOREX.com is one of the oldest FX trading platforms online. The FOREX.com platform provides both new traders and professional traders with virtually everything required to trade forex in 2021, such as competitive fee structures, a broad spectrum of currency pairs, and a range of powerful technical analysis tools. FOREX.com provides access to:
180 global markets, including 80+ Forex pairs;8000+ stocks and indices to trade;gold and silver trading;cryptocurrency trading.
The FOREX.com trading experience is suitable for traders of all levels, offering dedicated smartphone and desktop trading applications alongside a web trading platform and MetaTrader support.
Is FOREX.com Safe?
FOREX.com is widely regarded as a highly trusted platform, and is regulated in the UK, US, Australia, Canada, the Cayman Islands, Japan, and Singapore. As a broker, Forex is regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the US SEC, and several other tier-1 regulators, making it one of the most widely recognized and regulated FX trading platforms online. It’s important to note that in order to meet stringent regulatory requirements, FOREX isolates client funds and must adhere to rigorous reporting and auditing from various financial authorities.
FOREX.com Pros & Cons
Investment Products
FOREX.com provides access to different investment products and markets depending on the country of the trader. US-based traders are able to trade across 83 different forex pairs, as well as gold and silver without leverage. Diverse currency pairs Easy-to-navigate UI 50:1 leverage Huge amount of FX trading pairs and stocks to trade One of the oldest, most recognized and trusted broker in the market Relatively complex margin requirements that vary by currency pair Relatively high stock CFD fees No negative balance protection International traders outside of the US are able to access all forex pairs, including majors, minors and exotic pairs. FOREX.com also offers shares, indices and commodities to international traders, alongside a range of cryptocurrency pairs.
Fees & Commissions
Please note: Before you create an account on FOREX.com and start trading, there are a few fees you should be aware of. The broker has a minimum initial deposit of 100 units of the base currency that you select for your account — if you’re in the US, for example, you’ll need to deposit a minimum of $100 USD to get started. Broker’s trading fees are relatively simple. Rather than charge a percentage fee on all Forex trades, FOREX.com trading costs are incurred via the spread. It offers average spreads on the most popular forex pairs, but is less competitive for CFDs. Average spreads on FOREX.com range between 1.9 pips to 0.84 pips. This broker offers an Active Trader program to high volume traders, which scales across five tiers. The first tier of the FOREX.com Active Trader program begins with average spreads of 1.2 pips on the EUR/USD pair, for example, for traders with a balance of at least $10,000 USD. Spreads are reduced as traders exceed month-to-date volume thresholds that place them in a higher tier. It’s important to note that FOREX.com charges an account inactivity fee. Hence, accounts with less than $10,000 and no trading activity for over 12 months are subject to a $15 monthly inactivity fee. Related video: Trade Tutorial on Forex.com Demo Account
Deposits & Withdrawals
The broker provides a variety of options for funding your account and withdrawing. Funding your FOREX.com can be performed via:
Visa or Mastercard, with a minimum transaction of $100 or currency equivalent in USD, EUR, or GBP. Visa or Mastercard deposits are fee-free and are processed immediately, or;Wire transfer, with no minimum transaction via USD, GBP, or EUR. Wire transfers used to fund FOREX.com accounts can take up to 2 business days but are not subject to fees.
Withdrawing from your FOREX.com account can be performed via:
Bank transfer, with a $25,000 limit per transaction, with no fee;Debit card withdrawal, with a $25,000 limit per transaction, with no fee; orWire transfer, with a $25 fee is charged within the US or $40 for international wire. There are no fees for withdrawals over $10,000, and no limit.
Leverage
FOREX.com provides users with the ability to margin trade Forex. The platform typically offers 50:1 leverage, but the margin requirements vary depending on a number of factors. FOREX.com margin requirements are calculated based on market, asset class, and position size. It’s important to note that the broker also incorporates step margin levels that increase margin requirements for larger trade sizes.
FOREX.com Account Types
The platform offers three primary account types, which offer different benefits depending on how you want to trade. A demo account is also available to traders who want to try the FOREX.com platform out
Demo Account
Demo accounts provide traders with a demo account loaded with $10,000 in virtual capital in order to test the platform and try trading strategies risk-free. A demo account is free to set up for 30 days.
Standard Account
Forex.com Standard accounts are designed for traders that want a relatively straightforward, traditional FX trading experience. Standards accounts provide access to integrated trading tools, a variety of advanced charting tools, and the Forex.com mobile app. The standard account also benefits from a cash rebate system that offers discounts of up to 15 percent.
Commission Account
Commission accounts are designed for traders that aim to capture a reduction in spreads. Commission accounts offer the same access and benefits as a Standard Account but provide $5 commission per 100k traded.
Direct Market Access Account
The Direct Market Access Account is designed for professional high-volume FX traders. Suited for extremely serious traders, DMA accounts provide deep liquidity and deliver access to real-time pricing via FOREX.com’s order book.
Trading Platforms & Tools
FOREX.com provides traders with a choice between three different trading platforms that vary in complexity and ease of use, which include web-based trading, desktop applications, and mobile apps.
Advanced Trading — Desktop
FOREX.com’s Advanced Trading application is a dedicated desktop app that provides sophisticated charting, trading and analytic tools. The Advanced Trading app is designed for experienced traders and integrates hundreds of predefined trading strategy templates.
Web Trading
The web trading app offered by FOREX.com is the best access point for newer traders and provides a streamlined, easy to use interface that includes integrated trading tools, analysis, and ongoing market commentary.
Mobile Trading
The mobile app offered by FOREX.com is one of the best FX trading apps available and offers the full functionality of the FOREX.com web trading app via both the Android Play Store and Apple App Store. Advanced and professional traders can also take advantage of FOREX.com’s MetaTrader apps support. MetaTrader is a suite of 20+ apps that deliver high-level, complex control over trading strategies via MT5.
Resources & Research
FOREX.com provides users with a large array of resources and research material, making it an ideal platform for newer traders. Its Learning Center provides users with a “Learn to Trade Forex” program, which covers calculating pip, margin trading, advanced charting techniques, understanding and establishing lot sizes, and a section on technical analysis and tools. In addition to comprehensive learning resources for new traders, FOREX.com also hosts content that includes:
Quarterly reports and market outlook dataLive daily market updates and insightsDetailed technical reports and chartsWeekly insight articles on major financial events and market movements
A major advantage delivered by FOREX.com is the “Trading Ideas” section, which provides trading strategies and concepts based on technical analysis.
How to Get Started on FOREX.com
Creating an account and getting started on FOREX.com is relatively straightforward. Signing up with this broker can be completed within 10-15 minutes, but your account must be verified in order to begin funding your account and start trading. FOREX.com verification typically takes between 1-3 business days. Here’s how to set up a new account on FOREX.com:
Step 1. Choose an Account Type
First, you’ll need to click “Open an Account” and select your account type. New traders are best-suited to the Standard Account. Once you’ve selected your account type, you’ll need to fill in your personal details. It’s important that you enter your details as they appear on your government-issued ID, as this information will be verified later. You’ll also need to enter your experience as a trader as part of your application.
Step 2. Submit Your Identity Documents
In order to comply with international Anti-Money Laundering and Know Your Customer laws, FOREX.com collects identity information from users, including ID documents. After completing your personal details, you’ll need to upload both proof of identity and proof of address. Once you’ve uploaded your ID documents, it typically takes 2-3 business days for your identity to be verified.
Step 3. Fund Your Account
Once your account is ID verified, you’re ready to start trading. The final step in setting up your account is funding your account. The fastest and easiest way to deposit trading capital into a FOREX.com account is via Visa or Mastercard. Once your account is funded, you’re ready to start trading!
Customer Service & Support
Some broker platforms provide substandard support and customer service. Fortunately, FOREX.com has a positive reputation for delivering above-standard customer service, allowing traders to contact support in a number of different ways. FOREX.com support is available via online chat and live phone support, and is typically available 10 a.m. ET Sunday to 5 p.m. ET Friday. While the phone support is comprehensive, the chat support is limited to a chat bot with pre-programmed responses. Email support is also available to traders that cannot contact FOREX.com via phone, but commonly takes 1-3 business days to get a response.
Key Takeaways
FOREX.com is one of the easiest to understand and secure FX, stocks (CFD), indices and precious metals trading platforms online. If you’re interested in getting started with FX trading and are searching for a straightforward broker with competitive fees, FOREX.com is one of the best options available.
