Looking for the top forex broker in Germany? Based on our hands-on analysis, we’ve identified the 6 best options tailored to various trading needs. Practical tips from our experts are included.
*Copy Trading does not amount to investment advice. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. Past Performance is not an indication of future results.
The forex and CFD trading industry in Germany is experiencing significant growth and is known for its highly regulated financial sector. With a multitude of options available to traders of all experience levels, navigating this market can be a daunting task. However, rest assured that we have done the groundwork for you.
Germany boasts a robust regulatory framework overseen by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), which prioritizes investor protection. Brokers wishing to operate in the country must obtain a license from BaFin or another reputable European regulator. This ensures that traders’ interests are safeguarded, offering peace of mind in a potentially complex market.
To choose the best brokers in Germany, I used the FX Empire 250-point rating system to find the leaders in each category. I focused on the following key features:
Our team of experts has identified each broker’s strengths and weaknesses using FX Empire’s comprehensive methodology. Here’s how we test.
Without further ado, let’s move to the selected brokers.
Founded in 2008, Plus500 is based in London and is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker PLUS. The broker is overseen by multiple top regulators around the world, including CySEC, UK FCA, and ASIC, and offers to trade in forex, commodities, indices, stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies (availability subject to regulation)
Regional Features:
What makes Plus500 stand out is its proprietary WebTrader platform which is available via web browsers, Windows 10 apps, tablets, and smartphones. Traders can use more than 100 technical indicators, as well as classic drawing tools like Fibonacci retracement levels, which are often used in forex trading. Plus 500 also offers a unique +Insights section, which draws data from its client community. This analytical tool shows the most traded instruments, most profit-making positions, most loss-making positions, etc.
My research showed that Plus500 offered tight spreads in some instruments. For example, the spreads for EUR/USD were as low as 0.8 pips, while spreads for other instruments were average for the industry (spreads are dynamic and subject to change).
Founded in 2001, ActivTrades is an online CFD broker with offices around the world that offers over 1100 tradable instruments from different asset classes. The broker is regulated by different jurisdictions globally, including Tier-1 UK FCA, CMVN in Portugal, and CSSF in Luxemburg. ActivReades has issued private indemnity insurance and a ‘best execution policy’, protecting its clients and ensuring quality order execution.
Regional Features:
ActivTrades’ clients can choose between the proprietary platform ActivTrader and the popular MetaTrader4 and MetaTrader 5. My research showed that ActivTrader has multiple in-house tools that boost the overall trading experience. These include SmartOrders which is used for faster order placement and SmartPattern which detects chart patterns and generates statistics.
The broker offers trading over forex pairs, commodities, stocks, indices, cryptocurrencies, bonds, and ETFs. My tests showed that ActivTrades offers low-to-medium spreads and swaps, compared to the broader industry. For example, EUR/USD spreads were 0.7–1.2 pips, while WTI Oil spreads ranged between 0.04 pips and 0.05 pips.
IronFX, established in 2010, offers a wide range of trading options including forex, commodities, indices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies. The broker operates under the regulatory oversight of CySEC, UK FCA, and FSCA.
Regional Features:
IronFX provides access to a comprehensive selection of trading instruments, including 84 forex pairs (minor and exotic), 31 commodities, 149 stocks, 33 indices, 7 FX futures, and 23 cryptocurrencies. The commodity offering encompasses both commodity futures and spot contracts, while the cryptocurrency offering includes various currency pairs.
My tests showed that IronFX’s spread levels varied widely between instruments. For example, spreads for EUR/USD ranged between 0.9 pips and 1.1 pips, for GBP/JPY – 3.6–3.9 pips, while spreads for WTI oil were 0.06–0.07 pips.
The broker offers the widely popular MetaTrader 4 platform available on desktop, web, and mobile. The traders can benefit from advanced indicators, customizable watchlists, copy trading capabilities, and automated trading functionality. Additionally, to assist clients in gaining a deeper understanding of MT4 Advanced platform IronFX has introduced its own dedicated educational guide.
Founded in 2005, FP Markets has established itself as a prominent broker, offering a diverse range of trading instruments to global clients. Based in Australia, the broker operates under the regulation of ASIC and CySEC, ensuring a secure and reliable trading environment for its users.
Regional Features:
During my comprehensive testing, FP Markets demonstrated low fees across various asset classes, including forex, indices, and commodities. Notably, the spreads for WTI Oil were as low as 0.03 points, reflecting the broker’s commitment to providing cost-effective trading opportunities. While share CFD spreads were slightly higher than the industry average, with Tesla spread at 0.95 points and Apple spread at 0.40 points, FP Markets still maintains competitive pricing overall.
FP Markets stands out with its diverse selection of trading platforms, catering to the varying preferences and trading styles of its clients. Traders have access to the widely acclaimed MetaTrader 4&5 platforms, the WebTrader platform, ensuring accessibility from any web browser, and the IRESS platform, known for its powerful functionality. Moreover, FP Markets offers a Mobile Trading App, enabling traders to stay connected and trade on the go.
AvaTrade is one of the most reputable brokers in Europe. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Ireland, AvaTrade is authorized in multiple jurisdictions and holds several Tier-1 financial licenses. The broker offers more than 1250 instruments across multiple markets that can be traded as CFDs or options contracts. This diversity helps traders to better manage their market exospore.
Regional Features:
One of the standout features of AvaTrade is its proprietary AvaTradeGo mobile app. It affords easy access to the market, and traders can use it to adjust their running positions. The app has an intuitive design and advanced charting capabilities, at least as far as mobile app designs go.
AvaTrade also incorporates MetaTrader 4 and 5, DupliTrade, and its two proprietary platforms – the AvaTrade Web Trader and AvaOptions. This variety suits the needs of beginners and seasoned traders alike, as it allows them to decide how to best manage their market exposure and conduct probing technical analyses.
AvaTrade offers commission-free accounts for beginner traders with floating spreads around 0.9 pips. After reviewing all of its costs, I determined that they fall marginally below the industry average.
Established in 2007, eToro has emerged as a pioneering platform in the field of copy trading. With regulation from multiple top-tier authorities, the broker offers a wide array of over 2000 financial instruments, encompassing stocks, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, indices, forex, and commodities.
Regional Features:
eToro revolutionizes the trading landscape with its pioneering approach to copy trading. Traders have the flexibility to execute trades based on their own strategies or effortlessly replicate the proven strategies of others within the platform. From my research, eToro also empowers traders to invest in diversified portfolios that combine top-performing traders or encompass different market sectors.
Based on my findings, eToro exhibits spreads that range from average to competitive. For instance, when assessing spreads for GBP/JPY, I found variations between 2.9 pips and 3 pips.
The broker has made substantial investments in its proprietary platform, which is accessible via both web and mobile devices. eToto trading platform boasts a user-friendly interface with a host of convenient features, including built-in alerts, one-click trading, and seamless trading directly from the chart.
Use our guide to choose the forex broker in Germany that fits your needs.
The process of choosing a legal forex broker in Germany begins with learning where your potential broker is regulated. Germany-based traders may find BaFin-regulated brokers, although the majority of brokers will offer a CySEC-regulated entity.
Traders should prioritize essential safeguards such as negative balance protection, segregated funds, and compensation funds, all of which offer reassurance in case of financial issues. BaFin and CySEC equally enforce robust protections for traders.
Read more about best CySEC-regulated brokers and best BaFin-regulated brokers.
Typically, brokers charge spreads, commissions, swap/rollover fees, and inactivity fees.
The spread is the difference between the bid and the ask price. The higher the spread, the more you pay for the trade. We consider spreads below 1 pip for EUR/USD and 3 pips for GBP/JPY to be low.
A commission is a fixed cost of entering the trade. Usually, accounts that charge commissions offer low spreads. For instance, for forex pairs and gold commissions below $3 are considered to be low.
A swap/rollover fee is charged when you hold a leveraged position overnight. Traders should pay extra attention to these fees if they plan to use swing trading strategies, which involve holding positions for several days or even weeks. For forex pairs, a swap rate below 0.5 pips is viewed as a good result.
An inactivity fee is a fee that is charged by the broker if your account is dormant. In this case, a certain amount of money is charged monthly. An inactivity fee below $10 is considered to be low.
Check out our list of Best lowest spread forex brokers.
As a Germany-based trader, you should understand the difference between various types of accounts that will help you to choose the right one.
Explore Best ECN forex brokers and Best STP forex brokers.
Typically, most brokers provide access to MetaTrader4 and/or MetaTrader5. Those are sophisticated platforms with a variety of tools tailored mainly for experienced traders, hence, beginners may have to spend some time learning the ropes.
Some brokers have also developed in-house trading platforms. Usually, such platforms are focused on the needs of different levels of traders. They are easy to navigate and simple to use.
The choice of trading platform depends on personal preferences and trading experience. Novice traders are advised to begin with a user-friendly platform or a mobile app, whereas experienced traders typically opt for MT4/MT5.
Check out our dedicated guides on best forex platforms, best MT4 brokers, and best MT5 brokers.
Leverage allows traders to use borrowed funds to increase their profits. The higher the leverage, the higher your potential profits are. However, leverage is a double-edged sword, and using high leverage also boosts your potential losses. Thus, beginners will be better off starting with low levels of leverage to avoid outsized losses.
The maximum potential leverage that the broker can offer is determined by the regulator. Reputable regulators like FCA and CySEC usually limit the leverage to 1:30. For retail traders, BaFin sets leverage limits at 1:30 for major currency pairs, 1:20 for non-major currency pairs and gold, 1:10 for commodities, 1:5 for indices and single stocks.
On the contrary, offshore regulators may allow the broker to offer leverage of up to 1:3000. To get access to higher leverage, traders should open accounts with entities that are regulated by offshore regulators and offer fewer protections. Note that it’s necessary to consider your risk tolerance and trading strategy before engaging in high-leverage trading.
Read more about best forex brokers with high leverage.
Here are the five things to avoid when choosing a broker in Germany:
To safeguard yourself against forex scams, follow these essential guidelines:
FX Empire, with a history dating back to 2010, has established itself as a reputable authority in broker reviews. Our extensive experience in evaluating CFD brokers, spanning over a decade, has led us to develop a meticulous and comprehensive review strategy. Adhering to rigorous guidelines for editorial integrity, we maintain a commitment to providing unbiased assessments.
Our review process adheres to a diligent protocol, encompassing objective criteria and measurable data. This systematic approach enables us to generate an impartial score that accurately reflects the broker’s performance. Through our efforts, we aim to furnish traders with a comprehensive and unbiased review, enabling them to make informed decisions tailored to their specific requirements.
To choose the best brokers for you, we rate them across nine categories and calculate a score that reflects their performance. The categories include
We open accounts, test platforms, measure spreads, and chat with support teams to collect as much data as we can for each broker. In total, we examine brokers according to over 250 data points.
Every category receives a rating from one star (weak) to five stars (excellent). The broker’s total score depends on its performance in each of these nine categories.
We highlight each broker’s strengths and weaknesses, explain regulatory details, and share the results of our live tests of brokers’ fees, customer support, and trading platforms. To learn more about our review process, click here.
For this best brokers page, we selected the best forex brokers in Germany. As traders have different needs, we separated the brokers into categories where they stood out as winners.
The team of forex and CFD writers and editors at FX Empire is composed of trading industry professionals and seasoned financial journalists. Our writers have been published on leading financial websites such as Investopedia and Forbes. In addition, they all have extensive trading experience.
Dan Blystone began his career in the trading industry in 1998 on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Later Dan gained insight into the forex industry during his time as a Series 3 licenced futures and forex broker. He also traded at a couple of different prop trading firms in Chicago. Dan is well-equipped to recommend the best forex brokers due to his extensive experience and understanding of the brokerage industry.
Jitan Solanki is a professional trader, market analyst, and educator. He day trades major currency and index markets and focuses on swing trading US equities and commodities. A qualified Market Technician, Jitan also works with trader education and brokerage companies on various projects. These include market analysis, live trading events, and broker reviews. As an experienced trader and educator, Jitan brings all his qualities in action when reviewing and recommending brokers.
Having been a retail trader since 2013, Plamen has gained an in-depth understanding of the challenges that novice traders face today. His expertise is swing trading and day trading with a heavy emphasis on psychological and fundamental analysis. Plamen’s favourite trading instruments include FX majors and gold. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics and International Relations. Plamen's broad experience has equipped him with the expertise to recommend the best forex brokers.
In more than 15 years of trading in the financial markets, Vladimir dealt with a wide range of brokers and financial instruments. His career as a day-trader at a proprietary trading firm goes back to 2007. Later, Vladimir turned to longer time frames and became an independent trader and analyst managing his own portfolio. Using his experience, he helps traders find the best broker in his reviews.
In more than 15 years of trading in the financial markets, Vladimir dealt with a wide range of brokers and financial instruments. His career as a day-trader at a proprietary trading firm goes back to 2007. Later, Vladimir turned to longer time frames and became an independent trader and analyst managing his own portfolio. Using his experience, he helps traders find the best broker in his reviews.
At FXEmpire, we strive to provide unbiased, thorough and accurate broker reviews by industry experts to help our users make smarter financial decisions.