Searching for the top forex broker in India? Based on our hands-on analysis, we’ve identified the 7 best options tailored to various trading needs. Practical tips from our experts are included.
In the quest for the best forex broker for trading in India, it is best to stick to highly regulated and licensed brokers. Currently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) have yet to create a framework for licensing or regulating forex brokers and have implemented several restrictions on currency trading.
This is why local traders in India often engage with foreign, regulated brokers that accept clients from India and are supervised by foreign financial authorities, providing a more secure and safer trading environment. However, it’s important to note that not all foreign brokers are regulated equally.
Our team of experts has identified each broker’s strengths and weaknesses using FX Empire’s comprehensive methodology. Here’s how we test.
This analysis, coupled with my individual trading journey, has led to the findings and research presented below. They spotlight the best forex brokers in India across diverse categories tailored to your specific trading needs.
Now let’s dive into the selected brokers.
Established in 2005, FP Markets is authorized and regulated by CySEC, ASIC, and the FSCA and has one unregulated entity in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. With more than 850+ financial instruments, 3 powerful trading platforms and competitive trading fees FP Markets is a top overall broker.
Regional Features:
With FP Markets, traders in India can trade from two different account types, on more than 850+ financial CFD instruments covering forex, stocks, indices, commodities and cryptos and from three different trading platforms: MT4, MT5 and cTrader.
During our live fee test, I found that the average spread for EUR/USD on the Standard Account, during the London and New York session, averaged 1.0 pips which is the industry average for a commission-free trading account.
If your priority is securing the lowest possible spread, you might want to consider trading with the FP Markets Raw Account. This account offers spreads starting from 0.0 pips, but it carries a commission of 3 USD per lot, per side, which is better than the industry average of 3.50 USD.
I found that both of the account types offer ECN pricing, which means you can trade 70+ forex pairs, including USD/INR, directly with the interbank markets and broker’s liquidity providers. This makes it a top broker to consider overall.
Founded in 2011 and based in Saint Lucia, OCTA is a forex and CFD broker that operates via several entities. It is regulated by CySEC, MISA, and FSCA and also has one unregulated entity. OCTA ensures competitive trading fees and fast execution, offering a selection of over 300 tradable instruments.
Regional Features:
OCTA has developed its own trading app, designed for efficient and flexible trading. This app enables traders to effortlessly manage their profiles, and fund accounts, and access real, demo, and contest accounts at any time and from anywhere. It offers the option to trade on the in-house OctaTrader platform or the widely-used MetaTrader 4, accommodating different trading preferences.
Additionally, the broker provides a copy trading app, allowing clients to copy the strategies of experienced traders by automatically replicating their trades. This feature offers detailed insights into Master Traders’ statistics, including risk scores, gains, and trading history, aiding clients in making informed decisions about whom to follow.
OCTA offers two retail account types, both featuring commission-free trading and floating spreads starting from 0.6 pips. Based on my personal trading experience with OCTA, executing a substantial EURUSD position, I observed a trade cost notably lower than the industry average.
JustMarkets is a multi-asset online CFD broker based in Limassol, Cyprus. Authorized and regulated by CySEC and the FSA of Seychelles, the broker offers CFDs on forex, commodities, indices, shares, and cryptocurrencies from the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms.
Regional Features:
JustMarkets offers the renowned MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms, available on web, desktop, and mobile. Both versions support three account types – Standard, Pro, and Raw Spread – that primarily differ in their trading fee structures.
Additionally, MT4 includes a unique Standard Cent account, designed for trading in cents rather than dollars, making it a perfect choice for those with smaller trading balances.
The Raw Spread account features the tightest spreads available and charges a commission fee of 3 units of the base currency per lot, more competitive than the industry average of 3.50 units. Meanwhile, our tests revealed spreads as low as 0.7 pips for EUR/USD on the Pro account, which is more favorable than those on the Standard account.
Established in 2011, FXTM has entities regulated by the UK FCA, CySEC, FSA, and FSC Mauritius. With multiple account types, extra MT4 indicators, high leverage, and daily market analysis, it could be a good option if you are a professional trader.
Regional Features:
FXTM provides traders from India access to three different trading accounts. Professional traders may opt for the Advantage account, which has spreads from 0.0 pips and a low commission of 2 USD per lot, which is much better than the industry average of 3.50 USD per lot.
During our live test, I found you can trade from the MT4 and MT5 platforms. Both of these are the industry’s go-to forex platforms, boasting a variety of professional trading features, such as a one-click trading facility and algorithmic trading capabilities.
Additionally, the broker provides an extra package of MT4 indicators, which includes a pip value calculator, pivot point level indicator, and a day bar info indicator. I found the pip value calculator especially useful, as it simplifies the process of performing risk management calculations directly from the platform.
VT Markets is an Australia-based derivatives broker founded in 2015. It offers more than 1,000 tradable instruments across currency pairs, commodities, share CFDs, indices, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, futures, and bonds. The broker charges fair prices and provides a variety of trading tools, but its standout feature is its diverse platform offering.
Regional Features:
Indian retail traders can choose between MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and VT Markets’ proprietary Webtrader+ platform powered by TradingView. I tested Webtrader+ and found it extremely user-friendly. Scaling price action up and down is very easy, providing technical traders with a comprehensive overview.
VT Markets clients can also choose VTrade, a proprietary copy trading solution that connects strategy providers and strategy followers. For low-latency trading, VT Markets provides free Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting. It helps traders achieve ultra-fast execution speeds below 5 milliseconds.
I also tested VT Markets’ trading fees on a Standard account which features commission-free trading and floating spreads from 1.2 pips. I concluded that VT Markets charges low spreads on share CFDs, indices, and cryptocurrencies, low-to-average spreads on commodities, and average-to-high spreads on currency pairs.
Vantage is an Australian forex and CFDs broker that was founded in 2009. It offers 940+ tradable instruments and impresses with its rock-bottom spreads and low minimum deposit. Traders in India can open an account with Vantage Global Limited, which is authorized and regulated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA).
Regional Features:
Vantage integrates MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, ProTrader, and TradingView, and has also developed an intuitive mobile app powered by TradingView. This app consolidates essential broker services and offers advanced charting features.
Vantage stands out for its well-organized and user-friendly library of educational materials, which includes videos, articles, courses, and an extensive archive of webinars. Additionally, it offers a broad range of research tools, including a market sentiment indicator powered by TradingView and premium research content from the ProTrader Tools package.
Vantage offers three account types, with a minimum deposit of $50 for both the spread-based Standard account and the commission-based Raw account. Based on my assessment, Vantage offers highly competitive spreads on major instruments. Furthermore, the broker imposes no fees for deposits, withdrawals, or inactivity.
Hantec is a multi-regulated forex and CFDs broker founded in 2009 and based in Mauritius. It offers more than 2650 tradable instruments across currency pairs, commodities, share CFDs, indices, and synthetic pairs. Traders in India can benefit from Hantec’s rock-bottom trading fees and FIX API offering for Direct Market Access (DMA) trading, allowing them to obtain raw spreads directly from an exchange’s order books.
Regional Features:
Hantec’s Standard account offers zero commissions and rock-bottom spreads across all asset classes. Based on my test, Hantec charges low spreads on currency pairs, shares CFDs, indices, and cryptocurrencies and low-to-average spreads on commodities.
The broker incorporates the standard suites of MetaTrader 4 and 5, available on desktop, web, and mobile. It also has developed two proprietary apps: Hantec Mobile for trading on the go and account management and Hantec Social for social and copy trading.
Hantec stands out for extensive and highly informative educational materials, precise and very efficient research content, and ultra-fast execution speeds, making it a great choice for day traders and algorithmic traders.
Choosing the right broker for trading the forex market can be quite daunting, especially considering the multitude of options available. It’s crucial to make a decision that aligns with your trading goals as each broker offers a different range of services, tools, and fees. In India, this decision becomes more significant due to the country’s regulatory environment and distinct market dynamics.
Trading the forex market in India is a grey area. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) have not licensed or regulated forex trading in the country. This is why traders in India will trade with a foreign broker that accepts residents from the country.
This means that when choosing a foreign broker to trade with, you need to check their licenses and regulations. However, it’s crucial to note that not all regulators are created equal. At FX Empire, we classify them into three tiers:
Brokers licensed by Tier-1 regulators provide the highest level of investor protection. The UK FCA, CySEC, and ASIC enforce legal requirements to segregate client funds from company funds and offer negative balance protection to ensure your account does not fall below zero.
I would advise staying clear of unregulated brokers because there is no legal recourse if case the broker acts fraudulently and takes your capital. You can check the regulatory status of a broker by reading the terms and conditions carefully and searching the online register of a financial regulator. You can also find a comprehensive list of reliable brokers by jurisdiction here.
In India, forex brokers typically charge fees in three main ways: spreads, commissions, and overnight or swap fees. Understanding these charges is crucial to managing your trading costs and maximizing your potential profits.
In addition to these, there might be other non-trading fees like deposit and withdrawal, inactivity, or account maintenance fees. It’s critical to read the broker’s fees carefully to understand all the charges involved.
Your account type can make or break your journey. Here’s how to pick a trading account wisely if you are from India:
Leverage allows you to control larger positions with a smaller deposit. It’s a tool that can significantly amplify your profits as well as your losses.
Tier-1 regulators, such as the UK FCA, CySEC, and ASIC, impose a 1:30 leverage limit for forex trading. This means you can control a position size of $300 with just $10 in your account. However, it’s crucial to understand that higher leverage increases risk, as it can lead to substantial losses if the market moves unfavorably against your position.
Many offshore and unregulated brokers tend to advertise very high leverage. Exercise caution in these scenarios. After all, the restrictions on leverage set by Tier 1 regulators are there for a reason: to promote safe and responsible trading among retail traders.
Read more about Best forex brokers with high leverage.
If you’re ready to start trading Forex in India, you’ll need a trading platform. But what factors should you consider when making this choice?
In India, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and cTrader are regarded as the best options due to their user-friendly interfaces, comprehensive toolsets, and proven reliability.
Read more about the platforms in our detailed guides on the best MT4 brokers, best MT5 brokers, and best cTrader brokers.
Some brokers may offer their own proprietary trading platforms which they have invested in building. It’s also worth testing these platforms to see which ones align with your trading style. Here are a few factors to consider:
Explore our list of Best forex trading platforms.
Here are a few things to avoid when choosing a forex broker in India:
Forex and CFD scams can pose significant risks for traders in India, largely because the government has yet to regulate these activities. Here are a few strategies to help you avoid forex and CFD scam brokers.
Since pioneering the broker review industry, FX Empire’s methodology now encompasses more than 250 data points across nine categories. These include:
For selecting the best forex brokers in India, our team has leveraged the insights from this research, in addition to considering the following localized factors:
The list of best forex brokers in India has been curated with these factors in mind.
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.
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.
At FXEmpire, we strive to provide unbiased, thorough and accurate broker reviews by industry experts to help our users make smarter financial decisions.