7 Best Mac Forex Trading Platforms for 2024

List of Top Forex Trading Platforms for Mac

Best brokers for US traders

Best brokers for international traders

How did FXEmpire select the Mac Forex Trading Brokers and Platforms?

• We confirmed the regulatory status of each broker by checking their authorization, licenses, and regulation.
• We ensured each broker provides access to trading platforms that are available from an Apple Mac.
• We explored the number of tradable instruments available to trade from a Mac.
• We checked the trading and non-trading fees of each broker to ensure they are competitive and transparent.
• We opened a live trading account to test the broker’s products and trading tools and how accessible they are from a Mac.

Our team of experts has identified each broker’s strengths and weaknesses using FX Empire’s comprehensive methodology. Here’s how we test.

Now let’s dive into the selected brokers.

How to Choose a Broker for Trading on Mac?

Below are some tips on how you can choose the best broker to trade with from a Mac this year.

How to find a safe broker?

When choosing a broker to trade with, safety should be the number one priority. After all, you are entrusting your hard-earned money to a broker to keep it safe and provide proper trade execution.

One of the best ways to protect your funds is to choose a broker that is regulated by a reputable financial authority. There are four tiers of financial regulators that are commonly used to categorize regulatory status:

• Tier 1: These regulators are situated in well-known financial centers and have a strong track record of protecting traders. Examples of Tier-1 regulators include the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
• Tier 2: These regulators are situated in established but smaller financial centers. Examples of Tier-2 regulators include the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) of New Zealand and the Financial Sector Authority (FSCA) of South Africa.
• Tier 3: These regulators are situated in offshore countries. They have a lower level of regulatory oversight than Tier-1 or Tier-2 regulators. Examples of Tier 3 regulators include the Securities Commission of the Bahamas (SCB) and the Financial Services Authority of Seychelles (FSA).
• Unregulated: Some brokers are not regulated by any financial authority and are based in offshore locations such as St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, and many others. These brokers are considered to be high-risk and are best avoided.

Brokers regulated by Tier-1 financial regulators, such as the UK FCA, CySEC, and ASIC, offer the highest level of protection for traders. These regulators make it a legal requirement for brokers to segregate client funds from their own. This means client money is held separately from the broker’s money. They also require brokers to offer negative balance protection, which means that your account cannot go below zero.

Check out our dedicated guides on best CySEC-regulated brokers and best FCA-regulated brokers.

The UK FCA and CySEC also take investor safety one step further and require all brokers regulated by them to be part of a compensation scheme. These schemes protect investor capital up to a certain amount in the event of broker insolvency.

When choosing a forex broker, it is important to do your research and choose a broker that is regulated by a reputable financial authority. This will help to protect your funds and give you peace of mind when trading. You can confirm the regulatory status of a broker by visiting the regulator’s online register.

Read more about Best regulated forex brokers.

What fees should you consider?

There are a variety of fees that forex brokers charge for their services. These fees can be categorized into trading fees and non-trading fees.

Trading fees are charged for opening, closing, and holding a trade. They include:

• Spread: This is the difference between the buy price and the sell price of a financial instrument. The lower the spread, the better. Discover Best zero spread forex brokers.
• Commission: This is a fee charged by the broker for opening and closing a trade. It is typically charged per lot, or 100,000 units of the base currency. The lower the commission, the better. Some brokers offer commission-free trading.
• Swaps: Swaps are fees charged for holding a leveraged or margined position overnight. The swap fee is based on the two different interest rates of the currency pair you are trading on, plus a broker’s markup. Discover Best low swap fees brokers.

Non-trading fees are charged for things like account opening, deposit and withdrawal, inactivity, and in some cases, education and research. These fees can vary depending on the broker, so it is important to check them before you open an account.

Check out our list of Best lowest spread forex brokers.

What Are the Benefits of Using VPS while Trading on Mac?

Lots of brokers offer their clients VPS hosting – a service that provides users with a virtual dedicated server, allowing them to run applications and host websites with greater control, stability, and performance compared to shared hosting.

Generally, VPS hosting can be a valuable asset for forex traders using Mac for various reasons.

• Enhanced Stability: VPS ensures that your trading platform is running continuously, even if your local computer crashes or loses Internet connection.
• Improved Speed: By hosting your trading platform on a VPS located near your broker’s server, you can reduce latency and improve the execution speed of your trades.
• Security: VPS hosting provides additional layers of security, including firewalls and intrusion detection systems, protecting your trading activities from potential threats.
• Accessibility: With a VPS, you can access your trading platform from anywhere and any device with internet connectivity, not just your Mac.
• Automated Trading Support: If you’re using algorithmic trading strategies or Expert Advisors (EAs), a VPS allows these systems to operate 24/7 without needing your Mac to be on all the time.
• Resource Isolation: Unlike shared hosting, a VPS ensures that your resources (CPU, RAM, etc.) are dedicated solely to your activities. This means that your trading applications will run smoothly and will not be affected by other users on the server.
• Compatibility: While Macs are known for their performance and stability, not all trading software is optimized for macOS. A VPS can host a Windows environment, allowing Mac users to run platforms and tools that may otherwise be unavailable to them.
• Customization and Control: A VPS offers the ability to customize the trading environment to fit individual needs and preferences, which may include specific configurations and installations.

Read more about Best VPS Hosting Forex Brokers.

How to Choose a Trading Account?

Brokers commonly offer an array of trading account options for Mac users. Each account type tends to vary in features and services, with fees being one of the most prominent differences. Some accounts operate on a commission-free basis, while others may be commission-based, creating a distinct choice for traders based on their preferences and trading strategies.

Most of the time, the account that has the highest minimum deposit provides the most amount of features and best trading terms. Be sure to explore the broker’s accounts page to identify which one is most suitable for your own needs.

You can also open a demo trading account to test all of the features and services provided by a broker without risking your money.

Check out our picks of Best forex demo accounts.

How Does the Leverage Work?

The emergence of CFDs has significantly contributed to the surge in popularity of trading the forex market. CFDs, or contracts for difference, provide traders with the ability to trade both long and short positions, using leverage.

Leverage has the power to amplify both profits and losses in trading. For instance, with a 1:30 leverage provided by a broker, you can control a $30,000 position with just $1,000 in your account. The level of leverage you can access may depend on your classification as a trader (either retail or professional) by the broker, as well as the specific financial regulator governing the broker’s activities.

In the year 2018, the MiFID II European Securities Market Act Directive introduced a legal mandate for entities regulated by Tier-1 authorities (FCA, CySEC, BaFIN, etc) to impose a leverage limitation of 1:30 on forex trading among retail clients. This initiative was prompted by the realization that many retail traders had been wiping out their trading accounts due to excessive leverage.

Read more about Best MiFID-regulated forex brokers.

While brokers based offshore in lower jurisdictions may advertise very high leverage, it is wise to remember that Tier-1 regulators restricted leverage for a reason – to promote safe, responsible trading.

Brokers based offshore in lower regulatory jurisdictions may advertise very high leverage of 1:1000 or more in some cases. However, it is wise to remember that Tier-1 regulators place a restriction on forex leverage of up to 1:30 for safe, responsible trading. This is because higher leverage will increase the size of wins and losses and in some cases wipe out a trader’s account.

Read about Best high-leverage forex brokers.

What are the most popular platforms for Mac trading?

Trading on a Mac has become increasingly accessible, and many trading platforms now offer Mac-compatible versions or web-based platforms that work well on Mac computers. Here’s a list of some commonly used trading platforms for Mac users:

MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. These have been the go-to forex platforms for many years. Mac users can access the MT4/MT5 web platform or iOS trading app or use third-party software such as Parallels to run the MT4/MT5 desktop version for Windows. Some brokers provide their own custom plugins to run MetaTrader for Mac or offer VPS services so you can run MT4/MT5 on a Windows desktop which you can access from your Mac via a VPS.

Check out our dedicated guides on best MT4 brokers and best MT5 brokers.

cTrader. The go-to platform for high-frequency and algorithmic traders. Unfortunately, there is no dedicated Mac desktop app but Mac users can access the cTrader web platform which comes with excellent charting features but no algorithmic capabilities (unless you run through a VPS or Windows software on your Mac).

Read more about Best cTrader forex brokers.

TradingView. Now one of the most popular platforms in the world with more than 50 million users every month, TradingView is a web-based platform. It can be accessed from any browser such as Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and others from a Mac.

Check out our picks of Best TradingView forex brokers.

Broker’s proprietary platform. Many brokers have invested in creating their own trading platforms, often with superior features to third-party options. While these are typically web-based, some desktop versions may only run on Windows. Mac users should explore the broker’s web platform or consider using a VPS or Windows-compatible software.

Read more about Best forex trading platforms.

What to avoid when choosing a Mac forex trading broker?

When choosing a Mac forex trading broker, beware of these red flags:

• Unregulated brokers: Brokers that are not regulated by a reputable financial authority are more likely to be scams. Regulations help to protect traders by ensuring that brokers operate fairly and transparently. If a broker is not regulated, it is a red flag that the broker may not be trustworthy and there is no help to get your money back if they simply run away with it.
• Lack of transparency: Brokers that are not transparent about their fees, spreads, and other terms and conditions are more likely to be scams. If a broker is not willing to be upfront about how they make money, it is a red flag that they may be trying to hide something.
• No physical presence: Brokers that do not have a physical office or a team of people who can be contacted in person are more likely to be scams. If you cannot meet the people behind the broker or visit their physical office, it is a red flag that they may not be legitimate.
• Promises of unrealistic profits: Brokers that promise unrealistic profits are often scams. There is no such thing as a get-rich-quick scheme in the financial markets. If a broker promises you huge profits with little or no risk, it is a red flag that they are trying to take your money.

How to avoid forex and CFD scams?

Here are some tips to help you avoid getting scammed by a forex or CFD broker:

• Choose a regulated broker, ideally from a well-established financial jurisdiction.
• Research the broker and ensure they do not have a past history of failings.
• Check the broker has a physical address in a well-known jurisdiction.
• Speak with customer support to ensure there is a team of real people running the business.
• Start with a demo trading account first or the lowest minimum deposit allowed.
• Read the terms and conditions carefully so you know which entity and jurisdiction you are opening an account with.
• Only use reputable payment methods that are well-known.

Our Methodology

FX Empire has been a leading provider of broker reviews for over a decade. Our review process has evolved over the years to include over 250 data points covering nine core categories:

• Trustworthiness: We evaluate the broker’s regulatory status, reputation, and licenses to operate in different jurisdictions.
• Fees: We open live trading accounts to test the broker’s trading fees for competitiveness and transparency, and we also check non-trading fees.
• Trading platforms and tools: We assess the broker’s trading platforms and tools, including their ease of use, functionality, and features.
• Tradable instruments: We evaluate the broker’s range of tradable instruments to ensure there is a diverse range of assets to trade on.
• Customer service: We assess the broker’s customer service, including their responsiveness, helpfulness, and knowledge.
• Deposit and withdrawal methods: We evaluate the broker’s deposit and withdrawal methods, including their fees and speed.
• Account types: We assess the broker’s range of account types, including their features, execution methods, and minimum deposits.
• Research: We evaluate the broker’s research offerings, including their in-house content and third-party tools.
• Education: We evaluate the broker’s education offerings, including their webinars, platform tutorials, videos, and e-books.

For this guide, we focused on the availability of Mac-compatible trading platforms and tools, the ease of access to these platforms, the diversity of tools and features specific to Mac, and the range of tradable instruments offered for Mac traders. We aimed to ensure these brokers provide a seamless, feature-rich trading experience that caters to the unique needs of Mac users, emphasizing user-friendliness and a wide array of trading options.

Meet Our Writers

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.

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