Searching for the top forex broker in Malaysia? Based on our hands-on analysis, we’ve identified the 13 best options tailored to various trading needs. Practical tips from our experts are included.
Forex and CFD trading is legal in Malaysia. Moreover, Malaysian traders can benefit from a broker that is regulated by the local authority – the Labuan Financial Services Authority (LFSA). The LFSA’s primary purpose is to oversee the functioning of financial markets and dealings with securities in the country. Alternatively, for access to global markets, traders can seek a reliable broker abroad licensed forex broker in Malaysia.
Malaysia is situated close to Singapore, one of the two most significant financial hubs active during the Asian trading session characterized by lower trading activity (compared to the EU and U.S. sessions). Thus, Malaysian traders must select a licensed broker with access to deep liquidity supporting fast order execution.
Our team of experts has identified brokers’ strengths and weaknesses using FXEmpire’s comprehensive methodology. Here’s how we test.
Now let’s turn to my picks for each category.
If you are looking for balance and versatility on the market, then JustMarkets just might be your best choice. It’s an international CFD broker that was founded in 2012. JustMarkets provides a wide range of services catering to the needs of all kinds of traders. The broker is authorized in multiple jurisdictions by various regulators – from the top-tier CySEC to the third-tier FSA.
Regional Features:
JustMarkets has three account types affording very tight spreads and commission-free trading. The Raw spreads (starting from 0.0 pips) account is the only one with a fixed round turn commission – 6 units of the base currency per lot, meeting the industry average. I checked the Raw account type and found it suitable for the implementation of high-frequency trading strategies, such as scalping.
All accounts can be opened with MYR as a base currency, making them even more favorable for traders in Malaysia. Additionally, JustMarkets supports the renowned MetaTrader 4&5, which I find sufficient for conducting basic technical analysis. The broker also has its own social trading service and access to deep liquidity.
OCTA was established in 2011. The broker’s service is especially well-fitted to support copy trading. OCTA provides excellent commissions for signal providers, which I consider to be quite attractive for highly successful traders. Accordingly, this also benefits traders wanting to subscribe to the most profitable strategies.
Regional Features:
OCTA offers two retail account types that afford commission-free trading and floating spreads starting from 0.6 pips. I checked and compared the live spread on the EURUSD during the morning and afternoon trading sessions – recorded at 1.0 and 0.8 pips, respectively – and found it to meet the industry average. I found this combination suitable for high-frequency and high-volume trading as it offers competitive pricing that supports the implementation of multiple trading strategies.
Copy trading is available via OCTA’s proprietary copy-trading app, connecting the best signal providers with eager copiers. It allows you to compare the performance of various strategies and check their average returns, maximum drawdown, average losses, and more. I appreciated this level of detail because, in the long run, it is not enough to simply connect to the most profitable strategy. You need also to consider the risks.
Errante was founded in 2019 and is headquartered in Limassol, Cyprus. The broker is licensed and authorized in the two jurisdictions by CySEC and FSA Seychelles. It adheres to most safety requirements, and I found it fairly transparent and trustworthy overall.
Regional Features:
MetaTrader 4 is a platform preferred by traders worldwide because of its simplistic design and easy order execution. It features over 50 analytical tools, such as technical indicators and drawing tools. These are used to study price action behavior and determine different trading opportunities, like breakouts or breakdowns, range trading, and trending ones.
The platform is also frequently used for algorithmic trading because of its in-built Expert Advisors (EAs) feature, which makes it possible to automate your trading strategy and gain precise entries and exits in and out of the market.
I opened an ECN account with Errante, which features floating spreads from 0.1 pips and a $6 round-turn commission per traded lot. This combination falls just below the industry average. I also appreciated Errante’s low minimum deposit requirement of $200 for the account type.
FBS is a derivatives broker that was founded in 2009. It is beginner-friendly, with the bulk of its services tailored to serve the needs of rookies who are just now taking their first steps into the trading world.
Regional Features:
My first strong impression of FBS as a beginner-friendly trader stemmed from its impressive range of 7 account types. You can choose between your typical STP and ECN account types, as well as several Cent and Micro accounts specifically designed for low-volume trading. A specialized Crypto account is also available.
I opened a Cent account with FBS to assess the conditions offered to beginners. With floating spreads from 0.6 pips and zero commissions, I found the offering quite competitive and below the industry average. Novice traders can choose between MetaTrader 4&5. Both platforms, though somewhat rugged and inflexible, have easy learning curves. They also support copy and automated trading.
FBS publishes regular webinars and seminars and has a rich collection of educational videos and guidebooks. This range of materials is quite helpful to beginners wanting to get a balanced and multilayered understanding of trading. I quite appreciated FBS’s attention to detail. Its content covers a wide range of topics, from technical analysis to the intricacies of trading psychology and risk management.
Established in 1996 and headquartered in Zurich, Swissquote delivers the Swiss quality worthy of its name. In the three decades since its foundation, this broker has established itself as a trustworthy partner listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange. Swissquote delivers industry-leading services geared towards professional traders.
Regional Features:
What impressed me most was the lighting-fast average execution speed of around 9 milliseconds. Based on this performance, I determined that Swissquote is ideal for high-frequency trading. Seasoned traders interested in scalping stand to gain the most due to the decreased risk of negative slippage.
I opened a ‘Standard Forex & CFDs’ account with Swissquote, featuring commission-free trading and floating spreads from 1.7 pips. Traders are given access to over 450 lower-risk securities and higher-yield/risk assets, which can be used for balanced trading.
Swissquote’s Advanced Trader platform impressed me with its seamless design and feature-rich environment. It accommodates automated trading via its fast order execution capabilities. Additionally, experienced traders can make use of its professional-grade charting capabilities, which afford the execution of probing technical analysis. The platform’s intuitive and user-friendly design makes it possible to recognize even complex trading opportunities with relative ease.
Founded in 2010, IronFX is a Cyprus-based forex and CFD broker. It has multiple regulations, including CySEC and FCA, and provides its services to retail and professional traders globally. The broker offers 270+ instruments across most major asset classes at competitive prices.
Regional Features:
What stood out the most to me is its robust supporting content offering. IronFX provides top-line market analyses and trading ideas from TradingCentral – one of the best and most trusted providers in the trading industry. The broker also offers a comprehensive financial news screener and in-depth technical and fundamental analyses.
IronFX incorporates the renowned MetaTrader 4 platform. It is feature-rich, with more than 60 analytical tools and chart configurations, and supports essential trading tools, such as one-click trading, an alerts-setting option, and more. The platform also affords automated trading with its Expert Advisors (EAs) option.
I tested the competitiveness of IronFX’s trading fees by opening a No Commission trading account. As the name suggests, it features commission-free trading and floating spreads from 0.9 pips. This combination falls marginally below the industry average.
Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Australia, Vantage is a multi-asset derivatives broker that offers competitive trading fees, diverse account types, and a choice of trading platforms.
Regional Features:
Vantage has developed an excellent proprietary trading app that has a light and intuitive design, so even newbie traders can quickly learn its features. The Vantage app features 50+ analytical tools, chart types, timeframes, and other tools. It also offers market orders, limit orders, and stop orders.
The broker offers competitive trading fees and diverse account types. Its Raw Spread account features a minimum deposit of only $50, spreads from 0.0 pips, and a $6 round-turn commission per traded lot. I discovered that Vantage’s spreads on currency pairs, share CFDs, indices, and cryptocurrencies beat the industry average.
Vantage gives access to the standard suites of MetaTrader 4 and 5, along with the proprietary ProTrader platform. The platforms are feature-rich and suitable for basic technical analysis. High-volume traders can enhance their performance by implementing Vantage’s VPS hosting for low-latency trading. The feature is available to funded accounts with at least $1000 that achieve a minimum traded volume per month of $0.5 million.
FxPro is a renowned forex and CFD broker licensed and regulated in multiple jurisdictions. It offers more than 2000 instruments across different asset classes and a wide range of platforms and tools. FxPro stands out for its ultra-fast execution speed of under 12 milliseconds. I consider the broker one of the best options for precision trading, automated trading, and scalping.
Regional Features:
I carried out my tests on a Standard trading account with FxPro, which features commission-free trading and floating spreads starting at 1.0 pips. Broadly, I assessed that the broker’s spreads are average to high compared to the industry average. More competitive trading conditions are available with FxPro’s Raw and Elite accounts.
Traders can choose from an extensive range of platforms and tools. The broker has invested heavily in the development of its excellent proprietary FxPro Trading platform, which features more than 90 technical indicators, drawing tools, and other chart configurations. The broker also incorporates the renowned MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader.
FxPro’s ultra-fast execution speeds give high-frequency and highly speculative traders the competitive edge they are looking for. The broker’s access to deep market liquidity usually means a decreased risk of negative slippage. Furthermore, FxPro has a best execution policy, which is a legal mandate for brokers to provide their clients with the best possible price feeds under the prevailing market conditions.
What makes Tickmill, a broker with global exposure, especially suitable for traders in Malaysia is its licensing by the national regulator – the LFSA. With its offices in Labuan, Tickmill can offer its trading services to local traders directly.
Regional Features:
Clients of Tickmill can choose between MetaTrader 4&5. The newer addition to the popular franchise consists of a vast array of technical indicators, drawing tools, and trading order types. Most impressively, it offers 21 different timeframes affording traders a truly deep and penetrating insight into price action behavior.
I opened a Classic account, which offers commission-free trading and floating spreads starting from 1.6 pips. After checking Tickmill’s overall costs, I assessed that they meet the industry average.
The Raw account has raw spreads starting from 0.0 pips and a $4 round turn commission, which is way below the industry average. I found the Raw account type, in particular, to be suitable for high-frequency trading and scalping. On balance, Tickmill’s diverse account types offer truly competitive conditions to all kinds of traders.
FXTM was established in 2011 and is serving retail traders globally. It has strong licensing by the FCA, CySEC, and FSC Mauritius and offers diverse accounts, VPS hosting, and access to deep liquidity.
Regional Features:
FXTM’s clients in Malaysia have access to quite high leverage, up to 1:1000. They can also benefit from the broker’s tight spreads and commission-free accounts.
The Micro and Advantage Plus accounts offer zero commissions and floating spreads starting from 1.5 pips. In contrast, the Advantage account features raw spreads beginning at 0.0 pips and a fixed commission of up to $2, depending on the traded volume. These conditions generally align with the industry average.
FXTM provides the renowned MetaTrader 4 platform and its successor, MetaTrader 5, which combine a feature-rich interface with simple and fast order execution. Traders can utilize a wide variety of indicators, such as range-based, trend-based, and oscillators, to analyze price action behavior. Subsequently, they can capitalize on the trading opportunities they identify by placing market, limit, or stop orders.
Established in 1974, IG is a global leader in financial derivatives trading and a FTSE250 company, highlighting its stability and transparency. Malaysian traders can benefit from more than 17,000 lower-risk securities and higher-yield/risk assets that can be traded with favorable prices.
Regional Features:
IG offers various contract types, including CFDs, vanilla options, futures, and spot trading. Traders also have access to various markets, including forex, commodities, shares, indices, cryptocurrencies, thematic indices, interest rates, and more.
I conducted my tests on a standard CFD account, which features commission-free trading, except for shares, and floating spreads from 0.5 pips. Compared to the industry average, IG charges competitive spreads, especially on forex and gold.
The broker also stands out for its versatile platform with advanced charting capabilities. It boasts more than 60 analytical tools and chart configurations, as well as an excellent built-in market sentiment gauge. IG Academy, developed by the broker, provides high-quality educational resources, including trading courses, webinars, platform tutorials, and more.
FP Markets was founded in 2005 and has garnered a reputation as a reliable partner offering some of the industry’s lowest fees. The broker has top-tier licensing by CySEC and ASIC, which are some of the safest regulators in the industry. But traders in Malaysia can open accounts with FP Markets’ offshore entity.
Regional Features:
I tested FP Markets’ fees by opening a Raw account. It affords raw spreads from 0.0 pips and a round-turn commission of $6 per lot. Under these conditions, to trade 1 full lot (100,000 units) on the EUR/USD will cost you around $7, which I assessed to be below the industry average.
The broker offers two pricing models – ECN and DMA. Traders can thus choose the type of price feeding that is best for them. Both accommodate fast order execution without the need for a dealing desk.
FP Markets offers over 800 instruments, including 105 CFD stocks from the Hong Kong stock exchange. I appreciated this diversity because it affords traders in Malaysia great versatility since these instruments can be traded during the Asian trading session.
FP Markets supports popular MetaTrader 4&5 and the seamless iRESS platforms. The former caters to the needs of retail traders, while the latter is tailored for professional stock traders, granting them access to 1500+ shares. You can also trade on cTrader, which is among the most versatile platforms and offers better insight into price action behavior.
Another major advantage of FP Markets is the vast pool of third-party tools. The broker supports Autochartist, one of the most trusted signal providers globally, and Myfxbook. Social and automated trading are also permitted.
Since its foundation in 2006, AvaTrade has grown into a globally recognized brand for its reliability and professionalism. The broker is licensed in 9 different jurisdictions by some of the most trusted regulators in the industry, including ASIC and CySEC.
Regional Features:
The AvaTrade platform has a very sleek design, and I appreciated it for affording a detailed outlook into price action behavior. I discovered that it supports three chart types (bars, candles, and line charts), 10 timeframes, and over 100 trading indicators. This vast array of tools allows traders to conduct thorough technical analyses from multiple angles and pick the most favorable entry and exit levels for their trades.
AvaTrade’s spreads, swaps, and commissions are, for the most part, below the industry average. The broker affords commission-free trading and floating spreads starting from 0.6 pips. After testing their costs, I found out that the spreads they charge on FX pairs and commodities are quite competitive, but this was less so for CFD shares and indices.
AvaTrade is ideal for traders seeking to diversify their risk beyond CFDs by offering options trading. Options provide the right to enter the market at a specific level, without the obligation to do so. With limited risk, the maximum loss is typically the premium paid, while the potential profit is unlimited.
Now that we have covered our picks for each category, it’s time to talk about specific considerations traders in Malaysia need to make before they choose a partner.
When looking for a reliable partner, you must consider multiple factors to ensure your safety on the market. Your first concern should be licensing. Ideally, traders in Malaysia should look for a broker that is regulated by the local authority – the Labuan Financial Services Authority (LFSA). Alternatively, they can select a licensed broker to provide financial services globally.
Accordingly, traders can look for individual safety mechanisms that protect traders from various market risks. I have listed these below:
Traders can check whether a broker provides these and other safety mechanisms by checking its documents in the Legal Docs section of the website.
Read more about Best regulated forex brokers.
It is always important to check which account type offered by a broker is the best match for your personal goals, needs, and means on the market. Broadly speaking, the industry has two prevailing account types – STP and ECN. The former affords commission-free trading and floating spreads, usually starting from 1.0 pips. The latter has raw spreads starting from 0.0 pips and a fixed round turn commission, typically around $6 per traded lot.
Check out our guides on Best ECN forex brokers and Best STP forex brokers.
In my point of view, classic accounts are more suitable for high-frequency trading, whereas raw accounts cater to the needs of high-volume traders. For instance, classic accounts accommodate the needs of scalpers and intraday traders since these strategies usually involve executing multiple orders within a relatively narrow timeframe. Conversely, raw accounts are preferred by longer-term day and position traders, who are less active but tend to place much larger orders.
There is also the question of liquidity. Brokers with access to deep liquidity are better equipped to fill orders promptly and precisely. This mitigates the risk of negative slippage and ensures better prospects for success in the long run.
Here is our list of Best lowest spread forex brokers.
The next thing traders need to think about when selecting a broker should be the platforms and tools it supports. Platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 have a decent range of technical indicators and drawing tools, though I find them lacking the easy-to-navigate interface of newer and sleeker platforms like TradingView and NinjaTrader. However, MT4 and MT5 are quite suitable for social and copy trading.
Explore Best MT4 brokers, and Best MT5 brokers.
In terms of tools, it is worth choosing a broker that incorporates those third-party tools that enhance its own services. For instance, services like TradingCentral and Autochartist afford traders a deep and penetrating insight into currently unfolding trading setups. There is also DupliTrade, which provides comprehensive solutions to those interested in copy trading.
Read more about Best forex trading platforms.
Finally, it is important to consider the assortment of tradable instruments a broker offers and whether it suits your personal goals and needs. Selecting a broker that offers a wide range of high-volatility assets, like CFD shares and cryptocurrencies, and lower-risk securities, like bonds and treasuries, is always helpful. As a high-frequency intraday trader, I have always sought diversity when looking for new trading opportunities.
Here is our guide on Best crypto trading brokers.
However, there are additional considerations traders in Malaysia should make that are more country-specific. Traders in Malaysia are active during the Asian trading session, which is a period that is typically characterized by diminished though climbing trading activity.
There is a 12-hour difference between Labuan and New York, meaning that most traders in Malaysia will find it difficult to be active during the U.S. open. This is significant for the type of instruments offered by a broker. For instance, your broker might offer hundreds of blue-chip CFD stocks of top American companies, which is great, but this diversity will be of little use to traders in Malaysia who are reluctant to stay up late.
That is why it is a good idea to select a broker that offers you a decent amount of Asian instruments, such as stocks of regional companies, commodities, ETFs, currency pairs, and others.
Read more about Best oil trading brokers and Best gold trading brokers.
It is vitally important to avoid signing up with unregulated brokers that do not adhere to any legal frameworks or ensure the most important safety mechanisms. Reliable brokers are always the ones that are licensed by strict regulatory bodies. But licensing alone is not necessarily a guarantee of safety, as not all regulators mandate adherence to the same policies.
Avoid the brokers that don’t comply with the most vital safety mechanisms in the industry, such as having negative balance protection, segregation of client funds, and compensation scheme or private indemnity insurance. It is also helpful when brokers have a ‘best execution policy’ to ensure the most favorable price quotes are used for order filling under prevailing market conditions.
Regarding trading fees, traders should generally avoid accounts with floating spreads starting from 1.4 pips or round-turn commissions above $6.5 per traded lot. These rates exceed the industry average.
Finally, traders should avoid platforms that do not support fast order execution (no more than 100 milliseconds) or those that do not allow you to examine price action behavior from different angles. Regarding platforms, tools, and instruments, look for diversity and versatility. The more options you have, the easier it is to diversify your trading risk and become a consistently performing trader.
Scammers rely on traders’ gullibility. One tactic fraudsters employ is promising quick and easy profits at no risk to the trader. Often, scammers use labels that closely resemble the brands of real and legitimate companies. That is why regulators like the FCA have registers where traders can read about such fraudulent companies pretending to be others.
The best and easiest way to protect yourself is to make sure you work with a trustworthy and transparent broker. You can find a comprehensive list of reliable brokers by jurisdiction here.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you need to be careful where you leave your information online. Registering your details on suspicious pop-ups or even more innocuous-looking landing pages promising you enormous profits could result in your contact details ending up in a scammer’s calling list. Remember, no licensed broker would make unsolicited cold calls.
The next time you get contacted out of the blue with promises of becoming the next Warren Buffet, you must remember that you are most likely speaking to a scammer. In my experience, nowhere is the “if something sounds too good to be true…” saying truer than in the world of trading. That is why you should do your due diligence before opening an account with any broker.
FXEmpire has pioneered a unique methodology for evaluating CFD brokers worldwide. Our goal is to highlight all the advantages and disadvantages of a broker’s service so that our readers can make informed decisions when choosing a reliable partner. Our reviews are written with care and attention to detail, reflecting all the goals and needs of the typical retail trader.
Our team of dedicated professionals is working continuously to improve our system and keep it up-to-date with current market trends. We test each broker systematically by employing over 250 variables across nine categories:
We strive to be as rigorous and objective as possible and write our reviews without personal bias. We check the licenses of all the subsidiaries of a broker and look at the fine print in the Client Agreement. The reliability of a broker is further determined based on the website’s regulations, fees, and general transparency.
To check the broker’s performance in real time, we open a live account with one of its entities. This is done so that we can measure the spreads, swaps, and commissions on its most popular account type. Our findings are then compared to the industry average, which is how we determine whether a broker offers competitive prices.
We also test the functionality of the available platforms, the number and types of tradable instruments, the reliability of customer support, and the quality of the research and educational materials.
For selecting the best brokers in Malaysia, we looked for broker entities with international licensing to provide financial services globally and preferred LFSA (Malaysia) licensing. We also examined whether brokers accept the Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) as a base currency as well as for deposits and withdrawals. Additionally, we searched for the availability of Islamic accounts, the overall reliability of the broker, low fees, and user-friendly platforms.
We abide by our strict guidelines for editorial integrity based on the objective standards we have set for our reviews. You can read more about our review process here.
The team of forex and CFD analysts and editors at FXEmpire is comprised of trading industry professionals and seasoned financial journalists. Our experts are 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.
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.
At FXEmpire, we strive to provide unbiased, thorough and accurate broker reviews by industry experts to help our users make smarter financial decisions.