Looking for top forex brokers offering no deposit bonus and other bonuses? Based on our hands-on analysis, we’ve identified 7 best options tailored to various trading needs. Practical tips from our experts are included.
Choosing a broker offering a bonus, such as a no-deposit bonus, is an excellent way to start trading risk-free. It is also a perfect way to test-drive a broker’s products and services with real money and low risk. But there are other bonuses a broker may offer that can be helpful.
For example, a broker may offer a welcome bonus by matching your deposit. If you fund an account with $100, they will top it up another $100, so you can trade an account with $200. This is another excellent way to earn more if you have low funds. Other bonuses may include a refer-a-friend fee, trading contests to win a sizeable trading account, or cash rebates from your trading activity.
Unfortunately, not all forex brokers will offer bonuses. In fact, due to regulatory restrictions, traders based in the European Union, United Kingdom, and Australia are unlikely to be offered any type of bonuses.
For the rest of the world, our team of analysts has identified the best forex brokers offering a no deposit and other bonuses for this year. These brokers have been selected using our proprietary broker rating system, which analyzes over 250 data points across nine core categories.
Using FX Empire’s comprehensive methodology, our team of experts has identified the best forex brokers offering no deposit and other trading bonuses for this year. Here’s how we test.
Now let’s explore the selected brokers.
Founded in 2014, Tickmill stands as our top overall broker. Regulated by the FSA of Seychelles, FSCA, FCA, CySEC, DFSA, and the Labuan FSA, Tickmill provides access to over 640 tradable instruments. The broker offers MT4 and MT5 trading platforms along with an excellent selection of supplementary tools, including Signal Centre.
Bonus Features:
Tickmill offers a no-deposit bonus through its Welcome Account. Simply by registering, Tickmill will credit $30 to your account. This bonus is available for trading for 60 days but cannot be withdrawn or transferred. However, profits from the bonus — ranging from $30 to a maximum of $100 — can be transferred from the Welcome Account to Tickmill’s client wallet.
Other bonuses include cash prizes and – the one I find most interesting – cash rebates of $2 per lot on the Classic Account. The more you trade, the higher the cash rebates you receive, which is an excellent way to boost overall profitability.
Tickmill provides an excellent range of additional trading tools. These include Signal Centre, copy trading via Pelican Trading, Traders Club, Advanced Trading Toolkits, and more. Signal Centre is an exciting option for traders as it offers real-time trading signals and ideas from an FCA-regulated signal provider.
During our live fee test on the Classic Account, I found the spread for EUR/USD averaged 1.6 pips during peak trading hours in the London and New York sessions. This exceeds the industry average of 1.0 pips for a commission-free trading account. The Pro Account provides access to lower spreads, starting from 0.0 pips, and charges a commission of $2 per lot per side, offering a competitive rate compared to the industry standard of $3.50.
Established in 2019, FXGT.com is based in Seychelles and operates under three distinct entities catering to clients globally. The broker provides a diverse portfolio of over 150 instruments, spanning various asset classes. Notably, it includes unique offerings such as NFTs and synthetic cryptocurrencies.
Bonus Features:
FXGT offers a 50% welcome bonus on your first (single) deposit. The maximum bonus value is $500 and only profits earned can be withdrawn. The broker also offers a 25% unlimited loyalty bonus. This provides a 25% bonus for every deposit made. The offer will reset to zero once the $10,000 limit has been exhausted, provided there is a cumulative 40 lots of trading volume. Some regions are also offered a $30 no-deposit bonus in which profits can be withdrawn after a trading volume of at least 2 lots.
One of the standout features for FXGT is the range of tradable crypto products. This includes all the major and well-known crypto CFDs, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin, as well as a unique product called synthetic cryptos created by the broker. These are cryptos paired against traditional commodities, stocks, and indices. Pairs include BTC/APL (Bitcoin vs Apple) and BTC/NAS (Bitcoin vs Natural Gas). The broker also has its own GTi12 index, comprising the 12 most popular cryptos and providing a more balanced exposure to the crypto market.
During our live fee test, we found the spread for BTC/USD averaged $5.52, which beats the industry average. The full range of crypto products (cryptos, synthetics, NFTs, DeFi tokens) are only available on the FXGT Pro Account which offers zero commissions and overnight swap fees and funding options in cryptos, including BTC, ETH, USDT, ADA, and XRP.
Founded in 2010, IronFX is regulated by the UK FCA, CySEC, and the FSCA. It also includes an unregulated entity in Bermuda, which is notably the only one offering a no-deposit bonus. More than 290+ tradable instruments can be traded from the MT4 platform, with additional MT4 plugins such as the Personal Multi-Account Manager (PMAM), Trade Copier, and Trading Central indicators.
Bonus Features:
IronFX offers a 100% Sharing Bonus from its unregulated entity based in Bermuda, Notesco Limited. This unlimited sharing bonus means that you can double your first deposit when trading. The bonus cannot be withdrawn but does last for 30 months. The top trader in each round of the Global Trading Race promotion will receive a luxury car, while the next top ten performers share in a prize pool of $500,000
More than 290 tradable instruments are available from the MT4 trading platform on PC, Mac, Web, Android, and iOS devices. The Windows PC desktop version offers the highest level of functionality, such as automated trading and access to the MetaTrader Marketplace, which has thousands of free and paid-for custom indicators and trading strategies.
The broker also offers additional MT4 plugins such as PMAM and Trader Copier. These plugins allow you to manage other people’s trading capital and have your trades copied on their accounts. The MT4 Trading Central plugin is also an excellent feature, providing access to more MT4 indicators, trading ideas, and market research.
During our live fee test on the No Commission account, I found the spread for EUR/USD during the London and New York trading sessions averaged 0.95 pips. This is better than a commission-free trading account’s industry average of 1.0 pips.
Founded in 2011, OctaFX operates through an entity based in St. Lucia, which is unregulated, and another entity regulated by CySEC. The broker offers competitive trading fees and fast execution on the MT4 and MT5 trading platforms, providing access to over 230 tradable instruments.
Bonus Features:
OctaFX offers a 50% deposit bonus on the funds you deposit when opening a new account. Traders need to deposit at least $50 to qualify. The bonus amount is locked until a minimum trading volume is reached (the bonus amount divided by two in standard lots), after which it is credited to the trader’s balance. The broker also runs a 4-week MT4 Demo Contest, with the 1st place winner receiving $500, 2nd place $200, and 3rd place $100.
During our live fee test, I found the spread for EUR/USD during the most active trading times in the London and New York sessions averaged 0.9 pips. This is better than the industry average of 1.0 pips for a commission-free trading account. Interestingly, there are no overnight swap fees, which is uncommon for a non-Islamic swap-free account.
OctaFX provides access to more than 230 tradable instruments, including forex, indices, commodities, stocks, and cryptocurrencies, available through the MT5, MT4, and OctaTrader platforms. The range of instruments may differ based on the account type, but each offers commission-free trading.
Founded in 2006, AvaTrade is an excellent option for beginner traders. Regulated by the CBI, ASIC, FSCA, ISA, CySEC, FSC BVI, and FSA Japan, AvaTrade offers a fantastic range of educational courses and risk management tools for beginners.
Bonus Features:
AvaTrade offers a 20% deposit bonus to new clients on deposits of at least $200. This bonus is applicable to accounts with a base currency of USD, EUR, GBP, or AUD. To withdraw the bonus, traders must achieve a minimum trading volume of 20,000 units of the account’s base currency for every $1 of the bonus within a six-month period. The broker also offers a cash credit if you refer a friend. If the referred friend’s first deposit is between $500 and $2,000, you receive a $50 cash credit. The higher the deposit, the greater the cash credit.
During our live fee test, I found that the spread for EUR/USD during the most active trading times in the London and New York trading sessions averaged 0.9 pips. This is more competitive than the industry average of 1.0 pip for a commission-free trading account. Beginner traders may appreciate the AvaProtect risk management tool, which allows for covering losses by paying an upfront premium, effectively acting as a hedge.
Additionally, AvaTrade offers a comprehensive array of educational articles and videos in its Education section. This includes courses on Position Trading, Swing Trading, Day Trading, Short Selling, Copy Trading, and many more. The range of platform video tutorials is also impressive, covering MT4, MT5, Ava Web Trader, AvaSocial, AvaOptions, and the AvaProtect risk management tool.
Founded in 2008, Plus500 is listed on the London Stock Exchange. It launched its US Futures Trading App in 2022 exclusively for US residents. The broker provides a wide range of futures instruments with zero platform fees and multiple contract sizes.
Bonus Features:
Plus500 US provides a specific bonus amount based on a new client’s initial deposit. A minimum deposit of $100 yields a $20 bonus, while a minimum deposit of $10,000 grants a $200 bonus. The bonus can only be used to offset commissions and fees.
The Plus500 Futures Trading App features a robust selection of mini, micro, and standard futures contracts across various markets, including forex, cryptocurrencies, metals, commodities, energies, interest rates, and equity indices. I discovered there are zero platform fees and zero market data fees. Additionally, the Plus500 Futures Trading Academy offers an outstanding range of educational materials and courses that are highly beneficial.
Founded in 1996, OANDA is an award-winning broker regulated by multiple top-tier regulators. The broker is a sponsor of the New York Red Bulls and provides services to both retail and corporate clients. US traders have access to 68 forex pairs through an excellent range of feature-rich trading platforms.
Bonus Features:
OANDA offers a welcome bonus of up to $10,000. To qualify for the Tier-1 bonus, clients must deposit at least $1,500 and maintain this balance for the first 60 days. Once the minimum trade volume requirement of $100,000 is met, the Tier-1 bonus is $500. The Tier-2 bonus requires a $50,000 minimum deposit and a trade volume of $50 million to trigger a $10,000 welcome bonus.
The broker provides an excellent range of top trading platforms suitable for beginners, professionals, and algorithmic traders. The MT4, MotiveWave, and MultiCharts platforms are designed for advanced traders and include features such as automated trading and backtesting capabilities. TradingView is a social trading platform with over 50 million active monthly users, offering trade ideas and excellent charting capabilities.
I found the award-winning OANDA Web platform fantastic for all types of traders, including innovative tools such as market depth, order book flow, position ratios, and a news aggregator. In our live fee test, the spread for EUR/USD averaged 1.45 pips, which is higher than the industry average of 1.0 pips for a zero-commission trading account.
Here is a quick guide on how to choose the best broker offering a no-deposit bonus.
When choosing a broker, it is important to assess how safe they are to trade with. Trading with a regulated broker ensures a higher level of safety for your funds, as these brokers must adhere to strict regulatory standards and laws.
However, not all regulated brokers are the same. In our broker rating reviews, regulators are categorized into three tiers:
Tier-1 regulators provide the highest level of investor protection. For instance, brokers regulated by the UK FCA, IIROC, CySEC, and ASIC are mandated to segregate client funds from their operational capital and offer negative balance protection to prevent accounts from going below zero. Furthermore, the FCA, IIROC, and CySEC require brokers under their regulation to be part of compensation schemes to safeguard client funds in the event of broker insolvency.
Tier-1 regulators ban brokers from offering promotions to their clients in order to prevent untrained individuals from being incentivized to trade in professional markets. As a result, most brokers that offer a deposit bonus tend to be based offshore.
Many unregulated brokers will offer bonuses and promotions as they do not need to abide by any rules or regulations. Stay clear of unregulated brokers, as they offer very few investor protections. If they decide to steal your capital, there are no legal avenues to reclaim it.
To verify a broker’s regulatory status, review their legal terms and conditions and search for their registration on the regulator’s website in the country of their operation. Read more about best regulated forex brokers in our comprehensive guide.
There are a variety of fees to take into consideration when choosing a forex broker to trade with:
While brokers aim to maximize their fees, your preference will naturally lie in selecting a broker with the lowest fees. You can confirm a broker’s fee structure by reviewing their fee page on the website or by contacting customer support.
While some brokers may present a wide array of account types, they can typically be classified as either commission-free or commission-based:
For a beginner trader, a commission-free trading account could be preferred as most costs are covered within the spread, thereby reducing the need for multiple risk management decisions.
Conversely, an experienced short-term trader might favor a commission-based account with lower spreads for executing trades at more precise market levels. A broker will typically offer the use of a demo account, allowing you to test which account type is most suitable for you.
Selecting the appropriate leverage in forex trading is important as it magnifies both your potential gains and losses. Leverage empowers you to control a larger position size with a small initial deposit.
Tier-1 regulators such as the FCA, CySEC, ASIC, and IIROC restrict retail forex leverage to 1:30, enabling control of a $30 position with only $1 from your account. However, brokers offering a deposit bonus will generally be based offshore and will likely offer notably higher leverage.
As these brokers operate with fewer regulations, a cautious approach is necessary. While leverages such as 1:1000 or 1:3000 might appear attractive, they come with increased risks. Your profits and losses are calculated from the total trade value, not just the initial deposit.
If there is insufficient capital to maintain the total trade value, the broker will issue a margin call. In this instance, the broker will automatically close your positions, resulting in unforeseen losses. Protect your trading capital and ensure a sustainable trading career by adhering to sound risk management practices.
For traders seeking high-leverage options, FX Empire offers a list of the best forex brokers with high leverage, carefully selected to suit specialized trading needs.
Trading platforms significantly influence your overall performance. The platform should be easy to use and offer a diverse range of charting tools and market research capabilities. Below are several common trading platforms provided by brokers:
Check out our dedicated guides on best MT4 brokers and best MT5 brokers.
For me, it’s preferable to trade with a broker that provides multiple platforms accessible on different devices. In case one platform or device experiences downtime, I can seamlessly continue trading from an alternate device, ensuring consistent management of my account.
One effective method might be to test each trading platform through a demo account. This approach is useful in identifying the ideal trading platform for your needs. You can also check out our dedicated guide on best forex trading platforms.
Here are several red flags to avoid when choosing a CFD broker:
Regrettably, there are many scams in the forex and CFD industry. Here are some considerations to help avoid them:
And if you are still uncertain, you can always check out our database of reviews to find the most reliable brokers.
To identify the best no-deposit forex brokers, we evaluate them using our proprietary rating system, which involves analyzing 250 data points across nine core categories. These categories include:
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.
For this guide, we also ensured each broker offers a deposit bonus option, as well as other promotional offerings.
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.