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4 Best Forex Options Brokers for 2024

Looking for the top broker for trading options? Based on our hands-on analysis, we’ve identified the 4 best options tailored to various trading needs. Practical tips from our experts are included.

By:
Jitan Solanki
Reviewed By:
Aviva Gurevich
Updated: Feb 26, 2024

List of Top Forex Options Brokers and Trading Platforms

Best brokers for US traders

Zero eToro commission and contract fees. Social trading element in the eToro Options app. Access eToro Options Rewards for cash credits. User-friendly eToro Options app with inbuilt news feed.

Best brokers for international traders

40+ forex pairs on the AvaOptions app. Detailed options chain in the app. Apply 13 preset option strategies. Wide range of forex exotic options.

Zero commission, low spread CFD options. Options on 41 major forex, shares, indices, and commodities. Feature-rich options chain in web platform.

User-friendly web-based options trading platform. 340 call and put contract options available. Option CFDs on forex, stocks, indices, commodities.

What are the Options?

Options give the right — but not the obligation — to buy or sell a market at a fixed price on a specific date. They can be used on currency pairs, stocks, indices, or commodities and can be beneficial for executing short-term and long-term strategies.

One reason options trading is popular is that there is no need for a stop loss. As you are not purchasing the underlying asset directly – just the option to do so in the future – options provide some interesting possibilities for speculation and hedging strategies.

How did FXEmpire select the Best Forex Brokers for options trading?

FXEmpire's Methodology

  • We chose brokers that scored a rating of 4+ based on our 250-data point checklist.
  • We checked the broker’s authorization and licenses to operate in different jurisdictions and confirmed them with the regulator.
  • We ensured that each broker offers both put and call options and allows multiple types of option strategies.
  • We explored the full options offering from each broker to ensure a wide variety of options contracts are available with a wide range of strike prices and expiry dates.
  • We examined the range of tradable instruments available to trade on with options to ensure a diverse range of markets.
  • We assessed the different option trading fees to ensure they are competitive and transparent.
  • We tested the broker’s options trading platform to confirm it is feature-rich, secure, and easy to use.
  • We checked the leverage and margin available for each broker’s options products.
  • We looked for any educational content and research tools specifically tailored to trading options.
  • We contacted customer support to test how helpful, knowledgeable, and easy-to-access customer support agents are/.

Using FX Empire’s comprehensive methodology, our team of experts has identified the best forex brokers for options trading this year. Here’s how we test.

Now let’s explore the selected brokers.

Best Overall

Trading CFDs and FX Options entail risk and could result in the loss of your capital.
  • Min Deposit
    $100
  • Tradable Instruments
    853
  • Fees
    Medium

Established in 2006, the broker is regulated by multiple authorities, including the CBI, FSC BVI, FSCA, ASIC, FSA Japan, FSRA, and CySEC, It provides access to the AvaOptions platform, where you can trade on more than 40 forex pairs and gold using 13 distinct option strategies.

Key Options Trading Features:

  • Regulators: CBI, FSC BVI, FSCA, ASIC, FSA Japan, FSRA and CySEC
  • Forex Options Leverage: 1%
  • Options Markets: Forex, Indices, Commodities
  • Tradable Options: Call and puts
  • Options Expiries: 1 week, 2 week, 1 month, 2 month, 3 month, 6 month, 12 months out
  • Fees: EUR/USD Call 1.062 At The Money Oct (1 month out) contract = 8 pip spread, zero overnight, zero commission
  • Platform: AvaOptions iOS and Android App

During our live test, I found that AvaTrade offers options on 54 markets covering forex, indices, and commodities. I was particularly impressed by the number of exotic forex options contracts available, including pairs like USD/ILS, USD/TRY, NOK/SEK, and many others. Trading options on these high-volatility forex pairs is ideal as there is no need for a stop-loss, unlike with CFDs. In options, all your costs are in the purchase price of the contract, which is paid upfront.

The AvaOptions platform is excellent for options traders. I found the FX Options widget to be extremely useful as it details a good range of strike prices for each instrument, the delta, and implied volatility (IV). A unique feature of AvaTrade is that they provide a wide range of option expiry times, ranging from one week to 12 months. In contrast, many retail forex brokers will provide either daily or 1 month expiries. The app also makes it easy to trade on any of the 13 different options strategies available (spot, call, call spread, call ratio, put, put spread, put ratio, straddle, butterfly, condo, risk reversal, seagull option contracts) making AvaTrade a top broker to consider.

Pros
  • Easy to use AvaOptions app.
  • 13 options strategies available.
  • Wide range of option expiries up to a year out.
  • Detailed options window with delta and IV.
Cons
  • No stock options available.

Best Low Spreads

4.6
71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money
  • Min Deposit
    $250
  • Tradable Instruments
    17252
  • Fees
    Medium

Founded in 1974, IG is a heavyweight in the retail trading industry. Regulated by the FCA, BaFin, ASIC, FINMA, FSCA, MAS, FMA, DFSA, JFSA, NFA, and the CFTC, IG provides an excellent range of CFD options across major shares, indices, and forex with a wide variety of expiry options and low spreads.

Key Options Trading Features:

  • Regulators: FCA, BaFin, ASIC, FINMA, FSCA, MAS, FMA, DFSA, JFSA, NFA and the CFTC
  • Forex Options Leverage: 3.33%
  • Options Markets: Forex, Indices, Commodities, Shares
  • Tradable Options: Call and puts
  • Options Expiries: Daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly
  • Fees: EUR/USD Call 1.065 At The Money Oct (1 month out) contract = 6 pip spread, zero overnight, zero commission
  • Platform: IG Trading Platform Web

IG provides a good range of daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly option CFDs to trade across 41 instruments covering forex, indices, commodities, and shares. During our live test, I found that the spread for the EUR/USD Call 1.065 At the Money Oct (1 month out) contract was just 6 pips with zero commission and zero overnight fees to pay.

You can trade option CFDs with IG through its own proprietary web-based platform, which I find to be user-friendly and feature-rich. You can access all of IG’s 10,000+ financial instruments to trade on via options, CFDs, spread betting, and investment accounts. I found the options window to be very useful and similar to most options chain windows, with the strike prices listed in the middle and the price to buy or sell calls and puts on either side, alongside the implied volatility (IV).

Pros
  • 41 option CFD instruments.
  • Competitive spreads.
  • User-friendly trading platform.
  • Simple to use options chain.
Cons
  • Only major currency pairs, no minors or exotics for option CFDs.

Best Trading Platform

CFD Service, 80% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money
  • Min Deposit
    $100
  • Tradable Instruments
    2047
  • Fees
    Medium

Established in 2008, Plus500 is a publicly listed company on the London Stock Exchange regulated by the FCA, CySEC, ASIC, FMA, FSCA, MAS, and the FSA. With the ability to trade CFD options on multiple asset classes, with leverage of up to 1:5, and from an easy-to-use web-based options platform, it is a top broker to consider.

Key Options Trading Features:

  • Regulators: FCA, CySEC, ASIC, FMA, FSCA, MAS, FSA
  • Forex Options Margin: 20%
  • Options Markets: Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities
  • Tradable Options: Call and puts
  • Options Expiries: 1 month out
  • Fees: EUR/USD Call 1.065 At The Money Oct (1 month out) contract = 4 pip spread, zero overnight, zero commission
  • Platform: Plus500 proprietary web platform

During our live test, I was impressed by how simple it was to trade option CFDs from the Plus500 web trading platform. Available from any web browser, I found it easy to search for any number of instruments available on the platform with clear, responsive charts that can be switched from light to dark mode (useful when staring at charts all day to protect the eyes). I also found it useful that each trading ticket has a Trader’s Sentiment indicator attached to it and live statistics of the instrument’s recent price activity.

I found more than 340 call and put option contracts for 21 instruments covering forex, stocks, indices, and commodities. Most of the options expire 1 month out, with a wide range of different strike prices for each instrument. As you are trading options on the underlying CFD contract, the maximum available leverage is 1:5 on forex pairs. This means that with $1,000, you can trade an options CFD position worth up to $5,000.

Pros
  • Highly regulated around the world.
  • Option CFD leverage up to 1:5.
  • Wide range of call and put contracts.
  • Easy-to-use web platform.
Cons
  • Options trading is limited to just 21 instruments.

How to Choose the Best Options Broker?

Pay attention to the following points to choose the best forex broker for options trading.

1. Choose a regulated broker

When choosing a forex broker to trade with, it is important to stick to a regulated broker. These brokers are required by law to adhere to strict rules regarding the safety of your capital and the quality of your trade execution.

However, not all regulators are equal. In our broker rating review, we categorize regulators into three tiers:

  • Tier-1. These are regulators that are based in well-known financial jurisdictions and include the UK FCA, ASIC, CFTC, NFA, IIROC, and others.
  • Tier-2. These are regulators that are based in well-known economic regions but are less known as major financial centers and include the FMA, FSCA, CBI, and others.
  • Tier-3. These are regulators that are based offshore and include the FSA Seychelles, FSC BVI, and others.

Brokers regulated by a Tier 1 regulator offer the highest level of protection. For example, the UK FCA, IIROC, CySEC, and ASIC make it a legal requirement for brokers to segregate client funds from company funds and to offer a negative balance protection so your account does not go below zero.

Explore Best CySEC-regulated brokers and Best ASIC-regulated brokers.

The UK FCA, CySEC, and IIROC take investor protection one step further and make it a legal requirement to be part of a compensation scheme to protect client funds up to a certain amount in the event the broker becomes insolvent.

It is advised to stay well clear of unregulated brokers, as there is no legal recourse should they decide to run away with your funds. You can check the regulatory status of a broker and their license on the relevant regulator’s online register in the jurisdiction the broker is based in.

Read more about best regulated forex brokers in our comprehensive guide.

2. Check the option trading fees

Some of the trading fees you should be aware of include:

  • Spread. This is the difference between the buy price and the sell price of an option. See our guides on the best zero spread and best lowest spread forex brokers.
  • Commission. This is a fee to open and close an option trade.
  • Regulatory fee. If trading options from an options exchange, there are regulatory fees for each option contract.
  • Deposit/withdrawal fees. These are fees for depositing and withdrawing funds.
  • Inactivity fees. If no trading activity has taken place over a set number of months, the broker may charge an inactivity fee.

Ideally, you want all fees to be as low as possible. Research the fees on the broker’s website and terms and conditions document, and speak to customer support to verify your findings.

3. Choose the right options account

Most European and Asia forex brokers will offer an options CFD trading account. This means you can purchase the option to buy or sell a CFD of a certain market at a particular price in the future.

Some of the benefits of trading option CFDs are that many of them charge zero commission to buy or sell, and you can often access a higher level of margin. For example, some brokers that are regulated by Tier 1 regulators, such as the UK FCA and CySEC, may offer up to 1:30 leverage on forex options. This means you can purchase an option worth $3,000 with just $1,000.

Read more about Best FCA-regulated brokers.

However, forex brokers providing option CFDs will have different margin requirements, so check the broker’s product offering page or speak to a customer support agent.

Some brokers may offer the ability to purchase options that are listed on an exchange, such as the Chicago Board Options Exchange. If so, you will find that the broker will only provide access to stock equity options through these exchanges.

Therefore, it’s crucial to research the broker carefully to identify which tradable instruments are available for options trading, ensuring you can access the markets you’re interested in trading.

4. Test the options trading platform

Brokers who offer the ability to trade options will likely only offer them through their own proprietary trading platform. All of the brokers listed on this page provide access to their own options trading platform. Typically, this is a web-based platform, but some brokers may also provide access to options mobile trading app.

Some brokers offer feature-rich proprietary trading platforms with everything you need. Other brokers may provide their own platform to trade options, but you may find their charting, technical analysis, and research tools to be limited.

It may be useful to check what other trading platforms and research tools the broker provides, as you can use them for your analysis and research and then simply trade from the proprietary web platform.

See our comprehensive guide on the best forex trading platforms.

What to avoid when choosing a Forex Options broker?

Here are some things to avoid when choosing a forex broker for options trading:

  • Brokers lack transparency. If you cannot find information regarding the different types of options available to trade with from a broker and the fees associated with doing so, then it is a red flag that the broker may be hiding something.
  • Brokers with no physical presence. If a broker does not have a physical office in a well-established jurisdiction with a live customer support team to speak to, it’s probably best to avoid trusting them with your money.
  • Unregulated brokers. These brokers are not subject to any official oversight, which means there is no protection if they go bankrupt or act fraudulently.

If you stick to the brokers listed on this page, you are less likely to encounter any of these issues.

How to avoid forex and CFD scams?

Here are some tips to avoid trading scams:

  • Trade with a regulated broker.
  • Check they have a physical presence.
  • Speak to a live customer support agent.
  • Ensure they operate in a well-known economic jurisdiction.
  • Only use well-known payment methods.
  • Start with a demo account or small funds first.

And if you are still uncertain, you can always check out our database of reviews to find the most reliable brokers.

Our Methodology

When identifying the best forex brokers for options trading, we checked that each broker offers both call and put options.

  • By purchasing a call option, you are buying the right – but not the obligation – to purchase a market at a fixed price in the future.
  • By purchasing a put option, you are buying the right – but not the obligation – to sell a market to someone else at a fixed price in the future.

Every option has a different expiry. Some of the brokers listed in this article offer daily options that expire at the end of the day. Many of the brokers listed provide options that expire 1 – 12 months out, making them useful for short-term and long-term traders.

European Style Options can only be exercised at the expiry date. American Style Options can be exercised at any time before the expiry date. It is common for options that expire daily to be European-style. American Style Options provide more flexibility as you can close the option trade before expiry and lock in a profit or minimize a loss.

Some brokers will offer options that are traded on an options exchange, such as the Chicago Board Options Exchange. However, as many forex brokers are providing options as an additional product to their clients, you will find that many of these brokers provide option CFDs. This is where you are purchasing an option to buy or sell a CFD at a fixed price in the future, which comes with certain benefits such as trading on margin and lower or zero commissions.

In our methodology, we have identified forex brokers that provide a different range of option expiries and styles. We also selected the brokers using over 250 research data points covering nine core categories, which include:

  • Trustworthiness: We check the broker’s regulatory status, reputation, and license to operate within different jurisdictions.
  • Fees: We test the broker’s trading fees with a live trading account to check how transparent and competitive they are.
  • Trading platform and tools: We examine and test the broker’s trading platforms and tools to identify the number of features they provide.
  • Tradable instruments: We check how diverse a broker’s product range is to ensure a good level of diversification of tradable instruments.
  • Customer support: We test the level of knowledge and helpfulness of each broker’s customer support agents.
  • Payment methods: We evaluate the different deposit and withdrawal methods available and check the fees associated with each one.
  • Account types: We examine the broker’s account types and features to ensure a transparent and diverse product offering.
  • Research and education: We review the quality of the broker’s research and education materials.

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.

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.

Get to Know Our Authors

Dan BlystoneBroker Analyst

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 SolankiBroker Analyst

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.

Plamen StoyanovBroker Analyst

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.

Vladimir ZernovBroker Analyst

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.

Forex options allow you to purchase the option to buy or sell a currency pair at a fixed price and date at some point in the future.
A forex call option allows you to purchase the option – but not the obligation – to buy a currency pair at a fixed price and date in the future. A forex put option allows you to purchase the option – but not the obligation – to sell a currency pair to someone else at a fixed price and date in the future.
The maximum leverage for options CFD trading varies among brokers. Brokers regulated by Tier 1 authorities, such as the UK FCA, may offer forex options with leverage up to 1:30.
In forex options trading, margin is the amount of capital that is required to purchase an option. By trading on margin, traders only need to put up a small deposit to control a larger position. For example, if a broker allows you to purchase an option with a 20% margin, this means you only need to put up 20% of the total trade value to buy the option.
One of the main benefits of forex options trading is that there is no need for a stop loss. This is because you are merely purchasing the option to buy or sell a market at a certain price in the future, and you pay the premium as a margin when you first open the trade. One of the main risks of forex options trading is that your option can expire worthless at expiry if the market moves in the opposite direction.
A margin call in forex options trading is where there is not enough capital in your account to cover the exposure of the value of your options trades. This is because the trade value is calculated on the total value of the position and not just the margin that is put up to open the trade.
When selecting a forex options broker, you should always stick to a regulated broker to ensure the highest level of safety and security of your funds. You should also investigate the number of instruments available when trading options and the range of expiries.
The costs of forex options trading vary between brokers. Many forex option CFD brokers will only charge a spread. However, there are some that will charge a spread and a commission to open and close, so it’s well worth checking the fees with each broker.
Yes, you will need to pay taxes for options trading as it may be classed as a source of income or capital gain.
Most options brokers will provide their own proprietary trading platform to trade options based on the strike prices and expiries they provide. You may be able to test each platform with a demo account to identify the best options platform for you.
Plus500 is a top overall forex options CFD broker, providing a simple-to-use web-based options trading platform with zero commission and competitive spreads.
IG is a top options CFD broker for low spreads and provides access to a large range of options to trade on including major forex pairs, indices, shares, and commodities.
Whether or not forex options trading is regulated depends on the jurisdiction your broker is in. Some brokers will base themselves offshore to avoid being regulated but may still provide the ability to trade options – you should stay well clear of them. It’s best to stick to a broker that provides forex options that are based in a jurisdiction that requires regulation from a government body to provide such services.
Having a top-notch technical analysis charting platform will help when trading options. The ability to identify markets that can move in a certain direction is the backbone of successful options trading, which is what technical analysis provides. A broker may offer other research tools that will also be worthwhile investigating.
A negative balance protection is a system that ensures that a trader’s account does not go below zero.
Brokers regulated by Tier-1 regulators such as the UK FCA, CySEC, ASIC, and IIROC are legally required to provide negative balance protection. If unsure, you should check the broker’s terms and conditions document.
A compensation scheme in forex trading is where client funds are covered up to a certain amount in case the broker becomes insolvent.
Brokers regulated by Tier-1 regulators such as the UK FCA, CySEC, and IIROC are legally required to be part of a compensation scheme. If unsure, you should read the broker’s legal terms and conditions document.
A segregated fund holds client funds separate from company funds to ensure the broker is not using client deposits to run the business.
Brokers regulated by Tier-1 regulators such as the UK FCA, CySEC, ASIC, and IIROC are legally required to segregate client funds. If unsure, you should read the broker’s legal terms and conditions document.

About the Author

Jitan SolankiBroker Analyst

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.

Why you can trust FX Empire

At FXEmpire, we strive to provide unbiased, thorough and accurate broker reviews by industry experts to help our users make smarter financial decisions.

Why you can trust FX Empire

FXEmpire was founded in 2011, making us one of the first forex broker review sites. You can trust FXEmpire because of our thorough and unbiased review process. With over a decade of experience, we have a team of industry experts who conduct rigorous tests to ensure our reviews are accurate and unbiased. Our reviews are designed to bring clarity and confidence to the process of choosing a broker, and are based on objective criteria and measurable data. Our editorial team is composed of trading industry professionals and seasoned financial journalists, who ensure that our reviews are accurate and unbiased. Additionally, our review system is based on 9 core categories and over 250 distinct variables, which ensures that all aspects of a broker are considered before giving a final rating. So, you can trust FXEmpire to provide you with honest and informative reviews that will help you make an informed decision on which broker will best enable you to reach your financial goals.