4 Best Forex Brokers in Portugal for 2024

List of Top Forex Brokers and Trading Platforms in Portugal

Forex Trading in Portugal

CFD trading is rapidly gaining popularity in Portugal. Forex trading is both legal and regulated in Portugal, overseen by the CMVM (Portuguese Securities Market Commission), and falls under the supervision of the ESMA (European Securities and Markets Authority).

Brokers catering to Portuguese traders must adhere to MiFID II (Second Markets in Financial Instruments Directive) standards. This requires them to obtain authorization from regulatory bodies and to fulfill obligations designed to enhance investor protection and fight money laundering. Thanks to MiFID II, all EU-regulated brokers can serve residents of any EU country. This means that traders in Portugal can choose any EU-regulated broker entity.

How Did FX Empire Select the Best Brokers in Portugal?

To choose the best brokers in Portugal, we used the FX Empire’s 250-point rating system to find the leaders in each category. We focused on the following key features:

• We selected trustworthy and transparent brokers with a top overall score based on our 250-data point rating system.
• We favored brokers with top-tier EU regulators that are compliant with CMVM, ESMA, and MiFID II.
• We chose brokers allowing EUR as the base currency.
• We preferred brokers that offer CFDs on European shares.
• We focused on brokers with generally low trading fees.
• We listed brokers that have user-friendly and feature-rich platforms.
• We prioritized brokers offering localization in terms of the website and customer support language (Portuguese), as well as payment methods.
• We checked if the brokers provide bonuses and promotions for Portugal-based clients.

Our team of experts has identified each broker’s strengths and weaknesses using FX Empire’s comprehensive methodology. I subsequently used my 16 years of forex trading experience to examine and analyze all our findings, resulting in the selection of the best brokers for Portugal-based traders across various categories. You can read more about it and how we conduct our tests here.

Now, let’s explore the selected brokers.

How to Choose A Forex Broker In Portugal?

Use our guide to define the best forex broker in Portugal according to your trading goals.

How to choose a safe forex broker in Portugal?

The process of choosing a broker begins with learning where your potential broker is regulated. In our research, we divide regulators into three tiers: Tier-1, Tier-2, and Tier-3.

• Tier-1 regulators have strict oversight and impose certain limits on services offered to retail clients (for example, the leverage for retail clients is usually limited at 1:30). Such regulators usually provide access to investor compensation schemes. They also demand that brokers provide negative balance protection and keep clients’ funds in segregated accounts. Tier-1 regulators include CySEC, ASIC, and UK FCA.
• Tier-2 regulators also offer strict oversight but usually do not limit leverage for retail clients. In addition, investor compensation schemes are typically not available at Tier-2 regulators. FSCA is a good example of such a regulator.
• Tier-3 regulators are offshore regulators that do not impose limits on leverage for retail clients and do not provide access to compensation schemes. FSA Seychelles and FSC Mauritius are among Tier-3 regulators.
• Unregulated brokers operate without oversight from any formal financial regulatory authority. Unlike regulated brokers, which have to comply with rules and guidelines set by financial bodies to ensure transparency and protection for traders, unregulated brokers are not bound by such requirements. Trading with an unregulated broker carries a high level of risk, including the potential for financial loss, fraud, or scams.

Traders should prioritize essential safeguards such as negative balance protection, segregated funds, and compensation funds, all of which offer reassurance in case of financial issues. Traders should note that offshore regulators do not impose strict limits on leverage, allowing traders to access high levels of leverage but offer lower levels of protection. You should be aware that compensation schemes may not be available. Consequently, if a broker faces financial difficulties, traders will have to navigate the situation independently.

All brokers from our list are regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). We rate CySEC as a Tier-1 regulator as it provides the maximum level of oversight and protection, including negative balance protection, segregated funds, and a compensation scheme.

Read more about the best regulated forex brokers in our detailed guide.

What fees should you focus on when choosing the broker?

Typically, brokers charge spreads, commissions, swap/rollover fees, and inactivity fees.

• The spread is the difference between the bid and the ask price. The higher the spread, the more you pay for the trade. In our rating system, we deem spreads below 1 pip for EUR/USD and 3 pips for GBP/JPY to be low. See our guides on the best zero spread and best lowest spread forex brokers.
• A commission is a fixed cost of entering the trade. Accounts that charge commissions usually offer lower spreads. For example, commissions below $3 for forex pairs and gold are considered low.
• A swap/rollover fee is charged when you hold a leveraged position overnight. Traders should pay extra attention to these fees if they plan to use swing trading strategies, which involve holding positions for several days or even weeks. A swap rate below 0.5 pips for forex pairs is considered favorable. Discover best low swaps forex brokers.
• A broker imposes an inactivity fee when an account remains dormant for a specified period. In this case, a certain amount of money is charged monthly. An inactivity fee below $10 is considered to be low.

How to choose the right account for trading?

You should understand the differences between various types of accounts.

• Demo accounts are used for practice without risking real money. Such accounts are highly recommended for novice traders making their first steps in trading. Read more about best forex demo accounts.
• Spread-based accounts typically charge spreads and swap/rollover fees. These accounts usually represent a good choice for traders whose trading volume is expected to be relatively modest.
• Commission-based accounts charge commissions in addition to spreads and swap/rollover fees. Typically, such accounts offer tighter spreads. They are suitable for traders who anticipate a high volume of trading.
• On Islamic accounts, swap/rollover fees are not charged to ensure compliance with Sharia law. See our guide on the best Islamic forex accounts.
• Professional accounts usually have a high minimum deposit and offer access to the high leverage that most professional traders are looking for.

Read more about Best STP forex accounts and Best ECN forex accounts.

How to choose a trading platform?

Typically, most brokers offer access to MetaTrader 4 and/or MetaTrader 5. Those are sophisticated platforms with a variety of tools tailored mainly for experienced traders. Hence, beginners may need to spend some time learning the ropes.

Some brokers have also developed their own in-house trading platforms. These platforms are usually tailored to the needs of traders at various experience levels. They are easy to navigate and simple to use.

The choice of trading platform largely depends on personal preferences and trading experience. In my opinion, for novice traders, it’s better to start with a user-friendly platform or a mobile app designed by the broker, whereas experienced traders would often prefer MT4/MT5.

Find out more about each platform in our dedicated guides on best MT4 brokers and best MT5 brokers.

What leverage is available for traders?

Leverage provides traders with the opportunity to boost their profits through the use of borrowed funds. The higher the leverage, the greater your potential profits may be. However, leverage can be a double-edged sword, as it can also magnify potential losses. Thus, I would advise beginner traders to start with low leverage levels to avoid the risk of substantial losses.

For those comfortable with these dynamics, FX Empire offers a list of the best forex brokers with high leverage, carefully selected to suit specialized trading needs.

The maximum potential leverage a broker can offer is determined by the regulator. Portugal-based traders have access to the CySEC-regulated entities of brokers. CySEC, which is the leading European regulator for CFD brokers, limits leverage at 1:30 for retail clients.

What to avoid when choosing a broker?

Based on my trading experience, I have outlined the five things to avoid when choosing a broker:

• Failing to verify regulatory compliance.
• Overlooking broker fees, such as spreads, commissions, and swap rates.
• Selecting an account type that does not match your requirements.
• Neglecting to review the range of instruments provided by the broker.
• Avoiding direct communication with the support team before opening an account.

How to avoid forex and CFD scams?

To safeguard yourself against forex scams, follow these essential guidelines:

• Research and choose a reputable broker. Conduct thorough research to identify a broker with a solid reputation and a history of regulatory compliance. Verify its credentials and look for reviews or testimonials from reliable sources.
• Check the regulatory status. Ensure that the broker you selected is regulated by a recognized financial authority. This oversight provides a decent level of protection and ensures adherence to industry standards.
• Be cautious of unrealistic promises. Beware of brokers or investment schemes that promise guaranteed high returns or low-risk opportunities. Forex trading involves inherent risks, and legitimate brokers will not make unrealistic claims.
• Avoid unregulated entities. Steer clear of unregulated brokers or those operating from offshore jurisdictions with weak regulations. Regulatory oversight helps protect your funds and ensures fair trading practices.
• Understand the terms and conditions. Read and comprehend the broker’s terms and conditions, including fee structures, withdrawal policies, and any potential hidden costs. Beware of brokers that make it difficult to access or withdraw your funds.
• Use secure payment methods. Choose reputable payment methods that offer additional security layers, such as bank transfers or established electronic payment systems. Avoid dealing with brokers that solely accept cryptocurrency or other non-traceable forms of payment.
• Stay informed and educated. Continuously educate yourself about forex trading and stay updated on market trends and news. This knowledge will empower you to make informed decisions and identify potential scams.
• Trust your instincts. If something seems too good to be true or raises suspicions, trust your gut instinct and exercise caution. Take the time to seek advice from trusted financial professionals or consult with experienced traders before making any decisions.

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

Our Methodology

FX Empire, with a history dating back to 2011, has established itself as a reputable authority in broker reviews. Our extensive experience in evaluating CFD brokers, spanning over a decade, has led us to develop a meticulous and comprehensive review strategy. Adhering to stringent guidelines for editorial integrity, we consistently uphold our commitment to deliver unbiased evaluations.

We follow a diligent protocol for our review process, integrating objective criteria and quantifiable data. This methodical approach allows us to generate a justified score that accurately reflects the performance of a broker. Our mission is to provide traders with thorough and unbiased reviews, empowering you to make well-informed decisions aligned with your specific needs.

To choose the best brokers for you, we rate them across nine categories and calculate a score that reflects their performance. The categories include:

• Trust and Stability
• Fees
• Platform and Tools
• Tradable Instruments
• Account Types
• Deposit and Withdrawal
• Research
• Customer Support
• Education

We open accounts, test platforms, measure spreads, and chat with support teams to collect as much data as possible for each broker. Overall, we evaluate brokers based on more than 250 distinct data points. Every category receives a rating from one star (weak) to five stars (excellent). The broker’s total score depends on its performance in each of these nine categories.

We highlight each broker’s strengths and weaknesses, explain regulatory details, and share the results of our live tests of brokers’ fees, customer support, and trading platforms. To learn more about our review process, click here.

For this guide, I focused on the best forex brokers in Portugal. I’ve given priority to brokers that offer specific local features, such as a Portuguese version of the website, customer support in the Portuguese language, and locally preferred payment methods.

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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