ECN trading accounts enjoy wide popularity both among beginners and experienced traders. These accounts allow traders to save on fees and also ensure quick order execution. Traders Union analysts have prepared the rating of the best ECN brokers in Germany. Experts analyzed companies based on more than 100 criteria. The specialists singled out the most reliable brokers with attractive trading conditions.
The most reliable brokers in Germany by TU include the following:
XM Broker is a broker for professional trading. Trading conditions correspond to the average market; there are technical advantages that distinguish XM Broker from its competitors.
FBS is a broker for those who appreciate a variety of trading instruments and prompt support. The company is suitable for both beginners and experienced traders working on PCs and smartphones.
IG Markets is a well-known international company focused on financial market services. It is one of the largest CFD and Forex providers. The broker is regulated by reputable supervisory authorities and provides a high level of security for client assets.
AvaTrade is a brokerage company that provides optimal working conditions for all traders with any skill level. The broker provides customers with security by protecting their data and finances, and they are constantly working to improve the service.
Pepperstone is particularly suitable for novice market participants as well as more seasoned trading professionals. In general, the Pepperstone platform offers everything novice traders need for comfortable trading such as favorable conditions, reliability, a wide selection of trading options, along with an assortment of first rate educational materials.
Best ECN brokers in Germany in 2024
| XM Group | FBS | IG Markets | AvaTrade | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trading platform |
МТ4, МТ5 (desktop, web, and mobile versions), and XM App for smartphones and tablets |
MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, FBS Trader |
MetaTrader 4, IG Trading Platform, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, and API |
MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Mirror Trader, ZuluTrade, AvaTrader, mobile and web versions of МТ |
cTrader, TradingView, MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 |
Min deposit |
$5 |
$1 |
$1 |
$100 |
$1 |
Leverage |
From 1:1 |
From 1:1 |
From 1:1 |
From 1:200 |
From 1:1 |
Trust management |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Accrual of % on the balance |
0.00% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
0.00% |
Spread |
From 0.6 points |
From 0.2 points |
From 0.4 points |
From 0.9 points |
From 0.0 points |
Level of margin call / stop out |
100% / 50% |
40% / 20% |
No |
25% / 10% |
90% / 20% |
Execution of orders |
Market Execution |
Market Execution |
Market Execution |
Instant Execution |
Instant Execution |
No deposit bonus |
No |
$5 |
No |
No |
No |
Cent accounts |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
ECN is an electronic communication network which is used to process the trades of traders. There is no dealing, which is used by classical brokers. Such companies earn a profit exclusively from the fees paid by the traders. Therefore, they are directly interested in making sure that the client trades as long as possible and does not lose the deposit fast.
The ECN technology does not allow the broker to interfere with the process in any way. Traders work directly with the liquidity providers, i.e. the largest banks and financial institutions. Liquidity improvement is achieved through an increased number of trades, and not the trading volume. The spreads are floating on ECN accounts and they are better compared to classical brokers with dealing centers.
1
Best ECN broker in Germany - XM Group
XM Broker was founded in 2009. Initially, the company covered a narrow niche of the trader market, specializing exclusively in intermediary services at the foreign exchange market. It has since experienced considerable success and growth, has diversified and is now an international broker operating in almost 190 countries around the world. For over a decade XM Broker has attracted more than 5 million traders, offering unique technological solutions. The company is now being recognised as the Fastest Growing Broker, the Best Forex Service Provider and various other contributing achievements. The team at XM Broker is committed to continually working hard to improve the quality of the services provided every year as they are committed to continually providing the best service to their traders.
👍 Advantages of trading with XM Group for traders from Germany:
•XM Broker guarantees 100% execution of orders, 99,35% of orders delivered nearly instantly. No requotes guaranteed;
•no “markup” on narrow market spreads (broker's margins over the spread);
•over 1,000 trading instruments. Available for trading are: more than 55 currency pairs, including CFDs on cross rates, metals (including palladium and platinum), commodities (cocoa, cotton, grain), stocks;
•no commission for replenishment and withdrawal of money. XM Broker incurs all commission costs of payment systems;
•around the clock support for 5 days a week in more than 30 languages.
👎 Disadvantages of XM Group for traders from Germany:
•passive investment services (social trading platform, PAMM accounts);
•expanding their limited choice of trading platforms. Despite the fact that the broker offers 16 terminals, all of them are modifications of MT4 and MT5 for desktop, browser and mobile trading.
XM Group Commissions & Fees for traders from Germany
The fees are the key source of income for ECN brokers. Before choosing a broker, it is important to evaluate the levels of commissions and fees, which the broker offers on different accounts, including ECN.
XM Group Commissions and Fees in Germany
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
XM Ultra Low Micro |
From 6 USD |
No |
XM Ultra Low Standard |
From 6 USD |
No |
XM Zero |
From 0 USD |
2
Best ECN broker in Germany - FBS
FBS is an international broker with a strong presence in Asia, offering a wide range of trading instruments including Forex, stocks, indices, energies, and metals. With over 90 international awards and 27 million clients across 150 countries, FBS boasts a strong global reputation.
The company provides flexible trading conditions: leverage up to 1:3000, floating spreads from 0.7 pips, commission-free trading, and fast execution speeds starting at 0.01 seconds. FBS ensures client security with negative balance protection and offers a user-friendly experience on familiar trading platforms.
While FBS doesn't currently offer cryptocurrency trading or passive income options like PAMM accounts and copy trading, its competitive conditions and extensive educational resources make it a compelling choice for traders seeking a comprehensive and accessible experience.
👍 Advantages of trading with FBS for traders from Germany:
•negative balance protection;
•a large selection of trading instruments;
•the support service works 24/7.
👎 Disadvantages of FBS for traders from Germany:
•no cryptocurrency;
•auto copying is not available;
•no PAMM accounts;
•not suitable for short-term trading, such as scalping;
•the support service works in a limited number of languages;
•only two real accounts.
FBS Commissions & Fees for traders from Germany
The fees are the key source of income for ECN brokers. Before choosing a broker, it is important to evaluate the levels of commissions and fees, which the broker offers on different accounts, including ECN.
FBS Commissions and Fees in Germany
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
Standard |
From $1.7 |
No |
Cent |
From $1.3 |
No |
3
Best ECN broker in Germany - IG Markets
IG Markets has been providing brokerage services for retail traders since 2014. It was established in 1974 in London to work with professional traders. It is a part of the IG Group with representative offices in 17 countries. IG Markets stocks are traded on the London Stock Exchange as a part of the FTSE 250 index. The broker is regulated by FCA (Financial Conduct Authority | the UK), CySec (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission), ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission), BaFin (the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority | Germany), FINMA (Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority), and NFA (National Futures Association). The IG Group global representative office is supervised by BMA (the Bermuda Monetary Authority). The broker provides services of trading Forex and different CFDs through MetaTrader 4 and its in-house platforms for retail and professional traders.
👍 Advantages of trading with IG Markets for traders from Germany:
•Regulated activities and participation in compensation funds;
•No minimum deposit requirements when opening an account with the international division;
•Leverage is available for trading currencies and CFDs;
•Wide range of trading assets and markets;
•Fee rebates for new and active existing clients with large trading volumes;
•Floating spreads from 0.6 pips for retail Forex traders;
•Bonuses for new clients and partnership programs for different client categories.
👎 Disadvantages of IG Markets for traders from Germany:
•The broker can reject opening accounts to traders with low capital or insufficient knowledge of derivatives trading;
•Deposits and withdrawals can’t be made with e-wallets, electronic payment systems, or cryptocurrencies;
•Trading conditions differ for various countries, so you have to look for the broker’s website in your country.
IG Markets Commissions & Fees for traders from Germany
The fees are the key source of income for ECN brokers. Before choosing a broker, it is important to evaluate the levels of commissions and fees, which the broker offers on different accounts, including ECN.
IG Markets Commissions and Fees in Germany
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
Standard |
From $6 |
YES |
4
Best ECN broker in Germany - AvaTrade
AvaTrade was founded in 2006 in Dublin, Ireland. The company has offices in 10 countries. It currently has over 300, 000 registered users and processes more than 2 million transactions every month. These factors contribute to AvaTrade being a reliable and trusted broker. They are accredited across five continents and are one of the market leaders. The broker is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC, 406684), the Japanese FSA ( 1662), and the South African FSCA ( 45984). AvaTrade holds accreditation by the Central Irish Bank ( C53877 ), the Abu Dhabi Financial Services Regulatory Authority (190018), and the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission ( SIBA/L/13/1049), CySEC ( 347/17). AvaTrade allows traders to trade stocks, securities, indices, cryptocurrencies, and currency pairs. In total, the offer more than 1,200 tools to customers.
👍 Advantages of trading with AvaTrade for traders from Germany:
•a wide range of trading instruments;
•there is a license for the provision of services on the territory of 5 continents;
•customer service operates around the clock and provides competent assistance to users in 14 languages;
•a wide choice of convenient trading platforms;
•ability to trade from mobile devices;
•availability of an account for representatives of Islam (swap-free);
•for reliable storage of customer funds, the broker uses a segregated account;
•option for automated trading using trading advisors, indicators, and other analysis tools;
•no restrictions on trade and scalping;
•availability of training materials and conducting webinars for beginners and experienced traders.
👎 Disadvantages of AvaTrade for traders from Germany:
•the site interface is not user-friendly;
•customer service efficiency and response time
•trading terminals are prone to occasionally freeze.
AvaTrade Commissions & Fees for traders from Germany
The fees are the key source of income for ECN brokers. Before choosing a broker, it is important to evaluate the levels of commissions and fees, which the broker offers on different accounts, including ECN.
AvaTrade Commissions and Fees in Germany
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
Standard |
From 0 to 20 US dollars, depending on the platform |
No |
5
Best ECN broker in Germany - Pepperstone
Pepperstone (Pepperstone.com) was founded in 2010 in Melbourne, Australia,
by professional traders who were not satisfied with the quality of services provided by most brokers. The founders
decided to avoid many of the disadvantages of competitors, including high commissions, delayed execution of orders,
etc. The founders therefore focused on improving the technical component. The company has set itself the goal of
changing the “rules of the game” and setting the bar high for online trading.
Today, Pepperstone offers clients all over the world some of the best technological solutions and favorable trading
conditions. The company also provides professional tools that help traders not only master the fine art of trading,
but also significantly increase trading efficiencies. In addition, Pepperstone’s platform is scrutinized by seven
regulatory authorities, including ASIC (Australian Securities and
Investments Commission, AFSL No.414530), FCA (UK Financial
Conduct Authority, 684312), DFSA
(F004356), BaFin (151148), CMA (128), SCB
(SIA-F217), and CySec (388/20). Moreover,
with Pepperstone, clients' assets are maintained in aggregated accounts with several major, global banking
institutions. These facts confirm the reliability of the company and guarantee the safety of the client's capital.
👍 Advantages of trading with Pepperstone for traders from Germany:
•Attractive trading conditions;
•Fast order execution - 30 ms on average;
•1,200+ trading instruments;
•Low fees; and
•No inactivity fee.
👎 Disadvantages of Pepperstone for traders from Germany:
•Support service works only 24/5;
•No cent account;
•Not available to US clients;
•Limited passive trading opportunities;
•Limited analytical materials available on the site. The only way to resolve this issue is to connect to trading signals;
•No news section; and
•Demo accounts can only trade for free for one month only.
Pepperstone Commissions & Fees for traders from Germany
The fees are the key source of income for ECN brokers. Before choosing a broker, it is important to evaluate the levels of commissions and fees, which the broker offers on different accounts, including ECN.
Pepperstone Commissions and Fees in Germany
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commision |
|---|---|---|
Razor |
From $0 |
No |
Standard |
From $1 |
No |
ECN account pros
Brokers offer simultaneously classic and ECN accounts. However, working through ECN is more beneficial.
The key benefits of this solution include the following:
-
Narrow spreads. The spreads on ECN accounts are lower than on classic trading accounts.
-
Reliability. Brokers have no impact on users’ trades on ECN accounts.
-
No requotes. Brokers make a withdrawal for each trade to the contracting party that offers the best quotes at the specific moment.
-
High liquidity. Trading conditions are more beneficial than on classical accounts; liquidity is achieved at the expense of the number of trades performed through ECN.
-
Impossibility to manipulate quotes. Traders receive direct access to quotes from liquidity providers.
Conclusions
ECN accounts can make trading in financial markets more profitable. Thanks to low fees and direct quotes from liquidity providers, traders can buy and sell assets at market prices, with market spreads and without manipulations with quotes by brokers.
Remember that trading on ECN accounts also carries risks. A trader can lose money, open unprofitable trades, etc. However, with the right approach and trading in line with the strategy, ECN can become a reliable instrument for trading in the Forex and other markets.
Top ECN brokers in 2024 for Germany traders
| XM Group | FBS | IG Markets | AvaTrade | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Overall score |
8.28 |
8.28 |
8.23 |
8.32 |
8.29 |
Execution of orders |
9.35 |
9.5 |
8.75 |
8.5 |
9.15 |
Investment instruments |
8.7 |
6.96 |
10 |
9.5 |
9.58 |
Withdrawal speed |
7.9 |
9.57 |
8.29 |
7.2 |
8 |
Customer Support work |
8.5 |
7.58 |
6.33 |
7.9 |
6.98 |
Variety of instruments |
8.02 |
7.02 |
9.65 |
10 |
8.75 |
Trading platform |
7.2 |
9.03 |
6.33 |
6.8 |
7.29 |
FAQs
Is ECN suitable for a beginner?
Yes, ECN is beneficial for a beginner, because it has minimum trading fees and no requotes.
How does ECN work?
ECN provides direct access to liquidity providers, which means that traders work with minimum involvement of the broker. This ensures narrow spreads and protection of the client against manipulations with quotes.
How are trades executed on ECN accounts?
Trades are executed fully automatically. A trade is executed when the buyer and the seller with the best quotes are matched. Dealing is not required.
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Team that worked on the article
Mikhail Vnuchkov joined Traders Union as an author in 2020. He began his professional career as a journalist-observer at a small online financial publication, where he covered global economic events and discussed their impact on the segment of financial investment, including investor income. With five years of experience in finance, Mikhail joined Traders Union team, where he is in charge of forming the pool of latest news for traders, who trade stocks, cryptocurrencies, Forex instruments and fixed income.
Olga Shendetskaya has been a part of the Traders Union team as an author, editor and proofreader since 2017. Since 2020, Shendetskaya has been the assistant chief editor of the website of Traders Union, an international association of traders. She has over 10 years of experience of working with economic and financial texts. In the period of 2017-2020, Olga has worked as a journalist and editor of laftNews news agency, economic and financial news sections. At the moment, Olga is a part of the team of top industry experts involved in creation of educational articles in finance and investment, overseeing their writing and publication on the Traders Union website.