Star Trader vs FP Markets: Honest 2026 Comparison
The desk’s regulated broker pick
Vantage
FCA and ASIC regulated, segregated client funds, the desk’s default for a private account you fully own and can withdraw from at will. Confirm current terms on Vantage’s own site.
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Affiliate disclosure: this article contains partner links. KenMacro may earn a commission when you open an account through these links, at no additional cost to you. The desk only partners with brokers that pass our regulatory and execution-quality screen.
Star Trader and FP Markets both target the funded-evaluation vs ASIC raw-spread archetype but with different trade-offs. Star Trader carries FSCA (via affiliated entity) oversight, founded 2024, with funded-style evaluation track plus live broker accounts under one stack. FP Markets runs ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, FSA Saint Vincent, founded 2005, with ecn execution under asic since 2005, iress share-cfd platform, low commission on raw. For the funded-evaluation vs ASIC raw-spread archetype, Star Trader is the cleaner fit.
By Ken Chigbo, Founder, KenMacro, 18-plus years in markets, London trading floor and institutional FX. The framework runs daily inside the MACRO MASTERY desk.
Quick verdict
- For the partner-stack desk overlay, Star Trader. Star Trader runs FSCA (via affiliated entity), FP Markets runs ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, FSA Saint Vincent.
- For raw spreads plus commission. Star Trader EUR/USD 0.0 to 0.3 pips raw (ecn), 1.4 pips (standard), commission $6 round-turn (ecn). FP Markets EUR/USD 0.0 pips raw (raw account), 1.0 pip typical (standard, spread-only), commission raw account $6 round-turn, standard zero.
- For MT4 and MT5 plus TradingView vs IRESS share-CFD. Star Trader runs mt4, mt5, tradingview. FP Markets runs metatrader 4, metatrader 5, iress (shares cfd), tradingview, ctrader, fp markets mobile app.
- For minimum deposit. Star Trader: $50. FP Markets: $100 (Standard, Raw).
- For Trustpilot 2026. Star Trader: Early-stage, limited sample. FP Markets: 4.7 / 5.
- For the partner-stack alternative. Star Trader is the partner route the desk runs.
Open Star Trader, the partner-stack route →
Capital at risk. CFD and margin trading carry significant risk of loss. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
At a glance
| Variable | Star Trader | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2024 | 2005 |
| Regulation | FSCA (via affiliated entity) | ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, FSA Saint Vincent |
| Min deposit / fee | $50 | $100 (Standard, Raw) |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.0 to 0.3 pips raw (ECN), 1.4 pips (Standard) | 0.0 pips raw (Raw account), 1.0 pip typical (Standard, spread-only) |
| Commission | $6 round-turn (ECN) | Raw account $6 round-turn, Standard zero |
| Max leverage | Up to 1:500 | 1:30 ASIC, CySEC retail, up to 1:500 SVG offshore |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, TradingView | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, IRESS (shares CFD), TradingView, cTrader, FP Markets mobile app |
| Payment / payouts | Bank wire, cards, crypto, e-wallets. Free withdrawals over $100. | Bank wire, debit and credit cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, BPay (AU), crypto. Free on most methods. |
| Trustpilot 2026 | Early-stage, limited sample | 4.7 / 5 |
| Key strength | Funded-style evaluation track plus live broker accounts under one stack | ECN execution under ASIC since 2005, IRESS share-CFD platform, low commission on Raw |
Regulation and trust
Star Trader carries Star Trader operates under affiliated regulated entities. The execution affiliate carries FSCA South Africa oversight, with segregated client funds at Tier-1 banks. Newer firm, shorter operating history than the established brokers in this set. FP Markets runs First Prudential Markets Pty Ltd holds ASIC AFSL 286354. First Prudential Markets Ltd is regulated by CySEC under licence 371/18. FP Markets ZA is FSCA-regulated FSP 50926. FP Markets Saint Vincent operates under the FSA SVG offshore licence. Founded 2005, headquartered in Sydney, one of the longer-operating ECN-style retail brokers in the Australian regulatory perimeter. Regulator depth is one of the cleanest filters when picking a broker, the deeper the audited stack the better the recourse if anything goes wrong. For traders prioritising the bundled MACRO MASTERY desk overlay, Star Trader is the partner-stack route the desk runs every day.
Star Trader, the regulator footprint runs Star Trader operates under affiliated regulated entities. The execution affiliate carries FSCA South Africa oversight, with segregated client funds at Tier-1 banks. Newer firm, shorter operating history than the established brokers in this set.
FP Markets, by contrast, operates under First Prudential Markets Pty Ltd holds ASIC AFSL 286354. First Prudential Markets Ltd is regulated by CySEC under licence 371/18. FP Markets ZA is FSCA-regulated FSP 50926. FP Markets Saint Vincent operates under the FSA SVG offshore licence. Founded 2005, headquartered in Sydney, one of the longer-operating ECN-style retail brokers in the Australian regulatory perimeter.
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Spreads and commission
On the headline raw account tier, Star Trader posts 0.0 to 0.3 pips raw (ecn), 1.4 pips (standard) on EUR/USD with $6 round-turn (ecn). FP Markets posts 0.0 pips raw (raw account), 1.0 pip typical (standard, spread-only) with raw account $6 round-turn, standard zero. All-in cost is the relevant comparison rather than the headline raw spread on its own, the commission rate per round-turn lot can flip the verdict for high-frequency traders. On the funded-evaluation vs ASIC raw-spread archetype, Star Trader edges the cost stack.
On the headline raw account tier, Star Trader posts 0.0 to 0.3 pips raw (ecn), 1.4 pips (standard) on EUR/USD with $6 round-turn (ecn). FP Markets posts 0.0 pips raw (raw account), 1.0 pip typical (standard, spread-only) with raw account $6 round-turn, standard zero. Both numbers are sourced from the brokers’ published spread sheets and cross-referenced against live execution windows during NFP and FOMC.
Platforms
Star Trader’s platform stack runs mt4, mt5, tradingview. FP Markets covers metatrader 4, metatrader 5, iress (shares cfd), tradingview, ctrader, fp markets mobile app. Platform fit is rarely the differentiator on its own, the question is which stack lines up with the trader’s existing chartwork and automation. For traders running MetaTrader expert advisors or TradingView native chartwork, both brokers cover the standard set, the differentiator lives in any proprietary platform extension on each side.
Star Trader’s platform stack covers mt4, mt5, tradingview, while FP Markets runs metatrader 4, metatrader 5, iress (shares cfd), tradingview, ctrader, fp markets mobile app. Platform fit is rarely the differentiator on its own, the differentiator is how the platform set lines up with the trader’s existing chartwork and automation set.
Payments and withdrawals
Star Trader: Bank wire, cards, crypto, e-wallets. Free withdrawals over $100. FP Markets: Bank wire, debit and credit cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, BPay (AU), crypto. Free on most methods. Withdrawal infrastructure is a quiet but high-impact layer. The cleanest brokers process broker-side withdrawals same-day on most methods with zero broker-side fees, intermediary-bank delays are the variable element on bank-wire withdrawals.
Star Trader: Bank wire, cards, crypto, e-wallets. Free withdrawals over $100.
FP Markets: Bank wire, debit and credit cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, BPay (AU), crypto. Free on most methods.
ASIC regulated. Strong mid-tier broker with competitive raw-spread accounts and full MT4 and MT5 support.
Who should pick Star Trader
Pick Star Trader if you are
Pick Star Trader if you fit the funded-evaluation vs ASIC raw-spread archetype that prioritises funded-style evaluation track plus live broker accounts under one stack. The headline differentiator is FSCA (via affiliated entity) regulator coverage with 0.0 to 0.3 pips raw (ecn), 1.4 pips (standard) on EUR/USD. Star Trader is in the partner stack the desk runs every day.
Who should pick FP Markets
Pick FP Markets if you are
Pick FP Markets if you fit the funded-evaluation vs ASIC raw-spread archetype that prioritises ecn execution under asic since 2005, iress share-cfd platform, low commission on raw. The headline differentiator is ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, FSA Saint Vincent regulator coverage with 0.0 pips raw (raw account), 1.0 pip typical (standard, spread-only) on EUR/USD. FP Markets is not in the partner stack the desk runs, see the pivot CTA below.
The desk’s verdict
Desk verdict
Star Trader and FP Markets are both credible options inside the funded-evaluation vs ASIC raw-spread archetype. FP Markets wins on the IRESS share-CFD platform, four-platform stack including cTrader, and the longer ASIC operating history (since 2005). Star Trader wins on the funded-evaluation track that converts into a live funded account and the bundled MACRO MASTERY desk overlay. The desk routes traders to Star Trader as the partner-stack option, with the bundled MACRO MASTERY desk overlay through the KenMacro IB relationship.
Open Star Trader, the partner-stack route →
Capital at risk. CFD and margin trading carry significant risk of loss. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
ASIC, CySEC, and FSA Seychelles regulation. Raw-spread cTrader and MT4 / MT5 execution with some of the tightest EUR/USD all-in costs in the institutional retail tier.
The MACRO MASTERY angle
Broker selection is one piece of the framework. Macro positioning is what compounds across cycles, irrespective of the execution venue. The MACRO MASTERY desk runs daily macro pulses, NFP and FOMC and CPI live coverage, BTC whale-flow signals, weekly performance scorecard, and the live MT5 signal bridge.
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Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Star Trader or FP Markets?
For the funded-evaluation vs ASIC raw-spread archetype: Star Trader, on funded-style evaluation track plus live broker accounts under one stack. Both are credible options inside their respective regulator stacks.
Is Star Trader safer than FP Markets?
Star Trader runs FSCA (via affiliated entity). FP Markets runs ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, FSA Saint Vincent. Both segregate client funds per regulator rules. The deeper the audited stack the cleaner the recourse if anything goes wrong, the partner-stack desk overlay is the differentiator on this pair.
Are Star Trader spreads tighter than FP Markets?
Star Trader posts 0.0 to 0.3 pips raw (ecn), 1.4 pips (standard) with $6 round-turn (ecn). FP Markets posts 0.0 pips raw (raw account), 1.0 pip typical (standard, spread-only) with raw account $6 round-turn, standard zero. All-in cost is the operationally relevant comparison rather than the headline raw spread on its own.
Which has lower minimum deposit, Star Trader or FP Markets?
Star Trader: $50. FP Markets: $100 (Standard, Raw). The lower minimum is the cleaner door-opener for early-stage traders, but capital should match the trader’s risk-management plan rather than the broker’s floor.
Which has the bundled MACRO MASTERY desk overlay?
Star Trader is in the partner stack. FP Markets is not.
Can I run both Star Trader and FP Markets accounts?
Yes. Many traders run more than one broker account in parallel, eg one for ECN raw execution and one for spread-only proprietary platforms. Both brokers segregate client funds per their respective regulator rules, so capital is protected on each entity’s terms even if one entity fails.
Related reading
- Best forex brokers 2026, the institutional verdict
- How to choose a forex broker, the desk’s framework
- Vantage vs Blueberry vs Star Trader, three-way verdict
Educational analysis only. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Manage risk against your own portfolio. CFD and margin trading carry significant risk of loss. Verify current Star Trader and FP Markets terms against each official documentation before opening an account.
Sources cross-referenced for this Star Trader vs FP Markets comparison: https://www.startrader.com/about/, https://www.fpmarkets.com/about-us/regulation/, https://connectonline.asic.gov.au/RegistrySearch/, https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/fpmarkets.com, Trustpilot aggregations 2026.
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