Best Raw Spread Forex Brokers (Lowest Spreads) 2026
Broker Reviews, the desk’s verdict
Quick answer
Best Raw Spread Forex Brokers: the short answer from the KenMacro desk. The cheapest way to trade forex is a raw account: spreads from near 0.0 pips plus a commission. Here are the lowest cost raw spread brokers I rate in 2026.
By Ken Chigbo, founder and macro trader, KenMacro. Updated 2026-06-04.
The short answer
A raw spread account quotes the real market spread from near 0.0 pips and charges a separate commission. For active traders this is usually cheaper than a commission-free account with a wider marked-up spread. Always check the live spread and commission before funding.
Not a faceless list
This is not a comparison site that has never placed a trade. The desk trades these brokers live and posts the wins and the losses in the open, so you can see exactly what we are recommending and why. Judge it on the trades, not on our word.
The desk’s picks
| Broker | Best for | |
|---|---|---|
| Blueberry Markets | Best all-round low cost (editor’s choice) | Open |
| Star Trader | Best low-entry option | Open |
Blueberry Markets is my editor’s choice and the best all-round low-cost option for most people. It is regulated by ASIC under AFSL 535887, offers raw spreads from near 0.0 pips with fast execution, and gives you the widest platform choice of the three: MT4, MT5, TradingView and cTrader. If you want a transparent raw account without overthinking it, start here.
Star Trader is the pick if you want a raw-style account without a large deposit. It is an offshore broker with leverage up to 1:1000 and a minimum around 50 dollars. The low entry and raw-style cost make it accessible for traders starting small, with the trade-off that offshore regulation offers less protection than ASIC, so size your risk accordingly.
How to compare the true cost
The number that matters is not the spread on its own, it is the all-in cost: spread plus commission. A raw account shows you a tiny spread, often from near 0.0 pips on majors, then bills a fixed commission per lot. A “commission-free” account hides its fee inside a wider spread instead. To compare them honestly, convert the commission back into pips and add it to the spread. As a rough guide on a standard lot, a round-turn commission of about 6 to 7 dollars works out near 0.6 to 0.7 of a pip. So a raw account at 0.1 pips plus 0.6 pips of commission costs you roughly 0.7 pips all-in. If a commission-free broker is quoting you 1.4 pips on the same pair, the raw account is half the cost. Do that sum on the pairs you actually trade, at the times you actually trade, before you decide anything.
Why raw is usually cheaper for active traders
If you trade often, cost compounds fast. The more round turns you put through in a month, the more a half-pip difference adds up. Raw accounts win for active and short-term traders because the broker is not marking up the spread to pay itself, it is charging a transparent commission and leaving the spread close to the real interbank price. Commission-free accounts can suit someone who places a handful of trades a month and does not want to think about a separate fee line, but the wider spread means you pay more per trade. Scalpers, intraday traders and anyone running tight stops should be on a raw account. The only honest way to know is to price the same pair on both account types and add the commission in.
How we get paid (straight up)
Yes, the desk earns a commission if you fund through the broker links on this page, at no extra cost to you. The difference between this and most best broker lists is simple: a real macro desk stands behind it, trades these brokers with real money, and shows you the results. The incentive is visible because the trades are public. We do not ask you to trust us blindly, we show you the trades.
Spreads widen around news
A headline spread of 0.0 pips is the calm-market number. Around high-impact data, NFP, CPI, central bank decisions, the spread on every broker widens as liquidity thins out. That is not your broker being unfair, it is how the underlying market behaves when everyone steps back at once. If you trade the news, expect to pay more in the spread for those minutes, size accordingly, and do not judge a broker by a screenshot taken during a release. The advantage of a raw account here is that you are seeing the real widened market price rather than a marked-up version of it.
How I pick and how I get paid
I run a real macro trading desk and I post trades publicly. The brokers on this page are ones I hold affiliate (CPA) deals with, and I say so plainly. That is the disclosure. Spreads and commissions change, and the figures here are dated to 2026. Before you fund anything, open the broker’s live spread and commission table, check the pairs you trade, and confirm the numbers for yourself. Trading carries risk and you can lose money, so the cheapest broker is still only worth it if your strategy has an edge.
Frequently asked
What is a raw spread account?
A raw spread account quotes you the real market spread, often from near 0.0 pips on major pairs, and charges a separate commission per lot instead of marking up the spread. You see the true price plus a transparent fee, which is usually the cheapest way to trade if you are active.
Is a raw spread account cheaper than commission-free?
Usually yes for active traders. A commission-free account hides its fee in a wider spread. To compare, convert the raw account’s commission into pips and add it to its spread, then compare that all-in number to the commission-free spread. More often than not the raw account is cheaper per trade.
How do I work out the true cost in pips?
Add the commission to the spread. On a standard lot a round-turn commission of about 6 to 7 dollars is roughly 0.6 to 0.7 of a pip. So 0.1 pips spread plus 0.6 pips commission is about 0.7 pips all-in. Compare that figure against any commission-free spread.
Are zero spread or 0.0 pip spreads real?
The 0.0 figure is the best-case number in calm markets, and you still pay a commission on top. It is real but it is not the all-in cost, and it does not hold during news when spreads widen. Always read it as spread plus commission, not as free.
Do spreads widen around news?
Yes. Around high-impact releases like NFP, CPI and central bank decisions, liquidity thins and spreads widen on every broker. This is normal market behaviour, not a broker fault. If you trade the news, expect higher cost in those minutes and size your position accordingly.
Which raw spread broker do you use?
For most readers I rate Blueberry Markets as the best all-round low-cost raw account.
Can I get a raw account with a small deposit?
Yes. Star Trader offers raw-style accounts with a minimum around 50 dollars, which suits traders starting small. It is offshore with leverage up to 1:1000, so you get a low entry point in exchange for lighter regulatory protection. Manage your risk with that in mind.
Should I just pick the broker with the lowest spread?
No. Compare the all-in cost of spread plus commission on the pairs you actually trade, and check regulation, execution and platform too. The cheapest cost only helps if your strategy has an edge. Verify the live spread and commission yourself before funding.
More from the desk
General market education only, not financial advice. KenMacro earns a commission if you open an account through the broker links above, at no cost to you. Trading is leveraged and most retail accounts lose money. Spreads, terms and regulation can change, check the broker’s current terms before funding.
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