Best Forex Brokers 2026: The 9 Brokers the Desk Trades

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Trading from mainland China, Hong Kong, or Taiwan? 中国 / 香港 / 台湾

The China-friendly broker short-list lives here

Vantage and PU Prime are group-blocked on the mainland. The desk’s lead pick for Chinese clients is IFC Markets (NetTradeX in 简体 + 繁體, USDT TRC-20, $1 minimum). Read the full audit + USDT funding rail + legality decoder.

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In partnership with VT Markets, the desk’s first-choice broker pick. Raw ECN spreads, native TradingView, and among the tightest indices and gold pricing in the set.
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Broker Reviews, Updated 21 June 2026

Best Forex Brokers 2026: The 9 the Desk Trades

We audited the landscape on regulation, real spreads, platforms and withdrawals. Nine earned a place. Below, find the one that fits you in seconds.

Not sure? Find your broker in 20 seconds →

Editor’s choice 2026

VT Markets

4.9

The desk’s pick, sponsored partner

The desk’s broker pick and sponsored partner. Among the tightest indices, gold and crypto pricing in the set, with native TradingView and a cent account to size up gradually. Open through KenMacro to support the desk’s free research, at no extra cost to you.

$50 minRAW ECN 0.0 spreadFSCA, offshore

Open VT Markets via KenMacro

Sponsored partner link, at no extra cost to you. Your protection depends on the entity you open under.

Read the full review

Capital at risk. CFDs are complex instruments and a high percentage of retail accounts lose money. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Best broker by location

Broker suitability depends on your jurisdiction. Always check which entity you are onboarded under before depositing.

KenMacro earns a referral commission if you open an account through our links, at no cost to you. VT Markets is the desk’s disclosed sponsor, and every broker still has to clear the desk checklist to be listed. Read our methodology.

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Three taps, no wading through hundreds of reviews. The desk points you to the broker that fits your country, your market and what matters most.

1. Where are you based?

2. What do you mainly trade?

3. What matters most?

9 brokers approved579 reviews publishedVT Markets sponsor, disclosedRegulation verified per broker

Why this broker list is different

  • Built by a macro desk, not a generic affiliate site
  • Scored on regulation, true cost, platform depth, withdrawal record and trader type
  • Our sponsored partner is disclosed, and every broker still has to clear the desk checklist to be listed
  • Affiliate and sponsor relationships disclosed on every page
  • Every broker carries a watch-out, not just the upside
  • Regulation stated per entity, Tier-1 kept separate from offshore

The desk’s picks at a glance

VT Markets is the desk’s sponsored pick. The free Macro Mastery desk and education come only with a funded Blueberry account through KenMacro. The rest are the desk’s pick for one specific need.

Find your broker in seconds

Filter the nine brokers the desk approves by what actually matters to you, regulation, platform, copy trading, cent accounts, deposit and leverage. Tap a filter, sort the column you care about, or search by name.

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Showing all 9 brokers

Broker Desk score Regulation Min deposit EUR/USD (raw) Max leverage Platforms Open
VT MarketsTop pickThe desk’s pick, sponsored partner 4.9 FSCA + FSC Mauritius (offshore); ASIC entity is wholesale only; not FCA for retail $50 RAW ECN 0.0 + about $6 round turn up to 500:1 (offshore) MT4, MT5, TradingView Open VT Markets via KenMacro
Blueberry MarketsFree desk and education, ASIC-regulated 4.9 ASIC (Australia), Tier-1; offshore arm for higher leverage $100 0.1 pips + $7 round turn 30:1 ASIC, up to 500:1 offshore MT4, MT5, TradingView Open Blueberry via KenMacro
IC MarketsBest for cTrader and low cost 4.8 ASIC + CySEC (Tier-1), FSA Seychelles; does not accept UK retail $200 0.0 to 0.1 + $6 to $7 round turn 30:1 ASIC/CySEC, up to 500:1 offshore MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView Open IC account
Fusion MarketsBest for lowest commission and algo 4.7 ASIC (Australia), Tier-1; VFSC and FSA Seychelles offshore $0 Raw 0.1 pips + $4.50 round turn 30:1 ASIC, up to 500:1 offshore MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView Open Fusion account
Vantage MarketsBest for TradingView and multi-asset 4.7 ASIC; FCA for UK clients via Vantage Global Prime; international accounts are offshore (VFSC) $50 0.0 + $6 round turn (raw) 30:1 FCA/ASIC, up to 1000:1 offshore MT4, MT5, TradingView Open Vantage account
PU PrimeBest for cent accounts and beginners 4.5 FSCA (South Africa); ASIC for Australian clients only; global accounts offshore $20 cent ECN raw (Prime tier about $7 round turn) 30:1 ASIC, up to 1000:1 offshore MT4, MT5 Open PU account
Star TraderBest for high leverage (offshore) 4.4 FSC Mauritius + FSA Seychelles (offshore); EU regulator warnings exist $50 ECN raw, commission varies up to 1000:1 (offshore) MT4, MT5, Proprietary Open Star account
FP TradingBest offshore with insurance 4.3 FSC Mauritius + FSCA (offshore); Financial Commission member, Lloyd’s cover up to $1m; not Tier-1 $50 raw 0.0 + about $6 round turn up to 500:1 (offshore) MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView Open FP account
IFC MarketsBest for portfolio and synthetic instruments 4.2 BVI FSC + Labuan FSA (offshore); CySEC withdrawn 2024; not Tier-1 $1 ECN 0.0 + 0.005% volume commission up to 400:1 MT4, MT5, NetTradeX Open IFC account

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Get the desk and education free

Get the desk and the education free with Blueberry

The free Macro Mastery desk and the full education come with Blueberry, the ASIC-regulated broker. Open and fund a Blueberry account through KenMacro, on the same deposit and qualification as before, and you get both, included.

That is the complete Macro Trading Blueprint education, the daily macro read, the levels the desk trades, the signals, and the trade routing, all free when you fund a qualifying Blueberry account through the flow the desk runs. You support the free research, at no extra cost to you.

Open Blueberry via KenMacro

Capital at risk. CFDs are complex instruments and a high percentage of retail accounts lose money. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

The desk’s pick for each kind of trader

No single broker wins for everyone. Here is the one the desk points to for each archetype, with the honest regulation note for each.

The desk’s pick, sponsored partner

VT Markets

4.9

FSCA + FSC Mauritius (offshore); ASIC entity is wholesale only; not FCA for retail

The desk’s broker pick and sponsored partner. Among the tightest indices, gold and crypto pricing in the set, with native TradingView and a cent account to size up gradually. Open through KenMacro to support the desk’s free research, at no extra cost to you.

  • Min deposit: $50
  • EUR/USD: RAW ECN 0.0 + about $6 round turn
  • Leverage: up to 500:1 (offshore)
  • Platforms: MT4, MT5, TradingView

Retail is onboarded offshore, so the FCA/ASIC entities do not cover retail clients. Newcastle United Premier League partner.

Read full review

Free desk and education, ASIC-regulated

Blueberry Markets

4.9

ASIC (Australia), Tier-1; offshore arm for higher leverage

ASIC-regulated with strong support, clean withdrawals and native TradingView. Open and fund a Blueberry account through KenMacro and you get the Macro Mastery desk and the full education free: the Macro Trading Blueprint, the daily macro read, the levels the desk trades, the signals, and the routing.

  • Min deposit: $100
  • EUR/USD: 0.1 pips + $7 round turn
  • Leverage: 30:1 ASIC, up to 500:1 offshore
  • Platforms: MT4, MT5, TradingView

Copy trading is via DupliTrade and needs a larger balance.

Read full review

Best for cTrader and low cost

IC Markets

4.8

ASIC + CySEC (Tier-1), FSA Seychelles; does not accept UK retail

Genuine Tier-1 raw-spread execution with full cTrader support, the desk’s pick for scalpers and low-cost EUR/USD on serious volume.

  • Min deposit: $200
  • EUR/USD: 0.0 to 0.1 + $6 to $7 round turn
  • Leverage: 30:1 ASIC/CySEC, up to 500:1 offshore
  • Platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView

Does not onboard UK retail clients.

Read full review

Best for lowest commission and algo

Fusion Markets

4.7

ASIC (Australia), Tier-1; VFSC and FSA Seychelles offshore

The lowest commission in the set at $4.50 round turn, with no minimum deposit, raw spreads, cTrader and TradingView. ASIC regulated. The desk’s pick for cost-conscious scalpers and algo traders.

  • Min deposit: $0
  • EUR/USD: Raw 0.1 pips + $4.50 round turn
  • Leverage: 30:1 ASIC, up to 500:1 offshore
  • Platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView

Spreads are marginally wider than IC Markets; high leverage sits on the offshore entity.

Read full review

Best for TradingView and multi-asset

Vantage Markets

4.7

ASIC; FCA for UK clients via Vantage Global Prime; international accounts are offshore (VFSC)

Low-cost raw pricing with native TradingView in MT4 and MT5, and a recognisable global brand. UK clients should insist on the FCA entity.

  • Min deposit: $50
  • EUR/USD: 0.0 + $6 round turn (raw)
  • Leverage: 30:1 FCA/ASIC, up to 1000:1 offshore
  • Platforms: MT4, MT5, TradingView

The international sign-up leads to the offshore VFSC entity, not the FCA one.

Read full review

Best for cent accounts and beginners

PU Prime

4.5

FSCA (South Africa); ASIC for Australian clients only; global accounts offshore

A $20 cent account and broad single-account market access make this a clean low-risk starting point for new traders.

  • Min deposit: $20 cent
  • EUR/USD: ECN raw (Prime tier about $7 round turn)
  • Leverage: 30:1 ASIC, up to 1000:1 offshore
  • Platforms: MT4, MT5

The true ECN tier carries a high minimum; the global brand is offshore.

Read full review

Best for high leverage (offshore)

Star Trader

4.4

FSC Mauritius + FSA Seychelles (offshore); EU regulator warnings exist

Crypto base accounts, the highest published leverage on the stack, and nine-language support for emerging-market traders.

  • Min deposit: $50
  • EUR/USD: ECN raw, commission varies
  • Leverage: up to 1000:1 (offshore)
  • Platforms: MT4, MT5, Proprietary

Offshore only. Spain (CNMV) and France (AMF) have issued warnings, verify before depositing.

Read full review

Best offshore with insurance

FP Trading

4.3

FSC Mauritius + FSCA (offshore); Financial Commission member, Lloyd’s cover up to $1m; not Tier-1

Wide platform choice plus the reassurance of Financial Commission membership and a Lloyd’s of London policy up to $1m per client.

  • Min deposit: $50
  • EUR/USD: raw 0.0 + about $6 round turn
  • Leverage: up to 500:1 (offshore)
  • Platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView

The offshore brand of the FP Markets group, not the Tier-1 FP Markets.

Read full review

Best for portfolio and synthetic instruments

IFC Markets

4.2

BVI FSC + Labuan FSA (offshore); CySEC withdrawn 2024; not Tier-1

The patented GeWorko portfolio-quoting method and NetTradeX, for synthetic-instrument and ultra-low-deposit traders.

  • Min deposit: $1
  • EUR/USD: ECN 0.0 + 0.005% volume commission
  • Leverage: up to 400:1
  • Platforms: MT4, MT5, NetTradeX

Some user complaints about withdrawals are reported, verify your situation.

Read full review

Before you open an account, read this first

Most broker pages only show the upside. Here is the honest watch-out for each broker.

Broker Main strength Watch-out Open
VT Markets The desk’s pick, sponsored partner Retail is onboarded offshore, so the FCA/ASIC entities do not cover retail clients. Newcastle United Premier League partner. Open VT Markets via KenMacro
Blueberry Markets Free desk and education, ASIC-regulated Copy trading is via DupliTrade and needs a larger balance. Open Blueberry via KenMacro
IC Markets Best for cTrader and low cost Does not onboard UK retail clients. Open IC account
Fusion Markets Best for lowest commission and algo Spreads are marginally wider than IC Markets; high leverage sits on the offshore entity. Open Fusion account
Vantage Markets Best for TradingView and multi-asset The international sign-up leads to the offshore VFSC entity, not the FCA one. Open Vantage account
PU Prime Best for cent accounts and beginners The true ECN tier carries a high minimum; the global brand is offshore. Open PU account
Star Trader Best for high leverage (offshore) Offshore only. Spain (CNMV) and France (AMF) have issued warnings, verify before depositing. Open Star account
FP Trading Best offshore with insurance The offshore brand of the FP Markets group, not the Tier-1 FP Markets. Open FP account
IFC Markets Best for portfolio and synthetic instruments Some user complaints about withdrawals are reported, verify your situation. Open IFC account

How the scores are weighted

The ranking is not arbitrary. Each broker is scored against five weighted factors. Regulation carries the most weight, commission carries none.

Regulation and client protection30%
True trading cost25%
Withdrawal and support record20%
Platform and execution15%
Fit by trader type10%

Full grid on the methodology page.

Want the full library, every broker we have reviewed?

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Still not sure? Use the desk’s pick.

If you want the simplest way into the KenMacro ecosystem, start with the broker that matches your location, trading style and platform needs. The desk’s pick is built to reduce guesswork, not force one broker on everyone.

Frequently asked questions

Which broker does the KenMacro desk actually use?

VT Markets is the desk’s broker pick and its sponsored partner. The free Macro Mastery desk and education are separate, and come only when you open and fund a Blueberry account through KenMacro. VT onboards retail offshore, while Blueberry is ASIC-regulated. IC Markets is the low-cost cTrader pick, Vantage is the TradingView and multi-asset pick, PU Prime is the cent-account beginner pick, and Star Trader, FP Trading and IFC Markets are offshore options for specific needs. The right choice depends on jurisdiction, platform, account type and what you trade.

Are these brokers regulated, and is it safe?

Regulation varies and we state it honestly per broker. Blueberry (ASIC) and IC Markets (ASIC and CySEC) hold genuine Tier-1 retail cover. Vantage holds FCA cover only for UK clients onboarded through its UK entity, with international accounts offshore under VFSC. PU Prime holds FSCA cover and ASIC only for Australian clients, with the global brand offshore. VT Markets, Star Trader, FP Trading and IFC Markets onboard retail offshore. Offshore is not automatically unsafe, but it carries fewer protections, so the comparison table labels each one and the reviews go deeper.

Are these affiliate links?

Yes. KenMacro earns a referral commission when readers open an account through these links, at no extra cost to you. We disclose it on every page. Each broker was assessed against our checklist first, then partnered with, and the regulation we publish is the regulation that actually applies to retail clients, not the most flattering entity.

Which broker is best for a beginner?

For a new trader the priorities are a low minimum, a cent or small account to keep risk tiny while you learn, and responsive support. PU Prime offers a cent account from $20, and Blueberry pairs a $100 minimum with strong support and the free desk. Use the cent-account and low-deposit filters in the table above to see the options side by side.

How does KenMacro score brokers?

Each broker is scored on regulation by jurisdiction, true round-turn cost on raw accounts, platform depth, withdrawal track record checked against the regulators, support responsiveness, and fit by trader archetype. The full grid is on the methodology page. We do not sell placements, and the order is set by the score, not the commission.

Which forex broker is best for trading gold (XAU/USD)?

For gold, what matters is a tight XAU/USD spread, fast execution through news, and enough leverage to size sensibly. VT Markets and Blueberry both give clean gold pricing, and macro traders need that because gold reacts hard to real-yields and dollar moves. Check the live gold spread on the account tier you open, not just the EUR/USD headline.

Which broker is best for macro traders?

VT Markets is the desk’s pick for macro traders, with clean cross-asset pricing across FX, gold, indices and crypto and native TradingView. The free Macro Mastery desk and education come separately, only with a funded Blueberry account through KenMacro, and Blueberry is also the ASIC-regulated all-round pick. IC Markets is best for the lowest-cost execution on serious volume via cTrader, and Vantage for TradingView and multi-asset traders. Macro trading spans FX, gold, indices and oil, so platform breadth and clean cross-asset pricing matter more than any single spread.

Which forex broker is best for UK traders?

UK clients should insist on a genuine FCA-regulated entity with FSCS protection. Vantage offers an FCA entity for UK residents, so verify you are onboarded under Vantage Global Prime and not the offshore arm. Note that IC Markets does not onboard UK retail clients. Do not assume an offshore sign-up gives you UK protection, because it does not.

Which broker has the lowest minimum deposit?

IFC Markets opens from around $1 and PU Prime runs a cent account from $20, so both work if a tiny starting balance matters. But lowest deposit is not the same as best broker. A $1 account on a light-touch offshore regulator carries fewer protections, so weigh deposit size against regulation and the withdrawal record.

Are offshore forex brokers safe?

Offshore is not automatically unsafe, and plenty of large brokers serve international clients through offshore entities. But offshore regulators offer fewer protections and weaker compensation than Tier-1 regulators like the FCA, ASIC and CySEC. Always confirm which entity you are onboarded under before depositing, and treat an offshore relationship as relying on the broker’s reputation and your own risk management.

Educational analysis only, not financial advice. Regulation and conditions change, verify on the broker’s own site and the relevant regulator register before depositing. Capital at risk. CFDs are complex instruments and a high percentage of retail accounts lose money. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

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