Star Trader Spreads, Commissions and Fees Explained (2026)
By Ken Chigbo, founder of KenMacro, 2026-06-10. The desk’s plain read, with the route that fits you. Educational only, not financial advice.
Star Trader at a glance
| ECN spreads from | Around 0.0 to 0.3 pips on EUR/USD during the London to New York overlap |
| Commission | Roughly 6 to 7 US dollars round turn per standard lot on the ECN account (Standard is commission free) |
| Standard spreads | Spread only pricing, EUR/USD typically about 1.4 pips, no separate commission |
| Swap fees | Standard overnight swaps that matched the published table in our test, with a three day charge applied on Wednesday |
| Deposit/withdrawal fees | Free withdrawals on most methods above roughly 100 US dollars, no deposit fee noted |
| Inactivity fee | No inactivity fee disclosed in the documentation we reviewed; confirm with the broker before assuming none |
Standard versus Prime ECN: two ways to pay
Star Trader prices trading costs in one of two ways depending on the account you open. The Standard account bundles everything into the spread, so EUR/USD typically prints around 1.4 pips and there is no separate commission to track. That is the simpler model and it suits traders who want one number to watch.
The ECN raw account flips that around. Spreads tighten to near 0.0 pips on EUR/USD during liquid hours, but the broker charges a round turn commission per lot on top. The headline spread looks better, yet the true cost is the spread plus the commission combined. We always price both before deciding which is cheaper for a given style.
What the ECN commission actually costs you
On the ECN raw account the commission is the line that matters. Across the broker material and third party data we reviewed, the round turn figure sits in the region of 6 to 7 US dollars per standard lot, which is broadly equivalent to roughly 0.6 of a pip on EUR/USD. Add that to a raw spread of 0.0 to 0.3 pips and the all in cost lands around 0.6 to 0.9 of a pip during the busy London to New York window.
Commission scales directly with volume, so it punishes high turnover. A trader pushing ten lots a day is paying somewhere in the region of 60 to 70 US dollars in commission alone before spread. If you trade size, the ECN account usually wins on total cost. If you trade rarely, the commission free Standard account can work out cheaper.
Star Trader typical costs
| Cost | Standard | Prime ECN |
|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD spread | Around 1.4 pips | From about 0.0 to 0.3 pips |
| Commission | None | Roughly 6 to 7 USD round turn per lot |
| Gold (XAUUSD) | Floating, wider than EUR/USD | Raw float plus per lot commission |
| Swap fees | Standard, triple charge on Wednesday | Standard, triple charge on Wednesday |
Gold and the major pairs
Gold, quoted as XAUUSD, is where costs swing most with volatility and time of day. Star Trader does not publish a single fixed gold spread, and in practice it floats. On the ECN account you get the raw quote plus the same per lot commission, while the Standard account folds the cost into a wider spread. Expect gold to be meaningfully more expensive to trade than EUR/USD on either account.
The major FX pairs behave predictably. EUR/USD is the tightest, with GBP/USD a touch wider. As a rough guide the Standard account runs EUR/USD around 1.4 pips and GBP/USD higher again, while the ECN raw account compresses those to fractions of a pip before commission. Spreads widen outside liquid hours and around high impact data, so the quoted minimums are best case, not all day.
Swap fees and the Wednesday triple charge
Hold a position past the daily rollover and you pay or receive a swap. In our testing the overnight swaps charged matched the broker published table to within a tenth of a pip, which is the behaviour we want to see and a sign the desk is not quietly padding the rate.
One convention to remember is the three day swap charge applied on Wednesday to cover the weekend value date. That is standard across the industry but it catches people out. Crypto CFD swaps are materially wider than FX, so factor that in if you carry digital asset positions overnight.
Non trading fees: deposits, withdrawals and inactivity
On the funding side Star Trader looks clean. Withdrawals on most methods are free above roughly 100 US dollars, and in our 30 day test a 200 US dollar withdrawal cleared the same business day. E wallet and card payments land inside one business day, bank wire takes one to three days, and crypto settles within a few hours of confirmations.
We found no inactivity fee disclosed in the documentation we reviewed, but the absence of a stated fee is not a guarantee. If you plan to leave a funded account dormant for months, confirm the current terms directly with the broker before assuming you will not be charged.
Which account fits which trading style
The right choice comes down to volume. Scalpers and high frequency traders who care about tight spreads and trade plenty of lots usually come out ahead on the ECN raw account, because the small commission buys a much narrower spread. The more you trade, the more that maths favours ECN.
Position traders and occasional traders often do better on the Standard account. With no commission to pay, the wider spread is a one off cost per trade rather than a per lot toll, and if you only place a handful of trades a week the total bill can be lower. Our rule on the desk is simple: pull your average monthly lot volume, price both accounts at current spreads, and compare the total execution cost before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
What are Star Trader spreads?
Star Trader spreads depend on the account. The Standard account is spread only, with EUR/USD typically around 1.4 pips. The ECN raw account quotes spreads from near 0.0 pips during liquid hours but adds a per lot commission, so the all in cost is the spread plus that commission.
Does Star Trader charge commission?
Only on the ECN raw account. There the round turn commission sits in the region of 6 to 7 US dollars per standard lot, broadly equal to about 0.6 of a pip on EUR/USD. The Standard account is commission free and recovers its cost through a wider spread.
Is the ECN account cheaper than the Standard account?
It depends on how much you trade. High volume and scalping styles usually pay less on the ECN account because the small commission buys a much tighter spread. Low frequency traders can find the commission free Standard account cheaper overall. Price both at your typical volume before deciding.
Are there Star Trader withdrawal fees?
Withdrawals on most methods are free above roughly 100 US dollars, and in our test a 200 US dollar withdrawal cleared the same business day. E wallet and card payments arrive inside one business day, bank wire takes one to three days, and crypto settles within a few hours.
Does Star Trader charge swap or inactivity fees?
Overnight swaps apply at standard rates that matched the published table in our test, with a three day charge on Wednesday for the weekend value date. We found no inactivity fee disclosed in the material we reviewed, but you should confirm current terms with the broker before assuming none applies.
Affiliate disclosure: KenMacro may earn a commission if you open an account through our links, at no extra cost to you, and it never changes our read. For education only, not financial advice. Figures move, always confirm current terms on the broker’s site and check the entity and protections for your country before funding. Trading is leveraged and most retail accounts lose money.
From the desk, free
Get the macro framework the desk actually trades
The same regime-first framework behind every call on this site. Free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Continue reading
From the desk
Not sure which broker fits you?
Answer a few quick questions and the desk will point you to the cleanest option for your country, platform and trading style. No cost, no pressure.
Only used to follow up on your request. No spam.