Best Variable Spreads Brokers

The Ultimate Guide to

Choosing a Broker
For Variable Spreads

Not sure which broker is right for you?

Don’t worry - we’ve got you covered. In this guide, you’ll learn:

• Why Markets.com scored high for variable spreads (Jump to section)
• Who Markets.com is (and isn’t) suitable for (Jump to section)
• An in-depth feature comparison of the top #3 brokers (Jump to section)
• An overview on variable spreads (Jump to section)

Ready?

Part 1

What is the Best Trading Platform
for Variable Spreads?

Markets.com scored best in our review of the top brokers for variable spreads, which takes into account 120+ factors across eight categories. Here's the full list of all the brokers we considered.

The following brokers allow variable spreads on their platform:

1. Markets.com
2. ATFX Global Markets

Here are some areas where Markets.com scored highly in:

Markets.com offers two ways to trade: Forex, CFDs. If you wanted to trade EURUSD through copy trading or other means, skip to part two.

The two most important categories in our rating system are the cost of trading and the broker’s trust score. To calculate a broker’s trust score, we take into account a range of factors, including their regulation history, years in business, liquidity provider etc.

Markets.com have a B trust score, which is good. This is largely down to them being regulated by CySEC, Financial Services Board, segregating client funds, being established for over 10 years, and much more. For comparison:

Trust Score comparsion

The second thing we look for is the competitiveness of the spreads, and what fees they charge. We've compared these in detail in part three of this guide.

Part 2

Who Markets.com is (& Isn’t)
Suitable For

As mentioned, Markets.com allows you to trade in two ways: Forex, CFDs.

To trade with Markets.com, you'll need a minimum deposit of $100. Markets.com offers a range of different account types for different traders including a mini account, and vip account.

Markets.com offer a wide range of instruments to trade including forex pairs, stocks, indices, and cryptocurrencies . In fact, they’re one of the few brokers to offer not only Bitcoin trading but also Ripple, and many more. In the following section we’ve listed Markets.com’s spreads for a range of popular instruments. You can also see a more detailed breakdown of how Markets.com’s spreads compare in this Markets.com review

Finally, Markets.com isn't available in the following countries: AF, DZ, AS, AO, AU, BE, BA, BR, KH, CA, CN, CU, KR, GU, GY, HK, ID, IR, IQ, IL, JP, LA, MO, MY, MM, NZ, MP, PA, PG, PH, PR, RU, SG, KR, SD, SY, TW, TH, TR, UG, VI, VU, USA, VN, YE.

Part 3

A Comparison of Markets.com vs. ATFX Global Markets vs.

Want to see how Markets.com stacks up against ATFX Global Markets and ? We've compared their spreads, features, and key information below.

Spread & fee comparsion

Comparison of account & trading features

Part 4

Variable spreads

Variable spreads are also known as floating or dynamic spreads. As the name suggests, variable spreads are always changing. With Variable spreads, there is a continuous change in the difference between the bid and ask prices of an asset. Variable spreads are offered by non-dealing desk/direct market access brokers who typically run their business over Electronic Communication Networks (ECN).

The hallmark of brokers offering this model is that they get the pricing of assets from several liquidity providers and pass on same to the trader without the intervention of a dealing desk. Spreads will therefore widen or narrow based on the demand for the asset and the market volatility.

Typically, spreads widen during news releases as well as other periods when the liquidity in the market drops. For example, a trader may open the GBPUSD currency pair with 2 pips in spread, but just as the execution is about to be made, a press release affecting the currencies like Brexit may cause the spread to widen to 10 pips.

If you unsure as to what a spread and pip is or want to know more about fixed spreads, take a look at our What is a spread article.

Pros and cons of variable spreads

Benefits of a variable spread broker

• Floating spreads take away the problem of requotes. This is because the variation that occurs in a floating spread factors in changes of price with respect to demand-supply dynamics. In other words, what you want is really what you get.
• Trading with floating spreads provides more transparent pricing, especially when you consider that pricing from several liquidity providers is made available for greater flexibility.
• Swing and position traders will not be affected by floating spreads.

Disadvantages of a variable spread broker

• Variable spreads are a no-go area for scalpers, as the widened spreads that could occur will eat into any profits that the scalper is targeting.
• Floating spreads are a news trader’s nightmare. This is because the variation in the actual number from the consensus figure will produce wider spreads which increase the unpredictability of the trade outcome.

Fixed vs Variable Spreads: Which is Better?

Generally speaking, frequent traders and those with larger accounts will benefit from floating spread pricing.

Variable spread traders

Swing or position traders: Traders who make hundreds of pips per trade in very few trades that are kept open for days or weeks, benefit from floating spreads.
Large accounts: Traders with larger accounts who prefer having a selection of pricing from different liquidity providers, generally choose floating spread brokers.
Fast Execution: Traders who need faster executions without requotes, often trade with a floating spread broker.