Minimum Deposit Compared
Minimum deposit by broker
| Broker | Min. Deposit | Best Spread at Min. | Regulation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | $0 | From 0.0 pips (Razor) | FCA, ASIC, CySEC |
| IG Group | $0 | From 0.6 pips | FCA, ASIC, MAS |
| CMC Markets | $0 | From 0.7 pips | FCA, ASIC, MAS |
| OANDA | $0 | From 0.6 pips | FCA, ASIC, CFTC |
| XM | $5 | From 0.6 pips | CySEC, ASIC |
| Exness | $10 | From 0.1 pips | FCA, CySEC |
| FXTM | $10 | From 0.1 pips | FCA, CySEC, FSCA |
| eToro | $50 | From 1.0 pips | FCA, CySEC |
| FP Markets | $100 | From 0.0 pips (Raw) | ASIC, CySEC |
| IC Markets | $200 | From 0.0 pips (Raw) | ASIC, CySEC |
| AvaTrade | $100 | From 0.9 pips | ASIC, FSA, FSCA |
| Plus500 | $100 | Variable spread | FCA, ASIC, CySEC |
| Admiral Markets | $100 | From 0.0 pips (Zero) | FCA, CySEC, ASIC |
| Saxo Bank | $2,000 | From 0.4 pips | FCA, MAS, JFSA |
Does a lower minimum deposit mean worse spreads?
Not always, but often. Brokers like Pepperstone and IC Markets offer ECN accounts with raw spreads from 0.0 pips — but only on their premium account type. At the minimum deposit, you may be placed on the standard account with wider spreads.
IC Markets requires $200 for any account, but once deposited, the Raw Trader account gives access to the same 0.0 pip spreads regardless of account size. FP Markets works the same way.
What you actually need to trade productively
A $50 account with 1:30 leverage gives you $1,500 in buying power. That is enough to open one small position. But the spread cost as a percentage of your position becomes very high on small trades.
Experienced traders consider $2,000–$5,000 the minimum to trade with reasonable position sizing and risk management. At that level, 1% risk per trade is $20–$50, which covers the spread cost and still allows meaningful profit potential.
Deposit methods
All 14 brokers accept bank transfers and debit/credit cards. Most also accept PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller. Some accept local payment methods in specific countries — XM and FP Markets have extensive local payment options across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.