A head-to-head comparison of ACY Securities and InstaForex across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
ASIC-regulated Australian broker with broad 2,200+ instrument coverage, TradingView integration, and raw ECN accounts - stronger on instrument breadth than on brand recognition.
FSC BVI-regulated broker with over 17 years of operation, known for cent accounts and accessible entry conditions for beginner traders in Asia and the CIS - regulatory depth is limited under the offshore BVI framework.
ACY Securities edges ahead with a score of 4/5 vs InstaForex's 3.6/5. A narrow margin, so review the breakdown below to see where each broker has a clear advantage.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
ACY Securities offers tighter spreads from 0 pips vs 1 pips for InstaForex, reducing trading costs.
ACY Securities has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
ACY Securities has a cost edge: raw/ECN spreads, tighter spreads from 0 pips.
ACY Securities offers more exclusive platform options: MetaTrader 5, TradingView.
ACY Securities edges out InstaForex with a higher editorial score (4/5 vs 3.6/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.0/ 5 | 3.6/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 3.2 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 3.4 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 3.3 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.9 / 5▲ | 3.5 / 5 |
| Founded | 2011 | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia | Road Town, British Virgin Islands |
| Min deposit | $50 | $1 |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | 1 pips |
| Commission / lot | $7/lot | N/A |
| Max leverage | 500:1 | 1000:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | ASIC FSA Seychelles | CySEC FSC BVI |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 TradingView | MetaTrader 4 |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit ACY Securities | Visit InstaForex |
Pros
2,200+ instruments including share CFDs and ETF CFDs
TradingView integration for browser-based chart execution
ASIC regulated with Tier 1 investor protections
Raw ECN spreads from 0.0 pips at $7 round-turn commission
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
17+ years in operation - extensive track record
Cent accounts for micro-lot trading from $1
Very low minimum deposit
Large partner and IB network across Asia and CIS
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
Mobile trading app available
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Cons
$200 minimum for ECN Ultra account
Less established brand than IC Markets or Pepperstone in Australia
Limited proprietary tools
No investor compensation scheme
No proprietary platform
Cons
FSC BVI only - offshore licence, limited investor protection
Spreads not competitive with ECN brokers
Platform limited to MT4 - no MT5, cTrader, or proprietary option
Service quality reviews are mixed on independent forums
No top-tier regulatory licence
Client funds not segregated
No negative balance protection
No investor compensation scheme
No raw spread account option
No MetaTrader support
Limited charting capabilities
Pricing transparency could be improved
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | ACY Securities | InstaForex |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Fail |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Fail |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Fail | Fail |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Pass | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Fail |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Fail |
| Proprietary platform | Fail | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Based on our independent editorial scoring, ACY Securities ranks higher with a score of 4/5 vs 3.6/5 for InstaForex. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; ACY Securities and InstaForex may each suit different trader profiles.
ACY Securities offers tighter spreads starting from 0 pips, compared to InstaForex's spreads from 1 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
InstaForex has a lower minimum deposit of $1, while ACY Securities requires at least $50. This makes InstaForex more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
ACY Securities holds top-tier regulation (ASIC, FSA Seychelles), providing stronger investor protections. InstaForex may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Always verify regulatory status with the broker directly before depositing funds.
For beginners: InstaForex has a lower minimum deposit ($1), lowering the barrier to entry; ACY Securities offers negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
ACY Securities offers maximum leverage of 500:1, while InstaForex offers up to 1000:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
ACY Securities charges $7 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for the other broker are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
ACY Securities supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView and InstaForex offers MetaTrader 4; both support MetaTrader 4; ACY Securities exclusively offers MetaTrader 5, TradingView.
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