A head-to-head comparison of Axi and Skilling across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
No minimum deposit, strong ASIC regulation, excellent MT4 infrastructure for EA traders, DXtrade for a modern web experience, and competitive Pro account pricing.
Modern Swedish-founded broker with CySEC and FCA regulation, a visually polished proprietary platform, and cTrader for advanced traders - well-positioned for EU retail clients seeking a contemporary alternative to legacy MetaTrader brokers.
Axi and Skilling are extremely closely matched with scores of 4.1/5 and 4.1/5. The right choice depends on your individual trading priorities.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Axi offers tighter spreads from 0 pips vs 0.7 pips for Skilling, reducing trading costs.
Both brokers show an equally strong safety profile across regulation, fund protection, and client safeguards.
Skilling offers more exclusive platform options: cTrader, Skilling Trader, a proprietary platform.
Both brokers share the same editorial score of 4.1/5, but Axi requires a lower minimum deposit ($0 vs $100 for Skilling), making it more accessible for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.1/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.1 / 5▲ |
| Founded | 2007 | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia | Valletta, Malta |
| Min deposit | No minimum | $100 |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | 0.7 pips |
| Commission / lot | $7/lot | N/A |
| Max leverage | 500:1 | 500:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA ASIC DFSA | FCA FSCA CySEC |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 DXtrade | MetaTrader 4 cTrader Skilling Trader |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Axi | Visit Skilling |
Pros
No minimum deposit
Strong ASIC, FCA, and DFSA regulation
MT4-focused with excellent EA and algorithmic trading support
No inactivity fee
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
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
Clean modern Skilling Trader platform - excellent UX for new-to-intermediate traders
cTrader available with raw spreads from 0.0 pips
CySEC and FCA regulation with EU and UK investor protections
Growing Latin American presence with local-language support
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Multilingual customer support
Cons
No MT5 or cTrader support
Pro account commission of $7/lot is above some ECN peers
Research and education tools are more limited than some peers
No proprietary platform
Cons
$100 minimum deposit on standard accounts
Newer broker - less track record than IG or Pepperstone
Product range narrower than multi-asset brokers
No phone support
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Axi | Skilling |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Pass | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Fail | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Axi and Skilling share the same editorial score of 4.1/5. The right choice depends on your priorities: trading costs, platform preference, or regulatory coverage.
Axi offers tighter spreads starting from 0 pips, compared to Skilling's spreads from 0.7 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Axi has a lower minimum deposit of no minimum required, while Skilling requires at least $100. This makes Axi more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Axi and Skilling hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Both are considered safe. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners: Axi has a lower minimum deposit (no minimum), lowering the barrier to entry; both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
Axi offers maximum leverage of 500:1, while Skilling offers up to 500:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
Axi 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.
Axi supports MetaTrader 4, DXtrade and Skilling offers MetaTrader 4, cTrader, Skilling Trader; both support MetaTrader 4; Axi exclusively offers DXtrade; Skilling exclusively offers cTrader, Skilling Trader.
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