Two established forex brokers face off over regulation, costs, and platform ecosystems. The tension centers on price transparency, liquidity, and instrument breadth.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose if…
Choose Dukascopy if you want broad instrument access and genuine ECN liquidity with 1,200 instruments. You also get FINMA backing and protected client funds.
Choose if…
Choose Forex.com if you want MT5 alongside MT4 and a robust Web/Mobile platform. Additionally, you benefit from 24/5 live chat support and negative balance protection.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.2/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.9 / 5▲ | 4.3 / 5 |
Pros
Full FINMA banking licence - client cash protected under Swiss deposit guarantee up to CHF 100,000
Genuine interbank SWFX ECN liquidity from 14+ institutional providers
EUR/USD variable spreads from 0.1 pips during London/New York overlap
JForex supports Java/Groovy strategy automation built into the platform
Banking-grade transparency with published balance sheet
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Dukascopy | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | 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 | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: Dukascopy rates 4.3/5 and Forex.com rates 4.2/5. Dukascopy has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
Dukascopy starts from 0.1 pips, tighter than Forex.com's 1 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Forex.com has $100, while Dukascopy requires at least $1000. This makes Forex.com more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Dukascopy and Forex.com hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
Forex.com stands out for beginners: it has a lower entry point and provides negative balance protection, which caps losses at your deposited amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Dukascopy lists maximum leverage of 200:1, while Forex.com lists up to 50:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
Both Dukascopy and Forex.com charge the same commission of $7 per lot on applicable accounts.
Dukascopy supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4, while Forex.com supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile and MetaTrader 4. Forex.com has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5.
Dukascopy offers tighter spreads from 0.10 pips vs 1.00 pips for Forex.com, reducing trading costs.
Forex.com wins for safety & regulation with broader NFA/CFTC/FCA/ASIC/MAS/IIROC oversight.
Dukascopy wins for active traders with 1,200 instruments and genuine ECN liquidity.
Dukascopy is better suited for scalpers: tighter spreads from 0.10 pips.
Forex.com wins for platform choice with MT4, MT5, and a proprietary Web/Mobile platform.
Forex.com wins for beginners due to a $100 minimum deposit and negative balance protection.
Dukascopy wins for instrument variety with 1,200 tradable instruments.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.7 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.1 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2004 | 1999 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland | Bedminster, New Jersey, USA |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $1,000 | $100▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.1 pips▼ lower | 1 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $7/lot | $7/lot |
|---|
| 0.8 pips▼ lower | 1.7 pips |
| Max Leverage | 200:1 | 50:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | $15/month (after 12 months) |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit card | Bank transferCredit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FSA Seychelles FINMA | ASIC CFTC FCA MAS IIROC NFA |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Investor compensation scheme coverage
Raw spread account available
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
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
One of the few brokers accepting US retail forex clients
Deep research tools including macro analysis
Raw spread account with competitive $7 round-turn commission
MT4, MT5 and proprietary platforms
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
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
Cons
CHF 1,000 minimum deposit excludes traders starting with less than USD 1,000
JForex has a steep learning curve; designed for professional clients
Customer support primarily Swiss business hours
Not available to US residents
No negative balance protection
No 24/5 live chat
Cons
$100 minimum deposit is higher than some peers
US clients restricted to 50:1 leverage on major pairs
Raw account pricing not available in all jurisdictions
Inactivity fee applies
Dukascopy and Forex.com are closely matched overall; the clearest differentiator is instrument variety, with Dukascopy offering 1,200 instruments versus 400 at Forex.com.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.2 / 5
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