Two regulation-driven forex brokers clash on cost, platforms, and instrument breadth. The tension centers on pricing models and charting capabilities.
easyMarkets and Skilling are closely matched, with Skilling offering broader instrument access and advanced charting, while easyMarkets emphasizes fixed spreads, phone support, and a lower $25 minimum deposit.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose easyMarkets if…
Choose easyMarkets if you want a low $25 minimum deposit and phone support.
Choose Skilling if…
Choose Skilling if you need raw spreads from 0.0 pips and a broader instrument pool.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Both brokers offer spreads from 0.70 pips.
| Editorial score | 3.9/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
Pros
Fixed spreads with no-slippage guarantee on web platform
Unique dealCancellation feature to undo losing trades
Very low $25 minimum deposit
CySEC, ASIC regulated
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | easyMarkets | 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 | Fail | 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 | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Fail | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: easyMarkets rates 3.9/5 and Skilling rates 4.1/5. Skilling 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.
Both easyMarkets and Skilling start from 0.7 pips, making them equivalent on this metric. Compare commissions and account types to evaluate total trading costs.
easyMarkets has $25, while Skilling requires at least $100. This makes easyMarkets more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both easyMarkets and Skilling 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.
For beginners, two factors stand out: easyMarkets requires a lower minimum deposit ($25), lowering the barrier to entry, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
easyMarkets lists maximum leverage of 400:1, while Skilling lists up to 500:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
easyMarkets supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4, while Skilling supports cTrader, Skilling Trader, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 4. easyMarkets has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and Proprietary Web/Mobile. Skilling has exclusive access to cTrader and Skilling Trader.
Skilling, with FCA oversight and EU protections, edges easyMarkets in regulatory credibility.
Skilling wins for active traders with more instruments and advanced charting.
Skilling is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available.
Skilling offers a modern Skilling Trader and a robust cTrader option.
easyMarkets suits beginners with a low $25 minimum deposit and clear pricing.
Skilling offers a broader instrument universe with 1000 instruments.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 3.8 / 5 | 4.2 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.1 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 2001 | 2016 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Limassol, Cyprus | Valletta, Malta |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $25▼ lower | $100 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.7 pips | 0.7 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
|---|
| Max Leverage | 400:1 | 500:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | $10/month (after 90 days) |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | ASIC CNV HCMC CySEC MNB | FCA FSCA CySEC |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile MetaTrader 4 | cTrader Skilling Trader MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
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
Fixed spreads are wider than ECN variable spread accounts
Proprietary platform feels dated compared to MT4/MT5
Limited research tools
Limited charting capabilities
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
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.9 / 5
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