A head-to-head comparison of FXCM and GO Markets across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Veteran FCA-regulated broker with strong API support, MT4, and the proprietary Trading Station platform.
True ECN pricing, three platform options, and ASIC regulation - a solid choice for Australian traders though with a higher minimum deposit than peers.
FXCM and GO Markets are extremely closely matched with scores of 4.1/5 and 4/5. 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.
GO Markets offers tighter spreads from 0 pips vs 0.4 pips for FXCM, reducing trading costs.
Both brokers show an equally strong safety profile across regulation, fund protection, and client safeguards.
GO Markets has a cost edge: raw/ECN spreads, tighter spreads from 0 pips.
FXCM offers more exclusive platform options: Proprietary Web/Mobile, NinjaTrader, a proprietary platform.
FXCM edges out GO Markets with a higher editorial score (4.1/5 vs 4/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.1/ 5 | 4.0/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.1 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5▲ | 3.8 / 5 |
| Founded | 1999 | 2006 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Melbourne, Australia |
| Min deposit | $50 | $200 |
| Spreads from | 0.4 pips | 0 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | $5/lot |
| Max leverage | 400:1 | 500:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free for first per month | Free |
| Regulators | FCA ASIC | ASIC CySEC FSC |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 Proprietary Web/Mobile NinjaTrader | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 cTrader |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit FXCM | Visit GO Markets |
Pros
Strong APIs (REST, FIX)
Trading Station + MT4
FCA regulated
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
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
True ECN execution with three platform options
ASIC-regulated with a clean Australian track record since 2006
Competitive $5 round-turn ECN commission
Good for Australia and Asia-Pacific timezone traders
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
Raw spread account available
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
Cons
Withdrew from US market in 2017
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
Cons
$200 minimum deposit is higher than many ECN peers
Less brand recognition outside Australia and Asia-Pacific
CySEC entity is offshore for non-AU clients
No proprietary platform
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | FXCM | GO Markets |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fail | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Based on our independent editorial scoring, FXCM ranks higher with a score of 4.1/5 vs 4/5 for GO Markets. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; FXCM and GO Markets may each suit different trader profiles.
GO Markets offers tighter spreads starting from 0 pips, compared to FXCM's spreads from 0.4 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
FXCM has a lower minimum deposit of $50, while GO Markets requires at least $200. This makes FXCM more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both FXCM and GO Markets 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: FXCM has a lower minimum deposit ($50), lowering the barrier to entry; both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
FXCM offers maximum leverage of 400:1, while GO Markets 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.
GO Markets charges $5 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for the other broker are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
FXCM supports MetaTrader 4, Proprietary Web/Mobile, NinjaTrader and GO Markets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader; both support MetaTrader 4; FXCM exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile, NinjaTrader; GO Markets exclusively offers MetaTrader 5, cTrader.
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