FXCM and Skilling compete on regulation, platforms, and pricing, with notable differences in spreads and inactivity fees.
FXCM and Skilling are closely matched on regulation, platforms, and support. Skilling offers raw spreads from 0.0 pips, a clear price edge FXCM does not provide.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
FXCM offers tighter spreads from 0.40 pips vs 0.70 pips for Skilling, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.1/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.1 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
Pros
Strong APIs (REST, FIX)
Trading Station + MT4
FCA regulated
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | FXCM | 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 | Fail | Pass |
| 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 | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
FXCM and Skilling share the same editorial score of 4.1/5. One concrete differentiator: FXCM requires a lower minimum deposit.
FXCM starts from 0.4 pips, tighter than Skilling's 0.7 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
FXCM has $50, while Skilling requires at least $100. This makes FXCM more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both FXCM 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: FXCM requires a lower minimum deposit ($50), lowering the barrier to entry, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
FXCM 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.
FXCM supports ZuluTrade, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4, NinjaTrader, while Skilling supports cTrader, Skilling Trader, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 4. FXCM has exclusive access to ZuluTrade and Proprietary Web/Mobile and NinjaTrader. Skilling has exclusive access to cTrader and Skilling Trader.
Skilling wins safety and regulation with CySEC and FCA oversight and segregated client funds.
Skilling wins active traders with broader instrument access and competitive spreads.
Skilling is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available.
Skilling wins platform choice with Skilling Trader and cTrader options.
Skilling wins for beginners with user friendly platform and no inactivity fee.
Skilling wins with 1000 instruments versus FXCM's 400.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.1 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 2016 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Valletta, Malta |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $50▼ lower | $100 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.4 pips▼ lower | 0.7 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
|---|
| Max Leverage | 400:1 | 500:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | $50/month (after 12 months) | $10/month (after 90 days)▼ lower |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrill | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrill | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free for first per month | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC | FCA FSCA CySEC |
|---|
| Platforms | ZuluTrade Proprietary Web/Mobile MetaTrader 4 NinjaTrader | cTrader Skilling Trader MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
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
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
Withdrew from US market in 2017
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
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 4.1 / 5
Score 4.1 / 5
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