In a head-to-head on regulation, costs, and platforms, Global Prime and tastytrade push in different directions. The tension centers on instrument variety and platform options.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose if…
Choose Global Prime if you want MT4/MT5 support and true NDD execution with tight raw spreads.
Choose if…
Choose tastytrade if you want a proprietary options platform and capped options commissions.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 4.2/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.5 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
Pros
ASIC regulated with published quarterly execution quality reports
Raw spreads from 0.0 pips with $7 round-turn commission
True NDD execution, no internal position matching
MT4 and cTrader available
Client funds held in segregated accounts
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Global Prime | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Fail | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Pass | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Fail |
| Proprietary platform | Fail | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Fail |
| Phone support | Fail | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Fail | Fail |
The scores are close: Global Prime rates 4.2/5 and tastytrade rates 4.3/5. tastytrade 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.
Global Prime starts from 0 pips. Current spread data is not available for tastytrade. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date pricing.
tastytrade has no minimum deposit, while Global Prime requires at least $200. This makes tastytrade more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Global Prime and tastytrade 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: tastytrade has no minimum deposit, removing the capital barrier entirely, and Global Prime provides negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Global Prime lists maximum leverage of 500:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
tastytrade charges $1 per lot, lower than Global Prime's $7 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
Global Prime supports cTrader, MetaTrader 4, while tastytrade supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. Global Prime has exclusive access to cTrader and MetaTrader 4. tastytrade has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Global Prime offers spreads from 0.00 pips.
Equally matched; both provide segregated client funds and robust regulatory oversight.
Global Prime offers raw spreads and up to 500:1 leverage.
Global Prime is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available.
Global Prime provides MT4/MT5 and cTrader, offering broad platform choice.
tastytrade is more beginner-friendly, offering zero minimum deposit and an approachable options-oriented platform.
tastytrade offers 10,000 instruments versus Global Prime's 150.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.6 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.7 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.1 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2010 | 2017 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $200 | No minimum▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0 pips | N/A |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $7/lot | $1/lot▼ lower |
|---|
| 0.7 pips | N/A |
| Max Leverage | 500:1 | N/A |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPalSkrill | Bank transferWire transferACH |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit card | Bank transferWire transferACH |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | ASIC VFSC | CFTC NFA |
|---|
| Platforms | cTrader MetaTrader 4 | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Negative balance protection
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
Pros
Options commissions capped at $10/leg, major cost advantage for traders who size up
$0 to open options trades; $1/contract to close
Platform built natively for options: IVR, Greeks, curve tool, and multi-leg management all first-class
Futures and futures options on the same account as equity derivatives
No PFOF on options, exchange-routed for best execution
Part of IG Group (LSE-listed), institutional governance and financial stability
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
Phone support available
Cons
$200 minimum deposit
Limited product range, forex and major CFD classes only
No proprietary platform or copy trading
No investor compensation scheme
No 24/5 live chat
No phone support
Support available in limited languages
Cons
US-only, no international accounts
Options-first interface has a steep learning curve for equity-focused traders
No live chat support, phone and email only
Minimal fundamental research tools; no stock screener or analyst reports
Mobile app less appropriate for entering complex multi-leg strategies than the desktop platform
No negative balance protection
No raw spread account option
No MetaTrader support
Support available in limited languages
Global Prime and tastytrade are closely matched overall, with execution and regulation around similar levels. The clearest differentiator is instrument variety: Global Prime offers about 150 instruments vs tastytrade's 10,000.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.2 / 5
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