A head-to-head comparison of GO Markets and Skilling across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
True ECN pricing, three platform options, and ASIC regulation - a solid choice for Australian traders though with a higher minimum deposit than peers.
Modern Swedish-founded broker with CySEC and FCA regulation, a visually polished proprietary platform, and cTrader for advanced traders - well-positioned for EU retail clients seeking a contemporary alternative to legacy MetaTrader brokers.
GO Markets and Skilling are extremely closely matched with scores of 4/5 and 4.1/5. 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 0.7 pips for Skilling, reducing trading costs.
Both brokers show an equally strong safety profile across regulation, fund protection, and client safeguards.
GO Markets has a cost edge: tighter spreads from 0 pips.
Skilling offers more exclusive platform options: Skilling Trader, a proprietary platform.
Skilling 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 | 4.0/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.8 / 5 | 4.1 / 5▲ |
| Founded | 2006 | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne, Australia | Valletta, Malta |
| Min deposit | $200 | $100 |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | 0.7 pips |
| Commission / lot | $5/lot | N/A |
| Max leverage | 500:1 | 500:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | ASIC CySEC FSC | FCA FSCA CySEC |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 cTrader | MetaTrader 4 cTrader Skilling Trader |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit GO Markets | Visit Skilling |
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
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
$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
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
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | GO Markets | 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 | Pass | 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 | Fail | 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 |
Based on our independent editorial scoring, Skilling 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; GO Markets and Skilling may each suit different trader profiles.
GO Markets offers tighter spreads starting from 0 pips, compared to Skilling's spreads from 0.7 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Skilling has a lower minimum deposit of $100, while GO Markets requires at least $200. This makes Skilling more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both GO Markets and Skilling 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: Skilling has a lower minimum deposit ($100), lowering the barrier to entry; both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
GO Markets offers maximum leverage of 500:1, while Skilling 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.
GO Markets supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader and Skilling offers MetaTrader 4, cTrader, Skilling Trader; both support MetaTrader 4, cTrader; GO Markets exclusively offers MetaTrader 5; Skilling exclusively offers Skilling Trader.
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