Two brokers square off on trust, costs, and technology. One emphasizes FCA oversight and integrated charting, the other offers low deposits and offshore regulation.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose if…
Choose InstaForex if you value 24/5 live chat support. You can trade micro-lots from $1 with cent accounts and enjoy a very low minimum, plus a broad partner network and multilingual support.
Choose if…
Choose Spreadex if you value FCA regulation and segregated funds. TradingView-powered charting and transparent pricing accompany access to 10,000+ markets with no minimum deposit and no spread-bet commissions.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 3.6/ 5 | 4.0/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 3.2 / 5 | 4.5 / 5▲ |
Pros
17+ years in operation, extensive track record
Cent accounts for micro-lot trading from $1
Very low minimum deposit
Large partner and IB network across Asia and CIS
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | InstaForex | Spreadex |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Fail | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Fail | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Fail | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Fail | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Fail | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Fail | Fail |
| Proprietary platform | Fail | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Fail | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Fail |
The scores are close: InstaForex rates 3.6/5 and Spreadex rates 4/5. Spreadex 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.
Spreadex starts from 0.6 pips, tighter than InstaForex's 1 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Spreadex has no minimum deposit, while InstaForex requires at least $1. This makes Spreadex more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Spreadex holds top-tier regulation (FCA), providing stronger investor protections. InstaForex may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Verify regulatory status on each regulator's public register before depositing funds.
Spreadex stands out for beginners: it has a lower entry point and provides negative balance protection, which caps losses at your deposited amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
InstaForex lists maximum leverage of 1000:1, while Spreadex lists up to 30:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
InstaForex supports MetaTrader 4, while Spreadex supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView. InstaForex has exclusive access to MetaTrader 4. Spreadex has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile and TradingView.
Spreadex offers tighter spreads from 0.60 pips vs 1.00 pips for InstaForex, reducing trading costs.
Spreadex wins for safety and regulation due to FCA oversight and segregated funds.
Spreadex wins for active traders with 10,000+ markets and advanced charting options.
Spreadex is better suited for scalpers: tighter spreads from 0.60 pips.
Spreadex wins for platform choice with TradingView integration and proprietary tools.
InstaForex wins for beginners with $1 min deposit and cent accounts.
Spreadex wins with 10,000+ instruments vs 300 at InstaForex.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 3.4 / 5 | 4.2 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 3.3 / 5 | 4.0 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.5 / 5 | 4.1 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 2007 | 1999 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Road Town, British Virgin Islands | St Albans, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $1 | No minimum▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 1 pips | 0.6 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
|---|
| Max Leverage | 1,000:1 | 30:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyPerfect MoneyCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyPerfect MoneyCrypto | Bank transferCredit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FSC BVI CySEC | FCA |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 | Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Mobile trading app available
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
FCA-regulated (190941) UK spread betting on 10,000+ financial markets
TradingView integration for browser-based charting and order execution
UK capital gains tax-free profits on spread bets under current HMRC rules
Unique dual financial and sports spread betting from one FCA account
No minimum deposit and no commission on spread bets
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
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
FSC BVI only, offshore licence, limited investor protection
Spreads not competitive with ECN brokers
Platform limited to MT4, no MT5, cTrader, or proprietary option
Service quality reviews are mixed on independent forums
No top-tier regulatory licence
Client funds not segregated
No negative balance protection
No investor compensation scheme
No raw spread account option
No MetaTrader support
Limited charting capabilities
Pricing transparency could be improved
Cons
UK residents only - no international client access
No MT4 or MT5 available
Research tools minimal
Not suitable for traders who need raw ECN execution
No raw spread account option
No MetaTrader support
No 24/5 live chat
Support available in limited languages
Spreadex outscores InstaForex overall, with a 4.0 editorial score to 3.6, and benefits from FCA regulation, client funds segregation, and enhanced protection; InstaForex remains competitive but trails on regulatory depth and investor safeguards.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.6 / 5
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