Two forex brokers clash on regulation, pricing, and platform access. The tension hinges on regulatory strength versus product breadth and platform variety.
Skilling and Windsor Brokers are closely matched, with Skilling benefiting from top-tier regulation not shared by Windsor.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose Skilling if…
Choose Skilling if you value top-tier regulation and a proprietary platform with advanced charting.
Choose Windsor Brokers if…
Choose Windsor Brokers if you prefer a long operating history and MT4/MT5 with ECN Zero accounts.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Windsor Brokers offers tighter spreads from 0.00 pips vs 0.70 pips for Skilling, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.1/ 5 | 4.0/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
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
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Skilling | Windsor Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Fail |
| 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 | Pass | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Fail | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: Skilling rates 4.1/5 and Windsor Brokers rates 4/5. Skilling 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.
Windsor Brokers starts from 0 pips, tighter than Skilling's 0.7 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Both Skilling and Windsor Brokers require a minimum deposit of $100 to open a live trading account.
Skilling holds top-tier regulation (FSCA, FCA, CySEC), providing stronger investor protections. Windsor Brokers 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.
For beginners, both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
Skilling lists maximum leverage of 500:1, while Windsor Brokers 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.
Windsor Brokers charges $8 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Skilling are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
Skilling supports cTrader, Skilling Trader, MetaTrader 4, while Windsor Brokers supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 4. Skilling has exclusive access to cTrader and Skilling Trader. Windsor Brokers has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5.
Skilling wins for safety and regulation with FCA and CySEC oversight and segregated funds.
Skilling suits active traders with advanced charting and broad instrument access.
Windsor Brokers is better suited for scalpers: tighter spreads from 0.00 pips.
Skilling offers proprietary Skilling Trader and cTrader alongside MT4, expanding platform choice.
Skilling is best for beginners thanks to a clean, user friendly platform.
Skilling offers far more instruments, about 1000 versus Windsor's 200.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 3.8 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.1 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2016 | 1988 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Valletta, Malta | Nicosia, Cyprus |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $100 | $100 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.7 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | $8/lot |
|---|
| N/A | 0.8 pips |
| Max Leverage | 500:1 | 500:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | $10/month (after 90 days) | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FSCA FCA CySEC | CySEC FSCA |
|---|
| Platforms | cTrader Skilling Trader MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
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
Pros
35+ years of continuous operation, one of the longest track records in retail forex
CySEC regulated with EU investor protections
ECN Zero account from 0.0 pips + $8 commission
Islamic swap-free accounts available
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
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
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
Cons
Platform limited to MT4 and MT5, no cTrader or proprietary option
$100 minimum deposit on standard accounts
ECN commission slightly above IC Markets and Pepperstone
No top-tier regulatory licence
Limited charting capabilities
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4 / 5
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