In this comparison, two established brokers vie for trust, price, and platform prowess. The tension centers on regulation strength, exchange coverage, and platform breadth across global markets.
Forex.com is the overall winner, with a higher editorial score (3.9 vs 3.2) and stronger regulator coverage (NFA, CFTC, FCA, ASIC, MAS, IIROC) than AMarkets.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
Forex.com offers top-tier regulation across multiple authorities including NFA, CFTC, FCA, ASIC, MAS, IIROC.
| Editorial score | 3.2/ 5 | 3.9/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Spreads from | 0 pips▼ lower | 1 pips |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot▼ lower | $7/lot |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | AMarkets | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Fail | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Fail | Pass |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Fail | Fail |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Fail |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Fail | Fail |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Fail |
| IPO access | Fail | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Pass |
| Stock screener tool | Fail | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
Forex.com rates 3.9/5 versus 3.2/5 for AMarkets. Forex.com edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
AMarkets lists tighter spreads from 0, compared with Forex.com's 1. For stock trading, also factor in any per-trade or per-share commissions — spreads and commissions together determine the true cost per trade.
Both AMarkets and Forex.com require a minimum deposit of $100 to open a live trading account.
Forex.com holds top-tier regulation (MAS, IIROC, FCA), providing stronger investor protections. AMarkets 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, Forex.com provides negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
AMarkets lists maximum leverage of 3000:1, while Forex.com lists up to 20:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
AMarkets charges $6 per trade, lower than Forex.com's $7 per trade. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day. Stock commissions may be charged as a flat rate per trade or per share; confirm the exact structure on each broker's website.
AMarkets supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while Forex.com supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. AMarkets has exclusive access to cTrader. Forex.com has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Neither AMarkets nor Forex.com is listed as offering commission-free trading in our data. Compare each broker's commission schedule directly, as fees vary by account type and the markets you trade.
Forex.com scores higher on investor protection criteria, with compensation scheme coverage and segregated client funds. For stock investors, confirming compensation scheme coverage ensures your assets are protected up to a defined limit if the broker becomes insolvent.
AMarkets offers ECN pricing and leverage up to 3000:1 for active traders.
Forex.com provides regulated, user-friendly access that helps beginners start with confidence.
Forex.com offers 8 exchanges, expanding global stock access.
Forex.com is better for low cost trading due to the higher Fees & Spreads score.
Forex.com broad exchange access supports long-term diversification across more stocks.
| 0.6 pips▼ lower |
| 1.7 pips |
| Inactivity fee | None | $15/month (after 12 months) |
|---|
| Deposit fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto | Bank transferCredit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Commission-free | No | No |
|---|
| Fractional shares | No | No |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | No | No |
|---|
| Extended hours | No | No |
|---|
| IPO access | No | No |
|---|
| Short selling | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Regulators | SVGFSA | MAS IIROC FCA ASIC CFTC NFA |
|---|
| Platforms | cTrader MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.2 / 5
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