Best ECN Brokers 2025
True electronic communication network (ECN) brokers use advanced technology to connect traders directly to liquidity providers, enabling faster executions, tighter spreads, and greater transparency – ideal for short-term traders who thrive on speed and efficiency.
Top 6 ECN Brokers 2025
We have personally tested 220 brokers and these are the 6 best ECN brokers:
Why Are These Brokers the Best for ECN Trading?
Here's a snapshot of why these are the top pure ECN providers:
- IC Markets is the best ECN broker in 2025 - IC Markets is a globally recognized forex and CFD broker known for its excellent pricing, comprehensive range of trading instruments, and premium trading technology. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Australia, the brokerage is regulated by the ASIC, CySEC and FSA, and has attracted more than 180,000 clients from over 200 countries.
- Exness - Established in 2008, Exness has maintained its position as a highly respected broker, standing out with its industry-leading range of 40+ account currencies, growing selection of CFD instruments, and intuitive web platform complete with useful extras like currency convertors and trading calculators.
- RoboForex - RoboForex is an online broker, established in 2009 and registered with the IFSC in Belize. Traders can choose from five accounts (Prime, ECN, R StocksTrader, ProCent, Pro) catering to different needs with trades from 0.01 lots and spreads from 0 pips. RoboForex has also enhanced its offering over the years, adding CFD instruments and launching its stock trading platform, plus the CopyFX system.
- IC Trading - IC Trading is part of the established IC Markets group. Built for serious traders, it boasts some of the most competitive spreads, reliable order execution, and advanced trading tools. The catch is that it’s registered in the offshore financial centre of Mauritius, enabling it to offer high leverage but in a weakly regulated trading setting.
- Pepperstone - Established in Australia in 2010, Pepperstone is a top-rated forex and CFD broker with over 400,000 clients worldwide. It offers access to 1,300+ instruments on leading platforms MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView, maintaining low, transparent fees. Pepperstone is also regulated by trusted authorities like the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC, ensuring a secure environment for day traders at all levels.
- Eightcap -
Compare the Best ECN Brokers Across Key Areas
Zero in on the right true ECN broker for you with our comparison of key features important to active traders:
| Broker | Minimum Deposit | Leverage | Platforms | Regulators |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IC Markets | $200 | 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global) | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade, Quantower | ASIC, CySEC, FSA, CMA |
| Exness | $10 | 1:Unlimited | Exness Trade App, Exness Terminal, MT4, MT5, TradingCentral | CySEC, FCA, FSCA, CMA, FSA, CBCS, BVIFSC, FSC, JSC |
| RoboForex | $10 | 1:2000 | R StocksTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView | IFSC |
| IC Trading | $200 | 1:500 | MT4, MT5, cTrader, AutoChartist, TradingCentral | FSC |
| Pepperstone | $0 | 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, DupliTrade, Quantower | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, CMA, BaFin, SCB |
| Eightcap | - | - | MT4, MT5, TradingView | ASIC, FCA, CySEC, SCB |
How Safe Are These ECN Trading Providers?
Here's how our top ECN brokers protect your funds:
| Broker | Trust Rating | Guaranteed Stop Loss | Negative Balance Protection | Segregated Accounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IC Markets | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Exness | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| RoboForex | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| IC Trading | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| Pepperstone | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Eightcap | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ |
Compare Mobile ECN Trading
Here's how these brokers measure up if you want ECN trading capabilities on your mobile:
| Broker | Mobile Apps | iOS Rating | Android Rating | Smart Watch App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IC Markets | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| Exness | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| RoboForex | iOS & Android, R StocksTrader | ✘ | ||
| IC Trading | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| Pepperstone | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| Eightcap | iOS & Android | ✘ |
Are the Top ECN Brokers Good for Beginners?
Beginners should use ECN brokers that allow trading with virtual money (a demo account) and have other features that new traders require:
| Broker | Demo Account | Minimum Deposit | Minimum Trade | Education Rating | Support Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IC Markets | ✔ | $200 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| Exness | ✔ | $10 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| RoboForex | ✔ | $10 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| IC Trading | ✔ | $200 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| Pepperstone | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| Eightcap | ✔ | - | 0.01 Lots |
Are the Top ECN Brokers Good for Advanced Traders?
Seasoned traders need sophisticated features to elevate the ECN trading environment:
| Broker | Automated Trading | VPS | AI | Pro Account | Leverage | Low Latency | Extended Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IC Markets | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cBots on cTrader, Myfxbook AutoTrade | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global) | ✔ | ✘ |
| Exness | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | 1:Unlimited | ✔ | ✘ |
| RoboForex | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, Strategy Builder in R StocksTrader | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | 1:2000 | ✘ | ✘ |
| IC Trading | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cBots on cTrader | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | 1:500 | ✔ | ✘ |
| Pepperstone | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) | ✔ | ✘ |
| Eightcap | - | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | - | ✔ | ✘ |
Compare the Ratings of Our Top ECN Brokers
See how the top ECN brokers rate side-by-side in every critical area from our hands-on tests:
| Broker | Trust | Platforms | Assets | Mobile | Fees | Accounts | Research | Education | Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IC Markets | |||||||||
| Exness | |||||||||
| RoboForex | |||||||||
| IC Trading | |||||||||
| Pepperstone | |||||||||
| Eightcap |
Compare Trading Fees
Discover the most cost-efficient ECN brokers in the market:
| Broker | Cost Rating | Fixed Spreads | Inactivity Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| IC Markets | ✘ | $0 | |
| Exness | ✘ | $0 | |
| RoboForex | ✘ | $0 | |
| IC Trading | ✘ | - | |
| Pepperstone | ✔ | $0 | |
| Eightcap | ✘ | $0 |
How Popular Are These ECN Account Brokers?
Lots of traders prefer the most popular brokers with ECN accounts (those with the most users):
| Broker | Popularity |
|---|---|
| Exness | |
| RoboForex | |
| Pepperstone | |
| IC Markets | |
| IC Trading | |
| Eightcap |
Why Open An ECN Account With IC Markets?
"IC Markets offers superior pricing, exceptionally fast execution and seamless deposits. The introduction of advanced charting platforms, notably TradingView, and the Raw Trader Plus account, ensures it remains a top choice for intermediate to advanced day traders."
Christian Harris, Reviewer
IC Markets Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Futures, Crypto |
| Regulator | ASIC, CySEC, FSA, CMA |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade, Quantower |
| Minimum Deposit | $200 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Leverage | 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global) |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD |
Pros
- IC Markets offers fast and dependable 24/5 support based on firsthand experience, particularly when it comes to accounts and funding issues.
- You have access to over 2,250 CFDs across various markets, including forex, commodities, indices, stocks, bonds, and cryptocurrencies, allowing for diversified trading strategies.
- IC Markets offers among the tightest spreads in the industry, with 0.0-pip spreads on major currency pairs, making it especially cost-effective for day traders.
Cons
- The breadth and depth of tutorials, webinars and educational resources still need work, trailing alternatives like CMC Markets and reducing its suitability for beginners.
- Interest isn't paid on unused cash, an increasingly popular feature found at alternatives like Interactive Brokers.
- While IC Markets offers a selection of metals and cryptos for trading via CFDs, the range is not as extensive as brokers like eToro, limiting opportunities for traders interested in these asset classes.
Why Open An ECN Account With Exness?
"After slashing its spreads, improving its execution speeds and support trading on over 100 currency pairs with more than 40 account currencies to choose from, Exness is a fantastic option for active forex traders looking to minimize trading costs."
Exness Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto |
| Regulator | CySEC, FCA, FSCA, CMA, FSA, CBCS, BVIFSC, FSC, JSC |
| Platforms | Exness Trade App, Exness Terminal, MT4, MT5, TradingCentral |
| Minimum Deposit | $10 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Leverage | 1:Unlimited |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, INR, JPY, ZAR, MYR, IDR, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD, AED, SAR, HUF, BRL, NGN, THB, VND, UAH, KWD, QAR, KRW, MXN, KES, CNY |
Pros
- Exness was the first brokerage to pass the $1 trillion and $2 trillion marks in monthly trading volumes, highlighting its legitimacy.
- Improved execution speeds, now averaging under 25ms, offer optimal conditions for short-term traders.
- Excellent range of account types for all experience levels, including Cent, Pro plus the introduction of Raw Spread, ideal for day traders.
Cons
- Apart from a mediocre blog, educational resources are woeful, especially compared to category leaders like IG which provide a more complete trading journey for newer traders.
- MetaTrader 4 and 5 are supported, but TradingView and cTrader still aren’t despite rising demand from active traders and integration at alternatives like Pepperstone.
- Retail trading services are unavailable in certain jurisdictions, such as the US and the UK, limiting accessibility compared to top-tier brokers like Interactive Brokers.
Why Open An ECN Account With RoboForex?
"RoboForex is great if you want a vast range of 12,000+ day trading markets with ECN accounts, powerful charting and loyalty promotions. It also stands out for stock traders with its user-friendly R StocksTrader platform, featuring 3,000+ shares, fees from $0.01 and sophisticated watchlists."
RoboForex Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | $30 No Deposit Bonus |
|---|---|
| Demo Account | Yes |
| Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures |
| Regulator | IFSC |
| Platforms | R StocksTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView |
| Minimum Deposit | $10 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Leverage | 1:2000 |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR |
Pros
- RoboForex secured the 'Best Forex Broker 2025' title in DayTrading.com's Awards after broadening their FX offering, cutting spreads and opening up services in various countries.
- RoboForex is known for its tight spreads starting from 0 pips and low minimum deposits from $10, making it accessible to those on a budget. The ability to trade with micro lots further lowers the barrier to entry for new traders.
- The R Stocks Trader platform rivals leading solutions like MT4, with netting and hedging capabilities, comprehensive backtesting, Level II pricing, and a flexible workspace.
Cons
- While RoboForex offers competitive spreads, some of its account types come with high trading commissions up to $20 per lot, trailing the cheapest brokers, such as IC Markets.
- Despite 15+ years in the industry and registering with the Financial Commission, RoboForex is authorized by one ‘Red-Tier’ regulator – the IFSC in Belize, lowering the level of regulatory protections for traders.
- Despite offering a range of platforms, RoboForex still doesn't support the increasingly popular cTrader. This might deter traders who prefer this specific platform for their day trading activities and is available at firms like Fusion Markets.
Why Open An ECN Account With IC Trading?
"With superior execution speeds averaging 40 milliseconds, deep liquidity, and powerful charting software, IC Trading delivers an optimal trading environment tailored for scalpers, day traders, and algorithmic traders. "
IC Trading Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Cryptos, Futures |
| Regulator | FSC |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader, AutoChartist, TradingCentral |
| Minimum Deposit | $200 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Leverage | 1:500 |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD |
Pros
- The simplified and digital account opening process saves time and effort, allowing traders to start trading sooner without extensive paperwork, taking just minutes during testing.
- Trading Central and Autochartist are valuable tools for in-depth technical summaries and actionable trading ideas and are accessible from within the account area or the cTrader platform.
- IC Trading provides industry-leading spreads, including 0.0-pip spreads on major currency pairs such as EUR/USD, making it ideal for day traders.
Cons
- Customer support performed woefully during testing with multiple attempts to connect via live chat and no one available to assist, plus unanswered emails, raising concerns about its ability to address urgent trading concerns.
- The educational resources are greatly in need of improvement, unless you navigate to the IC Markets website, posing a limitation for beginners in search of a comprehensive learning journey, especially compared to category leaders like eToro.
- Despite being part of the trusted IC Markets group, IC Trading is authorized by a weak regulator - the FSC of Mauritius, with limited financial transparency and regulatory safeguards.
Why Open An ECN Account With Pepperstone?
"Pepperstone stands out as a top choice for day trading, offering razor-sharp spreads, ultra-fast execution, and advanced charting platforms for experienced traders. New traders are also welcomed with no minimum deposit, extensive educational resources, and exceptional 24/7 support."
Pepperstone Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto, Spread Betting |
| Regulator | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, CMA, BaFin, SCB |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, DupliTrade, Quantower |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Leverage | 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD |
Pros
- Award-winning customer support is available via telephone, email or live chat with response times of <5 minutes during testing.
- There’s support for a range of industry-leading charting platforms including MT4, MT5, TradingView, and cTrader, catering to various short-term trading styles, including algo trading.
- Now offering spread betting through TradingView, Pepperstone provides a seamless, tax-efficient trading experience with advanced analysis tools.
Cons
- Pepperstone does not support cTrader Copy, a popular copy trading feature built into the excellent cTrader platform and available at alternatives like IC Markets, though it has introduced an intuitive copy trading app.
- Pepperstone’s demo accounts are active for only 30 days, which may not be not long enough to familiarize yourself with the different platforms and test trading strategies.
- Despite enhancements to its range of markets, crypto offerings are relatively limited compared to other brokers such as eToro, with no option to invest in real coins.
Why Open An ECN Account With Eightcap?
"Eightcap delivers in every area for day traders with a growing selection of charting platforms, education via Labs, and AI-powered tools. Now sporting 120+ crypto CFDs, it's also become a stand-out choice for crypto trading, winning our 'Best Crypto Broker' award two years in a row."
Eightcap Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities |
| Regulator | ASIC, FCA, CySEC, SCB |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, TradingView |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, SGD |
Pros
- Having excelled across all key areas for day traders, Eightcap outperformed every competitor to win our 'Best Overall Broker' award for 2024, also securing our 'Best Crypto Broker' title for 2025 and 'Best TradingView Broker' for 2025.
- After bolstering its roster in 2021, Eightcap offers one of the most extensive selections of cryptocurrency CFDs in the market, with crypto/fiat pairs, crypto/crypto pairs, plus crypto indices for broader exposure to the market.
- With tight spreads from 0 pips, low commission fees, and high leverage up to 1:500 for certain clients, Eightcap provides cost-effective and flexible trading conditions that can accommodate an array of strategies, including day trading and scalping.
Cons
- In spite of an increasing variety of tools, Eightcap doesn't offer industry favorites like Autochartist or Trading Central, which offer cutting-edge charting analytics, live news, and market insights for short-term traders.
- Eightcap needs to continue bolstering its suite of instruments to match category leaders like Blackbull Markets with its 26,000+ assets, featuring a particularly weak selection of commodities.
- Despite a useful library of educational guides and e-books in Labs, Eightcap still trails IG’s comprehensive toolkit for aspiring traders with its dedicated IG Academy app and 18 course categories.
What Is An ECN Broker?
The simple definition is that Electronic Communication Network (ECN) brokers enable traders to place competing bids against each other.
They are Non-Dealing Desk (NDD) brokers, meaning that instead of passing orders to market makers who take the opposing position in a trade, they connect buyers directly with sellers. W
hen they cannot match two counter-parties, they reflect the highest bid and lowest ask price listed in the open market.
ECN forex brokers act as a major source of liquidity for retail traders versus major market makers like large banks, hedge funds and other financial institutions.
They are the fastest-growing brokerages globally and are particularly popular for forex trading, offering greater transparency for investors.
ECN Brokers Vs STP Brokers
ECN brokers are very similar to Straight Through Processing (STP) providers. STP brokers also have no dealing desk. Listed trades are routed to the broker’s group of liquidity providers, such as hedge funds, big banks and investors. These providers act as counter-parties for each trade and compete for the best bid/ask spreads.
The broker effectively acts as a silent facilitator, connecting the trader with its internal liquidity pool and taking its fee from a mark-up in the spread.
The primary difference with ECN vs STP brokers is routing. Whereas the STP broker provides access to different providers in their liquidity pool, the ECN plays the role of a hub. The hub essentially acts as the primary liquidity source, formed of the different hedge funds, banks and market players.
The other notable difference is position size. ECN brokers typically cap minimum position sizes at 0.1 lots. This is a result of few liquidity providers being able to cater to smaller position sizes, which can prove challenging for beginners.
Both ECN and STP models offer fast executions and tight spreads which lend them to a range of strategies, including scalping trading. In fact, many ECN, STP or hybrid brokers offer zero-pip forex spreads, though they may charge a fixed commission per lot.
Benefits Of ECN Brokers
There are several advantages to trading with an ECN broker:
- Execution speed – Pure ECN forex brokers such as Pepperstone connect you directly to liquidity providers ensuring direct market access and faster fills.
- Transparency – ECN brokers prevent price manipulation as everyone uses the same feed and trades at a defined price. No investor enjoys a built-in advantage over other traders on the ECN.
- Trading hours – ECN providers generally let you trade beyond traditional trading hours, allowing investors to react to after-market news announcements, for example.
- Leverage – Top ECN brokers typically offer leveraged forex trading. Ratios vary depending on your jurisdiction, but it’s not uncommon to find 1:30+ leverage levels.
- Scalping – Rapid order executions and tight spreads lend ECN brokers to high volume scalping forex strategies. With that said, it’s worth checking the broker’s guidelines around scalping before you deposit funds.
- Regulation – ECN providers are often heavily regulated. This is particularly important in light of the increasing number of online forex scams. The best ECN brokers are regulated and meet compliance measures. See our list of the best ECN brokers above for trustworthy providers.
Drawbacks Of ECN Brokers
Downsides to trading with ECN brokers include:
- Commission – Forex commissions charged by most ECN brokers usually range between $2.50 to $7.00 per lot. Fees can be higher compared to trading other non-ECN trading brokers. This may mean ECN is less favorable for low-volume retail traders or those with micro-accounts.
- Volatility – Forex markets are vulnerable to sudden upsurges in variable spreads, especially during high market volatility. It’s therefore important traders use appropriate risk management tools.
- Deposits – The best ECN brokers generally come with higher opening deposits than standard trading accounts from our tests. This is because ECN providers often shift the responsibility of meeting market liquidity requirements on the trader. This is the opposite of a market maker broker who can intervene to provide liquidity on the trader’s behalf, and therefore offer lower minimum deposits.
How To Identify The Best ECN Brokers
The top true ECN brokers are regulated by reputable financial agencies. For example, if you’re trading forex in the UK, check the provider is regulated by the FCA. For traders in Europe, check for CySEC regulation. Reliable regulators will cap leverage limits to protect a trader’s risk exposure.
Logistically, location is significant as the best ECN brokers can only accept accounts for traders in the countries they work within. For example, RoboForex cannot accept traders in the USA, Japan, Canada and Australia, despite being a top ECN broker.
This means clients from the US will need to look to another broker, such as FOREX.com, another top ECN brokerage.
Similarly, the best ECN brokers in Kenya, Dubai, Malaysia, Cyprus or the Philippines might differ from the top providers in Nigeria, South Africa, India, Australia and Singapore.
You should also check the trading fees and commissions and whether you are allowed to start with a demo account. This will give you time to practice and get familiar with the platform, whether you are using MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), cTrader or another.
Brokers offer different platforms so it’s important to use one you feel comfortable with.
Other considerations to take into account on your broker checklist comparison should include:
- Fast deposit and withdrawal processing times
- Providers with a history of at least two years
- Brokers with no deposit bonuses
- A decent customer support team
- Forex trading rankings
- Good online reviews
Bottom Line
ECN brokers bring significant benefits for forex traders in the US, UK and beyond. High levels of market transparency mean price manipulation is harder.
With that said, it’s still worth looking for regulated ECN brokers. Leverage levels, commissions, plus trading tools are also important to consider when opening a live account with an ECN broker.
FAQ
How Do ECN Brokers Make Money?
ECN brokers typically make money from fixed commissions charged to the customer on each trade. This is in contrast to market maker models that generally take their cut from the spread.
What Is The Difference Between A Market Maker And ECN Broker?
Market makers help ensure there’s enough liquidity so trades can be executed seamlessly. Market maker brokers typically take the opposing side of a trade. In contrast, ECN brokers connect buyers and sellers, drawing on various liquidity providers.
ECN brokers usually offer tighter spreads, faster order execution and increased transparency.