Fixed Time Trading | Best Platforms & Strategies
Fixed time trading is a straightforward concept that involves predicting whether a price will rise or fall within an agreed time period. It can be applied to a variety of markets including forex, cryptos, stocks and indices, but can rapidly descend into gambling without a considered strategy. Applying research and technical analysis can give traders the edge they need to make fixed time trading profitable.
In this article, we cover the meaning of fixed time trading, followed by a guide on how to develop the best trading strategies. We’ll also cover how to select a broker and trading platform suitable for fixed time trading, what to trade, and technical analysis techniques.
Best Brokers for Fixed Time Trading
After reviewing over 400 brokers we have determined that these are the 6 best brokers for fixed time trading:
This is why we think these brokers are the best in this category in 2025:
- Capitalcore - Capitalcore has expanded its suite of trading products, introducing binary options on forex, metals and crypto with payouts up to 95%. Geared towards short-term traders, contract lengths range from 1 minute to 1 hour. It’s a snap to place trades on the intuitive web platform, requiring just the click of the button – ‘Call’ if you think the price will rise and ‘Put’ if you think it will fall.
- IQCent - IQCent offers binary options with above-average payouts up to 98%. The broker supports an online platform with basic analysis tools but a wide range of timeframes, from 1 minute to 1 month, catering to short and long term trading strategies. Considering the negatives, there are no binaries on stocks.
- CloseOption - CloseOption offers binary options trading on 30+ fiat and digital currencies through an easy-to-use web-based platform. 15 contract timeframes are available from 30 seconds to 1 month, suiting both short-term and long-term traders. New users also get a joining gift.
- Videforex - Videforex continues to offer binary options with 20% payouts on crypto and up to 98% on less volatile assets, beating many competitors. A wide range of contract lengths are also supported from 5 seconds up to 1 month. New users will appreciate the welcome deposit bonus.
- Binarium - Binarium is an experienced binary options broker offering access to a range of financial markets with a proprietary, sleek platform. New users can claim a welcome bonus up to $1,500 or practice in the demo account with $10,000.
- Dukascopy - Dukascopy offers binary options on currency pairs, stocks and indices, alongside powerful trading tools and market insights. User gets flexible contract sizes and deposits are protected by EU law, though the $1000 starting investment is higher than alternatives.
Capitalcore
"The major selling points of Capitalcore are its high leverage options up to 1:2000 and zero commission or swap fees. However, its weak regulatory oversight from the IFSA and non-existent education place it far behind the top brokers."
Christian Harris, Reviewer
Capitalcore Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | 40% Deposit Bonus up to $2,500 |
|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $10 |
| Payout % | 95% |
| Expiry Times | 1 minute - 1 hour |
| Copy Trading | No |
| Platforms | WebTrader, Pro |
| Instruments | Forex, Metals, Stocks, Cryptos, Futures Indices, Binary Options |
| Account Currencies | USD |
Pros
- Capitalcore is one of the only brokers to charge zero swap fees, which may appeal to Islamic traders looking to comply with Islamic Finance.
- The support team are available 24/7 and responded within minutes during testing with helpful responses.
- Capitalcore has added binary options trading on 30+ currency pairs, metals and crypto with one-click trading and payouts up to 95%.
Cons
- Platform support is limited to proprietary software, so there's no integration with the market-leading MetaTrader or cTrader, which offer built-in economic news and support automated trading.
- Capitalcore’s threadbare education and research seriously trail category leaders like IG, making it less suitable for aspiring traders.
- Capitalcore is not regulated by major financial authorities and has an unproven reputation, raising concerns about the safety of client funds.
IQCent
"IQCent will appeal to day traders looking for a straightforward binary options and CFD trading platform with low fees, a range of accounts, and copy trading. Getting started takes less than 1 minute and a $250 deposit. "
Jemma Grist, Reviewer
IQCent Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | 20% to 200% Deposit Bonus |
|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $250 |
| Payout % | 98% |
| Expiry Times | 5 seconds - 1 month |
| Copy Trading | Yes |
| Platforms | Online Platform, TradingView |
| Instruments | Binary Options, CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR |
Pros
- The proprietary terminal offers TradingView-powered charts which deliver dozens of technical indicators and studies
- The broker offers up to 98% payouts on binary options, which is more than alternatives like Pocket Option, only offering up to 92%
- IQCent is one of the few binary options brokers that also offers a copy trading service for hands-off traders
Cons
- The market analysis is very basic with limited technical summaries and insights from analysts
- The broker is not overseen by a respected regulator, though this is common among binary options firms
- IQCent charges a punitive $10 monthly inactivity fee if you fail to place at least 1 trade per month
CloseOption
"CloseOption is a good pick for traders seeking a user-friendly binary options platform with high payouts and joining bonuses."
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer
CloseOption Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | $10 Welcome Gift |
|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 |
| Payout % | 95% |
| Expiry Times | 30 seconds - 1 month |
| Copy Trading | No |
| Platforms | Own |
| Instruments | Binary Options on Forex & Cryptos |
| Account Currencies | USD |
Pros
- CloseOption offers weekly trading tournaments with cash prizes
- Free demo account
- New traders can get started with a $5 minimum deposit
Cons
- Clients need to deposit $50,000+ to qualify for the best payouts
- CloseOption is not regulated by a well-regarded trading authority
- Binary options are only available on fiat and digital currencies
Videforex
"Videforex will serve traders looking for a no-frills, easy-to-use platform to speculate on the direction of popular financial markets through binaries. With a sign-up process that takes a matter of minutes and a web-accessible platform, getting started is a breeze. "
Videforex Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | 20% to 200% Deposit Bonus |
|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $250 |
| Payout % | 98% |
| Expiry Times | 5 seconds - 1 month |
| Copy Trading | Yes |
| Platforms | TradingView |
| Instruments | Binary Options, CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, RUB |
Pros
- Videforex is one of the few brokers with 24/7 multilingual video support, providing comprehensive assistance for active traders.
- Videforex regularly runs trading contests, offering practice opportunities and cash prizes to beginners and experienced traders, with position sizes from just ¢0.01.
- Traders can earn up to 98% payouts on 100+ assets with the broker’s binary options, bringing it in line with competitors like IQCent.
Cons
- The client terminal needs improvements based on our latest tests, sporting sometimes slow and unresponsive widgets which could dampen the experience for day traders.
- Videforex lacks authorization from a trusted regulator, meaning traders may receive little to zero safeguards like segregated client accounts.
- The absence of any educational tools is a serious drawback for newer traders who can find blogs, videos and live trading sessions at category leaders.
Binarium
"Binarium has been designed with simplicity in mind, featuring a fast, fully digital sign-up process and an intuitive platform and app with 4 chart types and 12 indicators. With binaries spanning 5 minutes to 3 months, it caters to short- and medium-term traders."
Binarium Quick Facts
| Minimum Deposit | $5 |
|---|---|
| Payout % | 80% |
| Copy Trading | No |
| Platforms | Own |
| Instruments | Forex, Stocks, Cryptos |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, AUD, RUB |
Pros
- Binarium has the best education centre we’ve seen amongst binary options brands, complete with information on core topics like trading basics and account options, plus professional video guides to using the platform.
- The $10,000 demo account, deposit-doubling welcome bonus, smooth sign-up, and 24/7 support make for an attractive onboarding experience.
- Binarium claims to segregate client funds with EU banks, meaning traders’ money should not be misused and providing an important layer of protection, which is especially relevant given its offshore status.
Cons
- Despite being operational since 2012, Binarium is an unregulated broker with limited transparency on its website, raising safety concerns and potentially putting your capital at risk.
- Payouts of up to 80% are on the low side of binary options platforms based on our evaluations, which may deter traders looking for the possible best returns, though you can get back up to 15% of losing trades.
- Binarium has some way to go to match the investment offering of binary firms like Quotex, with a particularly weak selection of around 20 currencies and 3 cryptocurrencies.
Dukascopy
"If you’re an experienced trader, Dukascopy provides the tools you need: JForex for algorithmic strategies, competitive spreads from 0.1 pips, leverage up to 1:200, and the peace of mind of using a Swiss-regulated bank and broker."
Dukascopy Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | 10% Equity Bonus |
|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 |
| Payout % | 90% |
| Expiry Times | 3 minutes - 1 day |
| Copy Trading | No |
| Platforms | JForex, MT4, MT5 |
| Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, Bonds, Binary Options |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, ZAR, TRY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD, PLN, CZK, AED, SAR, HUF, MXN |
Pros
- Dukascopy is regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) as both a broker and a bank, ensuring top-tier financial security and adherence to strict standards.
- Dukascopy features some of the best research we’ve seen, even a professional TV studio in Geneva covering financial news, market analysis, and daily insights from professionals.
- The proprietary JForex platform is highly advanced, offering tools for algorithmic trading, extensive charting, and access to deep liquidity for short-term traders.
Cons
- Some account types, such as the MT4/MT5 accounts, require a higher minimum deposit of $1,000, which may not be ideal for traders with smaller budgets.
- While JForex is feature-rich, it has a steep learning curve, making it less suitable for beginner traders who might prefer simpler platforms.
- Dukascopy's withdrawal fees are higher than most competitors we’ve tested, particularly for bank wire transfers, which may deter traders who require frequent access to their funds.
What Is Fixed Time Trading?
Fixed time trading requires a prediction about whether the price of an asset will increase or decrease within a fixed period. It therefore falls under the definition of binary options, which involves choosing between two outcomes with a time expiry.
If the prediction is correct, the trader will receive the initial investment back plus a bonus. If not, the trader will lose the initial investment. Because the bonus is stated upfront, the potential outcomes are known before completing the trade, unlike other types of trading where profits and losses are variable.
Fixed time trading is a simple trading method that can offer high returns. However, the returns are defined by the broker, which means the odds change depending on the likelihood of a correct prediction. The odds are also stacked against the trader overall, meaning a winning trade will return a lower bonus than the potential loss.
For this reason, many people believe fixed time trading is gambling. However, this is not the case if applying analysis and research when making predictions.
How Fixed Time Trading Works
There are several steps to follow when carrying out fixed time trading:
1. Pick A Market
Fixed time trading can be applied to a range of markets including forex, stocks, indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies. Trading across these markets will help to diversify your portfolio and reduce your total risk exposure. However, no matter which market you choose, be aware that you will only be predicting the outcome of the trade and will not own the asset itself.
2. Select The Expiry Time
Expiry times can be anywhere from a minute to a few hours. Some brokers offer even longer-term trading than this, though it is rare. Longer-term fixed time trading is more likely to be influenced by fundamentals, such as company performance or economic news. For short-term trading, avoid trading around news announcements, when prices can become extremely volatile and hard to predict.
3. Choose The Investment Level
Always choose how much to invest based on a percentage of your overall capital. A general rule is to risk no more than 1% of your capital on a single trade.
4. Select The Price Direction
This will be based on your analysis of whether you predict the price will increase or decrease when entering the trade (strike price) to the time expiry.
5. Confirm
Once the trade is confirmed, it’s a waiting game to see if the prediction was correct. However, some brokers now offer the option to alter the trade after investment. This can include ending the trade early, extending the trade, or placing more money into the trade (for example if you become more confident that you will make a profit). The potential reward will be updated accordingly.
Choosing A Fixed Time Trading Broker
The first thing to establish when trading is which broker to use. Here we summarise the key elements to consider when searching for the best providers.
Platform
High-quality desktop platforms and mobile apps are essential when fixed time trading. They should have good technical analysis tools including charts and indicators, with intuitive interfaces that you can confidently navigate.
Profit Potential
Potential profits are set by the dealer and will therefore vary between brokers. Compare potential percentage returns as well as any fees to ensure they won’t wipe out your profits. Also check minimum deposit requirements to ensure they are appropriate for your investment level.
Demo Account
Check if the broker offers a demo account. This is a great way to practice fixed time trading using virtual funds, while getting familiar with the platform environment.
Fixed Time Trading Strategies
Fixed time trading shouldn’t be a gamble, so use technical analysis to make informed trading decisions. Here we cover some example strategies.
One of the simplest ways to carry out fixed time trading is to take advantage of short-term trends. For example, find an uptrend using candlesticks, then open an ‘up’ position. An uptrend occurs when each candlestick peak is higher than the previous peak, and each trough is higher than the previous trough.
For more in-depth analysis, use a technical indicator. The Directional Movement Indicator (DMI) is one of the best indicators for fixed time trading. This is because it can indicate the strength of a trend, suggesting whether it will be sustainable or not.
The DMI is formed of three lines:
- The Average Directional Index (ADX) – The ADX is used to quantify the strength of the trend, but is independent of the trend direction
- The DI+ Line – This is the positive directional movement line
- The DI- Line – This is the negative directional movement line
The signals to look for when fixed time trading are an ADX above 25. This indicates a very strong trend, but needs to be used in combination with the DI lines to determine whether the trend is upwards or downwards. It is recommended that ADX readings below 25 are avoided when fixed time trading.
Next, look at the DI+ and DI- lines. If the DI+ line rises above the DI- line, an uptrend is indicated.
Below, we highlight an example of a strong uptrend as indicated by the DI+ (blue line), DI- (black line) and ADX (red line), which is sitting above 25 the whole time.
Tips for Fixed Time Trading
Here we list some top tips for beginners looking to start fixed time trading:
- Invest only a small percentage of your capital per trade. As there is the potential to lose the entire investment in each trade, losses can accumulate quickly.
- Use longer-term time scales when starting fixed time trading. This will make the process less intense at first.
- Set trading limits and stick to them. This includes the number of trades per day and investment amount. This should be based on the amount you are willing to lose, assuming you predict all your trades incorrectly.
- Take advantage of online resources, courses and books to research the asset you are trading or if you simply want to know how to learn about fixed time trading.
- Check when news announcements are expected for the asset you are trading, including company reports and central bank updates. This will allow you to plan your strategy accordingly.
Is Fixed Time Trading Legal?
Fixed time trading is legal, though banned by regulatory authorities in some countries. For example, the ESMA in the EU and FCA in the UK ban fixed time trading for retail traders. Retail traders would be able to use an unregulated broker in these locations, but this comes with the limited protection of funds. A better option is to use a broker regulated outside the UK or EU, providing the regulator is reputable.
Similarly, fixed time trading brokers cannot be based in India according to SEBI, but Indians could participate in fixed time trading using a broker located outside of India.
Forex Trading Vs Fixed Time Trading
While forex trading and fixed time trading involve predicting the future price of an asset, forex trading does not have a set time period. This means the trader has the flexibility to sell at any point, which has the potential to be at any price. Forex prices are also partly based on market conditions whereas fixed time trading returns are defined by the broker.
Final Word On Fixed Time Trading
Fixed time trading is one of the easiest investing concepts to understand, but requires quality research and analysis to be executed successfully. Whilst it can result in large returns even in quiet markets, it also requires discipline to avoid losing large amounts of money in a short period.
FAQ
What Is Fixed Time Trading?
Fixed time trading is a method where traders predict whether a price will rise or fall within a set time period. If correct, the trader will receive their original investment back in addition to a percentage bonus. If not, the original investment is lost.
Is Fixed Time Trading Gambling?
Fixed time trading is not gambling if used in combination with appropriate research and analysis to guide trading decisions.
Is Fixed Time Trading Halal?
If the trade has been researched and analysed, it is arguably not gambling and therefore Halal. Consequently, it is up to the individual trader to decide whether they are taking a gamble and therefore if it is Halal. Consult your religious leader for further guidance.
Is Fixed Time Trading Legal?
Fixed time trading is legal, though some authorities ban it such as the SEBI in India and the FCA in the UK. Traders located in these countries can still participate in fixed time trading by using a broker regulated in other parts of the world.
What Is The Best Strategy for Fixed Time Trading?
There are numerous strategies that can enhance fixed time trading. The Directional Movement Indicator is a great example of technical analysis that can be used to forecast the strength and direction of a known trend.