New forex account

Recommended bal. $25,000, min. Trade size 100K please note that foreign exchange and other leveraged trading involves significant risk of loss.

New forex bonuses

It is not suitable for all investors and you should make sure you understand the risks involved, seeking independent advice if necessary.

Open an account

Ideal for traders who want a traditional, spread pricing, currency trading experience

For traders who are seeking ultra-tight spreads with fixed commissions.

Not available on metatrader.

Recommended bal. $25,000, min. Trade size 100K

Active trader program

Cash rebates of up to $10/mil volume traded

Professional guidance from your own market strategist

Reimbursement of any bank fees on all wire transfers

How do I open a joint or corporate account?

What are the differences between a demo and live account?

How does FOREX.Com make money?

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Please note that foreign exchange and other leveraged trading involves significant risk of loss. It is not suitable for all investors and you should make sure you understand the risks involved, seeking independent advice if necessary.

Contracts for difference (cfds) are not available to US residents.

FOREX.Com is a trading name of GAIN global markets inc. Which is authorized and regulated by the cayman islands monetary authority under the securities investment business law of the cayman islands (as revised) with license number 25033.

FOREX.Com may, from time to time, offer payment processing services with respect to card deposits through its affiliate, GAIN capital UK ltd, devon house, 58 st katharine’s way, london, E1W 1JP, united kingdom.

GAIN global markets inc. Is part of the GAIN capital holdings, inc. Group of companies, which has its principal place of business at 135 US hwy 202/206, bedminster, NJ 07921, USA. All are separate but affiliated subsidiaries of stonex group inc.

Forex trading accounts

To trade online, you need to open a forex trading account. When you sign up, you will likely have to choose among several account types. The best forex trading accounts are those that suit your personal needs perfectly. On this page, we look at the forex trading account options you have. We also discuss ways in which these account options will impact your trading performance. You will learn:

Which is the best forex trading account?

Account types. What is a standard account, a funded account, a mini/micro account, a managed account, etc?

Geographic account type considerations.

Below are the best forex trading accounts in your location:

The top 5 forex trading accounts in the united kingdom

Opening a forex trading account

What do you need to consider when opening a new forex trading account?

The brokerage firm. Is it reputable or is it a known scammer?

The services the brokerage firm offers.

Costs and incentives involved.

The account type that best suits your needs.

Once you have gotten these issues sorted, there is 3 step process for opening an account:

Fill out the application forms and provide the information your broker requires.

Fund your account.

Start looking for investment opportunities.

When you select a brokerage firm, you take all these factors into account. You need to know whether your would-be broker is a trustworthy destination for traders. Though fewer these days, rogue operations still exist. Creating a real money account with such a broker is flushing money down the toilet.

You also need to know what incentives your broker offers. Match up these incentives with the costs. The broker has to support the account type you prefer and it has to give you access to a proper suite of services. You may even have a preferred account funding method. The broker may or may not accept/support that method.

Services-wise, you are looking for:

Proper trading platforms, with solid technical analysis tools.

Access to education and research.

Trading foreign markets.

Special features you may want.

Convenience. Some brokerage firms offer face-to-face guidance. Others do not. It always makes sense from the perspective of trust, to prefer an operator with physical offices close by.

As far as incentives go, some brokers offer commission-free trading. Others may even reward you for certain achievements as a trader. You may even want to keep your savings with the broker if it rewards you for it.

Make sure you read and understand the full pricing schedule/policy of your broker.

Determining the right trading account type to meet your needs depends on what kind of trader you are, and what your objectives are.

When you fill out your application forms, be aware that you will have to provide information on your employment status, investable assets, and net worth. Some find such probing on the part of the broker quite intrusive.

You also have to provide a copy of your ID/driver’s license. If you want to trade options or gain access to margin, you may have to provide additional information.

Brokers accept several account-funding methods.

Various e-wallets. (neteller, paypal, skrill etc)

Bank transfer.

Electronic funds transfer.

Checks.

Some may accept asset transfers and even paper stock certificates.

Which is the best forex trading account?

As mentioned, the best account type for you is the one that best suits your needs and personal profile. The factors you should consider in this regard fall into two main categories.

Your investment objectives.
The type of trader you are.

Choosing a forex trading account based on your investment objectives

– most “casual” traders invest with a relatively near-term goal. The “make some money” mantra is the main driver behind such efforts. If this mantra describes your investment objectives, you likely need a traditional brokerage account. Such accounts do not offer any tax advantages. On the other hand, they do not tie up your investments long-term either.
You may also be able to trade on margin with such an account. Trading on margin involves borrowing money from the broker. The assets in your account will serve as collateral in this case. Trading on margin carries some obvious risks.

– if your goal is to secure your nest-egg for your retirement, an IRA (individual retirement account) is your option. All IRA options, such as traditional IRA, roth IRA, and rollover IRA offer you tax benefits. On the downside, you will not be able to touch this money before you are old.

Choosing a forex trading account based on what type of investor you are

– you are an absolute beginner. And as such, not much of an investor. What you need at this stage is education. Possibly some good trading signals as well. In a word, you need an account, through which the broker can hold your hand. It could be that your ambitions are not high. Still, you need to know why you are doing what you are doing. Customer service and user interface are important factors in your account selection.

– you are a “value” investor. Such investors buy and hold assets, to sell them when they appreciate. Such investors are not active traders. If you are a value investor, you value fundamental analysis. You have little use for charting and fancy technical indicators, however.

– passive investing. Those who invest in index funds passively do not require much from their broker. Unlike beginners, such traders don’t need their hands held either. They just need access to index funds, and good tradable asset selection within this category.

– high frequency trader. Active traders do not hold their positions long-term. They buy and sell with high frequency. Thus, they need all the bells and whistles their broker can offer them. They want good trading platforms with superb charting. Outstanding reporting and a highly functional interface are also musts. Technical analysis is the bread and butter of this trader category. Trading costs are also very important for active traders.

Forex trading account types

There are four basic account type categories: standard, funded, mini and managed. We will look at each in turn.

Within these categories, there are a few additional variants, such as the micro accounts. There are a handful of special account types as well, such as islamic accounts, demo accounts, and VIP accounts. Every one of these account options carries some advantages and some disadvantages.

Standard trading accounts

The name of this account option stems from the standard lots to which it gives traders access. A standard currency lot is worth $100,000. Such a lot size seemingly places this account type out of the reach of average traders.

You do not have to have $100,000 in your account to trade, however. The existence of margin and leverage means that you only have to have $1,000 to trade a standard lot.

Leverage varies based on many things. In the EU, forex leverage is capped at 1:30. In other places, brokers may offer leverage up to 1:500 even on standard accounts.

Brokers offer full services for the holders of standard accounts. Such accounts require upfront capital, so these are all depositing traders. The profit potential of this account type is significant as well.

On the downside, the same goes for loss potential. For this reason, you should only trade through a standard account if you are an experienced trader.

Funded trading accounts

Some brokers/other financial organizations fund certain traders. They provide them with starting capital, in exchange for a share of their future profits.

How does such a setup work?

Would-be funded account owners need to pass an evaluation program. If the broker’s analysts consider them to be good candidates, they grant them a funded account.

Funding can run into millions of dollars. Profit splits are in the 50% range. Funded accounts carry monthly profit targets. Traders who fulfill these targets can gain additional funding.

The broker pays out the profits periodically.

What do you need to do to secure such a funded account?

Your first step is to sign up for the evaluation program.

Trade through the evaluation account and reach the targets.

Earn a proper funded account and start making money for you and the account provider.

Mini and micro trading accounts

A standard account features $100,000 lots. For traders who cannot afford to trade in that league, despite margin and leverage, mini accounts offer an alternative. A mini account supports mini lots. These lots are worth $10,000 each. Mini accounts usually accompany standard accounts and they target new traders.

Micro accounts take this approach a step further. They support micro-lots of $1,000. Such accounts are even more affordable than the mini ones. Like the minis, micro accounts target beginners as well.

The main advantage of mini and micro accounts resides in risk-reduction. For a mere $250-$500, you can open such a trading account. Trading in lower increments stretches your funds longer as well. This is one of the reasons why professional traders like to use such accounts. They can test their strategies in a low-risk, real-money environment.

In addition to the inherent risk-minimization benefits, mini and micro accounts let you spread your funds thinner. Thus, you can better micro-risk-manage them.

The obvious downside is that risk/loss minimization reduces profit potential as well. Such accounts are, therefore, hardly suited to cover the profit needs of professional/advanced traders.

Managed trading accounts

Forex trading account management works like this, A managed account is one that holds your funds but excludes you from decision-making. You make your deposit, and someone else – usually a broker-side expert – does the trading for you. You may be able to set objectives, however.

Why would you want to give up control through such a trading account?

– you are not an expert and you feel that the manager will do a better job than you ever could. Thus you let the manager handle your individual trading account.
– you feel that pooling your money with the funds of other investors offers you a degree of protection. Such managed accounts work like mutual funds. Managers handle the trading and they distribute the profits.

Managers rank these pooled accounts according to risk tolerance. Those looking for higher profits opt for more risky accounts. Those with a lower risk tolerance play it safer, earning less.

The main advantage of a managed account is that it allows you to cash in on the skills of a forex professional. Furthermore, you get to do it hands-off.

The disadvantage is that this forex expert will cut a commission from your profits. Managed accounts require larger deposits than regular ones. Individual accounts may require as much as $10,000. Pooled accounts are slightly cheaper at around $2,000.

Islamic trading accounts

Islam holds trading to be haram (not permitted). There are ways to turn it into halal (permitted), however.

All trading activity has to adhere to the principles of islamic finance.

There must not be any interest (riba) involved.

Exchanges involved in trading have to be immediate.

No gambling is allowed.

Risks, as well as benefits, have to be distributed.

Islamic accounts are swap-free accounts, through which transactions and the payments of costs associated with them, happen instantly. In the context of islamic trading accounts, the margin, commissions and administrative fees are not riba.

VIP accounts

Brokers reserve their VIP accounts to their most privileged clients. A VIP account holder enjoys special benefits, such as superior trading conditions. Forex brokerages often invite VIP traders to special events, treating them to special rewards.

What do you have to do to gain access to such an account?

You normally need to deposit an unusually large amount of money (often upward of $100,000). You will also need to trade frequently and perhaps meet certain trade volume requirements.

Demo accounts

A demo account is the “play money” simulation of a real account. It allows traders to test the platform and trading conditions. Some may also use such accounts to test-run certain strategies.

When you sign up for a demo account , the broker credits your account with a set amount of virtual funds. Some demo accounts offer the same functionality as a standard/mini/micro account. Others limit their users’ access to certain features.

Geographic considerations

Sometimes, your geographic location should play a role in your account type selection. Some jurisdictions may limit certain trade types. In the US, there is no CFD trading. The practice is against US securities laws.

Leverage varies greatly between EU regulated countries, the UK for example, and other parts of the world. In the EU forex margin is limited to 1:30 by ESMA, the european regulator.

In other parts of world, india and south africa for example, leverage can be offered up to 1:1000 (though 1:400 or 1:500 is more typical)

The taxes you have to pay on your profits also vary from one jurisdiction to another. Read our taxes page for more on that.

FOREX trading accounts

Choose an account type that best suits your trading style.

FOREX.Com account

Advanced trading platforms with customizable interfaces

Trade forex, equities and more, all on one account

Fast, reliable trade executions

Metatrader account

Dedicated FX trading platform

Exclusive in-platform market news and analysis

Trades execute at the best available price

DMA account

Trade on prices as low as 0.1 on all major FX pairs

Get commission discounts as low as $20/m traded

Split the spread and place orders within the top of book spreads

What information do I need when opening an account?

We will need you to provide us with your name and address to establish your identity. Typically, we can verify your identity instantly. For more information, see our account document faqs.

What markets does FOREX.Com offer?

You can trade over 80 currency pairs at FOREX.Com. View our full range of markets.

When is forex market open for trading?

You can trade forex at FOREX.Com 24 hours a day, five days a week. For details, read our forex trading times article.

Is there a charge for central clearing?

We provide central counterparty clearing through an omnibus segregated clearing account (OSCA) free of charge as standard to all clients. If you wish to open an individual segregated clearing account (ISCA), fees apply:

For an individual these charges are: £13,000 account opening fee, plus account maintenance and transaction charges

For a corporate entity these charges are: £200,000 account opening fee, plus account maintenance and transaction charges

Try a demo account

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I would like to learn about

Cfds are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading cfds with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how cfds work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

CFD and forex trading are leveraged products and your capital is at risk. They may not be suitable for everyone. Please ensure you fully understand the risks involved by reading our full risk warning.

FOREX.Com is a trading name of GAIN capital UK limited. GAIN capital UK ltd is a company incorporated in england and wales with UK companies house number 1761813 and with its registered office at devon house, 58 st katharine’s way, london, E1W 1JP. GAIN capital UK ltd is authorised and regulated by the financial conduct authority in the UK, with FCA register number 113942. GAIN capital UK ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of stonex group inc.

FOREX.Com is a trademark of GAIN capital UK ltd.

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Forex demo trading brokers

Congratulations, you are ready to test out forex trading and looking for a forex broker to do it with. The best way to do this is to open a free demo account with one of the forex demo trading brokers listed below. In this article we’ll explain the things you need to know about to choose a forex demo account and how to get the most out of this risk-free benefit.

The difference between a forex demo and real account

A demo account allows a new trader, or experienced trader who wants to test out a new forex broker, a way to trade without risk. This is sometimes referred to as ‘paper-trading’ as opposed to real money trading.

The term ‘paper-trading’ comes from the pre-digital era. Before computer trading, investors would test their ideas by writing on a piece of paper their ‘imaginary’ purchase of an asset – in most cases an equity share or commodity – at a certain price, time and date they made ‘their purchase’. Then they would monitor the market’s price movements by checking the daily prices in the newspaper.

The investor would later decide when they wanted to “sell” the asset by marking the time and date they wanted to exit the position. This allowed traders to hone their skills and get a sense of the markets though ‘paper-trading’, which carried no risk but allowed them to learn. Real money trading should only occur when you are ready to deposit real money into a live account with a broker. This carries a burden of risk, meaning you can lose your deposited money if you make losing trades. However, real money trading also rewards the prepared investor with actual profits when trading is going well and decisions are on the correct side of financial market momentum.

A demo account is a great way to learn how to trade and discover how a new broker’s platform works. However, it is important to keep in mind that an asset on a demo account may carry a different spread between the bid and ask prices compared to what the same broker offers in a real money live account. Most brokers restrict the amount of time your demo account will remain open, with a maximum period of one month being typical. Of course, if you have a few email addresses, there is nothing to stop you re-registering once your demo account expires. That being said, graduating to a real money trading account can be a good thing as spending too long trading only a demo account can hinder your development as a trader.

While it is sometimes an difficult step for new traders to switch from a demo to a real money live account, it is also a necessary step. Your use of the demo account will teach you to practice the art of opening positions and closing them, and also reinforce the necessary traits of practicing risk management which will always be important.

Best all-around: high floating leverage + fast execution

ECN trading with leverage up to 1:500

Deposit $500 and trade with $1000!

ECN trading with leverage up to 1:500

Highly regulated, choice of fixed or floating spreads

Mifid, central bank of ireland, FSA, ASIC, BVI, FFAJ, FSCA, ADMG - FRSA

Highly regulated, choice of fixed or floating spreads

Wide range of cfds + trailing stop losses

Cysec, FCA, ASIC, FMA, FSB, MAS

Wide range of cfds + trailing stop losses

Best broker for social traders and crypto traders : 75% of retail CFD accounts lose money

How to use a forex demo account

Today, with high speed computers and trading apps, traders practice their ‘paper-trading’ on free demo accounts offered by most forex / CFD brokers. This gives you an opportunity to learn more about the financial markets and get a taste for what live ‘real money’ trading will feel like. A demo account allows you to trade assets at no risk. You cannot lose real money with a demo account. This is because your broker’s demo account allocates you a certain amount of ‘paper’ money which is for demonstration purposes only, and allows you to trade this ‘paper’ money to practice what it will feel like in a live ‘real money’ environment.

A forex demo account can also give a very good primary grasp about what your chosen broker offers regarding with assets can be traded, which types of trade orders are permitted, plus a dynamic sense of ‘market feel’. Another important use of a demo account is in testing the broker’s trading platform’s capability to handle software which places trades at a high frequency and/or automatically . You will need to check with your broker to see what trading software can be used on their trading platforms. For example, brokers using the metatrader 4 trading platform often accept trading with algos and robots.

You should be aware that some brokers won’t allow the use of algos or robots because their servers and platforms are not developed for this type of trading. If you do not tell your broker you are using trading mandates and software such as algos or robots the broker may have a right to cancel the outcome of your trading on a live account – in a demo account of course, it does not matter. If you are trading a live account with real money, be sure to communicate with your chosen broker directly to make sure you can fully test your desired tools on their demo account.

Are forex demo accounts accurate?

In a forex demo account, you can open a position which allows you to buy or sell in the marketplace depending on your choice of market direction. Your demo account allows you to experience the natural speed of the market, the pace at which assets change value, and the ability to choose position sizes - to put full trades on at market prices to execute trades which carry no risk.

Checking out what the spreads are is important, but it is equally important to learn if a certain asset carries overnight trading costs known as swaps, plus the fundamentals of trade execution and the kind of mistakes that are easy to make so you can tell how to best avoid them in the future. Using a demo account allows you to practice choosing your assets to trade, and the buy and sell status; size of position wanted allows you to become accustomed to these needed inputs to make your transactions. When you switch from a demo to a real money environment you will feel more comfortable with the needed decision-making processes and its effect on the outcome of your trades because of your practice with the forex demo account.

Like differentials in spreads which can exist between a demo and a real money account, differentials can also exist regarding the time you have to place a trade before the quote requotes or even expires. Demo accounts sometimes allow you more time within the trade decision making process. Real money time parameters for selecting trades can fluctuate due to live market price action, while in a demo account they usually will not. Also note that while spreads will sometimes be different on a demo account compared to a real money account, the price quotes for assets are frequently accurate. You can check this by watching the live market and looking at the prices for assets being provided at the same time by your demo account. However, it is important to note that the prices in the ‘live’ market you are often looking at are delayed depending on your source. This is because live quotes to the financial markets are considered valuable tools. You should ask your broker if you are seeing live market prices or if they are on a delay. Accurate pricing is crucial to understand the real feel of the marketplace and most demo accounts provide live quotes.

Forex trading demo account for beginners

Brokers are happy to have you trade on their demo accounts to learn and become an informed trader, but they do not want you to stay in the demo environment forever because they want you to open a live account eventually and deposit some funds. Demo accounts are also a burden on the broker’s computer servers, which is another reason they don’t want traders to use them for too long. The psychological aspects of trading are important and demo accounts give a new trader the ability to ‘feel’ the marketplace. It is important to note the effect on a traders psyche when they are placing a trading. There is an impact emotionally when carrying a position for any length of time and the decision making process becomes affected due to the nature of the markets which can be fast and sometimes volatile. A demo account allows you to become accustomed to the financial markets and the pace at which assets change values. Forex pairs, and ? Cfds offering indexes, equities and commodities will be available to examine and grow accustomed to, regarding the manner and rules with which each of them are treated by the broker.

While making money is a fundamental goal of every trader, a demo account allows you to trade with the goal of learning and not worrying about losing real money. Understanding the capabilities your broker offers and taking the opportunity to become fully accustomed to the real money trading environment is very important for new traders, and there’s no better way to do this than with a forex demo account. The widespread appeal of the forex demo account means that almost every forex broker offers one and you can sign up quite easily on the broker’s website.

How to create a demo account for forex trading

When you find a broker you like, you will usually see an offer in their website for a ‘free online demo account’. You will probably be asked to register your name, email address, and a few more personal details when you register for the account. After you have completed that process you will be prompted to either open an account or ‘get started’ – it is the second option which will activate your demo account. You will receive a username and a password along with a few instructions about using the demo account and you can then begin to “paper trade” immediately. The forex demo account allows you to test your chosen broker’s platform(s) and learn. They will usually contact you by email or phone if you provided your telephone number as part of the registration process to check on your progress and introduce themselves further in order to help you.

Fxpro demo trading account

To access the fxpro demo accounts, you need to complete the registration form and provide us with some information, however, you do not need to upload verification document(s) or fund until you are ready to trade live.

A real account will be automatically created upon completion but to activate it, we will need to verify your identity and may need to confirm some additional details with you. In the meantime however, you can immediately open a demo from the ‘accounts’ page in fxpro direct, allowing you to utilise risk-free trading and bringing you one step closer to the start of your trading journey.

Real-time pricing

Up to 100k in virtual funds

Available for all platforms

8 base currencies

Top up via fxpro direct

180-day life span

Open a demo account

Opening a demo account through our fxpro mobile app is the perfect option, as after completing the registration, you can immediately start using the demo account, within the very same app!

Alternatively, you can open a demo account from your fxpro direct portal, for any of our platforms and account types. Please click here for a full comparison.

Compliment your demo account trading with our exclusive content & trader tools including:

Educational material

Fxpro.News

Calculators

Economic calendar

What is demo trading?

A trading demo or simulation essentially allows you to experience the market and platform features, using virtual funds and therefore without risk.

Why open a demo with fxpro?

New to trading? Our free demo forex accounts will allow you to practise and hone in your trading skills risk-free until you feel confident enough to trade live.

You can also make use of it as an experienced trader if you want to test different trading strategies.

Demo faqs

Although demo accounts present real market conditions and prices, please keep in mind that they are simulations and cannot always reasonably reflect all of the market conditions as during highly volatile or illiquid periods (e.G. Market openings, news announcements) they may not behave in the same manner as live accounts.

Margin and leverage settings may vary between your demo and live account and you should not expect any success with the demo account to be replicated in your live trading.

For this reason, it is strongly recommended that demo accounts are viewed solely as a learning tool for inexperienced traders or a place for testing new trading strategies.

Forex basics: setting up an account

Foreign-exchange (forex) trading consists of buying and selling world currencies, and the marketplace is among the most liquid in the world. Forex trading is unique because individual investors can compete with large hedge funds and banks—they just need to set up the right account.

There are three main types of trading accounts—standard, mini, and managed—and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Which type of account is right for you depends on your tolerance for risk, the size of your initial investment, and the amount of time you have to trade on a daily basis.

Key takeaways

If you've started trading in the forex markets, you'll need to choose what type of account is best-suited to your skill, knowledge, and experience.

The most common is a standard account with 100:1 leverage and standard lots up to $100,000 in notional value.

Mini accounts reduce the maximum lot size to just $10,000 are intended for beginners, more risk-averse traders, or those with limited funds.

For those who rather have a professional portfolio manager make your trades, a managed account might be worth the additional fees.

Standard trading accounts

The standard trading account is the most common. This account gives the user access to standard lots of currency each worth $100,000.

That does not mean that you have to put down $100,000 of capital in order to trade. The rules of margin and leverage (typically 100:1 in forex) mean that only $1,000 needs to be in the margin account for one standard lot to be traded.

The pros

Service: because the standard account requires adequate up-front capital to trade full lots, most brokers provide more services and better perks for individual investors who have this type of account.

Gain potential: with each pip worth $10, if a position moves with you by 100 pips in one day, the gain will be $1,000. This type of gain is not possible with any other account type unless more than one standard lot is traded.

The cons

Capital requirement: most brokers require standard accounts to have a starting minimum balance of at least $2,000 and sometimes $5,000 to $10,000.

Loss potential
just as you have the opportunity to gain $1,000 if a position moves with you, you could lose $1,000 in a 100-pip move against you. This loss could be devastating to an inexperienced trader with just the minimum in an account.

This type of account is recommended for experienced, well-funded traders.

Mini trading accounts

A mini trading account is simply a trading account that allows traders to make transactions using mini lots. In most brokerage accounts, a mini lot is equal to $10,000, or one-tenth of a standard account. Most brokers offering standard accounts will also offer mini accounts as a way to bring in new clients who are hesitant to trade full lots because of the investment required.

The pros

Low risk: by trading in $10,000 increments, inexperienced traders can trade without blowing through an account, and experienced traders can test new strategies without risking too much capital.

Low capital requirement: most mini accounts can be opened with $250 to $500, and they come with leverage of up to 400:1.

Flexibility: the key to successful trading is having a risk-management plan and sticking to it. With mini lots, this is a lot easier to do because if one standard lot is too risky, you can buy five or six mini lots and minimize your risk.

The cons

Low reward
with low risk comes low reward. Mini accounts that trade $10,000 lots can only produce $1 per pip of movement as opposed to $10 in a standard account. This type of account is recommended for beginning forex traders or those looking to dabble with new strategies.

Micro accounts, the sister account to the mini, are also available through some online brokers. These accounts trade in $1,000 lots and have pip movements worth 10 cents per point. These accounts are typically used for investors with limited foreign exchange knowledge and can be opened for as little as $25. (read "10 things to consider before selecting an online broker" before making your investment.)

Managed trading account

Managed trading accounts are forex accounts in which the capital is yours but the decisions to buy and sell are not. Account managers handle the account just as stockbrokers handle a managed stock account, where you set the objectives (profit goals, risk management) and the managers work to meet them.

There are two types of managed accounts:

Pooled funds: your money is put into a mutual fund with that of other investors, and the profits are shared. These accounts are categorized according to risk tolerance. A trader looking for higher returns would put their money into a pooled account that has a higher risk/reward ratio while a trader looking for a steady income would do the opposite. Read the fund's prospectus before investing.

Individual accounts: A broker will handle each account individually, making decisions for each investor instead of the combined pool.

The pros

Professional guidance: having a professional forex broker handle an account is an advantage that cannot be overstated. Also, if you want to diversify your portfolio without spending all day watching the market, this is a great choice.

The cons

Price: be aware that most managed accounts will require a minimum $2,000 investment for pooled accounts and $10,000 for individual accounts. On top of this, account managers will keep a commission, called an account maintenance fee, which is calculated per month or per year.

Flexibility: if you see the market moving, you won't have the flexibility to place a position. Instead, you'll have to rely on the account manager to make the right choice. This type of account is recommended for investors with high capital and no time or interest to follow the market.

The bottom line

No matter what account type you choose, it is wise to take a test drive first. Most brokers offer demo accounts, which give investors an opportunity to use an account risk-free and try out different platforms and services.

As a basic rule of thumb, never put money into an account unless you are completely satisfied with the investment being made. With the different options available for forex trading accounts, the difference between being profitable and ending up in the red may be as simple as choosing the right type of account.

What are the advantages of using a mini forex account for trading?

A mini forex trading account involves using a trading lot that is one-tenth the size of the standard lot of 100,000 units. In a mini lot, one pip of a currency pair based in U.S. Dollars is equal to $1, compared to $10 for a standard-lot trade. Mini lots are available to trade if you open a mini account with a forex dealer and are a popular choice for those who are just learning how to trade.

Advantages of a forex mini account

Mini forex accounts require a relatively small amount of upfront capital to get started, typically a deposit of between $100 and $500. The minimum depends upon the forex broker you choose to use. This is ideal for those looking to learn about trading currencies but do not want to risk too much money.

Although it is an advantage to open an account with a small amount of upfront capital, it is also important to realize that using leverage could make things much riskier if the currency pair makes a small adverse move. This problem can be reduced by starting with more than the account minimum to make the amount of leverage more manageable.

Traders with a forex mini account are not limited to trading one lot at a time. To make an equivalent trade to that of a standard lot, the trader can trade 10 mini lots. By using mini lots instead of standard lots, a trader can customize the trade and have greater control of risk. For example, if a trader wants to trade more than 100,000 units (one regular lot), but 200,000 units (two regular lots) is too risky, the trader using the regular account would not be able to trade. However, by using a mini account, a trader could make the trade by trading between 11 and 19 mini lots.

Retail forex brokers often allow a significant amount of leverage when using mini lots. This minimizes risk on their end by lowering trade amounts. Often forex traders will use mini forex trading to gain the extra leverage available, but they will still trade in units of 100,000 (10 mini lots). The greater customization of risk and the larger amounts of leverage available make forex mini accounts advantageous for many retail forex traders.

Forex mini accounts are not just for novices

Forex mini accounts are useful for experimentation. An experienced forex trader might use one to test out a new strategy or system. For that to work, the trader must treat the account as his regular forex trading account; otherwise, the results will be inaccurate and skewed.

In summary, if you are are looking to get your feet wet in forex trading, a forex mini account will help you minimize your losses while you come up to speed. Similarly, even the experts use mini accounts because they provide a way to try out new strategies while their exposure to risk is less than it would be with normal forex trading.

Why you need a forex account to trade

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A foreign exchange account, or forex account, is used to hold and trade foreign currencies. Typically, you open an account, deposit money denominated in your home country currency, and then buy and sell currency pairs.

Your purpose, of course, is to make money on your trades. Unfortunately, the majority of beginning forex traders lose money; they generally spend less than four months reaching the point where they have lost so much that they will close their trading account.

It doesn't mean that the forex market is a scam, as some critics have maintained, but forex scams do abound. Making money on highly leveraged currency trades is harder than it looks and, at a minimum, requires developing expertise that many novice traders fail to acquire.

How you open a forex trading account

The requirements for opening a forex account have become simpler since the growth of online forex trading. Today, opening a forex account is almost as simple as opening a bank account.

First, of course, you'll need to find a forex broker. All retail forex trading goes through and is managed by a brokerage. Some may be specialized forex brokers, or they might be the same brokerage you use for stock market investing and trading.

You'll need to fill out a brief questionnaire about your financial knowledge and trading intentions. You'll also need to provide an ID, and the minimum deposit your forex account institution requires. That's it. You're now free to trade.

Incidentally, many forex brokers will take your credit or debit card in lieu of cash. So, you really don't need to deposit any money at all—not that this is a good idea. If you don't have the cash now, how will you pay for losses later? Credit card debt carries high-interest rates.

Forex brokers

One of the aspects of currency trading that makes it riskier than trading in the stock market is that the entire currency trading industry is either lightly regulated or—as with some trades—not regulated at all. A consequence of that is that unless you look carefully into the reputation of the forex broker you select, you may be defrauded. There are two ways of avoiding this.

The first is to avoid specialized forex traders entirely and to trade with a general stock brokerage active in the U.S. And therefore regulated by the U.S. Securities and exchange commission (SEC).

The other way to avoid inadvertently connecting with a fraudulent broker is to proceed very carefully when considering a specialized forex brokerage. Only open an account with a U.S. Broker with a membership in the national futures association (NFA). Use the NFA's background affiliation information center to verify the brokerage and its compliance record.

Even then, it's a good idea to choose a large, well-known forex broker like forex capital markets (FXCM). FXCM—like almost all of the largest U.S. Forex brokers—offers a free practice account where you can try out potential trades without risking your capital. Some other well-known U.S. Forex brokers are citifx PRO, an affiliate of citibank, and thinkorswim. Don't be put off by the cute name, thinkorswim is a division of tdameritrade.

Before finalizing your search, compare commission rates between brokers. Transaction costs are an important factor in the profitability of trading activity.