Best Forex Brokers for Scalping

Scalping is a short-term trading strategy where traders execute a large number of trades within minutes or even seconds. The goal of this trading strategy is to capture and accumulate small profits from tiny price movements. This trading style requires precise execution, low spreads, and minimal slippage, which makes selecting the right broker absolutely essential.

In this comprehensive review, we will look at some of the best brokers for scalping, exploring what key features make them stand out. But first, let’s take a look at what makes a broker good for scalping.

What Makes a Broker Good for Scalping?

A good broker for scalping provides the essential infrastructure and trading conditions that allow scalpers to execute their trades effectively. Here's a breakdown of the key features to look for:

• Lightning-Fast Order Execution - Fast order execution is one of the top features to consider in a broker that supports scalping. Delays in order execution, even milliseconds, can lead to significant slippage (getting a different price than expected) and turn potential profits into losses. 

• Low Spreads and Commissions - Since scalpers trade frequently, even small fees per trade can add up quickly. Evaluate the total costs of trading for different brokers and choose the most cost-effective option.

• Reliable Trading Platform - Scalpers rely heavily on their trading platform for quick entry and exit. Downtime, freezes, or glitches can be costly. Opt for well-established and reputable platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), or cTrader, known for their speed, stability, and advanced charting tools.

• Strong Regulation and Reputation - Trading with a regulated broker provides a degree of security and ensures that the broker adheres to strict standards and practices.
• No Restrictions on Scalping - Some brokers may discourage or restrict scalping through rules like minimum holding times for trades or limitations on the number of positions opened. Choose a broker that explicitly allows and supports scalping without imposing restrictive conditions.
• Range of Market Products - It is crucial to consider the market instruments available on a broker site. Ensure that the broker has the assets that you are looking to trade through scalping.

These are probably the main features to look for when choosing a broker for scalping. However, there are other factors that are crucial, including the minimum deposit, the deposit and withdrawal methods, and customer support, among others. With these considerations in mind, let’s now take a look at some of the best brokers for scalping.

Pepperstone

Pepperstone is one of the top brokers for scalping different financial products. This broker features one of the fastest order execution times in the world. With Pepperstone Group Limited, most orders are executed in under 30 milliseconds, while with Pepperstone Limited, execution times are typically under 60 milliseconds. These are some of the fastest order execution times in the market, a necessity for scalping strategies. 

Furthermore, Pepperstone supports scalping on a variety of market products. With this broker, traders have access to over 1,400 different CFDs, giving traders a variety of options. Here, traders can engage in scalping gold, scalping forex, and scalping cryptocurrencies, alongside other market products. In particular, this broker offers CFDs on forex, indices, stocks, commodities, currency indices, cryptocurrencies, currency indices, and ETFs.

The trading platforms available on this broker site include MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, and the Pepperstone Trading Platform. All these platforms offer advanced features, a ton of charting tools, and support for Expert Advisors, making them ideal for scalpers. The broker has no restrictions whatsoever for scalping strategies.

In terms of trading fees, this broker offers competitively low fees on both its accounts. The Standard account offers spreads as low as 1.0 pips with no commission charged. In contrast, the Razor account features raw spreads from 0.0 pips plus a commission depending on the trading platform used. 

MetaTrader 4 and 5 users pay a commission of $3.50, €2.60, £2.25, or CHF 3.30 per side per lot, depending on their account currency. The same $3.50 per side per lot applies to trades executed via TradingView and the Pepperstone Trading Platform. cTrader users benefit from a lower commission of $3 per side per lot. For clients using TradingView, cTrader, or the Pepperstone Trading Platform with a non-USD account, commissions are automatically converted to the respective account currency based on the prevailing exchange rate.

On regulations, Pepperstone operates under the oversight of several well-regarded organisations around the world. These include the FCA in the UK, the CySEC in Cyprus, the ASIC in Australia, the DFSA in the DIFC, and the BaFin in Germany, among others.

75.3% of retail CFD accounts lose money

Exness

Exness is another broker that stands out as a strong choice for scalpers. One of Exness’s strongest advantages is its exceptionally low spreads across its various accounts. Its Standard account offers spreads from as low as 0.2 pips with no commissions charged. Meanwhile, the Standard Cent account features spreads from 0.3 pips, also without commissions. 

For lower spreads, traders can consider the Pro account with spreads from 0.1 pips and charges no commission. In contrast, the Raw Spread account offers spreads from 0.0 pips plus a commission of up to $3.5 per side per lot. Finally, the Zero account has spreads from 0.0 pips on the top 30 instruments, plus a commission that starts from $0.05 per side per lot.

Exness provides access to a wide range of instruments for scalping. The broker offers over 250 different products that include CFDs on forex, metals, cryptoсurrencies, energies, stocks, and indices. Execution speed is another area where Exness excels. The broker boasts ultra-fast order execution, with most orders executed in milliseconds. Traders can utilise a variety of trading platforms, including MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, the Exness Trader app, and the Exness Terminal. The broker has no restrictions on scalping strategies.

On the regulatory front, Exness operates under the regulation of several authorities. These include the FCA, the CySEC, the FSCA, the CMA, and the FSC in Mauritius, among others.

Remember that Forex and CFDs available at Exness are leveraged products.
Their trading can result in the loss of your entire capital.

XTB

XTB is a well-regarded broker that can be a suitable choice for scalpers, particularly those who value a wide range of markets. The broker provides access to a substantial number of financial instruments, including CFDs on forex pairs, commodities, indices, cryptocurrencies, stocks, and other ETFs. This broker also supports the trading of real stocks and ETFs.

XTB provides fast order execution, with an average order execution time of just 0.201 seconds. This ensures minimal slippage, which is crucial for scalpers who depend on precise entry and exit points. The broker fully supports scalping and does not impose any restrictions. The trading platform available to use is the proprietary xStation 5 platform. 

XTB generally offers competitive spreads, which can vary depending on market conditions. It features tight spreads starting from 0.5 pips on major currency pairs, with no commission fees.

75-78% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

FP Markets

FP Markets is another strong contender among the best brokers for scalping, recognised for its tight spreads and rapid execution speeds. This broker understands the critical importance of speed and low costs for scalpers. This broker features an order execution time of just 40 milliseconds. This ensures minimal slippage, a critical factor for scalpers who rely on precise entry and exit points. 

The broker supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and TradingView, all of which are well-optimised for scalping strategies. The broker also offers VPS hosting for eligible clients, ensuring even faster execution for scalpers who need low-latency conditions. FP Markets offers a wide selection of financial instruments suitable for scalping. These include over 10,000 different instruments, including CFDs on forex, indices, metals, cryptocurrencies, commodities, stocks, bonds, and ETFs. 

Trading fees vary based on the type of account. The Standard account provides spreads starting from 1.0 pips with no commission. In contrast, the Raw account offers raw spreads from 0.0 pips but includes a commission of $3 per side per lot. Importantly, FP Markets places no restrictions on scalping on either accounts, and there are no limits on the number of trades or the minimum holding time

In terms of regulations, FP Markets operates under the supervision of several reputable authorities globally. These include the ASIC in Australia, the CySEC in Cyprus, the FSCA in South Africa, and the CMA in Kenya, among others.

72.44% of retail CFD accounts lose money

XM

XM is an excellent broker for scalping, offering low spreads, lightning-fast execution, and zero restrictions on trading strategies. Order execution is nearly instantaneous, with 99.4% of trades executed in under 1 second. XM also provides access to MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, two of the most popular platforms among scalpers. It also provides its own XM Trading App, which is optimised to meet the needs of the modern trader.

The broker also offers a VPS service, allowing traders to place orders with low latency and uninterrupted connectivity. XM offers a diverse selection of financial instruments, including CFDs on forex, equity indices, shares, cryptocurrencies, commodities, precious metals, stocks, and energies. 

One of XM’s core strengths is its competitive trading conditions. The standard account has a spread that starts from 1.6 pips for major currency pairs with no commission charged. In contrast, the XM Ultra Low account has a spread beginning at just 0.8 pips with no commission charged. Finally, the Shares account charges a commission depending on the share and the size of the trade.

In terms of regulatory oversight, XM is in good standing as it holds licenses from various institutions. The broker’s operations are under the supervision of the CySEC, the ASIC, the DFSA in the DIFC, and the FSC in Belize.

75.18% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

Forex.com

Forex.com is a well-established broker that caters effectively to scalpers. This broker offers fast execution speeds, tight spreads, and a transparent trading environment. The average order execution time on Forex.com is just 60 milliseconds. The trading platforms available include MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, and Forex.com’s proprietary platform.

The market products available to traders depend on where a trader is located. U.S. clients have access to a more limited selection of markets compared to international traders. They can trade only forex, futures, and futures options through this broker. In contrast, international clients benefit from a wider range of instruments, including CFDs on forex, stocks, indices, cryptocurrencies, commodities, and precious metals such as Gold and Silver. There are no scalping restrictions on any of these market products.

Forex.com offers multiple account types with competitive spread options. The Standard Account features spreads starting at 0.8 pips, while the MetaTrader Account starts at 1.0 pips—both commission-free. Traders seeking lower spreads can choose the Raw Account, which offers spreads from 0.0 pips. For non-U.S. clients, the Raw Account includes a $5 commission per $100,000 traded, whereas U.S. clients pay a slightly higher rate of $7 per $100,000 traded.

Forex.com's operations are overseen by a robust network of regulatory bodies worldwide. Its parent company, StoneX, has regulations from the FCA, the ASIC, the CySEC, the CIRO in Canada, and both the CFTC and NFA in the United States.

76-77% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

Tickmill

Tickmill is a highly regarded broker among scalpers, thanks to its ultra-fast execution speeds, competitive spreads, and zero restrictions on scalping strategies. The broker offers lightning-fast order execution, with execution speeds averaging around 0.20 seconds. Additionally, the broker offers access to trading via MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and Tickmill Trader.

These trading platforms offer access to a variety of market products from various asset groups. Specifically, traders have access to CFDs on forex, stock indices, gold and other metals, bonds, commodities, and cryptocurrencies.

Tickmill offers three distinct account types to suit various trading preferences. The Classic Account provides spreads starting from 1.6 pips on major currency pairs with no commission. For traders seeking tighter spreads, Tickmill offers two raw spread account options, both featuring spreads from 0.0 pips. The Raw Account charges a commission of $3 per lot per side, while the Tickmill Trader Raw Account carries a slightly higher commission of $3.50 per lot per side.

In terms of regulation, Tickmill operates under the stringent oversight of several reputable financial authorities. These include the FCA, the CySEC, the DFSA, and the FSCA, among others.

71-74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

Closing Remarks

Scalping is a high-frequency, high-pressure trading method that relies on precision, discipline, and execution speed. As such, choosing the right broker to use this strategy on is a crucial step for traders. 

The brokers highlighted in this review stand out due to their commitment to providing the essential features that scalpers demand. They also provide access to powerful trading platforms, a wide range of instruments, and strong regulatory backing. Ultimately, the best broker for scalping depends on individual preferences, including preferred markets, trading platforms, and fee structures.