Eightcap vs FXCM

Headline spreads only tell part of the story. Depending on your account type and holding periods, commissions, overnight financing, currency conversion and inactivity fees can shift the comparison significantly. Pull the current fee schedule and product disclosure from each broker, then price out the instruments you actually trade. Make sure any spread figure you compare is tied to a named account type and instrument, since averages and minimums can be quoted in ways that are hard to compare across firms.

Key checks: Compare identical instruments on equivalent account types, including commissions.; Include swap rates if you hold positions overnight or over weekends.; Check withdrawal, conversion and inactivity fees in the current schedules.; Treat the brokers' own published pricing as the primary source, not third-party summaries..

Both broker brands may operate through multiple legal entities, and your regulatory protections come from the specific entity that opens your account. Leverage limits, client money handling and dispute routes all depend on that entity's jurisdiction. Identify the entity named in the account agreement you would sign, then confirm its authorisation on the relevant regulator's public register yourself. Read the client agreement for fund segregation, negative balance terms and the complaints process before depositing anything.

Key checks: Identify the exact legal entity that would hold your account with each broker.; Verify that entity's status directly on the regulator's official register.; Review client money and negative balance provisions in the legal documents.; Remember that leverage caps and available products differ by jurisdiction..

Platform lineups and instrument ranges are updated regularly, so confirm them at the time you decide rather than relying on dated write-ups. List the markets, order types and charting features your approach requires, then check both brokers' current pages against it. If demo access is offered, use it to test execution flow and mobile usability. Finally, confirm minimum deposits, available base currencies and funding methods for your country before committing money.

Key checks: Verify that your required instruments are currently offered by both brokers.; Confirm which platforms are supported for your region and account type.; Check minimum deposits, base currencies and funding options for your country.; Trial the workflow on a demo account where one is available..