Trading Contracts of Difference, including Forex, is well-regulated in Austria by both external and internal regulatory bodies The internal regulator is the Financial Market Authority (FMA) of Austria. As a member state of the European Union since 1999, Austria follows the regulations established for EU countries, ensuring safety for Austrian traders. External regulators, including ESMA (European Securities and Markets Authority) and MiFID II (Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II), further improve the safety levels.
It’s important to note that under ESMA’s regulations, Forex and CFD brokers are limited in their offerings of leverage. Leverage is often referred to as a double-edged sword as it can serve traders by increasing potential returns, while at the same time, potential for losses increase.
For retail traders, the maximum available leverage when trading CFDs is as follows:
- 30:1 for major currencies such as Euro vs US Dollar, US Dollar vs Japanese Yen, etc.
- 20:1 is available for trading minor Forex pairs, gold, and major stock indexes
- 10:1 for most commodities (other than gold)
- 2:1 is available for cryptocurrencies as CFDs
For professional traders, the leverage limits are much higher. It is believed that seasoned traders can approach high leverage with caution.
- 500:1 leverage is available for trading currency pairs, some most popular US indices, and commodities
- 100:1 leverage is available for trading indices and government/corporate bonds
- 25:1 leverage is for trading exotic currency pairs
- And up to 20:1 leverage is available for trading crypto CFDs
A quick comparison of the best Forex brokers in Austria
Picking the right broker that aligns with your trading style is a time-consuming and energy-intensive process. Traders carefully compare regulations, safety features, and trading conditions of various brokers to identify the most suitable company. The first step is to create a list of preferences, encompassing crucial aspects such as favorite trading platforms, desired markets, and fees. Active traders generally go for brokers with low spreads, while less active traders, such as position traders, swing traders, and beginners, prioritize brokers with the lowest commissions. Many brokers offer various account types to attract both intraday and swing traders. We’ve picked the very best brokers that accept traders from Austria to make the selection process easier for you.
Tickmill
Read the review
Visit broker 7.6 6.29 CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Tickmill UK Ltd. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs or our other products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
|
FP Markets
Read the review
Visit broker 6.88 4.98 Trade Responsibly: Derivative products are highly leveraged, carry a high level of risk and are not suitable for all investors. Features of our products including fees and charges are outlined in the relevant legal documents available on our website. The legal documents should be considered before entering into transactions with us.
|
XM
Read the review
Visit broker 8.4 8.34 CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 73.03% 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.
|
IG
Read the review
Visit broker 8.2 8.2 CFDs are complex instruments. 75% of retail client accounts lose money when trading CFDs, with this investment provider. You can lose your money rapidly due to leverage. Please ensure you understand how this product works and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing money.
|
Pepperstone
Read the review
Visit broker 8.2 7.75 Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74.7% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
| |
| Risk Notice | Risk Warning: Trading financial products on margin carries a high degree of risk and is not suitable for all investors. Losses can exceed the initial investment. Please ensure you fully understand the risks and take appropriate care to manage your risk. | Trade Responsibly: Derivative products are highly leveraged, carry a high level of risk, and are not suitable for all investors. Features of our products including fees and charges are outlined in the relevant legal documents available on our website. The legal documents should be considered before entering into transactions with us. | Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 72.89% 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. | CFDs are complex instruments. 75% of retail client accounts lose money when trading CFDs, with this investment provider. You can lose your money rapidly due to leverage. Please ensure you understand how this product works and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing money. | CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 85.12% 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. |
Operates in Austria under | The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission | The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) License (number 371/18). And European branch is operated by First Prudential Markets Ltd | The Financial Services Commission (FSC) (license number 000261/397); Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) (license number 120/10) | IG Europe GmbH(IGE) is authorized and regulated by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and Deutsche Bundesbank. | Pepperstone EU Limited registered in Cyprus under Company Number ΗΕ 398429 and is authorized and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (License Number 388/20). |
| Standard account spreads on EUR/USD pairs start from | From 1.6 pips | From 1 pips | From 1 pips | From 0.6 pips | From 1 pips |
| Minimum initial deposit required to open a live trading account | 100 USD | 50 account base currency | 5 USD | 0 USD | 0 USD |
| Account base currency in Euro is available | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop trading platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | MetaTrader 4, L2 Dealer | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView |
| Offered asset classes | Forex, CFDs on Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies | Forex, Commodities, Shares, Metals, Cryptocurrencies, Indices, Bonds | Forex, Cryptocurrencies, Stock CFDs, Commodities, Equity Indices, Metals, Energies, Shares | Forex. Share CFDs, Indices, Commodities, Options, Futures, Spots, Cryptocurrencies | Forex, Cryptocurrencies, shares, ETFs, Indices, Commodities, Currency Indices |
Tickmill
Established in 2014, Tickmill is a group of well-regulated brokers operating globally. The broker offers access to various asset classes such as currency pairs, indices, commodities, bonds and cryptocurrencies via most popular MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5 trading platforms.
The Austrian traders are registering with Tickmill Europe Ltd. The company is authorized and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). Furthermore, Tickmill follows the regulations and guidelines set by MiFID and ESMA in Austria.
There are 3 account types to choose from. The Pro and VIP accounts offer the lowest spreads, starting from zero, which makes these account types ideal for active traders, such as intraday traders, scalpers, high frequency traders, arbitrage traders, and algorithmic traders. The Classic account offers zero commissions, which makes the account perfect for swing and position traders. You can learn more about each account from the comparison table below.
Visit broker
7.6
6.29
| Pro Account | Classic Account | VIP Account | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | 100 account currency | 100 account currency | Not required |
| Minimum balance | Not required | Not required | 50,000 account currency |
| Available Base Currency available in Euro | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Available Base Currency available in US Dollar | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Spreads From | 0.0 pips | 1.6 pips | 0.0 pips |
| Min Lots | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Commissions | 2 per side per 100,000 traded | Zero Commissions | 1 per side per 100,000 traded |
| Swap-free Islamic Account Option | Available | Available | Available |
FP Markets
Founded in 2005, FP Markets offers exceptional services in financial trading. The broker provides access to various asset classes. FP Markets has received more than 40 industry awards in the industry.
FP Markets is a group of well-regulated brokers licensed in multiple jurisdictions. The broker’s European branch accepts traders from Austria, and is authorized and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) with the license number 371/18. The EU branch is operated by the First Prudential Markets Ltd.
For retail traders, Standard, and Raw trading accounts are available. Both account types support MetaTrader 4 (MT4), and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) trading platforms. And account base currencies are Euro, US Dollar, and British Pound Sterling.
- Standard account: This account is for traders that place orders less frequently, such as position traders, beginners, and swing traders. The account holders enjoy zero commissions, while trading fees are integrated in spreads. Spreads on EUR/USD start from as low as 1 pip.
- Raw account: As the name suggests, the account type offers raw trading spreads, starting from 0 pips. The fees are charged as commissions. This fee structure makes the raw account type ideal for active traders such as scalpers, day traders, news traders, high frequency traders etc. There’s 3 USD commission per traded lot per side on this account.
Visit broker
6.88
4.98
XM
Established in 2009, XM quickly gained popularity and a good reputation among Forex traders. Today, the broker not only offers access to currency pairs, but also offers shares, stocks as CFDs, commodities, cryptos, and indices. XM has a large pool of loyal customer base. There are more than 5 million active traders registered from over 1990 countries.
XM is licensed globally. In Europe, including in Austria, the broker is operated by Trading Point of Financial Instruments Limited, which is licensed by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) with the license number 120/10. CySEC is a highly reputable financial body, and therefore, traders in Austria can trust XM.
Each trader has a unique approach to trading and distinctive requirements. To meet the needs of various trader types, XM offers 3 account types for Forex and CFD trading.
The micro account is best for testing trading strategies live with the lowest possible capital at risk. The Standard account is created for traders that open trading orders less frequently, such as position traders, swing traders, and novice traders. As the name suggests, XM Zero account type offers spreads from zero, however, trading fees are charged as commissions instead. The Zero account is perfect for active traders due to the fee structure. Let’s take a closer look at each account type in our comparison table.
Visit broker
8.4
8.34
| XM Ultra Low Micro Account | XM Ultra Low Standard Account | XM Zero Account | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Currency Options | EUR, USD, GBP | EUR, USD, GBP | USD, EUR, JPY |
| Contract Size | 1 Lot = 1,000 | 1 Lot = 100,000 | 1 Lot = 100,000 |
| Spread on all majors | As Low as 0.6 Pips | As Low as 0.6 Pips | As Low as 0 Pips |
| Commission | No | No | Yes |
| Maximum open/pending orders per client | 300 Positions | 300 Positions | 200 Positions |
| Minimum trade volume | 0.1 Lots | 0.01 Lots | 0.01 Lots |
| Lot restriction per ticket | 100 Lots | 50 Lots | 50 Lots |
| Islamic Account | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Minimum Deposit | 5 USD | 5 USD | 5 USD |
IG
IG was founded in 1974 as a bank and later started offering financial trading services to its clients. The broker offers Forex. Share CFDs, Indices, Commodities, Options, Futures, Spots, and Cryptocurrencies for trading. Available trading platforms are MetaTrader 4, and L2 Dealer.
IG is an international broker regulated in various countries. The European branch of IG accepts traders from Austria. IG Europe GmbH(IGE) is authorized and regulated by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and Deutsche Bundesbank.
IG offers 3 account types. “Vanilla Options” and “Barriers” accounts are specially designed for trading options. For trading currency pairs and CFDs, “CFDs” account is available.
There are more than 17,000 CFDs available for trading. Negative balance protection is provided, and spreads on EUR/USD start from as low as 0.6 pips. Spreads on metals, energies and soft commodities start from 0.3 pips.
It should be mentioned that there's an inactivity fee of 18 USD per month after 24 months of inactivity with IG. To avoid the fee, traders can keep trading and remain active or withdraw funds from their trading accounts once they decide to stop trading.
Visit broker
8.2
8.2
Pepperstone
Founded in 2010, Pepperstone has gained popularity quickly and today serves over 300 thousand traders worldwide. The broker offers a wide variety of professional trading platforms, such as cTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and TradingView. These platforms are available for desktop, mobile, and web applications.
Pepperstone is well-regulated in various countries. In Europe, including in Austria, the broker operates as a BaFIN regulated entity (with registration number 151148). BaFIN is a German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority. The regulator is top-tier, which means that Austrian traders are safe with Pepperstone.
The company offers two account types for trading Forex and CFDs. The Razor account types offer market spreads starting from zero on Euro vs US Dollar. Instead, trading fees are charged as commissions. The fee structure makes this account ideal for active traders, such as day traders, scalpers, high frequency traders, arbitrage traders, news traders, and algorithmic traders.
The Standard account offers zero commissions. Trading fees are integrated in spreads and start from 1 pips on EUR/USD. The Standard accounts are better suited for less active traders, namely position traders, swing traders, and novice traders.
Visit broker
8.2
7.75
| Razor | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Day trading, news trading, scalping, high frequency trading, algorithmic trading, arbitrage trading | Starters, swing traders, position traders |
| Trading platform | cTrader, TradingView/MetaTrader 4&5 | cTrader/MetaTrader 4&5 |
| Commission (Forex only) | 2.60 EUR (per lot, per side) | No commission |
| Spreads | Raw | Variable (in general, spreads on EUR/USD is 1 pip) |
| Max leverage for retail customers | 30:1 | 30:1 |
| Max leverage for professional traders | 500:1 | 500:1 |
| Account currency | EUR, CHF | EUR, CHF |
| Number of available products | Over 1200 | Over 1200 |
| Stop Out Level (Retail) | 50% | 50% |
| Stop Out Level (Professional) | 20% | 20% |
Best choice of the broker in Austria per category
When choosing a broker, it’s important to take into account various factors. In this section, we will analyze brokers by tradable instruments they offer. We’ll compare the number of instruments per asset class and their respective trading fees.
Best Broker in Austria for Forex Trading
We chose standard account trading fees for this section, which ensures a fair comparison. Brokers typically offer accounts with either spread markups or commissions.
| Tickmill | FP Markets | XM | IG | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Forex pairs | 62 | 63 | 57 | 101 | 62 |
| Standard account trading fees of EUR/USD | From 1.6 pips | From 1 pips | From 1 pips | From 0.6 pips | From 1 pips |
IG offers the largest selection of currency pairs, however, for trading major currencies, all the brokers in the list have great offerings.
Best Broker in Austria for Share CFD Trading
Stocks as CFDs (Contracts for Difference) are a type of instrument that enable traders to use leverage, go long or short, and enjoy high liquidity. The major difference between a company stock and stock as CFDs is that CFDs are speculative instruments, while real/physical shares are best for investing long term. Some of the brokers in our list also offer account types dedicated to physical stock investing, however, we focus on CFDs in this section.
| Tickmill | FP Markets | XM | IG | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Stock CFDs | 494 | 10,000+ | 1261 | 17000 | 1000+ |
| Commissions | From 0 | From 0.08% | No commissions | From 0.08% | From 0.7% |
IG and FP Markets offer the largest selection of company stocks. However, if you are interested in trading mostly popular company shares, you can also consider XM and Pepperstone.
Best Broker in Austria for Crypto CFD (Contracts for Difference) Trading
When trading cryptos as CFDs, traders can use leverage, go long or short, and get tight spreads. In addition, there’s no need for crypto wallets as profits are added to the trader's account balance automatically. The maximum available leverage for retail Austrian traders for trading crypto CFDs is 2:1.
| Tickmill | FP Markets | XM | IG | Pepperstone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Crypto CFDs | 9 | 11 | 31 | 13 | 23 |
| Commissions | From 0.2 pips | From 0.002 | No commissions | From 0.17 | From 0 spreads |
XM offers the widest selection of cryptos as CFDs to its clients. Trading fees are also low. Available cryptos are paired with major currencies such as USD, and EUR. Keep in mind that these instruments are for short and medium term speculations. If you are looking for ways to invest in crypto long term, you should consider exchanges that offer access to physical crypto coins.
