Compare top 6 best forex brokers in Germany for 2023

For this guide, our experts reviewed 57+ of the best forex trading apps in Germany to trade forex for beginners.
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Updated: Jul 13, 2023
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Our expert panel tested all the best forex brokers in Germany and rated their features according to 8 key criteria, including regulatory status, the range of currency pairs on offer, and overall trading experience.

The panel set out to answer the question: what’s the best forex trading app in Germany for German users? 

Read our verdict for Germany below to compare the best forex trading platforms.

What is the best forex broker in Germany?

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Our experts rank Plus500 as the best forex broker in Germany.

The list below shows the three best German forex brokers. These are the top forex trading apps in Germany for their security, service, and support.

1
Min. Deposit
$ 100
Best offer
User Score
9.8
Trade +2000 CFDs on Shares, Forex, Indices, Crypto, Options, Commodities & more
Unlimited risk-free Demo Account
0 commissions & attractive spreads
Start Trading
Payment Methods:
American Express, Apple Pay, Bank Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, Discover, Google Pay, Mastercard, PayPal, SEPA, Trustly, Visa, , skrill
Full Regulations:
ASIC, FCA, FSA, MAS, cysec-250-14-regulator, isa-regulator

86% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

2
Min. Deposit
$ 50
Best offer
User Score
10
Join the Social Trading revolution. Connect with other traders, discuss trading strategies, and use our patented CopyTrader
eToro is the world’s leading social trading platform, offering a wide array of tools to invest in the capital markets
Largest number of currency pairs to trade
Start Trading
Payment Methods:
American Express, Apple Pay, Bank Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, Discover, Google Pay, Ideal, Klarna, Maestro Master, Mastercard, POLi, PayPal, Przelewy24, Rapid Transfer, SEPA, Sofort, Trustly, Visa, Visa Electron, Wire Transfer, neteller, , , , , , , skrill
Full Regulations:
ASIC, CySEC, FCA

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

3
Min. Deposit
$ 100
Best offer
User Score
9.7
Powerful Forex trading platforms, both automated and manual
Access to over 50+ currency pairs including major, minor and exotic pairs
Enjoy competitive spreads, starting at only 0.8 pips per trade
Start Trading
Payment Methods:
American Express, Bank Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, Discover, Mastercard, MoneyBookers, PayPal, Rapid Transfer, SEPA, Visa, WebMoney, Wire Transfer, neteller, , skrill
Full Regulations:
ASIC, FSA, FSCA, MiFID
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 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.

Top 6 online forex brokers Germany, reviewed

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1. Plus500. Best for international stock trading*

2000

No. assets

$100

Minimum deposit

Forex

Platform type

Pros & Cons

Can get a free demo account A great mobile platform Well regulated in multiple jurisdictions Wide variety of securities and assets to trade in addition to cryptocurrency Several good risk management tools
No support on trading information and education Website isn’t brilliantly designed to help users find answers to their questions No MetaTrader trading platform compatibility

Overview

We love Plus500 because it is one of the industry’s most transparent and reliable brokers. Its fees are clear and you’ll know exactly what you will be paying before you make a trade. Its technology driven platform gives access to CFDs on over 60 forex pairs with leverage up to 30:1. 

Plus500 has something for all types of forex trader, no matter what level of experience. Its zero commission and tight spreads make it a top choice for day traders and its trading academy is packed with educational content, perfect for beginners just starting. 

For accurate instrument availability, visit plus500.com.

The fees: There are no commission fees on any trades with Plus500 and it makes it money through the Bid/Ask spread. Spread starts from 0.01% and varies depending on the instrument. Additional fees include overnight funding which is dependent on trade size and guaranteed stop orders, which add a minimum of 10% to the spread. There is an inactivity charge of £10 per month for accounts not logged in for three months. 

*Based on a comparison of 60+ leading brokers and trading platforms.

86% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

2. eToro. Best for beginners, copy-trading & demo-account

50

No. assets

$50

Minimum deposit

Forex

Platform type

Pros & Cons

Great for beginners, simple to set up and get started Zero commission stock trading Popular ‘CopyTrader’ function lets you follow top traders Excellent customer service, with live chat support provided Over 2,000 CFDs available to trade
Comparatively high fees for withdrawals and account inactivity Does not integrate with the MetaTrader platform High spreads on some assets

Overview

We love eToro because it’s an easy place to trade the currency markets. Forex can be intimidating, but eToro strips back the complexity to give you a platform where you can trade 50+ currencies at competitive prices and with up to 30x leverage.

As well as being a broker that offers lots of investor protection, eToro offers a very social trading experience. You can easily see how all the major and minor forex pairs are performing every day, track how investors feel about every one of those currencies, and copy other people’s trade suggestions from your desktop or the eToro app.

The fees: eToro charges a fee on currency CFD trades through the spread. Spreads are variable depending on the currency and start from 1 pip for EUR/USD trades, 1.5 pips for EUR/GBP, and 2 pips for GBP/USD. Overnight and weekend fees apply.

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

3. AvaTrade. Best regulated broker for secure trading

2000

No. assets

$100

Minimum deposit

Forex

Platform type

Pros & Cons

Trade 1000+ CFDs with competitive spreads Regulated by Tier 1 financial bodies across the world Consistently highly rated trading platform on web and mobile Offers social trading through its proprietary AvaSocial platform
Spreads are competitive without being industry-leading Some assets are only available to trade through the MetaTrader software

Overview

We love AvaTrade because it offers powerful trading software to anyone who wants to trade professionally. AvaTrade is a CFD broker where you can trade 55 forex pairs with leverage up to 30:1 for retail clients and 400:1 for professional accounts. 

AvaTrade integrates with trading software like MetaTrader 4 and 5 and boasts its own bespoke and award-winning mobile app software, AvaTradeGo. AvaTrade has been around since 2006 and is extensively regulated in Europe, Australia, Japan, British Virgin Islands, UAE, and South Africa.

The fees: There is no commission on any forex trading. AvaTrade makes money from the Bid/Ask spread instead. Forex spreads start from 0.7 pips and positions left overnight are charged a swap fee that varies depending on size. An inactivity fee of £50 per month is applicable if you don’t log in to your account for three consecutive months.

4. Pepperstone. Best low spread & no commission broker

pepperstone logo

60

No. assets

$200

Minimum deposit

Forex

Platform type

Pros & Cons

Zero commission on trades Hedging, scalping, and crypto CFD trading available Lots of deposit and withdrawal options, including PayPal
No guaranteed negative balance protection AUD$200 minimum deposit to begin trading No option to purchase stocks or bonds directly, only CFDs and spread betting available

Overview

We love Pepperstone because it’s a CFD broker with top tier regulatory protection. It’s regulated by the FCA in the UK and ASIC in Australia, two of the most respected financial bodies. You can safely trade 60+ currency pairs, including all the majors and minors and a significant number of exotics, on Pepperstone.

Pepperstone’s high level of security makes it a good option for beginners, as does the fact it provides webinars to help you learn from the experts. For more experienced traders, you can access up to 30:1 leverage for major currency pairs – 20:1 for minor pairs – and integrate your trading account with four leading software platforms, including MetaTrader 4 and 5.

The fees: Forex trades are commission free, as Pepperstone makes money from the Bid/Ask spread. Average spreads start from 0.77 but may be significantly higher for exotic pairs. Swap fees apply to any position held open overnight.

5. FP Markets. Best for low spread & 0-pip trading

fp markets logo

60

No. assets

$100

Minimum deposit

Forex

Platform type

Pros & Cons

Trade 10,000+ CFDs across multiple asset classes Highly regulated and reliable platform Copy and social trading features
Not available in the US, Japan & New Zealand IRESS platform is expensive

Overview

We love FP Markets because it uses cutting-edge technology to ensure all forex trades are executed at lightning fast speed. It’s an award-winning broker and offers over 60 currency markets with spreads starting from zero pips and leverage up to 500:1. 

FP Markets has zero restrictions and allows all trading styles, including scalping and running expert advisors. It integrates with the popular MetaTrader 4 platform and has its own technology-driven charting package. For beginners, FP Markets offers a free copy trading service where you can mirror profitable users’ trades directly in your own account. 

The fees:  FP Markets has two account types with different fees for forex trades. Its standard account has zero commission but has spreads starting from 0.9 pips. Its Raw account gives access to its ECN trading platform and charges $3 per side (per lot) for every forex trade. 

6. Capitality. Best for trading like a pro

capitality logo

No. assets

Minimum deposit

Forex

Platform type

Pros & Cons

Trade 2000+ CFDs in six markets Access institutional quality web trading platform Comprehensive market knowledge and education section
Unregulated offshore broker registered in St. Vincent and the Grenadines Relatively high initial deposit required

Overview

We love Capitality because it gives regular investors the means to trade with pro data and tools. Capitality offers 2100+ financial instruments, including 80 currency pairs. 

The Capitality web trading terminal gives you access to live market data, real time quotes, and super-fast trade execution, all without needing to download anything. There’s also a free economic calendar that lets you know when the big financial events happen so you can plan your trades accordingly.

The fees: Capitality charges its fees through the spread. Spreads start from 0.1 pips for major forex pairs but can be significantly higher for minor and exotic pairs.

How we chose the best Germany forex brokers

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Our expert reviews panel is made up of currency traders with years of experience in the forex markets. It includes our Data Analyst, Dan Ashmore, Senior Editor of News, Jayson Derrick, and long-time forex trader, Prash Raval. The panel includes an independent fact checker, Richard Stutely.

Here are the 8 key criteria which the panel used to rate each platform.

  • Regulation with a trusted financial institution. We only recommend forex brokers for beginners that are regulated in Germany and offer top-tier protection to their clients.
  • Low minimum deposit requirements. An accessible forex trading platform in Germany, with a low minimum deposit, scored higher in our rankings.
  • Mobile app availability. Our experts gave preference to the forex brokers in Germany with the best forex trading apps.
  • Number of currency pairs available to trade. We expect Germany forex brokers to offer a comprehensive service where you can trade major, minor, and exotic currency pairs.
  • Amount of leverage on offer. You need leverage to trade forex, so we looked for platforms that offered lots of leverage, within the limitations set by local German regulators.
  • Tight spreads. We sought the best value for the average user. Small spreads mean a lower cost of trading.
  • Lowest commissions and other fees. Our experts don’t like hidden fees and unexpected costs, so brokers with a clear fee structure performed well.
  • Compatibility with trading software. Any German forex broker that offers integration with popular trading software like MetaTrader 4, MT5, or cTrader received a high rating.

More about the best forex trading platforms in Germany

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Which currency pairs can I trade in Germany?

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You can trade major, minor, and exotic pairs when you sign up for the best forex trading platform in Germany. The majors and minors refer to the largest and most popular currencies paired with each other, while the ‘exotics’ are everything else.

  • Major pairs. The major pairs are made up of the US Dollar paired with the other most highly traded currencies. Major pairs include: USD/EUR, USD/GBP, USD/JPY, USD/CHF, USD/AUD, USD/NZD, and USD/CAD.
  • Minor pairs. The minor pairs include at least one of the Euro, British Pound, or Japanese Yen paired with other large currencies, but do not include the US Dollar. 
  • Exotic pairs. Exotic pairs include a major currency ‘crossed’ with a developing currency. There are many exotic pairs but they include things like GBP/HUF, EUR/MXN, and JPY/ZAR.

What forex markets are available in Germany?

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There are two markets that are available with all top forex brokers in Germany. One is the ‘spot’ market, another is the futures market, where you use futures contracts to predict future price movements. Here is some more detail on both options.

  • Spot forex. Trading the spot market means to buy and sell currencies instantaneously at the live market rate. This is the most common way to trade forex in Germany for most people.
  • Forex futures. Futures contracts are an agreement to buy or sell a currency at a fixed price at a set date in the future. Futures require more understanding of the economic factors that impact prices over time. For that reason, they’re generally only used by people with experience of currency trading.

Is MT4 available in Germany?

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Yes, MetaTrader 4 is legal in Germany. When you use MetaTrader software, you have to sign into a brokerage account and any live trade you place goes through a forex trading platform. As long as you can connect to a legal German forex broker, you can use MT4 or MT5. 

What’s the minimum forex trade size in Germany?

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The industry standard is 0.01 ‘lots’, which is equivalent to 1,000 units of the currency you want to trade. This is known as a ‘micro lot’. A ‘lot’ equals 100,000 units of the currency you want to trade.

How to trade forex in Germany

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1. Sign up to a German forex trading platform

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Use the list of top-ranked brokers at the top of the page to help you.

2. Create an account and deposit money

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Sign up by providing your personal details and a form of photo ID. Transfer funds to the account through a bank transfer, credit or debit card payment, or another payment method, like PayPal.

3. Search for a currency pair and place your trade

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Find the pair by typing the currency code – such as USD for the US Dollar – and choosing it from the list of results. Enter the details and click ‘buy’ to make the trade.

FAQs

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Sources & references
Risk disclaimer
James Knight
Editor of Education
James is a lead content editor for Invezz. He's an avid trader and golfer, who spends an inordinate amount of time watching Leicester City and the... read more.