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Updated on
Jun 29, 2023
Reading time 8 minutes
Oanda is a global forex and CFD broker that cates to both individuals and businesses. This Oanda review explores the service and whether you should sign up.
Oanda ranks as one of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) top retail forex organisations and is one of the top FX brokers in the US in terms of total assets under management and customer funds held.It is widely recognised as one of the most reputable forex brokers in the world. We have tested the Oanda platform to rate and review its key features.
What can I do with Oanda?
Oanda is primarily a forex broker, so you can trade a wide variety of major, minor, and exotic forex pairs.
In addition, Oanda offers CFD trading on stock indices, commodities, and bonds, as well as a handful of top cryptocurrencies
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Regulated forex broker in multiple Tier 1 jurisdictions
70+ forex pairs available to trade
Offers individual and corporate services
Cons:
Limited service to US and UK-based clients
Can I open an account with Oanda?
Yes, residents of Belgium can open an account with Oanda.
No, residents of Belgium cannot open an account with Oanda.
Consider trying our best-rated broker in , .
Find the best broker in
The largest offering is forex, where there are 70+ currency pairs available. There is a limited number of other markets, most notably indices and commodities.
Here is a quick run down of what’s on offer.
Product
Offering
Forex
70
Cryptocurrency
4
CFDs- Indices- Commodities- Metals- Bonds
37191026
See all products >
What leverage trading options are there?
Oanda offers a fairly standard amount of leverage in comparison to other reputable brokers. Leverage is capped at 1:30 in the UK and EU by financial legislation.
The leverage varies by product, so here’s what’s available depending on what you want to trade:
Product (CFDs)
Max. leverage
Margin
Forex
1:30
3%
Cryptocurrency
1:2
50%
CFD
1:20
5%
See all leverage >
What are the spreads?
Oanda makes money from trading spreads as opposed to commissions. These are variable and start out at 0.2 pips on certain major forex pairs and go up from there.
Product
Average spread
Fixed or variable?
Forex
0.2 pips
Variable
Cryptocurrency
6 pips
Variable
CFD
0.8 pips
Variable
See all spreads >
Fees, limits, and payment options on Oanda
What are the deposit and withdrawal fees, limits, and speeds?
Oanda gives you several options to both fund and withdraw from your account.
The options on offer are standard and do not exceed those offered by other similar brokers.
Payment method
Deposit
Withdraw
Bank Deposit – min/max – fees – speed
Yes $30 / $20,000 Free 1-3 business days
Yes $30 / $20,000 $20 1-3 business days
ACH Deposit – min/max – fees – speed
Yes $30 / $50,000 Free 1-3 business days
No
Credit card – min/max – fees – speed
Yes None/$20,000 (per month) Free Instant
Yes None / Not specified Free / $15 after first withdrawal 2 business days
PayPal – min/max – fees – speed
Yes (depending on country of residence) None / $20,000 Free 3-5 business days
Yes None / $20,000 Free 3-5 business days
See all payment methods >
How much are Oanda’s fees and commissions?
Oanda makes the majority of its revenue from spreads on trading activity, but it also offers core pricing accounts where you only pay a fixed commission per trade.
It also charges various withdrawal fees. Beyond this, Oanda has a $10 inactivity fee if there are no open trades in your account for a period of at least 12 months.
There are also holding charges that apply to leveraged positions left open.
Fee type
Fee amount
Commission
Forex
None
$5
Cryptocurrency
None
Not specified
CFD
None
$5
See all fees >
Oanda trade sizes and limits
Oanda measures open positions not in lots, but in real currency. This means it has very low minimum trade sizes on its non-forex offerings. For example, a position can theoretically be opened with $0.01
Oanda’s exchange is easily accessible via the web whether you are using a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile device.
It also offers a desktop platform for professional traders.
Desktop
Web browser
Android or Apple mobile device
Can I use Oanda in my country?
Oanda lists 106 countries that it currently does business in on its website. Among these are the US, UK, Spain, and Japan.
Is Oanda available in my language?
Oanda’s help portal is available in a few languages, including German, Spanish, French, and Italian.
How easy is it to use Oanda?
Oanda is easy to navigate, which is saying something considering the number of services and features it offers.
Products, platforms, tools, and everything else is neatly organised in dropdown menu tabs and there is even a free demo account that anyone can take for a test drive.
Key features
There is plenty to see and do on Oanda and it starts with some of the features mentioned below:
MarketPulse
This is the place for curated daily market information from Oanda’s team of analysts.
It includes an economic calendar listing all notable upcoming events that could impact markets, the biggest stories on any given day in blog format, and more.
Guaranteed stop-loss orders
Protect your positions from market gapping and slippage with a guaranteed stop-loss order (GSLO).
This is different from a stop-loss order which may be filled at a worse price level than the one you requested. It comes with a fee, but what’s the price of peace of mind?
FX data services
Take advantage of Oanda’s accurate and reliable exchange rate data for a fixed, low price. This service boasts institutional clients ranging from eBay to Nato.
In a word, yes. Oanda employs the latest industry best practices and AI-powered security technologies.
Add round-the-clock monitoring by a security operations center and an internal security team to this equation and it makes for a complete security suite.
Am I and my funds protected?
Your funds are protected because Oanda is regulated in jurisdictions across the world. For example, by being regulated by the FCA in the UK, it entitles you to up to £85,000 protection through the FSCS (Financial Services Compensation Scheme) in the event that the broker goes insolvent.
Is Oanda regulated?
The exchange is regulated in several jurisdictions, including the following:
Registered as a Retail Foreign Exchange Dealer (RFED) with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Regulated in Canada by the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC).
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, No: 542574.
Both regulated and licensed in Singapore by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (CMS Licence No: CMS100122-4).
Regulated in Australia by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) ABN 26 152 088 349, AFSL No. 412981.
Do I have to verify my account with Oanda?
Yes, Oanda requires extensive documentation to prove both your identity and place of residence prior to opening your account.
Extra information
Educational resources
Oanda’s “learn” section is quite extensive. It encompasses getting started with your account, an in-depth explanation of tools and strategies, a capital management crash course, and even occasional webinars and events.
Tools and charting
TradingView’s world-class advanced charting solution is the centerpiece of Oanda’s offering in this respect.
This offers trade-through charts and more than 65 technical indicators, which frankly is overkill but it’s there if you want it. There is also a customisable economic overlay option, which feeds market updates directly to your trading platform.
Customer support
Oanda has a comprehensive help portal with plenty of FAQ’s as well as a 24/7 chat assistant if those are not enough.
There is also phone and email support, but given the chat team’s round-the-clock coverage, you likely won’t need it.
Our verdict
It’s fair to say that Oanda is a world-class forex and CFD exchange. From its easy-to-use trading platforms to a generous educational section, and transparent information, Oanda stands out from the competition in this space.
The exchange’s fees may not be the lowest and the tradable assets on offer may not be the most voluminous, but it makes up for this with outstanding trading tools and customer service.
If you’re looking for a secure FX platform on which to trade or exchange, Oanda deserves some consideration.
Oanda Corporation has been owned by the private equity firm CVC Capital Partners since 2018.
02
How does Oanda make money?
Oanda makes money in three ways:rn
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Spreads on trading activity
rn t
Flat commissions on trading activity
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Platform and data fees
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03
Do I have to pay tax on Oanda profits?
This will depend squarely on the country and region in which you reside. Please check what taxes may apply to you.
04
Does Oanda offer CFD trading?
Yes, Oanda is primarily a forex exchange and secondarily a CFD trading platform. The exchange provides CFD trading on stocks, indices, commodities, metals, and bonds depending on the country in which you reside.
05
How do I sell on Oanda?
Log into your account, select the open trade that you would like to sell, and a pop-up window will open. Simply click “Submit” once you have reviewed your sell order details.
06
How do I delete my Oanda account?
First, withdraw any remaining funds in your account to your bank. Then email [email protected] requesting that your account be closed. You can also do this via the live chat agent on Oanda’s website.
07
How can I short on Oanda?
Select the forex pair or CFD you would like to short, review the details of your short order, and select “Submit” to place your short order.
08
What if I forget my account password?
Click on “Sign in” in the menu bar, next click “Forgot password?” and enter your email address. An email will be sent to your account with details on how to change your password.
09
Can I transfer from my Oanda account into my PayPal account?
Depending on your country of residence, Oanda may or may not offer PayPal support. If you reside in Canada for example, you may use your personal PayPal account to both deposit and withdraw from your Oanda account.
10
Does Oanda offer bonuses?
Several sites seem to suggest that you can earn a cash bonus on Oanda by depositing a certain amount into your account and maintaining a minimum trade volume during your first month.rnrnDespite these claims, we were unable to confirm this and there is nothing on the Oanda website that suggests it offers any bonuses at this time.
Our editors fact-check all content to ensure compliance with our strict editorial policy. The information in this article is supported by the following reliable sources.
Risk disclaimer
Invezz is a place where people can find reliable, unbiased information about finance, trading, and investing – but we do not offer financial advice and users should always carry out their own research. The assets covered on this website, including stocks, cryptocurrencies, and commodities can be highly volatile and new investors often lose money. Success in the financial markets is not guaranteed, and users should never invest more than they can afford to lose. You should consider your own personal circumstances and take the time to explore all your options before making any investment. Read our risk disclaimer >
James is the Editor of Education for Invezz, where he covers topics from across the financial world, from the stock market, to cryptocurrency, to macroeconomic markets. His main focus is on improving financial literacy among casual investors. He has been with Invezz since the start of 2021 and has been...