Live Spreads

Real-time spread comparison across major currency pairs

Broker EURUSD ↑GBPUSD USDJPY AUDUSD USDCAD
1IC Markets
0.10.20.20.20.3
2Pepperstone
0.10.20.20.30.4
3IG
0.60.90.70.81.0
4Saxo Bank
0.81.00.81.01.2
5XM
1.01.21.11.31.4
6eToro
1.02.01.01.51.5
7OANDA
1.11.31.21.41.5
8FXTM
1.31.51.41.61.7
Excellent (≤0.5 pips)
Good (0.6-1.0 pips)
Higher (>1.0 pips)

Types of Spreads

Raw Spread

Direct market spreads with commission per lot

Pros:

  • Tightest spreads
  • Transparent pricing
  • Best for scalping

Cons:

  • Commission fees
  • Can widen during volatility

Standard

Spread includes broker markup, no commission

Pros:

  • No commission
  • Predictable costs
  • Simple pricing

Cons:

  • Wider spreads
  • Higher overall cost for frequent traders

Fixed

Spread remains constant regardless of market conditions

Pros:

  • Predictable costs
  • Good for news trading
  • Budget-friendly

Cons:

  • Usually wider
  • May have restrictions
  • Requotes possible

Understanding Forex Spreads

What is a Spread?

The spread is the difference between the bid (sell) price and the ask (buy) price of a currency pair. It represents the cost of trading and is typically measured in pips.

Factors Affecting Spreads

  • • Market liquidity (major pairs = tighter spreads)
  • • Time of day (London/NY overlap = best)
  • • Economic news releases (spreads widen)
  • • Broker type (ECN vs Market Maker)

💡 Pro Tip

For frequent traders, raw spread accounts with commission often work out cheaper than standard accounts. Calculate your total cost per round turn (spread × 2 + commission) to compare brokers accurately.