20 brokers compared for trading XAUUSD: regulation, real gold costs, platforms and deposits. Rated with the same published method, pros and cons included.
We may earn a commission if you open an account through links on this page. It never changes a score: every broker is rated with the method below.
Each broker is scored out of 5 with the same weights: regulation & safety 30%, gold trading costs 25%, platforms & execution 15%, deposits & withdrawals 10%, account features 10% and reputation 10%. Figures come from each broker's own site and independent measurements, checked on the date shown. Spreads and leverage change, so always confirm on the broker's site.
| # | Broker | Rating | Regulation | Min deposit | Platforms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IC Markets RBI list | 4.5 | ASIC, CySEC + offshore | $200 | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView | Visit ↗ |
| 2 | Pepperstone RBI list | 4.5 | ASIC, FCA, CySEC + offshore | $0 | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView | Visit ↗ |
| 3 | FP Markets RBI list | 4.4 | ASIC, CySEC + offshore | $100 | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView | Visit ↗ |
| 4 | Tickmill RBI list | 4.3 | FCA, CySEC + offshore | $100 | MT4, MT5 | Visit ↗ |
| 5 | IG RBI list | 4.3 | FCA, ASIC, BaFin / EU MiFID + offshore | $0 | MT4, MT5, TradingView | Visit ↗ |
| 6 | Exness RBI list | 4.2 | FCA, CySEC + offshore | $10 | MT4, MT5 | Visit ↗ |
| 7 | Axi | 4.2 | ASIC, FCA, CySEC + offshore | $0 | MT4, MT5 | Visit ↗ |
| 8 | XM RBI list | 4.1 | CySEC + offshore | $5 | MT4, MT5 | Visit ↗ |
| 9 | CMC Markets | 4.1 | FCA, ASIC, BaFin + offshore | $0 | MT4, TradingView | Visit ↗ |
| 10 | Eightcap | 4.1 | ASIC, FCA, CySEC + offshore | $100 | MT4, MT5, TradingView | Visit ↗ |
| 11 | Vantage RBI list | 4.0 | ASIC, FCA + offshore | $50 | MT4, MT5, TradingView | Visit ↗ |
| 12 | OANDA | 4.0 | CFTC/NFA, FCA, ASIC + offshore | $0 | MT4 | Visit ↗ |
| 13 | Saxo | 4.0 | Danish FSA, FCA, ASIC | $0 | SaxoTraderGO, SaxoTraderPRO | Visit ↗ |
| 14 | ThinkMarkets RBI list | 4.0 | FCA, ASIC, CySEC + offshore | $0 | MT4, MT5, TradingView | Visit ↗ |
| 15 | Fusion Markets RBI list | 4.0 | ASIC + offshore | $0 | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView | Visit ↗ |
| 16 | FxPro | 4.0 | FCA, CySEC + offshore | $100 | MT4, MT5, cTrader | Visit ↗ |
| 17 | Admirals RBI list | 3.9 | FCA, CySEC + offshore | $100 | MT4, MT5 | Visit ↗ |
| 18 | FXTM RBI list | 3.8 | FCA + offshore | $200 | MT4, MT5 | Visit ↗ |
| 19 | AvaTrade RBI list | 3.8 | Central Bank of Ireland, ASIC, CIRO + offshore | $100 | MT4, MT5 | Visit ↗ |
| 20 | HFM RBI list | 3.8 | FCA, CySEC + offshore | $0 | MT4, MT5 | Visit ↗ |
IC (formerly IC Markets) is an Australian-founded CFD broker known for raw-spread pricing and a wide platform choice. Its gold costs are among the lowest measured, but most international clients are served through offshore entities.
Pepperstone is an Australian CFD broker with several Tier-1 licences and a broad platform line-up. Its gold spreads benchmark below average, though offshore clients are served from the Bahamas.
FP Markets is a long-running Australian broker offering low-cost raw gold pricing across MetaTrader, cTrader and TradingView. International clients, including Indian residents, are onboarded through its Seychelles entity.
Tickmill is a UK-linked broker offering low raw gold spreads on MetaTrader with a clear commission structure. Clients outside the UK and EU are generally served from its Seychelles entity.
IG is a long-established, publicly listed UK broker with Tier-1 regulation in many jurisdictions. Gold is spread-only at around $0.30, which is average rather than cheap.
Exness is a high-volume offshore-focused CFD broker with very low measured gold spreads and flexible leverage. Retail clients are not covered by a Tier-1 regulator or a compensation scheme.
Axi is an Australian broker with ASIC, FCA and CySEC licences that offers low raw-spread gold pricing on MT4 and MT5. It is not on the RBI Alert List, though international clients are typically served by an offshore entity.
XM is a Cyprus-based CFD broker with a very low minimum deposit and several account types. Gold is cheap on its Zero account but relatively expensive on Standard.
CMC Markets is a London-listed broker founded in 1989 with five Tier-1 regulators and a well-regarded proprietary platform. Its gold spreads are mid-range and there is no raw account for gold.
Eightcap is an Australian broker with ASIC, FCA and CySEC licences that offers commission-free gold with low measured spreads and strong TradingView support. Indian clients are served by its Bahamas entity, and it is not on the RBI Alert List.
Vantage is an Australian-origin CFD broker offering MT4, MT5 and TradingView with a low minimum deposit. Its gold costs are moderate and most international clients are served from Vanuatu.
OANDA is a long-running, heavily regulated broker with no minimum deposit and flexible trade sizing. Its gold spreads are above average and it does not accept Indian residents.
Saxo is a Danish bank and multi-asset broker with top-tier regulation and very broad gold product coverage. Its gold spreads are above average and it does not onboard Indian residents.
ThinkMarkets is a UK/Australian broker with FCA, ASIC and CySEC licences that offers gold on MT4, MT5, TradingView and its own ThinkTrader platform. It is not available to Indian residents and is named on the RBI Alert List.
Fusion Markets is an Australian low-cost broker with some of the tightest gold spreads measured and a low $4.50 round-turn commission. International clients, including Indian residents, are served by its Vanuatu entity, and the brand is on the RBI Alert List.
FxPro is a long-running FCA and CySEC-regulated broker with a strong choice of platforms including cTrader. Its standard gold spreads are mid-range, and Indian clients are served by an offshore entity.
Admirals is an Estonian broker founded in 2001 with FCA and CySEC licences that offers gold on MT4 and MT5 via spread-only and commission-based accounts. It does not accept Indian residents and is named on the RBI Alert List.
FXTM is an Exinity-owned CFD broker serving mainly emerging-market clients through offshore and Tier-2 entities. Its gold spreads benchmark below average, but its regulatory profile is weaker than Tier-1-led rivals.
AvaTrade is a long-established broker with several Tier-1 licences that offers gold on MT4, MT5 and its own app with commission-free pricing. Its gold spreads are mid-range and it appears on the RBI Alert List.
HFM (formerly HotForex) is a multi-regulated broker offering gold on MT4 and MT5 across several account types, including a raw-spread Zero account. Indian clients are served by its St Vincent entity, and both 'HotForex' and 'HF Markets' appear on the RBI Alert List.
On our scoring, IC Markets ranks first with 4.5 out of 5, followed by Pepperstone and FP Markets. The best choice depends on where you live, which entity will hold your account and whether you trade on MetaTrader, cTrader or TradingView.
We look at the XAUUSD spread on the standard account, and the raw spread plus commission on raw or ECN accounts, using each broker's published figures and independent measurements. Costs change with market conditions, so always check the broker's live pricing.
Pepperstone, IG, Exness publish a minimum deposit of $50 or less. A low minimum deposit does not make a broker cheaper to trade; compare spreads and commissions too.
Indian residents may trade forex only through authorised entities on recognised Indian exchanges, in permitted currency pairs. Sending money abroad for leveraged forex or CFD trading is not permitted under FEMA, and the RBI Alert List names many overseas brokers. Brokers on this list not named on the RBI Alert List when we checked: Axi, CMC Markets, Eightcap, OANDA, Saxo, FxPro. Not being on the list does not mean a broker is authorised in India.
The Reserve Bank of India publishes an Alert List of entities that are not authorised to deal in forex or run electronic forex trading platforms for Indian residents. We tag every broker that appeared on it when we last checked.
Ratings are Tradedge Pulse's own opinion based on the published method and the information available on the date checked. They are not investment advice. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage.