- Jump to:
- Main Features
- What Are Market Maker Brokers?
- Market Makers vs ECN Brokers
- Pros
- Cons
- Who Should Opt for Market Maker Brokers?
- Tips
- Final Thoughts
The Forex market has diverse traders; hence there are different types of brokers to meet requirements of the traders. Market Maker Forex brokers stand out among these for their unique approach to handling trades. Whether you are a beginner or a veteran trader, knowing how market makers operate can help you decide if this type is the right fit for your strategy or not.
- Plus500 82% of retail investor accounts lose money
- XM Group 72.82% of retail investor accounts lose money
- IG 70% of retail client accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this investment provider.
- easyMarkets 71% of retail investor accounts lose money
- AvaTrade 76% of retail investor accounts lose money
- eToro 51% of retail investor accounts lose money
- CMC Markets 71% of retail investor accounts lose money
- Exness The company's services relate to complex derivative products which are traded outside an exchange. These products come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage and thus are not appropriate for all investors. Under no circumstances shall Exness have any liability to any person or entity for any loss or damage in whole or part caused by, resulting from, or relating to any investing activity.
- Oanda 72% of retail CFD accounts lose money
- Saxo Bank 65% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Below you can find a comparison table of the best forex brokers using the Market maker model. We rank them based on several factors including: regulation, spreads and commissions, Trustpilot rating, trading instruments, trading platforms, deposit and withdrawal methods.
Our team has thoroughly evaluated all brokers listed below using TradingPedia’s exclusive methodology.
Main Features of the Best Market Maker Forex Brokers
- Brand
- Trading platforms
- Minimum deposit
- Regulations
- Trading instruments
- Spreads
- Leverage for Forex CFDs
- Leverage for Crypto CFDs
- Leverage for Indices CFDs
- Deposit methods
- Withdrawal Methods
- Commission per Lot
- Contact details
What Are Market Maker Brokers?
Market maker brokers act as intermediaries that “make the market”. They provide liquidity to the traders. They internalize the trades within their system instead of passing them directly to the interbank market. These brokers act as counterparties. They become sellers when you buy and buyers when you sell.
How Market Makers Are Different from ECN Brokers?
The following comparison table shows you a clear difference between both models.
Market Makers | ECN Brokers | |
---|---|---|
Execution | Internalized | Direct Market Access |
Spreads | Fixed | Variable |
Transparency | Limited | High |
Execution Spread | Moderate | Fast |
Slippage | Requotes occur | No requotes; slippages vary |
Cost Structure | High spreads, no commission | Low spreads with a fixed commission |
Conflict of Interest | Yes | No |
The above table gives you a clear difference between market makers and ECN brokers. ECN brokers pass your orders directly to the market. That’s why they charge low spreads and have higher transparency. Moreover, the execution speed is also high for the ECN brokers.
On the other hand, market makers have a higher spread which is fixed. Hence, requotes may occur but there are no slippages. As marker makers internalize the trades, they are doubted for potential manipulation due to conflict of interest.
Pros of Market Maker Brokers
Now you have the idea what market makers are and how they are different from ECN brokers, let’s find out some major advantages of market maker brokers.
Guaranteed Liquidity
Market makers assure that the trades must be executed even during the low-volume hours. Hence, it suits trading performed during low liquidity hours.
Negative Balance Protection
Due to internalization, market maker brokers can assure that you may not lose more than your equity. So, extremely volatile markets may not hurt you badly.
Fixed Spreads
Though market maker brokers have a higher spread, it is fixed which makes it easier for you to estimate your cost of trading. With fixed spreads, there is no commission charged.
Low Minimum Deposit
Market maker brokers allow you to start trading even with a very small deposit. This feature is friendly for beginner traders who want to test their skills and get real-time experience.
User Friendliness
These brokers mostly offer intuitive platforms that are user-friendly for beginners and often come with educational resources to help new traders acquire skills.
No Slippages
Since spreads are fixed, there is no change even during low activity or highly volatile moments. Hence, you can avoid slippages.
Cons of Market Maker Brokers
Now, let’s take a look at the disadvantages of the market makers.
Higher Spreads
Though there is no commission charged, the spreads are higher compared to the ECN brokers. Such spreads may not suit certain traders that trade many times during a day.
Requotes
There is no slippage with market makers but requotes may occur. Your order may not be filled instantly when markets experience abrupt movement.
Manipulation Risk
Since orders are internalized, these brokers may manipulate pricing to hunt your stop-loss or intentionally delay your order execution.
Conflict of Interest
Market makers trade against the traders. Hence, they make money when traders lose. So, the broker always has a conflict of interest with the traders.
Who Should Opt for Market Maker Brokers?
After learning the core benefits and disadvantages of the market maker brokers, now we discuss what type of traders should go for market maker broker.
As a beginner trader, you can get advantages from market maker brokers. They have low entry requirements and platforms are user-friendly with educational resources.
Swing traders or positions traders that trade a few times during a whole week are not sensitive to the cost of trading. Hence, such traders can go for market maker brokers.
However, market maker brokers are not suitable for:
Scalpers or high-frequency traders open and close several positions in a day and their profit targets are very small like 1-2 pips. Hence, higher spreads and slow execution may not suit such traders.
Tips to Choose a Market Maker Broker
If you have decided to go for a market maker broker, consider the following factors:
Regulation
A broker must be regulated. Non-regulated brokers have no accountability and traders are not safe to work with them.
Credibility
After regulation, look for the credibility of a broker. Check the online reviews, TrustPilot rating, and other forums where users share their experiences.
Transparency
The broker must have transparent processes. There should be no grey areas. Also, the broker must be clear about the deposit, withdrawal, and other fees.
Customer Support
A good broker always comes with a swift customer support service. Live chat, emails, and social media profiles are helpful for a trader to resolve any concern.
Final Thoughts
Market maker brokers are friendly for beginners and low-volume traders. They have certain advantages like fixed spreads, low minimum deposit required, and no slippages. However, they come with a few drawbacks as well like conflict of interest and limited market access. The ultimate choice of a broker depends on your trading needs. If you wish to trade during low activity moments, market makers may suit you as your orders will be filled no matter the volume.