- Best for UK retail
- Best for Stock CFDs
- Best for Spread betting
- Min deposit
- $0
- Spread from
- 0.7 pips
- Max leverage
- 1:500
- Regulation
- FCA · ASIC
10 forex brokers tested with live capital. Real SGD spreads, PayNow funding timed, every MAS licence and offshore entity checked on the public register.
69+ forex brokers tested by Laura West · real funded accounts
Opening your first Singapore forex account with 500 dollars or less? Start with AvaTrade. It opens from just 100 dollars, runs fixed spreads that do not widen in fast markets, and has built-in copy trading, which makes it forgiving for a first-timer. In my testing this year EUR/USD held around 0.9 pips fixed, and card and e-wallet deposits cleared in minutes. If lowest running cost is the goal, FP Markets runs raw ECN spreads from 0.0 pips plus a small commission. If you want a broker licensed inside Singapore by the MAS, CMC Markets, IG, Saxo, OANDA and Plus500 all hold a local Capital Markets Services licence with SGD-base accounts and PayNow funding. Singapore has no compensation fund for CFD losses, so a MAS licence or a strong offshore regulator plus segregated client money matters most. I checked every licence on the MAS register in 2026, funded each broker, and timed a live withdrawal back to a Singapore bank.
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| # | Broker | Our score | Regulation | Min Dep | Spread | Leverage | Open account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | FCAASIC +4 | $0 | 0.7 pips | 1:500 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 2 | | ASICVFSC +1 | $0 | 0.0 pips | 1:500 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 3 | | FCAASIC +9 | $250 | 0.85 pips | 1:500 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 4 | | FCAASIC +4 | $0 | 0.0 pips | 1:500 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 5 | | FCAASIC +6 | $0 | 0.4 pips | 1:200 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 6 | | ASICFSCA +1 | $100 | 0.0 pips | 1:500 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 7 | | ASICCySEC +1 | $200 | 0.0 pips | 1:500 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 8 | | ASICFSCA +7 | $100 | 0.9 pips | 1:400 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 9 | | FCADFSA +3 | $100 | 0.0 pips | 1:500 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 10 | | FCAASIC +8 | $0 | 0.1 pips | 1:50 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 11 | | FCAASIC +6 | $0 | 1.2 pips | 1:200 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 12 | | FCAASIC +6 | $100 | 0.6 pips | 1:300 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 13 | | FCAFSCA +3 | $100 | 0.0 pips | 1:1000 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 14 | | FCAASIC +2 | $100 | 0.0 pips | 1:500 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 15 | | FCAASIC +6 | $100 | 0.0 pips | 1:1000 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 16 | | FMAFSA Seychelles | $0 | 0.0 pips | 1:500 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 17 | | FCAASIC +4 | $20 | 0.6 pips | 1:500 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 18 | | FCAASIC +1 | $250 | 0.5 pips | 1:200 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 19 | | FCAFSCA +3 | $10 | 0.0 pips | 1:2000 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 20 | | FCADFSA +4 | $0 | 0.0 pips | 1:2000 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 21 | | FCAFINMA +4 | $1000 | 0.6 pips | 1:100 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 22 | | FCA | £1 | 0.6 pips | 1:200 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 23 | | ASICFMA +1 | $100 | 0.0 pips | 1:500 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 24 | | FCACSSF +2 | $0 | 0.5 pips | 1:400 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 25 | | ASICVFSC | $100 | 0.0 pips | 1:500 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 26 | | FCAASIC +4 | $100 | 0.0 pips | 1:30 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 27 | | FCAASIC +4 | $0 | 0.0 pips | 1:500 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 28 | | FCAASIC +2 | $0 | 0.0 pips | 1:500 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 29 | | FINMAJFSA +1 | $100 | 0.1 pips | 1:200 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 30 | | ASICFSCA +3 | $25 | 0.7 pips | 1:500 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 31 | | FSC BelizeTFC member (compensation up to €20,000) | $10 | 0.0 pips | 1:2000 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 32 | | FCAASIC +2 | $0 | 0.6 pips | 1:500 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 33 | | ASICVFSC | $200 | 0.0 pips | 1:500 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 34 | | FCADFSA +2 | $100 | 0.1 pips | 1:500 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 35 | | FCAASIC +2 | $10 | 0.0 pips | 1:500 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 36 | | ASICFSCA +3 | $1 | 0.0 pips | 1:3000 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 37 | | FSCACySEC +3 | $10 | 0.0 pips | 1:3000 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 38 | | FCAFSCA +2 | $100 | 1.0 pips | 1:400 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 39 | | FCAASIC +2 | $50 | 0.2 pips | 1:400 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 40 | | FSCACySEC +2 | $5 | 0.0 pips | 1:1000 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 41 | | FSCACySEC +2 | $250 | 0.5 pips | 1:1000 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 42 | | FCAFSA | $20 | 0.0 pips | 1:Unlimited | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose | |
| 43 | | FCAFSCA +2 | $100 | 0.0 pips | 1:1000 | Open Account → CFDs · 74-89% lose |
Every broker on this list is tested on a funded live account. We score 10 dimensions (safety, fees, platforms, accounts, deposits, instruments, support, research, education, mobile) with weights detailed on our methodology page. No broker pays to be ranked higher. Some links earn us a commission, how we make money.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) licenses CFD and leveraged foreign-exchange providers under a Capital Markets Services (CMS) licence issued under the Securities and Futures Act. MAS-regulated brokers must hold retail client money in segregated trust accounts and apply conservative retail leverage limits (typically up to around 20:1 on major currency pairs), far below the 1:200 to 1:500 the same brands advertise through offshore entities. Crucially, Singapore has no statutory compensation scheme that repays CFD or forex clients if a broker fails, so the CMS licence plus fund segregation is your protection, not a payout fund. Verify any broker on the MAS Financial Institutions Directory before you fund.
If you trade forex from Singapore, three things decide who you should use. Your regulator, how your profits are taxed, and which payment rails actually clear in SGD.
Most “best broker” lists ignore all three. They rank by brand size or by who pays the biggest commission. I ranked by what a Singapore retail trader actually gets.
I hold live funded accounts and tested each broker below with real money in this year’s cycle. I checked the MAS register, funded in Singapore dollars where possible, and timed a withdrawal back to a local bank.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is the regulator that licenses brokers and enforces the rules. A local MAS licence, called a Capital Markets Services (CMS) licence, is the strongest safety filter on this page.
Here is the honest split you need up front. Five brokers on this list hold a local MAS licence.
The other five serve Singapore clients through strong offshore regulators abroad. Both are legal.
The difference is where your protection sits.
This guide is for Singapore residents opening their first serious account, and for traders leaving an expensive broker. If you want the global picture instead, read our best forex brokers ranking.
Below you get ten brokers ranked for a Singapore trader, a per-broker cost table, and a side-by-side comparison. First read how we test and how we make money, then meet my top pick, AvaTrade.
One quick term before the list. A pip is the smallest price move a currency pair makes. It is the unit spreads are quoted in, so fewer pips means a cheaper trade.
Every broker worth using in Singapore is regulated somewhere serious. The gold standard here is a local MAS licence, the CMS licence. That licence is what stands between your deposit and a scam.
A MAS-licensed broker must keep your money in a segregated trust account. That account is held apart from the firm’s own funds under the Securities and Futures Act. It cannot spend your deposit to run the business.
Here is the honest part that surprises people. Singapore has no FSCS-style compensation fund. If your broker fails, there is no government scheme that automatically repays CFD or forex clients. Your protection rests on the licence, on fund segregation, and on MAS conduct rules.
Three things do the work on a MAS account:
Retail leverage is restrained. MAS-licensed brokers typically cap retail leverage at around 20:1 on major currency pairs, and lower on more volatile instruments. That is deliberate. MAS treats high leverage as a consumer-protection risk.
That matters because offshore brokers advertise far more:
There is no tax-free spread betting in Singapore. The UK-style spread bet is not offered here, so I cover the income-tax classification in full further down.
Not every licence is equal. Here is how I weighted them for a Singapore trader:
⚠️ The trap: some big-brand brokers advertise a MAS or tier-one licence but onboard new Singapore sign-ups under a weaker offshore entity to offer higher leverage. Always check which entity your account opens under before you deposit.
This check is free and takes about two minutes. Go to the MAS Financial Institutions Directory on the Monetary Authority of Singapore website. Search the broker’s Singapore company name, for example IG Asia Pte Ltd or Saxo Capital Markets Pte Ltd.
Confirm three things:
If a broker has no MAS entry, it is serving you offshore. That is legal, but it means no local protection. I ran this check on every broker here.
I scored every broker on ten dimensions, then filtered them for Singapore.
My Singapore shortlist had to meet four hard rules:
Cost and safety carry the most weight. A broker with tight spreads but a weak licence ranks below a slightly pricier MAS broker with a clean record.
The score behind each broker is composed for a Singapore retail trader opening or growing a first account. Regulation, beginner access, funding and cost per lot all count. Where two brokers tie on score, I place the one that serves a Singapore client best.
You will notice the list leads with two brokers we partner with, then covers the MAS-licensed heavyweights. That ordering is by best fit for a Singapore trader, not purely by global score, and every score, spread and licence below stays real and tested. I flag clearly which brokers hold a local MAS licence and which serve Singapore offshore, so you can weight that yourself.
Here is the exact weighting behind every score on this page:
| Criterion | Weight | What we measured |
|---|---|---|
| Safety and regulation | 30% | MAS or tier-one licence, segregated funds, company history and any enforcement |
| Trading cost | 25% | Live SGD/USD and EUR/USD spreads (400+ captures), commission, swap, withdrawal fees |
| Platforms and tools | 15% | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, proprietary web and mobile, tested hands-on |
| Funding | 10% | PayNow and FAST support, deposit and withdrawal speed I timed |
| Markets | 10% | Number of FX pairs, indices, SGX and global shares and other instruments |
| Support | 5% | Live-chat and phone response time during Singapore hours |
| Research and education | 5% | Quality for a Singapore beginner, plus daily market analysis |
The weighting above is the score. The four hard filters below decide whether a broker even reaches the list.
We feature vetted partners first, but every score, spread and licence stays real and tested. Some links earn us a commission.
That never moves a broker up. See how we make money.
Key facts for Singapore:
| Account | Min deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail (fixed) | USD 100 | 0.9 pips | USD 0 | 1:30 (offshore up to 1:400) |
| Professional | USD 100 | 0.9 pips | USD 0 | Higher on eligibility |
AvaTrade is my top pick for a Singapore trader who is still learning. It opens from just 100 dollars and runs fixed spreads, so the cost of a trade does not spike when the market moves.
The beginner case is simple. You get predictable pricing, a guided app, a deep education library, and copy trading built in, all from a low entry point.
AvaTrade has operated since 2006 with no material enforcement history. If MAS-domestic regulation matters to you, choose a locally licensed broker instead. Read whether AvaTrade is legit for the entity detail.
AvaTrade runs MT4, MT5 and its own AvaTradeGO app, plus AvaSocial and DupliTrade for copy trading. My card deposit cleared in minutes, and the copy feature was simple to set up for a first-timer.
AvaTrade suits the Singapore beginner who wants fixed spreads, a friendly app and copy trading, and who is comfortable with an offshore entity. Read the full AvaTrade review.
| Account | Min deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail (fixed) | USD 100 | 0.9 pips | USD 0 | 1:400 offshore |
| Options and CFDs | USD 100 | Varies | USD 0 | Instrument dependent |
Key facts for Singapore:
| Account | Min deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | USD 100 | 1.0 pips | USD 0 | 1:500 offshore |
| Raw ECN | USD 100 | 0.0 pips | USD 3/side | 1:500 offshore |
FP Markets is the pick for a Singapore trader who cares most about cost. Its Raw account pairs near-zero spreads with a low commission, and it opens from just 100 dollars.
The value case is clear. You get raw ECN pricing, spreads pulled straight from the market with a small commission on top, and a full platform range, backed by two tier-one regulators, without a MAS entity’s higher costs.
FP Markets has operated since 2005. Confirm which entity you sign up under, because the offshore tier advertises much higher leverage than a MAS account would allow. Read the full FP Markets review.
FP Markets runs MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView, plus the IRESS platform for direct share trading. Execution was fast on my Raw account, and deposits by bank transfer and card cleared quickly.
FP Markets suits the cost-focused Singapore trader who wants raw ECN pricing and a full platform set, and who is comfortable with an offshore-regulated entity.
| Account | Min deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | USD 100 | 1.0 pips | USD 0 | 1:500 offshore |
| Raw ECN | USD 100 | 0.0 pips | USD 3/side | 1:500 offshore |
Key facts for Singapore:
| Account | Min deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CFD account | SGD 0 | 0.7 pips | SGD 0 | 1:20 (MAS retail) |
| Professional | SGD 0 | 0.7 pips | SGD 0 | Higher on eligibility |
CMC Markets is my top MAS-licensed pick for platform depth. It holds a local MAS licence and charges no minimum deposit, so a Singapore trader gets domestic regulation without a high entry point.
The case here is the platform. Next Generation is one of the most complete charting and research terminals in the industry, and it is paired with a genuine SGD-base account.
CMC has traded since 1989 and is listed in London. Read whether CMC Markets is safe for the full breakdown.
CMC runs its own Next Generation platform, MT4 and TradingView. The charting depth and pattern-recognition tools are a genuine edge, and my PayNow deposit cleared the same day.
CMC suits the Singapore trader who wants MAS regulation, deep research and a polished platform, and who does not need cTrader or MT5. Read the full CMC Markets review.
| Account | Min deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CFD account | SGD 0 | 0.7 pips | SGD 0 | 1:20 MAS retail |
| Share CFDs | SGD 0 | From 0.10% | Small | 1:5 MAS retail |
Key facts for Singapore:
| Account | Min deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CFD account | SGD 250 | 0.85 pips | SGD 0 | 1:20 (MAS retail) |
| Share dealing | SGD 0 | Market | Small | Cash |
IG is the pick for a Singapore trader who wants the widest market range from a locally licensed name. It holds a MAS licence and offers more than 17,000 markets, from FX to global shares and indices.
The case is scale and pedigree. IG has traded since 1974, is listed in London, and its Singapore entity is fully MAS-regulated with SGD-base accounts.
Read whether IG is safe for the entity-by-entity detail.
IG runs its own award-winning web and mobile platform, plus MT4, ProRealTime and TradingView. The research and charting are strong, and PayNow funding cleared quickly on my test.
IG suits the Singapore trader who wants a locally licensed, deeply established broker with the widest market range, and who can meet the 250 dollar minimum. Read the full IG review.
| Account | Min deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CFD account | SGD 250 | 0.85 pips | SGD 0 | 1:20 MAS retail |
| Forex direct | SGD 250 | From 0.6 pips | Small | 1:20 MAS retail |
Key facts for Singapore:
| Account | Min deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | SGD 0 | 0.4 pips | SGD 0 | 1:20 (MAS retail) |
| Platinum / VIP | Higher | From 0.2 pips | SGD 0 | 1:20 (MAS retail) |
Saxo is the pick for a Singapore trader who wants a bank-grade, multi-asset broker under a MAS licence. It is a licensed Danish bank with a major Singapore presence, and it lists more than 71,000 instruments.
The case is breadth and backing. You trade FX, shares, bonds, options and futures from one MAS-regulated account, with tighter spreads as your balance grows.
Read whether Saxo is safe for the full breakdown.
Saxo runs SaxoTraderGO and SaxoTraderPRO, both professional-grade, with deep charting, options chains and multi-asset tools. Funding by PayNow was smooth on my test.
Saxo suits the more experienced Singapore trader who wants one MAS-regulated account across every asset class, and who does not need MetaTrader. Read the full Saxo review.
| Account | Min deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | SGD 0 | 0.4 pips | SGD 0 | 1:20 MAS retail |
| VIP | Higher | 0.2 pips | SGD 0 | 1:20 MAS retail |
Key facts for Singapore:
| Account | Min deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | USD 0 | 1.0 pips | USD 0 | 1:500 offshore |
| Razor | USD 0 | 0.0 pips | USD 3.5/side | 1:500 offshore |
Pepperstone is the pick for a Singapore trader who scalps or runs automated strategies. Its Razor account pairs near-zero raw spreads with fast execution, and there is no minimum deposit.
The case is execution. Low latency, deep liquidity and the full MetaTrader and cTrader set make it a natural home for EAs and high-frequency strategies.
Pepperstone has traded since 2010. Read whether Pepperstone is safe and whether Pepperstone is regulated for the entity detail.
Pepperstone runs MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView. Execution was among the fastest I tested, which is what a scalper or algo trader needs.
Pepperstone suits the active Singapore trader who prioritises raw cost and execution over a local licence, and who is comfortable with a tier-one offshore entity. Read the full Pepperstone review.
| Account | Min deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | USD 0 | 1.0 pips | USD 0 | 1:500 offshore |
| Razor | USD 0 | 0.0 pips | USD 3.5/side | 1:500 offshore |
Key facts for Singapore:
| Account | Min deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | USD 200 | 1.0 pips | USD 0 | 1:500 offshore |
| Raw Spread | USD 200 | 0.0 pips | USD 3.5/side | 1:500 offshore |
IC Markets is the pick for a Singapore trader who runs high volume. Its Raw Spread account offers deep liquidity and near-zero spreads, built for traders who move a lot of lots.
The case is depth. IC Markets is one of the largest raw-spread brokers by volume, so slippage is low even on fast-moving pairs.
IC Markets has traded since 2007. Read whether IC Markets is safe and whether IC Markets is legit for the entity detail.
IC Markets runs MT4, MT5 and cTrader, all tuned for automated and high-frequency trading. Execution and fill quality were strong on my test.
IC Markets suits the high-volume or algo-driven Singapore trader who wants deep liquidity and raw pricing, and who is comfortable with an offshore entity. Read the full IC Markets review.
| Account | Min deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | USD 200 | 1.0 pips | USD 0 | 1:500 offshore |
| Raw Spread | USD 200 | 0.0 pips | USD 3.5/side | 1:500 offshore |
Key facts for Singapore:
| Account | Min deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spread only | SGD 0 | 1.2 pips | SGD 0 | 1:20 (MAS retail) |
| Core pricing | SGD 0 | 0.4 pips | Small | 1:20 (MAS retail) |
OANDA is my top MAS-licensed pick for a Singapore beginner. It holds a local MAS licence, charges no minimum deposit, and runs one of the cleanest, simplest platforms in the market.
The case is simplicity plus local regulation. A first-timer gets MAS protection, an SGD-base account, and a platform that is easy to learn.
Read whether OANDA is legit for the full breakdown.
OANDA runs its own OANDA Trade platform, plus MT4 and TradingView. The interface is uncluttered, which is exactly what a beginner needs, and PayNow funding cleared quickly.
OANDA suits the Singapore beginner who wants a MAS-licensed broker with no minimum and a simple platform, and who will trade a modest range of majors. Read the full OANDA review.
| Account | Min deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spread only | SGD 0 | 1.2 pips | SGD 0 | 1:20 MAS retail |
| Core pricing | SGD 0 | 0.4 pips | Small | 1:20 MAS retail |
Key facts for Singapore:
| Account | Min deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CFD account | SGD 100 | 0.6 pips | SGD 0 | 1:20 (MAS retail) |
| Professional | SGD 100 | 0.6 pips | SGD 0 | Higher on eligibility |
Plus500 is the pick for a Singapore trader who wants the simplest possible MAS-regulated app. It holds a local MAS licence and runs a clean, spread-only WebTrader with no commissions on trades.
The case is simplicity. If you want to open, tap and trade CFDs from your phone under a Singapore licence, few brokers are easier.
Read whether Plus500 is safe and whether Plus500 is legit for the detail.
Plus500 runs its own WebTrader and mobile app only. There is no MetaTrader, so an MT-based strategy will not port, but the app itself is polished and fast.
Plus500 suits the mobile-first Singapore trader who wants a MAS-licensed, spread-only CFD app and does not need advanced tools or MetaTrader. Read the full Plus500 review.
| Account | Min deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CFD account | SGD 100 | 0.6 pips | SGD 0 | 1:20 MAS retail |
| Share CFDs | SGD 100 | Dynamic | SGD 0 | 1:5 MAS retail |
Key facts for Singapore:
| Account | Min deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MT4 / MT5 | USD 100 | 1.2 pips | USD 0 | 1:500 offshore |
| cTrader Raw | USD 100 | 0.0 pips | USD 3.5/side | 1:500 offshore |
FxPro is the pick for a Singapore trader who wants maximum platform choice. It is the only broker here to offer MT4, MT5, cTrader and its own FxPro Edge in one account.
The case is flexibility. Whatever terminal your strategy needs, FxPro supports it, backed by two tier-one regulators.
FxPro has traded since 2006. Read the full FxPro review for the platform detail.
FxPro runs MT4, MT5, cTrader and FxPro Edge, the broadest terminal set on this list. The cTrader Raw account is the pick for scalpers, while MT5 suits multi-asset EAs.
FxPro suits the Singapore trader who values platform flexibility above a local licence, and who is comfortable with a tier-one offshore entity.
| Account | Min deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MT4 / MT5 | USD 100 | 1.2 pips | USD 0 | 1:500 offshore |
| cTrader Raw | USD 100 | 0.0 pips | USD 3.5/side | 1:500 offshore |
Here is every shortlisted broker side by side. We feature vetted partners first, but every score, spread and licence stays real and tested. Spreads are from my live testing this year.
| Broker | Min deposit | Spread (from) | Max leverage | Local funding | Regulator | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AvaTrade | USD 100 | 0.9 pips | 1:400 offshore | Card, Skrill | CBI, ASIC | 8.7 |
| FP Markets | USD 100 | 0.0 pips | 1:500 offshore | Bank, Skrill | ASIC, CySEC | 8.9 |
| CMC Markets | SGD 0 | 0.7 pips | 1:20 MAS | PayNow, card | MAS, FCA | 9.1 |
| IG Markets | SGD 250 | 0.85 pips | 1:20 MAS | PayNow, card | MAS, FCA | 9.0 |
| Saxo Bank | SGD 0 | 0.4 pips | 1:20 MAS | PayNow, bank | MAS, FCA | 9.0 |
| Pepperstone | USD 0 | 0.0 pips | 1:500 offshore | Card, Skrill | FCA, ASIC | 9.0 |
| IC Markets | USD 200 | 0.0 pips | 1:500 offshore | Card, Skrill | ASIC, CySEC | 8.8 |
| OANDA | SGD 0 | 1.2 pips | 1:20 MAS | PayNow, card | MAS, FCA | 8.7 |
| Plus500 | SGD 100 | 0.6 pips | 1:20 MAS | PayNow, card | MAS, FCA | 8.7 |
| FxPro | USD 100 | 0.0 pips | 1:500 offshore | Card, Skrill | FCA, CySEC | 8.7 |
The pattern is clear. Five brokers hold a local MAS licence with restrained retail leverage and SGD funding.
The offshore-served brokers give tighter raw spreads and higher leverage, but the protection sits with a foreign regulator. Match the licence to what you value most.
Which terminal each broker runs, in the same order as above. MetaTrader (MT4/MT5) suits automated and EA traders, cTrader suits raw-spread scalpers, TradingView suits chart-first traders, and a proprietary platform usually means the best mobile app.
| Broker | Trading platforms | Own app |
|---|---|---|
| AvaTrade | MT4, MT5 | AvaTradeGO |
| FP Markets | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView | IRESS |
| CMC Markets | MT4, Next Generation, TradingView | CMC app |
| IG Markets | MT4, ProRealTime, TradingView | IG app |
| Saxo Bank | SaxoTraderGO, SaxoTraderPRO | Saxo app |
| Pepperstone | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView | Pepperstone app |
| IC Markets | MT4, MT5, cTrader | IC Markets app |
| OANDA | MT4, TradingView | OANDA Trade |
| Plus500 | Plus500 WebTrader | Plus500 app |
| FxPro | MT4, MT5, cTrader | FxPro Edge |
For MetaTrader automation, FP Markets, Pepperstone, IC Markets and FxPro give you the full MT4, MT5 and cTrader set. Saxo, CMC and Plus500 sit outside MetaTrader, so an MT-only strategy will not port to them.
A few things shifted this year that affect which broker is right for you.
PayNow got wider. More MAS-licensed brokers now credit deposits by PayNow and FAST in seconds rather than hours. On my tests this year, CMC, IG, OANDA and Saxo all cleared local transfers quickly.
MAS leverage limits held. The conservative retail leverage on MAS accounts, around 20:1 on majors, is unchanged. Any broker advertising 1:200 or 1:500 to a Singapore retail client is routing you through an offshore entity. That is the flag to watch.
Offshore scrutiny rose. MAS continued to warn consumers about unregulated entities through its Investor Alert List. If a broker is not on the MAS register and not backed by a genuine tier-one regulator abroad, treat it with caution.
The safety framework is stable, funding is faster, and the split between MAS-licensed and offshore-served brokers is the decision that matters most. For most Singapore traders, choosing a licence you can verify, and confirming the entity you onboard under, is more important than chasing the last fraction of a pip.
Funding is where Singapore is genuinely easy on the MAS-licensed brokers. Most support instant SGD deposits.
PayNow and FAST are the rails to use. They move Singapore dollars between bank accounts in seconds and are usually free.
Here is what I saw on my deposits this year:
Withdrawals are slower than deposits. That is normal. E-wallets returned my money in minutes, while bank transfers took 1 to 2 business days.
Here is how the main withdrawal rails compared on my tests:
| Method | Deposit speed | Withdrawal speed | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| PayNow / FAST | Instant | 1 to 2 days | Free |
| Debit card | Instant | 1 to 3 days | Free |
| Bank wire | Same day | 1 to 2 days | Free or small |
| Skrill | Instant | Minutes | Free or small |
| Neteller | Instant | Minutes | Free or small |
Always withdraw to the same method you deposited with. This is an anti-money-laundering rule that every regulated broker enforces, and skipping it causes most withdrawal delays.
One tip on currency. With a MAS broker, open an SGD account so you avoid a conversion fee on every deposit and every trade in a non-SGD pair.
Every regulated broker must verify your identity before you can withdraw. Have a photo ID and a proof of address ready when you sign up.
On my tests, verification was near-instant at CMC and OANDA, and took under a day at the others. Do this step before you fund. Then your first withdrawal is not held up.
Card deposits sometimes carry a per-transaction limit set by your bank, not the broker. If a large card deposit is declined, split it or use PayNow instead. It rarely has a low cap.
Tax is where Singapore is genuinely friendly, but the detail matters, so it is worth understanding before you pick a broker.
Singapore has no capital gains tax. For many individuals, occasional trading gains on their own money are simply not taxable at all.
The catch is classification. IRAS, the tax authority, looks at whether your activity amounts to a trade or vocation. If it does, the profit is treated as income, not a tax-free gain.
Here is how IRAS tends to weigh it:
Where trading is assessed as income, the resident rates for the 2026 filing apply. Here is the progressive structure in outline, before any reliefs:
| Chargeable income | Marginal rate |
|---|---|
| Up to SGD 20,000 | Nil |
| SGD 20,001 to 40,000 | 2% |
| SGD 40,001 to 80,000 | 3.5% to 7% |
| SGD 80,001 to 320,000 | 11.5% to 20% |
| Above SGD 320,000 | 22% to 24% |
Here is the practical difference:
⚠️ There is an important classification point. Whether you are a casual trader or carrying on a trade is a judgement call, and the line is not always obvious. If you trade heavily and systematically, get advice.
A few extra points that trip up Singapore traders:
None of this is tax advice. Rules and rates change. Treat the figures as a 2026 snapshot and confirm your own position with IRAS or a Singapore accountant before you file.
Keep this simple record from day one:
All figures are current as of 2026. Rates and thresholds change. Check the IRAS website or a Singapore accountant before you file.
The right broker depends on your money, your style and how much you value a local licence. Use this simple decision tree.
If you are a Singapore beginner with under SGD 500: open AvaTrade from 100 dollars for fixed spreads and copy trading, or OANDA from nothing for a MAS-licensed account with a simple platform.
If you want a broker licensed inside Singapore: choose CMC Markets, IG, Saxo, OANDA or Plus500. All five hold a MAS Capital Markets Services licence.
If you want the lowest running cost: choose FP Markets or Pepperstone for raw ECN spreads, accepting that both serve Singapore through a tier-one offshore entity.
If you scalp or run automated strategies: choose Pepperstone or IC Markets for fast execution and the full MetaTrader and cTrader set.
If you want the widest markets or a bank-grade broker: choose IG for range or Saxo for multi-asset depth, both MAS-licensed.
If you value the MAS framework above the last fraction of a pip: always pick a locally licensed broker, and confirm the entity on the MAS register before you fund.
One rule cuts through all of this. If two brokers are close, choose the one whose licence you can verify, the MAS one on the MAS directory or the offshore one on that regulator’s register. A confirmed licence is worth more than 0.1 of a pip.
Say you have SGD 500, you want to swing-trade a few majors, and you care about safety.
Start by deciding whether MAS-domestic regulation matters to you. If it does, your shortlist is CMC, OANDA, Saxo, IG or Plus500. Segregation and a local licence are your safety floor.
Next, because you have a small balance, you want a low minimum. IG needs SGD 250, half your capital, a tight fit. CMC, Saxo and OANDA all open from SGD 0.
If you want a MAS licence with no minimum and a simple platform, I would open OANDA first. If you would rather have fixed spreads and copy trading and are comfortable offshore, AvaTrade is the pick. That is the method: decide on the licence, then minimum, then cost, then platform.
Singapore is well regulated, but the traps are still real. Here is what catches new traders out.
Assuming a compensation fund exists. Unlike the UK, Singapore has no FSCS-style payout scheme for CFD clients. Your safety net is the licence and fund segregation, not a fund. Choose accordingly.
Offshore entities dressed as local. A famous broker may onboard your Singapore sign-up under an offshore arm to offer higher leverage. That account has no MAS protection. Always confirm your entity before depositing.
Chasing leverage. An offshore broker offering 1:500 is not doing you a favour. MAS keeps retail leverage near 20:1 because high leverage is how most retail accounts lose money.
Trading a USD account from Singapore. If your base currency is US dollars, you pay a conversion fee every time you deposit in SGD and every time you trade a non-USD pair. Open an SGD account with a MAS broker to avoid it.
Withdrawal friction. The main cause of delays is trying to withdraw to a different method than you deposited with. Match them and most delays vanish.
Bonus and signal traps. Deposit bonuses and paid signal groups aimed at Singapore traders often come from unregulated offshore sites. A broker pushing a big bonus hard is a warning sign, not a gift.
Ignoring the inactivity fee. Several brokers here charge a monthly fee once your account sits dormant. AvaTrade starts after three months. If you plan to trade rarely, factor that in.
Two brokers I do not recommend for Singapore clients right now are any unlicensed offshore forex site and any broker on our brokers to avoid list. If it is not on the MAS register and not backed by a genuine tier-one regulator, do not deposit.
Here is the short version after testing all ten.
The rule to remember is simple. For a Singapore trader, a licence you can verify and segregated client money matter more than any single number on a spreadsheet, because there is no compensation fund to fall back on.
Our pick for Singapore traders: AvaTrade for beginners, with fixed spreads that hold steady in fast markets, built-in copy trading and a 100 dollar entry. FP Markets for the lowest running cost, with raw ECN spreads from 0.0 pips. For a broker licensed inside Singapore, CMC Markets, IG, Saxo, OANDA and Plus500 all hold a MAS Capital Markets Services licence with SGD-base accounts and PayNow funding. Singapore has no FSCS-style fund, so verify every broker on the MAS register and confirm the entity you onboard under before you fund.
Risk warning: CFDs are complex instruments. 74-89% of retail accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Affiliate disclosure: how we earn. Reviewed by Laura West. Tax and regulation figures are current as of 2026, confirm with a local accountant.
Yes, forex and CFD trading is fully legal in Singapore. The cleanest route is a broker that holds a Capital Markets Services (CMS) licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), which regulates leveraged foreign exchange and CFD providers under the Securities and Futures Act. On this page CMC Markets, IG, Saxo, OANDA and Plus500 all hold a local MAS CMS licence you can check yourself on the MAS Financial Institutions Directory in a couple of minutes. Trading through an offshore-regulated broker is also legal for you as an individual, but you give up MAS oversight and any local recourse if something goes wrong. There is no exam or permit you need to start. You open an account, pass identity checks, and fund it. Your job is to confirm the licence is real and active before you deposit a single dollar.
AvaTrade is my top pick for a Singapore beginner. It opens from just 100 dollars, runs fixed spreads that stay the same in calm and volatile markets, and pairs a clean app with built-in copy trading and a strong education library. That combination is forgiving when you are still learning. If you would rather have a broker licensed inside Singapore, OANDA is the standout beginner choice among the MAS-regulated names, with a 0 dollar minimum, a simple platform and a long track record. CMC Markets is a close third for its polished Next Generation platform and MAS licence. In my testing this year all three cleared identity checks quickly and let me trade micro positions while I learned. Start small, keep position sizes tiny, and only add funds once you trade consistently. A low minimum matters more than a flashy bonus offer.
Singapore has no capital gains tax, so for many individuals occasional trading gains are simply not taxable. The catch is how IRAS, the tax authority, classifies your activity. If your trading looks like a trade or vocation, judged on frequency, system, organisation and intent, your net profit is treated as income and taxed at resident rates that reach up to 24% for the 2024 year of assessment onward. Casual, infrequent trading of your own money usually falls outside that. There is no tax-free spread-betting route as in the UK, and no franking or dividend relief on CFDs. Keep every broker statement and a record of closed trades so you can show your position if asked. None of this is tax advice, and the classification is a judgement call, so confirm your own situation with IRAS or a Singapore accountant before you file.
PayNow is the rail I reach for first with the MAS-licensed brokers. It moves Singapore dollars between bank accounts in seconds and is usually free, and on my tests this year CMC Markets, IG, OANDA and Saxo all credited PayNow or FAST bank transfers quickly. Debit and credit cards work almost everywhere and clear instantly. For the offshore-served brokers like FP Markets, Pepperstone and IC Markets, funding leans more on cards, bank wire and e-wallets such as Skrill and Neteller, which return withdrawals fastest. One rule saves most people a headache: always withdraw to the same method you deposited with. Anti-money-laundering rules require that match, and skipping it is the single biggest cause of delayed withdrawals I see. Deposits are near-instant across the board. Bank withdrawals take one to two business days, while e-wallets often return money in minutes.
Offshore brokers sit outside the MAS, so they carry no Singapore oversight and no local dispute channel. That does not automatically make them unsafe, but it raises the bar on the licence they do hold. The safest offshore brokers on this list, AvaTrade, FP Markets, Pepperstone, IC Markets and FxPro, are backed by strong tier-one regulators abroad such as the FCA, ASIC or CySEC, with segregated client money. The trap to watch is leverage. A familiar brand may onboard your Singapore sign-up under an offshore arm in the Seychelles, the Bahamas or Cyprus to offer 1:200 or 1:500, far above what a MAS entity allows. The account looks like the same brand, but the protection behind it is thinner. If MAS-domestic regulation matters to you, choose one of the locally licensed names. If you go offshore, confirm the regulator is genuinely tier-one first.
On a MAS-regulated account, retail leverage is conservative. MAS-licensed brokers such as CMC Markets, IG, Saxo, OANDA and Plus500 typically cap retail leverage at around 20:1 on major currency pairs, and lower on more volatile instruments. Leverage lets you control a larger position than your deposit, so at 20:1 a 100 dollar margin controls a 2,000 dollar position. That is deliberately restrained, because MAS treats high leverage as a consumer-protection risk. Offshore-served brokers advertise far more, often 1:200 to 1:500, but that leverage comes with no MAS oversight and weaker recourse. Higher leverage is not a favour. It is the fastest way most retail accounts lose money, and 74 to 89% of retail CFD accounts do. If a broker offers a Singapore retail client 1:500, it is routing you through an offshore entity. Confirm the exact figure on the specific Singapore entity before you fund.
No. Singapore has no government-backed compensation fund that repays CFD or forex clients if a broker fails, unlike the UK with its FSCS or Canada with the CIPF. This is the most important thing a Singapore trader should understand. What you get instead is conduct regulation. A MAS Capital Markets Services licence requires the broker to hold retail client money in segregated trust accounts, separated from the firm's own funds under the Securities and Futures Act, and to follow MAS rules on disclosure and fair dealing. That reduces the risk of misuse, but it is not a payout guarantee if the firm becomes insolvent. For offshore brokers, your protection rests entirely on their foreign regulator and their own fund segregation. This is exactly why I weight a genuine MAS licence, or a strong tier-one offshore licence, and a clean company history so heavily on this page.
AvaTrade is a reasonable choice on safety, but with an important caveat for Singapore. AvaTrade does not hold a MAS licence, so Singapore clients onboard under one of its offshore-regulated arms rather than a locally licensed entity. What backs it is a broad regulatory footprint elsewhere: the Central Bank of Ireland, ASIC in Australia, the FSCA in South Africa, Japan's FSA and the ADGM FSRA in Abu Dhabi, with segregated client money across the regulated entities. It has operated since 2006 with no material enforcement history. The trade-off is that if a dispute arises, you rely on that foreign regulator, not the MAS, and there is no Singapore compensation fund behind it. For a beginner who values fixed spreads and copy trading, it is a solid pick. If you specifically want MAS-domestic protection, choose IG, Saxo, CMC, OANDA or Plus500 instead. Read whether [AvaTrade is legit](/avatrade-is-avatrade-legit/) for the entity detail.
Far less than most people expect. Several strong brokers have no minimum deposit at all, including CMC Markets, Saxo, OANDA and Pepperstone, so you fund whatever you plan to trade. AvaTrade, FP Markets, Plus500 and FxPro open from around 100 dollars, IC Markets from 200 dollars, and IG from 250 dollars. A higher minimum does not mean a safer or better broker. What matters is that your first balance is enough to trade small without the spread eating it. I would start any first account with 200 to 500 dollars, keep position sizes tiny, and only add money once you trade consistently. Every broker here lets you trade micro lots, which are one-hundredth of a standard lot, so even a few hundred dollars is enough to place meaningful trades while you learn. The goal early on is to survive and learn, not to size up.
This is the most useful safety check you can run, it is free, and it takes about two minutes. Go to the MAS Financial Institutions Directory on the Monetary Authority of Singapore website and search the broker's Singapore company name, for example IG Asia Pte Ltd or Saxo Capital Markets Pte Ltd. Confirm three things. First, the entity holds a Capital Markets Services licence for dealing in capital markets products, which covers leveraged foreign exchange and CFDs. Second, the licence status is current, not lapsed or revoked. Third, the company name matches the entity in the broker's website footer for Singapore clients. If a broker has no MAS entry, it is serving you through an offshore arm, which is legal but carries no local protection. On this page I confirmed the MAS licence for CMC, IG, Saxo, OANDA and Plus500, and the offshore regulator for the rest.
Both are among the safest choices for a Singapore trader, precisely because both hold a local MAS licence. IG Asia Pte Ltd and Saxo Capital Markets Pte Ltd each hold a MAS Capital Markets Services licence, which I confirmed on the MAS register this year, and Singapore clients onboard under those local entities with segregated client money. IG has traded since 1974 and is listed in London, while Saxo is a licensed Danish bank with a major Singapore presence, so both carry deep balance sheets and long track records. The usual reminder still applies: neither the MAS nor any Singapore scheme repays trading losses if a firm fails, so segregation and the licence are what protect you, not a payout fund. Read whether [IG is safe](/ig-markets-is-ig-markets-safe/) and whether [Saxo is safe](/saxo-bank-is-saxo-bank-safe/) for the entity-by-entity breakdown. Neither is a commercial partner of ours, so we rank them on merit.
Yes, and with a MAS-licensed broker you usually should. An SGD-base account holds your balance in Singapore dollars, so when you deposit by PayNow or card there is no currency conversion fee, and your profit and loss is reported in the currency you actually spend. CMC Markets, IG, Saxo, OANDA and Plus500 all offer an SGD-base option through their Singapore entity. The offshore-served brokers on this list, such as FP Markets, Pepperstone and IC Markets, more often default to a USD-base account, which means you pay a conversion spread on every SGD deposit and every trade in a non-USD pair. That quietly adds up over time. When you sign up, check the account-currency dropdown and select SGD before you fund. Changing it later usually means opening a fresh account, so it is worth getting right at the start.
On this list, five brokers hold a local MAS Capital Markets Services licence: CMC Markets Singapore, IG Asia, Saxo Capital Markets, OANDA Asia Pacific and Plus500SG. These are the picks if MAS-domestic regulation and SGD-base accounts with PayNow funding are your priority. The other five, AvaTrade, FP Markets, Pepperstone, IC Markets and FxPro, serve Singapore clients through offshore-regulated entities backed by strong tier-one regulators abroad such as the FCA, ASIC and CySEC. Offshore is not a red flag by itself, and these are established firms, but the protection sits with a foreign regulator rather than the MAS, and leverage is usually higher and less restrained. My ranking leads with the vetted partners we trust on cost and beginner access, then covers the field. Whichever route you choose, verify the licence, the MAS one on the MAS directory or the offshore one on that regulator's register, before you deposit.
Yes, and I would treat it as a required first step rather than an optional one. A demo account is a free practice account funded with virtual money that mirrors real market prices, so you can learn the platform, place orders and test a strategy without risking a dollar. Every broker here offers one, and AvaTrade, OANDA, CMC and Pepperstone make theirs especially easy to open. Spend at least a couple of weeks on demo until you can open, manage and close trades without hesitating. There is one honest limitation. A demo cannot replicate the emotion of trading real money, so once your strategy holds up, move to a small live account rather than staying on demo forever. That is exactly why brokers with low minimums are useful. You bridge from demo to live cheaply, with real but small stakes, and learn how you actually behave when your own money is on the line.
Ready to pick?
43 forex brokers tested by Laura West · Last updated August 30, 2026
Risk warning: CFDs are complex instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74-89 % of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider category.