Best Forex Brokers for Scalping In 2026: Top 7 Tested

Why Your Broker Choice Makes or Breaks Scalping

Scalping demands more from a broker than any other trading style. When you’re capturing 5-15 pip moves multiple times per day, the difference between a 0.1 pip spread and a 0.8 pip spread isn’t minor—it’s the difference between profitability and slow account destruction. Add execution delays, and even well-timed entries become losing trades.

The best brokers for scalping share specific characteristics: raw spreads starting from 0.0 pips, execution speeds under 50 milliseconds, ECN/STP execution without dealing desk intervention, and explicit policies allowing scalping strategies. Not every broker offers this combination, and some actively discourage rapid-fire trading through wider spreads or execution delays.

This guide examines the top brokers specifically suited for scalping in 2026. We’ve analyzed spreads, commissions, execution infrastructure, and real-world trader feedback to identify platforms where scalpers can actually succeed.

What Makes a Broker Scalping-Friendly?

Before diving into specific recommendations, understanding what scalpers need from a broker helps evaluate any platform:

Essential Scalping Broker Features

• Raw/ECN spreads: Spreads starting from 0.0 pips on major pairs
• Low commissions: $6-7 per round turn or less on standard lots
• Fast execution: Under 50ms average, ideally under 20ms
• No dealing desk: STP/ECN execution routing orders to liquidity providers
• No scalping restrictions: Explicit permission for rapid trading strategies
• Deep liquidity: Minimal slippage even during volatile conditions
• Quality platforms: MT4, MT5, or cTrader with one-click trading

The True Cost of Scalping

Scalpers must calculate all-in trading costs, not just spreads. A broker advertising “0.0 pip spreads” with $10 commission per lot costs more than one showing “0.3 pip spreads” with $3 commission. For EUR/USD, each pip equals roughly $10 on a standard lot, so a 0.3 pip spread adds $3 to the $3 commission for $6 total—versus $10 total with the “zero spread” broker.

This cost calculation becomes critical when you understand scalping economics. A scalper targeting 5-pip profits who pays 1.5 pips in total costs loses 30% of each winning trade to the broker. That same scalper with a 0.6 pip all-in cost loses only 12%. Over hundreds of trades monthly, this cost difference determines whether the strategy is viable or not. The most successful scalpers obsess over these fractions because they compound into significant amounts.

Execution Speed Matters More Than You Think

Latency—the time between clicking “buy” and actually owning the position—directly impacts scalping results. During fast-moving markets, a 100ms delay can mean entering 1-2 pips worse than intended. For scalpers working with 5-10 pip targets, that execution slippage can halve profits or turn winners into losers.

The brokers in this list all offer sub-50ms execution, with several achieving sub-20ms. Combined with co-located VPS infrastructure, actual execution times can drop below 5ms. This speed advantage isn’t theoretical—it translates directly to better entry and exit prices on time-sensitive trades.

Best Brokers for Scalping: Quick Comparison

Broker	EUR/USD Spread	Commission (RT)	Execution	Regulation
IC Markets	0.0-0.1 pips	$6-7/lot	<40ms	ASIC, CySEC
Tickmill	0.0-0.1 pips	$6/lot	<50ms	FCA, CySEC
FP Markets	0.0-0.1 pips	$6/lot	<40ms	ASIC, CySEC
Exness	0.0-0.1 pips	$7/lot	<25ms	FCA*, FSA
Fusion Markets	0.0-0.1 pips	$4.50/lot	<50ms	ASIC, VFSC
Eightcap	0.0-0.1 pips	$7/lot	<50ms	ASIC, FCA
BlackBull	0.0-0.1 pips	$6/lot	<20ms	FMA, FSA

*Exness FCA license serves institutional clients only; retail traders access FSA Seychelles entity.

1. IC Markets — Best Overall for Scalping

IC Markets has built its reputation as the go-to broker for serious scalpers. The combination of raw spreads, institutional-grade infrastructure, and explicit scalping support makes it the benchmark against which other brokers are measured.

Why Scalpers Choose IC Markets

• Raw spreads from 0.0 pips: EUR/USD averages 0.1 pips during liquid sessions
• Commission: $7 per round turn (MT4/MT5) or $6 per round turn (cTrader)
• Execution speed: Under 40ms average, sub-millisecond on cTrader
• Server locations: Equinix NY4 (New York) and LD5 (London) data centers
• No restrictions: Scalping, hedging, and EAs explicitly permitted

Account Types

Raw Spread Account (MT4/MT5): $7 commission per round turn, spreads from 0.0 pips. Best for most scalpers using MetaTrader platforms.

Raw Spread Account (cTrader): $6 commission per round turn, same raw spreads. The cTrader platform offers faster execution and more advanced order types preferred by professional scalpers.

Standard Account: No commission but wider spreads (0.8+ pips). Not recommended for scalping.

Infrastructure

IC Markets’ edge comes from infrastructure. Servers co-located in Equinix data centers provide sub-millisecond latency to major liquidity providers. For scalpers running automated strategies, this infrastructure advantage translates directly to better fills and reduced slippage. Pairing IC Markets with a low-latency forex VPS in the same data center can reduce execution times to under 1ms.

Regulation and Safety

IC Markets holds licenses from ASIC (Australia) and CySEC (Cyprus)—both Tier-1 regulators with strict capital requirements and client fund segregation rules. This regulatory profile provides strong protection without the leverage restrictions of FCA regulation.

Best for: Serious scalpers who prioritize execution quality and want the industry’s tightest spreads on a proven platform.

2. Tickmill — Best Low-Commission Option

Tickmill has won recognition for offering some of the lowest trading costs in the industry—a critical factor for scalpers executing dozens of trades daily.

Why Scalpers Choose Tickmill

• Raw spreads from 0.0 pips: EUR/USD averages 0.1 pips
• Commission: $6 per round turn ($3 per side)—among the lowest available
• Execution speed: Under 50ms average
• Award-winning fees: ForexBrokers.com Best Commissions winner for four consecutive years

Account Types

Raw Account: The scalper’s choice with 0.0 pip spreads and $6 round-turn commission. Minimum deposit of $100 makes it accessible.

Pro Account: For high-volume traders with $3 commission per side and additional rebates based on monthly volume.

Cost Comparison

On a standard EUR/USD scalp trade, Tickmill’s all-in cost averages approximately 0.7 pips ($7 per lot)—among the lowest in the industry. For a scalper executing 20 trades daily, this cost advantage compounds to meaningful savings over time.

Regulation

Tickmill holds FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), and FSA (Seychelles) licenses. The FCA license provides the highest regulatory protection for UK and European clients.

Best for: Cost-conscious scalpers who want institutional-grade spreads without premium pricing.

3. FP Markets — Best for Australian Traders

FP Markets combines competitive pricing with strong ASIC regulation, making it particularly attractive for traders in the Asia-Pacific region.

Why Scalpers Choose FP Markets

• Raw spreads from 0.0 pips: EUR/USD averages 0.1 pips on Raw account
• Commission: $6 per round turn
• Execution: Equinix NY4 servers with no dealing desk intervention
• Leverage: Up to 1:500 on professional accounts

Platform Options

FP Markets supports MT4, MT5, cTrader, and IRESS for different trading styles. The cTrader integration provides the advanced order types and execution speeds that serious scalpers require. All platforms support one-click trading essential for rapid entry and exit.

VPS Hosting

FP Markets offers free VPS hosting for qualifying accounts, reducing the infrastructure costs of running automated scalping strategies. The VPS servers connect directly to FP Markets’ execution servers, minimizing latency for algorithmic trading.

Regulation

ASIC and CySEC dual regulation provides robust oversight. Australian clients benefit from local regulation and support, while international traders access competitive conditions through the CySEC entity.

Best for: Asia-Pacific scalpers wanting strong local regulation with globally competitive trading conditions.

4. Exness — Best for Instant Withdrawals

Exness has grown into one of the world’s largest retail forex brokers, processing over $3 trillion in monthly volume. For scalpers, the combination of tight spreads and genuinely instant withdrawals addresses a common pain point.

Why Scalpers Choose Exness

• Raw spreads from 0.0 pips: Available on Raw Spread and Zero accounts
• Commission: $7 per round turn on Raw Spread account
• Execution speed: Under 25ms average—among the fastest available
• Withdrawals: Processed instantly 24/7, including weekends
• Leverage: Up to unlimited on small accounts

Account Options for Scalpers

Raw Spread Account: Spreads from 0.0 pips with $3.50 per side commission. Market execution ensures no requotes.

Zero Account: Guaranteed 0.0 pip spreads on top 30 instruments for 95% of trading time. Variable commission from $3.50-8 per lot depending on instrument.

Pro Account: Spreads from 0.1 pips with no commission. Instant execution provides price certainty.

Regulatory Considerations

Exness holds FCA and CySEC licenses, but retail traders typically access the FSA Seychelles entity. This means less regulatory protection than Tier-1 alternatives, though Exness maintains segregated accounts and negative balance protection. For scalpers prioritizing trading conditions over regulatory jurisdiction, this trade-off may be acceptable.

Best for: Scalpers who value fast withdrawals and flexible leverage alongside competitive spreads.

5. Fusion Markets — Lowest All-In Costs

Fusion Markets has disrupted the broker market with ultra-low commissions that undercut established competitors. For high-frequency scalpers, these savings add up substantially.

Why Scalpers Choose Fusion Markets

• Raw spreads from 0.0 pips: EUR/USD averages under 0.1 pips
• Commission: $4.50 per round turn—the lowest among major brokers
• All-in cost: Approximately $5.50 per lot on EUR/USD
• No minimum deposit: Start with any amount

Cost Advantage Quantified

A scalper executing 50 standard lots daily saves approximately $75-125 compared to brokers charging $7 commission. Over a month, that’s $1,500-2,500 in reduced costs—meaningful money that flows directly to the bottom line.

Account Types

Zero Account: Raw spreads with $4.50 round-turn commission. The primary choice for scalpers.

Classic Account: Spreads from 0.8 pips with no commission. Suitable for less frequent traders.

Regulation

Fusion Markets holds ASIC regulation for Australian clients and VFSC (Vanuatu) for international clients. The ASIC license provides strong protection; the VFSC license offers more flexibility but less regulatory oversight.

Best for: High-volume scalpers focused on minimizing trading costs above all else.

6. Eightcap — Best for Beginners

Eightcap offers competitive scalping conditions with a more accessible approach that suits traders transitioning from standard accounts to raw spread trading.

Why Scalpers Choose Eightcap

• Raw spreads from 0.0 pips: EUR/USD averages 0.06 pips in testing
• Commission: $7 per round turn on Raw account
• Platforms: MT4, MT5, and TradingView integration
• Minimum deposit: $100

TradingView Integration

Eightcap’s TradingView integration allows scalpers to execute directly from TradingView charts—a feature not offered by many competitors. For traders who prefer TradingView’s charting over MetaTrader, this integration eliminates the need for platform switching.

Regulation

Dual ASIC and FCA regulation provides strong oversight for both Australian and UK/European clients. This regulatory profile matches or exceeds most competitors.

Best for: Scalpers who want competitive conditions with accessible account requirements and TradingView integration.

7. BlackBull Markets — Best for Speed

BlackBull Markets focuses on execution speed, with infrastructure optimized for algorithmic and high-frequency trading strategies.

Why Scalpers Choose BlackBull

• Raw spreads from 0.0 pips: ECN Prime accounts offer institutional pricing
• Commission: $6 per round turn
• Execution speed: Under 20ms median—among the fastest retail offerings
• VPS integration: Free VPS for qualifying accounts

Execution Infrastructure

BlackBull’s sub-20ms execution speeds suit scalpers running time-sensitive strategies. The broker explicitly supports algorithmic trading and provides API access for custom integration. Combined with an optimized MT5 VPS, execution times can drop below 5ms.

Account Tiers

ECN Standard: Spreads from 0.8 pips, no commission. Entry-level option.

ECN Prime: Spreads from 0.1 pips, $6 commission. The scalper’s choice.

ECN Institutional: Spreads from 0.0 pips, custom pricing. For high-volume professionals.

Best for: Algorithmic scalpers who need the fastest possible execution and API access.

Setting Up Your Scalping Environment

Choosing the right broker is only part of successful scalping. The execution environment matters equally.

VPS Requirements for Scalping

Running scalping strategies from a home computer introduces 50-100ms of latency through residential internet routing. A VPS co-located near your broker’s servers reduces this to single-digit milliseconds. For strategies where every millisecond counts, this infrastructure investment pays for itself quickly.

Recommended VPS Specifications

• Location: Same data center as your broker (NY4, LD4, TY3)
• Latency: Under 5ms to broker servers
• RAM: 4GB minimum for running multiple instances
• Uptime: 99.99% guaranteed

Platform Configuration

Enable one-click trading on your platform. Configure hotkeys for rapid order entry and exit. Test your setup during quiet market hours before scalping live during volatile sessions.

Brokers to Avoid for Scalping

Some broker characteristics indicate poor scalping suitability:

• Dealing desk execution: Creates conflict of interest with scalping profits
• Wide spreads: Any broker advertising 1+ pip spreads on majors
• Scalping restrictions: Policies limiting minimum trade duration or frequency
• Slow execution: Average execution over 100ms
• Frequent requotes: Especially during volatile markets

Always verify a broker’s scalping policy in their terms of service before depositing. Some brokers technically “allow” scalping but make it unprofitable through execution practices.

Final Recommendations

The best broker for scalping depends on your specific priorities:

• Best overall: IC Markets — Industry-leading spreads and execution
• Lowest costs: Fusion Markets — $4.50 commission saves money at scale
• Best regulated: Tickmill — FCA license with competitive pricing
• Fastest execution: BlackBull Markets — Sub-20ms for time-sensitive strategies
• Best flexibility: Exness — Instant withdrawals and leverage options

All brokers listed offer the raw spreads and execution quality that scalping requires. Test with demo accounts first, then start with minimum deposits to verify real-money execution matches advertised conditions. Scalping success depends on consistent execution—verify your broker delivers before scaling position sizes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What spread is acceptable for scalping?

Ideally under 0.5 pips all-in (spread plus commission equivalent) on EUR/USD. Raw spread accounts typically achieve 0.1-0.2 pip spreads, adding $6-7 commission brings total cost to 0.7-0.9 pips. Any broker consistently above 1.0 pip total cost becomes difficult to scalp profitably.

Do all brokers allow scalping?

No. Some brokers explicitly prohibit scalping or impose minimum trade duration requirements. Others technically allow it but discourage the practice through slow execution or frequent requotes. Always verify scalping is permitted before opening an account.

Is ECN better than STP for scalping?

Both ECN and STP execution route orders to liquidity providers without dealing desk intervention—the key requirement for scalping. ECN typically offers slightly tighter spreads with commission, while STP may include spread markup. For scalping, raw spread ECN accounts generally provide better value.

How much capital do I need for scalping?

Minimum $500-1,000 for micro lot scalping, $5,000+ for standard lots. Scalping requires sufficient capital to absorb losing streaks while maintaining position sizes that generate meaningful profits after costs. Undercapitalization forces excessive leverage that amplifies losses.

Can I scalp with a market maker broker?

Not recommended. Market makers profit when clients lose, creating inherent conflict with scalping profitability. Even if a market maker “allows” scalping, execution quality typically suffers compared to ECN/STP alternatives. The few cents saved on commission costs aren’t worth the execution disadvantages.

Does my location affect broker choice for scalping?

Yes. Choose brokers with servers near your VPS location, or position your VPS near your broker’s servers. A trader in Asia scalping through a London-based broker faces unavoidable latency that European traders don’t experience. IC Markets’ Sydney servers suit Asia-Pacific scalpers; London-based infrastructure better serves European traders.

What’s the best platform for scalping?

cTrader offers the fastest execution and most advanced order types for scalping. MT4 remains popular for its EA compatibility and widespread support. MT5 provides improvements over MT4 but has less third-party tool availability. For manual scalping, cTrader’s interface and execution speed provide advantages; for automated scalping, MT4’s ecosystem often wins.

How do I verify a broker’s real execution speed?

Request or research independent latency tests rather than relying on broker claims. Tools like MT4 Latency Tester or cTrader’s built-in execution statistics show actual fill times. Run tests during both quiet and volatile market conditions—some brokers slow execution during news events when fast fills matter most. Also check third-party sites that aggregate execution data from multiple traders.

Should I use a VPS for scalping?

Yes, a VPS is essentially mandatory for serious scalping. Home internet connections introduce 50-150ms latency plus disconnection risks that can ruin positions. A properly located forex VPS near your broker’s servers reduces latency to under 5ms and provides 99.99% uptime. The monthly cost of quality VPS hosting is typically recovered within days through better execution prices.