FOREX.com review

Canadian subsidiary of StoneX, authorized by CIRO, known for its wide range of instruments and fast execution.

9.5/10#2 in our ranking
  • CIRO
  • CIPF
  • Since 2001

Ratings by category

  • Regulation and safety10.0
  • Trading platforms9.5
  • Fees and commissions9.0
  • Instruments and markets9.5
  • Customer service and education9.5

Our verdict on FOREX.com

In short

FOREX.com Canada is the Canadian subsidiary of the StoneX group, listed on the NYSE. Authorized by CIRO and a member of the CIPF, the broker offers one of the widest ranges in Canada, with more than 80 currency pairs, 2,700 stock CFDs and native TradingView integration. Its accessible $100 minimum deposit and competitive spreads make it a solid choice for traders of all levels.

Who is it for?

Ideal for Forex and CFD traders who want access to a very wide range of instruments from Canada, with the security of a CIRO-regulated broker backed by a publicly listed group. Particularly well suited to active traders who benefit from the VIP program and its volume rebates.

Who it suits less

Less suited to investors looking to open a registered account (RRSP or TFSA), an option not available at FOREX.com (see Questrade for registered accounts for stocks and ETFs). Also less relevant for complete beginners, who may prefer a simpler proprietary platform such as Plus500's or Fortrade's.

FOREX.com overview

FOREX.com belongs to StoneX Group Inc., a financial services company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SNEX. Launched in 2001, the brand now serves clients in more than 180 countries and is one of the most established players in retail Forex. The StoneX group is not limited to online trading: it also runs institutional brokerage, clearing and risk management businesses in currency, commodity and securities markets. For retail clients, this structure has a concrete consequence. As a listed company, StoneX publishes quarterly results and audited annual financial statements, so anyone can check the financial strength of the parent company before depositing funds.

In Canada, accounts are opened with FOREX.com Canada, a subsidiary authorized by CIRO (Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization) and a member of the CIPF (Canadian Investor Protection Fund). Client funds are held in accounts separate from the company's own, in line with CIRO segregation standards, and CIPF protection covers up to $1 million per account category if the dealer becomes insolvent. Leverage follows Canadian caps: it can reach 45:1 on major currency pairs and is lower on minor pairs, indices and stocks. FOREX.com applies an internal cap of 45:1 on major currency pairs, below the CIRO limit of 50:1. This framework is more prudent than that of several foreign brokers not authorized in Canada, but it also limits the size of potential losses on a small account.

The offering covers more than 3,000 markets: more than 80 currency pairs (majors, minors and exotics), about 2,700 stock CFDs, nearly 200 ETFs, commodities such as gold, silver and oil, the main global stock indices and a few bonds. Cryptocurrencies are not offered to Canadian clients, due to the regulatory restrictions on derivatives based on digital assets in Canada. Two account types are offered. The Standard account builds all costs into the spread, which makes the cost of each position simple to calculate. The RAW account shows raw spreads from 0.0 pip and charges a fixed commission per lot, a structure that becomes more advantageous as trading volume increases.

In our comparison, FOREX.com ranks 2nd with an overall rating of 9.5/10. Regulation earns the top score, thanks to CIRO authorization, CIPF membership and the financial transparency of a publicly listed group. The quality of the platforms, with a choice between the proprietary platform, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and TradingView, also weighs in the evaluation, as do the competitive spreads on major pairs and the VIP program, which pays volume rebates to active traders. What places it behind the top-ranked broker is the lack of registered accounts (RRSP and TFSA), the inactivity fees after a year without trading and an advanced platform that takes a beginner some time to learn.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Authorized by CIRO and a member of the CIPF (protection up to $1M CAD per account category)
  • More than 3,000 markets available, including 80+ currency pairs and 2,700 stock CFDs
  • Native TradingView integration with more than 100 predefined indicators
  • Accessible $100 minimum deposit to open an account
  • RAW account with spreads from 0.0 pip (US$7 commission per lot)
  • Owned by StoneX Group, listed on the NYSE under the symbol SNEX (financial transparency)

Cons

  • No RRSP or TFSA registered accounts
  • Cryptocurrencies not available to Canadian clients
  • Inactivity fee of US$15 per month after 12 months without activity
  • Advanced Trading interface less intuitive for beginners than some competitors

Fees and commissions

FOREX.com's fee structure is based on two complementary account types. The commission-free Standard account earns its revenue through a slightly wider spread on each currency pair. It suits occasional traders and those who prefer a predictable cost structure. The RAW account, aimed at more active traders, offers raw spreads from 0.0 pip in exchange for a fixed commission of US$7 per 100,000-unit lot traded. For a trader who places dozens of trades a week, this second option often lowers the total cost per trade. Deposits and withdrawals are free for all accepted methods, which has become the norm among large brokers but is worth highlighting.

FOREX.com fees and commissions
Fee typeDetails
Spread EUR/USDFrom 1.0 pip (Standard account), 0.0 pip + commission (RAW account)
Spread USD/CADFrom 1.4 pips (Standard account)
CommissionStandard account: no commission. RAW account: US$7 per $100,000 lot
Overnight financing (swap)Varies by position, calculated daily
Deposit feesFree via Interac, bank wire and credit card
Withdrawal feesFree via Interac and bank wire
Inactivity feeUS$15 per month after 12 consecutive months without trading activity

Trading platforms

FOREX.com offers a range of platforms that covers the main needs of traders in Canada. This variety meets different needs depending on the trader's profile. The proprietary Advanced Trading platform targets intermediate users who want an integrated environment with technical analysis, news feeds and position management. MetaTrader 4 remains essential for algorithmic traders thanks to its Expert Advisor ecosystem and proven stability. MetaTrader 5 extends the offering to stocks and indices with more advanced analysis tools. Native integration with TradingView, a widely used analysis platform with more than 30 million users, lets traders place orders directly from the interface where they do their analysis, with no friction between the two steps. This multi-platform approach avoids locking traders into a single tool and sets FOREX.com apart from brokers that impose their own interface.

Advanced Trading Platform

FOREX.com's proprietary platform designed for advanced traders. Customizable interface with multi-screen charts, a built-in Reuters news feed and quantitative analysis tools. Available on web and desktop.

  • Multi-screen charts
  • Live Reuters feed
  • Quantitative analysis
  • Customizable alerts
  • Detailed trading history

MetaTrader 4

The long-standing benchmark Forex platform since 2005. FOREX.com offers MT4 with 30 preinstalled technical indicators and full support for Expert Advisors for automated trading.

  • 30 technical indicators
  • Expert Advisors (EAs)
  • 9 timeframes
  • Social trading via signals
  • One-click execution

MetaTrader 5

The evolution of MT4, with more instruments, timeframes and analysis tools. Ideal for traders who want to combine Forex, stocks and indices on a single platform.

  • 80+ technical indicators
  • 21 timeframes
  • Level 2 order book
  • Built-in economic calendar
  • Multi-currency strategy tester

TradingView

The benchmark platform for technical analysis. FOREX.com lets you trade directly from TradingView, with access to its community of 30 million users and its advanced charting tools.

  • More than 100 predefined indicators
  • 1,000+ community indicators
  • Shared trading ideas
  • Multi-channel alerts
  • Visual backtesting
Discover TradingView (affiliate link)

Available instruments

  • 80Forex pairs
  • 2,700Stocks
  • 200ETFs
  • 20Commodities
  • 15Indices
  • 10Bonds

Approximate figures published by the broker. The exact list may vary by account type.

Deposits and withdrawals

Minimum deposit
$100 CAD
Payment methods
  • Interac e-Transfer
  • Bank wire
  • Visa
  • Mastercard
Processing times
1 to 3 business days for Interac and bank wires. 5 to 7 business days for credit cards.
Fees
Free for all deposit and withdrawal methods

Customer service

Languages
  • English
  • French
Opening hours
24 hours a day, 5 days a week (Sunday evening to Friday evening)
Contact channels
  • Live chat
  • Email
  • Phone
Response time
Under 5 minutes on live chat during opening hours

Safety and regulation

FOREX.com Canada operates under full CIRO authorization. CIRO is the self-regulatory organization that has overseen investment dealers and mutual fund dealers in Canada since the merger of IIROC and the MFDA in June 2023. This authorization requires compliance with strict standards for capital, segregation of client funds and regular reporting. CIPF membership adds a further layer of protection: if the broker becomes insolvent, each client's funds are covered up to one million Canadian dollars per account category. Beyond Canadian regulation, FOREX.com benefits from the financial strength of its parent company, StoneX Group Inc., listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SNEX. This listing brings transparency obligations, quarterly financial reporting and independent audits that private brokers are not subject to.

Main regulator in Canada
CIRO (Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization)
Other group regulators
  • FCA (United Kingdom)
  • ASIC (Australia)
  • CFTC/NFA (United States)
  • CySEC (Cyprus)
  • MAS (Singapore)
Investor protection
CIPF up to $1 million CAD per account category
Segregated client funds
Yes
Parent company
StoneX Group Inc. (NYSE: SNEX)
Year founded
2001

Frequently asked questions

Yes. FOREX.com Canada is authorized by CIRO (Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization) and is a member of the CIPF (Canadian Investor Protection Fund). Your funds are protected up to $1 million CAD per account category if the broker becomes insolvent.

The minimum deposit to open a Standard account with FOREX.com Canada is $100 CAD. There is no specific minimum deposit for the RAW account, but this commission-based account is recommended for active traders.

On the Standard account, EUR/USD spreads start at 1.0 pip. On the RAW account, they can go as low as 0.0 pip, with a commission of US$7 per standard lot of $100,000.

No. Cryptocurrencies are not available to FOREX.com's Canadian clients, due to the regulatory restrictions that apply to CIRO-authorized brokers. To trade cryptocurrencies in Canada, you need to use a crypto asset trading platform registered with the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA). Forex Brokers Canada focuses on Forex and CFD brokers.

No. FOREX.com Canada does not offer registered accounts (RRSP, TFSA, RRIF). In any case, margin Forex trading and CFDs are not eligible for registered accounts in Canada under CRA rules. To invest in stocks and ETFs in an RRSP or a TFSA, see Questrade.

Withdrawals by Interac and bank wire are generally processed in 1 to 3 business days. Credit card withdrawals can take 5 to 7 business days depending on your bank. FOREX.com charges no withdrawal fees.

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Ready to open an account with FOREX.com?

Overall rating: 9.5/10

Trading CFDs involves a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.