The spread is one of the highest costs in forex, and it is easy to miss. The spread is the small gap between the buy price and the sell price. The wider that gap, the more you pay every time you trade. A low-spread broker shrinks that gap, which is a big deal if you trade often.
But here is the catch that most ads skip. The lowest spreads come on raw or ECN accounts, which add a separate commission per trade. So your real cost is the spread plus the commission, not just the spread.
The brokers below all offer very tight spreads, and we show the commission too, so you can see the true cost.
On a standard account, the broker widens the spread a little and charges no separate fee. The cost is hidden inside the price. On a raw or ECN account, you get the bare market spread, often 0.0 pips on EUR/USD, but you pay a commission on top, usually a few dollars per lot.
A lot is a standard trade size of 100,000 units. Commission is quoted two ways: per side (once to open, once to close) or round turn (both together). So, $3 a side is the same as $6 round turn.
To compare brokers fairly, add the two together. A raw spread of 0.0 pips plus a $6 round-turn commission works out to roughly 0.6 of a pip in total on EUR/USD. That all-in number is what you should compare, not the spread on its own.
TopAsiaFX Tip: Do not be fooled by “0.0 pips” on its own. Always ask for the commission too, then add them up. The all-in cost is the number that actually leaves your account.
| Broker | Spread from | Commission (Round Turn) | Min Deposit | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IC Markets | 0.0 Pips | ~$7 ($3.50 a Side) | $200 | MT4, MT5, cTrader |
| Tickmill | 0.0 Pips | ~$6 ($3 a Side) | $100 | MT4, MT5, Tickmill Trader |
| FP Markets | 0.0 Pips | ~$6 ($3 a Side) | $100 | MT4, MT5, cTrader |
| Exness | 0.0 Pips | ~$7 ($3.50 a Side) | $200 | MT4, MT5, App |
| Vantage | 0.0 Pips | ~$6 ($3 a Side) | $50 | MT4, MT5, App |
IC Markets is one of the most popular ECN brokers in the world, and its Raw Spread account gives you bare spreads from 0.0 pips plus a $3.50 per side commission ($7 round turn). It is built for fast, low-cost trading, with deep liquidity and quick execution that scalpers and robot traders rely on.
IC Markets started in 2007, is licensed by ASIC, CySEC, and the FSA in Seychelles, and serves Indonesians through its offshore arm, so it is not BAPPEBTI-licensed. You can trade on MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader, with a $200 start.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Spread From | 0.0 Pips (Raw Spread) |
| Commission | About $3.50 a Side ($7 Round Turn); a Touch Lower on cTrader |
| Minimum Deposit | $200 |
| Regulated By | ASIC, CySEC, FSA Seychelles |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader |
| Best For | ECN Scalping and Robot Trading |
Tickmill is one of the cheapest regulated brokers around. Its Raw account gives spreads from 0.0 pips with a commission of just $3 per side ($6 round turn), and the all-in cost on EUR/USD works out near 0.7 of a pip, among the lowest anywhere.
High-volume traders can reach a VIP rate of $1 per side. Tickmill also charges no deposit, withdrawal, or inactivity fees. It started in 2014, is licensed by the FCA, CySEC, and the FSCA, and holds no BAPPEBTI license. You get MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and Tickmill Trader, with a $100 start.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Spread From | 0.0 Pips (Raw Account) |
| Commission | About $3 a Side ($6 Round Turn); $1 a Side on VIP |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 |
| Regulated By | FCA, CySEC, FSCA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Tickmill Trader |
| Best For | The Lowest All-In Cost, with No Extra Fees |
FP Markets pairs tight raw spreads with a broad platform choice. Its Raw account has spreads from 0.0 pips and a $3 per side commission ($6 round turn), with fast ECN execution. It is handy if you also want to trade shares, through the IRESS platform.
FP Markets has run since 2005, is licensed by ASIC, CySEC, and the FSCA, and BAPPEBTI does not cover it. Platforms include MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and IRESS, with about a $100 start.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Spread From | 0.0 Pips (Raw Account) |
| Commission | About $3 a Side ($6 Round Turn) |
| Minimum Deposit | About $100 |
| Regulated By | ASIC, CySEC, FSCA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, IRESS |
| Best For | Low-Cost Forex Plus Share Trading |
Exness offers very tight spreads and is a favourite in Indonesia for its rupiah deposits and fast payouts. Its Raw Spread account starts from 0.0 pips with a commission of up to $3.50 per side, and its Zero account holds 0.0 pip spreads on the 30 most popular instruments for most of the trading day.
If you prefer no commission, the Standard account has spreads from about 0.3 pips. Exness started in 2008, is licensed by the FCA, CySEC, and FSCA, and is not BAPPEBTI-licensed. Trade on MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and the Exness app; raw accounts start from $200.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Spread From | 0.0 Pips (Raw and Zero); 0.3 Pips on Standard |
| Commission | Up to $3.50 a Side on Raw; None on Standard |
| Minimum Deposit | $200 (Raw/Zero) |
| Regulated By | FCA, CySEC, FSCA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Exness App |
| Best For | Low Spreads with Rupiah Funding |
Vantage gives you raw ECN spreads from 0.0 pips with a $3 per side commission ($6 round turn), and its all-in cost on EUR/USD lands near 0.7 of a pip. The big plus is the low entry: its Raw ECN account opens from just $50, far below the others here.
Vantage was founded in 2009, is licensed by ASIC and the FSCA, among others, and serves Indonesians through an offshore arm, so it is not a BAPPEBTI broker. Platforms include MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, and the Vantage app.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Spread From | 0.0 Pips (Raw ECN) |
| Commission | About $3 a Side ($6 Round Turn) |
| Minimum Deposit | $50 |
| Regulated By | ASIC, FSCA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, Vantage App |
| Best For | ECN Pricing with a Small Start |
Low spreads pay off most if you trade a lot: scalpers, day traders, and anyone using robots. If you trade once in a while and hold for days, the spread matters less than swaps and the simplicity of one cost.
Be honest about your style. A raw account with commission is cheaper for heavy traders, while a no-commission standard account can be easier for beginners who trade rarely.
TopAsiaFX Tip: Count your real cost over a month, not per trade. If you trade 50 lots a month, even $1 saved per lot is $50, which adds up fast over a year.
A tight spread can hide other charges. Check the swap (the fee for holding a trade overnight), any deposit or withdrawal fees, and whether the spread widens during big news.
The headline “0.0 pips” is for calm, busy market hours; during news the gap can jump. Tickmill and Vantage stand out for charging no deposit or withdrawal fees, which helps a smaller account.
If you want your money held inside Indonesia, licensed local brokers like Monex (MIFX) and Finex offer competitive accounts too, though their spreads are usually a little wider than the global ECN brokers above.
The trade-off is local protection: segregated funds in Indonesia and a place to complain at home. TopAsiaFX has a separate guide on these local names.
Forex is risky, and a low spread does not change that. Most people who trade lose money. Cheaper costs help, but they cannot turn a weak plan into a winning one.
Practise on a free demo first, only use money you can afford to lose, set a stop on every trade (a limit that closes a losing trade for you), and keep your trades small.
IC Markets or Tickmill for the lowest all-in cost, FP Markets if you want forex and shares, Exness for rupiah deposits, or Vantage for ECN pricing with a small $50 start. Compare the spread plus commission, test with a small deposit, and grow from there.
The small gap between the buy price and the sell price. It is a cost you pay on every trade, and a lower spread means a lower cost.
No. A 0.0 pip spread comes with a separate commission. Your real cost is the spread plus the commission.
Tickmill and Vantage have very low all-in costs, near 0.7 of a pip on EUR/USD. IC Markets and FP Markets are close behind.
Less than you might think. If you trade rarely, a simple no-commission account may suit you better. Low spreads matter most for frequent traders.
Yes, with Exness, which takes local rupiah deposits. The others mainly use cards, e-wallets, or bank transfer.