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Best Brokers With Low Spreads 2026

Written By

Paul Holmes

Written By

Paul Holmes

Paul has over 15 years experience in the trading industry, both as a full-time trader and working with leading brokers. He’s traded indices and forex, developed proprietary day trading techniques, and built his own MetaTrader algorithms. Paul has been quoted in various respected media outlets, including Business Insider, Benzinga, and U.S. News.

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Edited By

James Barra

Edited By

James Barra

James is an investment writer with a background in financial services. As a former management consultant, he's worked on major operational transformation programmes at top European banks. A trusted industry name, James's work at DayTrading.com has been cited in publications like Business Insider.

» James Barra Profile Page

Fact Checked By

Michael MacKenzie

Fact Checked By

Michael MacKenzie

Michael is a writer and editor with over a decade in journalism and publishing. His niche lies in editing and fact-checking content in the financial services sector, with a focus on online brokers and trading platforms. Michael previously reported on politics and economics in the Middle East and edits books for established publishers.

» Michael MacKenzie Profile Page

Updated

Jul 25, 2025

If you’re a day trader, every fraction of a pip counts. That’s why brokers with low spreads can be a game-changer, helping you pocket more of what you earn and keeping you competitive in fast-moving markets.

Let’s dig into our lowest spread brokers, tested and rated by industry experts and active traders.

Methodology

To rank the brokers with the best spreads, we

What Is A Spread?

A spread is the difference between the bid (selling) price and the ask (buying) price of a financial instrument – essentially, the cost your broker charges for executing a trade. Think of it as a toll booth on your trading highway.

Let’s break it down with an example:

Imagine you’re trading EUR/USD (the Euro against the US Dollar), and your broker quotes:

• Bid price (Sell): 1.1000
• Ask price (Buy): 1.1002

The spread here is 2 pips (1.1002 – 1.1000 = 0.0002).

Here’s how it works in action:

1. You decide to buy one standard lot (100,000 units) of EUR/USD at the ask price of 1.1002.
2. As soon as your trade is executed, if you were to sell it immediately, you’d sell at the bid price of 1.1000.
3. That means you’d start with a -2 pip loss, which is the spread.

To break even on this trade, the price must move in your favor by at least 2 pips. If the price goes beyond that, you’re in profit.

For those with a short-term trading strategy, like day trading or scalping, this cost directly impacts your bottom line.

Low spreads mean you can hit profitability faster, especially when making multiple trades a day.

Paul Holmes

Author

What Influences Spreads?

Not all spreads are created equal, and understanding what makes them widen or shrink can give you an edge in choosing the right broker.

Here are the key factors that come into play:

Broker Markups

Your broker has to make money. That’s where markups come in. Some brokers like IC Markets offer raw spreads (essentially the market spread) and charge a commission, while others roll their fees into wider spreads.

Example: A raw spread on EUR/USD might be 0.2 pips, but a broker could add 1 pip as their markup, making your spread 1.2 pips.

Market Volatility

Spreads tend to widen in fast-moving markets. This is because prices are jumping around, and brokers increase spreads to manage their risk.

Example: During a significant news release like Non-Farm Payrolls, spreads can skyrocket as liquidity providers struggle to quote stable prices.

Asset Liquidity

High-liquidity assets like EUR/USD or major indices like the S&P 500 generally have lower spreads because there’s a lot of buying and selling.

On the other hand, exotic currency pairs or niche stocks often have wider spreads due to lower trading activity.

Example: EUR/USD might have a spread as low as 0.1 pip, while USD/TRY could have a spread of 10+ pips.

Time Of Day

Markets aren’t equally active 24/7. Spreads are usually tight during peak trading hours (like the London-New York overlap) and wider during quieter periods, like the Asian session for non-Asian markets.

Type Of Broker

• Market Maker: These brokers set their own spreads and can widen them based on market conditions or internal policies.
• ECN broker/STP broker: These brokers pass on market spreads directly, which can be tighter but may charge a commission.

Knowing these factors can help you spot when and why spreads change – and, more importantly, which brokers and trading times are better for minimizing your costs.

What To Look For In A Low-Spread Broker

Low spreads are great, but they’re not the only thing that matters when choosing a broker. A flashy claim of “spreads as low as 0.0 pips” might sound tempting, but there’s more to the story.

Here’s what you should be looking for:

Transparent Average Spreads

Ignore the marketing hype about minimum spreads. Those ultra-low numbers often apply under perfect conditions that rarely happen.

Instead, focus on brokers like Pepperstone that provide their average spreads across key trading hours and assets.

Reliable Execution

Low spreads mean nothing if you can’t enter or exit trades at the prices you see. A good broker should offer fast and reliable trade execution, especially during high-volatility periods when the market is moving quickly.

Why it matters: Slippage (getting a worse price than expected) can cancel out the benefits of low spreads.

BlackBull impresses with speeds of less than 75 milliseconds.

Powerful Platforms And Tools

A low-spread broker should also equip you with the tools to trade effectively.

Look for platforms like MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, or TradingView available at providers like FOREX.com with features like:

• Advanced charting and analysis tools.
• Automated trading support.
• Risk management tools like stop-loss and take-profit orders.

Market Data And Insights

A broker that provides real-time market data, economic calendars, and regular insights can help you make smarter trading decisions.

It’s a massive plus if these come free of charge, which you can find at firms like Fusion Markets.

No Hidden Costs

A broker with low spreads might offset them with other fees like:

• Commissions on trades (especially with raw spread accounts).
• High withdrawal fees or inactivity charges.
• Wide spreads during off-peak hours.

Strong Regulation

Choose a broker like Vantage which is regulated by reputable authorities, including the FCA and ASIC. Low spreads are only worth it if your funds are secure and the broker operates transparently.

DayTrading.com’s Regulation & Trust Rating can help here. We’ve classified a growing list of over 65 regulators depending on their reliability and safeguards, from ‘green tier’ bodies like the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) through to ‘red tier’ bodies like the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC).

Liquidity And Asset Variety

The more liquid the broker’s offering, the tighter the spreads you’ll see. Make sure they offer a good range of assets, especially the ones you trade most, whether that’s major currency pairs, indices, or commodities.

By focusing on these factors, you’ll enjoy low trading costs and a smooth and reliable trading experience. Remember, a low-spread broker is about the complete package, not just a single number.

Paul Holmes

Author

What Type Of Broker Offers The Best Spreads?

Raw spreads are the tightest possible spreads – straight from the interbank market, with no markup.

Electronic Communication Network (ECN) brokers like IC Markets and Pepperstone typically provide access to these raw spreads by directly connecting you to liquidity providers.

While raw spreads often come with a commission fee per trade, they can still be cost-effective for active traders like us. Here’s why:

Ultra-Low Spreads

ECN brokers provide raw spreads as low as 0.0 pips on major pairs like GBP/USD or EUR/USD. This significantly lowers your trading costs, especially for high-frequency traders who make multiple trades daily.

Imagine:

• You trade GBP/USD with an ECN provider offering a raw spread of 0.1 pip.
• The commission is $7 per round trip (buy and sell) on a standard lot.
• The total cost is $7 + the 0.1 pip spread, much lower than a broker with a fixed spread of say 2 pips.

Direct Market Access

ECN firms connect you directly to the market, meaning you’re trading against other participants (banks, hedge funds, etc) rather than the broker.

This eliminates potential conflicts of interest, as the broker doesn’t profit from your losses.

Better Execution Speed

ECN brokers generally offer faster trade execution, which is crucial for day traders who rely on quick entries and exits.

Fewer requotes during volatile conditions means more reliable trading.

Transparency

You see actual market prices without hidden markups, giving you confidence that you’re getting a fair deal.

However, there are things to keep in mind:

Bottom Line

Choosing the right broker with low spreads can make a big difference in your trading profitability, especially for active traders like day traders.

However, look beyond flashy “minimum spread” claims and focus on brokers offering transparent average spreads.

For high-frequency traders, ECN brokers with raw spreads may be worth considering. Lower costs and direct market access can outweigh commission fees.

Ultimately, the best broker for you isn’t just about spreads – it’s about the whole package: reliable execution, helpful trading tools, and a trustworthy, regulated platform.

Find the right low-spread trading platform for your needs.