Best Market Maker Brokers

Market maker brokers are companies that buy and sell financial assets with the use of their own inventories. They allow markets to operate smoothly by supplying deep liquidity and provide important benefits for short-term traders.

This guide will explain how they work, plus the advantages and disadvantages you can experience by day trading with a market maker broker. We’ve also evaluated a long row of companies to bring you our pick of the best market maker brokers.

Best Market Maker Brokers 2026

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These are the top market-making brokers based on our exhaustive reviews:

Tested with a live trading account Accepts traders from Japan Your capital is at risk. Trade only with funds you can afford to lose.

1. Our top pick in Japan
   1

   XM

   4.8/ 5

   Visit XM Read review
   • Demo account
   • Platforms: MT4, MT5, TradingCentral
   • Min. deposit: $5
2. 2

   AvaTrade

   4.9/ 5

   Visit AvaTrade Read review
   • Demo account
   • Min. deposit: $100
   • Min. trade: 0.01 Lots
3. 3

   Trade Nation

   4.4/ 5

   Visit Trade Nation Read review
   • Demo account
   • Regulator: FCA, ASIC, CMVM , FSCA, SCB, FSA
   • Platforms: TN Trader, MT4, TradingView
4. 4

   Vantage

   4.7/ 5

   Visit Vantage Read review
   • Demo account
   • Regulator: FCA, ASIC, FSCA, VFSC, CIMA
   • Min. deposit: $50
5. 5

   Plus500

   4.1/ 5

   Visit Plus500 Read review
   • Demo account
   • Platforms: WebTrader, App
   • Min. deposit: $100
   81% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
6. 6

   IG

   4.8/ 5

   Visit IG Read review
   • Demo account
   • Min. deposit: $0
   • Min. trade: 0.01 Lots

Learn how we test brokers and why you can trust our ratings.

Here is a summary of why we recommend these brokers in October 2026:

1. XM 4.8/5 XM is a globally recognized forex and CFD broker with 20+ million clients in 190+ countries. Since 2009, this trusted broker has been delivering low trading fees across its growing roster of 1000+ instruments. It also offers a comprehensive MetaTrader experience that we've observed firsthand placing test trades.
2. AvaTrade 4.9/5 Established in 2006, AvaTrade is a leading forex and CFD broker trusted by over 400,000 traders. Operating under regulation in 9 jurisdictions, AvaTrade processes an impressive 2+ million trades each month. Through like MT4, MT5, and its proprietary WebTrader, the broker provides a growing selection of 1,250+ instruments. Whether it’s CFDs, AvaOptions, or the more recent AvaFutures, short-term traders at all levels will find opportunities. With terrific education and 24/5 multilingual customer support, AvaTrade delivers the complete trading experience.
3. Trade Nation 4.4/5 Trade Nation is a top FX and CFD broker regulated in multiple jurisdictions including the UK and Australia. The firm offers low-cost fixed and variable spreads on 1000+ assets with robust trading platforms and training materials. The Signal Centre can also be used for trade ideas.
4. Vantage 4.7/5 Founded in 2009, Vantage offers trading on 1000+ short-term CFD products to millions of clients. You can trade Forex CFDs from 0.0 pips on the RAW account through TradingView, MT4 or MT5. Vantage is ASIC-regulated and client funds are segregated. Copy traders will also appreciate the range of social trading tools.
5. Plus500 4.1/5 Established in 2008 and headquartered in Israel, Plus500 is a prominent brokerage that boasts over 25 million registered traders in over 50 countries. Specializing in CFD trading, the company offers an intuitive, proprietary platform and mobile app. It maintains competitive spreads and does not charge commissions or deposit or withdrawal fees. Plus500 also continues to shine as one of the most trusted brokers with licenses from reputable regulators, including the FCA, ASIC and CySEC.
6. IG 4.8/5 Founded in 1974, IG is part of IG Group Holdings Plc, a publicly traded (LSE: IGG) brokerage. The brand offers a top-tier selection of 17,000+ markets, with a range of user-friendly platforms and investing apps. For 50 years, IG has maintained its position as an industry leader, excelling in all key areas for traders.

Best Market Maker Brokers Comparison

Best Market Maker Brokers Comparison

Broker	Market Maker	Minimum Deposit	Investment Offering	Trading Platforms	Financial Regulators
XM	✔Yes	$5	CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Commodities, Indices, Thematic Indices, Precious Metals, Energies	MT4, MT5, TradingCentral	CySEC, DFSA, FSCA, SCA, FSA, FSC-Belize, FSC-Mauritius, CMA-Kenya, CMA-UAE
AvaTrade	✔Yes	$100	CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Crypto, Spread Betting, Futures	WebTrader, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, AvaFutures, MT4, MT5, AlgoTrader, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade	ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, ISA, CBI, JFSA, BVI, FSRA/ADGM, AFM, CMA-Kenya, CIRO (via Friedberg Direct)
Trade Nation	✔Yes	$0	CFDs, Forex, Indices, Shares, Commodities, Futures, Bonds, Spread Betting (UK and Ireland only), Cryptos (Bahamas entity only)	TN Trader, MT4, TradingView	FCA, ASIC, CMVM , FSCA, SCB, FSA
Vantage	✔Yes	$50	CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds	ProTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade	FCA, ASIC, FSCA, VFSC, CIMA
Plus500	✔Yes	$100	CFDs on Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Options, Crypto	WebTrader, App	FCA, CySEC, EFSA, ASIC, FMA, FSCA, MAS, ISA, FSA, DFSA, SCA, JFSA, SCB, CIRO, BAPPEBTI, OJK, BI
IG	✔Yes	$0	CFDs (not in US), Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting (UK only)	Web, L2 Dealer, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, ProRealTime	CFTC, NFA, FCA, BaFin, ASIC, FINMA, MAS, JFSA, FMA, DFSA, BMA, CONSOB

Community Sentiment

See how users rate these brokers based on the average customer ratings submitted on DayTrading.com, plus ratings from Trustpilot, the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Community Sentiment

Broker	Our Users' Rating	Trustpilot Score	Trustpilot Reviews	iOS App Rating	Android App Rating
XM	4.6 / 5	2.0 / 5	3077	4.7 / 5	3.9 / 5
AvaTrade	4.3 / 5	4.8 / 5	13629	4.3 / 5	4.0 / 5
Trade Nation	4.0 / 5	4.5 / 5	2175	4.5 / 5	4.5 / 5
Vantage	4.1 / 5	4.4 / 5	15839	3.6 / 5	3.9 / 5
Plus500	4.2 / 5	4.2 / 5	20176	4.1 / 5	4.3 / 5
IG	4.3 / 5	3.7 / 5	10208	4.6 / 5	4.0 / 5

XM

4.8/ 5

Visit XM XM review

With a low $5 minimum deposit, advanced charting platforms in MT4 and MT5, expanding range of markets, and a Zero account offering spreads from 0.0, XM provides all the essentials for active traders.

XM quick facts

Demo Account

✔Yes

Instruments

CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Commodities, Indices, Thematic Indices, Precious Metals, Energies

Regulator

CySEC, DFSA, FSCA, SCA, FSA, FSC-Belize, FSC-Mauritius, CMA-Kenya, CMA-UAE

Platforms

MT4, MT5, TradingCentral

Minimum Deposit

$5

Minimum Trade

0.01 Lots

Account Currencies

USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, ZAR

Pros

• XM’s growing roster of 1,400+ instruments provides diverse short-term trading opportunities, with unique turbo stocks, fractional shares, and more recently thematic indices.
• XM secured a category 5 license from the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) of the United Arab Emirates in late 2025, strengthening its regulatory credentials and making it a strong option for traders in the Middle East.
• XM’s customer support has delivered over years of testing, with 24/7 assistance in 30 languages, response times of under 2 minutes and a growing Telegram channel.

Cons

• While the XM app stands out for its usability and exclusive copy trading products, the selection of technical analysis tools needs to be improved to meet the needs of advanced traders.
• XM is falling behind the curve by not offering cTrader, which is favored over MetaTrader by some serious traders for its smoother user experience and superior charting package.
• XM relies solely on the MetaTrader platforms for desktop trading, so there’s no in-house downloadable solution for a more beginner-friendly user experience with unique features.

Visit XM XM review

AvaTrade

4.9/ 5

Visit AvaTrade AvaTrade review

AvaTrade offers active traders everything they need: an intuitive WebTrader, powerful AvaProtect risk management, a smooth 5-minute sign-up process, and dependable support you can rely on in fast-moving markets.

AvaTrade quick facts

Demo Account

✔Yes

Instruments

CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Crypto, Spread Betting, Futures

Regulator

ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, ISA, CBI, JFSA, BVI, FSRA/ADGM, AFM, CMA-Kenya, CIRO (via Friedberg Direct)

Platforms

WebTrader, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, AvaFutures, MT4, MT5, AlgoTrader, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade

Minimum Deposit

$100

Minimum Trade

0.01 Lots

Account Currencies

USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, ZAR

Pros

• Years on, AvaTrade remains one of the few brokers offering a bespoke risk management tool, AvaProtect, that insures losses up to $1M for a fee and is easy to activate on the platform.
• AvaFutures traders can now use TradingView for 100+ indicators, screeners and a calendar, the sharing of trade ideas, commissions from $0.45, intraday margins from $60, and access to exchanges like CME and EUREX.
• Support at AvaTrade performed excellently during testing, with response times of 3 minutes and localized support in major trading jurisdictions, including the UK, Europe and the Middle East.

Cons

• The AvaSocial app is good but not great – the look and feel, plus the navigation between finding strategy providers and account management needs upgrading to rival category leaders like eToro.
• While signing up is a breeze, AvaTrade lacks an ECN account like Pepperstone or IC Markets, which provides the raw spreads and ultra-fast execution many day traders are looking for.
• AvaTrade’s WebTrader has improved, but work is still needed in terms of customizability – frustratingly widgets like market watch and watchlists can’t be hidden, moved, or resized.

Visit AvaTrade AvaTrade review

Trade Nation

4.4/ 5

Visit Trade Nation Trade Nation review

Trade Nation suits discretionary traders who want to speculate on major indices like the US 500 or liquid FX pairs, and want the predictable all-in costs of fixed spreads. In tests, we found the fixed-spread TN Trader environment particularly useful for trading around scheduled economic releases owing to its reliable charting environment and because published spreads stayed capped.

Trade Nation quick facts

Demo Account

✔Yes

Instruments

CFDs, Forex, Indices, Shares, Commodities, Futures, Bonds, Spread Betting (UK and Ireland only), Cryptos (Bahamas entity only)

Regulator

FCA, ASIC, CMVM , FSCA, SCB, FSA

Platforms

TN Trader, MT4, TradingView

Minimum Deposit

$0

Minimum Trade

0.1 Lots

Account Currencies

USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, ZAR, SEK, NOK, DKK

Pros

• The broker expanded into Europe with regulated online trading services after securing authorization from Portugal's CVMV, boosting its safety protections for European residents.
• In testing of the TN Trader account under normal market conditions, fixed spreads held while fills were prompt on major forex pairs, with a slight drift in the entry level as price ticked between click and fill.
• Trade Nation accounts can now be linked with TradingView, providing advanced multi-charts and the ability to execute trades directly.

Cons

• Offshore SCB and FSA entities allow retail clients up to 1:200 and 1:500 leverage compared to 1:30 in regions like the UK, Europe and Australia, so an FSA client can have 16 times the exposure of a UK retail client on the same trade, but with less oversight and no compensation scheme.
• The 2–20% rebate scheme is closed to FCA, CMVM, and ASIC clients, meaning active day traders in these regions who would benefit from transaction rebates cannot claim them.
• There is no raw or ECN pricing tier, which are often prefered by day traders. No matter how much you deposit or trade, you use the same fixed (or variable on MT4) pricing as beginners, making it unsuitable for scalpers especially.

Visit Trade Nation Trade Nation review

Vantage

4.7/ 5

Visit Vantage Vantage review

Vantage remains an excellent option for CFD traders seeking a tightly-regulated broker with access to the reliable MetaTrader platforms. The fast sign-up process and $50 minimum deposit make it very straightforward to start day trading quickly.

Vantage quick facts

Demo Account

✔Yes

Instruments

CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds

Regulator

FCA, ASIC, FSCA, VFSC, CIMA

Platforms

ProTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade

Minimum Deposit

$50

Minimum Trade

0.01 Lots

Account Currencies

USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, HKD, SGD, PLN

Pros

• The app was upgraded in 2026 with wider asset visibility bringing together balances across Contract, Copy, and Funding accounts on one screen
• There are no short-term strategy restrictions with hedging and scalping permitted
• It’s quick and easy to open a live account – taking less than 5 minutes

Cons

• It's a shame that some clients will need to register with the offshore entity, which offers less regulatory protection
• A steep $10,000 deposit is needed for the best trading conditions, which include the $1.50 commission per side
• The average execution speeds of 100ms to 250ms are slower than alternatives based on tests

Visit Vantage Vantage review

Plus500

4.1/ 5

Visit Plus500 Plus500 review

Plus500 offers a super-clean experience for traders with a CFD trading platform that sports a modern design and dynamic charting. That said, the broker’s research tools are limited, fees trail the cheapest brokers, and there’s room for enhancement in its educational resources.

Plus500 quick facts

Demo Account

✔Yes

Instruments

CFDs on Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Options, Crypto

Regulator

FCA, CySEC, EFSA, ASIC, FMA, FSCA, MAS, ISA, FSA, DFSA, SCA, JFSA, SCB, CIRO, BAPPEBTI, OJK, BI

Platforms

WebTrader, App

Minimum Deposit

$100

Minimum Trade

Variable

Account Currencies

USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, ZAR, CZK

Pros

• The broker offers low commission trading on a diverse range of markets, minimizing additional fees while appealing to established traders
• In 2025 Plus500 added new share CFDs in emerging sectors like quantum computing and AI, offering opportunities in stocks like IonQ, Rigetti, Duolingo, and Carvana
• AI Bites has been added, giving active traders real-time, AI-generated market summaries, technical analysis, and social sentiment next to charts, aiding in short-term trading decisions

Cons

• The absence of social trading means users can’t follow and replicate the trades of experienced traders
• Plus500’s lack of support for MetaTrader or cTrader charting tools might be a deal breaker for advanced day traders looking for familiarity
• Compared to some competitors, especially IG, Plus500’s research and analysis tools are limited

Visit Plus500 Plus500 review

IG

4.8/ 5

Visit IG IG review

IG continues to provide a comprehensive package with an intuitive web platform, best-in-class education for beginners, advanced charting tools bolstered by its recent TradingView integration, real-time data, and robust trade execution for experienced day traders.

IG quick facts

Demo Account

✔Yes

Instruments

CFDs (not in US), Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting (UK only)

Regulator

CFTC, NFA, FCA, BaFin, ASIC, FINMA, MAS, JFSA, FMA, DFSA, BMA, CONSOB

Platforms

Web, L2 Dealer, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, ProRealTime

Minimum Deposit

$0

Minimum Trade

0.01 Lots

Account Currencies

USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, ZAR, SEK, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD

Pros

• IG is amongst the best in terms of its range of instruments, which includes stocks, forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies, plus added US-listed futures and options as well as an AI Index, providing diversification opportunities.
• As a well-established broker, IG operates under strict regulatory guidelines in multiple jurisdictions, maintaining a high level of trust.
• The ProRealTime advanced charting platform is free as long as certain modest monthly trading activity requirements are met.

Cons

• IG has discontinued its swap-free account, reducing its appeal to Islamic traders.
• Beginners might find IG’s fee structure complex, with various fees for different types of trades or services, potentially leading to confusion or unexpected charges.
• IG applies an inactivity fee of $12-$18 per month after 2 years, deterring casual investors.

Visit IG IG review

How Did We Choose The Best Market Maker Brokers?

The first and most important thing we checked is that the company is trusted.

The best indicator of a trustworthy broker is authorization from a creditable body, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission in the US or the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK.

This will help safeguard your capital, ensure you are receiving a high level of customer care, and reduce the risk of falling victim to conflicts of interest.

Following that:

Understanding Market Makers

Market makers play an essential part in trading that takes place on regulated financial exchanges. They act as the middleman between buyers and sellers of financial securities, and continuously quote prices during market hours, thus ensuring that a trade can always be executed.

The deep liquidity that these institutions provide is critical for financial markets. It allows assets to be purchased and offloaded without causing substantial price turbulence.

Furthermore, their presence ensures that short-term traders, such as day traders, can open and close positions more easily.

Market makers also act as the middlemen in over-the-counter trading, where buyers and sellers do business outside of a financial exchange.

Importantly, market makers are not the same as brokerages. While brokers bring buyers and sellers together and pass orders onto third-party liquidity providers, market makers create the marketplace for investors by buying and selling assets directly to and from them.

However, financial institutions can act as both market makers and brokers. Trading with one of these dual-role entities carries advantages for short-term traders, though you should be aware of potential conflicts of interest that may arise.

Notably, market maker brokers may have an inherent conflict of interest as they often take positions opposite to their clients, potentially profiting from client losses. They also control prices and execution, which can lead to practices like price manipulation and less favorable execution for traders.

How Do Market Makers Work?

These institutions anticipate executing high volumes of buy and sell orders each day. And so they hold large inventories of assets, such as stocks, commodities, currencies and bonds, that they stand ready to trade from.

This function means that markets can keep moving by guaranteeing that a buyer and a seller can always find someone to do business with.

When markets are ‘illiquid,’ an investor may have difficulties locating another to make a trade. In these situations, the spread – in other words, the difference between the buy (or bid) and sell (or ask) prices – can be exceptionally high, resulting in greater costs to the trader.

How Do Market Maker Brokers Make Money?

Market-making brokers primarily generate profits through the bid/ask spread. They seek to buy at a lower bid price and sell at the higher ask price, and bank the difference in the process.

These institutions are still able to make money when liquidity is healthy and bid-ask spreads are kept to a minimum.

Whilst margins are small, the colossal volume of trades that are placed each day enables them to make a tidy profit.

Certain market makers will also charge fees or commissions to execute trades. However, a high level of competition means that these costs – along with the difference between bid and ask prices – do not become prohibitive for traders.

Example Trade

Let’s say that I wish to trade shares in Colin’s Computers using a market maker broker. I believe prices of the company will rise in price, and decide to buy 100 shares in the business to capitalize on this. The company currently trades at $50 per share.

To begin with, I’ll have a look at the bid and ask prices on my market-making broker’s trading platform. They are listed as:

• Bid price: $49.90
• Ask price: $50.10

This results in a bid/ask spread of $0.20.

When I place my buy order for 100 Colin’s Computers shares, the brokerage will match my instruction with existing sell orders on the market. If there is a seller who’s happy to offload their shares at $50.10, my order will be executed at this price.

In this case, how much profit would the market maker receive?

First off, let’s have a look at the total cost of the trade to me. This stands at $5,010 ($50.10 x 100 shares).

Now let’s assume that the market maker initially bought those shares for their inventory at the lower price of $49.90 each. Their profit would come in at $20 (the bid/ask spread of $0.20 x 100 shares).

Bottom Line

Deep liquidity is the key to straightforward and cost-effective trading. And by using market-making brokers, traders can enjoy an optimal dealing experience and improve their chances of making a profit.

However, using one of these brokerages to trade also presents risks that individuals need to be constantly mindful of. That’s why we recommend choosing one of our top-rated market maker brokers.

FAQ

What Is A Market Maker?

A market maker is a firm or broker that provides bids and offers of a two-sided market along with the market size of each. By trading on both sides of the market, these companies provide a platform for trading, making their money through spreads.

Do Market Maker Brokers Manipulate Prices?

Market maker brokers set their own bid/ask prices, which makes it possible for them to manipulate asset prices. However, competition is so stiff that spreads offered by market makers are generally tight.

Finding a market maker broker that is registered with a respected authority will help prevent you from being scammed or manipulated.

Do Market Maker Brokers Own Stock?

A market maker will buy stock from you and hold it until it finds another buyer. During this time, the broker does own that stock. However, they do not hold shares for their own benefit.

What Are The Advantages Of Trading With A Market Maker Broker?

Market maker brokers with healthy liquidity allow traders to enter and exit positions rapidly, thus enabling you to swiftly capitalize on trading opportunities that arise. This also helps reduce the threat of slippage, where the expected and actual prices of a trade differ due to timing issues.

Also, many such brokers offer fixed spreads, which appeal to beginners especially, providing a clear picture of how much a trade will cost.

What Are The Risks Of Trading With A Market Maker Broker?

While their operations are often closely observed by regulators, the potential for market-making brokers to act in their own interests at the expense of traders is always present.

Also, market makers may not provide the same level of price transparency as other brokers, such as ECN trading plarforms.

Additionally, with ECN brokers, it is possible to trade prices at certain times with little or no spread. This means day traders can often get better prices with these companies than with market makers.