Best UnionPay Brokers 2024
UnionPay International (UPI), or China UnionPay (CUP), is a payment provider popular with online brokers and traders. You may have spotted the tricolored logo on your brokerage’s website or at your local ATM, though it may not feel as familiar as Visa debit and credit cards.
The payment service offers multiple trading rewards and online shopping benefits, as well as QR code payments, which we will cover in this review. Learn more about trading with UnionPay and find out the advantages of adding a UPI card to your wallet. We also list the best brokers that accept UnionPay deposits in 2024.
Best UnionPay Brokers
Following our evaluations, these are the top 5 brokers with UnionPay:
UnionPay Brokers Comparison
| Broker | Minimum Deposit | Instruments | Platforms | Leverage | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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$0 | CFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto, Spread Betting | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, DupliTrade | 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) | Visit |
|
$200 | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Futures, Crypto | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade | 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global) | Visit |
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$100 | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities | MT4, MT5, TradingView | - | Visit |
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$0 | Forex, CFDs, stocks, indices, energies, metals, commodities, cryptos | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist | 1:500 | Visit |
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$50 | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds | ProTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView, DupliTrade | 1:500 | Visit |
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$0 | CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto | MT4 | 1:500 | Visit |
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$100 | Forex, CFDs, Indices, Shares, Energies, Metals, Cryptos | CMTrading Webtrader, MT4 | 1:200 | Visit |
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€100 | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Cryptos, Commodities | MT4, MT5, TradingView | 1:30 | Visit |
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$200 | CFDs, Forex, Commodities, Stocks, Indices | MT4, MT5, TradingView, TradingCentral | 1:500 | Visit |
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$5 | Forex, CFDs, Indices, Shares, Commodities, Cryptos | MT4, MT5 | 1:1000 | Visit |
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$100 | Forex, Indices, Shares, Futures, Commodities, Metals (all CFDs) | MT4, AutoChartist, TradingCentral | 1:30 (FCA), 1:30 (CySEC), 1:500 (FSCA), 1:1000 (BM) | Visit |
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$10 | CFDs, Forex, Metals, Commodities, Stocks, Indices | MT4, MT5 | 1:1000 | Visit |
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$100 | CFDs, Stocks, Energies, Indices, Metals, Cryptos, Forex | MT4, MT5, TradingView, TradingCentral | 1:500 | Visit |
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$50 | Forex, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Stocks, Indices | MT4, MT5 | 1:500 | Visit |
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$10,000 | Cryptos | MT4, MT5, AlgoTrader | - | Visit |
#1 - Pepperstone
Why We Chose Pepperstone
Established in Australia in 2010, Pepperstone is a top-rated forex and CFD broker with over 400,000 clients worldwide. It offers access to 1,300+ instruments on leading platforms MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView, maintaining low, transparent fees. Pepperstone is also regulated by trusted authorities like the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC, ensuring a secure environment for day traders at all levels.
"Pepperstone stands out as a top choice for day trading, offering razor-sharp spreads, ultra-fast execution, and advanced charting platforms for experienced traders. New traders are also welcomed with no minimum deposit, extensive educational resources, and exceptional 24/7 support."
- DayTrading Review Team
- Instruments: CFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto, Spread Betting
- Regulator: FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, CMA, BaFin, SCB
- Platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, DupliTrade
- Minimum Deposit: $0
- Minimum Trade: 0.01 Lots
- Leverage: 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
Pros
- Now offering spread betting through TradingView, Pepperstone provides a seamless, tax-efficient trading experience with advanced analysis tools.
- Pepperstone emerges as a low-cost broker, especially for serious day traders with spreads from 0.0 in the Razor account and rebates of 25%+ through the Active Trader program.
- There’s support for a range of industry-leading charting platforms including MT4, MT5, TradingView, and cTrader, catering to various short-term trading styles, including algo trading.
Cons
- Despite enhancements to its range of markets, crypto offerings are relatively limited compared to other brokers such as eToro, with no option to invest in real coins.
- Pepperstone’s demo accounts are active for only 30 days, which may not be not long enough to familiarize yourself with the different platforms and test trading strategies.
- Pepperstone does not support cTrader Copy, a popular copy trading feature built into the excellent cTrader platform and available at alternatives like IC Markets.
#2 - IC Markets
Why We Chose IC Markets
IC Markets is a globally recognized forex and CFD broker known for its excellent pricing, comprehensive range of trading instruments, and premium trading technology. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Australia, the brokerage is regulated by the ASIC, CySEC and FSA, and has attracted more than 180,000 clients from over 200 countries.
"IC Markets offers superior pricing, exceptionally fast execution and seamless deposits. The introduction of advanced charting platforms, notably TradingView, and the Raw Trader Plus account, ensures it remains a top choice for intermediate to advanced day traders."
- DayTrading Review Team
- Instruments: CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Futures, Crypto
- Regulator: ASIC, CySEC, FSA
- Platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade
- Minimum Deposit: $200
- Minimum Trade: 0.01 Lots
- Leverage: 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global)
Pros
- IC Markets offers among the tightest spreads in the industry, with 0.0-pip spreads on major currency pairs, making it especially cost-effective for day traders.
- You have access to over 2,250 CFDs across various markets, including forex, commodities, indices, stocks, bonds, and cryptocurrencies, allowing for diversified trading strategies.
- IC Markets offers fast and dependable 24/5 support based on firsthand experience, particularly when it comes to accounts and funding issues.
Cons
- There are fees for certain withdrawal methods, including a $20 wire charge, which can eat into profits, especially for frequent withdrawals.
- Interest isn't paid on unused cash, an increasingly popular feature found at alternatives like Interactive Brokers.
- Despite four industry-leading third-party platforms, there is no proprietary software or trading app built with new traders in mind.
#3 - Eightcap
Why We Chose Eightcap
"Eightcap delivers in every area for day traders with a growing selection of charting platforms and AI-powered tools. Now sporting 250+ crypto CFDs and the Crypto Crusher market scanner, it's also become a stand-out choice for crypto trading, winning our 'Best Crypto Broker' award two years in a row."
- DayTrading Review Team
- Instruments: CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities
- Regulator: ASIC, FCA, xCySEC, SCB
- Platforms: MT4, MT5, TradingView
- Minimum Deposit: $100
- Minimum Trade: 0.01 Lots
Pros
- Eightcap stands out with a selection of powerful trading tools, including MT4 and MT5, the innovative algorithmic trading platform Capitalise.ai, and more recently the 50-million strong social trading network TradingView.
- Having excelled across all key areas for day traders, Eightcap outperformed more than 490 competitors to win our 'Best Overall Broker' award for 2024, also securing our 'Best Crypto Broker' title.
- After bolstering its roster in 2021, Eightcap offers one of the most extensive selections of cryptocurrency CFDs in the market, with crypto/fiat pairs, crypto/crypto pairs, plus crypto indices for broader exposure to the market.
Cons
- In spite of an increasing variety of tools, Eightcap doesn't offer industry favorites like Autochartist or Trading Central, which offer cutting-edge charting analytics, live news, and market insights for short-term traders.
- The demo account expires after 30 days and can only be extended upon request - a notable inconvenience compared to the likes of XM with its unlimited demo mode.
- Eightcap needs to continue bolstering its suite of instruments to match category leaders like Blackbull Markets with its 26,000+ assets, featuring a particularly weak selection of commodities.
#4 - BlackBull Markets
Why We Chose BlackBull Markets
BlackBull is a New Zealand-based CFD broker with trading opportunities on forex, stocks, indices, commodities and cryptos. The broker supports the MetaTrader 4 and 5 platforms as well as TradingView, cTrader and a proprietary mobile app. Clients can trade with high leverage and tight spreads from 0 pips on the broker's ECN accounts.
"BlackBull Markets will suit traders of all experience levels with thousands of tradable instruments, tight spreads and the familiar MetaTrader platforms."
- DayTrading Review Team
- Instruments: Forex, CFDs, stocks, indices, energies, metals, commodities, cryptos
- Regulator: FMA, FSA
- Platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist
- Minimum Deposit: $0
- Minimum Trade: 0.01 Lots
- Leverage: 1:500
Pros
- $0 minimum deposit and 0.01 lot trades
- Huge range of 26,000+ instruments
- Superb range of platforms including TradingView Pro
Cons
- US traders not accepted
- Withdrawal fees with some methods
#5 - Vantage
Why We Chose Vantage
Founded in 2009, Vantage offers trading on 1000+ short-term CFD products to over 900,000 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.
"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."
- DayTrading Review Team
- Instruments: CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds
- Regulator: FCA, ASIC, FSCA, VFSC
- Platforms: ProTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView, DupliTrade
- Minimum Deposit: $50
- Minimum Trade: 0.01 Lots
- Leverage: 1:500
Pros
- Vantage caters to hands-off investors with beginner-friendly social trading via ZuluTrade & Myfxbook
- The ECN accounts are very competitive with spreads from 0.0 pips and a $1.50 commission per side
- Vantage maintains its high trust score thanks to its strong reputation and top-tier regulation from the FCA and ASIC
Cons
- Unfortunately, cryptos are only available for Australian clients
- The average execution speeds of 100ms to 250ms are slower than alternatives based on tests
- It's a shame that some clients will need to register with the offshore entity, which offers less regulatory protection
About UnionPay
Founded in 2002, UnionPay International is a subsidiary of China UnionPay, a financial services corporation headquartered in Shanghai. The company offers cross-border bank card schemes, merchant services, as well as convenient online services to cardholders. It is also a popular deposit and withdrawal option at day trading brokers worldwide.
By 2022, 180 million cards had been issued overseas with innovative products and services available in 95 countries and regions.
The payment provider operates under the People’s Bank of China and is the only Chinese interbank network that connects all bank ATMs in the country. With both credit and debit cards combined, it is also the largest card payment system globally, outperforming Visa and Mastercard.
Pros Of Trading With UnionPay
Easy To Sign Up
You can register for a UnionPay card through one of the approved banks listed on its website in minutes. Once signed up, it is quick and easy to start making deposits and withdrawals at your trading broker.
Several foreign payment service providers offer UnionPay prepaid cards in areas beyond the Asia-Pacific region. For example, the company rolled out virtual prepaid cards in the UK to corporates and consumers. HSBC bank also offers a dual currency card for those who work or travel frequently in China. In the US, owners of ECARDs are allowed to apply for prepaid UnionPay cards online, as well as UPI Gift Cards.
Accepted Everywhere
UnionPay facilitates card acceptance at brokers in 180 countries, such as in Zimbabwe, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Romania, Nigeria, Nepal, Malaysia, Canada, Portugal, Turkey, the United States (including New York), and the UAE. For cash payments, you can find accepted terminals by searching in the ATM locator on the payment provider’s website.
The organization also has alliances with over 2,500 institutions and banks around the world, including Discover in the USA, JCB in Japan, UOB, OCBC and DBS in Singapore, Hang Seng in Hong Kong, KTC and KBank in Thailand, Khan Bank in Mongolia, HSBC in the UK, BDO in the Philippines, BCA in Indonesia, HBL in Pakistan and many more.
When comparing UnionPay vs PayPak, the former has particularly impressive global coverage.
Convenience
UnionPay supports broker deposits and withdrawals in almost all currencies and also works with all mobile devices and computer browsers, making it more accessible than other contenders such as AliPay or WeChat Pay.
CUP is also offered as a convenient mobile app and supports QR code payments, as well as Google Pay and Apple Pay in some countries, such as Hong Kong.
Foreign Transactions
The firm partnered with MoneyExpress, a cross-border remittance service that operates in 45 countries and regions. MoneyExpress settles the exchange rate in advance and deposits the remittance back to the customer’s UnionPay account in RMB. This makes it a cost-effective way to fund your online trading account from abroad.
Rewards
If you already use Visa or Mastercard to deposit funds into your trading account, it could be worth signing up for a UnionPay card to reap the various promotions and local perks. Rewards have included:
- QuickPass (Asia, Russia, Australia) – Contactless mobile payments with rewards at various retail stores such as Watsons and KFC (including a KFC deal in Pakistan)
- BDO Bank 2022 Union Pay Special Rebate Offer (Philippines) – Online cash rebates for Gold and Diamond cardholders
- Union Pay Prestige card – Cinema privileges including discounts on movies as well as a buy one get one free movie offer
- KTC Promotion (Thailand) – Discounts when you spend with a KTC Union Pay card at Big C supermarkets
- Union Pay UPlan – Cross-border discounts and downloadable e-coupons at various shopping outlets
- Union Pay HK Your Way (Hong Kong) – Cash coupons when you spend at participating stores
- Japan promotions – UnionPay users receive a variety of discounts and offers at selected retailers
- Union Pay Grab (Thailand) – Discounts when using GrabFood or GrabCar services
Cons Of Trading With UnionPay
The most notable downside is the limited number of brokers and banks at which you can apply for and trade with a UnionPay card.
It is also surprising that CUP is not yet accepted at one of China’s largest ecommerce services, AliExpress. In addition, since the 1st of December 2020, the E-Wallet in NETSpay (a popular Singaporean payment app) is no longer available. However, consumers can use the UnionPay QR code in Singapore and globally utilizing the Bank of China mobile app.
Finally, whilst the payment network has extended to many countries in Asia, Europe and beyond, some areas do not yet present the UPI logo on broker’s websites and ATMs. In such cases, cardholders will need to inquire whether UnionPay cards are accepted.
Speed
Transactions are generally instant when you pay online using UnionPay but note that if you are using a prepaid card, it can take several days to transfer money beforehand. It is also worth noting that while most brokers process CUP deposits instantly, withdrawals can take longer. Some traders may may have to wait several days before receiving returns.
Security
As with other major payment processors such as Visa or Skrill, broker transactions via UnionPay are safe and secure. The company employs numerous security protocols including the UnionPay 3D Secure (3DS) online payment authentication solution. CUP QR code payments are also fully encrypted.
How To Deposit Using UnionPay
For the various forex and stock brokers that do accept UnionPay, funding is fast and easy. Make sure to check in advance with your broker what the minimum deposit amount is, especially if you’re using a prepaid card.
If you have deposited using UnionPay, withdrawals may need to be issued via the same account. Always make sure that the name and address on your ID documents are the same as your UPI registration details. It is also worth flagging that there may be overseas withdrawal limits with some brokers; you can check this by contacting customer support when you open an account and login.
Fees & Costs
Fortunately, many trading brokers offer fee-free payments via UnionPay, including IC Markets and Pepperstone.
For overseas spending, cross-border transaction fees may apply, as well as ATM commission charges. Note that international debit card commissions are usually lower. Conversion fees may also apply depending on the exchange rate used. This tends to be between 1% and 2% higher than the value of your purchases abroad.
In any case, it is best to check with your vendor or bank beforehand, as these fees vary from country to country.
Is UnionPay Good For Day Trading?
If you are a trader based in Asia, Russia or the US, you may already own a UnionPay card for your day-to-day spending, so it could be convenient to also utilize it for online trading. Using your UPI card to make deposits and withdraw revenue from your trading platform also comes with additional benefits, such as instant processing and secure payments.
However, given that UnionPay is still not widely accessible to consumers beyond the Asia-Pacific region, the payment service will not be offered by as many brokers as Visa, Mastercard or PayPal, for example.
FAQ
How Do I Use UnionPay At My Broker?
You can pay for goods or deposit into your trading account using your debit or credit card number and details. Look out for the UnionPay icon at your chosen vendor or broker.
Is UnionPay Accepted In Europe?
Yes, UnionPay cards are generally accepted in many European countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. With that said, traders will need to check if their chosen broker accepts UnionPay deposits and withdrawals.
Where Is UnionPay Accepted?
UnionPay is accepted at online brokers in 180 countries including across Europe, Asia, Africa, the United States and the Middle East. Alternatively, see our list of brokers that accept UnionPay deposits.
Is UnionPay Safe To Trade With?
Yes, UnionPay uses various security systems to ensure customer transactions are safeguarded, both online and on mobile applications. This includes 3D Secure protocols as well as encrypted QR codes.