GKFX Prime will appeal to traders looking for a regulated MetaTrader broker with copy trading functionality, VPS hosting services, and a good selection of analysis tools. GKFX Prime’s trading costs are generally higher than average, but only one of its four account types requires a minimum deposit.    Founded in 2012,  GKFX Prime is a well-regulated market maker with four live accounts on the MT4 and MT5 platforms.  GKFX offers the MT4/MT5 Boost, a plugin that provides additional functionality to the trading platforms. It also offers Autochartist and Trading Central for free, two of the best technical analysis tools in the industry.  A free VPS service is provided to traders who deposit 4,000 USD or more, and for traders interested in copy trading, GKFX Prime offers Zulutrade and Myfxbook Autotrade.   Trading costs are higher than average on three of GKFX Prime’s accounts, but there are no minimum deposit requirements. However, trading costs on its commission-free VIP Variable Account are extremely competitive, at 0.6 pips on the EUR/USD in exchange for a minimum deposit of 5,000 USD, which may appeal to more experienced traders.  While GKFX Prime’s educational and market analysis materials are not as comprehensive or in-depth as some of the larger international brokers, it will still be useful for both beginners and more experienced traders.

NOTE:  Currently, Exness does not accept traders from New Zealand and Deutschland.  As a replacement we recommend Pepperstone as a strong ASIC regulated broker, or eToro as the leading social trading broker in Deutschland. Exness is a Russian CFD broker with over 200,000 clients worldwide, offering trading on 100+ Forex pairs, a small range of cryptocurrencies, 70+ stock CFDs, indices, and commodities. Exness has nine account types on the MT4 and MT5 platforms - many more than most brokers. These range from a Standard Cent Account with no minimum deposit to a selection of Pro Accounts with tight spreads, market execution, and minimum deposits starting at 500 USD.  Deposits and withdrawals are free of charge, and customer service operates 24/7. While Exness’ trading costs are generally below the industry average, its education and market analysis are poor compared to other major brokers.

CM Trading does NOT accept traders from Deutschland.  This review is for informational purposes only. Founded in 2012 in Sandton, CM Trading is a market maker with high ongoing trading costs and high minimum deposits compared to other Forex brokers operating in South Africa. CM Trading offers six trading accounts, including two ECN accounts, and offers trading on multiple instruments, including Forex, indices, cryptocurrencies, commodities, oil, and metals.  Minimum deposits start at 250 USD on its entry-level account with average spreads at 1.5 pips on the EUR/USD. Minimum deposits escalate quickly, with the Premium Account requiring a minimum deposit of 100,000 USD but still featuring relatively high ongoing trading costs.  In addition to the high minimum deposits and trading costs, a significant drawback for beginner traders is the lack of educational and market analysis materials offered at CM Trading. CM Trading charges high deposit and withdrawal fees compared to most other brokers, but local customer service is generally excellent. Like most Forex brokers, CM Trading supports the MT4 platform and allows for all trading strategies including hedging, scalping, signal trading and algo trading. In addition, it also provides support for Sirix Webtrader - a rare web-based trading platform that runs in browsers on all devices. Sirix comes with a selection of trading tools, including the Guardian Angel system - which provides automated feedback on your trading style - and the CopyKat copy trading system. 

Founded in 2014, Capital Index appeals to traders looking for a well-regulated MT4 broker with a substantial Forex offering and a low deposit entry-level account with no commissions.   A multi-asset broker, Capital Index offers trading on commodities, indices and 53 Forex pairs, including majors, minors, and exotics.  Minimum deposits start at 100 USD on its Advanced Account, but spreads average at 1.4 pips on the EUR/USD, which is wider than other similar brokers.  Spreads tighten to 1.0 pips (EUR/USD) on its Pro Account, but this is in exchange for a minimum deposit of 10,000 USD, putting it out of the reach of most traders.   Although Capital Index is an MT4-only broker, it provides fast execution and allows all trading strategies, including hedging, scalping, and algorithmic trading.  A significant drawback is that Capital Index provides a limited selection of educational and market analysis materials, making it a poor choice for beginner traders. 

BDSwiss is an offshore broker with a basic but intuitive mobile app and excellent education and market analysis. Unfortunately, its trading costs are generally above the industry average and the only trading account with relatively low fees required a 5000 USD minimum deposit.   With no ASIC regulation, BD Swiss can offer leverage of 1:500 for Forex trading. But there are always trust and safety concerns when using an offshore broker. Another downside is the lack of AUD trading accounts: Any AUD deposits are converted to USD, GBP or EUR, and profits will have to be converted again when withdrawn. Not a huge issue for some, but then BDSwiss also has quite high withdrawal fees for bank transfers. Taken together, this may put some traders off. Alongside its mobile app, BDSwiss also supports the MT4 and MT5 trading platforms and offers trading on Forex, commodities, shares, indices, and 26 cryptocurrencies.