In order to put together a list of the best no-ESMA forex brokers we have taken the following elements into consideration:
- The regulations of the no-ESMA broker
- The leverage offered by no-ESMA offices
- The protections offered by no-ESMA branches
- The quality of trading services
Table of Content
Review

XM
no-requotes environment
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Regulations:
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Avg. EUR/USD Spread:
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Platforms:
About XM
XM is a global forex and CFD broker founded in 2009, offering trading on currencies, commodities, indices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies. XM provides MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and proprietary platforms. XM is regulated by multiple authorities including CySEC, ASIC, and IFSC. XM is known for competitive spreads, extensive educational resources, and multilingual customer support. XM serves over 5 million clients from 196 countries. XM offers various account types and a no-requote policy.
XM Features
The features of XM are listed below.
- XM holds only FSC regulation in Belize where ESMA restrictions do not apply.
- Even when outside ESMA jurisdiction, XM is able to provide segregated bank accounts and negative balance protection to all clients.
- Traders under FSC regulation are eligible for an XM deposit bonus of up to $5,000.
- XM supports only MT4 and MT5 trading platforms.
- XM provides over 50 forex pairs charging low spreads from 0.1 pips.
XM Pros and Cons
Advantages of XM
The advantages of XM are listed below.
- There’s a wide range of account types
- The demo account at XM is unlimited
- Wide range of educational resources
Disadvantages of XM
The disadvantages of XM are listed below.
- No social trading features available
- The account availability changes depending on the location of the trader
- High minimum deposit to invest in securities ($10000 for the XM Shares account)

IC Markets
overall trading experience
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Regulations:
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Avg. EUR/USD Spread:
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Platforms:
About IC Markets
IC Markets is a global forex and CFD broker founded in 2007 and based in Sydney, Australia. IC Markets offers trading on over 2,250 instruments including currencies, commodities, indices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies. IC Markets provides MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader platforms. IC Markets is regulated by multiple authorities including ASIC and CySEC. IC Markets is known for its ECN execution model and low spreads. The IC Markets CEO is Andrew Budzinski.
IC Markets Features
The features of IC Markets are listed below.
- With IC Markets you have two no-ESMA options to open your account: under FCA (Seychelles) and SCB (Bahamas).
- Under these two regulations, leveraged trading is up to 500:1 on forex (FCA) or up to 200:1 (SCB).
- You will be protected with segregated funds under these 2 no-ESMA entities of IC Markets.
- IC Markets offer many trading platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, Myfxbook, and ZuluTrade.
- Trading forex with IC Markets is on over 60 currency pairs with a spread from 0 pip on EUR/USD.
IC Markets Pros and Cons
Advantages of IC Markets
The advantages of IC Markets are listed below.
- Low-latency trading environment
- Institutional level liquidity
- MT4, MT5, cTrader platforms are all available
Disadvantages of IC Markets
The disadvantages of IC Markets are listed below.
- Small amount of educational tools for new traders
- Small range of tradable assets compared to other CFD/Forex brokers

AvaTrade
fixed spread trading
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Regulations:
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Avg. EUR/USD Spread:
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Platforms:
About AvaTrade
AvaTrade is a global forex and CFD broker founded in 2006 and headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. AvaTrade offers trading on currencies, commodities, indices, stocks, bonds, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies. AvaTrade provides proprietary platforms alongside MetaTrader 4 and 5. AvaTrade is regulated by multiple authorities including CySEC, ASIC, and FSA. AvaTrade serves over 300,000 clients worldwide. AvaTrade is known for competitive spreads and extensive educational resources. The AvaTrade CEO is David Dryzin since 2016.
AvaTrade Features
The features of AvaTrade are listed below.
- AvaTrade is a broker with a no-ESMA branch and traders are able to apply for FSC regulation in the British Virgin Islands or for the FSCA in South Africa.
- Under these regulations, leverage on forex is up to 400:1 for any client.
- Segregated bank accounts are standard for each AvaTrade entity as well as negative balance protection.
- Occasionally, AvaTrade offers welcome bonuses for new clients under their no-ESMA branch.
- AvaTrade offers several trading platforms including MT4, MT5, DupliTrade, ZuluTrade and owns AvaOptions, AvaSocial, and AvaTradeGO.
- AvaTrade offers more than 50 forex pairs charging fixed spreads from 0.9 pips on EUR/USD.
AvaTrade Pros and Cons
Advantages of AvaTrade
The advantages of AvaTrade are listed below.
- Tight fixed spreads from 0.6 pips (0.9 pips for retail traders)
- The mobile apps are well designed
- Can be connected to ZuluTrade and Duplitrade
Disadvantages of AvaTrade
The disadvantages of AvaTrade are listed below.
- High inactivity fees
- The demo account is limited to 30 days

Admirals
wide range of account types
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Regulations:
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Avg. EUR/USD Spread:
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Platforms:
About Admirals
Admirals, formerly Admiral Markets, is a global forex and CFD broker founded in 2001. Admirals offers trading on currencies, commodities, indices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies through MetaTrader platforms. Admirals is regulated by multiple authorities including CySEC and FCA. Admirals is known for competitive spreads and extensive educational resources. Admirals recently halted onboarding of new EU clients to comply with regulatory standards. The co-founder of Admirals and CEO of Admirals Group is Alexander Tsikhilov.
Admirals Features
The features of Admirals are listed below.
- Admirals offer two no-ESMA branches under JSC regulation in Jordan or FSCA in South Africa.
- The maximum leverage available outside ESMA jurisdiction with Admirals is 500:1 under FSCA, and 100:1 under JSC.
- Trading with Admirals outside ESMA you will be protected with segregated bank accounts and insurance coverage up to $100,000.
- Clients under no-ESMA branches may be eligible for an Admirals 100% welcome bonus for up to $5,000.
- Admirals provide forex trading on over 50 pairs with a floating spread from 0.1 pips on EUR/USD.
Admirals Pros and Cons
Advantages of Admirals
The advantages of Admirals are listed below.
- Extensive Forex Options
- Strong Regulatory Framework
- Advanced Educational Resources
Disadvantages of Admirals
The disadvantages of Admirals are listed below.
- Charges Inactivity Fee
- Mobile App Limitations
- Higher Average Spreads for Some Assets

FBS
best for beginners
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Regulations:
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Avg. EUR/USD Spread:
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Platforms:
About FBS
FBS is a global forex and CFD broker founded in 2009, offering trading on currencies, commodities, indices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies. FBS provides MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and proprietary platforms. FBS is regulated by multiple authorities including CySEC, ASIC, and IFSC. FBS serves over 27 million clients in 150+ countries. FBS is known for low minimum deposits, extensive educational resources, and copy trading services.
FBS Features
The features of FBS are listed below.
- FBS is regulated in Belize by the IFSC and therefore is able to provide services from a non-ESMA office.
- Clients under the non-ESMA entity of FBS can use very high leverage on forex up to 3000:1 depending on the account type.
- FBS protects you with segregated bank accounts and negative balance protection even if it isn’t mandatory with the no-ESMA office.
- There are several FBS bonuses you can reclaim under IFSC such as a 100% deposit bonus or a level-up bonus for up to $140 free.
- Trading is facilitated through MT4, MT5 platforms, and the proprietary FBS Trader.
- FBS provides forex trading on more than 30 pairs with floating, fixed, and negative spreads from -1 pip on EUR/USD.
FBS Pros and Cons
Advantages of FBS
The advantages of FBS are listed below.
- Low minimum deposit
- User-Friendly Platforms
- 90 international awards
Disadvantages of FBS
The disadvantages of FBS are listed below.
- Limited Financial Instruments

Axi
low cost firex trading
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Regulations:
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Avg. EUR/USD Spread:
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Platforms:
About Axi
Axi, formerly known as AxiTrader, is a global forex and CFD broker founded in 2007 and headquartered in Sydney, Australia. Axi offers trading on currencies, commodities, indices, cryptocurrencies, and stocks through MetaTrader 4 and proprietary platforms. Axi is regulated by multiple authorities including ASIC, FCA, and DFSA. Axi is known for competitive spreads, fast execution, and extensive educational resources. Axi serves clients in over 100 countries worldwide. The Axi CEO is Rajesh Yohannan.
Axi Features
The features of Axi are listed below.
- Axi provides trading services also with a non-ESMA branch which is regulated by the FSA in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SV).
- By trading with the non-ESMA branch, any Axi client can apply for leverage up to 500:1 on forex.
- Trading with Axi outside ESMA you will benefit from segregated bank accounts and client money insurance up to $1,000,000.
- Axi enables trading on the MT4 and Myfxbook platforms along with advanced tools and analytics.
- Axi offers forex trading on more than 70 currency pairs with spreads starting at 0.1 pips on EUR/USD.
Axi Pros and Cons
Advantages of Axi
The advantages of Axi are listed below.
- Low Forex Fees
- No Deposit/Withdrawal Fees
- Regulatory Assurance
Disadvantages of Axi
The disadvantages of Axi are listed below.
- Limited Platform Options
- Lack of Advanced Educational Resources

FxPro
best customer service
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Regulations:
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Avg. EUR/USD Spread:
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Platforms:
About FxPro
FxPro is a global online broker founded in 2006, offering trading on forex, CFDs, stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. FxPro provides multiple trading platforms including MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and its proprietary FxPro Platform. FxPro is regulated by multiple authorities including FCA, CySEC, SCB, FSC and KNN. FxPro serves clients in over 170 countries and has won numerous industry awards. The FxPro CEO is Charalambos Psimolophitis.
FxPro Features
The features of FxPro are listed below.
- FxPro accepts eligible international clients with their no-ESMA office operating under SCB regulation in the Bahamas.
- The maximum leverage available on forex with the non-ESMA regulated FxPro entity is up to 200:1 for any client.
- The protection you’ll benefit from outside ESMA with FxPro includes segregated bank accounts and negative balance protection for all clients.
- FxPro supports the most popular trading platforms including MT4, MT5, and cTrader.
- FxPro provides over 70 forex pairs with floating spreads from 0.4 pips on EUR/USD.
FxPro Pros and Cons
Advantages of FxPro
The advantages of FxPro are listed below.
- Regulated and Trusted Forex broker
- Diverse Trading Platforms
- Wide Range of Instruments
Disadvantages of FxPro
The disadvantages of FxPro are listed below.
- Inactivity Fee
- Limited Educational Resources
- No Guaranteed Stop-Loss Orders

OctaFX
best for algo traders
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Regulations:
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Avg. EUR/USD Spread:
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Platforms:
About OctaFX
Octa, formerly known as OctaFX, is a global forex and CFD broker founded in 2011. Octa offers trading on currencies, commodities, indices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies through MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and proprietary platforms. Octa is regulated by multiple authorities including CySEC. Octa is known for competitive spreads, extensive educational resources, and copy trading services. Octa serves clients in over 100 countries worldwide.
OctaFX Features
The features of OctaFX are listed below.
- OctaFX is globally regulated by the FSA in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SV) where ESMA restrictions do not apply.
- Leverage on forex with OctaFX outside ESMA jurisdiction is up to 500:1.
- Any trader with OctaFX will benefit from segregated bank accounts and negative balance protection.
- Trading with the FSA regulation you may be eligible for several OctaFX promotions and contests such as the 50% deposit bonus.
- OctaFX supports MT4 and MT5 as the available trading platforms.
- OctaFX enables forex trading on over 35 pairs with spreads starting from 0.2 pips on EUR/USD.
OctaFX Pros and Cons
Advantages of OctaFX
The advantages of OctaFX are listed below.
- Low Trading Costs
- Robust Educational Resources
- Multiple Trading Platforms
Disadvantages of OctaFX
The disadvantages of OctaFX are listed below.
- Limited Asset Range
- No VIP Discounts
- Restrictions on High-Frequency Trading

Roboforex
best for crypto trading
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Regulations:
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Avg. EUR/USD Spread:
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Platforms:
About Roboforex
RoboForex is a global forex and CFD broker founded in 2009, offering trading on currencies, stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. RoboForex provides MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and proprietary platforms. RoboForex is regulated by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Belize. RoboForex is known for competitive spreads, extensive educational resources, and multiple account types. RoboForex serves over 4.5 million clients worldwide. The RoboForex CEO is Andrei Dziarnovich.
Roboforex Features
The features of Roboforex are listed below.
- The only regulation held outside ESMA for Roboforex is IFSC in Belize.
- Leverage with Roboforex is up to 2000:1 on forex though it depends on the account type.
- Even when trading with Roboforex outside ESMA you’ll benefit from several protections including segregated bank accounts, negative balance protection, and a civil liability insurance program.
- Outside ESMA, you may be eligible for Roboforex bonuses such as a welcome and a deposit bonus.
- Including the most common trading platforms MT4, MT5, and cTrader, you can also use the Roboforex R Stockstrader.
- Roboforex provides access to over 40 forex pairs with floating spreads from 0.1 pips on the EUR/USD.
Roboforex Pros and Cons
Advantages of Roboforex
The advantages of Roboforex are listed below.
- Diverse Trading Platforms
- Wide Range of Instruments
- Low Minimum Deposit
Disadvantages of Roboforex
The disadvantages of Roboforex are listed below.
- Limited Educational Resources
- Higher Spreads on Some Accounts
- Regulatory Concerns

Fibo Group
wide range of tradable markets
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Regulations:
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Platforms:
About Fibo Group
FIBO Group is one of the oldest brokers, offering forex and CFD trading since 1998. FIBO Group provides various trading platforms including MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader, and is regulated by the Financial Services Commission (FSC). FIBO Group has offices across Europe, Central, and East Asia, and offers multi-language support, along with various deposit and withdrawal options.
Fibo Group Features
The features of Fibo Group are listed below.
- FIBO Group is a broker with a non-ESMA branch, which is globally regulated by the FSA of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SV).
- The maximum leverage with FIBO Group under FSA is up to 1000:1 on major forex pairs.
- Your funds with FIBO Group are secured in segregated bank accounts and protected from negative balance.
- Outside ESMA, FIBO Group traders are eligible for trading bonuses even though none are currently available.
- FIBO Group has a good trading platform range with MT4, MT5, and cTrader all supported.
- FIBO Group offers around 50 currency pairs with floating spreads from 0.4 pips on EUR/USD.
Fibo Group Pros and Cons
Advantages of Fibo Group
The advantages of Fibo Group are listed below.
- Multiple Trading Platforms
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Global Regulation
Disadvantages of Fibo Group
The disadvantages of Fibo Group are listed below.
- PAMM Withdrawal Fees
- Limited Promotions
- High Initial Deposits
Is it possible to avoid ESMA rules?
It may be possible to avoid ESMA rules in a couple of cases. These situations are as follows:
- If you are a professional trader then you can avoid ESMA regulations. You will have to satisfy some quite stringent requirements in relation to your portfolio value, trading volume, or industry experience, two out of three. But, if you do, then most brokers offer accounts to professional traders that are not bound under ESMA regulation. This likely means increased leverage up to 500:1 depending on the broker, and no need for negative balance protection.
- If you are a European retail trader residing outside the EU, then you may be able to apply to open your account in another jurisdiction that does not fall under the ESMA regulations and instead under that of the local regulatory body.