Lesson 2 of 8 · 7 min
Account types
Standard, raw, cent and swap-free accounts. What each one is for, and how to work out which is cheapest for the way you trade.
By the end you'll be able to
- Describe the four common account types and who each suits
- Calculate monthly cost on a standard versus a raw account
- Find the trading volume at which a raw account becomes cheaper
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Most brokers offer two or three account types and describe them with adjectives. Here they are described with numbers.
The four types
| Type | Pricing | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Wider spread, no commission | Beginners, low volume, simplicity |
| Raw / ECN | Tight spread plus a commission per lot | Active traders, scalpers, anyone comparing true costs |
| Cent | Balance shown in cents; tiny real sizes | Practising with real money at very low stakes |
| Swap-free | No overnight interest; often a wider spread or admin fee | Traders who cannot pay or receive interest for religious reasons |
A raw spread account moves the cost from the spread to a visible commission. Whether that is cheaper depends entirely on how much you trade.
Try it
Standard
per month, spread only
Raw / ECN
per month, spread + commission
Typical pricing, not a quote from any broker. Above a certain volume, raw accounts cost less.
Notice how the monthly difference grows with volume. For someone taking five trades a month it is pocket change; for an active trader it is a meaningful part of the year’s result.
Quick check
Question 1 of 3
Raw spread 0.3 pips with $6 commission per lot, versus standard 1.0 pip with no commission. Which is cheaper per lot?
Question 2 of 3
A cent account is mainly useful for:
Question 3 of 3
Swap-free accounts usually recover the cost of no overnight interest through:
Go deeper: Raw Spread vs Standard Account: Which Is Cheaper for You? · Swap-Free Forex Account: Islamic Accounts Explained