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Head to head

FXCM vs Trendo

FXCM is licensed by FCA in the United Kingdom, CySEC in the European Union and ASIC in Australia. Trendo is licensed by FSC Mauritius in Mauritius (international clients). The licence that applies to you depends on where you live, so check which company you would contract with before comparing anything else.

Minimum deposits start at $50 at FXCM and $10 at Trendo. Neither offers negative balance protection. Only FXCM offers segregated client money.

Facts last checked: FXCM on 20 October 2026, Trendo on 20 October 2026.

FXCM profileTrendo profile
Broker 1
Broker 2
Broker 3

Monthly cost uses the account chosen in each slot: cost per lot × your lots. Swap and other fees are extra. The lowest monthly cost is highlighted only as a fact about cost, not as a recommendation.

Broker
FXCMStrictly regulatedRead the profile
TrendoRegulatedRead the profile
Comparing
FXCMUnited Kingdom
TrendoMauritius (international clients)

Overview

Founded
1999
Not yet checked
Headquarters
London, United Kingdom (Stratos Group)
Port Louis, Mauritius
Official websites
  • fxcm.com
  • tradu.com
  • trendo.com
Facts last checked
20 October 2026
20 October 2026

Regulation and protection

Company you would contract with
Stratos Markets Limited
Trending Markets (International) Ltd
Regulator
FCA
United Kingdom
FSC Mauritius
Mauritius (international clients)
Regulation level
Strictly regulated
Regulated
Licence number
217689 (applied to cancel)
Check the register
GB25205094 (SEC-2.1B Investment Dealer)
Check the register
Clients this company serves
Existing UK clients; FXCM's UK site sends new accounts to Trade Nation
International clients, depending on country of residence; the website does not say which countries go to this company and which to Trendo LLC (Armenia)
All licences held
  • FCA (United Kingdom)
  • CySEC (European Union)
  • ASIC (Australia)
  • FSC Mauritius (Mauritius (international clients))
Segregated client money
Yes
No
Negative balance protection
No
No
Compensation scheme
FSCS up to £85,000 (UK company); ICF up to €20,000 (Cyprus company); none for the St Vincent company
None

Costs

Your monthly cost
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Cost per lot (EUR/USD)
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Spread from
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Typical EUR/USD spread
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Commission per lot (round turn)
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Typical GBP/USD spread
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Typical USD/JPY spread
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Typical XAU/USD spread
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Swap-free account
Not yet checked
Yes

Leverage and margin

Maximum retail leverage
1:30 on major pairs (UK, EU, Australia); up to 1:1000 at the St Vincent company
Up to 1:2000 (1:500 on PAMM accounts and on balances below $50)
Retail leverage by asset class
  • Major currency pairs: 1:30
  • Non-major currency pairs: 1:20
  • Other commodities and non-major indices: 1:10
  • Share CFDs: 1:5
  • Crypto CFDs: 1:2
  • Real and demo accounts: 1:25 to 1:2000
  • Balances below $50: Up to 1:500
  • PAMM accounts: Up to 1:500
  • Around major news and market open or close: Cut to 1:500 or 1:200
Margin call level
Not yet checked
100%
Stop-out level
Not yet checked
70%

Account

Minimum deposit (this account)
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Base currencies
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Execution
No accounts listed
No accounts listed

Platforms and features

Platforms
  • Trading Station
  • MetaTrader 4
  • TradingView
  • Trendo app (iOS and Android)
  • Trendo desktop (Windows and Mac)
  • Trendo web trader
Markets
Forex, index, commodity, share and crypto CFDs, plus FXCM baskets
Forex, gold and metals, cryptocurrencies, stocks and other CFDs
Demo account
Yes
Yes
Copy trading
Not yet checked
Yes
Expert advisors (automated trading)
Yes
Not yet checked
News trading allowed
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Guaranteed stops
Not yet checked
Not yet checked

Deposits and withdrawals

Deposit methods
  • Debit card
  • Credit card
  • Bank wire
  • Google Pay
  • Skrill
  • Neteller
  • Crypto
  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • Tether (TRC20 and BEP20)
  • USDC
  • Bitcoin
  • Ethereum
  • Tron
  • BNB
Withdrawal fee
Not yet checked
No Trendo fee on any method; blockchain network fees may apply
Inactivity fee
Not yet checked
Not yet checked

Support

Customer support
24/5 live chat
24/7 support and live chat

Our notes

Strengths
  • Long-running brand (since 1999) with companies licensed by the FCA, CySEC and ASIC
  • Its own Trading Station platform alongside MetaTrader 4, TradingView and API access
  • Low first deposit of 50 in the account currency on the international site
  • Trending Markets (International) Ltd is on the FSC Mauritius register as an investment dealer (SEC-2.1B), licensed since 28 October 2025
  • One simple account from $10, with a published $3 commission per lot
  • No Trendo fees on deposits or withdrawals, with a $10 minimum per transaction
Watch out for
  • The UK company, Stratos Markets Limited, has applied to cancel its FCA authorisation (shown on the FCA register since 15 October 2026), and FXCM's UK site says new trading accounts are now provided through Trade Nation.
  • FXCM's EU site says new trading accounts are now provided through AvaTrade, a separate broker
  • International clients join Stratos Global LLC in St Vincent and the Grenadines, which holds no financial licence; leverage there goes up to 1:1000 and losses can exceed deposits
  • Says Stratos South Africa (Pty) Ltd is FSCA FSP 46534 and Stratos Light Limited is supervised by the Israel Securities Authority; we could not confirm either on the regulator's register on 2026-10-20 (the FSCA FSP register could not be reached).
  • Some clients are served by Trendo LLC in Armenia (registration 271.110.1214359); Trendo shows a company registration and charter update for it, and does not cite a financial licence
  • Leverage up to 1:2000 and deposit bonuses that come with trading conditions
  • We found no document setting out where client money is held or whether you have negative balance protection
  • Proprietary platform only; no MetaTrader

Risk warnings

The buttons to a broker’s website above the table are partner links: we may earn a commission if you open an account through them. That never changes the facts shown here. Trading leveraged products such as forex and CFDs carries a high risk of losing money rapidly, and most retail accounts lose money. Each broker’s own warning:

  • FXCM: Our products are traded on leverage which means they carry a high level of risk and you could lose more than your deposits. These products are not suitable for all investors. Please ensure you fully understand the risks and carefully consider your financial situation and trading experience before trading. Seek independent advice if necessary.
  • Trendo: Forex and CFD trading are complex instruments and come with a high risk of rapid capital loss due to leverage. A significant percentage of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how these instruments work and whether you can afford to take the high risk associated with CFD trading. Trade responsibly: always consider your investment objectives, experience level, and risk appetite. If needed, seek advice from an independent financial advisor.

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Other head-to-head pages

Cost per lot is the typical EUR/USD spread in busy hours × $10, plus any round-turn commission, for one standard lot. “Not yet checked” means we have not confirmed that fact yet. This page compares facts; it does not rank the brokers or recommend either. Confirm costs and licences on each broker’s site and the regulator’s public register before opening an account: see how we review brokers and check a broker yourself.

Nothing on this page is financial advice. Read the full disclaimer.

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