Broker comparison 2026: MT4, MT5, cTrader and the big CFD names
Eight brokers available to a French resident, compared on what really costs: regulation, spreads and commissions, platforms, and how they connect to your journal.
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French law bans advertising CFDs to retail clients, and we have no affiliate agreement with any broker. The links below go straight to their sites. This comparison earns us nothing: it exists because the question comes up every time a trader leaves a prop firm.
The table, at a glance
Broker
Entity serving France
Platforms
Min. deposit
EURUSD cost, commission accountaverage spread + round-turn commission converted to pips, for 1 lot
eToro (Europe) LtdCySEC (109/10) · PSAN AMF pour les crypto
Plateforme eToro
50 $
None
1 pip
CSV file, screenshot
6.8
Our take, broker by broker
P
Pepperstone
Since 2010 · CySEC (388/20)
8.8 Editor's pick
Pepperstone plays in the same league as IC Markets on costs, with a Razor account from 0.0 pip plus $7 round turn, and adds TradingView to the classic platforms. No minimum deposit, free withdrawals, and responsive support, in French too. The group is regulated in the UK, Germany and Australia; French clients belong to Pepperstone EU Ltd in Cyprus.
Min. deposit
0
EURUSD cost, commission account
≈ 0.8 pip
EURUSD spread, no commission
1 pip
Platforms
MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView
Strengths
+ Razor: all-in cost around 0.8 pip on EURUSD
+ MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView
+ Responsive support, in French
+ No minimum deposit
Weaknesses
− CFDs only, no real shares
− Less education than the big retail brokers
Costs
8.9
Platforms
9.5
Regulation
8.5
Support
9.0
Journal
9.5
Best for :The serious beginner who wants pro conditions without being left alone by support.
Verdict : The most balanced choice: costs, platforms and support. Our first recommendation for a live account.
French clients served by Pepperstone EU Ltd, CySEC regulated, EU passport.
IC Markets is the broker you meet most often among prop firm traders moving to a live account: Raw Spread account from 0.0 pip plus $7 round turn per lot ($6 on cTrader), deep liquidity and some of the fastest execution around. French clients are onboarded by the Cypriot entity IC Markets (EU) Ltd, with MiFID II protections and leverage capped at 1:30.
Min. deposit
200 $
EURUSD cost, commission account
≈ 0.8 pip
EURUSD spread, no commission
0.9 pip
Platforms
MT4, MT5, cTrader
Strengths
+ Raw spreads among the lowest available
+ cTrader, MT4 and MT5
+ Free withdrawals, support 7 days a week
+ Connects to the journal in two minutes, MT or cTrader
Weaknesses
− $200 minimum deposit
− No in-house platform, little education
− French support uneven depending on the hour
Costs
9.2
Platforms
9.3
Regulation
8.0
Support
8.0
Journal
9.5
Best for :The trader leaving a prop firm who wants the same raw conditions on a live account.
Verdict : If you already trade on cTrader or MT5 and you watch the cost per lot, this is the first name to compare.
French clients served by IC Markets (EU) Ltd, CySEC regulated, EU passport.
FP Markets matches IC Markets and Pepperstone on raw conditions, with a $6 round-turn commission, slightly lower. In Europe the offer is limited to MT4 and MT5: cTrader is not available from the Cypriot entity. The €100 minimum deposit makes it accessible. The brand is strong in Australia and Asia, less established with French speakers, and it shows in support.
Min. deposit
100 €
EURUSD cost, commission account
≈ 0.7 pip
EURUSD spread, no commission
1 pip
Platforms
MT4, MT5
Strengths
+ $6 round-turn commission, the lowest of the raw accounts compared
+ €100 minimum deposit
+ MT4 and MT5 with raw and standard accounts
Weaknesses
− No cTrader in Europe
− Little known in France, limited French support
− Dated interface and education
Costs
9.0
Platforms
8.0
Regulation
8.0
Support
7.5
Journal
9.0
Best for :The MT5 trader who wants the lowest cost per lot and does not need cTrader.
Verdict : Good cost-to-conditions ratio on MT5, as long as you do not expect Pepperstone-level support.
French clients served by FP Markets Ltd, CySEC regulated, EU passport.
Since 2002 · AMF et ACPR (succursale) · KNF (Pologne)
8.1
XTB is listed in Warsaw and operates in France through a branch authorised by the AMF and ACPR, which makes it one of the best-supervised CFD brokers for a French resident. Everything runs on xStation 5, its comprehensive in-house platform, but no MetaTrader or cTrader. EURUSD spread around 0.9 pip with no commission, no minimum deposit, real shares and ETFs commission-free up to a monthly cap, and even a PEA.
Min. deposit
0
EURUSD cost, commission account
None
EURUSD spread, no commission
0.9 pip
Platforms
xStation 5
Strengths
+ AMF and ACPR authorisation through the French branch
+ No minimum deposit, free withdrawals above €100
+ Shares, ETFs and PEA on top of CFDs
+ Quality French education and support
Weaknesses
− No MetaTrader or cTrader: the journal fills by file or screenshot
− Wider spreads than raw accounts
− Inactivity fee after a year without deposit
Costs
7.5
Platforms
8.5
Regulation
9.5
Support
9.0
Journal
6.0
Best for :The beginner who wants one French broker for CFDs and long-term investing.
Verdict : The best regulatory footing in this comparison; not for MT5 or cTrader traders.
XTB France is a branch authorised by the AMF and ACPR of XTB S.A., regulated by the Polish KNF.
Since 2001 · CySEC (201/13) · groupe régulé EFSA, FCA, ASIC
8.0
Admirals, formerly Admiral Markets, has served France for over fifteen years with a French site, education and support. Two MT5 accounts: Trade.MT5 with no commission from 0.5 pip, and Zero.MT5 from 0.0 pip plus a $1.8 to $3 commission per lot per side. The MetaTrader Supreme add-on and the Invest.MT5 real-shares account round it out. Fair costs, not the lowest.
Min. deposit
100 €
EURUSD cost, commission account
≈ 0.7 pip
EURUSD spread, no commission
0.6 pip
Platforms
MT4, MT5
Strengths
+ Everything in French: site, education, support
+ Competitive Zero.MT5, Invest.MT5 for real shares
+ Group regulated in several jurisdictions since 2001
Weaknesses
− One free withdrawal per month
− Inactivity fee after 24 months
− No cTrader, no TradingView
Costs
8.0
Platforms
8.0
Regulation
8.5
Support
8.5
Journal
9.0
Best for :The French-speaking beginner who wants to learn MT5 with a broker who speaks their language.
Verdict : The most reassuring way to start on MetaTrader in French; slightly pricier than the raw specialists.
French clients served by Admirals Europe Ltd, CySEC regulated; the group is also regulated in Estonia, the UK and Australia.
Since 1974 · BaFin (Allemagne) · passeport européen, ACPR pour la succursale
8.0
IG has been around since 1974 and covers almost everything: CFDs on 17,000 markets, Turbo24, options, real shares. Its in-house platform is excellent and both MT4 and ProRealTime are offered, so the journal can connect directly. In exchange, commission-free forex spreads, around 0.8 pip on EURUSD, stay above raw accounts, the minimum deposit is €300 and an inactivity fee applies after two years.
Min. deposit
300 €
EURUSD cost, commission account
None
EURUSD spread, no commission
0.8 pip
Platforms
Plateforme IG, MT4, ProRealTime, TradingView
Strengths
+ Unmatched market coverage, Turbo24 and options
+ MT4, ProRealTime and TradingView available
+ Fifty years in business, London-listed group
+ French support and education
Weaknesses
− €300 minimum deposit
− Forex spreads wider than raw accounts
− €14 monthly inactivity fee after 24 months
Costs
7.0
Platforms
9.0
Regulation
9.0
Support
8.5
Journal
8.0
Best for :The trader who wants an institutional player and varied markets, and accepts paying a bit more.
Verdict : Solidity and breadth, at the price of less competitive forex spreads.
French clients served by IG Europe GmbH, BaFin regulated, through the IG France branch registered with the ACPR.
Eightcap built its name with prop firm traders: many firms rely on its technology, and its indices are known for tight pricing. Raw account from 0.0 pip plus $7 round turn, MT4, MT5 and TradingView. The European entity Eightcap EU Ltd is regulated by CySEC. Support is not offered in French.
Min. deposit
100 €
EURUSD cost, commission account
≈ 0.8 pip
EURUSD spread, no commission
1 pip
Platforms
MT4, MT5, TradingView
Strengths
+ Well-priced indices, popular with prop firm traders
+ TradingView on top of MT4 and MT5
+ €100 minimum deposit
Weaknesses
− No French support
− No cTrader
− Less displayed liquidity than the top two
Costs
8.5
Platforms
8.5
Regulation
8.0
Support
7.0
Journal
9.0
Best for :The index trader who wants the conditions of their challenge on a live account.
Verdict : A good second pick for indices on MT5, if English is fine for you.
French clients served by Eightcap EU Ltd, CySEC regulated, EU passport.
Since 2007 · CySEC (109/10) · PSAN AMF pour les crypto
6.8
eToro introduced millions of people to trading through copy trading and a very simple interface. For a trader working on discipline it quickly shows its limits: EURUSD spread around 1 pip, dollar accounts with conversion fees, no MetaTrader or cTrader, and a less detailed order history. The European entity is CySEC regulated and eToro is registered with the AMF as a crypto service provider.
Min. deposit
50 $
EURUSD cost, commission account
None
EURUSD spread, no commission
1 pip
Platforms
Plateforme eToro
Strengths
+ Immediate onboarding, copy trading
+ Commission-free real shares and ETFs
+ $50 minimum deposit
Weaknesses
− Forex spreads among the widest in this comparison
− Dollar accounts: conversion fee on every deposit
− No MetaTrader or cTrader, journal by file or screenshot only
Costs
6.0
Platforms
7.0
Regulation
8.0
Support
7.0
Journal
5.5
Best for :Someone who invests in shares and crypto and trades CFDs occasionally.
Verdict : Handy for investing, not suited to an active trader who counts pips.
French clients served by eToro (Europe) Ltd, CySEC regulated; registered with the AMF as a crypto service provider.
Only brokers serving a French resident from a European entity are listed. An offshore broker that accepts French clients is not, whatever its price.
The cost shown for commission accounts adds the average EURUSD spread and the round-turn commission converted to pips, to compare like with like.
The “Journal” score measures how easily your trades get into TradingNerve: direct MT4, MT5 or cTrader connection, or import by file and screenshot.
Figures come from official pages and recent reviews, with the verification date. They move: tell us about a gap and we fix it.
Risk warning
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 70 and 80% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Make sure you understand how they work and can afford to lose your money. This page is editorial content, not investment advice.
The broker matters less than what you do on it
A journal that tracks your rules and what your slips cost, on iPhone, Android and the web. Your broker connects in two minutes.
A broker regulated in Europe, a platform you understand, and readable costs. Pepperstone and Admirals are the most supportive for a beginner; XTB if you also want to invest in shares from the same account.
A raw account shows a near-zero spread plus a fixed commission per lot; a standard account has no commission but a wider spread. Once you trade regularly, raw costs less, and it reads much better in your journal.
That is the European rule for retail clients on major pairs, whatever the broker. A broker offering 1:500 from Europe is onboarding you outside Europe, with fewer protections.
The French Sapin 2 law bans electronic advertising of CFDs to retail clients, and brokers turn down French partners anyway. We preferred a comparison with no commission at all over no comparison.
Write to us. We add brokers that serve France from a European entity, and remove the ones that do not.
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