Comparison of FOREX.com and Rakuten Securities Hong Kong
Feature | FOREX.com | Rakuten Securities Hong Kong |
---|---|---|
Broker | ||
Year Founded | 2001 | 1999 |
Broker Type | MM, DMA | STP |
Dealing | B-book, A-book | A-book |
Execution | Market | Market |
Regulation | CIMA, FCA, CIRO, CySEC, SFC, JFSA, ASIC, MAS, CFTC, NFA | SFC |
Platforms | FOREX.com, Ninja Trader, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), TradingView | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MARKETSPEED FX |
Spread | ⮕ Average | ⬊ Low |
Maximum Leverage | 1:50 | 1:20 |
Minimum Deposit | $100 | $1200 |
Base Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP | USD, HKD |
Funding Methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Skrill, Neteller | Bank Transfer, FPS, Cheques |
Inactivity Fee | $15 per month after 12 months | HK$200 annual admin fee after 12 months of inactivity |
Interest on Margin | ✔ | ✖ |
Withdrawal Fee | ✖ | Bank wire - depends on sender bank |
Investor Protection | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), Investor Compensation Fund (ICF), Financialcommission.org | Investor Compensation Fund |
Protection Size | £85 000 / €20 000 | HK$500000 |
Segregated Accounts | ✔ | ✔ |
Negative Balance Protection | ✔ | ✔ |
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ✔ | ✖ |
Copy Trading | ✖ | ✖ |
VPS | ✖ | ✖ |
MAM/PAMM | ✖ | ✖ |
Scalping Allowed | ✔ | ✔ |
EAs/Robots | ✔ | ✔ |
Depth of Market (DOM) | ✔ | ✖ |
Tradable Assets (CFDs) | Currencies, Indices, Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Metals, Energies, Soft Commodities, Cryptocurrencies | Currencies |
Review | FOREX.com Review | Rakuten Securities Hong Kong Review |
About FOREX.com
FOREX.com is one of the most recognized and trusted forex brokers globally, catering to traders of all levels since its establishment in 2001. Regulated by top-tier financial authorities, including the FCA (UK), CFTC (US), and ASIC (Australia), the broker provides a secure and transparent trading environment. With a wide range of forex pairs, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies, FOREX.com offers extensive opportunities for diversification. The broker's advanced trading platforms, including its proprietary platform and MetaTrader 4 (MT4), are equipped with robust charting tools, technical indicators, and risk management features. One of FOREX.com's standout features is its educational content, which includes webinars, trading guides, and market analysis, making it an excellent choice for beginner traders. The broker also offers competitive spreads, fast execution, and flexible account types to suit various trading strategies. However, the absence of support for MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and the relatively high minimum deposit for some accounts might deter certain traders. Despite these minor drawbacks, FOREX.com remains a solid choice for those looking for reliability, regulation, and a wealth of trading resources.
Pros
- Regulated by multiple top-tier authorities (FCA, CFTC, ASIC, etc.)
- Wide range of tradable instruments, including forex, commodities, and crypto
- Advanced proprietary trading platform and support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4)
- Comprehensive educational resources for traders of all levels
- Competitive spreads and fast trade execution
Cons
- No support for MetaTrader 5 (MT5)
- Inactivity fees for dormant accounts
- Limited leverage options for retail traders in certain regions
- Customer support may not be 24/7 in all locations
About Rakuten Securities Hong Kong
Rakuten Securities Hong Kong is the SFC-licensed arm of Rakuten Securities Group, designed for local and expat traders who want a Hong Kong–regulated venue for spot FX. Clients trade 40 currency pairs on MarketSpeed FX or MT4 with tight spreads from 0.5 pip and zero commissions. Accounts denominated in HKD or USD start from HK $10000, leverage is capped at 1:20 under SFC rules, and support is available in English, Cantonese and Japanese.
Pros
- SFC regulation (Type 3 licence) and segregated client funds
- Backed by publicly listed Rakuten Group
- Spreads from 0.5 pip with HK$0 commission
- HKD funding via FPS / local bank transfer
- Regular in-person seminars and bilingual support
Cons
- High minimum deposit HK$10000
- Leverage limited to 1:20 by regulation
- FX-only offering - no metals, indices or crypto
- Annual HK$200 maintenance fee after 12 months of inactivity
FOREX.com & Rakuten Securities Hong Kong Regulation
Feature | FOREX.com | Rakuten Securities Hong Kong |
---|---|---|
Companies | GAIN Global Markets Inc, StoneX Financial Ltd, GAIN Capital - FOREX.com Canada Ltd, StoneX Europe Ltd, GAIN Capital Group LLC, StoneX Financial (HK) Limited, StoneX Securities Co, StoneX Financial PTE Ltd, StoneX Financial Pty Ltd | Rakuten Securities Hong Kong Ltd |
Countries | Cayman Islands, United Kingdom, Canada, Cyprus, United States, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Australia | Hong Kong, Japan |
Regulators | CIMA, FCA, CIRO, CySEC, SFC, JFSA, ASIC, MAS, CFTC, NFA | SFC |
Investor Protection | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), Investor Compensation Fund (ICF), Financialcommission.org | Investor Compensation Fund |
Investor Protection Size | £85 000 / €20 000 | HK$500000 |
Publicly Traded | ||
Segregated Accounts | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Negative Balance Protection |
Account Types
Account | FOREX.com | Rakuten Securities Hong Kong |
---|---|---|
Market Maker Account | ||
Account Name | Standard | — |
Min Deposit | $100 | — |
Lot Size | 0.01 | — |
Spread Type | Floating | — |
Execution | Market | — |
Min Spread | 0.7 | — |
Fee | No | — |
Max Leverage | 1:50 | — |
Stop Out | 100% | — |
Margin Call | 120% | — |
STP Account | ||
Account Name | — | Forex Account |
Min Deposit | — | HK$10000 |
Lot Size | — | 0.01 |
Spread Type | — | Floating |
Execution | — | Market |
Min Spread | — | 0.5 |
Fee | — | No |
Max Leverage | — | 1:20 |
Stop Out | — | 40% |
Margin Call | — | 100% |
DMA Account | ||
Account Name | DMA | — |
Min Deposit | $100 | — |
Lot Size | 0.01 | — |
Spread Type | Floating | — |
Execution | Market | — |
Min Spread | 0.1 | — |
Fee | $12 per 1 lot | — |
Max Leverage | 1:50 | — |
Stop Out | 100% | — |
Margin Call | 120% | — |
Additional Features | ||
Demo Account | ||
VIP Account | ||
Swap-Free Account | ||
Copy Trading | ||
VPS | ||
PAMM/MAM Accounts |
Funding and Fees
Feature | FOREX.com | Rakuten Securities Hong Kong |
---|---|---|
Base currencies | USD, EUR, GBP | USD, HKD |
Deposit and withdrawal methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Skrill, Neteller | Bank Transfer, FPS, Cheques |
Inactivity fee | $15 per month after 12 months | HK$200 annual admin fee after 12 months of inactivity |
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee | Bank wire - depends on sender bank |
Trading Platforms and Conditions
Feature | FOREX.com | Rakuten Securities Hong Kong |
---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | FOREX.com, Ninja Trader, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), TradingView | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MARKETSPEED FX |
Execution Speed | 0 ms | 100 ms |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | average | low |
Trading Assets
Asset | FOREX.com | Rakuten Securities Hong Kong |
---|---|---|
Currencies | 91 | 40 |
Indices | 54 | 0 |
Stocks | 5500 | 0 |
Cryptocurrencies | 12 | 0 |
Bonds | 14 | 0 |
Metals | 16 | 0 |
Energies | 14 | 0 |
Soft Commodities | 22 | 0 |
ETFs | 318 | 0 |
Education and Analytics
Feature | FOREX.com | Rakuten Securities Hong Kong |
---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Customer Support
Contact | FOREX.com | Rakuten Securities Hong Kong |
---|---|---|
Email | global.support@forex.com | support@rakuten-sec.co.jp |
Phone | — | +85221190116 |
Facebook | ||
YouTube | YouTube | YouTube |
Twitter | — |
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing FOREX.com and Rakuten Securities Hong Kong, FOREX.com comes out ahead as our overall pick. It ranks higher in our internal scoring and delivers a stronger balance of pricing (spreads/fees), platform experience, and product range. That said, the runner-up may still be a better fit if you prioritize specific needs—like a particular account type, funding method, or niche instruments. This is not financial advice; always choose a broker that matches your goals and local regulatory requirements.
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Andriy Bondarenko
Broker Analyst
Andriy is a seasoned expert in broker reviews with over a decade of experience in finance and trading. Under his leadership, the team produces in-depth and unbiased analyses of leading trading platforms.