Which broker is better for Malta traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Choosing between Capital.com and Forex.com is a key decision for Malta-based retail traders in 2025. Both brokers are well-established globally and accept clients from Malta under EU regulations, offering accounts in USD alongside popular local payment methods such as Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20. Capital.com holds a higher CompareBroker score of 3.8 out of 5, praised for its user-friendly platform and competitive spreads, while Forex.com scores 3.4 with strengths in research tools and asset variety. Malta traders often focus on EUR/USD trading due to the local euro economy, but prefer USD accounts for lower margin requirements on forex pairs. This comparison evaluates both brokers specifically for Maltese retail traders, covering trading costs, platforms, regulation by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) via EU passporting, deposit and withdrawal options, and Islamic account availability. Whether you are a beginner or experienced trader, understanding these factors will help you select the broker that best fits your needs in Malta.
| Instrument | Capital.com | Forex.com | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Forex.com |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Forex.com |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Forex.com |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Forex.com |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $20 | $100 | Forex.com |
For Malta traders, trading costs are a primary concern, especially when trading EUR/USD and other major forex pairs. Capital.com's standard account offers competitive spreads starting from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD with no commission, making it ideal for retail traders who prefer simple cost structures. Forex.com's standard account has spreads from 0.8 pips, but its Raw Pricing account offers spreads as low as 0.1 pips plus a $7 per lot commission, which can be cheaper for high-volume traders. For Maltese traders executing fewer than 10 lots per month, Capital.com's zero-commission model is more cost-effective. Both brokers charge swap fees on positions held overnight, except on Islamic accounts. Additionally, Capital.com provides a built-in spread and commission calculator for transparent cost estimation.
| Account Type | Capital.com | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✗ | ✗ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $20 | $100 |
| Entity / Asset | Capital.com | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| Malta (offshore) | Up to 1:200 | Up to 1:50 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:200 | 1:50 |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 1:200 | 1:200 |
| Indices | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:2 to 1:10 | 1:2 to 1:10 |
| Asset Class | Capital.com | Forex.com | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | Capital.com |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | Capital.com |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | Capital.com |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | 1,000+ | ✗ | Forex.com |
| ETFs | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | Capital.com | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✗ | ✗ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✗ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✓ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✗ | ✗ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Capital.com offers its proprietary web platform and a highly-rated mobile app, both known for a clean interface and integrated AI-powered trading insights. This is especially useful for Maltese retail traders looking for ease of use and educational tools. Forex.com provides the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms, as well as its own web and mobile platforms with advanced charting and research. For Malta traders who value automated trading or custom indicators, Forex.com's MT4/MT5 support is a clear advantage. Both platforms are available in English and offer demo accounts for practice. Capital.com also supports TradingView integration, a plus for technical analysis enthusiasts.
| Factor | Capital.com | Forex.com | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Forex.com |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | Capital.com |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
Capital.com uses an STP (Straight Through Processing) execution model with no dealing desk, offering fast order fills and minimal slippage on major forex pairs. Forex.com also employs STP and ECN execution for its Raw Pricing account, with low latency servers in London and New York. For Malta traders trading during European session, both brokers deliver sub-50ms execution speeds. Capital.com reports an average execution speed of 0.03 seconds, while Forex.com claims 0.04 seconds. Both are suitable for scalping and news trading.
| Safety Factor | Capital.com | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Neither Capital.com nor Forex.com is directly regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). However, both brokers serve Malta clients under EU MiFID II passporting. Capital.com is regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) with license number 319/17, and Forex.com’s European entity is also CySEC-regulated (license 334/17). This means Malta traders benefit from negative balance protection and access to the Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) up to €20,000. Capital.com additionally holds FCA regulation (UK) and ASIC (Australia), while Forex.com is also regulated by the FCA, CFTC, and other authorities. For Malta residents, the CySEC umbrella provides adequate safety for retail accounts.
| Payment Method | Capital.com | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✗ | ✗ |
| Neteller | ✗ | ✗ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✗ | ✗ |
| Withdrawal time | 24 hours | 1 to 3 business days |
Malta traders can fund their Capital.com or Forex.com accounts using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20, along with other methods like Visa/Mastercard. Capital.com supports instant deposits via Skrill and Neteller with no fees, while bank transfers take 1-3 business days and may incur intermediary charges. Forex.com also offers free deposits via Skrill and Neteller, and USDT TRC20 deposits are processed within minutes. Withdrawals at both brokers are typically processed within 24 hours for e-wallets; bank transfers take 2-5 business days. Forex.com charges a $10 fee for bank wire withdrawals under $5,000, while Capital.com does not charge withdrawal fees but your bank may impose charges. Both brokers convert EUR to USD internally at competitive rates for Malta traders depositing in local currency.
| Islamic Account Feature | Capital.com | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✗ | ✗ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
Both Capital.com and Forex.com offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts for Malta Muslim traders who wish to trade without earning or paying overnight interest (Riba). Capital.com's Islamic account is available on request and applies to all forex and CFD pairs, with no swap charges on positions held beyond one day. Forex.com also provides swap-free accounts, but requires a minimum deposit of $250 and a declaration of faith. Spreads on Islamic accounts may be wider to compensate for the absence of swap fees. For Malta traders adhering to Sharia law, both brokers are suitable, though Capital.com has no minimum deposit requirement for Islamic accounts, making it more accessible.
| Support Feature | Capital.com | Forex.com | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | Capital.com |
Capital.com offers 24/7 live chat, email support, and a dedicated phone line for Malta clients in English. The broker also provides an extensive FAQ section and a video tutorial library. Forex.com similarly offers 24/5 live chat with 24/7 phone support for urgent issues, plus a large knowledge base. For Malta traders, response times are typically under 2 minutes on live chat at both brokers. Capital.com’s support is slightly more responsive during weekend hours, which can be useful for those trading crypto or global indices.
| Mobile Feature | Capital.com | Forex.com | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | Capital.com |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | Capital.com |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Resource | Capital.com | Forex.com | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | ✗ | Monthly | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | Capital.com |
Choose Capital.com if you...
Choose Forex.com if you...
For Malta retail traders in 2025, Capital.com is the better choice overall due to its lower spreads, user-friendly platform, and seamless local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20. Its higher CompareBroker score (3.8 vs 3.4) reflects strong performance in cost and usability. While Forex.com excels in platform variety and research, its higher costs and slightly lower score make it better suited for experienced traders who use MT4/MT5 or need in-depth analysis. Both brokers offer solid regulation under the CySEC (EU) umbrella, ensuring Malta traders are protected. Considering local factors like MFSA oversight, deposit convenience, and Islamic account options, Capital.com is recommended for most Maltese traders starting or growing their forex journey.