Which broker is better for China traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
China traders seeking international exposure often turn to offshore forex brokers like EasyMarkets and FP Markets. While neither is regulated by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), both operate under reputable international licenses – EasyMarkets (CySEC, FSA Seychelles) and FP Markets (ASIC, CySEC, FSA St. Vincent). This comparison focuses on how each broker serves China-based traders, covering spreads, deposit methods (including USDT and international bank transfers), platform suitability, and regulatory implications. With EasyMarkets scoring 3.4/5 and FP Markets 4.7/5, the gap is significant, but the right choice depends on your trading style. Active, cost-sensitive traders will tend toward FP Markets' Raw ECN accounts, while beginners may prefer EasyMarkets' fixed spreads and risk management tools. We analyse both options from a China-specific lens, considering capital control realities and local payment preferences.
| Instrument | EasyMarkets | FP Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | FP Markets |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | FP Markets |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | FP Markets |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | FP Markets |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $25 | $100 | FP Markets |
For China traders, FX spreads directly impact profitability. FP Markets offers two account types: a Standard account with spreads from 0.7 pips and a Raw ECN account with spreads from 0.0 pips plus a $3 per lot commission (one side). EasyMarkets quotes fixed spreads – EUR/USD usually 1.2 pips, GBP/USD 1.8 pips. On a typical 1-lot EUR/USD trade (100,000 units), a China trader using FP Markets Raw would pay about $3 in spread cost (0.0 spread + $3 commission), while EasyMarkets would cost $12. Over 100 trades monthly, the difference is $900 in favour of FP Markets. Additionally, FP Markets charges no deposit fees but may have small withdrawal fees. EasyMarkets has no deposit fees but higher swap rates. For volume-oriented traders, FP Markets is clearly more cost-efficient.
| Account Type | EasyMarkets | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✗ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $25 | $100 |
| Entity / Asset | EasyMarkets | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| China (offshore) | Up to 1:2000 | Up to 1:500 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:2000 | 1:500 |
| 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 | EasyMarkets | FP Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | EasyMarkets |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | EasyMarkets |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | EasyMarkets |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | 1,700+ | FP Markets |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
| Platform | EasyMarkets | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✗ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✗ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✓ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✓ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Both brokers support MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, the industry standards preferred by most China traders. FP Markets also offers the advanced IRESS platform for share and CFD trading, which provides direct market access (DMA) on Australian and global shares. EasyMarkets provides its own WebTrader platform alongside MT4/MT5, featuring a unique deal cancellation feature and risk-free trading tools. For China traders who rely on algorithmic trading or Expert Advisors (EAs), both brokers allow MT4/MT5 EA use. FP Markets has slightly better reputation for low latency and order execution through Equinix data centres in LD5, New York and Tokyo, which benefits traders across Asia including Hong Kong and Shanghai.
| Factor | EasyMarkets | FP Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | FP Markets |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | EasyMarkets |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
FP Markets specializes in low-latency execution using Equinix data centres and a No Dealing Desk (NDD) model on Raw ECN accounts. Reported execution speeds average under 40ms. EasyMarkets uses a hybrid market maker model that provides fixed spreads but may have occasional requotes during volatile news events. For China traders trading Asian session when liquidity is lower, FP Markets' ECN model offers more consistent fills with minimal slippage. EasyMarkets' deal cancellation feature can be useful for avoiding slippage, but it adds a cost (5 pips for EUR/USD).
| Safety Factor | EasyMarkets | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | CySEC | ASIC |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
EasyMarkets is regulated by CySEC ( license #079/07) and the FSA Seychelles (license #SD026). FP Markets holds an Australian ASIC license (AFSL 286354) and CySEC license (#371/18), plus an FSA Saint Vincent registration. For China traders, the key point is that neither broker is supervised by the CSRC. This means trading with them is considered offshore, and deposits/withdrawals must comply with China's foreign exchange controls. However, ASIC regulation (FP Markets) is generally considered stronger than CySEC (EasyMarkets) due to ASIC's strict client money segregation and leverage restrictions (max 1:30 for retail). EasyMarkets offers higher leverage (up to 1:400) under its Seychelles entity, which some China traders might prefer for capital efficiency, but this comes with lower investor protection.
| Payment Method | EasyMarkets | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✗ | ✓ |
| Withdrawal time | Cards 1-2 business days; e-wallets instant-1 business day; bank wire 3-10 business days; overall back-office processing within 1 business day (24h) | 24 hours |
China traders can fund accounts via USDT (Tether) – both brokers accept USDT ERC-20 and TRC-20 – or international bank wire transfers in USD/EUR. USDT is the fastest method, typically processed within minutes and with low fees (network gas fees only). Bank wires take 1-3 business days and require the trader to convert CNY to foreign currency through their bank (subject to China's $50,000 annual foreign exchange quota). EasyMarkets also supports credit/debit cards and e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller. FP Markets adds POLi and PayPal but these may be less accessible from China. Withdrawals for both brokers generally go back to the same method; USDT withdrawals are also instant and cost-effective. Neither broker directly supports CNY deposits; traders must use USDT or transfer in USD/EUR. Minimum deposits: EasyMarkets $100 (or equivalent in USDT), FP Markets $100 AUD (approx $70 USD) – currently FP Markets is slightly cheaper to start.
| Islamic Account Feature | EasyMarkets | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
For China's Muslim traders, both EasyMarkets and FP Markets offer swap-free Islamic accounts that comply with Sharia law. EasyMarkets provides Islamic accounts on request by contacting support – once activated, no swap or rollover interest is charged on overnight positions. FP Markets also offers Islamic accounts on all account types (Standard, Raw, Institutional). The process is straightforward: during registration, select the Islamic account option or request via live chat. FP Markets does note that holding positions for excessively long periods (e.g., months) may be flagged and swapped may be applied. Both brokers require the trader to confirm they are Muslim. EasyMarkets' Islamic account is slightly more straightforward because it has no commission on standard accounts, whereas FP Markets Raw ECN still charges commission even on Islamic accounts.
| Support Feature | EasyMarkets | FP Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | EasyMarkets |
EasyMarkets offers 24/5 live chat, email and phone support in English and limited Chinese. FP Markets provides 24/7 multilingual support including Chinese language agents via live chat and WeChat. FP Markets also has a dedicated Chinese account manager for high-volume traders. For China traders, FP Markets' WeChat support is a distinct advantage as it aligns with local communication preferences. Response times under 1 minute on live chat for FP Markets versus 2-3 minutes for EasyMarkets.
| Mobile Feature | EasyMarkets | FP Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | EasyMarkets |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | EasyMarkets |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✓ | FP Markets |
| Resource | EasyMarkets | FP Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | Weekly | ✗ | EasyMarkets |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | EasyMarkets |
Choose EasyMarkets if you...
Choose FP Markets if you...
For China traders seeking international exposure, FP Markets (4.7/5) is the superior choice for cost-conscious, high-volume and algorithm-driven traders. Its Raw ECN spreads, ASIC regulation and fast execution outweigh EasyMarkets' fixed spread appeal. EasyMarkets (3.4/5) remains a viable option for beginners or those who prioritise predictability over cost. However, given China's capital controls and reliance on USDT or bank transfers, FP Markets' lower trading costs make it easier to maintain profitability over time. While neither broker is CSRC-licensed, FP Markets' ASIC oversight offers stronger investor protection. We recommend FP Markets for most China offshore traders, but EasyMarkets can fill a niche for risk-averse beginners.