Which broker is better for China traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For traders in mainland China, accessing international forex markets means navigating strict capital controls, CNY conversion challenges, and the absence of CSRC-sanctioned global brokers. Both FBS Max and FP Markets operate as offshore providers, giving China traders a practical route to global exposure without a local license. FBS Max, scoring 3.7/5, has built a following among Chinese retail traders with low minimum deposits, high leverage, and a simple mobile app. FP Markets, scoring 4.7/5, earns its stronger rating through tight raw spreads, deep liquidity, and regulation by ASIC in Australia and CySEC in Europe. Because the CSRC does not oversee either brand, Chinese clients rely on alternative funding solutions like USDT (TRC20 or ERC20) and Bank Transfer (international). USDT is the dominant choice for China traders because it removes the friction of domestic bank approval processes and settles within minutes, while bank transfers provide an auditable channel for larger CNY-to-USD conversions. Additionally, both brokers support the MetaTrader platform family and provide Chinese-language assistance, making them accessible to traders in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and beyond. This comparison measures spreads, commissions, platforms, regulatory safety, payment convenience, execution quality, and Islamic account support in the specific context of China's offshore trading environment. By the end, you will understand why FP Markets scores one full point higher and how FBS Max still serves the low-budget segment of China's forex community.
| Instrument | FBS Max | 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 | $0 | $100 | FBS Max |
Trading costs determine net returns for China traders, especially when converting CNY to USD. FP Markets' Raw account offers spreads from 0.0 pips plus a $6 commission per lot round-turn, ideal for active scalping strategies. FBS Max spreads start at 1.1 pips on Standard and 0.6 pips on ECN with a $15 commission, making FBS Max's ECN account more expensive at higher volumes. For a China trader trading 10 lots per day, FP Markets can save $50 to $80 in spread and commission costs compared to FBS Max. FP Markets also has no deposit or internal withdrawal fees for bank transfers, while FBS Max may pass on full or partial international bank transfer fees. Therefore, active China traders focused on cost efficiency will consistently favour FP Markets.
| Account Type | FBS Max | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✗ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Entity / Asset | FBS Max | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| China (offshore) | Up to 1:3000 | Up to 1:500 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:3000 | 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 | FBS Max | FP Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | FBS Max |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | FBS Max |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | FBS Max |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | 1,700+ | FP Markets |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
| Platform | FBS Max | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✓ | ✓ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✓ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Chinese traders demand stable platform access, especially when managing offshore accounts across different time zones. Both FBS Max and FP Markets support MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, the industry-standard platforms widely used in Chinese trading communities. FP Markets adds its proprietary Iress platform for direct market access, which appeals to professional Chinese traders following global order books. FBS Max provides a user-friendly mobile app with built-in copy trading, useful for retail clients in smaller Chinese cities who prefer social trading. Both brokers support Windows, iOS, and Android, ensuring compatibility with common devices used in China. FP Markets offers stable VPS hosting, which many Chinese algorithmic traders rely on for running Expert Advisors without connectivity interruptions. FBS Max's platform is lighter and simpler, making it a solid entry point for newcomers. For advanced charting, speed, and institutional-grade functionality, FP Markets is the clear winner for China traders.
| Factor | FBS Max | FP Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | FP Markets |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | FBS Max |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
Execution quality directly affects slippage and fill prices for China traders. FP Markets connects through Equinix NY4 servers and offers true ECN/STP execution with raw spreads from 0.0 pips, delivering low-latency fills during active Asia trading hours. Their no-dealing-desk model ensures no requotes. FBS Max also uses STP/NDD execution, but its aggregated liquidity is thinner, leading to occasional slippage during high-impact news. In volatile events such as FOMC announcements or Chinese GDP data releases, FP Markets maintains tighter spreads and better fill accuracy. For China traders running algorithmic or grid strategies, FP Markets' execution stability is a critical advantage.
| Safety Factor | FBS Max | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | IFSC | ASIC |
| Top-tier regulated | ✗ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✗ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Regulation is the most sensitive topic for China traders because the CSRC does not supervise offshore forex brokers. FP Markets is regulated by ASIC in Australia and CySEC in Cyprus, providing a tier-1 framework with client fund protection rules and audited financial statements. FBS Max operates under the FSCA in South Africa and IFSC in Belize, which are lower-tier regulators with weaker compensation coverage. For China traders holding sizeable offshore balances, FP Markets' ASIC oversight offers significantly stronger peace of mind. Neither broker can offer CSRC investor protection, meaning China traders must conduct their own due diligence on withdrawal policies and segregated funds. This regulatory gap is a major reason FP Markets scores 4.7/5 while FBS Max scores just 3.7/5.
| Payment Method | FBS Max | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✓ | ✓ |
| Withdrawal time | 5 to 7 business days | 24 hours |
Funding from mainland China requires working around strict capital controls. Both FBS Max and FP Markets support USDT (TRC20/ERC20) and Bank Transfer (international), making it practical for China traders to move money offshore. USDT deposits are the most popular choice because they are credited within 5 to 10 minutes, have no deposit fees, and avoid the typical 2-5 day bank transfer waiting period. For example, a trader sends USDT from a local OTC exchange to the broker's wallet and then converts to USD for trading. Bank Transfer (international) is slower, usually taking 2-5 business days, and may incur intermediary bank fees between $15 and $40. FBS Max supports USDT deposits without charging a top-up fee, but may charge for withdrawals if the amount falls below a certain threshold. FP Markets does not levy internal withdrawal fees, but international bank withdrawals may suffer correspondent bank deductions. China traders withdrawing profits should choose USDT to reduce transfer time and preserve CNY value by converting back through a local OTC channel. Always check each broker's maximum transaction limits, since frequent international transfers can trigger mainland bank compliance checks.
| Islamic Account Feature | FBS Max | 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 |
China has a meaningful Muslim population, particularly in regions like Xinjiang and Ningxia. Both FBS Max and FP Markets provide Islamic (swap-free) accounts that comply with Sharia law. FBS Max offers swap-free accounts on Standard and Cent accounts with zero swaps on overnight positions and no administrative fees. FP Markets offers Islamic accounts on both Raw and Standard platforms, but it imposes a holding-period fee after seven days if a position remains open overnight. In practice, day-trading Muslim traders in China often prefer FP Markets because of its tighter spreads, while longer-term Muslim traders choose FBS Max to avoid the seven-day fee. Clients must request the Islamic account via live chat or email on both brokers. For Chinese Islamic traders, this setup is essential to remain compliant with Sharia principles.
| Support Feature | FBS Max | FP Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | FBS Max |
Local-language customer support is crucial for China traders. FBS Max offers 24/7 live chat and email support with a Chinese-speaking team that typically responds within two minutes. FP Markets provides multilingual support including Mandarin, but its live chat operates 24/5, which limits weekend assistance. For China traders in the GMT+8 timezone, FBS Max's 24/7 availability is more convenient. However, FP Markets compensates with more detailed account management and priority support for larger deposit holders. We recommend China traders open demo accounts with both brokers and test response times before committing real CNY-converted capital.
| Mobile Feature | FBS Max | FP Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | FBS Max |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | FBS Max |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✓ | FP Markets |
| Resource | FBS Max | FP Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | FBS Max |
Choose FBS Max if you...
Choose FP Markets if you...
For China traders looking beyond CSRC-regulated domestic markets, FP Markets is the clear winner in this comparison. With a 4.7/5 score, it provides tighter spreads, superior execution, and stronger regulatory oversight under ASIC and CySEC, which is essential when moving money offshore. FBS Max remains a viable alternative for China traders with smaller starting budgets, especially those using USDT to avoid bank transfer friction. But when evaluating platform reliability, fund security, and long-term cost efficiency, FP Markets aligns better with the needs of active offshore traders in China. Deposit funding via USDT or Bank Transfer (international) works on both brokers, yet FP Markets' additional regulatory backing and lower institutional trading costs justify its higher rating. We recommend FP Markets for most China traders, reserving FBS Max for low-budget beginners or those specifically seeking a fee-free swap-free account.