Which broker is better for Norway traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
FP Markets and FXCM are two well-known forex brokers that accept clients from Norway, but they cater to different trading needs. FP Markets holds a higher overall rating of 4.7/5 compared to FXCM’s 3.5/5, reflecting stronger user satisfaction in areas like spreads, platform reliability, and customer support. For Norwegian retail traders, choosing the right broker involves considering local payment methods (Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, USDT TRC20), regulatory safety, and trading costs. While both brokers are not regulated by the Norwegian financial regulator (Finanstilsynet), they are established offshore and maintain international licenses. This comparison dives into the key differences that matter most to traders in Norway, including spread costs for popular pairs like EURNOK, platform availability, deposit options, and Islamic account conditions. Whether you are a day trader or a long-term investor, understanding these factors will help you decide which broker fits your strategy.
| Instrument | FP Markets | FXCM | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | FXCM |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | FXCM |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | FXCM |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | FXCM |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $100 | $50 | FP Markets |
For Norway traders, trading costs are a key consideration. FP Markets offers Raw ECN accounts with spreads from 0.0 pips on major pairs like EUR/USD and a small commission of $3 per lot per side. FXCM standard accounts have spreads starting at 1.2 pips on EUR/USD with no commission, but lower volume traders may find the total cost higher. On EURNOK, FP Markets typically shows spreads around 1.5 pips, while FXCM averages 2.5 pips. Over 100 lots traded monthly, FP Markets can save a Norwegian trader hundreds of dollars in spread costs. Both brokers have no deposit or withdrawal fees, but FP Markets' tighter spreads make it more cost-effective for active retail traders.
| Account Type | FP Markets | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✓ | ✗ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $100 | $50 |
| Entity / Asset | FP Markets | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Norway (offshore) | Up to 1:500 | Up to 1:400 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:500 | 1:400 |
| 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 | FP Markets | FXCM | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | FP Markets |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | FP Markets |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | ✗ | FP Markets |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | 1,000+ | ✗ | FXCM |
| ETFs | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | FP Markets | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✗ |
| cTrader | ✓ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✓ | ✓ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Both FP Markets and FXCM provide platforms that work well for Norwegian traders. FP Markets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and its own WebTrader, all available in English and Norwegian languages. FXCM provides Trading Station, MetaTrader 4, and NinjaTrader. For Norwegian traders who prefer automated trading or use Expert Advisors (EAs), FP Markets’ MT4/MT5 are more versatile and widely supported. FXCM’s Trading Station is proprietary but offers advanced charting and risk management tools. Mobile trading apps for both brokers are optimized for iOS and Android, with quick execution speeds. Overall, FP Markets has a slight edge due to its broader platform ecosystem.
| Factor | FP Markets | FXCM | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | FXCM |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | FP Markets |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
Execution quality is critical for retail traders in Norway, especially for strategies like scalping or news trading. FP Markets offers straight-through-processing (STP) execution with order execution speeds averaging 40 ms on its Raw ECN accounts, reducing slippage. FXCM uses a no-dealing-desk (NDD) model with execution speeds around 60 ms. Both brokers allow scalping and hedging, but FP Markets’ lower latency and tight spreads make it more suitable for high-frequency trading. Norwegian traders experiencing internet latency will benefit from FP Markets’ server locations in London and New York, which are closer than FXCM’s primary servers.
| Safety Factor | FP Markets | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | ASIC | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Regulation is a crucial factor for Norway traders. Neither FP Markets nor FXCM is regulated by the Norwegian financial regulator (Finanstilsynet). FP Markets is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and holds a license from the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. FXCM is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). For Norwegian clients, both brokers offer negative balance protection, but client funds are not covered by the Norwegian deposit guarantee scheme. FXCM’s FCA regulation provides up to £85,000 protection for UK clients, but this does not extend to overseas clients automatically. Norwegian traders should be aware of these regulatory differences and consider the level of safety each broker provides.
| Payment Method | FP Markets | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✓ | ✗ |
| Withdrawal time | 24 hours | Internal Processing: FXCM reviews and processes requests in 1–2 business days.Credit or Debit Card: Arrives within 5 business days, though statements can take up to 1 billing cycle to update.Domestic Bank Wire: Arrives in 1–2 business days after processing.International Bank Wire: Arrives in 3–5 business days after processing. |
Norwegian traders have multiple convenient options to fund their accounts at FP Markets and FXCM. Both brokers accept Bank Transfer (local and international), Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20 (crypto). Bank transfers are free but can take 1-3 business days. Skrill and Neteller deposits are instant and widely used in Norway with minimal fees – typically 1-2% for currency conversion from NOK to USD. USDT TRC20 deposits are also instant and free except for blockchain network fees. FP Markets has a minimum deposit of $100 AUD (around $70 USD), while FXCM requires only $50 USD. Withdrawals are processed similarly: Skrill and Neteller are fastest (same day), bank transfers take 1-3 days, and USDT TRC20 is instant. No internal deposit or withdrawal fees are charged by either broker, making them cost-effective for Norwegian traders.
| Islamic Account Feature | FP Markets | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Muslim traders in Norway who require swap-free accounts in accordance with Sharia law, both FP Markets and FXCM offer Islamic accounts. FP Markets provides swap-free accounts on all account types (Standard, Raw, and Islamic) with no time limit and no additional fees. FXCM offers Islamic accounts upon request, but they may impose a 90-day limit after which standard swap fees apply unless the client requests an extension. Also, FXCM’s Islamic accounts may have restrictions on certain instruments like CFDs on commodities. FP Markets is more accommodating for long-term position traders who need indefinite swap-free status. Both brokers require proof of Muslim faith or a declaration, which is standard practice for Norway traders seeking Sharia-compliant trading.
| Support Feature | FP Markets | FXCM | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | FP Markets |
FP Markets and FXCM both offer customer support in English and several other languages, but FP Markets has a slight advantage for Norway traders due to its 24/7 availability and faster response times. FP Markets provides live chat, email, and phone support with average response times under 30 seconds for chat. FXCM offers 24/5 phone and email support with live chat during market hours. While FXCM has a Norwegian language option in its help center, FP Markets’ support is generally rated higher for prompt resolution of technical and account issues by Norwegian users.
| Mobile Feature | FP Markets | FXCM | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | FP Markets |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | FP Markets |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Resource | FP Markets | FXCM | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | FP Markets |
Choose FP Markets if you...
Choose FXCM if you...
For most retail traders in Norway, FP Markets is the stronger choice due to its higher rating, tighter spreads, flexible Islamic account, and better platform support. It offers competitive trading costs for EURNOK and other currency pairs popular with Norwegian traders, and supports local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20 with low fees. However, FXCM remains a solid alternative for beginners who prioritize a low minimum deposit and access to educational content. Both brokers are not regulated by the Norwegian financial regulator (Finanstilsynet), so traders should ensure they understand the risks. If you trade actively or use EAs, FP Markets is the clear winner. If you are just starting out and want a lower entry barrier, FXCM still delivers a reliable trading experience.