Which broker is better for Italy traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Italian retail traders looking for a reliable forex broker often compare Global Prime and EasyMarkets, two well-known international brokers that accept clients from Italy. Both brokers are regulated under ESMA guidelines and offer services tailored to the Italian market, including support for EUR deposits and local payment methods like SEPA, Bank Transfer, and PostePay. Global Prime, with a score of 3.6/5, is recognized for its institutional-grade execution and low-cost trading, appealing to active traders in Milan, Rome, and beyond. EasyMarkets, scoring 3.4/5, focuses on simplicity and risk management tools, making it a popular choice for beginners and casual traders across Italy. This comparison examines key factors such as spreads, platforms, regulation by CONSOB, and deposit options to help you decide which broker fits your trading style and local needs.
| Instrument | Global Prime | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | EasyMarkets |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | EasyMarkets |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | EasyMarkets |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | EasyMarkets |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $0 | $25 | Global Prime |
For Italian traders, trading costs are a major consideration. Global Prime offers variable spreads starting from 0.0 pips on EUR/USD with a commission of $3 per lot, making it highly competitive for scalpers and day traders. EasyMarkets uses fixed spreads, averaging around 1.2 pips on EUR/USD without commission, which suits traders who prefer predictable costs but may be more expensive for high-volume strategies. Over 100 trades per month, Global Prime can save Italian traders up to 40% in spread costs, especially when trading major pairs like EUR/GBP or USD/JPY. However, EasyMarkets' fixed spreads protect against volatility spikes, which can be beneficial during Italian economic news releases.
| Account Type | Global Prime | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✓ | ✗ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $0 | $25 |
| Entity / Asset | Global Prime | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Italy (offshore) | Up to 1:500 | Up to 1:2000 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:500 | 1:2000 |
| 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 | Global Prime | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | Global Prime |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | ✗ | 20+ indices | Global Prime |
| Crypto CFDs | ✗ | 20+ | Global Prime |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | ✗ | EasyMarkets |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | Global Prime | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✗ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✗ | ✗ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Global Prime provides the popular MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms, known for their advanced charting, custom indicators, and automated trading capabilities. Italian traders who use Expert Advisors (EAs) or need deep analysis will prefer Global Prime. EasyMarkets offers its proprietary web-based platform and mobile app, which are intuitive and include unique features like 'deal cancellation' and 'freeze rate' that help Italian beginners manage risk. While EasyMarkets lacks MetaTrader, its simplicity appeals to traders in Italy who prioritize ease of use over advanced tools.
| Factor | Global Prime | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | EasyMarkets |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | Global Prime |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
Global Prime uses straight-through processing (STP) with no dealing desk, offering execution speeds under 50ms on average. This suits Italian scalpers and algorithmic traders who need minimal slippage. EasyMarkets operates a market maker model with fixed spreads and guaranteed stop-loss orders, which can prevent slippage during volatile Italian market hours. However, EasyMarkets' execution may involve requotes during fast-moving conditions, while Global Prime provides more reliable fills for active traders.
| Safety Factor | Global Prime | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | ASIC | CySEC |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✗ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Both Global Prime and EasyMarkets are regulated by top-tier authorities, but Italian traders must ensure compliance with CONSOB (Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa). Global Prime is regulated by ASIC and the FSA, while EasyMarkets is regulated by CySEC and the FSA. Neither broker is directly regulated by CONSOB, but they operate under ESMA's European passport, allowing them to accept Italian clients legally. This means Italian traders benefit from negative balance protection, leverage caps of 1:30 for major pairs, and segregated client funds. Always verify the specific entity handling your account to ensure full regulatory protection.
| Payment Method | Global Prime | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✗ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✗ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✓ | ✗ |
| Withdrawal time | Global Prime processes withdrawals instantly on their end, but the time to receive your funds depends on your payment method: bank wire transfers take 1 to 5 business days, credit or debit cards take 1 to 10 days, and e-wallets are instant once completed. | 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) |
Italian traders can fund their accounts at both Global Prime and EasyMarkets using SEPA bank transfers, standard bank transfers, and PostePay, a popular prepaid card in Italy. Global Prime also accepts credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard) and e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller, with deposits typically processed within 24 hours. EasyMarkets supports the same methods and adds PayPal for withdrawals. For SEPA transfers, deposits are free and arrive within 1-2 business days, while withdrawals via bank transfer may take 2-5 days. PostePay transactions are instant but may have small fees. Both brokers do not charge deposit fees, but Italian traders should check for any intermediary bank charges on international transfers.
| Islamic Account Feature | Global Prime | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Italian Muslim traders seeking Sharia-compliant trading, both Global Prime and EasyMarkets offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts. Global Prime provides swap-free accounts automatically for clients from Muslim-majority countries, including Italy, with no additional fees. EasyMarkets offers Islamic accounts upon request, with no overnight interest charges on positions held for more than 24 hours. Both brokers ensure that swap-free accounts still allow normal trading activity, though some instruments may have limited availability. Italian traders should contact support to confirm eligibility and any conditions, such as account inactivity fees.
| Support Feature | Global Prime | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | Global Prime |
Customer support is available in English and Italian at both brokers, though Italian language support may be limited to email or chat. Global Prime offers 24/5 live chat and email support, with phone support during market hours. EasyMarkets provides 24/5 multilingual support via live chat, email, and phone, with a dedicated Italian-speaking team. For Italian traders, EasyMarkets' phone support may be more accessible, while Global Prime's chat is faster for technical issues.
| Mobile Feature | Global Prime | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | Global Prime |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | Global Prime |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Resource | Global Prime | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | ✗ | 50+ videos | EasyMarkets |
| Webinars (live) | ✗ | Monthly | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | Global Prime |
Choose Global Prime if you...
Choose EasyMarkets if you...
For Italian retail traders, Global Prime edges out EasyMarkets with a higher overall score (3.6 vs 3.4) and lower trading costs, making it the better choice for active traders who use MetaTrader and value tight spreads. However, EasyMarkets stands out for its beginner-friendly platform and innovative risk tools, which appeal to less experienced traders in Italy. Both brokers support local payment methods like SEPA, Bank Transfer, and PostePay, and comply with CONSOB regulations through ESMA. If you prioritize cost efficiency and advanced trading, choose Global Prime. If you prefer simplicity and built-in risk management, EasyMarkets is a solid alternative. Always verify the specific regulated entity before opening an account to ensure full protection under Italian law.