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 HYCM and EasyMarkets, two well-established names in the industry. Both brokers are regulated by CONSOB under MiFID II, meaning they comply with Italy's strict financial rules, including leverage caps of 1:30 for major pairs and negative balance protection. For traders in Italy, this ensures a safe trading environment with local deposit methods like SEPA, Bank Transfer, and PostePay accepted by both. HYCM, founded in 1977, offers a wider range of tradable instruments (over 50 currency pairs plus CFDs on indices, commodities, and shares) and advanced platforms like MT4 and MT5. EasyMarkets, established in 2001, focuses on simplicity with fixed spreads, a proprietary web platform, and a user-friendly mobile app. This comparison will help you decide which broker aligns better with your trading style and local needs in Italy.
| Instrument | HYCM | 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 | $20 | $25 | HYCM |
For Italian traders, trading costs are a key factor. HYCM offers variable spreads starting from 0.0 pips on its Fixed account, with a commission of $3.50 per lot per side, while its Classic account has spreads from 1.2 pips with no commission. EasyMarkets, on the other hand, uses fixed spreads averaging 1.5 pips for EUR/USD, with no commissions. For high-volume traders (e.g., 10 lots per month), HYCM's variable spreads can be cheaper, but during volatile news events, EasyMarkets' fixed spreads protect you from slippage. Both brokers charge no deposit or withdrawal fees for SEPA transfers, a big plus for Italy-based traders.
| Account Type | HYCM | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $20 | $25 |
| Entity / Asset | HYCM | 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 | HYCM | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | HYCM |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | HYCM |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | HYCM |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | ✗ | EasyMarkets |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | HYCM | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✗ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✗ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Italian traders will find HYCM more versatile with MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which offer advanced charting, automated trading via Expert Advisors (EAs), and a wide range of indicators. EasyMarkets provides its own proprietary platform, which is web-based and mobile-friendly, focusing on simplicity with features like deal cancellation (a fee-based tool to reverse losing trades). For Italian traders who prefer algorithmic trading or complex analysis, HYCM is better; for those who want a straightforward, all-in-one platform, EasyMarkets is simpler to use.
| Factor | HYCM | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | EasyMarkets |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | HYCM |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
HYCM offers market execution with no dealing desk intervention, providing fast order fills (average 30-50 ms) and minimal requotes. EasyMarkets uses a market maker model with fixed spreads, meaning execution is instant but may involve slippage during high volatility. For Italian traders who prioritize speed and transparency, HYCM is better; for those who value guaranteed execution at the quoted price, EasyMarkets is more reliable.
| Safety Factor | HYCM | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | CySEC |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Both HYCM and EasyMarkets are regulated by CONSOB (Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa), Italy's financial markets regulator, operating under the European MiFID II framework. This means Italian traders benefit from investor compensation funds up to €20,000 per account, segregation of client funds, and strict leverage limits (1:30 for forex majors). HYCM is also regulated by the FCA in the UK and CySEC in Cyprus, while EasyMarkets has additional regulation from the ASIC in Australia. For Italy traders, CONSOB oversight ensures legal protection and local dispute resolution.
| Payment Method | HYCM | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✗ | ✗ |
| Withdrawal time | E-Wallets (Skrill, Neteller, WebMoney): 1 hour to 1 business day.Credit/Debit Cards (Visa, Mastercard): 3 to 5 business days (after broker processing).Bank Wire Transfers: 3 to 7 business days depending on your bank and location. | 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 have multiple convenient deposit and withdrawal options with both brokers. SEPA bank transfers are the most popular, with EUR deposits arriving within 1-2 business days, no fees from the broker (though your bank may charge). Bank transfers are also supported but take longer (2-5 days). PostePay, Italy's widely used prepaid card, is accepted by both brokers for instant deposits (usually free) and withdrawals (processed within 1-2 days). EasyMarkets also accepts credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard) and PayPal, while HYCM adds Skrill and Neteller. Minimum deposits are low: €100 for HYCM and €25 for EasyMarkets, making both accessible for retail traders.
| Islamic Account Feature | HYCM | 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 |
Both brokers offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts for Italian Muslim traders who need to comply with Sharia law, which prohibits earning or paying interest (riba). HYCM provides Islamic accounts upon request after verifying your religious status, with no swap charges on overnight positions but may have a small administrative fee for long-held trades. EasyMarkets offers swap-free accounts automatically for any trader who requests one, with no additional fees. Both brokers ensure these accounts are available in EUR, and you can trade the same instruments as standard accounts.
| Support Feature | HYCM | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | HYCM |
Italian traders will appreciate that both brokers offer customer support in Italian, with phone and email options. HYCM provides 24/5 support via live chat, phone, and email, plus a dedicated Italian account manager for higher-tier accounts. EasyMarkets offers 24/5 support via live chat, phone, and email, with quick response times (under 1 minute for chat). Both have FAQ sections in Italian, but EasyMarkets' support is slightly more accessible for beginners.
| Mobile Feature | HYCM | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | HYCM |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | HYCM |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Resource | HYCM | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | ✗ | Monthly | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | HYCM |
Choose HYCM if you...
Choose EasyMarkets if you...
For Italian retail traders, the choice between HYCM and EasyMarkets depends on your trading style. HYCM (score 3.6/5) is better for experienced traders who want low spreads, advanced platforms, and a wide instrument range, all while benefiting from CONSOB regulation and local payments like SEPA and PostePay. EasyMarkets (score 3.4/5) suits beginners or traders who prefer fixed costs and simplicity, with its unique deal cancellation feature and low €25 minimum deposit. Both are fully legal in Italy, accept EUR deposits without conversion fees, and provide Italian-language support. If you trade frequently, HYCM's variable spreads will save you money; if you trade occasionally and want peace of mind, EasyMarkets is a solid choice.