Which broker is better for Austria traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For Austrian retail traders choosing between Libertex and Hantec Markets, the decision comes down to trading costs, payment flexibility, and regulatory comfort. Libertex (score 3.7/5) is a well-known European broker with a strong presence in Austria, offering a user-friendly platform and support for local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and even USDT TRC20. Hantec Markets (score 3.6/5) is a UK-based broker with a focus on tight spreads and fast execution, appealing to more active traders. Both brokers accept Austrian clients and comply with local financial regulator requirements under European passporting rules. However, their approaches differ significantly: Libertex emphasizes accessibility and a wide range of assets, while Hantec Markets prioritizes low-cost forex trading. Austrian traders should consider their trading style, deposit preferences, and need for local support when making a choice.
| Instrument | Libertex | Hantec Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Hantec Markets |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Hantec Markets |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Hantec Markets |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Hantec Markets |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $10 | $10 | Tie |
For Austrian traders, Hantec Markets offers lower spreads on major pairs like EUR/USD, starting from 0.0 pips on its Raw account with a $3.5 commission per lot. Libertex uses a variable spread model averaging 0.9 pips on EUR/USD with no commission, making it slightly more expensive for high-volume traders. If you trade 10 lots per month, Hantec Markets saves approximately $50 in spread costs. However, Libertex includes more instruments like stocks and crypto without additional markups, which can offset costs for diversified traders.
| Account Type | Libertex | Hantec Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✗ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $10 | $10 |
| Entity / Asset | Libertex | Hantec Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Austria (offshore) | Up to 1:999 | Up to 1:500 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:999 | 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 | Libertex | Hantec Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | Libertex |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | Libertex |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | ✗ | Libertex |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | 1,700+ | Hantec Markets |
| ETFs | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | Libertex | Hantec Markets |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✗ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✗ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Libertex provides its proprietary web and mobile platforms, which are intuitive for Austrian beginners and include built-in educational tools. Hantec Markets uses MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), the industry standard for advanced charting and automated trading. Austrian traders who rely on Expert Advisors or custom indicators will prefer Hantec Markets. Libertex’s platform is better for those who want a simpler, all-in-one experience without needing third-party software.
| Factor | Libertex | Hantec Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Hantec Markets |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | Libertex |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
Hantec Markets offers ECN execution with no requotes and average execution speeds of 30ms, ideal for scalpers and news traders. Libertex uses market execution with occasional slippage during volatile periods. For Austrian traders trading major pairs during European sessions, Hantec Markets provides more reliable fills. Libertex is sufficient for longer-term positions and less time-sensitive strategies.
| Safety Factor | Libertex | Hantec Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | CySEC | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✗ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Libertex is regulated by CySEC (Cyprus) and offers negative balance protection, which applies to Austrian retail clients under EU law. Hantec Markets is regulated by the FCA (UK) and also complies with ESMA rules, including leverage limits of 1:30 for major forex pairs. Neither broker is directly regulated by the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA), but both meet EU standards. Austrian traders benefit from segregated client funds and investor compensation schemes (up to €20,000 via ICF for Libertex, £85,000 via FSCS for Hantec Markets).
| Payment Method | Libertex | Hantec Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✗ | ✗ |
| Withdrawal time | 5 business days | Crypto / USDT: 1 to 3 hours (for eligible wallets)E-wallets: Within hours up to 1 dayBank / Wire Transfers: 2 to 5 business days |
Austrian traders can deposit and withdraw using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20 at both brokers. Libertex also accepts credit/debit cards and PayPal, while Hantec Markets adds China UnionPay. Bank transfers take 1-3 business days, while Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20 are instant. Withdrawals are processed within 24 hours at Libertex and up to 48 hours at Hantec Markets. USDT TRC20 deposits have no fees at either broker, making them attractive for crypto-savvy Austrian traders. Minimum deposits are €10 at Libertex and €100 at Hantec Markets.
| Islamic Account Feature | Libertex | Hantec 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 |
Both Libertex and Hantec Markets offer swap-free Islamic accounts for Austrian Muslim traders who require Sharia-compliant trading. Libertex provides Islamic accounts upon request for all account types, with no additional fees but a possible administrative charge after 30 days. Hantec Markets offers them automatically on Standard and Raw accounts without time limits or extra costs. Austrian traders should confirm swap-free status with customer support before trading to avoid overnight interest charges.
| Support Feature | Libertex | Hantec Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | Libertex |
Libertex offers 24/5 multilingual support via live chat, email, and phone, with German language support available for Austrian clients. Hantec Markets provides 24/5 support in English and Chinese, with limited German assistance. Libertex’s local language support gives it an edge for Austrian traders who prefer to communicate in German. Response times are under 5 minutes for live chat at both brokers.
| Mobile Feature | Libertex | Hantec Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | Libertex |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | Libertex |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Resource | Libertex | Hantec Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | ✗ | Monthly | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | Libertex |
Choose Libertex if you...
Choose Hantec Markets if you...
For Austrian retail traders, Libertex is the better overall choice due to its higher trust score (3.7/5), lower minimum deposit (€10), and support for local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20. It also offers German-language support and a wider range of instruments. However, if you are an active forex trader focused on low spreads and fast execution, Hantec Markets (3.6/5) is more cost-effective and provides MT4/MT5 platforms. Both brokers comply with local financial regulator standards and offer Islamic accounts. Your final decision should align with your trading style, deposit preferences, and need for local language support.