Which broker is better for North Macedonia traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For retail traders in North Macedonia, choosing between Oanda and EasyMarkets is a critical decision that affects trading costs, platform experience, and overall profitability. Oanda, scoring 3.6/5, is a well-established broker known for its powerful tools, competitive variable spreads, and strong research capabilities. EasyMarkets, with a 3.4/5 rating, stands out for its user-friendly fixed spreads, guaranteed stop loss, and risk management features. Both brokers accept North Macedonia clients and support local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20. However, they differ significantly in execution style, regulatory coverage, and account types. This comparison helps you decide which broker aligns with your trading style, whether you prioritize low costs or predictable outcomes. Given the local financial regulator's oversight, traders should also consider each broker's licensing and client fund protection.
| Instrument | Oanda | 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 | Oanda |
Oanda offers variable spreads starting from 0.2 pips on major pairs like EUR/USD, which benefits active North Macedonia traders trading higher volumes. However, spreads can widen during volatile market hours. EasyMarkets uses fixed spreads averaging 1.2 pips on EUR/USD, providing cost certainty regardless of market conditions. For a standard lot trade, Oanda's spread cost is approximately $2 per round turn, while EasyMarkets costs around $12. Over 100 trades per month, Oanda saves $1,000 in spreads, making it more cost-effective for frequent traders. Occasional traders may prefer EasyMarkets' predictability.
| Account Type | Oanda | 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 | Oanda | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| North Macedonia (offshore) | Up to 1:100 | Up to 1:2000 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:100 | 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 | Oanda | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | Oanda |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | Oanda |
| Crypto CFDs | ✗ | 20+ | Oanda |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | ✗ | EasyMarkets |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | Oanda | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✗ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✗ | ✗ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✓ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✗ | ✗ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Oanda provides the advanced fxTrade platform, MetaTrader 4, and TradingView integration, offering extensive charting, indicators, and automated trading. This suits North Macedonia traders who need technical analysis and algorithmic capabilities. EasyMarkets offers its proprietary web platform and mobile app, plus MetaTrader 4 and TradingView. The proprietary platform is designed for simplicity with deal cancellation and guaranteed stop loss features. For traders in North Macedonia, Oanda is better for advanced analysis, while EasyMarkets is ideal for beginners or those wanting a straightforward experience.
| Factor | Oanda | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | EasyMarkets |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | Oanda |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
Oanda uses a no-dealing desk (NDD) model with straight-through processing, offering fast execution with minimal slippage. EasyMarkets uses a market maker model with fixed spreads and guaranteed stop loss, which eliminates slippage but may have requotes during high volatility. For North Macedonia traders, Oanda's execution is superior for scalping and news trading, while EasyMarkets' guaranteed stops protect against unexpected market moves.
| Safety Factor | Oanda | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | CySEC |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Oanda is regulated by top-tier authorities including the FCA (UK), CFTC (US), and ASIC (Australia), ensuring strict client fund segregation and compensation schemes. EasyMarkets is regulated by CySEC (Cyprus) and the FSC (BVI), offering negative balance protection but with lower maximum compensation limits. For North Macedonia traders, neither broker is directly regulated by the local financial regulator, but Oanda's FCA oversight provides stronger protection. EasyMarkets' CySEC regulation still offers a reasonable safety net. Traders should consider the regulatory tier when choosing.
| Payment Method | Oanda | EasyMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✗ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✗ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✗ | ✗ |
| Withdrawal time | 1 to 5 business days | 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) |
North Macedonia traders can fund accounts via Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20 at both Oanda and EasyMarkets. Oanda also supports credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard) and PayPal, while EasyMarkets adds local bank transfers and WebMoney. Deposits are instant with Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20, while bank transfers take 1-3 business days. Oanda has no minimum deposit, making it accessible for small accounts. EasyMarkets requires a $25 minimum deposit. Withdrawals are processed within 1-2 business days for e-wallets and crypto, and 3-5 days for bank transfers. EasyMarkets charges no withdrawal fees, while Oanda may apply fees for bank transfers over a certain frequency. USDT TRC20 is particularly popular for its low fees and fast processing.
| Islamic Account Feature | Oanda | 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 Oanda and EasyMarkets offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts for Muslim traders in North Macedonia. EasyMarkets provides swap-free accounts automatically upon request with no additional fees, and they are available on all account types. Oanda also offers swap-free accounts but requires a formal application and eligibility verification, and they are limited to certain account types. Both brokers comply with Sharia law by not charging or paying overnight interest. EasyMarkets is more straightforward for North Macedonia traders seeking an Islamic account, while Oanda offers it with more conditions.
| Support Feature | Oanda | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | Oanda |
Oanda provides 24/5 customer support via live chat, email, and phone, with a comprehensive FAQ and educational resources. EasyMarkets offers 24/5 multilingual support via live chat, email, and phone, with a dedicated account manager for VIP clients. For North Macedonia traders, both brokers offer English support, but EasyMarkets' account manager feature may be more helpful for less experienced traders. Response times are similar, typically under 5 minutes for live chat.
| Mobile Feature | Oanda | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | Oanda |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | Oanda |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✓ | ✗ | Oanda |
| Resource | Oanda | EasyMarkets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | Weekly | Monthly | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | Oanda |
Choose Oanda if you...
Choose EasyMarkets if you...
For North Macedonia retail traders, Oanda is the better overall choice with a higher score (3.6/5), tighter spreads, advanced platforms, and stronger FCA regulation. It suits active traders who can benefit from lower trading costs and sophisticated tools. EasyMarkets (3.4/5) is ideal for beginners or risk-averse traders who value fixed spreads and guaranteed stop loss. Both brokers support local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20, and are accessible to North Macedonia traders. However, Oanda's regulatory strength and cost efficiency for high-volume trading give it the edge. Consider the local financial regulator's guidelines and your personal trading style before deciding.