Guide to finding the Best Canadian Forex Brokers

The Forex industry in Canada is controlled by different regulatory bodies, however, every broker wishing to participate in Forex trading must be regulated by IIROC (also known as Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada). IIROC ensures that all financial activities that are related to the Forex industry are carried out in a fair manner, and all the participants have a safe and enjoyable experience.

With the seventh most powerful currency in the world, in terms of market share volume, the Canadian dollar sits comfortably among them. Because of its volume in the international market, its currency has earned a place among the major currencies, and it is revered by many Forex traders.

People wishing to start trading in Canada, have the privilege of using some of the most popular payment methods that are considered fast and trustworthy. You can either make deposits and withdrawals with e-wallets such as Skrill and Neteller, or debit/credit cards, along with PayPal with most Canadian Forex brokers.

Trading is taxable in the country and traders will have to pay for their Forex profits. All the clients that have profits are subject to capital gains tax – meaning that they are taxed at 50% of their marginal rate.

List of the best Forex brokers in Canada

The strength of the Canadian dollar and the overall economy of the country will not make you a rich Forex trader unless you choose the appropriate brokerage company and learn how to trade Forex yourself. The quality of the broker decides a lot starting from your trading costs to how much profit you can generate. That is why you should aim at discovering the best of the best for trading currency pairs on an efficient platform and in a convenient trading environment. To make your task easier, we present you to the list of regulated Forex brokers in Canada.

XM Group

XM Forex Review

Minimum deposit

5$

Regulation

CySEC, FCA, ASIC

Bonus

30$, 50%+20%

Maximum leverage

30:1

Year founded

2009

Trading platform

MT4, MT5, WebTrader

AvaTrade

Review of AvaTrade – Broker with over 15 years of experience

Minimum deposit

$100

Regulation

CySEC, CBI, FSA, FFAJ, BVI FSC, FSCA, FSRA

Bonus

Maximum leverage

1:400

Year founded

2006

Trading platform

MT4, MT5, WebTrader, AvaTradeGO

SAXO Bank

SAXO Bank Forex Review

Minimum deposit

USD 5,000

Regulation

FINMA, FCA, ASIC, FSA, MAS, AFM

Bonus

N/A

Maximum leverage

1:30

Year founded

1992

Trading platform

SaxoTraderGo, SaxoTraderPro

HotForex

HotForex Review – Trade 1,000+ of Symbols with this Broker

Minimum deposit

$5

Regulation

SVGFSA, FCA, DFSA, FSCA, FSA

Bonus

From 30% to 100%

Maximum leverage

1:1000

Year founded

2010

Trading platform

MT4, MT5

ForexMart

ForexMart Review – High-class trading experience

Minimum deposit

15

Regulation

CySEC

Bonus

30%

Maximum leverage

1:500

Year founded

2015

Trading platform

MT4, WebTrader

CM Trading

CM Trading FX broker review – Is it legit?

Minimum deposit

$250

Regulation

FSCA

Bonus

Maximum leverage

1:200

Year founded

2012

Trading platform

MT4, WebTrader

Plus500

Plus500 Review

Minimum deposit

100$

Regulation

FCA

Bonus

N/A

Maximum leverage

30:1

Year founded

2008

Trading platform

Custom

IQ Option

An in-depth IQ Option Review of fees, opportunities and more

Minimum deposit

$10

Regulation

Risk Warning: YOUR CAPITAL MIGHT BE AT RISK

Bonus

N/A

Maximum leverage

1:1000

Year founded

2013

Trading platform

Proprietary

Exness

Exness Broker Review – Should You Trade With It?

Minimum deposit

10 USD

Regulation

FCA, CySEC, FSA

Bonus

N/A

Maximum leverage

1:Unlimited

Year founded

2008

Trading platform

MT4, MT5, WebTerminal

OspreyFX

OspreyFX review – regulations, features and possibility of OspreyFX scam

Minimum deposit

$10

Regulation

N/A

Bonus

N/A

Maximum leverage

1:500

Year founded

2019

Trading platform

MT4, custom

EagleFX

EagleFX review – Start trading with safe and secure broker

Minimum deposit

$10

Regulation

Bonus

Maximum leverage

1:500

Year founded

Trading platform

MT4

Forex.com

Forex.com Review

Minimum deposit

250$

Regulation

FCA, NFA

Bonus

N/A

Maximum leverage

200:1

Year founded

1999

Trading platform

MT4

easyMarkets

Can You Trust easyMarkets? There Are Things You Need To Know

Minimum deposit

$25

Regulation

ASIC, CySEC, FSA, BVI

Bonus

50%

Maximum leverage

1:400

Year founded

2001

Trading platform

WebTrader, MT4, TradingView

HYCM

Can you trust HYCM Forex broker? What you need to know?

Minimum deposit

100

Regulation

FCA, CySEC, DIFC, CIMA

Bonus

N/A

Maximum leverage

500:1

Year founded

1977

Trading platform

MT4, MT5

FPMarkets

Is FPMarkets reliable broker? Is it licensed to trade?

Minimum deposit

$100 AUD

Regulation

ASIC

Bonus

N/A

Maximum leverage

500:1

Year founded

2005

Trading platform

WebTrader, MT4, MT5, IRESS

Pepperstone

Pepperstone FX Broker – Everything You Need To Know About This Broker?

Minimum deposit

AUD$200

Regulation

ASIC, SCB, CMA, CySEC, FCA, BaFin and DFSA

Bonus

N/A

Maximum leverage

1:400

Year founded

2010

Trading platform

MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView

IMGFX

IMGFX Broker Review – Your Best Trading Experience

Minimum deposit

$50

Regulation

N/A

Bonus

N/A

Maximum leverage

1:500

Year founded

2015

Trading platform

MT4

FXOpen

FXOpen Review – The most experienced broker

Minimum deposit

1 USD

Regulation

ASIC, FCA

Bonus

10 USD

Maximum leverage

1:500

Year founded

2005

Trading platform

MT4, MT5, WebTrader

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Who Regulates Forex brokers in Canada?

canadian forex brokers reviewsCanada has a multitude of agencies dedicated to ensuring stability and proper regulation within the financial sector. For traders who are contemplating using FX brokers Canada, they should be aware of these agencies, and they should find out which brokers are regulated by which institutions. It is recommended to avoid Forex brokers who are not regulated. Only top Canadian FX brokers will go the extra mile to obtain licensing from a regulatory body, as this ensures that they are maintaining certain standards of quality and integrity in their interactions with clients. And if you are a person planning to do business in the financial sector, those two qualities are extremely important.

The main regulatory bodies within the country are as follows:

  1. The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA)
  2. The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC)
  3. The Mutual Fund Dealers Association
  4. The Financial Services Commission of Ontario
  5. The British Columbia Services Commission
  6. The Alberta Securities Commission
  7. The Canada Revenue Agency
  8. The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada
  9. The Ontario Securities Commission
  10. The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions
  11. The Autorite des marches financiers (in Quebec)

There are these many agencies across Canada because the country does not possess a centralized regulatory system, which allows all relevant financial regulations to be governed by one central body. Instead, each of these institutions has differing responsibilities with regard to regulating the various financial firms within the country. This means that traders must be vigilant of where exactly their Forex brokers are located within the country, as brokers located in different territories may have slightly different regulations. In the world of trading, knowledge is power, so in order to be fully secure when conducting their transactions traders should be fully aware of the type of regulations that their brokers are held to.

 Trade with an IFSC-Regulated broker – XM

How is Forex trading taxed in Canada?

As we already mentioned, traders in Canada are subject to Capital Gains Tax which is up to 50% of your marginal rate. You might be wondering how exactly is tax calculated, and in order to make things clearer for you, let’s take an example. Generally, clients are taxed at somewhere around 43% (marginal tax rate) of their capital gain into 50%. Here is the formula:

Capital Gain Tax= Capital Gain x 50% x 43%. Be aware that the marginal rate might be different under various circumstances.

This tax is not applied to the first $200 in gains and losses, meaning that if you are not a long-time trader and don’t intend to make profits, then there is a high chance that you will be free from tax. Considering the fact that profits made from Forex trading are in most cases huge, this is a great possibility for governments to generate big revenues – there are not a lot of places in the world where Forex trading is tax-free.

Are local currency pairs available?

Canadian Dollar is one of the major currencies, supported by the Bank of Canada. This means that you will most probably be able to find Forex brokers offering accounts/currency pairs in CAD.

forex brokers canadaAt this moment, the CAD is the 7th most traded currency in the world, meaning that demand for it is quite high. CAD/USD currency pair is the one that you will most frequently come across within the foreign exchange market since it represents two of the most stable economies around the globe. Considering the fact that this currency pair is very liquid, traders lose less money in normal market conditions. Apart from having a strong currency, Canada has enjoyed very strong growth over the last few years with its smart fiscal policy. Having a strong economy is one of the first reasons why the majority of investors choose the country as their main trading destination.

 Start trading CAD with XM

Is there a cap on leverage for Canada Forex brokers?

Currently, there is no cap on leverage for Canada Forex brokers, however, it does not mean that you should not be careful with it. The industry’s standard for leverage ratio is somewhere between 1:200 and 1:300, and we advise you to choose platforms that do not have anything above that, especially if they are unregulated.

Generally, the majority of reputable financial regulatory bodies choose to restrict brokerage companies from high leverages, as they can easily be the reason for losing all your funds – that way, customers are protected. Specific platforms will have the maximum leverage indicated on their main webpage, and we advise you to check them and evaluate all the risks before starting your trading journey.

What payment systems are available in Canada?

canadian forex brokers reviewsThe Forex market in Canada is quite big, that’s why Canadians have the possibility of using a variety of payment methods available to them. No matter if you are a credit/debit card, or e-wallet user, you will most definitely find an option that suits your interests the best. The majority of Canada FX brokers offer Skrill, Neteller, Visa, and Mastercard. However, the most popular option still remains PayPal due to the fact that it’s very easy to use and offers comfortable trading features.

It is important to note that each payment system you will come across, has different specifications and requirements. For instance, some may have commission fees (mostly, brokers cover fees for you, but there’s still a chance), some may have a longer waiting period for transactions. When it comes to Paypal, you will never have to wait for more than 1 working day, while debit/credit cards can take up to 5, and wire transfer to 10 working days in total. So, be wise before choosing a specific deposit/withdrawal method for your favorite Canada FX broker.

Trade on XM using Skrill

What should you look out for when trading Forex in Canada?

Trading is inherently risky, not only in Canada but around the world generally. However, trading with a broker that you cannot trust to have the highest security makes it even ten times riskier. As a trader, it is imperative to be certain that your Forex Canada broker has trustworthy security measures. One way to do that is to use a broker that offers extra protection for your transactions and data. This means employing the use of methods such as SSL encryption to protect your financial information and having a privacy policy to protect your personal information (from a legal avenue). The top Canadian brokers licensed by IIROC also use two-factor authentication to prevent the likelihood of unauthorized transactions being done on their clients’ accounts.

One of the essentials when choosing a good Forex broker is being able to identify the broker with the best spread and commission offered. Now, for those who are seasoned Forex traders, this may seem obvious, but with the excitement of learning about the possibilities of trading Forex, a new trader may completely bypass this essential portion of choosing a broker. And if they do this, they may very well end up with a company with very high spreads, and or commissions that eat into the profits that they may make.

canadian forex reviewsAnother thing that Canadian Forex traders consider when choosing a broker, is probably at the same time one of the more important things, not necessarily for the trading itself, but for everything else. That is the customer support service offered by their brokers. The truth is that as Forex traders, we rely on the regulated Forex brokers in Canada a lot, not only to process our trading orders but also for many other transactions as well. Think about it, most brokers require you to confirm your identity in some form, before you are able to open an official account with them. This means that you have to provide them with sensitive information about yourself, whether that may be your passport information, or driver’s license, and your bank statement, or utility bill with your name and address. When uploading these documents, you are placing a large degree of trust in the broker that they have integrity (that they won’t sell your information to identity thieves and other unscrupulous persons) and that they have the security capacity to protect your information.

If you plan to start trading with top Forex brokers in Canada, we advise you to read our guide for beginners and make sure that you know all the basics and are ready to start. We can also offer some trading strategies that will help you plan & make better trading decisions.

FAQs on the best Forex broker Canada

What is the best Forex trading platform in Canada?

As technology advances more and more options for trading platforms appear for Forex traders in Canada. However, MetaTrader platforms manage to remain as the absolute favorite choice of the traders. MetaTrader 4 is a trading software that was specifically designed to trade currency pairs. The platform comes with numerous functions including detailed analysis, charts, and market news. The most recent updates on the platform allow the traders to access various modifications of MT4 including the WebTraders and mobile trading apps.

Is Forex trading illegal in Canada?

Canada never prohibited trading Forex, therefore it is legal to trade currency pairs for the Canadian community. Furthermore, the country puts a lot of effort into developing a safe and reliable environment for Forex trading Canada. With numerous regulatory bodies for the local Forex market, Canada represents one of the most secure places to start trading Forex.

Does MetaTrader 4 work in Canada?

MetaTrader 4 is a universally recognized trading platform. It is the most popular choice of Forex traders and brokers and for a good reason. The developers of the software built the platform specifically to suit the needs of trading Forex. Canada is one of the most Forex-friendly countries and therefore, MetaTrader 4 can easily be found in its trading scene. In fact, a great majority of Forex trading brokers Canada will support MT4 as their primary trading platform.

How do Canadian and US Forex brokers compare?

In contrast to the Forex market in the United States, Canada has a much more relaxed environment for Forex traders and brokers. One of the reasons why many traders have begun flocking to the top Forex brokers in Canada is the Canadian Investor Protection Fund or the CIPF. This fund acts as a protection layer, offering traders up to 1 million in case the Canadian Forex broker declares bankruptcy or has its assets liquidated for some reason.