Best forex brokers in Germany
6 of the 7 brokers we review offer forex to residents of Germany. XTB takes first place, followed by two brokers picked from those that serve Germany.
By Broksal Team, investing in forex and CFD markets since 2017. Updated . How we test
How we score
Each broker gets five sub-scores out of 5:
Regulation and safety (30%), trading costs (25%), platforms and tools (20%), range of markets (15%) and ease of use (10%). The overall score is the weighted average, rounded to one decimal.
Availability is checked against each broker's published country lists. The ranking order is editorial and reflects our commercial agreements, so it does not always follow the scores. Full methodology
Advertiser disclosure
Broksal is free to use because some brokers pay us a commission when you open an account through our links. This can influence which broker we feature and the order in which brokers appear.
Commissions never change the facts we publish about regulation, fees or country availability, and they cost you nothing.
Top 3 forex brokers for Germany
- 1
Our top pick in Germany
XTB
4.8Own platform, no minimum deposit, commission-free stocks and ETFs within a monthly limit
Forex CFDs Forex CFDs on xStation 5 with an average EUR/USD spread of about 0.8 pips on the Standard account and no commission.
- Minimum deposit
- No minimum
- Platforms
- xStation 5 (web & desktop), XTB mobile app
- Entity for Germany
- XTB S.A. — KNF (Poland)
- CFDs
- Yes
Show pros, cons and feesHide details
xStation 5: Market Watch with sentiment tabs on the left, an EUR/USD hourly chart with one-click order entry, and open positions below. Account number blurred. What we like
- Publicly listed in Warsaw with KNF, FCA and CySEC oversight
- No minimum deposit
- xStation 5 is fast, clean and has built-in market sentiment and calendars
- Real stocks and ETFs commission-free up to €100,000 monthly turnover
Watch out for
- No MetaTrader or cTrader
- Since March 2026 the international entity accepts residents of only a short list of countries
- Inactivity fee after 12 months without trading
Fees
CFDs are priced through the spread on the Standard account. Real stocks and ETFs are commission-free up to €100,000 of monthly turnover, then 0.2% (minimum €10). Currency conversion and overnight swap costs apply.
Best for
Beginners and active traders who want one app for CFDs and real stocks.
- 2
IQ Option
4.1A $10 minimum deposit and one of the simplest trading apps
Serves Germany through its EU regulated entity
Forex CFDs Forex CFDs on a very simple app from a $10 deposit; publishes only minimum spreads (from 0.8 pips).
- Minimum deposit
- $10
- Platforms
- IQ Option web platform, Desktop app, Mobile app
- Entity for Germany
- IQ Option Europe Ltd — CySEC (licence 247/14)
- CFDs
- Yes
Show pros, cons and feesHide details
IQ Option EU homepage (CySEC licence 247/14): CFDs on forex, stocks and crypto, with leverage up to 1:30 on forex for EU retail clients. What we like
- $10 minimum deposit and a reloadable demo account
- Very easy proprietary platform on web, desktop and mobile
- CySEC regulated entity for EEA clients
Watch out for
- No MetaTrader, limited research tools
- Not available in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and several EU countries
- Clients outside the EEA are served by a lightly regulated entity
Fees
CFD costs are built into the spread, with overnight funding on leveraged positions. An inactivity fee is charged after a period without trading.
Best for
Beginners who want a very simple app and a small first deposit.
- 3
IC Markets
4.6Raw spreads, MetaTrader, cTrader and TradingView in one account (now branded IC)
Serves Germany through its EU regulated entity
Forex CFDs Raw Spread account: about 0.1 pips on EUR/USD plus $7 per lot round turn, on MetaTrader, cTrader or TradingView.
- Minimum deposit
- From $0 (varies by entity)
- Platforms
- MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader +1
- Entity for Germany
- IC Markets (EU) Ltd — CySEC
- CFDs
- Yes
Show pros, cons and feesHide details
IC EU homepage after the rebrand from IC Markets: raw spreads from 0.0 pips and leverage up to 1:30 for EU retail clients. What we like
- Raw Spread accounts with low commissions
- Four platforms, including cTrader and TradingView
- ASIC and CySEC regulated entities
- Popular with automated and high-volume traders
- Rebranded to IC in 2026; same regulated entities
Watch out for
- Not available in the US, Canada, Israel or New Zealand
- Minimum deposit depends on the entity you are assigned
- Thin education and research compared with XTB or IBKR
Fees
Raw Spread accounts charge a commission per lot on top of raw interbank spreads (on MetaTrader it is $3.50 per side per standard lot). The Standard account has no commission and wider spreads. Swaps apply overnight.
Best for
Cost-sensitive and algorithmic traders.
Also available in Germany:
XM 4.6
Interactive Brokers 4.7
eToro 4.3
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Most retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Each broker publishes its own current loss percentage on its website.
Forex from Germany: the rules
Retail leverage on major currency pairs is capped at 30:1 for residents of Germany, and 20:1 on other pairs, with negative balance protection. Locally, financial services are supervised by the BaFin.
Freedom24 has a local office in Germany. XTB rolled out stock options to German clients in 2026.
Best time to trade currencies from Berlin
Major currency pairs are usually most liquid while London and New York are both open: 15:30–17:30 local time (UTC+2, early October 2026). The forex week runs from Sunday 23:00 to Friday 23:00 local time.
Tax
CFD gains count as capital income and are taxed at the 25% flat withholding rate plus solidarity surcharge (and church tax if applicable). The €20,000 annual cap on offsetting losses from derivatives was abolished by the Annual Tax Act 2024 for all open cases. Foreign brokers usually do not withhold German tax, so you declare gains in your return. This is general information, not tax advice. More on trading from Germany.
All 7 brokers we review, checked for forex in Germany
| Broker | Status | Access | Entity for Germany |
|---|---|---|---|
| XTB | #1 in this ranking | Forex CFDs | XTB S.A. — KNF (Poland) |
| XM | Available | Forex CFDs | Trading Point of Financial Instruments Ltd — CySEC |
| IC Markets | #3 in this ranking | Forex CFDs | IC Markets (EU) Ltd — CySEC |
| Interactive Brokers | Available | Spot forex and CFDs | Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited — Central Bank of Ireland |
| Freedom24 | No forex here | — | — |
| IQ Option | #2 in this ranking | Forex CFDs | IQ Option Europe Ltd — CySEC (licence 247/14) |
| eToro | Available | Forex CFDs | eToro (Europe) Ltd — CySEC |
Forex rankings in countries bordering Germany
| Country | Brokers offering forex | #1 |
|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇹 Austria | 6 | XTB |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | 4 | XM |
| 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | 5 | XTB |
| 🇩🇰 Denmark | 6 | XTB |
| 🇫🇷 France | 6 | XTB |
| 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | 6 | XTB |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 6 | XTB |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | 6 | XTB |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best forex broker in Germany?
XTB, in our ranking. Forex CFDs on xStation 5 with an average EUR/USD spread of about 0.8 pips on the Standard account and no commission. IQ Option and IC Markets complete the top 3.
Which brokers offer forex to residents of Germany?
Of the brokers we review: XTB (forex cfds), XM (forex cfds), IC Markets (forex cfds), Interactive Brokers (spot forex and cfds), IQ Option (forex cfds) and eToro (forex cfds).
What are the rules for forex in Germany?
Retail leverage on major currency pairs is capped at 30:1 for residents of Germany, and 20:1 on other pairs, with negative balance protection.
When is forex most liquid in Germany?
Usually 15:30–17:30 local time, while London and New York are both open (early October 2026 times).
Which forex broker has the lowest costs?
On a one-lot EUR/USD trade, Interactive Brokers was cheapest in our fee comparison, followed by XTB and IC Markets at about $8. For small trades the $2 minimum commission at IBKR makes XTB cheaper.
Availability last checked 6 October 2026. Brokers change their country lists without notice; the broker's sign-up form is the final word.