Before you open an account, work through these ten checks with the broker's fee schedule open in another tab. Tick each one off as you confirm it — most answers take under a minute to find. Want the fuller explanation of each fee first? Read our hidden broker fees guide, then come back here to audit your shortlisted broker.
Tick each box as you confirm it in the broker's own fee schedule.
Some brokers add a markup on top of the raw interbank spread. The advertised "from 0.1 pips" figure is not always what you get during normal trading hours.
Raw-spread accounts often charge a separate commission, typically around $3.50 per lot per side. Add spread + commission together to get the real cost.
Holding a position past rollover time triggers a swap charge or credit. These vary by broker and by direction (long vs short) and are almost never shown next to the spread.
If your account currency differs from your deposit currency or the pair you trade, conversion can carry a 0.5–1% markup each way.
"Free withdrawals" can still come with conditions — a flat fee on certain methods, a fee below a threshold, or charges after a set number of free withdrawals per month. Bank wire withdrawals can carry a €15–€30 charge.
Most brokers don't charge to deposit, but some do on specific methods such as cards or certain e-wallets — usually buried in a payments help page, not the main fee schedule.
Many brokers apply a monthly fee — often around €10 — once an account has been dormant for 3–12 months. Beginners who test a broker and step away are hit by this most often.
Some brokers charge separately for premium charting packages, live market data, or research subscriptions that other brokers bundle in for free.
Certain account types or add-on services (managed accounts, dedicated support tiers) can carry an ongoing management fee.
Minimum lot sizes, margin call rules, and account-tier fine print can differ from the flagship tier used in the broker's marketing. Confirm the terms attached to the specific account you will actually open.
0 / 10 checked
| Fee | Where to look | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Swap / overnight | Contract specifications page | Varies by pair and direction |
| Inactivity | Fees / terms page | ~€10/month after 3–12 months |
| Withdrawal | Payments help page | €0–€30 depending on method |
| Currency conversion | Account settings / FAQ | 0.5–1% markup |
| Commission | Account-type comparison | ~$3.50/lot per side on raw accounts |
See spreads, regulation, minimum deposits and account types for every major EU-available broker in one place.
Compare all brokers →What is the difference between this checklist and the hidden broker fees article?
This page is an interactive tick-box tool to audit a specific broker before opening an account. Our hidden broker fees article explains each fee in more depth as a narrative guide — read that to learn, use this page to act.
How long does this audit take?
About 5–10 minutes per broker if you have their fee schedule open in another tab.
This checklist is for educational purposes and does not constitute financial advice. Always verify current fees directly with the broker before depositing funds. Individual results vary.
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