FXCM has been around since 1999 and is now part of Stratos Markets, with strong platform variety (Trading Station, TradingView, NinjaTrader). LHFX offers a simpler MT5-only setup with lower minimums and higher leverage.
$3 per side commission, a $10 minimum deposit, 1:500 leverage, and crypto withdrawals typically under 20 minutes. See the full breakdown below.
LHFX vs FXCM at a glance.
| Feature | LHFX | FXCM |
|---|---|---|
| Commission per lot | $3 per side ($6 round-turn) | Spread-only on Standard, commission on Active Trader |
| Minimum deposit | $10 | $50 |
| Typical EURUSD spread | From 0.0 pips raw | From around 1.3 pips on Standard (no commission) |
| Maximum leverage | Up to 1:500 | Up to 1:400 (offshore), 1:30 in EU/AU |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 only | Trading Station, MT4, TradingView, NinjaTrader, ZuluTrade |
| Forex pairs / total instruments | 41 forex pairs, 144 total | 40+ forex pairs, around 80 total |
| Execution model | STP/ECN | STP/ECN (Agency model) |
| Regulation | FSC Mauritius (GB23202204), FSCA South Africa (FSP 52816) | FCA (UK), ASIC, FSCA, ACPR, BaFin, CONSOB |
| Crypto deposits and withdrawals | BTC, ETH, USDT, withdrawals typically under 20 minutes | Not publicly offered |
| Islamic account | Yes, swap-free with holding fee after grace period | Not publicly disclosed |
The areas where LHFX offers a clear advantage over FXCM.
LHFX publishes one commission rate: $3 per side, raw spreads from 0.0 pips. FXCM's Standard account uses wider spreads with no commission, so the all-in cost on EURUSD is harder to compare and typically works out higher on active volume.
LHFX opens raw-spread access from $10. FXCM advertises trading from $50 on Standard. For someone testing the platform with a small first deposit, LHFX is 5x lower.
LHFX retail leverage tops out at 1:500 across the global account. FXCM caps at 1:400 on the offshore entity and drops to 1:30 in EU and Australia.
BTC, ETH, and USDT are first-class deposit and withdrawal methods at LHFX. FXCM does not publicly support crypto deposits or withdrawals.
Auto-payout processes most LHFX withdrawals in under 20 minutes via crypto. FXCM relies on bank transfer and card refunds, which typically take several business days.
FXCM has genuine strengths. Here is where they come out ahead.
FXCM has been operating since 1999 and is now part of Stratos Markets. If you weight years-in-market heavily, FXCM has more history than LHFX.
FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), and BaFin (Germany) are tier-1 regulators. LHFX is regulated by FSC Mauritius and FSCA South Africa. For traders who specifically need an FCA-regulated broker, FXCM qualifies.
Trading Station, MT4, TradingView, NinjaTrader, and ZuluTrade are all supported. LHFX runs MT5 only. If your strategy is built on NinjaTrader or Trading Station, FXCM is the only option.
FXCM integrates with QuantConnect, MotiveWave, and AlgoTerminal. For institutional-style algo development outside MQL5, FXCM has more third-party hooks.
Moving from FXCM to LHFX takes minutes, not days.
$10 minimum deposit. Registration takes about 2 minutes.
Upload a government-issued ID. Most verifications complete within a few hours.
Deposit via crypto or card and place your first trade on MT5 or LHFX Trade.
$10 minimum deposit. Registration takes about 2 minutes.
Upload a government-issued ID. Most verifications complete within a few hours.
Deposit via crypto or card and place your first trade on MT5 or LHFX Trade.
$10 minimum deposit. $3 per side commission. 1:500 leverage on 41 forex pairs. Crypto withdrawals typically under 20 minutes.