Alison Heyerdahl
Edited by
Author
Alison Heyerdahl
Edited by
Alison Heyerdahl
Head of Content

<p>Alison Heyerdahl is the Head of Content at FxScouts, a Chartered Market Technician (CMT), and an experienced trader, as well as a financial writer with extensive expertise in Forex trading, broker analysis, and market research. She has reviewed 100+ brokers, publishes weekly YouTube trading videos, and co-hosts the “Let’s Talk Forex” podcast.</p>

Learn more about Alison Heyerdahl
Author
Author
Chris Cammack
Partner Manager and Financial Writer

Chris manages the relationships with our partners to provide the best Forex trading experience possible for our users. Chris has 15+ years of research, and editorial and design experience for political and financial publications. His background has given him a deep understanding of international financial markets and the geopolitics that affect them.

Learn more about Chris Cammack

markets.com vs. SquaredFinancial

In the fast-paced world of forex trading, choosing the right broker is crucial. markets.com and SquaredFinancial are two popular options, each with unique strengths and weaknesses. This comparison will dive into the key features of both platforms,helping you decide which one best suits your trading style and goals.

Select broker to compare

Regulations

Regulation
Cyprus Securities and Exchange CommissionFinancial Services Authority – St. Vincent & the GrenadinesFinancial Sector Conduct Authority
Cyprus Securities and Exchange CommissionThe Seychelles Financial Services Authority
Trading Desk Type
Market Maker
ECN/STP
Trading Instruments
Bonds, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Stock CFDs, ETFs, Forex, Indices
Cryptocurrencies, Energies, Stock CFDs, Forex, Futures, Indices, Metals

Conditions

Forex Pairs
54
48
Crypto Pairs
43
5
Pros
  • Regulation by top-tier authorities
  • Hassle-free withdrawal process without any fees
  • Its proprietary trading platform is praised for its user-friendly interface catering to both beginners and experienced traders
  • Competitive spreads starting from 0.6 pips
  • Regulated by CySEC & FSA
  • Over 10.000 financial instruments including a wide range of FX pairs and CFDs
  • Competitive trading conditions with the Elite account featuring near-zero spreads
  • No fees for deposits and conditionally free withdrawals
Cons
  • The maximum leverage of 300:1 could pose a risk for uninformed traders warranting cautious utilization
  • Regulated by CySEC & FSA
  • Over 10.000 financial instruments including a wide range of FX pairs and CFDs
  • Competitive trading conditions with the Elite account featuring near-zero spreads
  • No fees for deposits and conditionally free withdrawals
% Lose with this broker
74%
79%
Leverage
1000:1
500:1
Spread
1 pips
1.20 pips
Hedging
Yes
Yes
Scalping
Yes
Yes
Account Types
Live, Markets.com, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5
Diamond, Gold, Platinum, SquaredElite, SquaredPro
Islamic Account
Yes
Yes
Trading Platforms
MT4, MT5, markets.com
MT4, MT5
Funding Methods
Bank Transfer, Mastercard, Neteller, Skrill, Visa
Bank Transfer, Bitcoin, Mastercard, Neteller, Skrill, Visa
Trading Commissions
Fees Included in Spread
5 USD round turn commission
Min. Deposit
USD 100
USD 0
Trading Cost
USD 10
USD 12
Visit site
markets.com
SquaredFinancial
Trust Rating
4
4
Trading Conditions
4.5
4
Trading Platforms
4.5
4.5
Deposit & Withdrawal
4.5
4.5
Assets Available
4.5
4.5
Education & Research
2.5
3
Customer Service
3.5
4
Beginner Friendly
3
3
Analysis Research
3
2
Overall Rating
4.08
/ 5
4.08
/ 5

How Do markets.com and SquaredFinancial Compare?

The radar chart above illustrates the comparison between markets.com and SquaredFinancial across several key metrics, with the highest possible score being 100 in each category.

Helping You Choose the Right Broker

At FxScouts, our mission is to assist traders in finding the broker that best suits their needs. Comparing brokers side-by-side is an effective method to achieve this goal. We evaluated markets.com and SquaredFinancial, using our standard criteria: trust and regulation, trading platforms, costs and trading conditions, and educational and market analysis resources.

Trust and Regulation

Trust and regulation are crucial when selecting a Forex broker. A broker’s credibility is largely built on its regulatory status. We spend considerable time verifying the safety of each broker by examining their regulatory licenses.  We also consider numerous factors when deciding which tier a regulator belongs to. Regulators that we rank as the world’s top regulators, gets a tier 1 rank, while regulators who only scores a tier 5-rank, provide virtually no regulatory oversight. The more top-tier authorities regulating a broker, the higher its trust rating. Read more about regulation and our tier system here.

In our comparison:

  • markets.com holds one Tier 1 and no Tier 2 licences.
  • markets.com holds one Tier 1 and no Tier 2 licences.

Based on these findings, markets.com earned a higher trust rating than SquaredFinancial.

Is markets.com financially regulated?

Yes markets.com was founded in 2008 and is regulated by CySEC, FSA-St-Vincent and FSCA.

Is SquaredFinancial financially regulated?

Yes SquaredFinancial was founded in 2005 and is regulated by CySEC and FSA-Seychelles.

Trading Costs Comparison

When comparing brokers, trading costs are a significant factor. We consider the minimum deposit required to open an account and ongoing costs, including spreads and commissions. We measure the cost to trade one lot of EUR/USD using the broker’s account with the lowest minimum deposit, including both the spread and any commission charged.

We found that markets.com has overall lower trading costs than SquaredFinancial.

Top Overall Brokers by Broker Score

Trading Platforms Offered

Trading Platforms Offered Traders prefer brokers that offer a variety of trading platforms. We rate brokers higher if they support multiple platforms like MetaTrader4, MetaTrader5, cTrader, and proprietary platforms.

  • markets.com supports MT4, MT5 and markets.com
  • SquaredFinancial supports MT4, MT5 and markets.com

Copy Trading Availability

Copy trading is beneficial for beginner traders or those unable to trade full-time. In this case both markets.com and SquaredFinancial offer copy trading.

Range of Trading Instruments

A broader range of CFD instruments provides more trading opportunities. markets.com offers a greater variety of instruments compared to SquaredFinancial:

  • markets.com: 54 Forex pairs.
  • SquaredFinancial: 48 Forex pairs.

Cryptocurrency Trading

For those interested in trading cryptocurrencies, markets.com offers 43 cryptocurrencies, while SquaredFinancial offers 5 cryptocurrencies. Therefore, markets.com is the better choice for cryptocurrency trading.

Deposit and Withdrawal Processes

Traders prefer brokers with quick and cost-effective deposit and withdrawal processes. We favor brokers that process withdrawals within 24 hours using multiple methods without charging fees.We found that neither markets.com nor SquaredFinancial charges a withdrawal fee. Overall, SquaredFinancial has better deposit and withdrawal processes than markets.com. 

Educational Support?

We often find that brokers offer very little in the way of educational materials, forcing traders to use other third-party sites or self-educate elsewhere. Beginner traders need well-structured, well-presented materials in multiple formats to get a good start at trading. More experienced traders also benefit from webinars led by experts in the field and advanced trading strategy sections with new trading ideas. 

markets.com has better educational support than SquaredFinancial. Both markets.com and SquaredFinancial offer educational support for more experienced traders.

Market Analysis Materials

Access to frequent and high-quality market research and analysis is crucial.

We found that markets.com offers better research analysis than SquaredFinancial and that both markets.com and SquaredFinancial offer frequent webinars.

Overall Verdict

  • markets.com:

    Established in 2009, Markets.com is a trustworthy global Forex broker regulated by some top-tier authorities, including CySEC of Cyprus and the FSCA of South Africa.

    It offers fast trading execution on 400+ trading assets, including stock CFDs, Forex, commodities, cryptocurrencies, indices, ETFs, and bonds. Markets.com offers only one live account, which is limited compared to other brokers, but spreads start at 1 pip (EUR/USD), with no commissions and a minimum deposit requirement of only 1500 ZAR.

    Full support is offered for MT4, MT5, TradingView and Markets.com's award-winning in-house platform. An advanced multi-asset trading platform, its inhouse platform is packed full of features, including excellent trading tools, expert analysis, and in-depth charting. 

    Markets.com also provides a high level of customer service compared to other brokers, and all traders are assigned a dedicated Account Manager to assist with any queries regarding their account or using the platform.

  • SquaredFinancial:

    Established in 2009, Markets.com is a trustworthy global Forex broker regulated by some top-tier authorities, including CySEC of Cyprus and the FSCA of South Africa.

    It offers fast trading execution on 400+ trading assets, including stock CFDs, Forex, commodities, cryptocurrencies, indices, ETFs, and bonds. Markets.com offers only one live account, which is limited compared to other brokers, but spreads start at 1 pip (EUR/USD), with no commissions and a minimum deposit requirement of only 1500 ZAR.

    Full support is offered for MT4, MT5, TradingView and Markets.com's award-winning in-house platform. An advanced multi-asset trading platform, its inhouse platform is packed full of features, including excellent trading tools, expert analysis, and in-depth charting. 

    Markets.com also provides a high level of customer service compared to other brokers, and all traders are assigned a dedicated Account Manager to assist with any queries regarding their account or using the platform.

Overall Ratings

  • markets.com: 4.08
  • SquaredFinancial: 4.08

For more detailed reviews, please read our comprehensive assessments of markets.com and SquaredFinancial.

Pepperstone
AvaTrade
FCA, ASIC
Regulators
ASIC, FSCA
30:1
Leverage
30:1
MT4, MT5
Platforms
MT4, MT5
0 pips
Min. Spread
0.9 pips
USD 0
Min. Deposit
USD 100
AvaTrade
XM
ASIC, FSCA
Regulators
CySEC, ASIC
30:1
Leverage
30:1
MT4, MT5
Platforms
MT4, MT5
0.9 pips
Min. Spread
0.6 pips
USD 100
Min. Deposit
USD 5
NAGA
Pepperstone
CySEC, FSA-Seychelles
Regulators
FCA, ASIC
1000:1
Leverage
30:1
MT4, MT5
Platforms
MT4, MT5
0.7 pips
Min. Spread
0 pips
USD 10
Min. Deposit
USD 0
XM
FxPro
CySEC, ASIC
Regulators
FCA, CySEC
30:1
Leverage
30:1
MT4, MT5
Platforms
MT4, MT5
0.6 pips
Min. Spread
0.4 pips
USD 5
Min. Deposit
USD 100
Exness
Pepperstone
FSCA, FSA-Seychelles
Regulators
FCA, ASIC
Unlimited:1
Leverage
30:1
MT4, MT5
Platforms
MT4, MT5
0.1 pips
Min. Spread
0 pips
USD 3
Min. Deposit
USD 0
XTB
Exness
CySEC, FCA
Regulators
FSCA, FSA-Seychelles
30:1
Leverage
Unlimited:1
xStation5
Platforms
MT4, MT5
0.8 pips
Min. Spread
0.1 pips
USD 0
Min. Deposit
USD 3
HFM
IC Markets
FCA, FSCA
Regulators
CySEC, FSA-Seychelles
2000:1
Leverage
30:1
MT4, MT5
Platforms
MT4, MT5
0.0 pips
Min. Spread
0.1 pips
USD 0
Min. Deposit
USD 200
Axi
BlackBull Markets
FCA, CySEC
Regulators
FMA, FSA-Seychelles
1000:1
Leverage
500:1
MT4, MT5
Platforms
MT4, MT5
0.0 pips
Min. Spread
0.1 pips
USD 0
Min. Deposit
USD 0
IC Markets
Pepperstone
CySEC, FSA-Seychelles
Regulators
FCA, ASIC
30:1
Leverage
30:1
MT4, MT5
Platforms
MT4, MT5
0.1 pips
Min. Spread
0 pips
USD 200
Min. Deposit
USD 0
Unbiased Expertise

Independent, in-depth reviews and comparisons of all well-regulated Forex brokers, empowering you to make informed choices.

Educational Resources

Comprehensive guides for all levels, from the basics of Forex to advanced strategies tailored for your experience.

Transparent Information

A focus on facts, accuracy, and up-to-date data to give you the insights you need to succeed in your Forex journey.

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usp-polygon-right

Best Brokers Uganda 2026 (9)

To identify the best Forex brokers for Ugandan traders, we compiled a comprehensive list of all top-tier regulated brokers. We then ranked them based on their overall score, considering key factors such as regulation, trading conditions, platform quality, and customer support.


Min. Deposit

USD 0
Exness
4.32
Read Review

Our broker ratings are derived from rigorous testing by industry experts and experienced traders. We thoroughly evaluate regulatory compliance, security, transparency, trading performance, and customer service. We never accept payment for higher scores, ensuring our ratings remain unbiased, factual, and trustworthy—so you can confidently choose a reliable broker for your financial safety and trading success.

For detailed information about our testing methodology click here.

Countries Regulated
regulatorregulatorregulatorregulatorregulatorregulator
Minimum Spread EUR/USD
0.10 pips
Minimum Deposit
USD 3
Trading cost/lot EURUSD
Total trading cost at the time of last update, for 1 lot of EUR/USD using the account with the lowest minimum deposit. Includes spread and commission.
USD 7
Pepperstone
4.61
Read Review

Our broker ratings are derived from rigorous testing by industry experts and experienced traders. We thoroughly evaluate regulatory compliance, security, transparency, trading performance, and customer service. We never accept payment for higher scores, ensuring our ratings remain unbiased, factual, and trustworthy—so you can confidently choose a reliable broker for your financial safety and trading success.

For detailed information about our testing methodology click here.

Countries Regulated
regulatorregulatorregulatorregulatorregulatorregulatorregulator
Minimum Spread EUR/USD
0 pips
Minimum Deposit
USD 0
Trading cost/lot EURUSD
Total trading cost at the time of last update, for 1 lot of EUR/USD using the account with the lowest minimum deposit. Includes spread and commission.
USD 10
HFM
4.43
Read Review

Our broker ratings are derived from rigorous testing by industry experts and experienced traders. We thoroughly evaluate regulatory compliance, security, transparency, trading performance, and customer service. We never accept payment for higher scores, ensuring our ratings remain unbiased, factual, and trustworthy—so you can confidently choose a reliable broker for your financial safety and trading success.

For detailed information about our testing methodology click here.

Countries Regulated
regulatorregulatorregulatorregulatorregulatorregulator
Minimum Spread EUR/USD
0.0 pips
Minimum Deposit
USD 0
Trading cost/lot EURUSD
Total trading cost at the time of last update, for 1 lot of EUR/USD using the account with the lowest minimum deposit. Includes spread and commission.
USD 10
IG
4.69
Read Review

Our broker ratings are derived from rigorous testing by industry experts and experienced traders. We thoroughly evaluate regulatory compliance, security, transparency, trading performance, and customer service. We never accept payment for higher scores, ensuring our ratings remain unbiased, factual, and trustworthy—so you can confidently choose a reliable broker for your financial safety and trading success.

For detailed information about our testing methodology click here.

Countries Regulated
regulatorregulatorregulatorregulatorregulatorregulatorregulatorregulatorregulatorregulatorregulator
Minimum Spread EUR/USD
0.60 pips
Minimum Deposit
USD 0
Trading cost/lot EURUSD
Total trading cost at the time of last update, for 1 lot of EUR/USD using the account with the lowest minimum deposit. Includes spread and commission.
USD 6
AvaTrade
4.59
Read Review

Our broker ratings are derived from rigorous testing by industry experts and experienced traders. We thoroughly evaluate regulatory compliance, security, transparency, trading performance, and customer service. We never accept payment for higher scores, ensuring our ratings remain unbiased, factual, and trustworthy—so you can confidently choose a reliable broker for your financial safety and trading success.

For detailed information about our testing methodology click here.

Countries Regulated
regulatorregulatorregulatorregulatorregulatorregulatorregulator
Minimum Spread EUR/USD
0.90 pips
Minimum Deposit
USD 100
Trading cost/lot EURUSD
Total trading cost at the time of last update, for 1 lot of EUR/USD using the account with the lowest minimum deposit. Includes spread and commission.
USD 9
FxPro
4.39
Read Review

Our broker ratings are derived from rigorous testing by industry experts and experienced traders. We thoroughly evaluate regulatory compliance, security, transparency, trading performance, and customer service. We never accept payment for higher scores, ensuring our ratings remain unbiased, factual, and trustworthy—so you can confidently choose a reliable broker for your financial safety and trading success.

For detailed information about our testing methodology click here.

Countries Regulated
regulatorregulatorregulatorregulatorregulator
Minimum Spread EUR/USD
0.40 pips
Minimum Deposit
USD 100
Trading cost/lot EURUSD
Total trading cost at the time of last update, for 1 lot of EUR/USD using the account with the lowest minimum deposit. Includes spread and commission.
USD 14
XM
4.45
Read Review

Our broker ratings are derived from rigorous testing by industry experts and experienced traders. We thoroughly evaluate regulatory compliance, security, transparency, trading performance, and customer service. We never accept payment for higher scores, ensuring our ratings remain unbiased, factual, and trustworthy—so you can confidently choose a reliable broker for your financial safety and trading success.

For detailed information about our testing methodology click here.

Countries Regulated
regulatorregulatorregulatorregulator
Minimum Spread EUR/USD
0.60 pips
Minimum Deposit
USD 5
Trading cost/lot EURUSD
Total trading cost at the time of last update, for 1 lot of EUR/USD using the account with the lowest minimum deposit. Includes spread and commission.
USD 6
IC Markets
4.56
Read Review

Our broker ratings are derived from rigorous testing by industry experts and experienced traders. We thoroughly evaluate regulatory compliance, security, transparency, trading performance, and customer service. We never accept payment for higher scores, ensuring our ratings remain unbiased, factual, and trustworthy—so you can confidently choose a reliable broker for your financial safety and trading success.

For detailed information about our testing methodology click here.

Countries Regulated
regulatorregulatorregulatorregulator
Minimum Spread EUR/USD
0.10 pips
Minimum Deposit
USD 200
Trading cost/lot EURUSD
Total trading cost at the time of last update, for 1 lot of EUR/USD using the account with the lowest minimum deposit. Includes spread and commission.
USD 8
NAGA
4.34
Read Review

Our broker ratings are derived from rigorous testing by industry experts and experienced traders. We thoroughly evaluate regulatory compliance, security, transparency, trading performance, and customer service. We never accept payment for higher scores, ensuring our ratings remain unbiased, factual, and trustworthy—so you can confidently choose a reliable broker for your financial safety and trading success.

For detailed information about our testing methodology click here.

Countries Regulated
regulatorregulatorregulator
Minimum Spread EUR/USD
0.70 pips
Minimum Deposit
USD 10
Trading cost/lot EURUSD
Total trading cost at the time of last update, for 1 lot of EUR/USD using the account with the lowest minimum deposit. Includes spread and commission.
USD 17
Click here

Let's Talk Forex with Alison & Chris


Alison and Chris cover a range of topics, including how to choose a Forex broker, safety and regulation, how to reduce your risk, trading psychology, trading platforms, and trading strategies, among others.

The FxScouts podcast helps beginner Forex traders get the best start to their trading careers.