| Feature | Pocket Option | FOREX.com |
|---|---|---|
| Year Established | 2017 | 1999 |
| Regulation | MISA | NFA, CFTC |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4/5 (9 reviews) | 4.7/5 (3 reviews) |
| Bonus Offer | 50% Deposit Bonus | Active Trader Program with a 15% Reduction in Costs |
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $100 |
| Trading Platforms | Web, MT4, MT5 | MT4, MT5, TradingView, eSignal, AutoChartist, TradingCentral |
| Demo Account | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum Trade | $1 | 0.01 Lots |
| Payment Methods | Volet, Airtel, Bitcoin Payments, Credit Card, Debit Card, Ethereum Payments, FasaPay, JetonCash, Maestro, Mastercard, Perfect Money, Visa, WebMoney, Wire Transfer | Debit Card, ACH Transfer, Wire Transfer |
| Instruments Offered | Binary Options, Currencies, Commodities, Stocks, Indices, Cryptocurrencies | Forex, Stocks, Futures, Futures Options |
| Number of Forex Pairs | 55+ | 80+ |
| Spread on EUR/USD | N/A | 1.2 pips |
| Leverage | Up to 1:1000 | Varies by instrument and region |
| Mobile Apps | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| Social Trading | Yes | No |
| Trading Signals | Yes | Yes |
| VPS Hosting | No | Yes |
| Tournaments | Yes | No |
| Islamic Account | No | Yes |
| Negative Balance Protection | No | Yes |
| Customer Support | 24/7 Live Support, Online Support | Phone Support, 24/7 Live Support, Online Support |
| Awards | Best Binary Broker Runner Up 2023 - DayTrading.com, Best Binary Broker 2022 - DayTrading.com | Best CFD Broker 2022 - Rankia, Best HNW Service 2022 - Dubai Forex Expo, Best US Broker 2020 - DayTrading.com, Best US Broker 2019 - DayTrading.com, Runner-Up - Best Forex Broker 2019 - DayTrading.com |
| Order Execution Type | Market Execution | Market Execution, Limit Orders, Stop Orders |
| Account Types | Standard, VIP | Standard, Commission, STP Pro, DMA |
| Commission on Trades | No commission on binary options | Varies based on account type, spreads, and trade volume |
| Trading Hours | 24/7 for binary options | Follows global forex market hours (Sunday 5 PM EST – Friday 5 PM EST) |
| Risk Management Tools | Stop Loss, Take Profit, Trade Cancellation | Stop Loss, Take Profit, Trailing Stops, Guaranteed Stop Loss (region-dependent) |
| Custom Indicators | Limited built-in indicators | Fully customizable with MT4, MT5, and TradingView integration |
| Charting Tools | Candlestick, Line, Bar Charts, Multiple Timeframes | Advanced charting tools, including TradingView integration, AutoChartist, and customizable technical analysis tools |
| Scalping & Hedging Allowed | Limited for binary options, hedging within short-term trades | Allowed for forex and CFD trading, scalping-friendly with ECN execution |
| Automated Trading | Supports scripts, limited to copy trading features | Supports Expert Advisors (EAs) on MT4/MT5, API trading available |
| Withdrawal Processing Time | Instantly for some methods, up to 3 business days for bank transfers | 1-2 business days for most methods, longer for wire transfers |
| Deposit Fees | No fees on most methods, network fees for crypto | No deposit fees from FOREX.com, bank transfer fees may apply |
| Withdrawal Fees | May apply based on method and region | Free for some methods, bank wire fees may apply |
| Asset Expiry Times | Short-term (from 5 seconds to 4 hours) | No expiry for forex and CFD positions, overnight fees may apply |
| Lot Size Flexibility | Fixed lot sizes for binary options | 0.01 lots (micro), 1 lot (standard), variable based on leverage and margin |
| Interest on Unused Funds | Not offered | May be offered for premium or institutional accounts |
| Slippage Protection | Dependent on market conditions, no dedicated protection tools | Available with limit orders and execution guarantees on certain accounts |
| Trading Education | Basic tutorials and blog content | Webinars, in-depth trading courses, research reports, and strategy guides |
| API Access | Not available | Available for institutional and advanced traders |
| Leverage Adjustability | Fixed leverage settings | Adjustable leverage based on account type and regulations |
| Affiliate & Referral Programs | Offers a multi-tier referral program with commissions | Offers a professional affiliate program with revenue-sharing models |
| Localization & Language Support | Supports multiple languages, but fewer than major forex brokers | Extensive multilingual support, including live chat, emails, and phone assistance |
| Regulatory Restrictions by Country | Restricted in some regulated markets | Available in major markets with compliance to local regulations |
| Market Depth Visibility | Basic bid/ask prices displayed | Full market depth available on advanced accounts |
| Order Types Available | Simple market orders for binary options | Market, Limit, Stop, OCO (One Cancels the Other), Trailing Stop, Guaranteed Stop (region-dependent) |
| Price Alerts & Notifications | Web-based alerts, push notifications on mobile app | Customizable price alerts via email, SMS, and push notifications |
| News & Economic Calendar | Basic economic calendar for major events | Advanced economic calendar with real-time market news and impact analysis |
| Slippage Control | Standard execution with variable slippage risk | Order execution settings allow partial fills and slippage limits |
| Trade Execution Speed | Rapid execution, optimized for short-term trades | Institutional-grade execution with millisecond latency |
| Currency Conversion Fees | Applies when funding in a non-USD currency | Conversion fees apply when trading assets not in the account’s base currency |
| Overnight Swap & Rollover Fees | Not applicable to binary options | Applies to forex and CFD positions held overnight, varies by instrument |
| Margin Call & Stop-Out Levels | Not applicable | Margin call at 100%, stop-out at 50% (varies by region and account type) |
| Algo & AI-Based Trading Support | Limited to copy trading | Supports AI trading bots, Expert Advisors (EAs), and API integration |
| Account Verification Requirements | Simple verification process | Strict KYC (Know Your Customer) compliance for withdrawals |
| Trade Journaling & Performance Analysis | Basic trade history | In-depth trade analytics, performance reports, and journal tools |
| Advanced Risk Metrics & Exposure Reports | Limited exposure data | Comprehensive risk metrics, including margin utilization and exposure tracking |
| Mobile Trading Features | Basic charting, one-click trading, trade history | Advanced mobile charting, integrated indicators, and seamless order execution |
| Institutional & VIP Services | VIP accounts with higher payouts and benefits | Dedicated account managers, institutional-grade liquidity, and professional trading services |
| Trading Contests & Competitions | Regular tournaments for traders with prize pools | No public trading competitions |
| Cold Storage for Crypto Funds | Limited protection for cryptocurrency deposits | Institutional-grade cold storage for digital assets |
| Deposit & Withdrawal Cryptocurrency Options | Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and other major cryptos | Limited to Bitcoin deposits, withdrawals may not be available for all regions |
| Banking Integration for Direct Transfers | Supports bank wires and local payment methods | Fully integrated banking support with seamless ACH and wire transfers |
| Trading Community & Forums | Active community within the platform | Limited direct community interaction but access to third-party trading forums |
| Brokerage Model | Binary options broker with fixed payout structures | Market maker and ECN broker models for forex and CFDs |
| Execution Transparency | Trades executed within the platform, fixed expiration times | Full trade transparency, DMA (Direct Market Access) available |
| Data & Trading Logs Exportability | Limited export options | Full exportability of trade logs, transaction history, and reports |
| Chart Customization & Drawing Tools | Standard customization, limited indicators | Extensive chart customization, multiple drawing tools, and automated pattern recognition |
| Integration with External Analysis Tools | Limited integration with third-party tools | Fully supports TradingView, AutoChartist, and other market analysis tools |
| Market-Making or ECN Model | Market-making for binary options | Hybrid model, offering both market-making and ECN-style execution |
| Regulatory Reporting & Compliance Standards | Operates under relaxed regulatory requirements | Fully compliant with strict global regulations, periodic audits by financial authorities |
| User Base & Global Reach | Popular among retail traders in emerging markets | Serves professional, institutional, and retail traders worldwide |
Pocket Option is ideal for binary options traders seeking a user-friendly platform with social trading, while FOREX.com caters to forex and CFD traders needing advanced tools, deep liquidity, and strong regulatory compliance.