When one thinks of foreign exchange trading in Europe, one immediately thinks of London as being the center of activity, but on the continent, Frankfurt is a major financial center and transaction hub for a major portion of European turnover in this market. Retail forex trading in Germany has also flourished in recent years as technology has transformed the activity across the globe.

The recognized leader in global foreign exchange is none other than Deutsche Bank, which controls nearly 20% of global turnover. Participants in the local market include the Central Bank, authorized banks, investment management firms, commercial companies, hedge funds, and retail forex brokers. As a matter of fact, Frankfurt forex operations open an hour before London, giving an early hint as to the direction that European pricing behavior might take for the day.


Broker Features Regulator Platforms Next Step
Number One Broker Forex.com logo74% of clients lose money. Capital at risk. Founded: 1999

- Trusted Global Market Leader
- Online FX & CFD Trading
- 180+  Global Markets, 84 FX pairs, 65 shares, 17 popular indices and more
- Forex, Indices, Commodities, Equities & Bitcoin
- Available to US traders

CFTC, CIMA, FCA, FSA, IIRO, NFA FOREXTrader & MT4 for PC, MAC, iPhone, iPad and Android, WebTrader
Oanda Logo77% of retail CFD accounts lose money Founded: 1996
Your capital is...
  • Choose from four high-quality platforms.
  • Good trading conditions with fast execution speeds
  • Excellent research and analysis
  • Strong client protection
  • Winner of Most Popular Broker award for three consecutive years.
  • Fees and commissions are inline rather than market-leading.
  • Satisfactory rather than impressive range of instruments.
ASIC, CFTC, FCA, IIROC, JFSA, MAS fxTrade, MT4
eToro LogoYour capital is at risk Founded: 2019

- Trade 15 cryptocurrencies
- Beginner friendly

- eToro

    Germany is part of the Eurozone, but each country has its own set of regulations that govern the trading of currencies on a local basis. Having to call your broker by phone is in the distant past, as faster telecom speeds, software technology, and ECN brokers have upgraded the industry to the point that all is needed is a PC and access to the Internet. According to some reports, as much as ten percent of forex turnover in Germany is handled online from the retail sector. Commercial companies, however, continue to operate directly through their local banks, choosing to maintain those relationships rather than take advantage of online trading.

    Previous regulations on a commercial basis required companies to concentrate their respective foreign exchange activities within their primary banking relationship, a rule used to put general controls on credit granting, but these rules have been changed over time, allowing for more flexibility and growth in the entire forex industry in Germany. Anticipating this regulatory relaxation, many global forex brokers have opened local offices in the past few years to support both commercial and retail forex trading activities.

    As a result of the global stampede to open local offices in Germany, there are ample choices for the retail forex trader to make among a host of reputable firms. For the newcomer, there are literally thousands of brokers in today’s market to choose from, but one must be careful to avoid the ones that are shadier in their operations. In Germany, the financial services sector is regulated by the Deutsche Bundesbank and the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin).

    Choosing a broker with a local presence is always the best policy. Their local office must comply with local rules and regulators, usually in addition to where their home office might be located. If you choose to use an offshore broker, then you may encounter fraud or difficulty in pressing your legal rights whenever a dispute arises. This lesson is generally difficult to accept, but it occurs more frequently than most would like. Let caution be your guide when it comes to safety and security.

    When conducting your search for a forex broker in Germany, be sure to focus on safety and security, low trading costs, and efficient trade execution. By choosing someone that has a local office, you will be assured that you will not encounter language issues with customer service. Check also for local trader testimonials to confirm that whatever reviews have been written are true factual accounts and not just another advertising venue.

    Choosing an “unseen” business partner on the Internet can be a daunting task, but take the time to comparison shop and validate various business credentials before making your final decision. Due diligence on the front end will ensure a favorable trading experience down the road, free from problems, especially when you request a withdrawal of funds from your account. The above list presents forex brokers trusted by us at Forextraders.com.

    Read our reviews of more forex brokers that did not make our top list above:

    NetoTrade – Read review Orbex – Read review
    iForex – Read review Trade24 – Read review
    xTrade – Read review Trade360 – Read review
    24Option – Read review UFX – Read review
    IG Group – Read review HarborX – Read review
    MexGroup – Read review Oanda – Read review
    Tradeo – Read review London Capital Group – Read review
    IC Markets – Read review CFD Global – Read review
    ATFX – Read review TradeFred – Read review
    IQ Option – Read review Libertex – Read review
    Swiss Markets – Read review iTrader – Read review
    FX Globe – Read review Formax – Read review
    Think Markets – Read review Z.com Trade – Read review
    Orbex – Read review NSFX – Read review
    USGFX – Read review STO – Read review
    Trio Markets – Read review HYCM – Read review
    eToro – Read review FXGiants – Read review
    BD Swiss – Read review ETX Capital – Read review
    Trade.com – Read review easyMarkets – Read review
    Finq – Read review XTB – Read review
    everFX – Read review