ECN account: low spreads, separate commission
The spreads are the lowest of our four accounts, and you pay a commission on top. The minimum first deposit is $10,000.
CFDs use leverage. You can lose money quickly, and you can lose all of the money you deposit. Only trade with money you can afford to lose.
Spread and commission, shown separately
On the ECN account the spread and the commission are two separate figures. The commission is $5 per standard lot (100,000 units), charged once for opening and closing a trade.
Spreads start at 0.0 pips. That is the lowest spread we quote, usually on major pairs such as EUR/USD when the London and New York sessions overlap. Spreads are wider at other times and on minor and exotic pairs, and wider still around news releases and when markets are thin.
On EUR/USD a pip on one standard lot is worth $10, so the $5 commission equals 0.5 pips. At the lowest quoted spreads, one standard lot of EUR/USD costs from $5 on ECN, from $7 on Pro and from $12 on Standard. The gap per lot is small. It adds up if you trade often or run an Expert Advisor that opens many positions.
Leverage goes up to 1:500. At 1:500, $1,000 of margin holds a $500,000 position. A 0.2% move against you loses $1,000, which is all of that margin. With less than $10,000 to deposit, look at Standard or Cent ($100) or Pro ($5,000).
Who the ECN account suits
What the ECN account includes
- Spreads from 0.0 pips
- $5 per standard lot, round turn
- Leverage up to 1:500
- MT5 on desktop, web and mobile
How the ECN account compares with our others
The ECN account charges a commission and has the lowest spreads. Pro, Standard and Cent charge no commission, and the cost is in the spread.
Questions about the ECN account
What is an ECN account?+
At NAMH Global it is the account where you pay a separate commission, $5 per standard lot, round turn, and the spreads are the lowest of our four accounts.
What is the minimum deposit for the ECN account?+
$10,000. If you have less to deposit, Pro needs $5,000, and Standard and Cent need $100.
How much is the commission on ECN?+
$5 per standard lot (100,000 units), round turn, so one charge covers opening and closing. A 0.1-lot trade pays $0.50. On EUR/USD the $5 equals 0.5 pips. If the EUR/USD spread is 0.1 pips, one lot costs about $6 in total. On Standard, at a spread of 1.2 pips, the same lot costs about $12.
Is the ECN account good for Expert Advisors?+
Yes. Spread costs add up fastest for an Expert Advisor that trades often, and ECN has the lowest quoted spreads of our accounts. An EA needs MT5 running all the time, on your own computer or on a virtual private server (VPS).
What happens if I deposit less than $10,000?+
The ECN account needs a first deposit of at least $10,000. With less, you can open a Pro account ($5,000) or a Standard account ($100). Neither charges commission.
ECN account vs Standard account: which one should I choose?+
At the lowest quoted spreads, ECN costs less per lot: from $5 for one standard lot of EUR/USD, against from $12 on Standard. Standard needs only $100 to open and has no commission to work out. If you are still learning or trade small sizes, the minimum deposit matters more than the cost per lot.
Do spreads widen on the ECN account?+
Yes. Spreads on every account, ECN included, widen around news releases and when markets are thin. The lowest spread we quote is a minimum. It is not a fixed spread.
Are ECN accounts suitable for beginners?+
Usually not. The $10,000 minimum is high for someone learning, and a commission on every trade is one more number to track. Standard and Cent start at $100 and charge no commission. The demo account lets you practise first without depositing.
Can my order fill at a different price from the one I saw?+
Yes. If the price moves between the moment you send an order and the moment it is filled, you get the next available price. This happens most around news. Stop-loss orders fill at the next available price, which can be worse than your stop level. Limit orders fill at your price or better.
What forex pairs can I trade on the ECN account?+
Every forex pair we offer, including majors such as EUR/USD, minors such as EUR/GBP and exotics such as USD/ZAR. Spreads are lowest on the majors and widest on the exotics. The full list is in MT5's Market Watch.
Opening an account
Registering takes a few minutes. You can deposit once your identity is verified.
CFDs use leverage. You can lose money quickly, and you can lose all of the money you deposit. Only trade with money you can afford to lose.