Paypal supports transactions in 25 currencies, but it has not been popular with the trading community, primarily due to the costs. Are Forex brokers offering PayPal transactions competitive? We have taken a deep dive and found the best PayPal Forex brokers.
- FXTM, Best all-around broker with high floating leverage and fast execution.
- FP Markets, ECN trading with leverage up to 1:500.
- Eightcap, Competitive pricing + excellent daily videos.
- BlackBull Markets, Best ECN trading environment, with scalping and hedging.
- AvaTrade, Highly regulated, choice of fixed or floating spreads.
Best PayPal Brokers Comparison
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Regulators | CMA, CySEC, FCA, FSC Mauritius, FSCA | ASIC, CySEC, FSCA | ASIC, CySEC, FCA, SCB | FMA, FSA | ASIC, BVI, Central Bank of Ireland, FFAJ, FSCA, KNF, MiFID |
Year Established | 2011 | 2005 | 2009 | 2014 | 2006 |
Execution Type(s) | ECN/STP, Market Maker | ECN/STP | ECN/STP, Market Maker | ECN/STP, No Dealing Desk | Market Maker |
Minimum Deposit | |||||
Average Trading Cost EUR/USD | 0.1 pips | 1.1 pips | 1.0 pips | 1.3 pips | 0.9 pips |
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD | 0.2 pips | 1.4 pips | 1.2 pips | 2.0 pips | 1.5 pips |
Average Trading Cost Gold | $0.18 | $0.21 | $0.12 | $0.90 | $0.29 |
Trading Platform(s) | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary platform | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, Proprietary platform, Web-based | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Trading View | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Trading View | Other, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Web-based+ |
Islamic Account | |||||
Negative Balance Protection | |||||
| Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website | Visit Website |
FXTM
In Summary Best all-around broker with high floating leverage and fast executionWe have made FXTM one of our top-rated brokers because in addition to its lengthy track record, it enjoys a very high level of regulation and reputation, and it offers a highly competitive fee structure which tends to keep down the cost of trading.
Pros & Cons
- Excellent commission-based Forex pricing environment and transparency
- Upgraded MT4/MT5 trading platforms plus proprietary mobile trading app
- Quality market research and educational content for beginner traders
- A highly regulated broker with a tier-1 license
- No cryptocurrencies and limited choice of commodities
FP Markets
In Summary ECN trading with leverage up to 1:500fpmarkets is an ASIC-regulated Australian brokerage which launched in 2005. For most traders, the unique selling point of this broker is in the extremely wide range of tradable assets offered, providing the opportunity to trade over ten thousand individual stocks and shares including publicly quoted Hong Kong and Australian companies. Ffpmarkets also offers 60 Forex pairs and crosses, 11 equity indices, the major commodities, and 5 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin. fpmarkets offers an unusual hybrid ECN/STP execution model, meaning their clients can choose between ECN style of execution giving a very high level of speed, and a “straight through processing” execution style which allows for more “natural” spreads.
Pros & Cons
- Choice of trading platforms and auxiliary trading tools
- Very competitive cost structure and excellent asset selection
- Low minimum deposit requirement and leverage of up to 1:500
- Well-regulated and trustworthy
- Availability of Iress geographically restricted
Eightcap
In Summary Competitive pricing + excellent daily videosEightcap allows traders to deposit and withdraw via PayPal, available in 150 countries. Before traders decide on using PayPal, Eightcap asks clients to confirm with their account manager if PayPal is available in their country, as geographic restrictions apply. The minimum transaction amount is $100, or a currency equivalent, and the maximum is $4,000. Supported PayPal deposit currencies at Eightcap are the AUD, USD, GBP, EUR, NZD, CAD, and SGD, covering the core markets of Eightcap. Traders benefit from instant to near-instant processing times.
Traders also get a low-cost trading environment with cutting-edge tools like Capitalise AI and Crypto Crusher.
Pros & Cons
- Low minimum deposit and high leverage of up to 1:500
- Competitive cost structure
- Excellent technology infrastructure and seasoned management team
- Daily research and quality educational content
- Limited leverage in some areas
BlackBull Markets
In Summary Best ECN trading environment, with scalping and hedgingBlackBull Markets was founded in 2014 in New Zealand. Like many antipodean Forex brokers, BlackBull Markets is an ECN broker, offering raw spreads and commissions. They are regulated in New Zealand by the Financial Services Providers Register (FSPR) and offer a maximum leverage on some Forex currency pairs as high as 500 to 1. In addition to their global headquarters in New Zealand, BlackBull Markets also has presences in the form of branch offices in New York and Malaysia. BlackBull Markets offers a relatively tight range of tradable assets: 27 Forex currency pairs and crosses, gold, silver, crude oil, natural gas, and 6 major equity indices. That should be sufficient for those traders with more focused strategies not requiring wide diversification.
Pros & Cons
- ECN/NDD execution model with deep liquidity
- Institution-grade pricing for retail traders via proprietary price aggregation
- ZuluTrade and Myfxbook for social trading
- Leverage of up to 1:500
- Limited deposit options
AvaTrade
In Summary Highly regulated, choice of fixed or floating spreadsAvaTrade ranks among the best Forex brokers that accept PayPal. Traders can choose between six trading platforms, the core MT4/MT5, plus four proprietary alternatives. AvaTrade remains well-regulated, but traders get the most competitive trading environment from entities operating under the oversight of the ASIC, FSCA, BVIFSC and FSRA. New traders will benefit from one of the best educational programs, SharpTrader, which AvaTrade spun out. The minimum deposit of $100 makes AvaTrade accessible to all retail traders, with the maximum leverage between 1:30 and 1:500, dependent on the subsidiary. With an asset selection of 1,250+, it offers a competitive choice. The drawback remains the cost structure for Forex traders with a commission-free minimum spread of 0.9 pips or $9.00 per side or $18 per round lot.
Pros & Cons
- High-quality educational offering via SharpTrader
- Excellent choice of trading platforms catering to various trading needs
- Broad asset selection and cross-asset diversification opportunities
- Well-regulated and trusted broker with oversight from a central bank
- Trading costs competitive but nothing special
What is PayPal?
PayPal is an online payment processor based in the US. Founded in 1998 as Confinity, it merged with x.com in 2000, changed its name to PayPal, and went public in 2001 on the NASDAQ stock market. Forbes ranks it on its Fortune 500 list of largest US corporations by revenue. Since 2008, it acquires 22 companies and expanded its global footprint. PayPal operates in 202 markets and, as of 2020, has 305 million active, registered accounts. One of the most significant announcements PayPal made was the support for cryptocurrencies across its network, enabling purchases at 26 million merchants, in theory.
Why Use PayPal as Your Deposit/Withdrawal Method?
PayPal offers instant transactions from the PayPal wallet to the merchant. Therefore, traders can fund their brokerage account or request withdrawals from it without waiting for funds to arrive. PayPal also maintains a card processing service, allowing traders to use third-party cards to fund accounts. Traders must consider the costs with each transaction, which remain higher than at many well-established competitors. Currency conversion costs and transfer fees will make a significant difference, especially for traders who seek frequent transactions. It remains one of the primary reasons only a few brokers partner with PayPal.
Advantages & Disadvantages to Trading with a Broker Who Accepts PayPal
PayPal Forex brokers serve a specific type of trader, especially in the North American market, where it enjoys the most popularity. International traders have a broad range of superior choices. Before traders decide to use PayPal, I recommend that they weigh the advantages and disadvantages. Then they can make an informed decision if it represents a suitable remittance tool.
Advantages to Trading with a Broker Who Accepts PayPal
PayPal usually works with trustworthy partners and implements strict anti-money laundering protocols. Therefore, Forex brokers that accept PayPal are less likely to scam, defraud, or otherwise maliciously interact with clients.
The processing speed from the PayPal wallet to brokers is instant.
PayPal operates in 202 markets and accepts a broad range of currencies, making it accessible to many traders.
Using PayPal, either from a desktop or via the mobile app, is user-friendly, and accounts are free of charge without inactivity fees.
Traders can link multiple debit/credit cards or bank accounts to one PayPal account.
Disadvantages to Trading with a Broker Who Accepts PayPal
Forex brokers using PayPal remain rare and often less competitive than others. They generally have higher spreads, not linked to offering PayPal in any way, but still a trait they share.
Traders will pay a transaction fee each time they use the PayPal network. PayPal implements a fixed cost, dependent on the currency plus a percentage-based levy between 2.9% and 5.4%. A $100 transaction averages a charge of roughly $5.00 from the PayPal wallet to the merchant. Traders must also consider costs from the wallet to their bank or credit/debit card.
Currency conversion fees remain excessive at an average rate of 4.0%. Since most Forex brokers with PayPal only offer US dollar or euro accounts, international traders may pay almost $10 on a $100 transaction, or 10%.
PayPal has acted maliciously and paid millions in fines to settle.
Customer support at PayPal is terrible, and traders cannot ignore complaints concerning PayPal policies.
How to Pick a Decent Broker with PayPal
PayPal may operate in 202 markets, but many remain send-only, meaning users can send money without receive funds. Regulated brokers comply with AML stipulations and require that withdrawals use the same methods as received deposits. Therefore, traders located in countries determined send-only cannot use PayPal for trading. Several countries remain blacklisted, and the send-only limitations explain why PayPal fails to cater to traders. Some brokers offer it, but they usually serve North American traders or have a subsidiary operating in the US or Canada.
Traders who have unrestricted access to PayPal services may consider Forex brokers that accept PayPal. The characteristics remain the same as with any other broker. A regulated entity with a competitive trading platform, followed by a trader-friendly cost structure, broad asset selection and quality trading tools, remains paramount.
PayPal Chargeback on Broker Account
While PayPal offers a chargeback on disputed transactions, they only apply to tangible or physical goods. Since most brokers offer CFDs, which are derivatives, this service is not available for traders. Before traders blindly believe the protection provided by PayPal, they must read and understand the terms and conditions, together with the exceptions.
Speed of PayPal Payments
The speed of PayPal payments is instant or nearly so, provided funds are available. Traders who use Forex brokers with PayPal will have swift access, but the service comes at a high cost.
Deposits and Withdrawals with PayPal
PayPal allows users to link bank accounts and credit/debit cards to their PayPal wallets and top up their balance. From there, they can send it across the PayPal infrastructure consisting of over 26 million merchants globally and 305 total registered users. Withdrawals follow the same procedure, but traders must check if their country is eligible to receive funds. Many countries are send-only, making Forex brokers using PayPal not a suitable choice for traders with restricted access, as AML rules require brokers to send withdrawals back the same way as deposits. Therefore, most traders do not use PayPal outside a few markets.
Conclusion
PayPal Forex brokers usually operate in the US and Canada, where PayPal offers unrestricted access. Some UK brokers also have it as an option, but most traders shy away from the high costs associated with using it. Another discouraging trait among Forex brokers that accept PayPal is an uncompetitive pricing environment and sub-standard trading platforms. Traders who have unrestricted access to PayPal and enjoy the service it provides can trade Forex with one of our brokers identified as ranking among the best Forex brokers using PayPal.
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