Which forex broker is best for scalping?
Verdict
- Pepperstone is our pick for scalping forex from the UK: a published 0.1-pip average on EUR/USD in its Razor account, commission of $3.00 per side on cTrader, and execution from 50 milliseconds with a 99.32% fill rate, by its own measure.
- A round lot of EUR/USD costs about $7 on Pepperstone's cTrader at the published average, the lowest all-in figure we can calculate for an FCA-regulated firm.
- Tickmill and Vantage publish raw accounts from 0.0 with $3 per side, but as floors, not averages, so their real cost can't be computed from published data.
- Pepperstone does not publish a scalping policy on its UK pages, so confirm short-hold trading is allowed in its terms before you start.
Scalpers pay the spread and commission dozens of times a day, so tiny differences compound, and execution quality matters as much as headline price. The best scalping broker combines a low all-in cost per lot, fast fills and platforms built for rapid order entry. On the published evidence, Pepperstone leads in the UK.
Why we pick Pepperstone for scalping
Three published numbers make the case. Cost: Razor averages 0.1 pips on EUR/USD, and cTrader commission is $3.00 per side, so a round lot costs about $7. Speed: Pepperstone reports execution from 50 milliseconds, a 99.32% fill rate and no dealer intervention, based on its fills from 1 January to 31 March 2026. Tools: MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView on Razor, with EAs allowed and a free VPS listed for eligible and Pro clients. Pepperstone Limited is FCA-regulated (684312).
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Raw-spread accounts for UK scalpers
| Firm | EUR/USD spread | Commission per lot per side | All-in per round lot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone Razor (cTrader) | 0.1 pips average | $3.00 | About $7 |
| Pepperstone Razor (MT5) | 0.1 pips average | $3.50 | About $8 |
| Tickmill Raw | From 0.0 | $3 | From $6 plus spread |
| Vantage Raw ECN | From 0.0 | $3.00 | From $6 plus spread |
| FxPro Raw+ | From 0.0 (generic FX) | $3.5 | From $7 plus spread |
| CMC Markets FX Active | From 0.0 | 0.0025% per transaction | Depends on trade value |
What a scalping day costs
Say you trade 20 round lots of EUR/USD in a session. On Pepperstone's cTrader at the published average, that is about 20 times $7, or $140. On MT5 it is about $160. On the Standard account, at a 1.1-pip average and no commission, the same day would cost about $220, which is why scalpers should not use commission-free accounts. Competitor raw accounts start from $120 in commission alone, plus whatever spread you are actually charged.
Checks scalpers should make
- Read the client terms for any minimum holding time or restrictions on high-frequency strategies; Pepperstone's UK pages don't publish a scalping policy.
- Confirm the figures for raw accounts at Tickmill, Vantage and FxPro apply to their UK companies; we took them from their main sites.
- Measure slippage on a few live market orders around the London open.
- Remember that stops are not guaranteed at Pepperstone; fast markets can fill a stop beyond its level.
Sources
Which Pepperstone platform is best for scalping?
cTrader has the lowest Razor commission ($3.00 per side on FX); MT4 and MT5 suit EA-based scalping.
Is Pepperstone's execution speed independently tested?
No. The 50ms and 99.32% fill-rate figures are Pepperstone's own, from its fills in the first quarter of 2026.
Can I scalp on a spread betting account?
You can trade short-term on it, but with no commission and a 0.5 minimum EUR/USD spread, Razor's 0.1-pip average plus commission is usually cheaper for frequent trades.
Scalping with leveraged CFDs magnifies the effect of every cost and every adverse tick, and losses can mount rapidly. CFDs are complex and high risk. This page is not investment advice.