Which brokers charge inactivity fees?
Verdict
- Pepperstone, our pick, charges no inactivity or account-keeping fee; an unused account holding under 10 units of currency for three months or more may be archived instead.
- Plus500 publishes an inactivity fee of up to US$10 a month after three months without logging in (on its UAE fee page), and XS reserves the right to charge up to 3% on withdrawals when there has been no trading activity.
- For the other brokers Singapore traders compare, including IG, CMC Markets, Saxo and OANDA, our sources hold no inactivity-fee figure, so read each fee page before leaving money idle.
- Pepperstone serves Singapore through Pepperstone Markets Limited (SCB SIA-F217) and holds no MAS licence.
Inactivity fees hit people who fund an account, trade a little and then leave it. If that might be you, the broker's fee for doing nothing matters as much as its spread.
Pepperstone: no fee for leaving your account idle
Pepperstone's fee pages state there is no inactivity fee and no account-keeping fee. The only consequence of a quiet account is administrative: one holding under 10 units of its currency and unused for three months or more may be archived. Deposits are free, and withdrawals by card, e-wallet or domestic transfer are free too, so you can park a small SGD balance between trading periods without it shrinking.
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Inactivity charges by broker
| Broker | Inactivity fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | None | Accounts under 10 units, unused 3+ months, may be archived |
| Plus500 | Up to US$10 a month | After 3 months without login; figure from its UAE fee page |
| XS | No monthly fee in our data | May charge up to 3% on withdrawals where there has been no trading activity |
| IG, CMC Markets, Saxo, OANDA | Not in our data | Check each broker's Singapore fee page |
Fees that behave like inactivity charges
- Withdrawal fees triggered by not trading, such as XS's discretionary charge of up to 3%.
- Bank-wire withdrawal fees: Pepperstone's international costs page lists US$20 for international wires, which hits harder on a small idle balance.
- Overnight financing on positions you forget to close, which keeps charging whether you log in or not.
- Minimum balances that close or archive a dormant account.
If you plan to leave an account quiet
- Close any open positions so financing stops.
- Withdraw most of the balance by a free method, such as a card or e-wallet at Pepperstone.
- Keep a note of your login and the account's base currency.
- Before you deposit again, re-read the broker's fee page in case the terms have changed.
Sources
Fee terms as each broker publishes them.
Will Pepperstone close my account if I stop trading?
It charges no fee. An account with under 10 units of currency that stays unused for three months or more may be archived.
Does Plus500 Singapore charge the same inactivity fee?
The US$10-a-month figure comes from Plus500's UAE fee page. Plus500SG is a separate MAS-licensed company, so check its own fee page.
How do I avoid XS's 3% withdrawal fee?
XS says it may apply where there has been no trading activity or where it identifies abuse. Ask XS in writing how it applies before depositing money you may not trade.
Avoiding fees does not make CFD trading low-risk: CFDs are complex, leveraged and can lose you money rapidly. Fee terms are as published and can change. Not investment advice.