Which CFD brokers don't charge inactivity fees?
Verdict
- Pepperstone is our pick: it charges no inactivity or account-keeping fee, though accounts holding under 10 units of currency and unused for three months or more may be archived.
- Plus500, by contrast, publishes an inactivity fee of up to USD 10 a month after three months without logging in.
- XS charges no inactivity fee as such, but reserves the right to apply up to 3% on withdrawals where there has been no trading activity.
- Capital.com's inactivity terms are not in our data; check its fee page before you leave an account idle.
An inactivity fee is the charge some brokers take each month once an account goes quiet, and it can slowly drain a balance you had forgotten. If you trade in bursts, travel or plan to park money between strategies, choose a broker that does not charge one. Pepperstone does not, and it is the broker we recommend for Hong Kong traders on this point.
Pepperstone: no fee for a quiet account
Pepperstone publishes that it charges no inactivity or account-keeping fees. The one housekeeping rule: an account with less than 10 units of its base currency that has not been used for three months or more may be archived, which you can avoid by keeping a small balance or by asking support to reactivate it. Pepperstone serves Hong Kong through Pepperstone Markets Limited, regulated by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SIA-F217), not by the SFC. When you do trade, Razor is published at a 0.1-pip EUR/USD average plus $3.50 commission per side, and the minimum to fund is $10.
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Idle-account charges compared
Plus500 shows no SFC licence in its entity list, and our database does not record it as accepting Hong Kong residents; it is included only as an example of how an inactivity fee works.
| Broker | Inactivity fee | Related rule |
|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | None | Accounts under 10 currency units, unused 3+ months, may be archived |
| XS | No inactivity fee in our data | Up to 3% withdrawal fee possible where there has been no trading activity |
| Plus500 | Up to USD 10 a month | Starts after 3 months without login |
| Capital.com | Not in our data | Check its current fee schedule |
Hidden ways an idle account still costs money
- Open positions keep paying overnight swap even if you never log in.
- A balance held in a currency other than the one you spend loses or gains with the exchange rate; Pepperstone's HKD account option removes that for Hong Kong dollar savers.
- Withdrawal rules: at XS, withdrawing without having traded may attract a fee of up to 3%.
- Archived accounts may need identity documents re-checked before you can trade again.
Before you leave an account dormant
- Close or protect any open positions so swap and gaps cannot erode the balance.
- Keep at least 10 units of the account currency at Pepperstone if you want to avoid archiving.
- Withdraw what you will not need in the next few months.
- Note the support contact: Pepperstone's international site lists 24/7 contact and support@pepperstone.com.
Sources
Will Pepperstone close my account if I stop trading?
It may archive an account with under 10 units of currency that has not been used for three months or more. It does not charge a fee for inactivity.
Does XS charge an inactivity fee?
Not as a monthly charge in our data. It does reserve the right to apply up to 3% on withdrawals where there has been no trading activity.
Is an inactivity fee a sign of a bad broker?
Not necessarily, but it is a cost worth avoiding if you trade irregularly. Read the fee page before you deposit.
Can I reopen an archived Pepperstone account?
Contact Pepperstone support; you may be asked to update your details before trading again.
Trading CFDs and leveraged forex is high risk: leverage can make you lose money quickly, and most retail accounts lose. Only trade money you can afford to lose. Nothing here is investment advice, and the broker terms quoted can change, so confirm them on each broker's website first.