What's the best broker for scalping with tight spreads?
Verdict
- For scalping, our pick is Pepperstone's Razor account on cTrader: a published 0.1-pip average on EUR/USD and $3.00 commission per side, so about $7 per lot round trip.
- XS Elite matches that cost at 0.1 pips plus $6 round turn, but needs $500 and runs only on MT4, MT5 and the XS app.
- Pepperstone says it fills orders from 50 ms with a 99.32% fill rate (Q1 2026, its own figures); it does not publish a scalping rule, so read the client terms.
- Hong Kong residents trade with Pepperstone Markets Limited (SCB Bahamas, SIA-F217); Pepperstone has no SFC licence.
Scalpers live on the gap between entry and exit costs, so the broker that matters is the one with the lowest all-in cost per round trip and reliable fills. On published numbers, that is Pepperstone Razor on cTrader for a Hong Kong trader. The comparison below uses the averages brokers publish, not minimums.
Why Pepperstone Razor on cTrader
A scalper may take a 3-pip profit target; at $7 per lot round trip, cost eats about a quarter of it, and at $11 on a spread-only account it eats more than a third. That is why the account type matters more than the brand. Pepperstone Razor publishes a 0.1-pip EUR/USD average, and on cTrader the commission is $3.00 per side, against $3.50 on MT5, TradingView and its own platform. cTrader also supports C# automation through cTrader Automate. Pepperstone states execution from 50 milliseconds with no dealer intervention. One honest gap: we found no published scalping policy, so confirm in the client agreement that your style is accepted.
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Tight spreads compared, all-in
| Account | Average spread | Commission | Total | Minimum deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone Razor, cTrader | 0.1 pips | $6 | $7 | $10 |
| Pepperstone Razor, MT5 | 0.1 pips | $7 | $8 | $10 |
| XS Elite | 0.1 pips | $6 | $7 | $500 |
| Pepperstone Standard | 1.1 pips | $0 | $11 | $10 |
Scalping indices and gold
Index CFDs at Pepperstone carry no commission, so the spread is the whole cost. Published averages are 0.4 points on US500 and 1 point on NAS100 on Razor, and 5 points on HK50 on both accounts. On gold, Razor averages 0.12 against 0.19 on Standard, before Razor's per-side commission. Capital.com, our second choice overall, does not publish a static spread in our data, so we cannot place it in a scalping cost table.
What to check before you scalp with any broker
- The broker's terms on very short holding times and on trading around news.
- Whether quoted spreads are averages or 'from' minimums; only averages show what you will usually pay.
- The commission on the platform you will actually use.
- How the account behaves at rollover, when spreads usually widen.
Sources
Published pricing and execution statements.
Does Pepperstone allow scalping?
Its pages we checked do not state a scalping rule either way. It supports expert advisors and cBots; confirm your strategy against the client agreement before trading.
Is 0.1 pips the lowest EUR/USD spread?
It is the published average at both Pepperstone Razor and XS Elite. Some brokers advertise 0.0 pips, but that is a minimum, not what you pay on average.
Which Pepperstone platform is cheapest for scalping FX?
cTrader, at $3.00 per side per lot, against $3.50 on MT5, TradingView and the Pepperstone platform.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. This page is not investment advice; broker terms change, so check them on the broker's own site before you open an account.