Which brokers offer the tightest spreads on gold?
Verdict
- Pepperstone is our pick for tight gold pricing in the UAE: a published XAU/USD average of 0.12 on Razor plus $3.50 per side, and 0.19 on its commission-free Standard account.
- IC Markets publishes a lower Raw average (0.09), but our data does not list the UAE among the countries it accepts; FP Markets matches Pepperstone's 0.12 with a $3 commission per side.
- On commission-free accounts Pepperstone's 0.19 average is tighter than FP Markets' 0.25 Standard average.
- Average and "from" figures are not the same thing: a "from" spread is a best case, so compare averages where brokers publish them.
Gold spreads are quoted in dollars per ounce, and brokers publish them in different ways, some as averages and some as best-case minimums. On published averages, Pepperstone is among the tightest brokers that accept UAE residents, so it is our pick. The table below sets the numbers side by side and shows where Pepperstone is not the cheapest.
Pepperstone's gold pricing, and why it is our pick
Pepperstone publishes an average XAU/USD spread of 0.12 on Razor and 0.19 on Standard; its UK site also lists a Razor minimum of 0.08. The Razor commission is $3.50 per side on every platform, cTrader included. For a UAE trader the pricing comes with an AED account, local transfers through Mashreq Bank and Barclays, and a $10 minimum deposit. Very few brokers in our data publish a comparable gold average at all.
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Published gold spreads compared
Capital.com and XS do not publish a gold spread in our data, so they are left out of the table.
| Broker and account | Gold spread | Type | Commission | Accepts UAE (our data) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone Razor | 0.12 | Average | $3.50 per side | Yes |
| Pepperstone Standard | 0.19 | Average | None | Yes |
| FP Markets Raw | 0.12 | Average | $3 per side | Yes |
| FP Markets Standard | 0.25 | Average | None | Yes |
| IC Markets Raw Spread | 0.09 | Average | $3.50 per side | Not listed |
| CMC Markets Standard | From 0.2 points | From | Not in our data | Yes |
| ActivTrades | From 0.25 USD | From (target) | Not in our data | Yes |
Which platform offers the best prices for gold trading?
On published averages, IC Markets is the tightest raw gold price in our data, but it is not listed as accepting UAE residents. Among brokers that are, Pepperstone Razor and FP Markets Raw publish the same 0.12 average; FP Markets charges $0.50 less commission per side, while Pepperstone requires $10 to start against FP Markets' $100 and offers AED accounts and local UAE bank transfers. If you prefer to pay no commission, Pepperstone's Standard average of 0.19 is the tightest in our table.
Reading gold spreads correctly
- A gold spread of 0.12 means $0.12 per ounce, so on a 100-ounce position it costs $12 to open and close.
- Check your platform's contract size for XAU/USD before converting spreads into dollars per lot.
- Spreads widen around US data releases and at the daily rollover; averages hide those spikes.
- Swap is the bigger cost on multi-day trades. Pepperstone does not offer UAE residents a swap-free account.
Sources
Gold spreads as published on each broker's pricing page.
Does Pepperstone have the lowest gold spread of any broker?
Not in our data. IC Markets publishes a 0.09 Raw average against Pepperstone's 0.12, but IC Markets is not listed as accepting UAE residents. Among brokers that are, Pepperstone ties FP Markets on Razor and leads on commission-free pricing.
What does Capital.com charge on gold?
Capital.com does not publish a gold spread in our data. Check the live spread in its platform before you trade.
Is a "from" spread the same as an average?
No. "From" is the lowest spread the broker quotes, often seen only in the most liquid hours. An average gives a fairer picture of what you will usually pay.
CFDs are complex instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly because of leverage. Only trade with money you can afford to lose and make sure you understand how CFDs work. This page is general information, not investment advice; check each broker's current terms on its own site before opening an account.