Which scalping broker is best in Australia?
Fusion Markets is my pick for the best scalping broker in Australia. Its Zero account gives you EUR/USD at 0.33 pips all-in in our October 2026 capture on an A$4.50 round turn, Axi matches that commission and sits close behind at 0.37 pips, and GO Markets and Vantage follow, level at 0.50 pips each in the same capture. TMGM, the one broker on this page outside that capture, follows with its own label.
- Fusion Markets: first, 0.33 pips all-in, A$4.50 round-turn.
- Axi: second at 0.37 pips all-in on EUR/USD, October 2026.
- GO Markets: 0.50 pips all-in EUR/USD, October 2026, level with Vantage.
- Global Prime: 0.57 pips all-in, October 2026, A$7.00 round turn.
- IC Markets: 0.73 pips all-in, October 2026.
- FP Markets: share-CFD scalping through IRESS.
- Pepperstone: sixth all-in of 20 accounts, October 2026, A$3.50 per side.
- Eightcap: stable MT5 build for tick scalping.
- Vantage: A$2.50 per side with scalping permitted.
- TMGM: Sydney-based Edge account, advertised pricing.
Three things carry this ranking: all-in cost, execution venue and the PDS scalping clause. Each is verifiable, and each is in the table, so you can check my work.
The brokers above all offer a RAW account, raw spread plus commission (Fusion Zero, Axi Pro, GO Plus+, Global Prime’s account named ECN, IC Markets Raw Spread, FP Markets Raw, Pepperstone Razor, Eightcap Raw, Vantage RAW Classic, TMGM Edge), and don’t restrict scalping in their PDS. Most market-maker platforms can technically be scalped but several have explicit clauses that flag or restrict the practice. I’d read the PDS before you commit. For the overall market beyond scalping, our guide to the highest-rated forex brokers in Australia ranks every ASIC broker we cover.
ASIC’s ASIC’s Product Intervention Order caps retail leverage at 30:1 on major forex pairs, which I’d call the binding constraint for scalpers, so your position sizing has to fit within that ceiling. Our guide to ASIC regulation sets out the full leverage ladder. Wholesale clients can request higher.
Comparison table: AU brokers for scalping
| Broker | Account | EUR/USD typical (incl. commission) | Round-turn commission | Min deposit | Platforms | AFSL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fusion Markets | Zero | 0.33 pips | AUD 4.50 per std lot | $0 | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView | 385620 |
| Axi | Pro | 0.37 pips | AUD 4.50 per std lot | $0 | MT4, MT5, Axi Trading Platform | 318232 |
| GO Markets | GO Plus+ | 0.50 pips | AUD 6 per std lot | $0 | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, GO TradeX | 254963 |
| Global Prime | ECN | 0.57 pips | AUD 7 per std lot | $0 | MT4, MT5 | 385620 |
| IC Markets | Raw Spread | 0.73 pips | AUD 9 per std lot | US$200 | MT4, MT5, cTrader | 335692 |
| FP Markets | Raw | 0.57 pips | AUD 7 per std lot | $0 | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, IRESS | 286354 |
| Pepperstone | Razor | 0.59 pips | AUD 7 per std lot | $0 | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView | 414530 |
| Eightcap | Raw | 0.59 pips | AUD 7 per std lot | $100 | MT4, MT5, TradingView | 391441 |
| Vantage | RAW Classic | 0.53 pips (May to June 2026, not in October 2026 capture) | AUD 5 per std lot | $50 | MT4, MT5, TradingView | 428901 |
| TMGM | Edge | Not measured | US$7 per std lot | $100 | MT4, MT5, TMGM App | 436416 |
Watch: Best forex brokers for scalping.
All ten brokers hold an AFSL, are members of AFCA, and each offers a RAW account of raw spread plus commission. None restrict scalping in their current PDS as of June 2026, so you won’t run into a policy surprise after funding. Fusion Markets and Global Prime are separate brands of the same licensee, FMGP Trading Group Pty Ltd (ABN 74 146 086 017), which is why AFSL 385620 appears twice in the table. ASIC’s Product Intervention Order applies uniformly across all ten.
Risk warning: CFDs are leveraged products and carry a high risk of loss. Most retail CFD accounts lose money. Review the broker's PDS and TMD before trading.
1. Fusion Markets for the lowest all-in cost
Fusion Markets shares the lowest commission on this page with Axi at A$4.50 round turn (A$2.25 per side), and I'd say that matters more to scalpers than to anyone else, since commission is a bigger share of total cost when trades last minutes rather than days. It also carries the lowest all-in cost on the page, 0.33 pips on EUR/USD in our October 2026 capture. EUR/USD raw spreads averaged 0.01 pips and the eight-pair basket 0.10 pips in the same capture. MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView each run through their own Zero account, and there is no minimum deposit or inactivity fee. Fusion has traded under ASIC AFSL 385620 since its 2017 launch; the FMGP Trading Group licence dates to 2011. If your edge is a fraction of a pip, the A$4.50 round turn is the number that keeps you in the game longer than an A$9.00 commission would.
Average spread
EUR/USD 0.01, GBP/USD 0.03, AUD/USD 0.01 pips (Raw, measured October 2026)
8-pair avg 0.10 pips (Raw, measured October 2026)
Trading platforms
MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView
Minimum deposit
A$0
Regulation
ASIC AFSL 385620
Broker's Detail
Melbourne-founded in 2017 (AFSL 385620), Fusion Markets matches Axi on commission at A$4.50 round turn, the lowest figure on this page's shortlist. I'd call the Zero account the one to use for scalping: it pairs EUR/USD spreads from 0.0 pips, the advertised floor published on Fusion Markets' Australian home page as at 27 September 2026, with AUD 4.50 round-turn per standard lot.
Platforms supported are MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView. The product range is narrower than the multi-asset brokers (forex-focused with selective indices and commodities), which is why active forex traders cluster here, and if you trade mostly EUR/USD and AUD/USD that narrower range is not a cost; it is just not a distraction. For that kind of trader I'd take the trade-off as it stands, and my priority would be the platform list over the market list for the way you trade.
A$0 minimum deposit with fee-free AU funding via PayID, BPAY, card and bank transfer, so you can open an account without tying up capital upfront. Retail leverage capped at ASIC's maximum on major pairs. AFCA dispute coverage and negative balance protection standard. Customer support runs 24/7.
2. Axi for EA-friendly scalping on MT4 and MT5
Axi suits the MetaTrader-native scalper: the Australian entity runs MT4, MT5 and the web-only Axi Trading Platform, all with one-click trading and full EA support, and if you live inside MetaTrader with no plans to leave, that setup is a genuine advantage rather than a marketing line. Pro account pricing measured 0.05 pips on EUR/USD and 0.24 pips across eight majors, third of the eleven raw accounts in our October 2026 capture. Commission is A$4.50 round turn per standard lot on the Pro account, and there is no minimum deposit. A free MT4 VPS comes only with the wholesale Elite account, which needs a US$25,000 balance; Standard and Pro clients who want a VPS pay a third-party provider. The 0.24 pip eight-pair basket is the number that matters to a scalper, and the A$4.50 round turn keeps the all-in cost competitive. Axi has operated under AFSL 318232 since 2007.
Average spread
EUR/USD 0.05, GBP/USD 0.19, AUD/USD 0.07 pips (Raw, measured October 2026)
8-pair avg 0.24 pips (Raw, measured October 2026)
Trading platforms
MT4, MT5, Axi Trading Platform (web)
Minimum deposit
A$0
Regulation
ASIC AFSL 318232
Why higher here? Platform Fit here is about scalping. Axi runs MT4 and MT5, an EA-friendly setup, with a 0.24-pip eight-pair raw average in our October 2026 capture at A$4.50 round turn, third of the twelve raw accounts we measured, which lifts it above its #21 sitewide position. See the ranking method ↓
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ASIC AFSL 318232 since 2007; Sydney head office
- Historically one of the most EA-friendly AU brokers, with full expert-advisor support, though a free MT4 VPS comes only with the wholesale Elite account
- Pro account EUR/USD from 0.0 pips raw plus A$4.50 round-turn commission, a 0.24 pip eight-pair average in our October 2026 capture
Cons
- No cTrader on the ASIC entity, though both MT4 and MT5 run there
- Its 0.24 pip eight-pair average trails Fusion Markets (0.10) and Global Prime (0.19) in our October 2026 capture
- Site-wide rank #21 of 33; the scalping case rests on cost and EA tolerance, not platform breadth
Broker's Detail
Founded in Sydney and licensed under AFSL 318232 since 2007, Axi built its reputation on a heavily optimised MetaTrader 4 environment aimed at expert-advisor and high-frequency traders. The Pro account pairs EUR/USD raw spreads averaging 0.05 pips with A$4.50 round-turn commission, so your cost is competitive, and our October 2026 capture recorded a 0.24 pip eight-pair raw average. If you run EAs, that MT4 focus is the reason I would put Axi on your shortlist: the platform work sits where your automated scalping actually happens.
Expert-advisor use is unrestricted, and the free MT4 VPS sits with the wholesale Elite account, which asks a US$25,000 balance, so retail scalpers running EAs around the clock should budget for a third-party VPS. The minimum deposit is A$0, though Axi recommends $100 to trade the Pro account comfortably.
Retail leverage is capped at ASIC's maximum on major pairs, with AFCA dispute coverage and negative balance protection standard. The gap for MetaTrader fans is cTrader, which is absent from the Australian entity, so your platform choice runs to MT4, MT5 and the web-only Axi Trading Platform.
3. GO Markets at 0.50 pips all-in on EUR/USD in the October 2026 capture
GO Markets prices the GO Plus+ account at A$3.00 per side (A$6.00 round turn), one of the lower commissions here, so your all-in cost stays competitive, with EUR/USD measured at 0.08 pips and the eight-pair average at 0.35 pips in our October 2026 capture. Free VPS hosting supports automated scalping, MT4 carries full EA support, and cTrader and TradingView extend the platform choice for traders who scalp from depth-of-market or charts. Support runs 24/5 in English, Mandarin, Arabic and Vietnamese. Melbourne-based GO Markets has operated under AFSL 254963. The A$6.00 round turn is the number I would circle for a scalper who wants a cost advantage but does not want to trade with the smallest broker on the list.
Average spread
EUR/USD 0.08, GBP/USD 0.25, AUD/USD 0.13 pips (Raw, measured October 2026)
8-pair avg 0.35 pips (Raw, measured October 2026)
Trading platforms
MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, GO TradeX
Minimum deposit
A$0
Regulation
ASIC AFSL 254963
Why higher here? Scalping Fit weights execution quality and all-in cost at scalping pace, which lifts GO Markets above its #13 sitewide position. See the ranking method ↓
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ASIC AFSL 254963, a long-running Australian licence
- GO Plus+ EUR/USD at 0.08 pips average plus A$6.00 round-turn, 0.50 pips all-in in our October 2026 capture
- Five platforms (MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, GO TradeX) plus free VPS for active traders
Cons
- GO TradeX is mobile only, and the A$6.00 round turn commission sits above Fusion Markets and Axi at A$4.50
- Site-wide rank #13 of 33 keeps it outside the overall leaders
- Standard account spreads run wider than the GO Plus+ account; choose GO Plus+ for active scalping
Broker's Detail
Melbourne-founded and licensed under AFSL 254963, GO Markets is one of the longer-established ASIC brokers on this shortlist. The GO Plus+ account pairs EUR/USD raw spreads averaging 0.08 pips with A$6.00 round-turn commission, and our October 2026 capture logged a 0.35 pip eight-pair raw average and an all-in cost I'd call attractive at 0.84 pips across the eight-pair basket.
Platform choice is the widest of any broker added to this page: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView and the GO TradeX app, so you can pick the terminal that fits your workflow. Active traders can access free VPS, and the PDS explicitly permits scalping.
There is no minimum deposit on either retail account, though GO Markets suggests around A$200 as a working starting balance, and I'd say that makes it an easy entry point. Retail leverage is capped at ASIC's maximum on major pairs, with AFCA dispute coverage and negative balance protection standard.
4. Global Prime at 0.57 pips all-in on EUR/USD in the October 2026 capture
Global Prime permits scalping and expert advisors on its MT4 and MT5 platforms for Australian clients, though hedging is reserved for ASIC Pro and Wholesale clients rather than retail accounts. Raw pricing measured 0.08 pips on EUR/USD and 0.19 pips across eight majors in our October 2026 capture, with commission at A$3.50 per side (A$7.00 round turn) and no inactivity fee. Global Prime operates under AFSL 385620, the same FMGP Trading Group licence as Fusion Markets; the two run as separate brands. I would weigh the no-inactivity-fee setup in your favour if you trade in bursts rather than every month, and the raw pricing means your cost stays tight on the majors you scalp most.
Average spread
EUR/USD 0.08, GBP/USD 0.10, AUD/USD 0.09 pips (Raw, measured October 2026)
8-pair avg 0.19 pips (Raw, measured October 2026)
Trading platforms
MT4, MT5
Minimum deposit
A$0
Regulation
ASIC AFSL 385620
Why higher here? Platform Fit here is about scalping, and Global Prime permits it on retail accounts. Its ECN account's 0.19-pip eight-pair average in our October 2026 capture, second among the 12 raw accounts we measured, lifts it above its #26 sitewide position. No cTrader depth of market is the trade-off. See the ranking method ↓
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ECN EUR/USD averaged 0.08 pips in our October 2026 capture, A$7.00 round-turn commission
Cons
- No proprietary platform; MT4 and MT5 only, with no TradingView, cTrader or TraderEvolution on the AU entity
Broker's Detail
Founded in 2010 with an early client base of mainly institutional MT4 forex traders, Global Prime began accepting retail clients in 2011 and operates under AFSL 385620, held by FMGP Trading Group Pty Ltd.
The ECN account averaged 0.08 pips on EUR/USD in our October 2026 capture, with A$7.00 round-turn commission, so your cost is predictable. The Standard account is commission-free, advertised from 0.9 pips on EUR/USD when we read the account types page on 1 October 2026. Platforms supported are MT4 and MT5. In my opinion the ECN account suits you better if you scalp actively, because a fixed round-turn commission on those raw spreads keeps your per-trade cost easier to plan than a wider variable spread.
I'd call the A$0 minimum deposit a low barrier, with fee-free funding via card, PayPal, PayID, bank transfer, Skrill, Neteller, crypto and Binance Pay in our live account portal. Retail leverage capped at ASIC's maximum on major pairs. AFCA dispute coverage and negative balance protection standard.
Global Prime spread table (October 2026 SpreadLogger capture window):
| Pair | Raw avg spread (pips) | + commission equivalent | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 0.08 | 0.49 | 0.57 |
| AUD/USD | 0.09 | 0.49 | 0.58 |
| GBP/USD | 0.10 | 0.49 | 0.59 |
| USD/JPY | 0.15 | 0.78 | 0.93 |
| EUR/GBP | 0.24 | 0.37 | 0.61 |
5. IC Markets has raw pricing with no scalping restriction
IC Markets sits on this page for costs rather than fills: we hold no execution speed or slippage measurement for the broker, so its place rests on the measured cost figures that follow. Raw Spread EUR/USD averaged 0.10 pips raw in our October 2026 capture, 0.73 pips all-in with the A$9.00 round turn. The PDS dated 25 September 2026 sets no scalping restriction, but the Account Terms are a different matter: clause 12.9 requires IC Markets' prior written consent for high speed or automated mass data entry, and black box trading and high frequency trading are Prohibited Conduct under those terms. See IC Markets' automated trading terms. Commission on MT4 and MT5 is A$4.50 per side (A$9.00 round turn), while the cTrader account bills US$3.00 per US$100,000 traded per side, converted to your base currency. IC Markets has held ASIC AFSL 335692 since 2009.
Average spread
EUR/USD 0.10, GBP/USD 0.27, AUD/USD 0.10 pips (Raw, measured October 2026)
8-pair avg 0.31 pips (Raw, measured October 2026)
Trading platforms
MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView
Minimum deposit
US$200 (website)
Regulation
ASIC AFSL 335692
Broker's Detail
IC Markets, founded in Sydney in 2007, sits among Australia's longest-running raw-spread brokers and has held AFSL 335692 since 2009. The Raw Spread account delivers EUR/USD spreads from 0.0 pips, an advertised figure from IC Markets' Australian home page, icmarkets.com.au, which we captured on 27 September 2026, with AUD 9 round-turn commission, while the cTrader RAW account bills USD 3.00 per USD 100,000 traded per side, converted to your account currency. The Standard account is commission-free with spreads from 1.0 pips, but for a scalper it is the wrong tool: you would be paying the spread instead of the commission, and the spread moves.
The CFD PDS has you dealing with IC Markets as principal and counterparty, with hedging possible through a Hedge Counterparty, so I would not call it true ECN execution. That does not rule it out for scalpers and EA traders, because our October 2026 capture measured EUR/USD at 0.10 pips and the MetaTrader commission is A$9.00 round turn. Platforms supported are MT4, MT5 and cTrader. Over 2,250 tradeable instruments span forex, indices, commodities, bonds, shares and crypto CFDs.
You commit more capital upfront than with the A$0 brokers in this list when you deposit the US$200 stated on IC Markets' website, although its PDS and Account Terms set no minimum. Funding costs nothing by card, PayPal or bank wire, and none of the eight methods is charged. Retail leverage capped at ASIC's maximum on major pairs, with AFCA dispute coverage and negative balance protection.
IC Markets spread table (averaged over our October 2026 test cycle):
| Pair | Raw Spread avg (pips) | + commission equivalent | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 0.10 | 0.63 | 0.73 |
| AUD/USD | 0.10 | 0.63 | 0.73 |
| GBP/USD | 0.27 | 0.63 | 0.90 |
| USD/JPY | 0.16 | 1.00 | 1.16 |
| AUD/JPY | 0.42 | 1.00 | 1.42 |
6. FP Markets has a full platform mix with scalping permitted
FP Markets gives scalpers Raw pricing of A$3.50 per side with EUR/USD measured at 0.08 pips in our October 2026 capture, spread across MT4, MT5 and cTrader, where billing runs at US$3.00 per side instead. The 30-day renewable demo covers MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView, which I’d call a practical way to test your scalping approach before funding a live account. First Prudential Markets has held ASIC AFSL 286354 since 2005.
7. Pepperstone has four scalping platforms on one account
Pepperstone is measured on our own logger in our October 2026 capture, and I'd still call platform choice its strongest card. Razor commission is A$3.50 per side, EUR/USD raw spreads averaged 0.10 pips in our October 2026 capture, and scalpers can run the account on MT4, MT5, cTrader or TradingView. Free VPS is available for active traders meeting volume thresholds, trimming the round trip that Australian-based scalpers otherwise carry to LD4. Pepperstone has held ASIC AFSL 414530 since 2013. This page holds no execution speed measurement for Pepperstone, so its place here rests on its costs and platform range.
Average spread
EUR/USD 0.10, GBP/USD 0.30, AUD/USD 0.13 pips (Raw, measured October 2026)
8-pair avg 0.37 pips (Raw, measured October 2026)
Trading platforms
MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, Pepperstone Trading App
Minimum deposit
A$0
Regulation
ASIC AFSL 414530
Why lower here? This page weights all-in cost at scalping pace, and in our October 2026 capture Pepperstone's Razor measured 0.59 pips all-in on EUR/USD, behind Fusion Markets at 0.33 and Axi at 0.37. See the ranking method ↓
Broker's Detail
Founded in Melbourne in 2010, Pepperstone is one of Australia's largest forex brokers and has held ASIC AFSL 414530 since 2013.
Two main account types are offered. I'd point a scalper straight to the Razor (RAW) account, which pairs EUR/USD spreads from 0.0 pips with AUD 7 round-turn commission per standard lot, because the Standard account's spread would eat into your edge. The Standard account is commission-free with EUR/USD from roughly 1.1 pips. Five trading platforms are supported: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView and the Pepperstone Trading Platform, and TradingView is available on the Razor account only, not on Standard.
Funding is fee-free via PayID, BPAY, card and PayPal, so you can move money in and out without cost. AUD-denominated accounts available. Retail leverage capped at ASIC's maximum on major pairs, with negative balance protection and AFCA dispute coverage standard. Customer support runs 24/7 by live chat.
Pepperstone spread table (averaged over our October 2026 test cycle):
| Pair | Razor avg spread (pips) | + commission equivalent | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 0.10 | 0.49 | 0.59 |
| AUD/USD | 0.13 | 0.49 | 0.62 |
| GBP/USD | 0.30 | 0.49 | 0.79 |
| USD/JPY | 0.30 | 0.78 | 1.08 |
| EUR/GBP | 0.31 | 0.37 | 0.68 |
8. Eightcap at 0.51 pips in the October 2026 capture
Eightcap’s eight-pair raw average of 0.51 pips in our October 2026 capture, with EUR/USD measured at 0.10 pips in the same window, is the widest basket of the eight brokers on this page that were in the capture, so its cost case is weaker than its platform case. Commission is A$3.50 per side (A$7.00 round turn), and free VPS hosting plus the FlashTrader add-on suit scalpers who automate their entries. Platforms cover MT4, MT5, native TradingView and TradeLocker, and the Raw account carries a AUD 100 minimum deposit, so testing the pricing does not need much capital. Melbourne-founded Eightcap has operated under AFSL 391441 since 2011. On EUR/USD, the pair most scalpers trade, Eightcap’s all-in cost was 0.59 pips on the A$7.00 round turn in our October 2026 capture, against IC Markets’ 0.73 pips, and that EUR/USD figure, with the platform range, is the case for keeping Eightcap on the shortlist. If you automate your entries, I’d keep Eightcap on your shortlist for that platform range, and I’d weigh the other options first if raw spread cost is your only criterion.
9. Vantage permits scalping with the broadest funding menu
Vantage runs RAW pricing at A$2.50 per side (A$5.00 round turn), the third-lowest commission on this page behind Fusion Markets and Axi at A$4.50, with 0.15 pips on EUR/USD and 0.58 pips across eight majors recorded in our October 2026 capture. That puts its Raw Classic account at 0.50 pips all-in on EUR/USD, fifth of the 20 accounts in that capture. MT4 and MT5 share the RAW engine, with native TradingView on the Standard and Raw Classic accounts. A watch-out I'd highlight for scalpers who trade in bursts: the USD 25 monthly inactivity fee starts after just 90 days of dormancy. Vantage has operated under AFSL 428901 since 2012. The commission is low, and the spread figures are from our October 2026 capture. The USD 25 monthly inactivity fee after 90 days means you cannot park the account between opportunities without it costing you.
Average spread
EUR/USD 0.15, GBP/USD 0.41, AUD/USD 0.36 pips (Raw, measured October 2026)
8-pair avg 0.58 pips (Raw, measured October 2026)
Trading platforms
MT4, MT5, TradingView
Minimum deposit
A$50
Regulation
ASIC AFSL 428901
Why higher here? Scalping Fit weights execution quality and all-in cost at scalping pace, which lifts Vantage above its #17 sitewide position. See the ranking method ↓
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ASIC AFSL 428901, with scalping permitted under the PDS
- Fee-free PayID, BPAY, PayPal and Apple Pay funding for fast capital cycling
- RAW Classic account EUR/USD at 0.18 pips in our May to June 2026 capture, plus AUD 5.00 round turn (AUD 2.50 per side)
Cons
- USD 25 per month inactivity fee applies after 90 days without a trade
- 0.58 pip eight-pair raw average in our October 2026 capture, 11th of the 12 raw accounts
Broker's Detail
Vantage runs its RAW Classic account under AFSL 428901, with scalping permitted under the PDS. Our October 2026 capture recorded EUR/USD at 0.15 pips of raw spread and 0.58 pips across the eight-pair raw average, on the account with the Australian licensee. Commission is AUD 2.50 per side, or AUD 5.00 round turn, quoted in AUD on the AU site, so the per-lot cost sits in local currency without a conversion step.
For high-frequency traders, I'd call the funding rails a practical edge: fee-free PayID, BPAY, PayPal and Apple Pay deposits mean capital can be cycled quickly without fees. You'll find MT4, MT5, TradingView and the Vantage App, though cTrader is not available on the Australian entity.
The minimum deposit is A$50, but a USD 25 monthly inactivity fee applies after 90 days without a trade, so you'll want to stay active to avoid the fee. That holding cost is something the cheaper-to-park brokers on this list avoid, so I'd only park funds here if trading regularly.
10. TMGM with its Sydney-based Edge account
TMGM is the Sydney-headquartered option, running the Edge account with spreads advertised from 0.0 pips and commission at US$3.50 per side. Because we haven't benchmarked TMGM's raw pricing in our spread capture, I'd treat those figures as the broker's own rather than measured. MT4 and MT5 both carry Edge pricing, and a demo is offered on both accounts, with TMGM deleting demo accounts on the first Saturday of each month. Trademax Australia has operated under AFSL 436416 since 2013.
Average spread
EUR/USD: Not measured
Trading platforms
MT4, MT5
Minimum deposit
A$100
Regulation
ASIC AFSL 436416
Why higher here? Scalping Fit weights execution quality and all-in cost at scalping pace, which lifts TMGM above its #19 sitewide position. See the ranking method ↓
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ASIC AFSL 436416 since 2013, Sydney-founded with continuing AU operations
- Edge account with EUR/USD spreads from 0.0 pips and US$7.00 round-turn commission (charged in USD)
- MT4, MT5 and the TMGM App available on a single onboarding flow
Cons
- ASIC protections attach only to Trademax Australia Limited (AFSL 436416), so an account with any other TMGM group company sits outside them
Broker's Detail
Trademax Australia Limited has held ASIC AFSL 436416 since 2013, and TMGM's Edge account is the one I'd point scalpers to: spreads advertised from 0.0 pips with US$3.50 per side per standard lot, on MT4 or MT5. Because TMGM sits outside our October 2026 raw-spread capture, we quote its advertised pricing rather than a measured average. Funding rails are a practical plus for high-turnover traders: Visa and Mastercard are instant, PayID takes about 1 business day, and bank wire, Revolut and Wise about 1 to 3 business days, all at A$0 fee from TMGM, though intermediary bank charges are possible. A demo covers both accounts so you can test the pricing before committing real money, but note TMGM deletes demo accounts on the first Saturday of each month.
What 0.5 pips actually costs in a scalping example
Worked example to make the cost real.
Assume:
- 100 round-turn standard lots per day on EUR/USD
- 0.5 pips average total cost per round-turn (spread plus commission, equivalent)
- AUD 14.57 per pip on a standard lot at AUDUSD 0.6865 at the 11 November 2026 close
Daily cost = 100 lots x 0.5 pips x AUD 14.57 = AUD 729/day
I’d call that the hurdle your trade must clear before any profit. At the 11 November 2026 close, that’s AUD 729 per day, AUD 14,570 over a 20-trading-day month, and AUD 174,840 over a 240-trading-day year.
A Standard account with a 1.0 pip spread would cost you AUD 1,457 per day, AUD 29,140 per month, and AUD 349,680 per year at the 11 November 2026 close. I’d say that cost gap is why ECN/RAW accounts dominate the AU scalping market.
Run this maths against your own expected volume before picking a broker. Once you cross 50 lots a day, the AUD 4.50 vs AUD 7 commission difference between Fusion Markets and Axi on one side and the rest on the other also matters.
At scalping volume, the per-lot difference compounds fast, which is why the card below defaults to 50 standard lots a month instead of the usual ten. The figures are account-level. If a broker prices its terminals differently, the card shows the account rate named, so confirm the commission for the terminal you actually open.
Platform features that matter for scalping
The platform is more than a viewer. In my view, these features directly change the trade outcome.
One-click trading. MT4 and MT5 both offer one-click trading once enabled. cTrader has it on by default. Without it, every trade goes through a confirmation dialog before it is sent, and that extra delay can cost you the entry.
Level-2 market depth. cTrader and TradingView both display level-2 depth. MT4 doesn’t natively, but plugins can add it. Depth shows you whether the next 5 pips of price have liquidity behind them or are about to gap. For a scalper holding for 30 seconds, that’s more useful than any indicator.
Tick charts. MT5 has them; MT4 doesn’t natively. Tick charts plot a new bar every N transactions instead of every N minutes, so your chart refreshes at the pace of actual trades, which fits the speed of a scalp better than a 1-minute time chart.
Custom order types. OCO (one-cancels-other) lets you set a take-profit and stop-loss simultaneously, with one cancelling the other when filled. Trailing stops keep the stop a fixed distance behind a winning move. Most AU brokers offer both on MT4, MT5 and cTrader.
Latency monitoring. Some platforms display your ping to the broker server. cTrader has it built in. MT4 and MT5 show it via plugin. A climbing ping reading shows the delay a home connection adds, and a VPS near the broker removes most of it.
VPS and execution latency
For active scalpers, a virtual private server (VPS) cross-connected to the broker’s data centre is standard equipment, so your orders don’t travel across the public internet. I’d consider it essential for any serious scalping setup. Here’s the setup:
- Your trading PC at home runs a remote desktop session into a VPS in the same data centre as your broker
- The VPS executes your orders directly into the broker’s matching engine
- Your home internet connection is no longer in the trade execution path
Most AU ECN brokers run their primary matching engines in Equinix LD4 (London) and NY4 (New York). For EUR/USD, GBP/USD and most major-pair scalping, LD4 is the right choice because the bulk of liquidity sits in the European time zone.
Several AU brokers offer subsidised or free VPS access to active traders. Common thresholds:
- Pepperstone: free VPS on the Active Trader tier, around 100 round-turn lots per month
- IC Markets: free VPS at AUD 5,000 balance with 5 or more standard lots per month
- FP Markets: paid VPS, sometimes waived at higher volume tiers
If you’re below those volume thresholds, a third-party VPS provider in LD4 typically costs USD 30 to USD 80 per month depending on specs.
Why platform and broker matter more for scalpers
A scalp typically targets between 3 and 15 pips of profit. The round-turn cost (spread plus commission) is the first thing your trade has to clear before any profit appears. Three numbers drive scalping economics: I’d watch the round-turn figure first, because every fraction of a pip you pay comes straight off what you keep, and I would rather you see the true cost than the headline spread.
Cost per round-turn lot. On a Pepperstone Razor account, EUR/USD typically prints at 0.0 to 0.2 pips raw spread plus AUD 7 round-turn commission, equivalent to around 0.58 pips total on 11 November 2026 rates (IC Markets Raw is comparable on spread but charges AUD 9.00 round turn, about 0.62 pips). On a Standard account at the same brokers, the spread alone is 1.0 to 1.4 pips. That’s roughly a 2x cost difference for the same trade. If you’re scalping 50 to 200 round-turn lots a day, I’d say that gap decides whether your month finishes profitable or flat.
Execution speed. Slow execution turns a 0.5 pip win into a 0.5 pip loss. Your order has to travel from your platform to the broker’s matching engine and then on to the liquidity providers that fill it, so where that engine sits decides how far each leg goes. Because the bulk of liquidity for the major pairs sits in the European time zone, I’d want my broker’s engine in LD4 in London.
Slippage on stops. A scalper’s worst trade is a 5-pip win turning into a 15-pip stop-out because the broker filled the stop 10 pips off the mark during a fast market. Before funding an account, I’d ask the broker directly what fill and slippage data it will show you, and whether you can check each fill after the trade.
Once a week, none of this matters. Fifty times a day, all of it does.
What AU broker PDSs say about scalping policies
AU brokers fall into three categories on scalping policy:
Explicitly permits scalping (no restriction): IC Markets, Pepperstone, Fusion Markets, Global Prime, Eightcap, FP Markets, ThinkMarkets, ACY Securities. Axi, GO Markets and Vantage also permit it and now hold ranked panels above. These brokers each run a RAW account, raw spread plus commission, and each permits scalping in its PDS, so none has a stated reason to restrict you.
Permits but with monitoring: CMC Markets, IG Markets, OANDA. Execution labels here are ours: we classify each account by its spread structure and how its orders are executed, and not by how the broker describes itself. These are larger market-maker hybrids that don’t restrict scalping in the PDS but reserve the right to review accounts showing patterns inconsistent with the broker’s risk model. In practice, retail scalpers don’t typically trigger reviews, so you’re unlikely to hit a problem.
Has historic restrictions (check the current PDS): Some smaller market-maker brokers still retain language in their PDS reserving the right to cancel trades held under a minimum duration, or to charge for “abusive” trading patterns. Before opening an account, read the PDS specifically for “minimum holding period” and “trading pattern” clauses if you plan to scalp.
The simple rule: stick to the explicit-permit category for serious scalping. ECN brokers have no financial reason to restrict you. Read the order execution policy section of the PDS, not just the marketing material.
ASIC leverage caps and close-out rules for scalpers
As a retail scalper, you’re subject to ASIC’s Product Intervention Order in exactly the same way as any other retail CFD trader.
- Retail leverage caps on every asset class, from major forex pairs down to crypto CFDs
- Negative balance protection mandatory
- Margin close-out at 50% of initial margin
- No bonuses or inducements
For most scalpers, the binding constraint is the major-pair leverage cap, and that’s sufficient for typical scalping position sizes. With AUD 10,000 of margin, you can hold notional EUR/USD exposure of AUD 300,000, about 3 standard lots. That’s fine for scalping at retail volumes.
Wholesale clients can access higher leverage (typically up to 500:1 at the broker’s discretion) subject to the Corporations Act wholesale tests. If you’re running serious scalping volume and meet the wholesale criteria, the extra leverage on a wholesale account can be material. Most scalpers are retail and operate within the PIO caps.
Scalping platform FAQs
What's the lowest-cost broker for scalping in Australia?
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Is a VPS necessary for scalping?
Can I scalp on MT4 or do I need cTrader?
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Are scalping profits taxed differently in Australia?
Which broker has the fastest execution for AU scalpers?
Low cost and platform guides
- Lowest spread forex brokers in Australia
All-in cost across the raw scalping accounts can be traced pair by pair in the low spread forex brokers comparison.
- Lowest commission forex brokers in Australia
What each raw scalping account charges per side is laid out in the cheap forex broker comparison for Australia.
- Best MT4 brokers in Australia
Scalping and expert advisor permissions on MT4 are compared across Australian brokers, matching the MetaTrader terms a scalper checks first.
- Best cTrader brokers in Australia
Pepperstone's cTrader account sits among the Australian cTrader brokers, where the platform's one-click scalping panel is weighed.
- Best automated trading platforms in Australia
VPS access and latency assumptions for EA scalping are covered in the automated trading platform picks that include Axi.
- Trading platforms in Australia
cTrader's depth-of-market case for scalpers is mapped against MT4 and the other platforms in the trading platform overview.
About Justin Grossbard
Justin co-founded CompareForexBrokers in 2014 and has traded forex since 1998. Based in Melbourne, he leads the site's research, and has written for Forbes, Kiplinger and Finance Magnates, while the Australian Financial Review has cited CompareForexBrokers research. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) and a Master of Marketing from Monash University. Justin is the co-founder and CEO of CompareForexBrokers.