Forex.com vs Rakuten Securities: Full Broker Comparison for 2026

Regulation & Safety

Forex.com operates under the oversight of four top-tier regulatory bodies: the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in the United States, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). This breadth of regulatory coverage is exceptionally rare and signals a broker that has committed to meeting the highest compliance standards across multiple jurisdictions. Traders in the US, UK, Australia, and Singapore benefit from jurisdiction-specific fund protection schemes and segregated client account requirements.

As part of the publicly listed StoneX Group, Forex.com adds yet another layer of financial transparency. StoneX's listing obligations require regular public financial disclosures, which gives retail traders an unusual window into the broker's financial health — a significant trust advantage over privately held competitors. This combination of multi-regulator oversight and corporate transparency makes Forex.com one of the most secure environments in retail trading today.

Rakuten Securities is regulated by Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA), which is itself a highly respected regulator known for its strict investor protection framework and rigorous capital adequacy requirements. For traders based in Japan, FSA regulation provides a robust and reliable safety net. However, the broker's regulatory footprint is limited to a single jurisdiction, which means international traders cannot benefit from the same multi-layered protections that Forex.com provides.

In the regulation category, Forex.com wins decisively. Four top-tier licences versus one, combined with the transparency of a publicly listed parent company, make Forex.com the clear choice for traders who prioritise the security of their capital above all else.

Fees, Spreads & Cost Structure

On raw pricing, Rakuten Securities holds a genuine edge. The broker advertises spreads starting from 0 pips on forex pairs, which represents the absolute tightest pricing tier available in the retail market. For high-frequency traders and scalpers who need to minimise the cost of each individual trade, a 0-pip starting spread is a serious competitive advantage. There are no commission fees charged on transactions either, and crucially, there is no minimum deposit requirement — making it one of the most accessible and cost-efficient entry points in the industry.

Forex.com offers spreads starting from 0.8 pips on major forex pairs, which is competitive but not class-leading when compared directly to Rakuten's headline figure. Like Rakuten Securities, Forex.com charges no commission on standard accounts and applies no deposit or withdrawal fees, keeping the overall cost structure straightforward. The $100 minimum deposit is modest and accessible for most retail traders, though it does represent a barrier that Rakuten Securities simply does not have.

One important cost consideration for Forex.com users is the inactivity fee. Traders who leave accounts dormant for extended periods will be subject to additional charges, which is a meaningful drawback for part-time or casual investors who may not trade consistently. Rakuten Securities does not impose the same kind of penalty structure, which is a subtle but real advantage for lower-frequency traders.

Overall, Rakuten Securities wins the fees category on headline metrics — particularly the 0-pip spread and zero minimum deposit. However, Forex.com's cost structure remains very competitive for active traders, especially when factoring in the significantly higher leverage ceiling of 1:200 versus Rakuten's restrictive cap of 1:3, which fundamentally changes the economics of position sizing for professional-style trading.

Trading Platforms & Technology

Forex.com offers one of the most comprehensive platform lineups in the retail brokerage space. Traders can access MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), as well as Forex.com's proprietary web-based platform and a dedicated mobile application. MT4 and MT5 are the global industry standards for algorithmic trading, Expert Advisors (EAs), and advanced charting — giving technically sophisticated traders the full toolkit they need. The proprietary platforms layer on top of this with clean interfaces, integrated market research, and seamless execution.

Rakuten Securities offers its own proprietary web and mobile platforms, supplemented by MarketSpeed II — a platform that has earned genuine acclaim among Japanese retail investors for its advanced charting capabilities, real-time data feeds, and streamlined order management. MarketSpeed II is a powerful tool, but its design and language support are predominantly optimised for Japanese-speaking users, which limits its practicality for traders operating outside Japan.

From a global accessibility standpoint, Forex.com's platform suite is the more versatile offering. The inclusion of MT4 and MT5 means traders can port their existing strategies, indicators, and automated systems directly onto the platform without rebuilding from scratch. This is a significant time and cost saving for experienced traders who have invested in developing algorithmic systems or custom technical analysis tools.

Forex.com wins the platform category clearly. The combination of industry-standard MetaTrader environments alongside a well-designed proprietary platform gives traders maximum flexibility regardless of their experience level or trading approach.

Markets & Asset Coverage

Forex.com provides access to six distinct asset classes: Forex, CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, and Cryptocurrencies. This breadth of coverage means traders can build genuinely diversified portfolios and switch between asset classes within a single account environment. Whether you are trading EUR/USD in the morning and gold in the afternoon, Forex.com facilitates that seamlessly. The inclusion of cryptocurrency CFDs also caters to the growing segment of traders seeking digital asset exposure without the complexity of wallet management.

Rakuten Securities covers five asset classes — Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Forex, and Indices. The notable absence of a dedicated commodities offering is a gap for traders who want exposure to energy markets, precious metals, or agricultural products. That said, Rakuten Securities' strength in Japanese and US stock markets is notable, and its ETF coverage provides a solid foundation for long-term investors who prefer diversified fund-based exposure over individual CFD instruments.

For traders seeking the widest possible market access under one roof, Forex.com is the superior choice. The additional commodities market and broader CFD offering make it more adaptable to varied trading strategies and market conditions across different economic cycles.

Leverage & Trading Conditions

One of the starkest differences between these two brokers is the maximum leverage on offer. Forex.com allows leverage of up to 1:200, enabling traders to control significantly larger positions relative to their capital. While high leverage amplifies both gains and losses and should be used responsibly, having access to 1:200 opens the door to professional-grade position management strategies that simply are not possible at lower leverage tiers.

Rakuten Securities caps leverage at 1:3, which is extraordinarily conservative by global standards. This restriction is directly tied to Japan's FSA regulations, which impose strict leverage limits on retail forex trading to protect consumers. While this cap is sensible from a consumer protection standpoint, it dramatically reduces the utility of Rakuten Securities for active forex traders who rely on leverage as a core component of their trading strategy.

For traders outside Japan who are accustomed to leverage ratios of 1:30 (EU standard), 1:50 (US standard), or higher in offshore environments, Rakuten's 1:3 cap will feel extremely limiting. In practice, this makes Rakuten Securities far more suitable as a stock and ETF investment platform than as a primary forex trading account for leverage-seeking traders.

Forex.com wins this category without contest. The 1:200 leverage ceiling, combined with access to six market types and the MetaTrader platform suite, creates trading conditions that are genuinely competitive for both intermediate and advanced retail traders.

Overall Verdict: Which Broker Should You Choose?

Forex.com is the stronger broker for the vast majority of retail traders, earning our overall rating of 4.4/5 across all evaluated criteria. Its multi-jurisdiction regulatory framework covering the FCA, CFTC, ASIC, and MAS makes it one of the most trustworthy and transparent brokers in the world. Add in access to six asset classes, industry-standard MetaTrader platforms, leverage of up to 1:200, and a competitive cost structure, and Forex.com represents a well-rounded, globally accessible trading environment.

Rakuten Securities, rated 3.4/5 in our assessment, carves out a very specific and legitimate niche. Its 0-pip spreads, zero minimum deposit, no commission structure, and deep integration with the Rakuten ecosystem make it genuinely attractive for Japan-based retail investors — particularly those focused on stocks, ETFs, and US market access. The FSA regulation is robust and reliable for domestic traders, and MarketSpeed II is a genuinely capable charting platform for those who can leverage its full feature set.

Where Rakuten Securities falls short is in its global applicability. The 1:3 leverage cap, single-jurisdiction regulation, and Japan-centric platform design mean it is not well-suited for international traders or those seeking a versatile, multi-market trading account. Its appeal is real but narrow.

Our recommendation: choose Forex.com if you are an international trader seeking regulatory security, platform flexibility, and broad market access. Choose Rakuten Securities if you are a Japan-based investor focused on low-cost stock and ETF trading within the Rakuten ecosystem. For most readers of this comparison, Forex.com will be the right answer.