F
ForTrade
3.8 / 5Score: 3 / 5
Global multi-asset trading backed by triple-tier regulation and leverage up to 1:500.
- Min deposit
- $100
- Max leverage
- 1:500
- Spread from
- 1 pips
- Regulators
- FCA, ASIC, CySEC
Reviewed by Experts Updated 9/20/2026
ForTrade vs OCBC Securities: Which Broker Wins in 2026?
ForTrade and OCBC Securities appeal to very different traders — one built for global multi-asset speculation, the other for Singapore-based stock and forex investors. Our research gives ForTrade the higher overall rating at 3.8/5, but OCBC Securities counters with tighter spreads and a $0 minimum deposit.
OS
OCBC Securities
3.3 / 5Score: 2 / 5
A MAS-regulated Singapore institution offering zero minimum deposit and razor-thin spreads.
- Min deposit
- $0
- Max leverage
- 1:5
- Spread from
- 0 pips
- Regulators
- MAS
Overall Winner
ForTrade
Best for Beginners
OCBC Securities
Lowest Fees
OCBC Securities
Top Regulation
ForTrade
Side-by-side comparison
Core features compared head-to-head.
| Feature | F ForTrade | OS OCBC Securities |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 3.3 / 5 |
| Founded | 2013 | 1986 |
| Headquarters | London, UK | Singapore |
| Regulation | FCA, ASIC, CySEC | MAS |
| Fees & Limits | ||
| Min Deposit | $100 | $0 |
| Spreads From | 1 pips | 0 pips |
| Commission | None | $0.18/lot |
| Max Leverage | 1:500 | 1:5 |
| Platforms & Markets | ||
| Trading Platforms | Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile, MT4 | Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile, iOCBC |
| Markets Offered | Forex, Cfd, Indices, Commodities, Stocks, Crypto | Stocks, Etf, Indices, Forex |
Trading & non-trading fees
Min Deposit
ForTrade
$100
OCBC Securities
$0
Spreads From
ForTrade
1 pips
OCBC Securities
0 pips
Commission
ForTrade
None
OCBC Securities
$0.18/lot
Deposit Fees
ForTrade
None
OCBC Securities
None
Withdrawal Fees
ForTrade
None
OCBC Securities
None
Pros & cons
F
ForTrade
Pros
- Higher overall rating of 3.8/5 in our independent research
- Zero commission charged on trades
- Significantly higher maximum leverage of up to 1:500
- Backed by three respected regulatory bodies for stronger oversight
- Wide multi-asset market access including crypto and commodities
- Established MT4 platform support for automation and advanced charting
Cons
- Minimum deposit of $100 is higher than OCBC Securities's $0 requirement
- Headline spread from 1 pip is wider than OCBC Securities's 0 pip offer
- High leverage of 1:500 increases risk for inexperienced traders
- No dedicated iOS-style local platform for Singapore-specific equity settlement
OS
OCBC Securities
Pros
- No minimum deposit needed to open an account
- Tighter headline spreads starting from 0 pips
- Nearly four decades of operating history since 1986
- Trusted single-regulator oversight under MAS
- Localized iOCBC platform built for Singapore market settlement
- No deposit or withdrawal fees charged
Cons
- Lower overall rating of 3.3/5 in our independent research
- Only regulated in a single jurisdiction (MAS)
- Maximum leverage capped at just 1:5, far below ForTrade's 1:500
- Narrower market range limited mostly to stocks, ETFs, indices and forex
- Per-lot commission of $0.18 adds cost on larger trade volumes
Our expert verdict
Editor's verdict
Overall winner ForTrade
Lowest fees OCBC Securities
Best regulation ForTrade
Better for beginners OCBC Securities
ForTrade is our top pick overall, earning 3.8/5 in our rating versus OCBC Securities's 3.3/5, thanks to its stronger multi-jurisdictional regulation (FCA, ASIC, CySEC) and broader access to leveraged CFD markets. OCBC Securities still wins on raw pricing, offering 0 pip spreads and no minimum deposit, making it a compelling option for cost-conscious beginners or those already banking with OCBC in Singapore. Ultimately, active multi-asset traders should lean ForTrade, while low-budget equity investors in Singapore may prefer OCBC Securities.
Regulation & Safety
ForTrade is regulated across three tier-1 and tier-2 jurisdictions — the FCA in the UK, ASIC in Australia, and CySEC in Cyprus — giving it a genuinely global compliance footprint. This multi-licence structure means traders in several regions can be onboarded under strict segregated-funds and negative-balance-protection rules.
OCBC Securities, by contrast, operates under a single regulator: the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). MAS is a highly respected regulator with a strong enforcement record, but the lack of additional overseas licences narrows OCBC Securities's regulatory diversification compared to ForTrade.
For traders who prioritize broad regulatory coverage and the ability to trade under multiple legal frameworks, ForTrade holds a clear structural advantage. However, Singapore-based investors who value a trusted, locally-supervised institution may see MAS regulation alone as sufficient.
Fees, Spreads & Commissions
Pricing is where OCBC Securities pulls ahead on paper. It advertises spreads from 0 pips, undercutting ForTrade's spread-from figure of 1 pip. However, OCBC Securities layers on a per-lot commission of $0.18, meaning your true cost depends heavily on trade size and frequency.
ForTrade takes the opposite approach: a slightly wider headline spread from 1 pip, but zero commission on trades. For high-frequency or smaller-lot traders, ForTrade's commission-free model can actually work out cheaper despite the nominal spread difference.
Neither broker charges deposit or withdrawal fees, which is a welcome point of parity. Overall, cost-conscious traders should model their expected trade volume before assuming OCBC Securities's tighter spread automatically means a cheaper total cost of trading.
Account Accessibility & Minimum Deposit
OCBC Securities has zero minimum deposit requirement, making it exceptionally accessible to new investors or those wanting to test the platform with minimal capital exposure. This is a meaningful edge for beginners in Singapore who want to start small.
ForTrade requires a $100 minimum deposit — still modest by industry standards, but a real barrier compared to OCBC Securities's $0 threshold. For traders with very limited starting capital, this difference could be decisive.
That said, $100 is unlikely to be prohibitive for most retail traders seriously considering leveraged CFD trading, and it may better reflect the realistic capital needed to manage risk properly on ForTrade's higher-leverage offering.
Leverage & Market Access
ForTrade offers maximum leverage of 1:500, dramatically higher than OCBC Securities's 1:5 cap. This makes ForTrade far more suited to traders pursuing amplified exposure on forex, indices, commodities, and crypto CFDs.
Market breadth also favors ForTrade, which spans Forex, CFDs, Indices, Commodities, Stocks, and Crypto. OCBC Securities focuses more narrowly on Stocks, ETFs, Indices, and Forex — a lineup better suited to traditional equity investors than active derivatives traders.
OCBC Securities's lower leverage ceiling of 1:5 reflects its more conservative, equity-market-oriented positioning, likely shaped by MAS's retail leverage restrictions. This makes OCBC Securities inherently lower-risk, but also less flexible for traders seeking aggressive short-term speculation.
Trading Platforms & Tools
Both brokers offer proprietary web and mobile platforms, giving traders a consistent experience across devices. ForTrade rounds out its offering with MetaTrader 4 (MT4), a globally recognized platform prized for its charting tools, automated trading (EA) support, and broad third-party indicator ecosystem.
OCBC Securities instead offers its own iOCBC platform alongside its proprietary web and mobile apps. iOCBC is tailored specifically to Singapore equity and ETF investors, integrating smoothly with local settlement and banking infrastructure.
Traders who value the flexibility, automation, and familiarity of MT4 will find ForTrade's platform stack more powerful for active CFD and forex trading. Investors focused purely on Singapore-listed stocks may find iOCBC's localized design more convenient.
Our Verdict
Weighing regulation, market access, leverage, and platform depth, ForTrade earns the higher overall rating in our research at 3.8/5, compared to OCBC Securities's 3.3/5. Its multi-jurisdictional licensing and broader multi-asset offering make it the stronger all-round pick for most active traders.
OCBC Securities remains a solid, low-cost entry point for beginners and Singapore-based equity investors, particularly those who value a $0 minimum deposit and tight headline spreads. Its narrower market range and lower leverage, however, limit its appeal for more active or diversified traders.
Ultimately, the right choice depends on your goals: choose ForTrade for global multi-asset CFD trading with stronger regulatory backing, or OCBC Securities if you're a cost-sensitive beginner focused on Singapore stocks and ETFs.
Verdict summary
The bottom line — category winners and our final pick based on ratings.
Editor's verdict
ForTrade wins overall
ForTrade edges out OCBC Securities overall based on our expert rating score.
F
Highest Rated
ForTrade
3.8 / 5 / 5
Category winners
Overall winner
Based on overall expert rating (3.8/5).
ForTradeBetter for beginners
Stronger onboarding and educational resources.
OCBC SecuritiesLower trading costs
More competitive spreads and baseline commissions.
OCBC SecuritiesStronger regulation
Higher trust based on tier-1 regulatory oversight.
ForTrade
Frequently asked questions
According to our independent rating research, ForTrade scores 3.8 out of 5, outperforming OCBC Securities's 3.3 out of 5. ForTrade's advantage comes primarily from its stronger multi-jurisdictional regulation and broader multi-asset market access, though the right pick still depends on your individual trading priorities.
OCBC Securities advertises spreads from 0 pips, tighter than ForTrade's spread from 1 pip, but it also charges a $0.18 per-lot commission. ForTrade charges no commission at all, so your actual cost depends on your trade size and frequency — active traders should model both fee structures before deciding.
ForTrade requires a minimum deposit of $100, while OCBC Securities has no minimum deposit requirement at all. This makes OCBC Securities more accessible for beginners with limited starting capital.
ForTrade is regulated by three authorities — the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC — giving it broader multi-jurisdictional coverage. OCBC Securities is regulated solely by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), a respected but singular regulatory body.
ForTrade offers leverage up to 1:500, appealing to traders seeking amplified market exposure. OCBC Securities caps leverage at 1:5, reflecting a more conservative, equity-focused trading approach shaped by Singapore's regulatory environment.
ForTrade supports its own proprietary web and mobile apps alongside the globally popular MT4 platform. OCBC Securities offers proprietary web and mobile apps plus its own localized iOCBC platform designed for Singapore market trading.
Yes, there is nothing preventing you from opening accounts with both brokers simultaneously. Many traders diversify across multiple platforms to access different asset classes, leverage levels, and regulatory environments.
OCBC Securities is generally friendlier for beginners due to its $0 minimum deposit and lower leverage, which naturally limits downside risk while learning. ForTrade may suit beginners who specifically want exposure to forex and CFD markets with higher leverage, provided they manage risk carefully.
ForTrade provides access to Forex, CFDs, Indices, Commodities, Stocks, and Crypto, offering a genuinely diversified multi-asset lineup. OCBC Securities focuses on Stocks, ETFs, Indices, and Forex, making it better suited to traditional equity-oriented investors.
Risk warning: Trading CFDs and forex involves significant risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. Please consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.