Types of forex trading bonuses explained
Understanding how each bonus type works is essential before accepting any offer. Conditions, particularly volume requirements and withdrawal rules, can vary significantly between types.
No-deposit bonus
A no-deposit bonus credits a small amount of actual capital – typically $10 to $50 – to your account simply for registering and verifying your identity. As the name suggests, no deposit is required. This is the most trader-friendly type because it involves no financial commitment. What’s the catch? Withdrawal conditions tend to be strict and the amounts modest so don’t treat it as “free” money. No-deposit bonuses are best used to explore a broker’s platform and trading conditions before committing your own funds, and may be especially attractive if you’ve just made the jump from a demo account to live trading.
A great example of how this works in practice, is XM’s $30 no-deposit bonus. I claimed it within minutes of verifying my account, and it gave me enough capital to place a few trades and get a feel for their execution speed and platform. The bonus itself can’t be withdrawn, but profits can – after trading at least 5 lots. For a small bonus, that’s a reasonable threshold. Tickmill offers a similar $30 welcome account, though with a 60-day time limit and a $100 cap on transferable profits.
Deposit bonus
A deposit bonus matches a percentage of your deposit – typically 20% to 100% – with additional trading credit. This credit increases your available margin but usually can’t be withdrawn directly. Only profits generated while trading with the bonus can be withdrawn, and only after meeting a minimum volume requirement. Both first-deposit (welcome) and so-called ‘reload’ bonuses are common. The important question to ask here is what total trading volume is required to unlock withdrawal?
One of the more generous deposit matches I’ve tested is HFM’s 100% Supercharged Bonus is. It doubles your deposit up to $50,000 and includes a daily rebate of $2 per standard lot on top. That said, you can’t withdraw the bonus credit itself, and any withdrawal from your account reduces the bonus proportionally. AvaTrade’s deposit bonus works differently – they match 20% on the first deposit. You’ll have to start with at least $1,000 though, which is fairly steep if you’re just testing the waters, and withdrawal requirement is also steep: 10,000 base currency units per $1 of bonus within six months.
Note that the time it takes to clear a volume requirement depends heavily on your trading style. A day trader placing several trades daily may reach it in weeks. A swing trader taking one position a day could be looking at months, during which your deposit is effectively tied to that broker.
Loyalty and rebate schemes
Brokers encourage regular trading and often offer programmes that reward active traders with points or cashback on every lot traded. Points can typically be exchanged for withdrawable cash or services like VPS hosting and reduced spreads. Unlike deposit bonuses, they reward consistent activity rather than a single deposit, making them more accessible to regular traders. The value per lot can vary significantly between brokers, so compare carefully.
A popular loyalty program is XM’s Traders Club. You earn XM Coins on every trade, which you can then redeem for bonus credit or cash as you progress through status tiers. Another popular loyalty program is HFM’s Loyalty Program which works similarly – you collect Trophy Road Points that unlock rewards ranging from cash to physical prizes. Markets.com , however, takes a slightly different approach with MarketsClub, offering spread rebates, birthday perks, and a personal account manager rather than a points-per-lot system. Check the rewards offered and decide which is worth more to you.
Trading competitions and contests
Demo competitions are great for beginner traders as they require no real capital and offer withdrawable cash prizes to top performers. Be careful not to confuse these with live competitions which involve real accounts and real risk. I like demo competitions because they add a little bit of pressure to perform, and getting used to pressure can help you when you start trading live. Competitions are also a great way to see how you stack up against other traders who may be more experienced. Note: Check whether entry is free or requires a fee before registering.
Compare the top forex bonus brokers
Behind every bonus is a broker. Use this table to compare the bonus schemes available at the brokers on this list, and who they are suited for.
| Criteria |
XM |
Tickmill |
Avatrade |
HFM |
Markets.com |
| No-deposit bonus |
$30 for new verified clients ✓ |
$30 Welcome Account (60-day limit, 5-lot requirement) ✓ |
Not available |
Not currently available |
Not available |
| Deposit bonus |
Up to $10,500 (tiered: 100%/50%/20%) ✓ |
20% deposit bonus (1 lot per $3 bonus, min. $200 deposit) |
Up to $10,000 (20% on first deposit, min. $1,000) |
100% Supercharged (up to $50,000) ✓ |
Up to $3,970 rebate on $200+ deposit |
| Ongoing/loyalty scheme |
XM Coins (Traders Club) redeemable for cash ✓ |
Trader of the Month cash prizes |
Refer a Friend ($250 per referral) |
HFM Loyalty Program (Trophy Road Points for rewards) ✓ |
MarketsClub (spread rebates, birthday perks, personal manager) ✓ |
| Trading competitions |
Free & paid demo contests, cash prizes ✓ |
$30,000 Ultimate Trading Challenge ✓ |
Not prominently featured |
Virtual to Real demo contest, Traders Awards ($1,000/month) ✓ |
Not prominently featured |
| EUR/USD spread (std.) |
0.6 pips ✓ |
1.6 pips (Classic) / 0.0 + commission (Raw) |
0.9 pips |
1.0 pips (Premium) |
0.6 pips ✓ |
| Regulation tier |
Tier 1 (CySEC, ASIC) ✓ |
Tier 1 (FCA, CySEC) ✓ |
Tier 1 (CBI, ASIC, CySEC, FSCA) ✓ |
Tier 1 (FCA, CySEC, DFSA, FSCA) ✓ |
Tier 1 (FCA, CySEC, ASIC) ✓ |
| FxScouts score |
4.7 ✓ |
4.5 |
4.4 |
4.6 |
4.3 |
| Suited for |
Best all-round bonus broker – no-deposit bonus, generous deposit match, loyalty scheme, and competitions |
Beginners wanting a no-deposit bonus with tight spreads and strong regulation |
High-volume traders who can meet the $1,000 minimum and want a large deposit match |
Traders wanting the highest deposit match (100%) plus an ongoing loyalty programme |
Traders looking for spread rebates and a loyalty club rather than a traditional bonus |
Bonus availability varies by country and regulatory entity. Always check the broker’s current promotions page for the most up-to-date terms before opening an account.
Understanding forex bonus terms and conditions
The terms attached to a forex bonus are what determine its actual value. Many traders focus on the headline and overlook the conditions until after accepting. The truth is that T&Cs are there to protect the broker, and the language used often makes it difficult to figure out exactly what some of these mean. While terms and conditions vary by broker, they usually include the same basic terms. Below are common conditions that apply. Not all will appear in every offer, but they can significantly affect your ability to withdraw profits.
- Bonuses are usually only available to new clients – existing account holders are typically ineligible
- Most carry a time limit, often 30 days, after which the offer expires if conditions aren’t met
- Withdrawing your deposit before meeting the volume requirement usually cancels the bonus immediately
- Bonuses are per client, not per account – multiple accounts don’t entitle you to repeat offers
- A minimum trading volume must be reached before bonus-generated profits can be withdrawn, ranging from 5 lots to several hundred
- Bonuses may only apply to specific account types – standard accounts usually qualify, but raw, ECN, or professional accounts may not
- Identity verification (KYC) is mandatory before any bonus is credited or profits withdrawn
- Bonus funds themselves are almost never directly withdrawable – only profits generated from trading with them
- Forex bonuses and incentives are prohibited to retail clients in certain regions, like in the UK under FCA regulation and Europe under MiFID II
The most important condition is the volume requirement. It’s often expressed as a lot requirement – for example, trade 20 lots to unlock withdrawal. This may be achievable for a $30 no-deposit bonus, but for a large deposit bonus the required volume can be substantial and may not be realistic to achieve, especially for beginner traders. Calculate the actual cost of reaching the threshold and whether you’ll be able to achieve it given your current level of experience and trading style.