What is a Forex trading app?

A Forex trading app is an application you can download to your phone or tablet that allows you to trade Forex and other financial instruments. Forex trading apps are usually offered free by Forex brokers. Some apps are proprietary, which means they are developed in-house by a broker. But many popular apps are developed by third-party companies. Proprietary Forex trading apps are usually easier to set up and use by beginners. 

Forex trading apps will let you open a demo or trading account with the broker, buy and sell instruments, deposit and withdraw funds from your broker, provide real-time market data, display news and analysis, and provide price alerts and other tools to manage your risk.

What is the difference between a Forex trading app and a Forex trading platform?

Forex trading apps are available on mobile devices, while Forex trading platforms run on desktop computers. Otherwise, they perform the same function. Both allow you to trade on financial markets and will connect to your broker’s trading system. Desktop trading platforms tend to have more features and tools than trading apps and are favoured by experienced traders who require more in-depth technical analysis and advanced order types.

How to Choose a Forex Trading App

With the right Forex trading app, you can stay up to date with the latest market news, access charts, conduct technical analysis, and carry out trades all from the convenience of your smartphone or tablet. But with so many apps out there, how do you choose the best Forex trading app for you? Here are a few important things to consider:

1. Regulation and Security: Ensure you choose an app from a well-regulated Forex broker with a good reputation. Well-regulated provide secure trading environments and are transparent about their fees, commissions, and risk management policies.
2. Fees: This includes any commission charges, spreads, or other costs associated with using the app, such as rollover fees and deposit and withdrawal fees. Always make sure you understand your broker’s fee structure before starting trading.
3. User-Friendly: You don’t want an app that’s too complicated and difficult to use. Look for an app that is user-friendly with an intuitive design that provides a streamlined trading experience. Many good brokers provide tutorial walk-throughs of their apps to help you get on your feet. 
4. Trading Execution: Your app should be fast and reliable, meaning orders can be placed, closed and managed almost instantly. Apps with poor trade execution can greatly increase risk and may lead to higher losses. 
5. Tools and Features: Ensure the app has the tools to maximise your trading opportunities. Does it offer real-time market data? Does it have advanced charting capabilities? Does it offer automated trading? Can you conduct technical analysis? Can you set automated price alerts? Knowing the features you want will help you narrow down your choice of app.
6. Demo Accounts: Choose an app with a free demo account that allows you to test out its features and see whether it meets your trading needs. You can also test out your trading strategies in real market conditions before using real money.
7. Financial Instruments: Many brokers only allow traders to trade on a portion of the instruments available on the desktop and browser versions of the platform. Consider whether the instruments you prefer trading are available on the app.

What is the best Forex trading App?

It’s impossible to say which trading app is best as traders have different priorities, but AvaTrade’s trading app, AvaTradeGo, provides a smooth trading experience with a sophisticated dashboard, complete with a set of intuitive risk-management tools, clear charts, zoom for details, and many more helpful features unique to this app.

Which is the Best Forex Trading App for Beginners?

The best trading apps for beginners are easy to set up and use and have built-in educational resources. In our testing, we found that the Skilling Trader App has many helpful features for beginners. Not only is it easy to use, but it also includes a Trading Assistant that walks you through the app features. Traders can easily transfer, withdraw and deposit funds, search for instruments, create watchlists, and all of Skilling’s educational materials and market news are available on the app. 

Are Trading Apps Safe?

All Forex and CFD trading comes with a high degree of risk of losing all the money in your trading account. In terms of app security, as long as you download an app from a well-regulated broker and protect your trading account with a strong password and two-factor authentication, your Forex trading app should be secure from hackers.

What are the Pros and Cons of using a Trading App?

While there are a few advantages to using trading apps, such as being able to respond immediately to market movements wherever you are, there are also disadvantages to be aware of, such as the risk of overtrading and trading while distracted.

Pros:

• Immediately Responding to Price Changes: Trading apps allow you to respond to market movements in an instant. Rather than having to wait until you are at your PC to take advantage of price movements, you can open or close an order immediately with a tap of your screen.
• Convenience: Before smartphone trading apps, it was a huge risk to leave your desk with an open trading position. But now, all aspects of Forex trading can be achieved via a trading app. Most apps will allow you to open and close positions, analyse the market and keep abreast of breaking news.

Cons:

• Distraction: Mobile devices are designed to be with you when you are doing other things. But trading while you are doing other tasks is not encouraged. If you are trading on a mobile device, make sure you have taken the time and space to judge your trading decisions.
• Overtrading: Often, the best move when trading is to do nothing. But with the convenience of a mobile trading app, you may be tempted to trade too often, or in a way you would not usually do.
• Execution Speed: With 5G or Wi-Fi, execution speeds on mobile trading apps are generally good, but if your signal drops out, any kind of precision trading will be at risk. Mobile networks are getting faster all the time, but there will always be a delay relative to a desktop trading environment.
• Screen Size and Chart Limitations: Professional traders use two monitors with multiple charts and often hold numerous open trades. You cannot do this on a small mobile screen without the risk of missing important details. Mobile traders should try to limit the number of open trades and be aware of the charting limitations on their trading app.

Does MetaTrader have an App?

Yes, both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 are available as trading apps for Android devices from the Google Play store. Apple removed the MetaTrader apps from its App Store in September 2022 following claims of misuse. However, MetaQuotes (the company that developed MT4 and MT5) made the necessary security updates, and as a result, the apps are again available for download.

Forex Risk Disclaimer

Trading Forex and CFDs is not suitable for all investors as it carries a high degree of risk to your capital: 75-90% of retail investors lose money trading these products. Forex and CFD transactions involve high risk due to the following factors: Leverage, market volatility, slippage arising from a lack of liquidity, inadequate trading knowledge or experience, and a lack of regulatory protection. Traders should not deposit any money that is not considered disposable income. Regardless of how much research you have done or how confident you are in your trade, there is always a substantial risk of loss. (Learn more about these risks from the UK’s regulator, the FCA, or the Australian regulator, ASIC).

Our Rating & Review Methodology

Our State of the Market Report and Directory of CFD Brokers to Avoid are the result of extensive research on over 180 Forex brokers. These resources help traders find the best Forex brokers – and steer them away from the worst ones. These resources have been compiled using over 200 data points on each broker and over 3000 hours of research. Our team conducts all research independently: Testing brokers, gathering information from broker representatives and sifting through legal documents. Learn more about how we rank brokers. 

Editorial Team

 

Chris Cammack
Head of Content

Chris joined the company in 2019 after ten years experience in research, editorial and design for political and financial publications. His background has given him a deep knowledge of international financial markets and the geopolitics that affects them. Chris has a keen eye for editing and a voracious appetite for financial and political current affairs. He ensures that our content across all sites meets the standards of quality and transparency that our readers expect.

 

Alison Heyerdahl
Senior Financial Writer

Alison joined the team as a writer in 2021. She has a medical degree with a focus on physiotherapy and a bachelor’s in psychology. However, her interest in forex trading and her love for writing led her to switch careers, and she now has over eight years experience in research and content development. She has tested and reviewed 100+ brokers and has a great understanding of the Forex trading world.

 

Ida Hermansen
Financial Writer

Ida joined our team as a financial writer in 2023. She has a degree in Digital Marketing and a background in content writing and SEO. In addition to her marketing and writing skills, Ida also has an interest in cryptocurrencies and blockchain networks. Her interest in crypto trading led to a wider fascination with Forex technical analysis and price movement. She continues to develop her skills and knowledge in Forex trading and keeps a close eye on which Forex brokers offer the best trading environments for new traders.