Best Forex Brokers in India for 2024: A Head-to-Head Comparison

When comparing the best forex brokers in India, we:

• Confirmed that the brokers were regulated by top-tier authorities to ensure trader protection.
• Assessed the brokers’ trading fees and platform options for Indian residents by opening a live account and comparing the spreads on each instrument and platform to other brokers.
• Checked the number of tradable instruments available through the broker for traders in India.
• Reviewed the broker’s educational material and range of sources (such as e-books, webinars, glossary etc), to make sure they cater to all levels of traders, especially beginners.
• Assessed the broker’s market analysis, including whether it is curated by an in-house research team or third-party providers, the quality of the material, and how frequently it’s updated.
• Examined deposit and withdrawal options, costs and times for Indian residents, e.g. if it’s possible to use instant banking and credit cards and what, if any, fees are involved.
• Contacted customer support through the various channels offered by brokers, checking response time, service quality and whether or not they have a dedicated Indian support team and phone number. 

As per the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) laid down by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), all Forex trading is effectively outlawed. The only exceptions are four currency pairs that include the INR (EUR/INR, GBP/INR, JPY/INR and USD/INR) and the EUR/USD, GBP/USD and USD/JPY.

As a further complication, these pairs can only be traded through the three national exchanges, the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the Metropolitan Stock Exchange (MSE), by licenced Indian brokers.

So, why does the RBI have these restrictions in place? If you were an Indian institutional trader and you were trading the GBP/USD with a foreign broker, if you lost your trade, you would have to purchase USD from the RBI to settle your debt.

Forex trading is a high-risk venture, and institutional traders can lose money on their trades, and the RBI could stand to lose a significant amount of USD through this process. To counteract this outflow of US dollars, the RBI would be forced to purchase USD by overselling the INR, and this would lead to a devaluation of the INR.

In effect, the RBI enforces strict regulation on Forex trading to protect the INR from unintended weakness against global currencies.

But when we are trading Forex CFDs, we are not actually trading the underlying asset (currencies in this case). There is never any ownership of the currency by either party, and no currency ever actually changes hands – so CFD trading manages to sidestep this law. But, in a further blow, the FEMA Act also makes it illegal for Indians to send INR overseas to be converted into foreign currencies – as you would if you were depositing money with an international broker.

The final nail in the coffin is the outright ban on using online platforms to trade CFDs. This means that the only way to trade Forex in India legally is to place trades directly with a SEBI-regulated broker, without leverage, on the few legal currency pairs. The overall financial environment in India is poorly controlled, and brokers and investors in India pay little attention to the government’s financial regulatory policies.

As strange as it may seem, Forex CFD trading is growing incredibly fast across India, despite being effectively outlawed.  When choosing a Forex broker, traders should choose reputable brokers regulated by top-tier authorities such as ASIC, CySEC, MAS or the FCA.

Why is Regulation Important?

Regulation is essential for protecting your money and ensuring a fair and transparent trading experience.

When trading Forex, you want to be confident that your broker is operating legally and ethically and that your funds are being handled safely. Regulated Forex brokers must adhere to strict standards set by regulatory bodies, which include requirements for capital adequacy, segregation of client funds, and ongoing reporting and compliance. This means that your funds are protected, and your trading experience is fair.

Unregulated brokers are not forced to hold to the same standards. This can lead to a higher risk of fraud or unethical practices, which can result in financial losses for traders. Choosing a regulated Forex broker gives you peace of mind and security, knowing that your investments are protected and your trading experience is fair.

How are Forex Brokers Regulated in India?

In December 1999, the Indian parliament passed the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), which was to be enforced by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and modernised the laws that governed Indian financial services companies and expanded their reach to include all of India.

SEBI, under the direction of FEMA, regulates the Foreign exchange market by setting processes for its maintenance and growth, and today SEBI licenses all Indian Forex brokers. SEBI-regulated Forex brokers only offer currency pairs that include the INR against the USD, GBP, EUR and JPY. This law states that a fine will be applied unless authorities have previously granted an exception.

Because most Forex brokers that offer services to Indian traders are unlicensed by SEBI, they must operate outside of the traditional financial system. Banks tend to block or return transfers made to and from Forex brokers, and most Indians rely on digital payment providers, such as Skrill and Neteller.

If you are concerned that your Forex trading activity may be monitored, then use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) provider to route your activity through an anonymous portal. 

While the Indian government frowns on Forex CFD trading, the laws are not enforced strictly, and with these methods, you should avoid any issues. 

Do I need a broker to trade Forex?

Yes, you will need a broker to trade Forex. Connecting traders to the Forex market is an expensive and technically complex business. Most Forex brokers form a bridge between the global Forex market and Forex traders; these are called market makers. Market makers buy up large trading positions from the Forex market, which they sell to traders in smaller trade sizes.

Other brokers act as a go-between, taking orders from traders and sending them straight to the global Forex market. These are called ECN brokers or DMA brokers. Both types of Forex brokers require a lot of money to set up and need teams of highly qualified technicians to maintain their trading platforms. 

How do Forex Brokers Make Money?

Market markers only make money from the spread—the difference between the buying and selling price of the currency pair. These brokers are the counterparties to any trade, so they make money when clients lose trades. 

ECNs have tight spreads but make money from commissions, which are charged whenever a trade is opened or closed. This type of broker makes money whether a client wins or loses.

Which Forex brokers are best for beginner traders?

The best brokers for beginners are well-regulated and have no minimum deposit requirement, ensuring security and a low cost of entry. Also important are low fees and negative balance protection, as these both help to lower risk. Responsive and knowledgeable customer support is essential. Customer service should be available 24/5 via email, live chat, and telephone, though 24/7 is better. Last but not least, beginners should look for a broker with a high-quality education section; this should feature articles, video tutorials, frequent webinars, advanced trading strategies, and chart analysis.

For more detail and to see which brokers we recommend for new traders, check out our dedicated page on the best brokers for beginners.

Which Forex brokers have the best demo accounts?

The brokers with the best demo accounts understand that beginners should not be forced into trading real money and that experienced traders should be able to test strategies as long as they want to. So the best demo accounts are not time-limited and replicate real market conditions as closely as possible. Beginners looking for a demo account will want a broker with good education, so they can learn about Forex trading as they practice.

For more detail and to see which brokers we recommend for demo trading, check out our dedicated page on the best demo accounts.

Which Trading Platforms do the Best Forex Brokers Offer?

The best Forex brokers generally offer Metatrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and cTrader. These are third-party trading platforms which you can install on your computer. They are fully customisable and have advanced charting tools, research tools, and options for automated trading or copy trading. Some brokers also have their own trading platforms, which are usually accessed via a browser or on your mobile phone. For more details on trading platforms and how they work, check out our guide on trading platforms. 

Scam Brokers and Reporting Regulatory Violations

If you are unsure about the reliability of your Forex broker, visit our Broker Trust Checker page. We recommend you partner with one of our tested brokers, and should you be concerned with a specific broker’s regulatory oversight, please contact SEBI directly. 

We also have a report a scam broker form which we use to gather information so that we get the word out. Your personal details will not be shared externally.