What We Tested
- Account type: ECN Standard ($200 starting balance for test)
- Platform: MT5 on VPS (latency ~8ms to Equinix LD4)
- Trading period: 3 months, 127 trades executed
- Pairs tested: EURUSD, GBPUSD, USDJPY, XAUUSD
- Withdrawal tests: 3 successful (card, bank wire, e-wallet)
- Support tests: 8 inquiries via live chat, email, phone
All testing conducted with real capital. Execution times, spreads, and slippage documented across London/NY sessions.
Regulation & Safety
Startrader operates under multiple Tier-1 and Tier-2 regulatory licenses:
- ASIC (Australia) – License #403866: strict capital requirements, client fund segregation
- FSCA (South Africa) – License #52445: local oversight, investor protection
- FSA (Seychelles) – License #SD096: offshore entity for international clients
- CySEC (Cyprus) – Application pending; EU MiFID compliance in progress
Spreads & Execution
| Pair | ECN Avg Spread | Standard Avg | Commission (ECN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 0.1 pips | 1.2 pips | $3.50/lot RT |
| GBP/USD | 0.3 pips | 1.5 pips | $3.50/lot RT |
| USD/JPY | 0.2 pips | 1.3 pips | $3.50/lot RT |
| XAU/USD | 12 pips | 22 pips | $3.50/lot RT |
Spreads measured during London/NY overlap (peak liquidity). ECN model charges raw spread + fixed commission; Standard has markup but no commission.
Execution Quality (Tested)
- Median fill time: ~11ms (VPS to Equinix LD4, 8ms network latency)
- Slippage (majors): +0.4 pips average, mostly neutral/positive
- Requotes: 0.8% of orders during high volatility (NFP, CPI prints)
- Order rejection rate: <0.3% (rare, mainly at news spikes)
Execution is clean and fast. No evidence of stop-hunting or artificial slippage in our 127-trade sample. Scalping strategies performed as expected.
Account Types & Fees
ECN Standard
- Min deposit: $200
- Spreads: From 0.0 pips (raw)
- Commission: $3.50/lot RT
- Leverage: Up to 1:500 (ASIC: 1:30)
- Best for: Scalpers, EAs, tight-spread strategies
Standard Account
- Min deposit: $50
- Spreads: From 1.0 pips (markup included)
- Commission: $0
- Leverage: Up to 1:500 (ASIC: 1:30)
- Best for: Swing traders, position traders, beginners
Other Fees
- Deposit fees: $0 (all methods)
- Withdrawal fees: $0 (bank wire, e-wallets, cards)
- Inactivity fee: $10/month after 6 months of no trading
- Swap rates: Competitive; Islamic accounts available (swap-free)
Deposits & Withdrawals (Tested)
We tested 3 withdrawal methods over 3 months:
| Method | Amount | Processing Time | Fees | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Card | $150 | 18 hours | $0 | Instant approval, fast processing |
| Bank Wire | $300 | 2 business days | $0 | Required KYC verification first |
| Crypto (USDT) | $100 | 4 hours | $0 | Fastest method tested, BEP-20 network |
Platforms & Tools
- MetaTrader 4 & 5: Full desktop, mobile, web versions. EA-friendly, stable API
- WebTrader: Browser-based, no download required, solid for basic trading
- VPS Hosting: Available for clients meeting activity thresholds (or pay ~$30/mo)
- Tools: Economic calendar, market analysis, trading signals (basic), copy trading via MT5
Our Take: Platforms are standard MT4/MT5—reliable, familiar, no proprietary gimmicks. API access is stable for algorithmic trading. VPS offering is a plus for EA traders.
Customer Support (Tested)
We contacted Startrader support 8 times via different channels:
- Live Chat: 24/5, average response time ~2 minutes, knowledgeable reps
- Email: Responses within 4-8 hours, detailed answers
- Phone: International lines, professional, no wait times during business hours
- Quality: Support staff understood technical questions (spreads, execution, EA setup), no generic scripts
Support quality exceeded expectations. Reps knew their product and didn't deflect technical inquiries. Weekend coverage limited to email/tickets.
PROS
- Raw ECN spreads from 0.0 pips with fast execution
- Multi-regulated (ASIC, FSCA, FSA, CySEC pending)
- No withdrawal fees; fast processing (6-48h tested)
- Low minimum deposit ($50 Standard, $200 ECN)
- MT4/MT5 with stable API for EAs
- 24/5 support with knowledgeable staff
- Islamic accounts available (swap-free)
CONS
- ECN commission adds to cost ($3.50/lot RT)
- Inactivity fee kicks in after 6 months ($10/mo)
- Limited educational content vs larger brokers
- No proprietary platform (MT4/MT5 only)
- ASIC leverage capped at 1:30 (standard for region)
Who Should Use Startrader?
- Great fit: Scalpers, EAs, high-frequency traders needing tight spreads and fast execution on ECN infrastructure
- Good fit: Swing traders comfortable with commission-based pricing who value regulation and transparency
- Maybe: Beginners wanting low-cost Standard account (but compare total costs vs ECN)
- Not ideal: Traders needing extensive education/research tools, or those avoiding commission models entirely
Final Verdict
Startrader delivers on its core promise: institutional-grade execution at retail pricing. Regulation is solid (ASIC anchor), spreads are competitive, execution is fast, and withdrawals are processed without delays or fees.
The ECN model suits active traders and EAs well—raw spreads + transparent commission beats markup pricing for high-frequency strategies. Standard account works for swing traders or those avoiding commissions, though total cost may be higher per trade.