FBS Review: Accounts, Fees, Platforms and Regulation
FBS has operated since 2009. The broker offers MT4, MT5, the FBS App, a minimum deposit from $5 and more than 550 trading instruments.
Editor's view: FBS stands out for its low entry threshold, familiar platforms and broad choice of local payment methods. The trade-off is that conditions vary significantly by country. Most clients outside the EU and Australia sign up with Belize-based FBS Markets Inc.; the CySEC and ASIC licences apply to separate FBS companies. Leverage of up to 1:3000 should be treated as a major risk, especially by beginners.
Evidence reviewedFBS terms and regulator recordsWe checked legal documents, licences, accounts, platforms, payment options and country restrictions
Editorial assessmentEight criteria, one overall scoreRegulation, trading costs, platforms, account terms and country access are assessed separately
Established2009
RegulationBelize, Cyprus, Australia
Minimum depositfrom $5; Cent from $1
Instruments550+ CFDs
Maximum leverageup to 1:3000 at FBS Markets Inc.
What you should know about FBS
For most international clients, Standard is the main live account. It starts with a $5 deposit, has floating spreads from 0.7 pips and usually carries no separate trading commission. Cent starts from $1, but it can only be opened through a partner referral link and is therefore not available to everyone. Older Micro, Zero Spread, ECN, Pro and Crypto accounts should no longer be treated as the broker's current core range.
FBS at scale: at the time of our review, FBS reported more than 27 million clients across over 150 countries. Its press office has also said that the broker works with more than 700,000 partners worldwide. These are figures published by the company itself. FBS does not disclose how it counts clients or how many accounts are active, so the numbers should not be treated as independently verified statistics.
01
FBS regulation: which company holds your account?
The brand operates through three regulated companies, each with its own rules
FBS operates through separate companies. When you register, check the company named in the client agreement rather than relying on the brand logo alone. This determines your leverage, available accounts, regulatory protection and complaints process.
Company
Regulator and licence
Who it serves
Key points
FBS Markets Inc.
FSC Belize, licence 4077102
Most international clients
Leverage up to 1:3000 and negative balance protection; no European investor compensation scheme
Tradestone Ltd
CySEC, licence 331/17
Clients of the European FBS.eu operation
MiFID II rules, segregated client funds, ICF membership and leverage up to 1:30 for retail clients
Intelligent Financial Markets Pty Ltd
ASIC, AFSL 426359
Australia only, under the FBS Oceania brand
Australian rules, negative balance protection and separate local terms
Why two Belize licence numbers appear: the current Trading Conditions and complaints policy for FBS Markets Inc., updated in January 2026, list FSC licence 4077102. Some older pages still display 000102/31. We used the latest legal documents for this review.
The Belize licence confirms that the international company is supervised by a regulator. However, its investor protections are more limited than those available to clients of Tradestone Ltd in the EU. The CySEC and ASIC licences do not automatically cover an account opened with FBS Markets Inc.
02
FBS accounts, minimum deposit and fees
Standard is the main choice for international clients, while access to Cent is restricted
Account
Deposit
Spread
Commission
Maximum leverage
Standard
from $5
floating, from 0.7 pips
$0 on most trades
up to 1:3000
Cent
from $1
floating, from 0.7 pips
usually no separate commission
up to 1:1000
Demo
not required
simulated trading conditions
virtual funds
selected when the account is opened
A Cent account records the balance in cents, so a $10 deposit appears as 1,000 cents. This makes it possible to test live trading with smaller amounts, but it does not remove the risk of loss. The current terms state that Cent accounts can only be opened through a partner referral link.
The European operation has different terms: Standard starts from €100, Cent from €10, trading is on MT5 and retail leverage is capped at 1:30. In Australia, FBS Oceania offers Standard, Cent and Ultra accounts, with a minimum deposit of 50 units of the account's base currency and leverage up to 1:30.
A low minimum deposit does not make trading safer: $5 may be enough to open an account, but it can leave very little room for normal market movement. Position size and leverage matter more than the initial deposit alone.
03
FBS platforms and trading instruments
MetaTrader for established trading workflows, plus the FBS App for account management and trading
MetaTrader 4
MT4 supports Expert Advisors, custom indicators, scripts, hedging and automated strategies written in MQL4.
MetaTrader 5
MT5 provides more timeframes and order types, a built-in economic calendar and a faster strategy tester for MQL5 robots.
FBS App
The app lets clients open an account, complete verification, deposit and withdraw funds, view charts and place trades. The former FBS Trader name is no longer the broker's main app branding.
WebTrader and VPS
WebTrader runs in a browser without a software installation. VPS hosting is intended for Expert Advisors and strategies that need a stable, round-the-clock connection.
FBS advertises more than 550 CFDs across forex, metals, indices, energies, shares and cryptocurrencies. These are contracts based on price movements. Buying a share or cryptocurrency CFD does not give the client ownership of the underlying asset.
04
Execution, leverage, swap-free trading and reviews
The headline terms look simple, but volatility can change the final execution price and cost
FBS states that market execution can start from 0.01 seconds without requotes. The legal Trading Conditions provide the fuller picture: in unusual market conditions, the execution price may differ from the requested price, and the company may sometimes offer a new price. In practical terms, a fast-moving market means the requested price is not guaranteed. An order may be filled at a different price or require confirmation of a new one.
Leverage and margin
Standard — up to 1:3000 on smaller balances;
Cent — up to 1:1000;
metals — up to 1:500;
indices — up to 1:200, while US30, US100 and US500 go up to 1:500;
energies — up to 1:200;
cryptocurrency CFDs — up to 1:500;
shares — up to 1:100.
Margin Call and Stop Out
low-margin warning below 40%;
forced position closure at 20% or lower;
the broker may reduce leverage before the market opens and during high volatility;
negative balance protection applies, although the legal terms contain exceptions for deliberate breaches.
Swap-free status can be enabled on a live account. If some exotic instruments are held for longer periods, a fixed weekly fee may replace the usual swap. This charge can begin from the second Sunday.
FBS Reviews and Reputation
The same themes appear repeatedly in client feedback:
What clients like
convenient deposits and withdrawals through local payment methods;
a clear mobile app and straightforward access to the main account features;
quick support responses to routine questions.
Common concerns
wider spreads around major news events;
additional verification checks that can delay withdrawals;
managing several accounts is not always intuitive.
Client experience varies by country, payment method and the company holding the account. Feedback about FBS.eu or FBS Oceania may not describe the conditions at FBS Markets Inc. When reading user comments, consider the date, account type and details of the specific case.
FBS CopyTrade is closed: the service and app stopped operating on 22 September 2022. Any page that still presents CopyTrade as an available product is out of date.
05
Deposits, withdrawals and country availability
Your country of residence determines the payment options and the company that serves your account
FBS says it supports more than 200 international and local methods for deposits and withdrawals. Depending on the country, the client area may include cards, bank transfers, e-wallets and local payment services. The exact list is shown after registration.
Payments
FBS may not charge its own payment fee;
a bank or payment provider may apply a separate charge;
processing time depends on the method, currency and verification checks;
under AML rules, withdrawals usually return to the original funding source.
Verification
proof of identity;
a selfie or video check;
proof of address;
sometimes, proof of funds and payment documents;
some account functions may remain restricted until verification is complete.
FBS reports serving clients across more than 150 countries. Official regional pages confirm availability in markets including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and South Africa. Australian clients are served by FBS Oceania, while FBS.eu covers eligible clients in parts of the European Economic Area.
FBS Markets Inc. does not accept residents of the United States, the EU, the United Kingdom, Israel, India, Iran or Myanmar. The existence of a separate FBS business in a region does not guarantee that every resident can register. The account-opening form and client agreement provide the final answer for a particular country.
06
FBS pros and cons
A low entry point and convenient platforms, but protection and leverage vary considerably
Strengths
the brand has operated since 2009;
separate FSC, CySEC and ASIC licences;
Standard account deposit from $5;
MT4, MT5, the FBS App and WebTrader;
more than 550 CFD instruments;
demo trading, Expert Advisors and VPS support;
more than 200 international and local payment methods;
24/7 support for international clients.
Limitations
most international accounts are opened with a Belize company;
leverage up to 1:3000 sharply increases risk;
Cent is only available through a partner referral link;
EU and Australian protections do not apply to an FBS Markets Inc. account;
spreads can widen significantly around news events;
CopyTrade has been closed since September 2022;
country restrictions apply;
older licence numbers still appear on some FBS pages.
07
Final verdict: should you consider FBS?
An accessible starting point and useful tools, but check your account jurisdiction first
FBS remains a prominent international broker with a low minimum deposit, MT4, MT5, its own app and a broad range of CFDs. Beginners may appreciate the demo account, straightforward Standard account and local payment options. More active traders may find value in Expert Advisor support, VPS hosting and the range of available markets.
The most important question is which company will open your account. A client of Belize-based FBS Markets Inc. receives less regulatory protection than a client of Tradestone Ltd in the EU or FBS Oceania in Australia. Leverage up to 1:3000 can also make even a small mistake expensive. After weighing regulation, account terms, platforms, cost transparency and country availability, FORECK.INFO gives FBS a rating of 4.1/5.
FBS
Before registering, check the company, account type and current terms available in your country.
Short answers on regulation, accounts, platforms, withdrawals and country availability
Is FBS regulated?
Yes. FBS Markets Inc. is regulated by the FSC Belize under licence 4077102. Tradestone Ltd operates under CySEC licence 331/17, while FBS Oceania holds Australian AFSL 426359. The licence that applies to you depends on the company holding your account.
When was FBS founded?
The FBS brand has operated since 2009.
What is the FBS minimum deposit?
The Standard account at FBS Markets Inc. starts from $5. Cent starts from $1, but it can only be opened through a partner referral link. Different minimums apply in the EU and Australia.
Which account types does FBS offer?
Standard is the main live account at FBS Markets Inc. A Cent account is available on a restricted basis, and a demo account is also offered. Micro, Zero Spread, ECN, Pro and Crypto belong to the older range and are no longer the broker's core offering.
What is the maximum leverage at FBS?
Standard leverage at FBS Markets Inc. can reach 1:3000, while Cent can reach 1:1000. Leverage falls as the account balance grows and may change before weekends or during high volatility. Retail leverage in the EU is capped at 1:30.
What spreads does FBS offer?
FBS advertises floating spreads from 0.7 pips on Standard and the available Cent account. The live spread varies by instrument and may widen during news releases, low liquidity and sharp market moves.
Does FBS charge a separate trading commission?
Most Standard trades do not carry a separate commission because the main trading cost is included in the spread. Terms may differ for particular instruments or services, so check the contract specification before trading.
Which platforms does FBS support?
International clients can use MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, the FBS App and browser-based trading. The platform range offered by the European and Australian companies may differ.
Does FBS offer negative balance protection?
Yes, FBS states that negative balance protection applies. A negative balance caused by ordinary market losses should be reset to zero. The legal documents include exceptions for situations the company considers a deliberate breach of its rules.
Does FBS offer swap-free accounts?
Yes. Swap-free status can be enabled on a live account. A fixed weekly charge may apply when certain exotic instruments are held for longer periods.
Is FBS CopyTrade still available?
No. FBS closed the CopyTrade service and app on 22 September 2022.
How long do FBS withdrawals take?
There is no single processing time. It depends on the payment method, country, verification status and any additional checks. E-wallet and local methods are often faster than bank transfers.
In which popular countries is FBS available?
FBS confirms availability in markets including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and South Africa. FBS Oceania serves Australia, while FBS.eu is available to eligible clients in parts of the EEA. FBS Markets Inc. does not serve residents of the United States, the EU, the United Kingdom, Israel, India, Iran or Myanmar. Check the account-opening form for your country before registering.
This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute personal investment advice. CFDs are complex instruments and carry a high risk of rapid losses due to leverage.
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FBS is okay, but the bonus system feels a bit confusing and full of conditions. Spreads can widen a lot during news, and I’ve had minor delays with order execution. Support responds, but not always with helpful answers. It’s fine for starting out, but I wouldn’t call it a top-tier broker.
@Tyler Yeah, I’ve noticed the same things with FBS. The platform itself works fine, but the bonus system is honestly more marketing than something you can really use — too many rules and restrictions. Spreads during volatile moments can jump pretty aggressively, and I’ve had a few trades slip more than expected. Support replies quickly, but half the time it feels like copy-paste answers rather than real help. It’s an okay broker to start with or test strategies on smaller lots, but once you get serious about execution quality, you’ll probably look elsewhere.
I’ve been trading with FBS for a few months now, and so far it’s been pretty solid. The spreads are competitive, withdrawals are quick, and the mobile app is easy to navigate. I also like their education section — it’s great for beginners. Not the flashiest broker, but it does exactly what it should.
I used FBS for several months trading mainly on MT4. The account setup was quick and the platform worked smoothly most of the time. Spreads are competitive on major pairs, although execution can slow slightly during high-volatility news events.
· 9 months ago@Tyler Yeah, I’ve noticed the same things with FBS. The platform itself works fine, but the bonus system is honestly more marketing than something you can really use — too many rules and restrictions. Spreads during volatile moments can jump pretty aggressively, and I’ve had a few trades slip more than expected. Support replies quickly, but half the time it feels like copy-paste answers rather than real help. It’s an okay broker to start with or test strategies on smaller lots, but once you get serious about execution quality, you’ll probably look elsewhere.