I’ve been comparing the execution speeds of different trading platforms and want to share what I’ve found with everyone. Speed is crucial for my trading strategy, especially for market orders.
Quickest Execution Times I Discovered:
- IC Markets: about 50ms
- XM Global: nearly 65ms
- FP Markets: around 75ms
- FXCM: close to 58ms
- Tickmill: roughly 62ms
Brokers with Slower Execution:
- Plus500: nearly 240ms
- eToro: around 235ms
- Markets.com: approximately 245ms
- CMC Markets: about 228ms
- Capital.com: around 215ms
Has anyone else tried similar tests? I’m interested in knowing if your findings align with mine or if there are extra elements influencing these speeds. I believe location and internet connection likely affect the results as well.
Location beats broker choice most of the time.
Your server connection can matter more than which broker you pick. Test it when markets are open, not on weekends.
FXCM usually gives me decent fills around 60ms. Tickmill’s hit or miss depending on the pair.
Yeah, those numbers match what I see. I’ve been testing execution speeds for years - IC Markets consistently hits under 60ms on my setup.
Just so you know, retail brokers like Plus500 and eToro aren’t built for speed. They’re market makers, so they handle orders differently. The delay’s part of how they make money.
I use a VPS near the broker servers to track my fills. Without it, my home internet adds 20-30ms easy. Game changer when I started scalping EUR/USD during London open.
Execution tanks during big news too. Those 50ms times can jump to 150ms+ when volatility hits. Test during different market conditions - you’ll get a better picture.
The execution times you found are impressive for ECN brokers. Proximity to the broker’s servers makes a significant difference in speeds. IC Markets performs well for me, but keep in mind that execution can be erratic during news events. The brokers with slower speeds are likely market makers, which explains their lag.
Those speeds look right for the ECN brokers you listed. But speed isn’t everything - consistency matters way more. I’ve watched IC Markets nail those 50ms fills during slow periods, then jump to 200ms when big news hits. FXCM does the same thing. What really counts is slippage when markets go crazy. I’d take a broker that fills at 75ms with zero slippage over one that hits 50ms but costs me 2 pips on entry.
FP Markets hits that 75ms mark pretty consistently for me. I use them for swing trades and execution’s been solid.
Plus500 and similar retail platforms aren’t built for speed trading. They work fine for longer holds but suck for quick entries.
Honestly, your internet connection probably matters more than picking between the faster brokers.