I mainly hold positions 2 to 5 days on majors and gold, so overnight costs matter more than spread. I’m comparing RoboForex account types and I keep finding mixed info on swaps, and how their swap free option is handled. Some say swap free comes with admin fees after a few days, others say it’s flat. I don’t want surprises.
If you have an up to date way to check the current swap and swap free rules by account type, please share. Also, when you compare multi day costs, do you look at spread + commission − cashback separately from swap, or roll it into one daily estimate?
If you can, post actual recent numbers for a pair or two, your account type, and how many days until any admin fee kicks in. What’s your process to choose the most favorable setup for holding over several days?
Swap free charged admin after three days on gold
I track swap daily in a simple sheet
Use a simple template. For each account type, record swap long and swap short per lot for your symbols. Check both standard and swap free terms. Many swap free accounts apply an admin fee after a set number of days, so note the day count. Then compute net holding cost as daily swap or admin plus spread and commission minus cashback on entry and exit. Run the math for two to five days. You will see which account is cheaper for your pairs.
Also check how often they update swap. Some brokers change values midweek. I snapshot the numbers at rollover and track a week of live trades. If the swap is positive on one side, that can offset part of the spread and commission. Cashback does not touch swap, it only reduces trade cost. For swing trades the swap line decides more than small spread differences.
On my Prime account EURUSD swap is small, but XAUUSD adds up fast.
I check swap on Friday and run a five day estimate. Cashback helps the entry cost, not the overnight part.
I use swap free only during news weeks. Admin fees start after a few days, so it is not always cheaper.
Did a month on ECN and on a swap free option.
ECN was cheaper for EURUSD holds up to three days. After that the admin fee on swap free was lower.
Gold was the opposite. Swap free won after day two.
For comparing I add a column in my journal:
spread + commission - cashback on open and close
plus daily swap or admin
Then I plug the planned holding days. Makes the choice obvious per pair.