How to choose the best no-deposit Forex bonus
You should consider several factors before choosing to accept a no-deposit bonus. These include:
- Regulation: You need to check that the broker is legitimate and trustworthy. Is the broker regulated, and is it authorised to offer services in your country of residence? Check whether it has a regulatory licence and then check with the regulator that licence is valid.
- Terms and conditions: Read the terms and conditions of the bonus carefully. Make sure you understand the conditions related to the withdrawal of your profits. The bonus funds are often frozen, either wholly or in part, until these conditions are met.
- Time limits: Bonuses often come with time limits. You may, for example, have 30 days to trade the bonus funds, before it becomes invalid.
- Eligible currency pairs: Brokers might limit the use of the bonus to certain currency pairs, again underlining the need to read the conditions carefully.
- Bonus amount: Brokers offer different no-deposit bonus amounts. Bonus amounts range from 30 – 150 USD, depending on the broker, so it’s worth shopping around.
Can regulated brokers offer no-deposit bonuses?
Only some regulators allow brokers to offer no-deposit bonuses. Regulators such as the FCA of the UK have banned the offering of bonuses. However, many offshore regulators allow brokers to offer Kenyan traders bonuses, but if you have a dispute with the broker, it might be difficult to gain legal redress.
Forex bonus advantages
- You can practice trading without risking your own money: This is vital, given that Forex markets are highly complex and volatile, subject to sudden changes in price movement. Diving straight into trading your own money and having little experience is a recipe for financial disaster. Using a bonus helps you build up your knowledge in a risk-free manner. You should bear in mind that the learning process may take weeks or even months.
- Helps you determine how much time, effort and money you want to spend trading: Using a bonus can help you to find out whether you can actually make money trading Forex and whether it’s something you like doing. It can also help you determine which strategies suit your trading style.
What other types of bonuses do brokers offer?
Brokers offer a variety of bonuses to attract new customers. They include:
Deposit bonus: This bonus can be used to trade and is given by Forex brokers when a trader makes a new deposit into a Forex account. Typical offers include “Deposit 500 USD, and we’ll give you 100 USD” or “We’ll match 100% of your deposit up to 1000 USD.”
Trading or volume bonus: This bonus is related to the volume of trades a trader carries out. To qualify, you will need to have traded the minimum monthly volume within a calendar month, and you will then get a rebate on your trades. It involves trading large amounts of money, so does not apply to beginners. For example, if you trade 300 million USD in a calendar month, you could receive a rebate of 10 USD per million dollars traded, which means your monthly rebate would be 3000 USD.
Cashback: This involves returning a portion of paid commissions to the trader’s account. Some brokers charge a flat commission fee – usually between 5 USD and 10 USD on each trade. A broker may offer to pay back, for example, 3 USD of the 10 USD commission they charge on a trade.
Referral bonus: Some brokers pay a cash bonus into your account when you refer a friend to their platform.
Can I withdraw profits from the no-deposit bonus?
As mentioned earlier, this is one of the main disadvantages of bonuses. Forex bonus terms vary, but they generally require a trader to trade a substantial sum of money before any withdrawal can be made. You should always check the terms and conditions of the no-deposit bonus and ensure you understand the rules related to withdrawals.
Does the broker need to verify my identity before giving me the bonus?
Yes. You will be required to open an account, verify your email address, and provide the broker with a valid proof of address and identity document to receive the bonus.
Forex Risk Disclaimer
Trading Forex and CFDs is not suitable for all investors as it carries a high degree of risk to your capital: 75-90% of retail investors lose money trading these products. Forex and CFD transactions involve high risk due to the following factors: Leverage, market volatility, slippage arising from a lack of liquidity, inadequate trading knowledge or experience, and a lack of regulatory protection. Traders should not deposit any money that is not considered disposable income. Regardless of how much research you have done or how confident you are in your trade, there is always a substantial risk of loss. (Learn more about these risks from the UK’s regulator, the FCA, or the Australian regulator, ASIC).
Our Rating & Review Methodology
Our State of the Market Report and Directory of CFD Brokers to Avoid are the result of extensive research on over 180 Forex brokers. These resources help traders find the best Forex brokers – and steer them away from the worst ones. These resources have been compiled using over 200 data points on each broker and over 3000 hours of research. Our team conducts all research independently: Testing brokers, gathering information from broker representatives and sifting through legal documents. Learn more about how we rank brokers.
Editorial Team
Chris Cammack
Head of Content
Chris joined the company in 2019 after ten years experience in research, editorial and design for political and financial publications. His background has given him a deep knowledge of international financial markets and the geopolitics that affects them. Chris has a keen eye for editing and a voracious appetite for financial and political current affairs. He ensures that our content across all sites meets the standards of quality and transparency that our readers expect.
Alison Heyerdahl
Senior Financial Writer
Alison joined the team as a writer in 2021. She has a medical degree with a focus on physiotherapy and a bachelor’s in psychology. However, her interest in forex trading and her love for writing led her to switch careers, and she now has over eight years experience in research and content development. She has tested and reviewed 100+ brokers and has a great understanding of the Forex trading world.
Ida Hermansen
Financial Writer
Ida joined our team as a financial writer in 2023. She has a degree in Digital Marketing and a background in content writing and SEO. In addition to her marketing and writing skills, Ida also has an interest in cryptocurrencies and blockchain networks. Her interest in crypto trading led to a wider fascination with Forex technical analysis and price movement. She continues to develop her skills and knowledge in Forex trading and keeps a close eye on which Forex brokers offer the best trading environments for new traders.