OANDA is a global online forex broker, who offers trading in various financial instruments including currencies, indices, commodities and bonds. In this article, we analyze the reliability and legitimacy of OANDA to find if OANDA is a safe or legit broker.
OANDA reviews
OANDA was founded in 1996 and incorporated in the state of Delaware and aims to drive the future of currency data solutions and trading technology. OANDA is a legit broker, offering 300+ financial products and it is authorized and regulated by multiple financial authorities with strict and standard regulations.
Is OANDA legit?
Yes. OANDA is a legit broker having proper compliance with the top-tier regulators below:
- Central Bank of Ireland – EU
- Australian Securities & Investments Commission – ASIC
- British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission – BVI
- Financial Services Agency – FSC
- Financial Futures Association of Japan FSA – FFAJ
- South African Financial Sector Conduct Authority – FSCA
- Abu Dhabi Global Markets – ADGM
- Financial Regulatory Services Authority – FRSA
- Israel Securities Authority – ISA
Is OANDA a good broker?
Yes, OANDA is a good, secure and reliable broker for quite a lot other reasons.
- There is no minimum deposit or minimum balance required to open or maintain OANDA standard account. Funds are needed only to open positions.
- Being regulated by multiple tier-1 regulators provide a level of protection for clients.
- OANDA has a long track record in the forex and CFD markets, which adds to its credibility.
- OANDA keeps its clients’ funds in segregated accounts, separate from its operating funds, which helps protect its clients in financial difficulties.
- OANDA offers data security by employing encryption and other security measures to protect clients’ private and financial information.
- It offers negative balance protection in OANDA – Canada Corporation.
- OANDA provides numerous risk management tools such as stop-loss orders, guaranteed stop-loss orders, etc.
- OANDA provides demo account facility for the benefits of the beginners and it also offers hedging functionality.
There are other specific features that makes OANDA stands out from its peers. Let us look into such details below:
Product offerings
OANDA offers below products to its members.
- Forex (over 70 currency pairs)
- Indices
- Metals
- Shares
- Commodities
- Cryptocurrencies
- CFDs (on 48 forex pairs)
- Bonds
Trading platforms
OANDA offers user-friendly and powerful trading platforms to enhance the trading experience of its clients. They are
- FxTrade mobile app
- Meta Trader 5
- Meta Trader 4
OANDA offers comprehensive technical analysis tools and premium levels of MT4 and MT5 tools for its users that help in making informed decisions.
Account types
- Standard account – no minimum deposit required
- Premium account – USD 10,000
- Premium plus account – USD 50M trading volume maintenance
Pricing
OANDA’s pricing strategies are not only attractive and cost-effective but also very clear and transparent. It offers two types of pricing options namely,
- Spread-only – OANDA’s commission is wrapped into the spread it offers so that the spread is the only cost you pay.
- Commission plus core spread – You only pay fixed commission per trade. The total cost for each trade will be the sum of the applicable core spread plus commission.
Spreads and margin
OANDA offers competitive spreads across its full range of CFD markets, including shares, indices, forex, commodities and metals. However, in certain market conditions, OANDA’s spreads could be wider than usual based on major international or geopolitical events.
Different margin rates apply depending on the size of your position. If the position size increases the incremental margin rate too increases on a tiered basis.
Fees and commission
Fees / commissions | Details |
Deposit fees | 0 |
Withdrawal fees | $20 per transaction on Bank wire transfer |
Financing fees | Overnight financing fees apply on positions taken through credit/debit cards at 5pm EST |
Inactivity fees | No charges for crypto accounts Chargeable in forex accounts for inactivity above 12 months. |
Currency conversion fees | 0.5% mark-up on the mid-point time of conversion |
Mark-up / custody fee | 0 |
Crypto trading fee | 0.25% or subject to 0.01 USD applies to all executed orders |
Deposit and withdrawal methods
OANDA accepts deposits and withdrawals through various methods.
- Credit and debit cards
- Bank wire and Bank transfers
- Skrill
- Neteller
- Alternative payment methods
Research and education
OANDA offers trading resources and guides to help the traders understand the ins and outs of trading with leverage. It offers webinars and events and users can explore the topics to learn any particular domain.
The range of powerful tools and research sources offered by OANDA helps investors build a stronger trading strategy. They are,
- Technical analysis
- Spreads calculator
- Partner tools
- Multicharts
Awards and recognition
OANDA is recognized for its wide range products and automated execution across its account offerings. It has won lot of awards such as:
- Named Best in Class for research and ease of use by ForexBrokers.com in 2023 annual awards.
- Voted Best US Forex Broker in Compare Forex Brokers Awards 2023.
- Voted Best Low Cost Broker in ADVFN International Financial Awards 2023.
- Voted Most Popular Broker in TradingView Broker Awards 2022.
Customer support
OANDA provides 24×5 customer support with dedicated helpline numbers for each location. It can be contacted through email at frontdesk@oanda.com and has registered office at
Kingston Chambers,
PO Box 173, Road Town,
Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
Conclusion
OANDA is not only a reputable broker but also a reliable forex broker and known for its transparent pricing and fair execution practices. OANDA is one of the world’s leading online trading groups, offering multi-asset trading opportunities to the investors.
While there is no investment without risk, OANDA’s reputation, regulatory oversight, and client fund protection measures make it a very secure choice for forex and CFD trading. We do believe OANDA is a trusted broker and recommend for both beginners and experienced for its user-friendly platforms and wide range of diverse options.
As we always say, it is essential for traders to do their own research and ensure the broker services align with their trading needs and risk tolerance.
Pro Tip
Keeping other parameters apart, it is highly important to choose a legit broker to have a secure trading journey. Explore the reviews of our trusted forex brokers and choose the right one that suit your trading needs. There are also range of investment opportunities such as stocks, CFDs, crypto, etc. that best help in diversifying your portfolio.