Key To Markets or Axi – which is better for UK traders 2024? Compare Key To Markets and Axi in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.
Key To Markets is an ECN brokerage firm that was set up in London in 2010 for retail, professional and institutional investors to access a reliable and consistently-priced trading environment. The broker is regulated by the UK's FCA and the FSC in Mauritius.
Axi is a global forex and CFD trading firm, founded in 2007 in Sydney, Australia. Highly leveraged trading opportunities plus a $0 minimum deposit make it a popular choice among 60,000+ traders worldwide. Axi also stands out for its resources, including copy trading and Autochartist.
81.6% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider
Pros
I'm glad to see that one of Key To Markets' regulatory licenses is from the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), a highly respected authority with top-tier safeguarding measures
I was impressed by the inclusion of social trading options and access to a free virtual private server (VPS), providing a more extensive range of services than the average online broker
I like that all clients can freely access MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, two of the industry's top platforms with impressive analysis tools and intuitive automation capability
It's also good to see a range of educational content and free analysis material that is regularly updated and provides clients with a deeper understanding of the markets
I experienced tight spreads when I tested Key To Markets and found no additional costs to consider, not even deposit or withdrawal fees
A strong range of advanced tools are available for experienced traders, including the Autochartist market scanner, VPS solutions and exclusive MT4 NexGen features
The broker's inactivity fee terms are fairly generous, only charging a $10 fee after a long inactivity period of 12 months - some brokers charge after only 3 months
The broker’s free trading resources are geared towards short-term traders, including various market calendars and dividend forecast schedules
Experienced traders can benefit from the Axi Select funded trader programme, offering funding up to $1 million and up to 90% profit share
The $0 minimum deposit, zero-commission pricing structure, and user-friendly copy trading service will appeal to beginners
Traders can choose between 10 base account currencies plus a wide range of free deposit methods, including cryptos
Among other educational resources, there’s an excellent selection of free eBooks for newly registered beginners
Axi is a well-regulated and established broker, with a strong track record since 2007
Cons
I think the lack of commission-free, STP account types will restrict the broker's accessibility to beginners and less experienced traders
I would prefer to see a wider range of product classes to allow for greater diversification opportunities
Any deposits or withdrawals not made via wire transfer will incur costly transaction fees
There's a limited choice of third-party charting platforms compared to other brands, with only MT4 available alongside the proprietary app
The demo account expires after only 30 days - many alternative brokers that we test allow you to practice for 60 days or more
The tightest round-trip commission fees of $3.50 are only available to those who can deposit $25,000
The Axi Select program requires a $500 minimum deposit to enter the first Seed stage
Awards
Best EMEA Region Broker - ADVFN International Financial Awards, 2020
Best Forex Broker Middle East - forex-awards.com, 2019
After partnering with Pelican Trading, Axi remains a strong option for traders seeking a reputable copy trading service. The user-friendly app requires no minimum deposit and connects seamlessly to your MT4 trading account.
Social Trading
Yes
Yes
Trade Signals
Yes - on MT4
VPS Hosting
No
Yes
Tournaments
No
No
Demo Competitions
No
Yes
Ethical Investing
No
No
Custodial Account
No
No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No
No
Islamic Account
No
Yes
Account Currencies
USD
EUR
GBP
CAD
AUD
JPY
CHF
HKD
SGD
Commodities
Gold
Silver
Natural Gas
Copper
Oil
Gold
Silver
Platinum
Cocoa
Coffee
Gasoline
Natural Gas
Precious Metals
CFD
The broker's selection of 180 CFD products is pretty small compared to competitors and I found it quite limiting that these only span forex, indices, commodities and stocks.
Axi offers 220+ products covering forex, shares, commodities, indices and cryptos. Spreads on EUR/USD come in at around 0.2 pips in the Pro account and 1.1 pips in the Standard account. These are competitive and aligned with equivalent accounts at leading low-cost brokers like Pepperstone.
Leverage
1:30
1:400
FTSE Spread
2
from 100 (floating)
GBPUSD Spread<
0.7
from 0.6 pips (floating)
Oil Spread
0.46
from 0 pips (floating)
Stocks Spread
Variable
Variable
Forex
My evaluations uncovered a decent range of 65 forex instruments, comprising major, minor and exotic currency pairs, available with leverage rates of up to 1:30 and ECN execution.
Axi continues to offer a strong selection of 70+ currency pairs - more than many top brokers including award-winner AvaTrade, with only 50+. There are no restrictions on trading strategies including algo trading and scalping, which will serve both short-term and long-term traders.
Assets
65
70+
GBPUSD Spread
0.7
from 0.6 pips (floating)
EURUSD Spread
0.4
from 0.2 pips (floating)
EURGBP Spread
0.7
from 0.5 pips (floating)
Cryptocurrency
Trade cryptos against the US Dollar and Euro.
The broker offers a strong selection of 30 popular cryptos paired with fiat currencies, other tokens and metals. The high leverage up to 1:200 will serve experienced crypto traders, whilst the zero-commission pricing structure will appeal to beginners.