Broker to Trading

Both of these brokers let traders use automated trading strategies. Dukascopy Bank offers MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and JForex. RoboForex provides MT4, MT5, cTrader and R StocksTrader. All these online trading platforms allow the trader to run and build online trading robots, using different languages or ways to build robots.

R StocksTrader uses a strategy builder which does not require the trader to program and lets the trader run robots on the cloud 24/7 (i.e. they do not need a VPS). Dukascopy Bank however operates the SWFX Marketplace, which uses centralisation around the decentralised Forex market. Dukascopy Bank has this because it is a bank but lets traders have access to it. Both brokers can thus provide very low spreads for the more liquid Forex pairs, but in return for access to this liquidity charge a commission. Each has competitive commission charges.

As a 'pure' ECN broker, Dukascopy Bank still has a relatively large number of markets to trade (1000+). RoboForex has considerably less on its accounts except for R StocksTrader, where it has considerably more (as this platform has a large number of Stocks CFDs, in addition to other markets). Dukascopy Bank can offer Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin CFD (when trading a Crypto CFD, the trader does not own any cryptocurrency and thus does not need a wallet, can go long or short and use leverage, though increasing leverage increases risk).

Dukascopy Bank is regulated by the FINMA in Switzerland. RoboForex is regulated by the IFSC in Belize.

Quick comparison

Both brokers offer MT4. Dukascopy Bank additionally offers JForex while RoboForex additionally provides MT5, cTrader and R StocksTrader. Dukascopy Bank has a higher minimum deposit.

Minimum deposit and account types

The minimum deposit for Dukascopy Bank is $1000. The minimum deposit for RoboForex is $10.

• Dukascopy Bank offers an account type with differing features for higher deposits. A Swap-free (Islamic) account is available as well. Dukascopy Bank provides webinars through the JForex 3 platform. Dukascopy Bank offers traders access to the Swiss Foreign Exchange Marketplace liquidity pools, which it operates. The minimum trade size is 0.01 standard lots (1000 units). Dukascopy Bank does not restrict trading styles. Market News, Research and Trading Tools including an Economic Calendar as well as Videos and Webinars are available on Dukascopy Bank's website.
• RoboForex offers accounts based around its four platforms, MT4, MT5, cTrader and R StocksTrader. cTrader has ECN and Pro-Standard accounts. MT4 and MT5 each offer Pro-Standard, Pro-Cent and ECN accounts. MT4 additionally offers MT4 and MT5 Prime accounts. RoboForex's R StocksTrader is a web trading platform, which has many more markets available than the other accounts. RoboForex also offers a CopyFX account (which supports transaction copying) and a RAMM account (which supports strategy copying).
• RoboForex's minimum deposit for all accounts except R StocksTrader is $10. The minimum deposit for R StocksTrader is $100. The Prime account is an ECN account with lower commission charges. RoboForex offers an Islamic (Swap Free) version for some of these accounts. The minimum trade size is 0.0001 lots.
• RoboForex provides a range of tools including Analysis, Webinars, Education and an Economic Calendar. It offers the R StocksTrader Strategy Builder for building robots. RoboForex allows EAs and scalping.

Markets

• Dukascopy Bank offers Forex, Indices, Energy, Metals, Soft Commodities, Stocks, ETFs, Cryptocurrencies and Bonds, with 1000+ available.
• RoboForex offers Forex, Indices, Energy, Metals, Soft Commodities, Stocks, ETFs and Cryptocurrencies, with 12,000+ available.

Dukascopy Bank provides 60+ Forex pairs, RoboForex provides 45+ Forex pairs.

Cryptocurrency CFDs

• Dukascopy Bank offers Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Stellar, TRON, Cardano, Uniswap, Chainlink, Dashcoin, EOS, Polygon, Aave, Maker, Compound, Enjin, Yearn Finance and Basic Attention Token CFDs.
• RoboForex offers Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Stellar, TRON, Cardano, Uniswap, Chainlink, Monero, Polkadot, Binance Coin, Ripple, Algorand, Solana, Polygon, Dogecoin, Avalanche, Cosmos, Terra and Decentraland CFDs.

Spreads and leverage

• Both brokers offer Forex spreads from 0 plus a commission charge. RoboForex also offers Forex spreads from 1.3 without a commission charge.

Maximum leverage for Dukascopy Bank (FINMA regulated) is 200:1. Maximum leverage for RoboForex (IFSC regulated) is 2000:1.

Commissions

• Dukascopy Bank charges a commission which varies depending on the volume traded, the initial deposit and equity in the account.
• For Forex, Dukascopy Bank commissions range from $35 per million USD per side, to $10 per million USD traded per side.
• For other markets except Stocks, Dukascopy Bank commissions range from $52.5 per million USD per side, to $15 per million USD per side.
• RoboForex's commissions are $2 per standard lot per side for its ECN accounts except for its Prime account where they are $1.5 per standard lot per side.

Trading Platforms

Both brokers offer MT4. Dukascopy Bank additionally provides JForex, RoboForex provides MT5, cTrader and R StocksTrader.

Why Dukascopy Bank or RoboForex ?

Dukascopy Bank offers ECN trading, providing traders with access to the SWFX Marketplace of liquidity and charging a commission for doing do. RoboForex has a range of account types, which include an ECN account and a Cent account. Most of RoboForex's accounts have a very low minimum deposit requirement. Dukascopy Bank has a considerably higher minimum deposit. So traders who want to trade with a small account size and with small trade sizes (as RoboForex offers a Cent account) may wish to consider RoboForex. Dukascopy is particularly suited to automated traders as it places no restrictions on trading and provides high speed order execution into its liquidity pool. However both of its platforms can be used by traders who execute their own trades (versus using robots). JForex in particular has a large number of technical indicators built into the platform. Traders who do not wish to trade with a commission charge may wish to consider RoboForex as it offers accounts which both charge and do not charge commissions. However the commission charge is automatically deducted from the trade at Dukascopy Bank and the human trader can also trade with a commission charge.

Comparison summary

• Both provide CFD trading
• Each offers MT4
• Dukascopy Bank additionally provides JForex
• RoboForex additionally offers MT5, cTrader and R StocksTrader
• Relative to most of RoboForex's accounts, Dukascopy Bank has more markets to trade
• On the R StocksTrader platform, RoboForex has considerably more markets
• Each broker supports automated trading on all platforms
• Dukascopy Bank is regulated by the FINMA in Switzerland, RoboForex is regulated by the IFSC in Belize