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No-deposit bonuses compared: what is on offer now and how to read the terms

Every no-deposit forex bonus running now, side by side: the amount, the conditions, and the terms that matter before you sign up.

Published ・ MyBrokerBonus Editorial

No-deposit bonuses compared

A no-deposit bonus is credit a broker gives to a new client without asking for a deposit first. Brokers use it to let people try their platform with some funds in the account. The bonus comes from the broker, not from this site, and every broker sets its own rules.

The list below is built from the data on this site each time the site is updated. It shows the no-deposit offers that are running now, and an offer that has ended drops off by itself. The amount shown is the largest the broker states; what you actually receive can be lower, so read the broker’s terms before you apply.

How to compare no-deposit bonuses

Two bonuses with the same headline amount can be very different once you read the terms. These are the points worth checking, roughly in this order.

Seven points to check, in this order
  1. 1Who can claim it
  2. 2What the amount is
  3. 3Can you withdraw it
  4. 4Volume and time limit
  5. 5What is not allowed
  6. 6Verification
  7. 7Early withdrawal

1. Who can claim it. Many offers are open only to new clients, only to certain account types, or only to people who have never held an account with that broker. Check whether you qualify before you do anything else.

2. What the amount really is. Some brokers state a maximum, some a fixed sum, and some give a percentage with a cap. Treat the figure as a ceiling. Also check whether the credit is added to your account automatically or only after you ask for it.

The amount shown is a ceilingExample
The largest amount the broker states (what the list shows)
What you actually receivecan be lower

Bar lengths are only an illustration, not any broker's figures.

3. Whether you can withdraw it. In most cases the bonus itself cannot be withdrawn. What you may be able to withdraw is the profit made with it, and usually only after you meet the conditions. Look for the exact wording on this point.

4. Trading volume and time limits. Many offers require a minimum trading volume before profit can be withdrawn, and many have a window in which the credit must be used or it disappears. Work out whether the volume is realistic for the way you trade.

5. What is not allowed. Some terms exclude certain instruments, limit leverage on bonus funds, or ban particular strategies such as hedging or scalping. If you run an automated strategy (an EA), check that it is permitted while the bonus is active.

6. Verification. Brokers often ask for identity documents before the bonus is credited or before the first withdrawal. Have them ready, and check any deadline for completing verification.

7. What happens if you withdraw early. Withdrawing or transferring funds before the conditions are met can cancel the bonus or the profit from it. This is one of the most common reasons people lose a bonus.

Point

Before you apply, find three things in the terms: whether the credit can be withdrawn, how much volume you must trade and by when, and what an early withdrawal does.

Reading the list above

How to read one card in the listExample
  1. 1Type labelShows whether it is a no-deposit bonus, a deposit bonus or a contest.
  2. 2Largest amountThe most the broker states. You may receive less.
  3. 3ConditionsThe main terms in short. The full terms are on the bonus page.
  4. 4End dateShown only when the broker states one. No date does not mean no end.
  5. 5Official siteOpens the broker's own page, where you apply.

Each row links to a page on this site that sets out the broker’s own conditions, with a link to its official site. The label on each row shows the type of bonus, and a date appears only when the broker has stated an end date. If there is no date, the offer has no announced end, but brokers can change or withdraw an offer at any time, so check the official page when you apply.

The list does not rank the brokers or recommend one over another. A broker’s regulation, the costs of trading and the quality of its service matter at least as much as the bonus, and you can look at them on each broker’s page.

Risks to keep in mind

Trading with leverage can lose money quickly, and a bonus does not change that. Bonus credit is best treated as a way to try a broker’s platform with limited risk, not as a source of income. Profits are not promised, and the terms attached to a bonus can make it hard to withdraw anything. Read the broker’s full terms before you open an account, and only trade with money you can afford to lose.

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