Costs & access
Know who charges what before you commit to anything
Trading involves several kinds of cost, owed to several different parties. This page separates them, explains what a deposit really is and gives you an estimator for your own figures.
The commercial picture
Four questions to ask about any cost
When someone says a product costs "nothing" or "very little", it helps to ask four things: Who is charging it? For what? When is it charged? And what happens if you stop? Those questions turn a slogan into something you can compare.
kaiser signal follows the same rule. Registering with kaiser signal is free. For anything else, the cost, the charging party and the conditions will be written down and shown to you before you are asked to agree. We do not publish an amount here that has not been confirmed, because an invented number is worse than none.
The table sets out the categories you will meet around trading software, accounts and execution. It describes how these charges generally work, not what any particular provider charges. Always check the published schedule of the provider concerned.
The categories
Who charges what
| Category | Normally charged by | How it is usually expressed | Where to confirm it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registering with kaiser signal | kaiser signal | Not charged | This page and the registration form |
| Software or data access | The software or data supplier | Subscription, one-off fee or included | The supplier's written terms, shown before you agree |
| Account funding (a deposit) | Not a fee: your capital, held by the account provider | Opening an account with the broker needs a deposit from $250 AUD (or £250 GBP / €250 EUR / $250 CAD / $250 NZD / $250 SGD). Nominal amounts in each currency, not conversions of one another | The account provider's terms |
| Spread | Built into the price by the executing party | The gap between buy and sell prices | Live quotes from the executing party, and IG Markets Limited charges |
| Commission | The executing party | Per unit, per trade or as a percentage | IG Markets Limited charges |
| Financing and other charges | The executing party or account provider | Charged over time or on particular events | IG Markets Limited charges |
| Withdrawal and inactivity terms | The account provider | Conditions, timings and any fee | IG Markets Limited withdrawal terms |
Run your own numbers
The round-trip cost estimator
Take the figures from whichever provider's schedule you are considering and see what the full round trip costs, and how far the price must move to break even.
The round-trip cost estimator
Costs decide how far a price must travel before an idea breaks even. Enter figures from your own provider's published schedule.
In account currency.
Financing, platform or data charges, in account currency.
Total cost of the round trip
—
- Spread cost
- —
- Commission (both ways)
- —
- Other charges
- —
- Break-even move
- —
Break-even move = total cost ÷ (units × value per unit), in price units. It assumes you cross the spread once and pay commission on entry and exit. Your provider's real charges may differ.
What a deposit is
Capital is not a price
A deposit is the money you put into an account so that it can be used for trading. It belongs to you, it is exposed to the risk of loss once it is traded, and any terms about how and when you can take it out are set by the account provider. It is not a software charge and not a benefit.
When any amount is quoted to you, ask whether it is a fee or a deposit. A figure that sounds like a low price may in fact be the minimum capital you are asked to put at risk.
Access
Availability depends on where you are
Whether any financial service can be offered to you depends on your location, on the provider's terms and on rules that change. Visiting this website, using the tools or registering does not mean a service is available to you. We will tell you plainly if it is not.
For questions about access in your country, contact us and tell us where you are.
Comparing offers
Six things to check in writing
Whoever you deal with, ask for these in writing and compare them side by side. A figure given in conversation is not a figure you can rely on.
- What is charged, and by whom
- When it is charged: once, monthly, per trade or on events
- Whether any minimum amount is a fee or a deposit
- What it costs to withdraw, and any conditions on doing so
- What happens to charges if you stop using the service
- Which country and which terms apply to you
Questions
About costs and access
Is there a charge to register?
No. Registering is free and no deposit is taken. Opening an account with the broker needs a deposit from $250 AUD (or £250 GBP / €250 EUR / $250 CAD / $250 NZD / $250 SGD).
Is a deposit a fee?
No. A deposit is your own capital, placed with an account provider. It is not a software price and not a benefit. Any money in a trading account can be lost.
Why does this page not list prices?
Because spreads, commission and financing are set by the executing broker and can change. The table links to the broker's own published schedule instead of repeating figures that may go out of date. Anything you are asked to pay will be stated in writing before you commit.
What are the main charges around trading?
Software or data charges, account funding and withdrawal terms, and execution costs such as spreads, commission and financing. The table above sets out who normally charges each.
How do I ask about access or costs?
Use the Contact page and choose "Access and costs". Say what you would like to know and which country you are in, and leave out any sensitive information.
Can I trust a "free" claim?
Treat it as incomplete until you know what is free and what is not. A free enquiry or a free tool does not mean a free account, free execution or free withdrawals.
Register
Ready to register?
Leave your details and the verification desk will contact you by email or phone about opening an account. Registering is free and nothing is charged.
- Registering is free: nothing is charged
- Your details go to the executing broker for your country
- A deposit is only needed if you open an account
Register my interest
Leave your details and we will pass them to the executing broker for your country so it can contact you about an account. Registering is free and nothing is charged.
Opening an account will need a deposit from $250 AUD (or £250 GBP / €250 EUR / $250 CAD / $250 NZD / $250 SGD). It is your own money and it is at risk.
Have a specific question about cost or access?
Choose "Access and costs" on the Contact page, or register your interest and the verification desk will contact you.