ECMarkets Account Types Guide: ECN, STD, Pro Cost Comparison and Best Choice for Every Trader

Choosing the right account type is one of the most important decisions when you join a broker — and it’s often one of the most confusing. ECMarkets offers three main account types (ECN, Standard, Pro) with different spread structures, commissions, and minimum deposits. This guide breaks down the actual costs of each, compares them side by side, and helps you pick the optimal account for your trading style.

Why Account Type Matters

Your account type determines how much you pay per trade — and over time, those costs compound significantly.

Let’s say you trade XAUUSD, 5 lots per day, 22 days a month (110 lots/month):

The difference between Standard and ECN is **$21,120 per year** at this volume. That’s more than many traders’ initial deposit. And the gap only widens as you trade more.

But account type isn’t just about cost. It’s also about execution quality, available tools, minimum deposit, and whether the features match how you trade.

The Three Account Types: Overview

Standard Account (STD)

The entry-level account designed for beginners and occasional traders.

• **Spread model:** All-inclusive spread (no separate commission)
• **Typical XAUUSD spread:** 2.0-3.5 pips
• **Commission:** None
• **Minimum deposit:** $100
• **Execution:** STP (Straight Through Processing)
• **Platforms:** MT4, MT5
• **Best for:** Beginners, low-volume traders, swing traders, people who prefer simple pricing

The Standard account is simple — what you see is what you get. There’s no math to do, no surprise charges, just the spread. But you pay a premium for that simplicity.

ECN Account

The most popular account type, designed for active and serious traders.

• **Spread model:** Raw ECN spread + fixed commission per lot
• **Typical XAUUSD spread:** 0.1-0.3 pips
• **Commission:** $3 per lot per side ($6 round-turn)
• **Minimum deposit:** $1,000
• **Execution:** True ECN with multiple liquidity providers
• **Platforms:** MT4, MT5
• **Best for:** Active traders, scalpers, EA users, high-volume traders

ECN stands for Electronic Communication Network — it connects you directly to liquidity providers (banks, hedge funds, other traders) without the broker acting as the counterparty. This means tighter spreads, faster execution, and no conflict of interest.

Pro Account

The premium account for high-volume and professional traders.

• **Spread model:** Prime ECN spread + lower commission
• **Typical XAUUSD spread:** 0.08-0.2 pips (tightest available)
• **Commission:** $2.50 per lot per side ($5 round-turn)
• **Minimum deposit:** $10,000
• **Execution:** Prime ECN with tier-1 liquidity
• **Platforms:** MT4, MT5
• **Additional perks:** Dedicated account manager, priority support, custom liquidity solutions, VPS
• **Best for:** High-volume traders, professional clients, prop trading firms

The Pro account gets you the absolute best pricing ECMarkets offers, plus dedicated support. The $10K minimum means it’s not for everyone, but if you trade enough volume, the savings quickly add up.

Detailed Cost Comparison: XAUUSD

Let’s break down the actual costs for each account type on XAUUSD (gold), which is one of the most popular instruments.

Typical XAUUSD Trading Costs

All-in cost = spread value + commission. For XAUUSD, 1 pip = $10 per standard lot (approximately — it varies slightly with price).

The Break-Even Point

At what trading volume does ECN become cheaper than Standard?

Let’s calculate the break-even:

• Standard: all-in cost ~$27.50/lot (midpoint of $20-$35)
• ECN: all-in cost ~$8/lot (midpoint of $7-$9)

Wait, that’s not the right way to calculate break-even. The question is: at what volume does the commission + spread model beat the no-commission wider spread model?

Actually, ECN is almost always cheaper for active traders. The real question is whether you meet the $1,000 minimum deposit for ECN. If you do, ECN is almost always the better choice unless you trade extremely rarely.

Let’s calculate: at 2 lots per month, ECN costs ~$16, Standard costs ~$55. ECN is cheaper even at very low volume. The $1,000 minimum deposit is the barrier, not the volume.

Cost Comparison by Trading Style

Different trading styles have different cost profiles. Here’s how the account types stack up for common XAUUSD trading approaches.

Scalping (5-20 trades per day)

Scalpers make many small trades, so per-trade costs are critical.

**Recommendation:** Scalpers need ECN or Pro. Standard is not viable for scalping — the spread alone eats all your profits.

Day Trading (2-5 trades per day)

Day traders hold positions for minutes to hours but close everything by end of day.

**Recommendation:** ECN is the sweet spot. The savings vs Standard are huge, and unless you’re a very high-volume day trader, Pro’s extra cost savings probably don’t justify the $10K minimum.

Swing Trading (2-5 trades per week)

Swing traders hold positions for days to weeks, so per-trade costs matter less.

**Recommendation:** ECN is still cheaper, but Standard is more tolerable for swing traders since there are fewer trades. If you only have $500-$1,000 and swing trade, Standard is acceptable until you build up to the ECN minimum.

Position Trading (1-3 trades per month)

Long-term traders hold for weeks to months. Trading costs are the least important factor here.

**Recommendation:** If you meet the ECN minimum, go ECN — it’s still cheaper. If not, Standard is fine for position trading since costs are a tiny fraction of your P&L.

The 30% Rebate: Effective Cost Comparison

Opening through our exclusive link gives you a 30% rebate on trading costs. Let’s see how this changes the effective cost:

With the rebate, the ECN account becomes even more compelling. An active trader on ECN with the 30% rebate pays effectively the same as what Standard account holders pay — but gets ECN execution quality.

Hidden Factors Beyond Cost

Cost isn’t everything. Here are other factors to consider.

Execution Quality

ECN accounts typically have better execution than Standard accounts because:

• Orders go directly to the liquidity pool
• No dealer desk intervention
• Lower slippage on average
• Faster order processing

For scalpers and EA traders, execution quality can be worth more than the commission savings. A few pips of slippage per trade on a Standard account can easily cost more than the ECN commission.

Available Features

Swap Rates

Swap rates (overnight interest) can be significant for swing and position traders. ECN accounts typically have better (lower cost / higher earning) swap rates because they access deeper liquidity pools.

For XAUUSD specifically, long positions pay swap (because gold has storage/financing costs), and the amount varies by account type. Check the current swap rates in your MT4/MT5 market watch before holding positions overnight.

Withdrawal and Deposit Options

All account types have the same deposit/withdrawal methods:

• Bank wire transfer
• Credit/debit cards
• E-wallets (Skrill, Neteller, etc.)
• Local payment methods (varies by country)

Deposits are generally instant for e-wallets and cards, 1-3 days for bank wires. Withdrawals typically process within 1-2 business days.

How to Choose: Decision Flowchart

“`

Start here │ ├─ Under $1,000 capital? │ └─ → Standard Account │ ├─ $1,000-$10,000 capital? │ ├─ Trade <5 lots/month and don't care about execution? │ │ └─ → Standard (cheaper minimum, but more per trade) │ └─ Trade 5+ lots/month or care about execution? │ └─ → ECN Account (best balance of cost and features) │ └─ Over $10,000 capital AND trade 100+ lots/month? ├─ Yes → Pro Account (lowest cost, premium support) └─ No → ECN Account (still cheaper, Pro savings don't justify yet)

“`

Our Recommendation for Most Traders

**For 90% of traders: the ECN account.**

Here’s why:

• $1,000 minimum is accessible for most serious traders
• Tight spreads + transparent commission = lower total cost for anyone trading actively
• True ECN execution = better fills, less slippage
• Full feature set = everything you need for serious trading
• The 30% exclusive rebate makes it even more cost-effective

Only choose Standard if:

• You have less than $1,000 to deposit
• You trade very infrequently (under 5 lots/month)
• You prefer simple pricing without commissions

Only choose Pro if:

• You have $10,000+ to deposit
• You consistently trade 100+ lots per month
• You want premium support and custom solutions

Switching Account Types

Already have an account and want to switch? It’s usually straightforward:

• Contact support (live chat, email, or your account manager)
• Request an account type change
• Some brokers allow multiple accounts under one login, so you can test both
• Switching typically takes 1-2 business days

Note that you may need to meet the minimum deposit for the new account type. Upgrading from Standard to ECN requires depositing enough to meet the $1,000 ECN minimum if you’re below it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between ECN and STP accounts?

STP (Straight Through Processing) routes your orders directly to liquidity providers but the broker may still widen spreads slightly. ECN (Electronic Communication Network) connects you directly to the order book of multiple liquidity providers, giving you raw spreads plus a separate commission. ECN generally has tighter spreads, faster execution, and more transparency — at the cost of a separate commission fee. For active traders, ECN is almost always cheaper overall.

Is the ECN account worth it for small traders?

If you meet the $1,000 minimum deposit, yes — ECN is worth it even for small traders. The commission is a fixed $3 per lot per side, and the spread savings on XAUUSD are typically $15-$25+ per lot compared to the Standard account. Even at 5 lots per month, ECN saves you roughly $75/month vs Standard — enough to cover the minimum deposit in about a year.

How much do I need to deposit for the Pro account?

The Pro account requires a $10,000 minimum deposit. It’s designed for high-volume traders and professional clients. In addition to tighter spreads and lower commission ($2.50/side vs $3/side on ECN), you get a dedicated account manager, priority support, and access to custom liquidity solutions.

Can I have multiple account types at once?

Yes, most brokers including ECMarkets allow multiple trading accounts under one client profile. This is useful if you want to test different account types or run different strategies on different accounts. You can easily transfer funds between accounts. Just make sure you meet the minimum deposit for each account type you open.

Does the 30% rebate apply to all account types?

The 30% rebate applies to trading costs (spreads and commissions) across account types when you open through our exclusive link. The rebate is calculated based on your trading volume and credited to your account. For ECN accounts, the rebate effectively reduces your total cost from ~$8/lot to ~$5.60/lot, making it even more competitive.