If you are new, ignore “best forex broker for beginners” badges. Most of them are affiliate headlines. A first account should be boring to verify: legal name on a register, a demo you can actually use, and a withdrawal method you already have.
Start with cover, not a bonus
A welcome credit does not replace a licence. Search the entity the way we describe in what a licence covers. If chat cannot give you the company on the contract, stop. Clone sites exist — see how to spot a clone.
Demo two tickets, not one
One demo tells you the layout. Two demos tell you which platform you will click when you are tired. Read demo vs live so you do not treat a green practice curve as evidence. A demo still cannot show slippage or a payout.
Keep the first deposit small on purpose
A low minimum is not a safety rating. It is a door. Size the first live test so one bad gold spike cannot empty the account. Then try a small withdrawal. Our minimum deposit note and withdrawal note belong in that order.
Platform: pick the one you will actually open
MT4 is still common. MT5 is not “safer”. If you only need a simple FX ticket, complexity is not a feature. Compare options in MT4 vs MT5, then confirm the account form lists the same platform as the review.
Where Peak Pips fits
Use the broker shortlist after the register search. Use pip and position tools to understand size — not to copy a trade. Peak Pips does not run your account. Leveraged products can result in the loss of your capital; see the risk disclaimer.
Common question
Do beginners need a raw ECN account? Usually no. Learn the ticket on a standard or demo first. Raw pricing adds a commission line; it does not make you faster. Read ECN vs STP when you can already place a stop without hunting.

