The Forex Awards 2013 results provide a particularly revealing picture of the online trading industry at an important stage of its development. Unlike award cycles focused predominantly on brokers, the 2013 program recognized a much broader financial-market ecosystem. Brokerage companies competed alongside banks, liquidity providers, technology developers, trading platforms, financial information resources, educational providers and industry events. The result was a set of awards that reflected not only who served retail traders most effectively, but also which organizations were contributing to the infrastructure surrounding electronic trading.
The distinctions covered execution, ECN/STP brokerage, binary options, regional brokerage leadership, dealing operations, micro and mini accounts, liquidity, mobile trading, order-management technology, social trading, affiliate and introductory programs, education, financial media and professional exhibitions. This breadth makes the 2013 results especially valuable from a historical perspective: many of the areas that would become central to the modern trading industry were already being evaluated independently.
Rather than applying a single definition of excellence to every participant, the 2013 awards recognized performance according to the purpose of each category. Execution was judged differently from education; a liquidity provider fulfilled a fundamentally different role from a retail broker; and the criteria relevant to a social trading network were not the same as those applicable to professional order-management technology.
Execution, ECN/STP and Core Trading Infrastructure
eToro received the Best ECN/STP Broker 2013 award. The category addressed one of the most technically important areas of brokerage: the environment through which client orders are processed. An ECN/STP-oriented assessment places particular emphasis on efficient routing, pricing conditions, transaction costs and the consistency with which orders can be processed under different market circumstances. For active traders, these characteristics can have a measurable effect on strategy performance because even relatively small execution differences accumulate when transaction frequency increases.
Swissquote Bank was named Best Execution Broker 2013. Execution quality is a fundamental component of the trading process because the price displayed when an order is submitted and the price at which the transaction is ultimately completed are not always identical. A professional assessment therefore considers the reliability and consistency of execution rather than speed in isolation. The award recognized Swissquote Bank in precisely this operationally critical area.
Swissquote Bank also received Most Transparent Broker 2013. Transparency concerns the trader's ability to understand material trading and account conditions before committing capital. Pricing structures, operational procedures, relevant fees and other terms should be communicated clearly enough for market participants to make informed decisions. Receiving both execution and transparency awards gave Swissquote Bank recognition in two complementary dimensions: the mechanics of trading and the clarity surrounding the brokerage relationship.
FXCM received Best Trade Executions 2013, providing another execution-oriented distinction within the year's results. Whereas the Best Execution Broker award evaluates the wider execution environment, Best Trade Executions emphasizes the quality of transactions from the trader's perspective. Order handling, realized pricing and execution consistency are particularly important for short-term, systematic and high-frequency trading methodologies, where transaction quality can materially influence net results.
Trading Platforms and Technology
FxPro received Best Trading Platform 2013. By 2013, trading software had become one of the primary competitive differentiators among online financial companies. A platform had to do substantially more than transmit buy and sell instructions. Traders increasingly expected sophisticated charts, analytical functionality, effective position monitoring, convenient order management and stable access to rapidly changing market information.
Platform quality is ultimately determined by the combination of technology and usability. Advanced functionality has limited value if it creates unnecessary operational complexity, while an intuitive interface is insufficient if it cannot support serious market analysis. FxPro's recognition reflected the importance of this balance.
The award for Best Global Trading Platform 2013 went to MetaTrader 5. This distinction was broader than a broker-specific platform award and recognized a trading environment designed for deployment across the international market. Global platform assessment naturally involves functionality, scalability, analytical capabilities and the ability to support the requirements of different types of market participants.
The presence of MetaTrader 5 among the winners demonstrates how platform technology was increasingly becoming an independent layer of the financial industry rather than merely a proprietary component of an individual broker.
Trading Station Mobile (FXCM) received Best Mobile Trading Platform 2013. Mobile trading was becoming increasingly important as traders expected access to accounts and markets beyond desktop terminals. A mobile platform needed to preserve essential functionality while operating within the limitations of a smaller interface. Price monitoring, chart access, position management and order execution all had to remain practical on a mobile device.
The award is particularly interesting historically because it reflects the transition toward continuous, device-independent access that would later become a standard expectation rather than an additional service.
eSignal received Best Trading Software Provider 2013, recognizing the broader technological layer supporting market analysis and trading activity. Trading software providers contribute analytical tools, market-data functionality and technological infrastructure used by traders independently of the broker itself. The category therefore highlights the growing separation between brokerage, market access and specialist financial technology.
Regional Brokerage Leadership
Regional distinctions occupied an important position in the 2013 awards and demonstrate how international the retail trading business had already become.
Oanda received Best Forex Broker USA 2013. The award recognized the company's competitive position in the US market, where a regional brokerage proposition had to combine reliable trading infrastructure, appropriate account functionality and services suited to local market participants.
FBS was named Best Forex Broker Asia 2013. Asia was already developing into one of the industry's most significant growth regions. The market was highly diverse, making flexibility, accessibility, platform reliability and the ability to serve different trader profiles important elements of regional competitiveness.
Tadawul FX received Best Forex Broker Europe 2013. European brokerage competition required increasingly sophisticated services because traders had access to a wide range of international providers. Technology, execution, account conditions and the overall organization of the trading environment therefore became important differentiators.
InvestTechFX received Best Forex Broker Canada 2013, recognizing its position in the Canadian trading market. Country-specific awards are important because a globally available service is not necessarily equally competitive in every jurisdiction. Regional suitability and the practical relevance of the broker's offering therefore form an important part of such an assessment.
NetoTrade received Best Forex Broker Africa 2013. The award reflected the expansion of online trading into markets where improved internet access and financial technology were opening international markets to a wider client base. Accessibility, account design and dependable trading infrastructure were particularly relevant to this stage of regional development.
Together, the awards for the USA, Asia, Europe, Canada and Africa demonstrate that geographical specialization had become a meaningful dimension of brokerage competition by 2013.
Binary Options and Specialized Retail Trading
24Options received Best Binary Options Broker 2013. Binary options occupied a visible position within the retail trading landscape of the period and required a separate analytical framework from conventional forex trading.
The structure of these products placed particular importance on the clarity of payout conditions, expiry parameters, platform functionality and the presentation of risk. Traders needed to understand the predetermined relationship between possible outcomes before entering a position.
The award therefore recognized a specialized segment that formed a notable part of the online trading industry in 2013, even though the regulatory and market environment surrounding such products would change considerably in later years.
Dealing Operations, Liquidity and Order Management
Forex Club received Best Dealing Room 2013. The dealing room represents an operational layer behind the visible trading platform. It supports transaction management, market monitoring and the processes required to maintain an effective trading environment.
A strong dealing operation requires appropriate technology, established procedures and the ability to respond efficiently when liquidity or volatility changes. The award therefore recognized operational infrastructure rather than simply front-end platform functionality.
Barclays received Best Liquidity Provider 2013. This was one of the most institutionally significant awards of the year. Liquidity providers occupy a fundamental position in electronic financial markets by supplying tradable pricing and market depth to brokers and other participants.
Professional evaluation in this category concerns pricing quality, depth, consistency and the ability to provide liquidity across varying market conditions. The inclusion of a dedicated liquidity award illustrates the extent to which Forex Awards 2013 considered the infrastructure behind retail brokerage rather than limiting recognition to companies directly serving individual traders.
Bloomberg Trade Order Management Solutions received Best Trading Order Management 2013. Order-management technology is essential for organizing and controlling trading activity, particularly in professional environments where multiple orders, instruments and workflows may need to be coordinated simultaneously.
Reliability, information organization, workflow efficiency and the ability to manage transactions accurately are central considerations. This award recognized the technological infrastructure supporting professional trading operations rather than a conventional retail brokerage service.
Micro and Mini Account Services
Two separate awards addressed smaller account and transaction structures.
FxGlory received Best Micro Forex Broker 2013. Micro accounts provide the ability to operate with smaller trade sizes, allowing traders to control monetary exposure more precisely. Such structures can be particularly useful when moving from simulated trading into live markets or when testing a strategy with limited capital at risk.
A professional assessment of a micro account should consider more than the initial deposit requirement. Minimum position size, transaction costs, execution and platform access all influence its practical value.
Ikon Group received Best Mini Account Provider 2013. Mini accounts served a related but distinct segment, providing an intermediate structure between very small micro trading and conventional account sizes. The award recognized flexibility in account design and the ability to provide live market participation at a scale suitable for traders who did not require standard-sized exposure.
Together, these categories show how brokers were already adapting account architecture to different capital levels and risk preferences.
Newcomers and Growth
Tusar Forex received Best Forex Newcomer 2013. A newcomer award recognizes a company that established a notable market presence despite having a comparatively shorter operational record within the competitive environment.
The category should not be interpreted simply as recognition of rapid client acquisition. A credible newcomer needs a coherent trading proposition, functional technology, appropriate account structures and sufficient operational capability to compete against established providers.
RoboForex received Fastest Growing Provider 2013. Growth is a different measure from overall brokerage quality. It reflects expansion in market presence, services, geographic reach or business activity. Sustainable growth also requires technological and operational infrastructure capable of supporting an expanding user base.
RoboForex's award recognized the company's development momentum during the 2013 period.
Social Trading, Affiliates and Partner Networks
eToro received Best Social Trading Network 2013, in addition to its ECN/STP award. This distinction is historically significant because social trading was emerging as a separate model of market participation. Instead of treating every trader as an isolated user, social trading environments introduced mechanisms for observing, following and interacting with the activity of other market participants.
The quality of such a network depends on usability, the organization of trader information and the tools available for discovering and evaluating trading activity. The award illustrates how community-driven trading was already becoming an important branch of the industry.
eToro received a third distinction as Best Affiliate Program 2013. Affiliate infrastructure was increasingly important as brokers expanded internationally through online marketing and partnership networks. Reliable tracking, clear commercial arrangements, reporting capabilities and partner support were essential characteristics of an effective program.
Alpari received Best Introductory Program 2013. Introductory and partner programs provided another mechanism for expanding brokerage distribution through relationships with external market participants. Effective programs required clear cooperation structures, practical account attribution and a commercial framework capable of supporting long-term partner relationships.
These awards demonstrate that brokerage competition extended well beyond the trading terminal and into distribution, partnerships and client acquisition infrastructure.
Education, Financial Information and Industry Media
Investopedia received Best Education Provider 2013. Education is a fundamentally different service from brokerage, but it plays an important role in financial-market participation. Traders need to understand terminology, market mechanics, order types, risk and analytical concepts before they can use trading tools effectively.
An educational resource is valuable when complex financial subjects are organized and explained in a manner that supports progressive understanding. Investopedia's recognition demonstrates that trader education was already regarded as a distinct and important component of the financial ecosystem.
Investing.com received Best Media Resource 2013. Financial information resources connect traders with market news, prices, economic developments and analytical material. Their usefulness depends on breadth, accessibility, timeliness and the organization of information.
The award recognized the role of specialist financial media in helping market participants monitor the economic and market environment surrounding their trading decisions.
Professional Forex Events
forexexpo.com received Best Forex Expo 2013. Industry exhibitions served an important function by connecting brokers, technology companies, service providers, affiliates and traders within a single professional environment.
A successful expo creates value through the quality of participants, relevant presentations, networking opportunities and the ability to facilitate business relationships. This category therefore evaluates an industry event rather than a financial intermediary.
Its inclusion among the 2013 winners illustrates the growing maturity of the broader forex ecosystem.
Complete Forex Awards 2013 Winners
| Forex Award 2013 | Winner | Main Area of Recognition |
|---|---|---|
| Best ECN/STP Broker | eToro | ECN/STP brokerage and execution environment |
| Best Binary Options Broker | 24Options | Binary options trading services |
| Best Execution Broker | Swissquote Bank | Execution quality and transaction infrastructure |
| Best Trading Platform | FxPro | Platform technology and trading functionality |
| Best Forex Broker USA | Oanda | Regional brokerage performance in the USA |
| Best Forex Broker Asia | FBS | Regional brokerage performance in Asia |
| Best Forex Broker Europe | Tadawul FX | Regional brokerage performance in Europe |
| Best Forex Broker Canada | InvestTechFX | Regional brokerage performance in Canada |
| Best Dealing Room | Forex Club | Dealing and operational infrastructure |
| Best Forex Newcomer | Tusar Forex | Emerging brokerage proposition |
| Most Transparent Broker | Swissquote Bank | Transparency of brokerage conditions |
| Best Micro Forex Broker | FxGlory | Micro account trading |
| Best Mini Account Provider | Ikon Group | Mini account structure |
| Best Global Trading Platform | MetaTrader 5 | International trading-platform technology |
| Best Mobile Trading Platform | Trading Station Mobile (FXCM) | Mobile trading functionality |
| Best Liquidity Provider | Barclays | Institutional liquidity provision |
| Best Trade Executions | FXCM | Quality of completed transactions |
| Best Forex Expo | forexexpo.com | Professional forex industry event |
| Best Introductory Program | Alpari | Introducing and partnership infrastructure |
| Fastest Growing Provider | RoboForex | Business expansion and market growth |
| Best Trading Order Management | Bloomberg Trade Order Management Solutions | Professional order-management technology |
| Best Forex Broker Africa | NetoTrade | Regional brokerage performance in Africa |
| Best Social Trading Network | eToro | Social and community-driven trading |
| Best Education Provider | Investopedia | Financial and trading education |
| Best Affiliate Program | eToro | Affiliate and partner infrastructure |
| Best Trading Software Provider | eSignal | Trading and analytical software |
| Best Media Resource | Investing.com | Financial information and market media |
What the 2013 Winners Reveal About the Industry
The 2013 results stand out because they encompass substantially more than conventional broker comparison. The awards map almost the entire chain of services surrounding electronic trading.
At the brokerage level, eToro, Swissquote Bank, FxPro, Oanda, FBS, Tadawul FX, InvestTechFX, NetoTrade and others were recognized for execution, technology, regional competitiveness or specialized account structures. Yet the awards also extended upstream into institutional infrastructure through Barclays as liquidity provider and Bloomberg Trade Order Management Solutions for order management.
Technology formed another clearly identifiable layer. MetaTrader 5 represented global platform infrastructure, Trading Station Mobile (FXCM) mobile trading and eSignal specialist trading software. The distinction between these categories is important because it shows that trading technology was already developing into multiple specialized markets rather than remaining a single broker-controlled function.
At the same time, the client acquisition and community dimensions of the business were expanding. eToro's awards for social trading and affiliate services, together with Alpari's introductory program, demonstrate the increasing importance of networks and distribution channels.
Finally, Investopedia, Investing.com and forexexpo.com represented education, financial media and professional industry events. Their inclusion confirms that the forex market had developed an extensive informational and commercial environment around the core act of executing a currency trade.
A Particularly Diverse Award Year
One of the most distinctive features of the 2013 award cycle is the absence, in the supplied winner set, of a single general Best Forex Broker award. Instead, the awards divide brokerage quality into execution, ECN/STP services, technology, regional leadership, transparency, account formats and other specialized dimensions.
This makes the 2013 results unusually granular. Rather than suggesting that one organization could represent every aspect of industry leadership, the award structure recognized that different companies could excel at fundamentally different functions.
Swissquote Bank combined Best Execution Broker with Most Transparent Broker. eToro achieved three separate distinctions — Best ECN/STP Broker, Best Social Trading Network and Best Affiliate Program — spanning trading infrastructure, community functionality and business partnerships. FXCM was represented through Best Trade Executions and its Trading Station Mobile platform, while the regional brokerage categories were distributed among several independent companies.
This diversification provides a useful historical indication of where the industry was heading: toward increasingly specialized technology, execution, account structures and service models.
Forex Awards 2013 in Historical Perspective
Viewed from today's financial-market environment, the 2013 awards document several trends that would become considerably more important over the following decade.
Mobile trading was already important enough to warrant an independent award. Social trading had emerged as a distinct service category. Technology companies and platform developers were receiving recognition independently of brokers. Liquidity provision and professional order management were acknowledged as essential components of market infrastructure. Financial education and specialist market media were treated as important parts of the trader ecosystem.
At the same time, some categories are strongly characteristic of their period. Binary options occupied a prominent position in retail online trading, while micro and mini accounts were major mechanisms for broadening access to live markets. These categories provide historical context for how retail trading products and account structures evolved.
Regional awards across the USA, Canada, Europe, Asia and Africa also illustrate how quickly online trading had expanded internationally. Brokerage firms increasingly needed propositions capable of addressing specific regional markets rather than relying exclusively on a universal global model.
Taken together, the 27 Forex Awards shown for 2013 form one of the broadest representations of the financial trading ecosystem in the historical award series. They recognize brokers, a bank and liquidity provider, trading platforms, technology specialists, an order-management solution, educational and media resources, partnership programs, social trading infrastructure and an industry exhibition.
The Forex Awards Announced Winners 2013 therefore serve not merely as an archive of award recipients, but as a record of how electronic trading was evolving. Execution remained fundamental, but competitive advantage was spreading rapidly into software, liquidity, mobile access, education, information, social interaction and professional infrastructure — many of the same dimensions that would shape the next generation of the global online trading industry.
The Best Forex Companies 2013
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