Both EC Markets and FBS carry a documented, well-researched account-pricing trap in this series — but each one shows up differently and demands a different specific fix.
Each broker’s specific pricing trap
EC Markets‘ PRO account requires $5,000 for no documented advantage over its $10 ECN account, per our pricing-trap article. FBS’s “Zero Spread” account carries a $20/lot commission — triple its own ECN account’s $6/lot — per our FBS account-comparison article. Both are naming/pricing traps, but EC Markets’ is a deposit-gap issue while FBS’s is a commission-mislabeling issue.
Licensing: both hold Tier-1/2 options for eligible clients
EC Markets holds FCA and ASIC. FBS holds CySEC and ASIC for eligible clients, with FSC Belize for others, per its own overview. Both offer a meaningfully stronger regulatory ceiling than Tier-3-only brokers in this series, though most Vietnamese traders land offshore at either.
The fix at each broker is the same principle, different account
At EC Markets, choose ECN over PRO. At FBS, choose ECN over Zero Spread. In both cases, the account that sounds more “basic” is actually the better value — a pattern worth remembering at either broker.
Which one fits which trader?
Both brokers’ ECN accounts are competitively priced once you avoid each one’s specific trap. The choice between them often comes down to secondary factors — EC Markets’ VN Pay support versus FBS’s wider international e-wallet range for non-EU clients.
Deposit methods and regional support
EC Markets supports VN Pay alongside UnionPay, OTC365, and SWIFT, per our overview — a specific signal of attention to the Vietnamese market. FBS’s methods vary by entity, with non-EU clients getting PerfectMoney, Sticpay, and GlobePay, per its own overview — broad, but without a Vietnam-specific option the way EC Markets offers.
A practical way to decide instead of guessing
Given both brokers’ ECN accounts share a similarly low entry cost, testing each one directly — while specifically avoiding PRO at EC Markets and Zero Spread at FBS — is the most reliable way to judge execution quality independent of either broker’s specific naming trap.
Frequently asked questions
Is one of these traps worse than the other? FBS’s is more severe in absolute terms ($20/lot is the highest commission researched in this entire series), but both are avoidable with the same basic verification habit.
Should you avoid PRO and Zero Spread entirely? Not necessarily avoid, but always calculate real cost independently of the name before choosing either.
Which broker has the stronger Vietnam-specific payment option? EC Markets, via its documented VN Pay support.
Avoid the PRO trap and open EC Markets‘ ECN account instead? Same spread, a fraction of the deposit.
EC Markets currently has a welcome offer for new accounts for a limited time — terms may change, check directly when you register.
Forex and CFD trading involves leverage and carries a high risk of capital loss regardless of which broker you choose. This is not investment advice. Learn more at FXM680’s Forex Academy.