Markets
Choosing a broker for XAUUSD: what should you check?
A practical XAUUSD broker checklist covering spread, commission, swap, execution, contract specifications and payments.
You trade XAUUSD in the evening and often hold positions through rollover. Spread matters, but swap, contract specifications and order handling during volatile periods can also affect your experience.
Six checks before comparing brokers
-
Spread during your session. Do not stop at a “spread from…” headline. Check typical spreads and whether conditions differ around news or market open and close.
-
Commission. A Raw or Zero account may charge commission separately. Compare total costs for the same volume instead of comparing spread figures alone.
-
Swap if you hold overnight. If you usually close during the day, swap may matter less. If you hold XAUUSD through rollover, check the swap for the correct direction and account type.
-
MT5 contract specification. Check contract size, tick size, tick value, minimum volume, volume step, trading hours and margin or leverage. These details affect position sizing and the projected loss if your Stop Loss is hit.
-
Execution during volatility. Read how the broker describes slippage, requotes and execution around news. Statistics published by a broker are provider data, not an independent comparison of the whole market.
-
Deposits and withdrawals. Confirm supported methods, processing times and conditions for your region.
Same market, different priorities
A trader who closes before the end of the day may focus on spread and commission. Someone holding for several sessions should also check swap and rollover conditions. A trader active around news needs to understand possible spread widening and slippage. No single criterion identifies the right broker for everyone.
Before choosing, open the exact XAUUSD symbol in the platform or official documentation, note its contract specification and compare it with the account you plan to use. Do not transfer tick values or contract sizes from one broker to another.
In Compare Brokers, select Precious Metals (Gold / XAUUSD) and choose up to two priorities that matter most to you. What is position size? explains how Stop Loss distance and contract details fit into a volume calculation.
