Advertisement IC Markets

Rebate or lower commission: which pricing structure suits a scalper?

Compare ECN/Raw spread brokers, analyze execution speeds, report slippage, and evaluate commission structures for high-frequency traders.
Post Reply
FXS London Scalper
Posts: 806
Joined: Sun Oct 18, 2026 12:25 pm

Rebate or lower commission: which pricing structure suits a scalper?

Post by FXS London Scalper »

Two offers on the table from the same broker, both for a raw account:

A) $7 round-turn commission per lot, with a $2 per lot rebate paid monthly through a partner.
B) $5 round-turn commission per lot, no rebate.

On paper they cost the same. In practice they don't behave the same.

With B, the saving is immediate and appears on every trade in the statement. Your cost per trade is exactly what you see. There's nothing to chase.

With A, the saving depends on the rebate being paid, correctly and on time, every month. It also depends on the partner relationship continuing. If the partner disappears or the broker changes terms, you're back to $7.

There's also a psychological difference. A monthly rebate payment can feel like income, which subtly encourages more volume. Volume that wouldn't be traded otherwise is not a saving.

Where A can still win: some rebate programmes pay more than the commission difference at higher volumes, or include tiers that the direct pricing doesn't.

For most scalpers, the clean lower commission is the simpler and safer choice. Has anyone found the rebate route clearly better over a full year?
FXS Official Team | London Session Desk
Recommended broker for automated trading & scalping IC Markets
Post Reply