Stops level and freeze level: the rules nobody reads

[Shadow Trader]

Two settings on many MT4 and MT5 brokers quietly decide what is possible. The stops level is the minimum distance from the current price at which a stop, limit, or protective order can be placed. The freeze level is the zone around a pending order inside which it can't be modified or canceled.

A broker with a stops level of 0 lets orders be placed right at the price. A broker with a level of 30 points demands 3 pips of space. That isn't a problem for swing trades. For a scalp with a 2 pip stop, it's a dealbreaker.

The freeze level is the sneakier one. A pending order sitting 1 pip from the market might be locked, so it can't be moved or deleted as price approaches. That's how a trader can end up unable to cancel an order that's about to be hit.

Both values are visible in the symbol specifications, and they can change around news or on specific instruments. A pair that allowed tight stops on Monday may not on Friday.

Looking at the spec sheet for every symbol is boring and takes ten minutes. It saves a lot of confusion.

Which brokers have given the lowest stops level, and did it hold during volatile sessions?