Raw Zero vs Pure Spread: Which Spec Markets Account Is Right for Your Trading Style?
Compare Spec Markets' Raw Zero and Pure Spread accounts to find the best commission and spread structure for your specific trading style.
Compare Spec Markets' Raw Zero and Pure Spread accounts to find the best commission and spread structure for your specific trading style.
Choosing the right account type is one of the most practical decisions you'll make as a forex trader. Get it wrong and you're overpaying on every trade. Get it right and your cost structure works with your strategy instead of against it.
At Spec Markets, the choice comes down to two accounts: Raw Zero and Pure Spread. Both share the same $50 minimum deposit, up to 1000:1 leverage, MT5 platform, and zero cut system. The only difference is how you pay for each trade. This article breaks down exactly which account suits which trading style — with the numbers to back it up.
Most brokers bury their pricing inside multi-tier account menus. Spec Markets keeps it simple: two options, two pricing structures.
Raw Zero charges spreads from 0.0 pips plus a $3.50 commission per lot per side — so a round-trip trade costs $7.00 in commission per standard lot, plus whatever the spread is at execution.
Pure Spread charges spreads from 1.0 pips with no commission. You pay nothing beyond the spread itself.
That's the entire structural difference. Execution speed, leverage, platform, asset classes, and negative balance protection are identical across both accounts.
The right account depends on your trade frequency, lot size, and how much spread sensitivity matters to your strategy. Here's how the math plays out.
On a major pair like EUR/USD, Raw Zero spreads can sit at or near 0.0 pips during liquid sessions. Your primary cost is the $7.00 round-trip commission per standard lot.
If you're trading 1 standard lot with a spread of 0.1 pips (worth $1.00 on EUR/USD), your total round-trip cost is roughly $8.00. Pure Spread at 1.0 pip costs $10.00 per standard lot with no commission.
At 30 trades per week on 1 lot each, that $2.00 difference adds up to $60 per week — around $240 per month. For active traders, that's not a rounding error.
If you're placing fewer trades per week or trading smaller lot sizes, the commission on Raw Zero can start to outweigh the benefit of tighter spreads.
On a 0.1 lot trade, the $0.70 round-trip commission on Raw Zero is proportionally significant. At Pure Spread with a 1.0 pip spread on EUR/USD, the cost is $1.00 per round trip. The gap narrows considerably, and Pure Spread's simplicity starts to make more sense.
If you're executing 10 or more trades per day, scalping for small pip targets, or running Expert Advisors with high-frequency logic, Raw Zero is almost always the better choice. The near-zero spread environment means your entries and exits are priced as tightly as possible.
Spec Markets' execution averages 0.028 seconds with 99.9% uptime — and that matters when you're scalping. Raw spreads paired with slow execution defeat the purpose. The combination of tight spreads and fast fills is what makes Raw Zero viable for this style.
EA traders benefit here too. When your algorithm is firing dozens of trades per session, even a 0.5 pip difference per trade compounds into a material cost difference over a week.
When you're holding trades for hours or days rather than minutes, the commission on Raw Zero becomes a fixed cost that doesn't scale with your pip target the same way. A swing trader targeting 80 pips pays the same $7.00 round-trip commission as a scalper targeting 5 pips. For the scalper, that commission is a meaningful percentage of the target. For the swing trader, it barely registers.
Pure Spread removes that fixed cost entirely. You pay the 1.0 pip spread and nothing else — a cleaner structure for traders holding positions overnight or across multiple sessions.
FeatureRaw ZeroPure SpreadSpreadsFrom 0.0 pipsFrom 1.0 pipsCommission$3.50/lot/side ($7.00 round trip)NoneMinimum Deposit$50$50LeverageUp to 1000:1Up to 1000:1PlatformMT5 with EA supportMT5 with EA supportZero Cut SystemYesYesBest ForScalpers, day traders, EA tradersSwing traders, long-term tradersMinimum Trade Size0.01 lots0.01 lots
The two-account model at Spec Markets is deliberately simpler than what you'll find at most competitors. Exness runs multiple tiers — Standard, Standard Cent, Pro, Raw Spread, and Zero. HFM has a similarly fragmented menu. Vantage adds further complexity by tying account types to specific platforms.
That complexity isn't inherently bad, but it creates decision fatigue, especially for traders switching brokers who just want a straight answer on what they'll pay per trade.
Spec Markets' approach: two accounts, two pricing structures, full transparency. The spreads and commissions pages lay out the exact figures without footnotes to decode.
IC Markets and FP Markets both offer raw-spread accounts with commission structures similar to Raw Zero. Where Spec Markets differs is what sits alongside those execution conditions — social trading, a loyalty rewards program, and the Trading Sprint Challenge 2026, a 10-week weekly competition with a $1,100 prize pool. These aren't substitutes for solid trading infrastructure. They're built on top of it.
Three questions worth asking before you choose:
1. How many trades do you place per week?
More than 20 trades per week on standard lots? Raw Zero almost certainly costs less. Fewer than 10 trades per week on smaller sizes? Pure Spread is likely simpler and comparable in cost.
2. What are your typical pip targets?
Scalping for 3 to 10 pips per trade? Raw Zero's tight spreads protect your edge. Targeting 50 to 150 pips? The commission savings from Pure Spread matter more.
3. Do you use Expert Advisors?
If yes, Raw Zero is the natural fit. EA strategies are typically built around spread conditions, and the near-zero spread environment is what they're designed for.
You can also use the profit and margin calculator at Spec Markets to model your specific lot sizes and trade frequency against each account's cost structure before you deposit.
Your trading style will evolve, and you're not locked in. Both account types sit under the same $50 minimum deposit threshold, and you can open multiple accounts to run them in parallel if you want to compare real execution costs against your own patterns.
Q: What is the main difference between Raw Zero and Pure Spread accounts?
A: Raw Zero charges spreads from 0.0 pips plus a $3.50 commission per lot per side. Pure Spread charges spreads from 1.0 pips with no commission. The right choice depends on your trade volume and lot size.
Q: Which account is cheaper for high-frequency trading?
A: Raw Zero is generally cheaper for scalpers and day traders executing large volumes on standard lots. The near-zero spread reduces per-trade cost significantly when you're placing 20 or more trades per week.
Q: Is the minimum deposit different between the two accounts?
A: No. Both Raw Zero and Pure Spread require a $50 minimum deposit and support leverage up to 1000:1.
Q: Can I use Expert Advisors on both account types?
A: Yes. MT5 with full EA support is available on both accounts.
Q: Does Pure Spread have any hidden fees?
A: No. Pure Spread charges only the spread, starting from 1.0 pips — no per-trade commission. Swap rates apply to positions held overnight, which you can review in the swap rate tables on the Spec Markets website.
Q: Which account is better for swing trading?
A: Pure Spread is typically the better fit. When you're holding trades for hours or days and targeting larger pip moves, removing the per-lot commission simplifies your cost structure considerably.
Q: How do I calculate my actual trading costs before opening an account?
A: Use the profit and margin calculator at Spec Markets to model your trade sizes and frequency against each account type. It gives you a realistic cost comparison based on your own patterns before you commit.
Both accounts run on the same execution infrastructure: 0.028-second average fills, 99.9% uptime, and 15+ top-tier liquidity providers. The account choice is a cost structure decision, not a quality decision. Pick the one that matches how you actually trade, and your cost per trade will reflect that.
Open a live account or try a free demo at specmarkets.com.
CFD trading involves significant risk of loss. Leverage amplifies both gains and losses. Ensure you understand the risks before trading.
