ACY Securities Review Summary
ACY Securities is a Sydney-headquartered forex and CFD broker founded in 2011. Its market range covers forex pairs, share CFDs, indices, commodities, precious metals, ETFs, and cryptocurrency CFDs, with trading available through MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, the ACY Trading Platform, SoFinX, and TradingCup copy trading.
During our account review, the strongest areas were platform choice, low starting costs, scalping support, and fast live-chat handling. The weaker points were more serious: entity complexity, mixed withdrawal complaints, and protection rules that change by jurisdiction.
Quick Verdict: Is ACY Securities Worth It?
For active forex and CFD traders, ACY Securities is worth shortlisting. The ProZero account is the standout option because it combines raw-spread access with a $3 per side commission, which is below many $3.50 per side raw accounts. MT4 and MT5 support also make the broker useful for traders who rely on Expert Advisors, hedging, or scalping.
The recommendation is more cautious for beginners. This is a leveraged trading venue, not a long-term investment platform. Traders who want simple investor protection, direct asset ownership, or a broker with very few public complaints may find the structure too complex.
Who ACY Securities Is Best For
- Forex traders who want MT4 and MT5 with a $50 starting deposit.
- Scalpers and day traders who need 0.01-lot trading, raw-spread pricing, and Expert Advisor support.
- CFD traders who want access to forex, stocks, indices, commodities, ETFs, and crypto from one account.
- Experienced traders who understand leverage risk and entity differences.
Who Should Avoid ACY Securities
- Traders in restricted countries, including the United States.
- Beginners who prefer simple investor protection over high-leverage account choice.
- Crypto investors who want spot coins, custody, staking, or exchange-style wallets rather than CFDs.
Pros
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A $50 minimum deposit on the Basic account is required
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MT4, MT5, and proprietary platforms are supported
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No internal deposit fee and no inactivity fee is charged
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Scalping, hedging, and news trading are allowed
Cons
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Protection depends on the account entity and jurisdiction
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Public complaints include withdrawal delays and pricing disputes
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Currency conversion fees can apply when funding in another currency
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Some payment methods vary by country and client portal eligibility
What Is ACY Securities?
Company Background
Founded in 2011, ACY Securities is headquartered in Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia. The brand operates through several entities, including ACY Securities Pty Ltd and ACY Capital LLC. ACY Securities SA Pty Ltd is linked to South Africa and is regulated by the FSCA under FSP No. 51008. ACY Capital LLC is incorporated in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines under company number 2610 LLC 2022.
The company is privately held. That does not make it unsafe, but it does reduce the amount of public financial reporting available to clients. For that reason, the account agreement, regulator, client-money rules, and dispute process deserve more attention before funding.
Available Countries
ACY has offices or business presence linked to Australia, South Africa, and Vanuatu. Account availability depends on residence, client classification, regulation, and the legal entity used for onboarding. United States clients are not accepted, and several higher-risk jurisdictions are restricted.
The restricted-country list includes the United States, Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Yemen, Belarus, North Korea, New Zealand, and Russia. ACY Capital LLC also states that it does not target or solicit clients in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or Canada.
ACY Securities Fees and Costs
Trading Fees
The pricing model is split by account type. Basic and Standard accounts build most trading costs into the spread, while ProZero separates the spread from the commission. Non-trading fees are lighter than average because there is no internal deposit fee and no inactivity fee. Withdrawal costs depend on monthly usage and payment method.
Spreads and Commissions
Basic and Standard accounts use floating spreads with no separate commission on most CFD trades. ProZero is more transparent for scalpers because it shows a tighter spread and adds a fixed commission.
Share-CFD pricing needs separate attention. Australian share CFDs start from 0.08%, while US share CFDs start from $0.02 per share. That can be acceptable for occasional stock-CFD exposure, but frequent equity traders should compare the total cost against specialist share-CFD or direct-market platforms.
Deposit and Withdrawal Fees
Deposits carry no internal broker fee. Withdrawals are more conditional: up to five withdrawals per calendar month are fee-free, and additional withdrawals in the same month cost $25 in the account base currency. External fees can still come from banks, card issuers, crypto networks, or payment providers.
Inactivity and Account Fees
No inactivity fee is charged, and there is no standard account-maintenance fee. That helps traders who trade in cycles or keep a live account open while waiting for setups. Open leveraged trades can still attract swap charges, so a quiet account is not always a cost-free account.
Bonus and Promotions
ACY advertises deposit promotions, including a 60% welcome deposit bonus up to $500 and a 20% forex credit bonus with a maximum bonus cap of $5,000. These offers include conditions, and some bonus value can require trading-volume targets before withdrawal.
Promotions should not drive broker choice. A bonus can increase margin capacity, but it can also encourage larger positions than the account can sensibly handle. Regulation, execution, spreads, and withdrawal reliability matter more.
Currency Conversion Fees
Currency conversion applies when the funding currency differs from the account base currency. Available base currencies are USD, AUD, EUR, GBP, NZD, CAD, and JPY. The cleanest way to reduce this cost is to choose the base currency that matches the main funding route.
Overnight and Swap Fees
Positions held past the daily rollover can incur swap charges. The charge may be a debit or credit depending on the instrument, trade direction, and interest-rate differential. Forex and metals normally receive a triple swap on Wednesday to account for the weekend settlement.
Swap-free accounts are available on request for eligible clients, with the Standard account listed as the main swap-free option. Traders using Islamic conditions should still check holding-time rules and any administration fees before holding trades for several days.
ACY Securities Account Types
Basic Account
The Basic account starts from $50 and supports a 0.01-lot minimum trade size. It is the easiest way to test ACY with real execution and small position sizes. Spreads are wider than on ProZero, so the account makes more sense for learning and low-frequency trading than for scalping.
Standard Account
With a $100 minimum deposit, the Standard account keeps the simple no-commission model but gives a slightly more serious account setup. It is also the main account type listed for swap-free conditions. Traders who avoid commissions for accounting simplicity may prefer it, although total cost still depends on the spread paid at execution.
ProZero Account
ProZero is the strongest account in the range for active trading. The minimum deposit is $200, spreads start from 0.0 pips, and the commission is $3 per lot per side. In our cost review, this was the account that made ACY most competitive against other raw-spread brokers.
How to Open an Account with ACY Securities
Signup Process
Signup starts with personal details, email verification, residence information, and trading account selection. The portal then requests identity information and account preferences. Before depositing, traders should confirm account currency, platform type, leverage, and entity.
Verification Requirements
Live-account approval requires identity verification. ACY requests a clear passport or national ID, and address or payment checks may also be needed depending on the client's profile. Names should match across the trading account, bank account, card, and wallet to reduce withdrawal delays.
Minimum Deposit
The minimum deposit is $50 for Basic, $100 for Standard, and $200 for ProZero. Premium Bespoke conditions are listed from $20,000. For most traders, the better practical starting point is not the lowest deposit but the amount that supports sensible position sizing.
How Long Account Approval Takes
Approval can be fast when documents are clear and details match. Delays usually come from blurry IDs, mismatched names, unsupported countries, or extra compliance checks. During an account review, it is better to complete verification before funding heavily.
Markets and Assets Available
Forex Pairs
Forex is the broker's core market. Major, minor, and exotic pairs are available. The combination of MT4, MT5, Expert Advisors, hedging, and scalping support makes the forex offering stronger than the broker's long-term investing appeal.
Stock and ETF CFDs
Stock and ETF CFDs give price exposure without ownership. This can work for short-term speculation, but it does not provide shareholder rights or traditional custody. Australian share CFDs start from 0.08%, and US share CFDs start from $0.02 per share.
Indices and Commodities
Index and commodity CFDs are available for traders who want macro exposure. Gold, oil, and major equity indices are the most practical instruments in this group.
Cryptocurrencies
Crypto trading is offered through CFDs. That structure provides price exposure without private-key custody, wallet transfers, staking, or spot-coin ownership. It is simpler for leveraged trading, but it also adds overnight cost and liquidation risk.
Leverage Limits and Trading Limits
Leverage depends on account entity, residence, asset class, and client classification. ACY offers dynamic leverage up to 1:5000 on selected accounts and platforms. Australian retail clients face stricter leverage limits under local rules, while offshore structures can provide higher leverage with weaker investor-protection clarity.
The minimum trade size starts with 0.01 lot. Scalping, hedging, news trading, Expert Advisors, API trading, and VPS use are supported. Those permissions are useful for advanced strategies, but they also increase the need for tight risk controls.
Trading Platforms and Tools
ACY Trading Platform
The ACY Trading Platform is the broker's proprietary web platform. It is designed for browser-based access and includes charting, market monitoring, order placement, and account tools. In our platform check, it felt easier to navigate than MetaTrader for simple order entry, but MetaTrader remains the better choice for automation and advanced customization.
Common order types include market orders, limit orders, stop orders, stop-loss orders, and take-profit orders. Traders should check instrument-specific rules inside the order ticket before trading around news or thin-liquidity periods.
MetaTrader 4
MT4 remains the better fit for forex traders who use Expert Advisors, custom indicators, and familiar chart templates. The platform supports market orders, pending orders, stop-loss, take-profit, trailing stops, and one-click trading. It is not the newest platform, but it remains efficient for forex execution.
MetaTrader 5
MT5 adds more timeframes, more order-management flexibility, and stronger multi-asset handling than MT4. Available order types include market, limit, stop, and stop-limit orders, plus stop-loss and take-profit controls. Traders who use stock CFDs, broader CFDs, or more detailed depth and calendar tools may prefer MT5.
Copy Trading and Social Trading
ACY supports copy-trading services through SoFinX and TradingCup. Copy trading can help less experienced clients observe active strategies, but it does not remove risk. Performance history, drawdown, trade frequency, and leverage settings should be reviewed before copying any strategy.
API Trading and VPS Hosting
API trading and VPS support are available for eligible strategy users. That matters for automated traders who need stable connectivity and lower interruption risk. A VPS can improve uptime, but it cannot prevent slippage or poor strategy logic.
Research and Charting Tools
Research support includes market analysis, economic-calendar tools, news, charting, and technical indicators. MetaTrader users get a wide indicator ecosystem, while the ACY platform gives a cleaner browser-based workflow. The research suite is useful for active traders, although it does not match the institutional-level depth of platforms built for professional portfolio management.
Educational Resources
Education includes webinars, articles, platform guides, and trading resources. The material is helpful for learning basic trading mechanics, but beginners should still practice in a demo first. High leverage and CFD products require more preparation than a simple spot-investing account.
ACY Securities Deposits and Withdrawals
Payment Methods
Available methods include Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller, Alipay, China Union Pay, QR Code Pay, DragonPay, Tether, Bitcoin, USDC, and wire transfer. Some ACY pages also refer to PayTrust, FPX Bank Transfer, South Africa Local Transfer, and Africa Local Transfer, but exact portal availability depends on residence and account entity.
Deposit Times
Card, e-wallet, and crypto deposits are usually faster than bank transfers. Bank funding can take longer because of banking cut-off times and intermediary processing. Crypto funding also depends on network confirmation and compliance review.
Withdrawal Times
Withdrawal time depends on the method. Crypto withdrawals can be instant for eligible requests, bank transfers usually take 2 to 3 business days, and card withdrawals usually take 3 to 5 business days. E-wallet withdrawals are generally faster than bank wires, but compliance checks can still slow processing.
Withdrawal Limits
ACY allows up to five fee-free withdrawals per calendar month. Extra withdrawals cost $25 in the account base currency. Larger withdrawals, mismatched payment names, bonus conditions, or open compliance checks can create extra friction.
Deposit Methods:
Withdrawal Methods:
ACY Securities Customer Support Review
Support Channels
Support is available 24/5. Support channels include live chat, email, phone, and account-manager contact. The website also provides help center material for funding, account setup, platforms, and trading conditions.
Response Times
The average response times are about 1 minute for live chat, 3 minutes for phone calls and up to 8 hours for email. Live chat was the fastest route in our review. Simple questions received quick handling, while more detailed issues needed follow-up. Email is better for anything that requires a paper trail, especially withdrawals, verification, execution disputes, or complaints.
Support Quality
Support quality was practical for routine tasks. The team could point to account requirements, payment rules, and platform basics. For serious trade disputes, traders should save account statements, order tickets, screenshots, and time stamps before contacting support.
Languages Available
ACY provides multilingual support including English, Chinese, Spanish, French, Arabic, Japanese, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Portuguese, Malay, Italian, Russian, Bengali, Punjabi, German, Cantonese, and Korean.
ACY Securities User Reviews and Complaints
Positive User Reviews
Positive reviewers frequently mention fast chat handling and helpful support staff. One short review described the service as:
Quick and efficient responses on chat.
That matches our support test. Routine questions were handled quickly, especially through live chat.
Negative User Reviews
The negative side is more important for risk assessment. Some users report delayed or disputed withdrawals, and at least one review stated:
they are not paying withdrawal
A single review does not prove a systemic problem, but repeated withdrawal-related complaints should influence how clients fund the account. A practical approach is to test a small withdrawal before committing larger capital.
Common ACY Securities Complaints
- Withdrawal processing times can be longer than expected.
- Some traders report trade execution issues.
- Slippage during volatile market conditions is a recurring concern.
- Spread widening, particularly during major news events, can affect trading costs.
- Additional verification checks may delay account-related processes.
Trustpilot and App Store Ratings
Verification Issues
Verification friction is common across CFD brokers because identity, address, source-of-funds, and payment-name checks must align. ACY requires a clear ID or passport for live-account verification. Using the same name across the trading account, bank account, card, and wallet reduces preventable delays.
Platform Problems
Platform complaints usually relate to execution conditions, slippage, spread spikes, or account-specific disputes. Slippage can happen during volatility and network latency. The fair test is not whether slippage exists, but whether execution remains consistent, explainable, and documented.
Best ACY Securities Alternative
Best Alternative for Beginners
eToro is stronger for beginners who want a simple interface, social trading, and a unified account experience. ACY is the better fit when a new trader specifically wants MT4 or MT5, smaller lot sizing, and a forex-first workflow. The choice is between simplicity and execution flexibility.
Best Alternative for Low Fees
IC Markets is a stronger low-fee benchmark because its Raw Trading account is known for very tight average EUR/USD pricing and a $3.50 per lot per side commission. ACY's ProZero commission is lower at $3 per side, so it competes well on headline commission. IC Markets still has a stronger reputation among high-volume scalpers who prioritize raw-spread consistency.
Best Alternative for Advanced Traders
Interactive Brokers suits advanced traders who want direct market access, more asset classes, stronger reporting tools, and a broader investment platform. ACY is better for high-leverage CFD trading and MetaTrader workflows. When professional portfolio tools matter more than offshore leverage, Interactive Brokers is the cleaner option.
Best Alternative for Forex or CFD Trading
Pepperstone is a strong ACY alternative because it combines MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView access, raw-spread pricing, and a strong regulatory footprint. ACY answers with a lower ProZero commission and its proprietary platform. Pepperstone is stronger for platform diversity, while ACY can appeal to traders focused on ProZero pricing.
How ACY Securities Compares for Different Traders
ACY Securities for Beginners
Beginners can use ACY because the Basic account starts at $50 and the minimum trade size is 0.01 lot. Education, webinars, demo access, and live chat also help. The danger is leverage. New traders should start with a demo account, trade small, and avoid using the highest leverage available.
ACY Securities for Day Trading
Day traders get the best setup through ProZero. The $200 entry point, raw-spread pricing, $3 per side commission, MT4, MT5, one-click tools, and VPS support fit intraday execution. Short holding periods can also reduce swap exposure.
ACY Securities for Forex Trading
Forex is ACY's strongest category. The broker supports MT4, MT5, scalping, hedging, Expert Advisors, and variable spreads. EUR/USD and GBP/USD weighted average spreads are 1.1 pips, while ProZero can start from 0.0 pips before commission.
ACY Securities for Long-Term Investors
Long-term investors should look elsewhere. ACY offers CFDs, not direct ownership of stocks, ETFs, or crypto. Investors who need custody statements, dividend handling, voting rights, tax wrappers, and portfolio reporting will be better served by a direct-investment platform.
ACY Securities for Crypto Trading
Crypto CFD traders may find ACY useful, especially if they already trade other CFD markets. Spot crypto investors will not. CFDs give price exposure without wallet custody, but they also add leverage, spread, and overnight-cost considerations.
Is ACY Securities Safe and Legit?
Licensing and Regulation
The brand is linked to ASIC in Australia, FSCA in South Africa, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Vanuatu. Publicly listed details include ASIC AFSL 403863, FSCA FSP No. 51008, and ACY Capital LLC company number 2610 LLC 2022. Before funding, traders should check the entity named on the account agreement because that entity controls the protection framework.
Security Features
Security features include KYC verification, segregated client funds, platform access controls, and account-review processes. Negative balance protection is also supported under certain conditions. These safeguards help, but they do not remove CFD risk or guarantee a favorable outcome in every dispute.
Investor Protection
There is no single state-backed compensation scheme that covers every ACY client globally. ACY states that clients under ACY AU and ACY LLC are covered by Professional Indemnity insurance that provides liability coverage up to $2,500,000 per claim for administrative errors, fraud, or negligence. This is not the same as a deposit guarantee or a blanket investor-compensation fund.
Negative Balance Protection
Negative balance protection is available. Australian retail clients receive stronger automatic treatment under local retail rules. For international and professional-style clients, balance rebalancing can depend on approval, entity terms, and trading conduct. It should never be treated as permission to overleverage.
Segregated Client Funds
ACY states that client funds are held in segregated trust accounts, separate from company operating funds. Client deposits are held with major banks such as Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Segregation reduces the risk that operating creditors can claim client money if the broker faces financial stress.
Final Verdict
ACY Securities is a capable forex and CFD broker with low entry costs, a competitive ProZero commission, broad platform coverage, and a useful range of markets. It suits traders who understand leveraged products and want MT4, MT5, copy trading, Expert Advisors, or high-leverage access under eligible entities.
The final judgment is positive but not unconditional. Withdrawal complaints and pricing disputes should not be ignored. The regulatory setup also requires careful reading because higher leverage is connected to different protection levels. ACY is practical for active CFD traders; it is not the cleanest choice for beginners who place investor protection first or for investors seeking long-term asset ownership.
ACY Securities Review FAQs
Does ACY Securities charge commissions?
Yes, but not on every account. Basic and Standard accounts are commission-free for most CFD trades. ProZero charges $3 per lot per side. Share CFDs also have separate commission charges.
Can traders use scalping and hedging with ACY Securities?
Yes. Scalping and hedging are allowed on MT4 and MT5. ProZero is the strongest account for these strategies because it offers tighter spreads and commission-based pricing.
Can clients trade crypto with ACY Securities?
Yes. ACY Securities offers cryptocurrency CFDs, so clients can trade crypto price movements without owning the underlying coins. This setup suits short-term CFD traders, but it is not the same as holding spot crypto in a wallet, and overnight costs can apply when positions stay open after rollover.
Is ACY Securities good for beginners?
It can be used by beginners, mainly because of the $50 minimum deposit, demo accounts, education, and live chat support. The safer approach is to avoid very high leverage and test a small withdrawal before depositing larger amounts.
Jake Robins
Jake Robins is a Forex and crypto education contributor covering risk management, technical analysis, trading psychology, broker platforms, and scam awareness. He helps readers approach the markets with discipline, caution, and informed decision-making.