True Friction Calculator
"Zero commission" is a marketing line — the cost hides in the spread. This compares a standard/markup account against a raw ECN account on your real monthly volume, so you can see which one actually leaves you more money.
Your account, your volume
Every trade pays a toll. This shows you the toll.
Round-turn cost on any account reduces to three numbers: spread × pip value (the invisible tax on entry), commission (only on raw accounts), and slippage × pip value (the same across account types). Add them and multiply by lots.
A standard/markup account hides the whole cost in a wider spread — $10–14 per lot on EUR/USD is typical. A raw ECN account splits it: a tiny spread (often below $2) plus a fixed round-turn commission (usually $5–8). Whichever total is smaller wins.
What the math also reveals: lot volume does not change which account is cheaper — the per-lot difference is fixed by the spread gap vs the commission. Higher volume only amplifies whichever account is already ahead. So if you want to know which to pick, run this once at any volume; the winner is the winner.
Frequently asked questions
Is "$0 commission" actually a lie?
It is a marketing half-truth. Zero-commission accounts recover the cost by widening the spread — usually by 0.8–1.2 pips on majors. On a standard lot that is $8–12 per round-turn, indistinguishable from a raw account paying $6 commission on a 0.1 pip spread. Plug your broker's live spreads in and see for yourself.
When is a standard account actually cheaper than raw ECN?
When the round-turn commission on the raw account is bigger than the spread you save. If raw shaves 0.6 pips ($6) but charges $7 commission, standard is cheaper by $1/lot. Low-volume, low-frequency traders often break even. Scalpers and high-volume traders almost always come out ahead on raw.
Why does the math ignore slippage differences?
This tool applies the same slippage to both accounts because slippage is mostly a function of the underlying liquidity venue, not the account type. In practice a good raw account can have slightly less negative slippage on limit orders, but that's broker-specific and we would rather not fabricate a number.
What lot volume makes raw ECN "worth it"?
It does not depend on volume the way most guides claim — the per-lot cost difference is fixed by the spread gap vs commission. What volume changes is the total dollar swing: at 5 lots/month the difference might be $30; at 50 lots/month it is $300. Higher volume just amplifies whichever account is already cheaper.