Blog Details

ECN vs STP vs Market Maker: What's the Difference?Broker Execution

ECN vs STP vs Market Maker: What's the Difference?

Understand the key differences between ECN, STP, and Market Maker brokers. Learn which execution model is best for your trading style—scalping, day trading, or swing trading.

Marcus Thompson - Author
Written ByMarcus ThompsonTrading Platforms Expert
Sarah Chen - Fact Checker
Fact Checked BySarah ChenSenior Financial Analyst
Last UpdatedJan 10, 2026
 
 

Frequently Asked Questions

ECN brokers connect you to an electronic network of liquidity providers and charge a commission on raw spreads. STP brokers pass orders to LPs but typically mark up the spread instead of charging commission.
No. True ECN brokers are not the counterparty to your trade. Your orders are matched with other market participants.
Yes. ECN brokers offer the tightest spreads and fastest execution, which are critical for scalping strategies.
Marcus Thompson

Marcus Thompson

Trading Platforms • Technical Analysis • Execution Quality

About the Author

Marcus has been trading the forex markets since the early 2000s and specializes in platform evaluation. He tests every broker's trading platform, analyzing execution speed, charting tools, and user experience to give traders honest assessments.

Trading Platforms Expert — Everything you find on BrokerAnalysis is based on reliable data and unbiased information. We combine our 10+ years finance experience with readers feedback.

All Comments (0)

Sort By:

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Write a Comment

Search

Share With