Online trading is already risky enough, & trading with the wrong app can compound your risks. We have tested popular trading apps to see how they perform under various market conditions, and how they help you manage risk better.
For what to expect, Exness Trade mobile app is the top on our list because of its robust risk management tools, & the global presence/trust of Exness the broker offering it.
Best Forex Trading Apps in Kenya
Not only did we test these apps vigorously, but we also studied the legal documents of the brokers to ensure trading terms & conditions are suitable for Kenyans.
- Exness Trade App – Best Forex Trading App in Kenya
- FXPesa Equiti Trader – Best Trading App in Kenya that accepts MPesa & Airtel Money
- HFM App – Best Trading App in Kenya for Pro Traders
- Admirals Mobile App – Best Trading App in Kenya for Beginners
- Scope Trader App – Best Trading App in Kenya for Nairobi Stock Exchange Stocks
- FXTM MetaTrader App – App by licensed non-dealing forex broker
- Windsor Brokers MT4 – Good App for desktop trading
- BetWinner partners – best betting app
Trading Conditions for Best Trading Apps in Kenya
📛 Broker | 🤖 App Name | 🎌 Regulation | 🏦 Minimum Deposit | 🏷Trading Fees | 🔼CFD Instruments | 🪹 Inactivity Fee | 👁security |
Exness | Exness Trade | CMA | $10 | $3.5 | Forex, Commodities, Stocks, Indices. | $0 | Fingerprint & Password |
FXPesa | Equiti Trader | CMA | $0 | $3.5 | Forex, Commodities, Stocks, Indices, ETFs, Futures | Yes | Fingerprint & Password |
HF Markets | HFM App | CMA | $0 | $0 | Forex, Indices, Stocks, Commodities, Bonds, & ETFs | $10 | Fingerprint & Password |
Admiral Markets | Admirals App | CMA | $25 | $3 | Forex, Commodities, Indices, Shares, ETFs, Bonds | 10 EUR | Fingerprint & Password |
Scope Markets | Scope Trader | CMA | $100 | $3.5 | Shares, Forex, Indices, Commodities, NSE Derivatives | $10 | Password |
Risk Warning for Readers: before you consider trading financial markets you should ensure to have a good knowledge of the finance industry, as well as enough capital to offset losses and keep going.
1. Exness Trade – Best App for Forex Traders
Beginner Accounts | Cent A/C Standard A/C | Beginner Accounts are Zero Commission, but spreads & swaps are present fees. |
Professional Accounts | Raw A/C Zero A/C | Professional Account users pay $3.5/side commissions & low spread. Exness is a true zero spread broker with spreads on EUR/USD averaging 0.00 pips on its Zero Account. |
Minimum deposit | Beginner A/C: $10Professional A/C: $500 | Kenya Shilling base currency accounts are available so you can deposit or withdraw in KES without conversion fees. |
Exness extends its services to Kenyans through Tadenex Limited who are a CMA authorized non-dealing forex broker (CMA License 162). Your trading accounts are protected by Kenyan law.
The Exness Trade App is open to both Android & Apple Phone users allowing you to trade 100+ Forex CFDs, & also CFDs with Commodities, Stocks, & Indices as underlying assets.
Note: When you trade CFDs you don’t own the underlying instrument & are only compensated for the price movement.
Security: on the Exness app is well laid out & you may opt to login with passcode or an inbuilt fingerprint scanner. Other security features include the ability to disable screenshots& hide screen content.
Notifications: are customizable as you can turn on/off notifications for: Favorite Instruments, Trading Signals, News, Economic calendar events, or Price changes.
Support: is integrated into the app with the choice to use LiveChat, or visit Help center. You can even read legal docs such as Bonus terms & conditions from the app.
Account Management: open and close Demo & Live Accounts from the app. Also view & reactivate archived accounts from the app.
Funding & Withdrawal: can be done inside the app even on weekends, & MPesa is supported alongside cards & bank transfers.
Charting: is good with 7 time frames, & 3 chart types but you can choose to call up the third-party TradingView platform anytime for more advanced charting.
Inbuilt technical indicators are few (only Moving Average, Bollinger Bands, Parabolic SAR, & Trading Signals) so you have to switch to TradingView platform to access more indicators.
Exness App Pros & Cons
👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
100+ FX CFDs to choose from | Limitations on tradable instruments could hamper efforts to diversify your portfolio. |
0.0 pip spread on the average when trading CFDs on major FX pairs like EUR/USD as well as indices such as Germany 30, Japan 225, SP500 etc. using the Zero Account | |
Beginner friendly Cent Account for newbies | |
Trusted app with CMA approval & biometric security | |
Kenyan Shilling funding & withdrawal welcome without conversion fees | |
MPesa accepted | |
24/7 integrated app support/LiveChat | |
Economic calendar is inbuilt | |
TradingView partnership | |
Choose to buy/sell in lots or by amount for better clarity. | |
In-built calculator tool | |
Swap-free trading on some instruments for a period of time |
The Exness trade app can be downloaded here plus account opening
2. Equiti Trader App (FXPesa) – Best Trading App in Kenya with MPesa & Airtel
Beginner Accounts | Executive A/C | Ideal for beginners, the only trading fees are spreads from 1.4pips, and swaps. |
Professional Accounts | Premiere A/C | An account for more experienced traders, $3.5/side commissions apply alongside swaps. 0.0 Pip average spreads can be accessed on the Premiere Account for some FX CFDs like EUR/USD, & USD/JPY. |
Minimum deposit | Executive A/C: $0Premiere A/C: $100 | MPesa & Airtel deposit/withdrawal accepted but all accounts are set to USD base currency only. |
The Equiti Trader app is courtesy EGM Securities Ltd; a CMA licensed non-dealing forex broker (license No 107).
Compatible on Android & Apple mobile devices, you can speculate on various CFD markets without owning the underlying: Forex, Commodities, Stocks, Indices, & ETFs. Index & Commodity Futures are also available.
Security: there is protection from intrusion with fingerprint scanner and Password.
Funding & Withdrawal: many local & regional payment methods such as MPesa, Airtel Money, EazzyPay, MTN, Vodacom, HaloPesa, and TigoPesa are accepted for free. International payment methods are also welcome.
However FXPesa does not offer KES base currency accounts so you pay currency conversion fees when you trade with KES.
Account Management: unfortunately, account creation cannot take place on the app as you are redirected to the FXPesa website. Demo account is available.
In-app Support: available 24/6 through LiveChat
Charting: 12 timeframes, over 30 technical indicators. TradingView is also available but does not integrate well into Equiti Trader charts.
Equiti Trader App Pros & Cons
👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
CMA licensed app | Lack luster screen display quality |
Fingerprint & password security features. | TradingView is not fully integrated to the app |
Accepts deposits/withdrawals using many local payment processors like MPesa & Airtel | You cannot open accounts on the app |
Low spread | No toll-free telephone support |
All accounts work on app | App is relatively new in the market and has no got huge community of users, and reviews online |
Good customer support | Inactivity fee |
Advanced charting | |
Dark/light Theme |
Download Equiti Trader & open account here
3. HFM App – Best Trading App in Kenya for Pro Traders
Professional Accounts | Premium A/C | Only the Premium Account works on the HFM App. Premium A/C has zero commission & EUR/USD spread is 1.6 pip on average. |
Minimum deposit | $0 | HFM Premium A/C has no minimum deposit embargo but payment processors place their limits. |
The HFM App is the mobile platform of HFM Investments (CMA license No. 155) who are duly regulated by the CMA Kenya.
Although only Premium Account can be used to trade on the HFM App, you can still view & manage other account types such as (Cent, Pro, & Zero Accounts) on it.
The Premium Account requires no starting deposit and is the only HFM Account to work across all its platforms including the HFM mobile app.
CFD trading on the HFM App means exposure to Forex, Indices, Stocks, Commodities, Bonds, & ETF CFDs (without owning the underlying asset).
Security: Fingerprint scanner & Password but HFM needs to enable login with email credentials also as this is faster.
Funding & Withdrawal: Kenyan Shilling base currency accounts are available and the HFM app accepts payment methods like: MPesa, DusuPay, Airtel, iPay, Neteller, Skrill, Cards, & Bank Transfer.
However, HFM says minimum deposit for Premium, Zero, & Cent Account is Zero, but payment processors don’t allow any deposit below $5 USD or 700 KES.
Account Management: is an integrated process as Demo & Live Accounts can be opened from the app.
Customer support: 2/5 LiveChat with an agent is quick & can be performed from the app but there’s no toll-free telephone line for Kenya.
Charting: user interface on charts is good and colors are crisp & clear. Rotate charts, Zoom, and Custom indicators are available.
HFM App Pros & Cons
👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
Availability of diverse CFD Products to trade | HFM App permits trading from Premium Account only |
No minimum deposit on Premium, Zero, & Cent Accounts | High spreads on Premium Account EUR/USD @ 1.6 pip average |
Equipped with strategy tester (multithread) | Discrepancy between minimum deposit on the website & minimum deposit accepted by payment processors. |
HFM app is CMA authorized & also secured with Fingerprint scanner & Password. | No toll-free telephone for Kenya traders even when this is available for Asia Pacific Traders. |
Transparent swap-free trading on major currency CFDs, as well as US & UK Oil CFDs, & Gold CFDs. | You cannot login to the HFM app with your email credentials and can be a headache if you forget you MyHF ID & password. |
Your buy/sell orders can be placed in lots, units, or amount. | No TradingView charts |
Kenyan Shilling base currency account | HFM app users are exposed to high spreads with EUR/USD averaging around 1.6 pips |
Economic calendar | Inactivity fee |
Integrated risk calculator tools on the app | |
More CFD products on the shelve including Bond CFDs | |
Dark/light Themes |
Download the HFM mobile app and open account here
4. Admirals Mobile App – Best Trading App in Kenya for Beginners
Beginner Accounts | Trade A/C | Zero commission but spreads start from 0.5 pip |
Professional Accounts | Zero A/C | $3/side commission and spreads start from 0.0 pip. EUR/USD average spread is 0.00001 pip. |
Minimum deposit | $25 | No Kenyan Shilling base currency accounts. |
Admirals KE Limited are CMA regulated with license No. 178 and offer the Admirals Mobile app to both Android & Apple phone users.
The Admirals App lets you choose between trading & investing after you install it. Trading is a short-term activity & has to do with CFDs where you speculate on markets without owning the underlying asset.
Investing on the other hand has to do with long-term buy and hold of physical assets so you need to be aware of the difference.
CFD Products available to app users are Forex CFDs, Commodity CFDs, Index CFDs, Share CFDs, ETF CFDs, & Bond CFDs. You speculate on these CFD markets without owning the underlying asset.
However, if you open a Zero Spread Account your choice of CFD products becomes limited to: Forex, Metals, Cash Index, & Energy CFDs.
Security: Admirals app is secured with Biometrics and Password.
Funding/Withdrawal: MPesa is not accepted but you can use Perfect Money, and bank Transfers. Fees apply when you withdraw.
Account Management: you can open accounts from the Admirals app by uploading your docs
Customer support: LiveChat. Email and telephone support can all be launched within the Admirals app.
Charting: candlestick & Line Chart are available and can be rotated but there is no zoom function. Time frames are fewer as the lowest one is 15 minutes, and this may be an impediment for scalpers who require shorter timeframes like 1 minute or 4 minutes.
Admirals App Pros & Cons
👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
Biometric login feature and Two Factor Authentication | No Kenyan Shilling account currency |
App download & setup is without hitches | The Admirals Zero Spread Account has lesser tradable CFD instruments than the Standard Account |
Demo account has up to $50k virtual cash for test run | Admirals’ app is dependent on MetaTrader |
LiveChat is an integral part of the app | Entry level & Professional Accounts have the same minimum deposit requirement of $25. This can encourage beginners to venture into high-risk accounts not suitable for them. |
Low spreads on both beginner & pro accounts | No swap-free provision |
Dual CMA regulation in place for derivatives 7 forex | No detailed Market Depth |
Dark/Light Themes | Mpesa not accepted |
Custom orders in lots or amount | Withdrawal fees from $1 |
Good CFD product collection with emphasis on Commodities & Forex. | No deposit/withdrawal function on the app |
Simplistic design suitable for beginners | No Swahili language option |
Poor search function as instruments are not categorized into easy to search categories such as Trending, Popular, etc. | |
Rather basic graphics for charting | |
Only Candlestick & Line Charts | |
Chart timeframes begin from 15 minute upward. | |
Inadequate tools & no Economic calendar | |
No zoom function | |
No toll-free phone support |
Download the Admirals App & open account here
5. Scope Trader App – Best Trading App for Nairobi Stock Exchange Listed Stocks
Beginner Accounts | Silver A/C | Zero commissions, and spread fees start from 1.1pip |
Professional Accounts | Gold A/C | $3.5/side commissions with low spreads from 0.2pip |
Minimum deposit | $100 | Scope Markets does not offer KES base currency accounts, so currency conversion fees are inevitable if you trade in KES |
SCFM Limited a CMA authorized Derivatives & Non-dealing desk forex broker are providers of the Scope Trader Mobile App.
Using the app grants you access to international as well as local Kenyan derivative markets: Share CFDs, Forex CFDs, Index CFDs, Commodity CFDs, and Nairobi Stock Exchange Traded Single Stock Futures Contracts.
NSE Single Stock Futures Contracts available on Scope Markets Kenya
Futures Contract | Contract size for Shares with price below 100 KES | Contract size for Shares with price above 100 KES |
SCOM | 1 Contract = 1000 underlying shares | 1 Contract = 100 underlying shares |
ABSA | 1 Contract = 1000 underlying shares | 1 Contract = 100 underlying shares |
BATK | 1 Contract = 1000 underlying shares | 1 Contract = 100 underlying shares |
COOP | 1 Contract = 1000 underlying shares | 1 Contract = 100 underlying shares |
EABL | 1 Contract = 1000 underlying shares | 1 Contract = 100 underlying shares |
EQTY | 1 Contract = 1000 underlying shares | 1 Contract = 100 underlying shares |
IMHP | 1 Contract = 1000 underlying shares | 1 Contract = 100 underlying shares |
KCB | 1 Contract = 1000 underlying shares | 1 Contract = 100 underlying shares |
NCBA | 1 Contract = 1000 underlying shares | 1 Contract = 100 underlying shares |
SCBK | 1 Contract = 1000 underlying shares | 1 Contract = 100 underlying shares |
NSE Equity Index Futures Contracts available on Scope Markets Kenya
Futures Contract | Contract size |
NSE 25 Share Index | 1 point = 100 KES |
Mini NSE 25 Share Index | 1 point = 100 KES |
Security: app security lacks fingerprint scanner but is protected by password
Customer Support: there is LiveChat in the app alongside email and telephone support 24/5.
Account Management: account opening is unsupported on the app. To open an account, you need to upload your documents on the Scope Markets Website.
Charting: MT5 charting is available which is ideal for trading Futures & Stocks. 19 timeframes, 6 pending orders, Expert Advisors, technical Indicators, & an Economic calendar.
👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
Dual CMA licenses for derivatives & forex activities | High starting deposit of $100 could discourage low capital traders |
Accepts MPesa, Airtel, PesaLink, & Equitel | No Swahili language option |
Dark/Light Theme | No KES base currency account |
Risk focused broker with margin call set at 150% | Pricing structure is ambiguous as average spreads to be expected, are not clearly stated for instruments |
Low spreads on major CFD instruments | No toll-free phone contact |
Exposure to local Kenyan Stock Market through NSE Futures | Broker doesn’t offer true 0.0 pip spread |
App setup & signup is not smooth | |
Trades cannot be customized | |
Average graphics | |
App is dependent on MetaTrader | |
No TradingView charts | |
Customer service is average | |
$10 inactivity fee |
Download the Scope Trader app & open account here
How to Choose a Good Forex Trading App in Kenya?
Compare the broker CMA licenses: Ensure the source of the app is a CMA licensed Derivative or Non-dealing desk broker. This information can be found on the CMA website at www.cma.or.ke/licensees-market-players
Any Broker offering Nairobi Stock Exchange Futures should hold a Derivative License from the CMA.
Here is a list of authorized derivative Brokers who can offer CFD trading in Kenya
Compare user reviews & ratings: check the google/apple store to read other opinions and see app ratings.
Compare Pricing: check what price structure suits your circumstances. Look out for minimum deposit, commissions and spreads. Average spreads are what to expect when you go live. Also look out for apps that support swap-free trading like Exness Trade to help lower costs.
Compare Instruments/Products offered: if you want to trade local products look out for brokers who offer NSE Derivatives. Also ensure there’s a good mix of different asset classes offered so you can diversify.
Compare app tools: this is best done by downloading and testing the demo account on the app. Look out for Customizable charts, Indicators, Notifications, Economic calendar, LiveChat, Calculators, etc.
What is a Trading App
Trading App is a platform offered by brokers on mobile, desktop or tablet which allows users to access & trade the markets.
You can place your market orders, set stop loss, track historical P&L, check live market feed, use indicators for technical analysis through the trading apps.
The markets which are available to Kenyan traders include forex, stocks, indices, commodities, energies & metals.
Best Forex Trading Apps in Kenya – Common Questions
Which trading app has the lowest fees?
Exness and HFM trading App have low fees. Exness spreads on major instruments are 0 pips averagely. HFM accounts are mostly commission free and both apps support swap-free trading conditionally.
Which trading app has the lowest minimum deposit?
FXPesa has zero minimum deposit for beginner accounts, and MPesa transactions are processed free of charge.
Which trading app has the best customer support?
Exness has good customer support and its Exness blog holds valuable information which is updated regularly. Withdrawals are supported even on weekends.
Which trading app has the best educational materials?
HFM has educational videos & webinars inside the app.
What is the best trading app for scalping?
Exness is good for scalping because of low spreads & speedy market maker execution.