Guides · Updated Nov 6, 2026
Raw or Standard for XAUUSD? At some brokers gold is priced the same on both
The usual advice is that a Raw account is cheaper for short-term trading. For forex that is often true. For gold it depends on the broker: at some, XAUUSD is priced exactly the same on both account types.
The short answer
Check how your broker prices XAUUSD on each account type before you choose. Some brokers give gold a raw spread plus a commission on their Raw account, like they do for forex. Others price gold the same way on every account: one spread, no commission. At those brokers, choosing Raw changes nothing for gold.
Two brokers, two ways
Eightcap. XAUUSD is priced the same on the Raw and the Standard account: the same published spread, and no commission on either. In practice, gold on an Eightcap Raw account trades like gold on a Standard account. The commission on the Raw account applies to forex pairs, not to gold.
IC. Gold follows the same split as forex. The Raw account shows a tighter spread and charges a commission per lot; the Standard account has no commission and a wider spread.
Both setups are normal. What matters is knowing which one you have, because it changes which account is cheaper, and it means a cost comparison made on EURUSD tells you nothing about gold.
Work out the cost of one lot of gold
One lot of XAUUSD is 100 ounces. So the spread cost of one lot is the spread in dollars times 100: a spread of 0.20 costs $20 per lot, and 0.30 costs $30. Add the commission for opening and closing, if there is one.
- In MetaTrader 5, right-click Market Watch and turn on the Spread column. It shows the spread in points; for gold quoted with two decimals, 20 points is 0.20 (with three decimals, 200 points is 0.20).
- Check the commission in the symbol specification or your broker’s fee page, per side and per lot.
- Look at the spread at the hours your EA trades, not only in the quiet middle of the day. Gold spreads widen around the daily rollover and around US data.
- Do this on both account types, at the same moment, if your broker offers a demo of each.
What it means for a gold EA
If your broker prices gold the same on both accounts, pick the account type for your other symbols. A Raw account still helps forex robots that trade often, and it doesn’t cost you anything on gold.
If your broker gives gold a raw spread plus commission, compare the two totals per lot, as above. For an EA that takes small, frequent profits, a few dollars per lot can decide whether it makes money.
More on the two account types in Raw or Standard account for an EA.
My accounts
My live Amber Algo GOLD account runs on an Eightcap Standard account. Because Eightcap prices gold the same on Raw and Standard, a Raw account there would give the same gold costs. Amber Algo GOLD works on either account type. My accounts and the brokers are on Brokers & VPS (referral links, disclosed).
Broker pricing changes. This was checked on Nov 6, 2026; check your own account before you rely on it.
Risk. Trading with leverage can lose all the money in an account. Past results do not guarantee future results. This article explains common approaches; it is not financial advice.
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See every trade of my three live accounts.