PU Prime Forex Broker looks impressive with its 850+ tradable instruments and spreads starting at 0.0 pips. The numbers paint an attractive picture on paper.
Our investigation tells a different story. PU Prime advertises competitive trading fees and quick execution speeds. Many traders have reported hidden fees and spreads that widen during volatile markets. Their execution speed reaches 120 milliseconds, which is almost double the standard industry time of 60-70 milliseconds. The broker holds licenses from South African and Seychelles authorities and provides maximum leverage of 1:1000. Customer complaints have increased steadily since 2023, which raises red flags about their service quality.
This detailed PU Prime review will get into their minimum deposit range of $20-$50 and actual trading expenses. EUR/USD pairs can cost up to 1.3 pips. We'll take a close look at their mobile app features, withdrawal methods, and evaluate if the Financial Commission's €20,000 compensation fund per claim protects your investments adequately.
What is PU Prime and Who Should Use It?
PU Prime started in 2015 and has grown faster into a multi-asset CFD broker that works with traders of all experience levels. The company acts as a market access provider instead of a traditional investment manager. This means traders make their own decisions.
What is PU Prime and Who Should Use It?
PU Prime is a global fintech company that provides online trading solutions in many financial markets. The broker has grown by a lot in the last five years. This growth comes from its own trading software, wide product range, and dedication to helping clients.
Overview of PU Prime's services
PU Prime gives traders access to more than 1,000 instruments including forex, commodities, indices, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, and bonds. The company promotes what it calls "industry-low spreads" on major assets. Forex spreads can drop to 0.0 pips when trading volume is high.
The broker's service portfolio has:
- Four distinct account types (Cent, Standard, ECN, and Prime) tailored to different trading needs
- MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platform integration
- Proprietary mobile applications for traditional and social trading
- Leverage options reaching up to 1:1000 on certain instruments
- 24/7 customer support through multiple channels
PU Prime builds its trading solutions in-house rather than using third-party software. The company says this makes things better for clients. They've also created their own apps specifically for social and copy trading.
Target audience: beginners, day traders, copy traders
PU Prime's structure works well for different types of traders. Beginners can start with just $20 for Cent accounts and $50 for Standard accounts. New traders can practice their strategies on demo accounts without risking real money.
Day traders get great value from PU Prime's competitive fees and tools like Autochartist. This helps them spot trading opportunities as they develop. The broker talks about "lightning-fast execution" which appeals to active traders. We haven't independently checked these execution speeds in our research.
Copy trading stands out as one of PU Prime's key features. They've built special apps where experienced traders share strategies and newer investors can copy these trades automatically. This creates a learning environment where beginners can follow successful traders without needing deep market knowledge.
Regulatory bodies and safety measures
PU Prime works under several regulatory frameworks:
- Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA) - License No. SD050
- Mauritius Financial Services Commission (FSC) - License No. GB23202672
- South Africa Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) - License No. 52218
- Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
These regulators vary in quality. ASIC ranks as a Tier-1 regulator (highest ranking), FSCA as Tier-2, and Mauritius FSC as Tier-3.
PU Prime takes several steps to protect client funds. They keep all client deposits in separate trust accounts with AA-rated banks, away from company money. This separation helps protect trader assets if the company faces financial problems.
The broker partners with the Financial Commission for investor protection. Eligible clients can get up to €20,000 per case in compensation. They also maintain financial reserves as required by regulators.
Security features include two-factor authentication (2FA) for accounts and regular cybersecurity tests through ground security simulations. This comprehensive security approach helps build trust, especially since fund protection often determines which broker traders choose.
PU Prime Fees Breakdown: Spreads, Commissions, and Swaps
Let me break down PU Prime's fee structure to show you the real cost of trading. The actual expenses go beyond just the minimum spreads they advertise. Here's what my analysis of their pricing model reveals about trading different instruments.
Live spread test results across major assets
My recent live tests during London and New York trading sessions show PU Prime's real spreads for major instruments. EUR/USD spreads came in at 1.5 to 1.6 pips, which is higher than the industry average of 1.08 pips. GBP/JPY spreads ranged between 1.5 and 1.9 pips, beating the industry average of 2.44 pips.
Gold traders (XAUUSD) see spreads of 23 to 26 pips, which beats the industry average of 42 pips. Crude oil trades come with tight spreads of 0.03 to 0.04 pips.
Apple share CFDs trade at spreads near 0.14 points, while Tesla shows wider spreads at 0.20 points. Both beat industry averages. Dow Jones 30 trades at 3.0-3.3 basis points, and Germany 40 sits at 1.55 basis points.
Bitcoin traders enjoy spreads of USD 12.42-13.41, which is much tighter than the industry average of USD 35.50.
Commission structure by account type
PU Prime's commission structure varies among its four account types:
- Standard Account: No commissions on forex and most instruments, spreads start at 1.3 pips
- Prime Account: USD 3.50 per side/lot on forex, metals, crude oil, and indices
- ECN Account: USD 1.00 per side/lot, offering the lowest total trading costs
- Cent Account: No commissions, spreads begin at 1.3 pips
MT5's platform limitations affect commission rounding on small trades. A 0.01 lot trade on the Prime account costs USD 0.04 per side for opening and closing, totaling USD 0.07 round-turn. MT5 rounds this to USD 0.04 per side due to its two-decimal place limit.
Your total trading costs combine spread and commission. A Prime account trader pays zero spread plus USD 7.00 commission per standard lot on EUR/USD. Standard account traders pay about 1.6 pips without commission.
Swap fees and overnight charges explained
Overnight positions incur swap fees (rollover fees). These charges depend on:
- Your position size
- The instrument's interest rate
- Long or short position type
Each product's swap calculation follows this basic formula:
<citation index="37" link="https://helpcenter.puprime.com/hc/en-001/articles/10013213951375-What-are-swap-or-overnight-fees-and-how-are-they-calculated" similar_text="The swap formula for a Contract for Difference (CFD) position varies based on 'Swap Type' in product 'Specification' which: Swap in points = Swap (long or short) Contract Size 10^(-Digits) Lot Nights Swap in currency = Swap (long or short) Lot Nights Swap in percentage = Swap / 100 / 360 Contract Size EOD price Lot Nights">Swap in points = Swap (long or short) × Contract Size × 10^(-Digits) × Lot × Nights</citation>
One standard lot of XAUUSD (Gold) held overnight would cost: -4.85 × 1 × 100 × 0.01 × 1 = -4.85.
PU Prime charges triple swap fees on certain days:
- Wednesday: Triple fees hit forex, gold, and silver positions
- Friday: Triple fees apply to oil, indices, commodities, shares, and ETFs
Islamic accounts skip swap fees but pay administration fees instead.
Comparison with industry averages
My detailed testing shows PU Prime's total trading costs stack up well against industry standards. Their Prime account's total EUR/USD cost runs USD 9.00 per standard lot (0.2 pips spread + USD 7.00 commission), slightly above the typical ECN account's USD 8.00.
Standard accounts cost USD 16.00 per lot (1.6 pips spread), more than the typical STP account's USD 12.00. The ECN account shines at USD 4.00 total cost per lot (0.2 pips + USD 2.00 commission), making it a great deal compared to industry averages.
PU Prime's swap rates for overnight traders sit in the low-to-average range. EUR/USD long positions cost USD 6.45, while short positions earn USD 2.79.
The ECN account offers the best pricing but needs a USD 10,000 minimum deposit. Most traders find the Prime account's USD 1,000 minimum deposit strikes a good balance between cost and accessibility.
Hidden Costs at PU Prime You Should Know
PU Prime's tests reveal standard spreads and commissions, but there are hidden costs that can affect your trading results in a big way. Many traders discover these less visible expenses only after they see them in their accounts.
Slippage and execution delays
Trading with PU Prime means you'll probably face slippage—the gap between your requested price and what you actually get. This happens a lot in fast-moving markets when quotes miss their targets or prices change too fast. To cite an instance, see what happens when you place a market order to buy EURUSD at 1.10200. You might end up at 1.10300, and that's a 10-pip loss before your trade even starts.
PU Prime's execution speed is nowhere near what you'd expect. They average around 120 milliseconds, while most brokers manage 60-70 milliseconds. This delay puts you at a disadvantage, especially when you have high-frequency or scalping strategies where every millisecond counts.
Withdrawal processing times and fees
PU Prime looks good at first by covering bank charges on your first monthly international wire transfer withdrawal. But if you make more withdrawals that month, you'll pay a $20 handling fee in your account currency (JPY & HKD users pay USD equivalent).
Here's how long each method usually takes:
- International bank wires: 2-5 business days
- Credit/debit cards: 2-3 business days
- E-wallets: They claim it's immediate
- Local bank transfers: Usually 1-2 business days
Many users say their withdrawals took up to two weeks. This raises red flags about the broker's liquidity and financial health. You might find yourself stuck if you need your money quickly.
Inactivity and conversion fees
The good news is PU Prime won't charge you for inactive accounts. Your account might get archived after 90 days of no activity, but there's no charge. This beats many other brokers who charge monthly fees for inactive accounts.
Currency conversion fees pop up whenever you trade in a currency that's different from your account's base currency. These sneaky charges hit you each time the broker switches currencies during trades. Let's say you trade Euro assets in a US Dollar account - you'll pay conversion costs that aren't clearly shown.
Lack of VPS and its impact on scalping
PU Prime lets you use scalping strategies, but they don't give you free Virtual Private Server hosting for faster trades. This puts scalpers who need super-fast execution at a disadvantage.
They try to make up for it with a VPS rebate program. Put in $1,000 and trade $0.5-1 million monthly to get $25-$50 back for VPS costs. This is a big deal as it means that most retail traders can't reach these volumes.
Trading without VPS means more slippage and delays. VPS hosting cuts down order execution time by putting you closer to broker servers. Scalpers know this can make or break their trading success.
These hidden costs add up and take away from PU Prime's competitive spread offerings. This matters most to active day traders and scalpers who need reliable execution.
Account Types and Minimum Deposits Explained
PU Prime offers four different account types. Each type has its own fee structure and deposit requirements. These options help traders pick an account that matches their trading priorities and available capital.
Standard, Prime, ECN, and Cent accounts
The Standard Account lets you trade without commission and spreads start from 1.3 pips for all products. You get simple pricing but the spreads are wider than other accounts. Standard accounts work with nine base currencies and give you access to all trading platforms.
The Prime Account works best if you want tighter spreads. You get raw interbank spreads from 0.0 pips but pay a commission of USD 3.50 per side per lot. A standard lot round-turn trade costs USD 7.00 in commissions. Prime accounts work with forex, spot metals, crude oil, and indices.
The ECN Account is PU Prime's top-tier offering that connects you directly to liquidity providers. You get spreads from 0.0 pips and pay a lower commission of USD 1.00 per side per lot. This makes it the most affordable way to trade. The account only works with forex, spot metals, crude oil, and indices.
New traders often choose the Cent Account. Your balance shows in cents (100 cents = 1 USD). You get the Standard account's spread structure but can trade smaller positions, which helps reduce your risk.
Minimum deposit requirements
Here's what you need to deposit for each account:
- Cent Account: USD 20.00 (or 2,000 USC)
- Standard Account: USD 50.00[202]
- Prime Account: USD 1,000.00[202]
- ECN Account: USD 10,000.00[202]
If you use other currencies, you'll need to deposit an equivalent amount. Your account stays in "read-only" mode until you meet the minimum deposit.
Bank wire transfers and e-wallets like Bitwallet, Sticpay, Neteller, and Skrill have no maximum deposit limits. Credit/debit cards max out at USD 5,000. Local bank transfers have limits that vary by country.
Islamic account availability
Muslim traders who follow Sharia law can use Islamic Accounts (swap-free accounts). These accounts replace interest-based overnight fees with admin fees. This lets you keep positions overnight without breaking religious rules about interest.
You can get Islamic accounts with Standard, Prime, and Cent accounts, but not with ECN accounts. These accounts work just like regular ones, with the same spreads, commissions, and minimum deposits.
Best account for different trader types
Your trading style and available capital should guide your account choice:
The Standard Account works well for most regular traders who start with less capital. You only need USD 50 to begin, though spreads are a bit wider. This suits occasional traders who want simple, straightforward trading.
High-frequency traders get better value from the Prime Account, even with its USD 1,000 minimum deposit. Active traders usually pay less overall with raw spreads plus commissions.
The ECN Account makes sense for professional traders with more capital. You get the best pricing and lowest trading costs. The USD 10,000 minimum deposit means it's mainly for serious traders.
The Cent Account fits beginners and those testing strategies. You can start with just USD 20, and cent-based balances help you learn trading without risking too much money.
Trading Platforms and Tools: MT4, MT5, and PU Prime App
PU Prime gives traders three main platform choices: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and their own mobile app. Each platform has its own advantages based on how you trade and what you need technically.
MetaTrader 4 vs MetaTrader 5 features
MT4 and MT5 look similar at first glance, but MT5 brings major improvements. MT5 lets you trade unlimited symbols, while MT4 stops at 1,024. The technical analysis tools are also quite different - MT5 comes with 38 built-in indicators compared to MT4's 30, and 44 graphical objects versus 31 in MT4.
MT5 really shines with its 21 timeframes (M1-M30, H1-H12, D1, W1, MN), while MT4 has just 9 (M1, M5, M15, M30, H1, H4, D1, W1, MN). Strategy testing works better in MT5 thanks to multi-threaded capabilities, unlike MT4's single-thread system.
MT4 works best for forex trading, but MT5 lets you trade futures, options, stocks, and bonds too. Traders with diverse portfolios prefer MT5, though many forex specialists still love MT4.
Autochartist integration and technical tools
PU Prime's Client Portal includes Autochartist, a powerful technical analysis tool. This tool spots patterns automatically and helps find trading chances. The available documentation doesn't say much about specific technical tools.
Mobile app usability and copy trading features
PU Prime launched their completely redesigned mobile app in December 2024. The new interface makes everything clearer and easier to use with better navigation. Security got stronger with multi-factor authentication and biometric login options.
Copy trading saw big improvements in the app. Traders can now follow top performers while getting detailed stats and tracking. The app lets users adjust their copy trading settings and check results through detailed reports.
The app comes with advanced charts that have customizable indicators and various strategy options. Traders can make their own watchlists for favorite forex pairs and get alerts about prices and trading signals.
Execution speed and order types
PU Prime's execution speed reaches about 120 milliseconds, which isn't as fast as the best brokers out there. High-frequency traders and scalpers might notice this delay.
The platforms handle orders differently. MT4 gives you four pending order types (buy stop, buy limit, sell stop, sell limit), but MT5 adds two more - buy stop limit and sell stop limit orders. These extra options help traders create more sophisticated strategies and manage risk better.
Tradable Instruments and Market Coverage
PU Prime offers a wide range of trading instruments in multiple asset classes. Traders can broaden their portfolios beyond traditional forex markets. Since its founding in 2015, the broker's product catalog has grown to include over 850 tradable assets.
Forex, commodities, indices, crypto, ETFs, and bonds
The broker lets you trade 54 forex pairs across majors, minors, and exotics. Commodity traders have access to 30 instruments that include metals, energies, and agricultural products. PU Prime features 20-29 global indices, more than 650 share CFDs, and 47-57 ETFs in technology, mining, and energy sectors[333]. On top of that, traders can access 14 bond CFDs from UK, US, and European debt securities. Crypto traders can choose from 50-52 digital assets.
Asset class leverage limits
PU Prime sets different leverage ratios based on asset liquidity:
Asset Class | Maximum Leverage |
---|---|
Forex | Up to 1:1000 |
Indices | Up to 1:200 |
Commodities | Up to 1:500 |
Shares | Up to 1:20 |
ETFs | Up to 1:33-100 |
Bonds | Up to 1:100 |
Crypto | Up to 1:5 |
These limits help traders optimize their capital efficiency and manage risk across different market conditions.
CFD trading explained
PU Prime offers all instruments as Contracts for Difference (CFDs). This means traders can profit from price movements without owning the underlying assets. The approach comes with several benefits:
- Capital efficiency through leverage
- Knowing how to profit from both rising and falling markets
- Access to diverse markets from a single platform
- No physical delivery of assets like gold or crude oil
The broker makes it clear that leverage can increase both profits and losses.
How PU Prime compares to other forex prime brokers
PU Prime's selection of instruments stands out in several categories. Their 650+ share CFDs are well above the typical range of 100-500 offered by competitors. The broker's 30 commodity options are a big deal as it means that they outperform the industry average of 5-10. For forex trading, PU Prime's 54 currency pairs put them among the top providers compared to the industry range of 30-75 pairs.
Conclusion
PU Prime's actual trading environment paints a different picture from their marketing claims. They advertise spreads starting at 0.0 pips, but real-life testing shows EUR/USD spreads hover between 1.5 and 1.6 pips - way above what most brokers offer. Their execution speed of 120 milliseconds falls behind other platforms, which could hurt scalpers and high-frequency traders.
The broker deserves recognition for its range of account options. Their ECN account offers great value at USD 4.00 per standard lot. The USD 10,000 minimum deposit puts it out of reach for most retail traders though. The Standard account works well for beginners with its low USD 50 minimum deposit, even with higher trading costs.
Hidden fees are the biggest problem across PU Prime's services. Traders face unexpected costs from slippage in volatile markets, fees on withdrawals after the first monthly transaction, and currency conversion charges. The lack of free VPS options creates extra hurdles for dedicated traders.
PU Prime shows both strengths and weaknesses. They offer an impressive selection of instruments with 54 forex pairs, 30 commodities, and over 650 share CFDs - more than many competitors. All the same, slow execution speeds, higher spreads than advertised, and various hidden costs suggest they focus more on marketing appeal than quality trading conditions. While they maintain regulation in multiple jurisdictions and keep client funds in segregated accounts, traders should weigh these safety measures against the operational issues our testing revealed.
FAQs
Q1. Is PU Prime a legitimate and regulated broker? Yes, PU Prime is a legitimate broker regulated by multiple financial authorities, including those in Seychelles, Mauritius, and South Africa. They have been operating since 2015 and provide access to global markets through CFD trading.
Q2. What are the account types offered by PU Prime and their minimum deposits? PU Prime offers four account types: Cent (minimum $20), Standard (minimum $50), Prime (minimum $1,000), and ECN (minimum $10,000). Each account type has different features and trading conditions suited for various trader profiles.
Q3. How do PU Prime's trading costs compare to industry standards? PU Prime's trading costs vary by account type. While they advertise spreads from 0.0 pips, actual spreads for major pairs like EUR/USD typically range from 1.5 to 1.6 pips. Their ECN account offers the most competitive pricing, but overall costs can be higher than industry averages, especially when considering hidden fees.
Q4. What trading platforms does PU Prime offer? PU Prime provides access to MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and their proprietary mobile app. MT5 offers more advanced features and a wider range of tradable assets compared to MT4. The mobile app includes copy trading functionality and advanced charting capabilities.
Q5. What range of financial instruments can be traded with PU Prime? PU Prime offers a diverse selection of over 850 tradable instruments, including 54 forex pairs, 30 commodities, 20-29 global indices, over 650 share CFDs, 47-57 ETFs, 14 bond CFDs, and 50-52 cryptocurrency pairs. All instruments are traded as CFDs, allowing for leveraged trading on both rising and falling markets.