Skilling Review 2026
A licensed kitchen with real, checkable paperwork.
Skilling opened its doors in 2016 and cooks as a regulated CFD broker, carrying CySEC licence 357/18.
What's on the menu
Skilling has been serving since 2016, with the kitchen based in Limassol, Cyprus. The firm is privately held. The order book runs deep: 1,000 CFD instruments spanning forex, indices, commodities and crypto. Beyond the CFD menu, you can also own real shares outright.
MetaTrader comes plated on every account type. There is no copy-trading option here.
| Founded | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Limassol, Cyprus |
| Instruments | 1,000+ |
| Platforms | Skilling Trader, cTrader, MT4 |
| MetaTrader | Yes, MT4 and MT5 |
| Copy trading | No |
| Real stocks | Yes |
Kitchen inspection: is Skilling safe?
CySEC-regulated brokers must keep client funds segregated, provide negative balance protection under ESMA rules, and contribute to the Investor Compensation Fund (ICF), which covers up to €20,000 per client.
| Regulator | Licence | Entity |
|---|---|---|
| CySEC | 357/18 ✓ | Skilling Ltd |
| FSA | SD042 ✓ | Skilling Ltd (SC) |
Want to inspect the kitchen yourself? Pull up www.cysec.gov.cy and look up the CySEC licence. The listing lays out the entity name, its authorisation status and the full list of what it is cleared to do. A minute, tops.
Ready to open an account?
Skilling - CySEC regulated, min deposit $100, 1,000+ instruments.
Ingredient costs: Skilling spreads
Here is what the raw ingredients cost on a standard Skilling account. Spreads breathe with the market and with your account tier; step up to an ECN or raw-spread table and the spread shrinks, but a per-trade commission joins the bill.
| EUR/USD | 0.7 pips pips |
| GBP/USD | 1.0 pips pips |
| USD/JPY | 0.8 pips pips |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 22c/oz |
| S&P 500 | 0.5pt |
That EUR/USD figure of 0.7 pips pips is a fair price to pay on a commission-free account.
The bill: Skilling withdrawal fee and timing
Cost to take money out: None. Skilling does not charge deposit or withdrawal fees. Your payment provider may apply their own transfer fees.
How long it takes: 1 to 3 business days. E-wallet and card withdrawals are typically faster than bank wire transfers.
No cash leaves the till until your identity checks out. If your proof of ID and address are not yet filed and cleared, the payout waits; once you are fully verified, cash-outs follow the timings shown above.
The cover charge by entity
The opening deposit at Skilling depends on which entity seats your country. Offshore branches tend to set a smaller cover charge, but you dine with a thinner layer of regulatory protection.
| Entity | Regulator | Min deposit | Max leverage (forex) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilling Ltd | CySEC 357/18 | $100 | 1:30 |
| Skilling Ltd (SC) | FSA SD042 | $100 | 1:500 |
Skilling vs eToro
| Skilling | eToro | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | CySEC 357/18 | FCA 583263 |
| Min deposit | $100 | $50 |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.7 pips pips | 1.0 pips |
| MetaTrader | Yes | No |
| Instruments | 1,000+ | 3,000+ |
| Copy trading | No | Yes |
| Withdrawal fee | None | $5 per withdrawal |
Both kitchens hold real licences, so neither is a bad table. Pull up a chair at Skilling if you value MetaTrader and running algorithms. eToro plates up better for anyone who leans on its particular regulated-entity coverage.
The licences, line by line
| CySEC | 357/18, Skilling Ltd |
| FSA | SD042, Skilling Ltd (SC) |
Under ESMA house rules, retail traders in the EU and UK are served leverage no higher than 1:30 on the major forex pairs. The offshore entity will pour up to 1:500, but that comes with a lighter seal of protection.
What tastes good, what leaves a bad aftertaste
Cooked well
- CySEC regulated, Skilling Ltd
- MetaTrader 4 and 5 available
- Real stock ownership available
Sent back
- No copy trading
- Inactivity fee: $10/month after 12 months
- High leverage only via offshore entity
Compare Skilling before you commit
4.0/5 rating - CySEC regulated - min deposit $100
The verdict
Nothing on the plate here is fake: Skilling is a genuine, regulated broker, and CySEC licence 357/18 checks out on the public register. The table is set best for traders who want MetaTrader served on a regulated platform. We rate it 4.0 out of 5.
Other tables worth a look
If Skilling is not quite to your taste, these regulated kitchens are worth comparing:
Frequently asked questions
Is Skilling safe?
CySEC-regulated brokers must keep client funds segregated, provide negative balance protection under ESMA rules, and contribute to the Investor Compensation Fund (ICF), which covers up to €20,000 per client. The kitchen holds CySEC licence 357/18, and you can confirm it for yourself on the official register.
What is the Skilling minimum deposit?
The cover charge is $100 at the main regulated entity. Offshore branches may plate it differently, so check the entity table above for the full spread.
What is the Skilling EUR/USD spread?
On a standard Skilling account the EUR/USD ingredient runs about 0.7 pips pips. It moves with the market; an ECN or raw table trims the spread in exchange for a per-trade commission.
How long does Skilling take to process withdrawals?
1 to 3 business days. E-wallet and card withdrawals are typically faster than bank wire transfers.
Does Skilling charge withdrawal fees?
None. Skilling does not charge deposit or withdrawal fees. Your payment provider may apply their own transfer fees.
Does Skilling have MetaTrader?
Yes. Both MT4 and MT5 are on the menu across every account type, so automated strategies, custom indicators and expert advisors are all on the table.