Forex vs. Options

There are fundamental differences between the forex vs. options markets. Understanding the differences and choosing forex vs. options can be complicated, and everyone has their own way of investing. So, you should review both perspectives before deciding how to proceed.

Start with our guide to understand your choices and move forward with the best investment strategy.

What is Forex Trading?

Forex is an abbreviation for foreign exchange, which refers to the buying and selling of currencies from around the world. In simpler terms, it's like changing dollars to euros or yen to pounds. But why would someone want to do that? Well, there are several reasons why people trade in the forex market.

One of the main reasons is for international businesses that need to exchange currencies to pay for goods or services in different countries. But forex trading has also become a popular form of investment for individual traders. The aim is to buy a currency when its value is low and then sell it when its value goes up, making a profit in the process. However, forex trading is highly speculative and requires a lot of knowledge, skill and experience. This is due to the constantly changing exchange rates and the various factors that can affect currency values such as economic and political conditions.

To participate in foreign exchange trading, forex traders need to use a forex broker and a platform to execute their trades and follow market movements. It's important to note that forex trading carries a high level of risk and traders should only invest what they can afford to lose. But with the right strategy and discipline, forex trading can potentially provide a lucrative source of income.

Pros and Cons of Forex Trading

Here are a few additional points you should consider before diving into currency trading with forex.

What is Options Trading?

Options trading involves buying and selling contracts that give the holder the right (but not the obligation) to buy or sell an underlying asset at a predetermined price within a certain timeframe. Call options and put options are the most popular types of options traded.

Options trading can be a complex and sometimes risky endeavor, but it can also be a powerful tool for investors looking to hedge their positions or speculate on the direction of the market. Unlike traditional stock trading, which involves buying and selling shares of a company's stock, options trading allows you to potentially profit from fluctuations in the price of an asset without actually owning it outright.

Options trading can be a bit intimidating at first, especially if you're new to investing. There are many different strategies and concepts to understand, and it's important to do your research and make sure you understand the risks involved before getting started. However, with the right education and a solid trading plan, options trading can be a valuable tool for investors of all experience levels.

Pros and Cons of Options Trading

There are some other advantages and disadvantages to options trading based on the differences between the asset types.

Similarities Between Options Trading and Forex Trading

Before considering forex vs. options, it’s important to note how they are similar. The basic rules of trading — supply and demand and news absorption — apply to both markets. Understanding these rules and how they apply to all markets is essential to investment success.

To keep things simple here, we will assume that we are comparing the options markets within major trading indices (the S&P 500, the Dow Jones Industrial Average or NASDAQ) to forex trading.

Leverage

If you have a leveraged account, you can own more assets in that account than your money would normally buy. Brokers give leverage just like banks give loans. With the proper setup, you can purchase forex currency pairs or options contracts on margin, meaning that you are using leverage. 

Forex brokers offer more leverage on trades. Depending on the broker you choose, you may be able to open an order at 1,000 times your own capital, for example, trading $1,000 worth of currency for every $1 you hold in your forex account.

No reputable options broker will ever have leverage this high but you must consider that options itself is leverage. Every options contract that you purchase, whether call or put option, represents 100 shares of the underlying stock.

Accessibility

Modern brokerages make it incredibly easy to trade the exact financial instrument you want. (We have a list of brokerages that you can use to trade forex and options, and you can read this FOREX.com Review for a good introduction to the most well-known forex broker in the world.) This is in stark contrast to previous generations of investors who were often limited in their choice of instruments. 

You may run across opinions that advise you against forex or options because of the difficulty in accessing one instrument over the other. Check the timing and the veracity of the sources — you may be dealing with out-of-date information that bleeds over into dated investment advice.

Regulation

Both forex and options trading invoke regulations to limit the potential risk investors take on. These regulations may come from different places but they all serve the purpose of protecting traders from taking unmanageable risk.

If you plan on trading forex, you should get used to putting a stop-loss in with your buy orders. Many brokers will not allow you to execute an order without a stop loss. 

By law, trading options on a U.S.-based brokerage requires that you self-assert your level of trading expertise and net worth, among other financial information. Depending on the answers you give, that brokerage will assign you an options level.

Brokerages may not check this information, but it doesn't help you to lie. Higher options levels expose you to more trading tools but also bigger risks that you may not be prepared to take on.

Differences Between Options Trading and Forex Trading

As you might assume, there are also some major differences between options and forex. Below are three of the most important to help you determine which investment tool is right for you.

Asset Type

Forex market investors trade currency pairs, which are assets that you own directly. This is known as spot trading.

When you trade options, you are trading a contract on an asset. Options are known as asset derivatives. As such, you can actually trade options on forex currency pairs.

Options have characteristics that assets do not have and may be used in sophisticated trades that play the buy and sell side at once. Options can also lose money more quickly than assets.

24-Hour Trading

The options market is open only during the normal market hours of Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST. The forex market is open 24 hours per day even for forex beginners. During dead hours, the prices of options “freeze” even though news may be coming in that changes the market. 

At the start of the new trading day, investors may experience a sudden jump in price (up or down) as the market responds to the new information. This phenomenon can cause options to completely jump over automated stops (orders you pre-fill based on certain conditions and entrust an algorithm to execute). Before committing to an options trade, you must be sure that you are prepared for these possible jumps at the start of trading. 

Forex markets can experience jumps over the weekend, as the majority of forex brokers are closed on Saturday and Sunday. News will continue to flow and may cause price gaps on the following Monday. The 24-hour trading schedule of forex usually keeps huge price gaps from occurring on weekdays, although it can occur.

Volatility/Liquidity

The forex market is the most liquid market in the world. Liquidity means that trading is easy. Forex’s liquidity attracts mainstream investors who are looking for efficient, stable markets. It also makes forex the biggest market in the world. 

The contrast with the options market is stark. Depending on the options you choose, you could be trading against only a few people across the entire world. Liquidity in this case is objectively lower and price becomes more volatile.

Best Brokers for Forex Trading

You must do business with reputable forex platforms to take full advantage of the market’s strengths. Consider the following list:

Best Brokers for Options Trading

If you’re trading options seriously, your options broker will definitely influence your chances of success in the market. You may want to test the following brokers to see which best fits you:

Currency or Derivatives?

Forex currency pairs and derivative options are two different asset classes, which naturally produce different strategies for success. When you are deciding the next market to take on, consider your own personality and investment goals before committing to 1 or the other.

If you have more than $30,000 and you are willing to forego some short-term growth for a smoother experience, the forex market may be your play. If you have less money, need built-in leverage and don’t mind a bit of volatility, then options could work for you.

As always, never invest money that you are not willing to lose. No matter where you stand in the battle of forex vs. options, these markets and asset types carry risk.

Frequently Asked Questions