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Having traded and reviewed many brokers over the years, I pay close attention to details like spreads—especially during high-volatility events that can significantly affect trading costs. With Tradovate, it's important to recognize their unique offering: they focus primarily on futures and options, not forex CFDs, and therefore the standard "fixed or variable spread" distinction isn't clearly outlined as it would be with typical forex brokers. Tradovate’s fee structure is built around commissions per contract traded, and the spread component is inherently tied to the underlying futures market liquidity, which is always variable. From my experience, this means that during periods of major news or heightened volatility, such as FOMC statements or economic releases, the bid-ask spread on Tradovate can widen substantially. This spread behavior mirrors the volatility and depth of the underlying futures markets themselves—there are no guarantees of tight spreads during fast market conditions, and slippage is a legitimate risk. For me, this lack of transparency on exact spread expectations, combined with the commission-based model, is something I approach conservatively. If my strategy depends heavily on low transaction costs during volatile periods, I have learned to factor in the potential for significant spread widening and to proceed with caution, as this can materially increase overall trading costs and potential risk exposures.