When trading conventional spot forex, spreads make pricing unpredictable, and transaction costs may fluctuate with each trade. In addition, forex traders may incur interest costs if they hold holdings overnight because of the "cost of carry" involved. These variables obscure the costs associated with FX trading.

On the other hand, all futures transaction fees are fixed and upfront. Alternatively, the cost of doing business is known from the outset. Furthermore, there are no additional fees for holding futures overnight.