10+ CFD Trading Platforms UK September 2023 – Cheapest Platform Reviewed
CFD trading platforms facilitate CFD trading by providing users with the tools and features that they need to implement a robust CFD trading strategy. In the UK, there are numerous CFD trading platforms to choose from which can make it tricky to decide on just one.
Many CFD trading platforms in the UK offer low trading fees, a large range of available markets to trade, quality customer support, and tight regulation by the FCA in the UK.
In this in-depth guide, we review different CFD trading platforms in the UK to help you find a trading site that suits your trading strategy and needs.
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- 1. AvaTrade – CFD trading platform with competitive fees
- 2. eToro – Social trading platform with numerous CFD trading opportunities
- 3. XTB – Award winning CFD broker with advanced charting tools
- 4. Trade Nation – CFD trading platform with fixed spreads
- 5. Admiral Markets – CFD trading platform with MT4 and MT5
- 6. Pepperstone – Low-cost CFD trading platform for UK traders
- 7. Plus500 – UK-based CFD trading platform with tight spreads
- 8. Alvexo – Trading platform that offers educational resources to new users
- 9. Skilling – Extensive CFD broker that supports MetaTrader4
- 10. IG Markets – Global CFD trading platform with over 17,000 markets
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- 1. AvaTrade – CFD trading platform with competitive fees
- 2. eToro – Social trading platform with numerous CFD trading opportunities
- 3. XTB – Award winning CFD broker with advanced charting tools
- 4. Trade Nation – CFD trading platform with fixed spreads
- 5. Admiral Markets – CFD trading platform with MT4 and MT5
- 6. Pepperstone – Low-cost CFD trading platform for UK traders
- 7. Plus500 – UK-based CFD trading platform with tight spreads
- 8. Alvexo – Trading platform that offers educational resources to new users
- 9. Skilling – Extensive CFD broker that supports MetaTrader4
- 10. IG Markets – Global CFD trading platform with over 17,000 markets
10+ UK CFD Trading Platforms List
We’ll review various CFD trading platforms in the UK in full further down this page, but if you’re looking for a quick summary, check out the list of UK trading platforms below.
- AvaTrade: AvaTrade provides multiple trading platforms like MetaTrader 4 and AvaTradeGO, offering advanced charting tools and educational resources such as webinars and trading guides.
- eToro: eToro is a versatile CFD platform that caters to various trading styles, including social trading. Users can copy professional traders’ strategies and access a range of products, from ETFs and cryptocurrencies to forex and indices.
- XTB: Award-winning CFD and forex broker that has been serving retail clients since 2002. It features the technologically advanced xStation 5 trading platform, offering a wide range of instruments and research tools.
- Trade Nation: Trade Nation, an FCA-regulated broker, offers CFD, spread betting, and forex trading with low-cost fixed spreads starting at 0.6 pips for CFDs. It provides a wealth of research materials and technical analysis tools, including signals for guided trading.
- Admiral Markets: Admiral Markets provides access to over 8000 financial instruments, including CFDs for forex, commodities, stocks, ETFs, and bonds. Its “xStation 5” trading platform features advanced tools, research materials, and analytics, with additional add-ons like MetaTrader Supreme Addition and StereoTrader.
- Pepperstone: Pepperstone is voted best MetaTrader 4 brokerage in the Good Money Guide Awards 2023. It provides traders with access to CFDs for stocks, indices, forex and commodities, while also offering tax-free spread betting for UK clients.
- Plus500: Plus500 is a UK-based, FTSE250-listed CFD trading platform founded in 2008. It offers CFDs for a wide range of assets, including stocks, indices, cryptocurrencies, and options. Plus500 stands out with its +Insights feature, allowing traders to analyse and visualise others’ strategies.
- Alvexo: Alvexo is a regulated broker offering CFDs on commodities, indices, stocks, and ETFs to traders worldwide. Founded in 2014, it provides intuitive trading platforms, real-time quotes, and various trading tools.
- Skilling: Skilling offers an extensive range of financial markets, including forex, crypto, commodities, shares, and indices. With platforms like MT4, cTrader, and Skilling Trader, it caters to both less-experienced and experienced traders.
- IG Markets: Regulated by multiple tier-one regulators, including the FCA, CFTC, and ASIC, it offers access to 17,000+ markets, from Forex to cryptocurrencies. IG provides various trading platforms, including Metatrader, IG’s proprietary platform, and ProRealTime.
*not available for existing ECN clients, other fees may apply.
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Total Fees (for 12 months)£ 0What we like- Buy shares and ETFs with 0% commissions
- Social and copy trading network
- Invest and trade crypto with low fees
Fixed commissions per operationAccount FeeMobile App9/10FeaturesPayment methodsAccount Info
Account From£10Deposit fees£0ETFS300+Inactivity fees£10/month after 12 monthsLeverageMaximum 1:30, minimum 1:2Operating marginYesMinimum operation£10Stocks3 000+CFD Position-CFDS3 000+Trading fees£0Withdrawal fees£5Fees per operation
Bonds-Cryptocurrencies1%CFDSSpread – Currency from 1 PIP, commodities from 2 PIPS, indices from 0,75 points, stocks and ETFs from 0,15 %DAX-Copy Portfolio0%ETFSNo commisionCFD PositionYes, depending on the market that you tradeStocksNo commisionSavings Plan-Robo Advisor-Funds-Total Fees (for 12 months)£ 074% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Account Info
Account From£10Deposit fees£0ETFS300+Inactivity fees£10/month after 12 monthsLeverageMaximum 1:30, minimum 1:2Operating marginYesMinimum operation£10Stocks3 000+CFD Position-CFDS3 000+Trading fees£0Withdrawal fees£5Fees per operation
Bonds-Cryptocurrencies1%CFDSSpread – Currency from 1 PIP, commodities from 2 PIPS, indices from 0,75 points, stocks and ETFs from 0,15 %DAX-Copy Portfolio0%ETFSNo commisionCFD PositionYes, depending on the market that you tradeStocksNo commisionSavings Plan-Robo Advisor-Funds-Total Fees (for 12 months)£ 0What we like- Commission-Free Trading
- Free Demo Trading
- Large number of tradeable assets
Fixed commissions per operationAccount FeeMobile App8/10FeaturesPayment methodsAccount Info
Account From£1Deposit fees£0ETFS130+Inactivity fees£0Leverage1:30Operating marginYesMinimum operation0,01 lotStocks2100+CFD Position-CFDS2100+Trading fees£0Withdrawal fees£0Fees per operation
Bonds-CryptocurrenciesNo commission, spread on CFDs from 0.22%CFDSNo commission, spread depending on market you tradeDAX-Copy Portfolio-ETFSNo commissionCFD PositionYes, depending on the market that you tradeStocksNo commission (UP TO EUR 100,000 MONTHLY TURNOVER)Savings Plan-Robo Advisor-Funds-Total Fees (for 12 months)£ 0CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 68% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Account Info
Account From£1Deposit fees£0ETFS130+Inactivity fees£0Leverage1:30Operating marginYesMinimum operation0,01 lotStocks2100+CFD Position-CFDS2100+Trading fees£0Withdrawal fees£0Fees per operation
Bonds-CryptocurrenciesNo commission, spread on CFDs from 0.22%CFDSNo commission, spread depending on market you tradeDAX-Copy Portfolio-ETFSNo commissionCFD PositionYes, depending on the market that you tradeStocksNo commission (UP TO EUR 100,000 MONTHLY TURNOVER)Savings Plan-Robo Advisor-Funds-Total Fees (for 12 months)£ 0What we like- Users can access daily market analysis and real-time data
- Low commissions and tight spreads
- Available on mobile
Fixed commissions per operationAccount FeeMobile App7/10FeaturesPayment methodsAccount Info
Account From$100Deposit fees$0ETFS60+ (only CFDs)Inactivity fees$50 after 3 monthsLeverage1:30Operating marginYesMinimum operation0.001 LotStocks90+ (only CFDs)CFD Position-CFDS1000+Trading fees$0Withdrawal fees$0Fees per operation
Bonds0.03 - 0.06 pipsCryptocurrenciesSpreads, 0.1 – 2% markup across different cryptocurrenciesCFDSSpreads, 0.1 – 2% markup across different assetsDAX-Copy Portfolio-ETFSSpread, 5%CFD PositionYes, depending on the market that you tradeStocksSpreads, 0.13 – 0.2% markup across different stocksSavings Plan-Robo Advisor-Funds-Total Fees (for 12 months)£ 076% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Account Info
Account From$100Deposit fees$0ETFS60+ (only CFDs)Inactivity fees$50 after 3 monthsLeverage1:30Operating marginYesMinimum operation0.001 LotStocks90+ (only CFDs)CFD Position-CFDS1000+Trading fees$0Withdrawal fees$0Fees per operation
Bonds0.03 - 0.06 pipsCryptocurrenciesSpreads, 0.1 – 2% markup across different cryptocurrenciesCFDSSpreads, 0.1 – 2% markup across different assetsDAX-Copy Portfolio-ETFSSpread, 5%CFD PositionYes, depending on the market that you tradeStocksSpreads, 0.13 – 0.2% markup across different stocksSavings Plan-Robo Advisor-Funds-Total Fees (for 12 months)£ 0What we like- Trade Volatility 75 with cTrader
- Integrates with MT4 and MT5 trading platforms
- Very low VIX trading spreads
Fixed commissions per operationAccount FeeMobile App7/10FeaturesPayment methodsAccount Info
Account From$0Deposit fees$0ETFS100+ (CFDs only)Inactivity fees$0Leverage1:30Operating marginYesMinimum operation$0Stocks600+ (only CFDs)CFD Position-CFDS1200+Trading feesSpreadsWithdrawal fees$0Fees per operation
Bonds-CryptocurrenciesNo commission, spread on CFDsCFDSSpreads, depending on the market that you tradeDAX-Copy Portfolio-ETFSYes, depending on the market that you tradeCFD PositionYes, depending on the market that you tradeStocksNo commission, spread on CFDsSavings Plan-Robo Advisor-Funds-Total Fees (for 12 months)£ 076.6% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider.
Account Info
Account From$0Deposit fees$0ETFS100+ (CFDs only)Inactivity fees$0Leverage1:30Operating marginYesMinimum operation$0Stocks600+ (only CFDs)CFD Position-CFDS1200+Trading feesSpreadsWithdrawal fees$0Fees per operation
Bonds-CryptocurrenciesNo commission, spread on CFDsCFDSSpreads, depending on the market that you tradeDAX-Copy Portfolio-ETFSYes, depending on the market that you tradeCFD PositionYes, depending on the market that you tradeStocksNo commission, spread on CFDsSavings Plan-Robo Advisor-Funds-Total Fees (for 12 months)£ 0What we like- Low trading commissions
- Zero withdrawal or inactivity fees
- Trade Nation is compatible with MT4
Fixed commissions per operationAccount FeeMobile App5/10FeaturesPayment methodsAccount Info
Account From£0Deposit fees£0ETFS-Inactivity fees£0Leverage1:30Operating marginYesMinimum operation£0Stocks1500+CFD Position-CFDS100+Trading feesSpreadsWithdrawal fees£0Fees per operation
Bonds1.8Cryptocurrencies-CFDSYes, spreads from 0.3DAXFrom 0.9Copy Portfolio-ETFS-CFD PositionYes, depending on the market that you tradeStocks0.1%Savings Plan-Robo Advisor-Funds-Total Fees (for 12 months)£ 067.3% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Account Info
Account From£0Deposit fees£0ETFS-Inactivity fees£0Leverage1:30Operating marginYesMinimum operation£0Stocks1500+CFD Position-CFDS100+Trading feesSpreadsWithdrawal fees£0Fees per operation
Bonds1.8Cryptocurrencies-CFDSYes, spreads from 0.3DAXFrom 0.9Copy Portfolio-ETFS-CFD PositionYes, depending on the market that you tradeStocks0.1%Savings Plan-Robo Advisor-Funds-Total Fees (for 12 months)£ 0What we like- Trade over 8000 financial assets
- It is possible to trade CFDs and place spread bets
- Low commissions and fees
Fixed commissions per operationAccount FeeMobile App6/10FeaturesPayment methodsAccount Info
Account From€100Deposit fees€0ETFS360+Inactivity fees€10 equiv/per month after 24 monthsLeverage1:30Operating marginYesMinimum operation€1Stocks3000+CFD Position-CFDS4000+Trading feesSpreadsWithdrawal fees1 Free withdraw/ month, 1€ thereafterFees per operation
BondsSpreads, depending on the market that you tradeCryptocurrenciesSpreads, depending on the market that you tradeCFDSSpreads, depending on the market that you tradeDAX-Copy Portfolio-ETFS$0.02 per shareCFD PositionYes, depending on the market that you tradeStocks$0.02 per US share, 0.1% – 0.15% for other marketsSavings Plan-Robo Advisor-Funds-Total Fees (for 12 months)£ 067.3% of CFD clients lose money.
Account Info
Account From€100Deposit fees€0ETFS360+Inactivity fees€10 equiv/per month after 24 monthsLeverage1:30Operating marginYesMinimum operation€1Stocks3000+CFD Position-CFDS4000+Trading feesSpreadsWithdrawal fees1 Free withdraw/ month, 1€ thereafterFees per operation
BondsSpreads, depending on the market that you tradeCryptocurrenciesSpreads, depending on the market that you tradeCFDSSpreads, depending on the market that you tradeDAX-Copy Portfolio-ETFS$0.02 per shareCFD PositionYes, depending on the market that you tradeStocks$0.02 per US share, 0.1% – 0.15% for other marketsSavings Plan-Robo Advisor-Funds-Total Fees (for 12 months)£ 0What we like- Zero commissions, low fees and tight spreads
- +Insights feature tracking customers' activity
- Access to over 2800 financial instruments
Fixed commissions per operationAccount FeeMobile App6/10FeaturesPayment methodsAccount Info
Account From$100Deposit fees£0ETFS90+ (Only CFDs)Inactivity fees$10 equiv/per month after 3 monthsLeverageForex 1:30, Share & ETFs 1:5Operating marginYesMinimum operationVaries on assetStocks1500+CFD Position-CFDS2800+Trading fees$0Withdrawal fees$0Fees per operation
Bonds-CryptocurrenciesSpread, depending on the market that you tradeCFDS0.7 - 2 pipsDAX-Copy Portfolio-ETFSSpread, depending on the market that you tradeCFD PositionYes, depending on the market that you tradeStocks0.7 - 2 pipsSavings Plan-Robo Advisor-Funds-Total Fees (for 12 months)£ 081% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Account Info
Account From$100Deposit fees£0ETFS90+ (Only CFDs)Inactivity fees$10 equiv/per month after 3 monthsLeverageForex 1:30, Share & ETFs 1:5Operating marginYesMinimum operationVaries on assetStocks1500+CFD Position-CFDS2800+Trading fees$0Withdrawal fees$0Fees per operation
Bonds-CryptocurrenciesSpread, depending on the market that you tradeCFDS0.7 - 2 pipsDAX-Copy Portfolio-ETFSSpread, depending on the market that you tradeCFD PositionYes, depending on the market that you tradeStocks0.7 - 2 pipsSavings Plan-Robo Advisor-Funds-CFD Brokers in the UK Reviewed
Let’s now take a more detailed look at the CFD trading platforms that are available to UK traders in 2023.
1. AvaTrade – CFD trading platform with competitive fees
AvaTrade is a well-known broker that offers Contracts for Difference (CFD) trading on a wide range of financial instruments, including forex, stocks, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. CFD trading with AvaTrade allows traders to speculate on price movements without actually owning the underlying asset. This means that traders can go long or short on an asset, depending on their market outlook.
AvaTrade provides its clients with a variety of trading platforms, including the popular MetaTrader 4 and AvaTradeGO, both of which offer advanced charting tools and technical indicators. The broker also provides traders with access to educational resources, such as webinars and trading guides, to help them make informed trading decisions. Moreover, AvaTrade offers competitive trading conditions, such as tight spreads, high leverage, and no hidden fees, making CFD trading with AvaTrade a compelling choice for traders of all levels of experience.
On AvaTrade, traders can experience flexible trading conditions, with the ability to open and close positions quickly. The broker offers competitive spreads on a wide range of instruments, which allows traders to keep their trading costs low. Additionally, AvaTrade provides its clients with high leverage ratios, which means that traders can increase their trading power and potentially boost their profits.
However, it’s important to remember that trading with high leverage can also increase the risk of losses, and traders should always exercise caution when using leverage. AvaTrade also offers risk management tools, such as stop-loss orders and trailing stops, which can help traders manage their risk effectively.
Your money is at risk.
2. eToro – Social trading platform with numerous CFD trading opportunities
eToro has a wide offering of CFD assets available to UK traders.
Whilst it is possible to trade yourself on their CFD platform, eToro is also a social trading platform where users can also copy other professional traders.
eToro has a range of products to suit all styles and trading strategies. One of the main reasons they have become popular is because of their copy trading feature. This feature allows trades to automate their trading according to the trades that are placed by experts.
The platform provides a performance overview for each professional trader so that users can make informed decisions about which trader to copy. After choosing a trader to copy, trades will be placed automatically every time that the expert makes a move.
eToro offers their own online CFD trading platform. It is available to use and trade on both desktop and mobile and allows you to quickly make and manage your trades. The eToro CFD platform lets you see your risk level and the potential profits or losses of each trade, depending on whether or not it goes in the predicted direction.
An extensive range of markets can be traded on the eToro CFD platform from ETF’s, cryptocurrencies, Forex, indices, oil, Gold, Silver, and thousands of different stocks.
All of these markets can also be traded commission-free and the platform does not impose avy extra fees. eToro makes money through the spread they charge for each trade (the difference between the market price and the ask price).
eToro is strictly regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK. It also carries other tier-one licences throughout the world making it a very tightly regulated CFD provider.
eToro is also accessable to traders through a user-friendly interface and has a range of deposit and withdrawal options that include e-wallet, bank transfers, and debit cards.
74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
3. XTB – Award winning CFD broker with advanced charting tools
As an award-winning broker specializing in CFDs and forex, XTB has been in business online since 2002. The company has built a strong reputation over the past two decades by offering advanced charting tools and CFD trading features.
It is known for its technologically advanced trading platform known as the “xStation 5”, which has a large number of features that make it accessible to different types of traders, as well as providing access to research and trading tools, as well as advanced features for experienced traders. You can find all the essential features of any financial service, such as a news service and an economic calendar.
Furthermore, XTB is a highly specialized brokerage firm that offers its clients a wide range of trading instruments such as stocks, commodities, metals, indices, and cryptocurrencies, as well as an interface with a high level of user-friendliness and competence in a highly specialized industry.
When protecting users’ information, XTB follows a strict set of standards. XTB places high importance on the platform’s encryption and the security of clients’ funds. Due to this, all client funds for traders are kept in segregated bank accounts at all times to assure that the client funds are secure.
XTB is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Moreover, with an XTB account, you can deposit and withdraw funds quickly and seamlessly. The platform supports bank transfers, debit cards, credit cards and e-wallets.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
4. Trade Nation – CFD trading platform with fixed spreads
Next on our list of CFD brokers in the UK is Trade Nation, an FCA regulated broker that offers CFD trading, spread betting, forex trading and more. Trade Nation provides low cost fixed-spreads that start from 0.6 pips for CFDs. This means that traders won’t run into any unexpected fees while using the platform to trade.
Furthermore, Trade Nation provides a range of research materials and technical analysis tools that can be used by both experienced and less-experienced traders to make informed decisions. Amongst the tools available include indicators, real-time market insights and in-depth educational articles.
It is also possible to use Signals through Trade Nation. The signals provider is one of the only regulated signals platforms in the UK and provides Trade Nation users with accurate market signals that can be used to guide trading. While the signals are a useful tool, it is important to conduct market research and analysis.
Traders can use the Trade Nation demo account to practice using the platform before trading with real funds. The demo account is free to use and there is no minimum deposit requirement.
Trade Nation fees:
Fee Amount Stock trading fee Fixed spreads from 0.6 pips Forex trading fee Fixed spreads from 0.6 pips Inactivity fee Free Withdrawal fee Free 67.3% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
5. Admiral Markets – CFD trading platform with MT4 and MT5
Admiral Markets is considered by many to be a trading and investment ecosystem. The platform provides traders with access to over 8000 different financial instruments. These include CFDs for forex, commodities, stocks, ETFs, bonds and indices, while also offering spread betting solely to its UK client base. Admiral Markets has a number of different account types and enables connectivity to MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5.
Like many other brokers, Admiral Markets provides clients with dedicated educational materials for guidance. This ranges from webinars, tutorials, video guides and trading & forex courses.
There is also a wide variety of analytics features that the broker provides daily in order to help traders stay ahead of the curve. The analytics ecosystem features tools such as global market updates, market sentiment charts, forex calendar, and weekly trading podcasts more options available.
One of Admiral Markets’ unique features is that traders can get access to advanced trading tools through additional compatibility with interface add-ons. The two add-ons they support are MetaTrader Supreme Addition and StereoTrader. These add-ons enhance users’ trading experience loaded with advanced trading controls and features.
Admiral Markets Fees
Fee Amount Stock trading fee $0.02 per US share, 0.1% – 0.15% for other markets Forex trading fee £1.4 – £2.4 per 1.0 lots / Spreads start from 0 pips on Zero.MT4 accounts Inactivity fee Free Withdrawal fee Free 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
6. Pepperstone – Low-cost CFD trading platform for UK traders
Pepperstone is a brokerage regulated by the FCA that provides traders with access to CFDs for stocks, indices, forex and commodities. This brokerage boasts low CFD stock trading fees and the spreads on other assets are reasonable. Pepperstone also offers traders the option of spread betting, which is tax-free in the UK.
The CFD trading platform allows users to trade with leverage of up to 1:30 for both buy and sell orders. With Pepperstone, clients have the option of choosing from two different account types, Standard and Razor. The primary differences is with the Razor account users can use the trading interfaces with TradingView, while the Standard account has zero commission for forex CFDs, however has higher spreads.
Both account types offer access to over 1200+ CFD instruments and are compatible with MT4, MT5 and cTrader trading interfaces. It is noteworthy to mention that Pepperstone was voted the best MetaTrader 4 broker in the Good Money Guide Awards 2023.
Pepperstone offers traders to have daily market news and updates to assist them to keep informed on the latest trends. They also offer a variety of advanced trading tools from automated trading facilitation with their Captialise.ai product, to smart trader tools giving 28 add-on charting analysis and indicators for MetaTrader users.
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 81.7% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
7. Plus500 – UK-based CFD trading platform with tight spreads
Plus500 is a multi-asset group that was founded in 2008 and established its UK company based in 2011. The trading platform offers CFDs for a range of assets including stocks, indices, commodities, forex, options and ETFs. This brokerage is one that uniquely offers CFDs for cryptocurrencies also while being registered with the Financial Conduct Authority. Uniquely, Plus500 is a UK based CFD trading platform that is a FTSE250 company, and is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange.
This CFD trading platform offers clients tight spreads and low fees all with zero commissions. For stock trading CFDs, clients can expect 0.7 – 2 pips trading fee which is incorporated into the spread, while for forex there is a 0.7% mark up for trades on instruments that are of a different currency to the user account.
A special feature that Plus500 offers clients is their +Insights feature. This is a type of social trading feature allowing users to analyse millions of other traders’ activity in real-time. Traders can visualise other users’ strategies, trades and results in a visually appealing manner. Although, this feature is slightly different to copy trading, users can manually place the same trades on their own from inside the +Insights interface.
Plus500 has a user-friendly interface and offers services on web and for mobile. Their mobile app is available to download on both iOS and Android permitting users to trade on-the-go and access their portfolio anytime, anywhere with a simple internet connection.
81% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
8. Alvexo – Trading platform that offers educational resources to new users
Alvexo
is a regulated online broker offering a wide range of products such as CFD on Commodities, Indices, Stocks and ETFs to over 650,000 traders worldwide. The company prides itself on being a “real broker for real traders.”
As a market veteran-founded company in 2014, Alvexo offers a selection of intuitive trading platforms that provide real-time buy and sell quotes on over 450 assets. In addition, several trading tools are available to assist with market analysis.
For all traders, Alvexo is known for its education and service-oriented approach to trading. In addition to daily signals and market analysis, Alvexo clients have access to a wide range of economic News and a trading academy, as well as webinars and seminars.
Alvexo fees:
Fee Amount Stock trading fee Variable Spreads Forex trading fee Variable spreads. 2.9% for EUR/USD on its Classic account Inactivity fee $10 per month after three months Withdrawal fee Free 76.22% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
9. Skilling – Extensive CFD broker that supports MetaTrader4
Skilling is a UK CFD and forex trading platform that offers an extensive range of financial markets to trade.
Skilling has a wide range of platforms for you to use including MT4, cTrader, and Skilling Trader. Skilling Trader is Skilling’s very own platform and it is designed for new users to be able to start trading.
Once logged into the Skilling Trader CFD platform you will find that being able to make a deposit, enter and manage trades and see all of your account history is straightforward.
Skilling is a CFD provider and does not deal in physical assets. This is useful for retail traders and market speculators who are looking to profit from the many different markets moving both higher and lower.
Skilling offers a range of markets to trade including forex, crypto, commodities, shares, and indices.
If you are concerned with trading costs, Skilling could be a platform to consider. Skilling trading costs start from 0.0 commissions. On markets such as Forex, you will find very low spreads that will often start from as little as 0.1 pip.
Skilling is regulated in Cyprus through CySec and also has full authorisation in the UK through the FCA to accept clients from the United Kingdom.
The minimum deposit is only £100, making it one of the lowest deposit brokers to choose from.
75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
10. IG Markets – Global CFD trading platform with over 17,000 markets
IG Markets is a truly global broker that has been a very dominant force in the finance and CFD space for many years.
IG Markets was founded in 1974 making it one of the oldest brokers in the market today. Whilst many CFD brokers have come and gone, IG Markets continue to offer their products all over the world.
IG Markets is regulated in many different jurisdictions including under tier one regulators. These include the FCA in the UK, the CFTC in the US, and ASIC in Australia.
Upon registering with IG, you gain access to their extensive array of CFD trading platforms, which encompasses Metatrader, IG’s proprietary platform, and ProRealTime.
IG enjoys worldwide appeal among traders for several reasons, with one standout feature being the vast range of trading opportunities it provides.
In fact, IG Markets offers access to 17,000+ markets, encompassing a diverse spectrum of assets such as Forex, indices, shares, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, and commodities. For traders based in the UK, there is also access to the spread betting platform.
Thanks to their extensive product range, global regulatory compliance, dedicated customer support, and industry-leading trading platforms, IG Markets has firmly established itself as one of the preferred CFD providers amongst UK traders.
75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider.
CFD Trading Platform UK Fees Comparison
Wondering how the UK’s CFD brokers compare in terms of fees? Look no further. As many CFD trading platforms have dynamic spreads, we’ve shown you fee fees for popular assets like Amazon and the GBP/USD forex pair to give you an idea of the cheapest CFD brokers with the lowest fees.
Trading Platform Fees Spread or commission? GBP/USD Overnight fees eToro Spread 2 pips Yes. Overnight fees for all CFD instruments. Plus500 Spread 1.3 pips Yes. Applies to all instruments. Skilling Spread 1.3 pips No overnight fees for stocks. For other assets, the overnight fee is taken at end of each trading day at 9 pm GMT as interest, which may be positive or negative. IG Commission for stocks, spread for other assets 1.4 pips Yes. Applies to forex, stocks, commodities, and indices. Key Features of a UK CFD Broker
As you can see from our detailed reviews, there is a lot of competition and a lot of options when looking for a CFD trading platform in the UK.
With that said, you should keep in mind some of the important criteria when choosing your broker and trading platform. The broker and CFD trading platform you decide to trade with will be a huge factor in your trading success or failure.
Whilst some factors are important with whatever broker you use such as regulation and solid deposit and withdrawal methods, you will have to factor in the type of trader you are and the type of broker you need.
For example, if you are a scalper, you will be suited to a different style of broker compared to a longer-term swing trader. Or if you want to copy other professional traders, then you need to use a copy trading broker like eToro.
The main factors you should always take into account when selecting your CFD platform and broker include:
Regulation
In the UK the markets are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA like other strong regulators including ASIC in Australia and CySec in Cypress maintains strict control and rules over the financial markets.
If you are trading with a broker that is regulated under one of these authorities, then the platform will adhere to strict security processes and requirements. Unregulated brokers may not implement the same level of security.
Assets
Obviously, the more markets and financial assets you have access to trade, the more trading opportunities you will have. However, not all brokers offer every market you would like to trade.
CFD platforms in the UK offer the following markets to trade:
- Commodities
- Cryptocurrencies
- Forex
- Stocks
- Bonds
- ETFs
- Indices
Fees
Some brokers will deliberately hide or make their fee structure hard to understand.
These brokers will not show you upfront everything you will be paying to enter and exit your trades and this can end up costing you a lot of money.
You need to use a CFD trading platform that has very transparent fees and the fees are as small as possible. The fewer fees you are paying to make your trades, the more straightforward it will be to make a profit.
The main fees you will have to take into account are commissions are spreads.
Commissions will be charged by your broker for each trade you make. Often these brokers will also then charge you a spread on top of their commission charge.
Brokers such as eToro will not charge commission. Instead, these brokers are make money by only charging the spread cost.
Some other fees to take into account include:
- Overnight Financing Fee: If you are trading CFDs and holding your trades overnight, then you will be subject to the overnight financing fee. The time this fee is charged is different for each broker so make sure to check with your broker.
- Deposit or Withdrawal Fees: When making a deposit or withdrawal some brokers will charge you a fee. This can often be dependent on the type of deposit or withdrawal method you are using.
- Inactivity Fees: Some UK platform providers will charge you an inactivity fee if your account remains inactive for a certain period of time.
Trading Tools & Features
CFD trading strategies often require charting tools and features. CFD brokers should provide an extensive range of tools that can facilitate different trading strategies.
The types of features you should be looking for are; a simple trading platform, a copy-trading function, and a free demo or virtual account.
A demo or virtual CFD trading account allows you to trade the markets without risking any real money. You make and manage your trades in the same way you would if you were risking real money and price moves the same, but you are trading with virtual money.
Whether you are an experienced pro or just starting out it is very important your broker offers a free CFD demo account.
Even if you are ready to live and start risking real money you will first want to test out the platform in demo mode to make sure you are comfortable with it.
A demo account can also be incredibly useful if you want to test out new strategies with virtual money in a no-risk situation.
Education, Research & Analysis
Some of the brokers in the UK will provide analysis and education materials.
This education will often come in the form of videos or trading guides.
Educational resources and market analysis can be extremely useful and can help you get on the right side of the market.
Another key feature that UK platform providers offer is direct access to the latest news and economic data from the United Kingdom that will help you stay ahead of the curve.
User Experience
The CFD trading platform that you use must be clear to navigate and operate.
You will be making trades risking real money in the financial markets. The last thing you need is to have a trading platform that is complicated or that constantly lags.
Some brokers offer either their own CFD trading platforms that they have spent a long time creating like AvaTrade or Plus500, and others offer MT4 or TradingView.
The platform you use is going to play a huge role in your trading success. You need to be fully comfortable with it and be able to quickly enter and exit trades when you need.
Mobile App
Being able to manage your trades on your mobile phone with an app is crucial.
There will be times when you cannot be at your computer screen to monitor how your trade is going. Having a quality trading app that lets you manage and exit your trade if need be is a priority.
Mobile trading apps let you check your account portfolio quickly and if needed access customer support through live chat.
Payment Methods
Obviously being able to deposit and withdraw your money in a timely manner and in a way that suits you is very important.
UK brokers have many different deposit and withdrawal methods and they will have a whole department on hand to make sure these transactions go through smoothly.
The worst CFD providers will hold onto your money for days or weeks on end after you have made your withdrawal request which is why it is so important you use a reputable broker with fast withdrawal times.
Customer Service
The amount and quality of customer support your UK trading provider offers you is very important.
There could be times when you have a question about one of your trades or you need help with your account. You want to be able to quickly either get on the phone or live chat straight through to customer support. You also want this customer support to have a thorough knowledge of the markets.
UK brokers have multiple channels you can reach them through. The worst can only be reached through email or will leave you waiting on live chat for hours on end.
Strong Reputation
Reputation in the Financial markets is a very important thing.
Whilst you will be able to spot the scam brokers pretty quickly, the other brokers that sit on the fringe can be harder to recognise. A CFD broker that has been operating in the markets for many years shows that it has a strong track record and has been able to successfully service its clients.
With that said, you do need to keep in mind there are a lot of disgruntled traders who will lose money through their own bad trading and blame the broker.
How to Start CFD Trading
If you are ready to start trading in the markets, then you can follow this step-by-step walk-through to create a new account that will help you get all set up and ready to make your first trade.
Step 1: Open a Trading Account
Opening a trading account is a quick process.
On the sign-up page, you will be required to create an account username and enter in your email and password to create your new trading account. You will also then have to confirm your email by clicking the confirmation link that gets sent to your email address.
Step 2: Confirm Identity
To make sure you can verify your account and withdraw any profits quickly, you will need;
- Your driver’s license or passport.
- A bank statement or utility bill that has been issued in the last three months.
The quicker you verify your account, the quicker you will be able to withdraw your profits and any deposit limits will also be removed.
Step 3: Deposit Funds
When logged in, you will see a ‘Deposit Funds’ button. After clicking on this you will be given the available options to make your first deposit so you are ready to start making trades.
Step 4: Place a CFD Trade
To make a trade you will first need to find the Forex pair or asset you want to trade. You can do this by using the search function built into the platform.
Once you have selected the market you are going to trade you can hit the ‘trade’ button. This will bring up a box showing you all the parameters you will need to enter to execute your first trade. As the image below shows you will be shown exactly how much you could either profit or lose depending on the details you enter before executing the trade.
CFD Trading Platforms UK – Conclusion
There are several CFD trading platforms available to UK traders. Each platform that we have covered in this article has been made to suit a different type of trader so it is important to research each option before deciding which one to use. Experienced CFD traders may opt for platforms that provide advanced charting tools. On the other hand, less experienced traders may prefer a platform that provides social trading and educational resources.
Nevertheless, there are many platforms to choose from for trading CFDs in the UK. Signing up for one takes a few minutes and allows you to start trading with 0% commission.
FAQs
What is CFD Trading?
CFD is short for 'Contract for Difference'. A CFD contract is a derivate contract that allows you to speculate on the price of a certain asset such as a Forex pair or a Stock. With a CFD you are not physically buying the underlying asset, you are simply making a trade on whether the price will go higher or lower.What is a CFD Trading Platform?
A CFD trading platform allows you to make trades on CFD products. These products could be Forex, Gold or cryptocurrencies. A CFD Product will let you quickly enter and exit your trades all from the comfort of your own home.What are some popular CFD Trading Platforms?
The popular CFD platforms have low trading costs and offer a large range of available markets. Some of these CFD platforms we reviewed above.What Broker Offers a CFD Platform?
eToro has a CFD trading platform. One reason eToro is favoured amongst many for their CFD trading is that you can trade a huge range of products and you can either be a trader or copytrader. This means you can either profit from your own trades, or copy other traders.How to Get Started Trading on a CFD Platform in the UK
The quickest way to get started with a CFD platform is to signup to one of the providers we reviewed above.Johnathon Fox
Johnathon Fox
Johnathon is a Forex and futures trader with over ten years trading experience who has written for some of the biggest finance and trading sites in the world. Jonathan is also the founder of ForexSchoolOnline.View all posts by Johnathon Fox
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