You trade from the UK. You need a CFD broker (contract for difference) that is FCA-regulated, fast, and matches your trading style. Check spreads, execution, tools, and margin limits. Decide if you trade short-term, hedge positions, or hold long exposures. This guide compares six UK CFD brokers by spreads, instruments, platforms, fees, deposit size, and a clear pitfall for each. Read a quick pick, a comparison table, then detailed profiles with concrete spreads, minimum deposits, leverage limits (FCA retail cap), and one pitfall per broker. Spend 5 minutes to pick the right fit.
Quick Answer — 3 fast picks
- If you want the widest market access and advanced order tools → pick IG (1) for 10,000+ markets and pro-grade platforms.
- If you prioritise lowest FX spreads and depth of charting → pick CMC Markets (2) with spreads from ~0.6 pips and 11,500+ instruments.
- If you want a simple, low-minimum entry with a clean app → pick Plus500 (3) for a £100 min deposit and straightforward pricing.
Scan the profiles below for the broker that best matches your instruments, deposit level, and tolerance for platform complexity.
What We Looked For (5 criteria)
- Regulation (FCA): Ensure client protection and segregation of funds. Verify FSCS coverage and FCA authorisation numbers.
- Costs & spreads: Compare pips, commission schedules, and typical round-trip costs. Look for EUR/USD spreads from 0.6 pips to 1.5 pips.
- Instruments count: Prefer brokers with 1,000–11,500+ markets for diversification. Check stock CFDs, FX, indices, commodities, and crypto CFDs.
- Platform & tools: Check order types (limit, stop, OCO), chart indicators (20–100+), and execution speed (ms latency for market data).
- Account access & fees: Note minimum deposit levels (£0–£1,000), overnight financing rates (0.5%–6% APR equivalents), inactivity fees (£0–£15/month), and withdrawal charges (£0–£25).
| Broker | Instruments (approx) | Typical EUR/USD spread | Min deposit | Retail leverage cap | Notable fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IG | 10,000+ | from ~0.6 pips | £100–£250 | 1:30 | Some non-trading fees from £10 |
| CMC Markets | 11,500+ | from ~0.6 pips | £0–£100 | 1:30 | Data fees optional, platform free |
| Plus500 | thousands | fixed-ish, varies | £100 | 1:30 | Inactivity fee ~£10/month |
| eToro | hundreds–1,000s | from ~1.0 pips | £100–£200 | 1:30 | Withdrawal fee often £5 |
| Interactive Brokers | 8,000+ | from ~0.2–0.6 pips (tiered) | £0–£100 | 1:30 | Low commission for equities |
| Saxo Markets | 35,000+ (global) | from ~0.4 pips | £500–£2,000 | 1:30 | Tiered platform fees £0–£25 |
1. IG — Market leader with 10,000+ markets and pro-grade tools
IG is a full-service UK CFD broker. It lists over 10,000 tradable markets. Expect FX, indices, shares, commodities, and options. Typical EUR/USD spreads start around 0.6 pips on the retail spread account. Leverage for retail clients is capped at 1:30 (margin ≈ 3.33%). Platform options include a desktop Pro platform, web trader, and mobile app. Charting offers 20–100 indicators and depth-of-market (DOM) views with 1–5 ms quote updates in normal conditions.
Use case: execute multi-leg index and FX trades with conditional orders. Place OCO and trailing stops with sub-second execution on major markets. Fund accounts from £100 to £250 depending on payment method and regulatory region. Expect overnight financing rates around 2%–6% APR on leveraged positions, and stock CFD commission where applicable.
Best for: active traders and professionals who need deep market access and advanced charting.
Skip if: you want a minimal-fee, one-click app without learning a complex platform.
Key points:
– Instruments: 10,000+ markets across 5 asset classes.
– Typical FX spread: from ~0.6 pips on EUR/USD.
– Min deposit: typically £100–£250 depending on sign-up route.
– Leverage: retail capped at 1:30 (margin ≈ 3.33%).
– Overnight financing: commonly 2%–6% APR depending on asset.
Watch out for: platform complexity and higher non-trading fees for some add-on services. Test the demo for 30 minutes before funding.
2. CMC Markets — Deep charting with spreads from ~0.6 pips and 11,500+ instruments
CMC Markets offers an advanced web platform. It lists about 11,500 tradable instruments. Charting includes 80–150 technical indicators and multi-layout workspaces. Typical EUR/USD spreads start near 0.6 pips on liquid sessions. Commissions on share CFDs are transparent and often tiered per share execution. Retail leverage follows the FCA cap of 1:30 for major FX.
Use case: technical traders who test strategies with 2–10 indicators per chart and want intraday execution. Open multiple chart windows, load 3–5 timeframes, and scan 50–200 markets with watchlists. Data latency is low, often sub-second for price updates on major pairs and indices.
Best for: technical traders seeking low spreads and rich charting.
Skip if: you prefer a super-simple mobile-first app with minimal features.
Key points:
– Instruments: ~11,500+ tradable markets.
– Typical FX spread: from ~0.6 pips on EUR/USD.
– Platform fees: generally no subscription; pricing built into spreads.
– Chart indicators: around 80–150 available.
– Min deposit: often £0–£100 depending on promotion.
Watch out for: data overload for beginners; advanced tools require learning.
3. Plus500 — Straightforward app with low barrier: £100 min deposit and simple fees
Plus500 prioritises simplicity. The app supports quick order entry and clear spread-based pricing. Expect thousands of CFDs across FX, indices, commodities, and shares. Minimum deposit commonly stands at £100 for major payment methods. The platform typically charges no commissions on CFDs; costs are in spreads. Retail leverage is capped at 1:30 for major FX.
Use case: casual traders and mobile-first users who want a low-friction entry. Open an account in as little as 10–20 minutes. Place market or limit orders with a few taps. Monitor positions with simple P&L displays and automatic stop-loss functions.
Best for: beginners and casual traders who want quick setup and low minimums.
Skip if: you need advanced order types, deep charting, or complex portfolio tools.
Key points:
– Min deposit: commonly ≈ £100.
– Commissions: typically 0% commission; costs via spreads.
– Instruments: thousands of CFDs across 4–6 asset classes.
– Leverage: up to 1:30 for retail FX positions.
– Account opening: often 10–20 minutes from start to first deposit.
Watch out for: limited advanced tools and occasional wider spreads during volatile events. Check spreads during major news; they can widen by 2–10x.
4. eToro — Social trading hub with copy trading and share CFDs (0% commission on some products)
eToro pairs CFD trading with social copy features. It lists hundreds to thousands of CFDs and allows you to copy other traders’ portfolios. Some equity CFDs and promoted stock products show 0% commission, but spread and overnight financing still apply. Typical EUR/USD spreads commonly start near 1.0 pips, although active promotions can reduce costs. Retail leverage is capped at 1:30 for major FX, and many users start with deposits from £100 to £200.
Use case: mirror a proven trader’s CFD strategy for indices or FX without building all strategies yourself. Use social metrics like historical return, risk score (1–10), and number of copiers (10–10,000+). Allocate fixed amounts or percentages to copy trades. Expect withdrawal fees near £5 per withdrawal on some accounts.
Best for: traders who want social proof and automated copy options.
Skip if: you need institutional-grade execution or the tightest spreads for scalping.
Key points:
– Copy trading: follow and auto-copy other users.
– Typical spread: from ~1.0 pips on EUR/USD.
– Min deposit: commonly £100–£200 depending on region.
– Commission: 0% on many stock CFDs; spreads and overnight fees apply.
– Copy tools: risk scores 1–10, history of 10–500+ trades for review.
Watch out for: copy trading can amplify losses; monitor copied portfolios weekly. Expect overnight financing on leveraged CFD positions from ~1%–5% APR equivalent.
5. Interactive Brokers — Professional execution, low FX spreads, tiered pricing
Interactive Brokers (IB) offers deep liquidity and tiered pricing. It provides access to roughly 8,000+ CFD-capable markets and a broad global pool of instruments. Expect very low FX spreads, from about 0.2–0.6 pips on EUR/USD under certain pricing plans. Commission structures vary: tiered per-volume or fixed per-share, with stock CFD commission often under £1 per trade for smaller positions. Min deposit can be £0–£100 depending on account type, but active traders often need larger initial balances to access advanced tools.
Use case: advanced traders using algorithmic strategies, VWAP/limit algorithms, or multi-asset hedging. Use IB’s Trader Workstation (TWS) to run automated orders, bracket orders, and API-based strategies. Leverage for retail clients remains capped at 1:30 for major FX pairs.
Best for: algorithmic traders, high-volume traders, and multi-asset hedge strategies.
Skip if: you want a simple mobile app or prefer spread-only pricing with no commission complexity.
Key points:
– Instruments: ~8,000+ markets via CFDs and global exchanges.
– Typical EUR/USD spread: from ~0.2–0.6 pips under tiered pricing.
– Min deposit: £0–£100 for basic retail accounts; higher for professional tiers.
– Commission: low, e.g., <£1 per equity CFD trade on some tiers.
– API / automation: supports FIX, REST, and native API for algo trading.
Watch out for: platform complexity and multiple pricing options. Compare tiered vs fixed pricing for your volume to avoid surprises.
6. Saxo Markets — Institutional tools and wide global coverage
Saxo Markets targets active and institutional traders. It lists a very large instrument set, often 20,000–35,000+ across global shares, FX, futures, and CFDs. Expect competitive FX spreads from about 0.4 pips on EUR/USD in higher-tier accounts. Min deposit commonly ranges from £500 in a basic account to £2,000 for premium tiers with lower trading costs. Platform tiers include a web platform, a professional desktop, and mobile apps with 40–120 indicators and advanced order types.
Use case: global traders who want direct market access (DMA) style pricing and a large pool of international CFDs. Use multi-account management, tiered margin rates, and tailored reporting for portfolio monitoring. Overnight financing varies by asset and can range from 0.5% to 6% APR equivalent.
Best for: traders who want institutional-grade tools and extensive international markets.
Skip if: you need the lowest possible initial deposit and a very simple app.
Key points:
– Instruments: typically 20,000–35,000+ global markets.
– Typical FX spread: from ~0.4 pips on EUR/USD for top tiers.
– Min deposit: commonly £500–£2,000 depending on account tier.
– Platform indicators: 40–120 technical tools.
– Financing: overnight rates often 0.5%–6% APR equivalent.
Watch out for: higher minimums and tiered fee structure. Compare the cost at your expected monthly volume, e.g., 50–500 trades.
Comparison table — quick metrics at a glance
| Broker | Instruments | EUR/USD spread (typical) | Min deposit | Leverage (retail) | Notable non-trading fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IG | 10,000+ | from ~0.6 pips | £100–£250 | 1:30 | Some services > £10 |
| CMC Markets | 11,500+ | from ~0.6 pips | £0–£100 | 1:30 | Data fees optional |
| Plus500 | thousands | varied, often fixed-ish | £100 | 1:30 | Inactivity ~£10/month |
| eToro | hundreds–1,000s | from ~1.0 pips | £100–£200 | 1:30 | Withdrawal ~£5 |
| Interactive Brokers | 8,000+ | from ~0.2–0.6 pips | £0–£100 | 1:30 | Complex tiered fees |
| Saxo Markets | 20,000–35,000+ | from ~0.4 pips | £500–£2,000 | 1:30 | Platform tier fees £0–£25 |
How to pick the right UK CFD broker for your style
Decide by style first: scalper, intraday, swing, or longer-term hedger. Scalpers need spreads under 1.0 pip on EUR/USD, execution under 100 ms, and low slippage. Intraday traders favour 1–5 ms updates, 20–100 indicators, and OCO or bracket orders. Swing traders focus on overnight financing from 0.5%–6% APR and flexible margin. Hedgers want large instrument sets (1,000–35,000+ markets) and portfolio-level tools.
Compare these specific numbers when deciding:
– Typical spread: target below 0.8 pips for FX scalping.
– Min deposit: set a threshold, e.g., £100, £500, or £2,000 for account tiers.
– Commission: pick spread-only if you trade <10 trades/month, or commission+low spread if you trade >100 trades/month.
– Platform tools: require at least 20 indicators for mid-level technical work and 80+ for advanced systems.
Use this checklist:
1. Check regulation: confirm FCA authorisation and client fund segregation.
2. Test execution: place 10–20 small orders in demo to measure slippage.
3. Compare costs: calculate round-trip cost for a typical trade size (spread + commission + financing).
4. Simulate overnight: hold a position 1–30 days and estimate financing cost in GBP.
5. Review support: confirm phone and chat hours, e.g., 08:00–18:00 local.
Watch out for: promotional spreads that apply only to limited hours. Always check typical spreads over 30–90 trading days where available.
Closing guidance — fund, test, and re-evaluate
Open a demo and fund a small live account first. Start with £100–£500 if you are testing execution and spreads. Measure real slippage across 10–50 trades. Track overnight financing on 1–30 day holds. Re-evaluate every 30–90 days if you trade actively, or every 6–12 months if you hold long positions. Compare all costs: spreads, commissions, financing, inactivity, and withdrawal fees. Pick the broker that balances spreads under 1.0 pip for your core pairs, gives the instruments you need (1,000–35,000+), and fits your deposit budget (£0–£2,000).