Best Spread Betting Brokers

In spread betting the trader places a bet if the market will go up or down. There is no acquiring done of any instrument or its contract for difference, rather simply betting on the market trends. The profits or losses are determined by the changes in value and not by the closing price.

Spread betting is a popular choice for active investors who would like to trade a range of different markets both short (sell) and long (buy), without actually owning the underlying asset. Spread betting can be suitable for scalping, day trading and swing trading on thousands of financial markets, including indices, shares, currencies, commodities and more.

When you open a spread bet, you’ll see two prices listed: the buy price and the sell price. Using this, you can choose whether you want to go long or short. If you think the value of your chosen market will go up, you click buy. If you think it will fall, you click sell. Then, to close a spread bet, you trade in the opposite direction to when you opened it. Therefore, if you bought at the outset, you would look sell to exit – and vice versa.

In order to start spread betting online, you will need an account with a broker and access to a spread bet platform. There isn’t a great deal of spread betting brokers out there, which is why we have compiled this handy guide to help you discover some of the more established spread betting companies.

Top 10 Spread Betting Brokers

Broker
Rating
Regulated
Min. Deposit
Founded
Max. Leverage
1.
AvaTrade Review

ADGM FRSA, ASIC, BVIFSC, CBI, FFAJ, FSCA, IIROC, JFSA

$100

2006

1:400

Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
2.
IG Review

ASIC, BaFin, CFTC, DFSA, FCA, FINMA, FMA, FSA, FSCA, JFSA, MAFF, MAS, METI, NFA

$250

1974

1:200

76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider.
3.
Pepperstone Review

ASIC, BaFin, CMA, CySEC, DFSA, FCA, SCB

$200

2010

1:400

Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
4.
City Index Review

ASIC, FCA, MAS

$100

1983

Variable

Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
5.
Spreadex Review

FCA

$1

1999

1:30

Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider.
6.
Trade Nation Review

ASIC, FCA, FSCA, SCB

$1

2014

1:200

Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
7.
CMC Markets Review

ASIC, FCA, FMA, IIROC, MAS

$1

1989

1:500

Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
8.
OvalX Review

FCA

$100

1965

1:200

Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
9.
FXCM Review

ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCA, ISA

$50

1999

1:400

Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
10.
FxPro Review

FCA, CySEC, FSCA, SCB

$100

2006

1:30 - 1:500 (EU/UK 1:30)

Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

AvaTrade

AvaTrade is committed to providing its traders with the best trading platform and trading tools available. They offer spread betting on a wide range of financial instruments with rapid execution, powerful analytical tools, live interactive trading charts and tight spreads on the award winning MetaTrader 4 (MT4) trading platform.

The MT4 platform is probably the world’s most popular and customizable spread betting platforms. There are hundreds of financial instruments available, live price trading charts tailored to your needs and technical and fundamental analysis tools. The MT4 platform is the most innovative and flexible trading terminal available to retail traders.

Pros
  • Spread bet with low fixed competitive spreads
  • Spread Betting in the UK on more than 200 instruments including forex, commodities and ETFs
  • Trade wherever you are using intuitive trading platforms and apps
  • Access a range of free trading tools for more efficient trading
  • Guardian angel can give you personalised feedback on your trades
  • Excellent customer service with multilingual live support
  • Fast and easy free deposits and withdrawals
  • Free demo trading accounts
Cons
  • High inactivity fees
  • CFD trading only
  • Instruments vary between platforms
  • Spread betting is for the UK only

IG

With IG, you can try and take advantage of rising or falling markets by spread betting. They offer seamless execution on a wide range of more than 18,000+ markets and around the clock phone support. They are considered to be one of the best brokers and are well regulated in multiple jurisdictions. IG actually invented financial spread betting in 1974 and I think they are a top choice for anyone in the UK who is looking to spread bet with industry leading conditions.

Pros
  • Enjoy flexible access to more than 18,000+ global markets, with reliable execution
  • Deal seamlessly, wherever you are and trade on the move with an intutive and award-winning trading app
  • Discover opportunities on forex, indices, shares, commodities and more
  • Go long or short with fast execution and the option to open positions on margin
  • Free demo trading accounts
Cons
  • Could offer some more deposit and withdrawal methods
  • Minimum deposit of $250 is not the lowest
  • Limited instruments on MetaTrader 4
  • No MetaTrader 5 platforms
  • Inactivity fee after 2 years

Pepperstone

Founded in 2010, Pepperstone have continued to deliver industry leading trading conditions. You can spread bet on thousands of different instruments like indices, commodities, forex and more. They provide you with industry leading platforms that come equipped with all of the tools you need to analyse the markets and manage your positions.

It’s quick and easy to open a spread betting account with Pepperstone. You can apply in minutes with a simple application process. It is worth mentioning that spread betting accounts are only available to traders in the UK and Ireland.

Pros
  • Access to industry leading platforms MT4, MT5 and cTrader.
  • Low latency, fast execution speeds
  • Consistently competitive spreads
  • Award-winning customer support, dedicated to providing you with an exceptional trading experience
  • Discover a wide range online resources, trading guides and expert webinars
  • No dealing desk execution
  • Quick and easy account opening takes just a few minutes
  • Free demo trading accounts are available
Cons
  • Primarily CFD trading instruments offered
  • Do not have a proprietary trading platform
  • Spread betting is for the UK only
  • Minimum deposit of $200 is not the lowest

City Index

Spread betting with City Index provides a convenient way to trade on thousands of financial markets via powerful and versatile trading platforms for all of your devices. Not only do you get access to some of the best spread betting conditions but they also provide you with an excellent selection of dynamic and innovative trading tools that can help to navigate volatile markets.

City Index offers a fantastic choice of thousands of spread bet markets, including:

  • Indices such as the UK 100, Wall St and Germany 40
  • FX such as GBP/USD, GBP/EUR and JPY/USD currency pairs
  • Shares such as Rio Tinto, Amazon and General Electric
  • Commodities such as oil, gold and cocoa
  • Other markets including bonds, interest rates and options

Performance analytics lets you discover the strengths and weaknesses of your own trading history and discover the achievable changes you can make to improve your trading. With SMART signals, you can receive trade ideas that are based on current market conditions and tested against historical data for accuracy. Forex.com is another trading broker under the same umbrella which further emphasises the size of the company.

Pros
  • Get access to 8,500+ spread betting markets from one account
  • Take control of your trading with intuitive platforms and tools
  • Research portal highlights trade ideas using fundamental and technical analysis
  • Receive all the latest market news and expert commentary direct from Reuters in-app
  • Stay in control with transparent pricing and fast execution
  • Intuitive technology is designed to suit traders of all levels
  • Tight spreads, zero commissions
  • Award winning spread betting provider
  • Free demo trading accounts
Cons
  • Spread betting is for the UK only
  • Inactivity fees if you do not trade for a sustained period of time
  • Limited digital wallet funding options
  • Product portfolio limited to forex and CFDs

Spreadex

It couldn’t be a list of the brokers for spread betting without including Spreadex. Formed in 1999 and regulated by the FCA, Spreadex has a reputation for innovative products and excellent customer service. Financial spread betting with Spreadex offers a fast, reliable, simple and cost-effective means of trading the global markets.

The Spreadex trading platform gives investors access to trade on global shares, indices, FX, commodities and much more via spread bets, CFDs or options. You can access tight spreads, low margins, trade via charts, trailing stops, one-click dealing, market alerts and much more.

You can choose from a wide range of products with 24-hour trading and spreads from 0.6 points on our more popular markets. Trade via your choice of trading platforms including a customisable desktop platform, tablet app or mobile app. Alternatively you can trade by calling their team of friendly and knowledgeable traders.

Pros
  • Access over 10,000 global markets
  • Trade with flexible margin rates
  • Choose from financial spread betting or sports spread betting
  • You can also trade CFDs from the same account
  • Advanced charting platforms and trading tools
  • No joining fees, minimum deposit requirements or any obligation to trade
  • Award-winning customer service
Cons
  • Spread betting is for the UK only
  • Could improve educational content
  • Lack of standalone research tools
  • Limited payment methods

Trade Nation

Trade Nation is a multi-regulated broker where clients can buy and sell various financial instruments via easy to use platforms with extremely competitive trading conditions including fixed spreads.

Pros
  • Advanced trading platforms for all of your devices
  • A great range of markets and products to trade
  • Various funding options to choose from
  • No deposit or withdrawal fees
  • No minimum deposit required to start trading
  • Tight fixed spreads with no hidden extra fees
  • 25% spread rebate if you trade enough volume
  • Educational resources to assist beginners
  • Trading signals available
  • Unique smart news to help inspire trade ideas
  • 24/5 dedicated customer support
  • Free demo accounts to practice trading
Cons
  • Spread betting is for the UK only
  • Cryptocurrency trading currently not supported
  • Could add some more tools for market analysis
  • No Islamic trading accounts for Muslim traders
  • Does not have managed accounts
  • No FIX API market access

CMC Markets

Established in 1989, CMC Markets offers a great selection of over 10,000 trading instruments on sophisticated and versatile trading platforms. They also provide comprehensive analysis, trading tools and educational materials.

Pros
  • Powerful platforms for trading on web, desktop and mobile
  • Fantastic selection of financial instruments
  • Innovative trading tools for comprehensive market analysis
  • Helpful educational content including guides and videos
  • No minimum account opening deposit
  • Free demo practice accounts
  • Excellent customer support
Cons
  • Spread betting is for the UK only
  • Not the lowest spreads you will find
  • No MetaTrader 5 platforms

OvalX

OvalX is financial services company providing financial derivatives trading such as contracts for difference and financial spread betting along with corporate brokerage services for professional clients.

Pros
  • Large choice of more than 1,000 trading instruments
  • Trade on 60+ forex pairs with spreads from 0.8 pips
  • Invest in the world’s largest indices and more
  • Explore 1000s of European and US shares CFDs See zero-commission CFDs
  • Cutting edge platforms suitable for all types of traders
  • Choose from and trade a wide range of both soft and hard commodities
  • Good variety of quick and easy payment options
  • Social trading via OvalX Connect
  • Free demo accounts available to practice trading
  • Excellent customer support
Cons
  • Spread betting is for the UK only
  • Incomprehensive daily market analysis to inspire trade ideas
  • Market maker broker means they don’t have the lowest spreads
  • Only provide support during office hours
  • No Islamic account options for Muslim traders
  • Inactivity fees apply
  • No FIX API connectivity

FXCM

FXCM is an established and well-regulated online broker with an excellent range of powerful trading platforms that are loaded with tools and market insights to help you discover trades and make informed decisions.

Pros
  • Fantastic choice of industry leading trading platforms
  • Hundreds of financial instruments to trade
  • Commission free trading accounts
  • Excellent selection of exclusive trading tools
  • Professional daily market analysis and insights
  • Social trading via ZuluTrade for copying signals
  • Advanced charting provided by TradingView
  • Robust FIX API connectivity
  • Convenient account funding options
  • Islamic swap-free accounts
  • Free demo practice accounts
  • 24/5 customer support
Cons
  • Spread betting is for the UK only
  • Limited tradable assets compared to some other brokers
  • Not the tightest spreads for scalping
  • Perhaps slightly overwhelming for beginners

FxPro

FxPro is a regulated online broker that offers hundreds of tradable assets on multiple sophisticated platforms; cTrader, MetaTrader and FxPro Edge. They also offer trading tools, third-party analysis and trader education. However, the spreads and fees are not the lowest.

Pros
  • Great choice of trading platforms for web, desktop and mobile devices
  • Good selection of forex currency pairs
  • Premium trader tools to assist in analysing the markets
  • Excellent Trading Central software for trading signals
  • VPS provided for eligible clients
  • Some educational resources for beginners
  • Convenient account funding methods
  • Free demo trading accounts to practice trading online
Cons
  • Spread betting is for the UK only
  • Minimum $100 deposit is not the lowest
  • Not the tightest spreads or lowest commission fees
  • Could improve non-FX instruments

Conclusion

Here you will find our best spread betting brokers, based on thousands of hours of extensive research, testing and analysis across hundreds of brokers. Upon conclusion of each of our broker reviews, we have assigned each broker with a rating.

Some of the most important factors that contribute towards a good broker for spread betting online have been considered including things such as the available markets, other financial instruments, platforms, apps, tools, execution, liquidity, fees, education, funding options, regulation, customer service and more.

Each of our chosen spread bet brokers have undergone and passed our stringent broker reviews with flying colours, based on what we consider to be amongst the most important considerations when choosing a spread betting broker. These brokers are well-established within the online trading industry, providing top trading conditions to traders and investors of all experience levels.

Having the best spread bet brokers according to our findings listed in one place, can help you save time when looking for the best spread bet broker for your own individual needs.


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