Some of the abbreviations on this page are expanded to the regulator's full name: a broker regulated by ASIC is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission; by FCA, the Financial Conduct Authority; by DFSA, the Dubai Financial Services Authority.
What are the best brokers for gold CFD trading?
Pepperstone delivers superior gold CFD trading with tight XAU/USD spreads, 77ms execution during volatile sessions and access across MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView platforms. We reviewed a number of gold brokers on spread competitiveness during major market moves, overnight swap rates, margin requirements and platform stability when gold volatility spikes to find brokers handling precious metals trading effectively.
Our list of the best trading platforms for gold in 2026 are:
Ordered by our overall rating, highest first.
- Pepperstone - Best Range of Gold Trading Platforms
- Eightcap - Best Gold CFD Broker Overall
- IC Markets - Great Broker For Algo Trading
- FP Markets - Good Broker For Gold Scalp Trading
- IG Group - Gold Broker With The Best Range of Metals
- FOREX.com - Trusted Broker For Gold CFDs
- CMC Markets - The Broker That Has A Good Range Of Markets
- AvaTrade - Best Gold Copy Trading Platforms
- eToro - The Broker That Has Good Social Trading
Broker comparison table
| Rank | Broker | Score | Regulation | EUR/USD raw | EUR/USD standard | Commission | Min. deposit | Platforms | Leverage | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 93.5 | ASIC, FCA, BaFin CySEC, DFSA | 0.1 | 1.10 | $3.50 | $0 | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader | 30:1 | Visit | |
| 2 | 91.8 | FCA, ASIC, CySEC SCB, FSA-S, FSC-M | 0.0 | 1.0 | $3.50 | $100 | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | 30:1 | Visit | |
| 3 | 89 | ASIC, FSA-S CySEC | 0.1 | 0.1 | $3.50 | $200 | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader | 30:1 | Visit | |
| 4 | 78.4 | ASIC, FSA-S FSCA,FSC-M, CMA | 0.18 | 1.27 | $3.00 | $100 | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader | 30:1 | Visit | |
| 5 | 68.2 | ASIC, FCA, FMA | 0.16 | 1.13 | $6.00 | $0 | MetaTrader 4 | 30:1 | Visit | |
| 6 | 67.6 | FCA, ASIC, CIRO NFA/CFTC, CySEC, BaFin MAS, JFSA, CIMA, SFC | 0.1 | 1.2 | $6.00 | $100 | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | 30:1 | Visit | |
| 7 | 64.6 | ASIC, MAS, FCA CIRO, FMA, BaFin | 0.5 | 0.7 | $2.50 | $0 | MetaTrader 4 | 30:1 | Visit | |
| 8 | 64.5 | ASIC, CIRO, CySEC ADGM, ISA, JFSA CBI, KNF, FSC-BVI FSCA, SFC | - | 0.8 | - | $100 | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | 30:1 | Visit | |
| 9 | 54.9 | ASIC, CySEC, FCA MAS, MFSA, ADGM SEC, GFSC, FSA-S | - | 1.0 | - | $50 (Australia), $50-$100 (EU) | - | 30:1 | Visit |
Broker reviews
1. Pepperstone
Average spread
EUR/USD = 0.1 GBP/USD = 0.2 AUD/USD = 0.1
Platforms
MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, Pepperstone Trading App
Minimum deposit
$0
Why We Recommend Pepperstone
From our extensive research, it is clear that Pepperstone offers the best range of gold trading platforms. In addition to being integrated with MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView, Pepperstone also offers a demo account and mobile app functionality.
While the MetaTrader platforms are very popular, cTrader is also great and suited for scalping, while Tradingview is excellent for chart trading.
Across all platforms, you will have access to top-tier liquidity, fast execution speed, and tight spreads for commodity CFD trading.
Risk management is an important consideration, so it’s good that Pepperstone is regulated by multiple tier-1 regulatory institutions, meaning they are undoubtedly a safe and reputable brokerage.
Pros & cons
- Diverse range of platforms
- Excellent customer support
- Extensive funding options
- Great trading experience
- Limited range of educational materials
- Average spreads and commissions
- No proprietary trading platform
Broker Details
FOREX.com is a dependable choice for trading gold and other metals as CFDs. It is heavily regulated, holding licences from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the National Futures Association (NFA), the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) among others, and is owned by the NYSE-listed StoneX group. You can trade spot gold (XAU/USD), silver and other metals alongside forex, indices and shares on MetaTrader 4, TradingView and the FOREX.com Web Trader, with spread-only or RAW pricing.
2. Eightcap
Average spread
EUR/USD = 0.0 GBP/USD = 0.1 AUD/USD = 0.2
Platforms
MT4, MT5, TradingView
Minimum deposit
$100
Why We Recommend Eightcap
We think Eightcap is one of the best gold CFD brokers because it has tight gold spreads, a great range of accounts, and a good overall product range.
While they don’t have the widest commodity offering compared with other brokers, they combine a lot of other advantages including a solid range of products and platform integrations.
Pros & cons
- Tight gold spreads
- Exceptional customer support and support materials
- Diverse range of platforms
- Islamic (swap-free) trading unavailable
- Must use MT5 for full product range
- No guaranteed stop loss orders
Broker Details
We found that Eightcap allows you to trade gold against multiple major currencies, such as EUR, JPY, and AUD, which are not typically offered. This allows you to exploit the volatility of different currency movements against gold, offering more ways to profit from the price direction of gold.
In our live fee tests, we found Eightcap’s gold spreads to be competitive, with gold averaging 0.12 USD, one of the lowest we’ve tested. These low spreads were also shared across multiple markets, including EUR/USD which averaged 0.06 pips.
These low spreads contributed to giving Eightcap an impressive 91.8/100 in our review, along with its decent choice of trading platforms, including MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and TradingView.
| ECN Broker Spreads | USD/JPY | USD/CAD | EUR/USD | EUR/GBP | AUD/USD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.10 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.10 | 0.20 | |
| 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.10 | 0.20 | 0.10 | |
| 0.30 | 0.20 | 0.10 | 0.20 | 0.10 | |
| 0.14 | 0.18 | 0.90 | 0.14 | 0.13 | |
| 0.30 | 0.50 | 0.30 | 0.50 | 0.40 | |
| 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.20 | 0.00 | |
| 0.24 | 0.70 | 0.16 | 0.54 | 0.29 |
Avg. spreads are taken from each broker's website and updated monthly. Last update on 1 Sep 2026
Our tests also led us to explore Eightcap Labs, a resource that provides a wealth of information on market trends, trading strategies, and comprehensive how-to guides. We like the “Latest Fundamentals” section, which teaches you how to trade the asset based on what is going on in the current markets, essentially providing a real-time market education.

3. IC Markets
Average spread
EUR/USD = 0.01 GBP/USD = 0.04 AUD/USD = 0.02
Platforms
MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, IC Markets Mobile App
Minimum deposit
$200
Why We Recommend IC Markets
From our research, IC Markets is a great broker for algo trading because they offer you very tight spreads, a Virtual Private Server (VPS), and are integrated with a variety of platforms like cAlgo and cTrader Copy.
Additionally, they’re also integrated with MT4, MT5, and you can also connect to Myfxbook and ZuluTrade, two of the more popular third-party social and copy trading platforms.
If you’re an algo trader, it gets even better as IC offers a Virtual Private Server (VPS) which enables rapid trade execution with average market order speeds executing at 168ms and limit orders at 233 ms.
Pros & cons
- Very tight spreads
- VPS available for use
- Excellent range of markets
- Limited educational materials
- Average trade execution speeds
- Limited regulatory oversight
Broker Details
While exploring MetaTrader 5 on IC Markets, we were particularly impressed by its suite of tools tailored for algo trading. With over 38 readily available indicators, MT5 also allows you to develop and integrate your indicators through Expert Advisors (EAs). You can also choose to program your EA to automate your trades and manage your risk for you.
You can automate any market when using MetaTrader 4, which means you can take advantage of IC Market’s selection of precious metals, including gold, silver, palladium, and platinum.
We especially appreciate the upgraded Strategy Tester in MT5, a significant improvement over its predecessor, MT4. In our tests, we used this tool to backtest and optimise our Expert Advisor, finding the process much faster and more efficient than on the MT4. This tool is excellent for refining your trading strategies using historical data before deploying it to your live trading account.
Our live RAW Account testing with IC Markets found low spreads, averaging 0.02 pips on EUR/USD, significantly lower than the industry average.
| Broker | EUR/USD |
|---|---|
| IC Markets | 0.02 |
| Eightcap | 0.06 |
| FP Markets | 0.1 |
| Pepperstone | 0.1 |
| IG | 0.16 |
| CMC Markets | 0.5 |
| Industry Average | 0.22 |
Alternatively, if you prefer a commission-free option, IC Market’s Standard account presents an attractive alternative, with an average spread of 0.62 pips on EUR/USD, again, surpassing industry benchmarks.
IC Markets offers a complimentary VPS service for live account holders who meet a minimum monthly trading volume of 15 lots. That threshold is low enough that most algo traders can clear it without changing their strategy, which keeps the VPS running without interruption.

4. FP Markets
Average spread
EUR/USD = 0.17 GBP/USD = 0.56 AUD/USD = 0.33
Platforms
MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, IRESS
Minimum deposit
$100
Why We Recommend FP Markets
There are several reasons we like FP Markets: customer service that consistently outperformed peers in our tests, a wide range of funding options, and a deep educational library.
They have a 24/7 customer support line operated by a responsive and knowledgeable team which is further supported with live chat functionality, operated by real people.
Additionally, FP Markets offers a great range of account funding options including Visa, Mastercard, Volt, Skrill, PayPal and more.
We also like their educational resources which include webinars, podcasts, eBooks, and glossaries.
Pros & cons
- Exceptional customer service
- Great educational resources
- Diverse range of funding options
- Average spreads and commissions
- Mediocre trading experience
- Limited regulatory oversight
Broker Details
We opened an RAW account with FP Markets and downloaded the MetaTrader 4 platform to test the broker’s spreads and execution speed. We feel that RAW spreads and MT4’s features (e.g.) one-click trading) are the best combination for scalping gold, as the broker offers an average spread of 0.06 USD. This is one of the lowest spreads we’ve tested for gold, allowing you to improve your profit margins when scalping gold.
While using MetaTrader 4, we found 30+ indicators and nine timeframes, including tick charts and one-minute charts, which are ideal for scalping. We found the range of indicators was low, but you can use the MetaQuotes Marketplace to find new and custom-made indicators or program them yourself.
We like that MT4 has a one-click trading feature. This feature allows you to execute your trades at the click of a button, allowing you to get in and out of trades faster than the order ticket feature.
To further test FP Markets’ suitability for scalping, our analyst Ross Collins tested the broker’s execution speeds. Impressively, our tests revealed that FP Markets had an average market execution speed of 96 ms, ranking it the fourth fastest among the brokers we tested. That speed matters most for scalpers because slower execution causes more slippage.

5. IG Group
Average spread
EUR/USD = 0.16 GBP/USD = 0.59 AUD/USD = 0.29
Platforms
MT4, TradingView, IG Trading Platform, L2 Dealer
Minimum deposit
$0
Why We Recommend IG Group
Without a doubt, IG Group has the most extensive range of markets available of any broker we’ve seen.
There are over 15,000 instruments available to trade including over 42 commodities markets which can be traded as CFDs (shares, spot prices, ETFs, futures, or options contracts) or shares (shares or ETFs).
Additionally, there are over 11,000 stocks (US and European only), up to 97 Forex pairs outside the U.S., and 530 ETFs available to trade, the most of any broker we’ve seen.
Pros & cons
- Massive range of markets
- Great safety and regulation
- Excellent education materials
- Average customer service
- Limited platform integration
- Minimum deposit requirements
Broker Details
In our tests, IG’s trading platform emerged as a top choice for the best range of metal products. IG Group stood out with a solid range of 17,000 markets, including an impressive selection of 11 metal markets, more than the industry average.
| Broker | Precious Metal Markets |
|---|---|
| IG Group | 11 |
| AvaTrade | 8 |
| eToro | 7 |
| Eightcap | 6 |
| Pepperstone | 5 |
| CMC Markets | 5 |
| IC Markets | 4 |
| FP Markets | 4 |
| FOREX.com | 2 |
You can also trade 97 forex pairs, 46 indices plus 14 index options, 530+ ETFs, 11,000+ shares, and 14 bonds, which is ideal if you like to trade multiple markets.
With IG Group’s extensive product range, they are one of the only brokers that allow you to trade gold as a CFD, through exchange-traded funds, futures, or options. This gives you multiple avenues of gaining exposure to the gold markets, especially with options which allow you to benefit from the volatility of gold.
The IG Trading Platform impressed us with its clean design, which is clutter-free from news widgets and watchlists. It ensures that everything you need is available on a single screen. We found it easy to navigate, as the search bar let us find the markets faster, which is needed with so many markets to trade from.
The IG Trading Platform, which has over 40 trading indicators and access to two trading signal services, can enhance your trading experience by providing you with frequent daily trading ideas. We think these signals, complete with chart analysis and comments, are particularly user-friendly, allowing you to copy order details and execute trades directly from the signal window.
Our tests also revealed that IG offers competitive spreads, averaging 0.3 points on gold and 1.13 pips on EUR/USD. These rates are lower than the industry average of 1.24 pips.
| Broker | EURUSD |
|---|---|
| IC Markets | 0.62 |
| Eightcap | 1 |
| eToro | 1 |
| FP Markets | 1.1 |
| CMC Markets | 1.12 |
| Pepperstone | 1.12 |
| IG | 1.13 |
| Industry Average | 1.24 |
6. FOREX.com
Average spread
EUR/USD = 1.2 GBP/USD = 1.5 AUD/USD = 1.3
Platforms
MT4, TradingView, FOREX.com Web Trader
Minimum deposit
$100
Why We Recommend FOREX.com
Gold And Metals With Trusted Regulation
FOREX.com lets you trade gold and metals CFDs with flexible leverage and a choice of platforms. MetaTrader 4 handles automated gold strategies, TradingView brings advanced charting for spotting moves in XAU/USD, and the in-house Web Trader keeps order entry simple. Pricing is commission-free on the standard account or near-zero spreads plus a commission on the RAW account.
Pros & cons
- Great range of markets
- Regulated by various entities
- Comprehensive customer support
- Uncompetitive spreads
- Limited funding options
- High minimum deposits ($150)
Broker Details
Strong Charting For Gold
During our testing of FOREX.com, the TradingView integration stood out for charting gold and metals, with reliable execution on MetaTrader 4 and the in-house Web Trader. Combined with market analysis and economic calendars, it gives gold traders the tools to time XAU/USD moves.
7. CMC Markets
Average spread
EUR/USD = 0.5 GBP/USD = 0.9 AUD/USD = 0.6
Platforms
MT4, CMC NGEN
Minimum deposit
$0
Why We Recommend CMC Markets
CMC Markets offers a whopping 12,000 tradable instruments, positioning them as one of the most competitive in the industry.
In addition to gold, you can trade 3 other precious metals (silver, palladium, platinum), copper and 5 energies (crude oil, brent, natural gas, gasoline, and heating oil).
Other standout features for CMC Markets include their high-calibre educational resources and the fact that they’re regulated by numerous tier-1 regulatory bodies.
While their spreads aren’t the best in the market, they have very attractively priced commissions, making them a great choice overall.
Pros & cons
- Extensive range of markets
- Great educational materials
- Regulated by various tier-1 bodies
- Restrictive account funding options
- Limited platform integrations
- Average customer service
Broker Details
While exploring our CMC Markets account, we found that they had an extensive range of markets that competed with IG Group, offering over 12,000 financial products. These markets include 10,000+ stocks, 34 indices, 33 commodities (with gold, silver, palladium, and platinum CFDs), and 283 currency pairs (the most we’ve seen a broker offer).
Although the broker offers MetaTrader 4, we tested their NGEN platform, the default platform you start with. It’s an impressive platform that challenges MetaTrader 4 and TradingView, offering 75+ indicators and tools like chart pattern recognition.
What sets this platform apart is its advanced chart pattern recognition tools. These tools are excellent if you rely on price action, as the software does all the heavy lifting by automatically identifying the patterns and giving you target prices for profit.
Our analyst, Ross Collins, conducted live trading tests on CMC Markets’ spreads using a Standard account to see how low their spreads are. His findings confirmed the competitive nature of CMC Markets, with spreads averaging 0.8 pips on EUR/USD.
This was the third-lowest spread in our testing, narrowly trailing behind IC Markets at 0.73 pips. Moreover, CMC Markets demonstrated strong performance across other major pairs, such as AUD/USD (0.77 pips), GBP/USD (1.08 pips), and USD/CHF (1.31 pips).
| BROKER | EUR/USD SPREAD |
|---|---|
| IC Markets | 0.73 |
| Admiral Markets | 0.74 |
| CMC Markets | 0.8 |
| FXCM | 0.93 |
| TMGM | 1 |
| FusionMarkets | 1.01 |
| OandA | 1.06 |
| EightCap | 1.16 |
| FP Markets | 1.19 |
| Pepperstone | 1.21 |
| Blackbull Markets | 1.34 |
| Go Markets | 1.34 |
| Axi | 1.45 |
| FXPro | 1.59 |

8. AvaTrade
Average spread
EUR/USD = 0.8 GBP/USD = 1.2 AUD/USD = 0.9
Platforms
MT4, MT5, AvaTradeGo, AvaOptions
Minimum deposit
$100
Why We Recommend AvaTrade
AvaTrade scored very well in our ‘trading platform’ category given it has two proprietary trading platforms (AvaTrade WebTrader and AvaOptions), the full MetaTrader suite, and copy trading platforms, DupliTrade and MQL5 Signals.
With regard to markets, AvaTrade has a fairly extensive range beyond gold including other precious metals and 5 energy commodities.
In terms of spreads, we have found them to be competitively priced across the board, with gold starting at 0.29 pips, while all other commodities have similarly tight spreads.
Another key differentiator for AvaTrade is that gold can also be traded as an option in addition to a CFD.
Pros & cons
- Great range of platforms
- Large range of markets
- Good regulatory oversight
- High commissions and spreads
- Limited educational materials
- Limited account options
Broker Details
AvaTrade offered the most copy trading options for trading gold in our tests, featuring DupliTrade and MQL5 Signals. DupliTrade caught our attention for its unique approach, allowing you to invest in trading strategies (such as the Compass we tested), like putting your money into a managed fund.
On the other hand, MQL5 Signals offers a more traditional copy trading experience, where you can subscribe to signal providers and mirror their trades based on their track record.
Between the two, DupliTrade stood out for its ease of use, broader strategies and longer track records, making it a more appealing choice if you are new to copy trading.
We see AvaTrade as a standout choice for copy trading because of its fixed spreads. This pricing structure ensures consistent trading costs, eliminating widening spreads during volatile markets and price spikes.
We found AvaTrade’s fixed spreads competitive, starting from 0.9 pips on EUR/USD-a rate that rivals even variable spread brokers. We like this because it combines the predictability of fixed spreads with cost efficiency and will help reduce trading costs during volatile markets.
Our comparison with other fixed spread brokers revealed that AvaTrade leads the pack in terms of overall value. Below is a table comparing AvaTrade’s fixed spreads against peers.
| Fixed Spread | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broker | EUR/USD | AUD/USD | EUR/GBP | EUR/JPY | GBP/USD | USD/JPY | USD/CAD |
| AvaTrade | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1 | 2 |
| easyMarkets (Web/App) | 0.8 | 1.5 | 2 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 2.3 |
| IronFX (standard) | 1.8 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| HYCM | 1.5 | 1.8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1.8 | 2 |
| InstaForex | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| ForexCT | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| FxPro | 1.96 | 2.34 | 2.19 | 2.1 | 2.14 | 1.82 | 2 |
| IFC Markets | 1.8 | 2 | 1.8 | 2.5 | 3 | 1.8 | 3 |
| FIBO Group | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Average Spread | 1.8 | 2.2 | 2 | 2.2 | 2.14 | 1.8 | 2.3 |

9. eToro
Average spread
EUR/USD = 1 GBP/USD = 2 AUD/USD = 1
Platforms
eToro Trading Platform
Minimum deposit
$50
Why We Recommend eToro
eToro’s interface looks more like a social media feed than a trading platform. It makes copying other traders’ positions easy, which is the core of their pitch and what most users actually use it for.
The broker also boasts a solid range of financial instruments and you can trade gold either via ETFs if you’re based in the U.S. or as CFDs anywhere else in the world.
eToro also offers a range of useful analytics and trading tools which collectively positions them as the premier choice for those seeking a comprehensive and engaging copy trading experience.
Pros & cons
- Great social trading
- Decent range of markets
- Numerous funding options
- Trading costs are high
- Trading platform is limited
- Average customer support
Broker Details
eToro’s social trading platform has a large community of over 20,000,000 traders, allowing you to interact with other traders like Facebook or Twitter. That’s enough scale that you can usually find someone trading the instrument you’re interested in.
We particularly like this level of engagement, as it allows all traders, beginners and experienced, to interact with one another and share tips, which could speed up the learning curve.
The standout feature for us, however, was eToro’s CopyTrader platform. This innovative tool enables you to mirror the trades of other investors automatically. With the ability to filter and choose from 2,000,000 traders based on criteria that align with your trading goals, the CopyTrader platform offers customisation and choice. You can even find traders who focus only on a specific market, such as commodities, so that you can copy trades and profit from gold’s market movements.
This is especially valuable if you do not have extensive market analysis as you can leverage another trader’s and follow their strategy in real-time (while potentially profiting from it).
In our tests trading on eToro, we opened a standard account which featured commission-free spreads. We were pleased that eToro offers competitive spreads, averaging one pip on EUR/USD, positioning them below the industry average while making CopyTrading affordable.

Why Trade Gold?
Gold is one of the most traded instruments on the market. It has long been considered a safe haven in volatile times and acts as a good hedge in your trading portfolio.
Traders have a narrower set of accounts to choose from, compared separately in 10 Best Gold Trading Platforms in Malaysia.
Gold pricing under the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) works differently again, and the Canadian platforms are compared in Best Gold Trading Platforms in Canada.
| Advantages of Trading Gold | Disadvantages of Trading Gold |
|---|---|
| 1. Safe-Haven Asset: Gold is often considered a safe-haven asset, providing a hedge against economic uncertainties and market volatility. | 1. Price Volatility: While gold is generally stable, it can experience periods of significant volatility, impacting short-term traders. |
| 2. Diversification: Gold can be used to diversify an investment portfolio, as its performance may not always correlate with other assets like stocks or bonds. | 2. Lack of Yield: Gold does not generate income, such as interest or dividends, making it less attractive for investors seeking regular returns. |
| 3. Long-Term Store of Value: Historically, gold has maintained its value over the long term, acting as a store of value against inflation and currency devaluation. | 3. Storage Costs: If investing in physical gold, storage costs can be incurred, affecting overall returns. |
| 4. Global Demand: Gold has universal appeal, and its demand is not limited to a specific region or market, contributing to its liquidity. | 4. Market Sentiment: Gold prices can be influenced by market sentiment, which may not always align with fundamental factors. |
| 5. Inflation Hedge: Gold is often seen as a hedge against inflation, preserving purchasing power over time. | 5. Economic Factors: Economic factors, interest rates, and central bank policies can impact gold prices. |
Physical Gold vs CFD Gold
Physical gold and CFD (Contract for Difference) gold are two different ways to gain exposure to the price movements of the gold market.
With physical gold, you own the underlying asset whereas with a gold CFD, you’re using a derivative and simply getting exposure to the price without taking ownership or possession of the gold.
How Do I Choose A Broker To Trade Gold?
First and foremost, it’s important to check that the broker is regulated by reputable financial authorities to ensure your funds are safeguarded when trading financial markets.
Beyond this, you will need to consider whether the broker has a user-friendly trading platform, what their spreads and commissions are like, and how good their customer service is, among other things.
1. Broker Trust And Regulation
When selecting a trustworthy gold CFD broker, you need to check whether they are regulated by reputable authorities like the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the National Futures Association (NFA), or the Financial Markets Authority (FMA).
Additionally, it may be prudent to investigate the broker’s regulatory history and transparency in disclosures.
2. Trading Platforms
It’s important to check whether a broker is integrated with popular forex trading and charting platforms like MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView.
Integration with MT4, MT5, and TradingView gives you the same charting and technical analysis tools across the board, with order entry tied directly to the broker.
This comparison sits inside our wider work on our best forex trading platforms.
3. Trading Costs
Checking and comparing the spreads and commissions of each broker is very important as variations can significantly impact your trading expenses and, subsequently, the net returns on your trades.
This is why a thorough assessment of these costs ensures you choose a broker whose trading fees align with your trading strategy and financial goals.
4. Deposit And Withdrawal Methods
While deposit and withdrawal methods might seem less important, you will still need to evaluate the options offered by a broker as these processes directly impact the accessibility and convenience of managing your funds.
5. Customer Support
You must assess the accessibility of customer support channels, including live chat, email, and phone support, to determine their availability during critical trading hours.
Look for brokers with multilingual support teams and assess the overall professionalism and friendliness of their customer service representatives. Additionally, check for the availability of educational resources and FAQs that can assist traders independently.
Broker Services
Pay attention to any additional services a broker offers like whether a VPS is available, if there’s specialised training, and if guaranteed stop losses and negative balance protection are used.
It’s important to check these extra services because they can help improve your chances of success and your overall profitability when trading in financial global markets.
Ways To Trade Gold
There are various ways to trade gold including via CFDs, spot trading, gold futures contracts, options, and exchange-traded funds. You must understand the pros and cons of each method before you start, as they all operate and behave differently.
1. Physical Gold Bullion And Coins
Investing in physical gold bullion and coins is a traditional and tangible way to own precious metals and provides you with direct ownership, but there are several drawbacks.
For example, you will need to store the gold yourself and it may be difficult to find buyers as there is no centralised exchange.
2:. ETFs
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are investment funds that are traded on stock exchanges, combining the characteristics of both stocks and mutual funds.
Gold ETFs usually provide you with a cost-efficient way of getting access to gold or gold-related companies and have high levels of liquidity, making entering and exiting positions easy.
3. Gold Mining Stocks
Gold mining stocks represent shares in companies involved in the exploration, extraction, and production of gold. Investing in these stocks provides you with exposure to the gold industry without directly owning physical gold.
4. Gold Mining Indices
Gold mining indices are benchmarks that track the performance of a basket of gold mining stocks. Investing in these indices allows you to gain exposure to the overall performance of the gold mining sector, rather than individual stocks.
Which Broker Has The Best Range Of Commodities
With 17,000 markets to choose from, IG Group is unsurpassed when it comes to the variety of products available. You can trade over 80 Forex pairs, 13,000 global stocks and 80 global indices, over 2200 ETFs, and 35 commodities including gold. Other products include options, futures, sectors and interest rates.

Background To Trading Gold
Gold is often considered a safe-haven asset and if the price of gold is high, it often indicates that the global economy is in good shape. When it comes to trading gold CFDs, however, and choosing the best broker, there are a number of factors to consider including:
- Ways to trade Gold (ETFs, futures, CFDs, options, indices)
- Leverage available
- Cross-currency trading (IE Gold vs AUD, GBP, EUR etc).
- Gold-specific trading tools
And while gold is the most popular commodity to trade, there are other commodities brokers offer. These include other precious metals (silver, platinum, palladium), energies (oil, gas) and soft commodities like cattle, rice, and coffee. The team at Compare Forex has carefully considered all of the above, as well as some additional factors such as:
- Trading Account Types
- Fees, Spreads and Commissions
- Trading Platforms Available
- Other Products Offered

Disclaimer on Regulation
Regulation is an important factor to consider when assessing what broker to choose. For a start, there are different tiers of regulators, the higher of which are more trustworthy.
A broker can also be multi-regulated which doesn’t necessarily mean more is better. In fact, having multiple regulators simply means a broker has subsidiaries in multiple locations around the world, which simply provides more access to traders in different countries or jurisdictions, globally.
Every provider on this list is regulated in its key regions by a tier-1 authority.
Take Pepperstone for example, which holds 8 regulators across a range of tiers and jurisdictions. Four of them sit in tier 1, the most trustworthy tier: ASIC (Australia), FCA (United Kingdom), CySEC (Cyprus), and BaFin (Germany). Two sit in tier 2, DFSA (United Arab Emirates) and CMA (United Arab Emirates), and two in tier 3, CMA (Kenya) and SCB (The Bahamas).
You might notice not all countries are represented on this list, which simply means residents in countries other than those listed, such as Malaysia, can use an offshore regulator, which you can find out either on the broker’s website or enquire directly with the broker, either within the chatbot or via phone or email.
Most of the time, you will automatically be redirected to the appropriate broker’s website anyway using sophisticated geo-location targeting, which should have the relevant regulator listed, if it is a trusted broker.
There are also other major offshore regulatory bodies on this list including:
- The Financial Services Commission Mauritius (FSC)
- The International Financial Services Commission Belize (IFSC)
- The Financial Services Authority Seychelles (FSA)
- The Financial Service Commission British Virgin Islands (FSC BVI)

FAQs
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About the author
Justin Grossbard is the CEO & Co-Founder of CompareForexBrokers established in 2014, along with Noam Korbl and works as Strategic Head Of Research.
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