Our top 10 list of the best FCA regulated platforms to spread bet are:

  • Pepperstone - Best Spread Betting Broker In UK
  • City Index - Best Spread Betting Platform With GSLO
  • IG Group - Best For Range Of Markets To Spread Bet
  • FXCM - Good MetaTrader 4 Broker
  • FxPro - Best Spread Bet Trading App
  • OANDA - Best For Beginner Spread Bet Trading
  • CMC Markets - Good Spread Bet Broker For Forex Trading
  • Spreadex - Best Financial And Sports Spread Betting Platform
  • ThinkMarkets - Best Mobile App For Spread Bets
  • Markets.com - Good Spread Betting Demo Account
Broker Our Rating Regulation Standard
EUR/USD Spread
Standard
GBP/USD Spread
Standard
AUD/USD Spread
Raw
EUR/USD Spread
Raw
GBP/USD Spread
Raw
AUD/USD Spread
Commissions
(USD Base)
MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 cTrader Execution Speed Minimum Deposit Currency Pairs Crypto CFDs Retail Leverage Prof. Leverage
9.33 FCA
CySEC
1.12 1.69 1.22 0.1 0.6 0.3 $3.50 77ms $0 62+ 12+ 30:1 500:1 Visit Site
6.83 FCA
ASIC, MAS
0.70 1.1 2.2 - - - - 95ms $150 84+ 25+ 30:1 500:1 Visit Site
6.67 FCA
BaFin, CySEC
1.13 1.66 1.01 0.16 0.59 0.29 $6.00 174ms $450 100+ 12+ 30:1 200:1 Visit Site
7.93 FCA
BaFin, CySEC
1.3 1.4 1.7 0.30 0.90 0.40 $3.00 150ms $300 42+ 7+ 30:1 500:1 Visit Site
7.46 FCA
CySEC
1.32 1.7 1.95 0.32 0.37 0.51 $3.50 151ms $0 69+ 30+ 30:1 200:1 Visit Site
8.83 FCA
CIRO
0.6 0.9 0.7 - - - - - $0 70+ 4+ Visit Site
7.17 FCA
BaFin
1.12 1.30 1.64 0.5 0.9 0.6 $2.50 138ms $0 338+ 19+ 30:1 500:1 Visit Site
6.4 FCA - - - 0.82 1.62 0.77 - - £0 50+ - 30:1 - Visit Site
7.67 FCA
CySEC
1.1 1.3 1.1 0.1 0.3 0.2 $3.50 161ms $0 46+ 21+ 30:1 500:1 Visit Site
7 FCA
CySEC, FSCA
1.6 1.6 1.9 - - - - 150ms $100 54+ 24+ 30:1 300:1 Visit Site

1. Pepperstone Best UK Spread Betting Broker

Pepperstone

Forex Panel Score

97

Average Spread

EUR/USD = 1.12
GBP/USD = 1.69
AUD/USD = 1.22

Trading Platforms

MT4, MT5, cTrader,
TradingView, Capitalise.ai

Minimum Deposit

$0

Why We Recommend Pepperstone

We found many compelling reasons to recommend Pepperstone as our best spread betting broker. Chief among these are their lowest spreads and fast execution speeds, both features we tested ourselves and proved they lead the market in. Another compelling reason we think highly of Pepperstone is that they offer a choice of 4 trading platforms – MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader and TradingView so whether you like technical charts for analysis or automation and even social tools, Pepperstone offers options for something for all betting styles.

Pros & Cons

  • 1200+ spread betting products
  • Bet with MT4, MT5 and TradingView
  • 24/7 customer service
  • No Islamic swap-free account
  • Only PayPal for e-Wallet funding
  • No spot shares (CFD only)

Broker Details

Pepperstone has the lowest fees and fastest execution speeds

We scored Pepperstone as the best 2023 broker after opening accounts with the better-known spreads betting brokers and comparing their fees and features. Our scorecard favoured Pepperstone because of their:

  • Lowest fee spread betting account
  • Fastest execution speed of any spread betting broker
  • High trust factor with FCA regulation and 300,000+ traders
  • London-based 24/5 customer service
  • Advanced spread betting trading platform
  • Range of markets from
  • currency to shares
  • Voted Best Spread Betting Platform[1]Voted Best Spread Betting Platform in 2021 by the ADVN International Financial Awards

Pepperstone Has The Lowest Spreads
At CompareForexBrokers, we compare average spreads of spread betting accounts (commission-free accounts) each month. As most UK traders focus on a handful of currency pairs, we only focus on major spreads when comparing our brokers.

The September 2023 spread table below showed that Pepperstone has the lowest spreads on almost all the most traded currency pairs. This included the most traded currency pair (the EUR/USD) and other popular pairings, including EUR/GBP and AUD/USD. Only the top brokers that publish their average spreads and offer spread betting trading were compared.

Spread Betting Account Spreads
1.10 1.20 1.60 1.40 1.40
1.12 1.64 1.80 1.30 1.38
1.32 1.95 3.19 1.70 1.40
1.20 1.80 2.80 1.90 1.60
1.20 1.30 2.70 1.30 1.20
1.40 2.50 4.90 2.10 1.60

Avg. spreads are taken from each broker's website and updated monthly. Last update on 01/11/2023

Pepperstone Has The Fastest Execution Speeds

Our head of research Ross Collins opened and then tested the trading accounts over two 26-hour periods using EAs. Of the brokers that offer spread betting, Pepperstone was the fastest for execution speed with 77ms limit order speed and 100ms market order speed.

Execution speed matters when spread betting as it ensures you fill an order at the price quoted and avoid slippage, which can lead to unexpected losses (especially when you have a stop-loss order in place).

Broker Overall Limit Order Speed Limit Order Rank Market Order Speed Market Order Rank
Pepperstone 1 77 1 100 2
FXCM 2 108 3 123 3
City Index 3 95 2 131 4
FP Markets 4 225 12 96 1
IC Markets 5 134 5 153 9
FxPro 6 151 9 138 5
GO Markets 7 144 7 145 7
Admirals 8 132 4 182 18
CMC Markets 9 138 6 180 10
IG 10 174 12 141 6
XM 11 148 8 184 11
ThinkMarkets 12 161 11 248 12

The account we measured execution speeds for was the no-commission account with spreads from 0.7 pips. The account has no minimum deposit, and the base currency is British Pound (GBP).

pepperstone spread betting account

Pepperstone’s diverse range of trading platforms

When you open an account, you have four trading platform options:

  1. MetaTrader 4 (MT4) – recommended for trading currencies
  2. MetaTrader 5 (MT5) – recommended for trading CFDs
  3. cTrader – recommended for algorithmic trading
  4. TradingView – recommended for technical analysis with charting

Pepperstone was the TradingView broker of the year[1]Voted Best Spread Betting Platform in 2021 by the ADVN International Financial Awards and the first to bring the software to spread betting (previously, it was an exclusive CFD platform). The broker also offers advanced features on MetaTrader, including:

  • Multiple chart types, technical indicators, and timeframes
  • Automated trading with Capitalise.ai or Expert Advisors (EAs)
  • Autochartist with basic and advanced order types

Final Verdict On Pepperstone

Trading fees and execution speeds are the two most important factors for spread betting. Pepperstone won both categories with the lowest spreads on most currency pairs and the fastest Limit Order and Market Order speeds. Our testing also found that Pepperstone has the best account opening process and has a £0 minimum deposit requirement. Combined with the fact that the broker is FCA regulated, these factors led to our best UK spread betting platform, Pepperstone recommendation.

Pepperstone ReviewVisit Pepperstone

*Your capital is at risk ‘75.6% of retail CFD accounts lose money’

2. City Index Great Spread Betting Platform With GSLO

City Index

Forex Panel Score

68

Average Spread

EUR/USD = 0.7
GBP/USD = 1.1
AUD/USD = 2.2

Trading Platforms

MT4, TradingView,
Web Trader

Minimum Deposit

$150

Why We Recommend City Index

While City Index only has spread betting with their in-house developed City Index Trading Platform, we think this gives the broker a point of difference. This platform includes a guaranteed stop-loss order (GSLO) which allows you to manage your risks when taking a punt using the 4,500 available to bet on.

Pros & Cons

  • 84 currency pairs
  • Guaranteed stop loss with city index WebTrader
  • Low 50 per point min. trade size
  • Good education and market analysis
  • Demo account limited to 12 weeks
  • Demo account not linked to live account
  • No MetaTrader 4 for spread betting
  • Inactivity fees

Broker Details

City Index Offers A Guaranteed Stop Loss With Tight Spreads

City Index is one of the top UK forex brokers with spread betting on various asset classes and has over 4,500 different financial products to bet on. These global markets can be accessed through the broker’s web trader platform or their mobile and tablet device trading apps.

city-index spread betting account for uk traders

Pricing And Fees

When spread betting with City Index, customers can bet on a range of financial instruments that are competitively priced. As with all spread betting in the UK, profits are tax-free and exempt from stamp duty and Capital Gains Tax (CGT).
City Index Spreads Spread Betting UK
As shown above, the UK spread betting company offers tight spreads, starting as low as 0.5 pips for major currency pairs. Spreads for the Euro/United States Dollar (EUR/USD) fx pair can be as low as 0.5 pips, with average spreads of 0.8 pips. City Index’s full forex product range consists of 65 different currency pairs, along with a solid selection of indices, shares, commodities, metals, bonds, and interest rates.

Although no commission fees are incurred when spread betting with City Index, traders do face overnight financing fees, inactivity fees for dormant accounts, and premium rates for Guaranteed Stop Loss Orders (GSLOs).

  • UK overnight financing fee/swap rates: LIBOR +/-2.5%
  • Inactivity fee: £12 per month after one year of inactivity

Guaranteed Stop-Loss Orders (GSLOs)

To manage the high risk of spread betting, stop-loss and limit orders are available to lock in profits and minimise losses.

Just like free order types, spread betters can pay a premium to place GSLOs. GSLOs ensure positions are closed at the price selected by the trader, whereas stop loss and limit orders do not guarantee that the pre-selected prices will be matched.

Trading Platforms

City Index’s main trading platform is the City Index Trading Platform (sometimes called WebTrader). We tended to prefer their proprietary online trading platform as it is powered by HTML 5 technology and accessible from any browser. One feature we like with the platform is the availability of a guaranteed stop loss order (GSLO) which allows you to protect your trading position so you cannot lose more than you are willing to.

Mobile Trading Apps

City Index offers two forex trading apps specifically designed for iOS and Android devices. Many of City Index’s web trader features are available on mobile apps, including different order types such as GSLOs, one-click trading, Reuters news, and custom indicators.
City Index Trading Apps Spread Betting UK

The fully functional and customisable apps provide most of the online platforms charting tools with 60 inbuilt technical indicators and multiple timeframes included. A major benefit to City Index’s trading apps is that traders can easily and instantly contact customer support via the app’s live chat function.

Final Verdict On City Index

We liked City Index’s range of markets you can spread bet across. Their proprietary platform has useful features such as charts, technical indicators and a GSLO, and these are backed up with competitive spreads to reduce your trading costs. If you really want the most markets to trade, they are worth shortlisting.

City Index ReviewVisit City Index

*Your capital is at risk ‘70% of retail CFD accounts lose money’

3. IG Group Top Range Of Markets

IG Group

Forex Panel Score

81

Average Spread

EUR/USD = 1.13
GBP/USD = 1.66
AUD/USD = 1.01

Trading Platforms

MT4, IG Trading Platform,
L2 Dealer, ProRealTime

Minimum Deposit

$250

Why We Recommend IG Group

We highly recommend the IG Group, the pioneers of financial spread betting since 1974. With a whopping selection of over 17,000 products to delve into—from unique options like interest rates and IPOs to thematic markets—it’s evident why we favour IG for those keen on exploring a vast range of markets. If there’s a market you’re eyeing, chances are, IG has got you covered.

Pros & Cons

  • Creator of spread betting
  • All 4 platforms available for spread betting
  • Largest range of spread betting products
  • Guaranteed stop loss order with IG Platform
  • Top education and research tools
  • Inactivity fees after 24 months
  • No social trading tools
  • IG Platform while excellent lacks pre-defined layouts

Broker Details

IG Has The Largest Spread Betting Markets Available

When we traded with IG Group, we had access to global markets and various asset classes for spread betting. This was perfect for us, especially since we trade across multiple markets and prefer to consolidate all our trading on a single platform. Available asset classes to spread bet include:

  • Currency Pairs: Over 100 forex pairs
  • Indices: Global including the US 500, FTSE 100, Germany 30
  • Shares: 12,000+ Stocks
  • Exchange-Traded Funds: 6000+ ETFs
  • Commodities: Metals, Oil, Gas, and Softs

ig spread betting account for uk traders

IG Has An Easy To Use Trading Platform

The broker’s proprietary trading platform for beginners is offered as a desktop or web trader. It also offers trading apps designed for tablets and mobiles. For those wanting to use a third-party spread betting platform, ProRealTime and MetaTrader 4 are other options.

IG Markets Spread Betting Platform UK

Proprietary Web Platform And Trading Apps

The proprietary software from IG Markets is very beginner-friendly, offering a customisable experience suitable for traders of all skill levels. We could access the web trader platform from any browser, and their mobile trading apps worked seamlessly on Android and iOS devices.

An advantage of using IG’s online trading platform is that users can utilise different order types, such as Guaranteed Stop Loss Orders (GSLOs) to manage the high risk of spread betting. Platform features available on both the web trader platform and trading apps include:

  • User-friendly, intuitive design
  • Alerts and notifications
  • Economic calendar
  • Real-time Reuters news

IG Markets Web Trader Spread Betting

MetaTrader 4

Many traders prefer MetaTrader 4 due to the platform’s Expert Advisor (EA) functionality. EAs allow users to automate trading, reducing the time spent conducting analysis and placing orders. In addition to MT4’s inbuilt technical indicators, IG Markets offers an add-on package that provides an additional 12 MT4 add-ons.

IG Markets MT4 Spread Betting

In summary, our experience suggests that IG Group might be the top spread betting broker for beginners, given their robust trading platform, stellar customer service, and the breadth of markets available. Knowing that IG Group is the largest retail forex broker added a layer of reassurance for those newer to spread trading.

View IG Group ReviewVisit IG Group

4. FXCM Good MetaTrader 4 Spread Betting Platform

FXCM

Forex Panel Score

75

Average Spread

EUR/USD = 1.3
GBP/USD = 1.4
AUD/USD = 1.7

Trading Platforms

MT4, TradingView,
Trading Station, Capitalise.ai

Minimum Deposit

$300

Why We Recommend FXCM

We recommend FXCM for its competitive spreads starting from 0.7 pips and its commendable range of markets, notably in shares. What genuinely sets FXCM apart is its unique provision of spread betting on the MetaTrader 4 platform. Being one of the rare brokers to offer MT4 combined with spread betting facilities is noteworthy. With access to thousands of custom indicators and the benefit of automated trading, we consider FXCM an excellent choice for those keen on spread betting via MetaTrader 4.

Pros & Cons

  • Competitive spreads
  • Good choice of platforms for betting
  • Good range of deposit and withdrawal methods
  • No 24/7 support
  • Withdrawal fee for bank wire
  • Inactivity fee
  • Slow support

Broker Details

FXCM Offers Spread Betting on MetaTrader 4

MetaTrader 4 is undoubtedly a favoured trading platform for CFDs, but to our surprise, only a few brokers provide spread betting on it. Lucky for us, FXCM does, enabling us to harness the full capabilities of MT4, from its customisable trading indicators and one-click trading to automated trading and its rich set of drawing tools. We value the ability to automate our trades, and if you’re into using Expert Advisors and have a penchant for spread betting, our experience suggests FXCM might be your go-to broker.

Alternatively, FXCM gives you a choice of 3 trading platforms for spread betting. These are Trading Station Web, TradingView, and Ninja Trader.

FXCM Spread Betting Platforms

FXCM Retail Spread Betting Account

The FXCM retail spread betting account works like the CFD trading account. This means you get the same spreads you would if you were trading CFD financial instruments such as Forex, Shares, Indices, and other products FXCM offers.

fxcm spread betting account for uk traders

FXCM does not charge commissions, meaning the markup is included in the spread. Spreads for the FXCM account are as follows:

FXCM Spread Betting: Standard Account, No Commission Spreads
1.30 1.70 2.40 2.10 1.70

Avg. spreads are taken from each broker's website and updated monthly. Last update on 01/11/2023

Active Trader Account For Spread Betting

If you are after the tightest spreads for spread betting, then you should consider the Active Trader account. But, a heads up: Active Traders is reserved for those earnest traders ready to bet in hefty volumes.

To qualify for an active trader account, you will need to bet or trade a monthly notional volume of at least 150 million and maintain equity above $25,000. While spreads are tighter, there are commission costs you will have to pay (which is unusual for a spread betting account).

You will pay $25 in commission when you open and close your bet for every $1 million you bet.

Other benefits of the Active trader account include:

  • Dedicated support – This includes a personal relationship manager and priority access to the customer support team
  • Market depth – If you are using FXCM’s Trading station, then you can view the live quotes from liquidity providers
  • Free eFXplus subscription – As long as you maintain your Active Trader account, you get free top-end institutional-derived FX data

The following table lists the average spreads FXCM offers for Active Traders:

FXCM Active Trader: Standard Account, No Commission Spreads
0.30 0.40 1.10 0.70 0.80

Avg. spreads are taken from each broker's website and updated monthly. Last update on 01/11/2023

FXCM Spread Betting Products – Shares, Forex, Trading Baskets

Choosing FXCM means you get a large and diverse range of financial instruments you can use for trading. Products include:

  •  40+ Forex Pairs
  • 7+ cryptocurrency CFDs (not available for retail clients residing in the UK)
  • Access to single shares from US, UK, HK, and EU stock markets
  • 16 Indices
  • 11 commodities
  • 1 Treasury (Bond)
  • 3 Forex Baskets – US Dollar Index, Yen Index, Emerging Markets Index
  • 16 Stock Indices –  FAANG, Biotech, Cannabis, eSports, U.S. Banks, Airlines, Casinos

FXCM Trading Products

One of the major features is the range of shares FXCM has. Spread betters are not restricted to shares from the US NASDAQ or NYSE like many other brokers offer but shares across multiple markets. This means you can bet not only on popular shares based in the US, like Facebook, Zoom, Microsoft, Alphabet (Google), and Tesla but also shares in other markets, such as AstraZeneca and BP.

In addition to shares, FXCM also offers trading baskets. Available baskets include forex baskets and stock baskets. Trading baskets are a compilation of common assets grouped to form a kind of index.

There are 3 Forex Baskets available. These are The Dow Jones Dollar Index Basket (US Dollar), The JPY Basket, which is called the YES index, and the EM Basket or Emerging Markets Index.

The difference between each index is the number of currencies that make up the index.

fxcm forex baskets

The other trading baskets consist of stocks ground by a particular theme. Examples include FAANG, which compiles stocks of the 5 biggest I.T. companies on the US Stock Exchange and US Automotive (US.AUTO) which consists of 5 of the largest automobile companies on the US stock exchange.

fxcm trade stock basket

1As per FXCM’s Spread Report (Q1 2023)

²FXCM can be compensated in several ways, which include but are not limited to adding a markup to the spreads it receives from its liquidity providers, adding a markup rollover, etc. Commission-based pricing is applicable to Active Trader account types

3Cryptocurrency Products are currently not available to retail clients residing in the UK

4Leverage: Leverage is a double-edged sword and can dramatically amplify your profits. It can also just as dramatically amplify your losses. Trading foreign exchange/CFDs with any level of leverage may not be suitable for all investors.

View FXCM ReviewVisit FXCM

*Your capital is at risk ‘67% of retail CFD accounts lose money’

5. FxPro Best Spread Bet Trading Platform

FxPro

Forex Panel Score

60

Average Spread

EUR/USD = 1.32
GBP/USD = 1.7
AUD/USD = 1.95

Trading Platforms

MT4, MT5, cTrader,
FxPro Trading Platform

Minimum Deposit

$100

Why We Recommend FxPro

FXPro has an excellent trading platform which comes with over 50 indicators, 4 pending order types, 15 time frames and sentiment tools for the Forex majors. Combined with these features, the FxPro Edge makes a solid pick for the best spread bet trading platform.

Pros & Cons

  • FxPro Edge platform for spread betting
  • Good execution transparency
  • Fixed spread for selected currency pairs
  • Cant use MT4, MT5  or cTrader for spread betting
  • Spreads can be high
  • Inactivity fees

Broker Details

FxPro Has Excellent Trading Platform Features

FxPro offers FxPro Edge, which is a proprietary spread betting trading platform that has a user-friendly design (it’s minimalistic, so no distractions while trading). The FxPro Edge platform is highly customisable with its widget module design, allowing you to arrange your trading platform in a way that makes it easy for you to trade. If you solely rely on technical analysis, then the FxPro Edge platform is an ideal choice because it comes with 60+ indicators and drawing tools to help with your analysis.

FxPro Edge Trading Platform

The FxPro Edge also comes with an Account Performance tool that shows you a real-time breakdown of your trading performance with a range of helpful stats. It shows your total number of trades and how many of them were profitable, giving you a winning percentage, and it also shows you your average PnL per trade. These stats are handy to know whether you are a new trader or a veteran, as they can help spot mistakes in your trading.

fxpro spread betting account for uk traders

FxPro Edge users are provided with a professional trading environment with commission-free spread betting available on forex, share, index, energy and metal products.

CMC Markets ReviewVisit CMC Markets

*Your capital is at risk ‘78.87% of retail CFD accounts lose money’

6. OANDA Great Spread Betting For Beginners

OANDA

Forex Panel Score

71

Average Spread

EUR/USD = 0.6
GBP/USD = 0.9
AUD/USD = 0.7

Trading Platforms

MT4, TradingView
OANDA Trade (fx Trade)

Minimum Deposit

$0

Why We Recommend OANDA

OANDA is our top choice as a spread betting broker if you are a beginner. We like that the broker’s platform (OANDA Trade) is user-friendly with excellent charting tools and that it allows you to trade smaller deal sizes, making it ideal for beginners.

Broker Details

OANDA Trade Offers Novice Traders Beginner-Friendly Tools

The OANDA Trade platform is designed to make analysing the markets and executing your trades straightforward and without distractions. We like how the platform has over 100+ technical indicators and drawing tools, giving you a solid choice of indicators to work with (more than most other platforms).

One of the advantages you may like with the OANDA Trade platform is that you can trade smaller deal sizes, which can help you transition from demo to live trading. Because of this, the OANDA Trade platform requires you to input your positions by entering the units you want to trade instead of a stake size.

Even though you have more control over your deal sizes, you must determine how much per point you want to risk.

oanda spread-betting-account-products-uk-traders.png

OANDA Trade provides easy access to third-party trading tools like AutoChartist which generates trading ideas based on technical analysis. This is useful for a beginner because it allows you to see how a professional firm finds trading ideas, as well as provide a second opinion on market direction.

View Oanda ReviewVisit Oanda

7. CMC Markets Good Range Of Forex Pairs

CMC Markets

Forex Panel Score

74

Average Spread

EUR/USD = 1.12
GBP/USD = 1.3
AUD/USD = 1.64

Trading Platforms

MT4, CMC NGEN

Minimum Deposit

$0

Why We Recommend CMC Markets

If you like choices when betting on currency markets, we recommend you look at CMC Markets. It offers over 300 Forex pairs to bet on (you read that right), starting from 0.7 points. It also has a solid selection of markets with 90+ indices, 110+ hard and soft commodities and over 50 treasuries. We are confident CMC Markets will have the betting instruments you are looking for.

Pros & Cons

  • Diverse choice of betting products
  • 300+ forex products
  • Solid customer services
  • CMC NGEN platform for spread betting
  • Guaranteed stop loss order with NGEN
  • No backtesting with NGEN
  • No social trading or automation
  • Spread bets with MT4 not available

Broker Details

CMC Markets Offers The Best Range Of Markets

CMC Markets has over 300+ currency markets available for you to spread bet. This is by far the largest selection in the UK. They offer reverse cross pairs on every asset, which means you can trade forex pairs like USD/GBP and EUR/USD. So, if you like to trade forex, CMC Markets is your top choice.

CMC Markets Spread Betting Spreads UKAlthough no commission is charged on top of competitive spreads, traders incur fees for overnight financing, premium order types, and inactive trading accounts. Spread betting costs include:

  • Holding Costs (aka overnight financing fees/swap rates): If a position is held open longer than a day, you will pay or receive holding costs.
  • Guaranteed Stop-Loss Orders (GSLOs): For a premium, traders can place GSLOs that guarantee the order is closed at the price specified by the customer, regardless of gapping.
  • Inactivity Fees: CMC Markets customers face a €10 monthly inactivity fee if they have no open positions and haven’t traded for 12 months.

CMC Has A Top Trading Platform

The Next Generation platform offers an intuitive, user-friendly trading environment that is available in a standard or advanced format. A range of trading tools is provided via the platform to assist traders with developing spread betting strategies and managing the high risk of forex trading, such as:

  • One-click trading and price alerts
  • Advanced charting and chart forums
  • Client sentiment data and pattern recognition market scanner
  • Real-time news and financial market calendar
  • Guaranteed Stop Loss Orders

CMC Markets Trading Tools Spread Betting UK

The trading platform is available for desktop download as a web trader through an Android and iOS app.

CMC Markets ReviewVisit CMC Markets

8. Spreadex Best Sports And Finance Spread Bets

Spreadex

Forex Panel Score

29

Average Spread

EUR/USD = N/A
GBP/USD = N/A
AUD/USD = N/A

Trading Platforms

TradingView, SpreadEX Trading Platform

Minimum Deposit

Why We Recommend Spreadex

We highly recommend Spreadex for its diverse spread betting offerings. Beyond the traditional financial instruments like Forex, Gold, Silver, and Energies, it uniquely offers sports spread betting. For those keen on accessing over 10,000 financial instruments on a world-class platform or placing a bet on your favourite EPL football team, Spreadex stands out as a top choice. Its unique fusion of finance and sports makes it an appealing option for traders and enthusiasts.

Pros & Cons

  • Spread betting specialist
  • Spreadex Trading platform built for spread betting
  • Low $2 minimum deposit
  • Financial and sports spread betting
  • Lacks education and webinars
  • No demo account is available
  • No MT4 or MT5

Broker Details

Spreadex Offers financial and sports spread betting

Founded in 1999, UK-based, Spreadex is the only firm to offer spread betting using financial and sport markets, as a bonus you can also trade financial instruments using CFDs.

spreadex-trading-accounts

Financial markets available for spread betting include 16 daily and 20 futures indices, 57 forex pairs and 12 futures, 1000+ shares across 15 global exchanges as well as ETFs, options ad hard commodities.

Spreadex products

Spreadex has an award-winning platform

Spreadex offers 10,000 tradeable products on its award-winning proprietary trading platform, which was voted the Investment Trends 2023 Winner for best mobile platform/app. The UK broker’s powerful platform is highly customisable, with advanced charting including pro trend lines and pattern recognition. We particularly like the platform’s advanced order types, such as the unique ‘forced open’ where you can go long and short on the same market and a guaranteed stop loss order (GSLO). A GSLO is especially used for if you are new to trading as it ensure you cannot lose more than you maximum level of tolerance.

spreadex trading platforms

Quick account opening process

Spreadex features a quick and easy account opening process, with a simple online application form before you are approved and can fund your account immediately.

When you sign up, you’ll have access to thousands of markets for CFD trading and spread betting, including forex, shares, indices, commodities, bonds, ETFs and options.

You can even benefit from a free, 6-month Financial Times subscription should you deposit £500 into a new Spreadex trading account.

spread betting easy signup with spreadex

Spreadex offers sports betting

In conjunction with spread betting on global markets such as forex, stocks and indices, Spreadex offers the unique feature of spread betting on sporting events.

Rather than the traditional method of fixed-odds betting, Spreadex customers can bet higher or lower than the broker’s spread, the more the price moves, the greater the potential returns.

Spreadex Sports Pros Spread Betting UK

Sporting events available to spread bet on include:

  • Horse racing
  • Cricket
  • Golf
  • Rugby
  • Tennis
  • Football

Spreadex ReviewVisit Spreadex

9. ThinkMarkets Best Mobile App For Spread Bets

ThinkMarkets

Forex Panel Score

68

Average Spread

EUR/USD = 0.1
GBP/USD = 0.3
AUD/USD = 0.2

Trading Platforms

MT4, MT5, ThinkTrader

Minimum Deposit

$0

Why We Recommend ThinkMarkets

ThinkMarkets’ ThinkTrade is an excellent mobile trading app that comes bundled with a range of unique features, like the market scanner tool and viewing four charts on one screen. If using a mobile trading app is important to you, then we recommend ThinkMarkets for having the best mobile trading app.

Broker Details

ThinkMarkets Has The Most Tools On Its Mobile Platform

We evaluated the best apps for spread betting and found the ThinkTrader mobile app had an excellent range of trading features that aren’t featured with other brokers’ mobile apps.

For example, one feature that we liked is that it comes with its own market scanner to help find new trading opportunities throughout the day. This is a helpful tool for intraday traders who might need extra inspiration throughout the day.

ThinkTrader Mobile AppFSCA Brokers ThinkMarkets

While many mobile apps are restricted regarding charting tools, ThinkTrader offers an extensive range of technical analysis tools including 10 chart types, 12 timeframes, 40 objects, and 100 technical indicators. Additional built-in mobile app features include:

  • Multi deal closure
  • Cloud-based alerts
  • Multi split-screen display
  • Intelligent Market Trend Scanner
  • Multitouch functionality
  • Real-time news

ThinkMarkets ReviewVisit ThinkMarkets

10. Markets.com Good Spread Betting Demo Account

Markets.com

Forex Panel Score

59

Average Spread

EUR/USD = 1.6
GBP/USD = 1.6
AUD/USD = 1.9

Trading Platforms

MT4, MT5,
Markets.com Trading App

Minimum Deposit

$100

Why We Recommend Markets.com

Markets.com is our top pick for spread betting demo accounts, offering long expirations and unlimited funds, making it a solid choice to practise your strategies or learn to trade. Additionally, Markets.com offers a solid range of platforms for you to demo risk-free, including the Markets.com platform which is ideal if you are a beginner trader.

Pros & Cons

  • Metatrader 4 and 5 for spread betting
  • Good education content
  • Customer service is good
  • Spread could be better
  • The product portfolio is limited
  • No 3rd party copy trading software
  • No automated trading

Broker Details

Markets.com Spread Bet LogoMarkets.com Offers A Range Of Software

Markets.com is one of the better brokers that is regulated by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) offering a free demo account to spread bet. We analysed spread betting demo accounts and found their MT4 and MT5 offerings were good, but their proprietary platform was the best for beginner traders.

Markets.com Platforms

Markets.com has the widest range of platforms that offer spread betting for their UK and Ireland residents. Their own proprietary platform is one of the most advanced platforms that offers over 200 different assets ranging from forex currency pairs to blended stock baskets.

Trading Platforms Markets.com

Markets.com Knowledge Center

Markets.com offers one of the best knowledge centres for anyone to enjoy, even if you are not a client. Whether you are just starting your trading journey or have been doing it for many years, there is always something new to learn about when trading in the financial markets.

A selection of features Markets.com knowledge centre offers include:

  • The latest news affecting the markets with commentary on how it will affect trading
  • Personalised financial live stream service with X-Ray
  • Analysis from expert advisors looking into the big issues impacting the market
  • A detailed FAQ area to find answers to all of your questions
  • Free webinars from some of the best trading minds

Getting Started With Markets.com Demo Account

For traders unfamiliar with Markets.com, they offer a demo account on its trading platforms that expires after 3 months with unlimited virtual money available. If you have not traded the financial markets before, starting with a demo account is recommended before risking your own personal money. For all UK and Ireland residents, the minimum deposit amount to start trading on a live account is £100.

Markets.com ReviewVisit Markets.com

*Your capital is at risk ‘67.7% of retail CFD accounts lose money’