Top 8 UK Forex Trading Apps

The best forex trading platforms for mobile trading are:

  • Plus500 - Best Forex Trading App For UK Traders
  • Pepperstone - Lowest Spread Trading Platform
  • eToro - Top Trading App For Copy Trading
  • CMC Markets - Good Trading App For Beginners
  • FXCM - Great Range Of App Trading Platforms
  • IG Markets - Best App For Large Range Of Markets
  • AvaTrade - Great Fixed Spread
  • Swissquote - Trusted App With TradingView Charting
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
5.83 ASIC, CySEC, MAS
FCA, FMA, DFSA
EFSA, FSA, FSCA
1.70 2.3 1.4 - - - - 140ms $100 71+ 15+ 30:1 300:1 Visit Site
9.33 FCA, ASIC
CySEC, DFSA
1.12 1.69 1.22 0.1 0.6 0.3 $3.50 77ms $0 62+ 12+ 30:1 500:1 Visit Site
7.17 ASIC, CySEC, MFSA
FCA, FSA, FINRA
GFSC
1.0 2.0 1.0 - - - - 130ms $200 (Australia), $50-$100 (EU) 49+ 46+ 30:1 400:1 Visit Site
7.17 ASIC, MAS, FCA
CIRO, FMA, 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
7.93 ASIC, FSCA
FCA, CIRO
AMF, ISA, 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
6.67 ASIC, FCA, BaFin
FINMA, NFA/CFTC, MAS
CySEC, DFSA, FMA
JFSA, BMA, FSCA
1.13 1.66 1.01 0.16 0.59 0.29 $6.00 174ms $450 100+ 12+ 30:1 200:1 Visit Site
8.33 ASIC, FSCA
CBI, KNF, CIRO
ADGM, FSC-BVI
- - - - - - - 160ms $100 55+ 15+ 30:1 400:1 Visit Site
7.83 FCA, FINMA
MAS, DFSA, MFSA
1.7 2 1.6 - - - 2 170ms $1000 76+ 26+ 30:1 400:1 Visit Site
 

What Are The Best Forex Trading Apps For UK Traders?

In 2023 we determined the forex broker UK overall winners based on their desktop trading experience. We understand many traders primarily use mobile, so we tested the trading apps and shortlisted the brokers based on our findings.

1. UK'S BEST FOREX TRADING APP

Plus500
Plus500

Forex Panel Score

56

Average Spread

EUR/USD = 1.7
GBP/USD = 2.3
AUD/USD = 1.4

Trading Platforms

Plus500 Trading Platform

Minimum Deposit

$0

Why We Recommend Plus500

Plus500 has the best forex trading app in UK based on features and ease of use on mobile. Our testing found it easy to trade, but the spreads we encountered were concerning, so the sweet spot is for beginner to intermediate low-volume traders.

Pros & Cons

  • Easy to use forex trading app
  • Wide range of currency pairs
  • Advanced trading tools
  • Higher trading costs
  • No copy trading facility
  • No spread betting option

Broker Details

plus500 logoPlus500 Has The Top Features And Is The Easiest To Use
Our team opened several trading accounts with each forex broker and found that Plus500 is best for mobile devices. This was based on my own testing on a Samsung S21, David Levy’s testing on an older Android device, and Ross Collins who has an iPhone 13.

plus500 trading platform featuresWe awarded Plus500 the best UK forex app because of its:

  • Easy-to-use trading app
  • Good charting suite
  • Advanced features (E.g. Guaranteed stop loss)
  • Wide range of tradable instruments
  • Strong customer app support
  • Tier 1 regulation and reputation

Mobile Trading Platform

One of the best elements our team likes is Plus500’s app and charting features with 109 indicators and 20 drawing tools. Also, you can trade a wide range of currency pairs and 2,500 share CFDs, which is key to our recommendation. Plus500’s mobile platform also offers flexible order customisation, including stop limits, stop losses, trailing stops, guaranteed stops, and negative balance protection to limit your risk of making a loss on a particular trade.

plus500 mobile platform

Plus500’s Trading Account

Plus500 offers a single standard account with no commission trading, unlike most other forex brokers. Based on our testing with the minimum variable spread for EUR/USD, this account’s spreads are high, starting at 0.6 pips. In comparison, Pepperstone’s standard account has lower spreads starting at 0.2 for EUR/USD.

Opening an account requires a 100 GBP minimum deposit unless by direct bank transfer, which is 500 GBP, and there are no funding costs.

plus500 account type uk

Our Verdict On Plus500

Undoubtedly, Plus500 has the best forex trading app in UK based on features and ease of use on mobile. Our testing found it easy to trade, but the spreads we encountered were concerning, so the sweet spot is for beginner to intermediate low-volume traders. Higher volume or expert traders should consider the brokers discussed in the following sections.

View Plus500 ReviewVisit Plus500

2. LOWEST SPREADS TRADING APP

Pepperstone
Pepperstone

Forex Panel Score

97

Average Spread

EUR/USD = 0.1
GBP/USD = 0.6
AUD/USD = 0.3

Trading Platforms

MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, Capitalise.ai

Minimum Deposit

$0

Why We Recommend Pepperstone

We recommend Pepperstone because our analysis shows their standard account has the lowest spreads. Unlike Plus500, Pepperstone’s full suite of trading platforms all have their own apps, so it comes down to personal preference which option you choose.

Pros & Cons

  • Tight standard account spreads
  • Good trading platforms for beginners
  • Solid range of CFD products
  • Tight standard account spreads
  • Good trading platforms for beginners
  • Solid range of CFD products

Broker Details

Pepperstone logoPepperstone Has The Tightest Standard Account Spreads

When comparing the spreads using forex trading apps, we found Pepperstone to be the cheapest on average. Our spread module compares the top brokers’ spreads each month, demonstrating Pepperstone’s tight spreads.

Standard Account Spreads
1.12 1.22 1.40 2.10 1.50
1.13 1.01 1.71 2.27 1.98
0.90 1.30 1.40 1.40 1.80
1.20 0.90 1.50 2.20 1.70
1.10 1.20 1.40 1.50 1.40
1.10 1.30 1.30 1.50 1.50
1.20 1.30 1.20 1.20 1.30
1.70 1.60 1.70 2.50 2.70
1.20 1.80 1.90 2.30 2.30
1.30 1.70 2.10 1.70 2.10
1.12 1.64 0.86 1.55 1.32
1.32 1.95 1.37 1.87 1.73
1.20 1.30 1.50 1.70 1.20
1.20 1.40 1.50 2.80 2.60

Avg. spreads are taken from each broker's website and updated monthly. Last update on 01/09/2023

We created a full UK lowest spread broker page for more spread comparisons and analysis.

Pepperstone Trading Platform Options

Pepperstone allows you to trade via 4 apps. This includes MetaTrader (MT4 or MT5), cTrader, and the recently added TradingView. For traders who focus primarily on trading currency pairs, we recommend MetaTrader 4, while CFD traders should consider TradingView based on its charting.

Pepperstone Trading Platforms Options

Spread Betting Option

Pepperstone’s platforms and low spreads also apply to the broker’s Spread Betting account. Choosing spread bets over CFDs is only available for UK residents and has some tax advantages over CFD trading. If you’re considering the spread bet pathway, you can view our best spread betting forex brokers and decide which account type best suits your needs.

Our Verdict On Pepperstone

We recommend Pepperstone because our analysis shows their standard account has the lowest spreads. Unlike Plus500, Pepperstone’s full suite of trading platforms all have their own apps, so it comes down to personal preference which option you choose.

View Pepperstone ReviewVisit Pepperstone

3. BEST COPY TRADING APP

eToro
eToro

Forex Panel Score

41

Average Spread

EUR/USD = 1.0
GBP/USD = 2.0
AUD/USD = 1.0

Trading Platforms

eToro Trading Platform

Minimum Deposit

$50

Why We Recommend eToro

eToro is the best choice if you primarily want to copy trade using a simple trading app. The platform is designed for beginner traders, plus it’s easy to fund and be part of the social trading community. Fees are at the higher end, however, and it’s worth noting there is a withdrawal fee, so we recommend eToro for copy traders who trade infrequently.

Pros & Cons

  • Tight standard account spreads
  • Good trading platforms for beginners
  • Solid range of CFD products
  • Tight standard account spreads
  • Good trading platforms for beginners
  • Solid range of CFD products

Broker Details

etoro logoeToro Has The Top Social Trading App Facilities

Unlike most brokers, eToro’s primary focus is on social trading. This was clear when we compared each trading app with the copy trading facility front and centre. In our testing, the CopyTrader platform was the easiest to use, with the largest community to copy and discuss trading strategies with.

You can view our full UK copy trading platform comparison for more data on each broker’s offering, which led to our recommendation.

eToro’s Mobile Trading Platform

eToro only offers its own in-house trading platform as a web trader or a mobile trading app via iOS and Android. When testing all three platform options, we found them easy to download and open an account with. We liked eToro’s CopyTrader and Smart Portfolio and social sentiment data.

etoro mobile platform

CopyTrader allows you to copy the trades of experienced investors, which will particularly suit retail investors. For professional traders, you can also share your own trading strategies and receive exclusive perks.

SmartPortfolios is like CopyTrader but for portfolio management. The platform bundles traders together into single funds for copy trading. This could benefit both self-directed and passive traders looking to diversify or create a portfolio based entirely on one or more CopyPortfolios.

Our Verdict On eToro

eToro is the best choice if you primarily want to copy trade using a simple trading app. The platform is designed for beginner traders, plus it’s easy to fund and be part of the social trading community. Fees are at the higher end, however, and it’s worth noting there is a withdrawal fee, so we recommend eToro for copy traders who trade infrequently.

View eToro ReviewVisit eToro

*Your capital is at risk ‘68% of retail CFD accounts lose money’

4. BEST TRADING APP FOR BEGINNERS

CMC Markets
CMC Markets

Forex Panel Score

74

Average Spread

EUR/USD = 0.5
GBP/USD = 0.9
AUD/USD = 0.6

Trading Platforms

MT4, CMC NGEN

Minimum Deposit

$0

Why We Recommend CMC Markets

CMC Markets is the clear winner when it comes to its trading app for beginners. The broker’s spreads and fees are competitive, and the broker has a strong trust score. With an easy-to-use platform backed by solid customer service, we recommend those new to trading should consider the broker.

Pros & Cons

  • Tight standard account spreads
  • Good trading platforms for beginners
  • Solid range of CFD products
  • Tight standard account spreads
  • Good trading platforms for beginners
  • Solid range of CFD products

Broker Details

cmc markets logoCMC Markets Has The Easiest Platform To Use

The CMC Market App (Next Generation) was the easiest to download and trade with compared to the other UK forex brokers we tested. We tested the app on three mobile devices (Android and Apple) and also on a mobile phone browser (Chrome). Please note that while CMC Markets does offer MT4, we only focused on the Next Generation platform.

CMC Market’s Next-Generation Platform

We found CMC Markets’ mobile app has a clean design with strong features, including powerful charts, multiple research tools, predefined watchlists, integrated news, and educational content. It’s the best for beginner traders because of its simple user experience while still having some complexity built in.

The CMC Market Next Generation Platform

We also like the mobile-optimised charting, with over 25 technical indicators and 15 drawing tools. In our testing, we traded directly through the charts (common with those new to trading), which was effortless and accurate. The customised dashboards were also useful and can be repositioned and resized to suit your preferred layout. Finally, the ‘Client Sentiment Tracker’ is unique and could be useful for a novice trader to understand trading watchlists and what others in the market are trading.

One final element within the CMC Markets app is the guaranteed stop-loss option. Lower-risk novice traders regularly use this to ensure they don’t trade below their specified price despite the higher fees for the feature. You can compare other brokers with similar features on our beginner UK broker page.

Our Verdict On CMC Markets

CMC Markets is the clear winner when it comes to its trading app for beginners. The broker’s spreads and fees are competitive, and the broker has a strong trust score. With an easy-to-use platform backed by solid customer service, we recommend those new to trading should consider the broker.

View CMC Markets ReviewVisit CMC Markets

5. GOOD RANGE OF CFD PLATFORMS

FXCM
FXCM

Forex Panel Score

75

Average Spread

EUR/USD = 0.3
GBP/USD = 0.9
AUD/USD = 0.4

Trading Platforms

MT4, TradingView, Trading Station, Capitalise.ai

Minimum Deposit

$50

Why We Recommend FXCM

FXCM is a solid broker offering its own propriety platform available on the App Store (Android and Apple). We liked the broker’s offering for CFD trading, but their fees were the main sticking point.

Pros & Cons

  • Tight standard account spreads
  • Good trading platforms for beginners
  • Solid range of CFD products
  • Tight standard account spreads
  • Good trading platforms for beginners
  • Solid range of CFD products

Broker Details

fxcm logoFXCM Offers The Most Popular Trading Software

We liked that FXCM offers traders choices when it comes to their platform. This includes MetaTrader 4 and algorithmic trading platforms such as NinjaTrader and ZuluTrade. FXCM’s Trading Station also has advanced trading tools and quality market research for further learning.

We recommend, of all the options available, if you plan to trade CFD with FXCM, to select the Trading Station. It’s the easiest to use in our testing and has the best user guide with 11 chapters. We also like that 3 chart types on 13 timeframes, 60 indicators, and drawing tools are available. Likewise, trading directly from your charts dramatically enhances the mobile trading experience.

FXCM UK mobile platform

You can view our comparison of CFD trading platforms to understand the options available better when trading shares, indices, and commodities.

Verdict On FXCM

FXCM is a solid broker offering its own propriety platform available on the App Store (Android and Apple). We liked the broker’s offering for CFD trading, but their fees were the main sticking point. We recommend any trader first compare spreads before selecting this broker.

View FXCM ReviewVisit FXCM

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

6. BEST RANGE OF MARKETS

IG
IG

Forex Panel Score

81

Average Spread

EUR/USD = 0.16
GBP/USD = 0.59
AUD/USD = 0.29

Trading Platforms

MT4, IG Trading Platform, L2 Dealer, ProRealTime

Minimum Deposit

$250 GBP

Why We Recommend IG

We recommend IG if you’re looking to trade more exotic CFDs worldwide. Not only does IG, through their desktop software or trading app, allow traders the most markets and currency pair options but there is sufficient depth to keep spreads lower on these exotic instruments. The platform is clean, has reasonable spreads, and is suited to more intermediate CFD traders.

Pros & Cons

  • Tight standard account spreads
  • Good trading platforms for beginners
  • Solid range of CFD products
  • Tight standard account spreads
  • Good trading platforms for beginners
  • Solid range of CFD products

Broker Details

ig logoIG Offers The Most Instruments To Be Traded

IG is the largest and, in our 2023 comparison, the most trusted broker worldwide. Due to their market share, they can allow traders to trade over 17,000 financial instruments, including forex, indices, shares, futures, options, spot trading, bonds, and even interest rates. We found they had the most tradeable products on their app and the best depth.

IG’s Propriety Trading Platform

IG offers a range of platforms, but their propriety is the best option based on our testing. This recommendation is not just for beginners but also for advanced traders. The platform’s app was one of the best for its charting layout and features, with 30 technical indicators, 20 drawing tools, and 16 selectable time frames.

ig markets mobile platform

We also liked that within the app, you can trade with partial fills and points through a current, extensive range of order types and alerts via email, SMS, or push notification. A guaranteed stop-loss facility is also available for more novice traders (like CMC). There is also the IG Academy app for education and IG Access for account security, whi, ans.

It’s worth noting that IG offers a direct market access (DMA) account offering RAW spreads (with a commission). If you’re considering this account, view our ECN broker for UK trader page, where we compare this to other low-spread accounts.

Verdict On IG

We recommend IG if you’re looking to trade more exotic CFDs worldwide. Not only does IG, through their desktop software or trading app, allow traders the most markets and currency pair options but there is sufficient depth to keep spreads lower on these exotic instruments. The platform is clean, has reasonable spreads, and is suited to more intermediate CFD traders.

View IG Markets ReviewVisit IG Markets

7. BEST FIXED SPREAD BROKER

AvaTrade
AvaTrade

Forex Panel Score

64

Average Spread

EUR/USD = 0.9
GBP/USD = 1.5
AUD/USD = 1.1

Trading Platforms

MT4, MT5, AvaTradeGo, AvaOptions

Minimum Deposit

$100

Why We Recommend AvaTrade

We recommend AvaTrade only to novice traders with a very low-risk appetite. While it’s nice to know the fees of a broker ahead of time and to have a feature allowing a trader to exit a losing trade, the fees are very high. This makes it hard to profit when trading CFDs, raising the question of whether a trade suits this category.

Pros & Cons

  • Tight standard account spreads
  • Good trading platforms for beginners
  • Solid range of CFD products
  • Tight standard account spreads
  • Good trading platforms for beginners
  • Solid range of CFD products

Broker Details

Avatrade logoWe acknowledge that some traders (unlike us) have a very low-risk appetite. The AvaTrade trading app is the best option for these traders, with fixed spreads providing certainty of trading costs, and in our analysis, the broker was the cheapest in its fixed spread broker category.

Fixed Account Spreads
0.90 1.10 1.50 1.50 1.00
0.60 0.80 1.00 1.00 0.70
0.70 1.20 1.50 1.30 1.00
1.94 2.36 2.11 2.05 1.83
1.60 1.90 1.70 2.10 1.60
3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 3.00

Avg. spreads are taken from each broker's website and updated monthly. Last update on 01/09/2023

The AvaTradeGo Platform

AvaTrade provides its own proprietary mobile platforms, AvaTradeGO and AvaOptions, for Android and iOS devices. We focused on AvaTradeGO as it allows CFD trading, and we found it had the best market trend and trading analysis tools, including 93 charting indicators. A unique benefit targeting low-risk traders is AvaProtect™. This risk management tool reduces a trader’s risk by allowing them to exit a losing trade without bearing the total loss. The key issue is that you have to nominate the trade for this feature with a fee incurred for activation.

avatrade mobile platformAvaOptions allows you to trade options, a unique offering amongst its peers, including over 40 currency pairs with 14 default trading strategies available.

AvaTrade Verdict

We recommend AvaTrade only to novice traders with a very low-risk appetite. While it’s nice to know the fees of a broker ahead of time and to have a feature allowing a trader to exit a losing trade, the fees are very high. This makes it hard to profit when trading CFDs, raising the question of whether a trade suits this category.

View AvaTrade ReviewVisit AvaTrade

8. THE MOST TRUSTED BROKER

Swissquote
Swissquote

Forex Panel Score

Average Spread

EUR/USD = 0.3
GBP/USD = 0.5
AUD/USD = 0.5

Trading Platforms

N/A

Minimum Deposit

N/A

Why We Recommend Swissquote

We liked the trading platform and broker offering, but the broker spreads were high, and we had issues with their customer support. The broker is only recommended if you are an experienced trader and can self-serve using the mobile app.

Pros & Cons

  • Tight standard account spreads
  • Good trading platforms for beginners
  • Solid range of CFD products
  • Tight standard account spreads
  • Good trading platforms for beginners
  • Solid range of CFD products

Broker Details

swissquote logoSwissquote is backed by one of the largest banks

SwissQuote is a trusted broker and features a reliable trading app with an advanced charting tool. TradingView further adds value to the Swiss broker’s mobile trading capabilities. Besides being easy to use and cleanly designed, the great benefit of Swissquote’s in-house Advanced Trader mobile app is that it comes with TradingView, a premier charting tool featuring over 100 pre-built technical indicators.

The Advanced Trader Mobile Platforms

Swissquote’s platform, we found, was user-friendly and well-designed, with powerful customisation, including 27 charting indicators, 17 overlays, and 11 timeframes. The app also has a decent range of research features and integrated educational content.

swissquotes mobile platform

We liked the 12 charts available with this tool and 8 charts per tab. You also have infinite timeframes available for the deepest possible analysis. An extensive range of in-built indicators and drawing tools are available. Alternatively, you can purchase other indicators from the market or create your own.

You can compare this option with other UK forex trading platforms we analysed in 2023.

Swissquote Verdict

We liked the trading platform and broker offering, but the broker spreads were high, and we had issues with their customer support. The broker is only recommended if you are an experienced trader and can self-serve using the mobile app.

View Swissquote ReviewVisit Swissquote