We compared the best UK trading apps to match the different platforms to distinct types of traders. When finalising our platform recommendations, we focused on the ease of use, range of tradable instruments and spreads.
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The best forex trading platforms for mobile trading are:
| 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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
|
8.33 |
ASIC, FSCA CBI, KNF, CIRO ADGM, FSC-BVI |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
|
|
160ms | $100 | 55+ | 15+ | 30:1 | 400:1 |
|
|
7.83 |
FCA, FINMA MAS, DFSA, MFSA |
1.7 | 2 | 1.6 | - | - | - | 2 |
|
|
|
170ms | $1000 | 76+ | 26+ | 30:1 | 400:1 |
|
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.
Forex Panel Score
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
Broker Details
Plus500 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.
We awarded Plus500 the best UK forex app because of its:
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’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.
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.
Forex Panel Score
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
Broker Details
Pepperstone 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.
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.
Forex Panel Score
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
Broker Details
eToro 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.
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.
*Your capital is at risk ‘68% of retail CFD accounts lose money’
Forex Panel Score
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
Broker Details
CMC 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.
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.
Forex Panel Score
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
Broker Details
FXCM 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.
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.
*Your capital is at risk ‘67% of retail CFD accounts lose money’
Forex Panel Score
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
Broker Details
IG 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.
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.
Forex Panel Score
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
Broker Details
We 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.
AvaOptions 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.
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
Broker Details
Swissquote 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.
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.
When choosing the UK’s best forex broker and their trading apps, there is much to consider, especially given that mobile trading is on the rise.
The first consideration is whether the broker offers their own proprietary trading platform, a third-party platform like MetaTrader, or a combination of both (also available as a mobile app).
Then there are many other trading considerations when choosing the best forex trading platform, including:
It’s also important to check the broker’s spreads and other fees and understand how UK Broker’s make money. When forex trading in UK, note that you can’t trade cryptocurrency CFDs from any broker’s UK entity or as a UK resident due to FCA regulations, so we have avoided crypto-specialist brokers.
When trading forex, it is worth navigating the tricky terrain. Combining a versatile mobile platform with these additional trading factors is difficult to get your head around. You needn’t worry, as the expert team at Compare Forex Brokers has done the hard work for you. While we considered many brokers, such as forex.com and XTB, only the best could make our list, all with their own, unique competitive advantages.
A Note On UK Regulation
Every forex trading platform in the UK we have recommended is a regulated broker listed on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) register. The FCA is independently formed by the government and funded by membership fees. Being part of Europe, the United Kingdom also follows the ESMA guidelines on CFD trading, which is an independent European Authority that safeguards the stability of the EU’s financial system.
To further protect UK retail forex traders, the FCA has a compensation scheme called the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) to guarantee forex broker UK client funds are safeguarded. The FSCS does this by offering protection of up to £50,000 for CFD traders when a broker comes into insolvency issues. Specifically, when insolvency and liquidation issues occur, the FSCS provides CFDs traders with:
You may also notice that some brokers have multiple regulators, including CySEC in Cyprus, ASIC in Australia, and FSCA in South Africa. This doesn’t mean that these multi-regulated brokers are safer or more trusted. It means they have multiple regulators for the different regions where they have subsidiaries and, therefore, can offer financial services to clients worldwide. Navigate to our UK compare forex brokers homepage for the full subset of comparisons.
