Best Low Spread Broker UK

Inexperienced traders are often unaware of just how important it is to choose a low spread broker. After all, the spread is an indirect fee that you need to pay when you enter a trade – meaning that it will have an impact on your profit and loss figures. In this guide, we review some of the popular low spread brokers of 2022.

Popular Low Spread Brokers UK 2022

If you’re looking for a quick summary of the popular low spread brokers UK of 2022, check out the five providers listed below. You can read a full review of each broker by scrolling down.

1. Libertex 
2. Plus500
3. FXCM

Popular Low Spread Brokers UK Reviewed

On the one hand, choosing a broker that offers low spreads is quite important. However, you also need to look at what else the low spread broker offers in terms of commissions, payments, regulation, customer support, markets, and more.

With this in mind, we have done the hard work for you by reviewing some of the popular low-spread brokers of 2022.

1. Libertex 

If you are looking for a popular low spread broker in its truest form, then Libertex is another option. This is because the broker does not charge any spreads whatsoever. To our knowledge, this is an industry first.

For example, if you wanted to trade EUR/USD – both the purchase and sell price amounts to 1.21622, at the time of writing. Libertex offers tight spreads across all of its supported asset classes.

On top of forex, this also includes cryptocurrencies, commodities, ETFs, stocks, and indices – all in the form of CFD instruments. This means that all markets at Libertex allow you to go long and short.  

In terms of the trading platform itself, you have two options at your disposal. If you are an experienced trading pro – then you might decide to use Libertex via MT4. On the other hand, if you are a newbie that is looking to learn the ropes, Libertex also offers its own propitiatory trading platform.

This is much more suitable for beginners. It is important to note that although Libertex offers tight spreads, it does charge a commission. This is the case across all of its support financial instruments – and will vary between 0% and 0.5%. When it comes to payments, Libertex supports debit cards, credit cards, bank transfers, and several e-wallets.

Furthemore, although the minimum first-time deposit is £100 – this goes down to just £10 on all future funding attempts. Finally, Libertex has been in the online trading arena for over two decades, and the platform is regulated by CySEC. 

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2. Plus500

Plus500 is a popular CFD trading platform that has grown to new heights in recent years. On top of a huge client base, its parent company is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Plus500 is also heavily regulated, with licenses from the FCA, ASIC, CySEC, MAS, and others. As a CFD trading platform, you will have access to a vast range of asset classes. This includes everything from stock CFDs, commodities, bonds, and ETFs.

However, it is the Plus500 foreign exchange department that stands out for us – especially in terms of spreads. For example, For example, you have the option to trade EUR/USD with a dynamic spread of just 0.01% – which is very competitive.

And of course – irrespective of which financial instrument you decide to trade at Plus500, this low spread broker does not charge any commissions. As a UK resident, you will also be able to trade with leverage when using Plus500. This is capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs and 1:20 on minors and exotics.

Other CFD instruments come with lower limits, so be sure to check this yourself. In terms of the trading platform, Plus500 allows you to access your account online or via a native iOS/Android mobile app. It doesn’t, however, offer support for third-party platforms like MT4/5 or cTrader.

As such, low spread brokers like Plus500 won’t be suitable if you want to engage in automated trading. Nevertheless, the minimum deposit at this broker is just £100. It supports a vast range of deposit methods – including debit/credit cards, Paypal, and bank transfer. There are no deposit or withdrawal fees at Plus500 either, which is an added bonus.

3. FXCM 

If you are a complete newbie in the world of online trading, then you may want to use a low spread broker that supports small deposits. Forex Capital Markets (FXCM) is one such option, as the platform requires a minimum deposit of just $50 – or about £40.

This is suitable for first-timers that want to explore how online trading works without risking a lot of money. FXCM is a lot more than just a low deposit broker, though. On the contrary, the platform offers heaps of CFD asset classes at competitive fees. In terms of spreads, you may trade gold from just 0.05 pips, and EUR/USD from 1.4 pips.

Major indices are also very competitive, with the SP500 costing just 0.38 pips. Crucially, each and every market offered by this low spread broker can be traded commission-free. Once you open an account at FXCM and make a deposit, you may choose from several trading platforms.

This includes FXCM Station, as well as third-party platforms MT4 and cTrade. Supported payment methods at this broker include debit cards, credit cards, and e-wallets. In terms of safety. FXCM has a solid reputation in the UK trading scene. The platform was launched way back in 1999 and is authorized and regulated by the FCA.

Sponsored ad. There is no guarantee you will make money with this provider.

Low Spread Brokers Fees Comparison

If you’re looking for a comparison of the popular low spread brokers that we have reviewed today – check out the table below.

Note: The figures below are based on the minimum spread offered by the platform on the asset class in question. Unless otherwise stated as a fixed spread, the spread can and will change throughout the trading day.  

Low Spreads Explained – How to Find the Cheapest Broker

Whether you’re looking for a low spread stock broker, CFD broker, spread betting broker, or forex broker, It is crucial to remember that choosing a low-cost broker is about so much more than just fixating on the spread. For example, is the spread advertised by the broker available at all times, are only during busy trading hours? Additionally, although the broker might offer a low spread, what does it charge in commission.

All in all, there is a lot to take into account when searching for the popular low spread brokers UK, which we elaborate on which more detail below.

What is the Spread and Why Does it Matter?

First and foremost, you need to have a firm understand of what the spread actually is and how it can impact your trading profit margins. In its most basic form, the spread is simply the difference between the bid and ask price of an asset.

• In the case of the ‘bid price’, this is the price that buyers are willing to pay for the asset – based on the forces of market demand and supply.
• The ‘ask price’, however, is the price that sellers are willing to accept for the asset they hold.
• Naturally, there will always be a slight gap between the bid and ask price, as this is how online brokers ensure that they make money irrespective of which way the markets go.

For example, if your chosen low spread broker offers a spread of 1% on gold trading CFDs, this means that you are essentially looking at a loss of 1% as soon as the trade is executed.

This is because the price you paid to purchase gold is 1% less than what you may sell it for. In other words, if you bought the gold CFD and sold the position immediately, your profit and loss on the trade would stand at negative 1%.

This is why it’s crucial to choose an online trading platform that offers competitive spreads. After all, the wider the spread, the more you will indirectly pay in trading fees.

Spreads in Pips or Percentages?

Once you know how the spread actually works, it’s then time to get comfortable with how this is calculated. This is because there are two ways in which online brokers advertise the spread.

• For example, when using the popular low spread forex brokers, the likelihood is that the platform will display the spread in ‘pips’.
• For instance, if GBP/USD has a bid and ask price of 1.3240 and 1.3241, respectively – the spread on this market can be identified as 1 pip.

However, in the case of stocks, ETFs, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and most other asset classes – it’s actually industry-standard to calculate the spread in percentage terms.

Variable Spread or Fixed Spread?

Once you know how to calculate the spread, you then need to check whether the broker in question offers a ‘variable’ spread or a ‘fixed’ spread.

Variable Spread

In simple terms, a variable spread will change throughout the day. This is in direct coloration to wider market conditions. For example, if you are using a low spread gold broker during busy market hours, then you will benefit from the lowest spreads that the provider can offer. This is because increased trading volume results in higher levels of liquidity and this – lower volatility.

At the other end of the spectrum, trading your chosen asset outside of standard market hours will result in a much less favorable spread. This is especially the case if you attempt to trade over the weekend – with the exception of cryptocurrencies, which operate on a 24/7 rolling basis.

Fixed Spread

As the name suggests, fixed spreads remain constant at all times. This means that irrespective of wider market conditions, the spread will always remain the same in terms of pips or percentages.

For example, the popular low spread brokers might advertise a fixed spread of 1.5 pips on GBP/AUD. Sure, the bid and ask price will still change on a second-by-second basis. But, the gap between the two prices will always stand at 1.5 pips.

Fixed spreads come with both their pros and cons. In terms of the benefits, it’s easy to create an entry and exit strategy as you always know what trading costs are involved.

On the other hand, fixed spreads are usually less competitive than those offered by variable spread brokers. This is because the broker needs to protect itself during times of low liquidity and high volatility.

Be Mindful of ‘Minimum’ Spreads 

Newbie traders are often blinded by the competitive spreads offered by an online broker. However, you need to be really careful to assess whether or not the advertised spread contains that all-important word – ‘minimum’.

That is to say, the broker in question might display a headline spread of 0.8 pips on GBP/NZD. However, if you look at the terms and conditions further down on the page, the broker might state that this is the ‘minimum’ spread on offer, and not the status-quo.

As such, the minimum spread might only be achieved when the markets are experiencing high trading volumes. In the case of forex trading, this is usually when during the few hours that both the US and UK markets are open.

Commissions Also Have a Major Say in What you pay in Trading Fees  

This section is of the utmost importance when looking for the popular low spread brokers UK of 2022. This is because there are two main fees that come into play when you trade online. That’s spreads and commissions. You already know what the speed is and how it can impact your trading costs. However, you also need to consider what commissions the broker charges, if at all.

Crucially, there is often a trade-off between spreads and commissions.

• For example, those allowing you to trade on a commission-free basis will build their costs into the spread. In turn, this means that you are likely to get a less favorable spread in comparison to those that do charge commissions.
• And of course, those that offer competitive spreads will often charge a trading commission.

As such, you need to have a firm understand of both the spread and commission payable on your chosen market before opening an account with the broker in question.

Other Important Considerations  

While trading fees, spreads, and commissions are really important when searching for a suitable UK trading site, there are other important considerations to make, too.

As such, make sure you explore the following metrics in your search for the popular low spread brokers in the UK.

• Regulation: It’s crucial that your chosen low spread broker is regulated by a tier-one financial body.
• Tradable Markets: It’s fine when choosing a broker because it offers low spreads. But, if it doesn’t support your chosen marketplace, it won’t be suitable for your needs.You need to choose a broker that offers everything from stocks and ETFs to forex, cryptocurrencies, and commodities.
• Payments: Don’t forget that in order to trade online, you will need to make a deposit. The popular low spread brokers in the UK will support a range of payment methods.
• Tools and Features: The popular low spread brokers in the space offer an assortment of trading tools and features.
• Customer Support: The availability of solid customer support should not be overlooked in your search for the popular low spread brokers UK. In an ideal world, your chosen broker will offer a live chat or telephone support facility that is active 24 hours per day.

As you can see from the key metrics outlined above, choosing the popular low spread broker for you and your financial goals can be a time-consuming process.

How to Get Started with a Low Spread Broker

So now that we have explained what you need to do to find a low spread broker that meets your needs, we are going to walk you through the setup process.

The guidelines below will show you how to get started with a suitable brokerage of your choice in a few steps:

Create an Account

Getting started takes a matter of minutes. Simply make your way to your brokerage’s website and begin the sign-up process. This will open a sign-up form and you’ll be required to enter your name, email address, as well as choose a username and password for your new trading account.

Complete the Verification Process

Users may be required to complete a simple KYC process, if they invest with a regulated broker. Upload a copy of your passport or driving license as proof of identity, and a copy of a recent utility bill or bank statement as proof of address.

Deposit Funds

With a fully verified account, you’re one step closer to start trading a range of assets with the click of a button.  Depending on the broker you choose, you may transfer funds using a debit card, credit card, bank wire transfer, as well as e-wallets such as PayPal, Neteller and Skrill.

Choose your preferred payment method and deposit your funds into the account.

Find a Low Spread Market to Trade

Once your funds have been transferred into your account, you can begin trading. The easiest way to do this is to search the name of your low spread trade in the navigation/search bar of your platform. Click ‘Enter’ to continue.

Place an Order

Once you have decided which financial instrument you want to trade, you will need to set up an order.

This is fairly simple to do. You need to enter the amount of your trade, an might also decide to deploy limit, stop-loss, and take-profit orders.

Conclusion

This guide has explained the importance of finding a popular low spread brokers for your needs. Crucially, the spread that you pay is an indirect fee collected by the broker, so having an understanding of how competitive the platform is should not be understated.

With that said, spreads are not the only thing that will determine how much you pay to trade at the broker. This is because you also need to take commissions into account – as well as the deposit, inactivity, and conversion fees, too.

FAQs