If you want to actively trade stocks to benefit from tight spreads, low commissions, leverage facilities, and short-selling capabilities – you might be suited for a specialist CFD broker. In doing so, you will likely have access to thousands of stock CFDs from a range of markets – both domestically and abroad.
In this guide, we discuss the best CFD brokers for trading stock CFDs. Crucially, each broker meets a set of minimum requirements to ensure you are able to trade shares in a safe, convenient, and cost-effective manner.
Contents
The Top CFD Brokers UK Compared
We review the best CFD brokers in more detail further down this page, but if you’re just looking for a quick summary, here’s a list of the top CFD brokers of 2021.
- eToro – Best All-Round CFD Broker with 0% Commission
- Libertex – Established CFD Broker with MT4
- Plus500 – Low-Cost CFD Broker with Tight Spreads
- AvaTrade – Popular Online Trading Platform With Tight Spreads
What are CFDs?
Before going any further, it is important to quickly ascertain what we mean by ‘CFDs’ – not least because you will be trading more sophisticated financial products. In its most basic form, CFDs – or contracts-for-differences, are tasked with tracking the real-world price of an asset.
Not only does this include stocks and shares, but virtually every investment class imaginable. Whether that’s gold, oil, natural gas, bonds, indices, or cryptocurrencies – if a market exists, as will a CFD instrument.
The ease in which a CFD can track the second-by-second price movement of a stock offers a plethora of benefits for an everyday trader. For example, you’ll often find that the best CFD brokers permit commission-free trading, as well as highly competitive spreads.
Furthermore – and perhaps most pertinently, stock CFDs can be traded with leverage, and you also short-sell the respective company. This means that you can speculate on the value of the shares going down – which would otherwise not be possible when using traditional stock brokers.
Best CFD Brokers UK of 2021
Choosing the right CFD broker for your trading needs is fundamental. For example, are you looking to trade stocks from a particular exchange or market, or are you more concerned with low commissions and tight spreads? Similarly, you might be looking to deposit and withdraw funds with a specific payment method, or you might want access to an advanced trading platform like MetaTrader4.
Either way, these are some of the questions that you need to be asking of a CFD broker before signing up. To help you along the way, below we have listed the best CFD brokers current serving UK clients.
1. eToro – Best UK CFD Broker for Beginners
eToro actually covers both stock investment avenues – as it offers share dealing services and CFD instruments. Regarding the latter, you will have access to over 800 stock CFDs – all of which can be traded on a commission-free basis. This is, however, on the proviso that you do not keep your position open overnight, as this will incur financing fees, This is industry-standard nonetheless.
In terms of tradable markets, the stock CFD library at eToro covers the London Stock Exchange, as well as exchanges in the US, Germany, France, Japan, and many others. You can place both buy and sell positions on your stock CFD trade, as well as apply leverage. As per ESMA limits – this is capped at a ratio of 1:5. The trading platform itself is native to eToro, and it has been built with the ‘newbie investor’ in mind. While this is ideal if you are just starting out, it likely won’t suffice if you’re a seasoned trader.
Outside of its stock library, you can also trade CFDs in the form of indices, cryptocurrencies, bonds, and commodities. An additional option for you to consider as a beginner is the platform’s Copy Trading feature. Upon selecting an experienced trader that you like the look of, you can mirror their trades like-for-like. When it comes to safety, eToro is licensed by the FCA, CySEC, and ASIC – so you have regulatory oversight on three fronts.
Getting started with an account takes minutes – which you can do online or via the eToro app. Minimum deposits start at $200 (approx. £160), which you can do with a debit/credit card, e-wallet, or bank account. Regardless of the payment method, all deposits come with a 0.5% conversion fee – as eToro is denominated in US dollars. Finally, eToro has a minimum withdrawal of $50 – with all cashouts costing a fee of $5.
Pros:
- Super user-friendly online stock broker
- Buy stocks without paying any commission or share dealing charges
- 800+ stocks listed on UK and international markets
- Deposit funds with a debit/credit card, e-wallet, or UK bank account
- Ability to copy the trades of other users
Cons:
- Not suitable for advanced traders that like to perform technical analysis
67% of retail investors lose money trading CFDs at this site
2. Libertex – Best CFD Broker for Trading via MT4
Launched in 1997, Libertex is a CFD broker that allows you to trade over 200 assets. This includes stocks, cryptocurrencies, forex, metals, indices, and ETFs. Libertex is one of the few CFD providers in the space that allows you to trade without paying anything on the spread.
Instead, you will pay a small trading commission – which is charged against the value of your order. The platform now boasts over 2.2 million customers worldwide, and it is regulated by CySEC. This particular regulator is a tier-one licensing body based in Cyprus, so you should have no issues regarding the safety of your funds.
In terms of leverage, this is capped at 1:30 for retail clients and 1:600 if you are deemed to be a professional trader. When it comes to the trading arena, Libertex offers full support for MetaTrade4 (MT4). This means that you can automate your CFD trades via an autonomous robot or EA (expert advisor). You will also have access to a vast range of technical indicators, and you customize your trading screen to mirror your personal requirements.
Pros:
- Regulated by CySEC
- Over two decades in the CFD brokerage space
- Most asset classes covered
- Zero spreads
- Debit/credit cards, e-wallets, and bank transfers supported
- Leverage of up to 1:30 for retail clients
Cons:
- Not regulated by the FCA
- Limit number of financial instruments at just 213
83% of retail investors lose money trading CFDs at this site
3. Plus500 – Commission-Free CFD Provider
Plus500 is a CFD provider that hosts thousands of tradable instruments. On top of CFD indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies – the platform hosts over 2,000 stock CFDs. This covers heaps of UK and international exchanges – which is great if you are looking to gain exposure to less liquid markets. For example, while the bread and butter of the UK and US are covered, Plus500 also lists stock CFDs from Finland, South Africa, and Canada.
The CFD provider does not charge any trading commissions – meaning your fees will come in the form of overnight financing (if holding positions beyond the close of trading hours) and of course – the spread. The trading platform itself is unique to Plus500, and there is no requirement to download any software. Instead, you can trade via the main desktop website or the Plus500 mobile application.
You can deposit and withdraw funds with a UK debit/credit card, bank account, or Paypal – and all payment methods are fee-free. Minimum deposits start at £100 – although you can place buy and sell orders for much less than this. Leverage is available on all of the CFD products hosted by the platform – with stocks capped at 1:5 if you’re a retail client. Plus500UK Ltd is authorized & regulated by the FCA (#509909).
Pros:
- Commission-free CFD platform – only pay the spread
- Thousands of financial instruments across heaps of markets
- Retail clients can trade stock CFDs with leverage of up to 1:5
- You can short-sell a stock CFD if you think its value will go down
- Takes just minutes to open an account and deposit funds
Cons:
- CFDs only
- More suitable for experienced traders
76.4% of retail investors lose money trading CFDs at this site.
4. AvaTrade – Popular Online Trading Platform With Tight Spreads
AvaTrade is a good option for those of you that are looking to trade CFD assets via a day trading strategy. This is because the platform offers some of the tightest spreads in the industry. For example, most major forex pairs hosted at AvaTrade can be traded at a spread of less than 1 pip.
In addition to this super-competitive spread structure, AvaTrade allows you to buy and sell CFD instruments on a commission-free basis. In terms of tradable markets, AvaTrade offers thousands of financial assets. On top of forex, this includes bonds, stocks, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, options, and futures. As such, if there is a marketplace you are interested in, chances are you’ll find it at AvaTrade.
What we also like about AvaTrade is that it offers several trading platforms. For example, you can use the AvaTrade platform via your web browser or through an Android/iOS mobile app. Furthermore, the platform also supports MT4 and MT5, which is great for advanced chart analysis and deploying automated robots. We should also note that AvaTrade offers a spread betting facility. If you’re in the UK, this means that all profits are free of capital gains tax.
If you like the sound of AvaTrade but you want to test the platform out first, the CFD broker offers a demo account facility. You don’t need to deposit any funds to use this, which is great for getting to grips with the platform before taking the financial plunge. Minimum deposits at the platform stand at $100 – which you can via a debit/credit card or bank transfer. Finally, AvaTrade is heavily regulated and it holds licenses in several countries.
Pros:
Cons:
73.05% of retail investors lose money when trading CFDs at this site Irrespective of which UK CFD broker you go with, the end-to-end investment process works largely the same. In other words, you will always be required to open an account, upload some ID, deposit funds, and then place buy and sell orders on a DIY basis. With that in mind, your focus needs to be on key metrics like fees, commissions, payment methods, safety, and customer support. Below we discuss these key factors in more detail to ensure you pick a CFD broker that is closely aligned with your needs. In most cases (but always check first), this should also mean that your investments are protected by the Financial Services Conduct Authority (FSCS). For those unaware, this means that were to CFD broker to go bust, your funds would be protected up to the first £85,000. This won’t, however, protect you from losses you have encountered from an unsuccessful trade. FCA regulation also ensures that the CFD broker keeps client funds in segregated bank accounts. You should also visit the CFD broker’s website to assess what payment methods it supports. This is crucial. as you will be depositing and withdrawing real-world pounds and pence. Although the specific payment methods available to you will vary from provider-to-provider, this might include: Once you have assessed which payment method you wish to use, check to see whether or not any transaction fees apply. You should also explore how long the UK CFD broker typically takes to process withdrawals, and whether a minimum cash out threshold applies. You will need to pay a fee to trade CFDs online, so this should also form part of your in-depth research process. In particular, look out for: The best CFD brokers will give you unfettered access to heaps of stock exchanges. While some of you might be happy to concentrate on UK companies, others like to take a more diversified approach. As such, look to see what markets the CFD broker offers. The like of eToro, Plus500, and IG cover exchanges from the US, Canada, Germany, France, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Finland, and more! On top of the fundamentals – we would also suggest exploring what trading features and tools the CFD broker offers. This might include: Based in the UK and looking to start trading CFDs today? If so, below you will find a quick step-by-step walkthrough to get you started in minutes. We’ve based our demonstration on popular CFD broker eToro – but feel free to use any platform of your choosing! First and foremost, head over to the eToro website and elect to open an account. As is the case with all FCA-regulated CFD brokers, you will need to provide some personal information. This includes: You will also need to upload some ID – as per UK anti-money laundering laws. This includes a passport or driver’s license and a recently issued utility bill or bank account statement. eToro accepts several UK payment methods. To deposit funds, you can choose from a debit/credit card, e-wallet, or bank account. Minimum deposits start at $200 (£160) and you will incur a small GBP-to-USD conversion of 0.5%. All deposits at eToro are instantly credited (apart from a bank transfer which takes 1-3 working days). Now that your account has been verified and funded, you can start trading CFDs straight away. Next, you will be asked to set up an order. In our example, we are looking to trade Apple CFD stocks. Once your CFD trade is executed at eToro, it will remain active until you close the position manually – or either your take-profit/stop-loss order is triggered. Finding the best CFD broker for your individual trading needs is imperative. Not only do you need to ensure that your research covers the regulatory standing and reputation of the broker, but other metrics like tradable assets, fees, commissions, spreads, and payments. If you’re keen to get started today, eToro is popular with UK investors. You can open an account in minutes, instantly deposit funds with a debit/credit card, and then trade CFDs at the click of a button.
CFD trading is perfectly legal in the UK. The industry is safeguarded by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
No, CFD instruments are tasked with 'tracking' the real-time market price of an asset, so you will have no legal right to the said asset. For example, if you were to trade stock CFDs, you would not actually be buying shares in the company. Instead, you are simply speculating on the future price of the stock.
If you're based in the UK - and you are classed as a retail trader, you are still bound by the leverage limits imposed by ESMA. This stands at a maximum of 1:30 on major currency pairs, and at the lower end, 1:2 on cryptocurrencies. The only way that you will be able to get higher limits is if you can provide you are a professional trader, or you use an offshore broker. The latter is not advised as you will not benefit from the protections of the FCA.
No, the CFD instrument in question will have been created by your chosen broker, so you will not be able to transfer it to another provider.
More and more CFD brokers in the UK are providing support for e-wallets like Paypal. This includes eToro (which also supports Skrill and Neteller) and Plus500.
How to Find the Best CFD Brokers UK?
FCA Regulation
You will be depositing and trading real-world funds – so it’s crucial that your money is safeguarded. This is why you should only consider a UK CFD broker if it is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Deposits, Withdrawals, and Payments
Fees, Commissions, and Spreads
Tradable Markets
Features and Tools
Getting Started With a UK CFD Broker Today – Quickfire Walkthrough
Step 1: Open Account and Upload ID
Step 2: Deposit Funds
Step 3: Place a CFD Trade
The Verdict
FAQs
Is CFD trading legal in UK?
Do I own the asset when I trade CFDs?
How can I get higher leverage limits when trading CFDs?
Can I transfer a CFD position to another broker?
Do UK CFD brokers accept Paypal?
Questions & Answers (0)