Best CFD Brokers in the UK for 2021

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.

The Top CFD Brokers Available in the UK

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.

1. eToro – Best All-Round CFD Broker with 0% Commission
2. Libertex – Established CFD Broker with MT4
3. Plus500 – Low-Cost CFD Broker with Tight Spreads
4. 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:

Cons:

75% 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:

Cons:

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:

Cons:

80.5% 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

How to Find the Best CFD Brokers UK?

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.

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).

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.

Deposits, Withdrawals, and Payments

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:

• Debit Cards
• Credit Cards
• Bank Account Transfer
• Paypal
• Skrill
• Neteller

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.

Fees, Commissions, and Spreads

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:

• Spread: The spread is the difference between the stock CFD’s ‘bid’ and ‘ask’ price. The best CFD brokers usually display this as a ‘buy’ and ‘sell’ price, respectively. Either way, you’ll want to ensure that your chosen platform offers competitive spreads, not least because this will contribute to your end-to-end trading costs. If you can get your stock CFD spreads below 1 pip, you’re doing well.
• Trading Commissions: Some, but not all, CFD brokers will charge you a trading commission. For example, IG charges 0.10% when trading UK stock CFDs – at a minimum of £10. In other cases, eToro and Plus500 charge no commissions at all.
• Overnight Finance: If you plan to trade stock CFDs with leverage, you might need to pay an overnight financing fee. As the name suggests, this will be the case if you keep the CFD position open overnight. CFD brokers base this on an annualized interest rate, which is broken down on a day-by-day basis. In most cases, you can view the specific charge before placing your trade.

Tradable Markets

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!

Features and Tools

On top of the fundamentals – we would also suggest exploring what trading features and tools the CFD broker offers.

This might include:

• Technical Indicators: If you want to make a success of your stock CFD trading endeavours, you’ll need to learn the ins and outs of how technical indicators work. This will ensure you have the capacity to read and interpret pricing trends. The best CFD brokers typically provide dozens of technical indicators – but be sure to check nonetheless.
• Mobile Trading: CFD trading is typically carried out on a short-term basis. That is to say, seasoned investors often keep a position open for a number of minutes or hours – so they need to be ‘at the ready’ when a new trend comes to fruition. As such, the best CFD brokers will offer a free stock trading app.
• Educational Resources: If you have little to no experience in trading CFDs, it’s best to stick with a broker that offers educational resources. This could be anything from a selection of how-to guides, video explainers, and even live webinars.
• Leverage: If you have a slightly higher tolerance for risk, the best CFD brokers will usually offer leverage of up to 1:30. This is reduced to 1:5 when trading share CFDs.
• Negative Balance Protection: Although now the norm with CFD brokers, it’s best to make sure that the provider has Negative Balance Protection in place. This means that an unsuccessful leveraged trade will not push your account balance into negative territory. Instead, your position will be closed when your balance hits zero.

Getting Started With a UK CFD Broker Today  – Quickfire Walkthrough

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!

Step 1: Open Account and Upload ID

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:

• Full Name
• Home Address
• Date of Birth
• National Insurance Number
• Email Address
• Mobile Number

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.

Step 2: Deposit Funds

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).

Step 3: Place a CFD Trade

Now that your account has been verified and funded, you can start trading CFDs straight away.

• Click on the ‘Trade Markets’ button
• Select your preferred CFD asset class (for example, stocks)
• Click on the asset you wish to trade

Next, you will be asked to set up an order. In our example, we are looking to trade Apple CFD stocks.

• Choose from a buy or sell order
• Enter your stake
• Choose from a market or limit order
• Determine if you want to apply leverage and at what ratio
• Enter your stop-loss price
• Enter your take-profit price
• Confirm the trade

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.

The Verdict

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.

FAQs

Is CFD trading legal in UK?

CFD trading is perfectly legal in the UK. The industry is safeguarded by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Do I own the asset when I trade CFDs?

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.

How can I get higher leverage limits when trading CFDs?

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.

Can I transfer a CFD position to another broker?

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.

Do UK CFD brokers accept Paypal?

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.