Forex & CFD brokers in the UK
Compare costs, account features and the legal entity for UK clients. Confirm your eligibility before applying.
Compare 20 brokers
Ranked by Clarity Score
Copy trading is not intended for EU/UK/AU-based audiences
Why this fits: Locally authorised entity: Pepperstone Limited (FCA 684312) · Max leverage: 30:1
Costs and charges may vary depending on the jurisdiction
Why this fits: Offshore entity only: Raw Trading Ltd (trading as IC Markets Global) (FSA SD018) — outside FCA's rules · Max leverage there: 30:1 (offshore entity)
Why this fits: Locally authorised entity: XTB Limited (FCA 522157) · Max leverage: 30:1
The FTSE-100 original — 17,000+ markets since 1974; entity and products vary sharply by country.
Why this fits: Locally authorised entity: IG Markets Limited (FCA 195355) · Max leverage: 30:1
Why this fits: Locally authorised entity: TF Global Markets (UK) Limited (FCA 629628) · Max leverage: 30:1
Why this fits: Country coverage recorded for UK clients · Entity not yet mapped — confirm eligibility and account entity · Recorded leverage: Confirm account terms (entity unverified)
Low-cost multi-entity broker favoured by scalpers and EAs; licences and protection vary by country.
Why this fits: Locally authorised entity: Tickmill UK Ltd (FCA 717270) · Max leverage: 30:1
Why this fits: Country coverage recorded for UK clients · Entity not yet mapped — confirm eligibility and account entity · Recorded leverage: 30:1 (entity unverified)
Why this fits: Country coverage recorded for UK clients · Entity not yet mapped — confirm eligibility and account entity · Recorded leverage: — (entity unverified)
Why this fits: Offshore entity only: VT Markets Limited (FSC GB23202269) — outside FCA's rules · Max leverage there: 500:1 (offshore entity)
Why this fits: Locally authorised entity: Eightcap Group Ltd (FCA 921296) · Max leverage: 30:1
Why this fits: Locally authorised entity: Axi Financial Services (UK) Limited (FCA 466201) · Max leverage: 30:1
Why this fits: Offshore entity only: XM Global Limited (FSC 8557558) — outside FCA's rules · Max leverage there: 30:1 (offshore entity)
A multi-entity CFD broker with education resources, webinars, broad market access and copy trading availability. Entity, leverage and product terms should be verified before depositing.
Why this fits: Offshore entity only: PU Prime Limited (FSA SD050) — outside FCA's rules · Max leverage there: 1000:1 (offshore entity)
Why this fits: Offshore entity only: STARTRADER Financial Markets Limited (FSC GB24203371) — outside FCA's rules · Max leverage there: 500:1 (offshore entity)
Why this fits: Country coverage recorded for UK clients · Entity not yet mapped — confirm eligibility and account entity · Recorded leverage: 1000:1 (entity unverified)
The FCA prohibits the sale of cryptoasset derivatives to retail clients in the UK (COBS 22.6). Cryptocurrencies are high-risk and highly volatile; you could lose all the money you invest.
Why this fits: Country coverage recorded for UK clients · Entity not yet mapped — confirm eligibility and account entity · Recorded leverage: — (entity unverified)
Why this fits: Locally authorised entity: HYCM Capital Markets (UK) Limited (FCA 186171) · Max leverage: 30:1
ForexCopy is not compatible with MT5 accounts. Confirm the account and platform before applying.
Why this fits: Country coverage recorded for UK clients · Entity not yet mapped — confirm eligibility and account entity · Recorded leverage: Confirm account terms (entity unverified)
We earn a commission if you open an account through our links — at no extra cost to you. It does not change our rankings. How we make money.
Before opening a trading account in the United Kingdom
Match the UK agreement to the register
Compare the legal company on the application with the FCA entry linked below. Ask which retail protections and complaint route apply to that company, especially if the application names an overseas entity.
Choose the product before the account
Confirm whether the account offers the forex or CFD product you intend to trade. A platform name alone does not describe the contract, costs or retail terms.
Check a GBP funding and withdrawal route
Ask whether GBP can be your account currency and whether your chosen card or bank-transfer method is supported. Check conversion charges and withdrawal conditions before sending money.
Start with these mapped entities
The first 3 non-offshore mappings in our existing ranking, including research-only brokers. These mappings do not guarantee that an application will be accepted.
Pepperstone Limited · FCA
Confirmed mapping in our evidence; recheck your agreement.
IG Markets Limited · FCA
Confirmed mapping in our evidence; recheck your agreement.
Research link only; no Clarytrade referral available for this market.
Regulator
FCA
Trading is legal and the FCA regulates firms serving UK clients. Check a firm appears on the FCA Register before funding.
Leverage rules
Retail CFD leverage is capped at 30:1 (and lower for more volatile assets) under FCA rules. Negative-balance protection is mandatory.
Common deposit methods
Debit card, Faster Payments bank transfer, Apple Pay
The account landscape in the UK
Our country coverage records include 20 of the 24 platforms for UK clients. This is a research shortlist, not confirmation of account acceptance. We've recorded possible entity mappings for 13: 8 map to a locally authorised entity (tier 1–2), 8 of them tier-1, while 5 map to an offshore (tier-3) entity, whose leverage, compensation and complaint terms need a separate check. Confirm the company named on your own application and agreement. The table below lists 11 register-checked licence numbers so you can verify each firm yourself (FCA). On the numbers, the lowest all-in cost option here is Pepperstone, and the highest leverage through a locally authorised entity is 30:1 (Pepperstone). Offshore entities advertise more — up to 1000:1 at PU Prime — but that leverage comes without the local regulator's protections.
Which legal entity onboards a UK client
The brand you see isn't always the entity on your client agreement. These are possible entity mappings for UK clients, with licence details to verify on the official register. 5 records map to an offshore entity; confirm that company's terms and whether it accepts your application.
Entity mapping from our register checks — shown to illustrate how the onboarding entity shifts by country. A verified licence proves the entity holds that authorisation; it does not prove the entity onboards retail clients here, which is a separate check and is why rows marked “likely” stay unconfirmed. Yours may differ; always confirm the legal entity on the signup screen and the official register before depositing. Informational only, not financial advice.
Trading costs for UK traders
Lowest all-in cost on our scan: Pepperstone. Indicative figures — verify the live schedule before funding.
| Platform | All-in cost | Spread from | Commission | Min deposit | Withdrawal | Max leverage (by route) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | $···· | 0 pips | $7/lot | $10 | Same–next day | 30:1 |
| IC Markets | $···· | 0 pips | $7/lot | $200 | Same–next day | 30:1 (offshore entity) |
| Tickmill | $···· | 0 pips | $6/lot | $100 | Same–next day | 30:1 |
| Blueberry Markets | $···· | 0 pips | $7/lot | $100 | Same–next day | 30:1 (entity unverified) |
| Fusion Markets | $···· | 0 pips | $4.5/lot | $0 | <1 hrBroker-stated | — (entity unverified) |
| ThinkMarkets | $$··· | 0 pips | $7/lot | $0 | 1–2 days | 30:1 |
| Vantage Markets | $$··· | 0 pips | $6/lot | $50 | Same–next day | Confirm account terms (entity unverified) |
| VT Markets | $$··· | 0 pips | $6/lot | $100 | Same–next day | 500:1 (offshore entity) |
| Eightcap | $$··· | 0 pips | $7/lot | $100 | 1–2 daysSame-day cut-off | 30:1 |
| Axi | $$··· | 0 pips | $7/lot | $0 | 1–3 daysBank transfers | 30:1 |
| PU Prime | $$··· | 0 pips | $7/lot | Account-dependent | InstantReported | 1000:1 (offshore entity) |
| StarTrader | $$··· | 0 pips | $6/lot | $50 | ≤24 hrs | 500:1 (offshore entity) |
| LiteFinance | $$··· | 0 pips | $5/lot | $50 | ≤24 hrs | 1000:1 (entity unverified) |
| HYCM | $$··· | 0.1 pips | $4/lot | $20 | 3–7 daysArrival · broker-stated | 30:1 |
| XTB | $$··· | 0.5 pips | — | $0 | Same–next day | 30:1 |
| IG | $$$·· | 0.6 pips | — | $250 | 1–3 daysMethod-dependent | 30:1 |
| XM | $$$·· | 1.6 pips | — | $5 | 1–2 days | 30:1 (offshore entity) |
| ActivTrades | $$$·· | — | Check account quote | Check country terms | 1 business dayProcessing; broker-stated | — (entity unverified) |
| InstaForex | $$$·· | — | Check account quote | From USD1 | Method dependent | Confirm account terms (entity unverified) |
Trading in the United Kingdom — questions
Which legal entity could onboard a UK client?
8 broker records map UK clients to a locally authorised entity (FCA). 5 records map UK residents to an offshore (tier-3) entity. This does not establish local authorisation or application acceptance; check that entity's leverage, compensation and complaint terms. For 7 we have not yet mapped the onboarding entity. Local oversight is FCA. Always confirm the entity named on your client agreement and its licence on the official register before depositing.
Which platform has the lowest cost in the United Kingdom?
Among the 20 platforms in our country records for UK traders, Pepperstone has the lowest all-in cost on our scan (spreads from 0 pips, $7/lot commission, $10 minimum). Costs change with account type and instrument — verify the live schedule before funding.
What leverage can I use in the United Kingdom?
Retail CFD leverage is capped at 30:1 (and lower for more volatile assets) under FCA rules. Negative-balance protection is mandatory. Through a locally authorised entity, the highest leverage among these brokers is 30:1 (Pepperstone). 5 broker records map UK residents to an offshore entity, where up to 1000:1 is advertised (PU Prime). This is not a confirmed offer for your account; check the contracting entity's terms. Higher leverage increases both potential gains and losses.
How does Clarytrade pick these platforms?
We rank by our published 8-criteria method, filter using our country coverage records, and show possible legal entities for UK clients. Mappings and licences do not confirm application acceptance. Affiliate commission is weighted at 0%.