Broker Comparison Table 2026: 24 Trading Brokers Compared
Broker Comparison Table 2026: 24 Trading Brokers Compared
This page is a compact GradTraders comparison of 24 trading brokers across platforms, UK route, trading style, key trade-offs and practical suitability. It is designed as a decision page, not a long essay.
The table is built from the GradTraders broker master bank and should be used as a starting point before reading full reviews or checking current provider terms directly.
Disclosure & Risk Notice: This article is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice, investment advice, tax advice or a personal recommendation. Trading CFDs, spread betting, forex, crypto CFDs and other leveraged products involves significant risk and may not be suitable for all traders. You may lose some or all of your capital. Some GradTraders articles may contain affiliate links or references to partner offers. If you sign up, purchase or open an account through certain links, GradTraders may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
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Quick Verdict
For active traders, the strongest names in this bank are generally the brokers with strong platform choice, competitive trading conditions and a clear practical use case. UK traders also need to separate FCA-regulated spread betting routes from offshore or global CFD routes.
Best active-trader cluster
IC Markets, Pepperstone, FP Markets, FxPro, Tickmill and Vantage stand out for active-trader platform and cost relevance.
Best UK route cluster
Pepperstone, IG, CMC Markets, City Index, Spreadex and Trade Nation are important where UK spread betting or FCA routes matter.
Best platform-choice cluster
FxPro, Pepperstone, FP Markets, IC Markets and AvaTrade are useful starting points for platform-led comparisons.
Best serious multi-asset cluster
Interactive Brokers and Saxo are stronger for serious multi-asset market access than simple retail CFD comparison shopping.
Explore The Broker Data Behind This Table
This public table is intentionally compact. The deeper GradTraders broker data layers show the research behind the scoring, including platforms, costs, regulation, support, reputation and market coverage across the 24-broker master bank.
These pages are designed to make the comparison more useful for real traders by separating UK spread betting, FCA routes, global CFD routes, US limitations and professional multi-asset alternatives rather than treating every trader as if they have the same account route.
1. Platforms, Tools, Demo & Mobile
cTrader, MT5, TradingView, proprietary platforms, demo accounts, mobile app quality and platform-route suitability.
Open Platform Data Layer2. Costs, Spreads, Execution & Leverage
Raw accounts, commissions, spread structure, execution notes, leverage route, margin reality and active-trader cost fit.
Open Cost Data Layer3. Regulation, Jurisdictions & Protection
FCA, CySEC, ASIC, offshore/global entities, UK spread betting, CFD routes, client protection and tax-route differences.
Open Regulation Data Layer4. Support, Funding & Withdrawals
24/5 or 24/7 support, live chat, phone support, deposits, withdrawals, GBP funding, KYC and account reliability.
Open Support Data Layer5. Reputation, Complaints & Suitability
Public review signals, complaint notes, education quality, practical suitability, source confidence and editorial treatment.
Open Reputation Data Layer6. Market Coverage & Specialist Products
Indices, Japan 225/Nikkei access, forex, crypto CFDs, shares, ETFs, spread betting, futures and professional routes.
Open Market Data Layer24-Broker Comparison Table
Use the table to narrow the shortlist. The most important columns are usually Best for, UK route, Key caution and GT view.
| Broker | GT Score | Best For | Platforms | UK Route | Key Caution | GT View |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IC Markets | 9.2/10 | Low-cost active traders, scalpers, index traders and cTrader/TradingView users. | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView | No UK FCA retail/spread-betting route found in the bank. | Strong conditions, but UK traders must understand the non-UK entity/protection trade-off. | One of the strongest active-trader options in the bank, especially for cost and platform flexibility. |
| Pepperstone | 9.1/10 | UK active traders wanting FCA regulation, spread betting, cTrader and TradingView. | Pepperstone platform, MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView | FCA-regulated UK spread betting and CFD route. | Retail leverage is lower than offshore/global brokers because of FCA restrictions. | A standout UK-facing active-trader broker because it combines regulation, platforms and spread betting. |
| FP Markets | 9.0/10 | Algorithmic traders, cTrader users, TradingView users and low-cost active traders. | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView | No UK FCA/spread-betting route found in the bank. | Good platform/cost profile, but weaker UK-specific appeal without FCA spread betting. | Very strong on platforms and costs, but UK suitability depends on the route a trader can actually use. |
| Interactive Brokers | 8.9/10 | Serious traders, investors, futures/options users and global market access. | Trader Workstation, IBKR Desktop, mobile, web, APIs | FCA UK route available; margin/products are complex and product-specific. | Powerful but not simple; not built around UK spread betting. | Excellent for serious traders and investors, but more complex than mainstream retail CFD brokers. |
| IG | 8.8/10 | UK spread bettors, beginners, investors and traders prioritising established regulation. | IG platform, mobile app, MT4, MT5, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, TradingView | Strong FCA-regulated UK spread betting and CFD route. | Not the obvious choice for traders wanting cTrader, maximum leverage or the lowest raw-spread route. | A premium UK all-rounder with strong trust signals, but not always the cheapest active-trader route. |
| City Index | 8.8/10 | UK spread bettors, forex traders, TradingView users and traders wanting a recognisable UK brand. | City Index platform, TradingView, MT4 | FCA-regulated UK spread betting and CFD route. | No cTrader; ownership/entity links with StoneX/FOREX.com need explaining in comparisons. | One of the stronger UK practical-use brokers because it combines spread betting, platform depth and brand recognition. |
| FxPro | 8.8/10 | UK traders wanting spread betting plus broad platform choice, including cTrader. | FxPro platform, TradingView, MT4, MT5, cTrader, FxPro app | FCA-regulated UK route with spread betting and CFD access. | Strong all-rounder, but not necessarily the cheapest raw-spread route versus IC/FP/Tickmill-style brokers. | One of the strongest platform-range brokers in the bank, especially for UK traders who want cTrader. |
| CMC Markets | 8.7/10 | UK spread bettors, multi-asset traders and users who like a polished proprietary platform. | CMC platform, mobile app, TradingView for CFD accounts, MT4 through separate routes | FCA-regulated UK spread betting and CFD route. | No cTrader; platform/account structure can feel less direct than some active-trader brokers. | Strong UK practical profile, especially for platform depth and spread betting. |
| Saxo | 8.6/10 | Serious traders, investors, options/futures/share traders and multi-asset users. | SaxoTrader, SaxoInvestor, TradingView access, APIs/connectivity | FCA-regulated UK route; no obvious UK spread-betting route found in the bank. | More premium/complex than a simple CFD or spread-betting account. | Strong for serious multi-asset access, less ideal for simple low-cost index scalping. |
| AvaTrade | 8.6/10 | Traders wanting broad platform choice, MT4/MT5, options-style FX tools and copy/social tools. | WebTrader, AvaTrade app, MT4, MT5, AvaOptions, AvaSocial | UK spread-betting material exists, but regulatory route should be checked directly. | No cTrader and UK route/details need careful verification before publishing a recommendation. | Strong on platform variety and education, but less clear for UK active-trader positioning. |
| FOREX.com | 8.5/10 | Forex traders, TradingView users, MT4/MT5 users and traders needing a regulated FX route. | FOREX.com platform, mobile apps, TradingView, MT4, MT5 | FCA-regulated UK forex/CFD route; spread-bet availability should be checked directly. | Strong forex brand, but not as compelling as the best low-cost active-trader specialists. | Useful for regulated forex coverage and comparison content, especially alongside OANDA. |
| XTB | 8.5/10 | UK CFD traders, investors, xStation users and traders wanting stocks/ETFs alongside CFDs. | xStation / XTB app | FCA CFD and investment route; no UK spread-betting route found. | No cTrader and no current MetaTrader route found in the bank. | A strong mainstream platform broker, especially for users who like xStation. |
| HFM / HotForex | 8.5/10 | Global forex/CFD traders, MT4/MT5 users and high-leverage seekers outside restricted routes. | MT4, MT5, HFM WebTrader, HFM App | FCA route exists through HF Markets (UK) Ltd; no UK spread-betting route found. | High leverage is a global-route feature, not a UK retail feature. | Stronger than some global brokers because there is an FCA route, but still less UK-specific than spread-betting names. |
| OANDA | 8.4/10 | Forex traders, UK spread bettors, TradingView users and traders who value an established brand. | OANDA platform, TradingView, MT4, MT5 on certain products | FCA-regulated UK spread betting and CFD route. | No cTrader; less aggressive active-trader proposition than the lowest-spread brokers. | A solid regulated broker, especially for forex and TradingView-led users. |
| Eightcap | 8.4/10 | TradingView-first active CFD traders, crypto/FX/index CFD traders and platform-led users. | TradingView; MT4/MT5 and TradeLocker depending on entity/region | FCA CFD route found; no UK spread-betting route found in the bank. | Entity and platform availability need careful checking before signup. | Useful for the TradingView-first broker angle, but less complete for UK tax-wrapper needs. |
| Tickmill | 8.4/10 | Cost-focused forex/CFD traders, raw-spread users, MT4/MT5 users and strategy testers. | MT4, MT5, TradingView, Tickmill Trader | FCA CFD route; no UK spread-betting route found. | High leverage is tied to non-UK/global routes, not UK retail conditions. | Strong for cost-focused forex/CFD traders and MetaTrader users. |
| Vantage | 8.4/10 | TradingView users, MT4/MT5 users, active CFD traders and copy-trading users. | MT4, MT5, ProTrader, TradingView, Vantage app, copy tools | FCA route exists; no UK spread-betting route found in the bank. | Global conditions and UK conditions should not be confused. | Useful for TradingView and MT4/MT5 active-CFD searches, with UK suitability depending on route. |
| Capital.com | 8.3/10 | UK spread bettors, newer traders, TradingView users and mobile-first CFD traders. | Capital.com web/mobile platform, TradingView, MT4, API | FCA-regulated UK spread betting and CFD route. | No cTrader; availability and leverage vary heavily by country. | A strong modern-platform option for UK users who value app experience and TradingView. |
| Trade Nation | 8.3/10 | UK spread bettors, fixed-spread traders and TradingView users. | TN Trader, TradingView, MT4 | FCA-regulated UK spread betting and CFD route. | Not as broad or institutionally established as IG/CMC; no cTrader. | A useful UK spread-betting and fixed-spread entry for comparison coverage. |
| XM | 8.3/10 | Global forex/CFD traders, MT4/MT5 users and traders wanting low minimum deposit access. | MT4, MT5, XM App, XM Copy Trading | UK-specific status needs direct verification before relying on it. | Strong global brand, but UK route and exact retail suitability need careful checking. | Useful in the global broker bank because of brand/search demand, but not a first UK pick. |
| Spreadex | 8.2/10 | UK spread bettors wanting a specialist spread-betting provider. | Spreadex web/mobile platform | FCA-regulated UK financial spread betting and CFD route. | Less platform depth than IG, CMC or Pepperstone; no cTrader/MetaTrader route in the bank. | A strong UK spread-betting specialist, but not a platform-rich active-trader broker. |
| eToro | 8.2/10 | Social traders, copy traders, beginner investors and multi-asset users. | eToro web/mobile platform, CopyTrader, social investing tools | FCA CFD/investing route; no UK spread-betting route found. | Not designed as a high-performance active-trader broker. | Useful for copy trading and beginner investing questions, but not a specialist execution broker. |
| Exness | 8.2/10 | International forex/CFD traders outside restricted jurisdictions who want very high leverage. | MT4, MT5, Exness Terminal, Exness Trade app | No active UK retail route for this table. | Huge global search relevance, but poor UK suitability for GradTraders purposes. | Important for global broker coverage, but not a natural UK trader recommendation. |
| Plus500 | 8.1/10 | Mainstream mobile-first CFD users and beginners comparing simple platforms. | Plus500 proprietary web/mobile platform | FCA CFD route; no UK spread-betting route found. | Limited advanced platform choice; no MT4, MT5, cTrader or TradingView route in the bank. | Simple and recognisable, but weaker for advanced active traders. |
Broker names with dedicated GradTraders reviews link directly to those reviews where available.
On mobile, the comparison is shown as stacked broker cards for easier reading.
How To Use This Comparison
Do not choose a broker just because it has a high score. A high-leverage global broker, a UK spread-betting broker and a serious multi-asset broker can all be good, but for completely different reasons.
Start with your route
UK traders should check whether they need an FCA route, spread betting, CFDs, or a global/offshore route with different protections.
Match the platform
cTrader, TradingView, MT5, proprietary platforms and multi-asset workstations suit different trading styles.
Check the trade-off
Lower spreads, higher leverage or broader platforms often come with compromises around regulation, tax wrapper or simplicity.
Verify before funding
Always check current fees, leverage, margin, entity, account type and product availability directly with the broker.
Next Step
Start with the 24-broker table, then use the six deeper broker data layers to understand the research behind the shortlist. From there, read the focused GradTraders broker guides, individual reviews and broker-versus-broker comparisons that match your platform, jurisdiction, market and trading style.