8 Best Futures Trading Platforms and Brokers 2025
For new and vetted traders alike, futures trading could be a lucrative trading tool to add to one’s portfolio. Essentially, a futures contract is a type of agreement to purchase or sell a certain security or commodity at a “future” date, hence the name. In this guide, we have prepared a list of the best futures trading platforms and futures brokers to work with for 2025. These futures trading platforms are providing the best conditions for trading futures as well as options and stocks. Let’s take a look at our top picks for future brokers and futures trading platforms!
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Top 8 Platforms for Futures Trading 2025
We chose the best platforms and brokers for futures trading based on a number of different factors, but each of these platforms is excellent for beginners and seasoned traders who want to enter the futures market.
| Broker | Trading Platform | Minimum Deposit | Commission | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mobile apps (iOS, Android) |
$100 |
From 2 pips |
|
|
MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, FxPro Edge |
100 (USD, EUR, GBP, CHF) |
from 0.0 pips |
|
|
FBS app, MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4 |
$5 |
From 0.7 pip |
|
|
МТ4, МТ5, mobile trading, and WebTrader by InstaForex |
FSC - $1. CySEC - €200 |
FSC - from 0-0.3 pips subject to the account type. CySEC - from 0 pips subject to the asset type. |
|
|
cTrader, TradingView, Propriatory, MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 |
$0 |
from 0.0 pips |
|
|
MetaTrader 4 |
$100 |
Floating or fixed, from 0 pips |
|
|
SaxoTraderGO, SaxoTraderPRO |
$0 |
From 0.7 pips |
|
|
TradeLocker |
$10 (Mini Pairs) |
From 0.4 pips |
|
eToro – Best Futures Trading Platform and Broker
The eToro broker was founded in 2007. The company promotes itself as a social trading platform working with traders from over 140 countries. The broker has several divisions operating under different jurisdictions and licensed by different regulators. For example, eToro (Europe) is licensed by the Cypriot regulator CySEC (109/10) and eToro (UK) is licensed by the British regulator FCA (583263). The broker also has a representative office in Australia and the USA.
👍 Pros
• High level of reliability ensured by the licenses of respected regulatory authorities and participation in the compensation funds.
• Wide selection of assets quoted at stock exchanges in the UK, U.S., Australia and Asia.
• An opportunity to combine active trading with social trading and passive investing.
• Zero-fee trading of a number of stocks.
• Access to ready-made diversified asset portfolios with various risk levels.
• Provision of leverage, educational materials on various markets and user-friendly trading platforms that can run on any device.
• Zero fees for portfolio management, depositing funds and account maintenance.
👎 Cons
• High minimum deposit for users of a number of countries.
• No live chat on the website for quick connection to customer support.
FxPro – Best Futures Trading Platform and Broker
FxPro is a well-established broker offering traders access to over 2,100 financial instruments across multiple asset classes, including Forex, stocks, commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies. It is regulated by reputable authorities – FCA, CySEC and others.
The broker stands out with its focus on technology and offers an average order execution speed of 14-30 ms, setting a market benchmark. FxPro also provides an impressive suite of trading tools and educational resources, such as Trading Central analytics. The minimum deposit of $100, however, is higher than some competitors.
With a company capital exceeding 100 million euro, and a track record of reliability, FxPro stands out as a top-tier choice for traders looking for a secure and dynamic trading environment.
👍 Pros
• Negative Balance Protection of a client on a real account is a unique broker service. It has an automated transaction monitoring and a risk management system, the capital is guaranteed not to go into a negative balance;
• insurance of client funds at the expense of the broker participation in an investor compensation fund;
• beginner traders will be able to access tested advisors;
• a full package of services is available to the client regardless of the balance of his account;
• VIP account holders are offered a personal manager and get a Free VPS;
• company capital exceeds 100 million euros;
• offers swap-free accounts for customers whose religious beliefs do not permit swapping eg. Islamic traders;
• the reliable trading environment provided by the competent educational and research department.
👎 Cons
• it is not the best choice for beginner traders who are looking for their first broker as the minimum deposit of $100 is considered high;
• difficulties registering in an affiliate program.
FBS – Best Futures Trading Platform and Broker
FBS is an international broker with a strong presence in Asia, offering a wide range of trading instruments including Forex, stocks, indices, energies, and metals. With over 90 international awards and 27 million clients across 150 countries, FBS boasts a strong global reputation.
The company provides flexible trading conditions: leverage up to 1:3000, floating spreads from 0.7 pips, commission-free trading, and fast execution speeds starting at 0.01 seconds. FBS ensures client security with negative balance protection and offers a user-friendly experience on familiar trading platforms.
While FBS doesn't currently offer cryptocurrency trading or passive income options like PAMM accounts and copy trading, its competitive conditions and extensive educational resources make it a compelling choice for traders seeking a comprehensive and accessible experience.
👍 Pros
• negative balance protection;
• a large selection of trading instruments;
• the support service works 24/7.
👎 Cons
• auto copying is not available;
• no PAMM accounts;
• not suitable for short-term trading, such as scalping;
• the support service works in a limited number of languages;
• only two real accounts.
InstaForex – Best Futures Trading Platform and Broker
InstaForex is a leading broker with over 7,000,000 clients. The company provides access to 2,500+ trading instruments, including Forex pairs, stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Clients can benefit from competitive spreads starting from 0 pips, leverage up to 1:1000, and access to non-standard technological solutions like synthetic securities. The average execution speed is 0.1 sec.
The broker offers a wide range of cryptocurrency CFDs, with over 70 instruments available and zero spreads on major cryptocurrencies. Additionally, it supports passive investment options including PAMM accounts, copy trading services, and unique offering - OYS portfolios.
The company provides responsive client support and insurance coverage up to €20,000 under European regulation.
👍 Pros
• 2,500+ trading instruments, including non-standard assets, such as InstaFutures and synthetic securities.
• Passive investment products, including PAMM accounts and a copy trading service.
• Non-standard technological solutions such as InstaSpot (P2P spot trading), OYS account, Stock Basket, etc.
• European regulation and IFC compensation fund with guaranteed insurance coverage up to €20,000.
• Comfortable trading conditions, such as a $1 minimum deposit and leverage up to 1:1000, for clients of the FSC-regulated broker.
👎 Cons
• Tough conditions for retail European traders due to regulations.
• The time gap between a trade executed by a trader and the one copied to the investor’s account in the social trading service can be up to 15 seconds.
Pepperstone – Best Futures Trading Platform and Broker
Pepperstone (Pepperstone.com) was founded in 2010 in Melbourne, Australia, by professional traders who were not satisfied with the quality of services provided by most brokers. The founders decided to avoid many of the disadvantages of competitors, including high commissions, delayed execution of orders, etc. The founders therefore focused on improving the technical component. The company has set itself the goal of changing the “rules of the game” and setting the bar high for online trading.
Today, Pepperstone offers clients all over the world some of the best technological solutions and favorable trading conditions. The company also provides professional tools that help traders not only master the fine art of trading, but also significantly increase trading efficiencies. In addition, Pepperstone’s platform is scrutinized by seven regulatory authorities, including ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission, AFSL No.414530), FCA (UK Financial Conduct Authority, 684312), DFSA (F004356), BaFin (151148), CMA, SCB (SIA-F217), and CySec (388/20). Moreover, with Pepperstone, clients' assets are maintained in aggregated accounts with several major, global banking institutions. These facts confirm the reliability of the company and guarantee the safety of the client's capital.
👍 Pros
• Attractive trading conditions;
• Fast order execution - 30 ms on average;
• 1,200+ trading instruments;
• Low fees; and
• No inactivity fee.
👎 Cons
• Support service works only 24/7;
• No cent account;
• Not available to US clients;
• Limited passive trading opportunities;
• Limited analytical materials available on the site. The only way to resolve this issue is to connect to trading signals;
• No news section; and
• Demo accounts can only trade for free for 60 days.
IronFX – Best Futures Trading Platform and Broker
IronFX was launched in January 2010 by a team of specialists in finance and software development. Today, IronFX has grown to be among the industry leaders that provide online trading services globally. Customers can use the MT4 advanced trading platforms and trade more than 300 tools from 6 various asset classes. IronFX serves individual as well as corporate clients from over 180 countries. IronFX is highly valued for providing cutting-edge technological innovation on trading platforms and trading tools.
👍 Pros
• round-the-clock communication with a multilingual support TEAM on weekdays;
• wide range of trading assets;
👎 Cons
• the verification procedure can be repeated;
Saxo Bank – Best Futures Trading Platform and Broker
The SaxoBank brokerage company was founded in 1992 under the original name Midas. In 2001, the broker was licensed by the FSA, a Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (1149), FCA (Financial Conduct Authority | UK, 551422), ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission, AFSL 280372), FINMA (Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, CHE-106.787.764), and SFC (Securities and Futures Commission | Hong Kong, AVD061). After that, the company changed its name to SaxoBank. Today the broker provides online access to various financial markets to clients from 170 countries. In 2017, the SaxoTraderGO terminal was recognized as the best trading platform for active trading according to FX Week’s e-FX Awards and ADVFN International Financial Awards. Can you trade options with Saxo Bank?
👍 Pros
• favorable trading terms for professional traders with at least 1 year of experience;
• over 71 thousand instruments for trading;
• the opportunity to invest in ready-to-use long-term portfolios managed by professionals.
👎 Cons
• Cent accounts are not available.
• You can trade through proprietary platforms; access to the MT4 and MT5 terminals is not provided;
• a ban on algorithmic trading for traders from abroad;
• you cannot contact support in the online chat on the company's website.
Kot4x – Best Futures Trading Platform and Broker
The Kot4x Broker (kot4x.com) is an online Forex cryptocurrency and CFD broker with advanced technologies for trading on the financial markets. So, what exactly is Kot4x? This online broker provides a secure ECN trading environment and offers over 250 trading instruments, including cryptocurrencies. Is Kot4x legit? Kot4x doesn’t limit trading strategies. It charges low trading fees and allows payments in Bitcoins.
👍 Pros
• Beneficial trading terms such as precise spreads and high leverage on accounts with a deposit of $250 or more.
• Access to trades with 6 asset classes: currency pairs, cryptocurrency, stocks, indices, commodities, and metals.
👎 Cons
• The only way to get passive income is to participate in an affiliate program.
• Islamic accounts are not available.
• There are no proprietary services for copying transactions while using PAMM or MAM accounts.
• There are no analytics, training, or tools useful to a trader on the website.
What are Futures?
Futures are a type of financial contract in which traders will transact a particular asset at a certain future price and date. A futures trader will need to buy or sell the asset underlying the future at a set price, no matter what the market price of the asset is by the time it reaches its expiration date.
The underlying assets of futures contracts are usually physical commodities. The contracts that hold a future will note the total quantity of the asset and must be used to trade in the futures exchange. Typically, futures are used for the purpose of hedging, or offsetting investment costs. A futures contract makes it possible for investors to speculate how a particular commodity will change in price and value.
Different Types of Futures
There are many different types of futures.
FX or Forex futures are currency derivative contracts that ensure that the purchaser and seller to make a trade at a specific price at a specific time. Like most futures contracts, they are designed to hedge in order to reduce risk against inflation. Such futures are based on foreign exchange currency rather than physical commodities.
Commodity futures are futures that contain underlying assets that are tangible and physically bought and sold. The most common types of commodities for futures contracts include crops, gas, oil, gold, silver and other assets.
Interest rate futures are futures that hedge against risks that occur due to the movements and fluctuations in the interest rate of a particular financial instrument. Because unpredictable interest rates can create burdens on companies that produce certain assets, these types of futures can help reduce that burden.
Stock index futures are used by investors to hedge against risk by using a single stock. Essentially, stock index futures are designed to hedge against the potential future price of a stock.
CFDs are technically not futures, but an alternative to trading futures. CFDs are leveraged financial derivatives that allow traders to speculate on the price changes in a specific market without the need to take complete ownership. Essentially, a trader will purchase an underlying market if they think the price will increase, or sell the underlying market if they think the price will dip. The total profits or losses will be determined based on the total position size times the difference between open and close costs of the position itself.
Should I Trade Futures?
In general, we would recommend trading futures. They are a great trading instrument for hedging and reducing risk. If you’re already involved in a trading instrument that is particularly risky and involves a lot of speculation, then futures can offset some potential costs. Futures are very highly leveraged investments, are very liquid, and have low commission and execution costs. Just as well, futures have the potential to generate profit quickly and are excellent for diversifying a portfolio and hedging risk. They are also a lot more efficient and could be considered fairer than single stocks.
However, no form of trading is totally perfect. Futures involve risks and investors can lose their initial margin if the price of an asset swings the wrong way. Investors can also experience some disadvantages due to using margin, which can result in major losses. Still, futures trading is still a great thing to engage in, especially if you are doing so to diversify your portfolio.
How to Start Futures Trading?
Futures trading is not easy. Not all applicants will be accepted/approved to trade futures.
We used TD Ameritrade as an example broker, but the following steps basically apply to any type of futures trading platform or broker:
-
1
Set up your account. Most brokers will require a standard account to trade futures, as well as an extensive identity verification process that can take several days. You’ll need proof of identification and a camera to proceed.
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2
Consider your trading strategy. Before you get started, you should go into trading futures with a solid strategy. You can also use TD Ameritrade’s Thinkorswim demo account to experiment with different strategies without risking any capital.
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3
Do your research. Study the market, your commodity of choice, and everything that has to do with futures. We recommend studying some blog posts on Traders Union, different videos and tutorials from futures experts, and tutorials offered by your broker of choice.
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4
Fund your account. When starting out, we recommend only risking about $500 or so on futures.
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5
On your platform of choice, simply search for the asset you’d like to trade and conduct a buy or sell. You’ll need to choose your asset, funding source, expiration date, and other necessary information.
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6
You’re done!
Summary
Futures trading can be a very lucrative market, but it also carries a lot of risks. Originally, futures were invented to help commodity producers, such as farmers, invest in their industry or asset of choice to offset potential interest rate losses. Essentially, a futures contract is a type of agreement to purchase or sell a certain security or commodity at a “future” date, hence the name.
There are many different types of futures. A few include forex futures, commodity futures, interest rate futures, stock index futures, and CFDs. We would recommend trading futures if you want to diversify an already-established portfolio, as futures may offset some potential losses. Still, no form of trading is perfect. Futures can have their own risks, especially when it comes to using margin. Still, futures are a great way to diversify your portfolio.
FAQs
What are the trading hours for futures?
On virtual platforms and in general, futures markets are open twenty-four hours per day, six days a week. However, different commodities have different trading hours. For example: The stock index, metals, and energy futures market are open from 6pm to 5pm ET, while the agriculture futures market is open from 9:15am to 2:30pm ET.
Are there certain requirements in order to be approved for futures trading?
Yes. On most broker platforms, you will need margin approval, an account minimum for a margin account, and a minimum net liquidation value. Keep in mind that these requirements will vary based on your trading platform of choice, and not every potential client will qualify for futures trading.
What is a tick size?
In the context of futures, a tick is considered the minimum price increment for a certain contract that can fluctuate. The value and size of a tick will vary significantly from futures contract to futures contract.
Is it expensive to trade futures?
The expenses involved in trading futures depend on your trading style. Most brokers will usually charge a fee for each contract, which will be a few dollars in most cases. If you are opening and closing a lot of contracts, this cost can add up. You might also have to worry about exchange and regulatory fees, which will vary by product and asset.
Glossary for novice traders
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1
BaFin
BaFin is the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority of Germany. Along with the German Federal Bank and the Ministry of Finance, this government regulator ensures that licensees abide by eurozone laws.
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2
CFD
CFD is a contract between an investor/trader and seller that demonstrates that the trader will need to pay the price difference between the current value of the asset and its value at the time of contract to the seller.
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3
Scalping
Scalping in trading is a strategy where traders aim to make quick, small profits by executing numerous short-term trades within seconds or minutes, capitalizing on minor price fluctuations.
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4
Brokerage fee
A brokerage fee, also known as a commission, is a fee charged by a brokerage or financial institution for facilitating and executing financial transactions on behalf of clients. Brokerage fees are typically associated with services related to buying or selling assets such as stocks, bonds, commodities, or mutual funds.
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Algorithmic trading
Algorithmic trading is an advanced method that relies on advanced coding and formulas based on a mathematical model. However, compared to traditional trading methods, the process differs by being automated.
Team that worked on the article
Mikhail Vnuchkov joined Traders Union as an author in 2020. He began his professional career as a journalist-observer at a small online financial publication, where he covered global economic events and discussed their impact on the segment of financial investment, including investor income. With five years of experience in finance, Mikhail joined Traders Union team, where he is in charge of forming the pool of latest news for traders, who trade stocks, cryptocurrencies, Forex instruments and fixed income.
Olga Shendetskaya has been a part of the Traders Union team as an author, editor and proofreader since 2017. Since 2020, Shendetskaya has been the assistant chief editor of the website of Traders Union, an international association of traders. She has over 10 years of experience of working with economic and financial texts. In the period of 2017-2020, Olga has worked as a journalist and editor of laftNews news agency, economic and financial news sections. At the moment, Olga is a part of the team of top industry experts involved in creation of educational articles in finance and investment, overseeing their writing and publication on the Traders Union website.