Best Spread Betting Sites and Brokers for 2024

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Best spread betting platform in 2024 - OANDA

Your capital is at risk.

TOP spread betting platform:

  • OANDA - Best for trading with advanced technical analysis tools (TradingView charts support)

  • IG Markets - Favorable Forex trading conditions (0 fees, avg. EUR/USD spread - 0.8)

  • FOREX.com - Diverse range of tradable assets (80+ currency pairs)

  • Vantage Markets - Best for trading CFDs on major U.S. Stocks (zero fees apply)

  • FxPro - Biggest choice of currency pairs (70+ FX CFDs)

  • XTB - Best for European Beginners with Low Capital (0 minimum deposit)

Spread betting is a popular derivative trading method that allows traders to speculate on the price movements of a wide range of assets, including stocks, indices, commodities, and currencies. It's a great way to gain exposure to markets without actually owning the underlying assets.

However, choosing the right spread betting broker is crucial for a successful trading experience. With numerous brokers available, it can be overwhelming to find the one that best suits your needs and trading style. That's where Traders Union comes in. In this comprehensive guide, we've meticulously evaluated and ranked the top spread betting brokers, taking into account various factors such as: regulation (FCA UK or CBI Ireland) and licensing, products and fees.

Top Spread Betting Brokers 2024 Compared

Broker FCA or CBI Regulation Minimal Deposit Markets EURUSD typical spread

OANDA

FCA UK

No

FX, Indices, Bullion, Commodities, Crypto

0 points

Open an account

Your capital is at risk.

IG Markets

FCA UK

$1

Forex; CFDs on indices, commodities, and stocks;
 Cryptocurrencies, options, interest rates, sectors, bonds, knock-outs, ETFs, and
 Futures on indices and commodities

0.4 points

Study review

FOREX.com

FCA UK

$1000

Forex, cryptocurrencies, indices, commodities, stocks

0.2 points

Study review

Vantage Markets

FCA UK

$50

Currency pairs (57), CFDs on stocks (226), indices (26), and commodities (22), energy, ETFs, bonds, share SFDs

0 points

Open an account

Your capital is at risk.

FxPro

FCA UK

100 (USD, EUR, GBP, CHF)

Over 2,100 assets are available: currencies, stocks, indices, futures, metals, energies, and cryptocurrencies.

0 points

Open an account

Your capital is at risk.

XTB

FCA UK

no minimum deposit

Currencies, stocks, indices, raw materials, CFDs, and cryptocurrencies

0.1 points

Open an account

Your capital is at risk.

HYCM

FCA UK

$100

Forex, indices, metals, oil, gas, commodity markets, securities, cryptocurrency

0.1 points

Open an account

Your capital is at risk.

Plus500

FCA UK

$100

Forex, CFDs on stocks, cryptocurrencies, indices and commodities, real stocks (not available for all countries), futures (for U.S. residents only), options, ETFs

0.5 points

Study review

CMC Markets

FCA UK

From $1

Forex, Cryptocurrencies, Indices, Stocks, Commodities, Shares & ETFs, Treasuries

0.3 points

Study review

ThinkMarkets

FCA UK

$500

Forex, CFDs on stocks, CFDs on indices, precious metals, commodities, cryptocurrency, ETFs & Futures

0 points

Study review

FXCM

FCA UK

From $50

Currencies, stocks, indices, commodity, cryptocurrency. *Cryptocurrency is not available to UK retail clients.

0.2 points

Study review

Hantec Markets

FCA UK

$1,000

Currency, stock, commodity assets, cryptocurrencies

0.2 points

Study review

OANDA

Open an account
Your capital is at risk.

The name OANDA is an acronym for “Olsen & Associates” or “Olsen AND Associates”. It is registered in the United States and provides its clients with a wide range of financial services in most countries of the world. The company was founded in 1996 and is currently regulated in four jurisdictions. The main regulator of the broker is the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Oanda Canada is licensed by IIROC. The company has several significant awards to its credit, including a victory in the category "Best Forex Trading Technologies" from the UK Forex Awards, "Best Trading Platform" from FX Week, as well as "Best Customer Service" from the US Foreign Exchange Report.

💰 Account currency: EUR, USD, GBP, RUB, CAD, AED
🚀 Minimum deposit: $100
⚖️ leverage: 1:500
💱 Spread: 0.1 points
🔧 Instruments: Forex, indices, metals, oil, gas, commodity markets, securities, cryptocurrency
💹 Level of margin call / stop out 100% / 20%

IG Markets

IG Markets has been providing brokerage services for retail traders since 2014. It was established in 1974 in London to work with professional traders. It is a part of the IG Group with representative offices in 17 countries. IG Markets stocks are traded on the London Stock Exchange as a part of the FTSE 250 index. The broker is regulated by FCA (Financial Conduct Authority | the UK), CySec (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission), ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission), BaFin (the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority | Germany), FINMA (Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority), and NFA (National Futures Association). The IG Group global representative office is supervised by BMA (the Bermuda Monetary Authority). The broker provides services of trading Forex and different CFDs through MetaTrader 4 and its in-house platforms for retail and professional traders.

💰 Account currency: EUR, USD, GBP, RUB, CAD, AED
🚀 Minimum deposit: $100
⚖️ leverage: 1:500
💱 Spread: 0.1 points
🔧 Instruments: Forex, indices, metals, oil, gas, commodity markets, securities, cryptocurrency
💹 Level of margin call / stop out 100% / 20%

FOREX.com

Forex.com is a company owned by GAIN Capital Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GCAP) and has earned a reputation as a reliable broker in the trading industry for its transparent work and high quality of services. The company cooperates with clients in 140 countries. The broker is registered in the Cayman Islands and supervised by CIMA (Certified Institute for Management Accountants). The license number is 25033. The parent company of the Forex.com broker is registered in England and Wales under the number 1761813 at the UK Companies House. It is licensed by one of the most reputable regulators in the world, FCA (No. 113942).

💰 Account currency: EUR, USD, GBP, RUB, CAD, AED
🚀 Minimum deposit: $100
⚖️ leverage: 1:500
💱 Spread: 0.1 points
🔧 Instruments: Forex, indices, metals, oil, gas, commodity markets, securities, cryptocurrency
💹 Level of margin call / stop out 100% / 20%

Vantage Markets

Open an account
Your capital is at risk.

Vantage Markets is a multi-asset broker that has been operating since 2009. The company operates under the licenses of four regulators – the UK (FCA, 590299), Australia (ASIC, 428901), Vanuatu (VFSC, 700271), and South Africa (FSCA, 51268). Over the years, Vantage Markets has received numerous accolades and prestigious awards. Read more about Vantage Markets Available Countries.

💰 Account currency: EUR, USD, GBP, RUB, CAD, AED
🚀 Minimum deposit: $100
⚖️ leverage: 1:500
💱 Spread: 0.1 points
🔧 Instruments: Forex, indices, metals, oil, gas, commodity markets, securities, cryptocurrency
💹 Level of margin call / stop out 100% / 20%

FxPro

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Your capital is at risk.

The FxPro broker was registered in July 2006 in Cyprus. The company’s activities are licensed by financial regulators: CySEC, 078/07 (Cyprus), Bahamas SCB (SIA-F184), FCA, 509956 (UK), and South African FSCA (45052). FxPro is successfully operating in more than 170 countries for retail and institutional clients. The broker has received more than 85 awards, including “Best Forex Trading Platform” and “Best Trading Platform”. FxPro has become known for providing the best trading tools. With FxPro broker, traders can trade more than 70 currency pairs, futures and stocks (Twitter, Apple, Google). The broker has over 2,100 trading assets in its pool, including cryptocurrencies, which are subject to the account type. The basic set of assets is available on cTrader accounts, the full set is available on accounts opened on MT4 and MT5. FxPro sets high safety standards with the client's funds being kept in large international banks. They are insured and separated from the broker's equity.

💰 Account currency: EUR, USD, GBP, RUB, CAD, AED
🚀 Minimum deposit: $100
⚖️ leverage: 1:500
💱 Spread: 0.1 points
🔧 Instruments: Forex, indices, metals, oil, gas, commodity markets, securities, cryptocurrency
💹 Level of margin call / stop out 100% / 20%

XTB

Open an account
Your capital is at risk.

The X Trade Brokers (hereinafter “XTB”) is registered in Belize and provides a fairly extensive list of financial services to traders. The company was incorporated in 2002 and its financial regulator is the Belize International Financial Services Commission (FSC, 000302/438), CySEC (169/12), FCA (522157). The broker has offices in Spain, Poland, and the UK, where it is authorized and regulated by the National Financial Supervision Commissions. The XTB is focused on working primarily with European investors. It has several significant awards, including the Best Broker in Europe award by Global Banking & Finance Review and Best Financial Teacher by World Finance Exchange & Brokers.

💰 Account currency: EUR, USD, GBP, RUB, CAD, AED
🚀 Minimum deposit: $100
⚖️ leverage: 1:500
💱 Spread: 0.1 points
🔧 Instruments: Forex, indices, metals, oil, gas, commodity markets, securities, cryptocurrency
💹 Level of margin call / stop out 100% / 20%

HYCM

Open an account
Your capital is at risk.

HYCM company is a division of Henyep Group. It has been trading on the Forex market for over 40 years. The broker has earned 15 awards since it commenced trading. Among these awards, broker has won the Best Forex Broker Award in 2019 and Best Mobile Trading Platform by World Finance in 2017. The company provides services to both private and institutional traders. It offers a wide selection of trading tools allowing traders to trade currency, precious metals, securities, cryptocurrency, etc.

💰 Account currency: EUR, USD, GBP, RUB, CAD, AED
🚀 Minimum deposit: $100
⚖️ leverage: 1:500
💱 Spread: 0.1 points
🔧 Instruments: Forex, indices, metals, oil, gas, commodity markets, securities, cryptocurrency
💹 Level of margin call / stop out 100% / 20%

Plus500

Plus500 is an international fintech holding that offers CFD and options trading worldwide through its network of branches, as well as futures trading in the U.S. The company was established in 2008 in the United Kingdom. It is regulated by the FCA, as well as by 9 financial supervisory authorities in other countries, such as CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia), MAS (Singapore), FSCA (South Africa), among others. Plus500 is listed on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: PLUS) and is part of the companies that make up the FTSE 250 stock index. Plus500 is a reliable intermediary for accessing financial markets, used by over 25 million traders worldwide.

💰 Account currency: EUR, USD, GBP, RUB, CAD, AED
🚀 Minimum deposit: $100
⚖️ leverage: 1:500
💱 Spread: 0.1 points
🔧 Instruments: Forex, indices, metals, oil, gas, commodity markets, securities, cryptocurrency
💹 Level of margin call / stop out 100% / 20%

CMC Markets

CMC Markets is one of the leading companies in Forex and CFD trading, founded in 1989. The broker is regulated by the FCA 173730 (UK Financial Conduct Authority). The company provides a wide range of trading assets, including indices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies. Solid experience in the financial services market, regulation in the UK, and segregated accounts for clients are the foundation of a high level of traders' trust. The broker also has a risk management program. CMC Markets is popular in many countries, for example, in Australia.

💰 Account currency: EUR, USD, GBP, RUB, CAD, AED
🚀 Minimum deposit: $100
⚖️ leverage: 1:500
💱 Spread: 0.1 points
🔧 Instruments: Forex, indices, metals, oil, gas, commodity markets, securities, cryptocurrency
💹 Level of margin call / stop out 100% / 20%

ThinkMarkets

ThinkMarkets was launched in 2010 and has grown to offer Forex & CFD trading services globally since then. ThinkMarkets is duly licensed by the FCA (629628) in the UK, ASIC (ACN: 158 361 561) in Australia, CySEC (215/13) in Cyprus, JFSA (1536) in Japan, FSCA (49835) in South Africa, and the FSA (SD060) in Seychelles. With ThinkMarkets, one can trade more than 3,500 global assets, including Forex, Indices, Commodities, Shares & ETFs, CFDs, and Crypto CFDs. ThinkMarkets is an award-winning broker with offices in several countries of the world, in particular in Johannesburg (South Africa), Tokyo (Japan), Limassol (Cyprus), Dubai, London (the United Kingdom), and Melbourne (Australia).

💰 Account currency: EUR, USD, GBP, RUB, CAD, AED
🚀 Minimum deposit: $100
⚖️ leverage: 1:500
💱 Spread: 0.1 points
🔧 Instruments: Forex, indices, metals, oil, gas, commodity markets, securities, cryptocurrency
💹 Level of margin call / stop out 100% / 20%

FXCM

FXCM Markets company incorporated in Bermuda and provides a wide range of financial services for traders almost all over the world. The company was founded in 1999 and registered in Great Britain. It is regulated by the independent nongovernmental organization of Great Britain — Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Broker’s registered license number — 217689. The FXCM Group has several significant awards such as: prizes in the "Best Trading Tools” category and the "Best Customer Support 2018" by FXEmpire.

💰 Account currency: EUR, USD, GBP, RUB, CAD, AED
🚀 Minimum deposit: $100
⚖️ leverage: 1:500
💱 Spread: 0.1 points
🔧 Instruments: Forex, indices, metals, oil, gas, commodity markets, securities, cryptocurrency
💹 Level of margin call / stop out 100% / 20%

Hantec Markets

The Hantec Markets (also, Hantec) broker was founded in Hong Kong in 1990. Initially, the company focused only on the Chinese and Taiwan markets, providing classic services on OTC financial markets. In 2008, the broker was rebranded and offices were opened in Australia, Great Britain, Japan, and other countries during the next two years. Today, Hantec is a multinational company with 18 offices in the European and Asian regions and is licensed by six regulators.

💰 Account currency: EUR, USD, GBP, RUB, CAD, AED
🚀 Minimum deposit: $100
⚖️ leverage: 1:500
💱 Spread: 0.1 points
🔧 Instruments: Forex, indices, metals, oil, gas, commodity markets, securities, cryptocurrency
💹 Level of margin call / stop out 100% / 20%

What is Spread Betting?

Spread betting is a financial derivative that allows traders to speculate on assets like forex, indices, commodities, or shares without buying the assets. Instead, they are betting on whether the price will rise or fall.

Unlike stock trading or Forex trading, spread betting allows traders to make money even when the price of an asset falls. For example, if a trader thinks that the price of a certain asset will fall, he sells that asset, which means placing a bet that the asset will fall in price.

Similarly, buying means placing a bet that the asset will rise. And if the asset performed as you speculated, you win that trade. But if it does not, you lose the trade.

The profits or losses are calculated by multiplying the bet size by the unit of movement of the asset you bet on. The bet size is the amount of money you bet per unit of movement. The unit of movement is measured in points or pips.

All spread bets have a duration between one day and a few months, but you can also choose to close them earlier or close them later.

Spread Betting vs Forex trading

Although some people might think that spread betting and Forex trading are the same thing, they are different types of investing. One of the biggest differences between them is that traders who place spread bets do not buy the assets they are betting on, and they can make profits even when the asset falls in price. On the other hand, Forex trading requires the traders to sell a currency to buy another, and they can only make money if the currency they bought rises against the one they sold.

There is a higher similarity between spread bets and CFDs than spread betting and Forex trading. CFDs (Contracts for difference) also allow traders to speculate on the price fluctuations of a certain asset.

Is Spread Betting Regulated?

Spread betting is legal in the UK, but only the brokers that are regulated by the FCA are allowed to offer such services to UK citizens.

Is Spread Betting Risky?

Yes. Spread getting is considered to be one of those most risky types of investment because there is a high risk of losing a lot more than you invested in that trade. Although the potential profits seem to be great, most people, especially beginners, lose money instead of making money. All online brokers that offer spread betting warn their users to be extremely careful while trading them.

How to Spread Bet?

Here is how to place a spread bet in a few simple steps:

Choose an asset

In the beginning, you have to select an asset to bet on.

Select to buy or sell

If you think the price will rise, you have to choose “buy.” But if you think the price will fall, choose “sell.”

Select the bet size

Choose how much money you want to risk per unit of movement.

Add a stop loss or take profit

A stop-loss will automatically close the spread bet if it falls under a certain price, while a take profit will close the spread bet if it reaches a certain profit.

Monitor the trade

Each spread bet can be closed at any time if you are happy with the profits it generated. Sometimes, it is better to close it earlier with smaller profits than later with bigger losses.

How to Choose the Best Spread Betting Broker in the UK?

If you want to receive a great trading experience while spread betting, you should make sure that you choose the best spread betting broker. To help you learn how to choose one, the Traders Union experts have created a short list of features of a great spread betting broker. Here they are:

1. FCA Regulation

Trading with an FCA regulated ensures that your funds are safe. Being regulated by other financial regulators is a plus, but FCA regulation is a must for UK traders.

2. Low spreads and commissions

Most brokers do not have additional commissions for spread betting because they earn money from the spread they have for the assets you choose. So you should choose a broker that has low spreads.

3. Big choice of assets

A broker that has a big choice of trading assets offers more opportunities for you to take advantage of price fluctuations of different markets.

4. Demo account

A demo account allows beginners to test new strategies in real market situations without risking their money. But some brokers offer the demo accounts for free for a limited amount of time. So you should choose a broker that allows you to use the demo account for free.

5. Low bet sizes

In spread betting, traders choose how much they want to risk for a unit of price movements. Brokers usually have minimum bet sizes for different assets. As a beginner, you should not place big bet sizes, so you should choose a broker that has low bet sizes for spread betting.

6. Reliability

A broker’s reliability is determined by its execution speed and other trading conditions that determine the trading experience it offers to its users. One of the best ways to find out a broker’s reliability is to read reviews from its previous users.

7. Low leverage

It is not recommended for beginners to trade with high leverage because although it can increase their profits, it can also increase their losses. Because beginners are more likely to lose money while spread betting, they should choose a broker that has low leverage.

Top 5 tips for successful Spread Betting

To increase your chances of having more successful spread betting, you should have a strong strategy. Here are five important tips you should keep in mind when placing a spread betting trade:

1. Test the strategy on a demo account

To have more success when placing spread bets, you should have much trading experience in this field. The best way to gain trading experience without risking your money is to trade on a demo account. After you gain experience on a demo account, you can place a few small spread bets on a live trading account.

Trading Strategies: What to Choose to Trade Better

2. Choose small bet sizes

Choosing small bet sizes minimizes the risk of losing big amounts of money if your prediction is not accurate.

3. Do not use large leverage

Large leverage can increase your profits, but it comes with a high risk of losing a lot of money, and you should avoid that risk.

4. Do not choose a highly volatile asset

It is more difficult to make a correct prediction for the price fluctuation of a volatile asset. So, you should choose a less volatile asset because the price fluctuations are more predictable for these assets.

5. Research the market before placing the spread bets

Market research is one of the most important conditions for placing successful trades, and you should not overlook this step.

Spread Betting and Taxation

One of the advantages of spread betting in comparison to other types of investment is that it is not taxed. In the UK, spread betting is considered betting by law, and betting is free from Stamp Duty and CGT. But some people might have to pay tax for betting profits if that is their only source of income.

Is spread betting profitable?

Spread betting could be profitable, but it carries high risks. Profitability of spread betting depends on many factors

including the following:

  • Market conditions;

  • Your trading strategy;

  • Methods of risk management;

  • Your ability to make accurate forecasts.

Leverage potential is one of the advantages of spread betting, as it allows traders to control larger positions while using a smaller amount of capital. This, however, could increase both your profit and your loss, which is why risk management is important.

To make spread betting profitable, you need to smartly combine market analysis, disciplined trading strategies and the ability to manage risks.

Traders Union experts recommend practicing on a demo account first, start with small positions and increase the volume as you gain experience and confidence.

Expert Opinion

Financial spread betting is a derivative strategy that allows traders to speculate on the price movements of various financial instruments without owning the underlying asset. It's a leveraged product, meaning traders can gain large exposure for a relatively small initial deposit, magnifying both profits and losses. The article provides a beginner-friendly guide, explaining the mechanics of spread betting, including the bid-offer spread and margin trading. It emphasizes the importance of risk management tools like stop loss and take profit orders to mitigate potential losses.

For beginners, it's crucial to understand that spread betting involves a high level of risk and is not suitable for everyone. Start with a demo account to familiarize yourself with the process without risking real money. Always use risk management tools and never invest more than you can afford to lose. Remember, while spread betting can be tax-efficient and offer opportunities in both rising and falling markets, it requires careful consideration and a clear strategy.

Thomas Wettermann

Thomas Wettermann

Contributor

FAQs

What leverage can I use?

Leverage on spread bets is typically lower than forex, from 1:2 up to 1:30 depending on the broker and your account level

Do brokers charge commissions?

No, spread betting commissions are built into the spread between the bid-ask prices quoted. There are usually no additional per-trade or inactivity fees.

Are there any taxes with spread betting?

No, because it is considered gambling in the eyes of UK/EU tax authorities. Profits are not liable for capital gains or income tax, which is a big advantage over regular trading.

Is spread betting allowed in the US?

No, spread betting is prohibited in the US and many other countries due to regulatory restrictions. It is primarily legal and popular in the UK, EU and Australia.

Team that worked on the article

Oleg Tkachenko
Author and expert at Traders Union

Oleg Tkachenko is an economic analyst and risk manager having more than 14 years of experience in working with systemically important banks, investment companies, and analytical platforms. He has been a Traders Union analyst since 2018. His primary specialties are analysis and prediction of price tendencies in the Forex, stock, commodity, and cryptocurrency markets, as well as the development of trading strategies and individual risk management systems. He also analyzes nonstandard investing markets and studies trading psychology.

Dr. BJ Johnson
Dr. BJ Johnson
Developmental English Editor

Dr. BJ Johnson is a PhD in English Language and an editor with over 15 years of experience. He earned his degree in English Language in the U.S and the UK. In 2020, Dr. Johnson joined the Traders Union team. Since then, he has created over 100 exclusive articles and edited over 300 articles of other authors.

The topics he covers include trading signals, cryptocurrencies, Forex brokers, stock brokers, expert advisors, binary options. He has also worked on the ratings of brokers and many other materials.

Dr. BJ Johnson’s motto: It always seems impossible until it’s done. You can do it.

Mirjan Hipolito
Cryptocurrency and stock expert

Mirjan Hipolito is a journalist and news editor at Traders Union. She is an expert crypto writer with five years of experience in the financial markets. Her specialties are daily market news, price predictions, and Initial Coin Offerings (ICO). Mirjan is a cryptocurrency and stock trader. This deep understanding of the finance sector allows her to create informative and engaging content that helps readers easily navigate the complexities of the crypto world.