Platforms & apps
Compare UK CFD brokers by markets, spreads, commissions, overnight financing, trading platforms and retail protections. CFDs are complex leveraged products and involve a high risk of losing money rapidly. Compare costs, margin requirements and protections before trading.
CFDs involve rapid loss risk
Complex leveraged products
Compare markets and financing
Not just the headline spread
UK retail CFD protections
Apply where eligible — still high risk
Choose your platform type
Funds, ISAs and long-term DIY investing.
Mobile-first share dealing apps.
UK and international share dealing.
FX brokers, spreads and software.
SelectedMulti-market CFDs and retail protections.
Crypto exchanges and apps.
Higher-risk leveraged products — not mainstream investing
CFDs are complex, leveraged products and involve a high risk of losing money rapidly. You do not own the underlying asset. Consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford the high risk of losing money.
UK retail clients may benefit from leverage limits, margin close-out rules and negative balance protection, but can still lose all the money held in their CFD trading account. Each provider should also display its current percentage of retail investor accounts that lose money when trading CFDs with that provider. FCA authorisation does not remove market risk, and FSCS does not protect against trading losses.
Five practical checks before you trade multi-market CFDs.
01
Markets
Compare indices, shares, commodities, forex and other markets each broker offers as CFDs.
02
Trading costs
Compare spreads, commissions, overnight financing and account charges across the markets you plan to trade.
03
Platforms
Check whether the broker offers MT4, MT5, TradingView or a proprietary platform.
04
Order types & risk tools
Consider guaranteed stops, standard stop-losses, alerts and demo accounts before committing real money.
05
FCA & retail protections
Check the relevant legal entity, FCA status and which retail protections — such as negative balance protection and margin close-out — apply.
We compare participating providers and do not cover the whole market. WiT Money may receive a commission or referral fee from some providers if you proceed through a link. See how we make money
Markets
1,000+ instruments · multi-market CFDs
Pricing model
Spread-based
Market range
1,000+ instruments
Platforms
ActivTrader · MT4 · MT5 · TradingView
CFDs are derivatives — you do not own the underlying asset.
70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
You’ll continue on the provider’s website. WiT Money may receive a commission or referral fee.
High risk — you can lose all money in your CFD account
Markets
5,500+ instruments · multiple CFD markets
Pricing model
Zero trading commission + variable spreads
Market range
5,500+ instruments
Platforms
Web · Mobile · MT4 · +2 more
CFDs are derivatives — you do not own the underlying asset.
65% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and trading CFDs with this provider.
You’ll continue on the provider’s website. WiT Money may receive a commission or referral fee.
High risk — you can lose all money in your CFD account
Markets
13,500+ markets · CFD + spread betting
Pricing model
Spread-based
Market range
13,500+ markets
Platforms
Web · App · MT4 · TradingView
CFDs are derivatives — you do not own the underlying asset.
71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
You’ll continue on the provider’s website. WiT Money may receive a commission or referral fee.
High risk — you can lose all money in your CFD account
Markets
Forex · indices · shares · commodities · ETFs
Pricing model
Spread + holding costs
Market range
Broad multi-market CFD range
Platforms
Web · App · MT4 · TradingView
CFDs are derivatives — you do not own the underlying asset.
68% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider.
You’ll continue on the provider’s website. WiT Money may receive a commission or referral fee.
High risk — you can lose all money in your CFD account
Markets
600+ CFD markets
Pricing model
Spread-based UK account; share CFD commission may apply
Market range
600+ CFD markets
Platforms
TradingView-focused UK account
CFDs are derivatives — you do not own the underlying asset.
78% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
You’ll continue on the provider’s website. WiT Money may receive a commission or referral fee.
High risk — you can lose all money in your CFD account
Markets
Forex · indices · shares · commodities · ETFs
Pricing model
Variable / percentage-based by product
Market range
Multi-asset CFD range
Platforms
Web · App
CFDs are derivatives — you do not own the underlying asset.
51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
You’ll continue on the provider’s website. WiT Money may receive a commission or referral fee.
High risk — you can lose all money in your CFD account
Markets
Forex · indices · commodities · ETFs · treasuries
Pricing model
Standard spread / Active Trader commission model
Market range
Forex, indices, commodities, ETF CFDs, treasuries and baskets
Platforms
Trading Station · MT4 · TradingView · Mobile
CFDs are derivatives — you do not own the underlying asset.
65% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
You’ll continue on the provider’s website. WiT Money may receive a commission or referral fee.
High risk — you can lose all money in your CFD account
Markets
Forex · indices · shares · commodities · ETFs
Pricing model
Spread-based; market-specific costs
Market range
15,000+ markets
Platforms
Web · Mobile · MT4 · +2 more
CFDs are derivatives — you do not own the underlying asset.
69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider.
You’ll continue on the provider’s website. WiT Money may receive a commission or referral fee.
High risk — you can lose all money in your CFD account
Markets
Forex · indices · commodities · ETF CFDs
Pricing model
Spread-based
Market range
Forex, indices, commodities and dozens of ETF CFDs
Platforms
OANDA · MT4 · MT5 · TradingView
CFDs are derivatives — you do not own the underlying asset.
76.6% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
You’ll continue on the provider’s website. WiT Money may receive a commission or referral fee.
High risk — you can lose all money in your CFD account
Markets
1,350+ markets · CFDs + spread betting
Pricing model
Standard spread-only / Razor raw + commission
Market range
1,350+ markets
Platforms
Pepperstone · MT4 · MT5 · +2 more
CFDs are derivatives — you do not own the underlying asset.
72.9% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider.
You’ll continue on the provider’s website. WiT Money may receive a commission or referral fee.
High risk — you can lose all money in your CFD account
Markets
Forex · indices · shares · commodities · options · ETFs
Pricing model
Bid/ask spread + other charges
Market range
Forex · indices · commodities · shares · options · ETFs
Platforms
Proprietary Web · App
CFDs are derivatives — you do not own the underlying asset.
76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
You’ll continue on the provider’s website. WiT Money may receive a commission or referral fee.
High risk — you can lose all money in your CFD account
Markets
9,000+ CFDs · broad multi-asset access
Pricing model
Product-specific commissions/spreads
Market range
9,000+ CFDs
Platforms
SaxoInvestor · SaxoTraderGO · PRO · TradingView integration
CFDs are derivatives — you do not own the underlying asset.
Current UK retail-loss percentage not verified. CFDs are complex, leveraged products and carry a high risk of loss.
You’ll continue on the provider’s website. WiT Money may receive a commission or referral fee.
High risk — you can lose all money in your CFD account
Markets
Equity · FX · index · commodity · bond CFDs
Pricing model
Instrument spread + overnight + FX fee where applicable
Market range
Broad CFD range across equities, FX, indices, commodities and bonds
Platforms
Web · App
CFDs are derivatives — you do not own the underlying asset.
77% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
You’ll continue on the provider’s website. WiT Money may receive a commission or referral fee.
High risk — you can lose all money in your CFD account
Markets
2,500+ CFDs · multiple asset classes
Pricing model
Spread-based
Market range
2,500+ CFDs
Platforms
xStation · Web · App
CFDs are derivatives — you do not own the underlying asset.
74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
You’ll continue on the provider’s website. WiT Money may receive a commission or referral fee.
High risk — you can lose all money in your CFD account
Important information
CFDs are complex, leveraged products and involve a high risk of losing money rapidly. You do not own the underlying asset. Consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford the high risk of losing money. Eligible UK retail clients may have negative balance protection but can still lose all funds held in a CFD trading account. FSCS protection may apply if an authorised firm fails, but it does not cover trading losses. Professional client status removes standard retail protections. Fees, spreads and disclosures change. This is not personal advice. Confirm current terms and risk warnings on the provider's website.
Our methodology
We compare UK CFD brokers using provider-published markets, pricing model, overnight financing, platform tools and UK regulatory status where verified — including market range, spreads, commission, overnight financing, margin requirements, trading platforms, order types, guaranteed stops.
Commercial relationships do not determine factual provider information or our editorial guidance. For currency-pair spreads, FX tools and MT4/MT5 comparisons, see Forex Trading Platforms.
Last reviewed: 13 September 2026
Provider data checked: 13 September 2026
FCA status checked: 13 September 2026
Which page do you need?
In the UK, forex exposure is often provided through CFDs or spread betting, so the products overlap. These pages separate them by user intent and comparison criteria.
If you mainly want to trade FX pairs, view our dedicated Forex Trading Platforms comparison.
Currency pairs
Leveraged derivatives across multiple markets
| Forex trading | CFDs | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Currency pairs | Leveraged derivatives across multiple markets |
| Typical examples | EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY | Indices, Shares, Commodities, Forex, ETFs |
| Compare using | Spreads; FX pairs; Execution; MT4 / MT5; FX tools | Market range; Margin; Overnight financing; Spreads; Trading platform; Retail protections |
Understanding the product
All of these are leveraged, high-risk ways to speculate on price movements. None of them involve owning the underlying asset.
Costs & charges
Holding costs and market-wide pricing matter more here than FX-pair pip spreads alone.
Also called a holding cost or overnight fee. Applied when a leveraged CFD position is held open overnight, and can be a credit or a debit — often the dominant cost of multi-day holds.
The difference between the buy (offer) and sell (bid) price on a CFD market. For a deeper FX-spread explanation (pips, majors), see Forex Trading Platforms.
A separate per-trade charge, common on raw-spread or share CFD accounts, in addition to a tighter spread.
An extra charge for a guaranteed stop-loss order, which aims to close a position at an exact level even during gaps or fast markets.
For how FX spreads and pips work on currency pairs specifically, see Forex Trading Platforms.
Leverage & margin
Example only: with 5:1 leverage on a share CFD, £1,000 of margin could control a position worth around £5,000. A price move of just 20% against you could be enough to lose the full £1,000 margin, before any other costs.
The deposit required to open a CFD position. It is a fraction of the full position size, not the maximum you can lose.
Providers must automatically close one or more of your open CFD positions when your account funds fall to a set percentage (generally 50%) of the margin needed to keep them open, to help limit further losses.
As a position moves against you, losses reduce the available margin in your account. If available margin falls too low, positions can be closed automatically under the MCO rule — sometimes at a worse price than expected.
Retail protections
Providers must automatically close one or more of your open CFD positions when your account funds fall to a set percentage (generally 50%) of the margin needed to keep them open.
Eligible retail clients should not lose more than the funds held in their CFD trading account, subject to the provider's terms and the FCA framework. It is not a guarantee that trading is safe.
Retail leverage is capped by asset class — for example, tighter limits on shares than on major indices or FX pairs, with different caps again for other assets such as cryptoassets where offered.
FCA rules require firms offering retail CFDs to display a standardised risk warning stating the percentage of their retail client accounts that lost money.
These protections reduce certain risks for eligible retail clients — they do not make CFD trading safe, and you can still lose all of the money in your trading account. Negative balance protection is not the same as risk-free trading.
Client categorisation
Professional status is not an upgrade. Do not opt up to professional client status solely to obtain higher leverage without understanding which retail protections you may lose. Elective professional status can remove negative balance protection, meaning you could lose more money than you deposit.
Risk tools
Guaranteed stop-loss orders aim to close a CFD at the exact level you set, even during gaps — usually for an extra premium. Standard stops are not guaranteed.
For a fuller explanation of slippage, market execution and gaps, see Forex Trading Platforms.
UK regulation
UK firms offering retail CFD trading generally need to be authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for these activities. Always check the specific legal entity you would be dealing with on the FCA Register — FCA authorisation reduces certain regulatory risks but does not make CFD trading safe or guarantee you will not lose money.
FCA-authorised firms are generally required to keep eligible client money separate from the firm's own money, under the FCA's client money rules. This can help in some insolvency scenarios but is not a guarantee against loss.
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) may apply if an authorised firm fails and cannot return client money or assets it holds. FSCS protection does not cover losses caused by adverse price movements, leverage, spreads, overnight financing or normal CFD trading losses.
Eligible retail clients of FCA-authorised firms may be able to refer unresolved complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), which is free to use. Professional clients typically have more limited access to FOS.
Regulatory information last checked: 13 September 2026.
Official links: FCA Register · FSCS · Financial Ombudsman Service
Risk reality check
Scam awareness
Key red flags for CFD brokers. For a fuller offshore-broker and clone-site checklist, see Forex Trading Platforms.
Firms with no genuine FCA authorisation, sometimes cloning the name or reference number of a real firm.
Promises of fixed, guaranteed or extremely high CFD returns are a major warning sign.
Being pushed to keep adding funds to 'unlock' withdrawals or cover losses is a common fraud tactic.
Delays, extra 'fees' or new requirements suddenly appearing when you try to withdraw funds.
Treat promises of guaranteed or unusually high trading returns as a major warning sign.
More offshore broker warnings on Forex Trading PlatformsBefore you trade
FAQs
UK-focused answers — not personalised investment advice. CFD trading is high risk.
Editorial standards
UK-focused editorial research. Provider markets, pricing model and features are checked against official disclosures where cited. FCA authorisation status is checked against the FCA Register and is not the same as a guarantee that trading is safe. Risk information is reviewed separately from promotional content. Commercial relationships do not determine factual comparisons or editorial guidance.
Last reviewed: 13 September 2026
Provider data last checked: 13 September 2026
FCA status last checked: 13 September 2026
Reference links only — these organisations do not endorse WiT Money. Always check each provider's official pricing and regulatory disclosures.
Found an outdated spread, FCA status, loss-percentage figure or provider feature? Email contact@witfinancegroup.com. We review reported inaccuracies and update verified information promptly.
Review markets, overnight financing, margin and retail protections — and only risk money you can afford to lose.
Related
Links are chosen from this category’s registry — not a generic keyword dump.