Best CFD Trading Platforms for 2026

CFDs are tradeable instruments that track the price of underlying securities or assets. A CFD trade occurs when a trader enters into a contract with their broker to buy or sell a particular underlying asset or security at a specific price. In doing so, the trader aims to speculate on price fluctuations that may occur in the window of time between when the contract is agreed upon and entered into force, and when it expires (or when the trade is closed).

As the price of the underlying asset fluctuates, the CFD trader will experience either an unrealized profit or an unrealized loss (or neither, if the price remains flat). Profits are only realized if the trade is closed while the position is still profitable (losses work under the same principle – if the trade is unprofitable when closed, the loss becomes realized).

For example, if a trader buys a CFD on the EUR/USD pair and the contract price moves higher than the initial purchase price, the unrealized profit will be the difference between those two prices (minus any applicable trading costs).

A quick note about losses: It’s important to remember that realized losses can worsen in the event of a margin call, or a gap in a stop-loss order. This added risk exists because CFDs are traded from within a margin account, which has the potential to incur a negative balance due to the use of leverage.

The main difference between CFDs and forex (foreign exchange) is that CFDs are a type of instrument, whereas forex is an asset class. CFD traders speculate on price movements for a range of asset classes, but they never take ownership of the underlying assets. Forex traders, on the other hand, can – in some instances – take delivery of actual assets (in this case, currencies).

As a derivative instrument that tracks the price of an underlying asset or security, CFDs are non-deliverable. This means that CFDs are always cash-settled, with no possibility for delivery of any underlying asset.

With certain types of spot forex trading, traders can take delivery of the asset (currency). For example, a trader that buys the EUR/USD with the ability to take delivery of the asset will pay for the transaction in U.S. dollars – and will, in turn, receive euros in their account. By contrast, a CFD trader that buys the EUR/USD cannot take delivery of any currency, and can only close the position by selling an equivalent amount of EUR/USD to exit the trade.

All this being said, CFDs and forex behave similarly in many cases. Most retail forex trades operate much like CFD trades in that they are cash-settled; generally, retail forex traders do not take delivery of any assets or actual currency. Note: Both non-deliverable forex and forex CFDs carry risk, and regulatory protections will vary depending on your jurisdiction and/or country of residence.

CFDs might not be the best choice for beginners, due to the extra risk that comes with trading with leverage from a margin account. Trading from a margin account – whether you are trading CFDs, forex, or other instruments or derivative products – is riskier than traditional investing. Trading with leverage can increase the risk/reward potential for your investment capital, and can even result in a negative balance (in rare cases).

If you already have experience with traditional investments like stocks or ETFs and you want to learn how to trade from a margin account, a demo account can be a good place to start. Demo accounts allow traders to experiment and familiarize themselves with trading software without risking any investment capital. The software is largely the same, but the demo account uses virtual funds; a “live” account is one where you fund the account with real money.

There's a wide variety of CFD platforms on the market, and choosing one to suit your individual trading needs can be a daunting task. It's an important decision, so I've put together a list of the most important factors to consider when choosing a CFD trading platform:

• Regulation: You should always make sure that your forex broker is licensed and regulated by reputable regulatory jurisdictions. Dealing with unlicensed brokers increases your risk of falling victim to forex scams. Read my educational series to learn more about how to avoid forex scams.
• Markets: It's important to verify the range of markets and tradeable instruments offered by your broker for CFD trading. Individual trading needs and strategies will vary, but ideally you want a broker that provides access to a wide range of assets and asset classes, such as forex, stocks, commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies like bitcoin.
• Fees: It's a good idea to do some research into the commissions and fees that are charged by CFD brokers. These may include spreads, commissions, overnight fees, swap rates, inactivity fees and withdrawal fees. I recommend looking for a broker that offers competitive and transparent pricing. Check out my guide to the best zero spread brokers to see some of my top picks for lower cost forex and CFD brokers.
• Platform: I always recommend using a demo account (also known as virtual or paper trading accounts) to evaluate the quality and usability of the broker's trading platform without risking your trading funds. This way, you can test if the broker's CFD trading platform is user-friendly, reliable, and secure. You'll also want to look for the availability of advanced features such as indicators, reliable news feeds, risk management options, and charting tools (check out my guide to forex charts to learn more).
• Educational resources: The best way to start out as a CFD trader is to find a broker that offers a bunch of beginner-friendly educational resources. Most brokers provide some level of trader education, but the best forex and CFD brokers produce high-quality video content, articles, and webinars by an in-house production team. Check out my guide to the best free forex trading courses.

No, CFDs are not legal in the U.S., and CFD trading is not permitted for U.S. residents. CFDs are considered a derivative in the U.S. and are therefore subject to the licensing requirements of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Non-U.S. residents can trade CFDs using most forex brokers' trading platforms – as long as the broker accepts clients from your country of residence.

The CFTC also regulates the spot forex cash market. This means that U.S. residents who want to trade forex are required to do so with a U.S-regulated forex broker (you can find a U.S.-regulated forex broker with our guide to the Best U.S. Forex Brokers).

U.S. residents may not be allowed to trade CFDs, but there are other exchange-traded products offered by U.S. brokers – such as forex, futures, options, and securities – that can provide similar exposure to underlying assets. For example, several U.S. forex brokers offer micro-futures contracts from the CME, which allow traders to speculate on indices, metals, commodities, and forex futures contracts.

Yes. CFD trading is fully legal in the U.K. Brokers offering CFDs must be authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which imposes strict rules on leverage, margin, and retail risk warnings.

IG offers the best overall trading platform experience for CFD traders in 2026, earning our #1 Category Award for Trading Platforms. In my testing, IG’s proprietary web platform stands out for putting usability first while still delivering serious depth. Charts launch from almost anywhere, prices stream cleanly with live bid/ask rates, and the platform packs in a deep bench of research and trading tools, including integrated risk-management features. IG also won our 2026 Annual Award for #1 Web Platform since charting there too feels fast and modern, with thoughtful touches like a tick chart, smooth zooming/resizing across time frames, and an excellent trade-from-chart workflow that lets you drag stops and limits with precision (including before you place the trade).

Saxo remains a top-tier choice, especially if you prefer a dedicated desktop experience. While Saxo held the #1 Trading Platforms award in 2025, it still earned the #1 Industry Award for Desktop Platform in 2026. Saxo’s SaxoTraderGO (web/mobile) and SaxoTraderPRO (desktop) continue to offer a polished blend of powerful functionality and refined design, with strong charting and broad market access that suits active retail traders and professionals alike.

Beyond IG and Saxo, XTB’s xStation 5 continues to impress for its clean, intuitive interface and smart built-in features. And for newer traders who want a simpler learning curve, brokers such as FOREX.com and City Index remain solid options thanks to their more approachable platforms paired with strong educational content.