IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Pepperstone
FP Markets
TickmillBest CFD Trading Platforms for 2025
Written by Steven Hatzakis
Edited by John Bringans
Fact-checked by Joey Shadeck
Reviewed by Blain Reinkensmeyer
Steven HatzakisSteven Hatzakis is the Global Director of Online Broker Research for ForexBrokers.com. He is a forex industry expert and an active fintech and crypto researcher.
Steven Hatzakis has been reviewing forex brokers for nearly ten years and has 25+ years of experience as a forex trader. His broker reviews are unbiased and independent, and his expertise is sought after for global FX conferences and speaking events around the world. Learn how we test.
A contract for difference, or CFD, is a tradeable instrument that tracks the price of an underlying security or asset. CFDs are available for a wide variety of asset types and classes, such as forex, shares, and cryptocurrencies. This popular form of derivative trading takes place off-exchange or in the over-the-counter (OTC) markets with online brokers.
It's important to note that all brokers featured in this guide are regulated by reputable financial authorities, providing a level of oversight and client protection.
My guide to CFD trading will explain what CFDs are and how they work, dive into the pros and cons of trading CFDs, and demonstrate how CFDs are different from forex and stocks. I've also tested over 60 CFD trading platforms to help you choose the best CFD broker for your needs.
| Company | Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | Minimum Deposit | Overall Rating |
 IG
|
0.91 | £250.00 |
|
 Saxo
|
1.0 | $0 |
|
 Interactive Brokers
|
0.59 | $0 |
|
 CMC Markets
|
1.3 | $0 |
|
 FOREX.com
|
1.00 | $100 |
|
 City Index
|
1.4 | £100.00 |
|
 XTB
|
0.92 | $0 |
|
Best CFD Platforms
I've been trading CFDs for 20+ years and I've reviewed over 60 of the biggest CFD brokers in the industry. All brokers featured in this guide are regulated by trusted financial authorities. Here are my picks for the best CFD trading platforms:
- Minimum Deposit: £250.00
- Trust Score: 99
- Tradeable Symbols (Total): 19537
IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets. Read full review
- Outstanding platforms and tools
- Over 19,000 tradeable instruments
- Competitive pricing
- No predefined layouts on the flagship web platform
- Limited product range on MT4
- Minimum Deposit: $0
- Trust Score: 99
- Tradeable Symbols (Total): 71000
Saxo is an exclusive multi-asset broker with brilliant research and a superb trading platform experience – as well as a stunning selection of over 40,000 securities. Read full review
- Flagship platform is top of the line
- Over 40,000 tradeable instruments
- Excellent customer service
- High minimum deposit
- Minimum Deposit: $0
- Trust Score: 99
- Tradeable Symbols (Total): 8500
Interactive Brokers is a highly trusted multi-asset broker with an extensive offering of tradeable global markets. It delivers competitive fees and high-quality research and education, as well as a modern, institutional-grade trading platform suite. Read full review
- Robust platform for professional traders
- Wide range of global markets
- Thorough research offering
- Trader Workstation platform is likely too complicated for inexperienced traders
- Minimum Deposit: $0
- Trust Score: 99
- Tradeable Symbols (Total): 12029
CMC Markets is well-trusted across the globe, and delivers a terrific trading experience thanks to its excellent pricing and selection of over 12,000 tradeable instruments. Read full review
- Low trading costs
- Excellent web and mobile platforms
- Robust research materials
- Educational offering could be improved
- Minimum Deposit: $100
- Trust Score: 99
- Tradeable Symbols (Total): 5500
FOREX.com is a trusted brand that delivers an excellent trading experience for forex and CFDs traders across the globe. It offers a wide range of markets and provides an impressive suite of proprietary platforms – alongside limited access to MetaTrader. Read full review
- Multiple high-quality platforms
- Excellent market research
- Wide range of markets
- Only about 600 instruments are available on the MT5 platform, compared to over 4,500 on non-MetaTrader platforms
- Minimum Deposit: £100.00
- Trust Score: 99
- Tradeable Symbols (Total): 13500
Backed by StoneX Group, City Index is a trusted brand known for its versatile trading platforms, excellent mobile app, diverse market research, and extensive range of tradeable markets. Read full review
- Excellent platforms and mobile app
- Extensive range of markets
- High-quality market research
- Pricing is average for the industry
- Limited product range on MT4
- Minimum Deposit: $0
- Trust Score: 96
- Tradeable Symbols (Total): 7184
As a trusted multi-asset broker, XTB offers outstanding customer service, a wide variety of forex and CFDs, and an excellent overall trading experience. Its xStation 5 trading platform is well-designed and packed with innovative features, and XTB’s offers comprehensive educational content and market research. Read full review
- xStation 5 platform is an industry standout
- Robust selection of trading tools
- Excellent customer service
- Pricing is just average
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Top picks for CFD brokers
Best broker for trading CFDs – IG
| Company | Overall Rating | Minimum Deposit | Tradeable Symbols (Total) | Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account |
|
IG
|
|
£250.00 | 19537 | 0.91 |
IG is a highly trusted, well-regulated broker that is my choice for the best broker for trading CFDs in 2025. IG boasts an extensive selection of over 17,000 tradable markets as well as competitive pricing and a world-class trading platform suite. As a well-regulated broker globally, IG's platform options cater to all levels of CFD traders.
Trading platform: IG’s flagship web-based platform and mobile trading app both deliver a top-tier experience. The mobile app took home “#1 Mobile App” in our 2025 Annual Awards, with seamless design and full-featured tools. For advanced traders, IG offers L2 Dealer (DMA access) and the ProRealTime charting platform. IG also supports MetaTrader 4, though the range of CFDs is more limited on MT4. Integrated trading signals from PIA First, Autochartist, and TipRanks add even more edge.
Range of tradeable instruments: IG offers CFDs, forex, spread betting (U.K. only), exchange-traded turbos, and options. Its vast global product lineup includes indices, stocks, cryptocurrencies, commodities, bonds, and more. With over 19,000 CFDs, it’s one of the deepest offerings in the industry.
Account types & order execution: IG supports both market maker and agency execution. Its commission-based Forex Direct account offers DMA for experienced traders. You can also access advanced order types like guaranteed stop-loss orders (GSLOs), which offer protection for a premium.
Pricing: IG offers competitive spreads and a volume-based active trader discount program. Share CFDs incur per-trade commissions unless you're spread betting (U.K. residents only). For example, U.K. stock CFDs start from 0.1%, while U.S. stocks trade from 2 cents per share with minimums ranging from $10–$15.
Best web-based trading platform for CFD traders – Saxo
| Company | Overall Rating | Minimum Deposit | Tradeable Symbols (Total) | Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account |
|
Saxo
|
|
$0 | 71000 | 1.0 |
Saxo is a long time multi-asset broker that caters to the needs of investors and traders across global markets. Saxo boasts an absolutely massive range of over 70,000 products that can be traded across its SaxoTraderGO and SaxoTraderPRO platform suite. It's best suited for experienced traders and professionals, but intermediate traders will also find value.
Trading platform: SaxoTraderGO (web/mobile) and SaxoTraderPRO (desktop) offer a balance of simplicity and advanced features. The GO platform is intuitive and fast for daily traders, while PRO caters to high-volume, professional clients with deeper analytics and custom modules. Trading signals and research are tightly integrated into the platform suite.
Range of tradeable instruments: Saxo’s selection is massive. You’ll find CFDs across stocks, indices, commodities, bonds, ETFs, forex, options, and futures. It also supports fractional trading on index CFDs (0.01 contract sizes) and portfolio-based margin (for pro clients), which can enhance leverage efficiency.
Research & signals: One of the main reasons Saxo is among my top choices for CFD trading has to do with the quality of its research across such a wide range of tradable CFDs, and integrated trading signals within its platform suite. Saxo’s high quality research and integrated trading signals can make it more efficient to find and act on trading opportunities and to analyze news events in relation to market price movements.
Pricing & accounts: Saxo is not a discount broker for low-budget investors; there can be a minimum commission spend depending on the trade size (i.e. minimum $1 for U.S. stock CFDs. That said, there is the potential for competitive pricing when executing larger orders. Average spreads can drop even further for VIP and Platinum account holders. For instance, fees for stock CFD drop from $0.02 for Classic account holders to $0.015 for Platinum account holders, and down to $0.010 for VIP account holders.
Best choice for professional CFD traders – Interactive Brokers (IBKR)
| Company | Overall Rating | Minimum Deposit | Tradeable Symbols (Total) | Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account |
|
Interactive Brokers
|
|
$0 | 8500 | 0.59 |
In 2025, I ranked Interactive Brokers in first place for our Range of Investments category due to the sheer number of available markets and global exchanges. It should come as no surprise that Interactive Brokers is also a great choice for CFD trading, even if its range of CFDs is not as extensive as IG or Saxo. Interactive Brokers covers the most popular CFD markets and caters equally well to beginner and advanced traders, thanks to its variety of platforms, ranging from basic to highly advanced.
Trading platform: Trader Workstation (TWS) is IBKR’s flagship and a powerhouse for data-driven traders. You can fully customize the layout, automate trades, and monitor dozens of global markets. For those needing less complexity, IBKR also offers a more intuitive web platform and mobile app with streamlined workflows.
Range of tradeable instruments: IBKR offers over 6,000 CFDs tied to global stocks and indices, alongside forex, futures, ETFs, options, and bonds. Its strict inclusion criteria for CFD instruments (e.g. $500M+ market cap) help screen out illiquid or speculative markets.
Execution & pricing: What sets IBKR apart is its pricing transparency. Stock CFD prices mirror the exchange-traded equivalent. IBKR’s tight spreads and volume-tiered pricing favor active and institutional traders. Forex CFDs can be traded from the same account with the right permissions enabled.
Compare the best CFD brokers
Below is a comparison of top regulated CFD brokers in 2025. This table helps you quickly evaluate key features from tradable markets to minimum deposit requirements.
| Company | Overall Rating | Minimum Deposit | Tradeable Symbols (Total) | U.S. Stocks (CFDs) |
|
IG
|
|
£250.00 | 19537 | Yes |
|
Saxo
|
|
$0 | 71000 | Yes |
|
Interactive Brokers
|
|
$0 | 8500 | Yes |
|
CMC Markets
|
|
$0 | 12029 | Yes |
|
FOREX.com
|
|
$100 | 5500 | Yes |
|
City Index
|
|
£100.00 | 13500 | Yes |
|
XTB
|
|
$0 | 7184 | Yes |
FAQs
What are CFDs?
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).
Ownership of underlying assets
When you purchase an asset like company stock, you become the owner of those actual shares. When purchasing a CFD, however, you never own the underlying asset.
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.
How are CFDs different from forex?
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.
Is CFD trading a good idea for beginners?
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.
CFD trading for beginners
There's a wide range of CFD platforms out there, but not all of them are suited for beginner CFD traders. If you are just getting started out and you're looking for a CFD trading platform, check out my beginners guide for trading forex and CFDs.
How do I choose the best CFD platform?
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.
Are CFDs legal in the U.S.?
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).
Did you know?
Brokers that offer forex to U.S. retail clients must obtain a Retail Forex Exchange Dealer (RFED) license and become members of the National Futures Association (NFA).
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.
Is CFD trading legal in the UK?
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.
What CFD broker has the best trading platform?
Saxo offers the best overall trading platform experience for CFD traders in 2025. Its flagship platforms, SaxoTraderGO (web and mobile) and SaxoTraderPRO (desktop), strike a near-perfect balance between advanced functionality and user-friendly design. The platforms feature integrated trading signals, powerful charting, and seamless access to a massive range of global markets, making them suitable for both professional and active retail traders.
Other top platforms include IG's suite of web, mobile, and DMA tools, which combine speed with flexibility, and XTB’s xStation 5, known for its intuitive interface and innovative features. For beginners, brokers like FOREX.com and City Index offer simpler platforms with strong educational content and built-in learning tools.
ForexBrokers.com Overall Rankings
Now that you've seen our picks for the best brokers on this guide, check out ForexBrokers.com's overall broker rankings. We've evaluated over 60 forex brokers, using a testing methodology that's based on 100+ data-driven variables and thousands of data points. Also take a look at our full-length, in-depth forex broker reviews.
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Forex Risk Disclaimer
There is a very high degree of risk involved in trading securities. With respect to margin-based foreign exchange trading, off-exchange derivatives, and cryptocurrencies, there is considerable exposure to risk, including but not limited to, leverage, creditworthiness, limited regulatory protection and market volatility that may substantially affect the price, or liquidity of a currency or related instrument. It should not be assumed that the methods, techniques, or indicators presented in these products will be profitable, or that they will not result in losses. Read more on forex trading risks.
About the Editorial Team
Steven Hatzakis is the Global Director of Online Broker Research for ForexBrokers.com. Steven previously served as an Editor for Finance Magnates, where he authored over 1,000 published articles about the online finance industry. A forex industry expert and an active fintech and crypto researcher, Steven advises blockchain companies at the board level and holds a Series III license in the U.S. as a Commodity Trading Advisor (CTA).
John Bringans is the Managing Editor at ForexBrokers.com. An experienced media professional, John has a decade of editorial experience with a background that includes key leadership roles at global newsroom outlets. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from San Francisco State University, and conducts research on forex and the financial services industry while assisting in the production of content.
Joey Shadeck is a Content Strategist and Research Analyst for ForexBrokers.com. He holds dual degrees in Finance and Marketing from Oakland University, and has been an active trader and investor for close to ten years. An industry veteran, Joey obtains and verifies data, conducts research, and analyzes and validates our content.
Blain Reinkensmeyer has 20 years of trading experience with over 2,500 trades placed during that time. He heads research for all U.S.-based brokerages on StockBrokers.com and is respected by executives as the leading expert covering the online broker industry. Blain’s insights have been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and the Chicago Tribune, among other media outlets.