Best Spread Betting Platforms for 2026

Company	Overall Rating	Spread Betting	Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account	United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised)
IG		Yes	0.91 info	Yes

Why I chose IG: IG offers the most comprehensive spread betting experience with 19,500+ markets, advanced trading tools, and tax-efficient trading for U.K. and Ireland residents, backed by its industry-leading reputation and FCA regulation.

Reputation: Founded in 1974, IG is publicly traded on the FTSE 250 (LON: IGG) and regulated in eight Tier-1 jurisdictions, including the FCA in the UK. Its long-standing reputation and robust regulatory framework provide traders with unparalleled trust and security.

Comprehensive product range for spread betting: IG offers a huge selection of over 19,500 tradeable instruments, including forex, indices, commodities, shares, and cryptocurrencies. This makes IG a top choice for traders seeking extensive market coverage for spread betting, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned professional.

Exceptional trading platforms: IG’s flagship web platform and mobile app are feature-rich, offering advanced charting, integrated trading signals, and research tools, including trading from the chart. With its user-friendly design and cutting-edge functionality, IG caters to both casual traders and active investors. IG’s web platform and mobile app are among my favorites, packed with a plethora of features in a modern and streamlined user interface.

Tax-efficient spread betting: For residents of the U.K. and Ireland, IG’s spread betting platform offers a tax-efficient way to trade with competitive spreads and advanced risk management tools. This, combined with IG’s decades-long track record, makes it an excellent choice for spread bettors.

Learn more about its features and platforms in my full review of IG.

Company	Overall Rating	Spread Betting	Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account	United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised)
CMC Markets		Yes	1.3 info	Yes

Why I chose CMC Markets: CMC Markets stands out for its low-cost spread betting, deep liquidity, and highly customizable Next Generation platform, making it ideal for traders who demand precision and flexibility.

Reputation: With over three decades of experience, CMC Markets is publicly traded (LON: CMCX) and authorized by five Tier-1 regulators, including the FCA. Its robust regulatory framework ensures the safety and security of client funds.

Wide range of markets to spread bet: CMC Markets provides access to nearly 12,000 tradeable instruments, many of which are available for spread betting, including forex, indices, commodities, shares, and cryptocurrencies. With one of the largest product offerings globally, CMC Markets caters well to those who desire flexibility in the instruments available for spread betting.

Powerful proprietary platform: The Next Generation web platform stands out with 80 technical indicators, 40 drawing tools, and advanced charting features. Its rich customization options and market-leading tools make it ideal for serious traders seeking precision and efficiency. I’m a big fan of the charts in Next Generation, and the level of customizations available.

Competitive pricing: CMC Markets offers consistently low spreads, averaging just 0.61 pips for EUR/USD based on collected spread data. Its FX Active program provides commission-based pricing, reducing costs for high-volume traders, while its Alpha rebates deliver additional perks for active investors (the offer varies by region).

Explore more about its pricing and range of investments in my in-depth review of CMC Markets.

Company	Overall Rating	Spread Betting	Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account	United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised)
City Index		Yes	1.4 info	Yes

Why I chose City Index: With 13,500+ instruments, tax-efficient spread betting, and innovative tools like PlayMaker, City Index is a top choice for traders looking for market variety and strong risk management features.

Reputation: City Index is part of the publicly traded StoneX Group (NASDAQ: SNEX), a Fortune 100 company, which holds regulatory licenses in seven Tier-1 jurisdictions, making it one of the most trusted brokers we review.

Diverse investment choices for spread betting: With access to 13,500 tradeable instruments, including forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies, City Index caters to both retail and professional traders. Spread-betting options provide tax efficiencies for U.K. traders, while forex options and forwards broaden trading opportunities.

Comprehensive platform offering: City Index’s proprietary Web Trader platform is feature-rich, offering advanced tools and integrated research. Its flagship PlayMaker tool, which received our #1 Risk Management Tool award the year it launched, provides traders with valuable insights for managing their positions effectively. Personally, I found PlayMaker to be highly innovative and forward-thinking when it comes to performance analytics and helping clients better manage their risk/reward ratios.

Strong educational content: City Index’s Trading Academy and reality-show-style video series deliver an engaging approach to trader education. Beginner and intermediate traders can benefit from progress tracking, quizzes, and a variety of learning formats.

Discover more about its tools and available instruments in my complete review of City Index.

Steven Hatzakis is a well-known finance writer, with 25+ years of experience in the foreign exchange and financial markets. He is the Global Director of Online Broker Research for Reink Media Group, leading research efforts for ForexBrokers.com since 2016. Steven is an expert writer and researcher who has published over 1,000 articles covering the foreign exchange markets and cryptocurrency industries. He has served as a registered commodity futures representative for domestic and internationally-regulated brokerages. Steven holds a Series III license in the US as a Commodity Trading Advisor (CTA).

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