Best Forex Brokers in the UK for 2025

Written by Steven Hatzakis
Edited by John Bringans
Fact-checked by Joey Shadeck

December 13, 2025

Steven Hatzakis

Steven 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.

See full bio

Why you can trust us

Led by Steven Hatzakis, Global Director of Online Broker Research, the ForexBrokers.com research team collects and audits data across more than 100 variables. We analyze key tools and features important to forex and CFD traders and collect data on commissions, spreads, and fees across the industry to help you find the best broker for your needs.

We also review each broker’s regulatory status; this research helps us determine whether you should trust the broker to keep your money safe. As part of this effort, we track 100+ international regulatory agencies to power our proprietary Trust Score rating system.

Our researchers open personal brokerage accounts and test all available platforms on desktop, web, and mobile for each broker reviewed on ForexBrokers.com. Learn more about how we test.

The United Kingdom remains one of the most active global hubs for retail and institutional forex trading, supported by deep liquidity and a long-established regulatory framework. For anyone evaluating the best forex brokers in the U.K., the starting point is always the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). As the U.K.’s financial regulator, the FCA authorizes firms, supervises conduct, and enforces standards designed to protect clients and maintain orderly markets.

The FCA’s rulebook influences nearly every aspect of a broker’s offering, including capital requirements, client fund segregation, product disclosures, and the oversight of complex instruments such as CFDs. Traders also benefit from the broader ecosystem surrounding the FCA, including established reporting rules, transparent oversight, and a clearly defined complaints process. Together, these elements shape a trading environment where expectations and protections are well understood.

This guide highlights the top FCA-regulated forex brokers serving U.K. residents. You’ll find insights into platforms, pricing, research quality, and the factors that matter most when choosing a broker under the FCA’s regulatory umbrella.

Best UK Forex Brokers for 2025

After testing and reviewing the top forex brokers in the U.K., I’ve focused on the ones that stand out for their trustworthiness, trading costs, platform quality, and overall user experience. Each broker is evaluated across multiple devices and platforms, with thousands of data points analyzed to ensure only the most reliable options make this list.

Company	Accepts GB Residents	Authorised or Regulated by the FCA	Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account	Minimum Deposit	Overall Rating
IG	check	check	0.91 info	£1
Interactive Brokers	check	check	0.59 info	$0
Saxo	check	check	1.0 info	$0
FOREX.com	check	check	1.00 info	$100
CMC Markets	check	check	1.3 info	$0
XTB	check	check	0.92 info	$0 info
City Index	check	check	1.4 info	£100.00
eToro	check	check	N/A	$50-$10,000
FXCM	check	check	0.9 info	Starts from $50
Capital.com	check	check	0.64 info	$20 info
Plus500	check	check	1.3 info	€50 info
Pepperstone	check	check	1.1 info	$0
FxPro	check	check	1.6 info	$100
Tickmill	check	check	1.70 info	$100
Vantage	check	check	1.32 info	$50
Trading 212	check	check	2.7 info	€1
HYCM (Henyep Capital Markets)	check	check	1.3 info	$20
ActivTrades	check	check	1.08 info	$0
Eightcap	check	check	1.0 info	$100
Spreadex	check	check	0.81 info	$0
FP Markets	check		1.3 info	$100 AUD
IC Markets	check		0.62 info	$200
BlackBull Markets	check		1.16 info	$0
Questrade	check		N/A	$250

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.

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

The United Kingdom is a Trusted, Tier-1 regulatory jurisdiction. Learn more about international forex regulation and why it matters.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) supervises retail forex and CFD trading in the U.K., setting rules for authorization, conduct, financial reporting, and consumer protection.
Only firms authorized and regulated by the FCA may legally offer forex and CFD trading to U.K. residents.
You can verify a broker’s license and regulatory permissions using the FCA’s public register.

Best forex brokers in the UK

1. IG - Best forex broker for 2025

Company	Accepts GB Residents	Authorised or Regulated by the FCA	Overall Rating	Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account	Minimum Deposit
IG	check	check		0.91 info	£1

IG remains my top pick for 2025 because it delivers a cohesive trading experience built around strong platforms, deep market coverage, and reliable execution. Its global regulatory footprint and long operating history add confidence, but the appeal is ultimately practical: IG gives traders the tools they need without overcomplicating the workflow.

Platform experience: IG’s proprietary web platform is still one of the best environments for active forex traders. Charting is fast and flexible, order entry is intuitive, and integrated tools, such as risk-management modules and embedded news, make it easy to work through different stages of a trade. For advanced strategies, ProRealTime brings nearly 100 indicators and automated charting, while L2 Dealer unlocks DMA pricing. MetaTrader4 is available, though the product list is far narrower than IG’s main platform.

Pricing structure: Pricing is competitive, especially for traders who value stability. Standard spreads average around 0.9 pips on major pairs, while the DMA route can bring the all-in cost on EUR/USD closer to 0.75 pips once commissions are included. Professional clients who qualify for IG’s volume-based rebates can go lower still, though the monthly thresholds are significant and clearly aimed at high-frequency participants.

Steven's take:

"IG strikes the right balance between power and usability. The platform stays fast even with complex layouts, research is consistent, and the educational framework actually helps traders improve. For most retail forex traders, it’s the most complete package on the market."

Steven Hatzakis

Research and data: Research is another strength. IG integrates Reuters headlines, Autochartist signals, and in-house market commentary, making it easy to move from idea generation to execution. Educational content is equally thorough. IG Academy’s structured courses and interactive lessons remain among the best resources available to newer traders.

A typical course on IG Academy, detailing the basics of technical analysis with an overview of basic chart patterns.

2. Interactive Brokers - Best for professional traders

Company	Accepts GB Residents	Authorised or Regulated by the FCA	Overall Rating	Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account	Minimum Deposit
Interactive Brokers	check	check		0.59 info	$0

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) remains a strong option for experienced forex traders who prefer a platform with depth, flexibility, and broad market coverage. Its ecosystem can feel demanding, but it provides the kind of structure advanced traders often look for when managing complex strategies. Interactive Brokers is generally best suited to traders who value granular control and are comfortable working within a more complex environment. It offers considerable capability, but that capability is clearest when used by those who need and actively use its range of tools.

Platform experience: Trader Workstation (TWS) is built for detailed analysis and multi-asset workflows. Charting, order configuration, and data windows can be arranged in almost any layout, which supports a methodical approach to trade evaluation. IBKR Desktop and the Client Portal offer a more streamlined experience while retaining the core tools needed for routine forex trading.

A chart of EUR.USD on the IBKR Desktop app.

My layout on the IBKR Desktop platform includes a chart of the EUR/USD pair, a trading panel, and news headlines from Reuters.

Pricing structure: IBKR’s forex pricing is based on tight spreads combined with a per-trade commission. While this often results in competitive effective costs for large trade sizes, the $2 minimum commission per side makes smaller positions comparatively expensive. The broker’s tiered discounts benefit traders with consistent, higher monthly volume.

Research and data: IBKR aggregates an unusually wide range of third-party research sources, alongside steady in-house commentary and global economic data. The breadth of available information makes it easier to build a research workflow that spans currencies, rates, and related markets, though navigating the full library can take time.

3. Saxo - Best platform suite and research

Company	Accepts GB Residents	Authorised or Regulated by the FCA	Overall Rating	Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account	Minimum Deposit
Saxo	check	check		1.0 info	$0

Saxo delivers one of the most polished platform experiences available to retail traders, paired with broad market coverage and strong research. Its approach is deliberate and detail-driven, which becomes clear the deeper you go into its trading tools and supporting content. Saxo is best suited to traders who value a refined platform environment and are comfortable with a more premium structure.

Platform experience: SaxoTraderGO and SaxoTraderPRO form a cohesive platform suite built around clarity and depth. Charts are responsive and flexible, layouts are intuitive, and nearly every module, watchlists, research feeds, trade tickets, feels designed to work together without friction. PRO expands the toolkit further with multi-monitor support, streaming depth-of-market windows, and additional analytics, though its modular interface can take time to configure.

SaxoTraderGO's mobile charts depict multiple concurrent indicators and trend lines when trading EUR/USD.

Product range: Saxo’s catalogue extends to more than 70,000 instruments, including spot forex, FX options, CFDs, futures, and global equities. The sheer variety is notable for traders who work across multiple asset classes or use macro-driven strategies that require access to currencies, indices, and rates in the same environment.

Pricing structure: Saxo’s Classic account aligns with broader market averages, while Platinum and VIP tiers offer lower spreads in exchange for significantly higher balance requirements. For active traders who meet those thresholds, the reduction in trading costs can be meaningful. Execution is consistently stable, and the availability of advanced order types, including algorithmic orders, supports more structured trading workflows.

Research and analysis: Saxo’s in-house research is thorough and regularly updated, complemented by third-party news sources and integrated trading signals. The presentation is clean, and tools like Hot Topics and asset-specific overviews make it easier to move from analysis to decision-making.

4. FOREX.com - Great for educational content

Company	Accepts GB Residents	Authorised or Regulated by the FCA	Overall Rating	Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account	Minimum Deposit
FOREX.com	check	check		1.00 info	$100

FOREX.com offers a straightforward trading experience built around practical platforms, steady research, and a broad set of markets. Its web-based platform is easy to navigate and benefits from integrated TradingView charting, which gives traders a familiar environment for technical analysis. MT5 availability in more regions adds another option for those who prefer third-party tools.

Pricing on the standard account is generally higher than what low-cost brokers provide, though the RAW account can narrow spreads for traders who meet the volume requirements. Market coverage is wide, with enough forex pairs and CFDs to support most trading styles.

Research and education are consistent strengths. Daily commentary, Trading Central modules, and an expanding library of videos help round out the experience, while the structured Trading Academy remains a useful entry point for newer traders.

5. CMC Markets - Great web platform

Company	Accepts GB Residents	Authorised or Regulated by the FCA	Overall Rating	Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account	Minimum Deposit
CMC Markets	check	check		1.3 info	$0

CMC Markets provides a broad, well-rounded trading experience centered around its proprietary Next Generation platform and a deep product lineup that extends to more than 12,000 instruments. The platform feels polished and data-rich, with strong charting tools, pattern recognition features, and integrated Reuters headlines.

Pricing remains a core advantage: average spreads on major pairs such as EUR/USD are consistently competitive, and the FX Active commission model offers an additional path to reduced costs for high-frequency traders.

Market coverage is wider than most peers, including an unusually large roster of forex pairs thanks to dual-quote listings. Research output spans written analysis, videos, and its OPTO content hub, though production cadence has slowed in recent years. Education is adequate but less structured than category leaders. Overall, CMC Markets stands out for pricing efficiency and platform depth.

Other UK brokers I tested

6. XTB - Well-balanced offering

Company	Accepts GB Residents	Authorised or Regulated by the FCA	Overall Rating	Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account	Minimum Deposit
XTB	check	check		0.92 info	$0 info

XTB is a multi-asset broker offering a wide range of forex pairs, CFDs, stocks, ETFs, commodities, indices, and crypto from a single account. Its xStation 5 platform is central to the experience, with heat maps, sentiment data, and integrated news in an intuitive layout. Education and research are well organized, with 200+ Trading Academy lessons and regular analysis. Standard-account pricing is near the industry average, though XTB lacks MetaTrader support and mobile charting is modest.

7. City Index - Wide range of markets

Company	Accepts GB Residents	Authorised or Regulated by the FCA	Overall Rating	Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account	Minimum Deposit
City Index	check	check		1.4 info	£100.00

City Index, part of the StoneX Group, provides access to over 13,500 markets, including 80+ forex pairs and spread betting for U.K. residents. Its Web Trader platform is responsive and equipped with TradingView charts, while the mobile app offers synced watchlists and integrated research. Pricing is generally average, with limited MT4 support. Research and education are solid, featuring daily commentary, Trading Central tools, and structured learning, though content depth trails top-tier research brokers.

Best Forex Brokers UK Comparison

Compare U.K. authorized forex and CFDs brokers side by side using the forex broker comparison tool or the summary table below. This broker list is sorted by my overall rankings of the top forex brokers.

Company	Accepts GB Residents	Authorised or Regulated by the FCA	MetaTrader 4 (MT4)	MetaTrader 5 (MT5)	Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account
IG	check	check	Yes	Yes	0.91 info
Interactive Brokers	check	check	No	No	0.59 info
Saxo	check	check	No	No	1.0 info
FOREX.com	check	check	Yes	Yes	1.00 info
CMC Markets	check	check	Yes	Yes	1.3 info
XTB	check	check	No	No	0.92 info
City Index	check	check	Yes	No	1.4 info

How to start forex trading in the UK

Verify FCA authorization

Forex and CFD brokers offering services to U.K. residents must be authorized by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), one of the world’s most stringent financial regulators. FCA rules govern leverage, client-fund segregation, disclosures, best-execution standards, and marketing practices. To confirm whether a broker is legitimately authorized, locate its FRN (Financial Reference Number) in the footer of its U.K. website and verify it using the FCA’s Financial Services Register.

Understand FCA trading rules and investor protections

Retail traders in the U.K. trade under ESMA-aligned leverage limits: 30:1 for major forex pairs, 20:1 for minors, and lower caps for commodities and indices. Crypto-asset derivatives are banned for retail clients. FCA-regulated brokers must segregate client money, maintain capital buffers, and follow strict oversight and complaint-handling procedures. U.K. residents also benefit from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which can cover up to £85,000 per eligible client if a broker fails.

The U.K. is also one of the few jurisdictions offering spread betting, a tax-advantaged alternative to CFDs that mirrors the same underlying markets but is available only to local residents.

Choose an FCA-regulated broker

A wide range of global brokers maintain FCA-regulated entities, including IG, CMC Markets, Saxo, Pepperstone, and OANDA. Some platforms offer different products depending on the entity, so ensure you are opening an account under the correct U.K.-regulated arm. Any broker operating from outside the U.K. without FCA authorization cannot legally provide leveraged forex or CFDs to U.K. residents.

Open and fund your account

After selecting a regulated broker, complete identity verification and fund your account using accepted methods such as bank transfer, debit card, or approved e-wallets. Most platforms offer a demo account, which is particularly useful for becoming familiar with pricing structures, charting tools, and platform navigation before placing real trades.

Develop a structured trading approach

A clear trading plan helps guide your decision-making and manage risk. Establish your objectives, preferred trading style, position-sizing method, and rules for entries and exits. Consider how FCA leverage limits affect your margin usage and risk per trade. Many U.K. brokers offer structured education, webinars, and analysis tools to help new traders build confidence before transitioning to live markets.

FAQs

Why is the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) important for forex traders in the UK?

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates U.K.-based brokers that legally offer forex and other derivatives to retail and professional traders. According to the regulator’s official website, the FCA regulates the conduct of 50,000 firms across the U.K. and prudentially supervises 48,000 firms.

The FCA aims to enforce compliance and ensure that firms are following the rules and regulations set forth in the FCA handbook. In extraordinary circumstances, the FCA can take emergency action and prevent brokers from opening new trades for customers, or suspend (or even revoke) a broker’s license if there have been substantial compliance failures and/or violations.

Like any financial markets regulator, the FCA’s role is to protect investors (including forex traders) and to uphold market integrity within the U.K. forex trading industry. The FCA is a strict regulator with stringent rules and regulations, which has contributed to our ranking of the FCA as a Tier-1 regulatory agency. Learn more about regulators and our tiered ranking system by visiting our Trust Score page.

securityWhy regulation is important

Choosing a well-regulated forex broker is important for avoiding forex scams. Check out my popular educational series that teaches you how to identify common forex scams and provides helpful information about what to do if you've been scammed. For crypto traders, I explain how you can spot common crypto scams.

What is the best forex trading platform for beginners in the UK?

For beginners in the U.K., IG is the best choice for forex trading. IG’s trading platforms are not only easy to use, but they are also backed by the broker’s award-winning educational resources, making it ideal for first-time traders. IG won #1 Education in the ForexBrokers.com 2025 Annual Awards thanks to its vast range of educational materials—videos, webinars, courses, and even a dedicated mobile app for learning. These resources are designed to help traders of all experience levels, ensuring that beginners get a strong foundation in forex before making trades.

On top of its educational excellence, IG is a highly trusted and reliable broker. It is publicly traded and regulated in eight Tier-1 jurisdictions, offering both security and credibility. Over the past decade, I’ve consistently rated IG as one of the top brokers, and it was also named #1 Overall Broker in the ForexBrokers.com 2025 Annual Awards. IG’s commitment to education, reliability, and overall excellence makes it the top pick for new traders in the U.K.

Is forex trading legal in the UK?

Yes, forex trading is legal in the U.K. and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA requires that brokers obtain proper licensing and authorization in order to legally offer forex trading to clients.

FCA-regulated brokers: Per the FCA’s handbook, forex is a regulated activity. As such, brokers that handle customer deposits and arrange and/or deal in investments – whether acting as the principal or agent – must hold proper authorization from the FCA.

Deposit insurance: FCA-regulated forex brokers also provide certain compensation rights to retail customers in the extraordinary event of insolvency or bankruptcy. The U.K.’s Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) provides up to 85,000 GBP of protection per eligible person.

Professional clients: It’s important to note that U.K. clients that have been designated as professional traders do not receive any such protections from the FSCS.

Avoiding potential scams: Since forex trading requires that brokers obtain proper licenses with the FCA, you must be certain that your broker is FCA-regulated to avoid falling victim to a potential scam. Learn more by reading our guide to avoiding forex scams in 2025.

What is the best forex broker in the UK?

From among all brokers that we have reviewed that are regulated by the FCA, IG is the best forex broker in the U.K. in 2025. IG is fully regulated by the FCA and holds dozens of regulatory licenses from major regulatory agencies around the globe. IG is also publicly traded and well-capitalized, and we’ve consistently ranked it as one of the most trusted brokers in the industry. In fact, IG won the coveted top ranking for our Trust Score category for our 2025 Annual Awards.

IG offers a substantial range of markets, powerful trading platforms and mobile apps, an impressive array of high-quality market research, and excellent educational content for beginner traders and investors (beginner U.K. forex traders can check out our beginners guide to forex trading). Overall, IG is our top choice for U.K. residents in 2025.

What is the best share dealing broker in the U.K.?

IG is the best share dealing broker in the U.K. in 2025. In addition to being regulated in the U.K. by the FCA, IG delivers an excellent share dealing experience with competitive U.K. commission rates and the ability to buy and sell U.S. shares, commission-free when you place at least 3 trades per quarter (requires instant conversion to be enabled for multi-currency accounts). Traders at IG gain access to powerful trading tools, multiple user-friendly mobile apps, exceptional educational resources, and share dealing rates that are amongst the cheapest of all brokers that offer ISA accounts.

currency_poundTrading in the U.K.

Looking to trade more than just forex in the U.K.? Our sister site, UK.StockBrokers.com, can help you find the best U.K.-based brokers, trading platforms, and stock trading apps.

Do you pay tax on forex trading in the U.K.?

Yes, U.K. residents must report their worldwide income in the U.K. – including any gains from forex trading. That said, there is an exception for tax obligations if you are trading forex via spread betting. Gains from forex spread betting are tax-free for U.K. residents, while gains from regular forex trading are not exempt, and are taxed accordingly. Additionally, forex trades do not incur the U.K.’s stamp duty tax obligation, which applies to any online or offline share trading.

It’s also worth mentioning that there is a small tax exemption of up to £1,000 provided by the U.K. tax authority HM Revenue and Customs (HRMC) available to certain individuals. If your capital gains from trading over a calendar year do not exceed £1,000, you may not need to pay taxes on that income (though you may have to register for a self-assessment with the HRMC).

Note: Claiming this exemption may prevent you from claiming other exemptions of greater value (such as capital allowances). It’s always prudent to consult a tax advisor; each person has unique financial circumstances and applicable tax elections may vary.

Is copy trading legal in the U.K.?

Yes, copy trading is legal in the U.K. That said, copy trading can only be offered in the U.K. by a platform provider that is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA has released its own guidance on copy trading which aligns with the EU’s MiFID. The FCA is the U.K.’s financial markets regulator that is mandated to oversee regulated brokers, uphold market integrity, and protect consumers by enforcing regulations and compliance across its market participants.

content_copyChoosing a broker for copy trading

Looking for trusted, highly rated brokers that offer copy trading? Check out our popular guide to the best brokers for copy trading.

Is MetaTrader 4 legal in the UK?

Yes, MetaTrader 4 is legal to use in the U.K. MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is a popular trading platform developed by MetaQuotes Software Corporation and offered by forex and CFD brokers all over the world.

While many of the brokers that offer MT4 are properly regulated (our MetaTrader Guide can help you choose a highly rated, well-regulated MetaTrader broker), potential scam brokers will sometimes offer MT4 without holding any valid regulatory licenses. This practice attracted the attention of Apple in 2022, resulting in a temporary ban of MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 in the Apple App Store (both MetaTrader apps have been restored as of March, 2023).

Note: U.K. residents should always make sure to choose a forex broker that is FCA-regulated. This way, you will receive the strictest available regulatory protections and reduce your chances of falling victim to a scam broker.

What is the best MetaTrader broker in the UK?

Of the top forex brokers that hold a license from the FCA, Pepperstone is our top choice for U.K. traders who want to use MetaTrader. Pepperstone offers the full MetaTrader platform suite, including MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and traders gain access to over 600 share CFDs and 60 forex pairs on Pepperstone’s MT5 offering (learn more about the newest, most up-to-date version of MetaTrader by checking out our popular MT5 Guide).

Pepperstone’s low trading costs available on its Razor account help to round out its overall offering, and cement its status as the best MetaTrader broker in the U.K. Learn more by reading our full-length review of Pepperstone.

Here are our top five picks for the best MetaTrader brokers in the U.K. in 2025:

Pepperstone- Large range of markets to trade on MT4
FXCM- Great for algorithmic trading on MT4
CMC Markets - Competitive spreads
Vantage- Well-balanced overall offering
Tickmill- Lowest trading costs on Pro account

Our testing

Why you should trust us

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).

All content on ForexBrokers.com is handwritten by a writer, fact-checked by a member of our research team, and edited and published by an editor. Our ratings, rankings, and opinions are entirely our own, and the result of our extensive research and decades of collective experience covering the forex industry.

Ultimately, our rigorous data validation process yields an error rate of less than .1% each year, providing site visitors with quality data they can trust. Click here to learn more about how we test.

More about UK forex markets and regulation

The United Kingdom remains one of the world’s most established and reputable financial hubs, with retail forex and CFD trading governed by a single, highly stringent authority: the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA oversees all investment firms offering leveraged trading services to U.K. residents, including market conduct, capital requirements, safeguarding of client funds, and transparency in pricing and disclosures. Any broker wishing to accept U.K. clients must hold an FCA licence, which can be verified using the FCA’s Financial Services Register, where traders can confirm a firm’s permissions, approved personnel, and regulatory status.

FCA-regulated brokers must adhere to rigorous standards, including segregation of client money, participation in the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), and compliance with rules governing communications, best execution, and complaint-handling procedures. These safeguards, combined with some of the world’s most comprehensive consumer-protection rules, make the FCA one of the highest-tier regulators globally.

The U.K. also permits spread betting, a tax-advantaged product available only to residents, alongside CFDs and leveraged forex trading. Crypto-asset derivatives remain prohibited for retail traders, and brokers must operate within leverage caps mandated by the U.K.’s implementation of ESMA measures (e.g., 30:1 for major forex pairs).

Within this environment, our research team verifies each broker’s FCA authorization and cross-references their regulatory footprint across other trusted jurisdictions. This ensures U.K. traders receive accurate, up-to-date information about the firms they engage with. Learn more about our Trust Score and the 100+ regulatory bodies tracked globally by the ForexBrokers.com research team.

How we tested

At ForexBrokers.com, our online broker reviews are based on our collected quantitative data as well as the observations and qualified opinions of our expert researchers. Each year we publish tens of thousands of words of research on the top forex brokers and monitor dozens of international regulator agencies (read more about how we calculate Trust Score here).

Mobile testing is conducted on modern devices that run the most up-to-date operating systems available:

For Apple, we use MacBook Pro laptops running macOS 15.3, and the iPhone XS running iOS 18.3.
For Android, we use the Samsung Galaxy S20 and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra devices running Android OS 15.

All websites and web-based platforms are tested using the latest version of the Google Chrome browser.

Our researchers thoroughly test a wide range of key features, such as the availability and quality of watch lists, mobile charting, real-time and streaming quotes, and educational resources – among other important variables. We also evaluate the overall design of the mobile experience, and look for a fluid user experience moving between mobile and desktop platforms.

Compare UK Brokers

XTB vs Saxo CMC Markets vs IG IG vs CMC Markets City Index vs IG Saxo vs IG Interactive Brokers vs Interactive Brokers FOREX.com vs Saxo

Show all

Popular Forex Guides

Find the best forex brokers in Europe

Best Forex Brokers in Austria for 2025

Best Forex Brokers in Cyprus for 2025

Best Forex Brokers in Denmark for 2025

Best Forex Brokers in Finland for 2025

Best Forex Brokers in France for 2025

Best Forex Brokers in Germany for 2025

Best Forex Brokers in Ireland for 2025

Best Forex Brokers in Italy for 2025

Best Netherlands Forex Brokers of 2025

Best Forex Brokers in Norway for 2025

Best Forex Brokers in Poland for 2025

Best Forex Brokers in Portugal for 2025

Best Forex Brokers in Spain for 2025

Best Forex Brokers in Sweden for 2025

Best Switzerland Forex Brokers of 2025

Best Forex Brokers in Turkey for 2025

Best Forex Brokers in Ukraine for 2025

Best Forex Brokers in the UK for 2025

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.