Binary Options Alternatives

RedMars

"RedMars is the best fit for experienced day traders familiar with the MetaTrader 5 platform and based in the EU, where the broker is authorized by the CySEC. However, the threadbare education and research tools make it unsuitable for beginners."
Christian Harris, Reviewer

RedMars Quick Facts

FTSE Spread	15
GBPUSD Spread	0.7
Stocks Spread	Variable
Leverage	1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
Regulator	CySEC, AFM
Platforms	MT5
Account Currencies	USD, EUR

Pros

Clients in the EU, in particular, can trade with peace of mind knowing RedMars is authorized by the CySEC with up to €20K compensation available through the ICF in the event of bankruptcy
The broker supports a range of flexible payment methods, including wire transfers, credit cards, e-wallets, and notably cryptocurrencies
The broker is one of a limited number of firms to offer an account specially designed for VIPs with premium support and invites to exclusive events

Cons

The no-frills trading environment offers little beyond the basics, with no Islamic account, PAMM account or copy trading.
RedMars falls short for newer traders, with little in the way of education, no beginner-friendly platform, a steep minimum deposit, and inadequate support during testing
With just 300 instruments, RedMars offers a narrow trading environment, particularly compared to category leaders like BlackBull Markets which offers 26,000 assets

Visit RedMars

RedMars Review

IQCent

"IQCent will appeal to day traders looking for a straightforward binary options and CFD trading platform with low fees, a range of accounts, and copy trading. Getting started takes less than 1 minute and a $250 deposit. "
Jemma Grist, Reviewer

IQCent Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	20% to 200% Deposit Bonus
FTSE Spread	1.4
GBPUSD Spread	0.8
Stocks Spread	N/A
Leverage	1:500
Regulator	IFMRRC
Platforms	Online Platform, TradingView
Account Currencies	USD, EUR

Pros

CFD trading fees are competitive based on tests, including 0.7 pips on major forex pairs such as EUR/USD
Keen traders can take part in trading contests with cash prizes
The broker's 24/7 customer support is fast and reliable, responding within 1 minute during tests

Cons

There's no automated trading support for algo traders
The market analysis is very basic with limited technical summaries and insights from analysts
The broker is not overseen by a respected regulator, though this is common among binary options firms

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UnitedPips

"UnitedPips is ideal for traders seeking leveraged trading opportunities, the security of fixed spreads, and the flexibility to deposit, withdraw, and trade cryptocurrencies - all in one sleek TradingView-powered platform."
Christian Harris, Reviewer

UnitedPips Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	40% Deposit Bonus
FTSE Spread	NA
GBPUSD Spread	1.3
Stocks Spread	NA
Leverage	1:1000
Regulator	IFSA
Platforms	UniTrader
Account Currencies	USD

Pros

Although being handed off mid-chat due to shift changes during testing was frustrating, customer support is generally good with quick, helpful responses, and 24/7 support via phone and email for regional teams is a definite advantage.
UnitedPips offers impressive leverage up to 1:1000 with zero swap fees or commissions, which can enhance potential returns for day traders and swing traders looking to control prominent positions with less capital.
UnitedPips’ platform performs well, with an intuitive design that will appeal to beginners, while the TradingView integration delivers powerful charting tools without overwhelming users, making it straightforward to execute trades efficiently.

Cons

Unlike brokers such as IG, UnitedPips is an offshore broker not regulated by any 'green tier' financial authorities, raising concerns for traders seeking assurance and protection under well-established regulatory frameworks.
UnitedPips' selection of tradable instruments is still minimal, comprising a bare minimum selection of forex, metals and crypto. There are no equities, indices or ETFs, which may be a drawback for experienced traders looking for diverse opportunities.
UnitedPips lacks comprehensive research, while the educational content for beginner traders is woeful. Compared to brokers like eToro, which offers tutorials, webinars, and advanced courses, UnitedPips offers minimal resources to help new traders understand key concepts.

Visit UnitedPips

UnitedPips Review

Capitalcore

"The major selling points of Capitalcore are its high leverage options up to 1:2000 and zero commission or swap fees. However, its weak regulatory oversight from the IFSA and non-existent education place it far behind the top brokers."
Christian Harris, Reviewer

Capitalcore Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	40% Deposit Bonus up to $2,500
FTSE Spread	25
GBPUSD Spread	0.5
Stocks Spread	1.5 (Apple)
Leverage	1:2000
Regulator	IFSA
Platforms	WebTrader, Pro
Account Currencies	USD

Pros

The support team are available 24/7 and responded within minutes during testing with helpful responses.
Capitalcore is one of the only brokers to charge zero swap fees, which may appeal to Islamic traders looking to comply with Islamic Finance.
Unlike most brokers, Capitalcore offers an unlimited demo account that takes under 5 minutes to open.

Cons

Capitalcore’s threadbare education and research seriously trail category leaders like IG, making it less suitable for aspiring traders.
Capitalcore is not regulated by major financial authorities and has an unproven reputation, raising concerns about the safety of client funds.
The web platform was inconsistent during testing, with occasional technical glitches that meant the trading platform wouldn’t load.

Visit Capitalcore

Sage FX

"Sage FX will suit forex traders looking for high leverage and ECN spreads. The broker's prop trading service will also appeal to users looking for funded accounts with up to $200K available."
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

Sage FX Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	$1,500 trading competition
FTSE Spread	5.0
GBPUSD Spread	0.9
Stocks Spread	N/A
Leverage	1:500
Regulator	Pending
Platforms	TradeLocker
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD

Pros

High leverage up to 1:500
Fast withdrawal processing
Bonus offers and trading competitions

Cons

Relatively narrow range of asset classes
Not regulated by any reputable body
Lacks educational resources and other extra features

Visit Sage FX

Sage FX Review

Videforex

"Videforex will serve traders looking for a no-frills, easy-to-use platform to speculate on the direction of popular financial markets through binaries. With a sign-up process that takes a matter of minutes and a web-accessible platform, getting started is a breeze. "
William Berg, Reviewer

Videforex Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	20% to 200% Deposit Bonus
FTSE Spread	Floating from 0.2
GBPUSD Spread	Floating from 0.1
Stocks Spread	NA
Leverage	1:500
Platforms	TradingView
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, RUB

Pros

Traders can earn up to 98% payouts on 100+ assets with the broker’s binary options, bringing it in line with competitors like IQCent.
Videforex regularly runs trading contests, offering practice opportunities and cash prizes to beginners and experienced traders, with position sizes from just ¢0.01.
Videforex is one of the few brokers with 24/7 multilingual video support, providing comprehensive assistance for active traders.

Cons

The absence of any educational tools is a serious drawback for newer traders who can find blogs, videos and live trading sessions at category leaders.
Videforex lacks authorization from a trusted regulator, meaning traders may receive little to zero safeguards like segregated client accounts.
The client terminal needs improvements based on our latest tests, sporting sometimes slow and unresponsive widgets which could dampen the experience for day traders.

Visit Videforex

xChief

"xChief continues to prove popular with investors looking to trade highly leveraged CFDs on the popular MetaTrader platforms. The broker's rebate scheme and investment accounts will particularly appeal to seasoned traders. However, the lack of top-tier regulatory oversight is a major drawback."
William Berg, Reviewer

xChief Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	$100 No Deposit Bonus
FTSE Spread	70
GBPUSD Spread	0.9
Stocks Spread	50
Leverage	1:1000
Regulator	ASIC
Platforms	MT4, MT5
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF

Pros

The broker offers several account types to suit different traders, including a Cent account for beginners and pro-level hedging/netting accounts
The broker offers a turnover rebate scheme geared towards active investors, as well as trading credits and several other occasional bonuses
The low minimum deposit of $10 will appeal to beginners, as well as the beginners’ guides in the Library

Cons

xChief is an offshore broker with weak regulatory oversight from the VFSC, so traders will receive limited safeguards
The broker trails competitors when it comes to research tools and educational resources
Fees and minimums are imposed on most withdrawal methods, including a €60 minimum for SWIFT bank transfers

Visit xChief

xChief Review

Plexytrade

"Plexytrade is a newcomer in the brokerage scene with attention-grabbing features like 1:2000 leverage, zero spreads on select instruments and fast execution speeds of less than 46 milliseconds. However, the absence of regulation is a significant concern, while the non-existent research and educational tools place it far behind industry frontrunners."
Christian Harris, Reviewer

Plexytrade Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	120% Cash Welcome Bonus
FTSE Spread	0.8
GBPUSD Spread	0.8
Stocks Spread	5
Leverage	1:2000
Platforms	MT4, MT5
Account Currencies	USD, EUR

Pros

There are various VPS packages starting from $50 per month, but they become complimentary once specific deposit thresholds are reached.
Despite lacking regulation, Plexytrade provides negative balance protection and reinforces safety protocols by holding client funds in segregated accounts.
Plexytrade accommodates a range of trading methods and short-term strategies, including scalping, hedging, and automated trading.

Cons

There are no social or copy trading features for inexperienced traders to replicate the trades of more experienced investors, trailing category leaders like eToro.
Plexytrade lacks regulation in major jurisdictions, significantly increasing the risks of opening an account and depositing funds.
There are no research and educational materials, falling short of alternatives like IG, while access to the economic calendar is restricted to clients with balances of $500.

Visit Plexytrade

Plexytrade Review

InstaTrade

"Although InstaTrade offers active trading on a comprehensive platform, it stands out with its fairly unique Fixed Income Structured Product (FISP), providing passive investment opportunities with up to 50% returns in 6 months if conditions are met. "
Christian Harris, Reviewer

InstaTrade Quick Facts

FTSE Spread	660
GBPUSD Spread	0.2
Stocks Spread	8 (Apple Inc)
Leverage	1:1000
Regulator	BVI FSC
Platforms	InstaTrade Gear, MT4
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, RUB

Pros

InstaTrade delivers an excellent suite of charting tools for day traders with its web trader comprising 250+ indicators, 11 chart types and a user-friendly design.
VPS hosting caters to algo trading strategies with a dedicated physical server providing rapid execution speeds as low as 9 milliseconds.
InstaTrade TV, consisting of video interviews and valuable market insights spanning equities, cryptos and more, helps identify opportunities and inform short-term trades.

Cons

InstaTrade sports one of the most cluttered websites and client cabinets in the industry, potentially overwhelming new traders, especially compared to XTB’s intuitive trading journey and resources.
InstaTrade’s growing educational tools provide valuable information for aspiring traders, but still trail category leaders like eToro with no structured course based on experience level.
InstaTrade is registered in the offshore jurisdiction of the British Virgin Islands, resulting in limited regulatory safeguards for retail investors.

Visit InstaTrade

InstaTrade Review

Binary Options Explained

The simple definition is that binary options are a simplified type of speculation where traders make straightforward price predictions about an asset over a set period. With the most basic contracts, investors need only predict if an asset’s price will be higher or lower than its current value after the contract expires. For example, will Twitter’s share price be higher or lower than $40 in six hours?

Binary options are similar to sports or event gambling in that users stake money for a fixed-odds return. Payouts on traditional binary options can reach 95%, while a losing trade will see the investor lose their initial stake.

Types Of Binary Options

Traders worldwide can use this investment vehicle to make price predictions on a wide range of markets. However, there are significant regional differences between European-style binary options and the alternatives for US residents.

Before diving into the alternatives to binary options, here is a brief overview of the differences between the USA and European-style instruments:

European Binary Options

European or traditional binary options allow investors to stake funds on the price movement of an asset in exchange for a fixed payout if their prediction is correct. However, some binary options brokers offer alternative variants for different trading strategies:

Up/Down – This is the most basic form of binary option supported by most, if not all, binary options trading companies and businesses. Clients can bet either long or short to predict whether an asset’s price will be “up” or “down” from its current price at expiry.
One/Two Touch – With a traditional up/down variant, the payout is determined by the price when the contract expires. However, for a one or two-touch binary options contract, the price only needs to reach a price level at any time before expiry to trigger the payout. Investors can set this price level above or below the current price to go long or short on an asset.
Range/Boundary – Boundary options allow traders to bet on price volatility rather than direction. Investors specify a high and low cash value for their chosen asset. With these levels, traders can bet on the asset price, finishing either outside or within this range at expiry.
Ladder – While traditional binary options pay out a fixed reward based on a singular strike price, ladder options provide several strike prices, each with different payouts. This allows investors to make extra profit from more significant price movements.

US-Style Binary Options

US-style binary options, also sometimes referred to as fixed-return options, differ because they are exchange-traded rather than sold over-the-counter (OTC) by individual brokers. This gives investors more flexibility to exit positions early and provides traders with additional security.

All US-style binary options offer a set payout of $100 per contract, with investors profiting from the difference between the price paid for a contract and the set final value.

Brokers often make their money from commissions for buying, selling and settling winning trades, similar to some of our binary options alternatives.

Markets

Binary options offer access to an excellent range of markets. However, it is worth noting that none of these assets are owned during the trade. Binary options are simply derivatives with which to speculate on price movements.

Here are some of the markets that binary options traders typically have access to:

Forex – Investors can bet on price movements on major, minor and sometimes even exotic currency pairs.
Indices – A good range of global indices are usually provided for speculation, from the FTSE to the S&P.
Commodities – Popular commodities such as gold, silver, and crude oil are often provided by binary options brokers.
Stocks – Almost all brokers offer major USA-based equities instruments. However, those looking for EU, UK or Asian offerings may find it harder to find a provider.
Cryptos – Cryptocurrencies are well-suited to binary options speculation due to their volatile and heavily momentum-based trading. The best binary options brokers will provide crypto assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash and Ripple.

Note, not all of the binary options alternatives listed below offer such wide market access.

Best binary options alternatives — Trading Binary Options On Focus Option

Pros Of Binary Options

Here are some of the reasons that binary options are popular with global investors:

Simple – The mechanics of binary options are easy to understand and suitable for beginners.
Capped Losses – No matter what style or variant of binary options you trade, your losses can never exceed your stake.
Big Payouts – Traditional binary options do not discriminate based on the size of a price movement, meaning investors can bank up to a 95% payout for even the smallest price movement.
Demo Accounts – Many of the best binary options brokers offer risk-free demo accounts to help clients learn the ropes. This is far harder to do using some of the binary options alternatives.
Customizable – Binary options traders can specify expiry times ranging from as low as 3 seconds up to months with some providers. Additionally, several variants are available suited to different market conditions or prediction types.

Cons Of Binary Options

Here are some examples of why traders may prefer alternatives to binary options:

Limited Payouts – Brokers always have the edge over traders with payouts usually reaching only 95%.
Pure Derivative – Traders do not own any of the underlying assets when trading binary options. This restricts opportunities for staking or dividend investing.
Largely Unregulated – It can be hard to find a good binary options broker. For binary options traders outside of the USA, brokers are mostly unregulated and scams are rife with a hefty blacklist of fraudulent providers. This is not the case with many of the binary options alternatives below.
Limited Platforms – Many proprietary binary options platforms are designed with simplicity in mind. Traders do not normally have access to comprehensive technical analysis tools and signals found elsewhere.
Missing Markets – Most brokers only offer markets on major USA company stocks, leaving global equities unrepresented. Additionally, less common commodity markets such as coffee, grain or palladium are often not normally featured.

Binary Options Brokers

Click a broker for details

1

IQCent

Go To IQCent
IQCent Review

New Customer Bonus Offer 20% to 200% Deposit Bonus

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 2.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.3 / 5

Assets & Markets 2.4 / 5

Fees & Costs 4.3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.8 / 5

Customer Support 2.5 / 5

Research 3 / 5

Education 2 / 5

iOS App 4.3 / 5

Android App 4.1 / 5

Minimum Deposit $250

Minimum Trade $0.01

Leverage 1:500

Regulator IFMRRC

Instruments Binary Options, CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto

Platforms Online Platform, TradingView

Payment Methods Credit Card, Debit Card, Wire Transfer, Bitcoin Payments, Ethereum Payments, Visa, Mastercard

Account Currencies USD, EUR

Go To IQCent
2

CloseOption

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CloseOption Review

New Customer Bonus Offer $10 Welcome Gift

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 2.8 / 5

Accounts & Banking 2.5 / 5

Assets & Markets 2.5 / 5

Fees & Costs 3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3 / 5

Customer Support 3 / 5

Research 1.3 / 5

Education 2.5 / 5

iOS App 3.7 / 5

Android App 3.5 / 5

Minimum Deposit $5

Minimum Trade $1

Leverage

Regulator National Bank of Georgia

Instruments Binary Options on Forex & Cryptos

Platforms Own

Payment Methods PayPal, WebMoney, Mastercard, Perfect Money, Wire Transfer, Bitcoin Payments, Ethereum Payments

Account Currencies USD

Go To CloseOption
3

Videforex

Go To Videforex
Videforex Review

New Customer Bonus Offer 20% to 200% Deposit Bonus

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 2.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3 / 5

Assets & Markets 3.5 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.5 / 5

Customer Support 4.5 / 5

Research 1.3 / 5

Education 1.3 / 5

iOS App 4.1 / 5

Android App 4.4 / 5

Minimum Deposit $250

Minimum Trade $0.01

Leverage 1:500

Regulator

Instruments Binary Options, CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto

Platforms TradingView

Payment Methods Skrill, Perfect Money, Bitcoin Payments, Neteller, Credit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Ethereum Payments

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, RUB

Go To Videforex
4

Binarium

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Binarium Review

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 2.8 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.8 / 5

Assets & Markets 3.3 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.5 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.5 / 5

Customer Support 3.3 / 5

Research 1.3 / 5

Education 4.2 / 5

iOS App 1.3 / 5

Android App 3.3 / 5

Minimum Deposit $5

Minimum Trade $1

Leverage

Regulator

Instruments Forex, Stocks, Cryptos

Platforms Own

Payment Methods QIWI, Yandex Money, Bitcoin Payments, Neteller, WebMoney, Wire Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, Credit Card, Debit Card

Account Currencies USD, EUR, AUD, RUB

Go To Binarium
5

RaceOption

Go To RaceOption
RaceOption Review

New Customer Bonus Offer 20% - 200% Deposit Bonus

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 2.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.3 / 5

Assets & Markets 3 / 5

Fees & Costs 2.8 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3 / 5

Customer Support 4 / 5

Research 0.8 / 5

Education 0.8 / 5

iOS App 4 / 5

Android App 3.8 / 5

Minimum Deposit $250

Minimum Trade $0.01

Leverage 1:500

Regulator

Instruments Binary Options, CFDs

Platforms TradingView

Payment Methods Credit Card, Debit Card, Bitcoin Payments, Neteller, Skrill, Perfect Money, Mastercard, Visa, Ethereum Payments

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, RUB

Go To RaceOption
6

BinaryCent

Go To BinaryCent
BinaryCent Review

New Customer Bonus Offer 20% - 200% deposit bonus

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 2.8 / 5

Accounts & Banking 2.8 / 5

Assets & Markets 3 / 5

Fees & Costs 2.5 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3 / 5

Customer Support 3 / 5

Research 1 / 5

Education 2 / 5

iOS App 3 / 5

Android App 3 / 5

Minimum Deposit $250

Minimum Trade $0.01

Leverage 1:500

Regulator VFSC

Instruments CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Cryptos, Options, Commodities

Platforms Own

Payment Methods Visa, Mastercard, Debit Card, Credit Card, Skrill, WebMoney, Neteller, Bitcoin Payments, Wire Transfer, Perfect Money, Ethereum Payments

Account Currencies USD

Go To BinaryCent
7

World Forex

Go To World Forex
World Forex Review

New Customer Bonus Offer 100% Deposit Bonus

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 2.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.3 / 5

Assets & Markets 3 / 5

Fees & Costs 2.8 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.5 / 5

Customer Support 3.3 / 5

Research 2.5 / 5

Education 2.8 / 5

iOS App 1.3 / 5

Android App 1.3 / 5

Minimum Deposit $1

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:1000

Regulator SVGFSA

Instruments Forex, CFD Stocks, Metals, Energies, Cryptos, Digital Contracts

Platforms MT4, MT5

Payment Methods Wire Transfer, Debit Card, Credit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Google Wallet, Apple Pay, Perfect Money, Bitcoin Payments, Volet

Account Currencies USD, EUR, RUB

Go To World Forex

This is why we think these brokers are the best in this category:

IQCent - IQCent is an offshore binary options and CFD broker based in the Marshall Islands. The brand continues to offer a range of unique account types with bonuses and perks, including payout boosts, TradeBacks and free rollovers. With 100+ assets, around-the-clock trading and 98% payouts, the firm is popular with aspiring short-term traders.
CloseOption - CloseOption is a Georgia-headquartered broker with over a decade in the trading industry. The brand offers high/low binary options trading on forex and crypto markets, with decent payouts, welcome bonuses, 24/7 customer support and intuitive trading software.
Videforex - Launched in 2017, Videforex offers access to stock, index, crypto, forex and commodities markets via binary options and CFDs. The proprietary platform, mobile app and integrated copy trading are user-friendly and will suit new and casual traders, and the market analysis tools and trading contests provide good ways to improve your trading skills.
Binarium - Binarium is an established international broker offering binary options trading on diverse markets including stocks, indices, forex, commodities and cryptocurrencies. Traders can start trading with as little as $1 and earn payouts up to 80% of their stake.
RaceOption - RaceOption is a binary options broker operating from the Marshall Islands. With over 1,500 clients, the broker aims to offer fast funding, low fees and a secure trading environment. Traders can access over 100 binary options and CFDs, plus copy trading and weekly prizes.
BinaryCent - BinaryCent is an unregulated binary options broker that offers 24/7 trading on forex, cryptos and stocks with payouts up to 95%. Despite its lack of regulation, this broker takes client security seriously and stores client funds in European banks. The broker also offers CFDs with very high leverage up to 1:500.
World Forex - World Forex is an offshore broker registered in St Vincent and the Grenadines, offering commission-free trading with a $1 minimum deposit and 1:1000 leverage. Digital contracts are also available, offering beginners a straightforward way to speculate on popular financial markets.

IQCent

"IQCent will appeal to day traders looking for a straightforward binary options and CFD trading platform with low fees, a range of accounts, and copy trading. Getting started takes less than 1 minute and a $250 deposit. "
Jemma Grist, Reviewer

IQCent Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	20% to 200% Deposit Bonus
Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	Binary Options, CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto
Regulator	IFMRRC
Platforms	Online Platform, TradingView
Minimum Deposit	$250
Minimum Trade	$0.01
Leverage	1:500
Account Currencies	USD, EUR

Pros

The broker offers up to 98% payouts on binary options, which is more than alternatives like Pocket Option, only offering up to 92%
The proprietary terminal offers TradingView-powered charts which deliver dozens of technical indicators and studies
IQCent is one of the few binary options brokers that also offers a copy trading service for hands-off traders

Cons

The market analysis is very basic with limited technical summaries and insights from analysts
IQCent charges a punitive $10 monthly inactivity fee if you fail to place at least 1 trade per month
IQCent trails binary brokers like Quotex with its narrow investment offering of around 100 assets with no stocks

Visit IQCent

CloseOption

"CloseOption is a good pick for traders seeking a user-friendly binary options platform with high payouts and joining bonuses."
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

CloseOption Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	$10 Welcome Gift
Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	Binary Options on Forex & Cryptos
Regulator	National Bank of Georgia
Platforms	Own
Minimum Deposit	$5
Minimum Trade	$1
Account Currencies	USD

Pros

Multiple global payment methods are available
CloseOption offers weekly trading tournaments with cash prizes
Free demo account

Cons

Binary options are only available on fiat and digital currencies
Clients need to deposit $50,000+ to qualify for the best payouts
CloseOption is not regulated by a well-regarded trading authority

Visit CloseOption

CloseOption Review

Videforex

"Videforex will serve traders looking for a no-frills, easy-to-use platform to speculate on the direction of popular financial markets through binaries. With a sign-up process that takes a matter of minutes and a web-accessible platform, getting started is a breeze. "
William Berg, Reviewer

Videforex Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	20% to 200% Deposit Bonus
Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	Binary Options, CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto
Platforms	TradingView
Minimum Deposit	$250
Minimum Trade	$0.01
Leverage	1:500
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, RUB

Pros

Traders can earn up to 98% payouts on 100+ assets with the broker’s binary options, bringing it in line with competitors like IQCent.
Videforex regularly runs trading contests, offering practice opportunities and cash prizes to beginners and experienced traders, with position sizes from just ¢0.01.
Videforex is one of the few brokers with 24/7 multilingual video support, providing comprehensive assistance for active traders.

Cons

The absence of any educational tools is a serious drawback for newer traders who can find blogs, videos and live trading sessions at category leaders.
Videforex lacks authorization from a trusted regulator, meaning traders may receive little to zero safeguards like segregated client accounts.
The client terminal needs improvements based on our latest tests, sporting sometimes slow and unresponsive widgets which could dampen the experience for day traders.

Visit Videforex

Binarium

"Binarium has been designed with simplicity in mind, featuring a fast, fully digital sign-up process and an intuitive platform and app with 4 chart types and 12 indicators. With binaries spanning 5 minutes to 3 months, it caters to short- and medium-term traders."
William Berg, Reviewer

Binarium Quick Facts

Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	Forex, Stocks, Cryptos
Platforms	Own
Minimum Deposit	$5
Minimum Trade	$1
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, AUD, RUB

Pros

Binarium has the best education centre we’ve seen amongst binary options brands, complete with information on core topics like trading basics and account options, plus professional video guides to using the platform.
The $10,000 demo account, deposit-doubling welcome bonus, smooth sign-up, and 24/7 support make for an attractive onboarding experience.
Binarium claims to segregate client funds with EU banks, meaning traders’ money should not be misused and providing an important layer of protection, which is especially relevant given its offshore status.

Cons

Binarium has some way to go to match the investment offering of binary firms like Quotex, with a particularly weak selection of around 20 currencies and 3 cryptocurrencies.
Despite being operational since 2012, Binarium is an unregulated broker with limited transparency on its website, raising safety concerns and potentially putting your capital at risk.
Payouts of up to 80% are on the low side of binary options platforms based on our evaluations, which may deter traders looking for the possible best returns, though you can get back up to 15% of losing trades.

Visit Binarium

Binarium Review

RaceOption

"RaceOption will appeal to investors looking for a feature-rich binary options trading experience with regular contests, account-based perks, and copy trading. The catch is its unregulated status, with little to zero investor protections available based on our investigations."
William Berg, Reviewer

RaceOption Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	20% - 200% Deposit Bonus
Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	Binary Options, CFDs
Platforms	TradingView
Minimum Deposit	$250
Minimum Trade	$0.01
Leverage	1:500
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, RUB

Pros

RaceOption makes account funding a breeze with fee-free and near-instant deposits via bank cards and cryptos, plus guaranteed withdrawals processing within 1 hour.
Payouts on popular underlying assets like EUR/USD can reach 95%, beating out most alternatives based on our evaluations, and increasing potential returns, while the first 3 trades are risk-free in Silver and Gold accounts.
RaceOption is in the less than 1% of brokers that offers video chat, available 24/7 in multiple languages, although the knowledge of agents about trading and regulatory issues needs improvement from our direct experience.

Cons

RaceOption is one of the only brokers not to offer a demo account, which when considered alongside the absence of education, makes this broker a poor choice for beginners.
RaceOption is an unregulated, high-risk broker that doesn’t provide investor compensation or legal recourse options should you run into trading or withdrawal issues.
While still affordable for many retail investors, the $250 minimum deposit raises the entry barrier, especially compared to Deriv and World Forex who are designed for budget traders.

Visit RaceOption

RaceOption Review

BinaryCent

"Traders who want a reliable binary options broker with a streamlined platform and high payouts should try out BinaryCent."
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

BinaryCent Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	20% - 200% deposit bonus
Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Cryptos, Options, Commodities
Regulator	VFSC
Platforms	Own
Minimum Deposit	$250
Minimum Trade	$0.01
Leverage	1:500
Account Currencies	USD

Pros

Trade binary contracts from $0.10 allowing trading opportunities for all budgets
Simple and straightforward proprietary platform for binary options trading
Payouts up to 95% are higher than most competitors and increases profit potential

Cons

The $250 minimum deposit is higher than most binary options brokers
Not available to traders based in the US
Not overseen by any reputable regulator, raising risks and reducing customer protections

Visit BinaryCent

BinaryCent Review

World Forex

"World Forex provides both highly leveraged CFDs and digital contracts, making this a good broker for clients who want flexible and rewarding ways to trade. The copy trading service will also appeal to newer traders."
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

World Forex Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	100% Deposit Bonus
Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	Forex, CFD Stocks, Metals, Energies, Cryptos, Digital Contracts
Regulator	SVGFSA
Platforms	MT4, MT5
Minimum Deposit	$1
Minimum Trade	0.01 Lots
Leverage	1:1000
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, RUB

Pros

STP/ECN technology
Several different account types with varied pricing structures
Educational content

Cons

Weak regulation
No negative balance protection
Withdrawal fees apply

Visit World Forex

World Forex Review

Alternatives To Binary Options

Many alternative instruments offer solutions if binary options do not fulfil your trading needs. While this list is not exhaustive, some examples of the most popular and valuable binary options alternatives are:

Binary Options Alternative 1: CFDs

Our first binary options alternative is contracts for difference, or CFDs. CFDs are hugely popular trading instruments for forex and commodity markets. Similarly to binary options, investors have no ownership of an underlying asset and only trade on its market price.

Unfortunately for American investors, CFDs are heavily restricted in the US. However, in this article, there are other binary options alternatives listed that are available in the US.

Markets

This binary options alternative boasts a more comprehensive selection of markets, partly due to the many more brokers offering CFDs than binary options.

Using CFDs, traders can speculate on major, minor and exotic forex pairs, indices, stocks, ETFs, commodities, cryptos, bonds and interest rates markets.

Complexity

CFDs are slightly more complex than binary options despite being governed by the same principles of going either long or short on an asset. However, investors need not be experts to open a CFD trade.

The positive side of this added complexity, traders have more order types to choose from to create more precise positions.

Profit & Loss Potential

CFD trading promises the potential for far greater payouts through leverage. Some global CFD brokers offer leverage of 1:500 or even higher.

However, with greater potential for reward comes greater risk. Losses are not capped and can quickly wipe out significant capital when trading using high leverage. Our excerpts advise investors to use tools like a stop loss or trailing stop to minimize losses on CFDs.

Fees & Commissions

CFDs can be a cost-effective way of trading versus some of the other binary options alternatives outlined below. Typical broker fees are competitive and charged either through commission or are contained within the spread of a product.

However, customers should ensure that their broker has no hidden charges such as inactivity, deposit, withdrawal or platform fees.

Safety & Regulation

Regarding safety, CFDs rank higher than binary options due to a higher proportion of brokers being regulated.

However, this is not to say that fraudulent CFD brokers do not exist. For maximum protection, prospective clients should favour brokers regulated by a reputable body such as the FCA or ASIC.

Strategies

CFDs may have the least strategies available of all the binary options alternatives in this guide. Investors must ultimately pick between going long or short on an asset. While hedging is possible, other instruments are better suited to this strategy.

CFD Brokers

Click a broker for details

1

Interactive Brokers

Go To Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers Review

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.5 / 5

Assets & Markets 4.6 / 5

Fees & Costs 4.3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.3 / 5

Customer Support 3 / 5

Research 4.4 / 5

Education 4.3 / 5

iOS App 4.3 / 5

Android App 4.5 / 5

Minimum Deposit $0

Minimum Trade $100

Leverage 1:50

Regulator FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM

Instruments Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies

Platforms Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral

Payment Methods Cheque, ACH Transfer, Wire Transfer, Automated Customer Account Transfer Service, TransferWise, Debit Card

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF

Go To Interactive Brokers
2

RedMars

Go To RedMars
RedMars Review

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 3.3 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.5 / 5

Assets & Markets 3.8 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.5 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.8 / 5

Customer Support 4 / 5

Research 2.8 / 5

Education 3 / 5

iOS App 4.7 / 5

Android App 4.6 / 5

Minimum Deposit €250

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)

Regulator CySEC, AFM

Instruments CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Cryptos

Platforms MT5

Payment Methods Credit Card, Wire Transfer, Debit Card, Sticpay, FasaPay, Bitcoin Payments, Trustly, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Klarna, Mastercard, Visa

Account Currencies USD, EUR

Go To RedMars
3

IQCent

Go To IQCent
IQCent Review

New Customer Bonus Offer 20% to 200% Deposit Bonus

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 2.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.3 / 5

Assets & Markets 2.4 / 5

Fees & Costs 4.3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.8 / 5

Customer Support 2.5 / 5

Research 3 / 5

Education 2 / 5

iOS App 4.3 / 5

Android App 4.1 / 5

Minimum Deposit $250

Minimum Trade $0.01

Leverage 1:500

Regulator IFMRRC

Instruments Binary Options, CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto

Platforms Online Platform, TradingView

Payment Methods Credit Card, Debit Card, Wire Transfer, Bitcoin Payments, Ethereum Payments, Visa, Mastercard

Account Currencies USD, EUR

Go To IQCent
4

UnitedPips

Go To UnitedPips
UnitedPips Review

New Customer Bonus Offer 40% Deposit Bonus

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 2 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.5 / 5

Assets & Markets 3 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.8 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.5 / 5

Customer Support 3.5 / 5

Research 2.8 / 5

Education 2.5 / 5

iOS App 0 / 5

Android App 0 / 5

Minimum Deposit $10

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:1000

Regulator IFSA

Instruments CFDs, Forex, Precious Metals, Crypto

Platforms UniTrader

Payment Methods PayPal, Credit Card, Debit Card, Perfect Money, Bitcoin Payments, Ethereum Payments

Account Currencies USD

Go To UnitedPips
5

Capitalcore

Go To Capitalcore
Capitalcore Review

New Customer Bonus Offer 40% Deposit Bonus up to $2,500

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 3.3 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.8 / 5

Assets & Markets 3.5 / 5

Fees & Costs 3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.8 / 5

Customer Support 3.5 / 5

Research 2.5 / 5

Education 3.5 / 5

iOS App 0 / 5

Android App 0 / 5

Minimum Deposit $10

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:2000

Regulator IFSA

Instruments Forex, Metals, Stocks, Cryptos, Futures Indices

Platforms WebTrader, Pro

Payment Methods Ethereum Payments, Mastercard, Visa, Perfect Money, Bitcoin Payments, Debit Card, Credit Card, PayPal

Account Currencies USD

Go To Capitalcore
6

Sage FX

Go To Sage FX
Sage FX Review

New Customer Bonus Offer $1,500 trading competition

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 2.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.5 / 5

Assets & Markets 3 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 2.5 / 5

Customer Support 3 / 5

Research 1.3 / 5

Education 1.8 / 5

iOS App 0 / 5

Android App 0 / 5

Minimum Deposit $10

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:500

Regulator Pending

Instruments Forex, indices, cryptos

Platforms TradeLocker

Payment Methods Credit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Bitcoin Payments, Ethereum Payments

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD

Go To Sage FX
7

Videforex

Go To Videforex
Videforex Review

New Customer Bonus Offer 20% to 200% Deposit Bonus

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 2.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3 / 5

Assets & Markets 3.5 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.5 / 5

Customer Support 4.5 / 5

Research 1.3 / 5

Education 1.3 / 5

iOS App 4.1 / 5

Android App 4.4 / 5

Minimum Deposit $250

Minimum Trade $0.01

Leverage 1:500

Regulator

Instruments Binary Options, CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto

Platforms TradingView

Payment Methods Skrill, Perfect Money, Bitcoin Payments, Neteller, Credit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Ethereum Payments

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, RUB

Go To Videforex
8

xChief

Go To xChief
xChief Review

New Customer Bonus Offer $100 No Deposit Bonus

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.8 / 5

Assets & Markets 3.7 / 5

Fees & Costs 3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 4.3 / 5

Customer Support 3.5 / 5

Research 3.5 / 5

Education 3.3 / 5

iOS App 0 / 5

Android App 0 / 5

Minimum Deposit $10

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:1000

Regulator ASIC

Instruments CFDs, Forex, Metals, Commodities, Stocks, Indices

Platforms MT4, MT5

Payment Methods Wire Transfer, Bitcoin Payments, Credit Card, UnionPay, Skrill, Neteller, WebMoney, Perfect Money, Debit Card, Ethereum Payments, FasaPay, Volet

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF

Go To xChief
9

Plexytrade

Go To Plexytrade
Plexytrade Review

New Customer Bonus Offer 120% Cash Welcome Bonus

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 1.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 2.5 / 5

Assets & Markets 2.5 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 2.5 / 5

Customer Support 3.5 / 5

Research 0.5 / 5

Education 0.5 / 5

iOS App 4.8 / 5

Android App 4.7 / 5

Minimum Deposit $50

Minimum Trade 0.01

Leverage 1:2000

Regulator

Instruments CFDs, Forex, Indices, Stocks, Commodities, Crypto

Platforms MT4, MT5

Payment Methods Bitcoin Payments, Ethereum Payments

Account Currencies USD, EUR

Go To Plexytrade
10

Coinexx

Go To Coinexx
Coinexx Review

New Customer Bonus Offer 100% Deposit Welcome Bonus

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 2.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 2.5 / 5

Assets & Markets 2.8 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.8 / 5

Customer Support 3 / 5

Research 0.8 / 5

Education 1.3 / 5

iOS App 0 / 5

Android App 0 / 5

Minimum Deposit 0.001 BTC

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:500

Regulator

Instruments Forex, Commodities, Indices, Cryptocurrencies

Platforms MT4, MT5

Payment Methods Bitcoin Payments, Ethereum Payments

Account Currencies USD

Go To Coinexx

Here is a summary of why we recommend these brokers:

Interactive Brokers - Over 8,000 CFDs are offered on a vast array of instruments, encompassing stocks, indices, forex, and commodities. Moreover, the TWS platform lends itself to seasoned day traders, offering a comprehensive selection of over 100 order types and algorithms, alongside premium market data sourced from reputable sources such as Reuters and Dow Jones.
RedMars - RedMars caters to various short-term trading styles across popular asset classes, including 7 commodities, 14 indices, and 120+ stocks. Leverage is available up to 1:30 (retail) and 1:500 (pro), amplifying results. However, there is no calculator to help with understanding margin requirements and the depth of investments is limited.
IQCent - CFDs are available on forex, indices, commodities and cryptos, although the range of 100+ instruments is limited compared to alternatives such as Quotex with 400+. Leverage is available up to 1:500 but the $250 minimum deposit is noticeably higher than competitors.
UnitedPips - UnitedPips supports CFD trading on a narrow selection of currencies, metals and cryptos. It somewhat compensates for the meagre asset range with high leverage up to 1:1000, seriously amplifying potential profits or losses, and spreads that don’t change with market conditions.
Capitalcore - The range of CFDs at Capitalcore is narrow, with 6 precious metals, 6 indices, and a slim suite of stocks. Notably, there are no commodities such as oil or gas and spreads vary greatly. Tiered leverage is available depending on the account, from 1:100 to 1:2000.
Sage FX - Trade CFDs on forex, stocks, metals, energies, indices, cryptos and dollar futures. Sage FX offers tight spreads and high leverage on all instruments from 1:100 to 1:500.
Videforex - Videforex CFDs are available on forex, indices, cryptocurrencies and commodities with up to 1:500 leverage and tight spreads from near zero. CFDs incur a commission fee of 1%–2.5% and up to 5% for leveraged trades.
xChief - You can trade a competitive range of CFDs encompassing crypto, indices, energies and metals, with very high leverage up to 1:1000. ECN pricing is available, with spreads from 0.0 pips and low commissions from $2.50. A Cent account is also available for those on a smaller budget.
Plexytrade - Plexytrade offers a modest selection of CFDs, providing opportunities to speculate on upward/downward price movements across 15 indices, 48 US stocks, 3 commodities, 4 metals, and 5 cryptos. The free margin calculator allows you to work out how much you need to put down to open and maintain leveraged positions.
Coinexx - Trade flexible CFDs on forex, commodities, indices and cryptos with tight spreads, fast execution, micro-lot trading and leverage up to 1:500. There are also no restrictions on day trading strategies.

Binary Options Alternatives Comparison

Binary Options Alternatives Comparison
CFD Leverage	Minimum Deposit	Minimum Trade	Regulators
1:50	$0	$100	FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM
1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)	€250	0.01 Lots	CySEC, AFM
1:500	$250	$0.01	IFMRRC
1:1000	$10	0.01 Lots	IFSA
1:2000	$10	0.01 Lots	IFSA
1:500	$10	0.01 Lots	Pending
1:500	$250	$0.01	-
1:1000	$10	0.01 Lots	ASIC
1:2000	$50	0.01	-
1:500	0.001 BTC	0.01 Lots	-

Interactive Brokers

"Interactive Brokers is one of the best brokers for advanced day traders, providing powerful charting platforms, real-time data, and customizable layouts, notably through the new IBKR Desktop application. Its superb pricing and advanced order options also make it highly attractive for day traders, while its diverse range of equities is still among the best in the industry."
Christian Harris, Reviewer

Interactive Brokers Quick Facts

FTSE Spread	0.005% (£1 Min)
GBPUSD Spread	0.08-0.20 bps x trade value
Stocks Spread	0.003
Leverage	1:50
Regulator	FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM
Platforms	Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF

Pros

While primarily geared towards experienced traders, IBKR has made moves to broaden its appeal in recent years, reducing its minimum deposit from $10,000 to $0.
IBKR continues to deliver unmatched access to global stocks with tens of thousands of equities available from 100+ market centres in 24 countries, most recently the Saudi Stock Exchange.
IBKR is one of the most respected and trusted brokerages and is regulated by top-tier authorities, so you can have confidence in the integrity and security of your trading account.

Cons

TWS’s learning curve is steep, and beginners may find it challenging to navigate the platform and understand all the features. Plus500's web platform is much better suited to new traders.
You can only have one active session per account, so you can’t have your desktop program and mobile app running simultaneously, making for a sometimes frustrating trading experience.
Support can be slow and frustrating based on tests, so you might find it challenging to reach customer service representatives promptly or encounter delays in resolving issues.

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RedMars

"RedMars is the best fit for experienced day traders familiar with the MetaTrader 5 platform and based in the EU, where the broker is authorized by the CySEC. However, the threadbare education and research tools make it unsuitable for beginners."
Christian Harris, Reviewer

RedMars Quick Facts

FTSE Spread	15
GBPUSD Spread	0.7
Stocks Spread	Variable
Leverage	1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
Regulator	CySEC, AFM
Platforms	MT5
Account Currencies	USD, EUR

Pros

The broker is one of a limited number of firms to offer an account specially designed for VIPs with premium support and invites to exclusive events
Getting started on RedMars is incredibly easy - you can be up and running in just a few minutes based on tests
The broker supports a range of flexible payment methods, including wire transfers, credit cards, e-wallets, and notably cryptocurrencies

Cons

With just 300 instruments, RedMars offers a narrow trading environment, particularly compared to category leaders like BlackBull Markets which offers 26,000 assets
RedMars falls short for newer traders, with little in the way of education, no beginner-friendly platform, a steep minimum deposit, and inadequate support during testing
The no-frills trading environment offers little beyond the basics, with no Islamic account, PAMM account or copy trading.

Visit RedMars

RedMars Review

IQCent

"IQCent will appeal to day traders looking for a straightforward binary options and CFD trading platform with low fees, a range of accounts, and copy trading. Getting started takes less than 1 minute and a $250 deposit. "
Jemma Grist, Reviewer

IQCent Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	20% to 200% Deposit Bonus
FTSE Spread	1.4
GBPUSD Spread	0.8
Stocks Spread	N/A
Leverage	1:500
Regulator	IFMRRC
Platforms	Online Platform, TradingView
Account Currencies	USD, EUR

Pros

The broker offers up to 98% payouts on binary options, which is more than alternatives like Pocket Option, only offering up to 92%
There's an accessible $0.01 minimum stake for new day traders with a small budget
The broker's 24/7 customer support is fast and reliable, responding within 1 minute during tests

Cons

IQCent trails binary brokers like Quotex with its narrow investment offering of around 100 assets with no stocks
The market analysis is very basic with limited technical summaries and insights from analysts
There's no automated trading support for algo traders

Visit IQCent

UnitedPips

"UnitedPips is ideal for traders seeking leveraged trading opportunities, the security of fixed spreads, and the flexibility to deposit, withdraw, and trade cryptocurrencies - all in one sleek TradingView-powered platform."
Christian Harris, Reviewer

UnitedPips Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	40% Deposit Bonus
FTSE Spread	NA
GBPUSD Spread	1.3
Stocks Spread	NA
Leverage	1:1000
Regulator	IFSA
Platforms	UniTrader
Account Currencies	USD

Pros

UnitedPips offers impressive leverage up to 1:1000 with zero swap fees or commissions, which can enhance potential returns for day traders and swing traders looking to control prominent positions with less capital.
UnitedPips’ platform performs well, with an intuitive design that will appeal to beginners, while the TradingView integration delivers powerful charting tools without overwhelming users, making it straightforward to execute trades efficiently.
Although being handed off mid-chat due to shift changes during testing was frustrating, customer support is generally good with quick, helpful responses, and 24/7 support via phone and email for regional teams is a definite advantage.

Cons

UnitedPips lacks comprehensive research, while the educational content for beginner traders is woeful. Compared to brokers like eToro, which offers tutorials, webinars, and advanced courses, UnitedPips offers minimal resources to help new traders understand key concepts.
Unlike brokers such as IG, UnitedPips is an offshore broker not regulated by any 'green tier' financial authorities, raising concerns for traders seeking assurance and protection under well-established regulatory frameworks.
UnitedPips' selection of tradable instruments is still minimal, comprising a bare minimum selection of forex, metals and crypto. There are no equities, indices or ETFs, which may be a drawback for experienced traders looking for diverse opportunities.

Visit UnitedPips

UnitedPips Review

Capitalcore

"The major selling points of Capitalcore are its high leverage options up to 1:2000 and zero commission or swap fees. However, its weak regulatory oversight from the IFSA and non-existent education place it far behind the top brokers."
Christian Harris, Reviewer

Capitalcore Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	40% Deposit Bonus up to $2,500
FTSE Spread	25
GBPUSD Spread	0.5
Stocks Spread	1.5 (Apple)
Leverage	1:2000
Regulator	IFSA
Platforms	WebTrader, Pro
Account Currencies	USD

Pros

Unlike most brokers, Capitalcore offers an unlimited demo account that takes under 5 minutes to open.
The Capitalcore platform provides comprehensive charting tools and a wide range of 150+ technical indicators, ideal for detailed market analysis.
The support team are available 24/7 and responded within minutes during testing with helpful responses.

Cons

Platform support is limited to proprietary software, so there's no integration with the market-leading MetaTrader or cTrader, which offer built-in economic news and support automated trading.
Capitalcore is not regulated by major financial authorities and has an unproven reputation, raising concerns about the safety of client funds.
Capitalcore’s threadbare education and research seriously trail category leaders like IG, making it less suitable for aspiring traders.

Visit Capitalcore

Sage FX

"Sage FX will suit forex traders looking for high leverage and ECN spreads. The broker's prop trading service will also appeal to users looking for funded accounts with up to $200K available."
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

Sage FX Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	$1,500 trading competition
FTSE Spread	5.0
GBPUSD Spread	0.9
Stocks Spread	N/A
Leverage	1:500
Regulator	Pending
Platforms	TradeLocker
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD

Pros

Low starting deposit from $10
Bonus offers and trading competitions
Ability to deposit and withdraw via Bitcoin

Cons

Relatively narrow range of asset classes
Lacks educational resources and other extra features
Not regulated by any reputable body

Visit Sage FX

Sage FX Review

Videforex

"Videforex will serve traders looking for a no-frills, easy-to-use platform to speculate on the direction of popular financial markets through binaries. With a sign-up process that takes a matter of minutes and a web-accessible platform, getting started is a breeze. "
William Berg, Reviewer

Videforex Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	20% to 200% Deposit Bonus
FTSE Spread	Floating from 0.2
GBPUSD Spread	Floating from 0.1
Stocks Spread	NA
Leverage	1:500
Platforms	TradingView
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, RUB

Pros

Videforex is one of the few brokers with 24/7 multilingual video support, providing comprehensive assistance for active traders.
Videforex regularly runs trading contests, offering practice opportunities and cash prizes to beginners and experienced traders, with position sizes from just ¢0.01.
Traders can earn up to 98% payouts on 100+ assets with the broker’s binary options, bringing it in line with competitors like IQCent.

Cons

Videforex lacks authorization from a trusted regulator, meaning traders may receive little to zero safeguards like segregated client accounts.
The absence of any educational tools is a serious drawback for newer traders who can find blogs, videos and live trading sessions at category leaders.
The client terminal needs improvements based on our latest tests, sporting sometimes slow and unresponsive widgets which could dampen the experience for day traders.

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xChief

"xChief continues to prove popular with investors looking to trade highly leveraged CFDs on the popular MetaTrader platforms. The broker's rebate scheme and investment accounts will particularly appeal to seasoned traders. However, the lack of top-tier regulatory oversight is a major drawback."
William Berg, Reviewer

xChief Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	$100 No Deposit Bonus
FTSE Spread	70
GBPUSD Spread	0.9
Stocks Spread	50
Leverage	1:1000
Regulator	ASIC
Platforms	MT4, MT5
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF

Pros

xChief offers STP/ECN execution with low spreads from 0.0 pips and low commission rates starting from $2.50 per side
The broker offers a turnover rebate scheme geared towards active investors, as well as trading credits and several other occasional bonuses
The broker offers several account types to suit different traders, including a Cent account for beginners and pro-level hedging/netting accounts

Cons

The total range of 150+ assets is much lower than most competitors who typically offer hundreds
Fees and minimums are imposed on most withdrawal methods, including a €60 minimum for SWIFT bank transfers
The broker trails competitors when it comes to research tools and educational resources

Visit xChief

xChief Review

Plexytrade

"Plexytrade is a newcomer in the brokerage scene with attention-grabbing features like 1:2000 leverage, zero spreads on select instruments and fast execution speeds of less than 46 milliseconds. However, the absence of regulation is a significant concern, while the non-existent research and educational tools place it far behind industry frontrunners."
Christian Harris, Reviewer

Plexytrade Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	120% Cash Welcome Bonus
FTSE Spread	0.8
GBPUSD Spread	0.8
Stocks Spread	5
Leverage	1:2000
Platforms	MT4, MT5
Account Currencies	USD, EUR

Pros

Plexytrade offers among the highest leverage we’ve seen, up to 1:2000, catering to advanced traders willing to forego regulatory protections.
There are various VPS packages starting from $50 per month, but they become complimentary once specific deposit thresholds are reached.
Plexytrade accommodates a range of trading methods and short-term strategies, including scalping, hedging, and automated trading.

Cons

Plexytrade lacks regulation in major jurisdictions, significantly increasing the risks of opening an account and depositing funds.
There are no research and educational materials, falling short of alternatives like IG, while access to the economic calendar is restricted to clients with balances of $500.
There are no social or copy trading features for inexperienced traders to replicate the trades of more experienced investors, trailing category leaders like eToro.

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Plexytrade Review

Coinexx

"Coinexx best serves short-term traders willing to foregoes regulatory protections in return for highly-leveraged CFDs and trading accounts, deposits and withdrawals processed in cryptos like BTC. "
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

Coinexx Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	100% Deposit Welcome Bonus
FTSE Spread	From 0.0 pips
GBPUSD Spread	From 0.0 pips
Stocks Spread	NA
Leverage	1:500
Platforms	MT4, MT5
Account Currencies	USD

Pros

Coinexx uses an ECN model that facilitates ultra-tight spreads from 0 pips, which alongside high leverage up to 1:500, may serve fast-paced, high-volume trading strategies.
Coinexx is one of a limited pool of brokers to support the ActTrader platform, which is highly customizable with detachable widgets, as well as 48 indicators, 11 timeframes, and price quotes up to 8 decimal places.
The virtual private server (VPS), hosted near the firm’s data center in Amsterdam, offers 24/7 connectivity, low latency and 99.99% uptime, catering to algo traders.

Cons

Despite operating for over 7 years, Coinexx still hasn’t secured any regulatory approvals, respected industry awards or the full confidence of our experts.
Aside from 7 calculators (forex, margin, pip, currency, commission, swap, PnL), Coinexx offers very little in terms of additional tools, with no education or research features to support traders.
Although it supports near-instant account funding in 25+ cryptos, the absence of fiat deposit options at Coinexx will be severely limiting for many traders.

Visit Coinexx

Coinexx Review

Binary Options Alternative 2: Vanilla Options

Vanilla options are a popular derivative due to their high payouts and ability to cash settle. This also makes them one of the best alternatives to binary options.

Markets

Options are a primarily US-focussed instrument for making predictions about single stocks. Also available are indices and some commodities.

Complexity

Understanding regular options is more complex vs learning binary options. Contract prices are determined by a set of complex variables referred to as the Greeks, and investors need to be equipped with knowledge of financial concepts such as implied volatility and hedge ratios.

Profit & Loss Potential

Unlike binary options, there are no limits on the profit investors can make with a successful options trade. Options contracts also contain high innate leverage, with one contract based on 100 units of an asset.

However, with this potential for high rewards comes unlimited risk.

Fees & Commissions

Several brokers specialize in low-cost options trading– shop around to find competitive fees and commissions.

Safety & Regulation

Vanilla options are a highly regulated instrument versus some of the other binary options alternatives listed in this guide. When trading with a trusted broker, investors can trade this binary options alternative with confidence.

Strategies

Investors can choose to write options contracts or purchase them from an exchange as speculative assets or for hedging existing trades. Options spreads can be used to profit from various trading metrics such as volatility or direction.

Traders can also sell covered calls to lock in smaller but safer profits consistently– a strategy available with binary options.

Vanilla Options Brokers

Click a broker for details

1

FOREX.com

Go To FOREX.com
FOREX.com Review

New Customer Bonus Offer Active Trader Program With A 15% Reduction In Costs

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.9 / 5

Accounts & Banking 4 / 5

Assets & Markets 4.3 / 5

Fees & Costs 4.6 / 5

Platforms & Tools 4.6 / 5

Customer Support 4.3 / 5

Research 4.8 / 5

Education 4.5 / 5

iOS App 3.6 / 5

Android App 3.8 / 5

Minimum Deposit $100

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:50

Regulator NFA, CFTC

Instruments Forex, Stocks, Futures, Futures Options

Platforms MT4, MT5, TradingView, eSignal, AutoChartist, TradingCentral

Payment Methods Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller, ACH Transfer

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, PLN

Go To FOREX.com
2

NinjaTrader

Go To NinjaTrader
NinjaTrader Review

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.3 / 5

Accounts & Banking 2.8 / 5

Assets & Markets 2.9 / 5

Fees & Costs 4.3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 4.5 / 5

Customer Support 4 / 5

Research 4 / 5

Education 4 / 5

iOS App 3 / 5

Android App 3.2 / 5

Minimum Deposit $0

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:50

Regulator NFA, CFTC

Instruments Forex, Stocks, Options, Commodities, Futures, Crypto

Platforms NinjaTrader Desktop, Web & Mobile, eSignal

Payment Methods ACH Transfer, Debit Card, Wire Transfer, Cheque

Account Currencies USD

Go To NinjaTrader
3

eToro USA

Go To eToro USA
eToro USA Review

New Customer Bonus Offer Invest $100 and get $10

Securities trading offered by eToro USA Securities, Inc. (“the BD”), member of FINRA and SIPC. Cryptocurrency offered by eToro USA LLC (“the MSB”) (NMLS: 1769299) and is not FDIC or SIPC insured. Investing involves risk. https://www.daytrading.com/ is not an affiliate and may be compensated if you access certain products or services offered by the MSB and/or the BD.

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.3 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3 / 5

Assets & Markets 3.9 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.4 / 5

Platforms & Tools 4 / 5

Customer Support 3 / 5

Research 4.3 / 5

Education 4.5 / 5

iOS App 4.3 / 5

Android App 4 / 5

Minimum Deposit $100

Minimum Trade $10

Leverage

Regulator SEC, FINRA

Instruments Stocks, Options, ETFs, Crypto

Platforms eToro Trading Platform & CopyTrader

Payment Methods ACH Transfer, Debit Card, PayPal, Wire Transfer

Account Currencies USD

Go To eToro USA
4

Interactive Brokers

Go To Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers Review

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.5 / 5

Assets & Markets 4.6 / 5

Fees & Costs 4.3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.3 / 5

Customer Support 3 / 5

Research 4.4 / 5

Education 4.3 / 5

iOS App 4.3 / 5

Android App 4.5 / 5

Minimum Deposit $0

Minimum Trade $100

Leverage 1:50

Regulator FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM

Instruments Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies

Platforms Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral

Payment Methods Cheque, ACH Transfer, Wire Transfer, Automated Customer Account Transfer Service, TransferWise, Debit Card

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF

Go To Interactive Brokers
5

Moomoo

Go To Moomoo
Moomoo Review

New Customer Bonus Offer Get up to 15 free stocks worth up to $2000

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.7 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.3 / 5

Assets & Markets 3 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.8 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3 / 5

Customer Support 2.8 / 5

Research 3.8 / 5

Education 4.4 / 5

iOS App 4.6 / 5

Android App 3.3 / 5

Minimum Deposit $0

Minimum Trade $0

Leverage 1:2

Regulator SEC, FINRA, MAS, ASIC, SFC

Instruments Stocks, Options, ETFs, ADRs, OTCs

Platforms Desktop Platform, Mobile App

Payment Methods Wire Transfer, ACH Transfer

Account Currencies USD, HKD, SGD

Go To Moomoo
6

Firstrade

Go To Firstrade
Firstrade Review

New Customer Bonus Offer Deposit Bonus Up To $4000

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.3 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.8 / 5

Assets & Markets 4.3 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.8 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.5 / 5

Customer Support 3.5 / 5

Research 4.3 / 5

Education 4 / 5

iOS App 0 / 5

Android App 0 / 5

Minimum Deposit $0

Minimum Trade $1

Leverage

Regulator SEC, FINRA

Instruments Stocks, ETFs, Options, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Cryptos, Fixed

Platforms TradingCentral

Payment Methods ACH Transfer, Wire Transfer, Cheque, Automated Customer Account Transfer Service

Account Currencies USD

Go To Firstrade
7

Zacks Trade

Go To Zacks Trade
Zacks Trade Review

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 3.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3 / 5

Assets & Markets 3 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.5 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.8 / 5

Customer Support 3.5 / 5

Research 3.9 / 5

Education 1 / 5

iOS App 0 / 5

Android App 0 / 5

Minimum Deposit $2500

Minimum Trade $3

Leverage

Regulator FINRA

Instruments Stocks, ETFs, Cryptos, Options, Bonds

Platforms Own

Payment Methods Wire Transfer, ACH Transfer, Cheque

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, INR, JPY, ZAR, TRY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD, RUB, PLN, CZK, HUF

Go To Zacks Trade
8

BinaryCent

Go To BinaryCent
BinaryCent Review

New Customer Bonus Offer 20% - 200% deposit bonus

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 2.8 / 5

Accounts & Banking 2.8 / 5

Assets & Markets 3 / 5

Fees & Costs 2.5 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3 / 5

Customer Support 3 / 5

Research 1 / 5

Education 2 / 5

iOS App 3 / 5

Android App 3 / 5

Minimum Deposit $250

Minimum Trade $0.01

Leverage 1:500

Regulator VFSC

Instruments CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Cryptos, Options, Commodities

Platforms Own

Payment Methods Visa, Mastercard, Debit Card, Credit Card, Skrill, WebMoney, Neteller, Bitcoin Payments, Wire Transfer, Perfect Money, Ethereum Payments

Account Currencies USD

Go To BinaryCent

Here is a summary of why we recommend these brokers:

FOREX.com - Founded in 1999, FOREX.com is now part of StoneX, a financial services organization serving over one million customers worldwide. Regulated in the US, UK, EU, Australia and beyond, the broker offers thousands of markets, not just forex, and provides excellent pricing on cutting-edge platforms.
NinjaTrader - NinjaTrader is a US-headquartered and regulated brokerage that specializes in futures trading. There are three pricing plans to suit different needs and budgets, as well as ultra-low margins on popular contracts. The brand's award-winning charting software and trading platform also offers a high-degree of customization and superb technical analysis features.
eToro USA - eToro is a social investing platform that offers short-term and long-term trading on stocks, ETFs, options and crypto. The broker is well-known for its user-friendly community-centred platform and competitive fees. With FINRA and SIPC oversight and millions of users across the world, eToro is still one of the most respected brands in the industry. eToro securities trading is offered by eToro USA Securities, Inc.
Interactive Brokers - Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a premier brokerage, providing access to 150 markets in 33 countries, along with a suite of comprehensive investment services. With over 40 years of experience, this Nasdaq-listed firm adheres to stringent regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, amongst others, and is one of the most trusted brokers for trading around the globe.
Moomoo - Moomoo is an SEC-regulated app-based investment platform that offers a straightforward and affordable way to invest in Chinese, Hong Kong, Singaporean, Australian and US stocks, ETFs and other assets. Margin trading is available and the brand offers a zero-deposit account as well as several bonuses.
Firstrade - Firstrade is a US-headquartered discount broker-dealer with authorization from the SEC. The company is also a member of FINRA/SIPC. With welcome bonuses, powerful tools and apps, plus commission-free trading, Firstrade Securities is a popular and top-tier online brokerage. It is also quick and easy to open a new account.
Zacks Trade - Zacks Trade is a FINRA-regulated US broker offering trading on stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, bonds and more through a proprietary terminal. The broker is geared toward active traders and offers very affordable fees on most assets as well as an app and a vast amount of market data.
BinaryCent - BinaryCent is an unregulated binary options broker that offers 24/7 trading on forex, cryptos and stocks with payouts up to 95%. Despite its lack of regulation, this broker takes client security seriously and stores client funds in European banks. The broker also offers CFDs with very high leverage up to 1:500.

FOREX.com

"FOREX.com remains a best-in-class brokerage for active forex traders of all experience levels, with over 80 currency pairs, tight spreads from 0.0 pips and low commissions. The powerful charting platforms collectively offer over 100 technical indicators, as well as extensive research tools."
Christian Harris, Reviewer

FOREX.com Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	Active Trader Program With A 15% Reduction In Costs
Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	Forex, Stocks, Futures, Futures Options
Regulator	NFA, CFTC
Platforms	MT4, MT5, TradingView, eSignal, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
Minimum Deposit	$100
Minimum Trade	0.01 Lots
Leverage	1:50
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, PLN

Pros

With over 20 years of experience, excellent regulatory oversight, and multiple accolades including runner-up in our 'Best Forex Broker' awards, FOREX.com boasts a global reputation as a trusted brokerage.
Alongside a choice of leading platforms, FOREX.com offers a superb suite of supplementary tools including Trading Central research, SMART Signals pattern scanner, trading signals, and strategy builders.
FOREX.com offers industry-leading forex pricing starting from 0.0 pips, alongside competitive cashback rebates of up to 15% for serious day traders.

Cons

There’s no negative balance protection for US clients, so you may find yourself owing more money than your initial deposit into your account.
Demo accounts are frustratingly time-limited to 90 days, which doesn’t give you enough time to test day trading strategies effectively.
FOREX.com's MT4 platform offers approximately 600 instruments, significantly fewer than the over 5,500 available on its non-MetaTrader platforms.

Visit FOREX.com

FOREX.com Review

NinjaTrader

"NinjaTrader continues to meet the demands of active futures traders looking for low fees and premium analysis tools. The platform hosts top-rate charting features including hundreds of indicators and 10+ chart types."
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

NinjaTrader Quick Facts

Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	Forex, Stocks, Options, Commodities, Futures, Crypto
Regulator	NFA, CFTC
Platforms	NinjaTrader Desktop, Web & Mobile, eSignal
Minimum Deposit	$0
Minimum Trade	0.01 Lots
Leverage	1:50
Account Currencies	USD

Pros

NinjaTrader is a widely respected and award-winning futures broker and is heavily authorized by the NFA and CFTC
NinjaTrader continues to deliver comprehensive charting software for active day traders with bespoke technical indicators and widgets
You can get thousands of add-ons and applications from developers in 150+ countries

Cons

The premium platform tools come with an extra charge
There is a withdrawal fee on some funding methods
Non forex and futures trading requires signing up with partner brokers

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eToro USA

"eToro remains a top pick for traders looking for leading social investing and copy trading services. With a low deposit, zero commissions and an intuitive platform, the broker will meet the needs of newer day traders."
Jemma Grist, Reviewer

eToro USA Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	Invest $100 and get $10
Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	Stocks, Options, ETFs, Crypto
Regulator	SEC, FINRA
Platforms	eToro Trading Platform & CopyTrader
Minimum Deposit	$100
Minimum Trade	$10
Account Currencies	USD

Pros

Investors can access Smart Portfolios for a more hands-off approach, covering a range of sectors and markets such as renewable energy and artificial intelligence
The broker's Academy offers comprehensive learning materials for beginners to advanced-level investors
The online broker offers an intuitive social investment network with straightforward copy trading on cryptos

Cons

Average fees may cut into the profit margins of day traders
There's a narrower range of day trading instruments available compared to competitors, with only stocks, ETFs and cryptos
The proprietary terminal doesn't support trading bots and there are no additional stock market analysis tools

Visit eToro USA

eToro USA Review

Interactive Brokers

"Interactive Brokers is one of the best brokers for advanced day traders, providing powerful charting platforms, real-time data, and customizable layouts, notably through the new IBKR Desktop application. Its superb pricing and advanced order options also make it highly attractive for day traders, while its diverse range of equities is still among the best in the industry."
Christian Harris, Reviewer

Interactive Brokers Quick Facts

Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies
Regulator	FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM
Platforms	Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral
Minimum Deposit	$0
Minimum Trade	$100
Leverage	1:50
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF

Pros

There's a vast library of free or paid third-party research subscriptions catering to all types of traders, plus you can enjoy commission reimbursements from IBKR if you subscribe to Toggle AI.
The TWS platform has clearly been built for intermediate and advanced traders and comes with over 100 order types and a reliable real-time market data feed that rarely goes offline.
With low commissions, tight spreads and a transparent fee structure, IBKR delivers a cost-effective environment for short-term traders.

Cons

You can only have one active session per account, so you can’t have your desktop program and mobile app running simultaneously, making for a sometimes frustrating trading experience.
IBKR provides a wide range of research tools, but their distribution across trading platforms and the web-based 'Account Management' page lacks consistency, leading to a confusing user experience.
Support can be slow and frustrating based on tests, so you might find it challenging to reach customer service representatives promptly or encounter delays in resolving issues.

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Moomoo

"Moomoo remains an excellent choice for new and intermediate stock traders who want to build a diverse investment portfolio. What really stands out is the broker's user-friendly app and the low trading fees."
Jemma Grist, Reviewer

Moomoo Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	Get up to 15 free stocks worth up to $2000
Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	Stocks, Options, ETFs, ADRs, OTCs
Regulator	SEC, FINRA, MAS, ASIC, SFC
Platforms	Desktop Platform, Mobile App
Minimum Deposit	$0
Minimum Trade	$0
Leverage	1:2
Account Currencies	USD, HKD, SGD

Pros

There are reduced options contract fees from $0.65 to $0
The broker offers access to extended pre-market trading hours
It is reassuring that Moomoo holds licenses with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), among others

Cons

It's a shame that there is no 2 factor authentication (2FA), despite the other security features on offer
There is no phone or live chat support - common options at most other brokers
There is no negative balance protection, which is a common safety feature at top-tier-regulated brokers

Visit Moomoo

Moomoo Review

Firstrade

"Firstrade is perfect for beginners looking to trade US stocks with zero commissions. There is a wealth of free education plus premium-quality research, notably through its latest FirstradeGPT tool, plus trading ideas from Morningstar, Briefing.com, Zacks and Benzinga."
William Berg, Reviewer

Firstrade Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	Deposit Bonus Up To $4000
Demo Account	No
Instruments	Stocks, ETFs, Options, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Cryptos, Fixed
Regulator	SEC, FINRA
Platforms	TradingCentral
Minimum Deposit	$0
Minimum Trade	$1
Account Currencies	USD

Pros

Highly trusted US-regulated brokerage and SIPC member
Excellent broker for budget-conscious traders with low OTC fees
Enhanced stock trading environment with overnight trading and fractional shares added

Cons

Customer support still needs work following testing with no 24/7 assistance
Firstrade focuses on stocks at the expense of forex, limiting diversification opportunities
Visa credit/debit card deposits and withdrawals are not accepted

Visit Firstrade

Firstrade Review

Zacks Trade

"Zacks Trade will suit active day traders with experience using powerful platforms. Fees and margin rates are low while the market research is excellent."
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

Zacks Trade Quick Facts

Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	Stocks, ETFs, Cryptos, Options, Bonds
Regulator	FINRA
Platforms	Own
Minimum Deposit	$2500
Minimum Trade	$3
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, INR, JPY, ZAR, TRY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD, RUB, PLN, CZK, HUF

Pros

Customizable proprietary trading platform and mobile app
Demo account
Comprehensive research and data

Cons

High minimum requirement of $2,500
Shortcomings regarding platform loading times and technical glitches
No MT4 or MT5 platform integration

Visit Zacks Trade

Zacks Trade Review

BinaryCent

"Traders who want a reliable binary options broker with a streamlined platform and high payouts should try out BinaryCent."
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

BinaryCent Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	20% - 200% deposit bonus
Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Cryptos, Options, Commodities
Regulator	VFSC
Platforms	Own
Minimum Deposit	$250
Minimum Trade	$0.01
Leverage	1:500
Account Currencies	USD

Pros

Payouts up to 95% are higher than most competitors and increases profit potential
Simple and straightforward proprietary platform for binary options trading
Trade binary contracts from $0.10 allowing trading opportunities for all budgets

Cons

Not available to traders based in the US
The $250 minimum deposit is higher than most binary options brokers
Not overseen by any reputable regulator, raising risks and reducing customer protections

Visit BinaryCent

BinaryCent Review

Binary Options Alternative 3: Futures

Futures are one of the most unique alternatives to binary options and forex trading. These are agreements to buy or sell an asset for a set price at a specific time. These derivatives were primarily used within the commodities industry as a hedge against future price fluctuations but are now a well-used financial instrument for many markets.

This type of trading involves the delivery of physical assets at expiry. It is exchange-traded rather than sold over-the-counter (OTC). Futures contracts are primarily associated with US markets, but EU and UK investors can still get involved.

Markets

While futures were first used on commodity markets such as cattle, wheat and orange juice, this instrument has expanded to cover assets like equities and cryptocurrencies.

Complexity

Futures are a fairly complex product compared to binary options. Though, with a thorough education, these contracts offer far greater strategic potential and can form a vital element of an expert investor’s trading arsenal.

Profit & Loss Potential

Futures contracts typically involve 1,000 units of a specific asset, and most futures brokers offer the opportunity to trade on margin for enhanced trading leverage. This gives investors the chance to make significant trading profits or losses.

It is with mentioning that futures can also be utilized to hedge against spot instruments to reduce risk.

Fees & Commissions

Fees for futures contracts can be higher than other instruments and binary options alternatives. However, traders will often receive a fee discount for high-volume trading or creating high-capital accounts.

Holding positions overnight will also come with swap fees, so this binary options alternative is best utilized for day trading or short-term swing trading.

Safety & Regulation

As with many binary options alternatives for US citizens, American futures contracts are regulated by the CTFC. Combined with the exchange-traded nature of futures contracts, this instrument is one of the safest to trade vs binary options.

Strategies

Regarding strategy, most traders will not hold futures contracts until expiry but look to resell their positions before the contract is automatically closed out. This is to avoid having to take delivery of the physical asset, such as barrels of oil.

Futures pricing can swing dramatically based on news and events, so acting quickly to any upcoming market changes will pay dividends with this instrument.

Futures Brokers

Click a broker for details

1

FOREX.com

Go To FOREX.com
FOREX.com Review

New Customer Bonus Offer Active Trader Program With A 15% Reduction In Costs

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.9 / 5

Accounts & Banking 4 / 5

Assets & Markets 4.3 / 5

Fees & Costs 4.6 / 5

Platforms & Tools 4.6 / 5

Customer Support 4.3 / 5

Research 4.8 / 5

Education 4.5 / 5

iOS App 3.6 / 5

Android App 3.8 / 5

Minimum Deposit $100

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:50

Regulator NFA, CFTC

Instruments Forex, Stocks, Futures, Futures Options

Platforms MT4, MT5, TradingView, eSignal, AutoChartist, TradingCentral

Payment Methods Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller, ACH Transfer

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, PLN

Go To FOREX.com
2

NinjaTrader

Go To NinjaTrader
NinjaTrader Review

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.3 / 5

Accounts & Banking 2.8 / 5

Assets & Markets 2.9 / 5

Fees & Costs 4.3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 4.5 / 5

Customer Support 4 / 5

Research 4 / 5

Education 4 / 5

iOS App 3 / 5

Android App 3.2 / 5

Minimum Deposit $0

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:50

Regulator NFA, CFTC

Instruments Forex, Stocks, Options, Commodities, Futures, Crypto

Platforms NinjaTrader Desktop, Web & Mobile, eSignal

Payment Methods ACH Transfer, Debit Card, Wire Transfer, Cheque

Account Currencies USD

Go To NinjaTrader
3

Interactive Brokers

Go To Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers Review

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.5 / 5

Assets & Markets 4.6 / 5

Fees & Costs 4.3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.3 / 5

Customer Support 3 / 5

Research 4.4 / 5

Education 4.3 / 5

iOS App 4.3 / 5

Android App 4.5 / 5

Minimum Deposit $0

Minimum Trade $100

Leverage 1:50

Regulator FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM

Instruments Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies

Platforms Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral

Payment Methods Cheque, ACH Transfer, Wire Transfer, Automated Customer Account Transfer Service, TransferWise, Debit Card

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF

Go To Interactive Brokers
4

Plus500 US

Go To Plus500 US
Plus500 US Review

New Customer Bonus Offer Welcome Deposit Bonus up to $200

Trading with leverage involves risk.

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 3.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.7 / 5

Assets & Markets 3.5 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.3 / 5

Customer Support 3.5 / 5

Research 2.8 / 5

Education 3.5 / 5

iOS App 4.1 / 5

Android App 4.3 / 5

Minimum Deposit $100

Minimum Trade 0.0 Lots

Leverage

Regulator CFTC, NFA

Instruments Futures on Forex, Commodities, Cryptos, Indices, Interest Rates

Platforms WebTrader, App

Payment Methods ACH Transfer, Wire Transfer, Debit Card, Mastercard, Visa

Account Currencies USD

Go To Plus500 US
5

Moomoo

Go To Moomoo
Moomoo Review

New Customer Bonus Offer Get up to 15 free stocks worth up to $2000

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.7 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.3 / 5

Assets & Markets 3 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.8 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3 / 5

Customer Support 2.8 / 5

Research 3.8 / 5

Education 4.4 / 5

iOS App 4.6 / 5

Android App 3.3 / 5

Minimum Deposit $0

Minimum Trade $0

Leverage 1:2

Regulator SEC, FINRA, MAS, ASIC, SFC

Instruments Stocks, Options, ETFs, ADRs, OTCs

Platforms Desktop Platform, Mobile App

Payment Methods Wire Transfer, ACH Transfer

Account Currencies USD, HKD, SGD

Go To Moomoo
6

Capitalcore

Go To Capitalcore
Capitalcore Review

New Customer Bonus Offer 40% Deposit Bonus up to $2,500

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 3.3 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.8 / 5

Assets & Markets 3.5 / 5

Fees & Costs 3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.8 / 5

Customer Support 3.5 / 5

Research 2.5 / 5

Education 3.5 / 5

iOS App 0 / 5

Android App 0 / 5

Minimum Deposit $10

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:2000

Regulator IFSA

Instruments Forex, Metals, Stocks, Cryptos, Futures Indices

Platforms WebTrader, Pro

Payment Methods Ethereum Payments, Mastercard, Visa, Perfect Money, Bitcoin Payments, Debit Card, Credit Card, PayPal

Account Currencies USD

Go To Capitalcore
7

Videforex

Go To Videforex
Videforex Review

New Customer Bonus Offer 20% to 200% Deposit Bonus

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 2.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3 / 5

Assets & Markets 3.5 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.5 / 5

Customer Support 4.5 / 5

Research 1.3 / 5

Education 1.3 / 5

iOS App 4.1 / 5

Android App 4.4 / 5

Minimum Deposit $250

Minimum Trade $0.01

Leverage 1:500

Regulator

Instruments Binary Options, CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto

Platforms TradingView

Payment Methods Skrill, Perfect Money, Bitcoin Payments, Neteller, Credit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Ethereum Payments

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, RUB

Go To Videforex
8

InstaTrade

Go To InstaTrade
InstaTrade Review

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 2.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3 / 5

Assets & Markets 3 / 5

Fees & Costs 3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.5 / 5

Customer Support 3.5 / 5

Research 3.5 / 5

Education 3.3 / 5

iOS App 4.8 / 5

Android App 4.4 / 5

Minimum Deposit $1

Minimum Trade 0.01

Leverage 1:1000

Regulator BVI FSC

Instruments FISP, CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Cryptos, Futures

Platforms InstaTrade Gear, MT4

Payment Methods Visa, Mastercard, Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, Bitcoin Payments, Ethereum Payments

Account Currencies USD, EUR, RUB

Go To InstaTrade
9

Nexo

Go To Nexo
Nexo Review

New Customer Bonus Offer Loyalty scheme with various bonuses, plus referral program and bonus paid to lenders on credit line

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 2.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3 / 5

Assets & Markets 3 / 5

Fees & Costs 2.5 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.5 / 5

Customer Support 4 / 5

Research 2.5 / 5

Education 1 / 5

iOS App 3.8 / 5

Android App 4 / 5

Minimum Deposit $10

Minimum Trade $30

Leverage

Regulator

Instruments Cryptos

Platforms Nexo Pro

Payment Methods Bitcoin Payments, Credit Card, Debit Card, Apple Pay, Google Wallet, Wire Transfer

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP

Go To Nexo
10

Kraken

Go To Kraken
Kraken Review

New Customer Bonus Offer Lower fees when trading volume exceeds $50,000 in 30 days

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 3 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.8 / 5

Assets & Markets 3.8 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.9 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.5 / 5

Customer Support 3.8 / 5

Research 1.5 / 5

Education 3 / 5

iOS App 0 / 5

Android App 0 / 5

Minimum Deposit $10

Minimum Trade Variable

Leverage

Regulator FCA, FinCEN, FINTRAC, AUSTRAC, FSA

Instruments Cryptos

Platforms AlgoTrader

Payment Methods Bitcoin Payments, Wire Transfer, PayID, Silvergate Bank Transfer, Etana, Ethereum Payments

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF

Go To Kraken

Here is a short summary of why we think each broker belongs in this top list:

FOREX.com - Founded in 1999, FOREX.com is now part of StoneX, a financial services organization serving over one million customers worldwide. Regulated in the US, UK, EU, Australia and beyond, the broker offers thousands of markets, not just forex, and provides excellent pricing on cutting-edge platforms.
NinjaTrader - NinjaTrader is a US-headquartered and regulated brokerage that specializes in futures trading. There are three pricing plans to suit different needs and budgets, as well as ultra-low margins on popular contracts. The brand's award-winning charting software and trading platform also offers a high-degree of customization and superb technical analysis features.
Interactive Brokers - Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a premier brokerage, providing access to 150 markets in 33 countries, along with a suite of comprehensive investment services. With over 40 years of experience, this Nasdaq-listed firm adheres to stringent regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, amongst others, and is one of the most trusted brokers for trading around the globe.
Plus500 US - Plus500 is a well-established broker that entered the US market in 2021. Authorized by the CFTC and NFA, it provides futures trading on forex, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and interest rates. With a 10-minute sign-up, a manageable $100 minimum deposit, and a straightforward web platform, Plus500 continues to strengthen its offering for traders in the US.
Moomoo - Moomoo is an SEC-regulated app-based investment platform that offers a straightforward and affordable way to invest in Chinese, Hong Kong, Singaporean, Australian and US stocks, ETFs and other assets. Margin trading is available and the brand offers a zero-deposit account as well as several bonuses.
Capitalcore - Capitalcore is an offshore broker, based in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and established in 2019. Traders can choose from four accounts (Classic, Silver, Gold, VIP) with lower spreads and larger bonuses as you move through the tiers. Where Capitalcore distinguishes itself is its high leverage up to 1:2000 and zero swap fees, though these don’t compensate for the weak oversight from the IFSA and paltry education and research.
Videforex - Launched in 2017, Videforex offers access to stock, index, crypto, forex and commodities markets via binary options and CFDs. The proprietary platform, mobile app and integrated copy trading are user-friendly and will suit new and casual traders, and the market analysis tools and trading contests provide good ways to improve your trading skills.
InstaTrade - InstaTrade, based in the British Virgin Islands, is an online broker specializing in fixed income structured products and active trading through CFDs. Its zero-spread accounts, excellent research notably through InstaTrade TV, and access to the popular MT4 alongside its own web-accessible InstaTrade Gear, make it an attractive option for short-term traders at every level.
Nexo - Nexo is a centralized crypto exchange founded in 2018 in Bulgaria and today operates across some 200 jurisdictions from its base in Switzerland. It provides services including spot trading, futures trading, peer-to-peer loans, cold wallet storage and fiat-on ramps to buy crypto tokens. The crypto firm is registered with some respected financial authorities, such as the ASIC, and offers some fairly unique additional services including a credit card.
Kraken - Kraken is a leading cryptocurrency exchange with a proprietary trading terminal and a list of 220+ tradeable crypto tokens. Up to 1:5 leverage is available with stable rollover fees on spot crypto trading and up to 1:50 on futures. The exchange also supports crypto staking and has an interactive NFT marketplace.

FOREX.com

"FOREX.com remains a best-in-class brokerage for active forex traders of all experience levels, with over 80 currency pairs, tight spreads from 0.0 pips and low commissions. The powerful charting platforms collectively offer over 100 technical indicators, as well as extensive research tools."
Christian Harris, Reviewer

FOREX.com Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	Active Trader Program With A 15% Reduction In Costs
Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	Forex, Stocks, Futures, Futures Options
Regulator	NFA, CFTC
Platforms	MT4, MT5, TradingView, eSignal, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
Minimum Deposit	$100
Minimum Trade	0.01 Lots
Leverage	1:50
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, PLN

Pros

There’s a wealth of educational resources including tutorials, webinars, and a stacked YouTube channel to help you get educated in the financial markets.
Alongside a choice of leading platforms, FOREX.com offers a superb suite of supplementary tools including Trading Central research, SMART Signals pattern scanner, trading signals, and strategy builders.
FOREX.com offers industry-leading forex pricing starting from 0.0 pips, alongside competitive cashback rebates of up to 15% for serious day traders.

Cons

There’s no negative balance protection for US clients, so you may find yourself owing more money than your initial deposit into your account.
FOREX.com's MT4 platform offers approximately 600 instruments, significantly fewer than the over 5,500 available on its non-MetaTrader platforms.
Despite increasing its range of instruments, FOREX.com's product portfolio is still limited to forex and CFDs, so there are no options to invest in real stocks, real ETFs or real cryptocurrencies.

Visit FOREX.com

FOREX.com Review

NinjaTrader

"NinjaTrader continues to meet the demands of active futures traders looking for low fees and premium analysis tools. The platform hosts top-rate charting features including hundreds of indicators and 10+ chart types."
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

NinjaTrader Quick Facts

Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	Forex, Stocks, Options, Commodities, Futures, Crypto
Regulator	NFA, CFTC
Platforms	NinjaTrader Desktop, Web & Mobile, eSignal
Minimum Deposit	$0
Minimum Trade	0.01 Lots
Leverage	1:50
Account Currencies	USD

Pros

Low fees are offered, with $50 day trading margins & commissions from $.09 per micro contract
Traders can get free platform access and trade simulation capabilities in the unlimited demo
NinjaTrader is a widely respected and award-winning futures broker and is heavily authorized by the NFA and CFTC

Cons

The premium platform tools come with an extra charge
Non forex and futures trading requires signing up with partner brokers
There is a withdrawal fee on some funding methods

Visit NinjaTrader

Interactive Brokers

"Interactive Brokers is one of the best brokers for advanced day traders, providing powerful charting platforms, real-time data, and customizable layouts, notably through the new IBKR Desktop application. Its superb pricing and advanced order options also make it highly attractive for day traders, while its diverse range of equities is still among the best in the industry."
Christian Harris, Reviewer

Interactive Brokers Quick Facts

Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies
Regulator	FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM
Platforms	Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral
Minimum Deposit	$0
Minimum Trade	$100
Leverage	1:50
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF

Pros

The new IBKR Desktop platform takes the best of TWS while adding bespoke tools like Option Lattice and Screeners with MultiSort to create a genuinely impressive trading experience for day traders at every level.
The TWS platform has clearly been built for intermediate and advanced traders and comes with over 100 order types and a reliable real-time market data feed that rarely goes offline.
With low commissions, tight spreads and a transparent fee structure, IBKR delivers a cost-effective environment for short-term traders.

Cons

Support can be slow and frustrating based on tests, so you might find it challenging to reach customer service representatives promptly or encounter delays in resolving issues.
You can only have one active session per account, so you can’t have your desktop program and mobile app running simultaneously, making for a sometimes frustrating trading experience.
TWS’s learning curve is steep, and beginners may find it challenging to navigate the platform and understand all the features. Plus500's web platform is much better suited to new traders.

Visit Interactive Brokers

Plus500 US

"Plus500 US stands out as an excellent choice for beginners, offering a very user-friendly platform, low day trading margins, and access to the Futures Academy to enhance trading skills."
Michael MacKenzie, Reviewer

Plus500 US Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	Welcome Deposit Bonus up to $200
Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	Futures on Forex, Commodities, Cryptos, Indices, Interest Rates
Regulator	CFTC, NFA
Platforms	WebTrader, App
Minimum Deposit	$100
Minimum Trade	0.0 Lots
Account Currencies	USD

Pros

Plus500 is a publicly traded company with a good reputation, over 24 million traders, and a sponsor of the Chicago Bulls, instilling a sense of trust
The Futures Academy is an excellent resource for new traders with engaging videos and easy-to-follow articles, while the unlimited demo account is great for testing strategies
Plus500 US excels for its low fees with very competitive day trading margins and no inactivity fees, live data fees, routing fees, or platform fees

Cons

Plus500 US does not offer social trading capabilities, a feature available at alternatives like eToro US which could strengthen its offering for aspiring traders
While Plus500 US continues to broaden its investment offering, it's currently restricted to around 50+ futures with no stocks
Although support response times were fast during tests, there is no telephone assistance

Visit Plus500 US

Plus500 US Review

Moomoo

"Moomoo remains an excellent choice for new and intermediate stock traders who want to build a diverse investment portfolio. What really stands out is the broker's user-friendly app and the low trading fees."
Jemma Grist, Reviewer

Moomoo Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	Get up to 15 free stocks worth up to $2000
Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	Stocks, Options, ETFs, ADRs, OTCs
Regulator	SEC, FINRA, MAS, ASIC, SFC
Platforms	Desktop Platform, Mobile App
Minimum Deposit	$0
Minimum Trade	$0
Leverage	1:2
Account Currencies	USD, HKD, SGD

Pros

Moomoo is a Member of FINRA and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), adding another level of security for prospective clients
The broker offers access to extended pre-market trading hours
It is reassuring that Moomoo holds licenses with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), among others

Cons

There is no negative balance protection, which is a common safety feature at top-tier-regulated brokers
There is no phone or live chat support - common options at most other brokers
It's a shame that there is no 2 factor authentication (2FA), despite the other security features on offer

Visit Moomoo

Moomoo Review

Capitalcore

"The major selling points of Capitalcore are its high leverage options up to 1:2000 and zero commission or swap fees. However, its weak regulatory oversight from the IFSA and non-existent education place it far behind the top brokers."
Christian Harris, Reviewer

Capitalcore Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	40% Deposit Bonus up to $2,500
Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	Forex, Metals, Stocks, Cryptos, Futures Indices
Regulator	IFSA
Platforms	WebTrader, Pro
Minimum Deposit	$10
Minimum Trade	0.01 Lots
Leverage	1:2000
Account Currencies	USD

Pros

The Capitalcore platform provides comprehensive charting tools and a wide range of 150+ technical indicators, ideal for detailed market analysis.
Unlike most brokers, Capitalcore offers an unlimited demo account that takes under 5 minutes to open.
Capitalcore is one of the only brokers to charge zero swap fees, which may appeal to Islamic traders looking to comply with Islamic Finance.

Cons

The web platform was inconsistent during testing, with occasional technical glitches that meant the trading platform wouldn’t load.
Capitalcore’s threadbare education and research seriously trail category leaders like IG, making it less suitable for aspiring traders.
Platform support is limited to proprietary software, so there's no integration with the market-leading MetaTrader or cTrader, which offer built-in economic news and support automated trading.

Visit Capitalcore

Videforex

"Videforex will serve traders looking for a no-frills, easy-to-use platform to speculate on the direction of popular financial markets through binaries. With a sign-up process that takes a matter of minutes and a web-accessible platform, getting started is a breeze. "
William Berg, Reviewer

Videforex Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	20% to 200% Deposit Bonus
Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	Binary Options, CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto
Platforms	TradingView
Minimum Deposit	$250
Minimum Trade	$0.01
Leverage	1:500
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, RUB

Pros

Videforex regularly runs trading contests, offering practice opportunities and cash prizes to beginners and experienced traders, with position sizes from just ¢0.01.
Videforex is one of the few brokers with 24/7 multilingual video support, providing comprehensive assistance for active traders.
Traders can earn up to 98% payouts on 100+ assets with the broker’s binary options, bringing it in line with competitors like IQCent.

Cons

The client terminal needs improvements based on our latest tests, sporting sometimes slow and unresponsive widgets which could dampen the experience for day traders.
Videforex lacks authorization from a trusted regulator, meaning traders may receive little to zero safeguards like segregated client accounts.
The absence of any educational tools is a serious drawback for newer traders who can find blogs, videos and live trading sessions at category leaders.

Visit Videforex

InstaTrade

"Although InstaTrade offers active trading on a comprehensive platform, it stands out with its fairly unique Fixed Income Structured Product (FISP), providing passive investment opportunities with up to 50% returns in 6 months if conditions are met. "
Christian Harris, Reviewer

InstaTrade Quick Facts

Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	FISP, CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Cryptos, Futures
Regulator	BVI FSC
Platforms	InstaTrade Gear, MT4
Minimum Deposit	$1
Minimum Trade	0.01
Leverage	1:1000
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, RUB

Pros

VPS hosting caters to algo trading strategies with a dedicated physical server providing rapid execution speeds as low as 9 milliseconds.
InstaTrade delivers an excellent suite of charting tools for day traders with its web trader comprising 250+ indicators, 11 chart types and a user-friendly design.
InstaTrade TV, consisting of video interviews and valuable market insights spanning equities, cryptos and more, helps identify opportunities and inform short-term trades.

Cons

InstaTrade is registered in the offshore jurisdiction of the British Virgin Islands, resulting in limited regulatory safeguards for retail investors.
Marketing of the FISP, especially phrasing around the “guarantee of profitability” and the “elimination of risks of trading on financial markets” raises concerns.
InstaTrade sports one of the most cluttered websites and client cabinets in the industry, potentially overwhelming new traders, especially compared to XTB’s intuitive trading journey and resources.

Visit InstaTrade

InstaTrade Review

Nexo

"Nexo gives crypto traders the capability to trade, invest, lend and borrow digital assets in one place, and it’s especially good for its credit functions that pay out very high yields to lenders. However, its fees are relatively high and many day traders will prefer a more tightly regulated crypto broker."
Michael MacKenzie, Reviewer

Nexo Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	Loyalty scheme with various bonuses, plus referral program and bonus paid to lenders on credit line
Demo Account	No
Instruments	Cryptos
Platforms	Nexo Pro
Minimum Deposit	$10
Minimum Trade	$30
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP

Pros

Reputable crypto exchange that has been in business since 2018 and has taken some steps toward regulation
Nexo Pro is a user-friendly proprietary platform that suits day trading strategies with great charting features
Traders can access perpetual futures to open long or short positions on crypto assets, increasing strategic opportunities

Cons

The range of tokens is extensive compared to most crypto brokers but still much smaller than similar crypto exchanges like Kraken
Very few educational resources are available, reducing its appeal to beginners who can find more helpful resources at category leaders like eToro
Although Nexo has registered with some reputable watchdogs, it is riskier to trade with than established crypto brokers like AvaTrade and Vantage

Visit Nexo

Nexo Review

Kraken

"Kraken will suit traders looking for a diverse list of cryptos including Bitcoin and a good security track record."
William Berg, Reviewer

Kraken Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	Lower fees when trading volume exceeds $50,000 in 30 days
Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	Cryptos
Regulator	FCA, FinCEN, FINTRAC, AUSTRAC, FSA
Platforms	AlgoTrader
Minimum Deposit	$10
Minimum Trade	Variable
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF

Pros

Low exchange fees on Kraken Pro
Very good security track record with no hacks in a decade since launch
Great trading platform and mobile app

Cons

Low leverage on spot trading
Does not support many newer altcoins
Does not accept fiat deposits

Visit Kraken

Kraken Review

Binary Options Alternative 4: Spread Betting

One of the top instruments in our binary options alternatives examples is spread betting. Spread betting works similarly to CFD trading but comes with tax advantages in some regions as it is classed as gambling rather than trading.

Markets

As there are fewer spread betting brokers than CFD providers, there will be a smaller range of assets to choose from. However, spread betting speculation is still available for forex, indices, commodities, stocks and crypto markets.

Complexity

Spread betting is a reasonably straightforward instrument. However, expert traders can add complexity using order tools such as stop losses, take profit levels and automated trading bots.

Profit & Loss Potential

As with CFDs, traders can access significant leverage to multiply potential profits and losses when spread betting.

However, these levels are still likely lower than the high leverage available through international CFD brokers. This is because most spread betting providers are EU or UK-based and therefore have to comply with ESMA regulations limiting maximum margin.

Fees & Commissions

Fees and commissions are low with this alternative to binary options but will vary from broker to broker.

Safety & Regulation

Spread betting tends to be safer than CFDs and binary options due to the EU regulation of most brokers. In addition, as a more obscure field, fewer fraudulent providers are out there.

Strategies

As with CFDs, the range of strategies available is relatively limited. This binary options alternative is best suited to strong, short-term directional price movements, with significant profits available for successful speculation.

Spread Betting Brokers

Click a broker for details

1

AvaTrade

Go To AvaTrade
AvaTrade Review

New Customer Bonus Offer 20% Welcome Bonus up to $10,000

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.8 / 5

Accounts & Banking 4.3 / 5

Assets & Markets 4.5 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.8 / 5

Platforms & Tools 4.3 / 5

Customer Support 4.3 / 5

Research 4.3 / 5

Education 4.5 / 5

iOS App 4.3 / 5

Android App 4 / 5

Minimum Deposit $100

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:30 (Retail) 1:400 (Pro)

Regulator ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, ISA, CBI, FSA, FSRA, BVI, ADGM, CIRO, AFM

Instruments CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Crypto, Spread Betting, Futures

Platforms WebTrader, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, AvaFutures, MT4, MT5, AlgoTrader, TradingCentral, DupliTrade

Payment Methods Skrill, Wire Transfer, FasaPay, Mastercard, Perfect Money, Swift, MoneyGram, Credit Card, WebMoney, JCB Card, Debit Card, Neteller, Boleto

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD

Go To AvaTrade
2

Pepperstone

Go To Pepperstone
Pepperstone Review

CFDs and FX are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 81.8% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.6 / 5

Accounts & Banking 4 / 5

Assets & Markets 3.8 / 5

Fees & Costs 4.4 / 5

Platforms & Tools 4.4 / 5

Customer Support 4.6 / 5

Research 4.3 / 5

Education 4 / 5

iOS App 4.4 / 5

Android App 4.1 / 5

Minimum Deposit $0

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)

Regulator FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, CMA, BaFin, SCB

Instruments CFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto, Spread Betting

Platforms MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, DupliTrade

Payment Methods Visa, Mastercard, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Wire Transfer, POLi, UnionPay, BPAY, Neteller, Skrill, PIX Payment, Apple Pay, Google Wallet

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD

Go To Pepperstone
3

Spreadex

Go To Spreadex
Spreadex Review

New Customer Bonus Offer £300 cashback

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.8 / 5

Assets & Markets 4.5 / 5

Fees & Costs 4 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.8 / 5

Customer Support 4.3 / 5

Research 4.3 / 5

Education 4 / 5

iOS App 4.5 / 5

Android App 4.5 / 5

Minimum Deposit £0

Minimum Trade £0.01

Leverage 1:30

Regulator FCA

Instruments Forex, CFDs, Indices, Commodities, Stocks, Crypto, Bonds, Interest Rates, ETFs, Options, Spread Betting

Platforms Spreadex Platform, TradingView

Payment Methods Cheque, Wire Transfer, Debit Card, Credit Card, Mastercard, Visa

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, CHF

Go To Spreadex
4

Trade Nation

Go To Trade Nation
Trade Nation Review

New Customer Bonus Offer 200 Sign-Up Reward Points

84% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.3 / 5

Accounts & Banking 4.5 / 5

Assets & Markets 3.5 / 5

Fees & Costs 4.5 / 5

Platforms & Tools 4.3 / 5

Customer Support 4.5 / 5

Research 3.8 / 5

Education 3.8 / 5

iOS App 4.1 / 5

Android App 0 / 5

Minimum Deposit $0

Minimum Trade 0.1 Lots

Leverage 1:500 (entity dependent)

Regulator FCA, ASIC, FSCA, SCB, FSA

Instruments Forex, CFDs, Indices, Shares, Commodities, Futures, Bonds, Cryptos (Bahamas Entity Only)

Platforms MT4

Payment Methods Credit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Wire Transfer, Skrill, PayPal, Debit Card

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, ZAR, SEK, NOK, DKK

Go To Trade Nation
5

Vantage

Go To Vantage
Vantage Review

New Customer Bonus Offer 50% Welcome Deposit Bonus, earn redeemable rewards in the Vantage Rewards scheme

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.6 / 5

Accounts & Banking 4.5 / 5

Assets & Markets 4.5 / 5

Fees & Costs 4.4 / 5

Platforms & Tools 4.3 / 5

Customer Support 4.4 / 5

Research 4 / 5

Education 4 / 5

iOS App 3.6 / 5

Android App 3.9 / 5

Minimum Deposit $50

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:500

Regulator FCA, ASIC, FSCA, VFSC

Instruments CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds

Platforms ProTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView, DupliTrade

Payment Methods Skrill, BPAY, JCB Card, AstroPay, Visa, Swift, Neteller, Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, UnionPay, FasaPay, Sticpay, Bitwallet, Volet

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, HKD, SGD, PLN

Go To Vantage
6

FxPro

Go To FxPro
FxPro Review

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.4 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.8 / 5

Assets & Markets 4 / 5

Fees & Costs 4 / 5

Platforms & Tools 4.3 / 5

Customer Support 4 / 5

Research 4 / 5

Education 4 / 5

iOS App 4.7 / 5

Android App 4.3 / 5

Minimum Deposit $100

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro), 1:1000 (Via Prime Ash Capital Limited)

Regulator FCA, CySEC, FSCA, SCB, FSA

Instruments CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures

Platforms FxPro Edge, MT4, MT5, cTrader, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, DupliTrade

Payment Methods Wire Transfer, Credit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Maestro, Mastercard, Visa, Google Wallet, Bitcoin Payments, Ethereum Payments

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, ZAR, CHF, PLN

Go To FxPro
7

CMC Markets

Go To CMC Markets
CMC Markets Review

Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.8 / 5

Accounts & Banking 4.5 / 5

Assets & Markets 4.5 / 5

Fees & Costs 4.3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 4 / 5

Customer Support 4.5 / 5

Research 4.5 / 5

Education 4.3 / 5

iOS App 4.1 / 5

Android App 3.7 / 5

Minimum Deposit $0

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)

Regulator FCA, ASIC, MAS, CIRO, BaFin, FMA, DFSA

Instruments CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Treasuries, Custom Indices, Spread Betting

Platforms Web, MT4

Payment Methods Visa, Mastercard, Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, SEK, NOK, SGD, PLN

Go To CMC Markets
8

City Index

Go To City Index
City Index Review

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.2 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.8 / 5

Assets & Markets 4.5 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.8 / 5

Platforms & Tools 4 / 5

Customer Support 4 / 5

Research 4.3 / 5

Education 4.3 / 5

iOS App 3.8 / 5

Android App 3.1 / 5

Minimum Deposit $0

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:30 (Retail), 1:50 (Accredited Investor), 1:200 (Sophisticated Investor), 1:300 (Wholesale Investor), 1:400 (Professional Trader). Varies with jurisdiction.

Regulator FCA, ASIC, CySEC, MAS

Instruments CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, Futures, Options, Bonds, Interest Rates,ETFs,Spread Betting

Platforms Web Trader, MT4, TradingView, TradingCentral

Payment Methods Wire Transfer, Mastercard, Credit Card, Debit Card, Visa, Maestro

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, PLN, CZK

Go To City Index
9

FXCM

Go To FXCM
FXCM Review

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.3 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.8 / 5

Assets & Markets 4 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.5 / 5

Platforms & Tools 4 / 5

Customer Support 4.3 / 5

Research 3.8 / 5

Education 3.5 / 5

iOS App 0 / 5

Android App 0 / 5

Minimum Deposit $50

Minimum Trade Variable

Leverage 1:30

Regulator FCA, CySEC, ASIC, FSCA, BaFin, CIRO

Instruments Forex, Stock CFDs, Commodities CFDs, Crypto CFDs

Platforms Trading Station, MT4, TradingView

Payment Methods Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Wallet, Wire Transfer

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, AUD

Go To FXCM
10

Axi

Go To Axi
Axi Review

72.4% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 3.8 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.5 / 5

Assets & Markets 3 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.8 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.5 / 5

Customer Support 3.8 / 5

Research 3.5 / 5

Education 3.8 / 5

iOS App 3.6 / 5

Android App 4.2 / 5

Minimum Deposit $0

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:500

Regulator FCA, ASIC, FMA, DFSA, SVGFSA

Instruments CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto

Platforms Axi Copy Trading, MT4, AutoChartist

Payment Methods Neteller, Skrill, Credit Card, Debit Card, Visa, Mastercard, JCB Card, Wire Transfer, FasaPay, PIX Payment, Maestro, Boleto, Giropay, Sofort, POLi, BPAY, iDeal, Alipay, Airtel

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, PLN

Go To Axi

Here is a summary of why we recommend these brokers:

AvaTrade - AvaTrade is a first-rate spread betting platform with opportunities on 1000+ stocks, indices, commodities and currencies, sporting leverage up to 1:400. The MetaTrader platforms cater to seasoned traders with advanced charting tools and alerts, while the extensive Academy is home to terrific education with 18 courses, 150 lessons, 50 quizzes and a video tutorial explaining how to spread bet at AvaTrade.
Pepperstone - Pepperstone offers a competitive range of 1200+ spread betting instruments covering forex, indices, commodities, shares and ETFs. Spreads are some of the most competitive that we’ve seen during tests, starting from 0.6 pips for EUR/USD. Spread betting is also available on the MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView terminals, offering more platform flexibility than most alternatives.
Spreadex - Spreadex stands out as one of the few brokers that specializes in spread betting, offering 10,000+ instruments (rivalling top contenders like IG with 17,000+). There’s also valuable spread betting education covering strategies, tips and analysis. With user-friendly TradingView charts and advanced order types, both beginners and experienced spread betters are well catered to.
Trade Nation - Trade Nation offers hundreds of instruments via spread bets, though this notably trails top alternatives like CMC Markets (12,000+) and Spreadex (10,000+). We found the TN Trader platform to be a standout option for beginners during tests, thanks to its straightforward fixed-spread model. That said, offering just one platform for spread betting makes the broker more restrictive than most competitors.
Vantage - Vantage continues to offer commission-free spread betting on forex, indices and precious metals. With 15 indices, including less commonly offered instruments like the VIX and Bovespa, Vantage is particularly suited to experienced equities traders. It’s also one of the few brokers that offers an unlimited demo account, allowing you to practice your strategies continuously.
FxPro - Spread betters can access six asset classes through the FxPro's proprietary spread betting platform, Edge. Whilst it’s a shame that Edge is the only available terminal for spread betting, traders can access 50 technical indicators (more than MT4), plus an economic calendar and price alerts, providing a decent all-in-one spread betting environment. Customer support also performed well during tests, connecting us to an agent instantly and responding to our spread betting queries sufficiently.
CMC Markets - CMC Markets’ range of 12,000+ spread betting instruments surpasses most competitors, allowing you to speculate on forex, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs and treasuries. You can trade on both CMC Web or MT4, though we recommend the award-winning CMC terminal for a top-notch mobile and web trading experience - perfect for spread betters who prefer to trade on the go.
City Index - City Index offers 8,500+ spread betting instruments on its award-winning web platform, including bonds, ETFs and interest rates. Spreads start from 0.2 pips on EUR/USD, positioning the broker ahead of top competitors like Pepperstone. With 16 chart types, over 80 technical indicators, and a performance analytics tool, City Index is a top pick for both beginners and experienced spread bettors.
FXCM - UK traders can enjoy competitive stakes at FXCM from £0.07 per point. Spread betting is available on all available platforms, making it a flexible option for beginners. That said, getting reliable help may be a challenge - when tested, customer support was unhelpful, and we were frustrated that the agent required clarification when asked a straightforward spread betting query.
Axi - Axi offers a compelling spread betting experience for residents in the UK and Ireland. Where it excels is its 24/5 support to help with any issues and smooth three-step process to spread betting trading on currencies, socks, indices and commodities.

AvaTrade

"AvaTrade offers active traders everything they need: an intuitive WebTrader, powerful AvaProtect risk management, a smooth 5-minute sign-up process, and dependable support you can rely on in fast-moving markets."
Jemma Grist, Reviewer

AvaTrade Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	20% Welcome Bonus up to $10,000
Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Crypto, Spread Betting, Futures
Regulator	ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, ISA, CBI, FSA, FSRA, BVI, ADGM, CIRO, AFM
Platforms	WebTrader, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, AvaFutures, MT4, MT5, AlgoTrader, TradingCentral, DupliTrade
Minimum Deposit	$100
Minimum Trade	0.01 Lots
Leverage	1:30 (Retail) 1:400 (Pro)
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD

Pros

Years on, AvaTrade remains one of the few brokers offering a bespoke risk management tool, AvaProtect, that insures losses up to $1M for a fee and is easy to activate on the platform.
Support at AvaTrade performed excellently during testing, with response times of 3 minutes and localized support in major trading jurisdictions, including the UK, Europe and the Middle East.
AvaTrade continues to enhance its suite of products, recently through AvaFutures, providing an alternative vehicle to speculate on over 35 markets with low day trading margins.

Cons

While signing up is a breeze, AvaTrade lacks an ECN account like Pepperstone or IC Markets, which provides the raw spreads and ultra-fast execution many day traders are looking for.
Although the deposit process itself is smooth, AvaTrade still doesn’t facilitate crypto payments, a feature increasingly offered by brokers like TopFX, which caters to crypto-focused traders.
The AvaSocial app is good but not great – the look and feel, plus the navigation between finding strategy providers and account management needs upgrading to rival category leaders like eToro.

Visit AvaTrade

AvaTrade Review

Pepperstone

"Pepperstone stands out as a top choice for day trading, offering razor-sharp spreads, ultra-fast execution, and advanced charting platforms for experienced traders. New traders are also welcomed with no minimum deposit, extensive educational resources, and exceptional 24/7 support."
Christian Harris, Reviewer

Pepperstone Quick Facts

Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	CFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto, Spread Betting
Regulator	FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, CMA, BaFin, SCB
Platforms	MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, DupliTrade
Minimum Deposit	$0
Minimum Trade	0.01 Lots
Leverage	1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD

Pros

Pepperstone emerges as a low-cost broker, especially for serious day traders with spreads from 0.0 in the Razor account and rebates of 25%+ through the Active Trader program.
Pepperstone boasts impressive execution speeds, averaging around 30ms, facilitating fast order processing and execution that’s ideal for day trading.
There’s support for a range of industry-leading charting platforms including MT4, MT5, TradingView, and cTrader, catering to various short-term trading styles, including algo trading.

Cons

Despite enhancements to its range of markets, crypto offerings are relatively limited compared to other brokers such as eToro, with no option to invest in real coins.
Pepperstone’s demo accounts are active for only 30 days, which may not be not long enough to familiarize yourself with the different platforms and test trading strategies.
Pepperstone does not support cTrader Copy, a popular copy trading feature built into the excellent cTrader platform and available at alternatives like IC Markets, though it has introduced an intuitive copy trading app.

Visit Pepperstone

Pepperstone Review

Spreadex

"Spreadex will appeal to UK day traders who are interested in both spread betting on financial markets and placing traditional bets on sports events. Fees are low on short trades and profits are tax-free on spread bets. There's also a powerful proprietary charting platform, plus £0 minimum deposit required to get started. "
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

Spreadex Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	£300 cashback
Demo Account	No
Instruments	Forex, CFDs, Indices, Commodities, Stocks, Crypto, Bonds, Interest Rates, ETFs, Options, Spread Betting
Regulator	FCA
Platforms	Spreadex Platform, TradingView
Minimum Deposit	£0
Minimum Trade	£0.01
Leverage	1:30
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, CHF

Pros

Traders have the opportunity to bet on sports events from their brokerage account
There's an excellent range of instruments and trading vehicles for short-term traders
There's a good selection of signals, analysis tools and risk management tools, including guaranteed stops

Cons

The lack of a demo account will frustrate prospective clients who want to test Spreadex's services
The proprietary terminal lacks comprehensive charting features of platforms like MT4 and MT5
There's no support for expert advisors or other trading bots

Visit Spreadex

Spreadex Review

Trade Nation

"Trade Nation is a good choice for newer traders looking for a wide range of financial markets on a user-friendly platform. There is no minimum deposit, free funding options and strong education."
William Berg, Reviewer

Trade Nation Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	200 Sign-Up Reward Points
Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	Forex, CFDs, Indices, Shares, Commodities, Futures, Bonds, Cryptos (Bahamas Entity Only)
Regulator	FCA, ASIC, FSCA, SCB, FSA
Platforms	MT4
Minimum Deposit	$0
Minimum Trade	0.1 Lots
Leverage	1:500 (entity dependent)
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, ZAR, SEK, NOK, DKK

Pros

There is a low minimum deposit for beginners
Multiple account currencies are accepted for global traders
A choice of trading platforms and apps, including MT4, make the brand a good fit for savvy traders

Cons

Fewer legal protections with offshore entity

Visit Trade Nation

Trade Nation Review

Vantage

"Vantage remains an excellent option for CFD traders seeking a tightly-regulated broker with access to the reliable MetaTrader platforms. The fast sign-up process and $50 minimum deposit make it very straightforward to start day trading quickly."
Jemma Grist, Reviewer

Vantage Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	50% Welcome Deposit Bonus, earn redeemable rewards in the Vantage Rewards scheme
Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds
Regulator	FCA, ASIC, FSCA, VFSC
Platforms	ProTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView, DupliTrade
Minimum Deposit	$50
Minimum Trade	0.01 Lots
Leverage	1:500
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, HKD, SGD, PLN

Pros

It’s quick and easy to open a live account – taking less than 5 minutes
The low minimum deposit of $50 and zero funding fees make this broker a great choice for new traders
The broker has recently made efforts to expand its suite of CFDs providing further trading opportunities

Cons

A steep $10,000 deposit is needed for the best trading conditions, which include the $1.50 commission per side
It's a shame that some clients will need to register with the offshore entity, which offers less regulatory protection
Unfortunately, cryptos are only available for Australian clients

Visit Vantage

Vantage Review

FxPro

"FxPro is a stellar option for day traders, sporting exceptionally fast execution speeds under 12ms, competitive fees that were lowered in 2022, and terrific charting platforms in MT4, MT5, cTrader and FxPro Edge."
Christian Harris, Reviewer

FxPro Quick Facts

Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures
Regulator	FCA, CySEC, FSCA, SCB, FSA
Platforms	FxPro Edge, MT4, MT5, cTrader, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, DupliTrade
Minimum Deposit	$100
Minimum Trade	0.01 Lots
Leverage	1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro), 1:1000 (Via Prime Ash Capital Limited)
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, ZAR, CHF, PLN

Pros

FxPro offers four reliable charting platforms, notably the intuitive FxPro Edge, with over 50 indicators, 7 chart types and 15 chart timeframes.
FxPro's Wallet is a standout feature that allows traders to manage funds securely. By segregating unused funds from active trading accounts, the Wallet provides additional protection and convenience.
FxPro operates under a 'No Dealing Desk' (NDD) model, ensuring fast and transparent order execution, often under 12 milliseconds, ideal for short-term trading strategies.

Cons

While FxPro provides 24/5 customer support through multiple channels that performed well during testing, it lacks 24/7 availability, which can disadvantage traders needing assistance outside traditional market hours.
Despite a growing Knowledge Hub and a $10M funded demo account, FxPro is geared towards advanced traders, with beginners potentially finding the account and fee structure complex.
There are no passive investment tools like copy trading or interest paid on cash. While active traders may not miss these, competitors like eToro catering to active and passive investors have more comprehensive offerings.

Visit FxPro

FxPro Review

CMC Markets

"With advanced charting tools and an extensive range of tradable CFDs, including an almost unrivalled selection of currencies and custom indices, CMC Markets provides a fantastic online platform for traders of all levels. "
Christian Harris, Reviewer

CMC Markets Quick Facts

Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Treasuries, Custom Indices, Spread Betting
Regulator	FCA, ASIC, MAS, CIRO, BaFin, FMA, DFSA
Platforms	Web, MT4
Minimum Deposit	$0
Minimum Trade	0.01 Lots
Leverage	1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, SEK, NOK, SGD, PLN

Pros

CMC offers excellent pricing, including tight spreads and low trading fees for all but stock CFDs. The Alpha and Price+ schemes also offer perks for active traders with up to 40% discounts on spreads.
CMC Markets offers a rich investment offering with over 12,000 CFDs and more recently options trading, providing opportunities to trade market volatility and hedge existing positions.
The web platform delivers a fantastic user experience with advanced charting tools for day trading and customizable features, catering to both beginners and experienced traders. MT4 (but not MT5) is also supported.

Cons

An inactivity fee of $10 per month is applied after 12 months of inactivity, which may deter casual investors.
While CMC offers an above-average suite of assets, there is no support for trading real stocks and UK clients can’t trade cryptocurrencies.
The CMC Markets app offers the complete trading package but the design and user experience trails category leaders like eToro.

Visit CMC Markets

CMC Markets Review

City Index

"City Index is a great match for active traders, with ultra-fast execution speeds averaging 20ms, a highly customizable web platform featuring 90+ technical indicators, and some of the best education we’ve seen."
Christian Harris, Reviewer

City Index Quick Facts

Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, Futures, Options, Bonds, Interest Rates,ETFs,Spread Betting
Regulator	FCA, ASIC, CySEC, MAS
Platforms	Web Trader, MT4, TradingView, TradingCentral
Minimum Deposit	$0
Minimum Trade	0.01 Lots
Leverage	1:30 (Retail), 1:50 (Accredited Investor), 1:200 (Sophisticated Investor), 1:300 (Wholesale Investor), 1:400 (Professional Trader). Varies with jurisdiction.
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, PLN, CZK

Pros

City Index boasts 13,500+ markets spanning forex, indices, shares, commodities, bonds, ETFs, and interest rates, with the platform's inclusion of niche markets like interest rates offering unique trading avenues not always found elsewhere.
City Index provides versatile trading platforms for all skill levels. The intuitive Web Trader platform is ideal for beginners, while support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and TradingView adds robust analysis and automation features, ensuring a flexible experience for traders of all levels.
City Index has made strides to enhance the trading experience, notably through its Performance Analytics in 2024 for insights into trades and discipline, plus an upgraded mobile app featuring in-built market research and news at a swipe.

Cons

Unlike brokers such as AvaTrade and BlackBull, City Index does not provide passive investment opportunities like social copy trading, or real stock or ETF ownership, making it less appealing for hands-off trading.
While many brokers like eToro have expanded their crypto offerings, City Index only provides crypto CFDs, and the limited range may not satisfy traders looking for a broader selection of altcoins.
City Index lacks an Islamic account with swap-free trading conditions, making the broker less appealing to Muslim traders compared to providers like Eightcap and Pepperstone.

Visit City Index

City Index Review

FXCM

"FXCM maintains its position as a top pick for traders deploying automated trading strategies, with four powerful platforms, strategy backtesting and algo trading through APIs. The broker is also great for active traders, with discounted spreads and low to zero commissions on popular assets."
William Berg, Reviewer

FXCM Quick Facts

Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	Forex, Stock CFDs, Commodities CFDs, Crypto CFDs
Regulator	FCA, CySEC, ASIC, FSCA, BaFin, CIRO
Platforms	Trading Station, MT4, TradingView
Minimum Deposit	$50
Minimum Trade	Variable
Leverage	1:30
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, AUD

Pros

The broker offers spread discounts and other excellent perks for experienced traders in the Active Trader account
Alongside the 4 charting platforms, FXCM also offers a market-leading range of specialist software for experienced investors, including QuantConnect, AgenaTrader and Sierra Chart
FXCM’s global reputation is impressive, with licenses from the FCA, ASIC, CySEC and FSCA and a 20-year business history

Cons

Although FXCM continues to gear their services towards experienced traders, it’s a shame that there are no managed accounts on offer
The live chat support can be slow and unreliable compared to the top competitors
There is no choice of retail accounts for traders, nor any Cent/Micro account options

Visit FXCM

FXCM Review

Axi

"Axi is a stand-out option if you want to day trade forex on the MetaTrader 4 platform thanks to the broker’s growing selection of 70+ currency pairs, the MT4 NextGen upgrade, and tight spreads from just 0.2 pips if you opt for the Pro account."
Christian Harris, Reviewer

Axi Quick Facts

Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto
Regulator	FCA, ASIC, FMA, DFSA, SVGFSA
Platforms	Axi Copy Trading, MT4, AutoChartist
Minimum Deposit	$0
Minimum Trade	0.01 Lots
Leverage	1:500
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, PLN

Pros

Advanced traders can now sign up for the Axi Select funded trader program through the broker’s offshore entity, providing funding up to $1 million with a 90% profit share.
Axi's latest copy trading app is really intuitive based on our tests with useful filtering options to match strategies with individual risk preferences.
Axi offers a terrific MT4 experience, enhanced with the NextGen plug-in for advanced order management and analytics, and complete with low execution latency of approximately 30ms.

Cons

Despite performing well whenever we use it, Axi's support is unavailable 24/7, which can be inconvenient for traders in different time zones or those needing assistance outside standard trading hours.
Despite bolstering its stock CFDs in US, UK and EU markets, it’s still nowhere near as extensive as firms like BlackBull which offer thousands of equities for diverse opportunities.
Axi is falling behind by only offering MT4 when many rivals now support MT5, cTrader, TradingView and proprietary software for a slicker experience with more advanced tools.

Visit Axi

Axi Review

Binary Options Alternative 5: Stock Trading

Stock trading is the most simple and common form of trading and one of the most popular alternatives to binary options. Investors can purchase single stocks, ETFs or mutual funds containing hand-picked segments of specific sectors or global markets.

Markets

The best stock trading brokers will offer thousands of stocks from many international regions, with equities from the USA, EU and UK reasonably standard for all. Some brokers will support mutual fund investing, while others may focus solely on single stocks and ETFs for day trading.

Complexity

Suitable for beginners up to experts, stock trading offers opportunities for day trading, swing trading, long-term investing or earning profit from dividends. This can be as simple as buying a stock and holding it for an extended period to as complex as setting up an automated dividend portfolio targeting the biggest yielding companies in a region.

Profit & Loss Potential

While margin trading is possible through some brokers, most stock trading is done on cash accounts. As a result, stock trading does not typically offer as much profit potential as derivative assets such as binary options, CFDs or vanilla options.

Fees & Commissions

Of all the binary options alternatives available, stock trading has the most variance in its fees. Some brokers allow free investing, while others charge commissions per stock or a dealing fee per trade.

In addition, some more traditional brokers, specifically international companies, will charge account fees. To offset these, many regions, including the USA and UK, offer tax-advantaged stock accounts that investors can use for retirement or general savings.

Safety & Regulation

There is no shortage of highly regulated brokers when making a stock trading investment. Regional regulators also protect the equities themselves for additional peace of mind. This is a key benefit over some of the other binary options alternatives explored below, including crypto exchanges.

Strategies

One of the greatest strengths of stock investing is the flexibility afforded for trading. Traders can hold positions for an unrestricted period, going long or short on an asset.

With this binary options alternative, investors can target high dividend-yield stocks to be paid an income from holding equities. Or, traders can set up bots to buy and sell based on preset parameters. Investors can even hedge spot stocks with futures positions to reduce risk.

Stock Brokers

Click a broker for details

1

FOREX.com

Go To FOREX.com
FOREX.com Review

New Customer Bonus Offer Active Trader Program With A 15% Reduction In Costs

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.9 / 5

Accounts & Banking 4 / 5

Assets & Markets 4.3 / 5

Fees & Costs 4.6 / 5

Platforms & Tools 4.6 / 5

Customer Support 4.3 / 5

Research 4.8 / 5

Education 4.5 / 5

iOS App 3.6 / 5

Android App 3.8 / 5

Minimum Deposit $100

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:50

Regulator NFA, CFTC

Instruments Forex, Stocks, Futures, Futures Options

Platforms MT4, MT5, TradingView, eSignal, AutoChartist, TradingCentral

Payment Methods Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller, ACH Transfer

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, PLN

Go To FOREX.com
2

Interactive Brokers

Go To Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers Review

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.5 / 5

Assets & Markets 4.6 / 5

Fees & Costs 4.3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.3 / 5

Customer Support 3 / 5

Research 4.4 / 5

Education 4.3 / 5

iOS App 4.3 / 5

Android App 4.5 / 5

Minimum Deposit $0

Minimum Trade $100

Leverage 1:50

Regulator FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM

Instruments Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies

Platforms Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral

Payment Methods Cheque, ACH Transfer, Wire Transfer, Automated Customer Account Transfer Service, TransferWise, Debit Card

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF

Go To Interactive Brokers
3

eToro USA

Go To eToro USA
eToro USA Review

New Customer Bonus Offer Invest $100 and get $10

Securities trading offered by eToro USA Securities, Inc. (“the BD”), member of FINRA and SIPC. Cryptocurrency offered by eToro USA LLC (“the MSB”) (NMLS: 1769299) and is not FDIC or SIPC insured. Investing involves risk. https://www.daytrading.com/ is not an affiliate and may be compensated if you access certain products or services offered by the MSB and/or the BD.

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.3 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3 / 5

Assets & Markets 3.9 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.4 / 5

Platforms & Tools 4 / 5

Customer Support 3 / 5

Research 4.3 / 5

Education 4.5 / 5

iOS App 4.3 / 5

Android App 4 / 5

Minimum Deposit $100

Minimum Trade $10

Leverage

Regulator SEC, FINRA

Instruments Stocks, Options, ETFs, Crypto

Platforms eToro Trading Platform & CopyTrader

Payment Methods ACH Transfer, Debit Card, PayPal, Wire Transfer

Account Currencies USD

Go To eToro USA
4

NinjaTrader

Go To NinjaTrader
NinjaTrader Review

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.3 / 5

Accounts & Banking 2.8 / 5

Assets & Markets 2.9 / 5

Fees & Costs 4.3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 4.5 / 5

Customer Support 4 / 5

Research 4 / 5

Education 4 / 5

iOS App 3 / 5

Android App 3.2 / 5

Minimum Deposit $0

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:50

Regulator NFA, CFTC

Instruments Forex, Stocks, Options, Commodities, Futures, Crypto

Platforms NinjaTrader Desktop, Web & Mobile, eSignal

Payment Methods ACH Transfer, Debit Card, Wire Transfer, Cheque

Account Currencies USD

Go To NinjaTrader
5

Videforex

Go To Videforex
Videforex Review

New Customer Bonus Offer 20% to 200% Deposit Bonus

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 2.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3 / 5

Assets & Markets 3.5 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.5 / 5

Customer Support 4.5 / 5

Research 1.3 / 5

Education 1.3 / 5

iOS App 4.1 / 5

Android App 4.4 / 5

Minimum Deposit $250

Minimum Trade $0.01

Leverage 1:500

Regulator

Instruments Binary Options, CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto

Platforms TradingView

Payment Methods Skrill, Perfect Money, Bitcoin Payments, Neteller, Credit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Ethereum Payments

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, RUB

Go To Videforex
6

World Forex

Go To World Forex
World Forex Review

New Customer Bonus Offer 100% Deposit Bonus

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 2.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.3 / 5

Assets & Markets 3 / 5

Fees & Costs 2.8 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.5 / 5

Customer Support 3.3 / 5

Research 2.5 / 5

Education 2.8 / 5

iOS App 1.3 / 5

Android App 1.3 / 5

Minimum Deposit $1

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:1000

Regulator SVGFSA

Instruments Forex, CFD Stocks, Metals, Energies, Cryptos, Digital Contracts

Platforms MT4, MT5

Payment Methods Wire Transfer, Debit Card, Credit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Google Wallet, Apple Pay, Perfect Money, Bitcoin Payments, Volet

Account Currencies USD, EUR, RUB

Go To World Forex
7

InstaTrade

Go To InstaTrade
InstaTrade Review

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 2.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3 / 5

Assets & Markets 3 / 5

Fees & Costs 3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.5 / 5

Customer Support 3.5 / 5

Research 3.5 / 5

Education 3.3 / 5

iOS App 4.8 / 5

Android App 4.4 / 5

Minimum Deposit $1

Minimum Trade 0.01

Leverage 1:1000

Regulator BVI FSC

Instruments FISP, CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Cryptos, Futures

Platforms InstaTrade Gear, MT4

Payment Methods Visa, Mastercard, Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, Bitcoin Payments, Ethereum Payments

Account Currencies USD, EUR, RUB

Go To InstaTrade
8

Binarium

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Binarium Review

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 2.8 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.8 / 5

Assets & Markets 3.3 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.5 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.5 / 5

Customer Support 3.3 / 5

Research 1.3 / 5

Education 4.2 / 5

iOS App 1.3 / 5

Android App 3.3 / 5

Minimum Deposit $5

Minimum Trade $1

Leverage

Regulator

Instruments Forex, Stocks, Cryptos

Platforms Own

Payment Methods QIWI, Yandex Money, Bitcoin Payments, Neteller, WebMoney, Wire Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, Credit Card, Debit Card

Account Currencies USD, EUR, AUD, RUB

Go To Binarium
9

Capitalcore

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Capitalcore Review

New Customer Bonus Offer 40% Deposit Bonus up to $2,500

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 3.3 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.8 / 5

Assets & Markets 3.5 / 5

Fees & Costs 3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.8 / 5

Customer Support 3.5 / 5

Research 2.5 / 5

Education 3.5 / 5

iOS App 0 / 5

Android App 0 / 5

Minimum Deposit $10

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:2000

Regulator IFSA

Instruments Forex, Metals, Stocks, Cryptos, Futures Indices

Platforms WebTrader, Pro

Payment Methods Ethereum Payments, Mastercard, Visa, Perfect Money, Bitcoin Payments, Debit Card, Credit Card, PayPal

Account Currencies USD

Go To Capitalcore
10

xChief

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xChief Review

New Customer Bonus Offer $100 No Deposit Bonus

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.8 / 5

Assets & Markets 3.7 / 5

Fees & Costs 3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 4.3 / 5

Customer Support 3.5 / 5

Research 3.5 / 5

Education 3.3 / 5

iOS App 0 / 5

Android App 0 / 5

Minimum Deposit $10

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:1000

Regulator ASIC

Instruments CFDs, Forex, Metals, Commodities, Stocks, Indices

Platforms MT4, MT5

Payment Methods Wire Transfer, Bitcoin Payments, Credit Card, UnionPay, Skrill, Neteller, WebMoney, Perfect Money, Debit Card, Ethereum Payments, FasaPay, Volet

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF

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Here is a short overview of each broker's pros and cons

FOREX.com - FOREX.com provides access to a wide array of US, EU, and UK stock CFDs, featuring spreads as narrow as 1 point. This enables you to speculate on established household names and emerging IPOs, fostering ample opportunities for diversification within stock portfolios. US stocks are accessible from as low as 1.8 cents per share.
Interactive Brokers - IBKR provides access to an unparalleled array of equity products originating from 24 diverse countries. Whether seeking capital appreciation, dividends, or voting rights, you can directly invest in stocks. Alternatively, you can engage in speculative trading on price movements through CFDs, futures and more than 13,000 ETFs. IBKR also enhanced its European equity derivatives offering in 2024 by adding trading on CBOE Europe Derivatives (CEDX).
eToro USA - You can trade 3000+ popular US stocks and ETFs at eToro US, with zero commissions and fractional shares available. The broker remains an excellent choice for beginner stock traders, thanks to its comprehensive eToro Academy and user-friendly stock market research features.
NinjaTrader - Stocks can be traded by connecting the NinjaTrader platform to supporting brokers. The firm also provides access to a range of index futures via standard and micro contracts, including the E-Mini S&P 500 Index Futures and E-Mini Russell 2000 Index Futures.
Videforex - Trade binary options and CFDs on global stocks from US, European, Russian and Asian exchanges, as well as 37 indices covering a wide range of global markets. The access to stocks trumps many binary options brokers.
World Forex - World Forex traders can speculate on price movements of 40+ stocks with CFDs and digital contracts with no commissions, tight spreads and high payouts. You can take positions on big names like IBM and American Express.
InstaTrade - InstaTrade offers an average selection of around 200 global stocks and indices, subject to your location. A modest commission rate of 0.1% on US shares is applied, complemented by various tools designed to keep you informed on stock market developments, though its 'Stock Markets' analytics hadn't been updated for 4+ months during our latest round of testing.
Binarium - Go long or short on blue chip stocks like Apple and Microsoft. You can place high/low binaries on the user-friendly platform. The suite of stocks is focused on US markets, however.
Capitalcore - Capitalcore offers just 18 stocks spanning major US firms like Apple, Netflix and Nvidia and a handful of futures indices. However, this falls way short of the 16,000+ global stocks and indices at alternatives like IG. Also, the lack of screeners and market insights results in a very limiting stock trading experience.
xChief - xChief offers 100 US company stock CFDs for MT4 DirectFX and Classic+ account holders. Alongside popular multinationals like Apple and Coca-Cola, you can also speculate on several major stock indices with spreads from 2.

FOREX.com

"FOREX.com remains a best-in-class brokerage for active forex traders of all experience levels, with over 80 currency pairs, tight spreads from 0.0 pips and low commissions. The powerful charting platforms collectively offer over 100 technical indicators, as well as extensive research tools."
Christian Harris, Reviewer

FOREX.com Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	Active Trader Program With A 15% Reduction In Costs
Fractional Shares	No
Demo Account	Yes
Regulator	NFA, CFTC
Platforms	MT4, MT5, TradingView, eSignal, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
Minimum Deposit	$100
Automation	Yes
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, PLN

Stock Exchanges

FOREX.com offers trading on 14 stock exchanges:

Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)
Borsa Italiana
CAC 40 Index France
DAX GER 40 Index
Dow Jones
Euronext
FTSE UK Index
Hang Seng
Hong Kong Stock Exchange
IBEX 35
Japan Exchange Group
Nasdaq
S&P 500
SIX Swiss Exchange

Pros

FOREX.com offers industry-leading forex pricing starting from 0.0 pips, alongside competitive cashback rebates of up to 15% for serious day traders.
The in-house Web Trader continues to shine as one of the best-designed platforms for aspiring day traders with a slick design and over 80 technical indicators for market analysis.
Alongside a choice of leading platforms, FOREX.com offers a superb suite of supplementary tools including Trading Central research, SMART Signals pattern scanner, trading signals, and strategy builders.

Cons

Demo accounts are frustratingly time-limited to 90 days, which doesn’t give you enough time to test day trading strategies effectively.
There’s no negative balance protection for US clients, so you may find yourself owing more money than your initial deposit into your account.
Despite increasing its range of instruments, FOREX.com's product portfolio is still limited to forex and CFDs, so there are no options to invest in real stocks, real ETFs or real cryptocurrencies.

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FOREX.com Review

Interactive Brokers

"Interactive Brokers is one of the best brokers for advanced day traders, providing powerful charting platforms, real-time data, and customizable layouts, notably through the new IBKR Desktop application. Its superb pricing and advanced order options also make it highly attractive for day traders, while its diverse range of equities is still among the best in the industry."
Christian Harris, Reviewer

Interactive Brokers Quick Facts

Fractional Shares	Yes
Demo Account	Yes
Regulator	FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM
Platforms	Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral
Minimum Deposit	$0
Automation	Yes
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF

Stock Exchanges

Interactive Brokers offers trading on 16 stock exchanges:

Borsa Italiana
CAC 40 Index France
Chicago Mercantile Exchange
Euronext
IBEX 35
Japan Exchange Group
Korean Stock Exchange
London Metal Exchange
London Stock Exchange
Nasdaq
Nasdaq Nordic & Baltics
New York Stock Exchange
Russell 2000
Shenzhen Stock Exchange
Tadawul
Toronto Stock Exchange

Pros

While primarily geared towards experienced traders, IBKR has made moves to broaden its appeal in recent years, reducing its minimum deposit from $10,000 to $0.
The TWS platform has clearly been built for intermediate and advanced traders and comes with over 100 order types and a reliable real-time market data feed that rarely goes offline.
The new IBKR Desktop platform takes the best of TWS while adding bespoke tools like Option Lattice and Screeners with MultiSort to create a genuinely impressive trading experience for day traders at every level.

Cons

Support can be slow and frustrating based on tests, so you might find it challenging to reach customer service representatives promptly or encounter delays in resolving issues.
You can only have one active session per account, so you can’t have your desktop program and mobile app running simultaneously, making for a sometimes frustrating trading experience.
IBKR provides a wide range of research tools, but their distribution across trading platforms and the web-based 'Account Management' page lacks consistency, leading to a confusing user experience.

Visit Interactive Brokers

eToro USA

"eToro remains a top pick for traders looking for leading social investing and copy trading services. With a low deposit, zero commissions and an intuitive platform, the broker will meet the needs of newer day traders."
Jemma Grist, Reviewer

eToro USA Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	Invest $100 and get $10
Fractional Shares	Yes
Demo Account	Yes
Regulator	SEC, FINRA
Platforms	eToro Trading Platform & CopyTrader
Minimum Deposit	$100
Automation	Yes
Account Currencies	USD

Stock Exchanges

eToro USA offers trading on 3 stock exchanges:

Dow Jones
New York Stock Exchange
S&P 500

Pros

eToro USA Securities is a trustworthy, SEC-regulated broker that is a member of FINRA and SIPC
Investors can access Smart Portfolios for a more hands-off approach, covering a range of sectors and markets such as renewable energy and artificial intelligence
The low minimum deposit and straightforward account opening process means beginners can get started quickly

Cons

There's a narrower range of day trading instruments available compared to competitors, with only stocks, ETFs and cryptos
Average fees may cut into the profit margins of day traders
There's no MetaTrader 4 platform integration for traders who are accustomed to using third-party charting tools

Visit eToro USA

eToro USA Review

NinjaTrader

"NinjaTrader continues to meet the demands of active futures traders looking for low fees and premium analysis tools. The platform hosts top-rate charting features including hundreds of indicators and 10+ chart types."
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

NinjaTrader Quick Facts

Fractional Shares	No
Demo Account	Yes
Regulator	NFA, CFTC
Platforms	NinjaTrader Desktop, Web & Mobile, eSignal
Minimum Deposit	$0
Automation	Yes
Account Currencies	USD

Stock Exchanges

NinjaTrader offers trading on 2 stock exchanges:

Chicago Mercantile Exchange
New York Stock Exchange

Pros

NinjaTrader continues to deliver comprehensive charting software for active day traders with bespoke technical indicators and widgets
You can get thousands of add-ons and applications from developers in 150+ countries
Traders can get free platform access and trade simulation capabilities in the unlimited demo

Cons

The premium platform tools come with an extra charge
Non forex and futures trading requires signing up with partner brokers
There is a withdrawal fee on some funding methods

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Videforex

"Videforex will serve traders looking for a no-frills, easy-to-use platform to speculate on the direction of popular financial markets through binaries. With a sign-up process that takes a matter of minutes and a web-accessible platform, getting started is a breeze. "
William Berg, Reviewer

Videforex Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	20% to 200% Deposit Bonus
Fractional Shares	No
Demo Account	Yes
Platforms	TradingView
Minimum Deposit	$250
Automation	Yes
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, RUB

Stock Exchanges

Videforex offers trading on 7 stock exchanges:

Dow Jones
FTSE UK Index
Hong Kong Stock Exchange
IBEX 35
Nasdaq
S&P 500
SIX Swiss Exchange

Pros

Videforex is one of the few brokers with 24/7 multilingual video support, providing comprehensive assistance for active traders.
Videforex regularly runs trading contests, offering practice opportunities and cash prizes to beginners and experienced traders, with position sizes from just ¢0.01.
Traders can earn up to 98% payouts on 100+ assets with the broker’s binary options, bringing it in line with competitors like IQCent.

Cons

The client terminal needs improvements based on our latest tests, sporting sometimes slow and unresponsive widgets which could dampen the experience for day traders.
Videforex lacks authorization from a trusted regulator, meaning traders may receive little to zero safeguards like segregated client accounts.
The absence of any educational tools is a serious drawback for newer traders who can find blogs, videos and live trading sessions at category leaders.

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World Forex

"World Forex provides both highly leveraged CFDs and digital contracts, making this a good broker for clients who want flexible and rewarding ways to trade. The copy trading service will also appeal to newer traders."
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

World Forex Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	100% Deposit Bonus
Fractional Shares	No
Demo Account	Yes
Regulator	SVGFSA
Platforms	MT4, MT5
Minimum Deposit	$1
Automation	Yes
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, RUB

Stock Exchanges

World Forex offers trading on 2 stock exchanges:

Nasdaq
S&P 500

Pros

A wide range of assets to trade, including via digital contracts
Several different account types with varied pricing structures
Copy trading solution

Cons

No negative balance protection
Weak regulation
Withdrawal fees apply

Visit World Forex

World Forex Review

InstaTrade

"Although InstaTrade offers active trading on a comprehensive platform, it stands out with its fairly unique Fixed Income Structured Product (FISP), providing passive investment opportunities with up to 50% returns in 6 months if conditions are met. "
Christian Harris, Reviewer

InstaTrade Quick Facts

Fractional Shares	No
Demo Account	Yes
Regulator	BVI FSC
Platforms	InstaTrade Gear, MT4
Minimum Deposit	$1
Automation	Yes
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, RUB

Stock Exchanges

InstaTrade offers trading on 12 stock exchanges:

Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)
CAC 40 Index France
DAX GER 40 Index
Dow Jones
Euronext
FTSE UK Index
Hong Kong Stock Exchange
IBEX 35
Japan Exchange Group
Nasdaq
S&P 500
SIX Swiss Exchange

Pros

InstaTrade TV, consisting of video interviews and valuable market insights spanning equities, cryptos and more, helps identify opportunities and inform short-term trades.
Despite an average investment offering of around 300 assets, InstaTrade offers a particularly strong suite of currency pairs, catering to advanced traders seeking opportunities in volatile exotics.
InstaTrade claims to "guarantee" returns through the structured element of its passive trading solution (FISP), with applications approved within 24 hours.

Cons

Profits are only guaranteed in the FISP if investors do not reach the 50% profit level and attract other users with a total sum of $4 for each dollar in compensation.
InstaTrade is registered in the offshore jurisdiction of the British Virgin Islands, resulting in limited regulatory safeguards for retail investors.
InstaTrade sports one of the most cluttered websites and client cabinets in the industry, potentially overwhelming new traders, especially compared to XTB’s intuitive trading journey and resources.

Visit InstaTrade

InstaTrade Review

Binarium

"Binarium has been designed with simplicity in mind, featuring a fast, fully digital sign-up process and an intuitive platform and app with 4 chart types and 12 indicators. With binaries spanning 5 minutes to 3 months, it caters to short- and medium-term traders."
William Berg, Reviewer

Binarium Quick Facts

Fractional Shares	No
Demo Account	Yes
Platforms	Own
Minimum Deposit	$5
Automation	No
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, AUD, RUB

Stock Exchanges

Binarium offers trading on 0 stock exchanges:

Pros

Binarium has the best education centre we’ve seen amongst binary options brands, complete with information on core topics like trading basics and account options, plus professional video guides to using the platform.
The $10,000 demo account, deposit-doubling welcome bonus, smooth sign-up, and 24/7 support make for an attractive onboarding experience.
Binarium claims to segregate client funds with EU banks, meaning traders’ money should not be misused and providing an important layer of protection, which is especially relevant given its offshore status.

Cons

Binarium has some way to go to match the investment offering of binary firms like Quotex, with a particularly weak selection of around 20 currencies and 3 cryptocurrencies.
Despite being operational since 2012, Binarium is an unregulated broker with limited transparency on its website, raising safety concerns and potentially putting your capital at risk.
Payouts of up to 80% are on the low side of binary options platforms based on our evaluations, which may deter traders looking for the possible best returns, though you can get back up to 15% of losing trades.

Visit Binarium

Binarium Review

Capitalcore

"The major selling points of Capitalcore are its high leverage options up to 1:2000 and zero commission or swap fees. However, its weak regulatory oversight from the IFSA and non-existent education place it far behind the top brokers."
Christian Harris, Reviewer

Capitalcore Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	40% Deposit Bonus up to $2,500
Fractional Shares	No
Demo Account	Yes
Regulator	IFSA
Platforms	WebTrader, Pro
Minimum Deposit	$10
Automation	No
Account Currencies	USD

Stock Exchanges

Capitalcore offers trading on 5 stock exchanges:

DAX GER 40 Index
Dow Jones
FTSE UK Index
Nasdaq
S&P 500

Pros

Unlike most brokers, Capitalcore offers an unlimited demo account that takes under 5 minutes to open.
The support team are available 24/7 and responded within minutes during testing with helpful responses.
Capitalcore is one of the only brokers to charge zero swap fees, which may appeal to Islamic traders looking to comply with Islamic Finance.

Cons

Capitalcore is not regulated by major financial authorities and has an unproven reputation, raising concerns about the safety of client funds.
Capitalcore’s threadbare education and research seriously trail category leaders like IG, making it less suitable for aspiring traders.
Platform support is limited to proprietary software, so there's no integration with the market-leading MetaTrader or cTrader, which offer built-in economic news and support automated trading.

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xChief

"xChief continues to prove popular with investors looking to trade highly leveraged CFDs on the popular MetaTrader platforms. The broker's rebate scheme and investment accounts will particularly appeal to seasoned traders. However, the lack of top-tier regulatory oversight is a major drawback."
William Berg, Reviewer

xChief Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	$100 No Deposit Bonus
Fractional Shares	No
Demo Account	Yes
Regulator	ASIC
Platforms	MT4, MT5
Minimum Deposit	$10
Automation	Yes
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF

Stock Exchanges

xChief offers trading on 14 stock exchanges:

Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)
CAC 40 Index France
DAX GER 40 Index
Deutsche Boerse
Dow Jones
Euronext
FTSE UK Index
Hang Seng
Hong Kong Stock Exchange
IBEX 35
Japan Exchange Group
Nasdaq
New York Stock Exchange
S&P 500

Pros

xChief delivers a high-quality day trading environment via the MT4 and MT5 platforms, with market-leading charts, indicators and tools
xChief offers STP/ECN execution with low spreads from 0.0 pips and low commission rates starting from $2.50 per side
The broker offers a turnover rebate scheme geared towards active investors, as well as trading credits and several other occasional bonuses

Cons

The Classic+ and Cent accounts provide access to fewer instruments than the other account types, at 50+ and 35+, respectively
xChief is an offshore broker with weak regulatory oversight from the VFSC, so traders will receive limited safeguards
The total range of 150+ assets is much lower than most competitors who typically offer hundreds

Visit xChief

xChief Review

Binary Options Alternative 6: Cryptocurrency

The newest market on this list, cryptocurrency products can be traded as derivatives through binary options, CFDs or spread betting. However, the asset class has far more utility to investors.

Markets

There are more and more crypto tokens being created at all times, with thousands of coins and projects in existence. While not all of these are legitimate, more cautious investors can stick to more well-known coins such as Bitcoin and Ethereum for greater peace of mind.

Complexity

Similarly to stock investing, cryptocurrency trading can be as simple or complex as a trader desires. Investors can buy and hold crypto tokens, stake them for interest or utilize bots on sites such as Pionex for round-the-clock automated trading.

Profit & Loss Potential

The crypto markets are notoriously volatile and have seen some meteoric price rises and falls in their brief history. Investors should be prepared for these conditions or even a complete collapse of a coin like Terra in 2022.

Fees & Commissions

Many exchanges offer very low, competitive fees on this binary options alternative. These are usually displayed in the form of maker and taker fees, often shown as a percentage.

Safety & Regulation

Crypto is almost entirely unregulated and scams are rife within the broker space and the coins themselves. As a result, more cautious investors may wish to avoid this binary options alternative or track selected crypto markets using a more secure ETF.

Strategies

Traders can buy and hold tokens long-term or take advantage of the volatile crypto markets to day trade.

Advanced strategies such as spot/futures arbitrage are available for major tokens such as BTC and ETH and can yield solid and low-risk returns.

Similarly to dividend investing, traders can stake crypto tokens for a fixed reward, with some providers offering upwards of 10% annual returns for this strategy.

Crypto Brokers

Click a broker for details

1

eToro USA

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eToro USA Review

New Customer Bonus Offer Invest $100 and get $10

Securities trading offered by eToro USA Securities, Inc. (“the BD”), member of FINRA and SIPC. Cryptocurrency offered by eToro USA LLC (“the MSB”) (NMLS: 1769299) and is not FDIC or SIPC insured. Investing involves risk. https://www.daytrading.com/ is not an affiliate and may be compensated if you access certain products or services offered by the MSB and/or the BD.

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.3 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3 / 5

Assets & Markets 3.9 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.4 / 5

Platforms & Tools 4 / 5

Customer Support 3 / 5

Research 4.3 / 5

Education 4.5 / 5

iOS App 4.3 / 5

Android App 4 / 5

Minimum Deposit $100

Minimum Trade $10

Leverage

Regulator SEC, FINRA

Instruments Stocks, Options, ETFs, Crypto

Platforms eToro Trading Platform & CopyTrader

Payment Methods ACH Transfer, Debit Card, PayPal, Wire Transfer

Account Currencies USD

Go To eToro USA
2

NinjaTrader

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NinjaTrader Review

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.3 / 5

Accounts & Banking 2.8 / 5

Assets & Markets 2.9 / 5

Fees & Costs 4.3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 4.5 / 5

Customer Support 4 / 5

Research 4 / 5

Education 4 / 5

iOS App 3 / 5

Android App 3.2 / 5

Minimum Deposit $0

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:50

Regulator NFA, CFTC

Instruments Forex, Stocks, Options, Commodities, Futures, Crypto

Platforms NinjaTrader Desktop, Web & Mobile, eSignal

Payment Methods ACH Transfer, Debit Card, Wire Transfer, Cheque

Account Currencies USD

Go To NinjaTrader
3

Interactive Brokers

Go To Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers Review

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.5 / 5

Assets & Markets 4.6 / 5

Fees & Costs 4.3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.3 / 5

Customer Support 3 / 5

Research 4.4 / 5

Education 4.3 / 5

iOS App 4.3 / 5

Android App 4.5 / 5

Minimum Deposit $0

Minimum Trade $100

Leverage 1:50

Regulator FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM

Instruments Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies

Platforms Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral

Payment Methods Cheque, ACH Transfer, Wire Transfer, Automated Customer Account Transfer Service, TransferWise, Debit Card

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF

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4

OANDA US

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OANDA US Review

CFDs are not available to residents in the United States.

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.5 / 5

Assets & Markets 2.8 / 5

Fees & Costs 4 / 5

Platforms & Tools 4.5 / 5

Customer Support 3.5 / 5

Research 4.3 / 5

Education 3.8 / 5

iOS App 4.7 / 5

Android App 3.7 / 5

Minimum Deposit $0

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:50

Regulator NFA, CFTC

Instruments Forex, Crypto with Paxos (Cryptocurrencies are offered through Paxos. Paxos is a separate legal entity from OANDA)

Platforms OANDA Trade, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist

Payment Methods Wire Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, Debit Card, ACH Transfer

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD

Go To OANDA US
5

Uphold

Go To Uphold
Uphold Review

Terms Apply. Cryptoassets are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk.

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 3 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.4 / 5

Assets & Markets 4.3 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.8 / 5

Platforms & Tools 4.5 / 5

Customer Support 2.3 / 5

Research 3 / 5

Education 1.5 / 5

iOS App 4.6 / 5

Android App 4.4 / 5

Minimum Deposit $0

Minimum Trade $1

Leverage

Regulator

Instruments Cryptos

Platforms Desktop Platform, Mobile App

Payment Methods Wire Transfer, ACH Transfer, Bitcoin Payments, Debit Card, Credit Card, Mastercard, Visa, Ethereum Payments

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP

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6

IQCent

Go To IQCent
IQCent Review

New Customer Bonus Offer 20% to 200% Deposit Bonus

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 2.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.3 / 5

Assets & Markets 2.4 / 5

Fees & Costs 4.3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.8 / 5

Customer Support 2.5 / 5

Research 3 / 5

Education 2 / 5

iOS App 4.3 / 5

Android App 4.1 / 5

Minimum Deposit $250

Minimum Trade $0.01

Leverage 1:500

Regulator IFMRRC

Instruments Binary Options, CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto

Platforms Online Platform, TradingView

Payment Methods Credit Card, Debit Card, Wire Transfer, Bitcoin Payments, Ethereum Payments, Visa, Mastercard

Account Currencies USD, EUR

Go To IQCent
7

World Forex

Go To World Forex
World Forex Review

New Customer Bonus Offer 100% Deposit Bonus

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 2.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.3 / 5

Assets & Markets 3 / 5

Fees & Costs 2.8 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.5 / 5

Customer Support 3.3 / 5

Research 2.5 / 5

Education 2.8 / 5

iOS App 1.3 / 5

Android App 1.3 / 5

Minimum Deposit $1

Minimum Trade 0.01 Lots

Leverage 1:1000

Regulator SVGFSA

Instruments Forex, CFD Stocks, Metals, Energies, Cryptos, Digital Contracts

Platforms MT4, MT5

Payment Methods Wire Transfer, Debit Card, Credit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Google Wallet, Apple Pay, Perfect Money, Bitcoin Payments, Volet

Account Currencies USD, EUR, RUB

Go To World Forex
8

Plus500 US

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Plus500 US Review

New Customer Bonus Offer Welcome Deposit Bonus up to $200

Trading with leverage involves risk.

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 3.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.7 / 5

Assets & Markets 3.5 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.3 / 5

Customer Support 3.5 / 5

Research 2.8 / 5

Education 3.5 / 5

iOS App 4.1 / 5

Android App 4.3 / 5

Minimum Deposit $100

Minimum Trade 0.0 Lots

Leverage

Regulator CFTC, NFA

Instruments Futures on Forex, Commodities, Cryptos, Indices, Interest Rates

Platforms WebTrader, App

Payment Methods ACH Transfer, Wire Transfer, Debit Card, Mastercard, Visa

Account Currencies USD

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9

Pionex

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Pionex Review

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 2.5 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3 / 5

Assets & Markets 3 / 5

Fees & Costs 3 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3 / 5

Customer Support 3 / 5

Research 1.3 / 5

Education 3 / 5

iOS App 0 / 5

Android App 0 / 5

Minimum Deposit $0

Minimum Trade 0.1 USDT

Leverage

Regulator FinCEN

Instruments Cryptos

Platforms Own

Payment Methods Bitcoin Payments

Account Currencies

Go To Pionex
10

Firstrade

Go To Firstrade
Firstrade Review

New Customer Bonus Offer Deposit Bonus Up To $4000

Ratings

Regulation & Trust 4.3 / 5

Accounts & Banking 3.8 / 5

Assets & Markets 4.3 / 5

Fees & Costs 3.8 / 5

Platforms & Tools 3.5 / 5

Customer Support 3.5 / 5

Research 4.3 / 5

Education 4 / 5

iOS App 0 / 5

Android App 0 / 5

Minimum Deposit $0

Minimum Trade $1

Leverage

Regulator SEC, FINRA

Instruments Stocks, ETFs, Options, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Cryptos, Fixed

Platforms TradingCentral

Payment Methods ACH Transfer, Wire Transfer, Cheque, Automated Customer Account Transfer Service

Account Currencies USD

Go To Firstrade

Here is a summary of why we recommend these brokers:

eToro USA - eToro US offers 24 tradeable cryptoassets, with just a 1% buying/selling fee added to the spread. Additionally, there are 80 different coins available through the broker’s proprietary wallet service. You can also practice your crypto strategies easily by switching between live and demo mode. Crypto asset investing is highly volatile and unregulated. No consumer protection. Tax on profits may apply.
NinjaTrader - You can get exposure to micro Bitcoin futures through the CME Group’s centralized exchange, which is highly regulated by the US CFTC. Micro contracts allow you to trade a fractional size of one Bitcoin, giving you more risk control and order flexibility.
Interactive Brokers - IBKR lets you purchase and hold Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and Litecoin at competitive commission rates and without needing a crypto wallet. Additionally, there is a range of other diverse assets to explore, such as crypto indices like the NYSE Bitcoin Index, as well as futures contracts like the BAKKT Bitcoin Futures.
OANDA US - Cryptocurrency trading is offered via Paxos, a separate entity from Oanda. You can speculate on the world’s biggest cryptos by market cap. Commissions are lower than many peers starting at 0.25%. Through the broker’s partnership with Paxos, clients can spot trade cryptocurrencies on the itBit exchange through the OANDA native platform.
Uphold - You can buy and sell 250+ crypto assets with fiat currencies or in crypto pairs using the straightforward mobile app or through Uphold's browser-based account homepage. This is significantly more than many rivals. You can also earn up to 16% APY by staking one or more out of 32 valid tokens, or send tokens to an external wallet.
IQCent - IQCent offers 17 crypto pairs through its proprietary terminal, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin. Leverage on crypto CFDs is capped at 1:10, whilst binary options payouts vary by token but remain competitive. OTC assets, for example, pay out up to 95%.
World Forex - Traders can access CFDs on crypto assets through World Forex's dedicated W-CRYPTO accounts, which offer leveraged cryptocurrency trading with spreads from zero. We rate that you can trade on 10 cryptos paired with the USD and EUR, while crypto-crypto pairs are also available.
Plus500 US - Plus500’s Micro-Bitcoin and Micro-Ethereum futures only allow traders to scratch the surface of crypto trading with bets on the two most popular digital assets. Importantly, you cannot buy and own the cryptos with these derivative contracts - you are speculating on their price.
Pionex - Make spot, future and leveraged trades on 120 cryptocurrencies via Pionex's proprietary platform with built-in trading bots and highly customizable automated trading options. On the negative side, the range of tokens is narrower than many alternatives.
Firstrade - Take positions on dozens of leading cryptocurrencies with low fees and 24/7 investing. Traders need just $1 to start speculating on popular tokens like Bitcoin. Clients can also buy cryptos instantly in a few straightforward steps.

eToro USA

"eToro remains a top pick for traders looking for leading social investing and copy trading services. With a low deposit, zero commissions and an intuitive platform, the broker will meet the needs of newer day traders."
Jemma Grist, Reviewer

eToro USA Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	Invest $100 and get $10
Coins	BTC, ETH, BCH, DASH, LTC, ETC, MIOTA, XLM, EOS, NEO, ZEC, XTZ, MKR, COMP, LINK, UNI, YFI, DOGE, AAVE, ALGO, MANA, ENJ, BAT, MATIC, FLR, SHIBxM
Crypto Mining	No
Auto Market Maker	No
Crypto Spread	BTC 0.75%
Crypto Lending	No
Crypto Staking	No
Platforms	eToro Trading Platform & CopyTrader
Minimum Deposit	$100
Regulator	SEC, FINRA
Account Currencies	USD

Pros

The broker's Academy offers comprehensive learning materials for beginners to advanced-level investors
The online broker offers an intuitive social investment network with straightforward copy trading on cryptos
eToro USA Securities is a trustworthy, SEC-regulated broker that is a member of FINRA and SIPC

Cons

There's a narrower range of day trading instruments available compared to competitors, with only stocks, ETFs and cryptos
Average fees may cut into the profit margins of day traders
There's no MetaTrader 4 platform integration for traders who are accustomed to using third-party charting tools

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eToro USA Review

NinjaTrader

"NinjaTrader continues to meet the demands of active futures traders looking for low fees and premium analysis tools. The platform hosts top-rate charting features including hundreds of indicators and 10+ chart types."
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

NinjaTrader Quick Facts

Coins	BTC
Crypto Mining	No
Auto Market Maker	No
Crypto Spread	Floating
Crypto Lending	No
Crypto Staking	No
Platforms	NinjaTrader Desktop, Web & Mobile, eSignal
Minimum Deposit	$0
Regulator	NFA, CFTC
Account Currencies	USD

Pros

Low fees are offered, with $50 day trading margins & commissions from $.09 per micro contract
NinjaTrader continues to deliver comprehensive charting software for active day traders with bespoke technical indicators and widgets
You can get thousands of add-ons and applications from developers in 150+ countries

Cons

Non forex and futures trading requires signing up with partner brokers
There is a withdrawal fee on some funding methods
The premium platform tools come with an extra charge

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Interactive Brokers

"Interactive Brokers is one of the best brokers for advanced day traders, providing powerful charting platforms, real-time data, and customizable layouts, notably through the new IBKR Desktop application. Its superb pricing and advanced order options also make it highly attractive for day traders, while its diverse range of equities is still among the best in the industry."
Christian Harris, Reviewer

Interactive Brokers Quick Facts

Coins	BTC, LTC, ETH, XRP
Crypto Mining	No
Auto Market Maker	No
Crypto Spread	0.12%-0.18%
Crypto Lending	No
Crypto Staking	No
Platforms	Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral
Minimum Deposit	$0
Regulator	FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF

Pros

There's a vast library of free or paid third-party research subscriptions catering to all types of traders, plus you can enjoy commission reimbursements from IBKR if you subscribe to Toggle AI.
IBKR continues to deliver unmatched access to global stocks with tens of thousands of equities available from 100+ market centres in 24 countries, most recently the Saudi Stock Exchange.
With low commissions, tight spreads and a transparent fee structure, IBKR delivers a cost-effective environment for short-term traders.

Cons

Support can be slow and frustrating based on tests, so you might find it challenging to reach customer service representatives promptly or encounter delays in resolving issues.
IBKR provides a wide range of research tools, but their distribution across trading platforms and the web-based 'Account Management' page lacks consistency, leading to a confusing user experience.
TWS’s learning curve is steep, and beginners may find it challenging to navigate the platform and understand all the features. Plus500's web platform is much better suited to new traders.

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OANDA US

"OANDA remains an excellent broker for US day traders seeking a user-friendly platform with premium analysis tools and a straightforward joining process. OANDA is also heavily regulated with a very high trust score."
Jemma Grist, Reviewer

OANDA US Quick Facts

Coins	BTC, ETH, LTC, BCH, PAXG, LINK, UNI, AAVE
Crypto Mining	No
Auto Market Maker	No
Crypto Spread	$100
Crypto Lending	No
Crypto Staking	No
Platforms	OANDA Trade, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist
Minimum Deposit	$0
Regulator	NFA, CFTC
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD

Pros

Beginners can get started easily with $0 minimum initial deposit
The broker's API facilitates access to 25 years of deep historical data and rates from 200+ currencies
The broker offers a transparent pricing structure with no hidden charges

Cons

The range of day trading markets is limited to forex and cryptos only
It's a shame that customer support is not available on weekends
There's only a small range of payment methods available, with no e-wallets supported

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OANDA US Review

Uphold

"Uphold remains a top choice for crypto investors looking for a one-stop-shop solution to accessing the markets. There are over 250 tokens to buy, sell and trade through flexible platform options."
William Berg, Reviewer

Uphold Quick Facts

Coins	BTC, BTCO, AAVE, ALCX, DYDX, INH, XYO, API3, GHST, LSK, AUDIO, GLMR, NMR, CAKE, GODS, REQ, CHR, TRB, DAO, ROOK, XRP, ETH, BAT, ADA, ALGO, ATOM, AVAX, AXS, BCH, BAL, BTG, CSPR, COMP, CRV, DASH, DCR, DGB, DOGE, DOT, EGLD and many more
Crypto Mining	No
Auto Market Maker	No
Crypto Spread	Up to 1.5%
Crypto Lending	No
Crypto Staking	Yes
Platforms	Desktop Platform, Mobile App
Minimum Deposit	$0
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP

Pros

Two-step authentication bolsters user security
Over 250 cryptos are available including major tokens like Bitcoin and Ethereum
Uphold is 100% reserved which helps to protect client funds

Cons

The charting analysis features on the platform trail specialist exchanges
Uphold operates with limited regulatory oversight
Customer service is slow based on tests, with limited contact options

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Uphold Review

IQCent

"IQCent will appeal to day traders looking for a straightforward binary options and CFD trading platform with low fees, a range of accounts, and copy trading. Getting started takes less than 1 minute and a $250 deposit. "
Jemma Grist, Reviewer

IQCent Quick Facts

Bonus Offer	20% to 200% Deposit Bonus
Coins	BTC, ETH, LTC, ETC, DOGE, MATIC, QNT, SOL, XRP, USDT, XMR, BNB
Crypto Mining	No
Auto Market Maker	No
Crypto Spread	Variable
Crypto Lending	No
Crypto Staking	No
Platforms	Online Platform, TradingView
Minimum Deposit	$250
Regulator	IFMRRC
Account Currencies	USD, EUR

Pros

Keen traders can take part in trading contests with cash prizes
The broker's 24/7 customer support is fast and reliable, responding within 1 minute during tests
CFD trading fees are competitive based on tests, including 0.7 pips on major forex pairs such as EUR/USD

Cons

IQCent trails binary brokers like Quotex with its narrow investment offering of around 100 assets with no stocks
IQCent charges a punitive $10 monthly inactivity fee if you fail to place at least 1 trade per month
The market analysis is very basic with limited technical summaries and insights from analysts

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