Best cTrader Brokers In 2024
Searching for the perfect cTrader broker? Explore DayTrading.com’s selection of the best brokers with cTrader, personally tested and rated by our experts which includes longtime users of the platform.
Top 10 Brokers With cTrader
As of our latest hands-on tests in December 2024, these are the 10 top brokers that support cTrader:
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1IC Markets
Ratings
$2000.01 Lots1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global)ASIC, CySEC, FSA, CMACFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Futures, CryptoMT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTradePayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Visa, UnionPay, Wire Transfer, Rapid Transfer, Mastercard, POLi, BPAY, Credit Card, Klarna, Swift, SafeChargeUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD -
2Deriv
Ratings
$50.01 Lots1:1000MFSA, LFSA, BVIFSC, VFSC, FSC, SVGFSACFDs, Multipliers, Accumulators, Synthetic Indices, Forex, Stocks, Options, Commodities, ETFsDeriv Trader, Deriv X, Deriv Go, MT5, cTrader, TradingViewNeteller, Visa, Skrill, WebMoney, FasaPay, Perfect Money, Diners Club, Banxa, Paytrust, Wire Transfer, Mastercard, Credit Card, JCB Card, Sticpay, Trustly, Volet, Paysafecard, AstroPay, Maestro, Airtm, Boleto, JetonCash, Przelewy24, Bitcoin PaymentsUSD, EUR, GBP -
3IC Trading
Ratings
$2000.01 Lots1:500FSCCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Cryptos, FuturesMT4, MT5, cTrader, AutoChartist, TradingCentralPayPal, Neteller, Mastercard, Visa, Wire Transfer, Debit Card, Credit CardUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD -
4PepperstoneCFDs 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
$00.01 Lots1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, CMA, BaFin, SCBCFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto, Spread BettingMT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, DupliTradeVisa, Mastercard, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Wire Transfer, POLi, UnionPay, BPAY, Neteller, Skrill, PIX PaymentUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD -
5BlackBull
Ratings
$00.01 Lots1:500FMA, FSACFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures, CryptoBlackBull Invest, BlackBull CopyTrader, MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartistNeteller, Skrill, Visa, UnionPay, FasaPay, Mastercard, Credit Card, Bitcoin Payments, Debit Card, Boleto, Wire Transfer, Airtm, Ethereum PaymentsUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, ZAR, SGD -
6FxPro
Ratings
$1000.01 Lots1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro), 1:1000 (Via Prime Ash Capital Limited)FCA, CySEC, FSCA, SCB, FSACFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, FuturesFxPro Edge, MT4, MT5, cTrader, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, DupliTradeWire Transfer, Credit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Maestro, Mastercard, Visa, Google Wallet, Bitcoin Payments, Ethereum PaymentsUSD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, ZAR, CHF, PLN -
7Fusion Markets
Ratings
$00.01 Lots1:500ASIC, VFSC, FSACFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, CryptoMT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, DupliTradeVisa, Skrill, Neteller, Mastercard, PayPal, Bitcoin Payments, FasaPay, Perfect Money, Doku Wallet, Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, Dragonpay, Sticpay, Ethereum Payments, TransferWise, AstroPay, PayID, JetonCashUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD -
8Axiory
Ratings
$100.01 Lots1:1000IFSC BelizeForex, CFD indices, commoditiesMyAxiory App, MT4, MT5, cTrader, AutoChartistNeteller, Visa, Skrill, Sticpay, Paysafecard, Cashu, Credit CardUSD, EUR -
9SkillingCFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Ratings
$1000.01 Lots1:1000CySECForex, CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities and CryptosSkilling Trader, MT4, cTrader, TradingViewVisa, Mastercard, Neteller, PayPal, Trustly, Skrill, Klarna, Apple Pay, Wire TransferUSD, EUR, GBP, SEK, NOK -
10TopFX100% Universal Bonus T&Cs Apply
Ratings
$500.01 Lots1:500CySEC, FSACFDs, Forex, Shares, Indices, Metals, Energies, ETFs, CryptocurrencyMT4, cTrader, AutoChartist, TradingCentralVisa, Mastercard, Debit Card, Credit Card, Wire Transfer, Swift, Apple Pay, Google Wallet, Skrill, Neteller, Bitcoin Payments, Ethereum Payments, Perfect Money, Dragonpay, M-Pesa, FasaPay, PIX Payment, Sticpay, Bitwallet, Przelewy24, Sofort, iDealUSD, EUR, GBP
Here is a short overview of each broker's pros and cons
- IC Markets - IC Markets is a globally recognized forex and CFD broker known for its excellent pricing, comprehensive range of trading instruments, and premium trading technology. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Australia, the brokerage is regulated by the ASIC, CySEC and FSA, and has attracted more than 180,000 clients from over 200 countries.
- Deriv - Established in 1999, Deriv is an innovative broker now serving over 2.5 million global clients. The firm offers CFDs, multipliers and more recently accumulators, alongside its proprietary derived products which can't be found elsewhere, providing flexible short-term trading opportunities.
- IC Trading - IC Trading is part of the established IC Markets group. Built for serious traders, it boasts some of the most competitive spreads, reliable order execution, and advanced trading tools. The catch is that it’s registered in the offshore financial centre of Mauritius, enabling it to offer high leverage but in a weakly regulated trading setting.
- Pepperstone - Established in Australia in 2010, Pepperstone is a top-rated forex and CFD broker with over 400,000 clients worldwide. It offers access to 1,300+ instruments on leading platforms MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView, maintaining low, transparent fees. Pepperstone is also regulated by trusted authorities like the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC, ensuring a secure environment for day traders at all levels.
- BlackBull - BlackBull is a New Zealand-based CFD broker providing diverse trading opportunities on over 26,000 instruments. After undergoing a rebrand in 2023, it now sports a modern look and feel complete with professional-grade trading tools and ultra-fast execution speeds averaging 20ms.
- FxPro - Established in 2006, FxPro has emerged as a trusted non-dealing desk (NDD) broker offering trading on over 2,100 markets to more than 2 million clients worldwide. It has scooped over 100 industry awards and counting for its competitive conditions for active traders.
- Fusion Markets - Fusion Markets is an online broker established in 2017 and regulated by the ASIC, VFSC and FSA. It is best known for its low-cost forex and CFD trading, although its multiple account types and copy trading solutions cater to a range of traders. New clients can sign up and start trading in 3 easy steps.
- Axiory - Founded in 2011, Axiory is a regulated forex and CFD broker offering tight spreads and highly leveraged trading on industry-leading platforms: MT4, MT5 and cTrader. The broker has won multiple global awards and is regulated by the FSC in Belize and the FSC in Mauritius.
- Skilling - Skilling is a multi-asset broker founded in 2016 and based in Cyprus. The brand offers hundreds of day trading instruments with competitive spreads from 0.1 pips and beginner-friendly platforms. Skilling are also regulated in Europe and beyond with a transparent pricing structure. You can sign up and start trading in three easy steps.
- TopFX - TopFX, a Cyprus-headquartered company, has been an instrumental player in the financial services industry since its establishment in 2010, earning a solid reputation as a reliable broker for active traders. Initially, the company offered liquidity services to institutional clients, including hedge funds, banks, and brokers. However over the years, TopFX has grown to include retail traders in its clientele. It was one of the first brokers in the world to offer cTrader, a testament to its commitment to innovation.
Best cTrader Brokers In 2024 Comparison
IC Markets
"IC Markets offers superior pricing, exceptionally fast execution and seamless deposits. The introduction of advanced charting platforms, notably TradingView, and the Raw Trader Plus account, ensures it remains a top choice for intermediate to advanced day traders."
Christian Harris, Reviewer
IC Markets Quick Facts
Demo Account | Yes |
---|---|
Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Futures, Crypto |
Regulator | ASIC, CySEC, FSA, CMA |
Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade |
Minimum Deposit | $200 |
Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
Leverage | 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global) |
Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD |
Pros
- IC Markets offers among the tightest spreads in the industry, with 0.0-pip spreads on major currency pairs, making it especially cost-effective for day traders.
- As a tightly regulated and widely respected broker, IC Markets prioritizes client security and transparency, helping to ensure a reliable trading experience globally.
- IC Markets offers fast and dependable 24/5 support based on firsthand experience, particularly when it comes to accounts and funding issues.
Cons
- The breadth and depth of tutorials, webinars and educational resources still need work, trailing alternatives like CMC Markets and reducing its suitability for beginners.
- Despite four industry-leading third-party platforms, there is no proprietary software or trading app built with new traders in mind.
- There are fees for certain withdrawal methods, including a $20 wire charge, which can eat into profits, especially for frequent withdrawals.
Deriv
"Deriv is ideal for active traders seeking alternative and unique ways to speculate on global financial markets, from multipliers and accumulator options to its bespoke synthetic indices, which mimic real market movements and are available 24/7, allowing for continuous trading opportunities regardless of market hours."
Christian Harris, Reviewer
Deriv Quick Facts
Demo Account | Yes |
---|---|
Instruments | CFDs, Multipliers, Accumulators, Synthetic Indices, Forex, Stocks, Options, Commodities, ETFs |
Regulator | MFSA, LFSA, BVIFSC, VFSC, FSC, SVGFSA |
Platforms | Deriv Trader, Deriv X, Deriv Go, MT5, cTrader, TradingView |
Minimum Deposit | $5 |
Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
Leverage | 1:1000 |
Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP |
Pros
- Deriv stands out with its innovative products, from multipliers and derived indices to its addition of accumulator options, providing exclusive short-term trading opportunities.
- After integrating TradingView and adding MT5 web trader, Deriv now offers a first-class selection of charting tools across desktop, web and mobile devices.
- Although response times trail alternatives in our personal experience, Deriv offers 24/7 support and is one of the few brokers to offer WhatsApp assistance.
Cons
- Although there’s a basic blog, there's little in terms of technical analysis or market reports which could help active traders identify potential opportunities.
- While the Academy launched in 2021 is a step in the right direction, there is limited education on advanced trading topics for seasoned traders and no live webinars to upskill new traders.
- Leverage up to 1:1000 will appeal to traders with a large risk appetite but frustratingly there is no ability to flex the leverage in the account area.
IC Trading
"With superior execution speeds averaging 40 milliseconds, deep liquidity, and powerful charting software, IC Trading delivers an optimal trading environment tailored for scalpers, day traders, and algorithmic traders. "
Christian Harris, Reviewer
IC Trading Quick Facts
Demo Account | Yes |
---|---|
Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Cryptos, Futures |
Regulator | FSC |
Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader, AutoChartist, TradingCentral |
Minimum Deposit | $200 |
Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
Leverage | 1:500 |
Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD |
Pros
- IC Trading offers unusual flexibility in its accounts, enabling traders to open up to 10 live and 20 demo accounts, meaning you can run separate profiles for different activities, such as manual trading and algo trading.
- The simplified and digital account opening process saves time and effort, allowing traders to start trading sooner without extensive paperwork, taking just minutes during testing.
- Trading Central and Autochartist are valuable tools for in-depth technical summaries and actionable trading ideas and are accessible from within the account area or the cTrader platform.
Cons
- The educational resources are greatly in need of improvement, unless you navigate to the IC Markets website, posing a limitation for beginners in search of a comprehensive learning journey, especially compared to category leaders like eToro.
- Customer support performed woefully during testing with multiple attempts to connect via live chat and no one available to assist, plus unanswered emails, raising concerns about its ability to address urgent trading concerns.
- Unlike IC Markets, IC Trading does not support social trading through the group’s IC Social app or the third-party copy trading platform ZuluTrade.
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
- Now offering spread betting through TradingView, Pepperstone provides a seamless, tax-efficient trading experience with advanced analysis tools.
- Pepperstone boasts impressive execution speeds, averaging around 30ms, facilitating fast order processing and execution that’s ideal for day trading.
- 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.
Cons
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
BlackBull
"After improving its trading infrastructure with Equinix servers in New York, London, and Tokyo, reducing latency for traders, BlackBull is an obvious choice if you want to day trade stock CFDs with ECN pricing."
Christian Harris, Reviewer
BlackBull Quick Facts
Demo Account | Yes |
---|---|
Instruments | CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Crypto |
Regulator | FMA, FSA |
Platforms | BlackBull Invest, BlackBull CopyTrader, MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist |
Minimum Deposit | $0 |
Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
Leverage | 1:500 |
Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, ZAR, SGD |
Pros
- With three ECN-powered accounts (Standard, Prime, and Institutional), BlackBull accommodates beginners, experienced traders, and professionals, offering flexibility based on trading needs and capital.
- BlackBulls’s research is superb, especially the daily ‘Trading Opportunities’ articles that break down complex market movements into easy-to-understand insights, making it simpler to capitalize on emerging trends.
- After partnering with ZuluTrade and Myfxbook, alongside improvements to its own CopyTrader, BlackBull offers one of the most comprehensive copy trading experiences we've seen.
Cons
- Although the Education Hub now features improvements like webinars and tutorials, the courses we’ve explored need more focus on explaining the wider economic factors influencing prices.
- Despite a growing selection of 26,000+ assets, including additions to its Asia Pacific indices, they are mainly stocks with an average selection of currency pairs and indices.
- Unlike most top brokers, BlackBull charges an irritating $5 withdrawal fee, which can detract from the overall cost-effectiveness, especially for active traders who frequently move funds.
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
- 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.
- 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.
Fusion Markets
"Fusion Markets is a standout option for forex traders looking for excellent pricing with spreads near zero, industry-low commissions and recently TradingView integration. It’s a particularly good broker for Australian traders where the company is headquartered and regulated by the ASIC."
Jemma Grist, Reviewer
Fusion Markets Quick Facts
Demo Account | Yes |
---|---|
Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto |
Regulator | ASIC, VFSC, FSA |
Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, DupliTrade |
Minimum Deposit | $0 |
Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
Leverage | 1:500 |
Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD |
Pros
- The range of charting platforms and social trading features is excellent, with MT4, MT5, cTrader and more recently TradingView, catering to a wide range of trader preferences.
- The market analysis features, Market Buzz and Analyst Views, are great tools for discovering opportunities and conveniently integrated into the client dashboard.
- Fusion Markets offers best-in-class support with very fast, friendly and helpful responses during tests and no frustrating automated chatbot to navigate.
Cons
- While the selection of currency pairs trumps most rivals, the broker's alternative investment offering is average with no stock CFDs beyond the US.
- Traders outside of Australia must sign up with weakly regulated global entities with limited safeguards and no negative balance protection.
- Fusion Market trails alternatives, notably eToro and IG, in the education department with limited guides and live video sessions to upskill new traders.
Axiory
"Axiory remains a top choice for beginners with its low deposit, unlimited demo account and high-quality education. Experienced day traders will also appreciate the advanced capabilities of the cTrader platform, although the range of 150+ instruments may be too restricting."
William Berg, Reviewer
Axiory Quick Facts
Demo Account | Yes |
---|---|
Instruments | Forex, CFD indices, commodities |
Regulator | IFSC Belize |
Platforms | MyAxiory App, MT4, MT5, cTrader, AutoChartist |
Minimum Deposit | $10 |
Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
Leverage | 1:1000 |
Account Currencies | USD, EUR |
Pros
- A good range of accounts are available with just a $10 minimum deposit required and Islamic swap-free versions
- The broker offers best-in-class charting platforms for both novices and serious day traders, including cTrader with over 50 technical indicators
- The broker continues to improve its market coverage by introducing real stocks alongside stock CFDs
Cons
- The broker’s range of 150+ instruments is much smaller than the hundreds offered by most leading firms
- Only USD and EUR are accepted as account base currencies, so many clients may have to pay conversion fees
- It’s a shame that copy trading services are not offered for beginners or strategy providers
Skilling
"Skilling maintains its position as a top pick for beginners looking for a competitive zero commission account with direct access to a copy trading feature. It will also serve experienced strategy providers looking to earn commissions, or anyone looking to trade forex during extended hours."
William Berg, Reviewer
Skilling Quick Facts
Demo Account | Yes |
---|---|
Instruments | Forex, CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities and Cryptos |
Regulator | CySEC |
Platforms | Skilling Trader, MT4, cTrader, TradingView |
Minimum Deposit | $100 |
Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
Leverage | 1:1000 |
Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, SEK, NOK |
Pros
- The broker has a solid global reputation and is regulated by top-tier authorities including the CySEC
- The Skilling Copy solution is accessible directly from the cTrader web terminal, making it easy for strategy providers to manage their portfolios
- The €100 deposit and zero commissions in the Standard account are accessible for beginners
Cons
- You can only access shares in the Skilling Trader platform and fewer instruments are available overall in the MT4 accounts
- Skilling trails alternatives like IG when it comes to research tools that can help day traders make informed decisions
TopFX
"TopFX is a strong choice for day trading due to ultra-low latency with execution times under 25 milliseconds. It also offers access to advanced charting platforms, MT4 and cTrader, with tight spreads and low commissions that can significantly reduce costs for active traders."
Christian Harris, Reviewer
TopFX Quick Facts
Bonus Offer | 100% Universal Bonus T&Cs Apply |
---|---|
Demo Account | Yes |
Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Shares, Indices, Metals, Energies, ETFs, Cryptocurrency |
Regulator | CySEC, FSA |
Platforms | MT4, cTrader, AutoChartist, TradingCentral |
Minimum Deposit | $50 |
Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
Leverage | 1:500 |
Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP |
Pros
- TopFX continues to deliver first-class support following years of real-money trading with responses on live chat in minutes and email replies in 24 hours for technical assistance.
- Active traders get reliable trade execution with speeds under 25ms, combined with consistent pricing, no slippage or requotes, and fast deposits and withdrawals during testing.
- TopFX is committed to supporting a diverse range of day traders, including those who prefer manual, algorithmic, and strategy-based trading with a choice of three flexible accounts (Zero, Raw and VIP).
Cons
- Although it produces in-house market analysis content, notably the Daily Market Digest, and includes Autochartist and Trading Central, the woeful educational offering is limiting for beginners, especially compared to category leaders like XTB.
- TopFX supports only two platforms (cTrader and MT4), so there's no option to trade with MT5 or the increasingly popular TradingView. The lack of a proprietary platform for beginner traders is also an entry barrier.
- Despite a growing selection of 600+ instruments, you can't invest directly in real assets, such as stocks, ETFs, and crypto, and TopFX does not offer interest on uninvested cash like alternatives such as IBKR.
How Did We Choose The Top cTrader Brokers?
To curate our list of the best brokers that support cTrader, we:
- Took our dynamic directory that currently stands at 216 online brokers;
- Pinpointed the growing number that provide cTrader on desktop, web or mobile devices;
- Sorted those firms by their rating, combining 200+ data points with the direct findings of our testers to pinpoint the absolute best.
What Is cTrader?
cTrader is an online platform for forex trading and CFD trading which was developed by the Spotware Systems Group.
Since its 2011 debut with FxPro, cTrader has soared in popularity with active traders, now integrating with dozens of brokers worldwide.
In particular, we saw interest spike after MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) were pulled from app stores in September 2022, with Blackbull Markets, FP Markets and Fusion Markets all adding the platform in the months that followed.
Its popularity is largely due to its impressive charting power and straight through processing (STP) and electronic communication network (ECN) capabilities which help ensure fast execution with minimal slippage – crucial for short-term trading strategies.
What Devices Can I Use cTrader on?
Today, cTrader is offered as a downloadable application for Windows, Mac OS or Linux operating systems, plus as a convenient web trader version.
Reflecting the rising number of mobile traders, there’s also a cTrader app, which can be downloaded to all major devices, including Apple and Android.
What Markets Can I Trade On cTrader?
You can trade various assets on cTrader, depending on the instruments available at your chosen brokerages.
From our investigations, this typically includes currency pairs, stocks, indices, commodities, high-risk cryptos and even spread betting at some partner brokers, such as Pepperstone.
Spotware has made notable improvements to its platform over the years. The result is a powerful, user-friendly platform that caters to active traders at every level.Recent upgrades include the addition of overlay indicators in cTrader desktop and the Market Replay feature in 2023, plus optimization upgrades to cBots and enhanced backtesting performance in 2024.
Key Features
Interface
cTrader offers a clean, modern and visually appealing layout, especially compared to alternatives like MetaTrader.
There are different layouts you can choose and you can also detach charts and customize them as needed. Additionally, there’s the option to switch between dark and light themes, which is a nice touch.
I appreciate the user interface on cTrader. It’s clean and intuitive, and it makes navigating through charts, order types, and account settings straightforward. Everything feels well-organized, which makes my trading sessions smoother.
Market Depth Functionality
Contrary to only one kind of market depth offered by MetaTrader 5, cTrader displays three types of market depth and level 2 pricing:
- Standard Depth of Market – Displays the price and amount of liquidity available at that price. Note that standard DoM allows viewing but not trading.
- Price Depth of Market – Allows for precise trading with more details available, including selling and buying volumes. Price DoM is ideal for scalping trading.
- VWAP Depth of Market – Volume-Weighted Average Price allows you to view expected VWAP prices against adjustable volumes. Orders are therefore filled against the full order book. VWAP DoM is ideal for trading large volumes.
Charting
cTrader’s charting features are both intuitive and user-friendly, with excellent customization options to suit different preferences.
- Chart Modes & Colour Schemes – You can choose between single-chart, multi-chart, or free-chart mode, plus resizing options. You can also customize any colours, from the chart background to the colour of your candles: simply right click on the chart window and click ‘Colour Options’, or click on the ‘Colour’ button in the chart toolbar.
- Timeframes & Chart Views – cTrader offers 54 timeframes across 6 different chart types, including Candlesticks, Heiken Ashi, Renko and Bar charts. You can also adjust the zoom level from the main toolbar at the top.
- Technical Analysis – You can use over 70 pre-installed technical indicators, objects and drawing tools directly from the chart. Popular tools include Exponential Moving Average (EMA), Fibonacci Retracements, Bollinger Bands, Pivot Points, support and resistance and volume profile indicators.
Order Types
You can execute four order types: market, limit, stop and stop limit.
For each one, a window will appear where you can adjust your parameters, set price alerts, choose the market range and expiry dates. You will then need to utilize the risk management parameters and set the stop loss and take profit levels.
You can edit or cancel a open pending order by clicking on the ‘Modify’ button next to the instrument in your TradeWatch panel. Here you can edit the entry price, expiry date, stop loss and take profit, as well as trailing stop.
TradeWatch
Located at the bottom of your screen, the TradeWatch panel allows you to enter or leave trades, view and modify positions, and manage transactions. You can also set advanced take profit and stop loss levels for a position, by clicking on the ‘Advanced Protection’ settings.
Advanced take profit will automatically initiate a partial close on a position when it reaches the desired profit level. The advanced stop-loss allows for more precise control over pip movements at the stop loss point.
cTrader Automate
cTrader Automate (formerly known as cAlgo) allows traders to build their own automated trading robots (cBots) and custom indicators using the C# programming language on the cTrader open API.
The integrated solution supports manual backtesting in replay mode against historical data, an in-built code editor and a deal map.
The main advantage of cBots is that trades can be entered more precisely and quickly than a human can process manually. Indicators can be used for manual trading but can also be integrated into cBots to indicate trends and provide signals. Some popular cBots include the scalping or moving average bot, as well as the TradingView charting package bot.
To create and run a cBot or indicator, click on ‘New’ from inside the ‘cBots’ or ‘Indicator’ tab where a new template will be created with a default code. The user guide online contains instructions on how to optimise the codes, as well as other sample codes.
Copy Trading
cTrader Copy is fully integrated within the platform and allows for a variety of copy trading strategies.
You can access the feature by clicking on the ‘Copy’ tab in the main left-hand window. This allows you to check available strategies, compare history and fees, and start copying in just a few clicks.
You can easily search Strategy Providers and filter by age, fee amount, number of trade copiers, or the capital amount. Once you have chosen a provider, click on their cTrader ID to expand additional information such as average profit and total own funds.
Note that you can copy any strategy with a demo account if the strategy provider has selected ‘allow copying for Demo.’ The strategy provider can also ‘allow copying for Live’ (real money) copiers.
Once you have selected a provider, your allocated funds will be converted into a copy trading account and all the open positions of the strategy are opened for you with the current market rates. You can stop copying and restart again at any time by going into the copy trading account settings.
If you’re unsure whether copy trading is for you, there are a number of online reviews you can check out. It’s also worth comparing the copy trading function against other popular services such as eToro or ZuluTrade.
cTrader’s copy trading and automated features are really impressive. They’ve allowed me to test automated strategies and even follow other traders’ strategies, which has been a great learning tool and a simple way to diversify.
Mobile App
Available for smartphones and tablets, including Apple iOS and Google Android devices, the cTrader mobile app features fluid and responsive charts on an attractive and customizable design.
As with the desktop version, you can switch between dark or light mode to suit your preferences. There are also intuitive mobile-adapted features to make trading on-the-go easy and seamless, such as zoom and scroll functionality and QuickTrade mode.
The app supports 5 chart rendering types (bar, candlestick, dots, line and area charts) plus 4 chart types (standard, tick, Renko and range).
Impressively, cTrader Mobile also comes with all 65 technical indicators and 8 drawing tools, as well as a news feed, live market sentiment, price alerts and trade statistics.
You can also fully manage your account transactions and settings straight from the easy-to-navigate dashboard, plus configure your own push and email notifications.
Yet while I love the desktop version, the mobile app can sometimes be frustrating. It sometimes lags, especially when I’m checking trades or trying to make adjustments on the go. It’s reliable enough but could use some improvement on stability.
cTrader Mobile is available in 22 languages and you can download it in seconds from the App Store for iOS devices, or Google Play for Android phones.
Additional Features
Other impressive features that you will find include:
- QuickTrade – Allows traders to respond quickly to the markets by opening, closing and modifying orders within one or two clicks from every platform section. You can also hover over the red and green bars to view the live market sentiment indicator.
- Hotkeys & Keyboard Shortcuts – Traders can create handy shortcuts from within the settings panel for speed, comfort and convenience when trading.
- cTrader Automate – Formerly known as cAlgo, cTrader Automate is the platform’s algorithmic trading solution, where you can build robots and customise indicators such as the Hull Moving Average or Harmonic Pattern indicator.
- Copy Trading – cTrader Copy allows strategy providers to earn through multiple fee types, including performance, management, and volume-based fees. Investors can automatically replicate the trades of strategy providers by paying fees set by the strategy provider, ranging from 0 to 30%.
- Economic Calendar & News – Accessible from the Active Symbol Panel (ASP), the economic calendar displays significant market events, whilst the news tab offers the latest developments from a range of top sources.
- cTrader Store – Includes thousands of developers offering custom bots, tools, heatmaps and indicators. For example, you can download a session indicator, a risk-reward tool, indicator alerts, or even a lot, position or risk size calculator.
- Community – The platform offers an active community forum, plus a library of tools shared by fellow traders, a help centre and automated trading consultants.
- ChartShots – Individuals can share ideas and strategies with other traders, with options to share to social media platforms or embed into their own web pages.
- Chart Templates – Up to 50 chart templates can be saved for future use, which can accommodate a variety of strategies, timeframes or chart types.
- Autochartist – Integrated into the TradeWatch panel, Autochartist is a third-party market-scanning tool designed to highlight the best trading opportunities in real-time.
- Trading Central – Trading Central, a third-party real-time market scanner integrated into the TradeWatch panel, automatically detects potential trading entries and exits (‘Targets’) across multiple instruments.
- Export data – You can export historical data in Excel or HTML format, straight from the TradeWatch window.
cTrader Vs MetaTrader 4
If you’re wondering whether to choose cTrader or MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and how the platforms compare, we’ve weighed up the key criteria:
- Interface & Ease of Use – We love cTrader for its modern and uncluttered design, with light and dark themes and detachable windows. MetaTrader 4 is more outdated, though is arguably more familiar to experienced traders. Beginners may therefore prefer cTrader, though it is entirely down to personal preference.
- Technical Analysis – cTrader includes over 70 built-in indicators and drawing tools, whilst MetaTrader 4 offers over 50. For this reason, cTrader does have the edge over MT4 in terms of the manual trading capabilities.
- Charts – There are 9 timeframes available in MetaTrader 4, whereas cTrader offers over 50 across 9 chart types. cTrader also offers an additional chart type compared to MT4 (the dot chart) plus a chart-linking feature and detachable windows.
- Automated Trading – cTrader uses the C# programming language for cBots, whereas MetaTrader 4 uses the native MQL4 language for Expert Advisors (EAs). Overall, MetaTrader 4 is still the favourite for the wider range of automated tools and the more established online community.
- Market Depth – cTrader’s DoM is available in three types: standard depth, price depth and VWAP depth, which is an excellent and sought-after feature. The basic version of MT4, however, does not support depth of market.
- Order Types – With cTrader, you can place pending orders even when the market is closed, which is not allowed in MetaTrader 4. cTrader also offers advanced take profit and stop loss and also displays more detailed order tickets, compared to MT4.
cTrader Vs MetaTrader 5
If you’re choosing between cTrader or MetaTrader 5 (MT5), consider the following:
- Interface & Ease of Use – Whilst MetaTrader 5 did include some cosmetic updates, it does still follow the old-school design that many traders are used to. Again, it is entirely down to personal preference, but some newbies are likely to find the cTrader interface more attractive and easy to navigate.
- Technical Analysis – Both cTrader and MetaTrader 5 have an almost equal number of indicators, though MT5 offers a few more objects, such as Gann and Channel tools. Overall, the two platforms perform well in this area.
- Charts – cTrader has chart-linking and detachable charts, which allows traders more flexibility to spread charts across multiple monitors. MT5, on the other hand, does not offer this feature. Furthermore, cTrader boasts over double the number of time frames than MT5, which has 21.
- Automated Trading – When it comes to algorithmic trading, both platforms are very different, with cTrader using the common C# coding language and MetaTrader 5 using MQL5. Nonetheless, MT5 was not received as well as MT4, which already offered the core functionalities that traders need. For this reason, cTrader is a favourable choice over MT5 in this area.
- Market Depth – MT5 only offers one type of market depth, whilst cTrader offers three. cTrader’s highly sophisticated DoM tool responds to many short-term traders’ desires to view the full depth of bids and offers at each price. For day traders who deal in large volumes, cTrader is the better choice for market depth functionality.
- Order Types – Apart from the ability to place pending orders when the market is closed in cTrader, there is not a great deal of difference between the two platforms when it comes to order types. Nonetheless, cTrader does make it easier to optimise order protection settings before entering the market, showing clear risk and reward figures, for example.
One limitation is that not as many brokers support cTrader as they do MetaTrader. I’ve had to search for brokers that offer it, sometimes restricting my choice of finding the best trading conditions.
Bottom Line
cTrader is no doubt a strong contender against industry giant, MetaTrader 4, with a vast range of technical indicators, Depth of Market options, and competitive web integrations.
Novices may be drawn to the attractive design and automated trading capabilities, though MT4 is likely to remain the overall favourite for experienced traders already familiar with MetaQuotes software.
To get started, use DayTrading.com’s pick of the top cTrader brokers.
FAQ
Which Is The Best cTrader Broker?
This will depend on your specific needs. But see our choice of the best brokers with cTrader, updated for 2024, to see our favorite picks following extensive tests and analysis.
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