Best Day Trading Platforms and Brokers in the UK 2024
The best day trading brokers in the UK provide platforms that are easy to use with great charting tools, low costs, fast execution, and leverage trading.
They are also regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and tailored for British day traders, offering access to major markets such as the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and currency pairs like the GBP/USD. Many of the top day trading platforms also support accounts in the British Pound, simplifying deposits, withdrawals, and trade management.
Discover our pick of the best brokers for day trading in the UK. Each brokerage we recommend accepts traders from the UK, is authorised by the FCA, and was evaluated by British traders using real money or a test account.
Best 10 Brokers For Day Trading In The UK
Our analysis shows that these are the 10 top platforms for UK day traders:
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1IGSpread 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 trading spread bets and 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
$00.01 Lots1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro)FCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA, FINMA, CONSOB, AFMCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread BettingWeb, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist, TradingCentralPayPal, Wire Transfer, Mastercard, Credit Card, Visa, Debit CardUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, ZAR, SEK, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD -
2XTBCFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% -83% 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
$00.01 Lots1:30FCA, CySEC, KNF, DFSA, FSCCFDs on shares, Indices, ETFs, Raw Materials, Forex currencies, cryptocurrencies, Real shares, Real ETFsxStationPayPal, Visa, Mastercard, Wire Transfer, Paysafecard, Skrill, Credit Card, Debit Card, Maestro, NetellerUSD, EUR, PLN -
3CMC MarketsSpread 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
$00.01 Lots1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)FCA, ASIC, MAS, CIRO, BaFin, FMA, DFSACFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Treasuries, Custom Indices, Spread BettingWeb, MT4Visa, Mastercard, Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPalUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, SEK, NOK, SGD, PLN -
4CityIndexCFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% 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
$00.01 Lots1:30 (Retail), 1:50 (Accredited Investor), 1:200 (Sophisticated Investor), 1:300 (Wholesale Investor), 1:400 (Professional Trader). Varies with jurisdiction.ASIC, FCA, MASCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Options, Commodities, BondsMT4, TradingView, TradingCentralPayNow, Wire Transfer, Mastercard, BPAY, Credit Card, PayID, Debit Card, Visa, PayPalUSD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CZK -
5PepperstoneCFDs and FX are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74-89% 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(only Pro clients), Spread BettingMT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, DupliTradeVisa, Mastercard, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Wire Transfer, POLi, UnionPay, BPAY, Neteller, SkrillUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD -
6Eightcap
Ratings
£1000.01 Lots1:30ASIC, FCA, CySEC, SCB, CNMVCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, CommoditiesMT4, MT5, TradingViewNeteller, Skrill, Visa, UnionPay, Credit Card, Debit Card, Bitcoin Payments, Wire Transfer, FasaPay, BPAY, PayPal, Dragonpay, PIX PaymentUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, SGD -
7eToro51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading with this provider. eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
Ratings
$100$101:30FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSA, FSRA, MFSA, CNMV, AMFCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, ETFs, Smart Portfolios, Commodities, Futures, Crypto, NFTseToro Web, CopyTrader, TradingCentralVisa, Skrill, Neteller, Wire Transfer, Rapid Transfer, Swift, Debit Card, iDeal, Klarna, Sofort, Trustly, Przelewy24USD, EUR, GBP -
8FOREX.com
Ratings
$1000.01 Lots1:30NFA, CFTC, CIRO, FCA, CYSEC, ASIC, SFC, FSA, MAS, CIMAForex, CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Options, CryptoMT4, MT5, TradingView, eSignal, AutoChartist, TradingCentralWire Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller, ACH TransferUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, PLN -
9Interactive Investor
£0£25FCAStocks, Funds, Trusts, ETFs, Bonds, Gilts, VCTsOwnDebit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Wire Transfer, ChequeGBP -
10Trade Nation67.3% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Ratings
$00.1 Lots1:500 (entity dependent)FCA, ASIC, FSCA, SCB, FSAForex, CFDs, Indices, Shares, Commodities, Futures, Bonds, Cryptos (Bahamas Entity Only)MT4Credit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Wire Transfer, Skrill, PayPal, Debit CardUSD, EUR, GBP, AUD, ZAR, SEK, NOK, DKK
Here is a short overview of each broker's pros and cons
- IG - Founded in 1974, IG is part of IG Group Holdings Plc, a publicly traded (LSE: IGG) brokerage. The brand offers spread betting, CFD and forex trading across an almost unrivalled selection of 17,000+ markets, with a range of user-friendly platforms and investing apps. For 50 years, IG has maintained its position as an industry leader, excelling in all key areas for traders.
- XTB - Founded in 2002 in Poland, XTB now serves more than 1 million clients. The forex and CFD broker combines a heavily regulated trading environment with an extensive selection of 6400+ assets and a commitment to trader satisfaction, featuring an intuitive in-house platform with superb tools to support aspiring day traders.
- CMC Markets - Established in 1989, CMC Markets is a respected broker listed on the London Stock Exchange and authorized by several tier-one regulators, including the FCA, ASIC and CIRO. More than 1 million traders from around the world have signed up with the multi-award winning brokerage.
- CityIndex - City Index is an established and award-winning forex, CFD and spread betting broker with top-tier global regulation, including in the UK (FCA) and Australia (ASIC). With 30+ years in the industry, 13,500+ instruments and 24/5 customer support, City Index is a solid pick for aspiring traders.
- 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.
- Eightcap - Eightcap is an award-winning, FCA-regulated broker offering industry-low day trading fees. They are also the highest-rated brand by TradingView’s 50 million-strong users, who can trade directly on the platform. UK traders can sign up for a live account with an accessible £100 minimum deposit.
- eToro - eToro is a top-rated multi-asset platform which offers trading services in thousands of CFDs, stocks and cryptoassets. Launched in 2007, the brand has millions of active traders globally and is authorized by tier one regulators, including the FCA and CySEC. The brand is particularly popular for its comprehensive social trading platform. Cryptoasset investing is highly volatile and unregulated in the UK and some EU countries. No consumer protection. Tax on profits may apply. 51% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
- 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.
- Interactive Investor - Interactive Investor are a hugely respected, FCA-regulated investing firm. The trading platform is easy-to-use while the sign-up and deposit process is straightforward for new investors. ii also has a long track record and a string of industry awards under its belt.
- Trade Nation - Trade Nation is a top FX and CFD broker regulated in multiple jurisdictions including the UK and Australia. The firm offers low-cost fixed and variable spreads on 1000+ assets with robust trading platforms and training materials. The Signal Centre can also be used for trade ideas.
Best Day Trading Platforms and Brokers in the UK 2024 Comparison
IG
"IG continues to provide a comprehensive package with an intuitive web platform, best-in-class education for beginners, advanced charting tools bolstered by its recent TradingView integration, real-time data, and fast execution speeds for experienced day traders."
Christian Harris, Reviewer
IG Quick Facts
Demo Account | Yes |
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Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting |
Regulator | FCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA, FINMA, CONSOB, AFM |
Platforms | Web, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist, TradingCentral |
Minimum Deposit | $0 |
Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
Leverage | 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro) |
Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, ZAR, SEK, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD |
Pros
- The ProRealTime advanced charting platform is free as long as certain modest monthly trading activity requirements are met.
- IG offers an extensive collection of professional and engaging educational resources, including webinars, articles, and analysis.
- The IG app offers a superb mobile trading experience with a clean design that helped it secure Runner Up at our 'Best Trading App' award.
Cons
- IG applies an inactivity fee of $12 per month after 2 years, deterring casual investors.
- Stock and CFD spreads still trail the cheapest brokers like CMC Markets based on tests.
- IG has discontinued its swap-free account, reducing its appeal to Islamic traders.
XTB
"XTB stands out as a top choice for new day traders with the terrific xStation platform, commission-free pricing, no minimum deposit, and excellent educational tools, many of which are seamlessly integrated into the platform. "
Christian Harris, Reviewer
XTB Quick Facts
Demo Account | Yes |
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Instruments | CFDs on shares, Indices, ETFs, Raw Materials, Forex currencies, cryptocurrencies, Real shares, Real ETFs |
Regulator | FCA, CySEC, KNF, DFSA, FSC |
Platforms | xStation |
Minimum Deposit | $0 |
Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
Leverage | 1:30 |
Account Currencies | USD, EUR, PLN |
Pros
- XTB offers fast withdrawals with same-day payments if requested before 1 pm, ensuring day traders have quick access to their funds.
- XTB has boosted its interest rate on all uninvested balances (up to 5.2%) while competitors like eToro only offer up to 5% on balances of $50K+.
- First-class 24/5 customer support is available, including a friendly live chat with response times of under two minutes during testing.
Cons
- Not being able to adjust the default leverage level of XTB products is frustrating, as manual adjustment can significantly mitigate trade risk, especially in forex and CFD trading.
- XTB does not offer a raw spread account, which is becoming increasingly common among competitors like Pepperstone, and may disappoint day traders looking for the tightest spreads.
- XTB discontinued support for MT4, limiting traders to its proprietary platform, xStation, potentially deterring advanced day traders familiar with the MetaTrader suite.
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 |
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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
- The brokerage continues to stand out with its wide range of value-add resources, including pattern recognition scanners, webinars, tutorials, news feeds, and research from respected sources like Morningstar.
- 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 is heavily regulated by reputable financial authorities and maintains its stellar reputation, helping to ensure a secure and trustworthy trading environment.
Cons
- Trading stock CFDs incurs a relatively high commission, especially compared to the cheapest brokers like IC Markets.
- 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.
CityIndex
"City Index is best for new and intermediate traders looking for a wide selection of assets on user-friendly platforms. The broker is also great for UK traders looking to spread bet on 8,500 instruments with no tax on profits."
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer
CityIndex Quick Facts
Demo Account | Yes |
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Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Options, Commodities, Bonds |
Regulator | ASIC, FCA, MAS |
Platforms | 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, CZK |
Pros
- A free demo account with unrestricted access to all markets and trading tools
- Excellent reputation with over 1 million account holders and tier-one regulatory oversight
- Thousands of instruments including thematic indices and interest rates that are not available at many alternatives
Cons
- US traders not accepted
- $15 monthly inactivity fee
- No Islamic account for Muslim traders
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 |
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Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto(only Pro clients), 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.
- Award-winning customer support is available via telephone, email or live chat with response times of <5 minutes during testing.
- Pepperstone boasts impressive execution speeds, averaging around 30ms, facilitating fast order processing and execution that’s ideal for day trading.
Cons
- There’s no simplified proprietary trading platform, nor are there any social trading features, which could be a disadvantage if you are new to day trading.
- 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.
Eightcap
"Eightcap delivers in every area for day traders with a growing selection of charting platforms, education via Labs, and AI-powered tools. Now sporting 120+ crypto CFDs, it's also become a stand-out choice for crypto trading, winning our 'Best Crypto Broker' award two years in a row."
Christian Harris, Reviewer
Eightcap Quick Facts
Demo Account | Yes |
---|---|
Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities |
Regulator | ASIC, FCA, CySEC, SCB, CNMV |
Platforms | MT4, MT5, TradingView |
Minimum Deposit | £100 |
Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
Leverage | 1:30 |
Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, SGD |
Pros
- With tight spreads from 0 pips, low commission fees, and high leverage up to 1:500 for certain clients, Eightcap provides cost-effective and flexible trading conditions that can accommodate an array of strategies, including day trading and scalping.
- After bolstering its roster in 2021, Eightcap offers one of the most extensive selections of cryptocurrency CFDs in the market, with crypto/fiat pairs, crypto/crypto pairs, plus crypto indices for broader exposure to the market.
- Having excelled across all key areas for day traders, Eightcap outperformed every competitor to win our 'Best Overall Broker' award for 2024, also securing our 'Best Crypto Broker' title.
Cons
- Despite a useful library of educational guides and e-books in Labs, Eightcap still trails IG’s comprehensive toolkit for aspiring traders with its dedicated IG Academy app and 18 course categories.
- The demo account expires after 30 days and can only be extended upon request - a notable inconvenience compared to the likes of XM with its unlimited demo mode.
- In spite of an increasing variety of tools, Eightcap doesn't offer industry favorites like Autochartist or Trading Central, which offer cutting-edge charting analytics, live news, and market insights for short-term traders.
eToro
"eToro's social trading platform leads the pack with a terrific user experience and active community chat that can help beginners find opportunities. There are also competitive fees on thousands of CFDs and real stocks, plus excellent rewards for experienced strategy providers."
Christian Harris, Reviewer
eToro Quick Facts
Demo Account | Yes |
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Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, ETFs, Smart Portfolios, Commodities, Futures, Crypto, NFTs |
Regulator | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSA, FSRA, MFSA, CNMV, AMF |
Platforms | eToro Web, CopyTrader, TradingCentral |
Minimum Deposit | $100 |
Minimum Trade | $10 |
Leverage | 1:30 |
Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP |
Pros
- The web platform and mobile app perform better in user reviews and app rankings than top competitors, including AvaTrade
- There's a comprehensive online training academy with accessible resources, from bitesize articles to comprehensive courses
- The broker's services are great for beginners, with commission-free stock trading, a low minimum deposit and an unlimited demo
Cons
- There are no guaranteed stop loss orders which would be a useful risk management feature for beginners
- There is a $30 minimum withdrawal amount and a $5 fee, which will affect novices with low capital
- Traders will face currency conversion fees for account denominations other than USD
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
Demo Account | Yes |
---|---|
Instruments | Forex, CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Options, Crypto |
Regulator | NFA, CFTC, CIRO, FCA, CYSEC, ASIC, SFC, FSA, MAS, CIMA |
Platforms | MT4, MT5, TradingView, eSignal, AutoChartist, TradingCentral |
Minimum Deposit | $100 |
Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
Leverage | 1:30 |
Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, PLN |
Pros
- 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.
- 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.
Cons
- Funding options are limited compared to leading alternatives like IC Markets and don’t include many popular e-wallets, notably UnionPay and POLi.
- 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.
- FOREX.com's MT4 platform offers approximately 600 instruments, significantly fewer than the over 5,500 available on its non-MetaTrader platforms.
Interactive Investor
"Interactive Investor is an excellent pick for UK traders interested in longer-term investing products like ISAs and SIPP accounts. The low fixed fees for large portfolios and 40,000+ stocks will also appeal to traders with a decent bankroll."
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer
Interactive Investor Quick Facts
Demo Account | No |
---|---|
Instruments | Stocks, Funds, Trusts, ETFs, Bonds, Gilts, VCTs |
Regulator | FCA |
Platforms | Own |
Minimum Deposit | £0 |
Minimum Trade | £25 |
Account Currencies | GBP |
Pros
- User-friendly investment app
- Low fixed fees for large portfolios
- No minimum deposit
Cons
- No copy trading tools
- No free demo account
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
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
- The trading firm offers tight spreads and a transparent pricing schedule
Cons
- Fewer legal protections with offshore entity
Choosing A Day Trading Broker In The UK
Our 40+ years of combined experience using UK brokers has shown us that several critical elements should be considered when deciding who to open an account with:
Choose A Trusted Broker
Picking a trusted broker will help safeguard you from unscrupulous trading practices, such as misleading promotions and price manipulation.
It will also help protect you from trading scams, many of which we’ve seen target retail investors in the UK. One notable example is EverFX, a brand that pressured victims to move sometimes tens of thousands of pounds to offshore firms where they lost money and had limited recourse options under UK law.
The hallmarks of a trustworthy day trading broker are authorization from a respected body, such as the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), a long track record, excellent user reviews, and a good reputation in the industry. We prioritize day trading platforms that tick these boxes.
I recommend that British day traders sign up with an FCA-regulated broker. The FCA is hugely respected around the world for its robust investor protections, including providing up to £85,000 through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) in the event of broker insolvency.
- eToro is highly trusted. It’s regulated by the FCA, has been operating for over 15 years, and our UK experts have traded with it for several years using real money and praise the terrific user experience and best-in-class social trading network for beginners.
Choose A Broker With Low Fees For Day Trading
Selecting a platform with excellent pricing is critical for day traders because high transaction costs can rack up if you’re making a large volume of trades, impacting your profitability.
That’s why we evaluate the fees you can expect to incur day trading as part of our exhaustive broker reviews. This includes recording and comparing spreads and commissions on popular markets like the FTSE, EUR/GBP, and GBP/USD.
Importantly, we also balance costs with the broker’s overall offering, as we know it’s sometimes worth paying more for superior market data, sophisticated trading tools and faster order executions, especially for advanced day traders.
- CMC Markets is one of the cheapest day trading brokers based on our tests, particularly for forex trading. You can trade the GBP/EUR from 0.8 pips in the Standard account, the UK 100 from 1.0, and UK shares with a 0.1% commission. There are also no deposit or withdrawal fees.
Choose A Broker With An Excellent Charting Platform
Finding a platform with strong charting tools is important because day traders often use technical analysis to discover opportunities, while long-term investors tend to rely more on fundamental analysis.
Our experts always evaluate the platforms, mobile apps, and charting tools for day trading as part of our hands-on tests. We use the software to ensure it delivers an excellent user experience with an intuitive design and straightforward navigation.
We also check it comes complete with the charting tools essential for day traders at any skill level, including technical indicators, drawing features, and timeframes that cater to short-term trading strategies, from 1-minute to 60-minute charts.
- AvaTrade continues to excel in its platform offering with easy-to-use proprietary software for new traders alongside industry-leading third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which are great for advanced day traders and algo traders.
Choose A Broker With Access To The Markets You Want To Day Trade
Making sure the brokerage facilitates day trading on the assets you’re interested in is critical.
For traders in the UK, it’s often important to be able to speculate on shares listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), the value of the FTSE 100, and currency pairs that include the British Pound, such as the EUR/GBP and GBP/USD.
We always evaluate the range and depth of the investment offering while using day trading platforms, with a particular eye on access to UK markets for British traders.
The other element we look for is instruments built specifically for short-term trading strategies, notably contracts for difference (CFDs). These derivatives enable you to speculate on rising and falling prices from the same product without taking ownership of the underlying security, such as Barclays shares listed on the LSE.
- XTB excels with its 5,500+ instruments spanning stocks, indices, commodities, forex and ETFs, including the UK 100 and currency pairs with the GBP. It’s also one of the few day trading platforms in the UK to pay interest on unused cash up to 4.9%.
Choose A Broker With Fast Execution Speeds
Opening an account with a broker that offers fast execution is crucial for day trading strategies, especially in volatile markets. Delays in executing orders can lead to price slippage and even failure.
That said, execution quality is also an important consideration and concerns factors like speed, pricing, and the probability of order fulfilment.
That’s why we routinely evaluate brokers’ execution policies and execution speed data (where available), favouring platforms that meet our benchmarks of <100 milliseconds.
- Pepperstone maintains its position as one of the fastest day trading brokers, with most orders executed in less than 60 milliseconds. This makes it a stand-out option for short-term trading strategies like scalping.
Choose A Broker That Supports Leverage Trading With Clear Margin Requirements
Signing up with a firm that supports leverage trading is essential for many day traders, who often use leverage to control larger positions with a small outlay.
Essentially, leverage amplifies your purchasing power, and thus your returns and losses. Let’s say my day trading broker offers leverage of 1:30 on the GBP/EUR. This means a £100 outlay would give me £3,000 to trade with (30 x £100).
However, it’s crucial to understand that leverage trading also greatly increases risk. As a result, a risk management strategy is needed, alongside a solid grasp of your broker’s margin requirements, which outline the amount of capital required.
The FCA limits leverage for retail investors in the UK to between 1:2 and 1:30 depending on the market being traded.
You can day trade with higher leverage if you sign up with a brokerage registered in other jurisdictions, but this elevates the risk of large losses and I do not recommend it for beginners.
As part of our exhaustive reviews, we confirm whether margin trading is supported and the maximum leverage available.
We also make sure the broker is upfront about margin requirements and its margin call and stop-out levels, which determine how much capital you need to deposit to prevent positions from being automatically closed.
- Eightcap supports leverage trading with transparent margin requirements. Brits can day trade the GBP/USD with 1:30, the UK 100 with 1:20, and shares with 1:5.
Choose A Broker With An Accessible Minimum Deposit
Selecting a day trading platform that offers a deposit requirement within your budget is important to make sure you don’t risk more than you can afford to lose. This is especially important for beginners who might have a modest amount of capital for trading.
We’ve personally tested 267 brokers that support day trading using either real money or test accounts, and the vast majority require an initial investment of <£500. That said, some platforms cater specifically to beginner traders with low or even no minimum deposit.
- Interactive Brokers offers a GBP trading account with no minimum deposit and supports an almost unparalleled selection of instruments with advanced trading tools and deep market data for serious day traders.
Methodology
To find the best day trading brokers in the UK, we considered both quantitative data and qualitative insights from our comprehensive broker reviews, focusing on several aspects:
- We confirmed the brokerage accepts day traders from the United Kingdom.
- We chose brands we trust and that are regulated by the FCA.
- We favoured online brokers with competitive pricing for day trading.
- We prioritised platforms and apps with excellent charting tools for short-term strategies.
- We selected brokers with a good range of assets, favouring those with access to UK markets.
- We focused on brokerages with fast and reliable order execution.
- We checked leverage trading is supported with transparent margin requirements.
- We concentrated on day trading platforms with an accessible minimum deposit.
FAQ
Who Regulates Day Trading Brokers In The UK?
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the body responsible for overseeing and licensing brokers that offer day trading products to retail investors in the UK.
You can check whether a brokerage is authorised by the FCA by searching for their name or license number (usually found at the bottom of a broker’s website) on the regulator’s register.
How Much Money Do I Need To Start Day Trading In The UK?
Most top day trading brokers accept traders in the UK with a minimum deposit of between £0 and £500.
Beginners may want to open an account with a low minimum deposit broker, while advanced day traders may wish to invest more in return for the best trading tools and market data.
Which Brokers Do Day Traders In The UK Use?
We’ve compiled a list of the best day trading platforms and brokers in the UK. Many of our recommendations have millions of active traders, with a large user base in the UK.
Recommended Reading
Article Sources
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
- Broker Warning List (FCA)
- Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)
- London Stock Exchange (LSE)
- Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE 100)
- EverFX Trading Scam (BBC News)
The writing and editorial team at DayTrading.com use credible sources to support their work. These include government agencies, white papers, research institutes, and engagement with industry professionals. Content is written free from bias and is fact-checked where appropriate. Learn more about why you can trust DayTrading.com