Top 10 Spread Betting Brokers

What Is Spread Betting?

Spread betting is when you put a wager or place a bet on a product or market and the outcome of its success, without taking ownership of said product/market. The monies, or winnings, received after the bet is placed is determined by whether an asset’s value increases or decreases.

For instance, you place a bet on a well-known financial market and predict that it will increase from its current price within the next week. You open a spread betting position on the asset, and if it rises you’ll make a profit, and if it falls you’ll make a loss. The same also applies to whether you believe the price will fall and place a bet on that particular outcome.

What Is the Difference Between Financial and Forex Spread Betting?

Financial spread betting is a by-product that is used to figure out the increasing or decreasing value on financial products, whereas forex spread betting is about the purchasing and selling of one currency in exchange for another currency.

Some people prefer spread betting as they do not have to take ownership of the product and can just place a simple bet on their chosen product – which might seem more appealing to early traders.

If you would prefer to partake in forex spread betting over a financial spread bet, you can take advantage of using leverage to complete the trade. Leverage lets you borrow money from investors, or brokers, to finance the exchange.

The key differences between financial spread betting and forex spread betting are:

• Forex trading only allows you to work with currency-based trades and foreign exchange, whereas financial spread betting offers you a wider range of markets to bet on.
• There are no direct trades with financial spread betting like there is with forex. For forex deals, you must work with currency exchanges directly.
• Financial spread betting can be tax-free in some areas – this will depend on where you are trading. For instance, you do not have to pay tax for bets in the UK.
• You can take advantage of leverage and receive finance from investors when you are doing a forex trade.

Key Points to Consider When Choosing a Spread Betting Broker

When you are choosing a spread betting broker, there are a few things you must consider before placing your bet.

• Trust – It is important you do your homework and have faith in the broker you are going to use to place your bet. After all, you could be betting a large amount of capital on a certain market.
• Experience – How long has the brokerage been going for? Do they have experience in spread betting in the market you have been speculating?
• Cost – To make big on your return you want to keep your costs low, which means you need to think carefully about how much commission the broker wants in return. To begin with, you need to think about the spread, which is the difference between the bid price and the offer cost of the asset you are trading. A broker will charge for the opening and closing of a bet for you, so to make a profit you will need to look for the lowest spread.
• Customer service – As with most industries, you might have had good customer service from a spread betting provider in the past and wish to proceed with this provider due to positive interactions. Are they available all day long? For some bets, you might want to liaise with your broker throughout the day.
• The platform – The trading platform a broker uses is important as the customer journey will help new spread betting traders get started. This will also help with time and accessibility. Is the platform mobile friendly? Does it offer useful tools if a customer service agent is not available?
• Tradeable assets – How many markets does the broker trade in and do they offer financial spread betting and forex? It is good to know this before placing your bets, especially if you are looking for a broker to have a long relationship with.
• Regulation – Check whether the broker is regulated. The broker must be clear about their financial history. The location of the broker will determine which governing body they are regulated by. For example, if you are using an EU-based broker, they should be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

There are many top brokers around the world, some you may have heard of, and newer brokers who might focus on specialist markets. You must do your homework on each broker to know which one suits you and your bet.

Within this article, we will provide you with the top 10 spread betting brokers and spread betting platforms to help you on your journey, whether you are a pro or a beginner.

Top 10 Spread Betting Brokers

If you are planning on starting your spread betting journey, you must trust the broker you choose. Ensuring your capital is safe is important – especially if you are betting a large amount.

Here is our list of top 10 spread betting brokers:

1. eToro

Best for: 0% commission and no trading limits. 0% commission applies to stock and ETFs investment, spreads will be applied to CFD products.

Founded in 2007, eToro’s mission is to make the world of trading accessible to everyone. Whether you are new to the world of spread betting or a complete trading beginner, eToro simplifies trading for everyone.

eToro specializes in cryptocurrencies, CFD and stocks, offering 100% stocks for 0% commission. It also offers a trading platform for beginners called CopyTrader, which allows users to replicate trading strategies.

With podcasts and educational resources aplenty, eToro prides itself on its social trading, which is explained in detail on its website.

eToro:

• Is perfect for beginners
• Only works in USD
• Has access to over 800 stocks

*67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.*

2. Pepperstone

Best for: Low fees and high-speed trading

Having launched in 2010, Pepperstone is a relatively new broker compared to the others we have listed so far. However, it has grown exponentially over the past 10 years to become a reputable, popular broker.

With over 89,000 clients globally, Pepperstone has firms all over the world and has won several different awards and accolades for its training and educational resources, including Best Client Relationship Manager at the Professional Trader Awards in 2019.

Pepperstone is known for its low trading fees and is regulated by the FCA, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), and other regulatory bodies – all listed on its website.

It uses some of the best trading platforms available, such as MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and cTrader, available on mobile, tablet and desktop.

Pepperstone also provides access to raw spreads, offers a super-execution, trades over 180 instruments and is financially transparent.

3. City Index

Best for: Spread betting and financial strength

City Index is well known across the industry as being the leading expert in spread betting. It has competitive fees and a whole host of markets.

The company has been around for over 35 years and has won several awards for its exceptional trading platforms and mobile applications.

City Index also specializes in forex trading, spread betting and contract-for-difference (CFD) trading, and offers spreads from as low as 0.5 points.

Helping traders grow with its thorough educational tools, City Index has access to over 12,000 markets across indices, shares and commodities, and forex. It is also highly regarded within the industry and is regulated by the FCA.

City Index offers free withdrawals and deposits.

4. FXCM

Best for: Forex trading

With over 20 years of trading experience, FXCM is fully regulated by some of the most high-profile bodies in the world.

FXCM has received several awards and accolades over the years and is recognized as one of the top international brokers around the world, with offices in the UK, Australia, Canada and elsewhere.

It has excellent customer service appraisals, and its loyal traders highly rate its user-friendly platforms. It even allows spread betting beginners the opportunity to open a practice account. This is to familiarize the trader with spread betting in an easy, informative way.

FXCM also allows you to place smaller bets and has several excellent mobile platforms. Its site clearly states the spread costs, which is always a bonus.

5. IG

Best for: Experienced and new traders

IG has been trading since 1974 and is listed on the London financial stock exchange. It is one of the most experienced brokers out there, with access to over 17,000 markets.

It is highly trusted in the world of spread betting and trading and is regulated by the FCA.

Its platforms are easy to use, offering education to new traders and analytics of the markets.

IG has clients all over the world and offers an award-winning trading app with free withdrawals and deposits. It also offers expert customer service that is available from the get-go.

IG is transparent with its fees, which may be slightly higher than other brokers.

6. CMC Markets

Best for: Multiple trading opportunities and education

CMC Markets has been around for over 30 years and is one of the industry’s safest traders. It has won multiple awards, including the best mobile and tablet app, and best online trading platform at the Shares Awards 2017.

Forex fees are low with CMC Markets, but other stock fees can be quite high. All prices and commissions are listed on its very thorough website. It also has a live chat feature which can be helpful to traders who might need an immediate response.

It is fully regulated and highly regarded in the trading world, with over 9,000 global shares, 80,000 clients and exemplary trading conditions.

7. ETX

Best for: Experience and tax-free bets

ETX is based in London and is one of the most experienced brokers out there with over 50 years’ experience under its belt. It specializes in:

• Spread betting
• Forex trading
• CFDs

With over 5,000 stock options, ETX is known for its free educational webinars and award-winning platforms.

It also offers:

• Text message alerts
• Charting tools
• Respected platforms, including MT4
• Clear analytics
• Educational resources
• Tax-free bets

8. Capital.com

Best for: No tax and no commission

Capital.com is a broker with various benefits, such as:

• Industry-leading platforms and a range of mobile apps
• 3,000 markets (fewer than some of the other brokers listed above)
• Capital.com uses AI to analyze behaviors and other technologies to amplify analytics
• No commissions and low deposits
• They specialize in forex, commodities, shares and indices with tight spreads and leverage

Capital.com also provides an array of training resources to educate new traders on the ins and outs of spread betting, stocks and CFDs with a range of videos, podcasts and webinars. Technology is at the heart of the company.

9. Spreadex

Best for: 24-hour trading

Spreadex was founded in 1999 and now has over 10,000 global markets. Offering spread betting to both retail and professional traders, Spreadex is an industry leader specializing in forex, equities, cryptocurrencies, indices and more.

Boasting a fully customizable platform, users have complete access to trade on whichever device they want, whether a mobile, desktop or tablet.

Spreadex boasts the following qualities:

• Regulated by the FCA
• Access to thousands of markets
• Top-quality platforms
• No broker fees

Spreadex has won the Best Customer Service award in the Investment Trends Leveraged Trading report a few times and is always on hand to support its traders.

10. ThinkMarkets

Best for: Online trading

ThinkMarkets is an award-winning forex broker with headquarters in London.

A technology-based broker, ThinkMarkets uses the latest in fintech (financial technology) to deliver advanced trading facilities to users.

ThinkMarkets specializes in forex, metals, indices, shares and commodities, and offers:

• Multilingual support
• Mobile-optimized platforms including MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5
• An in-depth educational facility
• Live chat feature for easy access to support
• Over 1,200 trading instruments

Final Thoughts

The qualities you are looking for in a broker will depend on the market you want to bet on, your trading experience and the amount you want to place.

If you are new to the world of spread betting, most of the providers listed above provide the ability to create demo accounts or replicate existing bets so you can get a feel for it. You might also want to go with a broker who specializes in dealing with new traders and is more equipped with educational and training facilities.

To summarize, consider the following factors when selecting a broker:

• Are they regulated in all the countries where they are based?
• Do they offer good value and showcase their fees and financials clearly?
• Do they provide access to high-quality, optimized trading platforms that offer a user-friendly experience?

Many brokers offer a vast amount of training courses and educational assets. Do your homework if you are a spread betting beginner.

WikiJob does not provide tax, investment or financial services and advice. The information is being presented without consideration of the investment objectives, risk tolerance or financial circumstances of any specific investor and might not be suitable for all investors. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing involves risk including the possible loss of principal.