This article was first published on January 30, 2021
Consumer faith in the Robinhood platform was dashed at the end of January 2021, as the company suspended trading in cryptos and GameStop shares. Follow the events that led to the broker losing favour with day traders and see our recommended alternatives to Robinhood.
Other Brokers in Saint Barthelemy
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- Demo account
- Platforms: MT4, MT5, TradingCentral
- Min. deposit: $5
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- Demo account
- Min. deposit: $100
- Min. trade: 0.01 Lots
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- Demo account
- Regulator: FCA, ASIC, CMVM , FSCA, SCB, FSA
- Platforms: TN Trader, MT4, TradingView
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- Demo account
- Regulator: FSC
- Platforms: R StocksTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView
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- Demo account
- Regulator: ASIC, CySEC, FSA, SCB, CMA-Kenya
- Min. deposit: $200
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- Demo account
- Regulator: FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSC, SCB, FSA
- Platforms: MT4, MT5, TradingView, TradeLocker
71.28% of retail traders lose money when trading CFDs
Learn how we test brokers and why you can trust our ratings.
This is why we think these brokers are the best in this category in 2026:
- XM 4.8/5 XM is a globally recognized forex and CFD broker with 20+ million clients in 190+ countries. Since 2009, this trusted broker has been delivering low trading fees across its growing roster of 1000+ instruments. It also offers a comprehensive MetaTrader experience that we've observed firsthand placing test trades.
- AvaTrade 4.9/5 Established in 2006, AvaTrade is a leading forex and CFD broker trusted by over 400,000 traders. Operating under regulation in 9 jurisdictions, AvaTrade processes an impressive 2+ million trades each month. Through like MT4, MT5, and its proprietary WebTrader, the broker provides a growing selection of 1,250+ instruments. Whether it’s CFDs, AvaOptions, or the more recent AvaFutures, short-term traders at all levels will find opportunities. With terrific education and 24/5 multilingual customer support, AvaTrade delivers the complete trading experience.
- Trade Nation 4.4/5 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.
- RoboForex 4.5/5 RoboForex is an online broker, established in 2009 and registered with the FSC in Belize. Traders can choose from five accounts (Prime, ECN, R StocksTrader, ProCent, Pro) catering to different needs with trades from 0.01 lots and spreads from 0 pips. RoboForex has also enhanced its offering over the years, adding CFD instruments and launching its stock trading platform, plus the CopyFX system.
- IC 4.8/5 IC Markets (now IC) 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 200,000 clients from over 200 countries.
- Eightcap 4.6/5 Eightcap is a multi-regulated forex and CFD broker established in Australia in 2009. The broker has proven popular with active day traders, providing 800+ instruments with tight spreads and notable improvements in recent years, integrating the leading TradingView platform, alongside AI-powered financial calendars and algo trading tools with zero coding experience required.
Community Sentiment
See how users rate these brokers based on the average customer ratings submitted on DayTrading.com, plus ratings from Trustpilot, the Apple App Store and Google Play.
| Broker | Our Users' Rating | Trustpilot Score | Trustpilot Reviews | iOS App Rating | Android App Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XM | 3133 | ||||
| AvaTrade | 13567 | ||||
| Trade Nation | 2147 | ||||
| RoboForex | 773 | ||||
| IC | 2 | ||||
| Eightcap | 3909 |
XM
With a low $5 minimum deposit, advanced charting platforms in MT4 and MT5, expanding range of markets, and a Zero account offering spreads from 0.0, XM provides all the essentials for active traders, even earning our ‘Best MT4/MT5 Broker’ award in recent years.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
XM quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Commodities, Indices, Thematic Indices, Precious Metals, Energies
- Regulator
- CySEC, DFSA, FSCA, SCA, FSA, FSC-Belize, FSC-Mauritius, CMA-Kenya, CMA-UAE
- Platforms
- MT4, MT5, TradingCentral
- Minimum Deposit
- $5
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, ZAR
Pros
- XM has rolled out platform upgrades with integrated TradingView charts and an XM AI assistant, delivering faster execution, smarter analysis, and a sleeker, more intuitive trading experience.
- XM’s growing roster of 1,400+ instruments provides diverse short-term trading opportunities, with unique turbo stocks, fractional shares, and more recently thematic indices.
- XM secured a category 5 license from the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) of the United Arab Emirates in late 2025, strengthening its regulatory credentials and making it a strong option for traders in the Middle East.
Cons
- While the XM app stands out for its usability and exclusive copy trading products, the selection of technical analysis tools needs to be improved to meet the needs of advanced traders.
- Although trusted and generally well-regulated in some regions, XM also has global entities registered with the weak regulators like FSC (Belize) and FSA (Seychelles), whilst UK clients are no longer accepted, reducing its market reach.
- XM relies solely on the MetaTrader platforms for desktop trading, so there’s no in-house downloadable solution for a more beginner-friendly user experience with unique features.
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
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Crypto, Spread Betting, Futures
- Regulator
- ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, ISA, CBI, JFSA, BVI, FSRA/ADGM, AFM, CMA-Kenya, CIRO (via Friedberg Direct)
- Platforms
- WebTrader, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, AvaFutures, MT4, MT5, AlgoTrader, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade
- Minimum Deposit
- $100
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, ZAR
Pros
- The WebTrader excelled in our hands-on tests, sporting a user-friendly interface for beginners, complete with robust charting tools like 6 chart layouts and 60+ technical indicators.
- 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 launched AvaFutures to offer low-margin access to global markets, then expanded in 2025 as one of the first brokers to add CME’s Micro Grain Futures, and then later in the year went further by integrating with TradingView.
Cons
- AvaTrade’s WebTrader has improved, but work is still needed in terms of customizability – frustratingly widgets like market watch and watchlists can’t be hidden, moved, or resized.
- 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.
- 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.
Trade Nation
Trade Nation suits discretionary traders who want to speculate on major indices like the US 500 or liquid FX pairs, and want the predictable all-in costs of fixed spreads. In tests, we found the fixed-spread TN Trader environment particularly useful for trading around scheduled economic releases owing to its reliable charting environment and because published spreads stayed capped.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
Trade Nation quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs, Forex, Indices, Shares, Commodities, Futures, Bonds, Spread Betting (UK and Ireland only), Cryptos (Bahamas entity only)
- Regulator
- FCA, ASIC, CMVM , FSCA, SCB, FSA
- Platforms
- TN Trader, MT4, TradingView
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
- Minimum Trade
- 0.1 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, ZAR, SEK, NOK, DKK
Pros
- The broker expanded into Europe with regulated online trading services after securing authorization from Portugal's CVMV, boosting its safety protections for European residents.
- Trade Nation's 2026 partnership with Volt has sped up payments for Australian traders, who can now make instant deposits and withdrawals using PayID, with the faster payout capabilities planned for clients in the UK and EU.
- Trade Nation accounts can now be linked with TradingView, providing advanced multi-charts and the ability to execute trades directly.
Cons
- Offshore SCB and FSA entities allow retail clients up to 1:200 and 1:500 leverage compared to 1:30 in regions like the UK, Europe and Australia, so an FSA client can have 16 times the exposure of a UK retail client on the same trade, but with less oversight and no compensation scheme.
- Withdrawals can take up to five business days, which is around the industry average but slower than the 1-3 days we’re increasingly seeing brokers offer in an attempt to quash withdrawal complaints from retail investors.
- The 2–20% rebate scheme is closed to FCA, CMVM, and ASIC clients, meaning active day traders in these regions who would benefit from transaction rebates cannot claim them.
RoboForex
RoboForex is great if you want a vast range of 12,000+ day trading markets with ECN accounts, powerful charting and loyalty promotions. It also stands out for stock traders with its user-friendly R StocksTrader platform, featuring 3,000+ shares, fees from $0.01 and sophisticated watchlists.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
RoboForex quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Crypto
- Regulator
- FSC
- Platforms
- R StocksTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView
- Minimum Deposit
- $10
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR
Pros
- In July MobileTrader Telegram Mini App was released - bringing out one of the first solutions we've seen that lets users execute trades and manage positions without leaving the Telegram messaging app.
- RoboForex secured the 'Best Forex Broker 2025' title in DayTrading.com's Awards after broadening their FX offering, cutting spreads and opening up services in various countries.
- RoboForex offers over 12,000 instruments, providing more short-term trading opportunities than the vast majority of online brokers, with forex, stocks, indices, ETFs, commodities, and futures.
Cons
- Despite offering a range of platforms, RoboForex still doesn't support the increasingly popular cTrader. This might deter traders who prefer this specific platform for their day trading activities and is available at firms like Fusion Markets.
- Despite 15+ years in the industry and registering with the Financial Commission, RoboForex is authorized by one ‘Red-Tier’ regulator – the FSC in Belize, lowering the level of regulatory protections for traders.
- RoboForex now restricts base currency options to USD and EUR. This limitation may inconvenience day traders preferring to manage their accounts in other currencies, while potentially leading to conversion fees.
IC
IC (formerly 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 quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Futures, Crypto
- Regulator
- ASIC, CySEC, FSA, SCB, CMA-Kenya
- Platforms
- MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade, Quantower
- Minimum Deposit
- $200
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD
Pros
- IC secured DayTrading.com's 'Best MT4/MT5 Broker' in 2025 for its seamless, industry-leading MetaTrader integration, refined over years to maximize the platform experience.
- IC offers fast and dependable 24/7 support based on firsthand experience, particularly when it comes to accounts and funding issues.
- As a tightly regulated and widely respected broker, IC prioritizes client security and transparency, helping to ensure a reliable trading experience globally.
Cons
- Interest isn't paid on unused cash, an increasingly popular feature found at alternatives like Interactive Brokers.
- While IC offers a selection of metals and cryptos for trading via CFDs, the range is not as extensive as brokers like eToro, limiting opportunities for traders interested in these asset classes.
- Despite four industry-leading third-party platforms, there is no proprietary software or trading app built with new traders in mind.
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 in Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto
- Regulator
- FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSC, SCB, FSA
- Platforms
- MT4, MT5, TradingView, TradeLocker
- Minimum Deposit
- $100
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, SGD
Pros
- 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.
- Eightcap stands out with a selection of powerful trading tools and resources, including MT4 and MT5, and more recently the 100-million strong social trading network TradingView.
- Eightcap added TradeLocker in 2026 for certain regions, marking it out as the best regulated TradeLocker broker, while still delivering Eightcap's ultra-fast execution and low fees for active traders on the charting software.
Cons
- Eightcap needs to continue bolstering its suite of 800+ instruments to match category leaders like Blackbull Markets with its 26,000+ assets, featuring a particularly weak selection of commodities.
- 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.
- 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.
WallStreetBets & GameStop
Buoyed by insider knowledge that Wall Street hedge funds had millions in short positions on the high street gaming retailer, Redditors jumped to purchase shares in the firm, causing a surge in the value of stocks.
In reaction, Robinhood suspended trade on GameStop shares to comply with ‘financial requirements’ the platform’s CEO Vlad Tenev confirmed.
Whilst heavily restricted, trade has now resumed after the firm raised $1 billion in emergency investment. But the damage to consumer confidence still remains.
Angry investors posted a barrage of 1-star reviews for the app on the Google Play Store. These have recently been deleted by Google, returning Robinhood’s average star rating to four.
Crypto Trading Suspended
In the wake of the volatility, other markets have also seen disruption.
Gold prices declined 0.2% and UK short positions in Cineworld and Pearson were also impacted. However, it was cryptos that saw volatility in particular.
The price of dogecoin, a relatively unknown crypto, soared by 800% after it gained traction on social media.
The spike in price and market activity led to Robinhood suspending instant cryptocurrency deposits on Friday, citing ‘extraordinary market conditions’.
For the second time in one week, the broker acted as a barrier between its customers and the financial markets. It was perhaps unsurprising then that loyal day traders were once again up in arms.
Alternatives To Robinhood
Retail day trader interest has quickly turned to alternatives to Robinhood. Competitor brokerages that offer stock trading and options are seeing a pique in new accounts.
eToro
Top alternatives to Robinhood include eToro, a social trading platform that offers trading in stocks, cryptocurrencies and CFDs. Clients can utilise social feeds to discuss strategies and copy positions. 50+ currencies, nearly 1,000 stocks and a portfolio of indices are also available.
In addition, the broker provides its own powerful trading platform with extensive customisation and a user-friendly dashboard.
Forex.com
Forex.com is one of the top rated online brokers offering access to over 180 global markets. Leveraged trading is available on forex, stocks, commodities and cryptos.
The broker also offers multiple live account options, competitive floating spreads and a choice of flexible deposit and withdrawal options.
Add in daily market updates and approval from a long list of respected regulators and it’s unsurprising Forex.com is a popular alternative to Robinhood.
Pepperstone
For those with an interest in forex trading, Pepperstone offers trading on six major currency pairs, as well as numerous minors, crosses and exotics.
CFDs are available on major instruments such as indices, commodities and shares. Australian-based Pepperstone also provides the leading MT4 and MT5 platforms, alongside a competitive £200 minimum deposit requirement to meet the needs of novice traders.
Final Word
The GameStop and crypto disruption has proven the volatility of financial markets and the risks involved. The reaction of Robinhood has also shown that not all brokers will respond how customers would expect. As a result, many traders will look for alternatives to Robinhood.
Fortunately, there are many top brokers available in today’s market.