Best Brokers For Bonds
Investors trade bonds for profit by capitalizing on changes in government or corporate bond values. Dig into our pick of the best bond trading brokers, selected after thorough review, comparison, and rating.
Best Brokers For Bonds 2025
Based on our latest assessment, these are the 6 best bond trading accounts:
Why Are These Brokers the Best for Trading Bonds?
Here is a quick rundown on why these bond brokers stand out from the rest following our tests:
- Interactive Brokers is the best broker for trading bonds in 2025 - Interactive Brokers maintains its position as a top-ranking bond broker, with a whopping selection of over 1 million products. Helpfully, the firm provides a comprehensive Bond Search tool to narrow down the wealth of popular treasuries and notes, as well as the lesser-known municipal securities. Commissions are also competitive, starting at 0.2 basis points for the first $1 million of face value.
- Dukascopy - Dukascopy offers popular government-issued US, UK and German bond CFDs with commissions starting at $52.50 per million, though this drops to $7.50 for high-volume traders. The broker is a great choice for seasoned bond traders looking for comprehensive analysis tools and automation features, including APIs and strategy builders.
- Firstrade - Firstrade clients can access an excellent range of fixed-income investments such as treasury bills, municipal bonds and secondary market certificates of deposit (CDs). The broker charges zero commissions on online trades and there is no minimum deposit to get started, making Firstrade a good pick for novice bond investors.
- Zacks Trade - Zacks Trade is a top pick for seasoned bond traders. With exclusive access to over 20 top-tier research providers, including Dow Jones and Morningstar, traders can stay ahead of the bond market easily. Commissions start from 0.025% of the face value plus $3 per government bond, and the broker’s proprietary terminal is packed with analysis features for active, high-volume traders.
- AvaTrade - AvaTrade offers European and Japanese bond trading through CFDs, allowing users to speculate on rising and falling prices. Spreads on treasuries are tight and leverage up to 1:5 is available, amplifying both returns and losses. AvaTrade excels by offering bonds on MT4 and MT5 – platforms that are great for short-term traders and algo traders.
- IC Markets - IC Markets offer trading on 9 bonds with deep liquidity and excellent pricing. The broker also stands out by offering very high leverage up to 1:200, alongside access to leading charting platforms MT4 and MT5
Compare the Best Brokers for Bonds on Key Attributes
Discover the ideal bonds broker for your needs with our feature comparison:
| Broker | Bonds | Minimum Investment | Regulators | Cost Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | ✔ | $0 | FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM | / 5 |
| Dukascopy | ✔ | $100 | FINMA, JFSA, FCMC | / 5 |
| Firstrade | ✔ | $0 | SEC, FINRA | / 5 |
| Zacks Trade | ✔ | $2500 | FINRA | / 5 |
| AvaTrade | ✔ | $100 | ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, ISA, CBI, FSA, FSRA, BVI, ADGM, CIRO, AFM | / 5 |
| IC Markets | ✔ | $200 | ASIC, CySEC, FSA, CMA | / 5 |
How Safe Are These Bond Trading Brokers?
Are the best bond brokers reliable, and do they protect your investments?
| Broker | Trust Rating | Guaranteed Stop Loss | Negative Balance Protection | Segregated Accounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Dukascopy | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Firstrade | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | |
| Zacks Trade | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | |
| AvaTrade | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| IC Markets | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ |
Compare Mobile Bond Trading
Do these brokers offer a seamless mobile bond trading experience?
| Broker | Mobile Apps | iOS Rating | Android Rating | Smart Watch App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | iOS & Android | ✔ | ||
| Dukascopy | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| Firstrade | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| Zacks Trade | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| AvaTrade | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| IC Markets | iOS & Android | ✘ |
Are the Top Bond Brokers Good for Beginners?
The top bond brokers for beginners offer demo accounts and essential learning tools:
| Broker | Demo Account | Minimum Deposit | Minimum Trade | Education Rating | Support Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | ✔ | $0 | $100 | ||
| Dukascopy | ✔ | $100 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| Firstrade | ✘ | $0 | $1 | ||
| Zacks Trade | ✔ | $2500 | $3 | ||
| AvaTrade | ✔ | $100 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| IC Markets | ✔ | $200 | 0.01 Lots |
Are the Top Bond Brokers Good for Advanced Traders?
Advanced traders need brokers with powerful tools for a better bond trading experience:
| Broker | Automated Trading | VPS | AI | Pro Account | Leverage | Low Latency | Extended Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | Capitalise.ai & TWS API | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | 1:50 | ✔ | ✔ |
| Dukascopy | Yes (EAs & FIX APIs) | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | 1:200 | ✘ | ✘ |
| Firstrade | - | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | - | ✔ | ✔ |
| Zacks Trade | Yes (algos) | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | - | ✘ | ✘ |
| AvaTrade | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | 1:30 (Retail) 1:400 (Pro) | ✔ | ✘ |
| IC Markets | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cBots on cTrader, Myfxbook AutoTrade | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global) | ✔ | ✘ |
Compare the Ratings of Top Brokers for Bonds
Our tests reveal how the leading brokers for trading bonds measure up in key areas.
| Broker | Trust | Platforms | Assets | Mobile | Fees | Accounts | Research | Education | Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | |||||||||
| Dukascopy | |||||||||
| Firstrade | |||||||||
| Zacks Trade | |||||||||
| AvaTrade | |||||||||
| IC Markets |
Compare Trading Fees
The cost of trading bonds with a broker will make a big difference over time:
| Broker | Cost Rating | Fixed Spreads | Inactivity Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | ✘ | $0 | |
| Dukascopy | ✘ | CHF 100 | |
| Firstrade | ✘ | $0 | |
| Zacks Trade | ✘ | $15 | |
| AvaTrade | ✔ | $50 | |
| IC Markets | ✘ | $0 |
How Popular Are These Brokers With Bonds?
These bond brokers have the highest number of active traders:
| Broker | Popularity |
|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | |
| Dukascopy | |
| AvaTrade | |
| IC Markets |
Why Trade Bonds with Interactive Brokers?
"Interactive Brokers is one of the best brokers for advanced day traders, providing powerful charting platforms, real-time data, and customizable layouts, notably through the new IBKR Desktop application. Its superb pricing and advanced order options also make it highly attractive for day traders, while its diverse range of equities is still among the best in the industry."
Christian Harris, Reviewer
Interactive Brokers Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies |
| Regulator | FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA, AFM |
| Platforms | Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 |
| Minimum Trade | $100 |
| Leverage | 1:50 |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF |
Pros
- While primarily geared towards experienced traders, IBKR has made moves to broaden its appeal in recent years, reducing its minimum deposit from $10,000 to $0.
- IBKR is one of the most respected and trusted brokerages and is regulated by top-tier authorities, so you can have confidence in the integrity and security of your trading account.
- IBKR continues to deliver unmatched access to global stocks with tens of thousands of equities available from 100+ market centres in 24 countries, most recently the Saudi Stock Exchange.
Cons
- You can only have one active session per account, so you can’t have your desktop program and mobile app running simultaneously, making for a sometimes frustrating trading experience.
- Support can be slow and frustrating based on tests, so you might find it challenging to reach customer service representatives promptly or encounter delays in resolving issues.
- TWS’s learning curve is steep, and beginners may find it challenging to navigate the platform and understand all the features. Plus500's web platform is much better suited to new traders.
Why Trade Bonds with Dukascopy?
"If you’re an experienced trader, Dukascopy provides the tools you need: JForex for algorithmic strategies, competitive spreads from 0.1 pips, leverage up to 1:200, and the peace of mind of using a Swiss-regulated bank and broker."
Dukascopy Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | 10% Equity Bonus |
|---|---|
| Demo Account | Yes |
| Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, Bonds, Binary Options |
| Regulator | FINMA, JFSA, FCMC |
| Platforms | JForex, MT4, MT5 |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Leverage | 1:200 |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, ZAR, TRY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD, PLN, CZK, AED, SAR, HUF, MXN |
Pros
- Dukascopy is regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) as both a broker and a bank, ensuring top-tier financial security and adherence to strict standards.
- The proprietary JForex platform is highly advanced, offering tools for algorithmic trading, extensive charting, and access to deep liquidity for short-term traders.
- Dukascopy features some of the best research we’ve seen, even a professional TV studio in Geneva covering financial news, market analysis, and daily insights from professionals.
Cons
- Dukascopy's withdrawal fees are higher than most competitors we’ve tested, particularly for bank wire transfers, which may deter traders who require frequent access to their funds.
- While Dukascopy provides some educational resources and 24/7 support, the complexity of its platforms and tools required extensive testing and may overwhelm newer traders.
- While JForex is feature-rich, it has a steep learning curve, making it less suitable for beginner traders who might prefer simpler platforms.
Why Trade Bonds with Firstrade?
"Firstrade is perfect for beginners looking to trade US stocks with zero commissions. There is a wealth of free education plus premium-quality research, notably through its latest FirstradeGPT tool, plus trading ideas from Morningstar, Briefing.com, Zacks and Benzinga."
Firstrade Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | Deposit Bonus Up To $4000 |
|---|---|
| Demo Account | No |
| Instruments | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Cryptos, Fixed |
| Regulator | SEC, FINRA |
| Platforms | TradingCentral |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 |
| Minimum Trade | $1 |
| Account Currencies | USD |
Pros
- Excellent broker for budget-conscious traders with low OTC fees
- Highly trusted US-regulated brokerage and SIPC member
- One of the first brokers to add AI-powered analysis through FirstradeGPT
Cons
- Customer support still needs work following testing with no 24/7 assistance
- Visa credit/debit card deposits and withdrawals are not accepted
- No demo/paper trading account found at over 90% of alternatives evaluated
Why Trade Bonds with Zacks Trade?
"Zacks Trade will suit active day traders with experience using powerful platforms. Fees and margin rates are low while the market research is excellent."
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer
Zacks Trade Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | Stocks, ETFs, Cryptos, Options, Bonds |
| Regulator | FINRA |
| Platforms | Own |
| Minimum Deposit | $2500 |
| Minimum Trade | $3 |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, INR, JPY, ZAR, TRY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD, RUB, PLN, CZK, HUF |
Pros
- Regulated by FINRA with access to the Securities Investor Protection Corporation
- 20+ account denominations
- Customizable proprietary trading platform and mobile app
Cons
- No forex, commodities or futures trading
- No MT4 or MT5 platform integration
- High minimum requirement of $2,500
Why Trade Bonds with 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."
AvaTrade Quick Facts
| Bonus Offer | 20% Welcome Bonus up to $10,000 |
|---|---|
| Demo Account | Yes |
| Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Crypto, Spread Betting, Futures |
| Regulator | ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, ISA, CBI, FSA, FSRA, BVI, ADGM, CIRO, AFM |
| Platforms | WebTrader, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, AvaFutures, MT4, MT5, AlgoTrader, TradingCentral, DupliTrade |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Leverage | 1:30 (Retail) 1:400 (Pro) |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD |
Pros
- AvaTrade continues to enhance its suite of products, recently through AvaFutures, providing an alternative vehicle to speculate on over 35 markets with low day trading margins.
- 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.
- Years on, AvaTrade remains one of the few brokers offering a bespoke risk management tool, AvaProtect, that insures losses up to $1M for a fee and is easy to activate on the platform.
Cons
- 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.
- 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.
Why Trade Bonds with 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."
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, Quantower |
| 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
- 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 among the tightest spreads in the industry, with 0.0-pip spreads on major currency pairs, making it especially cost-effective for day traders.
- You have access to over 2,250 CFDs across various markets, including forex, commodities, indices, stocks, bonds, and cryptocurrencies, allowing for diversified trading strategies.
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.
- Interest isn't paid on unused cash, an increasingly popular feature found at alternatives like Interactive Brokers.
- While IC Markets 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.
Comparing Bond Brokers
To find the best bond brokers, we evaluate firms across several categories:
The Number Of Bonds
Top brokers offer a range of bonds, sometimes thousands, helping investors build diverse portfolios.
Our analysis found that most bond brokers offer access to several types of bonds, including:
- Government Bonds – Generally deemed the safest, these are debt securities issued by governments to support public spending and obligations. Importantly, brokers may use different terms to describe government bonds. US bonds, for example, are often known as treasuries, while UK bonds are frequently called gilts, and debt instruments issued by the German government are known as bunds.
- Corporate Bonds – Riskier than government bonds, these debt instruments are used by companies to raise funds for various purposes, such as expansion. The quality and risk of corporate bonds vary depending on the creditworthiness of the firm. Investment-grade corporate bonds are usually safer but often come with lower yields, whilst junk bonds are riskier but tend to offer higher returns.
Also important is the vehicle you can use to speculate on bond values. For short-term speculation, contracts for difference (CFDs) and spread betting are popular, allowing users to speculate on prices without owning the underlying bond. For longer-term investing, you can buy bonds directly or deal in exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
- Interactive Investor offers a huge selection of products with over 10,000 bonds and gilts.
The Fees To Trade Bonds
The best bond brokers offer low fees with no hidden charges.
Our testing shows that many firms charge a transaction fee, known as a commission. Low-cost platforms charge commissions of <1% or <$10. Fees may also be shown as a spread, especially if you trade bond CFDs. Here, sub 1 point is competitive.
Importantly, we look for any volume discounts that can bring costs down. Our team also evaluate non-trading fees, which can take the form of account opening and maintenance fees, deposit and withdrawal charges, plus inactivity penalties.
- CMC Markets offers bonds with spreads as low as 1 point. We also rate that you can reduce spreads by up to 40% through the Alpha program.
The Minimum Investment
The top bond brokers offer an accessible minimum deposit, lowering the entry barrier.
Our research shows that many top bond brokers accept new traders with a minimum deposit of <$200. With that said, some firms have no minimum deposit, making them a good option for beginners.
Importantly, we balance a low minimum deposit with the quality of the investment tools and market research. We have found that sometimes it is worth investing more upfront to access higher-quality tools.
- OANDA has no minimum deposit and offers European, US and UK bonds with competitive conditions.
The Platforms And Tools
Our top-rated bond brokers offer easy-to-use platforms with excellent market research tools.
When we test bond brokers, we look for user-friendly platforms and apps that allow investors to analyze markets and manage trades. The best software will help you find bonds that align with your financial goals and risk appetite.
Our team also consider the availability of additional resources for bond traders, whether expert commentary on the maturity, yield, and quality of bonds, or tools to help investors calculate potential returns and fees.
- AvaTrade offers two sophisticated platforms for bonds with advanced charting software – MT4 and MT5.
The Broker’s Regulatory Status
We only recommend bond brokers that we trust.
Several factors impact the trust rating we assign brokers. The most important of which is whether the brokerage is regulated by a respected financial body. Investing through a tightly regulated bond broker will help protect you from scams and unfair practices.
Among the most respected regulators are the US National Futures Association (NFA), US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC).
Our team also factor in the reputation of the bond broker and look for signs of credibility, such as being listed on a stock exchange or part of a banking institution.
- IG is a trustworthy bond broker regulated by reputable bodies, including the NFA, CFTC and FCA.
FAQ
What Is A Bond Broker?
A bond broker is an intermediary that provides a platform where you can buy, sell and speculate on bond values.
Our analysis shows that the best bond brokers offer a large number of bonds, a choice of investing vehicles, transparent fees with low commissions, and oversight from a trusted regulator.
Do I Need To Open An Investing Account To Buy Bonds?
To invest in bonds, you generally need to open an account with an online broker.
When you have completed the sign-up requirements and satisfied any minimum deposit requirements, you can purchase or trade bond instruments through the firm’s investing platform or mobile app.
Which Is The Best Bond Broker?
We have compiled a list of our best bond brokers. We considered several factors, including the number and type of bonds available, fees on bond instruments, the minimum investment, plus the quality of the platforms and tools.
Importantly, we also checked the broker’s regulatory credentials and reputation. Only bond brokers we trust make our rankings.
What Types Of Bonds Do Brokers Offer?
The types of bonds available to traders will vary between online brokers. However, top-rated brokers offer a selection of government, corporate, and fixed bonds, plus a choice of investment vehicles, such as CFDs, ETFs, and spread bets.
Article Sources
- AvaTrade - Bond Investing Conditions
- CMC Markets - Bond Investing Conditions
- Interactive Investor - Bond Investing Conditions
- IG - Bond Investing Conditions
- OANDA - Bond Investing Conditions
- How I Trade and Invest in Stocks and Bonds, Richard D. Wyckoff, 2006
- Fundamentals of The Bond Market, Esme Faerber, 2001
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