Best Brokers For Short Selling 2026

Written By

Michael MacKenzie

Edited By

James Barra

Fact Checked By

William Berg

Updated

Feb 16, 2026

Short sellers aim to profit from market downturns. We’ve found the best brokers for short selling by assessing key factors: markets available to short, fees on short positions, platform quality, account minimums, and our trust in the broker.

Best Brokers For Short Selling 2026

These are the 6 best platforms based on our findings, offering either direct short selling or short selling through products like CFDs:

Your capital is at risk. Trade only with funds you can afford to lose.

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Learn how we test brokers and why you can trust our ratings.

Here is a summary of why we recommend these brokers in March 2026:

Interactive Brokers - When we tested Interactive Brokers, short selling across stocks, forex, and CFDs was highly flexible. Borrow costs were transparent and often lower than most competitors we tested, averaging around 0.015% daily on forex CFDs and about 1.1% for equity CFDs, and restrictions were minimal. IBKR’s platforms and market data are also a step above much of the competition, making it ideal for advanced traders who rely on precise, tactical short-selling strategies.
NinjaTrader - In our evaluations, NinjaTrader stood out for how easy it made short selling across futures and forex CFDs. Borrow costs were reasonable, roughly 0.02% daily on forex CFDs and around 1.3% for futures and equity CFDs. For those short selling through futures products, it provides more instruments and specific tool than almost every other firm we tested.
Plus500US - When we tested Plus500US, short selling was straightforward - just sell to open on futures contracts like micro equity indices and crude oil, then buy to close. Because these are futures, there are limited borrow/locate hassles or borrow fees; costs are transparent (commission + exchange/NFA fees), margin updates in real time, and the web platform has a unique design that's genuinely intuitive and complete with integrated research tools..
XM - During our tests with XM, short selling across forex and CFDs was seamless, with competitive borrow costs averaging about 0.04% daily on forex CFDs and around 2% for equity indices, and a few restrictions. We noticed execution stayed tight even during high-volatility periods, which is rare. XM’s platform made spotting short opportunities straightforward, and our experience showed it’s a dependable option for traders looking to capitalize on downward moves efficiently.
RoboForex - During our tests with RoboForex, short selling across forex and CFD markets felt seamless. Borrow costs were reasonable, they averaged roughly 0.035% daily on forex CFDs and about 1.8% for equity CFDs, and restrictions rarely got in the way of swift trades. Hands-on testing showed RoboForex is a solid choice for traders who like to move quickly against the trend.
AvaTrade - When we tested AvaTrade, short selling proved surprisingly flexible across major forex and CFD markets. Borrow costs were reasonable, averaging around 0.03% daily on forex CFDs and 1.5–2% for equity CFDs, and execution was smooth even during volatile moves. Restrictions were minimal, letting active traders react quickly to market swings. Our hands-on testing highlighted AvaTrade’s reliability for tactical short positions, making it a solid choice for traders who like to go against the trend.

Best Brokers For Short Selling 2026 Comparison

Best Brokers For Short Selling 2026 Comparison
Broker	Short Selling Rating	Minimum Deposit
Interactive Brokers	4.3 / 5	$0
NinjaTrader	4.5 / 5	$0
Plus500US	4 / 5	$100
XM	4.8 / 5	$5
RoboForex	4.5 / 5	$10
AvaTrade	4.9 / 5	$100

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, 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

With low commissions, tight spreads and a transparent fee structure, IBKR delivers a cost-effective environment for short-term traders.
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.
The new IBKR Desktop platform takes the best of TWS while adding bespoke tools like Option Lattice and Screeners with MultiSort to create a genuinely impressive trading experience for day traders at every level.

Cons

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.
IBKR provides a wide range of research tools, but their distribution across trading platforms and the web-based 'Account Management' page lacks consistency, leading to a confusing user experience.
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.

Visit Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers Review

NinjaTrader

"NinjaTrader continues to meet the demands of active futures traders looking for low fees and premium analysis tools. The platform hosts top-rate charting features including hundreds of indicators and 10+ chart types."
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

NinjaTrader Quick Facts

Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	Futures, Forex, Stocks, Options, Commodities, Futures, Crypto (non-futures depend on provider)
Regulator	NFA, CFTC
Platforms	NinjaTrader Desktop, Web & Mobile, eSignal
Minimum Deposit	$0
Minimum Trade	0.01 Lots
Leverage	1:50
Account Currencies	USD

Pros

NinjaTrader is a widely respected and award-winning futures broker and is heavily authorized by the NFA and CFTC
NinjaTrader continues to deliver comprehensive charting software for active day traders with bespoke technical indicators and widgets
Low fees are offered, with $50 day trading margins & commissions from $.09 per micro contract

Cons

The premium platform tools come with an extra charge
Non forex and futures trading requires signing up with partner brokers
There is a withdrawal fee on some funding methods

Visit NinjaTrader

NinjaTrader Review

Plus500US

"Plus500US stands out as an excellent choice for beginners, offering a very user-friendly platform, low day trading margins, and access to the Futures Academy to enhance trading skills. Its powerful tools and reliable service helped it scoop second place in DayTrading.com's annual 'Best US Broker' award."
Michael MacKenzie, Reviewer

Plus500US Quick Facts

Demo Account	Yes
Instruments	Futures on Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Agriculture, Forex, Interest rates, Energy, Equity Index future contracts
Regulator	CFTC, NFA
Platforms	WebTrader, App
Minimum Deposit	$100
Minimum Trade	Variable
Leverage	Variable
Account Currencies	USD

Pros

Plus500 added prediction markets to its 'Plus500 Futures' platform in February 2026, with event-based trades covering 10 categories, from financials to politics, including short-term opportunities with intraday contracts that expire after just 15 minutes.
The trading app provides a terrific user experience with a modern design, a clean layout and mobile-optimized charts
The Futures Academy is an excellent resource for new traders with engaging videos and easy-to-follow articles, while the unlimited demo account is great for testing strategies

Cons

Although support response times were fast during tests, there is no telephone assistance
Plus500US does not offer social trading capabilities, a feature available at alternatives like eToro US which could strengthen its offering for aspiring traders
Despite competitive pricing, Plus500US lacks a discount program for high-volume day traders, a scheme found at brokers like Interactive Brokers

Visit Plus500US

Plus500US Review

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, SCA, FSCA, FSA, FSC Belize, FSC Mauritius, CMA
Platforms	MT4, MT5, TradingCentral
Minimum Deposit	$5
Minimum Trade	0.01 Lots
Leverage	1:1000
Account Currencies	USD, EUR, GBP, JPY

Pros

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.
XM’s customer support has delivered over years of testing, with 24/5 assistance in 25 languages, response times of under 2 minutes and a growing Telegram channel.
XM stands out for its commitment to trader education, with a wealth of well-presented resources, including webinars, tutorials, and even real-time trading sessions through XM Live.

Cons

XM is falling behind the curve by not offering cTrader and TradingView which are increasingly being favored over MetaTrader for their smoother user experience and superior charting packages.
Although trusted and generally well-regulated, the XM global entity is registered with weak regulators like FSC Belize and 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 or web-accessible solution for a more beginner-friendly user experience with unique features.

Visit XM

XM Review

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
Regulator	IFSC
Platforms	R StocksTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView
Minimum Deposit	$10
Minimum Trade	0.01 Lots
Leverage	1:2000
Account Currencies	USD, EUR

Pros

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.
The R Stocks Trader platform rivals leading solutions like MT4, with netting and hedging capabilities, comprehensive backtesting, Level II pricing, and a flexible workspace.
The broker offers two commission-free withdrawals each month in the Free Funds Withdrawal program, helping day traders to minimize transaction costs.

Cons

RoboForex provides a variety of account types, which, while offering flexibility, can be overwhelming for newer traders trying to choose the most suitable option for their trading style. Alternatives, notably eToro, provide a smoother entry into online trading with one retail account.
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.
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.

Visit RoboForex

RoboForex Review

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, FSRA, BVI, ADGM, CIRO, AFM
Platforms	WebTrader, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, AvaFutures, MT4, MT5, AlgoTrader, TradingView, 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 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.
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.
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.

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.
Although the deposit process itself is smooth, AvaTrade still doesn’t facilitate crypto payments, a feature increasingly offered by brokers like TopFX, which caters to crypto-focused traders.
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.

Visit AvaTrade

AvaTrade Review

Comparing Short Selling Brokers

Based on our exhaustive tests, the best brokers for short selling are trusted and offer a range of markets, low fees, excellent platforms, and accessible minimum deposits.

We unpack these comparison factors and our methodology below.

Trust

When we put together this list, our top priority was choosing trustworthy short selling brokers.

Only those who meet our stringent trust standards, including having up-to-date regulatory credentials and earning a solid reputation with our in-house experts, make the cut.

eToro continues to distinguish itself through its stellar record with 25+ million users and authorization from multiple tier-one regulators including the US SEC and UK FCA.

Markets

Short selling brokers provide opportunities to profit when an asset’s price decreases, either through products like contracts for difference (CFDs) or by directly loaning the asset, such as stocks, to traders to rebuy later at a lower price.

We look for short selling brokers that offer a diverse range of markets, ensuring traders can capitalize on shorting opportunities across company shares, stock indices, currencies, or crypto tokens.

AvaTrade excels for its extensive market offerings, allowing short positions through CFDs across 1,250+ stocks, indices, forex, commodities, and cryptocurrencies.

Fees

Short selling can involve certain fees including transaction costs, interest charged on borrowed funds, as well as standard interest rates on margin accounts.

We only select short selling brokers that offer highly competitive rates, but more than this we seek out those that offer good value for money by reviewing the total costs and how the services on offer weigh up.

Brokers frequently adjust their rates, so we also periodically review pricing structures to make sure short sellers have the latest information.

Moomoo shines for its low fees with zero commissions and competitive short selling rates that vary depending on daily market supply.

Platforms

Traders need a fast, smooth and responsive platform or app to get the best results while short selling.

However, what separates the best short selling brokers for us is their valuable insights into securities that can be shorted, including the quantity available and alerts to significant changes in short interest rates and costs, to support decision-making.

Interactive Brokers stands out with its comprehensive IBKR’s Securities Loan Borrow (SLB), offering real-time updates on shortable quantities, live and historical borrowing rates, and more throughout the day.

Account Minimums

Brokerages with low minimum deposits are the most accessible and allow traders of all stripes to test out brokers’ services and start shorting securities before risking substantial capital.

Recognizing the potential of margin trading for short sellers with limited funds, we favor brokers offering minimum deposits of $500 or less.

Webull excels as one of the most accessible short selling brokers with no minimum deposit.

Methodology

Compiling our list of the top short selling brokers involved a 5-step, hands-on approach:

Regulatory credentials – We went beyond the details advertised, verifying each broker’s license on the relevant agency’s website to ensure it was valid.
Trading fees – We compared fees comprehensively – examining commissions, interest on borrowing, and any additional costs – to ensure brokers offer a cost-effective environment for short sellers.
Platform quality – Putting platforms and tools to the test, we actively placed paper trades, assessing their suitability specifically for short selling.
Trading markets – We investigated the markets and instruments available for short selling to ensure users have ample trading opportunities.
Account opening – Recognizing the importance of accessibility, we verified that the minimum deposit required to open an account was reasonable, helping new short sellers get started.

FAQ

What Is Short Selling?

Short selling involves borrowing an asset to sell it in a bet that its price will drop, allowing you to buy it back at a later date and pocket the difference in price (minus any fees).

Alternatively, short sellers can speculate on falling prices using derivatives like contracts for difference (CFDs), whereby you don’t take ownership of the underlying asset.

Can Anyone Short Sell?

Thanks to the wide availability of online brokers, it is easier than ever to short stocks and other securities today. If you are able to sign up with the brokers on our list, then you can start short selling.

What Are The Benefits Of Short Selling?

Shorting can be a lucrative trading strategy when it comes off. Asset prices do not normally rise indefinitely, and short selling gives traders an opportunity to anticipate price drops and make money from the inevitable.

What Are The Risks Of Short Selling?

If you had bought one Bitcoin in 2019 for $5000, the maximum amount you would have risked losing was $5000 if the price went to zero. But in fact, the price rose to a peak above $60,000, so if you had shorted Bitcoin you would have potentially lost more than $55,000 (excluding any fees).

This illustrates how a short trade can be riskier than a straightforward buy, as there is no limit to how high an asset’s price can rise.