Buying and holding assets for an extended time can be a successful trading avenue and this guide aims to help you find the best brokers for long term investing. This article will run through what long term investing is and how it works. We also cover the different types of long term investing, the best assets to trade and how to compare top brokers.
Best Brokers For Long Term Investing
These 6 brokers provide the best suite of instruments and trading conditions for long-term investors:
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- Demo account
- Regulator: CySEC, MISA
- Platforms: MT4, MT5
84.6% of retail CFD accounts lose money. -
- Demo account
- Regulator: FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSC, SCB, FSA
- Platforms: MT4, MT5, TradingView, TradeLocker
71.28% of retail traders lose money when trading CFDs -
- Demo account
- Regulator: ASIC, VFSC, FSA
- Platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, DupliTrade
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- Demo account
- Regulator: CIRO
- Platforms: TradingCentral
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- Demo account
- Min. deposit: $300
- Min. trade: 0.01 Lots
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- Demo account
- Regulator: ASIC, CySEC, FSA, FSCA, FSC, SCB, CMA-Kenya
- Min. deposit: $0
Learn how we test brokers and why you can trust our ratings.
Here is a short summary of why we think each broker belongs in this top list:
- FXCC 4.6/5 FXCC is an established broker that’s been offering low-cost online trading since 2010. Registered in Comoros Union and regulated by the CySEC, it stands out for its ECN trading conditions, no minimum deposit and smooth account opening that takes less than 5 minutes.
- 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.
- Fusion Markets 4.6/5 Fusion Markets is an online broker established in 2017 and regulated by the ASIC, VFSC and FSA. It is best known for its low-cost forex and CFD trading, although its multiple account types and copy trading solutions cater to a range of traders. New clients can sign up and start trading in 3 easy steps.
- Qtrade 3.6/5 Qtrade is an award-winning Canadian financial services firm that offers a selection of investing accounts, including with zero commission stocks, mutual fund trades and ETFs. This is a long-running brand that is well regarded in Canada, where many investors choose it to build their savings account or pension pot. QTrade is also highly trusted and authorized by the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO).
- 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.
- FP Markets 4.2/5 Established in 2005 in Australia, FP Markets is an ASIC- and CySEC-regulated broker boasting an extensive suite of tradable assets. Its Standard and Raw accounts cater to day traders at every level, while it packs a punch in the tooling department, from the MetaTrader suite and intuitive TradingView to actionable trading ideas from Trading Central and AutoChartist.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FXCC | 223 | ||||
| Eightcap | 3909 | ||||
| Fusion Markets | 10276 | ||||
| Qtrade | 73 | ||||
| AvaTrade | 13626 | ||||
| FP Markets | 10367 |
FXCC
FXCC continues to prove itself an excellent option for day traders with a particularly strong selection of 70+ currency pairs, ultra-tight spreads from 0.0 pips during testing, and a free VPS for qualifying traders.
Jemma Grist, Reviewer
FXCC quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Metals, Energies, Crypto
- Regulator
- CySEC, MISA
- Platforms
- MT4, MT5
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD
Pros
- FXCC’s ECN XL account has been built with active traders in mind, featuring spreads from 0.0 with no commission, while also passing our execution speed benchmark for day traders.
- The free VPS for qualifying traders and the ability to build or buy EAs on MetaTrader make FXCC a strong option for algo traders.
- Customer support still relies on human agents with response times of under three minutes on live chat during our tests and knowledgeable reps - a welcome break from the frustrating AI chatbots increasingly offered by brokers.
Cons
- FXCC charges steep withdrawal fees on many of its payment methods, including $45 for bank transfers and 2% crypto transfers, which may cut into the returns of traders making regular withdrawals.
- Although FXCC has bolstered its range of markets with US, European and Asian stocks, the choice of metals and energies is light, and there are no soft commodities.
- Although regulated by the CySEC, FXCC’s offshore entity operates with weak regulatory oversight from MISA and may not provide safeguards like investor compensation in the event of broker insolvency.
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
- With tight spreads from 0 pips, low commission fees, Eightcap provides cost-effective and flexible trading conditions that can accommodate an array of strategies, including day trading and scalping.
- Eightcap has brought in GOLD247 for 24/7 trading opportunities on a gold/USD CFD with leverage up to 1:20, minimum trade size of 0.01 lots, and no commission, appealing to weekend traders interested in the precious metal.
- 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
Fusion Markets
Fusion Markets is a standout option for forex traders looking for excellent pricing with spreads near zero, industry-low commissions and recently TradingView integration. It’s a particularly good broker for Australian traders where the company is headquartered and regulated by the ASIC.
Jemma Grist, Reviewer
Fusion Markets quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto
- Regulator
- ASIC, VFSC, FSA
- Platforms
- MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, DupliTrade
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD
Pros
- The market analysis features, Market Buzz and Analyst Views, are great tools for discovering opportunities and conveniently integrated into the client dashboard.
- Fusion Markets continues to impress with its pricing that provides tight spreads with below-average commissions that will appeal to active day traders.
- Fusion Markets is set up to support algo traders with a sponsored VPS solution and a 25% discount if you opt for the NYC Servers VPS for MT4 or cTrader.
Cons
- There is no proprietary trading platform or app built with beginners in mind, a notable drawback compared to AvaTrade.
- While the selection of currency pairs trumps most rivals, the broker's alternative investment offering is average with no stock CFDs beyond the US.
- Traders outside of Australia must sign up with weakly regulated global entities with limited safeguards, though in August 2026 they made negative balance protection available to all eligible accounts.
Qtrade
Qtrade is a good match for Canadian traders who are looking for a reputable and regulated broker to make longer-term investments as well as leveraged trades.
William Berg, Reviewer
Qtrade quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Mutual Funds, Options, GICs
- Regulator
- CIRO
- Platforms
- TradingCentral
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
- Minimum Trade
- Variable
- Account Currencies
- USD, CAD
Pros
- After years of testing, Qtrade has cemented its place as one of the best trading platforms in Canada, with easy-to-use software and a growing range of US and Canadian stocks as well as funds, ETFs and other assets.
- Commissions of $8.75 per equity, which could stack up for active stock traders, have been reduced with the broker now offering commission-free equities, mutual funds, and ETFs.
- Qtrade has teamed up with PersonaFin to launch “My News” - an AI-powered, personalized newsfeed built around your interests. Get timely insights from premium sources, discover trending topics fast, and explore smarter with AI-driven search.
Cons
- Although Qtrade has added support for Interac e-Transfer, it still offers relatively limited funding options with no credit/debit card deposits.
- The transfer out fee is a nuisance and traders should be wary of the CAD to USD exchange charge.
- Qtrade doesn't offer trading opportunities on forex or crypto markets, potentially limiting its appeal if you're looking to build a diverse portfolio.
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
- $300
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
FP Markets
FP Markets strikes an ideal balance between affordability and quality for active traders. They’ve managed to keep trading costs low while expanding their investment offering, charting tools, and research features, all while providing excellent support you can rely on for urgent trading queries.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
FP Markets quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, ETFs, Crypto
- Regulator
- ASIC, CySEC, FSA, FSCA, FSC, SCB, CMA-Kenya
- Platforms
- Iress, MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD
Pros
- FP Markets has integrated top-notch research tools from Trading Central and Autochartist, helping traders identify short-term opportunities based on chart patterns, indicators, and other technical factors.
- FP Markets has a seamless onboarding experience, standing out with crypto deposits and over 10 base currencies, catering to global traders.
- FP Markets delivers fast and dependable support, available 24/5 with average response times of less than 1 minute during testing.
Cons
- Although Traders Hub provides rich research, notably the Daily Report, Technical Report, Market Insights, and Fundamental Analysis, it needs to widen its daily content variety and keep its forex news updated to match category leaders like IG.
- FP Markets trails the best MetaTrader brokers, despite offering a Trader's Toolbox on MT4, just 130 instruments are available, limiting opportunities for serious traders, especially compared to Pepperstone with its 1,300 assets.
- FP Markets’ Iress platform is only available to clients in Australia. It also primarily emphasizes stock trading over forex trading, and data fees can accumulate rapidly unless you're an active trader or maintain a high-balance account.
What Is Long Term Investing?
We need to understand what long term investing is and how it works before we break down the best brokers for long term investing.
When people refer to long term investing, they usually mean buying stocks, bonds or forex and holding on to it for a significant amount of time, such as months or even years. Anyone with a pension is already investing in the long term. With a pension pot, daily fluctuations do not matter so much, the important factor is consistent growth over an extended period, with the goal being a healthy balance come retirement.
Long term investments work in a similar way to standard trading, just over a longer period. The same research and preparation are required but, instead of looking at daily price charts for different assets, you need to look over longer periods like a year or multi-year chart.
Long term investing is all about growth. If an asset is showing steady growth over a year or longer, it may be a good investment. The daily fluctuations are insignificant, sometimes the assets may be down and sometimes they may soar, but all that matters for investors is the overall growth. Investors may look to hold long term investments in companies that have shown steady growth and have reason to keep in that same vein.
Types Of Long Term Investing
When it comes down to it, there are many different types and forms of trading offered by the best brokers for long term investing. Here, we will go through a few different options and explain them.
There are two mindsets when it comes to long term investments. Firstly, you have held to maturity investments. This is when you purchase an asset or entity which you wish to keep until it has completely matured, with no intention of selling.
The opposite of this is available for sale investment. With an available for sale investment, the trader purchases the asset intending to sell in over a year. It is still a long-term investment, as the asset will be held for a significant time, but the goal is to sell the asset eventually.
Diving down the rabbit hole of stocks, there are a couple of different instruments offered by the best brokers for long term investing that you could go for. The first type is dividend stocks. As the name suggests, these are stocks that pay dividends, giving investors a regular cash pay-out.
Typically, stocks offering dividends are from older companies that have less need for their cash. Generally, these are a safe stock to go for. They are unlikely to skyrocket and earn loads but they produce a regular income.
That brings us on to another type, growth stocks. These offer high growth and high investment returns. A lot of the time these stocks are tech companies. Generally, all profits go back into the business and product, so they are unlikely to pay out large dividends. This type of long-term investment is very risky, stock prices can plummet when things go wrong but the success stories speak for themselves. Meta, Amazon and Apple are all great examples of how far these growth stocks can go.
Long-Term Investing Vs Day Trading
Long-term investing and day trading are two very different forms of trading and, while some firms will support both, the best brokers for long term investing likely offer more specialised services.
While the obvious difference between the two approaches is the time an asset is held, there are other variations in the two styles. Day traders are working over very short periods. Typically, an investor will purchase an asset and look to sell it within hours, minutes or even seconds.
When buying a stock, the intent is to sell it as soon as it hits a certain price. Equally, when shorting (selling), the intent is to buy it back when it’s dropped to a certain value.
Day trading requires a significant amount of concentration and effort. Investors must constantly check the market and charts to ensure they sell at the right time, only to rinse and repeat the process many times throughout the day. High fees can be incurred through day trading as commissions are generally charged on each purchase and sale.
Long-term investing is almost the opposite of this. When an investor purchases an asset as a long-term investment, they are not looking to sell any time soon. Typically, they will hold the asset for months or even years. The intent is to hold the asset and allow it to gain value over time, rather than waiting for it to hit a certain price.
Similarly, investors will sell the asset only once they can make a significant gain on it. Long-term investors do not have to spend as much time and effort monitoring the market. After the initial research and purchase, small fluctuations do not matter, they can check price charts at their leisure safe in the knowledge they will not be selling for a while. The fees are usually lower as there is only one sale after a long period. The main fee incurred by long-term investors is management fees.
Assets Suited To Long Term Investing
While CFDs may be offered by some of the best brokers for long term investing, they are not suited to such strategies. CFDs usually incur overnight interest charges. When you are selling on the same day or the next day, this does not matter, however, when you are looking to hold for months or years, these charges will build up and cost a lot more than the CFD is worth.
Spot investments are arguably a more attractive option. These are charged a commission when you sell but there is no interest or overnight holding fees. This suits long-term investments as it allows you to hold for as long as you want, without worrying about fees being incurred for the length of time.
In terms of specific assets to purchase, stock funds and ETFs are often considered a popular way to go. If you purchase a broadly diversified fund, such as an S&P 500 or Nasdaq-100 index fund, you will get a range of company stocks, both high-growth and high-dividend. These assets generally experience consistent growth and often recover from drops, for example, even though the S&P 500 dipped during the 2008 financial crisis, it had recovered to its previous level within a few years and kept growing.
Bonds are another asset offered by the best brokers for long term investing. When you buy a bond, you are essentially lending money to a company, corporation or government entity. This gives them the cash they need, while you earn interest on the repayments they make.
Generally speaking, there is a lower risk attached to these bonds. You are unlikely to get rich trading bonds but you may make a steady income over a long period.
Pros Of Long-Term Investing
These are the key benefits of finding the best brokers for long-term investing and capitalising on this trading style:
- Less trading fees
- Can earn dividends
- Less time-consuming
- Ride out market bumps
Cons Of Long-Term Investing
Our research showed these to be the disadvantages of long-term investments:
- Patience is required
- Lots of fundamental research required
- Could be long periods before profits are realised
- Generally lower annual returns than successful active trading
How To Compare The Best Brokers For Long Term Investing
So, you are looking for the best brokerage accounts for long term investing. Comparing different brokers can be difficult, so we have compiled a list of things to check for when you are trying to find a broker:
- Minimum Deposit: Look for brokers with lower minimum deposits, it will mean you do not have to put up as much capital upfront and can trade at an amount you are comfortable with.
- Funding Methods: What payment methods does the broker accept? Find a broker that accepts forms of payments you can use and does not charge high fees for deposits and withdrawals.
- Assets Available To Trade: When you are picking a broker, ensure they offer the assets you want to trade. If you are looking for stocks, check the stock exchanges they offer. If you want to trade forex or bonds, make sure they offer these.
- Trading Platforms: Check that the broker offers trading platforms that suit you. If you want to conduct trading on the go, check for a mobile trading platform.
- Fees & Commission: This is one of the most important ones. Long-term brokers may charge fees, such as annual maintenance charges (AMCs). Compare the fees of different brokers and try to find a suitably low one. Also, check what commission will be charged when you close trades.
- Customer Support: Compare the different levels of customer support offered. Ideally, you want a broker that offers 24/7 customer support with a range of methods for you to get in contact.
Long Term Investing Strategies
Strategies are important at any level of trading, and long-term investing is no different. These tips will help you build your strategies and trade effectively.
Diversify
Holding a diverse range of assets is often the key to trading successfully, whether you are with one of the best brokers for long term investing or not.
Firstly, you may want to not only invest in high-risk assets like stocks but also purchase bonds and other assets that are more steady. Secondly, holding a diverse portfolio leaves you less susceptible to market downturns. Yes, some of your assets may go through a hard time but diversification should ensure some of them will still perform well.
Separate Emotions
Do not think of an investment as you would a sports team. Be open-minded with investments, they will not all come off and you must be ready to ditch a loser. It is not worth staying with it just in case of an upturn,
Final Word On Best Brokers For Long Term Investing
Signing up with the best brokers for long term investing can open the doors to a profitable avenue, free from the constant chart checking of day trading.
Many assets are suitable for long-term investing, some of which carry more risk than others, but all have the potential to earn profits. Follow our comparison guide to find the best broker for you for long term investing.
FAQs
Will I Pay Tax On Profits From Trading With The Best Brokers For Long Term Investing In The UK?
Profits are often subject to tax with long term investing strategies. Depending on the amount of income, you may be required to pay capital gains tax or even income tax.
Do The Best Brokers For Long Term Investing Charge Overnight Fees?
Many of the best brokers for long-term investing do not charge overnight fees for most financial instruments, instead charging commissions. However, CFDs often incur overnight interest swaps, so be sure to check before opening any trade.
Can I Trade CFDs On A Long-Term Basis?
Yes, you can. However, they are likely to incur overnight fees, which will increase over time and likely wipe out profits that you earn over time.
Are Stocks Or Bonds Better From The Best Brokers For Long Term Investing?
Investors may do well from investing in both. Stocks are higher risk but have the potential for greater growth, while bonds are steady and should provide a more stable income.
How Often Should I Check Long-Term Investments?
You do not need to check charts as much as you do for day trading. Check as much as you feel comfortable with, be it once a week or once a month, safe in the knowledge that you do not intend to sell for a while and dips may be overcome.