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
- 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
- Min. deposit: $0
- Min. trade: 0.01 Lots
73-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs -
- Demo account
- Regulator: ASIC, CySEC, FSA, SCB, CMA-Kenya
- Min. deposit: $200
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.
- Pepperstone 4.8/5 Established in Australia in 2010, Pepperstone is a top-rated forex and CFD broker with over 830,000 clients worldwide. It offers access to 1,400+ instruments on leading platforms MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView, maintaining low, transparent fees. Pepperstone is also regulated by trusted authorities like the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC, helping to ensure a secure environment for day traders at all levels.
- 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.
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 | 3077 | ||||
| AvaTrade | 13629 | ||||
| Trade Nation | 2175 | ||||
| RoboForex | 776 | ||||
| Pepperstone | 3712 | ||||
| IC | 2 |
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.
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’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 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.
- 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.
- XM is falling behind the curve by not offering cTrader, which is favored over MetaTrader by some serious traders for its smoother user experience and superior charting package.
- 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.
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
- AvaFutures traders can now use TradingView for 100+ indicators, screeners and a calendar, the sharing of trade ideas, commissions from $0.45, intraday margins from $60, and access to exchanges like CME and EUREX.
- 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.
- 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.
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
- 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.
- The broker expanded into Europe with regulated online trading services after securing authorization from Portugal's CVMV, boosting its safety protections for European residents.
- The demo comes with a $5,000 practice account and you can request a one-on-one platform walkthrough by callback - this level of personal help is rare.
Cons
- 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.
- 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.
- There is no raw or ECN pricing tier, which are often prefered by day traders. No matter how much you deposit or trade, you use the same fixed (or variable on MT4) pricing as beginners, making it unsuitable for scalpers especially.
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.
- The broker offers two commission-free withdrawals each month in the Free Funds Withdrawal program, helping day traders to minimize transaction costs.
- 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.
Cons
- While RoboForex offers competitive spreads, some of its account types come with high trading commissions up to $20 per lot, trailing the cheapest brokers, such as IC Markets.
- 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.
- 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.
Pepperstone
Pepperstone stands out as a top choice for day trading, offering razor-sharp spreads, ultra-fast execution, and advanced charting platforms for experienced traders. New traders are also welcomed with no minimum deposit, extensive educational resources, and exceptional 24/5 support (18h a day on weekends).
Christian Harris, Reviewer
Pepperstone quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto CFDs, Spread Betting
- Regulator
- FCA, ASIC, CySEC, BaFin, DFSA, SCA, SCB, CMA-Kenya
- Platforms
- Pepperstone Trading Platform, MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD
Pros
- After adding spread betting through TradingView, Pepperstone provides a seamless, tax-efficient trading experience with advanced analysis tools for financial spread bettors in supported countries.
- Pepperstone has greatly improved the deposit and withdrawal experience in recent years, adding Apple Pay and Google Pay in 2025, as well as PIX and SPEI for clients in Brazil and Mexico in 2024.
- Offers a dedicated CopyTrading app for traders who want a less active approach to trading, available in some countries.
Cons
- Execution may not feel as reliable in fast markets as headline speeds suggest. In our own testing, execution was fast at desired prices, but some community complaints focus on slippage, stop-loss fills and spread-sensitive order triggers during volatile conditions.
- Despite improvements to its range of markets, crypto CFD offerings are still fairly limited compared to other brokers who focus on this area, such as Eightcap, and there's no option to invest in real coins.
- Overnight holding fees are higher than that found with some Market Maker brokers (usually Benchmark + 2.5%). This makes pepperstone an ideal broker for day traders and forex scalpers but less suitable for swing traders who often keep position open overnight.
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 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.
- As a tightly regulated and widely respected broker, IC prioritizes client security and transparency, helping to ensure a reliable trading experience globally.
- 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
- There are fees for certain withdrawal methods, including a $20 wire charge, which can eat into profits, especially for frequent withdrawals.
- Despite four industry-leading third-party platforms, there is no proprietary software or trading app built with new traders in mind.
- The breadth and depth of tutorials, webinars and educational resources still need work, trailing alternatives like CMC Markets and reducing its suitability for beginners.
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.