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
- Regulator: FSC
- Platforms: R StocksTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView
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- Demo account
- Regulator: ASIC, VFSC, FSA
- Platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, DupliTrade
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- Demo account
- Regulator: ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, BVI FSC
- Platforms: Web Platform, MT4, MT5, TradingCentral
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- Demo account
- Instruments: CFDs, Forex, Indices, Shares, Commodities
- Regulator: ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, FSC
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- Demo account
- Regulator: FMA, FSA
- Min. deposit: $0
Learn how we test brokers and why you can trust our ratings.
Here is a short overview of each broker's pros and cons
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Markets.com 4.4/5 Established in 2008, Markets.com is a long-standing, multi-regulated broker with oversight from the CySEC and FSCA. It offers unique features to track hedge fund moves and insider trades, while providing stock signals to alert traders to market opportunities. Its choice of accounts (Classic to Professional) caters to all levels of active trader. 72.3% of retail accounts lose money.
- FBS 4.3/5 Founded in 2009, FBS is an award-winning CFD broker operating in over 150 countries with a client base exceeding 27 million traders. Traders are supported at every stage of their journey with 24/7 assistance, market analytics, trading calculators, and competitive pricing with zero commissions.
- BlackBull 4.5/5 BlackBull is a New Zealand-based CFD broker providing diverse trading opportunities on over 2,180 instruments. After undergoing a rebrand in 2023, it now sports a modern look and feel complete with professional-grade trading tools and ultra-fast execution speeds averaging 20ms.
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 | ||||
| RoboForex | 776 | ||||
| Fusion Markets | 10306 | ||||
| Markets.com | 1258 | ||||
| FBS | 10242 | ||||
| BlackBull | 3521 |
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 has rolled out platform upgrades with integrated TradingView charts and an XM AI assistant, delivering faster execution, smarter analysis, and a sleeker, more intuitive trading experience.
- XM’s growing roster of 1,400+ instruments provides diverse short-term trading opportunities, with unique turbo stocks, fractional shares, and more recently thematic indices.
- XM’s Zero account is ideal for day trading with spreads from 0.0 pips, 99.35% of orders executed in <1 second, and no requotes or rejections.
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 relies solely on the MetaTrader platforms for desktop trading, so there’s no in-house downloadable solution for a more beginner-friendly user experience with unique features.
- 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.
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
- The broker offers two commission-free withdrawals each month in the Free Funds Withdrawal program, helping day traders to minimize transaction costs.
- In July MobileTrader Telegram Mini App was released - bringing out one of the first solutions we've seen that lets users execute trades and manage positions without leaving the Telegram messaging app.
- RoboForex offers over 12,000 instruments, providing more short-term trading opportunities than the vast majority of online brokers, with forex, stocks, indices, ETFs, commodities, and futures.
Cons
- Despite offering a range of platforms, RoboForex still doesn't support the increasingly popular cTrader. This might deter traders who prefer this specific platform for their day trading activities and is available at firms like Fusion Markets.
- 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 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.
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
- Withdrawal processing times have been slashed to under an hour and can be processed 24/7, making it faster and easier for active traders to withdraw any gains.
- 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
- Fusion Market trails alternatives, notably IG, in the education department with limited guides and live video sessions to upskill new traders.
- The demo account expires after 30 days, limiting its potential as a useful trading tool alongside a real-money account.
- While the selection of currency pairs trumps most rivals, the broker's alternative investment offering is average with no stock CFDs beyond the US.
Markets.com
Markets.com is best suited to retail investors who trade frequently but don’t want to calculate commissions, thanks to its spread-only pricing (EUR/USD around 1.3 pips). It especially appeals to short-term traders who value fast execution, flexible asset choice spanning 2,200+ instruments and proprietary tools like hedge fund confidence indices and insider trade alerts.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
Markets.com quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Commodities, Indices, Crypto, ETFs, Bonds
- Regulator
- ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, BVI FSC
- Platforms
- Web Platform, MT4, MT5, TradingCentral
- Minimum Deposit
- $200
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, ZAR, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, PLN, CZK
Pros
- Switching between the proprietary web platform (great for alerts and quick analysis) and MT5 (strong for algorithmic EAs) was smooth in our tests; positions synced across desktop, web, and mobile without gaps or re-quotes.
- Markets.com’s Hedge Fund Confidence and Insider Trading tools pulls SEC filings into the dashboard within 24 hours of disclosure, helping to spot fund moves and C-suite buys before most retail newsfeeds updated.
- Markets.com provides commission-free trading on most assets with spreads starting from around 0.6 pips on major forex pairs, making it cost-effective for casual traders.
Cons
- The proprietary web platform felt a bit basic once we pushed into advanced charting with fewer drawing/indicator options than full TradingView or MetaTrader.
- Inactivity charges kick in after just 3 months, while variable spreads are wider than top ECN brokers during testing, which may deter day traders and high-frequency traders.
- During sign-up, we hit unclear account type explanations and got stuck in an email verification loop that locked us out for an hour - way less streamlined than other brokers we’ve tested.
FBS
FBS is an excellent choice for day traders at every level and budget, with just a $5 minimum deposit and intensive academy for aspiring traders alongside access to MT4 and MT5.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
FBS quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs, Forex, Indices, Shares, Commodities
- Regulator
- ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, FSC
- Platforms
- FBS App, MT4, MT5
- Minimum Deposit
- $5
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, AUD, JPY
Pros
- 24/7 customer support that performed excellently during testing is available, alongside a $5 minimum deposit, and a huge variety of 200+ funding options, making it ideal for traders with small accounts.
- FBS offers lightning-fast execution speeds from just 10 milliseconds, placing it among the industry leaders for highly active traders like scalpers who demand rapid order processing.
- The trading firm has picked up over 90 awards and amassed more than 27 million clients, making it one of the largest and most established brokers globally.
Cons
- Although the FBS app offers a terrific mobile trading experience for aspiring traders and MT4/MT5 cater to advanced traders, the absence of cTrader and TradingView, which are increasingly offered by alternatives like Pepperstone, will deter day traders familiar with these platforms.
- There are only four base currencies available - EUR, USD, AUD and JPY (region dependant) - which isn't practical for minimizing currency conversion fees for many global traders, and is especially striking given the broker’s user base spans over 150 nations.
- Despite enhancing the selection of currency pairs, now providing over 70, FBS still trails industry leaders like BlackBull Markets in its market offering with a particularly narrow selection of commodities and indices.
BlackBull
After improving its trading infrastructure with Equinix servers in London, reducing latency for traders, BlackBull is an obvious choice if you want to day trade stock CFDs with ECN pricing. With competitive spreads and no commission on a growing roster of digital tokens paired with USD, BlackBull also works for active crypto traders.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
BlackBull quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Crypto
- Regulator
- FMA, FSA
- Platforms
- BlackBull Invest, BlackBull CopyTrader, MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, ZAR, SGD
Pros
- BlackBull is a much greater fit for aspiring traders following the overhaul of its ECN Prime account, now featuring improved spreads averaging 0.16 on EUR/USD and a more accessible minimum deposit of $0 compared to the old $2,000.
- BlackBulls’s research is superb, especially the daily ‘Trading Opportunities’ articles that break down complex market movements into easy-to-understand insights, making it simpler to capitalize on emerging trends.
- BlackBull offers every ingredient for day traders; fast execution speeds of <100ms and tight spreads from 0.0 pips.
Cons
- Despite a growing selection of 2,180+ assets, including additions to its Asia Pacific indices, they are mainly stocks with an average selection of currency pairs and indices.
- Unlike most top brokers, BlackBull charges an irritating $5 withdrawal fee, which can detract from the overall cost-effectiveness, especially for active traders who frequently move funds.
- Although the Education Hub now features improvements like webinars and tutorials, the courses we’ve explored need more focus on explaining the wider economic factors influencing prices.
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.