Brokers With GBP Accounts
The Great British Pound (GBP) is one of the world’s prominent currencies and is widely traded in the financial markets. Many global brokers offer a choice of base currencies including the GBP. This guide will list the best brokers with GBP accounts and their respective benefits.
Brokers With GBP Accounts
These are the 6 best brokers that offer accounts with GBP as the base currency:
-
1
Interactive Brokers -
2
OANDA USCFDs are not available to residents in the United States. -
3
FOREX.com -
4
CEX.IO -
5
xChief -
6
Nexo
Here is a short summary of why we think each broker belongs in this top list:
- Interactive Brokers - Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a premier brokerage, providing access to 150 markets in 33 countries, along with a suite of comprehensive investment services. With over 40 years of experience, this Nasdaq-listed firm adheres to stringent regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, amongst others, and is one of the most trusted brokers for trading around the globe.
- OANDA US - OANDA is a popular brand offering exceptional execution, low deposit requirements and advanced charting and trading platform features. The top-rated brand has over 25 years of experience and is regulated by trusted agencies, including the NFA/CFTC. Around the clock support is available for short-term traders, alongside flexible contract sizes and automated trade executions.
- FOREX.com - Founded in 1999, FOREX.com is now part of StoneX, a financial services organization serving over one million customers worldwide. Regulated in the US, UK, EU, Australia and beyond, the broker offers thousands of markets, not just forex, and provides excellent pricing on cutting-edge platforms.
- CEX.IO - CEX.IO is one-stop-shop for crypto investors where you can buy and sell popular digital tokens, speculate on prices with margin trading and earn rewards through staking. Since it launched in 2013, more than five million traders have deposited over $7.5 billion. CEX.IO is registered with the FinCEN in the US and the GFSC in the EU.
- xChief - xChief is a foreign exchange and CFD broker, established in 2014. The company is based offshore and registered with the VFSC and FMA. Users can choose between a wide selection of accounts and base currencies, making ForexChief accessible to global traders. The brand also stands out for its no deposit bonus and fee rebates for high-volume traders.
- Nexo - Nexo is a centralized crypto exchange founded in 2018 in Bulgaria and today operates across some 200 jurisdictions from its base in Switzerland. It provides services including spot trading, futures trading, peer-to-peer loans, cold wallet storage and fiat-on ramps to buy crypto tokens. The crypto firm is registered with some respected financial authorities, such as the ASIC, and offers some fairly unique additional services including a credit card.
Brokers With GBP Accounts Comparison
| Broker | Minimum Deposit | Instruments | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Brokers | $0 | Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies | Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower |
| OANDA US | $0 | Forex, Crypto with Paxos (Cryptocurrencies are offered through Paxos. Paxos is a separate legal entity from OANDA) | OANDA Trade, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist |
| FOREX.com | $100 | Forex, Futures and Options on Metals, Energies, Commodities, Indices, Bonds, Crypto | WebTrader, Mobile, MT4, MT5, TradingView |
| CEX.IO | $20 | Cryptos | TradingView |
| xChief | $10 | CFDs, Forex, Metals, Commodities, Stocks, Indices | MT4, MT5 |
| Nexo | $10 | Cryptos | Nexo Pro |
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
- 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.
- IBKR continues to deliver unmatched access to global stocks with tens of thousands of equities available from 100+ market centres in 24 countries, most recently the Saudi Stock Exchange.
- The TWS platform has clearly been built for intermediate and advanced traders and comes with over 100 order types and a reliable real-time market data feed that rarely goes offline.
Cons
- TWS’s learning curve is steep, and beginners may find it challenging to navigate the platform and understand all the features. Plus500's web platform is much better suited to new traders.
- 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.
OANDA US
"OANDA remains an excellent broker for US day traders seeking a user-friendly platform with premium analysis tools and a straightforward joining process. OANDA is also heavily regulated with a very high trust score."
OANDA US Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | Forex, Crypto with Paxos (Cryptocurrencies are offered through Paxos. Paxos is a separate legal entity from OANDA) |
| Regulator | NFA, CFTC |
| Platforms | OANDA Trade, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Leverage | 1:50 |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD |
Pros
- Day traders can enjoy fast and reliable order execution
- The proprietary OANDA web platform continues to deliver a highly competitive charting environment, including 65+ technical indicators powered by TradingView
- The broker offers a transparent pricing structure with no hidden charges
Cons
- It's a shame that customer support is not available on weekends
- There's only a small range of payment methods available, with no e-wallets supported
- The range of day trading markets is limited to forex and cryptos only
FOREX.com
"FOREX.com remains a best-in-class brokerage for active forex traders of all experience levels, with over 80 currency pairs, tight spreads from 0.0 pips and low commissions. The powerful charting platforms collectively offer over 100 technical indicators, as well as extensive research tools."
FOREX.com Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | Forex, Futures and Options on Metals, Energies, Commodities, Indices, Bonds, Crypto |
| Regulator | NFA, CFTC |
| Platforms | WebTrader, Mobile, MT4, MT5, TradingView |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Leverage | 1:50 |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, PLN |
Pros
- There’s a wealth of educational resources including tutorials, webinars, and a stacked YouTube channel to help you get educated in the financial markets.
- FOREX.com offers industry-leading forex pricing starting from 0.0 pips, alongside competitive cashback rebates of up to 15% for serious day traders.
- With over 20 years of experience, excellent regulatory oversight, and multiple accolades including runner-up in our 'Best Forex Broker' awards, FOREX.com boasts a global reputation as a trusted brokerage.
Cons
- Demo accounts are frustratingly time-limited to 90 days, which doesn’t give you enough time to test day trading strategies effectively.
- There’s no negative balance protection for US clients, so you may find yourself owing more money than your initial deposit into your account.
- FOREX.com's MT4 platform offers approximately 600 instruments, significantly fewer than the over 5,500 available on its non-MetaTrader platforms.
CEX.IO
"CEX.IO continues to serve a range of crypto investors looking to buy, sell, trade, hold and earn with low fees. The tiered pricing structure will appeal to active traders while rookie investors will enjoy the straightforward platform interface and excellent education."
Tobias Robinson, Reviewer
CEX.IO Quick Facts
| Demo Account | No |
|---|---|
| Instruments | Cryptos |
| Regulator | GFSC |
| Platforms | TradingView |
| Minimum Deposit | $20 |
| Minimum Trade | $1 |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP |
Pros
- CEX.IO continues to offer competitive pricing with 0.01% taker and 0% maker fees for high-volume traders
- The proprietary terminal features an advanced charting package from TradingView, including 50+ technical indicators
- The broker offers 24/7 support with fast response times during tests
Cons
- The broker has limited regulatory oversight
- A maintenance fee applies after 12 months of no activity
- Deposit and withdrawal fees are relatively high, including 0.3% + $25 for SWIFT withdrawals
xChief
"xChief continues to prove popular with investors looking to trade highly leveraged CFDs on the popular MetaTrader platforms. The broker's rebate scheme and investment accounts will particularly appeal to seasoned traders. However, the lack of top-tier regulatory oversight is a major drawback."
xChief Quick Facts
| Demo Account | Yes |
|---|---|
| Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Metals, Commodities, Stocks, Indices |
| Regulator | ASIC |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5 |
| Minimum Deposit | $10 |
| Minimum Trade | 0.01 Lots |
| Leverage | 1:1000 |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF |
Pros
- The broker offers a turnover rebate scheme geared towards active investors, as well as trading credits and several other occasional bonuses
- The broker offers several account types to suit different traders, including a Cent account for beginners and pro-level hedging/netting accounts
- xChief offers STP/ECN execution with low spreads from 0.0 pips and low commission rates starting from $2.50 per side
Cons
- The total range of 150+ assets is much lower than most competitors who typically offer hundreds
- Fees and minimums are imposed on most withdrawal methods, including a €60 minimum for SWIFT bank transfers
- The Classic+ and Cent accounts provide access to fewer instruments than the other account types, at 50+ and 35+, respectively
Nexo
"Nexo gives crypto traders the capability to trade, invest, lend and borrow digital assets in one place, and it’s especially good for its credit functions that pay out very high yields to lenders. However, its fees are relatively high and many day traders will prefer a more tightly regulated crypto broker."
Michael MacKenzie, Reviewer
Nexo Quick Facts
| Demo Account | No |
|---|---|
| Instruments | Cryptos |
| Platforms | Nexo Pro |
| Minimum Deposit | $10 |
| Minimum Trade | $30 |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP |
Pros
- Value-add tools integrated into the trading platform including social media analysis and newsfeeds by asset
- Nexo Pro is a user-friendly proprietary platform that suits day trading strategies with great charting features
- Reputable crypto exchange that has been in business since 2018 and has taken some steps toward regulation
Cons
- High deposit and withdrawal fees for cards and e-wallets will price many traders out of the most convenient payment methods
- Very few educational resources are available, reducing its appeal to beginners who can find more helpful resources at category leaders like eToro
- The range of tokens is extensive compared to most crypto brokers but still much smaller than similar crypto exchanges like Kraken
What Is A GBP Account?
Your base currency determines which fiat money your account is denominated in. Brokers with a GBP account will hold your investing capital in pound sterling. Trading statements, deposit requirements, plus profits and losses will all be converted into GBP. So if you open an account in GBP but you deposit funds in EUR, the funds will automatically be converted into GBP at the prevailing inter-bank price. Any fees and commissions, account charges, plus other miscellaneous costs will also be charged in pound sterling.
Base currencies are selected during account registration and set-up. Many UK traders select GBP as the base currency but international traders that actively invest in GBP may also choose to do so.
GBP Explained
The Great British Pound is the national currency of the United Kingdom. The country’s central bank, the Bank of England, is responsible for overseeing monetary policy and maintaining financial stability. The Great British Pound is the fourth most traded currency on the forex market and is available at many top online brokers.
Pros Of Brokers With GBP Accounts
- Fees – many brokers using GBP as a base currency do not charge deposit and withdrawal fees, though third party fees may still apply
- Speed – GBP account funding and withdrawals via local bank transfers tend to be quick, taking no longer than 1 business day
- Exchange risk – GBP forex investors can benefit from trading at brokers with GBP accounts as there is less risk of losing capital when converting profits and losses to and from different currencies
- Regulation – Brokers with a GBP account are more likely to be registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Most firms and individuals offering, promoting, or selling financial products in the UK have to be authorised by this regulatory body
- Accessibility – brokers with GBP accounts facilitate seamless access to the financial markets, especially for UK traders. Clients can speculate on forex, stocks, cryptos and more without needing to convert their pound sterling into the US dollar or euro, for example
How To Check A Broker Offers A GBP Account
It may not be immediately clear if a broker offers a GBP account, but the sign-up section is a good place to start. The deposits and withdrawals page should also indicate accepted currencies, though exchange rate fees may apply if accounts aren’t available in the desired currency. Additionally, you can check a broker’s terms and conditions or contact the customer support team if it’s unclear.
It could be worth clarifying with the broker if live account currencies can be amended after the registration stage. This may be needed if your country of residency changes for example.
How To Compare Brokers With GBP Accounts
Brokers with a GBP account are ideal for investors who actively trade the pound sterling. When choosing between providers, it’s worth considering several factors:
- Fees – check deposit and withdrawal fees are competitive. Many of the top online brokers with GBP accounts do not charge any processing fees, though third-party bank or credit/debit card charges may apply
- Demo accounts – paper trading accounts are a good way to navigate simulated market conditions. Many brokers provide access to virtual funds in a choice of currency
- Assets – available trading markets vary by broker. Traders wishing to invest in a range of products to build a diverse portfolio should check the list of instruments available, from FX and stocks to commodities and cryptos
- Platforms – whether it be a mobile app or desktop download, make sure you understand the features and tools available with the broker’s platform. These may include the industry recognised MT4 and MT5, or bespoke proprietary platforms
Final Word On Brokers With GBP Accounts
Brokers with a GBP account unlock several advantages, particularly for UK residents or those actively trading the pound sterling. Fortunately, as the fourth most traded currency in the world, many of the best brokers offer GBP accounts. See our list of the top providers and be mindful that most platforms don’t make it easy to change your account currency once live.
FAQ
What Is A GBP Trading Account?
A broker with a GBP account offers the Great British Pound as the denominated currency. This represents the currency used to trade and is the base for account fees, transaction reporting and commissions.
Why Use Brokers With GBP Accounts?
Using a broker that offers GBP accounts has several advantages, particularly for UK traders, including no exchange rate fees, generally low deposits and withdrawals, plus straightforward access to the financial markets.
How Can I See If A Broker Offers A GBP Account?
Check the terms and conditions in the accounts section of a broker’s website. If it’s still unclear, contact the customer support team.
Can Anyone Open An Account With Brokers That Offer A GBP Account?
Usually anyone can open an account in GBP as the base currency regardless of where they’re based. Simply select GBP during account registration and remember it may not be possible to change your base currency once your account is live.
How Do I Know Which Brokers With A GBP Account Are Best?
When looking for the top online brokers that accept GBP as the base currency, consider market access, spreads and commissions, plus the trading tools available. We’d also recommend opening an account with a regulated provider. See our list of the best brokers with GBP accounts.