We may earn a commission if you sign up through our links. Learn how we make money and the numbers behind trading.
Rankings updated November 2026

Best Brokers With Low Spreads 2026

If you’re a day trader, every fraction of a pip counts. That’s why brokers with low spreads can be a game-changer, helping you pocket more of what you earn and keeping you competitive in fast-moving markets.

Let’s dig into our lowest spread brokers, tested and rated by industry experts and active traders.

Best Low Spread Brokers

We've been recording and analyzing spreads for 7+ years, and these 6 brokers offer the tightest spreads:

Tested with a live trading account Accepts traders from United Kingdom Your capital is at risk. Trade only with funds you can afford to lose.
  1. Our top pick in United Kingdom
    • Demo account
    • Regulator: CySEC, MISA
    • Platforms: MT4, MT5
    84.6% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
    • 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, FSCA, FSC, SCB, CMA-Kenya
    • Min. deposit: $0
    • Demo account
    • Regulator: FCA, CySEC, FSA, DFSA, FSCA
    • Platforms: Tickmill Webtrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView
    • Demo account
    • Regulator: ASIC, FSCA, FSA, FSC, CMA-UAE
    • Min. deposit: $20
    • Demo account
    • Platforms: TradeLocker, MT5, TradeLocker
    • Min. deposit: $5

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:

  1. FXCC 4.6/5 When we used FXCC’s ECN account, execution speeds averaged 45–55ms with low slippage, even during busy market hours. Spreads on EUR/USD were consistently tight around 0.2 pips, and there's no commission - spreads are all-inclusive. Liquidity was stable, though slightly thinner outside peak sessions. Substantial value for cost-conscious ECN traders.
  2. Pepperstone 4.8/5 During our tests, Pepperstone’s ECN execution stood out with consistently sub-50ms speeds and minimal slippage, even during volatile sessions. The Razor account delivered raw spreads from 0.0 pips with $7 commission per lot. Deep liquidity across majors ensured stable fills, making it ideal for scalpers and high-frequency traders.
  3. 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.
  4. Tickmill 4.0/5 Tickmill is a global broker authorized by trusted regulators including the CySEC and the FCA. Hundreds of thousands of traders have opened an account with the firm with more than 530 million trades executed. Advanced trading tools, educational content and low fees make this broker stand out from competitors.
  5. PU Prime 4.5/5 PU Prime is a forex and CFD broker offering direct market access on forex, commodities, stocks, bonds, indices, and ETFs. With four account types (Cent, Standard, Prime, ECN) and multiple platforms, from MetaTrader to its own PU Prime app, it’s built for active traders at every level.
  6. HeroFX 3.3/5 Established in 2022, HeroFX is an offshore forex and CFD broker based in Saint Lucia. It offers MT5 and TradeLocker trading platforms with forex, stocks, indices, commodities, crypto, and high leverage up to 1:500. The minimum deposit is $5, and it supports scalping and automated trading.

Fee Comparison At Low Spread Brokers

Fee Comparison At Low Spread Brokers
BrokerEUR/USD SpreadFTSE SpreadOil SpreadStock SpreadCrypto Spread
FXCC 0.11.100.0350.17 (Apple)Variable
Pepperstone 0.11.00.020.0230 (BTC)
FP Markets 0.11.640.04Variable17.3 (Bitcoin)
Tickmill 0.10.90.04N/AVariable
PU Prime 0.2 pips (ECN)23 (ECN)2.2 (ECN)4.2 (Amazon)27.5 (BTC)
HeroFX 1.1 (observed in HeroFX Zero account)3.30 (observed in HeroFX Zero account)0.035 (observed in HeroFX Zero account)Variable30.50 - BTC/USD (observed in HeroFX Zero account)

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.

Community Sentiment
BrokerOur Users' RatingTrustpilot ScoreTrustpilot ReviewsiOS App RatingAndroid App Rating
FXCC 4.4 / 54.4 / 52274.8 / 54.4 / 5
Pepperstone 4.0 / 54.2 / 537374.4 / 54.1 / 5
FP Markets 4.0 / 54.7 / 5103884.0 / 54.0 / 5
Tickmill 5.0 / 52.3 / 511904.9 / 53.4 / 5
PU Prime 4.2 / 52.7 / 518784.8 / 54.2 / 5
HeroFX -3.2 / 5674.8 / 54.7 / 5

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 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 has stepped up its offering over the years, adding MT5 to its suite of platforms, hundreds of stocks and more cryptos to its product line-up, plus a copy trading feature and greater margin trading opportunities.
  • The free VPS for qualifying traders and the ability to build or buy EAs on MetaTrader make FXCC a strong option for algo traders.
  • 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.

Cons

  • 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.
  • 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 the economic calendar has benefited from a facelift, FXCC still offers very little in terms of market research beyond basic daily technical analysis and aggregated market news, with no tools like Autochartist or social sentiment data.

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 Christian Harris, Reviewer

Pepperstone quick facts

Demo Account
✔Yes
Instruments
CFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto CFDs (only Pro clients), 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

  • Pepperstone emerges as a low-cost broker, especially for serious day traders with spreads from 0.0 in the Razor account and rebates up to 30% (index and commodities) and $3/lot (forex) through the Active Trader program.
  • There’s support for a range of industry-leading charting platforms including MT4, MT5, TradingView, and cTrader, catering to various short-term trading styles, including algo trading.
  • Pepperstone provides trading in pre-IPO perpetual futures, including adding Anthropic in October 2026, giving traders 24/7 opportunities to speculate on anticipated share prices using cash-settled CFDs.

Cons

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

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 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 delivers fast and dependable support, available 24/5 with average response times of less than 1 minute during testing.
  • With MetaTrader, cTrader, Iress and more recently TradingView, FP Markets is one of the most accommodating brokers in terms of platform choice.
  • FP Markets offers a superb selection of tradable assets, especially since expanding its suite of commodities and supporting over 10,000 stocks.

Cons

  • While pricing in the Raw account is excellent, spreads in the Standard account trail the cheapest brokers with a 1.1-pip average spread on the EUR/USD compared to the 0.8-pip average at IC Markets.
  • 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.

Tickmill

Tickmill is a stellar choice for day traders, especially if you opt for the Raw account which delivers near-zero pip spreads and impressively fast order execution during testing.

Christian Harris Christian Harris, Reviewer

Tickmill quick facts

Demo Account
✔Yes
Instruments
Forex, CFDs, stocks, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, futures, options, bonds
Regulator
FCA, CySEC, FSA, DFSA, FSCA
Platforms
Tickmill Webtrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView
Minimum Deposit
$100
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots
Account Currencies
USD, EUR, GBP, ZAR

Pros

  • When using the Raw Spread account, you’ll notice how tight the spreads are - sometimes even zero pips - paired with a transparent per-trade commission. This setup helps keep your overall trading costs low, which is a significant advantage when you’re making frequent trades and want to avoid hidden fees that cut into your profits.
  • Tickmill’s multiple licenses with authorities like the FCA and CySEC aren’t just paperwork - they translate to real-world benefits. Your money is kept separate in secure accounts, and the broker offers negative balance protection. In practice, this means you won’t be on the hook for more than you deposit, providing peace of mind when markets get volatile.
  • Based on our actual trading experience, Tickmill consistently processes orders quickly - averaging ~59 milliseconds - with very few instances of slippage or requotes. For a day trader, that means you can trust your entry and exit prices without worrying about delays that might cost you money in fast markets.

Cons

  • If you’re used to cTrader’s modern layout and sophisticated order types, you’ll miss that here. Tickmill sticks with MetaTrader 4 and 5, as well as TradingView and its own proprietary platform, so there’s no cTrader option. This might slow down traders who rely on cTrader’s workflow or specific tools, such as cTrader Copy.
  • Tickmill primarily focuses on forex pairs, select stock CFDs, indices, and a few commodities. If you like switching between many different asset classes, like crypto or a broader range of stocks, you’ll find the choices limited compared to brokers with thousands of instruments.

PU Prime

PU Prime is a great fit for experienced, high-volume traders with its ECN account offering tight spreads from 0.0 pips and low commissions from $1/side. The addition of an easy-to-use copy trading app, alongside the stacked Trading Academy with progression levels, also makes PU Prime a strong option for aspiring traders.

Tobias Robinson Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

PU Prime quick facts

Demo Account
✔Yes
Instruments
CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Metals, Crypto, Bonds, ETFs, Pre-IPOs, Synthetic Indices (region-dependent)
Regulator
ASIC, FSCA, FSA, FSC, CMA-UAE
Platforms
PU Prime App, PU Web Trader, PU Social, MT4, MT5, AutoChartist
Minimum Deposit
$20
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots
Account Currencies
USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, HKD, SGD

Pros

  • There’s a great suite of tools for short-term traders, from practical margin and position sizing calculators to economic calendars and strong technical insights via Autochartist.
  • The platform lineup is strong, with the PU Prime Web Trader and app especially smooth to use with a modern design, easy-to-configure order tickets and responsive charts for fast entries and exits.
  • Prime and ECN pricing can be very competitive for active traders, and in our tests spreads tightened notably in liquid sessions to hit ~0.0 pips.

Cons

  • Getting through to customer support can be fiddly and slow to reach a human – in our latest checks we had to navigate multiple chatbot menus and questions then enter contact details before getting to an agent.
  • The in-house market updates are useful for a quick read, but they’re generally high-level and don’t go deep enough for serious strategy building or advanced analysis.
  • While PU Prime holds licenses in Australia (ASIC) and South Africa (FSCA), its offshore entities have been flagged by UK, North American, and European regulators for providing services without local authorization.

HeroFX

HeroFX is best for algo traders who want to deposit and withdraw in crypto and are willing to sacrifice regulatory protections for raw spreads from 0.0, high leverage up to 1:500, and access to the powerful charting package from TradeLocker or Expert Advisors on MT5. It also suits demo traders with competitions offering cash prizes and a $1M virtual balance – the highest we’ve seen.

Christian Harris Christian Harris, Reviewer

HeroFX quick facts

Demo Account
✔Yes
Instruments
CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto
Platforms
TradeLocker, MT5, TradeLocker
Minimum Deposit
$5
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots
Account Currencies
USD

Pros

  • Free demo accounts allow for multiple simultaneous setups on MT5 or TradeLocker with Raw, Zero, Islamic or Contest configurations and up to $1,000,000 in virtual balance per account, letting high-leverage day trading ideas be trialled, though no stocks are available in the MT5 demo.
  • The Raw Spread account delivered spreads from 0.0 pips with $1-per-lot commissions during our use, which undercuts the ~$3-per-lot charge we've seen at many mainstream brokers and noticeably outperformed the Zero Commission account on busy market days.
  • The Hero10X account multiplies deposits by 10 (e.g. $50 to $500 tradable balance, up to a $1M ceiling), creating a prop-firm-style buffer for taking more positions without evaluation phases or profit splits.

Cons

  • There’s no in-house economic calendar, news feed, market commentary or education hub, forcing all research and learning to be sourced externally and leaving newer traders with zero structured support.
  • The product range is average at best, with around 70 FX pairs (five majors), nine indices, seven metals, three energy markets, around 60 stock CFDs and a dozen or so crypto pairs, enough for newer traders but sparse next to multi-asset brokers that offer hundreds of FX pairs and thousands of shares.
  • Customer support is limited to email tickets and a basic AI chatbot with no phone or human live chat, so platform or account issues during live market hours means waiting in a queue, which may deter day traders who might need urgent assistance. And while initial email replies were fast in our tests, at under 3 hours, follow-up replies took more than 12 hours.

Methodology

To rank the brokers with the best spreads, we

  • Evaluated spreads on forex, stocks, indices, crypto, and commodities for 142 brokers as of November 2026;
  • Combined these with the overall ratings we assigned brokers because you need more than just low spreads;
  • Ranked these providers to reveal the brokers with the lowest spreads AND the best trading experience.

What Is A Spread?

A spread is the difference between the bid (selling) price and the ask (buying) price of a financial instrument – essentially, the cost your broker charges for executing a trade. Think of it as a toll booth on your trading highway.

Let’s break it down with an example:

Imagine you’re trading EUR/USD (the Euro against the US Dollar), and your broker quotes:

  • Bid price (Sell): 1.1000
  • Ask price (Buy): 1.1002

The spread here is 2 pips (1.1002 – 1.1000 = 0.0002).

Here’s how it works in action:

  1. You decide to buy one standard lot (100,000 units) of EUR/USD at the ask price of 1.1002.
  2. As soon as your trade is executed, if you were to sell it immediately, you’d sell at the bid price of 1.1000.
  3. That means you’d start with a -2 pip loss, which is the spread.

To break even on this trade, the price must move in your favor by at least 2 pips. If the price goes beyond that, you’re in profit.

For those with a short-term trading strategy, like day trading or scalping, this cost directly impacts your bottom line.

Low spreads mean you can hit profitability faster, especially when making multiple trades a day.

Paul HolmesPaul HolmesAuthor

What Influences Spreads?

Not all spreads are created equal, and understanding what makes them widen or shrink can give you an edge in choosing the right broker.

Here are the key factors that come into play:

Broker Markups

Your broker has to make money. That’s where markups come in. Some brokers like IC Markets offer raw spreads (essentially the market spread) and charge a commission, while others roll their fees into wider spreads.

Example: A raw spread on EUR/USD might be 0.2 pips, but a broker could add 1 pip as their markup, making your spread 1.2 pips.

Market Volatility

Spreads tend to widen in fast-moving markets. This is because prices are jumping around, and brokers increase spreads to manage their risk.

Example: During a significant news release like Non-Farm Payrolls, spreads can skyrocket as liquidity providers struggle to quote stable prices.

Asset Liquidity

High-liquidity assets like EUR/USD or major indices like the S&P 500 generally have lower spreads because there’s a lot of buying and selling.

On the other hand, exotic currency pairs or niche stocks often have wider spreads due to lower trading activity.

Example: EUR/USD might have a spread as low as 0.1 pip, while USD/TRY could have a spread of 10+ pips.

Time Of Day

Markets aren’t equally active 24/7. Spreads are usually tight during peak trading hours (like the London-New York overlap) and wider during quieter periods, like the Asian session for non-Asian markets.

Type Of Broker

  • Market Maker: These brokers set their own spreads and can widen them based on market conditions or internal policies.
  • ECN broker/STP broker: These brokers pass on market spreads directly, which can be tighter but may charge a commission.

Knowing these factors can help you spot when and why spreads change – and, more importantly, which brokers and trading times are better for minimizing your costs.

What To Look For In A Low-Spread Broker

Low spreads are great, but they’re not the only thing that matters when choosing a broker. A flashy claim of “spreads as low as 0.0 pips” might sound tempting, but there’s more to the story.

Here’s what you should be looking for:

Transparent Average Spreads

Ignore the marketing hype about minimum spreads. Those ultra-low numbers often apply under perfect conditions that rarely happen.

Instead, focus on brokers like Pepperstone that provide their average spreads across key trading hours and assets.

What is a spread
Pepperstone spreads

Reliable Execution

Low spreads mean nothing if you can’t enter or exit trades at the prices you see. A good broker should offer fast and reliable trade execution, especially during high-volatility periods when the market is moving quickly.

Why it matters: Slippage (getting a worse price than expected) can cancel out the benefits of low spreads.

BlackBull impresses with speeds of less than 75 milliseconds.

Powerful Platforms And Tools

A low-spread broker should also equip you with the tools to trade effectively.

Look for platforms like MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, or TradingView available at providers like FOREX.com with features like:

  • Advanced charting and analysis tools.
  • Automated trading support.
  • Risk management tools like stop-loss and take-profit orders.

Market Data And Insights

A broker that provides real-time market data, economic calendars, and regular insights can help you make smarter trading decisions.

It’s a massive plus if these come free of charge, which you can find at firms like Fusion Markets.

No Hidden Costs

A broker with low spreads might offset them with other fees like:

  • Commissions on trades (especially with raw spread accounts).
  • High withdrawal fees or inactivity charges.
  • Wide spreads during off-peak hours.

Strong Regulation

Choose a broker like Vantage which is regulated by reputable authorities, including the FCA and ASIC. Low spreads are only worth it if your funds are secure and the broker operates transparently.

DayTrading.com’s Regulation & Trust Rating can help here. We’ve classified a growing list of over 65 regulators depending on their reliability and safeguards, from ‘green tier’ bodies like the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) through to ‘red tier’ bodies like the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC).

Liquidity And Asset Variety

The more liquid the broker’s offering, the tighter the spreads you’ll see. Make sure they offer a good range of assets, especially the ones you trade most, whether that’s major currency pairs, indices, or commodities.

By focusing on these factors, you’ll enjoy low trading costs and a smooth and reliable trading experience. Remember, a low-spread broker is about the complete package, not just a single number.

Paul HolmesPaul HolmesAuthor

What Type Of Broker Offers The Best Spreads?

Raw spreads are the tightest possible spreads – straight from the interbank market, with no markup.

Electronic Communication Network (ECN) brokers like IC Markets and Pepperstone typically provide access to these raw spreads by directly connecting you to liquidity providers.

While raw spreads often come with a commission fee per trade, they can still be cost-effective for active traders like us. Here’s why:

Ultra-Low Spreads

ECN brokers provide raw spreads as low as 0.0 pips on major pairs like GBP/USD or EUR/USD. This significantly lowers your trading costs, especially for high-frequency traders who make multiple trades daily.

Imagine:

  • You trade GBP/USD with an ECN provider offering a raw spread of 0.1 pip.
  • The commission is $7 per round trip (buy and sell) on a standard lot.
  • The total cost is $7 + the 0.1 pip spread, much lower than a broker with a fixed spread of say 2 pips.

Direct Market Access

ECN firms connect you directly to the market, meaning you’re trading against other participants (banks, hedge funds, etc) rather than the broker.

This helps reduce potential conflicts of interest, as the broker doesn’t profit from your losses, though it depends on the provider’s execution and renumeration arrangements.

Better Execution Speed

ECN brokers generally offer faster trade execution, which is crucial for day traders who rely on quick entries and exits.

Fewer requotes during volatile conditions means more reliable trading.

Transparency

You see actual market prices without hidden markups, giving you confidence that you’re getting a fair deal.

However, there are things to keep in mind:

  • Commissions Add Up: While spreads are minimal, commission fees per trade can add up for smaller-volume traders. Ensure your strategy can cover these costs.
  • Volatility Risks: Raw spreads can widen during high-volatility events. Even with an ECN account, be prepared for occasional spread spikes.
  • Minimum Deposit Requirements: ECN accounts often have higher minimum deposits than standard accounts.

Bottom Line

Choosing the right broker with low spreads can make a big difference in your trading profitability, especially for active traders like day traders.

However, look beyond flashy “minimum spread” claims and focus on brokers offering transparent average spreads.

For high-frequency traders, ECN brokers with raw spreads may be worth considering. Lower costs and direct market access can outweigh commission fees.

Ultimately, the best broker for you isn’t just about spreads – it’s about the whole package: reliable execution, helpful trading tools, and a trustworthy, regulated platform.

Find the right low-spread trading platform for your needs.