One of the important aspects to consider is the time of day that you invest and there is a compelling case for pre-market trading. Many like to trade when the market is open and at its most volatile. However, with stocks being more accessible and active than ever before, there is a viable option for some investors looking for returns outside of these hours.
This review of brokers offering pre-market trading serves as a guide for anyone wanting to explore the opportunities and advantages of trading in the pre-market period. This includes an explanation of how it works, an evaluation of the good and bad of trading at this time, and finally tips and strategies to assist you. We have also compiled a list of the best brokers with pre-market trading in 2026.
Brokers With Extended Hours Trading
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- Demo account
- Platforms: eToro Web, CopyTrader, TradingCentral
- Min. deposit: $50
61% of retail CFD accounts lose money. eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. -
- Demo account
- Min. deposit: $0
- Min. trade: 0.01 Lots
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- Demo account
- Regulator: CySEC
- Min. deposit: $100
65% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. -
- Demo account
- Instruments: Stocks, Options, ETFs, ADRs, OTCs
- Regulator: SEC, FINRA, MAS, SFC, ASIC, CIRO, JFSA, SC
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- Demo account
- Regulator: FCA, CySEC, FSCA, SCB, FSA
- Min. deposit: $100
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- Demo account
- Instruments: Stocks, Options, ETFs, Bonds
- Regulator: SEC, FINRA
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:
- eToro 4.0/5 When we tested eToro’s extended hours trading, U.S. equities were tradable from 09:00 to 01:00 (GMT). Spreads widened by up to 1 pip post-market, but limit and stop-loss orders triggered accurately. Liquidity in popular stocks remained high. Zero commissions on stocks helped offset overnight spread expansion.
- IG 4.8/5 During our tests, IG offered extended hours trading from 09:00 to 01:00 (GMT) on key U.S. stocks and indices. Spreads widened modestly (typically 0.5 to 1 pip) after market close. Stop-loss and limit orders were responsive, even in low-liquidity periods. No added commission on most extended-hour trades impressed us.
- Skilling 3.4/5 During our latest tests of Skilling, extended hours trading ran from 09:00 to 01:00 (GMT) on major indices and select U.S. equities. Spreads widened slightly (around 0.5–0.8 pips) during low-volume periods. Stop-loss and limit orders were responsive, even off-hours. Commission-free CFD trading kept costs low despite reduced liquidity outside regular sessions.
- Moomoo 3.2/5 During our tests, moomoo provided extended trading from 09:00 to 01:00 (GMT) for U.S. markets, plus full pre- and post-market sessions. Liquidity dipped slightly after hours, and spreads widened by 0.5 to 0.8 pips. Zero commission on U.S. stocks made off-hours trading cost-effective.
- FxPro 4.4/5 FxPro became a compelling option for day traders seeking to trade prominent US stocks in 2026 after adding pre- and post-market trading on 50 key equities, spanning 16 hours per day. Extended hours trading is available on the FxPro MT5 account with tight spreads, reliable execution and advanced charting tools.
- TradeUp 3.5/5 TradeUP offers extended-hours trading on U.S. stocks/ETFs - pre-market 4:00–9:30 a.m. ET and after-hours 4:00–8:00 p.m. ET. Like most brokers we’ve tested, it requires limit orders only during these sessions, but its commission-free model still applies out of hours.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eToro | 32237 | ||||
| IG | 10162 | ||||
| Skilling | 446 | ||||
| Moomoo | 740 | ||||
| FxPro | 729 | ||||
| TradeUp | - | 1 |
eToro
eToro's social trading platform leads the pack with a terrific user experience and active community chat that can help beginners find opportunities. There are also competitive fees on thousands of CFDs and real stocks, plus excellent rewards for experienced strategy providers.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
eToro quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, ETFs, Smart Portfolios, Commodities, Futures, Crypto, NFTs
- Regulator
- FCA, CySEC, MiCA, MFSA, FSRA, ASIC, FSAS, MAS, GFSC
- Platforms
- eToro Web, CopyTrader, TradingCentral
- Minimum Deposit
- $50
- Minimum Trade
- $10
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, DKK
Pros
- eToro elevated the social trading experience in 2025, integrating insights from Stocktwits 10M+ users to help gauge market sentiment.
- eToro introduced automated crypto staking (except for Ethereum which requires opt-in) providing a route to passive income.
- There's a comprehensive online training academy with accessible resources, from bitesize articles to comprehensive courses.
Cons
- The lack of additional charting platforms like MT4 will reduce the appeal for seasoned day traders accustomed to using third-party software.
- There are limited contact methods aside from the in-platform live chat.
- There are no guaranteed stop loss orders which would be a useful risk management feature for beginners.
IG
IG continues to provide a comprehensive package with an intuitive web platform, best-in-class education for beginners, advanced charting tools bolstered by its recent TradingView integration, real-time data, and robust trade execution for experienced day traders.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
IG quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs (not in US), Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting (UK only)
- Regulator
- CFTC, NFA, FCA, BaFin, ASIC, FINMA, MAS, JFSA, FMA, DFSA, BMA, CONSOB
- Platforms
- Web, L2 Dealer, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, ProRealTime
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, ZAR, SEK, DKK, CHF, HKD, SGD
Pros
- The proprietary web-based platform continues to caters to traders of all levels, with advanced charting tools and real-time market data useful for day trading, while IG has also added TradingView integration.
- IG is amongst the best in terms of its range of instruments, which includes stocks, forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies, plus added US-listed futures and options as well as an AI Index, providing diversification opportunities.
- IG offers an extensive collection of professional and engaging educational resources, including webinars, articles, and analysis.
Cons
- IG has discontinued its swap-free account, reducing its appeal to Islamic traders.
- Beginners might find IG’s fee structure complex, with various fees for different types of trades or services, potentially leading to confusion or unexpected charges.
- IG applies an inactivity fee of $12-$18 per month after 2 years, deterring casual investors.
Skilling
Skilling maintains its position as a top pick for budding traders looking for a competitive zero commission account with direct access to a copy trading feature. It will also serve experienced strategy providers looking to earn commissions, or active traders looking to deal forex.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
Skilling quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- Forex, CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities and Cryptos
- Regulator
- CySEC
- Platforms
- Skilling Trader, MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView
- Minimum Deposit
- $100
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, SEK, NOK
Pros
- Skilling offers five trading platforms: Skilling Trader, cTrader, MT4, MT5, and TradingView, each with distinct strengths. MT4 and MT5 supports EA-based strategies, cTrader excels in order management, Skilling Trader offers straightforward web execution, and TradingView specializes in advanced charting. This range provides valuable flexibility for traders
- The Skilling Trader platform maintains a focused design, offering charts, order placement, and risk controls without unnecessary features or promotional content. For systematic traders or those who prefer a streamlined execution environment, this simplicity is an advantage
- Beyond major forex pairs, Skilling’s spreads are often lower than those of larger, more prominent brokers. While not always the lowest, traders focused on raw pricing can find competitive value without needing a full ECN setup
Cons
- Skilling’s educational and research resources are limited to a basic economic calendar, brief market commentary, some lessons, and occasional news headlines, plus the newer AI-powered Skilling Trade Assistant. There aren't comprehensive and structured learning paths
- Skilling depends on TradingView for advanced analytics and does not provide its own platform for Trading Central, Autochartist, or instrument-specific news feeds. This may be sufficient for traders with independent research tools, but it is less comprehensive than brokers offering integrated in-platform content
Moomoo
Moomoo remains an excellent choice for new and intermediate stock traders who want to build a diverse investment portfolio. What really stands out is the broker's user-friendly app and the low trading fees.
Jemma Grist, Reviewer
Moomoo quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- Stocks, Options, ETFs, ADRs, OTCs
- Regulator
- SEC, FINRA, MAS, SFC, ASIC, CIRO, JFSA, SC
- Platforms
- Desktop Platform, Mobile App
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
- Minimum Trade
- $0
- Account Currencies
- USD, CAD, AUD, JPY, MYR, HKD, SGD, CNY
Pros
- There are reduced options contract fees from $0.65 to $0
- The Moomoo AI assistant, found in the desktop software and app, provides genuinely useful market insights to inform active traders
- Moomoo's analytics and insights are impressive and detailed compared to other brands
Cons
- The account range is narrow compared to other brokerages in its class with no managed portfolios or robo-advisor solutions
- There is no negative balance protection, which is a common safety feature at top-tier-regulated brokers
- Moomoo has faced multiple regulatory penalties in recent years, including fines and orders in 2026 that stopped it temporarily accepting some Japanese and Chinese clients
FxPro
FxPro is a stellar option for day traders, sporting exceptionally fast execution speeds under 8ms, competitive fees that were lowered in 2022, and terrific charting platforms in MT4, MT5, cTrader and FxPro Edge.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
FxPro quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Spread Betting
- Regulator
- FCA, CySEC, FSCA, SCB, FSA
- Platforms
- FxPro Edge, MT4, MT5, cTrader, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, DupliTrade, Quantower
- Minimum Deposit
- $100
- Minimum Trade
- 0.01 Lots
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, ZAR, CHF, PLN
Pros
- FxPro's Wallet is a standout feature that allows traders to manage funds securely. By segregating unused funds from active trading accounts, the Wallet provides additional protection and convenience.
- FxPro slashed spreads on the Raw+ account in 2026 with zero spreads on prominent crypto CFDs like Ethereum and index CFDs including Dow Jones.
- FxPro operates under a 'No Dealing Desk' (NDD) model, ensuring fast and transparent order execution, often under 12 milliseconds, ideal for short-term trading strategies.
Cons
- Despite a growing Knowledge Hub and a $10M funded demo account, FxPro is geared towards advanced traders, with beginners potentially finding the account and fee structure complex.
- While FxPro provides 24/5 customer support through multiple channels that performed well during testing, it lacks 24/7 availability, which can disadvantage traders needing assistance outside traditional market hours.
- There are limited passive investment tools like interest paid on cash or interactive social trading networks. While active traders may not miss these, competitors like eToro catering to active and passive investors have more comprehensive offerings.
TradeUp
TradeUp is best suited to budget-conscious day traders looking to trade U.S. and global markets (via ADRs) with zero commissions on a user-friendly mobile app. Its more than 250 Chinese American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), including Alibaba Group (BABA), also make it suitable for trading Chinese equities.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
TradeUp quick facts
- Demo Account
- ✔Yes
- Instruments
- Stocks, Options, ETFs, Bonds
- Regulator
- SEC, FINRA
- Platforms
- Desktop, Web, Mobile
- Minimum Deposit
- $0.01
- Minimum Trade
- $1
- Account Currencies
- USD
Pros
- TradeUp runs an integrated and intuitive financial calendar that helps you track earnings, dividends, and IPOs relevant to your watchlist, enabling you to stay ahead of market-moving events.
- TradeUp offers commission-free trading on US stocks and ETFs, and support for fractional shares lets you buy portions of a share for as little as $1. This makes it a cost-effective choice for active day traders who want to minimize trading expenses.
- TradeUp’s platforms work smoothly across multiple devices based on our tests, including mobile apps for iOS and Android, a desktop app for Windows and Mac, and a web-based platform. This allows active traders to switch between devices without losing continuity, whether you’re at home or on the go.
Cons
- A 2026 security incident left the personal and financial data of 26,985 users vulnerable, including their Social Security numbers, driver's licenses, passports, and medical information.
- The platform's technical indicators have limited customization options from our use. On both mobile and web versions, you can't layer multiple indicators on the same chart simultaneously, which restricts more sophisticated chart analysis.
- TradeUp's educational resources aren't kept updated, and were over 6 months old in our latest tests. While there are articles and tutorials aimed at newcomers, the content is somewhat limited and does not cover more advanced trading strategies or deeper topics.
How Does Pre-Market Trading Work?
Trading markets are traditionally open between the hours of 9:30 am and 4:00 pm EST. In the case of pre-market trading, however, early risers can trade as early as 4:00 am, depending on their broker.
Previously, access to the pre-market period was difficult for retail traders, but nowadays it is offered by multiple online brokers and trading platforms.
The actual process involved in trading on the pre-market is similar to investing during open hours. You simply start by choosing what it is you want to trade, next specify any trade conditions, and then finalize the trade with the broker. The nuances are in the strategy you adopt, as the pre-market trading period has distinct characteristics.
Pros And Cons Of Brokers With Pre-Market Trading
Positives
- Quick reaction to overnight news – Investing during the pre-market period gives you a head start on anyone who trades on the open market. This means that any developments which could have major implications for stocks and other assets can be taken advantage of earlier by making use of the pre-market window.
- Access – The extra hours of the pre-market period give you more opportunities to make trades and generate gains. For anyone that has a busy schedule, it might not always be ideal to be limited to the open market hours so having the alternative of trading during the pre-market session can be a big perk.
- Early Start – The pre-market gives a great indication of what trends may occur during regular trading hours. Any stocks and currency pairs which are trading high during the pre-market will often continue similar trends going into the open market and, similarly, stocks trading lower tend to remain so too.
Negatives
- Competition with experienced traders – The pre-market period can be a risky environment for less experienced traders. Many professional traders like to take advantage of this session and will often have better access to information, more capital, and ultra-fast trade executions and tools.
- Price uncertainty – Prices during the pre-market period can be more difficult to predict in comparison to the open market. The values of assets can differ significantly from what they are during regular hours. Slippage can also impact prices.
- Liquidity shortage – With reduced activity during the pre-market session it can be difficult to find available buyers or sellers, making it difficult to convert your assets into cash at short notice. This shortage can also lead to the prices of securities becoming more volatile.
Strategies Explained
Due to the risks involved with the pre-market, it’s important to go into this trading window with an effective trading strategy and reliable data. Daily investments need to be carefully planned and should be executed with thorough research beforehand.
Firstly, it is important to pay attention to big news announcements. One of the key advantages of the pre-market is the early jump you can get on major price moves which trend exponentially after the extra activity during regular hours. Investments made shortly after news which causes big price moves can be an effective way to generate profits.
Economic indicators also provide valuable information to which you should pay attention when setting your trading strategy. These will give a forecast for the expected values of assets and usually set a precedence for how the price will move. The best brokers with pre-market trading offer a range of technical indicators and drawing tools to help traders forecast upcoming price trends.
Final Word
The pre-market session is a volatile period of the day which can make it more difficult to predict for beginners. When explored to its fullest advantage, it can be an opportunity to make trades early and get ahead of the competition. These early hours are an important period of the trading day, have an effect on opening prices and setting the stage for what is likely to happen during the traditional market.
Use our list of the top brokers with pre-market trading to get started today.
FAQ
What Hours Count As Pre-Market Trading?
Generally, pre-market hours are between 4:00 am and 9:30 am EST. But depending on your broker, the pre-market hours available for trading will vary, so check to ensure you know the specific hours you can trade with their service.
How Do You Choose Suitable Assets During Pre-Market Trading?
There is not as much activity during the pre-market period so, as you would expect, it is worth choosing assets likely to gain traction with other investors. Paying attention to any news or economic indicators can act as a good guide for choosing suitable investments. Open your brokerage platform and conduct technical and fundamental analysis. The top brokers provide tools to identify upcoming price patterns, alongside the biggest gainers.
What Is The Best Broker With Pre-Market Trading?
There is no one online broker that is best for everyone so it is worth exploring the different options. Pick the right platform for you based on your level of experience and the hours you would like to have access to the market. Also consider which markets you want access to, from New York-listed exchanges to futures listed in London. Check out our comparison of the best brokers for pre-market trading in 2026 here.