CFD demo accounts provide a risk-free opportunity for traders to practice strategies, get to grips with platforms and test out brokers. This article will explain in more detail what CFD demo accounts are, how they work and how you can compare different brokers and their paper trading offerings. We have also provided a list of our top CFD demo trading brokers below.
Best CFD Demo Accounts in Brazil
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- FTSE Spread: 0.5
- GBPUSD Spread: 1.5
- Stocks Spread: 0.13
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- FTSE Spread: 0.8
- GBPUSD Spread: 0.8
- Stocks Spread: 5
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- FTSE Spread: Variable
- GBPUSD Spread: Variable
- Stocks Spread: Variable
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- FTSE Spread: 1.4
- GBPUSD Spread: 0.8
- Stocks Spread: 1.79 (Apple)
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- FTSE Spread: From 0.4
- GBPUSD Spread: From 0.6
- Stocks Spread: Variable
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- FTSE Spread: 1.0
- GBPUSD Spread: 0.4
- Stocks Spread: 0.02
73-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs
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:
- AvaTrade 4.9/5 AvaTrade's 1250+ leveraged CFD products span a wide range of asset classes including stocks, indices, commodities, bonds, crypto, and ETFs. What we love is that you can speculate on rising and falling prices in the broker’s feature-rich web and mobile platforms with market-leading research tools to help you discover short-term trading opportunities.
- Plexytrade 3.9/5 Plexytrade offers a modest selection of CFDs, providing opportunities to speculate on upward/downward price movements across 15 indices, 48 US stocks, 3 commodities, 4 metals, and 5 cryptos. The free margin calculator allows you to work out how much you need to put down to open and maintain leveraged positions.
- NAGA 4.1/5 NAGA offers thousands of CFDs covering global financial markets, including currencies, equities, commodities, indices, and crypto. Leverage varies by entity and location, ranging from a 1:30 maximum to 1:1000. The key strengths are the copy trading service, user-friendly platform and app, plus useful extras like the alerts and customizable watchlists, which help equip active CFD traders in capitalizing on short-term price movements.
- XM 4.8/5 XM delivers for CFD traders with flexible leverage and a huge range of markets, including bespoke thematic indices for exposure to popular sectors like artificial intelligence. The MT4/MT5 platforms are also fast and dependable while a free VPS is available to qualifying XM traders running algo trading strategies.
- Trade Nation 4.4/5 Trade leveraged CFDs on over 1000 assets with low-cost spreads. You can also take advantage of the broker's integrated signals to help you determine when to enter and exit positions.
- Pepperstone 4.8/5 Pepperstone maintains its position as one of the fastest and most dependable CFD brokers during our latest round of testing. With execution speeds averaging around 30ms and an outstanding fill rate of 99.90%, the broker ensures a seamless trading experience without requotes or dealing desk interference. It also provides ample trading opportunities across over 1,300 assets.
CFD Demo Accounts Comparison
| Broker | CFD Leverage | Minimum Deposit | Minimum Trade | Regulators |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AvaTrade | 1:30 (Retail) 1:400 (Pro) | $100 | 0.01 Lots | ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, ISA, CBI, JFSA, BVI, FSRA/ADGM, AFM, CMA-Kenya, CIRO (via Friedberg Direct) |
| Plexytrade | 1:2000 | $50 | 0.01 | - |
| NAGA | 1:30 (EU and Middle East, 1:1000 (Global) | $10-$250 (location and tier dependent) | 0.01 Lots | CySEC, FSCA, FSA, ADGM/FRSA |
| XM | 1:1000 | $5 | 0.01 Lots | CySEC, DFSA, FSCA, SCA, FSA, FSC-Belize, FSC-Mauritius, CMA-Kenya, CMA-UAE |
| Trade Nation | 1:30 (FCA, CMVM, ASIC), 1:200 (FSCA, SCB), 1:500 (FSA) | $0 | 0.1 Lots | FCA, ASIC, CMVM , FSCA, SCB, FSA |
| Pepperstone | 1:30 (Retail - UK, EU, Australia), 1:500 (Pro), 1:200 (Offshore), 1:400 (Kenya) | $0 | 0.01 Lots | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, BaFin, DFSA, SCA, SCB, CMA-Kenya |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AvaTrade | 13614 | ||||
| Plexytrade | 95 | ||||
| NAGA | - | 4118 | |||
| XM | 3100 | ||||
| Trade Nation | 2170 | ||||
| Pepperstone | 3703 |
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
- FTSE Spread
- 0.5
- GBPUSD Spread
- 1.5
- Stocks Spread
- 0.13
- Leverage
- 1:30 (Retail) 1:400 (Pro)
- 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
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, ZAR
Pros
- 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.
- AvaTrade launched AvaFutures to offer low-margin access to global markets, then expanded in 2025 as one of the first brokers to add CME’s Micro Grain Futures, and then later in the year went further by integrating with TradingView.
Cons
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Plexytrade
Plexytrade is a newcomer in the brokerage scene with attention-grabbing features like 1:2000 leverage, zero spreads on select instruments and fast execution speeds of less than 46 milliseconds. However, the absence of regulation is a significant concern, while the non-existent research and educational tools place it far behind industry frontrunners.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
Plexytrade quick facts
- FTSE Spread
- 0.8
- GBPUSD Spread
- 0.8
- Stocks Spread
- 5
- Leverage
- 1:2000
- Platforms
- MT4, MT5, TradeLocker
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR
Pros
- The choice of accounts provides a solution for various trading styles, with Gold Raw appealing to day traders owing to its spreads from 0.0 pips.
- There are various VPS packages starting from $50 per month, but they become complimentary once specific deposit thresholds are reached.
- Sub 50ms execution speeds are fast enough for intraday trading setups.
Cons
- Plexytrade lacks regulation in major jurisdictions, significantly increasing the risks of opening an account and depositing funds.
- With around 100 instruments, Plexytrade restricts the flexibility of investors who prefer to trade across various assets, especially compared to Blackbull with its 26,000 securities.
- There are no social or copy trading features for inexperienced traders to replicate the trades of more experienced investors, trailing category leaders like eToro.
NAGA
NAGA is a snug fit for beginners who like to learn by watching others, delivering a more advanced social trading network than the majority of CFD brokers, featuring a leaderboard with top traders by profit and win rate, and a one-tap autocopy function in the platform and app that’s a standout.
Christian Harris, Reviewer
NAGA quick facts
- FTSE Spread
- Variable
- GBPUSD Spread
- Variable
- Stocks Spread
- Variable
- Leverage
- 1:30 (EU and Middle East, 1:1000 (Global)
- Regulator
- CySEC, FSCA, FSA, ADGM/FRSA
- Platforms
- NAGA Platform, NAGA App, MT4, MT5, TradingView, TradingCentral
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, PLN
Pros
- During testing, we were approved to begin trading very quickly; after we provided our ID and proof of address, approval was granted the next business day, and the onboarding process included a suitability questionnaire — a responsible step that some brokers fail to include.
- NAGA stands out among social brokers for its wide range of assets, offering over 4,000 tradable options. These include forex pairs, stock, ETF, and index CFDs, commodity CFDs, crypto, and even exchange-traded futures, which are rare for retail clients.
- The copy-trading feature is the main reason to open a NAGA account, and it’s more advanced than what most CFD brokers offer. You can check a leaderboard of top traders by profit and win rate, then automatically copy their trades in the same app - only eToro offers something similar.
Cons
- The $50 monthly inactivity fee is on the high end of the scale. It kicks in after two months of no activity, not every quarter like some brokers. If your balance falls below $50 while your account is inactive, NAGA takes whatever is left and closes your account.
- There are neither Raw nor ECN accounts available; the only means of securing competitive spreads is to advance through the VIP ladder by making a deposit of five figures, so traders who are sensitive to costs or who trade frequently must commit a large sum.
- The 1:30 leverage limit only applies to clients in the EU (under CySEC) and the GCC (through Abu Dhabi’s ADGM). Clients from LATAM, Asia, and Africa use the Seychelles or FSCA entities, where leverage can go up to 1:1000 and there’s no compensation scheme. This mix of high leverage and little protection is a risk, along with concerns about its suspended Trustpilot score in 2026.
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
- FTSE Spread
- 1.4
- GBPUSD Spread
- 0.8
- Stocks Spread
- 1.79 (Apple)
- Leverage
- 1:1000
- Regulator
- CySEC, DFSA, FSCA, SCA, FSA, FSC-Belize, FSC-Mauritius, CMA-Kenya, CMA-UAE
- Platforms
- MT4, MT5, TradingCentral
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, ZAR
Pros
- 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’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 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.
Cons
- 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.
- 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.
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
- FTSE Spread
- From 0.4
- GBPUSD Spread
- From 0.6
- Stocks Spread
- Variable
- Leverage
- 1:30 (FCA, CMVM, ASIC), 1:200 (FSCA, SCB), 1:500 (FSA)
- Regulator
- FCA, ASIC, CMVM , FSCA, SCB, FSA
- Platforms
- TN Trader, MT4, TradingView
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, ZAR, SEK, NOK, DKK
Pros
- 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.
- The broker expanded into Europe with regulated online trading services after securing authorization from Portugal's CVMV, boosting its safety protections for European residents.
- Trade Nation accounts can now be linked with TradingView, providing advanced multi-charts and the ability to execute trades directly.
Cons
- Withdrawals can take up to five business days, which is around the industry average but slower than the 1-3 days we’re increasingly seeing brokers offer in an attempt to quash withdrawal complaints from retail investors.
- 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.
- 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.
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
- FTSE Spread
- 1.0
- GBPUSD Spread
- 0.4
- Stocks Spread
- 0.02
- Leverage
- 1:30 (Retail - UK, EU, Australia), 1:500 (Pro), 1:200 (Offshore), 1:400 (Kenya)
- Regulator
- FCA, ASIC, CySEC, BaFin, DFSA, SCA, SCB, CMA-Kenya
- Platforms
- Pepperstone Trading Platform, MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView
- Account Currencies
- USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD
Pros
- Award-winning customer support is available via telephone, email or live chat with response times of <5 minutes during testing and friendly agents knowledgeable about its products and trading tools.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
- Pepperstone has removed support for several tools that elevated the trading experience for active retail traders, notably Autochartist, Capitalise.ai and a free VPS for qualifying traders (now only pro traders in some countries).
- 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.
How Do CFD Demo Accounts Work?
A demo account works just like a normal CFD account, only there is no material buy-in. Rather than depositing your own money, a demo account is funded with virtual capital that you spend in a simulated trading environment. However, the market movements are still accurate and brokers will still implement virtual trading fees, like spread markups and commissions, to maintain realism.
That being said, the liquidity seen in CFD demo accounts is usually infinite, i.e. orders are instantly filled at the shown price, no matter the asset. The real world, on the other hand, has limited liquidity, so slippage may occur.
Most brokers offer CFD demo accounts for free and with no time limit, so investors can practice trading strategies and explore new markets with no risk to their real money. This is a great way to start trading as you can hold out and only stake real funds when you feel comfortable.
Pros
- Given the simulated nature of CFD demo accounts and the virtual funds, there is no risk of real monetary loss
- Paper trading is a great way to trial a broker or trading platform without any commitment. For example, you may want to explore some new assets, charting tools or indicators without staking money before getting comfortable with them.
- CFD demo accounts are also a great way to refine or test trading strategies, ironing out snags and inefficiencies by identifying mistakes that don’t cost you real money. Once you are producing consistent results, you can take your strategy to the real world.
- Trading with simulated money for some time can give you a taste of inevitable drawdowns and low-yield periods. Experiencing these can help you practise sticking to your strategy and risk management approach until you rise again.
Cons
- While leverage can increase trade sizes, and getting practice in with no risk of loss can be helpful, investors must be careful. CFD demo accounts can provide a false sense of security and lead to taking risks that are too great when you begin live trading.
- The simulated nature of demo accounts does not support all real-life trading characteristics, like slippage. Therefore, orders in a live account may not be filled at the same price as for a demo account and maintaining performance can be difficult
- Some, albeit not all, brokers will use their demo account as an advertising tool for their services. This can often produce tighter spreads and lower trading fees than would realistically be available in a live account, especially in fast-moving, volatile markets.
- CFD demo accounts may come with the full suite of a broker’s additional charting and analysis features, which may come at a cost for live trading accounts.
- While demo accounts can be good to get a feel for a broker or strategy, the safety they provide does not expose you to many of the psychological difficulties of live trading. For example, demo trading is often done with no fear, complacent risk management and overtrading.
How To compare CFD Demo Accounts
Several factors and considerations can be used to differentiate between options and find the best CFD demo accounts:
Platforms
The trading platform that the broker offers can make a significant impact on your experience. Platforms range from sleek and easy-to-use mobile applications that keep things simple to complex and sophisticated desktop trading clients or even proprietary web-based trading systems.
Functionality is an important and personal thing, some traders may want easy access to and integration with online automated trading robots, while others may prefer to carry out their trades manually using one-click trading. Some of the most popular trading platforms include MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and cTrader.
Markets
All CFD demo accounts will offer a variety of different markets, so it is important to look for one that offers the markets you are interested in. These will often include forex and stocks, while some brokers will also offer cryptos, indices and commodities.
Check out the assets your broker offers on both their demo account and whichever live account you are interested in opening afterwards. CFD trading follows standard market hours for its assets, i.e. exchange trading hours for stocks and indices, 24/5 for forex and 24/7 for cryptos.
Customer Support
Customer service is important for live trading as any lost time can mean you lose money. Using demo accounts can give you a good feel for a broker’s level of customer support, especially as you are likely to have more questions when paper trading. Try to find a broker with active customer support at all times you might be trading.
Education
When opening a CFD demo account, the aim is to learn, so finding a broker with a good range of high-quality educational tools can be very impactful. Some brokers offer one-to-one sessions to support demo trading, while others may have live webinars, online trading courses and educational blog posts.
Fees
While some brokers will offer a free demo account for anyone keen, others are not so accessible. Firms may charge for their demo trading services or require some level of deposit into a live trading account before they let you begin using their CFD demo accounts.
Final Word
CFD demo accounts offer a great way for those inexperienced to get a feel for CFD trading, different brokers and platforms or new markets. Moreover, they are a safe place to try new strategies or refine existing ones, with no risk of financial loss. However, care should be taken as their risk-free nature can result in complacency or an unhealthy risk appetite when it comes to live trading.
FAQs
What Is A CFD Demo Account?
CFD demo accounts are offered by some online brokers and provide risk-free, simulated CFD trading in real-time markets. These accounts are funded with virtual money and work much the same as live trading, albeit with better liquidity and often tighter spreads.
How Does A CFD Demo Account Work?
A demo account lets you execute trade orders on CFD assets based on real-time pricing data and fee structures. However, there is no risk involved as all money is simulated. Traders can usually select how much they wish to fund their account with (up to a predefined maximum) and begin trading immediately.
Why Should I Open A CFD Demo Account?
CFD demo accounts are a great way to explore a more unique area of trading without risking any real money. If you want to get into trading CFDs, try a new broker, platform or asset or refine and get to grips with a new trading strategy, demo trading can be a useful tool.
What Should I Look For In A CFD Demo Account?
There are many things to consider when opening a CFD demo account, including the markets on offer, platforms used and customer service. Don’t forget to think about fees and the broker’s live trading options before opening a demo account.
Do CFD Demo Accounts Have Fees?
CFD demo accounts are often free, though some brokers may charge for them. Moreover, some firms require a small deposit into a live trading account before you can make use of their demo options.