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cTrader Copy Banned In The UK: Why And Top Alternatives

James Barra
Written by
James Barra
Christian Harris
Fact checked by
Christian Harris
Updated
Reviewed

cTrader Copy, the popular copy trading component of the Spotware Systems software, is seemingly no longer accessible to retail investors in the UK. This follows an alert from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) stating that cTrader is not authorized to provide financial services in the UK.

Key Takeaways

  • On 22 July 2026, the FCA issued a warning that cTrader / Spotware Systems is not authorized in the UK.
  • Copy trading is no longer available in the cTrader app, though strategies to copy can still be viewed in the Web version.
  • Prominent brokers in the UK which facilitated copy trading via cTrader are revoking access for British residents.
  • cTrader Copy was particularly popular with active traders seeking to copy the short-term positions of experienced traders.
  • Previous users will now be forced to move to other copy trading providers or signals through MT4/MT5.

One of DayTrading.com’s team noticed that cTrader Copy access had been revoked in their personal trading account in the cTrader mobile app, as you can see below. Though oddly, they can still see strategies to copy in the Web terminal, so there’s not yet consistency.

As an experienced trader and long-time user of cTrader and its specialist copy trading service, the move will have a significant impact on their day to day trading operations, and likely that of many other retail investors in the UK.

cTrader Copy no longer accessible message in trading app in the UK

We then began contacting other brokers that offered cTrader Copy, such as IC (previously IC Markets), which confirmed that cTrader Copy is not supported for UK residents. An example of this confirmation can be seen below from IC’s support. Other firms also confirmed cTrader Copy is not supported for UK residents, including Pepperstone and FxPro.

IC Markets support team confirming cTrader Copy is not available to UK residents

Best Alternatives To cTrader Copy

These are our top-rated alternatives to cTrader Copy:

Tested with a live trading account Accepts traders from France Your capital is at risk. Trade only with funds you can afford to lose.
  1. Our top pick in France
    1
    AvaTrade
    4.9/ 5
    Visit AvaTrade Read review
    • Demo account
    • Min. deposit: $100
    • Min. trade: 0.01 Lots
  2. 2
    XM
    4.8/ 5
    Visit XM Read review
    • Demo account
    • Platforms: MT4, MT5, TradingCentral
    • Min. deposit: $5
  3. 3
    Trade Nation
    4.4/ 5
    Visit Trade Nation Read review
    • Demo account
    • Regulator: FCA, ASIC, CMVM , FSCA, SCB, FSA
    • Platforms: TN Trader, MT4, TradingView
  4. 4
    Pepperstone
    4.8/ 5
    Visit Pepperstone Read review
    • Demo account
    • Min. deposit: $0
    • Min. trade: 0.01 Lots
    73-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs

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