1. Home

Best Day Trading Platforms and Brokers in Europe 2026

Written By

Jemma Grist

Written By

Jemma Grist

Jemma is a writer, editor and fact-checker focused on retail trading and investing. Jemma brings a unique perspective to the forex, stock, and cryptocurrency markets and works across several investment websites as a researcher and broker analyst.

» Jemma Grist Profile Page

Fact Checked By

James Barra

Fact Checked By

James Barra

James is an investment writer and brokerage expert with a background in financial services. A former management consultant, he's worked on major operational transformation programmes at top European banks. A trusted industry name, James's work at DayTrading.com has been cited in publications like Business Insider.

» James Barra Profile Page

Updated

Apr 2, 2025

The best day trading brokers in Europe have superior charting platforms, fast execution, excellent pricing, and are normally authorized by at least one of the 25+ regulators adhering to the directives established by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA).

Many also offer EUR accounts for convenient deposits and provide access to local stock markets, such as the Euronext, and currency pairs like the EUR/USD.

Discover the best brokers for day trading in Europe. All our recommended platforms have been tested by our European experts.

Choosing A Day Trading Broker In Europe

Based on our extensive experience in the day trading industry, there are several factors to consider:

Trust

Choose a trusted day trading broker to keep your funds safe.

Online trading scams are rife in Europe, with fraudsters adopting increasingly aggressive and brazen methods to target victims. In recent years, scammers have even impersonated representatives of the Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission (CySEC), promising compensation to traders in return for fees.

This is why we verify the regulatory status of brokers, checking whether they are licensed by any of the 25+ reputable regulators that comply with the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID), and its update MiFID II, set by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), designed to safeguard retail traders.

Investment Offering

Choose a day trading broker with a wide range of trading opportunities.

For many European traders, it will be important to have access to local financial markets, providing opportunities to speculate on regional events and assets.

That’s why we look for access to stock markets like Euronext, the largest stock exchange in the region which connects seven major economies, including France, Italy and the Netherlands.

We also look for currency pairs involving the Euro, such as the EUR/USD, EUR/GBP and EUR/AUD, plus popular commodities, including those listed on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), Europe’s most recognized commodity marketplace.

In addition, we consider whether brokers offer contracts for difference (CFDs), a popular financial product with short-term traders that allows you to go long or short without taking ownership of the underlying asset, such as shares in LVMH.

Trading Fees

Choose a broker with low trading fees.

This is especially important for day traders because frequent trading amplifies the impact of fees on overall profitability.

That’s why we record and evaluate the fees you can expect to incur making short-term trades, including spreads on popular markets in Europe like the EUR/USD and EUR/GBP, as well as any inactivity fees that can penalize casual traders.

This allows us to assign an overall ‘Fees & Costs’ score that helps us pinpoint the cheapest brokers for day traders.

Order Execution

Choose a day trading broker with fast and reliable order execution.

If you’re day trading in volatile markets, such as commodities, being able to enter and exit the market at the desired price can be the difference between profit and loss.

We consider execution speeds of <100 milliseconds fast, helping to prevent slippage – the difference between the expected price and the execution price.

However, we also consider execution quality, encompassing factors like price and probability of execution, which together can help ensure you secure optimal trades.

Leverage Trading

Choose a day trading broker with transparent leverage and margin conditions.

Leverage trading allows you to open larger positions than you would otherwise be able to with your capital. Essentially, for a small outlay, known as margin, you can multiply your buying power and profits (or losses).

The ESMA introduced industry-wide limits on leverage offered to retail traders in 2018. The maximum available through EU-regulated entities is 1:30 for major currency pairs, though lower limits are imposed on more volatile assets, such as commodities (1:10) and cryptocurrencies (1:2).

While 1:30 is a safer limit than the very high leverage available at offshore brokers, the risk of heavy losses is still present.

I recommend that beginners, in particular, approach leverage trading with caution and take a proactive approach to risk management.

Jemma Grist

Author

We check whether leverage trading is available as part of our exhaustive review process. We also make sure brokers are transparent about margin requirements, including when they will close out your positions if you fail to meet a margin call (a demand by your broker to deposit additional funds to cover potential losses).

Charting Platforms

Choose a day trading broker with a user-friendly and powerful charting platform.

Short-term traders typically rely on technical analysis to identify and capitalize on market opportunities, more so than longer-term investors who often use fundamental analysis. As a result, it’s important to find an excellent charting platform.

That’s why we personally test platforms where possible to assess their suitability for day traders, weighing the design and ease of use with the suite of technical indicators, drawing tools, chart types and other features.

Our analysis of hundreds of brokers shows the most widely available third-party platforms are MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader and TradingView. These all offer excellent charting packages for intermediate and advanced traders.

However, our tests also show that the proprietary software offered by some brokers can provide a more user-friendly toolkit for newer traders, often featuring a more intuitive workspace.

Methodology

We used our extensive database of day trading brokers, selecting those accepting European traders and ranked them by their overall rating from our reviews, which focus on several factors, including:

FAQ

How Much Money Do I Need To Start Day Trading In Europe?

The vast majority of platforms offer an accessible account minimum of <€250. However, some stand out with no minimum deposit, notably Pepperstone, OANDA and City Index, making them attractive for day traders on a budget.

Who Regulates Day Trading Platforms In Europe?

Over 25 European regulators should adhere to the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID), established by the European Securities Markets Authority (ESMA), to offer products suitably for day trading, including forex and CFDs.

The Cyprus Securities & Exchange (CySEC) oversees the largest number of brokers accepting day traders in Europe.

Which Is The Best Broker For Day Trading In Europe?

Use our list of the best day trading platforms and brokers in Europe to find the right provider for your needs. Most of our top-rated platforms are regulated in Europe, support accounts in EUR, and offer access to regional financial markets.