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Best Day Trading Platforms and Brokers in the UK 2024

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Written By
James Barra
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Written By
James Barra
James is an investment writer with a background in financial services. He has worked as a management consultant, where he delivered large-scale operational transformational programmes at some of Europe's biggest banks. James authors, edits and fact-checks content for a series of investing websites.
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Fact Checked By
Jemma Grist
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Fact Checked 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.
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Updated
Jun 18, 2024

The best day trading brokers in the UK provide platforms that are easy to use with great charting tools, low costs, fast execution, and leverage trading.

Most are also regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and tailored for British day traders, offering access to major markets such as the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and currency pairs like the GBP/USD. Many of the top day trading platforms also support accounts in the British Pound, simplifying deposits, withdrawals, and trade management.

Discover our pick of the best brokers for day trading in the UK. Each brokerage we recommend accepts traders from the UK and was evaluated by British traders using real money or a test account.

Best 10 Brokers For Day Trading In The UK

Our analysis shows that these are the 10 top platforms for UK day traders:

Click a broker for details
  1. 1
    XTB
    77% of retail accounts lose money.
    Ratings
    4.5 / 5
    4 / 5
    4 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4.1 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    4.7 / 5
    4.1 / 5
    $0
    0.01 Lots
    1:30
    FCA, CySEC, KNF, CNMV, DFSA, FSC
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, ETFs
    xStation
    PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, Wire Transfer, Paysafecard, Skrill, Credit Card, Debit Card, Maestro, Neteller
    USD, EUR, GBP, HUF
    Go To XTB
  2. 2
    CMC Markets
    Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
    Ratings
    4.8 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4.1 / 5
    3.7 / 5
    $0
    0.01 Lots
    1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
    FCA, ASIC, MAS, CIRO, BaFin, FMA, DFSA
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Treasuries, Custom Indices, Spread Betting
    Web, MT4
    Visa, Mastercard, Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal
    USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, SEK, NOK, SGD, PLN
    Go To CMC Markets
  3. 3
    Eightcap
    Ratings
    4.3 / 5
    4 / 5
    3.6 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    3 / 5
    4.8 / 5
    4.4 / 5
    £100
    0.01 Lots
    1:30
    ASIC, FCA, CySEC, SCB, CNMV
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities
    MT4, MT5, TradingView
    Neteller, Skrill, Visa, UnionPay, Credit Card, Debit Card, Bitcoin Payments, Wire Transfer, FasaPay, BPAY, PayPal, Dragonpay, PIX Payment
    USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, SGD
    Go To Eightcap
  4. 4
    Spreadex
    Ratings
    4 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    4 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    £0
    £0.01
    1:30
    FCA
    Forex, CFDs, Indices, Commodities, Stocks, Crypto, Bonds, Interest Rates, ETFs, Options, Spread Betting
    Spreadex Platform, TradingView
    Cheque, Wire Transfer, Debit Card, Credit Card, Mastercard, Visa
    USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, CHF
    Go To Spreadex
  5. 5
    Pepperstone
    CFDs and FX are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.
    Ratings
    4.6 / 5
    4 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    4.4 / 5
    4.4 / 5
    4.6 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4 / 5
    4.4 / 5
    4.1 / 5
    $0
    0.01 Lots
    1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
    FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, CMA, BaFin, SCB
    CFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto(only Pro clients), Spread Betting
    MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, DupliTrade
    Visa, Mastercard, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Wire Transfer, POLi, UnionPay, BPAY, Neteller, Skrill
    USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD
    Go To Pepperstone
  6. 6
    Interactive Brokers
    Ratings
    4.5 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    3.3 / 5
    3 / 5
    4.4 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    $0
    $100
    1:50
    FCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA
    Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies
    Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, eSignal, TradingCentral
    Cheque, ACH Transfer, Wire Transfer, Automated Customer Account Transfer Service, TransferWise, Debit Card
    USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF
    Go To Interactive Brokers
  7. 7
    CityIndex
    CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
    Ratings
    4.4 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    4.6 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4.4 / 5
    4.2 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    4.4 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    2.8 / 5
    $0
    0.01 Lots
    1:30 (Retail), 1:50 (Accredited Investor), 1:200 (Sophisticated Investor), 1:300 (Wholesale Investor), 1:400 (Professional Trader). Varies with jurisdiction.
    ASIC, FCA, MAS
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Options, Commodities, Bonds
    MT4, TradingView, TradingCentral
    PayNow, Wire Transfer, Mastercard, BPAY, Credit Card, PayID, Debit Card, Visa, PayPal
    USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CZK
    Go To CityIndex
  8. 8
    FOREX.com
    Ratings
    4.9 / 5
    4 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4.6 / 5
    4.6 / 5
    4.3 / 5
    4.8 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    3.6 / 5
    3.8 / 5
    $100
    0.01 Lots
    1:30
    NFA, CFTC, CIRO, FCA, CYSEC, ASIC, SFC, FSA, MAS, CIMA
    Forex, CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Options, Crypto
    MT4, MT5, TradingView, eSignal, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
    Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller, ACH Transfer
    USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, PLN
    Go To FOREX.com
  9. 9
    eToro
    51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading with this provider. eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
    Ratings
    4.8 / 5
    4 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    3 / 5
    4 / 5
    3.5 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    4.5 / 5
    4.8 / 5
    4 / 5
    $100
    $10
    1:30
    FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSA, FSRA, MFSA, CNMV, AMF
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, ETFs, Smart Portfolios, Commodities, Futures, Crypto, NFTs
    eToro Web, CopyTrader, TradingCentral
    Visa, Skrill, Neteller, Wire Transfer, Rapid Transfer, Swift, Debit Card, iDeal, Klarna, Sofort, Trustly, Przelewy24
    USD
    Go To eToro
  10. 10
    Interactive Investor
    £0
    £25
    FCA
    Stocks, Funds, Trusts, ETFs, Bonds, Gilts, VCTs
    Own
    Debit Card, Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Wire Transfer, Cheque
    GBP
    Go To Interactive Investor

Here is a summary of why we recommend these brokers:

  1. XTB - Founded in 2002 in Poland, XTB now serves more than 935,000 clients. The forex and CFD broker combines a heavily regulated trading environment with an extensive selection of 5,600+ assets and a commitment to trader satisfaction, featuring an intuitive in-house platform with superb tools to support aspiring day traders.
  2. CMC Markets - Established in 1989, CMC Markets is a respected broker listed on the London Stock Exchange and authorized by several tier-one regulators, including the FCA, ASIC and CIRO. More than 1 million traders from around the world have signed up with the multi-award winning brokerage.
  3. Eightcap - Eightcap is an award-winning, FCA-regulated broker offering industry-low day trading fees. They are also the highest-rated brand by TradingView’s 50 million-strong users, who can trade directly on the platform. UK traders can sign up for a live account with an accessible £100 minimum deposit.
  4. Spreadex - Spreadex is an FCA-regulated broker that offers spread betting opportunities on an impressive 10,000+ CFD instruments including 60 forex pairs. Traders can also take short-term positions on sporting events. The brand has been around for over 20 years and has won multiple awards.
  5. Pepperstone - Established in Australia in 2010, Pepperstone is a top-rated forex and CFD broker with over 400,000 clients worldwide. It offers access to 1,300+ instruments on leading platforms MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView, maintaining low, transparent fees. Pepperstone is also regulated by trusted authorities like the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC, ensuring a secure environment for day traders at all levels.
  6. Interactive Brokers - Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a premier brokerage, providing access to 150 markets in 33 countries, along with a suite of comprehensive investment services. With over 40 years of experience, this Nasdaq-listed firm adheres to stringent regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, amongst others, and is one of the most trusted brokers for trading around the globe.
  7. CityIndex - City Index is an established and award-winning forex, CFD and spread betting broker with top-tier global regulation, including in the UK (FCA) and Australia (ASIC). With 30+ years in the industry, 13,500+ instruments and 24/5 customer support, City Index is a solid pick for aspiring traders.
  8. FOREX.com - Founded in 1999, FOREX.com is now part of StoneX, a financial services organization serving over one million customers worldwide. Regulated in the US, UK, EU, Australia and beyond, the broker offers thousands of markets, not just forex, and provides excellent pricing on cutting-edge platforms.
  9. eToro - eToro is a top-rated multi-asset platform which offers trading services in thousands of CFDs, stocks and cryptoassets. Launched in 2007, the brand has millions of active traders globally and is authorized by tier one regulators, including the FCA and CySEC. The brand is particularly popular for its comprehensive social trading platform. Cryptoasset investing is highly volatile and unregulated in the UK and some EU countries. No consumer protection. Tax on profits may apply. 51% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
  10. Interactive Investor - Interactive Investor are a hugely respected, FCA-regulated investing firm. The trading platform is easy-to-use while the sign-up and deposit process is straightforward for new investors. ii also has a long track record and a string of industry awards under its belt.

Best Day Trading Platforms and Brokers in the UK 2024 Comparison

Best Day Trading Platforms and Brokers in the UK 2024 Comparison
Broker GBP Account FCA Regulated Minimum Deposit Markets Platforms Leverage
XTB logo
✔ ✔ $0 CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, ETFs xStation 1:30
CMC Markets logo
✔ ✔ $0 CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Treasuries, Custom Indices, Spread Betting Web, MT4 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
Eightcap logo
✔ ✔ £100 CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities MT4, MT5, TradingView 1:30
Spreadex logo
✔ ✔ £0 Forex, CFDs, Indices, Commodities, Stocks, Crypto, Bonds, Interest Rates, ETFs, Options, Spread Betting Spreadex Platform, TradingView 1:30
Pepperstone logo
✔ ✔ $0 CFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto(only Pro clients), Spread Betting MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, DupliTrade 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
Interactive Brokers logo
✔ ✔ $0 Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, eSignal, TradingCentral 1:50
CityIndex logo
✔ ✔ $0 CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Options, Commodities, Bonds MT4, TradingView, TradingCentral 1:30 (Retail), 1:50 (Accredited Investor), 1:200 (Sophisticated Investor), 1:300 (Wholesale Investor), 1:400 (Professional Trader). Varies with jurisdiction.
FOREX.com logo
✔ ✔ $100 Forex, CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Options, Crypto MT4, MT5, TradingView, eSignal, AutoChartist, TradingCentral 1:30
eToro logo
- ✔ $100 CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, ETFs, Smart Portfolios, Commodities, Futures, Crypto, NFTs eToro Web, CopyTrader, TradingCentral 1:30
Interactive Investor logo
✔ ✔ £0 Stocks, Funds, Trusts, ETFs, Bonds, Gilts, VCTs Own -

XTB

"XTB stands out as a top choice for new day traders with the terrific xStation platform, commission-free pricing, no minimum deposit, and excellent educational tools, many of which are seamlessly integrated into the platform. "

Christian Harris, Reviewer

XTB Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, ETFs
RegulatorFCA, CySEC, KNF, CNMV, DFSA, FSC
PlatformsxStation
Minimum Deposit$0
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:30
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, HUF

Pros

  • With over 5,600 instruments across forex, stocks, indices, ETFs, commodities, and cryptocurrencies, including CFDs, share dealing and more recently Investment Plans, XTB caters to both short-term traders and longer-term investors.
  • The xStation platform continues to impress with its user-friendly interface and intuitive features, including customizable news feeds, sentiment heatmaps, and trader calculator, reducing the learning curve for newer traders.
  • First-class 24/5 customer support is available, including a friendly live chat with response times of under two minutes during testing.

Cons

  • XTB discontinued support for MT4, limiting traders to its proprietary platform, xStation, potentially deterring advanced day traders familiar with the MetaTrader suite.
  • Not being able to adjust the default leverage level of XTB products is frustrating, as manual adjustment can significantly mitigate trade risk, especially in forex and CFD trading.
  • The research tools at XTB are good but could be great if they went beyond in-house features with access to leading third-party tools such as Autochartist, Trading Central and TipRanks.
Visit XTB
XTB Review

CMC Markets

"With advanced charting tools and an extensive range of tradable CFDs, including an almost unrivalled selection of currencies and custom indices, CMC Markets provides a fantastic online platform for traders of all levels. "

Christian Harris, Reviewer

CMC Markets Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Treasuries, Custom Indices, Spread Betting
RegulatorFCA, ASIC, MAS, CIRO, BaFin, FMA, DFSA
PlatformsWeb, MT4
Minimum Deposit$0
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, SEK, NOK, SGD, PLN

Pros

  • The brokerage continues to stand out with its wide range of value-add resources, including pattern recognition scanners, webinars, tutorials, news feeds, and research from respected sources like Morningstar.
  • CMC Markets offers a rich investment offering with over 12,000 CFDs and more recently options trading, providing opportunities to trade market volatility and hedge existing positions.
  • CMC offers excellent pricing, including tight spreads and low trading fees for all but stock CFDs. The Alpha and Price+ schemes also offer perks for active traders with up to 40% discounts on spreads.

Cons

  • An inactivity fee of $10 per month is applied after 12 months of inactivity, which may deter casual investors.
  • The CMC Markets app offers the complete trading package but the design and user experience trails category leaders like eToro.
  • Trading stock CFDs incurs a relatively high commission, especially compared to the cheapest brokers like IC Markets.
Visit CMC Markets
CMC Markets Review

Eightcap

"Eightcap delivers in every area for day traders with a growing selection of charting platforms and AI-powered tools. Now sporting 250+ crypto CFDs and the Crypto Crusher market scanner, it's also become a stand-out choice for crypto trading, winning our 'Best Crypto Broker' award two years in a row."

Christian Harris, Reviewer

Eightcap Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities
RegulatorASIC, FCA, CySEC, SCB, CNMV
PlatformsMT4, MT5, TradingView
Minimum Deposit£100
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:30
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, SGD

Pros

  • With tight spreads from 0 pips, low commission fees, and high leverage up to 1:500 for certain clients, Eightcap provides cost-effective and flexible trading conditions that can accommodate an array of strategies, including day trading and scalping.
  • Eightcap stands out with a selection of powerful trading tools, including MT4 and MT5, the innovative algorithmic trading platform Capitalise.ai, and more recently the 50-million strong social trading network TradingView.
  • After bolstering its roster in 2021, Eightcap offers one of the most extensive selections of cryptocurrency CFDs in the market, with crypto/fiat pairs, crypto/crypto pairs, plus crypto indices for broader exposure to the market.

Cons

  • The demo account expires after 30 days and can only be extended upon request - a notable inconvenience compared to the likes of XM with its unlimited demo mode.
  • Despite a useful library of educational guides and e-books, Eightcap still trails IG’s comprehensive toolkit for aspiring traders with its dedicated IG Academy app and 18 course categories.
  • In spite of an increasing variety of tools, Eightcap doesn't offer industry favorites like Autochartist or Trading Central, which offer cutting-edge charting analytics, live news, and market insights for short-term traders.
Visit Eightcap
Eightcap Review

Spreadex

"Spreadex will appeal to UK day traders who are interested in both spread betting on financial markets and placing traditional bets on sports events. Fees are low on short trades and profits are tax-free on spread bets. There's also a powerful proprietary charting platform, plus £0 minimum deposit required to get started. "

Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

Spreadex Quick Facts

Demo AccountNo
InstrumentsForex, CFDs, Indices, Commodities, Stocks, Crypto, Bonds, Interest Rates, ETFs, Options, Spread Betting
RegulatorFCA
PlatformsSpreadex Platform, TradingView
Minimum Deposit£0
Minimum Trade£0.01
Leverage1:30
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, CHF

Pros

  • There's an excellent range of instruments and trading vehicles for short-term traders
  • There are some attractive new account promotions, including double the odds and matched betting offers
  • Spreadex gives UK traders the opportunity to make tax-free profits through spread betting

Cons

  • The proprietary terminal lacks comprehensive charting features of platforms like MT4 and MT5
  • The lack of a demo account will frustrate prospective clients who want to test Spreadex's services
  • No third-party e-wallets are accepted
Visit Spreadex
Spreadex Review

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 24/7 support."

Christian Harris, Reviewer

Pepperstone Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsCFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto(only Pro clients), Spread Betting
RegulatorFCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, CMA, BaFin, SCB
PlatformsMT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, DupliTrade
Minimum Deposit$0
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, NZD, JPY, CHF, HKD, SGD

Pros

  • Pepperstone boasts impressive execution speeds, averaging around 30ms, facilitating fast order processing and execution that’s ideal for day trading.
  • Now offering spread betting through TradingView, Pepperstone provides a seamless, tax-efficient trading experience with advanced analysis tools.
  • Award-winning customer support is available via telephone, email or live chat with response times of <5 minutes during testing.

Cons

  • Pepperstone’s demo accounts are active for only 30 days, which may not be not long enough to familiarize yourself with the different platforms and test trading strategies.
  • Despite enhancements to its range of markets, crypto offerings are relatively limited compared to other brokers such as eToro, with no option to invest in real coins.
  • There’s no simplified proprietary trading platform, nor are there any social trading features, which could be a disadvantage if you are new to day trading.
Visit Pepperstone
Pepperstone Review

Interactive Brokers

"Interactive Brokers is one of the best brokers for advanced day traders, providing powerful charting platforms, real-time data, and customizable layouts, notably through the new IBKR Desktop application. Its superb pricing and advanced order options also make it highly attractive for day traders, while its diverse range of equities is still among the best in the industry."

Christian Harris, Reviewer

Interactive Brokers Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsStocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies
RegulatorFCA, SEC, FINRA, CFTC, CBI, CIRO, SFC, MAS, MNB, FINMA
PlatformsTrader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, eSignal, TradingCentral
Minimum Deposit$0
Minimum Trade$100
Leverage1:50
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, INR, JPY, SEK, NOK, DKK, CHF, AED, HUF

Pros

  • IBKR continues to deliver unmatched access to global stocks with tens of thousands of equities available from 100+ market centres in 24 countries.
  • The TWS platform has clearly been built for intermediate and advanced traders and comes with over 100 order types and a reliable real-time market data feed that rarely goes offline.
  • With low commissions, tight spreads and a transparent fee structure, IBKR delivers a cost-effective environment for short-term traders.

Cons

  • TWS’s learning curve is steep, and beginners may find it challenging to navigate the platform and understand all the features. Plus500's web platform is much better suited to new traders.
  • You can only have one active session per account, so you can’t have your desktop program and mobile app running simultaneously, making for a sometimes frustrating trading experience.
  • IBKR provides a wide range of research tools, but their distribution across trading platforms and the web-based 'Account Management' page lacks consistency, leading to a confusing user experience.
Visit Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers Review

CityIndex

"City Index is best for new and intermediate traders looking for a wide selection of assets on user-friendly platforms. The broker is also great for UK traders looking to spread bet on 8,500 instruments with no tax on profits."

Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

CityIndex Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Options, Commodities, Bonds
RegulatorASIC, FCA, MAS
PlatformsMT4, TradingView, TradingCentral
Minimum Deposit$0
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:30 (Retail), 1:50 (Accredited Investor), 1:200 (Sophisticated Investor), 1:300 (Wholesale Investor), 1:400 (Professional Trader). Varies with jurisdiction.
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CZK

Pros

  • Excellent reputation with over 1 million account holders and tier-one regulatory oversight
  • A free demo account with unrestricted access to all markets and trading tools
  • Tight spreads from 0.5 pips on EUR/USD and competitive commissions on CFD shares

Cons

  • Cryptocurrency trading not available in all locations
  • US traders not accepted
  • $15 monthly inactivity fee
Visit CityIndex
CityIndex Review

FOREX.com

"FOREX.com remains a best-in-class brokerage for active forex traders of all experience levels, with over 80 currency pairs, tight spreads from 0.0 pips and low commissions. The powerful charting platforms collectively offer over 100 technical indicators, as well as extensive research tools."

Christian Harris, Reviewer

FOREX.com Quick Facts

Demo AccountYes
InstrumentsForex, CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Options, Crypto
RegulatorNFA, CFTC, CIRO, FCA, CYSEC, ASIC, SFC, FSA, MAS, CIMA
PlatformsMT4, MT5, TradingView, eSignal, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
Minimum Deposit$100
Minimum Trade0.01 Lots
Leverage1:30
Account CurrenciesUSD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, CHF, PLN

Pros

  • Alongside a choice of leading platforms, FOREX.com offers a superb suite of supplementary tools including Trading Central research, SMART Signals pattern scanner, trading signals, and strategy builders.
  • With over 20 years of experience, excellent regulatory oversight, and multiple accolades including runner-up in our 'Best Forex Broker' awards, FOREX.com boasts a global reputation as a trusted brokerage.
  • FOREX.com offers industry-leading forex pricing starting from 0.0 pips, alongside competitive cashback rebates of up to 15% for serious day traders.

Cons

  • Funding options are limited compared to leading alternatives like IC Markets and don’t include many popular e-wallets, notably UnionPay and POLi.
  • Demo accounts are frustratingly time-limited to 90 days, which doesn’t give you enough time to test day trading strategies effectively.
  • There’s no negative balance protection for US clients, so you may find yourself owing more money than your initial deposit into your account.
Visit FOREX.com
FOREX.com Review

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 AccountYes
InstrumentsCFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, ETFs, Smart Portfolios, Commodities, Futures, Crypto, NFTs
RegulatorFCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSA, FSRA, MFSA, CNMV, AMF
PlatformseToro Web, CopyTrader, TradingCentral
Minimum Deposit$100
Minimum Trade$10
Leverage1:30
Account CurrenciesUSD

Pros

  • eToro is a world-renowned brand with top-tier global regulation and a 25M+ user community
  • Exciting investment portfolios are available covering traditional market trends as well as tech, crypto and more
  • The copy trading app facilitates a best-in-class social environment, with an engaging social feed and community chat

Cons

  • There are no guaranteed stop loss orders which would be a useful risk management feature for beginners
  • Traders will face currency conversion fees for account denominations other than USD
  • The lack of additional charting platforms like MT4 will reduce the appeal for seasoned day traders accustomed to using third-party software
Visit eToro
eToro Review

Interactive Investor

"Interactive Investor is an excellent pick for UK traders interested in longer-term investing products like ISAs and SIPP accounts. The low fixed fees for large portfolios and 40,000+ stocks will also appeal to traders with a decent bankroll."

Tobias Robinson, Reviewer

Interactive Investor Quick Facts

Demo AccountNo
InstrumentsStocks, Funds, Trusts, ETFs, Bonds, Gilts, VCTs
RegulatorFCA
PlatformsOwn
Minimum Deposit£0
Minimum Trade£25
Account CurrenciesGBP

Pros

  • 40,000+ stocks and shares
  • No minimum deposit
  • User-friendly investment app

Cons

  • No free demo account
  • No copy trading tools
Visit Interactive Investor
Interactive Investor Review

Choosing A Day Trading Broker In The UK

Our 40+ years of combined experience using UK brokers has shown us that several critical elements should be considered when deciding who to open an account with:

Choose A Trusted Broker

Picking a trusted broker will help safeguard you from unscrupulous trading practices, such as misleading promotions and price manipulation.

It will also help protect you from trading scams, many of which we’ve seen target retail investors in the UK. One notable example is EverFX, a brand that pressured victims to move sometimes tens of thousands of pounds to offshore firms where they lost money and had limited recourse options under UK law.

The hallmarks of a trustworthy day trading broker are authorization from a respected body, such as the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), a long track record, excellent user reviews, and a good reputation in the industry. We prioritize day trading platforms that tick these boxes.

Checking eToro is regulated on the UK's FCA database
eToro – FCA License

I recommend that British day traders sign up with an FCA-regulated broker. The FCA is hugely respected around the world for its robust investor protections, including providing up to £85,000 through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) in the event of broker insolvency.

If you choose to open an account with an international broker, check they are not on the FCA’s Warning List.

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James Barra
Author
  • eToro is highly trusted. It’s regulated by the FCA, has been operating for over 15 years, and our UK experts have traded with it for several years using real money and praise the terrific user experience and best-in-class social trading network for beginners.

Choose A Broker With Low Fees For Day Trading

Selecting a platform with excellent pricing is critical for day traders because high transaction costs can rack up if you’re making a large volume of trades, impacting your profitability.

That’s why we evaluate the fees you can expect to incur day trading as part of our exhaustive broker reviews. This includes recording and comparing spreads and commissions on popular markets like the FTSE, EUR/GBP, and GBP/USD.

CMC Markets day trading fees
CMC Markets – Spreads

Importantly, we also balance costs with the broker’s overall offering, as we know it’s sometimes worth paying more for superior market data, sophisticated trading tools and faster order executions, especially for advanced day traders.

  • CMC Markets is one of the cheapest day trading brokers based on our tests, particularly for forex trading. You can trade the GBP/EUR from 0.8 pips in the Standard account, the UK 100 from 1.0, and UK shares with a 0.1% commission. There are also no deposit or withdrawal fees.

Choose A Broker With An Excellent Charting Platform

Finding a platform with strong charting tools is important because day traders often use technical analysis to discover opportunities, while long-term investors tend to rely more on fundamental analysis.

Our experts always evaluate the platforms, mobile apps, and charting tools for day trading as part of our hands-on tests. We use the software to ensure it delivers an excellent user experience with an intuitive design and straightforward navigation.

Day trading on AvaTrade UK WebTrader
AvaTrade – WebTrader

We also check it comes complete with the charting tools essential for day traders at any skill level, including technical indicators, drawing features, and timeframes that cater to short-term trading strategies, from 1-minute to 60-minute charts.

  • AvaTrade continues to excel in its platform offering with easy-to-use proprietary software for new traders alongside industry-leading third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which are great for advanced day traders and algo traders.

Choose A Broker With Access To The Markets You Want To Day Trade

Making sure the brokerage facilitates day trading on the assets you’re interested in is critical.

For traders in the UK, it’s often important to be able to speculate on shares listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), the value of the FTSE 100, and currency pairs that include the British Pound, such as the EUR/GBP and GBP/USD.

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Tip: Also consider other asset classes and sectors, such as US technology stocks and volatile commodities, as building a diverse portfolio can also help you spread risk and find additional opportunities.

We always evaluate the range and depth of the investment offering while using day trading platforms, with a particular eye on access to UK markets for British traders.

The other element we look for is instruments built specifically for short-term trading strategies, notably contracts for difference (CFDs). These derivatives enable you to speculate on rising and falling prices from the same product without taking ownership of the underlying security, such as Barclays shares listed on the LSE.

  • XTB excels with its 5,500+ instruments spanning stocks, indices, commodities, forex and ETFs, including the UK 100 and currency pairs with the GBP. It’s also one of the few day trading platforms in the UK to pay interest on unused cash up to 4.9%.

Choose A Broker With Fast Execution Speeds

Opening an account with a broker that offers fast execution is crucial for day trading strategies, especially in volatile markets. Delays in executing orders can lead to price slippage and even failure.

That said, execution quality is also an important consideration and concerns factors like speed, pricing, and the probability of order fulfilment.

That’s why we routinely evaluate brokers’ execution policies and execution speed data (where available), favouring platforms that meet our benchmarks of <100 milliseconds.

  • Pepperstone maintains its position as one of the fastest day trading brokers, with most orders executed in less than 60 milliseconds. This makes it a stand-out option for short-term trading strategies like scalping.

Choose A Broker That Supports Leverage Trading With Clear Margin Requirements

Signing up with a firm that supports leverage trading is essential for many day traders, who often use leverage to control larger positions with a small outlay.

Essentially, leverage amplifies your purchasing power, and thus your returns and losses. Let’s say my day trading broker offers leverage of 1:30 on the GBP/EUR. This means a £100 outlay would give me £3,000 to trade with (30 x £100).

However, it’s crucial to understand that leverage trading also greatly increases risk. As a result, a risk management strategy is needed, alongside a solid grasp of your broker’s margin requirements, which outline the amount of capital required.

The FCA limits leverage for retail investors in the UK to between 1:2 and 1:30 depending on the market being traded.

You can day trade with higher leverage if you sign up with a brokerage registered in other jurisdictions, but this elevates the risk of large losses and I do not recommend it for beginners.

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James Barra
Author

As part of our exhaustive reviews, we confirm whether margin trading is supported and the maximum leverage available.

We also make sure the broker is upfront about margin requirements and its margin call and stop-out levels, which determine how much capital you need to deposit to prevent positions from being automatically closed.

  • Eightcap supports leverage trading with transparent margin requirements. Brits can day trade the GBP/USD with 1:30, the UK 100 with 1:20, and shares with 1:5.

Choose A Broker With An Accessible Minimum Deposit

Selecting a day trading platform that offers a deposit requirement within your budget is important to make sure you don’t risk more than you can afford to lose. This is especially important for beginners who might have a modest amount of capital for trading.

We’ve personally tested over 490 brokers that support day trading using either real money or test accounts, and the vast majority require an initial investment of <£500. That said, some platforms cater specifically to beginner traders with low or even no minimum deposit.

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Tip: Choose a broker that supports GBP as an account base currency. This makes managing your deposits, withdrawals and trading activity convenient while potentially eliminating any conversion fees.
  • Interactive Brokers offers a GBP trading account with no minimum deposit and supports an almost unparalleled selection of instruments with advanced trading tools and deep market data for serious day traders.

Methodology

To find the best day trading brokers in the UK, we considered both quantitative data and qualitative insights from our comprehensive broker reviews, focusing on several aspects:

  • We confirmed the brokerage accepts day traders from the United Kingdom.
  • We chose brands we trust and that are regulated by a credible body like the FCA.
  • We favoured online brokers with competitive pricing for day trading.
  • We prioritised platforms and apps with excellent charting tools for short-term strategies.
  • We selected brokers with a good range of assets, favouring those with access to UK markets.
  • We focused on brokerages with fast and reliable order execution.
  • We checked leverage trading is supported with transparent margin requirements.
  • We concentrated on day trading platforms with an accessible minimum deposit.

DayTrading.com broker testing methodology overview

FAQ

Who Regulates Day Trading Brokers In The UK?

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the body responsible for overseeing and licensing brokers that offer day trading products to retail investors in the UK.

You can check whether a brokerage is authorised by the FCA by searching for their name or license number (usually found at the bottom of a broker’s website) on the regulator’s register.

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

Most top day trading brokers accept traders in the UK with a minimum deposit of between £0 and £500.

Beginners may want to open an account with a low minimum deposit broker, while advanced day traders may wish to invest more in return for the best trading tools and market data.

Which Brokers Do Day Traders In The UK Use?

We’ve compiled a list of the best day trading platforms and brokers in the UK. Many of our recommendations have millions of active traders, with a large user base in the UK.

Article Sources

The writing and editorial team at DayTrading.com use credible sources to support their work. These include government agencies, white papers, research institutes, and engagement with industry professionals. Content is written free from bias and is fact-checked where appropriate. Learn more about why you can trust DayTrading.com