The Top 10 Forex Brokers in the United Kingdom

Forex trading in the United Kingdom is quite popular among residents, and is Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulated. FCA is a reputable independent body, established in 2012, that oversees the financial market and compliance in the UK. The United Kingdom, primarily London, is the biggest geographic trading center in the world accounting for around 43.1% of the total foreign exchange market. The UK financial sector houses some of the best benefits and pioneering regulator frameworks that have placed it as the world’s financial capital.

Owing to London’s dominance in the forex market, the quoted price of a currency pair is habitually the London market price. Pence is usually favored over pounds to quote prices (e.g., a GBX quoted price of 1,350 is equivalent to £13.50). Currently, there are 2,600 firms from across 60 countries listed on London Stock Exchange (LSE). 

For Forex Traders: The British Pound

Before learning about the UK forex market and forex brokers, it is advisable for FX traders to know about the economy behind the pound. The GBP is the fourth-most traded currency (turnover rate) and third-most widely held reserve currency worldwide. All the major currencies in the FX market are backed up by central banks. The pound has the Bank of England, which follows a 2% inflation target policy, behind it.

The UK forex brokers incorporate a wider range of economic data into their foreign exchange decisions. The major economic data include trade balances, inflation, GDP figures, industrial production, and retail sales. These are released at regular intervals and many FX brokers make the same freely available. 

Traders/investors should watch out for information on new government policies, interest rates, and unemployment rate, anything that could have considerable impact on the exchange rates resulting in the high risk of losing money.  

The pound is also one of the few currencies that is valued more than the USD, and the UK is one of the major destinations for raising capital. As a solid alternative to the USD, the pound is poised to remain a preeminent global currency for quite some time. 

Forex Trading in the United Kingdom

When trading in the UK, traders should know the different options that are available with their preferred UK forex broker. Apart from the standard trading options such as stock trading, live FX trading, live CFD trading, and spread betting, given below are the other trading account types available in the UK. Always check and exercise caution before investing. 

Crypto Trading
~ Relatively new in the UK.
~ Since cryptos are decentralized assets, factors such as political instability and changes in interest rates pose no high risk to them the same way they affect the currency markets.
~ The growing younger population in the UK with rising income levels and extensive online technology adaptation has paved way for the increase in the crypto trading volume.
~ As of 2019, Bitcoins worth $65 billion XTB/USD is traded daily in the UK.

Commodity Trading
~ In the UK, commodity trading comprises trade in energies, precious metals, and agri commodities.
~ Since 2002, certain commodities like metals have experienced exponential growth in the country.
~ The vast demands for many raw materials and basic commodities in rising economies such as China and India means that countries like the UK can take advantage of the same.

Islamic Accounts
~ UK brokers support Islamic or swap-free accounts and comply with the Sharia law, and offer accounts best suited for Islamic traders.
~ UK Islamic investments are free from rollover interest on overnight positions.

Which FX Broker is the Best for Forex?

There are so many best trading platforms but to choose the right one gets difficult at times. Striving to find the one best forex broker that perfectly matches a trader’s style and goals is neither easy nor difficult. In the forex market, the supply of broker offerings is abundant and versatile, so the search for the best forex broker may be slightly time-consuming and laborious. The same holds true for forex UK brokers as well. When choosing FCA-regulated forex brokers, look into factors such as the trading platforms and the markets available, quality of execution software, and stability of finance (competitiveness of spreads). The table given below includes, but not limited to, the 10 best forex brokers in the United Kingdom. 

The Top 10 Best Brokers for Forex in the UK
Broker Advantages Disadvantages
  1.       Negative balance protection
  2.       Regulatory framework includes CySec, IFSC,  and ASIC
  3.       Enables automated trading through Meta Trader
  4.       A wide array of research materials
  5.       MetaTrader MT4 and MT5 platforms
  6.       $5 minimum deposit
  7.       Also caters to Islamic traders
  8.       Offers unbeatable spreads (from 0 pips on the Zero spread account)
  9.       2-million-plus client base
  10.       24/5 customer support
  1.       Not publicly listed
  2.       Pricings are at times wider than usual
  3.       Limited crypto offering
  4.       A very small number of markets to trade
  1.       Allows ETF (exchange-traded fund), crypto, indices, and commodities trade
  2.       Allows CFD trade on 47 popular currency pairs
  3.       Easy onboarding
  4.       Competitive pricing structure
  5.       User-friendly web interface
  6.       Innovative social trading features
  7.       $200 minimum deposit
  8.       Unlimited free demo account for practice
  9.       10-million-plus client base
  10.       One of the best proprietary trading platform
  1.       System outages
  2.       Mediocre trade offers
  3.       Small conversion fee 
  4.       Trading platform with minimum advanced-level functionality
  5.       Poor customer-service response time
  1.       Competitive and transparent pricing
  2.       Allows trading on 48 currency pairs
  3.       Deposit with PayPal for only a 2% fee
  4.       Offers more than 1,500 assets including (48 FX pairs with spreads from 0 pips, 95 ETFs, 35 Indices, 25 cryptos, and 21 commodities)
  5.       24/5 customer care service and easy to use feel 
  6.       Easy execution of trade
  7.       Great platform functionality (MT4 and xStation5)
  8.       Presence in more than 10 countries 
  1.       Limited range of trading products and markets
  2.       Research materials are of basic range
  3.       Guaranteed stop-loss comes with only the Basic account type
  4.       Minimum deposit is $250
  1.       No minimum deposit
  2.       Trade on 80 currency pairs from majors (GBP/USD)  to exotics (HUF/EUR)
  3.       Allows trading FX pairs via spread bets or CFDs
  4.       Largest and one of the best CFD dealer with the highest accounts of active spread betting in the UK
  5.       Spread starts at 0.6 pips
  6.       Spread betting available at competitive rates
  7.       Boasts of over 195,000 clients worldwide and access to around 16,000 markets
  8.       Great selection of forex pairs (around 90 within its asset offering)
  9.       Great educational tools
  10.       Superb deposit and withdrawal options
  11.       46 years of industry experience
  12.       MT4 and L2 Dealer platforms
  1.       Product portfolio is limited
  2.       High-stock CFD fees
  3.       Poor phone support
  1.       Has a segregated funds system to avoid the automatic mix of other traders’ funds 
  2.       Trade on 61 currency pairs with high liquidity
  3.       Minimum deposit is £200
  4.       Spread starts from 0 pips
  5.       Market-leading trading fees
  6.       Great market flow
  7.       Very solid in forex markets
  8.       Different methods of automated trading available
  9.       A wide range of trading features can be accessed via brokers
  10.       Allows trading via Standard or ECN Razon account types
  11.       MT4, MT5, cTrader, and cAlgo platforms
  1.       Limited range of non-forex instruments
  2.       Average mobile trading app
  3.       Non-availability of guaranteed stop losses 
  4.       No single stock CFDs
  1.       Offers market access via first-class trading platform
  2.       Access 182 forex pairs across majors, minors, and exotics
  3.       Spreads start from 0.4 pips
  4.       Over 35,000 trading instruments (indices, ETNs, CFDs, Options, Bonds, EFTs, futures, cryptos, commodities, and forex)
  5.       Competitive spreads
  6.       Excellent research and analysis tool
  7.       Offers around 19,000 single name stocks 
  8.       User-friendly service and a product’s full potential is accessible to all types of traders
  9.       Good leverage (e.g., a CFD offer of x40 can be used to collateralize positions of that same instrument bonds and stocks held on account)
  10.       SaxoTrader GO and SaxoTrader Pro proprietary platforms
  1.       Deposit minimum is high ($10,000)
  2.       Automated trading is limited
  3.       Live chat support is poor
  4.       Bonds, options, and futures fee are high
  1.       Minimum deposit of $100 for standard account, $500 for ECN, $200 for ECN Zero, and $25,000 for ECN Pro
  2.       Over 10,000 clients across 135 countries
  3.       Offers six types of accounts (three for ECN accounts with lightning-fast execution, popular among African traders)
  4.       Competitive spreads starting from 0 pips
  5.       Demo account offers $1,000,000 to traders to test the platform
  6.       Crypto CFDs available
  7.       FXTM Invest option for auto trading
  8.       Innovative rewards scheme
  1.       Only MetaTrader platform currently available
  2.       Maximum order size limited to 30 standards lots/trade
  3.       Trading on ECN accounts come with leverage caps and margin restrictions 
  4.       Stop and limit levels added only after trade is executed on ECN accounts
  1.       Minimum deposit of £100
  2.       Offers the best-known spread betting platform FcPro Edge 
  3.       Spreads start from 0 pips
  4.       Fixed spread available via MT4 platform as well
  5.       Fully regulated and offers a wide array of tradable products through CFDs
  6.       Easy to access and responsive customer support and available in a different language
  7.       Client base spans across 170 countries
  8.       Negative balance protection
  1.       No crypto
  2.       Funding options are limited
  3.       Few complaints about trade execution
  4.       Complex fee structure
  1.       Offer segregated accounts, adhere to the FSCS, and have negative balance protection
  2.       Has around 4,000 assets to trade including ETFs, cryptos, and bonds
  3.       Minimum deposit is $100
  4.       Packed educational section for comprehensive learning
  5.       Spreads start from 0 pips 
  6.       Great leverage (for retail accounts it is 1:30 and for professional is it 1:500)
  1.       Few withdrawal options
  2.       Charge inactivity and withdrawal fee
  3.       Few complaints about document verification
  1.       Minimum deposit of £100
  2.       Trade on 84 currency pairs 
  3.       Low fees for index CFDs and forex
  4.       Has a robust regulatory structure
  5.       High-quality research and analysis tools
  6.       Wide range of products and markets for trading including forex, indices, cryptos, interest rates, and futures 
  7.       Recently launched a web-based platform
  8.       Spreads start from 0.5 pips
  1.       Wider spreads on MT4
  2.       Synching between respective platforms is limited

Also check out the other top-rated forex brokers in the UK such as LCG (London Capital Group), Oanda,, Alpari, Interactive Brokers, ActivTrades, HY Markets, HYCM, and Swissquote to name a few. 

The Best Forex Brokers for Beginners

The UK FX trading market caters to beginners and pros alike. UK FX brokers strive their best to unlock the potential of foreign exchange in newbies. Some of the best FX trading platforms for beginners include: 

Best Forex Brokers for Newbies in the UK
Broker Important Features
  1.       User-friendly trading platform
  2.       CFD trade on more than 60 currency pairs
  3.       Minimum deposit is £100 with leverage up to 1:30
  4.       Very low trading fees
  5.       Launched the world’s first BTC CFD
  6.       Free and unlimited demo account
  7.       A wide array of products to maximize profits
  8.       Tradable assets include crypto, forex, shares, ETFs, commodities, options, and indices
  9.       Compatible with Android, iPad, iPhone, Windows, and smartwatches
  10.       The mobile app offers more than 2,000 trading instruments
  1.       Offers the best education and support for newbies from videos to detailed ebook
  2.       Supported platforms include MetaTrader 4 and AvaTradeGo (mobile)
  3.       Supports more than 60 currency pairs
  4.       Enables access to a wide range of markets on competitive spreads
  1.       Traders’ assets are held in segregated portfolios so that they don’t lose money
  2.       Come with a high cover of £85,000 in case of an insolvency
  3.       Limited negative balance protection
  4.       Come with a high leverage 1:400
  5.       Platforms include MetaTrader 4 and Interceptor
  1.       Offers IPR protection preventing clients’ assets from being compromised
  2.       Provides visibility and credibility to traders via a track record that is by an independent third party
  3.       Provides legal solution for accessing third-party capital under its regulatory framework
  4.       Platforms include MT4 and MT5
  1.       Best spread betting brokers for beginners offering about 9,000 tools
  2.       100% automated execution
  3.       Sophisticated risk management products
  4.       Platforms include metatrader 4, stock brokering standard and pro
  5.       Real-time new, huge product catalog, and advanced order types
  6.       Allows trade on 300 currency pairs
  7.       Spreads start from 0.25 pips 

Also, it is also recommended for beginners to focus on the important currency pairs that are liquid because the liquid forex pairs, in general, come with a lower bid-ask spread. And, also, they float most of the time and are not monitored by the central banks. The top five FX denominations include USD pairs, EUR pairs, GBP pairs, JPY pairs, and CHF pairs. Others include AUD, CAD, MXN, CNY, and SGD.

Is Forex Trading Legitimate?

Yes, FX trading is legit. Its market cap averages $5.1 trillion per day. To verify if a FX broker is regulated in the UK, check out the FCA official website and look under the FCA register. There, look for the broker’s company name (usually different from the broker’s name). The company name can be found at the foot of the broker homepage.  

Forex trading is taxable in the United Kingdom. Those earning below the salary cap of £12,500 are not required to pay any tax, but for amounts up to £50,000 a 10% capital gains tax (CGT) and for amounts over £50,000 a 20% CGT are levied.  

What is a Broker for Forex?

A retail forex broker in today’s commercial trading performs the role of an intermediary that buys and sells funds for a commission. In simple terms, a broker for forex is a kind of a third-party salesman of financial assets. A forex broker’s role is commonly associated with commodities, insurance, equities, derivatives, and even real estate.

Before the World Wide Web, FX brokers operated via phone. Clients phone in their trade orders that are bought and sold by brokers on behalf of the investor accounts for a percentage-based fee. Following the arrival of the Internet, forex brokers allow their clients to trade through digital platforms and apps. 

In addition to aiding clients’ trade assets, FX brokers offer various other related auxiliary services such as asset price charting, professionally managed investments, trade programs and advice for trainers, and news feeds and information and research services. Some of these services are offered free, while others are charged depending on the broker. 

Do You Need a Forex Broker?

Forex simply means currency exchange. So, technically it can be carried out without a broker; however, it involves a high risk of losing funds and entails both advantages and disadvantages. In trade, accounts lose money in different ways; to decode complex instruments and come with a success formula is no walk in the park.

Forex Trading: With a Broker vs. Without Broker
Advantages (Without Broker) Advantages (With Broker) Disadvantages (Without Broker)
  1.       No commission fee
  2.       Gains from currency appreciation stays with the trader 
  1.       Comes with a high leverage
  2.       Allows trade with large lot sizes by investing small initial amounts
  3.       Investments are more disciplined
  4.       Enables a sell-by exceeding the allowable margin of spread in spot trade
  5.       Possesses the right products for carrying out accurate technical analysis 
  6.       Provides the right predictions and forecasts
  7.       Real-time market quotes of multiple pairs of currencies simultaneously 
  1.       Trades are interest-based and paid on a monthly basis
  2.       Carrying out own analysis that may not be accurate without proper instruments
  3.       Should search for a currency pair every time when placing an order
  4.       Certain trade tools could be complex instruments and come with the risk of wrong predictions, one way accounts lose money 

Forex brokers do charge different levels of fee from the traders’ profits but their services are absolutely valuable and work for the investors’ benefits. Consider whether you can afford a broker or can take the high risk on your own before deciding on what suits you the best. 

Forex UK Trading? What to Check for in a UK forex broker

Financial markets in the UK are mature, trustworthy, professional, highly regulated, lenient, and supportive. However, when hunting for the best forex trading platform there are certain pointers to note pertaining to what is permitted and not with regard to the regulation. Keep the following checklist in mind:

  • Always choose the one that is FCA-regulated 
  • Lookout for the minimum trade size associated with the broker. In most cases, with a 30:1 leverage a £33 minimum amount is required to open a trade position on a micro lot. However, there are brokers that offer exchanges with low deposits, even as low as £10. Find a broker that matches the need and whether you can afford the same. 
  • Reasonable-sized with a history of minimum 2 years
  • Withdrawals and deposits processed within 2 to 3 days
  • International presence including training and seminar presentations
  • Easy to use trading platforms
  • Complete access to trade products
  • Live streaming of market prices
  • Availability of risk management
  • Instant execution of trade
  • High-quality and interactive financial charts
  • Ability to social trade
  • Timely online support

Traders are not subject to any trade restrictions when it comes to choosing their choice of forex brokers. You just have to consider whether you are ready to take the high risk of losing your money, and can pick any broker provided they follow all the norms that govern the international anti-money laundering protocols. Also, it is at the discretion of the UK forex brokers to service any retail investor accounts across the world. 

As a forex trader, people have more opportunity to protect their investments from the high risk of losing via a forex broker located in the United Kingdom, rather than with any other popular forex destinations in the world. 

What is so Good About UK Forex Brokers?

Some of the pros of UK FX brokers are:

  • They are many in number. Their number is the largest alongside Cyprus-based forex traders across the entire FX world. 
  • Customer support services are mostly 24/7 and offered in multiple languages. 
  • Offer a wide array of forex bonuses because UK FX brokers have the largest bonus systems.
  • They can afford to take the responsibility for introducing the forex world to the beginners, an extra service.

Trade Categories in the UK

When opening an forex account, an investor’s FX trade profits are analyzed and categorized under three main categories in the country.

Private Investor: Earnings and losses get taxed as per the capital gains imposed

Independent trader: Self-employed traders who are liable to pay biz taxes

Speculative: In the United Kingdom, forex, CFDs, and spread betting fall under the risk category because of zero underlying owned assets, and therefore, dodge tax and capital gains. The UK tax laws on FX trade are relatively more flexible than in other countries, and currently spread betting profits are not taxed. 

A Guide to FX Trade in the UK

UK forex trading is pretty much the same as in the rest of the world. Typically, all the best forex brokers require the following from a trader to get started:

Forex Trading Challenges in the UK

In terms of challenges, even minor changes in the American economy may impact the UK market as the United States and the United Kingdom hold huge trade partnerships and their economies are intertwined. Likewise, the EU too affects the UK trade market considerably as the latter is a multi-nation trade bloc. Well, even since the Brexit negotiations began in 2017, the effect on the UK FX market has oscillated between favorable and unfavorable.

Reasons Why Trade Accounts Lose Money

Some of the common reasons as to why accounts lose money include: 

  • Trying to beat the market instead of understanding it
  • Staring with too-small capital amount
  • Poor risk management
  • Indecisive trading
  • Not trading with the trend, i.e., either picking tops or bottoms
  • Giving into too much greed
  • Buying worthless trade systems

UK Forex Blogs

Traders can also reach out to and connect with forex influencers through blogs in the niche market. This is especially good for newbies as they can gain a basic understanding of the FX market before they can afford to take the first big step of investing. To generate more traffic, leads, and sales, and to avoid losing money rapidly checkout some of the best forex blogs given below.

Tickmill: Best forex brokers; they share their trading knowledge, provide significant market observations, and offer updates on any upcoming important economic events.

Better Trader: Learn how to trade forex, gold, FTSE 100, stocks, crude oil, and S&P 500 and to pick the best forex trader platform from industry experts. Other pros include options trades and binary bets recommendations.

Cyber Mentors: Provides detailed information on forex, auto trade, and investigative insights on various binary options trading bots.

Trading College: Offers both classroom and online trading courses by professional traders, and provides free resources, and expert trading opinions and mentorships. Get detailed information on stocks, commodities, and FX trade. 

Smart Forex: One of the best web resources for learning how to avoid losing your money and be profitable in FX trading, improve trading strategy, and automate FX trading systems. 

Forex Trading: Learn about highly profitable trade techniques through online seminars and personal coaching and mentorship programs for both beginners and advanced traders. 

DailyFX: One of the leading portals for trade news, indicators, charts, and analysis, i.e., every tool needed for trading in the FX market.

Also check out other forex blogs such as Yadix, BluFX, ForexMinute, ForexBuuzz, SB Forex, and FXPro.

UK FX Market and Brokers Are Cause of World Envy

The UK’s forex market is the spine of global trade and investing. According to the survey conducted by the Bank of International Settlements, forex trading platforms have grown by 30% in London in the last three years since the Brexit referendum. England’s capital is the global hub of foreign exchange with a 43% market share. 

The UK’s competitive advantage in forex is a vital part of the financial services sector that makes up for 10% of the country’s total economic output and employs around 2 million people. This industry pays, exports, and generates a surplus of trade than any other.  

Final Verdict

The UK is constantly ranked as one of the top 5 global economies attracting retail investor accounts worldwide to trade stocks, forex, cryptos, commodities, and CFDs. On that note, certain challenges in the forex market are inherent, i.e., accounts lose money at times, and the UK FX market is no exception. However, the overall financial scenario is quite favorable and looking solid in the UK. 

UK forex brokers are reputed for their support and for being fair when dealing with clients. This goes a big way in reducing the chances of losing money rapidly. When trading with one, always remember to check that the forex broker is FCA-monitored and a LTD company that offers a state-of-art trading platform and any transactions are conducted via safe channels. 

Globally, the UK financial market sector trades around  $5.1 trillion in volume daily. This is humongous when compared with the other financial markets. Advances in better Internet coverage and online technology, and increased competition among forex brokers have made currency exchange feasible and more accessible in the United Kingdom.