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Written By
James Barra
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.
» James Barra Profile Page
Fact Checked By
Jemma Grist
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.
» Jemma Grist Profile Page
Updated
Jan 30, 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 5 Brokers For Day Trading In The UK
Our analysis shows that these are the 5 top platforms for UK day traders:
- AvaTrade - AvaTrade offers the full package for short-term traders. There is powerful charting software, reliable execution, transparent fees, and fast account opening with a low minimum deposit.
- XTB - XTB is a great option for beginners with a user-friendly platform, no minimum deposit and low short-term trading fees. The free education center is also a bonus, as well as the straightforward account opening process.
- 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.
- Eightcap - Eightcap is great for day traders familiar with MT4 and MT5 and looking to trade forex and CFDs in a secure environment. The brand is also a great pick for crypto traders with 100+ derivatives, a sophisticated market scanner, plus Bitcoin and Tether deposits.
- FXCC - FXCC continues to prove itself an excellent option for forex day traders with an extensive range of 70+ currency pairs, ultra-tight spreads from 0.0 pips during testing, and high leverage up to 1:500 in the ECN XL account.
Best Day Trading Platforms and Brokers in the UK 2024 Comparison
| Broker | GBP Account | FCA Regulated | Minimum Deposit | Markets | Platforms | Leverage | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | ✔ | - | $100 | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Crypto, Spread Betting | WebTrader, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, MT4, MT5, AlgoTrader, TradingCentral, DupliTrade | 1:30 (Retail) 1:400 (Pro) | Visit |
| | ✔ | ✔ | $0 | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto | xStation | 1:30 | Visit |
| | ✔ | ✔ | $0 | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Treasuries, Custom Indices, Spread Betting | Web, MT4 | 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) | Visit |
| | ✔ | ✔ | $100 | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities | MT4, MT5, TradingView | 1:30 | Visit |
| | ✔ | - | $0 | CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto | MT4 | 1:500 | Visit |
| | ✔ | ✔ | £0 | Forex, CFDs, Indices, Commodities, Stocks, Crypto, Bonds, Interest Rates, ETFs, Options, Spread Betting | Spreadex Platform, TradingView | 1:30 | Visit |
| | ✔ | ✔ | $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) | Visit |
| | ✔ | ✔ | $0 | Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, CFDs, Cryptocurrencies | Trader Workstation (TWS), Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, eSignal, TradingCentral | 1:50 | Visit |
| | ✔ | - | $5 | Forex, Stock CFDs, Turbo Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Precious Metals, Energies, Shares, Crypto, Futures | MT4, MT5 | 1:30 | Visit |
| | ✔ | ✔ | $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. | Visit |
| | ✔ | - | $100 | CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Stocks, Crypto | MT4, MT5 | 1:500 | Visit |
| | ✔ | ✔ | £0 | Stocks, Funds, Trusts, ETFs, Bonds, Gilts, VCTs | Own | - | Visit |
| | ✔ | ✔ | $0 | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, Bonds, ETFs, Spread Betting | OANDA Trade, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist | 1:30 | Visit |
| | - | - | $20 | Forex, CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto | MT4 | 1:1000 | Visit |
| | ✔ | ✔ | $0 | Forex, CFDs, Indices, Shares, Commodities, Futures, Bonds, Cryptos (Bahamas Entity Only) | MT4 | 1:500 (entity dependent) | Visit |
#1 - AvaTrade
Why We Chose AvaTrade
AvaTrade is a leading forex and CFD broker, established in 2006 and regulated across 9 jurisdictions. Over 400,000 users have signed up with the broker which processes over 2 million trades each month. The firm offers multiple trading platforms, including MT4, MT5, and a proprietary WebTrader. 1250+ financial instruments are available for day trading, alongside a comprehensive education center and multilingual customer support.
- Instruments: CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Crypto, Spread Betting
- Regulator: ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, ISA, CBol, FSA, FRSA, BVI, ADGM
- Platforms: WebTrader, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, MT4, MT5, AlgoTrader, TradingCentral, DupliTrade
- Min. Deposit: $100
- Min. Trade: 0.01 Lots
- Leverage: 1:30 (Retail) 1:400 (Pro)
Pros
- AvaTrade is a heavily regulated and trustworthy broker with licenses from the ASIC, CySEC and more
- Automated trading is supported through MetaTrader Expert Advisors (EAs), as well as the AvaSocial and DupliTrade tools
- There's a great range of fee-free deposit methods, including bank wire, credit cards and popular e-wallets like Skrill
Cons
- It’s a shame that there are no rebate schemes for serious traders looking for additional perks - CMC Markets would be a better choice here
- There is no ECN account with raw spreads
- Traders from the US are not accepted
Visit AvaTrade
#2 - XTB
Visit
Review
Why We Chose XTB
XTB is one of the largest stock exchange-listed forex and CFD brokers in the world, offering access to over 5800 day trading markets on their xStation platform. They boast 700,000 active traders, 20 years experience and authorization from tier-one regulators, including the UK's FCA.
- Instruments: CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto
- Regulator: FCA, CySEC, IFSC, KNF, DFSA
- Platforms: xStation
- Min. Deposit: $0
- Min. Trade: 0.01 Lots
- Leverage: 1:30
Pros
- The broker is FCA, KNF, CySEC, and IFSC-regulated and has been in operation for over 20 years
- Day traders and stock investors can access a huge range of 5800+ markets via CFDs and real stocks
- High-volume traders who trade over 15 lots per month can access cashback rebates
Cons
- Withdrawals below $50 incur a $30 fee at the international entity
- The broker's single platform offering is very limiting compared to the multiple terminals offered by many competitors
- There are no third-party research tools available, such as AutoChartist or Trading Central
Visit XTB
#3 - CMC Markets
Visit
Review
Why We Chose 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.
- Instruments: CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Treasuries, Custom Indices, Spread Betting
- Regulator: FCA, ASIC, MAS, CIRO, BaFin, FMA, DFSA
- Platforms: Web, MT4
- Min. Deposit: $0
- Min. Trade: 0.01 Lots
- Leverage: 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
Pros
- CMC Markets is heavily regulated by reputable financial authorities and maintains its stellar reputation, helping to ensure a secure and trustworthy trading environment.
- The web platform delivers a fantastic user experience with advanced charting tools for day trading and customizable features, catering to both beginners and experienced traders. MT4 (but not MT5) is also supported.
- CMC offers excellent pricing, including tight spreads and low trading fees for all but stock CFDs. The Alpha scheme also offers perks for high-volume traders with up to 28.6% discounts on spreads.
Cons
- Despite improvements, the web platform still requires enhancements to make it as intuitive to trade on as software from rivals like IG.
- While CMC offers an above-average suite of assets, there is no support for trading real stocks and UK clients can’t trade cryptocurrencies.
- The CMC Markets app offers the complete trading package but the design and user experience trails category leaders like eToro.
Visit CMC Markets
#4 - Eightcap
Visit
Review
Why We Chose Eightcap
Eightcap have a global presence and are FCA regulated. They boast low day trading fees and are the highest rated brand by TradingView users - and users can trade directly from TradingView. New traders can also sign up for a live account in just a few minutes with £100.
- Instruments: CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities
- Regulator: FCA, ASIC, CySEC, SCB
- Platforms: MT4, MT5, TradingView
- Min. Deposit: $100
- Min. Trade: 0.01 Lots
- Leverage: 1:30
Pros
- Crypto Crusher market scanner with sentiment indicators, news and short term trading signals for global clients
- 100+ crypto derivatives are available for global clients, which is more than most brokers, including crypto crosses and indices
- AI-powered economic calendar with top-level insights, in partnership with Acuity
Cons
- The demo account can only be extended upon request
- There are only four commodities available, which may disappoint experienced day traders looking to diversify their portfolios
- There are several frustrating jurisdictional restrictions - for example, the Crypto Crusher tool is not available for UK or Australian clients
Visit Eightcap
#5 - FXCC
Visit
Review
Why We Chose FXCC
FXCC is an established broker that’s been offering low-cost online trading since 2010. Registered in Nevis and regulated by the CySEC, it stands out for its ECN trading conditions, no minimum deposit and smooth account opening that takes less than 5 minutes.
- Instruments: CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto
- Regulator: CySEC
- Platforms: MT4
- Min. Deposit: $0
- Min. Trade: 0.01 Lots
- Leverage: 1:500
Pros
- FXCC is trusted and licensed by the CySEC, a top-tier European regulator offering high standards of safeguarding
- The free education section, including the 'Traders Corner' blog, offers a large selection of materials that will serve all experience levels
- As an MT4 broker, FXCC offers advanced charting tools and excellent support for algo traders, especially when combined with the free VPS
Cons
- Although MetaTrader 4 continues to shine for technical analysis, the subpar design dampens the trading experience, especially compared to modern alternatives like TradingView
- FXCC’s single platform offering is a major drawback compared to many alternatives, notably AvaTrade which provides 5 platforms to suit different trader preferences
- There is a threadbare selection of research tools like Trading Central and Autochartist, value-add features available at category leaders like IG
Visit FXCC
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 forshort-term strategies.
- We selected brokers with a good range ofassets, 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.
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.
Recommended Reading
Article Sources
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
- Broker Warning List (FCA)
- Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)
- London Stock Exchange (LSE)
- Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE 100)
- EverFX Trading Scam (BBC News)
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
