Leading Forex Brokers for UK Traders: Trading Excellence in the Heart of Europe
Publish:
Modified:
The UK Forex market is well-known, with its popularity stretching from the UK itself to the rest of the world. Investors from different parts of the globe have taken a keen interest in it, which has led a lot of UK forex brokers to settle their offices in London.
UK brokerage firms offer a couple of advantages, for example, a regulatory framework that guarantees the customer assets security, less stringent market exchange conditions, and a variety of features. Each of these points of interest mostly arises from the unique offerings that UK brokers advertise, which has turned into a notable wonder to speculators on a worldwide scale.
Due to these currency trading merits, a considerable number of hedge funds, finance organizations, and even the best banks have set up home offices in London. This simple aspect has caused the UK to hold its position as the most preferred forex trading destination on the planet. Also, this shows why the UK currency trading transactions occur in high volumes.
We have compiled this list of the Top 5 UK forex brokers and explained what makes them such a phenomenon in the global Forex market.
Top 6 Brokers for Forex Trading in the UK
1. TechBerry
Founded: 2015
Location: US, DE, AU, UAE
Currency Pairs: 100+
Min. Spread: 0
TechBerry is a social trading platform with outstanding features. It has an advanced deep learning based tool, which works with more than 50 licensed Forex majors and generates a monthly profit of 11.2% for its customers. Traders can view real-time trade performance on the website, including the current win rate and active trades.
While it gathers hundred thousands of pro-traders execution details, TechBerry AI converts data into pure knowledgebase for creating a successful Forex market strategy. Platform offers multiple subscription options: green, silver, gold, platinum, diamond, and infinite. All packages include loss reimbursement, a minimal deposit, and real-time trade monitoring in addition to a low commission rate. With a minimum deposit of $5,000, you can also participate in the free trial.
At TechBerry, you do not have to worry about losing money because they offer the finest insurance policy that covers up to 100% of losses. Big financial institutions can contact the platform’s developers for personalized pricing and customized benefits.
Pros
- Support for over 50 regulated brokers
- Outstanding results with 11.2% average monthly gains
- Insurance of funds by offering 100% reimbursements
- Get a personalized quote with special benefits
Cons
- High minimum deposit
- Supports only MT 4/5 platforms for recording trade details
Read more about TechBerry in this review
2. IG Markets
Founded: 1974
Location: UK
Currency Pairs: 104
EURUSD Spread: 0.8 pips
Leverage: Up to 1:50
IG Markets is based in London. It is subject to the regulation of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This broker has been providing access to the markets since 1974, making an effort to implement the latest innovations on their platform, providing exposure to five major groups of assets – forex, indices, shares, commodities, and crypto.
The IG Markets platform has no assets, and all the trading operations are carried out in derivatives, which allows you to gain exposure to the markets without owning the asset.
IG Markets also offers its traders a free demo account to practice without risking real money. To switch to the real account, a minimum deposit of £250 is required.
IG Markets offers its users a true trading school for free and accessible to all users. Training is available anywhere and anytime thanks to the IG Academy app, which allows you to follow courses, videos, and webinars on any mobile device.
Pros
- Five possible ways to trade
- Demo platform available
- Free training available from the application
- Regulation by FCA
Cons
- Additional monthly fees compared to other online brokers on the market
- Minimum deposit in real account
Read more about IG in this review
3. Darwinex
Founded: 2012
Location: UK
Currency Pairs: 42
EURUSD Spread: 0.2 pips
Leverage: Up to 1:30
Darwinex is a FinTech company operating since 2012, licensed and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Its main service is asset management, allowing traders to invest in thousands of strategies.
In Darwinex, you can adopt the role of a strategy creator trader, charging a commission when your DARWINs are copied and have profits, or as an investor purchasing DARWINs from other traders, copying the most successful DARWINs and gaining a return on your investment.
Forex traders have access to only 41 currency pairs, meaning the broker does not provide complete coverage of the market.
The initial minimum deposit is $500, while subsequent transfers are possible from $100. Leverage is capped at 1:30 for retail traders, as per the stipulations of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA).
Darwinex offers a free demo account to practice, and it is compatible with MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5.
Pros
- Platform integrations
- Copy trading
- Regulated by FCA
Cons
- High minimum deposit
- Lack of choice for forex pairs trading
Read more about Darwinex in this review
4. ETX Capital
Founded: 1965
Location: UK
Currency Pairs: 50
EURUSD Spread: 0.8 pips
Leverage: Up to 1:200
ETX Capital is an online forex and CFD broker headquartered in London and authorized and regulated by the British FCA. It belongs to the Monecor company founded in 1965, with a long history in the financial sector. Moreover, it is a member of the London Stock Exchange.
Through this broker, we have the possibility of trading more than 50 currency pairs, among which are the main values of the world, such as the dollar, pound, euro, yen, or the Swiss franc.
ETX Capital offers several trading platforms adapted to different investor profiles, such as its own ETX Trader and ETX Trader PRO platforms, the popular MetaTrader 4, or specific versions for mobile phones with the Android system or for the iOS-based iPhone and iPad.
You can open an account without a minimum deposit and with the maximum leverage that varies depending on the financial instrument with which you are going to operate.
In addition, ETX Capital offers face-to-face seminars, Webinars, and free courses for traders. There are also monthly tutoring sessions, comments, and market news — literally, everything to help you learn to invest and get the most out of your operations.
Pros
- Their own trading platform to add to MetaTrader
- Demo account availability
- Free education center
Cons
- Lack of research tools
Read more about ETX Capital in this review
5. CMC Markets
Founded: 1989
Location: UK
Currency Pairs: 158
EURUSD Spread: 0.7 pips
Leverage: Up to 1:30
CMC Markets is one of the oldest and most prestigious CFD brokers in the world, which has been operating since 1989.
It is regulated by FCA, and also CMC is covered by the British Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which provides the compensation of up to £50,000 per account in the event of non-customer issues.
CMC stands out for having one of the largest asset offerings on the market, more than 330 currency pairs.
The spreads of CMC Markets are among the best in the market. For example, in the EUR/USD, it is easy to find an average spread between 0.7 and 0.9 pips, which many brokers cannot match.
Unlike other brokers, which have external platforms, CMC Markets offers its own platform, and also you can open an account with MetaTrader.
In addition, CMC offers different formats of educational videos, namely online seminars, trading guides, and technical analysis streaming.
Pros
- No minimum deposit
- Low forex fees and spreads
- Regulated by FCA
- Great variety of currency pairs
Cons
- Complicated account verification process
Read more about CMC Markets in this review
6. Tickmill
Founded: 2014
Location: UK
Currency Pairs: 62
EURUSD Spread: 0.1 pips
Leverage: Up to 1:500
Tickmill is an online forex and CFD broker launched in 2011. It is regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and its head office is based in London.
Tickmill offers trading in 62 forex currency pairs and the maximum leverage in forex in the UK, restricted to 30 to 1 by ESMA regulations.
Tickmill offers three accounts: Classic, PRO, and VIP. With a low commission rate, the PRO account will be ideal for most traders compared to the standard account, as the spreads are inherently lower.
Tickmill not only has a couple of live data centers and demo accounts but also offers quality support. The broker’s customer support, accessible via phone or email, receives positive customer reviews on a regular basis.
Pros
- Low fees for forex traders
- Fast and easy account opening procedure
- Free deposit and withdrawal
Cons
- Minimum deposit
Read more about Tickmill in this review
What is important when choosing a UK forex broker
The decision of which broker to choose is crucial and will strongly affect your future trading — and it is success or failure. So, to do it wisely, here is a concise list of features to look for.
Regulation
The activity of a trusted broker must always be governed by a true regulator designed to protect and promote the integrity of the broker’s operations and investments.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the highest financial authority in the United Kingdom. Hence, if you prefer to trust your funds to a broker, go to their website and verify whether the broker is regulated by FCA.
Competitive spreads
This is a very important aspect to examine before signing up with a broker. What spreads do they offer? Just to give a very basic explanation, coins are traded in pairs. The difference between the selling price and buying price is called the spread. A good indicator is that the spread should not be more than five pips for the major currencies. The major ones include the US dollar:
- EUR/USD
- GBP/USD
- USD/JPY
- USD/CHF
- AUD/USD
- USD/CAD
Customer support
This is a more important feature in forex than in other markets. Before signing up with a specific broker, test their customer support by emailing, calling, or chatting with their representative online. If you don’t get the response you expected, think twice before opening an account with that broker.
Reasonable leverage
Leverage, in general, is what gives the Forex market a strong appeal to retail traders. However, the risks of trading with high leverage are as significant as the benefits. The most serious brokers offer leverage ratios that start at 100: 1 and go up to 400: 1. The higher the leverage, the higher the risk for the broker. If a broker offers leverage that seems too high for you, this could be a good indication of that broker’s future or lack thereof.
Competitive platform
This is one of the most basic and essential checks you need to do before choosing a broker. The trading platform is where everything will go down. If the platform is not easy to navigate and user-friendly, or too slow and you have to refresh every time, this represents a potential problem. The platform should have an interface that allows you to accomplish your goals with a minimum number of steps.
To sum it up, there are many things we should do before becoming a successful forex trader, but one of the most important is finding a reliable, professional broker. The steps above will help you do that.
How can I trade forex in the U.K.?
You must follow these actions to trade FX:
1. Have a clear plan outlining your objectives, risk tolerance, and technique with “best forex brokers uk reviews” before you begin trading.
2. Look for a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)-licensed “best forex broker for beginners uk” in the online directory.
3. You must fund your account after selecting from “best uk regulated forex brokers.”
4. Currency pair purchases and sales are part of the trading system. Pick a pair that works with your approach that you are comfortable with.
5. Choose whether to purchase or sell currency pair based on your market analysis.
Is forex trading Legal in the UK?
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) strictly regulates foreign exchange trading, and it is lawful in UK. The FCA is in charge of guarding traders and ensuring their money is secure.
Any “Best UK based forex broker” must first obtain FCA authorization before taking on traders as clients. FCA’s status as a Tier-1 regulatory organization is in part due to its severe oversight or stringent rules and regulations.
FCA safeguarded traders, which controls all organizations that offer financial services, including banks, hedge funds, insurance firms, and London Stock Exchange. Despite the limitations, traders can still participate in the market and transact with licensed brokers.
Conclusion
Currently, there is a wide range of online brokers that offer their services to investors from all over the world, and the number is increasing. It has become difficult, especially for beginners, to appreciate what the differences are between them and how to choose the right online broker.
The factor we consider the most important when choosing an online broker is that it needs to be a reliable regulated company. The online broker will be in charge of receiving your money and executing with it the operations that you request. For this reason, it is essential to pay special attention to a serious, transparent, and professional broker.
Our Experts
