Which spread betting broker is best in the UK?
Verdict
- Pepperstone is our best UK spread betting broker. It charges no commission, you stake in pounds per point, and the spread-betting account runs on MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView and Pepperstone's own app.
- Pepperstone lists published minimum spread-bet spreads of 0.5 on EUR/USD, 1 on the UK100 and 0.1 on spot gold.
- The main gap is that Pepperstone sells no guaranteed stops. IG, CMC Markets, Spreadex and Capital.com all do.
- Pepperstone says UK spread-betting profits are exempt from capital gains tax, but that treatment depends on your own circumstances.
If you spread bet with charts and automated tools on MetaTrader, cTrader or TradingView, Pepperstone is the strongest choice we found. Most rivals keep spread betting on their own platforms. If guaranteed stops matter more to you than platform choice, a rival may suit you better. Both cases are covered below.
Pepperstone: our top spread betting pick
Spread betting is offered to UK residents through Pepperstone Limited (FCA 684312). You choose a stake per point in GBP, and the spread is the only trading cost. Positions held past 10pm UK time pay an overnight fee. Pepperstone's March 2025 table counted 1,432 spread-bet markets, including 91 FX pairs, 26 indices and 1,162 shares. Published minimum spreads on spread bets are 0.5 on EUR/USD, 0.8 on GBP/USD, 1 on the UK100, 0.9 on the GER40 and 0.1 on spot gold.
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What is the best spread betting platform in the UK?
For most active spread bettors it's a Pepperstone account, because one account runs on five platforms: Pepperstone's web platform and app, MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView. That lets you use expert advisors on MetaTrader, C# bots on cTrader, or trade from TradingView charts without changing provider. Rivals publish shorter platform lists. CMC Markets lists its Next Generation platform, its app and MT4. Spreadex lists its own web platform, apps and TradingView. IG lists its own platform, MT4, MT5, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer and TradingView. Our data doesn't show which rival platforms accept spread bets as well as CFDs, so check before you choose a provider for one tool.
Compare the top UK spread betting brokers on cost and reliability
For cost, the table uses each firm's published EUR/USD figure. Most are 'from' minimums, so they don't show what you'll typically pay. We have no outage or uptime data for any of these firms. The reliability evidence we can check is FCA authorisation, guaranteed stops and published execution data.
- On execution, Pepperstone says it fills orders in as little as 50 milliseconds, with a 99.32% fill rate and no dealer intervention, based on trades from January to March 2026. It is the only firm here we have that kind of figure for.
- Pepperstone's UK site says retail spread-bet and CFD balances are reset to zero if they go negative. Spreadex and StoneX publish the same protection.
| Provider (FCA ref.) | EUR/USD spread published | Guaranteed stops | Minimum deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone Limited (684312) | From 0.5 | No | £10 by card |
| Capital Com (UK) Limited (793714) | Live only | Yes | £20 |
| IG Index Ltd (114059) | From 0.6 points | Yes, premium only if triggered | £1 per card deposit (help centre) |
| CMC Markets UK plc (173730) | From 0.5 | Yes, fee refunded if not triggered | None |
| Spreadex Ltd (190941) | From 0.6 points | Yes | £5 |
| StoneX Financial Ltd (446717) | From 0.7 pips (EUR/USD page) | Yes, charged if triggered | None; £100 per card deposit |
Sources
Are spread betting profits tax-free in the UK?
Pepperstone says UK spread-betting profits are exempt from capital gains tax, and that no stamp duty applies. It also notes that tax treatment depends on your circumstances and the law can change.
Does Pepperstone charge commission on spread bets?
No. The spread is the trading cost. An overnight fee applies to positions held past 10pm UK time.
Which UK spread betting firms offer guaranteed stops?
Of the firms in our table, IG, CMC Markets, Spreadex, Capital.com and StoneX publish guaranteed stops. Pepperstone does not.
Spread bets and CFDs are leveraged products, and you can lose money rapidly. 73.6% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with Pepperstone Limited. Think about whether you understand spread betting and can afford the risk before you start. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances. This page is not investment or tax advice.