Which spread betting broker has the widest range of markets?
Verdict
- Pepperstone is our pick for range: its UK account table counts 1,432 spread betting markets, including 91 currency pairs, 26 indices and 40 commodities (data sourced 12 March 2025).
- Pepperstone's own pages quote different totals ("1350+ markets" and "over 2700+ spread bets and CFDs"), so treat any single headline number with care.
- No FCA-regulated firm can sell crypto derivatives to UK retail clients, so crypto is missing from every retail spread betting range in the UK.
- We have not verified rival firms' market counts, so we don't claim Pepperstone has the single largest list; Capital.com, IG, CMC Markets and Spreadex also offer UK spread betting.
Range matters when you want one spread betting account to cover currencies, index moves, commodities and individual shares. Pepperstone publishes a market-by-market count for its UK spread betting account, which most comparisons skip. Here is that breakdown, where the numbers conflict, and what no UK retail account can include.
Pepperstone's spread betting range by asset class
Pepperstone Limited, authorised by the FCA (reg. no. 684312), runs spread betting alongside its Standard and Razor CFD accounts, and you can hold several of these at once. Its UK account comparison, built on data sourced on 12 March 2025, gives these counts:
| Asset class | Spread betting | CFD (Standard / Razor) |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 1,432 | 1,444 |
| Forex pairs | 91 | 93 |
| Indices | 26 | 26 |
| Commodities | 40 | 40 |
| Shares | Not split out for spread betting | 1,162 |
| ETFs | Not split out for spread betting | 95 |
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Why Pepperstone's totals don't agree
The same UK accounts page also says "1350+ markets", while its FAQ says "over 2700+ spread bets and CFDs", and the markets page repeats "more than 2700". The larger figure adds spread bets and CFDs together, so it double-counts most instruments. For a spread betting account alone, the 1,432 line is the one to use. The markets page's rounded figures (90+ FX pairs, 20+ indices, 1100+ shares across the US, UK, Europe, Australia and Hong Kong, 40 commodities, 80+ ETFs) fit that picture.
What a UK retail spread betting range can't include
- Crypto: the FCA banned the sale of crypto derivatives to retail consumers from 6 January 2021. Pepperstone's UK site has no retail crypto page; crypto appears only for professional clients.
- Perpetual CFDs: in the UK, Pepperstone offers these to professional clients only.
- One extra worth knowing: Pepperstone lists 24-hour trading on selected US shares, five days a week.
Other UK firms that offer spread betting
Several FCA-regulated firms sell spread bets. We list them so you can compare their market lists yourself; we have not verified their instrument counts, so we don't rank them by size.
- Capital.com: spread betting is one of its UK account types; Capital Com (UK) Limited is FCA-authorised (793714). It also offers guaranteed stop-losses, which Pepperstone does not publish.
- IG: spread betting runs through IG Index Ltd (FCA 114059).
- CMC Markets: spread betting on its UK site (CMC Markets UK plc, FCA 173730).
- Spreadex: a UK-only firm (FCA 190941) offering spread bets and CFDs.
- StoneX Trading, OANDA, ActivTrades and Vantage also list UK spread betting.
How to check range for the markets you actually trade
- Write down the five to ten instruments you trade most, not the asset classes.
- Search each one in the broker's market list or platform before you fund the account.
- Check that it is offered as a spread bet, not only as a CFD.
- Compare the published minimum spread for those instruments; a long list is worth little if your main market is expensive.
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Sources
Counts and terms as published by each firm.
Can I spread bet on Bitcoin in the UK?
Not as a retail client. The FCA banned the sale of crypto derivatives to retail consumers from 6 January 2021, and Pepperstone's UK site offers crypto only to professional clients.
Do I need separate accounts for spread betting and CFDs at Pepperstone?
They are separate account types, but Pepperstone lets UK clients hold a spread betting, a Standard and a Razor account at the same time.
Are share spread bets cheaper than share CFDs at Pepperstone?
Spread bets carry no commission. Share CFDs carry a commission per side, for example 0.10% on UK shares. Compare the spread on the share you want before deciding.
Spread bets and CFDs are complex, leveraged products, and you can lose money quickly. Pepperstone states that 73.6% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with it. Nothing here is investment advice; check each firm's current terms before you open an account.