Which spread betting brokers offer guaranteed stop losses?
Verdict
- Pepperstone, our top pick for UK spread betting on cost and platforms, does not offer guaranteed stop-losses on spread bets or CFDs.
- UK firms that publish both spread betting and guaranteed stops include Capital.com, IG, CMC Markets, Spreadex, StoneX Trading and OANDA.
- Charging differs: IG, StoneX Trading and OANDA take a premium only when the stop triggers, while CMC charges to attach one and refunds it in full if it is never triggered.
- If you spread bet through weekends or results days, Capital.com is the firm we would use for guaranteed stops.
A guaranteed stop on a spread bet caps your loss at a fixed number of points times your stake, whatever the market does. Pepperstone does not offer one, which we state up front; below are the spread betting firms that do, and a worked example of what the guarantee is worth.
Pepperstone's position
Pepperstone's UK spread betting account has a lot going for it: no commission, stakes in pounds per point, 1,432 markets and every major platform. But Pepperstone publishes no guaranteed stop, and its UK terms say stop-loss orders may not fill at the level you set. Retail clients are still protected from owing money by negative balance protection. If you mostly trade intraday on major indices and FX and close before the weekend, an ordinary stop with sensible stake sizes is often enough, and Pepperstone remains our first pick.
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Spread betting firms with guaranteed stops
| Firm | Spread betting entity / FCA ref | Guaranteed stop charge |
|---|---|---|
| Capital.com | Capital Com (UK) Limited / 793714 | Set out in Capital.com's guaranteed stop terms |
| IG | IG Index Ltd / 114059 | Free to place; premium if triggered |
| CMC Markets | CMC Markets UK plc / 173730 | Fee to attach; refunded in full if not triggered |
| Spreadex | Spreadex Ltd / 190941 | Offered among advanced orders |
| StoneX Trading | StoneX Financial Ltd / 446717 | Free to attach; charged if triggered |
| OANDA | FCA 542574 | Premium if triggered |
What the guarantee is worth on a £2-a-point bet
You buy an index at £2 a point with a stop 50 points below your entry, a planned maximum loss of £100. Overnight, bad news opens the market 120 points lower. With an ordinary stop, the bet closes at the first available price: a £240 loss. With a guaranteed stop, it closes at your level: £100 plus the premium. The premium buys certainty only in the rare gap; in normal markets an ordinary stop fills close to its level and the premium is money you did not need to spend.
Our choice when you need one
Capital.com offers UK spread betting and CFD accounts, guaranteed stops, retail negative balance protection, a 20 GBP minimum deposit and MT4, MT5 and TradingView. It is our second-ranked UK broker overall and the first we would choose when a fixed exit price matters more than raw cost.
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Ask before you rely on a guaranteed stop
- How is the premium charged, and is it refunded if the stop never triggers?
- Is there a minimum distance between the market price and the stop?
- Which markets allow it? FOREX.com, for example, says thousands of markets, not all.
- Can you move a guaranteed stop once it is placed, and does that cost more?
Sources
Guaranteed stop and spread betting terms from each firm.
Can I put a guaranteed stop on a Pepperstone spread bet?
No. Pepperstone does not offer guaranteed stops in the UK; ordinary stops can fill beyond their level in a gap.
Which spread betting firm charges nothing unless the stop triggers?
IG, StoneX Trading and OANDA say the premium is charged only if the guaranteed stop is triggered. CMC charges upfront but refunds the fee if it is not triggered.
Do I need a guaranteed stop if I have negative balance protection?
They do different jobs. Negative balance protection stops your account going below zero; a guaranteed stop limits the loss on one bet to the level you chose.
Spread betting is leveraged and can lose you money quickly, with or without a guaranteed stop. Premiums and conditions vary by firm. The example is illustrative. This is not investment advice.