Which brokers offer a web based trading platform?
Verdict
- Pepperstone is our pick among brokers with a web-based platform: its own browser platform works on all three UK accounts (spread betting, Standard and Razor), and spread-betting and Razor clients can also trade through TradingView in the browser.
- Capital.com, IG, CMC Markets, Plus500, Spreadex, FOREX.com, StoneX Trading, Trading 212 and eToro all publish web platforms and hold FCA-regulated UK companies.
- A web platform needs no installation, which suits shared or work computers; expert advisors still need MetaTrader or cTrader.
- Pepperstone's minimum deposit by card is £10, so you can test its web platform with live prices for very little.
Almost every UK broker now has a browser platform, so the question is really which one sits on top of the best account. We pick Pepperstone, because its web platform comes with every UK account type and the same login opens TradingView too. Here is how the main FCA-regulated options compare.
Pepperstone's web platform
Pepperstone Limited (FCA 684312) lists its own web platform and app for spread betting, Standard and Razor accounts alike, so whichever pricing model you choose you can log in from any browser. Razor and spread-betting accounts also connect to TradingView, which runs in the browser and lets you trade from the chart. The same account works on MT4, MT5 and cTrader if you later want a downloadable terminal, with no need to move funds.
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FCA-regulated brokers with a web platform
| Broker | FCA ref. | Web platform named |
|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | 684312 | Pepperstone web platform; TradingView |
| Capital.com | 793714 | Web platform; TradingView |
| IG | 195355 | IG web platform; TradingView |
| CMC Markets | 173730 | Next Generation; MT4 WebTrader |
| Plus500 | 509909 | Plus500 web platform (no MetaTrader) |
| Spreadex | 190941 | Spreadex web platform; TradingView |
| FOREX.com / StoneX Trading | 446717 | Web Trader; TradingView |
| Trading 212 | 609146 | Trading 212 web platform |
| eToro | 583263 | eToro web platform |
Web, download or both?
- Browser platforms suit traders who log in from different computers or can't install software at work.
- Automated strategies need a terminal that runs them: MetaTrader expert advisors or cTrader cBots, ideally on a VPS. Pepperstone offers a free VPS to eligible and professional clients.
- A broker that offers both avoids a later move. Of the firms above, Pepperstone, Capital.com and IG list a web platform alongside MT4 and MT5; Plus500, Trading 212 and eToro list their own platforms only.
- Check the account limits: at Pepperstone, Standard CFD accounts can't use TradingView.
What to check before you rely on a web platform
- Log in from the device you will actually use and place a minimum-size trade.
- Check the order types offered, including whether stops are guaranteed. Pepperstone's are not; Capital.com, IG, CMC, Spreadex and Plus500 publish guaranteed stops.
- Confirm the company named on your account and its FCA number on the FCA register.
- Read the fees that apply whatever platform you use: Pepperstone has no inactivity or account-keeping fee.
Sources
From broker platform and regulation pages.
Does Pepperstone have a web trading platform?
Yes. Its own web platform is available on all UK accounts, and spread-betting and Razor accounts can also trade through TradingView in the browser.
Can I run expert advisors on a web platform?
Not usually. Expert advisors run on MetaTrader and cBots on cTrader; Pepperstone offers both alongside its web platform.
Is a web platform less safe than a desktop one?
The protections come from the broker, not the platform: FCA regulation, segregated client money and, at Pepperstone, FSCS cover up to £85,000 for eligible clients.
Spread bets and CFDs are leveraged and complex, and you can lose money quickly. 73.6% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with Pepperstone, according to its UK site. This page is general information, not investment advice; check each broker's current terms.