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6 Best FCA-Regulated Forex Brokers for 2025
By:Â Reviewed By:Â
Updated: Nov 27, 2025
We reviewed over 80 brokers this year and pulled together the FCA-regulated platforms that genuinely give UK traders the safest and smoothest experience.
We assessed their financial strength, transparency, and overall credibility, then tested trading costs (spreads, swaps, inactivity fees, and withdrawals) to see how they compare in real use. We also tested each trading platform to evaluate order types, charting tools, watchlists, and overall ease of use.
Using one consistent scorecard, we compared the range of available CFD instruments (including UK stock CFDs), the quality of customer support, and the variety of payment methods for smooth deposits and withdrawals. We confirmed the account types fit the needs of UK traders and made sure the research and education offered real, practical value.
List of Top FCA-Regulated Brokers
Intuitive and robust proprietary platform. MT4 and MT5, TradingView. Regulated by top-tier regulators including FCA. Low spreads. Over 1,100 tradable instruments.
Tax saving spread betting account for UK residents. 17,000+ instruments. IG Academy with Spread Betting course. Award-winning platform.
Intuitive and robust Edge platform. Reliable customer support. In-depth educational materials, with interactive courses. 70+ currency pairs. Regulated by FCA and CySEC.
MT4 available across desktop, web, and mobile. MT4 MultiTerminal for managed accounts. VPS Hosting. Regulated by FCA and CySEC. STP and ECN accounts. Dedicated account manager.
Listed on the London Stock Exchange. 2,800+ tradable instruments. Versatile mobile app. Competitive spreads. Powerful market analytics.
Professional account with raw spreads. Order execution of under 20 ms via ultra-fast servers. VPS hosting. Analysis from Trading Central. Custom indicators for MetaTrader.
How Did FXEmpire Select the Best FCA-Regulated Brokers?
There are many benefits to working with an FCA-regulated broker. Traders can be assured that their funds are segregated from the funds of their broker, that they have negative balance protection, and that their deposit is insured up to ÂŁ85,000. The FCA limits the maximum leverage for retail traders to a relatively modest 1:30.
We carefully considered the needs of traders seeking to work with FCA-regulated brokers and focused on the points that benefit this group the most.
- We selected brokers authorized and regulated by FCA UK.
- We looked for brokers with UK-based headquarters.
- We assessed brokers’ level of financial strength and transparency.
- We tested fees and trading costs, including spreads, swap fees, inactivity fees, and withdrawal fees.
- We conducted a test drive for each platform, digging into available order types, charting, watchlists, and UX.
- We checked the availability of a strong variety of tradable CFD instruments, including CFDs on UK stocks.
- We looked for fast, responsive, and helpful customer support across the phone, live chat, and email.
- We verified the availability of a good variety of deposit and withdrawal methods, making it fast and easy to move money in and out of your account.
- We checked the available account types for CFD trading and whether they can cater to both beginners and advanced traders.
- We looked for insightful research and educational content to enhance traders’ understanding of the financial markets, develop effective trading strategies, and make informed decisions.
Our team of experts has identified each broker’s strengths and weaknesses using FXEmpire’s comprehensive methodology.
Now let’s go through the selected brokers.
Best Overall
4.3
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71%-81% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
- $0Min Deposit
- 1108Tradable Instruments
- HighFees
Why We Picked It
ActivTrades was founded in 2001, making it one of the business’s oldest forex and CFD brokers. The UK-based firm offers access to over 1000 CFD instruments, including forex, shares, indices, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, commodities, and bonds.
Key Features:
- FCA Regulated UK Entity: ActivTrades PLC
- FCA Firm Reference Number (FRN): 434413
- Headquarters: The Loom 2.5, 14 Gowers Walk, London, E1 8PY
- Available Leverage: 1:30 for retail traders, 1:400 for professional traders
The proprietary ActivTrader platform is well-designed and intuitive enough for beginners. It is also loaded with professional features that can accommodate experienced traders. ActivTrader’s unique progressive trailing stop allows you to set up two additional tiers, automatically changing your trailing stop distance if the market reaches a predefined trigger price level. This feature helps you lock your profit in strongly trending markets. MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and TradingView platforms are also available at ActivTrades.
In my live tests, I experienced highly competitive spreads in some instruments, for example, 0.7 pips in EUR/USD. Traders can choose from over 1,100 tradable instruments from different asset classes, including FX pairs, commodities, indices, share CFDs, ETFs, bonds, and cryptocurrencies. Regular webinars from industry experts cover topics such as technical analysis and the psychology of trading that can help to set clients up for success in the markets.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Innovative in-house platform.
- Competitive trading fees.
- Fast order execution.
- Progressive trailing stop.
Cons
- No third-party research.
Best for Spread Betting
4.6
67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money
- $50Min Deposit
- 19234Tradable Instruments
- MediumFees
Why We Picked It
IG invented financial spread betting in 1974 and launched the first online dealing platform for financial spread betting in 1998. The London-based broker now provides access to spread betting in over 17,000 markets. UK clients can spread bet without paying capital gains tax or stamp duty on profits. IG Group is a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange and is part of the FTSE 250 Index.
Key Features:
- FCA Regulated UK Spread Betting Entity: IG Index Limited
- FCA Firm Reference Number (FRN): 114059
- Headquarters: Cannon Bridge House 25 Dowgate Hill London EC4R 2YA
- Available Leverage: 1:30 for retail traders, 1:200 for professional traders
The award-winning IG Web Platform is intuitive, highly customizable, and packs a meaty range of features. These include popular items like watchlists, alerts, one-click trading and trading from the chart. While trading on the IG Platform, I appreciated the ability to customize it to your preference and create multiple workspaces. The suite of tools – including trading signals from Autochartist, client sentiment, and the news feed from Thomson Reuters – is outstanding.
The IG Academy offers material catering to beginner, intermediate, and advanced traders. The courses are broken down into short, easy-to-digest lessons and feature a quiz at the end to aid the learning process. The IG Academy features a 7 lesson course on Spread Betting, which explains how it works, and how it differs from CFD trading. I judged the content as well crafted and helpful to traders in establishing a foundation of knowledge.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Spread betting pioneer.
- Massive range of tradable instruments.
- Great tools and research.
- Feature-rich and intuitive web platform and mobile app.
Cons
- Customer support hours are limited
Best Forex Trading Platform
4.6
73% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing money. (EU, UK)
- $100Min Deposit
- 1995Tradable Instruments
- HighFees
Why We Picked It
FxPro is an award-winning broker providing access to trading in forex and CFDs on commodities, stocks, indices, futures, and cryptocurrencies. As a No Dealing Desk (NDD) broker, client orders are executed with no dealing desk intervention. Founded in 2006, FxPro now has retail and institutional clients in over 170 countries and is regulated by multiple authorities globally, including the top-tier FCA and CySEC.
Key Features:
- FCA Regulated UK Entity: FxPro UK Limited
- FCA Firm Reference Number (FRN): 509956
- Headquarters: 13-14 Basinghall Street, City Of London, EC2V 5BQE UK
- Available Leverage: 1:30 for retail traders, 1:500 for professional traders
FxPro’s proprietary platform called Edge provides a smooth and intuitive trading experience. This web-based platform is highly customizable and has popular features such as one-click trading, alerts, and trading from the chart. MetaTrader and cTrader platforms are also available to clients, and these offer automated trading.
FxPro also shines in the Research category with high-quality in-house analysis and a range of proprietary and third-party tools. Materials can cater to both novice and advanced traders, and fresh content is added multiple times daily. I found the live squawk and newsfeed available in the client portal useful for staying on top of the latest stories moving the markets.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Intuitive in-house platform.
- Top-notch research content and tools.
- Interactive courses from CME Group.
- Multiple trading account types.
- Competitive spreads.
Cons
- High recommended minimum deposit.
Best MT4
4.4
Our products are traded on margin and carry a high level of risk and it is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved.
- $50Min Deposit
- 311Tradable Instruments
- MediumFees
Why We Picked It
Founded in 2010, IronFX is a global forex and CFD broker with an impressive range of tradable instruments, tools, and account types. The Cyprus-based broker has entities regulated by top-tier CySEC and FCA as well as an unregulated offshore entity.
Key Features:
- FCA Regulated UK Entity: Notesco UK Limited
- FCA Firm Reference Number (FRN): 585561
- Headquarters: 2, Iapetou Street, Agios Athanasios, CY-4101 Limassol, Cyprus
- Available Leverage: 1:30
Traders can access the popular MT4 platform via desktop, web, and mobile. A detailed user guide covers everything from getting started to auto-trading and custom indicators. The IronFX Personal Multi Account Manager (PMAM) platform allows money managers to trade and manage multiple MT4 accounts simultaneously.
Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting is also provided, which enables clients to access their trading accounts anywhere, cut downtime, and enhance the speed of order execution. In my tests, I recorded spreads as low as 0.9 pips in EUR/USD and 38 pips in gold.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- MetaTrader 4 for desktop, web, and mobile.
- Seven accounts to choose from.
- Multiple deposit and withdrawal options.
- Wide range of products.
Cons
- Limited research materials.
Best Forex Trading App
4.3
CFD Service, 79% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money
- $100Min Deposit
- 2764Tradable Instruments
- HighFees
Why We Picked It
Plus500 is one of the most recognizable brands in the trading industry because of its practical yet diverse trading solutions. The broker provides access to over 2,800 tradable instruments across currency pairs, commodities, share CFDs, indices, cryptocurrencies, and ETFs. Plus500 is also listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), attesting to its reliability. One of the standout features of the broker’s offering is its excellent proprietary app.
Key Features:
- FCA Regulated UK Entity: Plus500UK Ltd
- FCA Firm Reference Number (FRN): 509909
- Headquarters: 8 Angel Court, Copthall Avenue, London, EC2R 7HJ, United Kingdom
- Available leverage: 1:30 for retail traders, 1:300 for professional traders (while they lose their ICF Rights)
The powerful Plus500 app has a pleasant and intuitive design and provides over 150 analytical tools and chart configurations. It also features an advanced markets screener, which allows Plus500 clients to quickly overview current changing buying and selling pressures.
I tested Plus500’s live spreads during the UK and US market openings and discovered that the broker offers low-to-average spreads compared to the industry average. Broadly, its standard account features zero commissions and floating spreads from 0.8 pips.
Plus500 has also developed an excellent web trader platform, affording traders an even more intricate overview of price action behavior. I particularly enjoyed the +Insights Analytics Tool, which tracks the positioning of traders across different markets (how many are buying vs how many are selling), thus affording the trader an insight into the currently changing market dynamics. This can be used to spot viable trading opportunities.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Tightly regulated
- Affordable spreads
- Versatile mobile app
- Choice of trading instruments
Cons
- No desktop platform
Best for Professional Traders
Trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs) are complex financial instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Trade on margin carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Before deciding to trade Forex and CFDs, you should carefully consider your trading objectives, level of experience and risk appetite. The possibility exists that you could sustain a loss of some or all of your initial trading capital. We recommend that you seek independent advice and ensure you fully understand the risks involved before making any investment decision. Please read the relevant risk disclosure statements carefully before trading.
- $100Min Deposit
- 105Tradable Instruments
- MediumFees
Why We Picked It
Founded in 2020 in London, EBC Financial Group is a global CFD broker that offers access to CFDs on forex, indices, commodities, and shares via the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms.
Key Features:
- FCA-Regulated UK Entity: EBC Financial Group (UK) Ltd
- FCA Firm Reference Number (FRN): 927552
- Headquarters: Leadenhall Building, 122 Leadenhall Street,
London, EC3V 4AB UK - Maximum Leverage: 1:30 for retail traders, 1:100 for professional traders
The EBC’s Professional Account provides competitive conditions with raw spreads from 0.0 pips plus a commission of $6/lot (round trip). EBC Financial Group also offers a proprietary copy trading platform and caters to money managers with PAMM solutions.
Traders benefit from order execution of under 20 ms thanks to ultra-fast servers in over 50 locations, including London, New York, Singapore, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. VPS hosting is also available, providing low-latency trading on high-performance servers and ensuring an uninterrupted trading experience.
I rated research materials and tools better than average at EBC. Clients can also access actionable third-party research from Trading Central.
The UK entity of EBC Financial Group accepts only professional traders. Please contact EBC Financial Group (UK) Ltd for further details
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Fast execution speed
- Competitive prices on Professional account
- Analysis from Trading Central
- Dedicated account manager
Cons
- No proprietary trading platform
How to Choose a Forex Broker Regulated by FCA?
When looking for a broker regulated by the FCA, you should pay special attention to the following points.
What protection does FCA provide to traders?
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is a Tier-1 regulatory body in the UK that is considered one of the top and strictest regulators due to its rigorous regulatory standards and commitment to ensuring a secure and fair trading environment. To be authorized and regulated by FCA, brokers must undergo audits, meet capital requirements, and provide segregated accounts and negative balance protection.
FCA regulation ensures that the broker complies with fair and ethical trading practices and participates in the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) that protects client deposits up to ÂŁ85,000 in case the broker becomes insolvent.
You can search the FCA website to confirm the broker’s status and check for any disciplinary action. The broker’s size and operating history are also worth considering. You can usually find these on the company’s LinkedIn page.
Also, the FCA imposes restrictions on the leverage available to retail traders. The maximum leverage for major forex pairs is 1:30, for non-major forex pairs, gold, and major indices it is 1:20. For commodities other than gold and non-major equity indices, the limit is 1:10, and for individual equities and other reference values, it is 1:5. For cryptocurrencies, it’s limited to 1:2.
Read more about best regulated forex brokers.
What to consider when choosing an FCA-regulated broker?
Most leading forex and CFD brokers have multiple entities, often a mix of top-tier regulators such as FCA, CySEC, or ASIC, and at least one offshore entity. To get the benefits of FCA regulation, you must open an account with the FCA-regulated entity of the broker. You need to watch out for this because some forex and CFD brokers will steer customers to open accounts at their offshore entity instead of the entity overseen by a top-tier regulator.
Are the fees competitive?
Working with a broker that keeps spreads and commissions to a minimum can make the difference between profit and loss at the end of the day. This is a crucial point for day traders. Also, don’t be caught off guard by miscellaneous account-related fees, such as inactivity and withdrawal fees. As a major hub for forex trading, you might expect that the UK is home to some of the most competitive forex brokers in terms of trading fees, and our tests proved this to be true.
Check out our list of best lowest spread forex brokers.
What is the minimum deposit?
Typically, the minimum deposits at CFD brokers are relatively low. For example, among FCA-regulated brokers, they can range from $0 in the case of CMC Markets to $100 in the case of FxPro.
What account types are available?
A broad range of account types helps a broker cater to different trader profiles. For example, a simple STP account may be the best for beginners in the markets, while an ECN/raw spread account can help sophisticated, active traders keep their costs to a minimum.
ECN accounts typically route orders straight to the interbank market, while STP accounts send orders directly to a counterparty that might be another STP broker, market broker, or ECN broker. Via ECN accounts, spreads are tighter and the speed of order execution is faster, making them suitable for active, short-term traders. However, a commission is charged in addition to the spread.
Read more about Best STP forex brokers and Best ECN forex brokers.
How to choose a trading platform?
When choosing a trading platform, prioritize one that is intuitive and easy to navigate to ensure a smooth start in the trading world. Opt for platforms, typically browser-based, that are developed by the broker as they tend to be more user-friendly. Key features to look for include watchlists, trading from the chart, search functions, news feeds, and a customizable interface.
Check out our dedicated guide on best forex platforms.
Platforms like MetaTrader 4 and 5 offer advanced features such as backtesting, automated trading, and a wide range of order types, although they might be less user-friendly. These considerations will guide you in selecting a platform that suits your trading style and needs.
Read more about best MetaTrader 4 brokers and best MetaTrader 5 brokers.
Is customer support reliable?
Having solid support on hand is essential. Check the hours of availability, for example, whether help is on hand 24/7 or only during business hours. Chat support is the most convenient, so look for an easy-to-access chat window built into the broker platform. In the case of a platform outage, it is also important to be able to contact support via phone.
What does being classified as a professional trader at an FCA-regulated broker mean?
Being designated as a professional trader at an FCA-regulated broker allows access to greater leverage, and trading in CFDs on cryptocurrencies. However, professional traders don’t benefit from negative balance protection, meaning you’re responsible for preventing your account from slipping into a negative balance and your losses could surpass your initial deposit. Also, certain categories of professional clients are not eligible for compensation under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
What is required to be classified as a professional trader at an FCA-regulated broker?
To be eligible to be categorized as a professional client, you must meet two of the following three criteria.
- You have carried out transactions, in significant size, on the relevant market at an average frequency of 10 per quarter over the previous four quarters.
- The size of your financial instrument portfolio, defined as including cash deposits and financial instruments, exceeds €500,000.
- You work or have worked in the financial sector for at least one year in a professional position, which requires knowledge of the transactions or services envisaged.
How to avoid forex and CFD scams?
A common scam in the forex and CFD industry involves vendors offering a trading strategy that guarantees an outlandishly high return in little time. These may involve automated trading using bots or a signal service where trades are shared via chat or social media. Nobody can guarantee returns with certainty, and it is more likely that such strategies will lose money. When assessing strategy or signal providers, you should look for a live track record audited by a third party, and also be conscious that past performance does not guarantee future results.
Traders should also be cautious about opening an account with an unregulated offshore broker. Such brokers may offer a straightforward account opening process, bonuses, and high levels of leverage but client funds are typically not protected. Meanwhile, brokers regulated by top-tier authorities must undergo regular audits and are held accountable for misconduct. Traders can also benefit from having their funds held in segregated accounts, negative balance protection, and a compensation fund in the event of broker insolvency.
Meet Our Experts
The team of forex and CFD writers and editors at FX Empire is composed of trading industry professionals and seasoned financial journalists. Our writers have been published on leading financial websites such as Investopedia and Forbes. In addition, they all have extensive trading experience.
Get to Know Our Authors
Dan BlystoneBroker Analyst
Dan Blystone began his career in the trading industry in 1998 on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Later, Dan gained insight into the forex industry during his time as a Series 3 licensed futures and forex broker. He also traded at a couple of different prop trading firms in Chicago. Dan is well-equipped to recommend the best forex brokers due to his extensive experience and understanding of the brokerage industry.
Jitan SolankiBroker Analyst
Jitan Solanki is a professional trader, market analyst, and educator. He day trades major currency and index markets and focuses on swing trading US equities and commodities. A qualified Market Technician, Jitan also works with trader education and brokerage companies on various projects. These include market analysis, live trading events, and broker reviews. As an experienced trader and educator, Jitan brings all his qualities in action when reviewing and recommending brokers.
Plamen StoyanovBroker Analyst
Having been a retail trader since 2013, Plamen has gained an in-depth understanding of the challenges that novice traders face today. His expertise is swing trading and day trading with a heavy emphasis on psychological and fundamental analysis. Plamen’s favourite trading instruments include FX majors and gold. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics and International Relations. Plamen's broad experience has equipped him with the expertise to recommend the best forex brokers.
Vladimir ZernovBroker Analyst
In more than 15 years of trading in the financial markets, Vladimir dealt with a wide range of brokers and financial instruments. His career as a day-trader at a proprietary trading firm goes back to 2007. Later, Vladimir turned to longer time frames and became an independent trader and analyst managing his own portfolio. Using his experience, he helps traders find the best broker in his reviews.
About the Author
Dan BlystoneBroker Analyst
Dan Blystone began his career in the trading industry in 1998 on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Later, Dan gained insight into the forex industry during his time as a Series 3 licensed futures and forex broker. He also traded at a couple of different prop trading firms in Chicago. Dan is well-equipped to recommend the best forex brokers due to his extensive experience and understanding of the brokerage industry.
Why you can trust FXEmpire
At FXEmpire, we strive to provide unbiased, thorough and accurate broker reviews by industry experts to help our users make smarter financial decisions.