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14 Best Gold Trading Brokers for 2025
Looking for the top gold trading broker? After testing 80 brokers this year, our experts have identified the 13 best options tailored to diverse trading needs, complete with practical tips.
By:
Reviewed By:
Updated: Apr 20, 2025
List of Top Brokers & Platforms to Trade Gold
Best Brokers for US Traders
State-of-the-art proprietary web platform and mobile app. Low spreads in gold. Low intraday margin requirements for a diverse range of futures contracts.
Best Brokers for International Traders
Intuitive platform. Unique sentiment data. TradingView charts. Suitable for day traders. Great customer support.
Cutting-edge design and functionality. Robust charting. +Insights tool. Sentiment data. Alerts. Two-factor authentication.*
MT4 across web, desktop, and mobile. Custom MT4 Indicators. Copy trading and automated trading. Rich collection of education.
Ultra-fast order execution of under 12 ms. Spot gold (XAU/USD and XAU/EUR), gold futures, GOLDgr. Excellent range of platforms. In-house analysis, Trading Central, and LiveSquawk.
Diverse live webinars. Platform tutorials. 24/7 support. User-friendly mobile app.
ECN account with raw spreads and low commissions. DMA CFD trading. Full suite of MetaTrader. MAM/PAMM Accounts. VPS hosting.
High-quality in-house market research. Live market analysis videos. Actionable trade ideas from Autochartist. Eight gold currency pairs.
Four account types. STP/ECN accounts. Strong variety of commodity CFDs. Dedicated account manager available.
Tight spreads in gold. No inactivity fee. No fees for deposits and withdrawals. Range of account types.
IG Academy. Live Webinars. 35 commodities including gold, silver, and palladium. Tight spreads. Cutting-edge platform.
Full suite of MetaTrader platforms and exclusive custom add-ons. cTrader platform. Low latency trading. Virtual Private Server (VPS).
Fast execution speeds of 45 milliseconds. Free VPS hosting. Trading account for algo testing. 12,000+ tradable instruments. Competitive metals fees.
Powerful, easy-to-use app. Leverage up to 1:300. 700+ assets. 0% commissions. Smart Market Radar spots real-time opportunities.
*82% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
How Did FXEmpire Choose the Best Brokers and Platforms for Gold Trading?
We carefully considered the needs of gold traders and focused on the points that benefit this group the most.
- We ensured each broker has an entity regulated by at least one top-tier regulator and measured their overall trustworthiness including the company’s background and transparency.
- We looked for brokers with competitive gold spreads and swap fees. We also checked that each broker has a high level of transparency regarding their fees.
- We preferred brokers that offer trading gold in different asset classes, such as options, spread betting, shares, ETFs, and futures.
- We conducted a test drive for each platform, digging into available order types, charting, watchlists, and UX.
- We ensured that each broker had a strong range of tradable instruments, including gold and other commodities.
- We tested customer service across phone, chat, and email with many questions, paying attention to responsiveness and the overall quality of the support.
- We made a balanced assessment using various other areas (account-opening process, deposits and withdrawals, research, and educational resources).
- Using our extensive database of broker reviews, we made side-by-side comparisons to choose the winning broker for each category.
Our team of experts has identified each broker’s strengths and weaknesses using FXEmpire’s comprehensive methodology. Here’s how we test.
Now let’s go through the selected brokers.
Best Overall
4.6
General Risk Warning: CFDs are leveraged products. Trading in CFDs carries a high level of risk thus may not be appropriate for all investors. The investment value can both increase and decrease and the investors may lose all their invested capital. Under no circumstances shall the Company have any liability to any person or entity for any loss or damage in whole or part caused by, resulting from, or relating to any transactions related to CFDs.
- $0Min Deposit
- 240Tradable Instruments
- MediumFees
Why We Picked It
Exness is a large and well-established forex and CFD broker with a unique offering. The Limassol, Cyprus-based broker was founded in 2008 and offers access to trading in CFDs on currencies, crypto, stocks, indices, and commodities.
- Spreads in gold: 20 pips
- Gold CFD assets: Spot gold (XAU/USD)
- Leverage for the spot gold CFD: 1:2000, unlimited leverage in certain conditions
- Alternative gold pairs: XAU/EUR, XAU/AUD, XAU/GBP, XAU/USD, and BTC/XAU
Gold traders must be nimble and Exness delivers a platform that can cater to day traders in fast-moving markets. The Exness Trading Terminal has an intuitive interface and popular features such as watchlists, 1-click trading, and trading from the chart.
Charting provided by TradingView is robust, with 50 drawing tools, 100 indicators, 9 time frames, and 7 chart types. Standard order types are available, and the platform also has a sentiment indicator that tells you the percentage of buy and sell orders that were recently opened by traders. In addition to the Trading Terminal platform, Exness provides clients with the full suite of MetaTrader platforms. In our tests, we found Exness to have competitive gold spreads.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- User-friendly, robust platform.
- Competitive spreads.
- No swap fees for gold.
- Social trading.
Cons
- Not available in Europe or the UK for retail clients.
Best Gold Trading App
4.3
CFD Service, 82% 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 was founded in 2008 and is now a giant of the brokerage industry: available in over 50 countries, with 400,000 active clients. Listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: PLUS), it is one of a handful of publicly traded CFD brokers. We verified that Plus500 is a multi-regulated broker, authorized by various top-tier authorities. Clients can access 2,500 CFD instruments via the state-of-the-art WebTrader platform and mobile app.
- Spreads in gold: 36 pips
- Gold CFD assets: spot gold (XAU/USD), options on spot gold, the SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) ETF
- Leverage for spot gold CFD: 1:20 at the CySEC entity
- Alternative metals: Silver, Platinum, and Copper
Plus500 has invested heavily in its web platform and mobile app, and the results are outstanding. The Plus500 mobile app combines an intuitive interface and advanced functionality. Popular features like watchlists, alerts, and light/dark mode are available, along with built-in analysis, news, and an economic calendar. Our research showed that charting within the app is robust, featuring 13 chart types and 119 indicators, and advanced order types like trailing stops are available. It’s easy to flip back and forth from demo to live mode, and the app provides two-factor authentication as an additional layer of security.
An impressive variety of gold-related instruments are available, ranging from spot gold and gold options to various popular gold-related shares like the mining company Royal Gold (RGLD) and exchange-traded funds like VanEck Junior Gold Miners ETF (GDXJ). The sentiment data built into the Plus500 mobile app shows the percentage of buyers vs. sellers and can be a powerful indicator of potential trend change in these volatile instruments.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- High trust rating.
- State-of-the-art platform.
- Wide variety of markets.
- +Insights tool.
Cons
- No phone support.
Best MT4 Broker
4.4
Online Forex/CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 81% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading Online Forex/CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. It is the responsibility of the Client to ascertain whether he/she is permitted to use the services of Exinity Capital East Africa Ltd based on the legal requirements in his/her country of residence.
- $200Min Deposit
- 593Tradable Instruments
- LowFees
Why We Picked It
FXTM is a global forex and CFD broker headquartered in Limassol, Cyprus. It is regulated by top-tier authorities, including the UK FCA and CySEC, and offers 600+ CFDs on forex, commodities, indices, shares, and cryptocurrencies.
- Spreads in gold: 46 pips.
- Gold CFD assets: Spot gold (XAU/USD).
- Leverage for spot gold: 1:20 leverage at the European entity, 1:2000 at the offshore entity.
- Alternative gold pairs: XAU/EUR and XAU/GBP.
FXTM offers the full suite of MetaTrader platforms: MT4 and MT5 for desktop, web, and mobile. It also provides a range of custom add-ons for MT4. For example, the Pivot SR Levels indicator allows you to view daily, weekly, and monthly pivot points and the corresponding support and resistance levels on one chart. VPS hosting is available for traders using automated strategies.
In our hands-on tests, we experienced average spreads in gold. Progressively tighter spreads are also available on the commission-based Advantage account, with raw spreads from 0 pips. FXTM also provides extensive and high-quality educational materials, including guides, videos, and ebooks.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Custom indicators for MT4.
- Strong educational materials..
- Dedicated account representative.
- VPS hosting.
Cons
- Withdrawal fee.
Best Execution Speed
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 a leading CFD broker regulated by multiple authorities globally, including top-tier FCA and CySEC. The London-based firm provides access to over 2,100 financial instruments, including CFDs on forex, commodities, stocks, indices, and cryptocurrencies. Each asset class has above-average depth. Gold traders have a superb range of CFD contracts to work with including spot and futures markets and GOLDgr (gold measured in grams rather than ounces).
- Spreads in gold: 32 pips
- Gold CFD assets: spot gold (XAU/USD and XAU/EUR), gold futures, and GOLDgr.
- Leverage for spot gold CFD: 1:10000 (FxPro Global Markets Limited) 1:20 (FxPro UK Limited, FxPro Financial Services Limited).
- Alternative metals: Silver, Aluminium, Copper, Lead, Zinc, Palladium, and Platinum.
FxPro offers an excellent range of five platforms. The user-friendly FxPro Trading platform caters to beginners and casual traders, while the robust MetaTrader 4&5 and cTrader are better suited for advanced and algorithmic traders. All clients benefit from order execution in under 12 milliseconds, which is substantially faster than average.
I tested FxPro’s Standard Account and recorded competitive gold spreads of 32 pips, while even tighter spreads are available via its Raw Spreads account. Research materials are another broker’s highlight, with first-class in-house analysis and a range of proprietary and third-party tools.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Multiple regulations worldwide.
- Robust trading platforms.
- Variety of account types.
- Reliable customer support.
Cons
- Inactivity fee.
Best for Beginners
4.6
Trading derivatives carries significant risks. It is not suitable for all investors and if you are a professional client, you could lose substantially more than your initial investment. When acquiring our derivative products, you have no entitlement, right or obligation to the underlying financial assets. Past performance is no indication of future performance and tax laws are subject to change. The information on this website is general in nature and doesn't take into account your personal objectives, financial circumstances, or needs. Accordingly, before acting on the advice, you should consider whether the advice is suitable for you having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. We encourage you to seek independent advice if necessary. Please read our legal documents and ensure that you fully understand the risks before you make any trading decisions.
- $50Min Deposit
- 1039Tradable Instruments
- LowFees
Why We Picked It
Vantage is an award-winning CFD broker headquartered in Sydney, Australia. Since launching in 2009, Vantage has grown to acquire over 50,000 active clients worldwide, according to its website. Clients have access to CFDs on forex, commodities, indices, shares, and cryptocurrencies. We confirmed that Vantage is regulated by ASIC and CIMA. Furthermore, all client funds are held in segregated custodial accounts with an AA-rated Australian bank.
- Spreads in gold: 32 pips, better than the average for the industry
- Gold CFD assets: Spot gold (XAU/USD)
- Leverage for spot gold CFD: 1:20 at the UK and European entities, 1:333 at the offshore entity
- Alternative gold pairs: XAU/EUR, XAU/GBP (offshore entity only).
Our analysis confirmed that Vantage offers a comprehensive range of educational materials – including articles, videos, courses, and webinars. The Academy section of the website hosts detailed guides covering topics such as trading strategies and trading psychology. For novice traders, there are materials styled as a course, ranging from market terminology to technical and fundamental analysis. We observed that these materials are frequently updated and of high quality.
Multiple live webinars take place weekly, featuring market outlook and trading strategy-themed sessions. If you struggle with getting up to speed with software, Vantage also offers a series of useful tutorials, enabling traders to make the most of the platforms.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Strong research and education resources.
- Live webinars.
- Trading Academy.
- Competitive spreads in major forex pairs.
Cons
- Wide spreads in some instruments.
Best for Professional Traders
4.6
Contracts for Difference (CFDs) are leveraged over-the-counter derivative products and carry a high level of risk to your capital. You should only risk capital that you can afford to lose. In certain circumstances, due to fluctuations in market value you may not get back your initial investment amount. You may not only lose your initial investment but you may incur a liability to pay a further amount to cover losses. This means you can lose more money than you have invested.
- $100Min Deposit
- 10180Tradable Instruments
- LowFees
Why We Picked It
FP Markets is a leading CFD broker founded in 2005. It is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, and authorized by multiple regulators in various regions, including top-tier ASIC and CySEC.
- Spreads in gold: 20 pips, better than the average for the industry
- Gold CFD assets: Spot gold (XAU/USD)
- Leverage for the spot gold CFD: 1:20 at the European entity, 1:30 at the Australian entity, 1:500 at the offshore entity
- Alternative gold pairs: XAU/EUR and XAU/AUD
Clients can access thousands of instruments across stocks, indices, forex, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. The Standard Account is great for beginner traders as it offers commission-free trading. The Raw Account is suited to professional traders as it is commission-based but has lower spreads. FP Markets also provides an IRESS Account, enabling clients to trade with Direct Market Access (DMA).
Available trading platforms include MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, WebTrader, IRESS, and a user-friendly proprietary mobile trading app.
FP Markets offers a great range of tools for professional traders. MAM/PAMM accounts allow clients to manage money on behalf of others. Algorithmic traders can use a Virtual Private Server (VPS) to run automated trading strategies 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with low latency and reduced risk of downtime. Industry-leading third-party tools Autochartist and Trading Central are also available and provide good coverage of the gold market.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Competitive spreads and commissions.
- Strong range of trading platforms.
- Tools geared towards professionals.
Cons
- Share CFD fees are marginally higher than most.
Best Research Content
4.6
Between 74-89 % of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
- $0Min Deposit
- 1344Tradable Instruments
- LowFees
Why We Picked It
Pepperstone is authorized and regulated by the FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), BaFin (Germany), ASIC (Australia), DFSA (UAE), CMA (Kenya) and SCB (Bahamas). The broker stands out for the number of gold pairs available, offering gold against eight currencies: USD, GBP, AUD, EUR, CHF, and JPY.
- Spreads in Gold: 20 pips
- Gold CFD assets: spot gold, gold stocks, and ETFs
- Leverage for the spot Gold CFD: 1:20 (UK, EU, Australia)
- Alternative metals: Silver and Platinum
Overall, Pepperstone offers over 1,200 CFDs across global asset classes from leading trading platforms – TradingView, cTrader, MT4, and MT5.
It also provides comprehensive market research, including the Navigating Markets, Daily Fix, and Peppestone Plus series. The broker’s in-house analysts cover fundamental, technical, and macroeconomic aspects of all popular markets, including gold.
The broker also publishes a wide selection of educational materials covering the basics of gold and silver trading. I rate Pepperstone’s research and educational content as high-quality and tailored to both beginner and experienced traders.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Wide range of tradable instruments.
- Excellent research tools.
- Intuitive and feature-rich proprietary platform
- MetaTrader add-ons.
Cons
- Support is not 24/7.
Best Range of Accounts
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
- HighFees
Why We Picked It
IronFX offers trading in a broad range of CFDs, including forex, commodities, indices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies. CFDs on futures are also available, including futures on metals. The Cyprus-based broker has entities regulated by top-tier CySEC and FCA and an unregulated offshore entity. In our live tests, we found that spreads in gold are competitive.
- Spreads in gold: 43 pips
- Gold CFD asset: spot gold (XAU/USD)
- Leverage for spot gold CFD: 1:20 at the UK and European entities, 1:1000 at the offshore entity
- Alternative gold pairs: XAU/EUR
IronFX offers the popular MetaTrader 4 platform and its proprietary Web Trader app. Traders have seven types of accounts to choose from: four accounts with live floating/fixed spreads and three STP/ECN accounts. Islamic account options are available for the four floating/live fixed spreads accounts.
Deposits and withdrawals are made easy at IronFX. Clients have a broad choice of payment methods, including bank wire, credit cards, digital wallets, and cryptocurrencies. There are no fees for deposits or withdrawals except for bank wires under $300.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Seven account types for different trader profiles.
- Multiple deposit and withdrawal options.
- Competitive gold spreads.
Cons
- Limited research materials.
Best Low Spreads
4.4
Trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs) on margin carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Before deciding to trade Contracts for Difference (CFDs), you should carefully consider your trading objectives, level of experience and risk appetite. It is possible for you to sustain losses that exceed your invested capital and therefore you should not deposit money that you cannot afford to lose. Please ensure you fully understand the risks and take appropriate care to manage your risk.
- $100Min Deposit
- 649Tradable Instruments
- MediumFees
Why We Picked It
Tickmill is a London-based broker that offers a wide range of CFD instruments. Futures and options on gold are also available for UK clients, giving traders a broader choice of contracts.
- Spreads in gold: 21 pips
- Gold assets: spot gold CFD (XAU/USD), real (non-CFD) gold future, options (Standard, Mini, and Micro)
- Leverage for the spot gold CFD: 1:20 at the UK and European entities, 1:500 at the offshore entity
Tickmill is a user-centric broker that bucks the CFD industry trend by not charging inactivity fees or fees for deposits and withdrawals. Clients can choose between a standard account providing commission-free trading and floating spreads or Raw account with raw spreads and fixed commissions.
Our live tests showed that Tickmill has competitive spreads for gold and most other instruments. Swaps and commissions are also relatively low. You get the sense that Tickmill genuinely wants to see its clients succeed in the market and does its best to support this by cutting costs.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Competitive fees.
- Licensed by top-tier regulators.
- Wide selection of tradable instruments.
- Range of supporting tools.
Cons
- Customer support only available during office hours.
Best Trading Education
4.6
71% 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 was founded in 1974, making it the oldest broker we have reviewed. The London-based forex industry giant now has over 300,000 clients and offices across five continents. IG Group Holdings PLC is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is part of the FTSE 250 Index.
- Spreads in gold: 30 pips
- Gold CFD assets: Spot gold (XAU/USD) and the SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) ETF
- Leverage for the spot gold CFD: 1:20 at the UK and EU entities
- Alternative metals: Platinum, Copper, and Nickel
The IG Academy offers material catering to beginner, intermediate, and advanced traders. Courses are broken down into short, easy-to-digest lessons and feature a quiz at the end to aid the learning process. There is good coverage of commodities trading, including videos like How to trade gold: bullion, coins, ETFs, and shares. I judged the content as well crafted and a great reference for both new and experienced traders.
The award-winning IG Web Platform is intuitive, highly customizable, and packs a robust 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.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- CFD industry pioneer.
- Massive range of tradable instruments.
- Great trading tools and research.
- Robust and intuitive web platform and mobile app.
Cons
- Support is not 24/7.
Best Trading Tools
4.5
Trading Forex and CFDs carries a high level of risk to your capital and you should only trade with money you can afford to lose. Trading Forex and CFDs may not be suitable for all investors, so please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved and seek independent advice if necessary.
- $200Min Deposit
- 2245Tradable Instruments
- LowFees
Why We Picked It
IC Markets launched in 2007 and has grown to become a market leader, providing access to trading in currencies, stocks, commodities, futures, bonds, and digital assets. The Sydney, Australia-based broker caters to the needs of advanced traders with cutting-edge trading platforms, low-latency connectivity, and better-than-average liquidity. In our live tests, we found spreads to be highly competitive.
- Spreads in gold: 18 pips
- Gold CFD assets: Spot gold (XAU/USD)
- Leverage for spot gold CFD: 1:20 at the European entity, 1:30 at the Australian entity, and 1:500 at the offshore entity
- Alternative gold pairs: XAU/EUR
Traders can take advantage of the full range of MetaTrader platforms and the cTrader platform, which offer automated trading and copy trading capabilities. A Virtual Private Server (VPS) allows traders to run automated trading strategies nonstop with the fastest possible connectivity to the IC Markets trading servers.
IC Markets introduced 20 exclusive trading tools previously unavailable on MetaTrader 4. These include apps such as ‘Correlation Trader’, which enables users to compare the correlation between two symbols and trade emerging differences. Correlation strategies are beneficial for gold traders, as the yellow metal has a positive correlation with instruments such as AUD/USD.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Robust tools and platforms.
- Competitive fees.
- Strong research and educational resources.
Cons
- Trading platforms have a learning curve.
Best High Leverage App
When trading, your capital is at risk. Consider the potential loss of funds before proceeding. Any references to past performance, historical returns, future projections, and statistical forecasts are no guarantee of future returns or future performance.
- $100Min Deposit
- 730Tradable Instruments
- -Fees
Best for Automated Trading
4.1
Forex trading involves risks.
- $10Min Deposit
- 95Tradable Instruments
- MediumFees
Why We Picked It
RoboForex is a Belize-based financial derivatives broker established in 2009. It offers more than 12,000 tradable instruments across different markets and is well-suited for automated trading. RoboForex’s impressive lineup of trading platforms includes its proprietary R StocksTrader and the renowned MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5.
- Spreads in Gold: 18 pips
- Gold CFD assets: spot gold (XAU/USD)
- Leverage for the spot Gold CFD: 1:500
Automated trading can be practiced on MT5 via Expert Advisors (EAs). The platform also features a built-in strategy tester so that algo traders can hone the parameters of their trading strategies.
I clocked RoboForex’s average order execution speed at around 45 milliseconds, beating the industry average of 60 milliseconds. This performance suits algo traders as it lessens the risk of negative slippage. Additionally, RoboForex offers Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting for low-latency trading.
In my estimation, RoboForex’s best option for algo trading is its ECN account, which features raw spreads and a $4 round-turn commission. Live testing revealed that its trading fees sit in the bottom range, with its 18-pip XAUUSD spread beating the industry average.
RoboForex also provides a ProCent account for algo testing. The standard contract size is 10,000 units, compared to the broker’s other account types’ 100,000 standard contract size. The account type also features a maximum retail leverage of 1:2000.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- 12,000+ tradable instruments
- Free VPS hosting
- Competitive fees
- ProCent account for algo testing
Cons
- High spreads on some instruments
Best Metal Futures in the US
4.5
Trading with leverage comes with a high risk and may not be suitable for everyone.
- $100Min Deposit
- 52Tradable Instruments
- LowFees
Why We Picked It
Plus500 has recently expanded into the United States to offer futures trading via its state-of-the-art proprietary web platform and mobile app. Since launching in 2008, Plus500 is now available in over 50 countries and has 400,000 active clients. US clients can access futures contracts on forex, indices, commodities, bonds, and cryptocurrencies.
- Spreads in gold: 10 cents + $2.46 commission per side (including exchange and NFA fees)
- Gold futures contracts: CME Gold, E-mini Gold, and Micro Gold.
- Intraday margin for the full-sized CME gold futures contract: $500 per contract (currently equal to leverage of roughly 1:400).
- Alternative metals futures contracts: Silver, Platinum, and Copper.
Plus500 has invested heavily in its proprietary WebTrader platform, which takes ease of use to a new level. WebTrader has a range of popular features, including watchlists, trading from the chart, and access to live chat support from within the platform.
I especially liked the ease with which you can flip between demo and live trading. The ability to easily enter three orders at once (your initial, order, profit target and stop loss) is another great feature. Futures trading becomes simple and straightforward with this ultra-intuitive platform.
To freely day trade stocks in the US requires an account balance of at least $25,000, but this is not the case with futures. Plus500 US lowers the barrier of entry to active trading with a $100 minimum deposit, competitive commissions, and low intraday margin requirements for a diverse range of futures contracts. For example, to trade the CME Micro Gold futures contract, the intraday margin requirement is just $50.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Cutting-edge WebTrader platform.
- Feature-rich mobile app.
- Competitive commissions.
- Standard, Mini, and Micro contracts.
Cons
- No phone support.
What Is the Difference Between Physical Gold Trading and CFD Gold Trading?
Physical gold trading involves buying and selling actual physical gold, such as gold bars or coins, while CFD (Contract for Difference) gold trading involves buying and selling a contract that represents the price movement of gold without actually owning the physical asset.
Here are some key differences between physical gold trading and CFD gold trading:
- Ownership: When you buy physical gold, you own the physical asset, and you can store it yourself or have it stored in a secure vault. With CFD gold trading, you do not own the physical asset instead, you are trading on the price movements of gold.
- Liquidity: Physical gold can be more difficult to buy and sell quickly, especially if you own large quantities or unusual sizes or types of gold. CFD gold trading, on the other hand, allows traders to easily enter and exit positions quickly, as there are typically more buyers and sellers in the market.
- Leverage: CFD gold trading allows traders to use leverage to increase their exposure to the market. This means that you can trade a larger position with a smaller amount of capital. Physical gold trading does not offer leverage.
- Costs: Physical gold trading may involve costs such as storage fees, transportation fees, and insurance costs. CFD gold trading, on the other hand, typically involves only trading fees such as spreads, commissions, and overnight financing fees.
- Market access: CFD gold trading allows traders to access a wider range of gold markets, including international markets, and to trade on the price movement of gold in real time. Physical gold trading, on the other hand, may be limited to local markets and may not offer real-time price information.
How to Choose a Broker for Trading Gold?
When looking for a gold trading broker, you should pay special attention to the following points.
Can I trust the broker?
Take into account the broker’s regulatory status. CFD brokers regulated by top-tier financial authorities must undergo audits, meet capital requirements, and provide segregated accounts and negative balance protection. A compensation fund is sometimes available in the event of broker insolvency.
Tip: you can search the regulator’s 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.
Read more about Best regulated forex brokers.
What to look for in the brokers’ gold offering?
Forex and CFD brokers typically offer spot gold (XAU/USD), which reflects the live price – the cash market. Some brokers also provide gold against other currencies, such as XAU/GBP, XAU/EUR, and XAU/AUD. Sometimes, you can trade gold against crypto, for example, Bitcoin against gold (BTC/XAU).
A variety of other gold-related CFDs are sometimes available – these include CFDs on gold futures, gold options, and ETFs related to gold such as the SPDR Gold Trust (GLD). A handful of CFD brokers also offer ‘real’ (non-CFD) gold futures and options trading.
Explore our list of Best CFD brokers.
Is the platform user-friendly?
An intuitive, easy-to-navigate platform will allow you to launch into the trading world with minimal hitches. The most user-friendly platforms are typically browser-based platforms created by the broker. Look for easy-to-implement features such as watchlists, trading from the chart, search, news, and a customizable interface.
The MetaTrader 4 and 5 platforms have advanced features like backtesting, automated trading, and a wide range of order types – but are less user-friendly. Also, check on the availability of a good, broker-designed (proprietary) mobile app.
Read more about Best MetaTrader 4 brokers and Best MetaTrader 5 brokers.
Are the fees competitive for gold?
Working with a broker that keeps the spreads 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. We rate gold spreads of above 55 pips as high, 36-54 pips as medium, and less than 35 pips as low.
Find out Best forex brokers with lowest spreads.
What is the minimum deposit?
Find out the minimum initial deposit so you won’t be taken by surprise when it’s time to trade live. This can vary from $0 for Exness to $200 for IC Markets. Typically, the minimum deposits at CFD brokers are relatively low.
What is the available leverage?
The available leverage at CFD brokers is a significant benefit when trading a commodity like gold. If you want to invest in gold bullion, leverage is not available. When trading gold ETFs, 1:2 leverage is typical. CFDs on gold offer a much higher degree of leverage, typically between 1:20 and 1:500, depending on which financial authority regulates your broker.
Beware of using excessive leverage, even if it is tempting. It’s an enthralling feeling to control a large position in the market. But when markets are moving fast and you hold a highly leveraged position, there is a high risk of losing money. Accounts can get wiped out in seconds.
Explore Best forex brokers with high leverage.
What to avoid when choosing a gold trading broker?
When choosing a broker for trading gold, you should look for competitive spreads and swap fees. If you want to day trade gold, you should look for a broker that offers 1-click trading. Without 1-click trading, the order entry process is too slow for such a fast-moving market. If you plan to hold positions over days or longer, check the swap fees, which can be very expensive over time.
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, but remember that past performance does not guarantee future results.
Traders should also be highly 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 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 case of broker insolvency.
Our Methodology
Our selection of top forex brokers for beginners is based on FXEmpire’s proprietary methodology, refined since 2010. We evaluate brokers using over 250 data points across nine categories: Trust, Fees, Platforms and Tools, Tradable Instruments, Customer Service, Deposits and Withdrawals, Account Types, Research, and Education.
Our analysis includes live testing, research, questionnaires, and broker demonstrations. We open accounts with each broker, focusing on standard account types and platforms, testing spreads, swap fees, and other costs.
We also assess brokers’ industry competitiveness, platform features, and usability. FXEmpire ensures high editorial integrity, with reviews based on objective, measurable data and regularly updated.
For this guide, we prioritized brokers with competitive gold spreads, swap fees, transparent fee structures, and diverse trading options, including gold and other commodities. Each platform was thoroughly tested for order types, charting tools, and overall user experience.
Learn more about our review process here.
Meet Our Writers
The team of forex and CFD analysts and editors at FXEmpire is composed of trading industry professionals and seasoned financial journalists. Our experts 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 licenced 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.
How much money do I need to trade gold?
The amount of money you need to trade gold depends on several factors, including the price of gold, the size of your trades, and the leverage offered by your broker. Basically, you can start trading CFDs on gold with as little as $100.
Can I trade gold as a beginner?
Gold is a highly volatile instrument, so beginners should be cautious, educate themselves on the basics of trading, and have a well-defined risk management strategy. To get started, you can open a demo trading account with a reputable broker and practice trading gold with virtual funds.
Which broker has the lowest spread for gold?
We rated Tickmill as best for fees, with gold spreads as low as 18 pips. Also, Multibank is a good choice for gold traders with spreads of 25 pips which is better than the average for the industry.
What is the best gold trading platform?
We rated Exness and Multibank have the best gold trading platforms. The Exness Trading Terminal has an intuitive interface and popular features such as watchlists, 1-click trading, and trading from the chart. While MultiBank offers the popular MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms across desktop, web, and mobile, as well as cTrader for trading on the go.
Can I trade gold on MetaTrader?
Yes, as long as a broker you connected to offers the MetaTrader platform. Gold is usually traded against major currencies such as the US dollar, the euro, or the Japanese yen. You can access live gold prices and charts on the MetaTrader platform to make informed trading decisions.
What is the difference between buying gold and trading gold CFDs?
Buying physical gold involves purchasing the actual metal in the form of coins, bars, or bullion. While trading gold CFDs involves speculating on the price movements of gold without owning the physical metal. When trading gold CFDs, the investor is not taking ownership of the underlying asset but instead enters into a contract with a broker to profit from the difference between the buying and selling price of the contract.
Are gold and XAUUSD the same thing?
XAUUSD reflects the spot price (current price) for gold measured in US dollars. This price may differ from other gold contracts, such as CME gold futures.
What is the best gold trading broker for beginners?
We rated Vantage as the best gold trading broker for beginners due to its strong research and education materials and reliable customer support.
What is the best gold trading broker for professionals?
We rated FP Markets as the best gold broker for advanced traders and professionals thanks to plenty of trading platforms, a great range of trading tools, VPS hosting, and specialized accounts.
Can I trade gold without a broker?
No. To trade gold via CFDs, futures, or ETFs, it is necessary to have a broker who provides traders with access to trading platforms and tools that allow them to buy and sell gold.
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 licenced 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 FX Empire
At FXEmpire, we strive to provide unbiased, thorough and accurate broker reviews by industry experts to help our users make smarter financial decisions.
Why you can trust FX Empire
Table of Contents
- List of Top Brokers & Platforms to Trade Gold
- How Did FXEmpire Choose the Best Brokers and Platforms for Gold Trading?
- Best Overall
- Best Gold Trading App
- Best MT4 Broker
- Best Execution Speed
- Best for Beginners
- Best for Professional Traders
- Best Research Content
- Best Range of Accounts
- Best Low Spreads
- Best Trading Education
- Best Trading Tools
- Best High Leverage App
- Best for Automated Trading
- Best Metal Futures in the US
- What Is the Difference Between Physical Gold Trading and CFD Gold Trading?
- How to Choose a Broker for Trading Gold?
- Our Methodology
- Meet Our Writers
- FAQ