The best FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) regulated Forex brokers in the UK, according to our research, are:
- IG Markets
- Pepperstone
- eToro
- FxPro
- XTB
- Admirals
- CMC Markets
- FXTM
- City Index
- ActivTrades
In order to create this ranking we took into account several factors, including:
- An active FCA license and local offices
- The costs and fees applied
- The ability to create GBP accounts
- The possibility to trade in spread betting
Warning
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
What are the best FCA forex brokers?
Below is our curated list and review of the best forex brokers regulated by the FCA, with details and information about the regulation, the features, and the characteristics.

IG Markets
overall trading experience
IG Markets holds FCA authorization since December 2001, allows GBP accounts, and offers spread betting in London.
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About IG Markets
IG Markets is a global online trading provider founded in 1974, offering access to over 17,000 financial markets including forex, stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. IG Markets provides proprietary trading platforms alongside MetaTrader 4 and ProRealTime. IG Markets is regulated by multiple top-tier authorities worldwide, including the FCA and ASIC. IG Markets is known for competitive spreads, extensive educational resources, and innovative features like weekend trading. The IG Markets’ parent company “IG Group” CEO is Breon Corcoran.
IG Markets Features
The features of IG Markets are listed below.
- IG Markets is a London broker operating from a local office in Dowgate Hill, London, and authorized by the FCA since 01/12/2001 holding a license n° 195355.
- A spread betting account with the same trading conditions is available at IG Markets for UK resident traders only under FCA surveillance.
- You can open accounts with IG Markets using GBP as your base currency under FCA regulation and with a minimum deposit of £250.
- IG Markets offer a wide range of trading instruments with more than 80 forex pairs with spreads from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD.
- IG Markets maximum leverage is limited for retail clients by the FCA up to 30:1 but it can go higher up to 222:1 if you qualify for professional status.
IG Markets Pros and Cons
Advantages of IG Markets
The advantages of IG Markets are listed below.
- Low spreads from 0.6 pips on Forex
- Wide range of financial instruments
- 40 years of experience in the Forex industry
Disadvantages of IG Markets
The disadvantages of IG Markets are listed below.
- No copy trading features
- No social trading features

Pepperstone
best for day trading
Pepperstone has FCA authorization since August 2015, offers GBP accounts, tax-free spread betting, and leverage up to 500:1 for professionals.
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About Pepperstone
Pepperstone is a global forex and CFD broker founded in 2010 in Melbourne, Australia. Pepperstone offers trading on currencies, commodities, indices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies through MetaTrader and cTrader platforms. Pepperstone is regulated by multiple authorities including ASIC, FCA, and CySEC. Pepperstone is known for competitive spreads, fast execution, and extensive educational resources. Pepperstone serves clients in over 160 countries worldwide. The Pepperstone CEO is Tamas Szabo.
Pepperstone Features
The features of Pepperstone are listed below.
- Pepperstone offers its services in the UK and has been registered since 05/08/2015 under the FCA authorization n° 684312 with a local office in Gracechurch Street, London.
- A Pepperstone spread betting account to enjoy tax-free profits is available under FCA oversight.
- FCA-licensed clients can open accounts in GBP and there is no minimum deposit though Pepperstone recommends starting with at least £500.
- Trading is made available in more than 60 pairs with spreads from 0 pips on EUR/USD.
- Retail traders have a maximum leverage of 30:1 due to FCA’s limitations but you can raise it up to 500:1 by qualifying for professional trading with Pepperstone.
Pepperstone Pros and Cons
Advantages of Pepperstone
The advantages of Pepperstone are listed below.
- Stable raw spreads (0,09 pips on EUR/USD on average)
- Caters for algorithmic trading
- Has won over 30 Forex industry awards
Disadvantages of Pepperstone
The disadvantages of Pepperstone are listed below.
- The demo account is not unlimited

eToro
best social trading platform
eToro maintains FCA authorization since May 2013, provides GBP deposits, and offers leverage up to 400:1 for professional clients.
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About eToro
eToro is a global multi-asset investment platform founded in 2007, offering trading on stocks, ETFs, Crypto CFDs, commodities, and forex. eToro provides a proprietary web and mobile platform with social trading features. eToro is regulated by multiple authorities including FCA, ASIC, and CySEC. eToro is known for its user-friendly interface, copy trading functionality, and commission-free stock trading. eToro serves over 30 million users worldwide. The eToro CEO and co-founder is Yoni Assia.
eToro Features
The features of eToro are listed below.
- eToro is authorized and regulated in the UK by the FCA operating since 09/05/2013 with a license n° 583263 and a local office registered in Canary Wharf, London.
- Spread betting is unavailable through eToro but instead you can engage in social trading.
- All eToro trading accounts are in USD even though there are many payment options supporting GBP deposits under FCA oversight. These are liable to a conversion fee.
- The minimum deposit to open an eToro account in the UK is £100.
- There is a good range of more than 45 forex pairs at eToro with floating spreads starting from 1 pip on majors such as the EUR/USD.
- eToro retail clients have limited leverage up to 30:1 due to FCA regulation. To raise the available ratio up to 400:1 you must be qualified for professional trading.
eToro Pros and Cons
Advantages of eToro
The advantages of eToro are listed below.
- Great copy trading and social trading features
- Wide range of asset classes
- It allows to buy fractional stocks from $10
Disadvantages of eToro
The disadvantages of eToro are listed below.
- The eToro spreads can be high
- Offers only USD accounts
- Transferring cryptocurrencies to other platforms can be hard

FxPro
best for customer services
FxPro, FCA-regulated since September 2010, provides GBP accounts, spread betting, and leverage up to 500:1 for professional traders.
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Regulations:
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About FxPro
FxPro is a global online broker founded in 2006, offering trading on forex, CFDs, stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. FxPro provides multiple trading platforms including MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and its proprietary FxPro Platform. FxPro is regulated by multiple authorities including FCA, CySEC, SCB, FSC and KNN. FxPro serves clients in over 170 countries and has won numerous industry awards. The FxPro CEO is Charalambos Psimolophitis.
FxPro Features
The features of FxPro are listed below.
- FxPro is FCA regulated since 10/09/2010 with license n° 509956 and registered with an address in Basinghall Street, London.
- Spread betting is available to UK traders under FCA via the proprietary FxPro Edge platform.
- FxPro provides for GBP accounts under FCA regulation with a minimum deposit of £100 even though the broker recommends £1000.
- Forex trading with FxPro offers more than 70 currency pairs with both floating spread from 0.5 pips and fixed spread from 1.6 pips on EUR/USD.
- Traders in the UK under FCA have limited leverage up to 30:1 on forex but if you qualify for professional trading with FxPro leverage is up to 500:1.
FxPro Pros and Cons
Advantages of FxPro
The advantages of FxPro are listed below.
- Regulated and Trusted Forex broker
- Diverse Trading Platforms
- Wide Range of Instruments
Disadvantages of FxPro
The disadvantages of FxPro are listed below.
- Inactivity Fee
- Limited Educational Resources
- No Guaranteed Stop-Loss Orders

XTB
best for educational services
XTB holds FCA regulation since January 2011, provides GBP trading accounts, and offers floating spreads from 0.1 pips.
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Regulations:
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Avg. EUR/USD Spread:
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About XTB
XTB is a global forex and CFD broker founded in 2002 and headquartered in Poland. XTB offers trading on over 2,000 instruments including currencies, stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. XTB provides the proprietary xStation platform and is regulated by multiple authorities including FCA, CySEC, and KNF. XTB is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and serves over 897,500 clients worldwide. The XTB CEO is Omar Arnaout since March 2017.
XTB Features
The features of XTB are listed below.
- XTB is a forex broker regulated by the FCA since 17/01/2011 with a license n° 522157 and a local registered office in Canary Wharf, London.
- XTB offers trading accounts in GBP and FCA traders can use it to deposit funds.
- Traders under the FCA regulated entity of XTB have a range of 40 forex pairs with floating spreads from 0.1 pips on EUR/USD.
- FCA imposes a 30:1 leverage limit on XTB retail clients though professional clients have a higher 200:1 leverage on forex.
XTB Pros and Cons
Advantages of XTB
The advantages of XTB are listed below.
- No minimum deposit
- Wide selection of assets
- Competitive trading costs
Disadvantages of XTB
The disadvantages of XTB are listed below.
- Small withdrawal fee
- No social or copy trading
- XTB demo account is limited to 30 days

Admirals
wide range of account types
Admirals operates with FCA authorization since June 2013, provides spread betting accounts, and offers leverage up to 500:1 for professionals.
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Regulations:
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Avg. EUR/USD Spread:
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About Admirals
Admirals, formerly Admiral Markets, is a global forex and CFD broker founded in 2001. Admirals offers trading on currencies, commodities, indices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies through MetaTrader platforms. Admirals is regulated by multiple authorities including CySEC and FCA. Admirals is known for competitive spreads and extensive educational resources. Admirals recently halted onboarding of new EU clients to comply with regulatory standards. The co-founder of Admirals and CEO of Admirals Group is Alexander Tsikhilov.
Admirals Features
The features of Admirals are listed below.
- Admiral Markets UK Ltd is the broker entity regulated by the FCA since 12/06/2013 with registration n° 595450 and a local office in Canary Wharf, London.
- Admiral markets offer a spread betting account with a minimum deposit of just £100 and a minimum bet “stake” size of 0.1 per unit.
- Opening a trading account with Admirals requires a minimum deposit of £250 or £1 if you choose a stockbroking account. Either way, GBP is an available base currency for all traders under FCA oversight.
- Forex trading with Admiral Markets provides a range of 40 pairs with floating spreads from 0.1 pips on EUR/USD.
- Admirals offer maximum leverage of up to 30:1 for retail clients as limited by FCA rules and 500:1 for professionals.
Admirals Pros and Cons
Advantages of Admirals
The advantages of Admirals are listed below.
- Extensive Forex Options
- Strong Regulatory Framework
- Advanced Educational Resources
Disadvantages of Admirals
The disadvantages of Admirals are listed below.
- Charges Inactivity Fee
- Mobile App Limitations
- Higher Average Spreads for Some Assets

CMC Markets
wide range of assets
CMC Markets holds FCA regulation since December 2001, provides award-winning spread betting accounts, and professional trading leverage up to 500:1.
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About CMC Markets
CMC Markets is a global online financial trading company founded in 1989 and headquartered in London. CMC Markets offers trading on forex, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and shares through CFDs and spread betting. CMC Markets provides proprietary and MetaTrader platforms for desktop, web, and mobile. CMC Markets is regulated by multiple authorities including FCA, ASIC, and BaFin. CMC Markets is listed on the London Stock Exchange. The CMC Markets CEO is Lord Peter Cruddas.
CMC Markets Features
The features of CMC Markets are listed below.
- CMC Markets UK plc is the trading name of the broker under FCA regulation with license n° 173730 obtained on 01/12/2001 and the broker has a registered office in Houndsditch, London.
- Under FCA oversight, UK clients can open an award-winning spread betting account with CMC Markets.
- CMC Markets supports the GBP as a base currency for accounts and for deposits.
- Forex trading under FCA regulation offers over 330 currency pairs at CMC Markets with a minimum spread charged from 0.7 pips on EUR/USD.
- As required by the FCA, retail clients trade with leverage up to 30:1 while professional clients with CMC Markets trade with higher leverage up to 500:1 on forex.
CMC Markets Pros and Cons
Advantages of CMC Markets
The advantages of CMC Markets are listed below.
- Regulatory Trust
- Low Trading Costs
- Extensive Trading Platform
Disadvantages of CMC Markets
The disadvantages of CMC Markets are listed below.
- Complex Fee Structure
- Limited Funding Options

FXTM
best for professional traders
FXTM maintains FCA regulation since February 2018, offers GBP accounts, and leverage up to 200:1 for professionals.
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Regulations:
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Avg. EUR/USD Spread:
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Platforms:
About FXTM
FXTM, also known as ForexTime, is a global forex and CFD broker founded in 2011. FXTM offers trading on currencies, commodities, indices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies through MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and proprietary platforms. FXTM is regulated by multiple authorities including CySEC, FCA, and FSC Mauritius. FXTM is known for low spreads, fast execution, and extensive educational resources. FXTM serves over 2 million clients worldwide. The FXTM CEO is Nicholas Defteras.
FXTM Features
The features of FXTM are listed below.
- Exinity UK Ltd is the trading name of FXTM in the UK regulated by FCA since 01/02/2018 with license n° 777911 and a registered office in Katharine’s Way, London.
- FXTM account currencies include GBP and it is available for any funding option under FCA regulation.
- FXTM provides access to more than 60 forex pairs charging spreads from 0 pips on EUR/USD depending on the account chosen.
- The maximum leverage available on FXTM is 200:1 though it is for professional traders as according to the FCA retail clients can trade with up to 30:1 on forex.
FXTM Pros and Cons
Advantages of FXTM
The advantages of FXTM are listed below.
- User-Friendly Platform
- Fast Customer Support
- Low Minimum Deposit
Disadvantages of FXTM
The disadvantages of FXTM are listed below.
- Withdrawal Fees
- Limited Product Range
- Inactivity Fees

City Index
solid and trustworthy broker
City Index, FCA-regulated since March 2006, allows GBP accounts and leverage up to 400:1 for professionals.
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Regulations:
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Avg. EUR/USD Spread:
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Platforms:
About City Index
City Index is a global forex and CFD broker founded in 1983, offering trading on currencies, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and stocks. City Index provides proprietary platforms alongside MetaTrader 4. City Index is regulated by multiple top-tier authorities including FCA, ASIC, and MAS. City Index is known for competitive spreads, extensive research tools, and educational resources. City Index is part of the NASDAQ-listed StoneX Group. The City Index’s parent company “StoneX Group Inc.” CEO is Sean O’Connor.
City Index Features
The features of City Index are listed below.
- City Index is the trading name of StoneX Financial Ltd, a company registered with the FCA since 24/03/2006 with license n° 446717 and a physical office in London Wall, London.
- UK traders can spread bet on over 8,000 global markets with the broker.
- City Index was the winner of the “Best Spread Betting Provider” award in 2019.
- GBP deposits and accounts are guaranteed with City Index under FCA oversight.
- City Index opens access to more than 80 forex pairs and tight spreads from 0.5 pips on EUR/USD.
- The leverage you can apply with City Index depends on your status as according to FCA, retail traders are limited to 30:1 while professionals have a higher ratio up to 400:1.
City Index Pros and Cons
Advantages of City Index
The advantages of City Index are listed below.
- Regulatory Trust
- Advanced Trading Tools
- Diverse Market Access
Disadvantages of City Index
The disadvantages of City Index are listed below.
- Limited MetaTrader Options
- Educational Content Gaps
- Customer Support Issues

ActivTrades
best for insurance coverage
ActivTrades operates with FCA license since October 2005, offers GBP accounts, spread betting, and leverage up to 400:1 for professionals.
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Regulations:
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Avg. EUR/USD Spread:
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Platforms:
About ActivTrades
ActivTrades is a global online broker founded in 2001, offering trading on forex, CFDs, indices, shares, commodities, and ETFs. ActivTrades provides MetaTrader platforms and its proprietary ActivTrader platform. ActivTrades is regulated by multiple authorities including the FCA. ActivTrades serves clients in over 140 countries and is known for competitive spreads and innovative trading tools. ActivTrades recently introduced zero commission on shares and fractional trading. The ActivTrades CEO and founder is Alex Pusco.
ActivTrades Features
The features of ActivTrades are listed below.
- ActivTrades is a broker in the UK operating with an FCA license n° 434413 since 27/10/2005 and a registered local office in Thomas More Square, London.
- Spread betting is available with ActivTrades under FCA with a minimum stake of 10p per point and up to £100.
- ActivTrades support GBP deposits and multi-currencies accounts including GBP.
- FCA licensed clients can trade more than 45 forex pairs at ActivTrades with low spreads from 0.5 pips on EUR/USD.
- According to the FCA restrictions, ActivTrades can provide up to a 30:1 leverage for retail clients and up to a 400:1 leverage to professional traders.
ActivTrades Pros and Cons
Advantages of ActivTrades
The advantages of ActivTrades are listed below.
- Low Trading Costs
- User-Friendly Platforms
- Regulatory Compliance
Disadvantages of ActivTrades
The disadvantages of ActivTrades are listed below.
- Limited Product Range
- Withdrawal Fees
How does the FCA work?
Similar to other top financial regulatory bodies, the FCA works to provide the following services within the financial sector:
- Promoting the growth of the UK market
- Financial firms oversight
- Customer protection
All of the above roles are critical to the smooth running of the financial sector in the UK and in gaining the trust of the traders within that sector. As an independent body, the FCA has broad powers of discretion particularly on the brokers that they allow to operate in the United Kingdom. Therefore, they will often work in collaboration with the likes of ESMA in allowing certain brokers to operate within the UK, and vice versa on the understanding that these brokers will be compliant with FCA regulation. This collaboration provides a degree of positive flexibility to forex traders, particularly after Brexit.
What are the characteristics and benefits of FCA?
When it comes to the more exact rules and regulations put in place by the FCA, these can be quite stringent at least in terms of leverage which is limited to a 30:1 maximum as it also is by CySEC for retail customers. This can be increased but only for those considered professional traders. A professional trader, after satisfying certain criteria, can access leverage of up to 400:1.
Unlike some regulatory bodies, CFDs and some other derivative products are deemed legal to trade as are cryptocurrencies. Furthermore, FCA is one of the few regulatory bodies that permit spread betting.
Still traders are kept very well protected with negative balance protection and segregated accounts holding both mandatory. The ICF (Investor Compensation Fund) provided by the FCA also protects investors for amounts up to £85,000 in the case of insolvency or bankruptcy.
What are the prohibitions with FCA?
There are a couple of things that are certainly not allowed when you are trading under FCA regulation from a broker perspective, and this includes enticing traders through any kind of bonus.
All bonus types, including welcome and deposit bonuses, are not permitted. Loyalty or active trading programs that can help reduce your cost of trading though, are allowed.
Differences between FCA regulated and FCA licensed brokers
This difference is something to take note of under FCA regulation. FCA regulated brokers are those that go through the entire FCA registration process for brokers to offer their services within the UK. This can be a long and costly process.
An FCA licensed broker on the other hand is one that has not gone through this process, but is regulated in another area or by another authority and is recognized and approved for trading in the UK under license from the FCA. A perfect example of this is the operation of ESMA regulated forex brokers from the EU that are allowed to operate in the UK.
How to check if a broker is FCA regulated
Double-checking the FCA regulation of your chosen broker could not be easier. Simply, head over to the FCA official website as a first step. When you are there, you can easily search the FCA register using the business name of your broker. This business name sometimes differs from the trading name and can often be found at the bottom of your broker homepage.
How does FCA intervene in case of financial abuse?
The FCA does have and use broad discretionary powers to issue fines and bans to brokers who do not follow the regulations set down by the body. They act particularly in the interest of traders and as recently as March 2020 moved to ban short-selling of stocks in more than 80 companies to protect the economy during the coronavirus pandemic.
How FCA can help you
If you think a broker is not acting in a legal way,or that they have breached FCA regulation in any way, you can contact FCA going on their FCA Official Website to follow up and investigate the matter.