We found 11 online brokers that are appropriate for Trading CFD.

One of the most practical lessons I learned early in CFD trading is how CFD margin changes what’s possible with a small account. When I started, my balance was under £2,000, which wouldn’t get far in traditional investing. Margin made it possible to trade markets like the FTSE 100, EUR/USD, gold, and even Bitcoin without needing the full contract value upfront.
I clearly remember my first index trade on the FTSE 100. The position size was £5,000, but the margin requirement was just 5 percent. That meant I only needed £250 to open the trade. Seeing a few points move on a position much larger than my deposit really made margin click for me. It felt powerful, but it also made me realise how quickly things could go wrong if I wasn’t careful.
In simple terms, margin trading means you only put down a portion of the trade value. Most brokers require somewhere between five and ten percent, depending on the asset. That percentage is the CFD margin requirement, and it directly controls how much leverage you’re using.
CFD margin trading is trading with borrowed funds provided by your broker. I think of it as temporarily renting buying power. For example, with a 5 percent margin requirement, you are effectively using 20:1 leverage. I’ve personally used this to control a £20,000 forex position with just £1,000 in my account.
This sounds attractive, but experience taught me that leverage cuts both ways. During a GBP/USD trade around a Bank of England rate decision, a sudden 0.6 percent move against my position translated into a much larger percentage loss on my margin. That trade stayed open, but it was a clear reminder that margin magnifies every move.
Initial margin is the amount required to open the trade. Whenever I place a trade now, I always check this first. If the margin feels too high relative to my account size, I simply reduce the position.
Maintenance margin is what keeps the trade alive. I’ve had situations where a trade was technically correct but short term volatility pushed my equity below maintenance margin. That’s when a margin call appears, and if you’re not prepared, positions can be closed automatically.
Earlier this year, during a sharp Bitcoin pullback from roughly £54,000 to £47,500, I experienced this firsthand. I was overexposed, and the speed of the move left little room to adjust. Since then, I keep far more free margin available than I think I’ll need.
Margin lets you open larger positions while only committing part of the total value. The exact margin varies by asset. I’ve noticed that forex pairs like EUR/USD often require lower margin, while assets like crypto or small cap shares demand much more due to volatility.
A recent example was oil trading. When Brent crude spiked toward $95 following renewed supply concerns, my broker temporarily increased margin requirements. A position that normally required £500 suddenly needed closer to £800. If I hadn’t noticed, I could have been forced out of the trade unnecessarily.
Here’s a simple scenario I’ve used many times. A £10,000 position with a 10 percent margin requires £1,000. If the market moves against you and losses reduce your equity below the maintenance level, you receive a margin call. I’ve learned to treat margin calls as a warning sign rather than something to ignore.
Margin is most effective when paired with discipline. I now aim to use less than half of my available margin at any time. That buffer has saved me multiple times during unexpected news driven volatility.
During the January rebound in UK equities, I traded a tech stock rally similar to Deliveroo’s short term surge. I opened a £1,000 long position on “ABC Company” using 80 percent leverage. The required margin was £200, which left plenty of free margin in my account.
When the stock moved up 8 percent over two days, the position gained £80. That was a 40 percent return on my margin, achieved without tying up much capital. I’ve had weeks where similar trades stacked nicely because margin allowed multiple small positions rather than one large bet.
However, I’ve also been on the losing side. During an unexpected UK CPI release, a similar trade dropped nearly 9 percent in minutes. That £90 loss felt far bigger when viewed against the £200 margin. Experiences like this are why I now always set stop losses before entering any leveraged trade.

Monitoring CFD margin levels became non negotiable for me after a volatile earnings season. Most platforms display this as a percentage, and I make it a habit to keep it well above 200 percent. When it drops toward 100 percent, I know I’m pushing my luck.
A good example was during NVIDIA’s recent earnings. Price swings were violent, and even small positions caused my margin level to fluctuate rapidly. I reduced exposure early, which helped me avoid a forced exit later in the session.
I also rely heavily on the CFD margin calculator before placing trades. When trading gold, where price can move £20 to £30 in a single session, the calculator helps me size positions realistically instead of emotionally.
From experience, traders who ignore margin levels usually learn the hard way. Clear dashboards, alerts, and calculators make it much easier to stay in control, especially during unstable markets.
CFD margin trading allowed me to start trading global markets long before I could afford them outright. With a few hundred pounds, I was able to gain exposure to indices and forex that would otherwise be out of reach.
Margin lets me spread capital across several trades instead of concentrating risk in one position. I often hold small positions in forex, indices, and commodities at the same time, which helps balance wins and losses.
Being able to go long or short has been invaluable. During market pullbacks, I’ve used short CFD trades to offset losses elsewhere, something traditional investing doesn’t easily allow.
I’ve had trades where a small market move resulted in a disproportionate loss because of leverage. That experience taught me to lower position sizes rather than chase higher returns.
Margin calls usually arrive at the worst possible moment. I’ve seen good trades closed simply because volatility spiked temporarily. Keeping extra free margin has helped me avoid this.
Watching leveraged positions fluctuate can be stressful. Early on, I overtraded because of this pressure. Now I trade fewer positions with clearer rules.
You only need a fraction of the full trade value to gain market exposure.
Margin requirements change with volatility and asset type.
Leverage amplifies both profits and losses.
Margin calls occur when equity falls too low.
Stop losses are essential when trading on margin.
Understanding margin mechanics reduces costly mistakes.

Open an account with a regulated broker that offers negative balance protection.
Start with low leverage until you understand how margin behaves in real market conditions.
Always review margin requirements before placing trades.
Size positions conservatively, especially during news events.
Use stop losses on every trade.
Check margin levels daily, not just when markets move fast.
Use stop losses and guaranteed stops whenever possible.
Limit risk per trade to a small percentage of your account.
Reduce leverage during high volatility periods.
Stay aware of economic events that can cause sudden price swings.
CFD margin trading can be extremely effective when used responsibly. It allowed me to grow as a trader without large starting capital, but it also punished mistakes quickly.
From personal experience, long term success comes from treating leverage as a tool, not a shortcut. Smaller positions, wider safety margins, and consistent discipline matter more than chasing big wins.
When margin is respected and risk is managed properly, it becomes a flexible and powerful way to participate in global markets without overcommitting capital.
When I first started trading with margin, I quickly realised how important it was to understand the language brokers use. Terms like margin level, leverage, free margin, and margin call sounded simple at first, but in live markets they behave very differently. Spending time learning the basics through resources like CFD Terminology helped me avoid costly mistakes, especially when trades moved quickly during high volatility sessions.
As my confidence grew, I began experimenting with different approaches to using margin. Some strategies worked better than others depending on market conditions. I found that short term trades during news events required much lower leverage compared to calmer market periods. Exploring practical setups through guides such as CFD Trading Strategies helped me refine how much margin to use per trade and when to stay on the sidelines.
One misconception I had early on was expecting consistent profits from margin trading. Realistically, returns fluctuate. Some months were strong, while others were flat or negative. Looking into data around Average CFD Return helped reset my expectations and reminded me that margin amplifies outcomes, not certainty.
Education played a huge role in improving my margin management. Reading books recommended under Best CFD Trading Books gave me insights into position sizing, psychology, and why overleveraging is the most common reason traders fail.
Trading CFDs from the UK also introduced additional considerations. Regulation, leverage caps, and reporting requirements all affect how margin works in practice. I found it useful to review region specific guidance like CFD UK and understand how CFD Tax UK applies to profits and losses, especially once margin trading became more frequent.
When I briefly explored trading with Australian brokers, I noticed differences in platforms and margin rules. Comparing options through Best CFD Trading Platform Australia helped highlight how margin requirements can vary by jurisdiction.
I also learned that not all regions allow retail CFD trading. Researching CFD USA clarified why American traders face different rules, which reinforced how important regulation is when using leverage.
Choosing the right broker had a direct impact on how comfortable I felt using margin. Some brokers offered clearer margin dashboards and better alerts. Comparing options through CFD Brokers and browsing a full CFD Brokers List made it easier to find platforms that suited my risk tolerance.
Margin also affects how dividends are handled on share CFDs. I’ve held positions through dividend dates and noticed adjustments to my balance. Reading about CFD Dividends helped me understand why my margin sometimes changed overnight.
Concrete examples helped everything click. Walking through a CFD Example made it easier to see how margin, profit, and loss interact in real trades.
Costs matter more when trading on margin. Spreads, overnight fees, and commissions all eat into returns faster when positions are leveraged. Learning about CFD Fees helped me avoid holding marginal trades that weren’t worth the cost.
I’ve used margin across many markets, including CFD Gold, CFD Indices, CFD Oil, and CFD Shares. Each behaves differently, and margin requirements change quickly when volatility rises.
Understanding the relationship between CFD Leverage and CFD Margin was one of the biggest turning points in my trading. Once I reduced leverage, my account volatility dropped dramatically.
I’ve also compared CFDs with other instruments. Reading comparisons like CFD Vs ETF, CFD Vs Forex, CFD Vs Futures, and CFD Vs Options helped me decide when margin trading made sense and when it didn’t.
There were periods where I deliberately traded CFD without Leverage to rebuild discipline. Comparing this approach with Invest Vs CFDs reminded me that margin is optional, not mandatory.
Questions around ethics, safety, and platform choice mattered as my account grew. Resources such as Is CFD Trading Safe?, Is CFD Trading Halal?, and guides on Online CFD trading helped me make more informed decisions.
Over time, tools like CFD Platforms, sentiment data from CFD Sentiment, and practical advice from CFD Trading Tips became essential to how I manage margin today.
From personal experience, CFD margin is neither good nor bad. It simply magnifies behaviour. With the right broker, education, and restraint, it can be a useful tool. Without those, it becomes an expensive lesson very quickly.
We have conducted extensive research and analysis on over multiple data points on Cfd Margin to present you with a comprehensive guide that can help you find the most suitable Cfd Margin. Below we shortlist what we think are the best CFD brokers after careful consideration and evaluation. We hope this list will assist you in making an informed decision when researching Cfd Margin.
Selecting a reliable and reputable online CFD trading brokerage involves assessing their track record, regulatory status, customer support, processing times, international presence, and language capabilities. Considering these factors, you can make an informed decision and trade CFD more confidently.
Selecting the right online CFD trading brokerage requires careful consideration of several critical factors. Here are some essential points to keep in mind:
Our team have listed brokers that match your criteria for you below. All brokerage data has been summarised into a comparison table. Scroll down.
When choosing a broker for CFD trading, it's essential to compare the different options available to you. Our CFD brokerage comparison table below allows you to compare several important features side by side, making it easier to make an informed choice.
By comparing these essential features, you can choose a CFD broker that best suits your needs and preferences for CFD. Our CFD broker comparison table simplifies the process, allowing you to make a more informed decision.
Here are the top CFD Brokers.
Compare CFD brokers for min deposits, funding, used by, benefits, account types, platforms, and support levels. When searching for a CFD broker, it's crucial to compare several factors to choose the right one for your CFD needs. Our comparison tool allows you to compare the essential features side by side.
All brokers below are CFD brokers. Learn more about what they offer below.
You can scroll left and right on the comparison table below to see more CFD brokers that accept CFD clients.
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IC Markets
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Roboforex
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eToro
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XTB
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XM
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Pepperstone
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AvaTrade
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FP Markets
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EasyMarkets
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SpreadEx
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FXPro
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| Regulation | International Capital Markets Pty Ltd (Australia) (ASIC) Australian Securities & Investments Commission Licence No. 335692, Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA) (SD018), IC Markets (EU) Ltd (CySEC) Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission with License No. 362/18, Capital Markets Authority(CMA) Kenya IC Markets (KE) Ltd, Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) IC Markets (Bahamas) Ltd | RoboForex Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Belize under licence No. 000138/32, under the Securities Industry Act 2021, RoboForex Ltd is an (A category) member of The Financial Commission, also RoboForex Ltd is a participant of the Financial Commission Compensation Fund | FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) eToro (UK) Ltd (FCA reference 583263), eToro (Europe) Ltd CySEC (Cyprus Securities Exchange Commission), ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) eToro AUS Capital Limited ASIC license 491139, CySec (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission under the license 109/10), FSAS (Financial Services Authority Seychelles) eToro (Seychelles) Ltd license SD076, eToro (ME) Limited (ADGM) Abu Dhabi (UAE) number 220073, eToro (Europe) Ltd (AMF) Autorité des marchés financiers as a digital assets provider France | FCA (Financial Conduct Authority reference 522157) XTB Limited, CySEC (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission reference 169/12), DFSA (Dubai Financial Services Authority XTB MENA Limited licensed 8 July 2021), FSA (Financial Services Authority Seychelles license number SD148), FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority XTB Africa (Pty) Ltd licensed 10 August 2021), KNF (Komisja Nadzoru Finansowego Polish Financial Supervision Authority) | Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) (49976) XM ZA (Pty) Ltd, Financial Services Commission (FSC) (000261/27) XM Global Limited, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) (license 120/10) Trading Point of Financial Instruments Ltd, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) (number 443670) Trading Point of Financial Instruments Pty Ltd | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Capital Markets Authority of Kenya (CMA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F217 | Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Ava Capital Markets Australia Pty Ltd (406684), South African Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) Ava Capital Markets Pty Ltd (45984), Financial Services Agency (Japan FSA) Ava Trade Japan K.K. (1662), Financial Futures Association of Japan (FFAJ) Ava Trade Japan K.K. (1574), Abu Dhabi Global Markets (ADGM) / Financial Regulatory Services Authority (FRSA) Ava Trade Middle East Ltd (190018), Central Bank of Ireland (C53877) AVA Trade EU Ltd, Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF) AVA Trade EU Ltd (branch authorisation), British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (BVI) Ava Trade Markets Ltd (SIBA/L/13/1049), Israel Securities Authority (ISA) ATrade Ltd (514666577) | CySEC (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission) (371/18), ASIC AFS (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) (286354), FSP (Financial Sector Conduct Authority in South Africa) (50926), Financial Services Authority Seychelles (FSA) (SD 130) | Easy Forex Trading Ltd is regulated by CySEC (License Number 079/07). Easy Forex Trading Ltd is the only entity that onboards EU clients, easyMarkets Pty Ltd is regulated by ASIC (AFS License No. 246566), EF Worldwide Ltd in Seychelles is regulated by FSA (License Number SD056), EF Worldwide Ltd in the British Virgin Islands is regulated by FSC (License Number SIBA/L/20/1135) | FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) (190941), Gambling Commission (Great Britain) (8835), licence in Ireland as remote bookmaker for fixed odds betting licence number 1016176 | FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) (509956), CySEC (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission) (078/07), FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority) (45052), SCB (Securities Commission of The Bahamas) (SIA-F184), FSA (Financial Services Authority of Seychelles) (SD120) |
| Min Deposit | 200 | 10 | 50 | No minimum deposit | 5 | No minimum deposit | 100 | 100 | 25 | No minimum deposit | 100 |
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| Used By | 200,000+ | 730,000+ | 40,000,000+ | 2,000,000+ | 15,000,000+ | 750,000+ | 400,000+ | 200,000+ | 250,000+ | 60,000+ | 11,200,000+ |
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| Platforms | MT5, MT4, MetaTrader WebTrader, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play), MetaTrader iPhone/iPad, MetaTrader Android Google Play, MetaTrader Mac, cTrader, cTrader Web, cTrader iPhone/iPad, cTrader iMac, cTrader Android Google Play, cTrader Automate, cTrader Copy Trading, TradingView, Virtual Private Server, Trading Servers, MT4 Advanced Trading Tools, IC Insights, Trading Central | MT4, MT5, R Mobile Trader, R StocksTrader, WebTrader, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play), Windows | eToro Trading App, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play), CopyTrading, Web | MT4, Mirror Trader, Web Trader, Tablet, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play) | MT5, MT5 WebTrader, XM Apple App for iPhone, XM App for Android Google Play, Tablet: MT5 for iPad, MT5 for Android Google Play, XM App for iPad, XM App for iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play), Mobile Apps | MT4, MT5, cTrader,WebTrader, TradingView, Windows, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play) | MT4, MT5, Web Trading, AvaTrade App, AvaOptions, Mac Trading, AvaSocial, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play) | MT4, MT5, TradingView, cTrader, WebTrader, Mobile Trader, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play) | easyMarkets App, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play), Web Platform, TradingView, MT4, MT5 | Web, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play), iPad App, iPhone App, TradingView | MT4, MT5, cTrader, FxPro WebTrader, FxPro Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play) |
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| Learn More |
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Up with icmarkets |
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Up with pepperstone |
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Up with avatrade |
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Up with fpmarkets |
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Up with spreadex |
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Up with fxpro |
| Risk Warning | Losses can exceed deposits | Losses can exceed deposits | 46% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. | 69% - 80% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading 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. | CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75.99% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading 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. | 72-95 % of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs | 57% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider | Losses can exceed deposits | Your capital is at risk | 62% of retail CFD accounts lose money | 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs and Spread Betting with this provider |
| Demo |
IC Markets Demo |
Roboforex Demo |
eToro Demo |
XTB Demo |
XM Demo |
Pepperstone Demo |
AvaTrade Demo |
FP Markets Demo |
easyMarkets Demo |
SpreadEx Demo |
FxPro Demo |
| Excluded Countries | US, IR, CA, NZ, JP | AU, BE, BQ, BR, CA, CW, CZ, DE, ES, EE, EU, FM, FR, FI, GW, ID, IR, JP, LR, MP, NL, PF, PL, RU, SE, SJ, SS, SL, SI, TL, TR, DO, US, IT, AT, PT, BG, HR, CY, DK, FL, GR, IE, LV, LT, MT, RO, SK, CH | ZA, ID, IR, KP, BE, CA, JP, SY, TR, IL, BY, AL, MD, MK, RS, GN, CD, SD, SA, ZW, ET, GH, TZ, LY, UG, ZM, BW, RW, TN, SO, NA, TG, SL, LR, GM, DJ, CI, PK, BN, TW, WS, NP, SG, VI, TM, TJ, UZ, LK, TT, HT, MM, BT, MH, MV, MG, MK, KZ, GD, FJ, PT, BB, BM, BS, AG, AI, AW, AX, LB, SV, PY, HN, GT, PR, NI, VG, AN, CN, BZ, DZ, MY, KH, PH, VN, EG, MN, MO, UA, JO, KR, AO, BR, HR, GL, IS, IM, JM, FM, MC, NG, SI, | US, IN, PK, BD, NG , ID, BE, AU | US, CA, IL, IR | AF, AS, AQ, AM, AZ, BY, BE, BZ, BT, BA, BI, CM, CA, CF, TD, CG, CI, ER, GF, PF, GP, GU, GN, GW, GY, HT, VA, IR, IQ, JP, KZ, LB, LR, LY, ML, MQ, YT, MZ, MM, NZ, NI, KP, PS, PR, RE, KN, LC, VC, WS, SO, GS, KR, SS, SD, SR, SY, TJ, TN, TM, TC, US, VU, VG, EH, ES, YE, ZW, ET | BE, BR, KP, NZ, TR, US, CA, SG | US, JP, NZ | US, IL, BC, MB, QC, ON, AF, BY, BI, KH, KY, TD, KM, CG, CU, CD, GQ, ER, FJ, GN, GW, HT, IR, IQ, LA, LY, MZ, MM, NI, KP, PW, PA, RU, SO, SS, SD, SY, TT, TM, VU, VE, YE | US, TR | US, CA, IR |
You can compare CFD Brokers ratings, min deposits what the the broker offers, funding methods, platforms, spread types, customer support options, regulation and account types side by side.
We also have an indepth Top CFD Brokers for 2026 article further below. You can see it now by clicking here
We have listed top CFD brokers below.
eToro is a multi-asset platform which offers both investing in stocks and cryptoassets, as well as trading CFDs.
Please note that CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 46% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading 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.
This communication is intended for information and educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice or investment recommendation. Past performance is not an indication of future results.
Copy Trading does not amount to investment advice. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
Crypto investments are risky and may not suit retail investors; you could lose your entire investment. Understand the risks here.
Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment, and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.
eToro USA LLC does not offer CFDs and makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the content of this publication, which has been prepared by our partner utilizing publicly available non-entity specific information about eToro.
Losses can exceed deposits