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eToro runs the largest copy trading network at an FCA-regulated broker, with Pepperstone and Axi behind it. FXCM routes copying through a third-party network, while Vantage and HFM offer copy products whose UK retail availability you should confirm before funding an account. Whichever you use, the FCA-authorised broker behind the account carries the FSCS cover and the leverage caps, never the copy network itself.
What is the best copy trading platform in the UK?
eToro is the best copy trading platform in the UK, running the most developed CopyTrader network at an FCA-authorised broker with no separate copy fee. Pepperstone follows with cTrader Copy on raw pricing, and FXCM routes to ZuluTrade, one of the oldest third-party networks. Network rows below are described only, not ranked.
Our seven picks, ranked:
- eToro: largest CopyTrader network, no separate copy fee.
- Pepperstone: cTrader Copy plus third-party network integrations.
- Axi: a copy app on a cost-led MT4 account.
- FXCM: copy routing through ZuluTrade.
- Vantage: copy and social app, UK availability pending.
- HFM: HFcopy with strategy-provider profit sharing.
Jump to Comparison table · Broker reviews · How to start · Copy networks · Pros and cons · FAQs
Comparison table: UK copy trading brokers and networks
The table below compares the seven FCA-regulated brokers on their copy product, the copy fee, the platform behind it and the FCA entity that holds your account.
| Broker | Copy product | Copy fee | Platform | FCA entity (FRN) | UK status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eToro | CopyTrader | No separate copy fee; you pay the spread | eToro platform | eToro (UK) Ltd (583263) | Available |
| Pepperstone | cTrader Copy plus network integrations | Varies by strategy provider | cTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView | Pepperstone Limited (684312) | Available |
| Axi | Copy trading app | None published on its copy page | Axi app, MT4 | Axi Financial Services (UK) Limited (466201) | Available |
| FXCM | ZuluTrade routing | Varies by strategy provider | ZuluTrade over MT4, Trading Station | Stratos Markets Limited (217689) | Confirm current ZuluTrade access |
| Vantage | Copy and social trading app | Not separately published | Vantage app, MT4, MT5 | Vantage Global Prime LLP (590299) | Pending UK confirmation |
| ThinkMarkets | ThinkCopy app | Not separately published | ThinkCopy, ThinkTrader | Offshore group entities only, not the FCA-authorised UK company | Not available to UK clients |
| HFM | HFcopy programme | Profit share to the strategy provider | HFM app, MT5 | HF Markets (UK) Ltd (801701) | Confirm HFcopy on UK entity |
Copy product, fee and availability details were taken from each provider’s published UK pages on 10 July 2026. The copy figures here are a desk-based assessment of each broker’s advertised UK pricing rather than fees captured on a live copy account, and copy fees change often. Vantage and ThinkMarkets copy trading on the UK entity is pending confirmation, so treat those rows as provisional, and re-verify fees and availability on the broker’s UK site before you allocate money.
1. eToro: the largest copy network at an FCA broker
Copy product
CopyTrader, built into the platform
Copy fee
No separate copy fee; you pay the spread
Platforms
eToro platform
Why it ranks first: the largest pool of strategy providers of any FCA-regulated broker here, with copying built into the broker's own platform.
Why we recommend eToro
eToro (UK) Ltd runs CopyTrader inside its own platform, with thousands of strategy providers and no fee on the copying side (broker site, accessed 10 July 2026). Copying is proportional to your allocation, and you can stop or detach at any time. Our UK review scored it 68 out of 100.
The trade-offs are cost and currency: the spread is what you actually pay, accounts are USD-denominated so GBP deposits carry a conversion cost, and a provider's losses copy as faithfully as their wins. New traders who want to follow others while they learn get the most from it; cost-focused active traders will do better on a raw account.
Pros & cons
- Largest strategy-provider pool at an FCA broker
- No fee on the copying side
- Social feed helps with provider research
- Accounts are USD-denominated, so GBP deposits pay a conversion cost
- Spreads sit wider than raw-account rivals
- Past performance does not predict a provider's future results
2. Pepperstone: cTrader Copy on raw pricing
Copy product
cTrader Copy plus network integrations
Copy fee
Varies by strategy provider
Platforms
cTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView
Why it ranks second: cTrader Copy sits on top of raw-account pricing, so the cost underneath the copying stays low.
Why we recommend Pepperstone
Pepperstone Limited offers copy trading through cTrader Copy and through integrations with third-party copy networks, all on top of a raw-account structure that keeps the underlying cost low. Fees on the copying side vary by strategy provider, typically on a performance or volume basis, so confirm them before you allocate. Our UK review scored it 90 out of 100.
The draw is cost: a copier on a raw account pays a tighter base spread than they would at a spread-marked-up network. The watch-out is that provider fees stack on top, so the all-in figure depends on which provider you follow.
Pros & cons
- cTrader Copy built into the platform
- Raw-account pricing keeps copy costs down
- Also connects to third-party copy networks
- Strategy-provider fees vary and add to the raw spread
- Fewer built-in providers than eToro's pool
- Commission applies on the Razor account
3. Axi: a copy app on a cost-led MT4 setup
Copy product
Copy trading app, linked to MT4
Copy fee
None published on its copy page
Platforms
Axi app, MT4
Why it ranks third: a copy app that mirrors providers into a standard Axi account, keeping the broker's cost-led MT4 pricing underneath.
Why we recommend Axi
Axi Financial Services (UK) Limited runs a copy trading app that links to an MT4 account (broker site, accessed 10 July 2026), so copiers keep the broker's Pro-account pricing underneath. It suits traders who want copy exposure without leaving a cost-led MT4 setup. Our UK review scored it 78 out of 100.
Axi does not publish a fee on its copy trading page, so state the absence and confirm the current terms rather than assume there is no cost. The provider pool is narrower than eToro's, so it fits a trader who values the pricing more than the size of the network.
Pros & cons
- Copy exposure on a competitive MT4 account
- Keeps a cost-led setup for manual trades too
- Simple app linked to a standard account
- No copy fee is published, so confirm it rather than assume zero
- Smaller provider pool than eToro
- MT4-linked rather than a self-contained network
4. FXCM: copy routing through ZuluTrade
Copy product
ZuluTrade routing over MT4
Copy fee
Varies by strategy provider
Platforms
ZuluTrade, MT4, Trading Station
Why it ranks fourth: access to ZuluTrade's large provider pool through an established FCA-regulated broker.
Why we recommend FXCM
FXCM, trading as Stratos Markets Limited (FCA FRN 217689), offers copy trading by routing through ZuluTrade, one of the oldest third-party copy networks, whose ranking data covers a far larger provider pool than most single-broker networks here. The broker holds your money; ZuluTrade supplies the copying layer on top. Our UK review scored FXCM 75 out of 100.
Because the copying runs through a third party, provider fees are set on ZuluTrade rather than by FXCM, and you should confirm current UK retail access to ZuluTrade accounts before you open. For a trader who wants the widest provider pool on an established FCA broker, the route is worth checking.
Pros & cons
- ZuluTrade covers thousands of strategy providers
- Established FCA-regulated broker behind the account
- Runs alongside MT4 and Trading Station
- Copying adds a third-party layer between you and the broker
- Provider fees vary and are set on ZuluTrade, not the broker
- Confirm current UK retail access to ZuluTrade before opening
5. Vantage: a copy app on a raw account (UK availability pending)
Copy product
Copy and social trading app
Copy fee
Not separately published
Platforms
Vantage app, MT4, MT5
Why it ranks fifth: copied trades would execute on the same low-commission raw account a manual trader uses, so copiers are not paying a marked-up spread.
Why we recommend Vantage
Vantage Global Prime LLP is FCA-authorised (FRN 590299) and pairs a copy and social trading app with the raw-account pricing that earns it placements across this site's cost rankings. Copied trades would execute on the same low-commission accounts a manual trader uses, so the pricing, rather than the size of the network, is the reason to look here. Our UK review scored Vantage 82 out of 100.
Copy trading availability for UK retail clients should be confirmed at publish, which is why we show no visit link on this card yet. Treat the copy offer as provisional until the UK entity confirms it, and check the copy fee before allocating.
Pros & cons
- Raw-account pricing underneath the copy app
- Also runs MT4 and MT5 on the same broker
- Strong placements across our cost rankings
- UK retail copy availability is pending confirmation
- Copy fee is not separately published
- Smaller provider pool than eToro or ZuluTrade
6. HFM: HFcopy with strategy-provider profit sharing
Copy product
HFcopy programme
Copy fee
Profit share to the strategy provider
Platforms
HFM app, MT5 (MT4 unconfirmed)
Why it ranks sixth: a profit-share model that ties the strategy provider's reward to performance rather than to how much they trade.
Why we recommend HFM
HF Markets (UK) Ltd holds FCA authorisation (FRN 801701) and runs the HFcopy programme, which links copiers to strategy providers who earn a share of profits rather than a volume-based fee. The underlying accounts use HFM's low-cost structure on MT5 and the broker app. Our UK review scored HFM 75 out of 100; a fresh UK copy capture is still pending.
Confirm HFcopy availability for UK retail clients and the current profit-share split before you copy, since both need verifying on the UK entity. Traders who prefer a performance-aligned fee over a volume charge will find the model worth checking, and MT5 traders can compare it against the best MT5 brokers UK.
Pros & cons
- Provider paid on profit share, aligning incentives
- Runs on HFM's low-cost account structure
- Adds a second page of coverage for a broker that needed it
- HFcopy availability on the UK entity should be confirmed
- Fee split to the provider needs checking before you copy
- Provider pool smaller than the leaders here
How to start copy trading in the UK
Getting started with an FCA-regulated broker takes five steps.
- Choose the FCA-regulated broker first, not the strategy. The broker holds your money, provides FSCS cover up to £85,000 and applies the retail leverage caps.
- Open and verify the account, then start on a demo account or with a small allocation.
- Vet the strategy provider on track-record length, maximum drawdown and how they traded through losing months, not the headline return alone.
- Set the allocation and the stop. Most platforms let you cap the amount copied and detach automatically at a loss threshold.
- Review monthly. Past performance does not predict future results, and providers change style over time.
What is copy trading?
Copy trading is a form of automated trading where your account mirrors another trader’s positions. You allocate an amount to a chosen provider, and each trade they open is replicated in your account in proportion to your stake. Most UK copy trading now happens through a broker’s trading app rather than a desktop platform. It removes the need to make individual trade decisions, but it does not remove market risk, and a provider’s losing trades are copied as faithfully as their winning ones.
Copy trading in the UK splits into three structures. Broker-native networks, such as eToro’s CopyTrader and HFM’s HFcopy, keep everything inside one FCA account. Platform-level copy, such as Pepperstone’s cTrader Copy, ties copying to a platform rather than to a separate provider network. Third-party networks, such as FXCM’s ZuluTrade route, offer the widest provider pools but add a layer between trader and broker. Fees, minimums and FSCS treatment differ across all three, which is why the comparison table above sets them out line by line.
Third-party copy networks
Several copy networks sit on top of a broker rather than being brokers themselves. ZuluTrade, Darwinex, MyFxBook AutoTrade and DupliTrade connect a strategy provider’s signals to your broker account, often over MetaTrader. The regulatory status varies: Darwinex is FCA-regulated (Tradeslide Trading Tech Ltd, trading as Darwinex, FCA FRN 586466), while the others are signal-and-copy networks whose protection depends on the broker behind your account. None of these is in our review set, so we describe them rather than rank them, and the honest rule holds: the FCA-authorised broker carries your FSCS cover, not the network.
| Network | FCA-regulated? | How it works | Who protects your money |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZuluTrade | No, not a broker | Routes a provider’s signals to your broker account, often over MetaTrader | The FCA-authorised broker behind your account |
| Darwinex | Yes (Tradeslide Trading Tech Ltd, trading as Darwinex, FRN 586466) | Packages strategies as instruments you can allocate to | Darwinex, which holds its own FCA authorisation |
| MyFxBook AutoTrade | No, not a broker | Copies signals into your connected broker account | The FCA-authorised broker behind your account |
| DupliTrade | No, not a broker | Routes provider signals over MetaTrader to your account | The FCA-authorised broker behind your account |
Where a network charges, it is usually a spread markup or a profit-share fee on top of the broker’s normal spread, so confirm the total cost before you commit.
Pros and cons of copy trading
Copy trading lowers the skill barrier and saves time, but it carries real risk. The benefits are access to experienced strategies without building your own, automatic execution and a way to learn by watching. Set against that are full exposure to the provider’s losses, fees that eat into returns, and the temptation to chase past performance that may not repeat. Treat a provider’s track record as history, not a forecast.
Copy trading vs social trading
Social trading is the broader category; copy trading is one feature within it. It covers following other traders, discussing strategies and sharing ideas in a community, as eToro’s platform does. Copy trading is the specific mechanism that mirrors trades automatically. A platform can offer social features without automated copying, and the two terms are often used loosely, so check exactly what a broker means by it.
How we rank the seven copy trading brokers
We rank on the strength of the copy tools, the cost of copying, the platform behind them and the FCA entity that holds the account. Scores come from our UK broker rating model and are shown out of 100. The cost figures on this page are a desk-based assessment of each broker’s advertised UK pricing rather than fees we captured on a live copy account, and copy fees in particular change often, so confirm the current terms before you allocate. Every broker here is assessed on demo and live accounts under our published process, and the full method sits in how we rate brokers.
Compare copy trading brokers by the factor that decides it
Different traders choose on different things. Start from the factor that decides it for you.
Start with the overall ranking
Our main UK list scores every FCA-regulated broker on cost and execution.
The platform decides it
Pick your trading software first, then compare the brokers that carry it.
Cost decides it
The same trade costs different amounts on different account types. These lists rank on the all-in figure.
You are starting out
Simple platforms and demo accounts to learn on before any money is at risk.
FAQs
Which is the best copy trading platform in the UK?
Is copy trading regulated in the UK?
Is copy trading safe?
Does copy trading cost more than normal trading?
Do I pay tax on copy trading profits in the UK?
Can I lose more than I invest copy trading?
Related pages
About the author
Justin Grossbard is the co-founder and head of research at CompareForexBrokers. He has traded forex since 1998, leads UK broker research and has personally reviewed every FCA-regulated broker on this site. His work has appeared in Forbes, Kiplinger and Finance Magnates, and he holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) and a Master's in Marketing.