Pepperstone (90/100) leads our current scoring, with OANDA (88/100) and Interactive Brokers (87/100) next, then Capital.com (85) and Forex.com (83); CMC Markets, Tickmill and Vantage sit behind them tied on 82. This page ranks all 27 FCA-regulated forex and CFD brokers we cover for UK traders: every one carries a scored review built on the same eight-criteria model and a disclosed evidence basis, and each review links the broker’s Firm Reference Number so you can confirm the FCA authorisation yourself.
How we built this list
Every broker here holds FCA authorisation. We do not list offshore-only names, whatever leverage they advertise. What FCA cover buys a UK trader is segregated client money, FSCS eligibility up to £85,000 per person, mandatory negative balance protection and access to the Financial Ombudsman Service if a complaint goes unresolved.
Each broker is scored on more than 100 data points across eight weighted criteria, led by trading costs at 25%, then trust and regulation at 20%. Our writers open live accounts, fund them in GBP and place trades, and no broker pays for placement or a scoring change. Behind every score sits the same disclosed basis: a live UK account opened at the broker’s FCA-authorised entity, funded in GBP and traded. Most brokers now show a tested modal spread, recorded on a live UK account in July 2026; a few whose UK spreads are dynamic or unpublished stay at the advertised rate. The methodology page documents the process.
Our scoring weights
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Trading costs | 25% |
| Trust and regulation | 20% |
| Trading experience | 15% |
| Platforms | 15% |
| Customer service | 10% |
| Range of markets | 5% |
| Education | 5% |
| Funding | 5% |
Best broker for different trader types
Not sure where to start? Each card points to the reviews and the relevant comparison, grouped by what matters most to you.
MetaTrader 4 or 5
The standard for expert advisors and automation.
Fixed spreads and price certainty
A known cost per trade, whatever the market does.
Trade Nation
FxPro
Highest-rated brokers right now
Pepperstone tops the model at 90/100 on the balance of raw-account cost, platform breadth and FCA regulation. OANDA follows at 88/100 on transparent pricing and platform breadth, and Interactive Brokers at 87/100 on direct market access and the cheapest share dealing in the set. Capital.com (85) and Forex.com (83) come next, and CMC Markets, Tickmill and Vantage tie on 82/100, each leading a different dimension, from market range to raw cost.
How FCA regulation shapes the UK shortlist
The FCA decides what a broker can offer UK retail clients, and that shapes who appears here. Every listed broker holds FCA authorisation with a Firm Reference Number, offers FSCS cover up to £85,000 per person and answers to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Retail leverage is capped, negative balance protection is mandatory, bonuses are banned and crypto CFDs are banned for retail under PS20/10. A broker that serves UK clients only through an offshore arm is left off, not dressed up as a UK option. A broker that later withdraws from UK retail, as the discontinued markets.com brand did, is kept only as a status record rather than presented as live.
How to choose from these brokers
Start with what you trade and how often. A cost-focused, active trader leans toward the raw-account names like Pepperstone, Eightcap and Tickmill. Beginners value a clean platform and protection, where Plus500 and eToro lead. Someone who wants the widest market range looks at IG and CMC. The best forex brokers UK pillar ranks the field overall, and the comparison guides break it down by cost, platform and trader type.
FAQs
Are all these brokers FCA-regulated?
Which broker has the highest score?
How do you rate the brokers?
Do brokers pay to be listed or ranked?
Do all these brokers offer FSCS protection?
How often are these reviews updated?
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Related pages
- forex brokers ranked for UK traders
- Why trust us
- Pepperstone review
- Interactive Brokers review
About the author
Justin Grossbard is the co-founder and CEO 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 of Marketing.