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 28 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
I list only FCA-authorised brokers, and my standard is a simple one: you will not find an offshore-only name here, whatever leverage it advertises. For you as a UK trader, that FCA cover means segregated client money, FSCS eligibility up to £85,000 per person, mandatory negative balance protection and your right to take an unresolved complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
In my scoring, I rate every broker on more than 100 data points weighted across eight criteria. Trading costs lead at 25%, so for you that means cost pressure carries the largest effect on the score, then trust and regulation at 20%. David Levy and the team open live accounts, fund them in sterling, and place real trades, and no broker pays us for placement or a score change. Every review states its evidence basis. On all but one broker that basis is a live UK account, opened at the FCA-authorised entity, funded in GBP and traded. Fortrade is the exception and its review is labelled desk-based throughout. Most brokers now show a tested modal spread that David captured on a live UK account in July 2026. A few whose UK spreads are dynamic or unpublished stay at the advertised rate. You can trace the full process on the methodology page.
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
If you are not sure where to start, I would point you to each card: it links you to the full review and the comparison that matches what matters most.
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
In my view, Pepperstone leads the scoring model at 90 out of 100 on the strength of raw-account cost, platform breadth and FCA regulation, and I would send you there first if raw spreads matter most. OANDA follows at 88, owed to transparent pricing and platform breadth, and Interactive Brokers at 87, for direct market access and the cheapest share dealing in our set. If you want direct market access, I would point you to Interactive Brokers first. Capital.com (85) and Forex.com (83) come next, while CMC Markets, Tickmill and Vantage tie on 82/100, each ahead on a different dimension, from market range to raw cost.
How FCA regulation shapes the UK shortlist
The FCA decides what a UK retail broker can offer, so I list only firms that meet its standard. Every broker here holds an FCA Firm Reference Number, gives you 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. If a broker only serves UK clients through an offshore arm, I leave it off the list. I will not dress up an offshore option as a UK one. A broker that later withdraws from UK retail, as markets.com did, stays on the page only as a status record, not as a live recommendation for you.
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.