Eligibility
- The entity serving UK retail clients must be FCA-authorised.
- The broker must publish its retail loss percentage and full costs.
- No unresolved serious regulatory concerns.
Scoring categories
| Category | Weight | Examples of what we check |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation & safety | 25% | FCA entity, client money, history, group strength |
| Trading costs | 25% | Spreads, commission, financing |
| Platforms | 20% | Platform choice for UK clients, tools, mobile |
| Accounts & access | 15% | Account types, minimum deposit, base currencies |
| Payments & support | 15% | Methods, speed, fees, support quality |
Data sources
- FCA Financial Services Register
- Brokers' websites, client agreements and charges pages
- Our own platform checks and support enquiries
- Recent independent tests of spreads and execution
Corrections
Broker conditions change often. If you spot an out-of-date figure, contact us and we'll review it.
Frequently asked questions
Do brokers pay to be ranked?
We may earn commission from some brokers, but rankings follow the scoring below and commercial relationships don't change scores.
How often are rankings updated?
At least quarterly, and whenever a broker's pricing, regulation or products change materially.
CFDs and spread bets are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Most retail investor accounts lose money when trading these products. You should consider whether you understand how they work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.