Cfd trading platforms

Two platforms that you will certainly encounter are the two versions of the metaquotes-developed software: metatrader 4 (MT4) and metatrader 5 (MT5).

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Day Trading Platforms, cfd trading platforms.

The MT4 platform was developed over 15 years ago but is still one of the most popular for those whose preferred trading asset is the forex markets. The alternative is MT5 which is a multi-asset platform, suited to all types of trading and with scalability which allows the integration of advanced algorithmic trading and analysis techniques. As a day trader, the platform you work on is your most crucial tool. It is your daily workspace and its contents summarise your entire trading life. Therefore it is vital that you select the right one for the job and there are many to choose from. So how do you find the one that works for you?

Day trading platforms

As a day trader, the platform you work on is your most crucial tool. It is your daily workspace and its contents summarise your entire trading life. Therefore it is vital that you select the right one for the job and there are many to choose from. So how do you find the one that works for you?

All trading platforms will fulfil the basic needs of any trader: allowing you to view price data from the market of your choice and to execute trades based on that information. However, if you think of a platform like the operating system for a computer, you will be on the right track. You might like linux, but it has its limitations and requires a certain level of specialist knowledge, but windows, on the other hand, has features that make it intuitive.

Through the information in this guide, we hope to explain more about the various platforms you are likely to encounter and their suitability for your level of experience and style of trading. You can also peruse our reviews of the brokers we recommend, which will detail which platforms each broker offers, together with any additional software that is included.

In this article, you will learn:

Top rated CFD sites

Risk warning: the products offered by the companies listed on this website carry a high level of risk and can result in the loss of all your funds. You should never risk money that you cannot afford to lose.

Ad disclosure: some of the links that you will find on this website are advertisements for which we do receive financial gain for referring new customers.

Various types of platforms

Since a reliable internet service became widely available, the growth of online trading has increased tenfold and with it the number of online brokers. The majority of brokers offer both fixed and mobile platforms and below is a brief synopsis of those you are likely to encounter.

Website based platforms

The ctrader platform is produced by spotware, a cyprus-based software development company that specialises in trading platforms. Spotware has all of the bases covered and there are three versions of ctrader: web-based, PC/mac download and mobile apps. This platform has earned a reputation for providing an easy-to-read interface, with multiple features included, making it ideal for many traders.

Downloadable software

Two platforms that you will certainly encounter are the two versions of the metaquotes-developed software: metatrader 4 (MT4) and metatrader 5 (MT5). The MT4 platform was developed over 15 years ago but is still one of the most popular for those whose preferred trading asset is the forex markets. The alternative is MT5 which is a multi-asset platform, suited to all types of trading and with scalability which allows the integration of advanced algorithmic trading and analysis techniques.

Mobile specific apps

There are still brokers who stick to a mobile-optimised website version of their trading platform, but generally speaking, the majority of brokers have invested in the development of native apps for popular mobile devices. You will almost always find app versions for android and ios devices, but apps for the windows mobile operating system are slightly more difficult to find.

Bespoke in-house

There are two types of bespoke platforms you may encounter. The first is the unique software that some of the world’s leading brokers make available, the other one is the highly specialised professional-level type of platforms which you would normally have to ‘lease’ from a broker.

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How to choose a platform

The ctrader platform is favoured by many day traders because it is secure, fast and has advanced functionality in every version. A further benefit for traders is that brokers who offer ctrader must provide prices on the platform that are supplied by a recognised liquidity provider which cannot be modified, meaning that you can rely on the information you see.

Most of you reading this guide will not fall into the professional trader category, but some of you may prefer a broker that has developed a bespoke trading platform to one that offers a variation on a commercial one. Certainly, it is worth trying out a few and there are some excellent brokers on our recommended list that operate unique platform versions.

Some brokers who employ the MT4 platform also offer extensions to use it for trading other assets like crypto currency. Surprisingly, MT5 has yet to gain the same level of popularity or availability as MT4. Both of these platforms are available for download to a PC or mac and as ios or android apps. Due to the complexity of these apps, your device and the operating system will need to be up to date and you should always check these requirements first to avoid disappointment later.

Platform user tips

Always take advantage of trial versions of any platforms you are interested in. Platform simulations are available from the developers of ctrader, MT4 and MT5. They are not brokers, so there is no pressure for you to sign up for any type of account. Brokers with bespoke software usually offer free demo accounts, often all you will need is an e-mail address to access them.

When you move on to the point where you have decided on your platform and feel ready to open an account with a broker, then it is worth checking these few things out first:

We are sure that there are many more you will think of, but those are a good starting point to work from.

Unfortunately, not every broker is as honest and genuine as it may appear in its advertising material, so any that makes unrealistic promises about how much you can earn is best avoided altogether. One particular note of caution, should you come across ‘standalone’ trading apps, with no broker website detailed, they are probably a scam. We strongly recommend that you only ever download trading platform apps that are verifiable by the web presence of a reputable, licensed broker.

This means that you can concentrate your efforts into your trading techniques and strategies without worrying about the basics.

How we rate platforms

If you have read this far, you will understand that choosing a trading platform is a very important subject and that it is not necessarily a simple matter to choose the right one. It is always a good idea to try out a variety of platform options before engaging in live trading and this is a great time to find out more about your requirements and preferences as a trader as well.

The purpose of our broker reviews is to provide a list of brokers that are the most likely to offer day traders the best all-round experience. Although our team of expert reviewers cannot tell you which platform is going to suit you best, what they have done is to recommend brokers that provide either a choice of platforms or a great bespoke one.

By reading our reviews and guides, making a shortlist and selecting your broker from our recommendations, you can be sure that the broker has been verified in all of the important ways like licensing, security and fair trading terms. This means that you can concentrate your efforts into your trading techniques and strategies without worrying about the basics.

CFD trading

What are cfds

CFD stands for Contract For Difference. This type of financial instrument allows you to trade an underlying index, share or commodity contract without actually having to own it. The CFD price is the price of the underlying asset. So if the price of the underlying asset, eg. Gold or facebook stock goes up, so will the price of the CFD. Similarly, if the price of the underlying asset goes down, so will the price of the CFD. It is important to emphasize that you don’t actually own the asset you trade.

Avatrade is a pioneering broker – we were one of the first online brokers to offer CFD trading, giving individual traders access to a large range of markets which were not accessible to them before.

Open a CFD trading account today and enjoy the benefits of an internationally regulated broker!

Why trade with avatrade?

Trade with confidence – avatrade is an internationally regulated broker with dedicated trading websites. We have 7 regulations, across 6 continents.

Large variety of CFD instruments – trade commodities, indices, etfs, stocks, bonds and cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ethereum cfds.

Powerful platforms – manage your trades manually via MT4/MT5 and webtrader, or use our automated trading platforms.

Leveraged trading – use leverage on various cfds to amplify your exposure to the markets.

Master your trading skills – expand your horizons by making the most of our educational materials & daily updates.

Best in class customer service – multilingual live support with a dedicated account manager.

What is CFD trading?

CFD trading is quite similar to forex trading. When trading on the platform, you select the instrument you wish to trade and enter your order. If you think the price of a certain instrument, e.G. Crude oil, will increase, you’ll want to BUY the crude oil CFD. The same goes the other way – if you predict the value will go down, you short sell the CFD.

Naturally, as with any type of trade or investment, wrong predictions can lead to the loss of money, and one should be aware of the risks involved in CFD trading before starting out. There is plenty more to learn about CFD trading, and you can browse through our education section, to watch video tutorials, read articles, get news updates, and more. You can find more information on cfds and their advantages here.

How to trade cfds with avatrade

Trading platforms

Avatrade offers a variety of trading platforms, for both manual as well as automated trading. We supply a range of useful tools like the exclusive avaprotect feature, which can help elevate your trading. We have a variety of platforms made for desktop, web and mobile too. We also offer you the option of opening a demo-account, so you can practice trading before you start trading with your own money.

Leveraged trading

Leverage is a facility offered by some brokers which enables traders to hold trading positions that are larger than what one’s own capital would otherwise allow.

It is important to remember that the profits and losses are determined by the position size, and as leverage trading can magnify profits, it can also heighten losses.

Open a CFD trading account today and enjoy the benefits of an internationally regulated broker!

How much will it cost to trade cfds?

Avatrade does not charge any exchange fees or commission and offers tight spreads on open positions. The spread is the difference between the BUY and SELL prices of a certain instrument. When calculating the cost for a position, you need to multiply the spread by the size of the position. For example, if the spread for crude oil trading is $0.03 USD, the cost for opening a 10 barrel-position is $0.03 X 10 barrels = $0.3 USD.
Most of the CFD instruments are traded on market spreads, which means that the spreads are affected by the liquidity of the market. The more liquidity, the narrower the spread will get.

You can review the levels of leverage and spreads for all CFD instruments on our trading conditions & charges page.

CFD contract rollover

Each index and commodity CFD is based on a contract defining its rates, charges, etc. Each of these specific CFD contracts has an expiry date, which is the date that the contract expires and automatically replaced by a new contract, just like the real market. In order not to disturb traders during market hours, the contract rollover takes place over the weekend.

For more information, you are welcome to visit our CFD rollover page.

Start trading cfds with avatrade

If you think you know which way the markets will go and you want to start trading – it’s time to join avatrade and enjoy the best CFD trading experience!

Still not sure? Take a look at the avatrade reviews by our clients!

Register for a trading account now to enter the markets, or try our risk-free demo account.

CFD trading platforms

As a newbie trader, contracts for difference can be somewhat overwhelming. These seemingly complex financial instruments can be better understood by using the right CFD trading platform. Oftentimes, a CFD broker will use include a customizable user interface on an existing CFD trading platform such as metatrader 4 or metatrader 5. Many CFD brokerages provide their traders with a wide variety of CFD trading platforms to choose from. Whether it is a proprietary trading platform, or a blended platform, there are many options available to clients. For example, trading platforms such as metatrader 4 often allow a free download of the CFD trading platform for clients.

Regardless, it is important that the CFD trading platform is user-friendly, efficient, and up-to-date. The characteristics of effective CFD trading platforms include full account management capabilities, order cancellation, order entry, and a wide range of market analysis tools. The best CFD trading platforms provide traders with all of the above characteristics, including real-time quotes on financial instruments. Traders should be able to implement transactions and enter orders quickly and easily. The two most popular CFD trading platforms available to clients today are metatrader 4 (MT4) and metatrader 5 (MT5). These platforms offer a full range of features, market access and market information.

Metatrader 4 (MT4) trading platform

As far as CFD trading platforms go, MT4 is the undisputed king. As the gold standard in CFD trading, metatrader 4 has been widely adopted by brokers around the world. It is not the lack of alternatives that makes MT4 so popular; it’s the functionality, advanced technology, technical and fundamental analysis, and security features that are deserving of praise. Clients can easily open positions, close positions, and enjoy uninterrupted trading on a secure platform – that is the MT4 promise. CFD trading is inherently volatile, and to function effectively in such an environment a sophisticated and stable trading platform is required. It is ideally suited to novice traders and experienced traders alike, yet another example of its adaptability to the individual client. MT4 also uses highly sophisticated MQL programming language to offer maximum functionality, efficiency and security.

MT4 is also available in multiple languages, bolstering its appeal to traders around the world. Perhaps its most useful feature is charting. Charting functionality allows traders to analyze technical aspects of the market while conducting trades on a wide range of assets. EA’s (expert advisors) are yet another feature of metatrader 4 that is deserving of praise. Brokers can communicate easily with clients on MT4, using real-time communication channels. There is no need for complex threads of emails, making the trading experience so much easier. As for its PC requirements, MT4 uses very few resources. As such, it is unlikely to cause disruptions to the functionality of your desktop, smartphone, or laptop. With less resource intensive requirements, MT4 operates smoothly and efficiently across the board. Security is always a primary concern on trading platforms, and MT4 uses the highest security encryption protocols in the industry. 129-bit key encryption is used and the client’s IP address is masked at all times. Since MT4 allows for customization according to the broker’s needs, it is possible to add a personal touch from the brokerage’s perspective.

Metatrader 5 (MT5)

CFD traders now have another metatrader option in the form of MT5. This is the latest operating version of the software from the world’s most renowned CFD trading platform provider. Multi-account usage is now possible with MT5, and management is certainly made easier with this option. Thanks to the navigator, it is much easier to move between different accounts and to adopt different strategies. As always, metatrader 5 offers a user-friendly interface and no delays in trade execution, navigation, and functionality. Scalping and carry trades are possible, and switching between different categories is much easier with MT 5. As a regular trader of cfds (stocks, indices, commodities, and forex) it is much easier to switch between categories and respond to market volatility. The time-saving aspect of MT5 CFD trading is certainly appreciated.

Other useful tools available with metatrader 5 include custom indicators such as bill williams, oscillators, volumes, and trends. Analytical tools can also be classified according to preferences, simplifying the process accordingly. New trend indicators such as triple exponential moving averages (TRIX), double exponential moving averages (demas) and adaptive moving averages (amas) are available. In terms of CFD trading platforms, the accuracy inherent in MT5 makes it a top contender for best CFD trading software on the market. Metatrader 5 features 7 new indicators, including 5 trend indicators. The expert advisors and trading script on the MT5 platform is ideally suited for automated trading. The condensed programming language offers greater efficiency and user-friendliness.

Mobile app trading platforms

The majority of traders today have switched to mobile trading as their preferred medium. Mobile trading with MT4 and MT5 is entirely possible. Mobile trading apps can be downloaded from the CFD broker for tablet, smartphone or phablet access. Once the mobile trading platform is up and running, traders will have access to a wide range of trading opportunities, anytime, anywhere in a regulated jurisdiction. Mobile trading allows for easy buying and selling, even editing of orders by simply accessing real-time prices on the go. A wide range of charting features is available including technical analysis capabilities such as pivot points, arcs, trendlines and market visualization. Mobile trading also allows for charting features for ipad and iphone, and customized notifications for stop losses, take profits and price alerts.

Best CFD trading platforms in the UK 2021

Cfds is a good alternative to forex for trading in the UK. When trading CFD choose a trading platform that allows you to trade the best cfds like commodities & etfs. Our team of experts have selected their best CFD trading platforms UK.

Best CFD trading platforms UK list

Here are our best platforms to trade cfds from FCA regulated brokers:

Pepperstone - great metatrader 4 & 5 CFD trading platforms

Plus500 - CFD risk management & balance protection platform

Etoro - best social trading platforms

XTB - best platform for etfs and equities

Fxpro - recommended for ctrader

City index - CFD trading platform for range of markets

Thinkmarkets- CFD trading platform for mobile

CMC markets- spread betting and CFD stock trading

Regulations and licenses

Brokerage

Markets and instruments

Trading platforms + tools

Overall

Pepperstone – best for metatrader 4 + 5 CFD trading platforms

The most popular CFD trading platforms in the UK are metatrader 4 and metatrader 5. In our attempt to find the best CFD brokers in the UK offering the full suite of metatrader 4 and metatrader 5 trading platforms, pepperstone ranks as the number one regulated forex and CFD broker. Our team of experts took into consideration three factors before awarding pepperstone as the best CFD trading broker for MT4 and MT5:

Metatrader 4’s ultra-fast order execution speeds

Metatrader 5 powerful technological solutions

Market-leading spreads on the most popular CFD instruments

Pepperstone offers metatrader 4, our most popular; metatrader 5, our most powerful.

Founded in 2010 and based in melbourne, australia, pepperstone group limited is authorised by the following tier one regulatory:

The broker is authorised to conduct online CFD trading services in the united kingdom while being regulated and abiding by the rules imposed by the reputable financial conduct authority (FCA)

An authorised FSP, which falls under the regulation of the australian securities and investments commission (ASIC)

Pepperstone regulators include the cyprus securities and exchange commission (cysec) for the european region.

Pepperstone’s operations are also licensed and regulated in the united arab emirates (UAE) by the dubai financial services authority (DFSA)

In south africa, pepperstone is in the process to be licensed by the financial sector conduct authority (FSCA)

As well as regulators in the bahamas (SCB) and kenya (CMA).

For traders in the UK (and europe) only FCA regulation will be of relevance.

Our team of experts at compare forex brokers recommend pepperstone to UK retail traders with interest in trading cfds on platforms such as metatrader 4 and metatrader 5.

Pepperstone’s MT4 is one of the best CFD trading platforms for UK traders

Over the past decade, MT4 has become a standard for forex trading. As a leading regulated broker, pepperstone has made certain that it offers its clients an easily customizable trading platform, allowing access to live quotes, real-time charts, in-depth news and analytics and a range of technical indicators and order management tools.

What UK retail clients will find in pepperstone’s metatrader 4 platform includes:

Expert advisor (EA) compatibility

Flexible order types

85 pre-installed indicators for greater insight into trends

Over 150 trading instruments structured in several asset classes

Advanced technical analysis tools for better-informed decisions

Multiple chart setups

Advanced demo account that comes with virtual $50,000

28 additional smart trader tools

Outstanding customer support service

Another major advantage of pepperstone’s MT4 CFD trading platform is that it offers a combination of low trading costs and exceptional order execution speeds.

Trading cfds with market leading spreads

UK-based clients can trade on various CFD financial instruments with ultra-low spreads starting from 0.0 pips (pepperstone’s razor trading account). UK CFD traders can access buy and sell price quote on global markets with the following spreads:

Tight spreads from 0.0 pips on major currency pairs, including EUR/USD, GBP/USD, AUD/USD and USD/JPY

1.05 average spread on UK100 and 1.0 average spread on GER30

0.50 razor minimum spread on XAUUSD

0.50 spread on WTI oil

Although pepperstone UK historically offered cryptocurrencies to retail traders, recent changes to FCA regulation now mean cryptos such as bitcoin are not able to traded with UK brokers.

Note *our review has concluded that the average spreads on all of pepperstone’s CFD products are, in fact, competitive.

As the broker ensures ECN-style trading conditions on its razor account, retail customers will have to pay a commission, which for the metatrader 4 trading platform starts from as low as GBP 2.29 per every 100,000 units traded (or GBP 4.59 round turn).

Pepperstone’s active trader program offers commission discounts (rebates), which depend on how many standard lots the client trade per month. UK retail CFD traders can expect to receive between GBP 200 and GBP 500 in monthly rebates if they generate between 200-500 lots in trading volume.

Thanks to its network of tier-one liquidity providers, pepperstone offers lightning-fast order execution on its MT4 trading platform. According to the broker, most trade orders by UK clients are filled in less than 60 ms. Our team of experts conducted an independent order speed test using a proprietary MT4 script and found an execution speed of 85 ms. Below you can view a comparison of the best CFD trading brokers in the UK with fast execution speed.

Metatrader 5 by pepperstone

Pepperstone’s metatrader 5, which is based on the MQL5 programming language, offers advanced functionality and superior analysis tools.

What UK retail clients will find in pepperstone’s metatrader 5 platform includes:

Advanced pending orders

Maximum of 500 total orders

21-time frames

38 built-in indicators

Position hedging

Optimised processing speeds

Built-in economic calendar

Another advantage of the broker’s MT5 platform is the inclusion of shares cfds. UK-based clients have the opportunity to trade more than 60 high-quality US stocks with a maximum leverage of 1:5.

Final words – pepperstone best CFD trading platforms in the UK

Overall, pepperstone is the best CFD trading platform UK for its suite of MT4 and MT5 platforms. The minimum deposit for a live account with pepperstone UK is only GBP200. You can also start trading cfds without risking any of your hard-earned money by claiming your FREE demo account. Click the button below to enjoy the most popular CFD trading platforms in the UK.

Our rating

The overall rating is based on review by our experts