Understanding The Risks of Spread Betting
Disclaimer: Leveraged instruments are risky. Conduct your own research before trading on margin or with leverage. Trading with leverage is at your own risk.
Spread-Bet.co.uk
Spread-Bet.co.uk is built by actual by traders for spread bettors
One of the oldest spread betting broker comparison resources
Detailed facts, charts and technical evaluations for each broker
Trusted guides by actual spread bettors
Top Spread Betting Brokers
Spread-Bet.co.uk reviews the best spread betting companies in the UK. We personally test all the brokers we list, to give you in-depth insights you can rely on. Our testing teams highlight the pros and cons of each broker, and outline all their features.
All the spread betting providers we review are FCA-regulated, making them safe and secure for spread betting. Bear in mind that there is always a risk involved with spread betting.
How We Test Spread Betting Brokers
We tested 14 spread betting brokers against a weighted criteria based on the factors that matter the most for UK traders. These factors include trading costs, platforms, trading environment, reputation, tradeable markets, customer service, education and funding methods.
For more dynamic elements such as spreads, we update the site monthly for the most accurate data possible. You can see our full methodology to learn more details on the criteria used to review every broker.
All of our scores are completely independent of commission earned from the brokers we review. For more details on our commission structure, you can find out how we make money on our About Us page.
Try Our Spread Betting Calculator
Our spread betting calculator takes the guesswork out of spread betting by allowing you to explore margin requirements and calculate your profit and loss on a given spread bet.
You simply choose your currency pair, enter your position size, the opening and closing price of the trade and your margin requirement and a profit and loss will automatically be calculated.
The calculator uses industry average spreads drawn from more than 40 brokers and their end-of-day market prices.
When using the calculator, you can choose one of the six major currency pairs used in forex trading or you can choose ‘other’, if you want to spread bet on an alternative market like the FTSE 100 for example.
Why Trust Spread-Bet.co.uk
Justin Grossbard co-founded Spread-Bet.co.uk in 2024, along with Noam Korbl, to have a dedicated website on spread betting in the UK after recognising the confusion traders were having when comparing a provider’s offering for CFDs vs Spread Betting.
Justin has a background in trading and investing that spans over 20 years, while Noam brings over 15 years of experience building and scaling fintech and business-finance ventures.
All spread betting brokers are available to UK traders and most are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK. For more details on Spread-Bet.co.uk, check out our About Us page.
Our head office is at 1/650 Inkerman Road, Caulfield North, Victoria, Australia, 3161. Feel free to Contact Us if you have any queries about the website, its founders or spread betting in general.
Why Traders Should Compare Providers Before Spread Betting
Comparing spread bet companies is an important step before you open an account. This will give you a strong understanding of the overall spread betting experience each broker offers. Choosing the wrong platform can lead to poor execution speeds, slippage, and wide spreads — all of which reduce your chance of profit and put you at risk of high costs.
At Spread-Bet.co.uk, we’ve tried and reviewed multiple brokers, considering factors like fees, platforms, and customer support. This means we give you a true “insider” look at how each broker performs.
Our aim is to help you learn about each broker’s strengths and weaknesses, ensuring you find the platform that best fits your own trading strategy and goals.
Why Use Spread-Bet.co.uk?
At Spread-Bet.co.uk, we’re all spread bettors, so we know how important it is to choose the right broker. We expect all brokers to provide top services, maximising your trading experience while minimising your costs.
We’ve tested the most popular spread betting brokers in the UK, so we can provide you with unbiased, in-depth reviews and comparisons.
Our reviews cover everything from platform usability and market access, to fees and customer support. These reviews are a great resource for you, as you weigh up the different trading conditions offered by each broker.
Best FCA-Regulated Platforms
We’ve opened accounts and tested over 16 FCA-regulated platform providers, from Pepperstone to IG Markets. After rigorous testing, we reviewed their performance during typical trading sessions.
All the spread betting brokers we review are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, so your betting environment is safe and secure. In this guide, we’ve narrowed our list of top FCA-regulated brokers down to 8, based on spreads, platforms, and overall trading conditions.
Beginners Spread Betting Providers
We have carefully analysed and selected the 6 platforms that we think are ideal if you are new to spread betting.
Our beginner’s guide breaks down the essential features you will need for spread betting like solid trading conditions, low minimum deposits, and tight spreads. We’ve also looked at other features, such as educational resources.
Top Spread Bet Demo Accounts
We’ve tested and compared spread betting demo accounts to bring you the 6 best options for risk-free practice.
This guide highlights key features, market access, and platform functionality. Our aim is to help you find the perfect demo account for honing your skills before using your own capital.
FAQS
What is Spread Betting?
Spread betting is a derivative product that allows you to speculate on the price movements of financial markets without owning the underlying asset. You place bets on whether the price will rise or fall, and your profit or loss is determined by the accuracy of your prediction and the size of your bet.
Spread betting is the only derivative with a tax-free status in the UK, meaning you do not pay capital gains tax on your profits, or stamp duty when placing a bet.
Are spread betting profits taxable?
In the UK, spread betting profits are tax-free for most retail traders, meaning you do not have to pay capital gains tax and stamp duty on your trades. However, if spread betting is your main source of income, your profits may be subject to income tax, although you will still be exempt from stamp duty.
We advise that you contact a tax professional if you have any specific questions on taxes and duties, as individual circumstances differ when it comes to spread betting.
Is Spread Betting FCA Regulated?
Yes, spread betting is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, and only brokers licensed and authorised by the FCA can provide spread betting markets.
All FCA-authorised spread betting firms must follow strict rules to protect clients, such as segregating client funds, providing negative balance protection, and offering transparent pricing.
Can I use MT4 for spread betting?
Yes, some brokers offer MetaTrader 4 (MT4) for spread betting, but it’s not universally available. Most brokers prefer you to use their proprietary platforms, which are optimised for spread betting.
MT4 was designed for forex and CFD trading, so there may be limitations on spread betting. For instance, you may not be able to spread bet on equities or ETFs with MT4.
Our Spread-bet.co.uk Comparison Methodology
Instead of crunching headline numbers, we personally open the trading accounts to experience the broker’s trading conditions and spreads. Our scoring starts with cost-per-trade, capturing live spread data during the London trading session to see the broker’s true costs.
Our scores also involve testing the platform’s execution speed. This helps us identify spread betting companies least likely to have slippage while achieving best execution pricing.
We also assess the platforms available with the Spread betting providers. Brokers with a wide range of platforms (especially quality platforms) score higher as they will appeal to bettors of more betting styles. So the providers that cater for automated, copy trading or chart trading styles will get a higher score..
We then stress-test the providers spread betting accounts by testing the funding and withdrawal speeds, while testing their customer support. These tests give strong signals on how a platform operates and how well trained their support staff on the products.
Bonus points are awarded for additional value add-ons like premium market analysis tools, rebate programs, and decent educational materials. Out of these tests, we score the broker out of 100 that reflects not just “features” but the value they bring to your trading.