Been day trading on and off for about three years now, mostly UK indices and a bit of forex, and I keep going back and forth on which broker is actually worth using long term. Thought I’d share where I’ve landed and hear what others think.
I started on IG, which I think most people do. The platform is solid, ProRealTime charts are genuinely excellent, and there’s enough depth for pretty much any market you want to trade. But the spreads on shares can sting if you’re scalping, and I always felt like it was built for slightly larger accounts than mine at the time.
Switched to Spreadex about 18 months ago and honestly haven’t looked back. Fills are fast — I mean noticeably fast during the London open when things get choppy — and I’ve had zero requotes, which used to drive me mad on other platforms. Spreads from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD, no commission on indices or forex. It’s FCA regulated, been around donkeys years, and the customer support actually picks up the phone. For active trading it’s hard to argue with.
I’ve also tested Pepperstone on the side. If you’re using an algo or trading lots of volume, the Razor account is worth looking at — spreads drop to around 0.1 pips with a small commission on top. The raw pricing is genuinely competitive and it’s well regarded for MT4/MT5 users. Personally I prefer a browser-based platform but I can see why serious volume traders like it.
Capital.com I’d recommend to anyone starting out. The interface is clean, there’s no clutter, and the educational stuff is actually decent rather than the usual filler content. Lower spreads than you’d expect for a beginner-friendly broker too. If you’re still figuring things out, it’s a good place to learn without the platform getting in your way.
CMC Markets is another one that comes up a lot. The range is impressive — 12,000+ instruments — so if you want to trade niche stuff or jump between asset classes it’s worth a look. Platform is powerful. The £10 inactivity fee is annoying but manageable if you’re trading regularly.
My honest take: if you’re actively day trading UK markets, Spreadex is the one I’d point you at first. If you’re just starting, Capital.com. If you’re running algos or high volume, Pepperstone.
What’s everyone else using? Curious whether anyone’s had a different experience — especially with execution quality during volatile sessions.
