Capital.com – Speed and simplicity

4.2
3.8
4.4
Trustpilot Score: 4.6 · Checked February 2026

App Store: 4.8★ (iOS) | 4.7★ (Android)

Capital.com feels like it was designed by people who actually trade on their phones. That sounds obvious, but open most broker apps and you'll see what I mean — cramped menus, buried settings, charts that judder when you pinch to zoom. None of that here.

Screenshot of the Capital.com mobile trading app showing the US Tech 100 chart, buy and sell prices, and contract size selection.
Capital.com's mobile layout feels clean and fast — everything you need to place a trade is visible without overwhelming the screen.

Pros

  • Three taps from launch to live position
  • 100+ indicators, smooth charting with TradingView integration
  • SmartFeed AI-curated news – genuinely useful
  • Fastest notification delivery (2-3 seconds)

Cons

  • No Apple Watch app
  • No MT5 support – MT4 only
  • No social/copy trading features

Speed and Navigation

The home screen drops you straight into your watchlist. One tap opens the chart. One tap opens the ticket. One tap executes. Three taps from app launch to live position. We timed it repeatedly — it's consistent.

Charting

Charting is genuinely usable on mobile. 100+ indicators, drawing tools that don't require surgeon's fingers, and smooth rendering even on older devices. We ran the same session on an iPhone 12 and saw no meaningful lag. TradingView integration is baked in, so if you're already fluent in that ecosystem, you'll feel at home.

SmartFeed

SmartFeed is Capital.com's AI-curated news feature. It learns what you trade and surfaces relevant headlines. Gimmick? We thought so too. But after two weeks, it was flagging earnings releases and macro events we'd have otherwise missed. Not essential, but genuinely useful.

Notifications

Notifications arrive fast. We set identical price alerts across all three apps. Capital.com delivered within 2-3 seconds of the price hitting. SpreadEx was comparable. IG lagged noticeably on several occasions — not ideal when you're trying to catch a move.

Battery and Security

Battery drain measured 18% over a 4-hour active session. Acceptable.

Face ID works instantly. 2FA available but not mandatory. Session timeout is configurable.

Visit Capital.com Read Full Review

Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 60% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

SpreadEx – Established reputation, TradingView charts

4.6
4.5
4.2
Trustpilot Score: 4.3 · Checked February 2026

App Store: 4.7★ (iOS) | 4.4★ (Android)

SpreadEx has been around since 1999, making it one of the longest-established names in UK spread betting. The financial trading app reflects that experience — it's functional, stable, and gets the job done without unnecessary bells and whistles.

The interface won't win design awards, but it's intuitive enough. Four taps to trade instead of Capital.com's three, but the difference is marginal in practice. For a deeper look at the platform beyond the app, see our full SpreadEx review.

Screenshot of the SpreadEx mobile trading app displaying US Tech 100 candlestick chart with Bollinger Bands and momentum indicator.
SpreadEx leans into technical analysis tools — you can tell it's built for traders who want chart indicators front and centre.

Pros

  • Established since 1999 – decades of experience
  • TradingView integration with solid charting
  • Functional, stable, no-frills interface
  • Fast notification delivery, comparable to Capital.com

Cons

  • No two-factor authentication – significant security oversight
  • Largest iOS/Android rating gap (0.3 stars)
  • Limited educational content in-app

Charting and Tools

TradingView integration gives you access to decent charting capabilities. Charts render smoothly, orders fill without drama. The indicator selection is solid, though the mobile implementation doesn't feel quite as polished as Capital.com's native charts.

iOS vs Android Gap

The 0.3-star difference (4.7 vs 4.4) between iOS and Android is the largest of the three apps we tested. In our testing on Samsung Galaxy S24, the iOS version felt marginally snappier, though we didn't experience the crashes some Android reviewers mention.

Battery and Security

Battery drain measured 22% over a 4-hour session. Higher than Capital.com, but not excessive.

The lack of 2FA is hard to overlook. SpreadEx relies on email verification for sensitive actions, which is better than nothing, but not best practice. If security is a priority, this is a mark against.

Visit SpreadEx Read Full Review

65% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

IG – Market depth and research tools

4.4
4.2
4.5
Trustpilot Score: 3.9 · Checked February 2026

App Store: 4.6★ (iOS) | 4.3★ (Android)

IG is the UK's oldest spread betting provider — founded in 1974 by Stuart Wheeler, who essentially invented the concept. It offers access to over 17,000 markets, more than any competitor. The app reflects that scale: comprehensive, feature-rich, and occasionally overwhelming.

This is not a beginner-friendly app.

The first time we opened it, we spent 10 minutes finding where to set a price alert. The menu structure is deep. Settings are spread across multiple screens. There's a learning curve that Capital.com simply doesn't have. For more on IG's spread betting capabilities, see our IG spread betting review.

Screenshot of the IG mobile spread betting app showing US Tech 100 daily chart, account balance, and buy and sell prices.
IG packs a lot of information into its app — ideal if you want depth, but it can feel heavier compared to simpler layouts.

Pros

  • 17,000+ markets – unmatched range
  • ProRealTime advanced charting on mobile
  • Weekend trading on select markets
  • Apple Watch app for prices and alerts

Cons

  • Steep learning curve – not beginner-friendly
  • Slower notification delivery in testing
  • Highest battery drain (25% over 4 hours)

Charting and Analysis

Once you're past the learning curve, there's a lot here. ProRealTime integration brings advanced charting to mobile — more indicators, more drawing tools, more customisation than either competitor. If you're a technical trader who lives in charts, IG delivers. The trade-off is speed: charts load in 2-3 seconds versus Capital.com's sub-second.

Market Access

17,000+ markets is not marketing fluff. We searched for obscure ETFs, minor forex pairs, and niche commodities — IG had them. Capital.com's range is solid (5,000+), but IG's is genuinely unmatched.

Weekend trading is available on select markets — crypto, weekend indices, and a few others. If you want to trade on Saturday, IG is one of the few options.

Battery and Additional Features

Battery drain measured 25% over a 4-hour session. The highest of the three, likely due to ProRealTime's resource demands.

Apple Watch app exists — lets you check prices and set basic alerts from your wrist. Neither Capital.com nor SpreadEx offer this.

Visit IG Read Full Review

Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 68% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

iOS vs Android: Why the Rating Gap

Every app scores higher on iOS than Android. Capital.com's gap is smallest (0.1 stars), SpreadEx's is largest (0.3 stars). This isn't coincidence — it's a pattern across the entire trading app category.

Why iOS Consistently Wins

Device standardisation. Apple controls the hardware. Developers optimise for a handful of iPhone models. Android developers face thousands of device combinations, screen sizes, and manufacturer skins.

Bar chart comparing iOS and Android app ratings for Capital.com, SpreadEx, and IG, showing higher average ratings on iOS.
The rating gap isn't random — device consistency and OS updates clearly influence how trading apps perform across platforms.

OS fragmentation. As of early 2026, Android 14 holds the largest market share at roughly 35%, but Android 12 and 13 still account for another 30% combined. iOS users update faster, so developers can use newer features confidently.

App Store review process. Apple's stricter review catches bugs before release. Google Play's lighter touch means more issues reach users.

What This Means For You

If you're on iPhone, all three apps will perform well. If you're on Android, Capital.com offers the most consistent experience — the 0.1-star gap suggests near-parity between platforms. SpreadEx's 0.3-star gap is worth noting if you're an Android user weighing options.

Tablet Performance

We tested briefly on iPad Pro and Samsung Galaxy Tab S9. Capital.com scales well — the extra screen real estate makes charting genuinely better. IG's app also benefits from larger screens. SpreadEx feels unchanged — the interface doesn't adapt to tablet dimensions as intelligently.

Download and First Trade

Each app is free to download. Here's the quick-start for each:

Capital.com

Download from App Store or Google Play. Register with email or Apple/Google sign-in. Verify identity (photo ID + selfie — takes 5-10 minutes). Deposit minimum £20 via card, Apple Pay, or bank transfer. Search for a market, tap Buy or Sell, confirm.

SpreadEx

Download from App Store or Google Play. Register with email. Verify identity (may take up to 24 hours). Deposit minimum £1 via card or bank transfer. Select market, place trade.

IG

Download from App Store or Google Play. Register — requires more detail than competitors (employment, trading experience). Verify identity. Deposit minimum £250 via card or bank transfer. Search for market, select position size, confirm.

Note on verification: All three brokers are FCA-regulated and require identity verification before you can trade. Capital.com's process was fastest in our experience — verified within 10 minutes. IG's was slowest, sometimes taking 24-48 hours.

If you're new to spread betting, consider starting with a demo account. Our beginner's guide to trading platforms covers the basics of getting started safely.

Which App Should You Choose

Three apps. Three different approaches.

Capital.com is for traders who value speed and simplicity. Three taps to trade. Sub-second chart loads. Clean interface. If you trade frequently and want friction removed, this is it. The 4.8-star iOS rating isn't accidental.

SpreadEx is for traders who want a reliable, established platform without unnecessary complexity. The trading interface is straightforward, TradingView integration is solid, and the company has been doing this since 1999. The lack of 2FA is a genuine weakness, but the core functionality is sound.

IG is for traders who prioritise market access and research depth. 17,000+ markets. ProRealTime charting. Weekend trading. Apple Watch support. The trade-off is complexity — this app assumes you know what you're doing.

Our pick: Capital.com wins for most UK spread bettors. It's fast, clean, and does the core job exceptionally well. But the right app is the one that fits your trading style — not the one with the highest rating.

For full broker comparisons including spreads, funding costs, and regulation details, see our main spread betting guide.

Common Questions

Why do Android apps consistently rate lower than iOS?

Device fragmentation. Android runs on thousands of hardware configurations, making it harder to optimise. iOS runs on a controlled set of Apple devices, so apps perform more predictably. It's not that Android apps are worse — they just face a harder technical challenge.

Can I use these apps on iPad or Android tablet?

Yes, all three work on tablets. Capital.com and IG adapt their interfaces for larger screens. SpreadEx runs but doesn't take full advantage of tablet dimensions.

What happens if the app crashes mid-trade?

Your position remains open on the broker's servers — it doesn't close automatically. When you reconnect, you'll see your position as it was. Set stop-losses before entering trades to protect against this scenario.

Can I run multiple spread betting apps on one phone?

Absolutely. Many traders keep two or three installed — one primary, others for comparison or specific markets. There's no conflict between them.

Do any of these apps support Apple Watch?

Only IG. The Apple Watch app lets you check prices and set basic alerts, but you can't execute trades from your wrist. Capital.com and SpreadEx have no Watch apps as of February 2026.

Why doesn't SpreadEx have two-factor authentication?

Unknown. It's an oversight that's hard to justify in 2026. SpreadEx uses email verification for sensitive actions, but that's weaker than app-based 2FA. If security is a priority, this may influence your choice.

Can I switch between demo and live accounts in the same app?

Yes on all three. Capital.com makes this easiest — a toggle in the top corner switches instantly. IG requires logging out and back in with different credentials. SpreadEx's demo/live switching is straightforward.

Are spread betting profits really tax-free?

For most UK residents, yes — HMRC classifies spread betting as gambling rather than investing, so profits are exempt from Capital Gains Tax and Stamp Duty. However, tax treatment depends on individual circumstances. If spread betting is your primary income source, take professional advice.

References

  • Apple App Store — Capital.com, SpreadEx, IG app listings and ratings. Retrieved February 2026.
  • Google Play Store — Capital.com, SpreadEx, IG app listings and ratings. Retrieved February 2026.
  • Financial Conduct Authority — FCA Register. Regulation status verified for all three brokers.
  • Financial Services Compensation Scheme — FSCS protection up to £85,000 confirmed.
  • Capital.com — Official website. Platform specifications and market data.
  • SpreadEx — Official website. Founded 1999. FCA reference number 190941.
  • IG Group — Official website. Founded 1974, 17,000+ markets confirmed.