Use our comparison tables to compare the best professional trading accounts for CFD, Forex and spread betting brokers authorised and regulated by the FCA. Choose or switch to a professional account that offers the most markets, best pricing and client security.
CFD trading carries a high level of risk and can result in losses that exceed your deposits. Featured brokers appear first. Learn about how brokers are ranked...
| Featured Broker | FX Spreads (pips from) | Index Spreads | Features | CEO Interview | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EURGBP:0.9 USDJPY:0.7 GBPUSD:0.9 EURUSD:0.6 |
FTSE: 1pt DOW: 1.6pt DAX: 1pt (Variable) |
SpreadBetting: CFDs: MT4: Listed PLC: FCA Reg.: Markets:16,000+ Clients:195,000 |
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Visit IG IG Reviews |
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EURGBP:0.6 USDJPY:0.9 GBPUSD:0.9 EURUSD:0.6 |
FTSE: 1pt DOW: 1.7pt DAX: 1pt (Variable) |
SpreadBetting: CFDs: MT4: Listed PLC: FCA Reg.: Markets:15,000 |
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Visit CMC CMC Reviews |
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EURGBP:1 USDJPY:1 GBPUSD:1 EURUSD:1 |
FTSE: 1pt DOW: 1.6pt DAX: 1pt (Variable) |
SpreadBetting: CFDs: MT4: Listed PLC: FCA Reg.: |
Read Tamas Szabo CEO Interview |
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Pepperstone Reviews |
How and where to compare professional trading accounts for CFDs and Spread Betting
First of all, professional CFD and spread betting accounts are not for everyone. I've been involved in spread betting and CFDs for about twenty years, but of late there has been a real move to make CFDs and spread betting mass-market products. However, they are not.
There are about 150,000 active traders in the UK, about 340,000 in EMEA and only about 100,000 in the US. Which is not really a lot, when you think about the size of the overall investing markets.
No matter how many brokers sponsor football teams, or how many flash little gits you see on Instagram bragging about their Forex profits, derivatives is not for the masses.
Trading spread betting (compare spread betting brokers here) and CFDs (compare CFD brokers here)Â is very risky and as per the new ESMA required risk warnings around 75% of traders lose money. But who knows what that is based on, or how accurate the reporting is, or even if it's even relevant.
But never the less, traders will trade and they will want to make the most efficient use of their risk capital by searching for a broker that offers the best margins, rates and access.
How to compare professional trading accounts?
The key differences between brokers offering professional trading accounts are:
- Margin rates
- Commission rates
- Spread width
- Additional/restricted market access
- Voice brokerage/personal account managers
Where to compare professional trading accounts?
Brokers are a bit fussy about comparison sites comparing margin rates so we've put together a comparison table of brokers that offer professional trading accounts.
All brokers in our professional trading account list are regulated by the FCA and offer higher leverage to traders that can prove they are of professional status. In some cases, these brokers will offer discounted commission rates for high volume traders.
There are of course risks upgrading your account to professional status and disadvantages with going offshore with an ASIC regulated broker.
How to compare professional trading accounts?
First of all if you are an experienced trader you may have the option with your broker to upgrade to professional account status. This means you will get lower margin rates and access to more markets that traders classified as retail traders.
Choosing a Professional Trading Account
Because of the new ESMA rules Spread betting and CFD platforms are therefore placing their hopes on professional client accounts, but how can you make sure you choose the best option?
New restrictions from the ESMA threaten to put the party on hold for spread betting firms, but they have responded by opening up a host of professional trading platforms. But how do these work, can you qualify and how do you tell the difference between them?
Besides that professional clients are deemed capable of making their own investment decisions. Criteria may change a little from platform to platform, but generally speaking you will need to have been working in a professional position in financial services for at least a year, have a portfolio of at least €500 and you must have a certain level of professional trading experience.
What are the advantages of upgrading to a professional trading account
There are therefore many good reasons to upgrade to a professional account. First, you’ll sidestep the ESMA rules. You’ll be treated as someone who knows what they are doing and understands the risks they are taking on.
You’ll be given a dedicated client account manager and access to the latest and most sophisticated trading software. Most will also offer reductions on margin rates. Most importantly you'll get better margin rates when trading CFDs or spread betting in a professional account.
Disadvantages of becoming a professional trader
There are risks. As result a professional client, you’ll waive some of the FCA protections given to retail clients. Negative balance protection does not apply, so if your losses exceed your balance you could be in trouble.
Professional trading account margin rates
As with any platform they are not all created equal. Each one may differ in the margins it charges. One Capital, for example, advertises margin rates from 0.35% on major currency indices while another offers 0.25%.
Commission reductions for professional trading accounts
Some professional trading accounts also offer rebates for higher volume trading. Or may even offer a reduction in trading commissions for high volume accounts
They may also differ in the amount of support they offer and the accessibility of their service. Because you’re classified as a professional investor, many firms may assume a certain level of knowledge on your part. This means the language may be more complicated and they may offer little in the way of tuition, or expert support.
Who can you trade in a professional trading account?
When choosing a professional trading platform, then, you need to firstly check that you are eligible, and secondly decide what you want to trade and how frequently. Depending on the fee structures this could greatly affect how much you pay.
In conclusion what is the difference between professional and retail status?
All in all, they are a good option for those people who qualify to enjoy more sophisticated tools and lower margins on their trades. They get around the ESMA restrictions, and help you continue spread betting in much the same way as you were before. However, this is only something to get involved with if you know what you are doing. The clue’s in the name ‘professional’.
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