Low Cost CFD Trading
The cheapest CFD platform is the one with the smallest bill once every charge is added up, not the one with the loudest headline. Pepperstone posts the tightest EUR/USD spread reviewed here at 0.0. The twelve platforms below are ranked on the spread first, then the ticket price at the door. This is the bill, itemised.
Cost in CFD trading works like a restaurant bill with more than one line. The spread is the standing charge that appears on every trade. Commission is the cover charge on raw-spread accounts. Overnight funding is the late fee on positions held past the close. A platform can look cheap on one line and dear on another, so the whole bill has to be read together.
This list orders platforms by the EUR/USD spread, because it is the single most traded cost and the easiest to compare on a like for like basis. Where spreads tie, the lower minimum deposit wins, then the strength of the licence. A tight spread on an unregulated platform is not a bargain, so every entry here also holds a public licence.
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Posts a 0.0 EUR/USD spread, a raw-spread level that usually carries a separate commission. Entry costs nothing at the door, and it is licensed by FCA, ASIC, CySEC.
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Posts a 0.0 EUR/USD spread, a raw-spread level that usually carries a separate commission. Entry costs nothing at the door, and it is licensed by ASIC, FCA, DFSA.
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Posts a 0.0 EUR/USD spread, a raw-spread level that usually carries a separate commission. Entry costs nothing at the door, and it is licensed by FCA.
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Posts a 0.0 EUR/USD spread, a raw-spread level that usually carries a separate commission. Entry costs nothing at the door, and it is licensed by ASIC, VFSC.
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Posts a 0.0 EUR/USD spread, a raw-spread level that usually carries a separate commission. Entry costs nothing at the door, and it is licensed by FCA, SCB.
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Posts a 0.0 EUR/USD spread, a raw-spread level that usually carries a separate commission. Entry costs nothing at the door, and it is licensed by FMA, FSA.
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Posts a 0.0 EUR/USD spread, a raw-spread level that usually carries a separate commission. Entry costs nothing at the door, and it is licensed by IFSC.
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Posts a 0.0 EUR/USD spread, a raw-spread level that usually carries a separate commission. Entry costs a $1 minimum, and it is licensed by FCA, ASIC, FSA.
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Posts a 0.0 EUR/USD spread, a raw-spread level that usually carries a separate commission. Entry costs a $1 minimum, and it is licensed by CySEC, FSA.
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Posts a 0.0 EUR/USD spread, a raw-spread level that usually carries a separate commission. Entry costs a $1 minimum, and it is licensed by IFSC.
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Posts a 0.0 EUR/USD spread, a raw-spread level that usually carries a separate commission. Entry costs a $1 minimum, and it is licensed by IFSC.
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Posts a 0.0 EUR/USD spread, a raw-spread level that usually carries a separate commission. Entry costs a $3 minimum, and it is licensed by CySEC, FCA, FSA.
Kitchen inspection method
Spreads above are the posted EUR/USD figures from the reviewed dataset, and each platform licence was confirmed on its public register before it earned a place on the cost table. The full method is set out on the how the kitchen is inspected page.
Traders who compare only the headline spread often overpay. A raw-spread account near zero pips almost always adds a fixed commission per lot, so the real cost is the spread plus that commission. A platform quoting a wider fixed spread with no commission can work out cheaper for small or infrequent trades.
Beyond the trade itself, three charges catch people out. Overnight funding accrues on any position held past the daily close. Currency conversion applies when a deposit is not in the account base currency. An inactivity fee starts once an account sits dormant for a set number of months. The minimum deposit guide and each broker review set out these figures in full.
Which CFD platform is the lowest cost?
Pepperstone posts the tightest EUR/USD spread on this list at 0.0, with a no minimum deposit entry. Raw-spread accounts often add a fixed commission, so the true bill is the spread plus that commission.
What is a low spread in CFD trading?
The spread is the gap between the buy and sell price, charged on every trade. On EUR/USD a raw spread near zero pips is the lowest tier, while a fixed spread above one pip is on the higher side. A tighter spread means a smaller standing charge on each round trip.
Are zero spread CFD accounts really free?
No. A zero or near-zero spread account usually charges a fixed commission per lot instead. The total cost is the spread plus the commission plus any overnight funding. Read the full bill, not just the headline spread.
Do low cost CFD platforms cut corners on safety?
Not the ones listed here. This shortlist only includes platforms that also hold a public licence, and Tier 1 cover breaks ties. A cheap platform with no register entry is left off.
What other fees should traders watch?
Overnight funding on held positions, currency conversion on non-base deposits, and inactivity fees after a dormant period. These sit outside the spread and can outweigh it for some trading styles.