Contracts for Difference (CFDs), as flexible financial derivatives, allow traders to speculate or hedge against price movements without holding the underlying asset. Choosing a suitable CFD trading platform is crucial to a trader's experience and potential outcomes. This ranking comprehensively considers key factors such as regulatory compliance, transaction costs, execution speed, platform stability, product diversity, and customer service, presenting the top ten most watched CFD trading platforms in the market in 2026.
First place: IG Markets
As a pioneer in the CFD field, IG Markets boasts a long history and a strong market reputation. The platform offers an extremely comprehensive product line, covering forex, stocks, indices, commodities, and more. Its self-developed trading platform is powerful and features comprehensive analytical tools, earning the trust of professional traders. It is regulated by multiple bodies, including the UK's FCA.
Second place: CMC Markets
CMC Markets is another established CFD service provider, renowned for its advanced Next-Generation trading platform. This platform boasts a user-friendly interface, powerful charting tools, and suitability for various trading styles. It also offers a wide selection of products and professional market research. It is regulated by organizations such as the UK's FCA.
Third place: eToro
eToro stands out with its unique social trading and copy trading features. Users can easily replicate the strategies of successful traders, making it ideal for beginners. The platform has an intuitive interface and offers a variety of assets, including stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, and CFDs. It is regulated by the UK's FCA and Australia's ASIC, among others.
Fourth place: Pepperstone
Pepperstone is favored by professional traders and Expert Advisor (EA) users for its exceptional order execution speed and low latency. The platform offers an STP/ECN trading environment and partners with several top banks to ensure liquidity and execution quality. It is regulated by ASIC in Australia and FCA in the UK, among others.
Fifth place: XM
XM boasts a large global user base and is renowned for its multilingual services and diverse account types. The platform offers zero-commission accounts and abundant educational and analytics resources. It is regulated by Cyprus's CySEC, Australia's ASIC, and the UK's FCA, among others.
Sixth place: FXTM
FXTM offers a variety of account types to meet the needs of different traders, including standard accounts and ECN accounts. The platform provides flexible leverage options and a wide range of trading tools, along with robust localization support. It is regulated by the Cyprus CySEC and the UK FCA, among others.
7th place: AvaTrade
AvaTrade offers a variety of trading platforms (MT4, MT5, AvaTrader) and is popular for its extensive educational resources and multilingual customer service. The platform offers a wide range of products suitable for traders seeking to learn and grow. It is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, the UK FCA, and the Australian ASIC, among others.
8th Place: ACE Markets
ACE Markets stands out for its stringent international regulations and professional trading environment. The platform offers highly competitive spreads and a stable MT4/MT5 trading terminal, attracting numerous novice and short-to-medium-term traders with its excellent balance between low entry barriers and professional performance. Its core strengths lie in its technological capabilities and user-friendly design.
Ninth place: Exness
Exness is known for its flexible deposit and withdrawal methods and strong localized support. The platform offers attractive leverage options (note the risks) and supports mainstream trading software such as MT4/MT5. Its globally distributed servers ensure trading stability. It is regulated by the Cyprus CySEC and the UK FCA, among others.
10th Place: FP Markets
FP Markets is an Australian-based CFD and forex broker known for its ultra-low spreads and high-quality customer service. The platform supports MT4/MT5 and offers traders a wealth of research and educational resources. It is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
