Best Stock CFDs Forex Brokers 2026

Every broker ranked here offers stock CFDs across global exchanges — US, UK, European, and Asian listings — with the leverage and short-selling access impossible on cash shares.

Updated April 2026 127 brokers analyzed Editorially independent
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How We Rank Brokers

Stock CFDs give you 5:1 leverage on equity moves, easy short-selling, and multi-market access from one account. Trade-offs: no voting rights, no physical ownership, and financing costs on held positions.

Stock Universe (30%)

Number of stock CFDs across global exchanges

Stock CFD Costs (25%)

Typical commissions and financing rates on positions

Regulation & Safety (20%)

Tier-1 regulatory licensing

Order Execution (15%)

Fill quality during earnings and news events

Pre/Post Market Access (10%)

Extended-hours trading on US stocks

Top 10 Brokers for Stock CFD Trading

Ranked by stock universe size, commission and financing structure, execution quality during earnings and news, pre/post-market access, and regulatory oversight.

#1

Saxo Bank

4.5
★★★★☆
Premium Tier FCA · FINMA · ASIC
Rating
4.5
Min Deposit
$0
Platforms
SaxoTraderGO · SaxoInvestor · SaxoTraderPRO
Regulation
FCA · FINMA · ASIC
Tier
Premium
Founded
1992
Why traders choose Saxo Bank

Saxo Bank is a FCA and FINMA-regulated broker operating since 1992 (34 years). With no minimum deposit and broad stock CFD coverage with dividend handling, it suits traders who prioritise leveraged equity exposure without share ownership.

#2

Interactive Brokers

4.4
★★★★☆
Premium Tier SEC · CFTC · FCA
Rating
4.4
Min Deposit
$2000
Platforms
IBKR GlobalTrader · IBKR API · IBKR Mobile
Regulation
SEC · CFTC · FCA
Tier
Premium
Founded
1978
Why traders choose Interactive Brokers

Headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, USA, Interactive Brokers offers stock CFD trading on thousands of globally listed equities. Expect typical raw spread of 0.2 pips plus $4.0 round-turn commission — competitive for this category.

#3

IG Group

4.6
★★★★★
Premium Tier FCA · BaFin · ASIC
Rating
4.6
Min Deposit
$250
Platforms
IG Trading Platform · TradingView · MetaTrader 4
Regulation
FCA · BaFin · ASIC
Tier
Premium
Founded
1974
Why traders choose IG Group

IG Group offers stock CFD trading on thousands of globally listed equities. The broker is notable for operating since 1974 (52 years), regulated by FCA and BaFin — factors that matter to traders looking at leveraged equity exposure without share ownership.

#4

CMC Markets

4.4
★★★★☆
Premium Tier FCA · ASIC · BaFin
Rating
4.4
Min Deposit
$0
Platforms
TradingView · MetaTrader 5 · MetaTrader 4
Regulation
FCA · ASIC · BaFin
Tier
Premium
Founded
1989
Why traders choose CMC Markets

Operating since 1989 (37 years) and regulated by FCA and ASIC, CMC Markets provides stock CFD trading across major global exchanges. The broker offers typical raw spread of 0.7 pips plus $5.0 round-turn commission, placing it among the more competitively-priced options on this list.

#5

eToro

4.3
★★★★☆
Premium Tier FCA · CySEC · ASIC
Rating
4.3
Min Deposit
$50
Platforms
eToro Proprietary Platform
Regulation
FCA · CySEC · ASIC
Tier
Premium
Founded
2007
Why traders choose eToro

eToro is a FCA and CySEC-regulated broker founded in 2007. With a $50.0 minimum deposit and broad stock CFD coverage with dividend handling, it suits traders who prioritise leveraged equity exposure without share ownership.

#6

XTB

4.4
★★★★☆
Premium Tier FCA · CySEC · KNF
Rating
4.4
Min Deposit
$0
Platforms
xStation 5 · xStation Mobile
Regulation
FCA · CySEC · KNF
Tier
Premium
Founded
2002
Why traders choose XTB

Headquartered in Warsaw, Poland, XTB offers stock CFD trading on thousands of globally listed equities. Expect typical spread of 0.9 pips on EUR/USD — competitive for this category.

#7

Plus500

3.9
★★★★☆
Premium Tier FCA · CySEC · ASIC
Rating
3.9
Min Deposit
$100
Platforms
Plus500 Mobile App · Plus500 WebTrader
Regulation
FCA · CySEC · ASIC
Tier
Premium
Founded
2008
Why traders choose Plus500

Plus500 offers stock CFD trading on thousands of globally listed equities. The broker is notable for founded in 2008, regulated by FCA and CySEC — factors that matter to traders looking at leveraged equity exposure without share ownership.

#8

Spreadex

4.6
★★★★★
Premium Tier FCA
Rating
4.6
Min Deposit
$0
Platforms
Spreadex Proprietary Platform
Regulation
FCA
Tier
Premium
Founded
1999
Why traders choose Spreadex

Operating since 1999 (27 years) and regulated by FCA, Spreadex provides stock CFD trading across major global exchanges. The broker offers typical spread of 0.6 pips on EUR/USD, placing it among the more competitively-priced options on this list.

#9

HYCM

4.6
★★★★★
Premium Tier FCA · DFSA
Rating
4.6
Min Deposit
$100
Platforms
MetaTrader 5 · MetaTrader 4 · HYCM Trader
Regulation
FCA · DFSA
Tier
Premium
Founded
1977
Why traders choose HYCM

HYCM is a FCA and DFSA-regulated broker operating since 1977 (49 years). With a $100.0 minimum deposit and broad stock CFD coverage with dividend handling, it suits traders who prioritise leveraged equity exposure without share ownership.

#10

Pepperstone

4.6
★★★★★
Premium Tier ASIC · FCA · BaFin
Rating
4.6
Min Deposit
$0
Platforms
TradingView · MetaTrader 5 · MetaTrader 4
Regulation
ASIC · FCA · BaFin
Tier
Premium
Founded
2010
Why traders choose Pepperstone

Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, Pepperstone offers stock CFD trading on thousands of globally listed equities. Expect typical raw spread of 0.1 pips plus $7.0 round-turn commission — competitive for this category.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about choosing a stock cfds forex broker

What's the benefit of trading stock CFDs over buying shares directly?
Three main benefits: leverage (typically 5:1 on stock CFDs vs no leverage on cash shares for retail), ability to short-sell easily (shorts on cash shares require complex borrow arrangements), and multi-market access from one account (UK, US, European, Asian shares in a single platform). Trade-offs: no voting rights, no physical share ownership, financing costs on held positions, and you're exposed to broker counterparty risk.
How many stock CFDs can I trade at these brokers?
The range is enormous. Saxo Bank and Interactive Brokers offer 10,000+ stock CFDs across global markets. IG and CMC sit around 8,000+. eToro offers a curated ~5,000 list. Focused brokers like IC Markets and Pepperstone offer 1,500-3,000 primarily focused on US/UK/EU names. For specific listings you need, check the broker's symbol list before committing.
Do I receive dividends on stock CFDs?
Not directly, but brokers apply a dividend adjustment. On the ex-dividend date, long positions get credited the net dividend (after withholding tax deductions), and short positions are debited the gross dividend. The economics end up roughly equivalent to holding the actual share, with minor differences on withholding tax recovery that affect high-dividend stocks held by international clients.
Are stock CFDs tax-efficient compared to cash shares?
Location-dependent. In the UK, CFDs and spread bets have different tax treatment than cash shares (spread bets are CGT-free; CFDs are subject to CGT but no stamp duty). In most other jurisdictions, CFDs face similar or slightly worse tax treatment than cash shares. Specific tax advice requires professional guidance for your jurisdiction.