Best Stock CFD 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 October 2026Every broker in our database 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 Forex Brokers

Ranked on the factors above — this order reflects fit for this specific use case, not overall broker quality. The rating shown on each card is our general assessment, which is why a lower-rated broker can rank higher here.

#1

IG Group

4.4
★★★★½
ASICFCABaFin
Overall rating
4.4
EUR/USD
0.72
Min Deposit
$0
Platforms
IG Trading Platform · MetaTrader 4 · TradingView
Regulation
ASIC, FCA, BaFin
Founded
1974
Why IG Group ranks here

Holds 3 tier-1 licences (ASIC, FCA, BaFin). Operating since 1974. EUR/USD averages 0.72 pips.

#2

CMC Markets

4.4
★★★★½
ASICFCABaFin
Overall rating
4.4
EUR/USD
0.53
Min Deposit
$0
Platforms
CMC Next Generation · MetaTrader 4 · MetaTrader 5
Regulation
ASIC, FCA, BaFin
Founded
1989
Why CMC Markets ranks here

Holds 3 tier-1 licences (ASIC, FCA, BaFin). Operating since 1989. EUR/USD averages 0.53 pips.

#3

Saxo Bank

4.1
★★★★
FINANSTILSYNETFCAFINMAMASSFCJFSA
Overall rating
4.1
EUR/USD
1
Min Deposit
$0
Platforms
SaxoTraderGO · SaxoTraderPRO · SaxoInvestor
Regulation
FINANSTILSYNET, FCA, FINMA
Founded
1992
Why Saxo Bank ranks here

Holds 6 tier-1 licences (FINANSTILSYNET, FCA, FINMA, MAS, SFC, JFSA). Operating since 1992. EUR/USD averages 1 pip.

#4

Interactive Brokers

4.2
★★★★
CFTCFCASEC
Overall rating
4.2
EUR/USD
0.65
Min Deposit
$0
Platforms
Trader Workstation (TWS) · IBKR Mobile · IBKR GlobalTrader
Regulation
CFTC, FCA, SEC
Founded
1978
Why Interactive Brokers ranks here

Holds 3 tier-1 licences (CFTC, FCA, SEC). Operating since 1978. EUR/USD averages 0.65 pips.

#5

Plus500

3.7
★★★½
ASICFCAMAS
Overall rating
3.7
EUR/USD
1.2
Min Deposit
$100
Platforms
Plus500 WebTrader · Plus500 Mobile App
Regulation
ASIC, CySEC, FCA
Founded
2008
Why Plus500 ranks here

Holds 3 tier-1 licences (ASIC, FCA, MAS). Operating since 2008. EUR/USD averages 1.2 pips.

#6

Capital.com

3.8
★★★★
FCAASIC
Overall rating
3.8
EUR/USD
0.72
Min Deposit
$20
Platforms
Capital.com Platform · MetaTrader 4 · TradingView
Regulation
FCA, CySEC, ASIC
Founded
2016
Why Capital.com ranks here

Holds 2 tier-1 licences (FCA, ASIC). Operating since 2016. EUR/USD averages 0.72 pips.

#7

eToro

3.8
★★★★
ASICFCAMAS
Overall rating
3.8
EUR/USD
1
Min Deposit
$50
Platforms
eToro Platform
Regulation
ASIC, CySEC, FCA
Founded
2007
Why eToro ranks here

Holds 3 tier-1 licences (ASIC, FCA, MAS). Operating since 2007. EUR/USD averages 1 pip.

#8

XTB

3.6
★★★½
KNFFCABAFINCNMV
Overall rating
3.6
EUR/USD
1.17
Min Deposit
$0
Platforms
xStation 5 · xStation Mobile
Regulation
KNF, FCA, CYSEC
Founded
2002
Why XTB ranks here

Holds 4 tier-1 licences (KNF, FCA, BAFIN, CNMV). Operating since 2002. EUR/USD averages 1.17 pips.

#9

Forex.com

3.8
★★★★
FCAASICCIROMASJFSACFTC/NFA
Overall rating
3.8
EUR/USD
1
Min Deposit
$100
Platforms
Forex.com Web Trader · MetaTrader 4 · MetaTrader 5
Regulation
FCA, ASIC, CIRO
Founded
2001
Why Forex.com ranks here

Holds 6 tier-1 licences (FCA, ASIC, CIRO, MAS, JFSA, CFTC/NFA). Operating since 2001. EUR/USD averages 1 pip.

#10

Vantage

4.1
★★★★
ASICFCA
Overall rating
4.1
EUR/USD
1.37
Min Deposit
$50
Platforms
MetaTrader 4 · MetaTrader 5 · cTrader
Regulation
ASIC, CySEC, FCA
Founded
2009
Why Vantage ranks here

Holds 2 tier-1 licences (ASIC, FCA). Operating since 2009. EUR/USD averages 1.37 pips.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about choosing a stock cfd 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.

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