Binary Options Alternatives

In our recent assessment, Pepperstone remains a top-tier CFD broker, renowned for its speed and reliability. With execution times averaging 30ms and a remarkable 99.90% fill rate, traders benefit from a smooth experience free from requotes and dealing desk disruptions. Additionally, it offers extensive opportunities with access to more than 1,300 assets.

XTB provides an extensive choice of over 2,100 CFDs, covering forex, indices, commodities, stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies, depending on location. In the EU and UK, leverage is capped at 1:30, while global clients and professional traders can benefit from leverage up to 1:500. Renowned for its trading resources and tutorials, XTB excels in helping traders devise effective short-term strategies.

CMC enables trading of CFDs on over 12,000 assets, including currencies, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, and treasuries. In 2025, new equities will feature sectors like quantum computing, AI learning, and digital car sales. Enjoy competitive spreads without hidden fees, and leverage the renowned MetaTrader 4 platform. Consistently, CMC stands out as a leading CFD broker.

FXCC provides a modest selection of CFDs beside forex, including metals, energies, indices, and cryptos. Nevertheless, it distinguishes itself by offering high leverage of up to 1:500. This feature appeals to seasoned traders wishing to enhance their purchasing power while betting on market fluctuations.

Trade over 2,250 CFDs anytime from Monday to Friday across key markets, including forex, commodities, indices, stocks, and bonds. IC Markets leverages deep liquidity and cutting-edge bridge technology to offer ideal trading conditions for scalpers, hedgers, and algorithmic traders.

FxPro provides a vast range of CFDs, including forex, commodities, indices, shares, and futures, which have expanded over time. The broker excels in analysis and charting, thanks to Trading Central integration, advanced order types, and custom indicators.

IG provides over 17,000 CFDs, giving traders more opportunities than most brokers. Investors can trade long or short on key markets such as equities, forex, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Additionally, customised price alerts and the IG Academy enrich the trading experience.

IC Trading excels in CFD trading, offering more than 2,250 assets across popular markets such as forex, commodities, indices, stocks, and bonds. With advanced bridge technology and substantial liquidity, the broker ensures favourable conditions for traders seeking leveraged short-term opportunities.

Eightcap provides an extensive selection of trading options with over 800 CFDs covering equities, indices, bonds, commodities, and digital currencies, subject to regional availability. Traders can access leverage ranging from 1:30 to 1:500. The platform is distinguished by its sophisticated tools, including an AI-powered economic calendar that tracks over 25 countries with filters for varying impact levels. Despite these strengths, Eightcap's selection of commodities, especially softs such as cotton and wheat, along with its range of precious metals and energy assets, remains limited and could benefit from further development.

With options for both long and short positions on over 5,500 CFDs in forex, stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies, FOREX.com stands out. The platform's unique Web Trader delivers an outstanding experience, featuring more than 80 technical indicators and average execution speeds of merely 20 milliseconds, providing an ideal setting for dedicated traders.

CMC Markets remains one of the few brokers allowing speculative trades on financial markets without capital gains tax on profits. No commission fees are charged for opening or closing positions. Additionally, its award-winning web platform is renowned for its excellent user experience.

Pepperstone provides a robust selection of over 1,200 spread betting instruments, including forex, indices, commodities, shares, and ETFs. Their spreads are highly competitive, beginning at 0.6 pips for EUR/USD, among the best we've encountered. Traders can access spread betting through MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView, offering greater platform flexibility than many competitors.

Spreadex distinguishes itself as a broker focusing on spread betting, providing access to over 10,000 instruments, comparable to leading firms such as IG. The platform offers comprehensive education on spread betting, including strategies, tips, and analysis. With intuitive TradingView charts and sophisticated order options, both novice and seasoned traders find excellent support.

Traders can engage with six asset categories via FxPro's bespoke trading platform, Edge. Although Edge is the sole platform offered for this purpose, it provides a robust trading interface. Users benefit from 50 technical indicators—surpassing the options available on MT4—as well as an economic calendar and price alerts. Customer service proved efficient during evaluations, promptly connecting us to an agent who adequately addressed our trading inquiries.

IG provides spread betting on over 17,000 markets, encompassing currencies, indices, shares, and commodities—surpassing most competitors. Uniquely, traders can also place spread bets on IPOs, facilitating portfolio diversification for the seasoned. For the casual trader, IG features weekend market spread betting, a rare and valuable offering.

Trade Nation provides numerous instruments through spread betting, but it falls short compared to leading options like CMC Markets with over 12,000 and Spreadex with more than 10,000. In our tests, the TN Trader platform stood out as an excellent choice for newcomers, largely due to its simple fixed-spread approach. However, the availability of only one platform for spread betting makes the broker less flexible than most rivals.

Vantage provides commission-free spread betting on forex, indices, and precious metals. With 15 indices, including the VIX and Bovespa, it appeals to seasoned equity traders. Notably, Vantage offers an unlimited demo account for ongoing strategy practice, a rarity among brokers.

City Index provides access to over 8,500 spread betting instruments, including bonds, ETFs, and interest rates, via its award-winning web platform. The broker offers competitive spreads, starting at just 0.2 pips on EUR/USD, making it a formidable rival to major competitors such as Pepperstone. Featuring 16 chart types, more than 80 technical indicators, and a performance analytics tool, City Index is an excellent choice for both novice and seasoned traders.

UK traders benefit from competitive rates at FXCM, starting from £0.07 per point. Spread betting is accessible across all platforms, providing a flexible choice for novices. However, obtaining reliable assistance might be difficult. Our experience found customer support lacking, as the agent needed clarification on a simple spread betting question, which was frustrating.

Axi provides an exceptional spread betting service for UK and Ireland residents. Its strengths lie in its 24/5 customer support and seamless three-step trading process for currencies, stocks, indices, and commodities.

Founded in 1974, IG is a part of IG Group Holdings Plc, a publicly listed brokerage (LSE: IGG). The company provides spread betting, CFD, and forex trading, offering access to over 17,000 markets. Its platforms and investing apps are notably user-friendly. Over the past 50 years, IG has consistently been an industry leader, excelling in all essential areas for traders.

Established in 1999, FOREX.com is now integrated into StoneX, a prominent financial services entity catering to more than one million clients globally. The broker is regulated in numerous jurisdictions, including the US, UK, EU, and Australia. It offers a vast array of markets beyond forex, delivering competitive pricing on state-of-the-art trading platforms.

Founded in 2001, easyMarkets has earned a reputation as a reliable fixed spread broker. With continuous advancements, it distinguishes itself in the market. The firm has integrated the MetaTrader suite and TradingView, and enhanced unique risk management tools such as dealCancellation.

Founded in 2008 and based in Israel, Plus500 is a leading brokerage with over 25 million registered traders across more than 50 countries. It focuses on CFD trading, offering a user-friendly proprietary platform and mobile app. The company provides competitive spreads and does not impose commissions or charges for deposits or withdrawals. Plus500 stands out as a highly trusted broker, licensed by respected authorities such as the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC.

Founded in 1983, City Index is a prestigious broker, now under the Nasdaq-listed StoneX Group. It excels in forex, CFDs, and spread betting. With access to over 13,500 instruments, City Index provides a dynamic Web Trader platform, exceptional educational materials, and round-the-clock support five days a week, ensuring a thorough trading experience.

Spreadex, regulated by the FCA, provides spread betting across 10,000+ CFD instruments, including 60 forex pairs. Traders have the option to engage in short-term positions on sporting events as well. With a history exceeding 20 years, the company has earned numerous accolades.

NinjaTrader, based in the US and overseen by regulatory authorities, specialises in futures trading. It provides three distinct pricing plans to cater to various budgets and requirements, alongside exceptionally low margins on popular contracts. The platform's renowned charting software allows extensive customization and offers outstanding technical analysis tools.

Interactive Brokers (IBKR), a leading brokerage, offers access to 150 markets across 33 countries and provides extensive investment services. With more than 40 years of experience, this Nasdaq-listed company complies with strict regulations from the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC. It is among the most reliable brokers worldwide for traders.

Firstrade, based in the US, operates as a discount broker-dealer and is authorised by the SEC. The firm is a member of both FINRA and SIPC. Firstrade Securities stands out as a leading online brokerage, offering enticing welcome bonuses, robust tools and apps, and commission-free trading. Opening a new account is straightforward and efficient.

Founded in 1996, Swissquote is a prominent Swiss bank and broker, providing online trading opportunities for an impressive portfolio of three million products, including forex, CFDs, futures, options, and bonds. Renowned for its reliability, Swissquote has earned a solid reputation through pioneering trading solutions. It was the first bank to introduce cryptocurrency trading in 2017, and has since expanded its offerings to include fractional shares and the Invest Easy service.