The Best Time To Trade Binary Options
Determining the best time to trade binary options is no easy task. But while it’s not an exact science, there are some key trading windows that offer higher levels of volume and volatility. This guide considers various underlying assets in more detail, from stocks and indices to forex, cryptocurrencies and commodities. Read on to find out the best time of day to trade binary options.
Binary Options Brokers UK
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Pocket Option provides ultra-short-term contracts, starting from just 5 seconds, on an intuitive platform ideal for novice traders. Payout rates exceed 90%, comparable with competitors, and the 'Double Up' and 'Rollover' functions enable additional earning possibilities. On the downside, its range of over 130 assets is less extensive than that of brokers such as Quotex, which offer more than 400 options.
Min Deposit Payout % Expiry Times $50 92% 5 seconds - 4 hours Bonus MetaTrader 4 Markets 50% Deposit Bonus Yes Forex, Stocks, Crypto, Commodities -
IQCent provides binary options featuring exceptional payouts up to 98%. The platform, albeit with basic analysis tools, accommodates various timeframes ranging from 1 minute to 1 month, supporting both short and long-term trading strategies. However, it is worth noting that stock binaries are unavailable.
Min Deposit Payout % Expiry Times $250 98% 5 seconds - 1 month Bonus MetaTrader 4 Markets 20% to 200% Deposit Bonus No CFD, Forex, Crypto, Commodities -
Capitalcore has broadened its range of trading products by adding binary options for forex, metals, and cryptocurrencies, offering returns of up to 95%. Designed for short-term traders, contract durations vary from 1 minute to 1 hour. The user-friendly web platform makes trading simple; just click 'Call' if you predict a price increase or 'Put' for a decrease.
Min Deposit Payout % Expiry Times $10 95% 1 minute - 1 hour Bonus MetaTrader 4 Markets - No CFD, Forex, Stocks, Crypto, Commodities -
CloseOption provides binary options trading on over 30 fiat and digital currencies via a user-friendly online platform. With 15 contract durations ranging from 30 seconds to 1 month, it caters to both short-term and long-term traders. New users receive a welcome bonus.
Min Deposit Payout % Expiry Times $5 95% 30 seconds - 1 month Bonus MetaTrader 4 Markets - No Forex, Crypto -
Videforex provides binary options with competitive returns, offering 20% payouts on cryptocurrencies and up to 98% on more stable assets. This outperforms many rivals. Traders can choose contracts ranging from 5 seconds to 1 month. Additionally, new users benefit from a welcome deposit bonus.
Min Deposit Payout % Expiry Times $250 98% 5 seconds - 1 month Bonus MetaTrader 4 Markets 20% to 200% Deposit Bonus No CFD, Forex, Stocks, Crypto, Commodities -
Engage in trading high-low binary options on currencies, metals, and cryptocurrencies, offering significant returns. Binary options provide a clear wager on the short-term movement of an asset.
Min Deposit Payout % Expiry Times $10 86% 1 minute - 48 hours Bonus MetaTrader 4 Markets - Yes CFD, Forex, Stocks, Crypto, Commodities -
RaceOption provides over 100 trading options with payouts reaching 95% and expiries starting from just 5 seconds. A minimum deposit of $250 allows clients to benefit from zero deposit fees, swift withdrawals, and an array of trading bonuses.
Min Deposit Payout % Expiry Times $250 95% 5 seconds - 30 days Bonus MetaTrader 4 Markets 20% - 200% Deposit Bonus No CFD, Forex, Stocks, Crypto, Commodities
Pocket Option
IQCent
Capitalcore
CloseOption
Videforex
Grand Capital
RaceoptionSafety Comparison
Compare how safe the The Best Time To Trade Binary Options are and what features they offer to protect traders.
| Broker | Trust Rating | FCA Regulated | Negative Balance Protection | Guaranteed Stop Loss | Segregated Accounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket Option | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | |
| IQCent | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | |
| Capitalcore | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| CloseOption | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| Videforex | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | |
| Grand Capital | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| Raceoption | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ |
Payments Comparison
Compare which popular payment methods the The Best Time To Trade Binary Options support and whether they have trading accounts denominated in British Pounds (GBP).
| Broker | GBP Account | Debit Card | Credit Card | Neteller | Skrill | Apple Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket Option | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| IQCent | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Capitalcore | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| CloseOption | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Videforex | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Grand Capital | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Raceoption | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
Mobile Trading Comparison
How good are the The Best Time To Trade Binary Options at mobile trading using apps or other mobile interfaces.
| Broker | Mobile Apps | iOS Rating | Android Rating | Smart Watch App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket Option | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| IQCent | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| Capitalcore | - | ✘ | ||
| CloseOption | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| Videforex | Android | ✘ | ||
| Grand Capital | ✔ | ✘ | ||
| Raceoption | iOS & Android | ✘ |
Beginners Comparison
Are the The Best Time To Trade Binary Options good for beginner traders, that might want an affordable setup to get started, along with good support and educational resources?
| Broker | Demo Account | Minimum Deposit | Minimum Trade | Support Rating | Education Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket Option | ✔ | $50 | $1 | ||
| IQCent | ✔ | $250 | $0.01 | ||
| Capitalcore | ✔ | $10 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| CloseOption | ✔ | $5 | $1 | ||
| Videforex | ✔ | $250 | $0.01 | ||
| Grand Capital | ✔ | $10 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| Raceoption | ✔ | $250 | $0.01 |
Advanced Trading Comparison
Do the The Best Time To Trade Binary Options offer features that allow for more advanced trading strategies?
| Broker | Automated Trading | Pro Account | Leverage | VPS | AI | Low Latency | Extended Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket Option | ✔ | ✘ | - | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
| IQCent | ✘ | ✘ | 1:500 | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Capitalcore | - | ✘ | 1:2000 | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| CloseOption | - | ✘ | - | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Videforex | ✔ | ✘ | 1:500 | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Grand Capital | ✔ | ✘ | 1:500 | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Raceoption | - | ✘ | 1:500 | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
Detailed Rating Comparison
Use this heatmap to compare our detailed ratings for all of the The Best Time To Trade Binary Options.
| Broker | Trust | Platforms | Mobile | Assets | Fees | Accounts | Support | Research | Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket Option | |||||||||
| IQCent | |||||||||
| Capitalcore | |||||||||
| CloseOption | |||||||||
| Videforex | |||||||||
| Grand Capital | |||||||||
| Raceoption |
Our Take On Pocket Option
"Pocket Option stands out with its intuitive web platform, delivering an excellent user experience for short-term binary traders. A $50 minimum deposit makes it accessible for beginners, and account setup is straightforward. However, its market offerings and regulatory credentials lag behind competitors."
Pros
- The variety of payment options surpasses most competitors, offering traders in numerous countries swift, secure, and convenient deposit processes.
- The MetaTrader platforms provide robust analysis and technical summaries tailored for short-term traders.
- Over the years, Pocket Option has won several annual awards from DayTrading.com, including the notable 'Best Binary Broker 2025' after enhancing its trading tools.
Cons
- To gain access to over 250 assets, a deposit of $1000 is required. Without this deposit, traders will only have access to a selection of 130 assets.
- Although binary brokers such as IQCent provide returns reaching 98% based on evaluations, others typically offer competitive payouts up to 92%.
- The 4-hour cap on binary contract durations limits long-term trading strategies. Options such as Videforex provide contracts with up to one-month terms, offering greater flexibility for traders.
Our Take On IQCent
"IQCent attracts traders seeking a simple binary options and CFD platform with minimal fees, multiple accounts, and copy trading. Begin in under a minute with a $250 deposit."
Pros
- The broker offers quick and dependable customer support around the clock, usually responding in under a minute during tests.
- The broker provides payouts of up to 98% on binary options, surpassing alternatives such as Pocket Option, which offers a maximum of 92%.
- IQCent is a rare binary options broker providing a copy trading service for passive traders.
Cons
- IQCent imposes a £10 monthly inactivity fee if a trader does not execute at least one trade each month.
- The market analysis provides only fundamental details, offering limited technical summaries and insights from analysts.
- The broker operates without oversight from a reputable regulator, which is typical for binary options companies.
Our Take On Capitalcore
"Capitalcore's main attractions are high leverage up to 1:2000 and no commission or swap fees. Nevertheless, weak regulation from the IFSA and a lack of educational resources leave it trailing behind top brokers."
Christian Harris
Reviewer
Pros
- Unlike the majority of brokers, Capitalcore provides a limitless demo account, which can be set up in less than five minutes.
- Despite being relatively new to the binary options market, its clear and user-friendly service secured it the runner-up position in DayTrading.com's 2025 'Best Binary Broker' award.
- The Capitalcore platform offers advanced charting tools and over 150 technical indicators, perfect for in-depth market analysis.
Cons
- Capitalcore's limited education and research offerings fall significantly behind industry leaders like IG, rendering it less ideal for aspiring traders.
- Capitalcore lacks regulation from major financial authorities, casting doubt on its reputation and raising concerns over the safety of client funds.
- Platform support is restricted to proprietary software, lacking integration with popular platforms like MetaTrader or cTrader. These industry-leading solutions provide integrated economic news and facilitate automated trading.
Our Take On CloseOption
"CloseOption is an excellent choice for traders looking for an intuitive binary options platform offering substantial returns and sign-up incentives."
Pros
- CloseOption hosts weekly trading competitions, awarding cash prizes to traders.
- The intuitive platform works seamlessly with nearly all web browsers.
- New traders can begin with just a £5 minimum deposit.
Cons
- CloseOption lacks regulation by a reputable financial authority.
- Binary options are exclusively offered for both traditional currencies and cryptocurrencies.
- Clients must deposit over $50,000 to be eligible for the highest returns.
Our Take On Videforex
"Videforex offers traders a straightforward, user-friendly platform to speculate on popular markets via binaries. The quick registration and web accessibility ensure an effortless start."
Pros
- Videforex has expanded its offerings, allowing traders to access popular cryptocurrencies like TON, ARB, PEPE, and SHIB, leading tech stocks such as Tesla, Meta, Nvidia, and Amazon, and a more varied FX portfolio including THB, ZAR, and MXN.
- Videforex frequently holds trading contests, providing both novice and seasoned traders with practice opportunities and cash prizes. Traders can participate with position sizes starting as low as 1 cent.
- Traders can achieve up to 98% returns on over 100 assets through the broker's binary options, aligning with competitors such as IQCent.
Cons
- The lack of educational resources is a significant disadvantage for novice traders. In contrast, leading firms offer blogs, videos, and live trading sessions.
- Videforex is not licensed by a reputable regulator, leaving traders with minimal or no protection, such as segregated client accounts.
- Based on recent tests, the client terminal requires enhancements, as its widgets occasionally become slow and unresponsive, which could affect traders' experience.
Our Take On Grand Capital
"Grand Capital is a solid choice for traders adept with MetaTrader and passive investors seeking copy trading and LAMM options. However, its regulatory standing falls short compared to rivals."
Pros
- High leverage up to 1:500
- A broad range of payment options and account currencies is available.
- Six accounts tailored to various trading styles and strategies.
Cons
- Elevated spreads on certain assets
- Minimal regulatory supervision.
- Basic education and market research
Our Take On Raceoption
"RaceOption attracts traders with its feature-packed binary options platform, offering frequent contests, account benefits, and copy trading. However, its unregulated nature presents minimal to no investor protections, according to our research."
Pros
- Returns on well-known assets such as EUR/USD can go up to 95%, outperforming many other options based on our analysis and boosting potential gains. Additionally, the initial three trades incur no risk in Silver and Gold accounts.
- RaceOption simplifies account funding with no-fee, near-instant deposits through bank cards and cryptocurrencies. Withdrawals are processed within one hour, guaranteed.
- RaceOption is among the select few brokers providing 24/7 multilingual video chat. However, our interactions suggest that their agents require better understanding of trading and regulatory matters.
Cons
- RaceOption, lacking both a demo account and educational resources, is not ideal for novice traders.
- The $250 minimum deposit, though still attainable for numerous retail investors, presents a higher entry barrier compared to platforms like Deriv and World Forex, which cater more to budget-conscious traders.
- RaceOption operates as an unregulated broker, offering high-risk trading with no investor compensation or legal remedies if trading or withdrawal problems arise.
When Is The Best Time To Trade Binary Options?
Binary options traders make a profit by predicting which direction the price of an asset will move. And as with most trading, the best time to open a position is normally when the market is busy, with activity from investors across the globe. With market excitement, a healthy amount of volatility and liquidity is generated, which is often needed for the underlying asset to reach its strike price before the contract expires.
Importantly, all assets which binary options can be used to speculate on have differing trading hours. For example, equities are reliant on the opening hours of their relevant stock market, while cryptos can be traded 24/7, including over the weekend.
Stocks
If you are speculating on shares, pay attention to the times at which the relevant stock market operates. For example, for UK companies listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), the best time to trade binary options on these assets will be between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM GMT. High-profile companies trading on the LSE include Shell, HSBC, Unilever and BP.
The share price of stocks can be heavily influenced by market events, such as fresh news stories, the publication of financial results or the introduction of new legislation. For example, in April 2010 an oil spill caused BP’s share price to plummet by 40% over several weeks. For traders, this might have been the best time to trade put binary options as the share price was on a rapid decline in the UK. It’s worth noting, though, that the payout would likely have been low. The whole market was aware of the oil spill issue, meaning binary options brokers would have been quick to reduce their payouts.
It is also common for news stories and other important announcements to occur out of LSE trading hours (after 4:30 PM) and therefore some investors might execute their best trades around the opening time of the LSE (8:00 AM), when the market has its first opportunity to react to overnight announcements.
Note, UK investors trading equities on international stock markets such as the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), should be aware of the market opening and closing times. The NYSE market hours are 2:30 PM to 9:00 PM GMT.
Forex
Investors can enter trades on forex binary options at any time. However, the best time to trade forex is often when the London Stock Exchange and another international market are open at the same time, such as the NYSE or TSE/TYO. These crossovers are arguably the most lucrative time of the day to trade binary options on currencies as more information on both markets will be available. There will also be more retail and institutional traders taking positions, improving liquidity and reducing fees.
Specifically, the crossovers between London and Tokyo and New York are considered the best time to trade currency pairs. The LSE and NYSE are open at the same time for four hours between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM GMT.
Indices
Indices measure the performance of a group of stocks. And trading binary options on a popular index effectively is, again, dependent on the respective market’s opening and closing hours. The best time to invest is when the indices’ corresponding exchange is open.
Investors focused on key UK-based indices such as the FTSE-100 have all the LSE trading hours to make trades (8:00 AM to 4:30 PM). However, the NYSE and NASDAQ are only open between 2:30 PM and 9:30 PM, so British traders can only make binary options trades in the afternoon and evening.
Commodities & Cryptocurrencies
Commodities are available nearly 24 hours a day during the week but not at the weekend, while cryptocurrencies are tradable all the time. The most advantageous time frame to trade OTC binary options on both commodities and cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, is usually when there is an increase in trading activity or volume around a particular asset.
For example, during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the amount of grain leaving Ukraine dramatically reduced, and since it is one the largest global producers of grain, the market price significantly increased. Many traders also use commodities to hedge against inflation. Here, the best time to trade is prior to a steep increase in inflation.
In contrast, cryptocurrencies went the other way in the early months of the war. The price of many coins began to fall, with some savvy binary options traders capitalising on the crash.
Trading Tips
Demo Trading
It’s good practice to study the market thoroughly before risking capital. Making use of binary options demo accounts will provide a real-time test environment and allow traders to simulate moves across different assets – essentially a paper exercise.
Additionally, educational support from the top brokers can provide key insights into how to successfully trade binary options as well as learning when it is the right time to enter a trade. Typically, these resources are online or available to download, usually as a pdf.
Follow A Strategy
Before opening a position, binary options traders need to think about their strategy. Depending on how they view risk and volatility could inform their approach, but it’s worth remembering that it’s difficult to trade binary options without any losses. Regardless of whether you’re trading 5-seconds, 1-minute or 1-day binary options, employing a solid risk management strategy is important.
Payment Timelines
Check your broker’s processing times because any funding delays might impact when you enter the market and risk you missing out on the best time to trade binary options. Fortunately, the best online trading brokers and sites offer almost instant deposits using eWallets like PayPal, Skrill and Neteller.
What Are The Best Times To Trade Binary Options?
Across all underlying asset classes, the best time to trade binary options is usually when there is a buzz in activity, high volatility or during a specific asset’s market hours. Increased trading volume or significant geopolitical events offer a great opportunity to capitalise on market movements. Traders wanting to speculate on international assets or use market-specific information will find it best to trade in the hours the respective exchange is open.
Use our list of leading binary options brokers to get started today.
FAQ
Can You Trade Binary Options 24/7?
Binary options trading times are usually restricted to the opening hours of the assets on which a trader is speculating. For example, if a binary options trader wants to speculate on BT stock, then they only can do so during the London Stock Exchange trading hours. The only asset which is available to trade 24/7 is cryptocurrency.
What Is The Best Time Frame To Trade Binary Options?
The time frame in which to trade binary options depends on the investor’s appetite for active trading. If an active trader wants to enter several positions throughout the day, they might opt for 1- or 5-minute time frames. Investors speculating over a longer period might opt for hourly or even daily binary options.
Can I Trade Binary Options At The Weekend?
Yes, but only on cryptocurrencies. All other asset classes are restricted by their respective market hours. For example, FTSE-listed stocks are available between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM GMT.
Can I Trade Binary Options In The UK?
The FCA banned UK brokers from offering binary options. As a result, traders must sign up with brokerages that are regulated by other reputable financial bodies, and firms registered offshore.
Can I Trade Binary Options On MT4?
Yes, both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 support binary options trading. The terminals offer multiple charting types, a selection of timeframes and the timezone in the platforms can be set to GMT.