Best Brokers With Welcome Bonuses In The UK 2026

Author

Christian Harris

Christian is a UK-based investment writer who's been actively trading an array of financial instruments for over 10 years. Having used most of the major brokers in the UK, Christian provides valuable insights on all things investing for British traders.

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Editor

James Barra

James is a UK-based writer and investor with consultancy experience at some of Britain's largest financial organisations. James authors, edits and fact-checks content for a row of investing websites.

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Fact Checker

Tobias Robinson

Tobias is a UK director and partner at Investing.co.uk. He provides commentary on the financial markets in the UK and supports the testing team with first-hand observations from over two decades of active trading.

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Under the FCA’s rules, brokers selling CFDs and spread bets to retail clients in the UK cannot offer cash bonuses or trading credit that incentivise you to open an account. If you see deposit matches or “free trading money”, it’s most likely from a broker that is not licensed by the FCA, which means no FCA oversight and no FSCS protection if something goes wrong. 

Welcome bonuses can make a broker more appealing. A free credit, matched deposit, or extra trading perks can help you get started. But the details matter – bonuses often come with rules, limits, or conditions that are easy to miss.

This guide reveals the brokers with the best welcome offers and the details UK traders should check before signing up.

How Investing.co.uk Chose The Top Brokers For Sign-Up Deals

Our team reviewed each broker’s promotional offers in detail, verifying eligibility, terms and conditions, and how easy it is for clients to actually redeem the bonus.

Brokers were then ranked using our overall ratings system, which covers more than 200 factors, including platform reliability, fees, customer support, and payment methods, so that welcome bonuses are considered in the wider context of a broker’s quality.

What To Look For When Choosing A Sign-Up Bonus For Trading

What The Welcome Bonus Means

A welcome bonus is an offer you get when you open a new trading account, but these can take a few forms. Make sure you choose the deal that best suits your needs and trading style.

• Deposit match: The broker adds a percentage to your first deposit.
• No-deposit bonus: You get a small sum for free, often just to test the platform.
• Trading credit: Funds you can use to open trades, but may not be withdrawn right away.
• Reward points or perks: Sometimes less direct, like discounted fees or loyalty points.

At first, it can look like free money. However, we’ve spent countless hours over the years combing through terms and conditions, and bonuses almost always come with strings attached.

InstaForex offers a range of welcome bonuses to new users

The Terms & Conditions

Every bonus has rules. You need to read them. Some common conditions include:

• Minimum deposit: You may need to deposit a specified amount to qualify.
• Time limits: Some bonuses expire if you don’t use them fast enough.
• Withdrawal rules: You often can’t withdraw the bonus right away. You might have to trade a set volume first.
• Restricted products: Some bonuses are only applicable to specific markets, such as forex or CFDs.

If you skip the small print, you could end up disappointed.

Wagering Or Trading Requirements

This is the big one. Brokers usually want you to place trades worth many times the bonus before you can withdraw it.

For example:

1. You get a £50 bonus.
2. The broker states that you need to trade 30 times that amount.
3. That means £1,500 worth of trades before you can touch the bonus.

For casual traders, this can be unrealistic. Always check the multiplier.

Limits On Withdrawals

Some brokers let you withdraw profits from a bonus. Others don’t. Sometimes, the bonus is only ‘virtual credit.’ It allows you to trade, but you’ll never see the funds in your bank account.

Questions to ask:

• Can I withdraw the bonus itself?
• Can I withdraw profits made with the bonus?
• Do I lose the bonus if I withdraw my own funds early?

The answers change from broker to broker.

Bonus Size vs Practical Value

Bigger is not always better. A £200 bonus might look good. But if you need to trade £20,000 before you can use it, it may not be worth much.

No-Deposit Bonuses

These sound attractive. You don’t risk your own cash. However, they are usually very small—typically £10 or £20.

The catch:

• You may not be able to withdraw any funds until you meet the heavy trade requirements.
• They often serve as a test drive, rather than a genuine profit opportunity.

They can still help you learn a platform, but don’t expect them to replace your own deposit.

Loyalty vs One-Time Offers

Some brokers we’ve tested pair a welcome bonus with ongoing perks. Others simply offer you a one-time deal, and that’s it.

If you’re only interested in the welcome boost, this won’t be a concern. But if you’re in it for the long term, a smaller welcome bonus with fairer, ongoing rewards might be a better deal.

Expiry Dates

Most bonuses don’t last forever. Some expire in 30 days. Others in 90. If you don’t use the funds within the specified time, you will lose them.

That also means if the trading requirements are too steep for the timeframe, the bonus may be pointless. Always check the clock before you sign up.

Bonus Restrictions In The UK

UK-regulated brokers are not allowed to offer monetary or non-monetary incentives to trade CFDs or spreads for retail investors. This includes classic deposit bonuses or trading credit, with a narrow exemption for some research or information tools.

This means the flashiest promotions targeting UK traders typically come from offshore or unregulated firms. These brokerages often sit outside the FCA’s rules and the FSCS compensation scheme, so you will have far less protection if the firm fails, say for financial reasons, or if they refuse withdrawals.

The Risk Of Chasing Bonuses

It’s easy to get caught up in chasing offers across multiple brokers. But switching often just for a bonus can be a distraction.

Consider:

• Each bonus locks you into rules that may not suit your trading style.
• Constant switching can spread your funds too thin.
• You may end up trading more than you planned, simply to meet the requirements.

Practical Steps Before You Accept A Trading Bonus

Here’s a simple checklist:

Bottom Line

A welcome bonus can give you a head start. But it’s not free money. It’s an incentive designed to encourage you to trade.

The best welcome bonus is one you can actually use. Small, fair, and transparent beats big, restrictive, and confusing.

If you treat it as a nice extra, not the main reason to sign up, you’ll avoid most of the common pitfalls.

Further Reading