CFD Trading for Beginners
Contracts for difference, also known as CFDs, allow investors to speculate on the price of financial markets without taking ownership of the underlying asset. CFDs are also usually traded with leverage, meaning clients can increase their position size (and potential profits), in return for a small deposit. Both characteristics make CFD trading popular with beginners.
This guide explains how to get started trading CFDs. We cover the merits and drawbacks of contracts for difference, beginner-friendly trading strategies, plus the top brokers in 2025. Use our CFD trading for beginners tutorial to get started.
Best CFD Brokers
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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.
FTSE Spread GBPUSD Spread Leverage 1.0 0.4 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) Stocks Spread FCA Regulated Platforms 0.02 Yes MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, DupliTrade, Quantower -
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.
FTSE Spread GBPUSD Spread Leverage 1.8 1.4 1:30 Stocks Spread FCA Regulated Platforms 0.2% Yes xStation -
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.
FTSE Spread GBPUSD Spread Leverage Variable 1.0 1:500 Stocks Spread FCA Regulated Platforms NA No MT4, MT5 -
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.
FTSE Spread GBPUSD Spread Leverage 1.0 0.23 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global) Stocks Spread FCA Regulated Platforms 0.02 No MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade, Quantower -
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.
FTSE Spread GBPUSD Spread Leverage 171.63 0.6 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) Stocks Spread FCA Regulated Platforms Variable Yes FxPro Edge, MT4, MT5, cTrader, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, DupliTrade, Quantower -
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.
FTSE Spread GBPUSD Spread Leverage 1.0 0.9 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro) Stocks Spread FCA Regulated Platforms 0.02 Yes Web, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, ProRealTime -
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.
FTSE Spread GBPUSD Spread Leverage 2.133 0.23 1:500 Stocks Spread FCA Regulated Platforms Variable No MT4, MT5, cTrader, AutoChartist, TradingCentral
Safety Comparison
Compare how safe the CFD Trading for Beginners are and what features they offer to protect traders.
Broker | Trust Rating | FCA Regulated | Negative Balance Protection | Guaranteed Stop Loss | Segregated Accounts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pepperstone | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
XTB | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
FXCC | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
IC Markets | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
FXPro | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
IG Index | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
IC Trading | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ |
Payments Comparison
Compare which popular payment methods the CFD Trading for Beginners support and whether they have trading accounts denominated in British Pounds (GBP).
Broker | GBP Account | Debit Card | Credit Card | Neteller | Skrill | Apple Pay |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pepperstone | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
XTB | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
FXCC | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
IC Markets | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
FXPro | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
IG Index | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
IC Trading | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
Mobile Trading Comparison
How good are the CFD Trading for Beginners at mobile trading using apps or other mobile interfaces.
Broker | Mobile Apps | iOS Rating | Android Rating | Smart Watch App |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pepperstone | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
XTB | iOS & Android | ✔ | ||
FXCC | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
IC Markets | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
FXPro | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
IG Index | iOS & Android | ✔ | ||
IC Trading | iOS & Android | ✘ |
Beginners Comparison
Are the CFD Trading for Beginners 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pepperstone | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
XTB | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
FXCC | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
IC Markets | ✔ | $200 | 0.01 Lots | ||
FXPro | ✔ | $100 | 0.01 Lots | ||
IG Index | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
IC Trading | ✔ | $200 | 0.01 Lots |
Advanced Trading Comparison
Do the CFD Trading for Beginners offer features that allow for more advanced trading strategies?
Broker | Automated Trading | Pro Account | Leverage | VPS | AI | Low Latency | Extended Hours |
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Pepperstone | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✔ | 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
XTB | Open API | ✔ | 1:30 | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
FXCC | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✘ | 1:500 | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
IC Markets | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cBots on cTrader, Myfxbook AutoTrade | ✘ | 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global) | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
FXPro | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cBots on cTrader | ✔ | 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
IG Index | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, build your own on ProRealTime | ✔ | 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro) | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ |
IC Trading | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cBots on cTrader | ✘ | 1:500 | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
Detailed Rating Comparison
Use this heatmap to compare our detailed ratings for all of the CFD Trading for Beginners.
Broker | Trust | Platforms | Mobile | Assets | Fees | Accounts | Support | Research | Education |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pepperstone | |||||||||
XTB | |||||||||
FXCC | |||||||||
IC Markets | |||||||||
FXPro | |||||||||
IG Index | |||||||||
IC Trading |
Our Take On Pepperstone
"Pepperstone is a premier trading platform, providing tight spreads, swift execution, and sophisticated charting tools for seasoned traders. Beginners benefit from no minimum deposit, comprehensive learning materials, and outstanding 24/7 support."
Pros
- Over the years, Pepperstone has consistently garnered recognition from DayTrading.com’s annual awards. Recently, it was honoured as the 'Best Overall Broker' in 2025 and was the 'Best Forex Broker' runner-up the same year.
- Support for top-tier charting platforms such as MT4, MT5, TradingView, and cTrader. These tools accommodate different short-term trading methods, including algorithmic trading.
- Pepperstone now offers spread betting via TradingView, delivering a streamlined and tax-efficient trading experience with sophisticated analytical tools.
Cons
- Pepperstone's demo accounts expire after 30 days, which may not provide sufficient time to explore various platforms and evaluate trading strategies.
- Pepperstone doesn't offer cTrader Copy, a favoured feature for copying trades found in the cTrader platform, which is available on other platforms such as IC Markets. However, Pepperstone has launched its own user-friendly copy trading app.
- Although its market range has improved, its crypto offerings remain limited compared to brokers specialising in this sector, lacking real coin investment options.
Our Take On XTB
"XTB emerges as an ideal option for novice traders, offering the impressive xStation platform, zero commission pricing, no required minimum deposit, and outstanding educational resources, many of which are conveniently integrated into the platform."
Pros
- Top-notch customer support, available 24/5, includes a welcoming live chat with response times under two minutes during tests.
- Setting up an XTB account is straightforward and fully online, requiring only a few minutes. This simplicity eases new traders into the world of trading.
- XTB ensures swift access to funds, providing fast withdrawals with same-day payments for requests made before 1 pm.
Cons
- Trading fees are competitive, with average EUR/USD spreads of about 1 pip. However, they are not as low as the most affordable brokers, such as IC Markets. Additionally, an inactivity fee applies after a year.
- XTB has stopped supporting MT4, restricting traders to its own platform, xStation. This decision may discourage experienced traders accustomed to using the MetaTrader suite.
- It is frustrating that XTB products do not allow traders to modify the default leverage level. Manually adjusting leverage can greatly reduce risk in forex and CFD trading.
Our Take On FXCC
"FXCC remains a top choice for forex traders, offering over 70 currency pairs, very tight spreads from 0.0 pips in tests, and high leverage up to 1:500 with the ECN XL account."
Pros
- The complimentary education section, featuring the 'Traders Corner' blog, provides a wide array of resources suitable for traders of all experience levels.
- FXCC offers competitive and transparent ECN spreads starting from 0.0 pips, with no commissions. This makes it one of the most cost-effective forex brokers available.
- FXCC is a trusted and licensed broker under the regulation of CySEC, a leading European authority ensuring excellent safeguarding standards.
Cons
- The variety of currency pairs surpasses most options, but the choice of other assets is limited. Notably, stocks are absent.
- The range of research tools, such as Trading Central and Autochartist, is quite limited. Leading platforms in this category, like IG, offer more advanced features.
- While the MetaTrader suite excels in technical analysis, its outdated design detracts from the overall trading experience, particularly when contrasted with contemporary platforms such as TradingView.
Our Take On IC Markets
"IC Markets provides excellent pricing, swift execution, and easy deposits. With cutting-edge charting tools like TradingView and the Raw Trader Plus account, it continues to be a preferred option for intermediate and advanced traders."
Pros
- IC Markets provides some of the industry's narrowest spreads, offering 0.0-pip spreads on major currency pairs. This makes it an extremely cost-effective choice for traders.
- In 2025, IC Markets earned DayTrading.com's accolade for 'Best MT4/MT5 Broker' due to its top-tier MetaTrader integration. This achievement highlights the broker's continuous refinement over the years to enhance the platform experience.
- IC Markets provides reliable 24/5 support, especially for account and funding queries, drawing from direct experience.
Cons
- Although there are four top-tier third-party platforms available, the absence of in-house software or a trading app tailored for novice traders is notable.
- Interest is not paid on idle cash, a feature gaining popularity with alternatives such as Interactive Brokers.
- The tutorials, webinars, and educational resources require enhancement, lagging behind competitors such as CMC Markets, which diminishes their appeal to novice traders.
Our Take On FXPro
"FxPro is an excellent choice for traders, offering swift execution speeds under 12ms, reduced fees since 2022, and outstanding charting platforms like MT4, MT5, cTrader, and FxPro Edge."
Pros
- FxPro uses a 'No Dealing Desk' (NDD) model for swift and transparent order execution, usually within 12 milliseconds, making it well-suited for short-term trading strategies.
- FxPro provides four dependable charting platforms, including the user-friendly FxPro Edge. It features more than 50 indicators, 7 types of charts, and 15 different timeframes.
- FxPro's Wallet is a notable feature enabling traders to securely manage their funds. It ensures additional protection and ease by separating unused funds from active trading accounts.
Cons
- FxPro offers customer support five days a week around the clock, accessible via various platforms, and the service quality is reliable based on tests. However, the absence of weekend support can be a drawback for traders requiring help beyond standard market times.
- There are no passive investment options such as copy trading or interest on cash. While traders might not find these essential, competitors like eToro, which accommodate both active and passive investors, offer more extensive services.
- FxPro, with its $10M funded demo account and expanding Knowledge Hub, mainly caters to experienced traders. Beginners might find its account and fee structure challenging to understand.
Our Take On IG Index
"IG offers a complete package with an intuitive online platform, top-tier beginner education, advanced charting tools through its TradingView integration, real-time data, and swift execution for seasoned traders."
Pros
- The ProRealTime advanced charting platform remains free, provided traders meet modest monthly activity requirements.
- The IG app provides an excellent mobile trading experience with an intuitive design, earning it the Runner Up position in our 'Best Trading App' award.
- IG stands out with its extensive range of instruments, offering stocks, forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Additionally, it has recently introduced US-listed futures and options, along with an AI Index. These options enhance opportunities for diversification in trading.
Cons
- Beginners may find IG's fees complicated, as they vary depending on the trades or services. This could cause confusion and unexpected costs.
- In the UK and EU, negative balance protection is available. However, US clients lack account protection and guaranteed stop losses.
- IG imposes a monthly inactivity fee of $12 after two years, discouraging occasional traders.
Our Take On IC Trading
"IC Trading offers an ideal environment, featuring top-tier execution speeds of around 40 milliseconds, extensive liquidity, and advanced charting tools, perfect for scalpers, traders, and algorithmic traders."
Pros
- IC Trading provides exceptional flexibility, allowing traders to open as many as 10 live accounts and 20 demo accounts. This enables the management of distinct profiles for various activities, including manual and algorithmic trading.
- IC Trading offers top-tier spreads, with some major currency pairs like EUR/USD featuring spreads as low as 0.0 pips, making it an excellent choice for traders.
- The streamlined digital account setup allows traders to commence trading swiftly, eliminating lengthy paperwork. Testing shows the process takes mere minutes.
Cons
- Customer support was inadequate during testing, with multiple live chat attempts going unanswered and emails ignored. This raises significant concerns regarding their capacity to manage urgent trading issues.
- Although IC Trading operates under the reputable IC Markets group, it is licensed by the FSC in Mauritius, a regulator known for its limited financial transparency and lack of robust safeguards.
- Unlike IC Markets, IC Trading lacks support for social trading via the IC Social app or the ZuluTrade platform.
CFD Trading Basics For Beginners
CFDs are placed using the trader’s understanding of the market, and the trader is hoping that the price of the underlying asset will rise or fall so that the position can be sold for a profit. Investors make money from the difference between the buy price and the sell price.
Because CFDs are leveraged products, there are also financing costs that must be paid on the borrowed funds that the broker provides. The formula to work out your returns when CFD trading is:
Closing sell / buy price – initial buy / sell price – (interest x number of days) – transaction costs = profit/loss
Importantly, CFDs are different from shares because there is no yield, so you can only make money from the transaction itself. This is because CFDs are a derivative – the trader does not actually own the underlying asset, for example a UK stock or gold. Instead, traders simply speculate on the price.

Credit: Skilling
Trading On Margin
Margin trading refers to investing a percentage of the total cost of an asset, and having the rest lent to you by a broker. This allows traders to take on bigger positions when they don’t necessarily have big capital to invest. The percentage paid by the investor is determined by the broker, regulatory requirements, and the asset traded, but typically it’s between 5% and 20% of the total position size. If the market moves in the way you have predicted, you can keep the return, and pay the same amount of money back to the broker (minus any fees).
Importantly, most FCA-regulated brokers cap leverage to 1:30 for retail traders. As outlined above, margin trading opportunities also vary depending on the asset traded, with most brokers offering lower leverage rates on volatile markets like cryptos.
Let’s look at an example of a leveraged CFD trade:
If you are looking to buy a share in a company that costs $200, and your broker offers CFDs with a 20% margin, then you are able to buy one share for $40 while your broker lends you $160. If your position is closed when the share price is $250, then you return the same $160 to your broker, get your $40 investment back, and also get the additional $50 from your trade. Subtract any fees, and that is what you are left with.

Credit: CMC Markets
The downside of margin trading is that the borrowed money always needs to be returned to the broker, even if the market moves against you. As a result, leveraged CFD trading can lead to large losses if a careful approach to risk management isn’t taken. Fortunately, many of the best CFD brokers offer negative balance protection, meaning you cannot lose more than your account balance.
How To Start CFD Trading
The first decision is which broker to sign up with. A useful tip is to find a brokerage that offers a free demo account. This will let you practice trading CFDs with virtual funds and gives you the opportunity to find a strategy that works, without risking your own money. You can then upgrade to a real-money account when you feel confident.
Here are a few other things to keep in mind when choosing a CFD broker:
What Are The Fees?
Brokers don’t tend to charge sign-up fees for CFD trading accounts. This is because platforms often make their money from spreads, commissions and margin losses. All of these costs should be compared. It’s also worth checking for deposit and withdrawal fees, plus hidden charges like account inactivity penalties.
Is The Platform Beginner-Friendly?
Some platforms are not suitable for CFD trading beginners. One terminal that is, however, is MetaTrader 4. MT4 is offered by many of the top brokers and provides a user-friendly interface alongside a decent breadth of analysis tools. Users benefit from 3 execution modes, 2 market orders, 4 pending orders, 2 stop orders and a trailing stop. Multiple charting views, including basic candlestick charts, are also provided.
MT4 is available as a software download, browser terminal, plus via a mobile app. And because it’s so popular, there is a wealth of guides and tutorials online to help beginners get started.
Are They Reliable?
Unfortunately, not all CFD brokers can be trusted. This is why it is important that British traders sign up with a brokerage regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This will provide new traders with several benefits, from negative balance protection and segregated client accounts to a ban on misleading promotions and a cap on trading leverage.
CFD Trading Strategies For Beginners
When looking at trading CFDs for beginners, there are two basic approaches for novices to get familiar with:
Long Buy
A long buy position is taken when you believe the value of an asset will rise. Let’s say you think the value of oil will increase following supply and demand challenges caused by the Russia-Ukraine war. A long CFD position could see you generate a return if the price increases beyond its current value.
Note, when we refer to buying, we are referring to opening the position, which does not actually mean you are purchasing the underlying asset (barrels of oil). What you are purchasing is a contract that allows you to exchange the difference in price between when you open the contract and when you close it.
Short Sell
The short sell might appear to be the more complicated strategy for CFD trading beginners, but the best way to look at it is as a reverse long buy. When you short sell, you borrow the asset in order to sell it, before buying it back at a lower price further down the line. This is done when you believe that the value of the underlying asset is going to decrease.
So, if you believe that the value of Bitcoin will decline, then opening a short position with a CFD could lead to a profit. If the price of BTC does indeed drop, then you will make money equivalent to the difference in unit price at open compared to the current price, multiplied by the size of the position, minus any broker fees.

Credit: IG
Learning
Having a basic strategy is a great place to start as a beginner to CFDs. But unless you continue to consume relevant material and commit to learning, you may see limited returns. We recommend setting aside time every week to get better acquainted with CFDs through the following:
- Books – Books are one of the best ways you can immerse yourself in CFD trading. There are lots of great CFD trading books out there that come in the form of eBooks, audiobooks and physical copies, and many are specifically aimed at beginner traders. Content can cover everything from leveraged trading to risk management.
- Courses – Courses are a great alternative to reading website content about CFDs or watching YouTube videos. Many courses are enough to help you progress from the beginner stage of CFD trading towards more advanced strategies and setups. Find a course from a highly rated provider that aligns with your budget. Note, some leading CFD brokers also offer free trading academies and tutorials when you open an account.
- Online Community – Beginners can also turn to active investing communities available on social media channels and trading forums. Another great place to start is copy trading platforms. These applications allow traders to engage with experienced investors while mirroring their positions and strategies.
CFD Trading Tips For Beginners
It can be daunting to start trading with CFDs as a total beginner, however, with a supportive broker and the right mindset, it is possible to make money. We have also compiled a list of tips for CFD trading beginners.
Setting Up
One of the most important things to do before opening any positions is to research the market and confirm your predictions with technical and fundamental analysis. Also make sure you utilise stop-loss and take-profit orders to protect potential profits and limit any losses.
Discipline
When you start out, it’s easy to listen to a gut feeling or give in to emotions like fear or greed. However, this can derail an effective strategy and dampen the trading experience. Try and stay disciplined and follow your original approach. You can then review your progress and amend your trading system after it has run its course.
Broker
Finding a CFD broker might seem more like a formality than an important decision, but it can have a significant impact on your trading experience. Brokerages offer access to different markets with various fee structures, leveraged trading opportunities, supporting tools and more.
With this in mind, sign up with a reliable brand that comes recommended. Use our list of suggested brokers to start on the right foot.
Leverage
The leverage aspect of CFD trading can make investing risky. Beginners may not want to use all the leverage offered by an online broker. It’s also worth testing trading on leverage in a demo account before investing real money. This will help you understand the impact leverage can have on potential profits and losses.
Note, many of the top CFD brokers will lower your available leverage if you contact their support team.
Bottom Line On CFD Trading For Beginners
CFD trading for beginners can be a lucrative way to get into investing in the financial markets. Traders make a simple prediction on the value of an asset without actually taking ownership of the stock, precious metal or currency, for example. Trading on margin also means novice investors can get started with a relatively small capital outlay.
Use this beginner-friendly guide to trading CFDs to get started today and check out our list of recommended brokers here.
FAQs
What Are CFDs?
CFDs are contracts between an investor and a financial broker where both parties agree to exchange the difference between the opening price and the value of the asset when the contract is closed (minus any fees). CFDs are usually traded with leverage, meaning clients only need to put down a small amount of the total position size.
What Markets Can CFDs Be Used To Speculate On?
Novice traders can use contracts for difference to speculate on a long list of markets, from equities and commodities to forex and cryptocurrencies. Market access varies between brokers so make sure you check out reviews and ratings before opening a live account.
Are CFDs Legal In The UK?
It is legal to trade CFDs in the United Kingdom. However, not all online brokers and trading platforms are regulated by the country’s financial watchdog – the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Trading CFDs with a regulated firm normally provides retail investors with better trading conditions and greater customer protection.
Can You Make Money With CFDs?
Trading CFDs can be profitable, but it can also lead to large losses. The leverage element, in particular, makes contracts for difference a risky product. That’s why beginners may want to start with a demo account to build up their market knowledge and confidence.
Is CFD Trading Good For Beginners?
CFDs appeal to beginner traders for several reasons. Firstly, most brokers offer leveraged CFD trading, so investors only need to deposit a small amount of the total position, usually between 5% and 20%. CFDs are also a derivative, meaning traders don’t actually take ownership of the underlying asset, for example a precious metal like gold or silver. CFDs are also available on a wide range of traditional financial markets, plus new markets like cryptocurrencies.