CFD Trading Books
Regardless of your level of experience, there is something to be gained from reading CFD trading books. Contracts for difference are complex financial products, so making sense of key concepts and strategies is important. In this guide, we review and rank the best books about CFD trading in 2025. We also share tips for choosing the right CFD book download for your trading ability.
CFD Brokers with Education
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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 -
The platform provides access to over 8,000 CFDs across stocks, indices, forex, and commodities. Suited for experienced traders, the TWS platform includes more than 100 order types and algorithms. It also delivers top-tier market data from trusted sources like Reuters and Dow Jones.
FTSE Spread GBPUSD Spread Leverage 0.005% (£1 Min) 0.08-0.20 bps x trade value 1:50 Stocks Spread FCA Regulated Platforms 0.003 Yes Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower -
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.
FTSE Spread GBPUSD Spread Leverage 1.2 0.1 1:30 Stocks Spread FCA Regulated Platforms 0.03 (Apple Inc) Yes MT4, MT5, TradingView -
BlackBull stands out for CFD traders with leverage up to 1:500 and competitive spreads starting at 0.0 pips. It boasts round-the-clock support, which proved outstanding in tests, instilling confidence for traders in dynamic markets.
FTSE Spread GBPUSD Spread Leverage 1.5 0.5 1:500 Stocks Spread FCA Regulated Platforms Variable No BlackBull Invest, BlackBull CopyTrader, MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist
Pepperstone
XTB
FXCC
IC Markets
Interactive Brokers
Eightcap
BlackBull MarketsSafety Comparison
Compare how safe the CFD Trading Books 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 | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| Interactive Brokers | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| Eightcap | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| BlackBull Markets | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ |
Payments Comparison
Compare which popular payment methods the CFD Trading Books 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 | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Interactive Brokers | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Eightcap | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| BlackBull Markets | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
Mobile Trading Comparison
How good are the CFD Trading Books 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 | ✘ | ||
| Interactive Brokers | iOS & Android | ✔ | ||
| Eightcap | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| BlackBull Markets | iOS & Android | ✘ |
Beginners Comparison
Are the CFD Trading Books 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 | ||
| Interactive Brokers | ✔ | $0 | $100 | ||
| Eightcap | ✔ | £100 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| BlackBull Markets | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots |
Advanced Trading Comparison
Do the CFD Trading Books offer features that allow for more advanced trading strategies?
| Broker | Automated Trading | Pro Account | Leverage | VPS | AI | Low Latency | Extended Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Interactive Brokers | Capitalise.ai & TWS API | ✘ | 1:50 | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Eightcap | TradingView Bots | ✘ | 1:30 | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
| BlackBull Markets | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cTrader Automate | ✘ | 1:500 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
Detailed Rating Comparison
Use this heatmap to compare our detailed ratings for all of the CFD Trading Books.
| Broker | Trust | Platforms | Mobile | Assets | Fees | Accounts | Support | Research | Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | |||||||||
| XTB | |||||||||
| FXCC | |||||||||
| IC Markets | |||||||||
| Interactive Brokers | |||||||||
| Eightcap | |||||||||
| BlackBull Markets |
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."
Tobias Robinson
Reviewer
Pros
- In recent years, Pepperstone has significantly enhanced the deposit and withdrawal process. By 2025, clients can use Apple Pay and Google Pay, while 2024 saw the introduction of PIX and SPEI for customers in Brazil and Mexico.
- Pepperstone presents itself as an economical choice for traders, offering spreads as low as 0.0 in its Razor account. The Active Trader programme provides rebates up to 30% on indices and commodities, plus $3 per lot on forex.
- The award-winning customer support can be accessed through phone, email, or live chat. During tests, response times have consistently been under 5 minutes.
Cons
- Although its market range has improved, its crypto offerings remain limited compared to brokers specialising in this sector, lacking real coin investment options.
- 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.
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.
- XTB offers a superb array of educational resources, such as training videos and articles, embedded within the platform to assist traders of all experience levels.
- XTB offers a diverse range of over 7,000 instruments, including CFDs on shares, indices, ETFs, commodities, forex, and cryptocurrencies. The platform also provides real shares, real ETFs, share dealing, and the latest addition, Investment Plans, serving both traders seeking short-term gains and investors focused on long-term growth.
Cons
- XTB lacks a raw spread account, a feature increasingly offered by competitors such as Pepperstone. This omission might not satisfy traders seeking the most competitive spreads.
- XTB has stopped supporting MT4, restricting traders to its own platform, xStation. This decision may discourage experienced traders accustomed to using the MetaTrader suite.
- 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.
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
- 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.
- There are no limitations on short-term trading techniques such as trading and scalping.
- FXCC has introduced MT5, which in our evaluations, mirrored the trading conditions of MT4 by offering swift execution, improved charting, and market depth tools.
Cons
- Unaware traders might face steep withdrawal fees, such as a notable $45 for bank transfers.
- 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.
- The variety of currency pairs surpasses most options, but the choice of other assets is limited. Notably, stocks are absent.
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
- Access over 2,250 CFDs across diverse markets like forex, commodities, indices, shares, bonds, and cryptocurrencies. This variety enables traders to employ diversified strategies.
- 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.
- As a well-regulated and reputable broker, IC Markets focuses on client safety and transparency to provide a dependable global trading 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.
- IC Markets provides metals and cryptocurrencies for trading through CFDs, though the selection is narrower compared to brokers such as eToro. This limits opportunities for traders focused on these asset classes.
- Interest is not paid on idle cash, a feature gaining popularity with alternatives such as Interactive Brokers.
Our Take On Interactive Brokers
"Interactive Brokers ranks highly for seasoned traders due to its robust charting platforms, live data, and bespoke layouts via the new IBKR Desktop app. Its competitive pricing and sophisticated order choices appeal to traders, and its wide equity options are industry-leading."
Pros
- A wide range of third-party research subscriptions, both free and paid, are available for traders. Additionally, by subscribing to Toggle AI, traders can receive commission rebates from IBKR.
- Interactive Brokers has introduced ForecastTrader, an innovative product offering zero-commission trading with yes/no Forecast Contracts on political, economic, and climate events. It features fixed $1 contract payouts, 24/6 market access, and a 3.83% APY on positions held.
- IBKR is a highly respected brokerage, regulated by top-tier authorities, ensuring the integrity and security of your trading account.
Cons
- You are limited to a single active session per account, meaning you cannot use both your desktop programme and mobile app at the same time. This restriction can occasionally lead to a frustrating experience for traders.
- The learning curve for TWS is quite steep, making it tough for novice traders to navigate and grasp all its features. In contrast, Plus500's web platform is far more accessible for those new to trading.
- IBKR offers a variety of research tools, but their inconsistent placement across trading platforms and the 'Account Management' webpage creates a confusing experience for users.
Our Take On Eightcap
"Eightcap excels for traders, offering diverse charting platforms, educational Labs, and AI tools. With over 120 crypto CFDs, it stands out in crypto trading and has won our 'Best Crypto Broker' award twice consecutively."
Pros
- With spreads starting at 0 pips, minimal commission charges, and leverage up to 1:500 for select clients, Eightcap delivers affordable and flexible trading opportunities. These conditions suit various strategies, such as trading and scalping.
- Eightcap excels with a suite of advanced trading tools, such as MT4 and MT5, and has recently joined the 100-million-user social trading network, TradingView.
- Eightcap has excelled in all essential trading areas, surpassing all rivals to clinch our 'Best Overall Broker' award for 2024. It also earned the titles of 'Best Crypto Broker' and 'Best TradingView Broker' for 2025.
Cons
- The demo account is available for 30 days, after which it requires a request for extension. This is less convenient than XM's offering, which provides an unlimited demo mode.
- Despite the growing range of tools available, Eightcap lacks popular industry resources such as Autochartist and Trading Central. These provide advanced charting analytics, live news, and essential market insights for traders focused on short-term strategies.
- Despite a helpful array of educational guides and e-books in Labs, Eightcap lags behind IG's extensive resources for aspiring traders. IG boasts a dedicated Academy app and features 18 diverse course categories.
Our Take On BlackBull Markets
"Following the upgrade to Equinix servers in New York, London, and Tokyo, BlackBull has reduced latency, making it a clear choice for stock CFD trading using ECN pricing."
Pros
- After collaborating with ZuluTrade and Myfxbook, upgrading its CopyTrader, and activating cTrader Copy, BlackBull provides an exceptionally thorough trading experience.
- BlackBull provides everything a trader needs: execution speeds under 100ms, leverage as high as 1:500, and competitive spreads starting at 0.0 pips.
- BlackBulls's research excels, particularly in the daily 'Trading Opportunities' articles. These publications simplify complex market dynamics into clear insights, enabling traders to effectively capitalise on emerging trends.
Cons
- BlackBull does not offer its own trading platform, instead utilising MetaTrader, cTrader, and TradingView. Although these platforms are highly regarded, some brokers, such as eToro, provide proprietary platforms with distinct features that cater well to novice traders.
- Despite an expanding range of over 26,000 assets, including new additions to Asia Pacific indices, their offerings are primarily equities. The selection of currency pairs and indices remains average.
- Despite enhancements such as webinars and tutorials in the Education Hub, our review indicates that the courses still require greater emphasis on elucidating broader economic factors affecting prices.
About CFD Trading Books
Books about CFD trading are designed to up-skill beginners and help investors trade successfully. A good book will break down key principles and investing setups. The top publications are also backed by statistics and draw on real-world examples and the experience of successful CFD traders.
Today, most CFD trading books focus on broad strategy advice and risk management tips. But some authors also explore UK-specific assets, such as FTSE-listed stocks. Both can be beneficial, and what you choose should ultimately align with your financial goals and current level of understanding.
Importantly, many aspiring traders turn to books as their source of knowledge because they offer in-depth accounts and perspectives on contracts for difference. With that said, free pdf downloads and eBooks can also be supplemented by training materials and videos offered by the top online brokers.
Another useful tip is to test out your learnings from CFD trading books on a free demo account.
Format
When selecting a CFD trading book, you have four primary options: paper books, ebooks, audiobooks and pdfs. You should choose a format that compliments your learning style and also your schedule. An increasing number of new traders, for example, are turning to audiobooks to learn about CFDs while on their commute to work. If you are mostly going to be reading at home, on the other hand, and you want to be able to annotate your book and add notes, then a paper copy is probably best.
The most important thing, however, is the content of the book. Choose a publication from a reputable author with good trader reviews and ratings. Fortunately, we have collated the top CFD trading books in 2025 below.
Top CFD Trading Books
Contracts for Difference: Master the Trading Revolution by Catherine Davey
This book is perfect for beginner traders and is one of the best-reviewed and most popular books about CFD trading. If you want to learn the basics about the financial markets and how to trade CFDs, then this book will cover everything you need to know.
The publication covers what CFDs are, how they operate, and how they work differently from other common trading products. It also provides insights that are unique in comparison to other popular books.
Making Money from CFD Trading by Catherine Davey
From the same author, this is aimed at more experienced traders who are already proficient in the basics of CFDs. This book goes a step further than the previous publication, focusing on the specifics of how to use particular CFD trading strategies.
This book is suitably concise while still detailing all of the important information. So while the subject matter is more complex, readers can still digest the content in a user-friendly format. The CFD trading book also breaks down a number of useful examples and money management tips.
Trade Like a Pro: 15 High-Profit Trading Strategies by Noble Drakoln
This book focuses on risk management and is aimed at intermediate to advanced traders. The book starts with a comprehensive overview of basic trading strategies, before moving on to complex setups and techniques.
This book lays out many different strategies and objectively states the pros and cons of each, allowing the reader to find a system that aligns with their financial goals. Readers can also test out the strategies shared in a free demo account before risking real funds.
CFD Trading Books for Beginners
If you are a beginner, CFD books can help build a solid foundation of core trading concepts, risk and money management, plus popular financial markets, like forex pairs with the GBP.
Importantly, when starting out, books that are too advanced can lead newbies to give up early so make sure you choose a publication that aligns with your experience. Below are some of our top picks.
CFDs Made Simple by Peter Temple
This guide is both straightforward and in-depth in teaching the basics of CFDs. It begins with a background of retail trading and works up to the key principles of CFDs, providing a detailed description of how they work, as well as some of the potential risks.
The author of the book draws from his own extensive experience in trading, making it a reliable source of information. Overall, this is a great tool to help kickstart your CFD trading journey.
CFDs Made Simple: A Beginner’s Guide to Contracts for Difference Success by Jeff Cartridge
Another perfect book for beginners, Cartridge provides all of the basics that traders need to know to get started with trading CFDs. It goes over how to place orders, how to trade with leverage and how to implement various technical strategies. It then details which contract providers are the best and why.
This book keeps things simple and to the point, so if you are looking for no-nonsense, it’s a good choice.
How to Choose the Best CFD Trading Book
It’s important that you select a book that matches your experience level; a book that is too advanced won’t make sense if you’re still learning the basics, while a book that is too simplistic will waste your time, as you may know the material already.
Here are some more of the key things to consider when selecting a book about CFD trading:
Target Audience
The most important thing to keep in mind when you are selecting your CFD trading book is the audience it is aimed at. It’s best to be honest and self-aware about your own skill level so that you can accurately assess which book will benefit you the most. You will be able to tell if you have selected a book at the right level by whether you can understand and process the content.
Reviews
As with anything you buy, you want to make sure that it’s a quality product before you spend money on it. The same goes for CFD trading books. The best way to do this is to check the reviews on the platform you are buying the book from.
For an even more reliable review, look up recommendation lists from reputable sources as well, such as trading blogs and brokers. Alternatively, choose from our top picks above.
Cost
There is a lot of great free content out there when it comes to learning about CFD trading, so if you are going to spend money on a book you should make sure it will offer you something that free material can’t.
To minimise the cost of buying books, you can also look into second-hand options for a more budget-friendly solution. Furthermore, there are lots of options for free downloads for CFD trading books, which can be found online.
Bottom Line on CFD Trading Books
There is a lot to be said for the free information that is available online, and there is certainly enough out there to accumulate a wealth of knowledge on CFD trading. However, if you are looking to get all of the best information in one place, then CFD trading books could be a good place to start. This guide gives an overview of the best CFD books on the market, whether you are a beginner or a more experienced investor.
To put your new knowledge to the test, open an account with one of our top-rated CFD brokers.
FAQs
What Is A CFD Trading Book?
A CFD trading book is a way of accessing information on the popular financial instrument, and often they offer insights and strategies that aren’t available when looking at free online sources. Books are also a much easier way to access all of the information you need at once, rather than having to continuously search for it.
How Do I Choose A CFD Trading Book?
The best place to start with choosing a CFD trading book is with the target audience. Be honest about your level in trading. Next, check the reviews and ratings for the book you are considering buying to ensure that it has been helpful to other investors.
Can I Get A CFD eBook?
CFD trading books are available in all formats, including physical books, audiobooks and eBooks. This gives readers greater flexibility in terms of what they are looking for from their publication, and importantly allows traders to take their books on the go.
What Is The Best Advanced CFD Trading Book?
The two books we recommend for advanced CFD traders are Trade Like a Pro: 15 High-Profit Trading Strategies by Noble Drakoln and Making Money from CFD Trading by Catherine Davey. Both of these books go beyond the basics and into a more in-depth analysis of method, strategy and risk management.
What Is The Best CFD Trading Book For Beginners?
If you are a beginner, then it is better to go for a more basic overview of CFDs so that you can get useful background information on the subject. If you are a novice, then we recommend starting with Jeff Cartridge’s CFDs Made Simple: A Beginner’s Guide to Contracts for Difference Success.