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 -
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 -
Trade CFDs across more than 3,000 assets with access to detailed market data through integrated TradingView charts. The eToro Academy provides extensive free learning resources for beginners, featuring specific courses and guides on CFD trading. In 2025, eToro enhanced flexibility for UK clients by enabling direct CFD trading on US assets with GBP.
FTSE Spread GBPUSD Spread Leverage 1.5 1.9 1:30 Stocks Spread FCA Regulated Platforms 0.57 (Apple) Yes eToro Web, CopyTrader, TradingCentral
Pepperstone
XTB
FXCC
IC Markets
FXPro
IG
eToroSafety 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 | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| FXPro | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| IG | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| eToro | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ |
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 | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| FXPro | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| IG | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| eToro | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
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 | ✘ | ||
| FXPro | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| IG | iOS & Android | ✔ | ||
| eToro | 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 | ||
| FXPro | ✔ | $100 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| IG | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| eToro | ✔ | $50 | $10 |
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) | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
| FXPro | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cBots on cTrader | ✔ | 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
| IG | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, build your own on ProRealTime | ✔ | 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro) | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ |
| eToro | Automate your trades via CopyTrader - follow profitable traders. Open and close trades automatically when they do. | ✘ | 1:30 | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ |
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 | |||||||||
| FXPro | |||||||||
| IG | |||||||||
| eToro |
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
- Pepperstone now offers spread betting via TradingView, delivering a streamlined and tax-efficient trading experience with sophisticated analytical tools.
- 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.
- 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.
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
- The xStation platform stands out with its user-friendly design and intuitive tools, such as adaptable news feeds, sentiment heatmaps, and a trader calculator. These features streamline the learning process for new traders.
- 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 ensures swift access to funds, providing fast withdrawals with same-day payments for requests made before 1 pm.
Cons
- The demo account lasts only four weeks, posing a challenge for traders wanting to fully explore the xStation platform and refine short-term strategies before investing actual money.
- 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.
- The research tools at XTB are commendable but have the potential to excel further. Enhancing them with access to top-tier third-party services like Autochartist, Trading Central, and TipRanks would significantly elevate their offering.
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
- There are no limitations on short-term trading techniques such as trading and scalping.
- FXCC is a trusted and licensed broker under the regulation of CySEC, a leading European authority ensuring excellent safeguarding standards.
- 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.
Cons
- 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 range of research tools, such as Trading Central and Autochartist, is quite limited. Leading platforms in this category, like IG, offer more advanced features.
- FXCC's exclusive MetaTrader platform is a limitation, especially when compared to more versatile options like AvaTrade, which offers five different platforms to cater to various trader needs.
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.
- IC Markets provides reliable 24/5 support, especially for account and funding queries, drawing from direct experience.
- 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.
Cons
- 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.
- 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 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 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'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.
- 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.
- 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.
Our Take On IG
"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
- IG provides a wide range of professional and engaging educational materials, such as webinars, articles, and analyses, tailored for traders.
- As a seasoned broker, IG adheres to stringent regulatory standards across various regions, ensuring significant trust.
- The ProRealTime advanced charting platform remains free, provided traders meet modest monthly activity requirements.
Cons
- Based on tests, stock and CFD spreads remain less competitive than the lowest-cost brokers, such as CMC Markets.
- Beginners may find IG's fees complicated, as they vary depending on the trades or services. This could cause confusion and unexpected costs.
- IG imposes a monthly inactivity fee of $12 after two years, discouraging occasional traders.
Our Take On eToro
"eToro's social trading platform excels with its outstanding user experience and lively community chat, aiding beginners in spotting opportunities. It offers competitive fees on numerous CFDs and real stocks, alongside exceptional rewards for seasoned strategists."
Pros
- In 2025, eToro enhanced its trading experience by incorporating insights from over 10 million Stocktwits users, enabling better assessment of market sentiment.
- The trading app provides a top-tier social environment featuring an engaging feed and community chat, which we enjoy using.
- In 2025, eToro altered its fee structure by separating crypto trading fees from the spread. A distinct commission is now listed separately, providing traders with increased transparency while maintaining consistent overall costs.
Cons
- There are no assured stop-loss orders, which could be a valuable risk management tool for novice traders.
- The absence of extra charting platforms such as MT4 may deter experienced traders who rely on external software.
- The only significant contact option, besides the in-platform live chat, is limited.
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.