Best Trading Simulators In The UK 2025
Looking to sharpen your investing skills without risking a penny? Free trading simulators let you practice in live market conditions using virtual funds—no deposit needed.
We’ve tested the best trading simulators in 2025, ranking them based on available assets, market realism, backtesting tools, and how smoothly they transition to real-money trading.
Top Trading Simulators In The UK
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Established in Poland in 2002, XTB caters to over a million clients worldwide. This forex and CFD broker offers a robust regulatory framework, a diverse range of assets, and prioritises trader satisfaction. It provides an intuitive proprietary platform equipped with excellent tools to support aspiring traders.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs on shares, Indices, ETFs, Raw Materials, Forex currencies, cryptocurrencies, Real shares, Real ETFs FCA, CySEC, KNF, DFSA, FSC, SCA, Bappebti xStation Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $0 0.01 Lots 1:30 -
FXCC, a well-established brokerage since 2010, offers cost-effective online trading. Registered in Nevis and regulated by CySEC, it is distinguished by its ECN conditions and absence of a minimum deposit requirement. The account opening process is efficient, taking under five minutes.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto CySEC MT4, MT5 Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $0 0.01 Lots 1:500 -
Founded in 1989, CMC Markets is a reputable broker publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange. It holds authorisation from top-tier regulators such as the FCA, ASIC, and CIRO. The brokerage, which has received multiple awards, boasts a global membership exceeding one million traders.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Treasuries, Custom Indices, Spread Betting FCA, ASIC, MAS, CIRO, BaFin, FMA, DFSA Web, MT4, TradingView Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $0 0.01 Lots 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) -
Established in 2009, Vantage provides trading on more than 1,000 short-term CFD products to over 900,000 clients. Forex CFDs are available from 0.0 pips on the RAW account via TradingView, MT4, or MT5. Regulated by ASIC, Vantage ensures that client funds are kept in separate accounts. Traders looking to copy strategies will benefit from a wide array of social trading tools.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Spread betting FCA, ASIC, FSCA, VFSC ProTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView, DupliTrade Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $50 0.01 Lots 1:30 -
IC Markets is an internationally acclaimed forex and CFD broker, admired for its competitive pricing, diverse trading instruments, and superior technology. Established in 2007 and based in Australia, the firm is under the regulation of ASIC, CySEC, and FSA. It has successfully drawn over 180,000 clients from more than 200 nations.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Futures, Crypto ASIC, CySEC, FSA, CMA MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, TradingCentral, DupliTrade, Quantower Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $200 0.01 Lots 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global) -
Founded in Australia in 2010, Pepperstone is a highly regarded broker specialising in forex and CFDs. Serving more than 400,000 clients globally, it provides access to over 1,300 financial instruments through popular platforms like MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView. Its fee structure is both low and transparent. With regulation by reputable bodies such as the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC, Pepperstone guarantees a safe trading environment for traders at every level.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto (only Pro clients), Spread Betting FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, CMA, BaFin, SCB MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, DupliTrade, Quantower Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $0 0.01 Lots 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) -
Founded in 2006, FxPro has built a reputation as a reliable non-dealing desk (NDD) broker, providing trading access across more than 2,100 markets to over 2 million clients globally. It has received over 100 industry awards, reflecting its favourable conditions for active traders.
Instruments Regulator Platforms CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures, Spread Betting FCA, CySEC, FSCA, SCB, FSA FxPro Edge, MT4, MT5, cTrader, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, DupliTrade, Quantower Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage $100 0.01 Lots 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
XTB
FXCC
CMC Markets
Vantage FX
IC Markets
Pepperstone
FXProSafety Comparison
Compare how safe the Best Trading Simulators In The UK 2025 are and what features they offer to protect traders.
| Broker | Trust Rating | FCA Regulated | Negative Balance Protection | Guaranteed Stop Loss | Segregated Accounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XTB | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| FXCC | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| CMC Markets | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Vantage FX | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| IC Markets | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| Pepperstone | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| FXPro | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ |
Payments Comparison
Compare which popular payment methods the Best Trading Simulators In The UK 2025 support and whether they have trading accounts denominated in British Pounds (GBP).
| Broker | GBP Account | Debit Card | Credit Card | Neteller | Skrill | Apple Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XTB | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| FXCC | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| CMC Markets | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Vantage FX | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| IC Markets | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Pepperstone | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| FXPro | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
Mobile Trading Comparison
How good are the Best Trading Simulators In The UK 2025 at mobile trading using apps or other mobile interfaces.
| Broker | Mobile Apps | iOS Rating | Android Rating | Smart Watch App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XTB | iOS & Android | ✔ | ||
| FXCC | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| CMC Markets | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| Vantage FX | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| IC Markets | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| Pepperstone | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| FXPro | iOS & Android | ✘ |
Beginners Comparison
Are the Best Trading Simulators In The UK 2025 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XTB | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| FXCC | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| CMC Markets | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| Vantage FX | ✔ | $50 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| IC Markets | ✔ | $200 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| Pepperstone | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| FXPro | ✔ | $100 | 0.01 Lots |
Advanced Trading Comparison
Do the Best Trading Simulators In The UK 2025 offer features that allow for more advanced trading strategies?
| Broker | Automated Trading | Pro Account | Leverage | VPS | AI | Low Latency | Extended Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XTB | Open API | ✔ | 1:30 | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
| FXCC | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✘ | 1:500 | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
| CMC Markets | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✔ | 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Vantage FX | Myfxbook AutoTrade, Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✘ | 1:30 | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| IC Markets | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cBots on cTrader, Myfxbook AutoTrade | ✘ | 1:30 (ASIC & CySEC), 1:500 (FSA), 1:1000 (Global) | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Pepperstone | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✔ | 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| FXPro | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, cBots on cTrader | ✔ | 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
Detailed Rating Comparison
Use this heatmap to compare our detailed ratings for all of the Best Trading Simulators In The UK 2025.
| Broker | Trust | Platforms | Mobile | Assets | Fees | Accounts | Support | Research | Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XTB | |||||||||
| FXCC | |||||||||
| CMC Markets | |||||||||
| Vantage FX | |||||||||
| IC Markets | |||||||||
| Pepperstone | |||||||||
| FXPro |
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
- XTB ensures swift access to funds, providing fast withdrawals with same-day payments for requests made before 1 pm.
- XTB has raised its interest rate on uninvested funds and introduced zero-fee ISAs for UK clients, offering access to 3,000 stocks and 700 ETFs for diverse investment opportunities.
- 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.
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.
- 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.
- XTB has stopped supporting MT4, restricting traders to its own platform, xStation. This decision may discourage experienced traders accustomed to using the MetaTrader suite.
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 deposit fees other than standard cryptocurrency mining charges, which benefits active traders.
- 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.
- The complimentary education section, featuring the 'Traders Corner' blog, provides a wide array of resources suitable for traders of all experience levels.
Cons
- 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.
- 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.
Our Take On CMC Markets
"Equipped with advanced charts and a broad array of tradable CFDs, including an unmatched selection of currencies and bespoke indices, CMC Markets offers an excellent online platform for traders at any level."
Pros
- The brokerage excels with an extensive array of valuable resources, such as pattern recognition scanners, webinars, tutorials, news feeds, and research from reputable sources like Morningstar.
- The CMC web platform offers an exceptional user experience with sophisticated charting tools for trading and customisable options, suitable for both novice and seasoned traders. It supports MT4 but not MT5, and TradingView will be available from 2025.
- CMC Markets is well-regulated by respected financial authorities, ensuring a secure and reliable trading environment. It upholds a strong reputation, providing traders with confidence.
Cons
- A monthly inactivity charge of $10 is imposed after a year's inactivity, potentially discouraging occasional traders.
- Trading stock CFDs comes with a relatively high commission, particularly when compared to low-cost brokers such as IC Markets.
- Although there have been improvements, the online platform still needs further refinement to match the user-friendly trading experience offered by competitors such as IG.
Our Take On Vantage FX
"Vantage is an ideal choice for CFD traders looking for a well-regulated broker with access to the dependable MetaTrader platforms. With a swift sign-up process and a minimum deposit of $50, starting trading is simple and fast."
Pros
- Opening a live account is both straightforward and swift, requiring under 5 minutes to complete.
- The trading software suite is outstanding, featuring the acclaimed MT4 and MT5 platforms.
- Hedging and scalping strategies are fully permitted without any short-term restrictions.
Cons
- It's unfortunate that some clients must register with the offshore firm, which provides reduced regulatory safeguards.
- Based on tests, average execution speeds of 100ms to 250ms are slower compared to other options.
- To access optimal trading conditions, a substantial deposit of $10,000 is required. This includes a commission of $1.50 per transaction per side.
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
- 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 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.
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.
- Certain withdrawal methods incur fees, including a $20 charge for wire transfers. These costs can reduce profits, particularly with frequent withdrawals.
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 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.
- Pepperstone's demo accounts expire after 30 days, which may not provide sufficient time to explore various platforms and evaluate trading strategies.
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'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.
- 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.
Cons
- 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 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.
Top Independent Trading Simulators In The UK
In addition to the top brokers offering built-in trading simulators, we’ve identified three standout third-party platforms worth exploring:
- TraderSync:TraderSync’s market replay simulator lets you relive past trades with synced journal data, and performed excellently during testing with a superb level of detail.
- Edgewonk: Edgewonk’s trade simulator projects future performance scenarios based on your historical data, helping you assess risk and optimize trading strategies.
- Trademetria: Trademetria’s PnL simulator allows you to run simulations on past trades, offering insights into performance metrics and aiding in short-term strategy development.
How Did Investing.co.uk Choose The Best Trading Simulators In The UK?
We verified that each platform offers a trading simulator or similar mode account accessible to UK users.
We then ranked these providers by their overall ratings following our hands-on testing and structured data capture process, which evaluates factors like usability, features, and FCA regulation.
What Is A Trading Simulator?
A trading simulator is a platform that replicates real market conditions using virtual funds. It lets you practice buying and selling financial instruments, such as stocks, forex, or crypto, without risking your money.
It’s designed to help you build skills, test strategies, and gain confidence before committing to live trading.
A trading simulator isn’t just for beginners—experienced traders, myself included, use them to stress-test strategies under unusual or high-volatility scenarios that rarely occur in live markets. This lets you prepare for unpredictable conditions without financial risk.
Although the terms trading simulator and ‘demo account‘ are often used interchangeably, there are essential differences that you should be aware of.
For UK investors, using both tools in sequence—starting with a simulator and transitioning to a demo—can offer a smart path toward confident, informed trading.
Trading Simulator vs Broker Demo Account
An independent trading simulator is standalone software or a web-based tool not tied to any specific broker.
Its main purpose is education and strategy development. Products like TraderSync, Edgewonk and Trademetria, which we’ve run hands-on tests on, offer a flexible environment for practising across various markets and trading scenarios.
Trading simulators often include features like historical data, market replays, and the ability to simulate different trading conditions, making them ideal for beginners and experienced traders looking to experiment or refine strategies.
Independent simulators often let you replay past market events—like the 2020 crash or 2022 rate hikes—so you can practice responding to real historical volatility. Broker demos rarely offer this, making independent tools better for learning how to trade through extreme conditions.
A broker’s simulator, often provided as a demo account, is designed to replicate the broker’s actual trading environment. It lets you get comfortable with the platform’s layout, tools, pricing structure, and execution speed.
While the range of assets may be more limited than an independent simulator, the data is typically pulled directly from live market feeds, providing a more accurate representation of what to expect when trading with real money.
The key difference lies in intent and flexibility. Independent simulators are neutral and focused on broad learning, while broker simulators are often part of a pathway toward opening a live account.
Many traders use independent simulators to test strategies in a sandbox environment, then switch to a broker demo to prepare for real execution.
TradeNation’s free simulator offers a user-friendly environment to practice trading
Pros And Cons Of Using A Trading Simulator
Pros
- Trade with virtual money to build skills without risking capital
- Test and improve strategies in various market conditions
- Practice disciplined habits like stop-losses and risk limits
- Get familiar with real market behaviour and UK trading hours
- Build confidence in a safe, no-risk environment before going live
Cons
- Simulators don’t recreate the stress of real money trading
- Order fills are often too perfect, unlike live market execution
- Easy wins can create overconfidence when going live
- Independent simulators may not match your broker’s platform
- Free versions often limit data, markets, or usage time
Key Factors To Consider When Choosing A Trading Simulator
When choosing a trading simulator, you must go beyond surface-level features and focus on what will prepare you for real-world trading.
Here are the key factors to consider, broken down with practical insights tailored to UK assets and investing needs:
Realism Of Market Data And Execution
A good simulator should closely mirror live market conditions. This includes realistic spreads, order execution speed, slippage, and price movements.
Ensure the simulator reflects London Stock Exchange (LSE) trading hours. Simulators with delayed or overly simplified data can give a false sense of confidence that won’t hold up in real markets.
Asset And Market Coverage
Choose a simulator that includes the asset classes you intend to trade. For UK users, this may mean looking for access to domestic equities such as Barclays, BP, and Tesco, as well as major GBP forex pairs like GBP/USD or GBP/EUR.
It’s also essential to ensure the simulator covers key indices such as the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250. If your strategy involves broader diversification, access to UK-listed ETFs or bonds can also be beneficial.
The wider the range of available instruments, the more effective the simulator will be in helping you develop a well-rounded trading approach.
Strategy Testing Tools (Backtesting & Replay)
A quality simulator should allow you to test your strategies against historical data (backtesting) and replay past sessions. This is vital for learning how your trades would have performed during real events, such as the Brexit referendum, Bank of England rate decisions, or UK inflation spikes.
Look for simulators that offer replay features at various speeds so you can analyse your reaction time and decision-making.
When I used TraderSync during testing, what stood out immediately was how detailed the trade journaling is—I could tag each trade by strategy, setup, or mistake. The platform automatically generated performance analytics over time.Uploading trades from my broker was seamless, and seeing visual breakdowns of my win rate by time of day or asset helped me spot patterns I hadn’t noticed before. The simulator mode also lets me replay trades with annotations, which makes reviewing my decisions feel more like coaching than just logging.
Customisation And Risk Management Settings
Simulating different account sizes, leverage ratios, and risk parameters is paramount. UK brokers must comply with FCA leverage caps, especially for retail clients (e.g., 1:30 for major forex pairs), so ensure the simulator lets you reflect realistic constraints.
You should also be able to set stop-loss, take-profit, and trailing stop strategies to train your risk discipline.
User Interface And Learning Curve
An intuitive interface matters. If a simulator is too complex or basic, it may not serve your learning goals. Ideally, the platform should feel similar to what UK brokers like IG, FxPro, or XTB provide.
A clean layout, access to charting tools (such as candlesticks and indicators like RSI or MACD), and easy order entry help mimic the live experience more effectively.
Mobile And Desktop Compatibility
Many traders use mobile platforms during commuting hours to track the overlap between London and New York. A trading simulator with desktop and mobile versions allows you to practice on the go, using the same environment as in real-life trading.
Cost, Access And Time Limits
Some simulators we’ve investigated are free, while others are time-limited or part of a subscription. If you’re testing over weeks or months, check whether the simulator restricts your access after a trial. Free simulators can offer great value, but make sure they don’t lock features behind a paywall.
Transition To Live Trading
Finally, think about your long-term plan. If you’re likely to open a live account, it helps if the simulator aligns with a broker you trust. Look for platforms where your progress, saved strategies, or preferences can carry over to a live UK-regulated trading account with minimal disruption.
By weighing these factors, you’ll choose a simulator that helps you learn the basics and gives you real-world preparation tailored to the UK trading landscape.
Bottom Line
The best trading simulators provide a risk-free way to gain hands-on experience and build confidence before trading with real money. They can help you practice strategies, understand market movements, and manage emotions without financial pressure.
By simulating real trading scenarios, you can refine your approach, test new ideas, and learn from mistakes—all in a safe, controlled environment. They’re an valuable tool for sharpening your skills and preparing for the live markets.
FAQ
Are Trading Simulators Free?
Many trading simulators are free, especially those that brokers offer as part of a demo account. These typically include real-time data and basic tools at no cost.
However, more advanced simulators—featuring historical data, backtesting, or multi-asset support—may require a subscription or a one-time fee. Always check for time limits or feature restrictions on free versions before committing.