Brokers With The Lowest Fees
Investing your money is a serious business that requires careful planning from every angle. Among the most important of these involves taking costs into account – since a middleman is involved in most trades, you will almost always need to pay a third party, whether your trades are profitable or not. Whether you want to invest in forex, individual stocks, contracts for difference or anything in between, the trading broker you use needs to get paid, and you may quickly find that fees and charges add up to make a significant dent in your profits.
This guide will explain the different ways trading platforms can charge their clients, helping you to choose brokers with the lowest fees so you can go home with the biggest possible cut. We have also compiled a list of the cheapest trading brokers in 2025.
- Fees are charged at various stages in the trading lifecycle and for a number of reasons
- Online brokers often charge fees whenever a trade is entered, usually via spreads and commission
- Brokerages also frequently charge non-trading fees, such as account inactivity penalties
- Traders may need to pay maintenance, deposit, withdrawal and other fees
Cheapest Brokers
-
Freetrade is a London-headquartered investing platform that offers zero-commission trading on thousands of UK, European and US stocks and ETFs through a beginner-friendly platform. Open a standard investment account, a self-invested pension or a stocks and shares ISA and start building a portfolio from as little as £2.
-
IC Markets is a globally recognized forex and CFD broker known for its excellent pricing, comprehensive range of trading instruments, and premium trading technology. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Australia, the brokerage is regulated by the ASIC, CySEC and FSA, and has attracted more than 180,000 clients from over 200 countries.
-
Established in Australia in 2010, Pepperstone is a top-rated forex and CFD broker with over 400,000 clients worldwide. It offers access to 1,300+ instruments on leading platforms MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView, maintaining low, transparent fees. Pepperstone is also regulated by trusted authorities like the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC, ensuring a secure environment for traders at all levels.
-
Founded in 1974, IG is part of IG Group Holdings Plc, a publicly traded (LSE: IGG) brokerage. The brand offers spread betting, CFD and forex trading across an almost unrivalled selection of 17,000+ markets, with a range of user-friendly platforms and investing apps. For 50 years, IG has maintained its position as an industry leader, excelling in all key areas for traders.
-
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a premier brokerage, providing access to 150 markets in 33 countries, along with a suite of comprehensive investment services. With over 40 years of experience, this Nasdaq-listed firm adheres to stringent regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, amongst others, and is one of the most trusted brokers for trading around the globe.
-
FXCC is an established broker that’s been offering low-cost online trading since 2010. Registered in Nevis and regulated by the CySEC, it stands out for its ECN trading conditions, no minimum deposit and smooth account opening that takes less than 5 minutes.
-
Established in 2008 and headquartered in Israel, Plus500 is a prominent brokerage that boasts over 25 million registered traders in over 50 countries. Specializing in CFD trading, the company offers an intuitive, proprietary platform and mobile app. It maintains competitive spreads and does not charge commissions or deposit or withdrawal fees. Plus500 also continues to shine as one of the most trusted brokers with licenses from reputable regulators, including the FCA, ASIC and CySEC.
-
BlackBull is a New Zealand-based CFD broker providing diverse trading opportunities on over 26,000 instruments. After undergoing a rebrand in 2023, it now sports a modern look and feel complete with professional-grade trading tools and ultra-fast execution speeds averaging 20ms.
-
RoboMarkets is a Cyprus-based forex, CFD and stock broker aimed at traders from Europe. The broker offers thousands of instruments across six asset classes and provides access to four leading platforms, including MetaTrader 4. With ECN pricing, Cent accounts and algorithmic trading tools, RoboMarkets caters to a range of trading strategies and investing styles.
-
Established in 1989, CMC Markets is a respected broker listed on the London Stock Exchange and authorized by several tier-one regulators, including the FCA, ASIC and CIRO. More than 1 million traders from around the world have signed up with the multi-award winning brokerage.
-
Founded in 2009, Vantage offers trading on 1000+ short-term CFD products to over 900,000 clients. You can trade Forex CFDs from 0.0 pips on the RAW account through TradingView, MT4 or MT5. Vantage is ASIC-regulated and client funds are segregated. Copy traders will also appreciate the range of social trading tools.
-
Webull is a multi-regulated trading app that offers stocks, options, forex, cryptos, ETFs, fractional shares and more. The firm is authorized by the SEC, FINRA and FCA and continues to uphold a strong trust rating. Low fees, no minimum investment and generous welcome bonuses have made the discount broker popular with online investors.
-
Founded in 2002 in Poland, XTB now serves more than 1 million clients. The forex and CFD broker combines a heavily regulated trading environment with an extensive selection of assets and a commitment to trader satisfaction, featuring an intuitive in-house platform with superb tools to support aspiring traders.
-
IronFX is a multi-regulated forex and CFD broker founded in 2010. This award-winning firm offers 500+ markets to over 1.5 million clients across 180 countries. Traders can access various account types with competitive pricing on the MT4 platform, as well as 24/5 customer support in 30 languages.
-
Established in 2005 in Australia, FP Markets is an ASIC- and CySEC-regulated broker boasting an extensive suite of tradable assets. Its Standard and Raw accounts cater to traders at every level, while it packs a punch in the tooling department, from the MetaTrader suite and intuitive TradingView to actionable trading ideas from Trading Central and AutoChartist.
-
Founded in 1999, FOREX.com is now part of StoneX, a financial services organization serving over one million customers worldwide. Regulated in the US, UK, EU, Australia and beyond, the broker offers thousands of markets, not just forex, and provides excellent pricing on cutting-edge platforms.
-
FinPros is an offshore broker that provides CFD trading on 400+ instruments with high leverage up to 1:500. This is a reliable bet for traders seeking offshore options, with strong security measures, negative balance protection and segregated client funds. The extra features including trading tools and commission-free stocks make this a good choice for beginners, and experienced traders will appreciate tight spreads.
-
Established in 2017, Pocket Option is a binary options broker offering high/low contracts on forex, stocks, indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies. With over 100,000 active users and a global reach, the platform continues to prove popular with budding traders.
-
Admirals is a multi-regulated broker with an excellent range of leveraged instruments, including forex, stocks, indices, ETFs, commodities, cryptos and more. The broker supports the MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and TradingCentral platforms. With both spread betting and CFDs available and thousands of instruments, this broker provides more flexibility than most rivals.
-
Established in 1983 and now a part of the Nasdaq-listed StoneX Group, City Index is a renowned and award-winning broker specializing in forex, CFDs, and spread betting. Offering over 13,500 instruments, an evolving Web Trader platform, top-tier educational resources, and 24/5 customer support, City Index delivers a comprehensive trading experience.
-
Fusion Markets is an online broker established in 2017 and regulated by the ASIC, VFSC and FSA. It is best known for its low-cost forex and CFD trading, although its multiple account types and copy trading solutions cater to a range of traders. New clients can sign up and start trading in 3 easy steps.
-
Eightcap is an award-winning, FCA-regulated broker offering industry-low trading fees. They are also the highest-rated brand by TradingView’s 100 million-strong users, who can trade directly on the platform. UK traders can sign up for a live account with an accessible £100 minimum deposit.
-
Founded in 2010, ThinkMarkets is a reputable CFD and forex broker with regulation from several top-tier bodies including the FCA and ASIC. The broker provides services to over 450,000 accounts from 11 global offices. Traders can use a bespoke platform, MT4 or MT5 to access a wide variety of assets including 3500+ stocks and ETFs, 46 forex pairs and over 20 cryptocurrencies.
-
Trading 212 is a European and UK-regulated CFD broker that also offers stock investing and ISAs. It’s best known for its commission-free trading model and beginner-friendly app, which has helped it attract 2.5 million users and £3.5 billion in client assets.
-
OANDA is an award-winning global broker, established in 1996. The hugely respected brand offers competitive trading accounts and serves clients from 196 countries. It remains a popular option with both beginners and experienced traders thanks to its user-friendly and sophisticated web platform, no minimum deposit and premium currency products and services. The company is also overseen by reputable regulators, including the FCA, ASIC and CIRO.
-
NinjaTrader is a US-headquartered and regulated brokerage that specializes in futures trading. There are three pricing plans to suit different needs and budgets, as well as ultra-low margins on popular contracts. The brand's award-winning charting software and trading platform also offers a high-degree of customization and superb technical analysis features.
-
Trade Nation is a top FX and CFD broker regulated in multiple jurisdictions including the UK and Australia. The firm offers low-cost fixed and variable spreads on 1000+ assets with robust trading platforms and training materials. The Signal Centre can also be used for trade ideas.
-
Firstrade is a US-headquartered discount broker-dealer with authorization from the SEC. The company is also a member of FINRA/SIPC. With welcome bonuses, powerful tools and apps, plus commission-free trading, Firstrade Securities is a popular and top-tier online brokerage. It is also quick and easy to open a new account.
-
AdroFx is an offshore ECN/STP broker that has offered CFD trading since 2018. The firm supports 100+ tradable assets on the popular MetaTrader 4 platform as well as a web trader, Allpips. Eight live accounts are available with no restrictions on trading strategies.
-
RoboForex is an online broker, established in 2009 and registered with the IFSC in Belize. Traders can choose from five accounts (Prime, ECN, R StocksTrader, ProCent, Pro) catering to different needs with trades from 0.01 lots and spreads from 0 pips. RoboForex has also enhanced its offering over the years, adding CFD instruments and launching its stock trading platform, plus the CopyFX system.
-
PrimeXBT is a multi-asset platform offering highly leveraged trading in forex, indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies. The company launched in 2018 and now has over 1 million users from more than 150 countries. With no minimum deposit, copy trading features and low commissions, the broker remains a popular option among crypto trading novices.
-
eToro is a top-rated multi-asset platform which offers trading services in thousands of CFDs, stocks and cryptoassets. Launched in 2007, the brand has millions of active traders globally and is authorized by tier one regulators, including the FCA and CySEC. The brand is particularly popular for its comprehensive social trading platform. Cryptoasset investing is highly volatile and unregulated in the UK and some EU countries. No consumer protection. Tax on profits may apply. 51% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
-
Markets.com is a respected broker, offering multi-asset trading opportunities through CFDs or spread betting (UK only). Established in 2008, the brand has an impressive 4.3 million registered customers and is overseen by trusted regulators, including the FCA, ASIC and CySEC. 79.1% of retail accounts lose money.
-
Zacks Trade is a FINRA-regulated US broker offering trading on stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, bonds and more through a proprietary terminal. The broker is geared toward active traders and offers very affordable fees on most assets as well as an app and a vast amount of market data.
-
Amega is an offshore STP broker offering CFD trading fon forex, stocks, indices and commodities with very high leverage up to 1:1000 and a zero-commission pricing structure. Traders access markets through the MT5 platform and can test the broker's services through a demo account.
-
Errante is a Cyprus-based and regulated forex and CFD broker with leveraged trading on multiple assets, tiered accounts including a zero-spread option, and copy trading support. The broker offers leveraged trading up to 1:30 under its CySEC-regulated branch and 1:500 from an offshore branch, and supports the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms. Errante's asset list is relatively limited but it does offer fast execution and low latency, and it is a trustworthy brand.
-
Uphold is a digital asset platform offering a range of services, from crypto trading and staking to payment cards that provides rewards and easy multi-currency payments. The company was established in 2015 and has enabled $4+ billion in transactions. Uphold is now active in 180+ countries and deals in 200+ crypto and fiat currencies.
-
Founded in 2015, VT Markets maintains its position as a top Australian multi-asset CFD broker. With 1000+ tradeable instruments and support for the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms, this broker delivers a wide range of trading opportunities to over 200,000 clients worldwide. VT Markets is regulated by the ASIC, FSCA, and FSC.
-
xChief is a foreign exchange and CFD broker, established in 2014. The company is based offshore and registered with the VFSC and FMA. Users can choose between a wide selection of accounts and base currencies, making ForexChief accessible to global traders. The brand also stands out for its no deposit bonus and fee rebates for high-volume traders.
-
Just2Trade is a reliable multi-regulated broker registered with FINRA, NFA and CySEC. The company has 155,000 clients from 130 countries and stands out for its huge suite of instruments and additional features, including a social network, robo advisors and a funded trader programme.
-
FXTM is a forex and CFD broker established in 2011 and operating across four continents. The company is secure and regulated by leading authorities, including the FCA. Offering 1,000+ markets and three account types, they cater to all levels of trader.
-
InstaForex is a forex and CFD broker founded in 2007. The broker offers diverse market coverage to millions of clients, spanning traditional assets like currencies and shares, as well as other interesting opportunities such as IPOs.
-
OspreyFX is an ECN broker headquartered in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Established in 2019, the firm offers 120+ forex and CFD assets with high leverage up to 1:500, tight spreads from 0.1 pips and round-the-clock customer support. OspreyFX also stands out for its funded trading accounts where traders can keep up to 70% of profits.
-
Interactive Investor are a hugely respected, FCA-regulated investing firm. The trading platform is easy-to-use while the sign-up and deposit process is straightforward for new investors. ii also has a long track record and a string of industry awards under its belt.
-
Launched in 2012 as a platform enabling users to buy and sell Bitcoin via bank transfers, Coinbase has emerged as a crypto behemoth, expanding its services to include 240+ crypto assets, developing sophisticated trading platforms for retail investors, listing on the US Nasdaq, and securing licenses with multiple regulators.
-
Grand Capital is a MetaTrader broker with welcome bonuses, trading competitions and an intuitive copy trading service. Several account types and 400+ assets provide trading opportunities for various types of investors and strategies. New users can also open an account and start trading in a matter of minutes.
How Do Trading Brokers Make Money?
Every trader wants to minimise costs when they trade, so many online brokers naturally advertise low fees to attract customers. However, while a brokerage may not directly charge money at the point a trade is made, the investor will still have to pay the broker in some way to make their play.
For example, a forex broker which advertises that it does not charge commission will likely make money on the spread – the difference between their buy and sell rates in currency trades. This makes finding FX brokers with the lowest fees challenging.
There are various ways that fees and hidden costs may be charged when you make a trade. At the same time, traders must look out for additional costs that will come up outside trading, such as payment fees for deposits and withdrawals.
Moreover, the fees and other costs differ from asset to asset. The crucial part for a trader is knowing exactly what kind of trading and non-trading fees to expect from a broker, so they can make an informed choice about which one will be most cost-effective overall.
Trading Fees
- Commission & transactions fees
- Fixed & variable spreads
- Rollover/overnight charges
Commission & Transaction Fees
One of the most common ways for a broker to make money is to charge the client for each transaction they make. This may come in the form of a flat fee per transaction, a percentage of each sum invested, or a hybrid of the two.
Brokers often charge the client a commission or transaction fee per trade – that is, whenever you buy or sell an asset or otherwise open or close a position. While flat fees may appear more economical than percentage – particularly if you are dealing in larger amounts – they can quickly add up if you make a lot of transactions. You may well need to pay both to enter and exit a position, so be sure to factor this into your target price.
Many platforms which allow trades in different asset types will charge different rates for each type of trade. Lloyd’s bank’s share dealing platform charges investors £1.50 to invest in funds, £11 for each trade of a share, index tracker or ETF, and a 1% currency exchange fee for international transactions. So, a trading broker with the lowest fees in one area may end up being quite expensive for investors who like to make trades in diverse assets.
In fact, even reputable commission-free services will often charge transaction fees in certain circumstances. For example, eToro charges no commission for buying and selling stocks, but does for leveraged trades, since these are derivatives. Carefully reading the terms of each broker will ensure you know when to expect charges, including margin rates. One thing that can mitigate the cost of commissions is when a broker offers a set number of free trades, for example, one per month.
Traders will naturally be on the lookout for the brokers with the lowest fees, so it should be a top priority to make a shortlist to compare which fees, if any, apply to the type of trades you plan to make. The same shortlist will help you compare other costs associated with online brokers, such as the spread.
The Spread
If a broker doesn’t charge any transaction fees or commission on trades, how do they make money? Of course, most platforms will make decent returns from non-trading fees. Besides these, one of the biggest sources of revenue for a broker is the markup they charge customers when they make a trade – the gap between the broker’s buy and sell price, known as the spread.
When you buy an asset on the spot market, you are able to set a price when you make an order which will be filled if the market price reaches that level. But brokers often offer two different prices depending on if you’re buying or selling an asset – bid and ask prices – and make money from the difference. This is called the spread.
In very simple terms, if the broker offered an ask price of £1.05 and a bid price of £1.00 on an asset, you would need to pay £0.05 more to buy that asset than you would make from selling it. The broker pockets the difference, essentially incorporating their fees in the price of the trade.
The spread is a characteristic feature of forex trading – it is normally the way “zero-commission” brokers make a living. In the forex world, the smallest unit of price movement between a currency pair – usually 0.0001 – is called a “pip”, and this unit is used to measure the spread between two currencies.
When you are looking for trading brokers with the lowest fees in forex, it is best to search for those platforms which charge low or no commission and have a tight spread.
Rollover/Overnight Charges
Once you’ve invested in an asset, there usually isn’t much more for you to worry about except when to offload it – even if their value reduces, you won’t physically lose any money on your shares until you actually sell them. But if you make a leveraged trade – with a contract for difference, for example – you are effectively borrowing the asset, and unless you close your position on the same day you will likely need to pay interest.
As the name suggests, overnight or rollover charges are made when a leveraged trade is kept open past the end of the trading day. The overnight charge may be equivalent to a day’s worth of the benchmark interest rate, but even brokers with the lowest fees will often apply their own charge to that amount, usually as a percentage of the open position’s total value on top of the benchmark interest rate.
Note, Islamic trading accounts, available at XTB, usually waive overnight fees.
Non-Trading Fees
Besides the charges that will hit investors as they make trades, there are numerous ways that online brokers make money from account holders:
- Platform fees
- Deposit & withdrawal fees
- Account management fees
- Subscription fees
- Inactivity fees
- Exit Fees
Platform Fees
Some brokerages and trading platforms charge their customers a fee for using their tools. These can come in the form of a flat monthly or annual fee or a percentage of the total value of your investments.
Before the rise in online trading platforms, brokers were commonly divided between those which offered a complete service with human advisors and access to a fuller range of assets, and discount brokers which offered fewer services at a lower price. Today, a large number of online trading platforms provide access to self-directed investment with no charge to use their platform. Investors who are willing to do their own research may feel that one of these platforms is their best bet when looking for the broker with the lowest fees.
Deposit & Withdrawal Fees
Another cost that can quickly add up is the fee brokers charge to make deposits and withdrawals on their platform. The charge could be a flat fee or a percentage, and in some cases this depends on whether you use a card or send the transfer through a bank. Binance, for example, charges £1 for bank transfers and 1.8% for credit card purchases when making deposits with fiat currency in the UK. Additionally, some platforms may not charge deposit fees, but will charge for withdrawals or vice versa – eToro offers users free USD deposits, but charges a flat $5 fee for all withdrawals.
It is also common for traders to be charged an additional transaction fee for making a purchase in a different currency. This may be the case when trading forex with a foreign currency, when buying stocks on a foreign stock exchange, or when making a deposit to a platform that operates in a foreign currency. While eToro is an affordable platform in some respects and does not charge a fee for deposits in its operating currency of USD, it will charge a conversion fee for deposits and withdrawals in other currencies, including GBP.
Similarly, some cryptocurrency trading platforms may charge you a transaction fee when you use fiat currency to buy cryptos or NFTs. Kraken, for example, charges customers a 1.5 percent transaction fee per cryptocurrency purchase, along with an extra charge to customers who make the purchase with their credit card or fund it through a bank. This can make finding crypto brokers with the lowest fees difficult.
Account Management Fees
Several London-based brokerages which offer clients a fuller service including things like customised support, consultation with a personal broker, or financial planning and portfolio management, are likely to charge the customer account management fees.
Investing is a complex business that takes real expertise to master, so the promise of expert guidance on your portfolio may seem tempting. But it is wise to remember that it is your money on the line, and not the broker’s. In fact, the brokerage will stand to gain from a string of trades made in your name – even bad trades – as they rack up transaction fees as well as account management fees. In short, traders looking for the brokers with the lowest fees should be wary when it comes to account management overheads.
Subscription Fees
Some brokers offer clients optional extras that can be obtained by paying subscription fees. For instance, a service that offers delayed market data as standard might give customers the chance to subscribe to real-time streaming market data for an additional fee. Other services available by subscription may include access to analysis tools, market advice or snapshots of market data.
Inactivity Fees
One cost that can sneak up on hands-off investors comes in the form of inactivity fees – a charge that some brokerages levy on customers who leave their accounts inactive for too long.
In some cases, it is simple to avoid these fees, as all you need to do is log in periodically. However, some online brokers require clients to actually make a trade within a specified timeframe to keep their accounts active and avoid a charge.
Exit Fees
This is another often unexpected expense that may hit traders when they want to close their investment account or move their investments elsewhere. While your broker may offer the lowest fees for buying and selling your assets of choice, you may find yourself paying through the nose if for any reason you decide to jump ship.
A broker or trading platform may charge a fee for each investment you wish to move, sometimes charging more in exit fees than they charged to make the transaction in the first place and often charging an additional fee on top of that to close your account. For traders who have a diverse portfolio, these charges can quickly add up.
Dealing With Broker Fees
Fees and charges are a part of life for a trader, but with a multitude of brokers and trading platforms available through the internet, anyone can find the best option for them.
One good way to minimise the fees you pay brokers lies in planning carefully what kind of trades you wish to make before you open an account. If you mainly plan to trade commodities like gold (XAUUSD), you can find a specialised platform that has the lowest spread on that asset type. Likewise, traders who are keen on trading Ethereum and Bitcoin will find that a cryptocurrency platform usually offers the lowest fees for them, meaning they will have more ETH and BTC left in their accounts than if they chose a general trading account that offers crypto purchases.
Above all, it is important to research the market, read reviews of a range of brokers and platforms, and compare all the relevant costs before you make a decision.
Bottom Line On Brokers With The Lowest Fees
Like anyone that runs a business, brokers’ main concern is making money, and traders are their source of income. Many platforms offer low fees or free trades to attract business, but you will always have to pay them one way or another, and hidden costs can quickly add up. If you want to maximise your chances of making money on trades, make sure you do your research on brokers and platform options that deal in the assets which interest you and build a full picture of all the costs you will need to pay.
Use our list of the brokers with the lowest fees to start trading today.
FAQ
Which Trading Broker Has The Lowest Fees?
This is the million-dollar question that every new trader asks when they go to set up an account. The answer is that there is no one broker that is more affordable than all the rest – it depends on what assets you wish to trade, how often you plan to trade, how much capital you have, which currency you plan to operate with, and a range of other questions. If you plan your investments carefully before opening an account, you will be able to compare the most relevant brokerages and trading platforms and choose the best low-cost brokerage firm for you. We have also compiled a list of some of the cheapest overall trading brokers in 2025.
How Do Trading Brokers Make Money?
An online broker or trading platform might advertise commission free trading, but there are a range of different ways they can make money from traders, nevertheless. Traders can be hit with deposit and withdrawal fees, fees to use their platform, subscriptions for certain services, and many other costs. Some brokers even want to be paid if you close your trading account.
Will I Make More Money by Paying Fees For A Managed Account?
There is no guarantee that a managed account will make more money than a standard account, and the addition of management fees will mean your investments have to perform exceptionally well for you to make a decent return.
How Do I Invest In The Trading Broker With The Lowest Fees?
First, you need to identify which brokers have the best value quotes for the specific assets that you wish to trade. Once you’ve opened your account, there are several steps you can take to reduce the amount of fees you pay. If the brokerage charges a flat transaction fee, you can try to ensure that you only make larger trades periodically, instead of making daily trades with smaller amounts. Some brokers also offer a number of free trades per month, while others help you save money with a tight spread or by allowing users to make free deposits and withdrawals.
How Do Brokers Earn Money On The Spread?
The spread is a commission by another name, acting as a markup on an asset as the broker sells it at a higher price than they buy it for. This is one of the main ways that “commission-free” brokers make their income.