Brokers With No Inactivity Fees
Brokers with no inactivity fees don’t charge investors for periods of zero trading activity. Many online brokerages and trading platforms charge a monthly fee if no trades are placed for a certain period, typically six months. However, this penalty charge can catch out beginners in particular, while also affecting a trader’s bottom line.
This guide lists the best UK brokers with no inactivity fees or charges. We also explain how to check if a trading platform charges a dormancy fee.
Brokers With No Inactivity Fee
-
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 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 6400+ assets and a commitment to trader satisfaction, featuring an intuitive in-house platform with superb tools to support aspiring traders.
-
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.
-
Eightcap is an award-winning, FCA-regulated broker offering industry-low trading fees. They are also the highest-rated brand by TradingView’s 50 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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
GO Markets is an established forex and CFD broker with multiple industry awards and accolades. The ECN/STP broker is popular with budding traders, offering competitive accounts in multiple base currencies and a range of flexible payment methods. With top-tier regulation from CySEC and ASIC, GO Markets is a trusted broker.
-
Spreadex is an FCA-regulated broker that offers spread betting opportunities on an impressive 10,000+ CFD instruments including 60 forex pairs. Traders can also take short-term positions on sporting events. The brand has been around for over 20 years and has won multiple awards.
-
EagleFX is a forex and CFD broker, established in 2019. The broker uses STP execution on the MT4 platform, offering tight spreads and low commissions. With leverage up to 1:500 and no restrictions on hedging or scalping, EagleFX is an attractive option for short-term traders.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Ingot Brokers is a multi-regulated brokerage established in 2006. The broker offers CFD trading opportunities on 1000+ instruments including forex, stocks, indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies. The broker supports the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms and offers both raw spreads and commission-free account options.
-
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.
-
Baxia Markets is an offshore CFD broker that offers trading on forex, commodities and indices with tight spreads on a straight-through processing model with ultra-low latency. Trade on MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 with leverage up to 1:500 and no restrictions to scalping or hedging strategies. Users also benefit from third-party copy trading services.
-
Revolut has emerged as the most downloaded financial app in 11 countries with over 45 million users and more than $23 billion held in customer balances. It facilitates commission-free trading on over 2000 stocks and commodities, alongside 185 cryptos with a minimum investment of just $1. The mobile trading experience remains market-leading for casual investors seeking low, transparent fees.
-
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.
-
Infinox is a UK-based and FCA-regulated broker that offers diverse trading products thanks to its STP and ECN account types and support for MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and a proprietary platform. Clients can also benefit from a free VPS that can support automated strategies and a social trading platform, catering to both beginner and seasoned traders.
-
Hantec Markets was established in Hong Kong in 1990. Initially, the company concentrated solely on the Chinese and Taiwanese markets. In 2008, the broker rebranded and expanded its presence in the UK, Australia, Japan, and various other countries, before enhancing its footprint in Latin America in 2022. Hantec now stands as a multinational brokerage with 18 offices across Europe and Asia.
-
Capital.com offer CFDs on a range of markets with competitive spreads and zero commissions. The broker also offers the Investmate app, negative balance protection and leveraged trading.
What Is An Inactivity Fee?
As the name suggests, an inactivity fee is a charge levied on trading accounts that haven’t been active for a period. The length of that period and the size of the fee varies between online brokers. The penalty charge usually kicks in after six months of inactivity, though some platforms wait 12 months. The fee itself is normally charged monthly and can range from $5 to $50+.
The terms and conditions of account inactivity fees also vary. For example, some brokers charge if you haven’t placed a trade while others will take a fee if you haven’t logged in to your account. This means you can avoid inactivity fees at some brokers by simply logging in to your online account, even if you don’t make a trade.
Inactivity fees are typically charged to cover a broker’s overheads for activating and keeping open live trading accounts. And a penalty charge is particularly commonplace at commission-free trading brokers which make limited revenue when no trades are placed.
Ultimately, for part-time investors and beginners, brokers with no inactivity fees are a sensible way to avoid hidden charges and non-trading costs.
Below are examples of popular brokers that do charge inactivity fees:
- Swissquote – $10 monthly fee after 6 months
- Admiral Markets – $10 monthly fee after 2 years
- IG Group – $12 monthly fee after 2 years
- Forex.com – $15 monthly fee after 12 months
- Rockfort Markets – $20 monthly fee after 6 months (applies to account balances below $100)
Best UK Brokers With No Inactivity Fees
Below is a comparison of the top brokers with no inactivity fees. These brokerages are suitable for beginner investors and offer free demo accounts, platform tutorials and educational materials aimed at novice traders.
Pepperstone
Pepperstone does not charge an inactivity fee.
The broker is regulated by seven trusted financial bodies, including the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). A choice of trading platforms is provided, spanning MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView, and users can trade CFDs and spread bets on popular markets.
Pepperstone also offers 24/7 customer support, making it a good option for beginners and there are no deposit fees.
Two live accounts are offered: the Standard Account and the Razor Account. Spreads average 1.09 pips on the Standard Account which is commission-free, and 0.09 pips on the Razor Account, which charges $7 per round lot.
There is no minimum deposit requirement.
IC Markets
IC Markets does not charge an inactivity fee.
Clients can speculate on 300+ CFD instruments, including forex, commodities, stocks, indices, cryptos, bonds and futures. Supported desktop and mobile platforms include MT4, MT5 and cTrader, meaning suitable options for beginners.
IC Markets also has an impressive free education base that covers everything from the basics of forex trading and technical analysis to the psychology of investing and popular trading strategies. There are also videos that show you how to install the firm’s platforms and begin trading.
Customer support operates 24/7 and can be contacted over email, live chat and phone, so beginners can get started any time and request help as needed.
IC Markets offers a Raw Spread account and a Standard account. With the Raw Spread MetaTrader account, spreads start at zero pips with a $3.5 commission per lot per side. With the Standard account, spreads start from 0.6 pips with no commission.
The minimum starting deposit is $200.
Tickmill
Tickmill is one of the best UK brokers with no inactivity fees.
Tickmill is multi-regulated and holds a license with the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority. The broker facilitates trading on forex, stock indices, oil, precious metals and bonds. The brand is active in close to 200 countries and has an average monthly trading volume of 121 billion+.
The brokerage also offers a CFD trading platform that is great for beginners with a large educational database, including a free ebook called ‘The Majors – Insights & Strategies’, plus a detailed guide explaining how forex works. There are also free webinars.
Spreads start at 1.6 pips on the commission-free Classic Account, and 0.1 pips on the Pro account alongside a $4 commission per lot.
The minimum starting deposit is $100.
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers is one of the best UK brokers with no inactivity fees for advanced traders.
Alongside no inactivity fees, the firm does not charge account fees or withdrawal fees. The brokerage also offers broad market access and a professional trading environment in return for a $10,000 starting deposit. The company is regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority.
Interactive Brokers’ advanced analysis tools and sophisticated trading software provide access to more than one million tradable assets, spanning currencies, stocks, indices, metals, mutual funds and commodities.
Fees are also competitive, with spreads from 0.1 pips alongside commissions from 0.08 to 0.2 basis points (0.00008% to 0.002%)
Bottom Line On Brokers With No Inactivity Fees
Inactivity fees are charged by many popular trading brokers. The monthly charge is usually applied to accounts that have been inactive for several months and typically ranges from $10 to $25. Fortunately, there are many excellent UK brokers with no inactivity fees, ideal for beginners and part-time investors.
Use our list of the top brokers with no inactivity fees to get started.
FAQ
What’s A Trading Inactivity Fee?
An inactivity fee is essentially a penalty charge applied to trading accounts that have been unused for a period. This period is normally at least three months but can be up to two years, for example, at Admiral Markets. Inactivity fees are usually charged monthly and will be taken from the trader’s existing account balance.
How Much Are Trading Inactivity Fees?
The amount charged for inactivity is at the discretion of the broker, and will be stipulated in the policy terms and trading conditions. With that said, the fee is usually between $10 and $25 a month, though it can be higher on some trading platforms. The good news is that there is a long list of brokers with no inactivity fees so aspiring traders can avoid this charge.
Can I Avoid Trading Inactivity Fees?
Yes. The easiest thing to do is to sign up with brokers with zero inactivity fees. Alternatively, you can avoid the charge on some platforms by simply logging into your trading account every couple of months. With that said, it’s worth checking their terms and conditions because some brokers require that you open and close a real-money trade to avoid the charge.
What Are The Best Trading Brokers With No Inactivity Fees?
Three of our top recommended brokers without inactivity fees are Pepperstone, IC Markets and Tickmill. These are all beginner-friendly brands with low minimum deposits, decent market access, plus user-friendly platforms and leading trading apps. For experienced traders, Interactive Brokers is one of the best brokers with no inactivity fees. While the starting deposit is high at $10,000, the brokerage offers over one million trading products and powerful market analysis tools.
Is It Legal For Trading Brokers To Charge Inactivity Fees?
Yes – it is legal for brokers to charge fees on inactive accounts. The charge is used to cover the costs of maintaining a live account. Yet reputable brokers should make clear any non-trading fees in their pricing schedule. Firms that fail to disclose inactivity fees and other non-trading charges at the registration stage should be avoided. Alternatively, use our list of the top UK brokers with no inactivity fees to find a good provider.