SpreadEX

SpreadEX launched in 1999 as one of the UK's original financial spread betting operators—making it one of the longest-established names in retail trading. It is regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and client funds are protected under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £85,000 per person. SpreadEx also holds a UK Gambling Commission licence for its sports betting arm, which operates entirely separately from its financial trading services.

The trading offering covers over 10,000 instruments spanning forex, indices, shares, commodities, ETFs, bonds, options and cryptocurrencies—all accessible via SpreadEX's own proprietary web-based platform, with full TradingView integration available as an alternative environment. There is no MT4 or MT5 support.

One detail worth understanding before you read any further: financial spread betting in the UK is currently free from Capital Gains Tax, and spread bets and CFDs do not attract Stamp Duty. This is a meaningful financial advantage that many traders overlook when comparing brokers on spread costs alone. SpreadEX is one of the few UK brokers where you can access both spread betting and CFD trading under one roof, from a single account and login.

Over 60,000 traders use SpreadEX. The platform has received multiple industry awards in recent years, including Best Spread Betting Platform at the 2026 ADVFN International Finance Awards, Best Spread Betting Provider at the 2024 City of London Wealth Management Awards, and Best for Customer Service at the Investment Trends Awards 2025.

SpreadEX's forex pricing is genuinely competitive, but the same cannot be said for its index spreads. During our testing, instruments such as the DAX and the Dow traded at spreads at or above the average for the brokers we track. If index trading is a central part of your strategy, there are more cost-effective options on the TraderGuide list.

There is no MT4 or MT5 support. SpreadEX's proprietary platform is capable and well-designed, but traders whose workflow depends on Expert Advisors, custom indicators or established backtesting environments built on MetaTrader will need to look elsewhere. TradingView integration partially bridges this gap, but it is not a like-for-like substitute for the full MetaTrader ecosystem.

Customer support operates during business hours only and is provided in English only. Traders in different time zones, or those who need out-of-hours assistance, should factor this into their decision.

SpreadEx is a strong all-round option for UK-based traders who want a regulated, cost-effective broker with genuine longevity behind it. FCA regulated, FSCS-protected up to £85,000, and operating continuously since 1999—the foundations are solid.

The no-minimum-deposit policy, zero fees, Autochartist signals, TradingView integration and tax-free spread betting make this a genuinely attractive package across forex, indices, commodities and more—particularly for UK traders who want to keep more of what they make.

The main limitation is the absence of MT4 and MT5. If your strategy is built around MetaTrader infrastructure, that is worth factoring in before you open an account.

For everyone else, SpreadEx deserves serious consideration.