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Automated platforms revolutionised online trading. Today, you can use advanced algorithms and automation solutions to minimise the need to open and close trades manually. Moreover, courtesy of automated systems, you can trade 24/7, avoid the risks of emotional decision-making, and dedicate more time to improving other facets of your life.
To reap maximum boons from auto trading, you need to interact with the best automated trading platform in the UK. Finding an ideal platform can be difficult when you have to evaluate all available service providers. Fortunately, that is unnecessary. We’ve vetted the automated trading platforms in the UK and picked 4 of the best. Read through our guide and choose the most fitting platform.
List of the Best Automated Trading Platforms
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Risk Warning86% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading on margin with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how margin trading works and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
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2
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Risk Warning74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
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{etoroCFDrisk}% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
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Risk Warning
Derivative products are highly leveraged, carry a high level of risk and may not be appropriate for all investors.
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In This Guide
UK Auto Trading Platforms: Comparison Table
A reasonable number of brokers offer auto trading features in the UK. That said, at InvestingGuide, we are committed to helping you find the best automated trading platform, one that suits your needs and aligns with your trading goals.
Our experts analysed the service providers operating in this region and compared them based on numerous factors, which we’ll explore in a minute. We also went through each company’s ratings and reviews on Google Play, the App Store, and Trustpilot. It wasn’t easy, but we were glad to do it, knowing we are helping you find an outstanding service provider.
Let’s explore the first factors we considered while assessing and comparing the auto trading platforms.
| Automated Trading Platform | Licenсe & Regulation | Support Service | Software | Payment Method | Demo Account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | FCA, MAS, ASIC, FSCA, DFSA, CySEC, CMA, SCB, BaFin | 24/7 | TradingView, MT4, MT5, cTrader, Pepperstone Trading Platform, Social trading | Visa, Mastercard, Bank transfer, Neteller, Skrill, PayPal | Yes |
| FxPro | FCA, FMA, FSCA, SCB | 24/5 | FxPro Mobile App, MT4, MT5, cTrader, FxPro WebTrader | Credit/debit cards, Bank wire transfers, Neteller, Skrill, PayPal | Yes |
| eToro | FCA, MAS, CySEC, FSCA, ASIC, SFSA, ADGM, MFSA, FSAS, GFSC, SEC | 24/5 | eToro investing platform and app, Multi-asset platform, Social Trading, Copy Trader, Smart Portfolios | Credit/debit cards, Bank transfer, Klarna, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller | Yes |
| FP Markets | FCA, MAS, FSCA, ASIC, CMA, CySEC, FSA | 24/7 | MT4, MT5, TradingView, cTrader, WebTrader, Mobile App, Copy Trading | Credit/debit cards, Neteller, Skrill, Bank transfer, Google Pay, Apple Pay | Yes |
Platforms Short Overview
Our team also checked every service provider’s fees and assets. We never ignore these factors because they can affect your profitability and overall trading experience. High charges eat into your profits and trading capital. Conversely, only a platform with your preferred financial assets is guaranteed to serve you well and fuel your journey to success.
The following tables outline our top automated trading platforms’ fees and assets.
Fees
| Automated Trading Platform | Minimum Deposit Requirement | Commission/ Spreads | Deposits/ Withdrawals | Inactivity Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | £0 | From 0.0 pips | Free | £0 |
| FxPro | £100 | From £3.50 per lot | Free | £10 monthly |
| eToro | £100 | From 0% | £5 withdrawal fee | £10 monthly |
| FP Markets | £100 | From 0.0 pips | Free | £0 |
Assets
| Automated Trading Platform | Stocks | Forex | Crypto | Commodities | Indices | ETFs | Options |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| FxPro | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| eToro | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FP Markets | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Our Expert’s Opinion about the Best Automated Trading Platforms
Our team thoroughly researched and evaluated the automated trading platforms reviewed here. We covered the whole nine yards, from testing these service providers with demo and live accounts to reading hundreds of customer testimonials and concerns. These entities deserve to be ranked as the best auto trading platforms in the UK based on merit and performance.
Before reviewing the best automated trading platforms in the UK, allow us to point this out. At InvestingGuide, we value honesty and transparency. We never favour any service providers. Everything our team reports is factual and unbiased. If we encounter any pros or drawbacks, rest assured we’ll report them without any gloss over anything.
Let’s explore what we discovered while evaluating and vetting the best automated trading platforms.
1. Pepperstone – Best Automated Trading Platform for Advanced Traders
Pepperstone is the best automated trading platform for advanced traders. As a Pepperstone user, you can buy an EA or code your own algorithms – whatever you need to profit from as many market opportunities as possible. We also encourage you to choose this service provider because it allows traders to backtest strategies with a Trading Simulator, which is included in the broker’s Smart Trader Tools package.
Furthermore, Pepperstone has most of the trading systems that advanced traders prefer, including cTrader, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5. These allow users to trade a wide variety of products seamlessly, from forex and currency indices to commodities, ETFs, and indices.
Not to forget, Pepperstone gives its users the opportunity to maximize returns with tight spreads starting from 0.0 pips on popular FX pairs like GBP/USD, AUD/USD, and USD/JPY. What’s more, the platform has zero minimum deposit requirements and free deposits and withdrawals.
Pepperstone
✔24/7 customer support
✔No inactivity fees
Pros & Cons
Fees
Trading Assets
Pros
- Users can buy or create EAs
- No minimum deposit requirement
- Free deposits and withdrawals
- Tight spreads from 0.0 pips for Razor account holders
- No inactivity fee for dormant accounts
- It also supports spread betting
Cons
- Standard account holders are exposed to higher spreads
- Limited educational resources for beginners
After evaluating Pepperstone, we opened a trading account for conducting extensive tests. The process was quick and easy.
But what impressed us most was the Pepperstone minimum deposit requirement. This platform has no minimum deposit, which makes it ideal for low-budget and high-budget traders. If you are a beginner, joining this broker is advisable since you can start with a low amount and increase your stakes with time. To top it off, Pepperstone supports free deposits and withdrawals. This broker allows you to use diverse payment methods for free, from Visa debit and credit cards to PayPal and domestic bank transfers.
When it comes to spreads and commissions, Pepperstone is very cost-friendly. You can open a Razor account with this broker and enjoy 20 commission-free trades. Pepperstone’s Standard accounts also have zero commissions. On the other hand, spreads start from as low as 0.0 pips for forex pairs like EUR/USD and 0.5 for commodities like XAUUSD.
Finally, unlike most of its peers, Pepperstone charges zero inactivity fees. However, any positions you hold overnight with this platform are subject to swap rates. Visit Pepperstone’s pricing page for a detailed account of how this broker calculated swap rates for different financial instruments.
2. FxPro – Overall Best Automated Trading Platform in the UK
With over 7.8 million clients, FxPro is our overall best trading platform UK. It offers algo trading powered by advanced trading robots and Expert Advisors that automatically open positions based on predetermined unique parameters and conditions. With FxPro’s bots and EAs, you can trade seamlessly without having to spend valuable time constantly monitoring market changes or keeping a close eye on signals while waiting for the perfect opportunity to close or open positions in real time.
We love FxPro because it is a reputable and highly recognised service provider. The company has received over 110 awards, including an International Finance Magazine Award for the Best Automated Platform. Moreover, the trading platform is licensed and regulated by numerous authorities besides the FCA, including SCB and the FSCA. That means it’s secure, fair, and transparent.
FxPro allows traders to leverage algorithmic trading through the available platforms, which include MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and cTrader. Traders can enjoy different boons while using the hosted trading solutions. For instance, cTrader users can develop their own cBots using the universal C# coding language. On the other hand, traders who opt for MetaTrader 4 can use MetaEditor and the popular MQL4 coding language to develop, test, and deploy custom EAs. Furthermore, MT4 has over 1,700 trading bots that FxPro customers can buy or rent.
FxPro
✔User-friendly platform
✔Low minimum deposit requirement for UK clients
Pros & Cons
Fees
Trading Assets
Pros
- Users can enjoy automated trading via cTrader, MT4, and MT5
- Comprehensive EA trading guides are available
- Over 2,100 financial instruments offered, including forex, shares, and indices
- Traders can run MT4 EAs and cAlgo bots 24 hours a day with a free FxPro VPS
- Knowledgeable support technicians and rapid issue resolution
Cons
- £10 monthly inactivity fee
- Higher spreads than most of its peers
From our broker analysis and comparisons, we find FxPro to be one of the most affordable brokers for Ul clients. For starters, this broker has a free account opening procedure that takes minutes to complete. Moreover, it has a £1000 minimum deposit requirement, though you can deposit as little as £100. And when it comes to transaction costs, FxPro doesn’t impose any. We believe this makes it suitable for newbies who are sceptical about spending a lot of money and low-budget traders.
When it comes to trading charges, FxPro imposes low fees compared to other brokerage firms. For instance, forex trading attracts low fees, starting from 0.0 pips on major currency pairs. However, expect to incur additional costs for positions left overnight. There is also an inactivity fee of £10 monthly should your account remain dormant for over six months.
3. eToro – Best Platform for Automated Copy Trading in the UK
eToro is an infamous broker founded in 2007 in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. The company boasts over 30 million users and a vibrant community of millions of investors and traders. You can join this community and use its power to take your trading and investing career to the next level. Moreover, you can copy the most successful individuals in the eToro community.
The best thing about copy trading with eToro is this feature is automated. You just have to pick one of the top-performing traders on the platform. After doing that, your account will automatically mirror their trades in real time. That means your account will follow the moves of the traders you pick and initiate buy or sell actions without any manual intervention.
Automated copy trading aside, we highly recommend eToro because the broker offers a broad range of products. The first category contains CFDs on stocks, currencies, indices, commodities, etc. eToro users can also buy, sell, hold, and trade over 100 popular crypto assets, from Bitcoin and Ethereum to Solana and Shiba. Lastly, this platform offers real stocks and ETFs to investors.
eToro
✔5000+ financial instruments
✔Cost-free deposits
Pros & Cons
Fees
Trading Assets
Pros
- Intuitive, user-friendly interface
- Wonderful customer support service
- A vibrant community for social trading
- Supports automated copy trading
- 5,000+ financial instruments are available
Cons
- £10 monthly account inactivity fee
- £5 withdrawal fee for every request
If there’s anything that can eat away at your profit margins, it’s unnecessary costs. Thankfully, eToro fees UK are reasonable and pocket-friendly. We acquired a new account without paying a single cent, which was quite a relief. We also noticed that you can enjoy free deposits by using USD. That said, eToro supports many other currencies, including GBP, EUR, and RMB.
You will incur conversion fees if you use any currency other than USD. And if you use any currency that eToro doesn’t support, you must pay conversion fees to your payment provider. The exact conversion fees you may incur at any moment will depend on various factors, including your preferred currency and payment method.
Please note that eToro subjects each withdrawal request to a £5 fee. The platform uses this money to pay expenses arising from international money transfers. Most importantly, you can’t withdraw less than £30 from the eToro trading platform.
While depositing money into our account, we noticed that eToro has strict minimum deposit requirements. Britons using this platform have to deposit at least £100 the first time. Afterwards, you can fund your account with as little as £10, depending on your preferred payment method.
Commission-wise, eToro is very friendly to people who trade ETFs or invest in real stocks since the broker charges 0% for these assets. On the other hand, if you buy or sell crypto on this platform, expect to pay a 1% fee. CFD trading also attracts variable spreads depending on the involved instruments. For instance, the spreads for currencies and commodities start from 1 pip and 2 pips, respectively.
Not to forget, eToro charges a £10 monthly inactivity fee that kicks in after 12 months of dormancy.
4. FP Markets – Best Automated Trading Platform for Forex Traders in the UK
If you are an avid forex trader searching for a good automated forex trading platform, we have something for you: FP Markets. Founded in 2005, FP Markets is an outstanding service provider that offers 10,000 tradeable instruments, including currency pairs, shares, bonds, and ETFs. Over 70 popular FX, including GBP/CAD, GBP/JPY, and EUR/GBP, are available here.
FP Markets allows its users to automate forex trading with Myfxbook. This trading system allows you to copy successful forex traders automatically. But to enjoy that, you must visit Myfxbook and use FP Markets’ state-of-the-art mirroring service – AutoTrade. With AutoTrade, you can copy the best systems and enjoy automated copy trading through your MT4 forex account.
Automated trading aside, we strongly urge forex traders to check out FP Markets for numerous reasons. First, the site hosts several top-notch trading platforms, including cTrader, MT4, and MT5. Moreover, the broker offers low spreads starting from 0.0 pips to traders who choose the Raw Account option.
FP Markets
✔10,000+ tradeable financial instruments
✔Free deposits and withdrawals
Pros & Cons
Fees
Trading Assets
Pros
- It gives users access to automated trading systems
- Over 10,000 financial products are offered here
- Excellent customer support is available 24/7
- Ultra-low spreads starting from 0.0 pips
- Zero account inactivity fees
Cons
- Users need to deposit a minimum of £1,000 to use Iress
- Some withdrawal methods have fees, like STICPAY, Skrill, and Neteller
Before going any further, note that the FP Markets minimum deposit is £100. You can’t fund your account with anything less than the mandated amount. Also, as a trader, expect to cover stipulated FP Markets fees and commissions. Let’s expound on that.
FP Markets has different trading and non-trading fees. However, the costs you will likely incur depend on where you are from. Take London as an example. If you’re from this city, you’ll incur a 0.10% commission per side while trading equity CFDs. You’ll also have to pay a £60 monthly fee if you use Iress Trader or ViewPoint.
But here’s the good news. You won’t incur additional costs while depositing or withdrawing money from your FP Markets trading account. Moreover, unlike many other brokers, this service provider doesn’t have inactivity fees for dormant accounts.
Please visit FP Market’s official site for a comprehensive overview of all fees and commissions.
Automated Trading in the UK
Automated trading is completely legal in the UK. However, since trading is only for adults in the UK, only people aged 18 and above can enjoy the benefits of auto trading. Also, even as an auto trader, you must pay capital gains tax while trading CFDs in this region. Other asset categories may also be subject to taxation. Check the mandates on GOV.UK website for more information.
Before switching to auto trading, note that this strategy is associated with numerous risks. For instant, software bugs may cause technical glitches, erroneous trading actions, and massive losses. Additionally, system failures can disrupt operations and cause missed opportunities. Not to forget, since auto trading platforms are programmed to respond to certain conditions, they are often unable to effectively respond to black swan events like the aftermath of a referendum or unexpected financial crisis.
What is an Automated Trading Platform?
An automated trading platform allows you to automatically trade financial products like currency pairs, commodities, and stocks. Auto trading platforms use pre-specified rules and algorithms to execute trades based on factors like market data and news feeds. You can integrate an automated trading platform with other platforms or use it as a standalone system.
How to Choose the Best Automated Trading Platform UK
You must be careful when choosing an automated trading platform because not all solutions can help you meet your trading goals. Moreover, some of today’s options are riddled with issues like constant software glitches and erroneous executions. To ensure you have access to the best automated trading platform in the UK, consider the following factors:
Regulation
Reliability
Support
Costs
Reputation
Financial markets are highly regulated in the UK, and that’s a good thing. Look for an FCA-regulated automated trading platform to protect yourself from fraud and malpractice. The service provider should show a commitment to adhering to the FCA’s stringent rules tailored to ensure investor funds are safe and all participants have access to a level playing field.
An automated trading platform’s reliability determines the overall success and consistency of your trading activities. A reliable platform has high uptime and executes orders precisely as the algorithm mandates. Before signing up with a particular auto trading platform, use the incorporated backtesting feature and historical data to gauge reliability.
Quality support is the key to ensuring you get timely, helpful assistance when you need it most. Remember, you may encounter many issues while trading with an automated platform. For instance, the system may crash or start acting erroneously. Check support availability and promptness before signing up with any automated trading platform.
While choosing the best automated trading platform, vet every service provider’s fees. That is crucial since unexpected costs can undermine profitability and cause nasty surprises. Check everything, from subscription and transaction charges to account maintenance and inactivity fees.
Popular automated trading platforms have served thousands of people over the years. Some of these individuals have highlighted their experiences on sites like the App Store, Google Play, and Trustpilot. Read their testimonials and reviews. They will help you get a rough idea of what to expect from different service providers.
How to Sign up for an Account with an Automated Trading Platform
We tested each of the automated trading platforms reviewed here with live accounts and are here to dispel one common rumour. Most people believe opening an account with an automated trading service provider is a long, complicated process. It’s not. You only have to follow a few steps:
Step 1: Visit your chosen platform’s official site
Step 2: Register
Step 3: Verify your identity
Step 4: Deposit funds
Step 5: Trade
Go to your selected service provider’s official site and do some extra digging. Research and evaluate everything, from fees to supported assets and company terms. If you are a mobile trader, find the right app and download it from the official platform.
To create your account, hit the register button. Then, provide personal information, from your official name to your date of birth and email address. Furthermore, secure your account with a robust and unique password. It should have as many characters as possible. Avoid using information anyone can guess, like your pet’s or mother’s maiden name.
Complete KYC by sharing proof of identity and address documents. Your preferred service provider should highlight the accepted documents. Read the stipulated rules and follow them to the letter. Most importantly, ensure you submit clear copies or photos of valid documents. If the information on the documents doesn’t match the data you shared earlier, your application will be rejected.
Check the accepted payment methods and pick the most fitting option. Then, while obeying the minimum deposit requirements, fund your new auto trading account. To avoid exposing yourself to catastrophic risks, you should budget wisely before depositing money into your account. Most importantly, start with the lowest amount of capital possible if you are a newbie to trading.
Choose the automated trading algorithms and strategies you want to use or set up your own systems if possible. Configure the settings and check everything for optimal accuracy. If possible, test the automated trading platform in demo mode before switching to live trading. Finally, check the performance of your algorithms regularly and make adjustments whenever necessary.
FAQs
Are these platforms suitable for beginner traders?
Some platforms are designed with beginners in mind, offering pre-set strategies, tutorials, and simplified interfaces. However, it’s still important to understand the basics before using automation.
Can I create my own trading strategies?
Yes. Many platforms allow users to customise or build strategies using visual editors or coding tools. Some even support backtesting, so you can see how a strategy might have performed in the past.
How do I know if an automated strategy is performing well?
Check key metrics like win rate, drawdown, return over time, and risk-to-reward ratio. Reliable platforms provide dashboards with these insights to help you assess performance clearly.
What happens if the automated system makes losing trades?
Losses can happen — no strategy is perfect. Most systems let you set risk controls, like stop-losses or capital limits, to reduce exposure if performance drops.
How do I monitor and control my automated trading?
Platforms usually offer real-time dashboards, alerts, and manual override options. You can pause, adjust, or stop the strategy at any time based on your preferences.
What should I do if my automated strategy stops working?
Pause trading immediately, review recent activity, and check for technical issues or market anomalies. If needed, contact support and consider switching to a different strategy or platform.
How do I avoid automated trading scams?
Stick to regulated platforms with transparent fees and proven track records. Be cautious of promises of guaranteed profits or aggressive marketing. Research user reviews and always read the terms.
Can you really make money with automated trading?
It’s possible to generate returns, but it depends on market conditions, strategy quality, and risk management. There are no guarantees, and performance can vary over time.
Conclusion
Automated trading doesn’t guarantee consistent profits or make you immune to losses. Systems and algorithms can fail or act erroneously. Employ the best risk management tools and strategies to protect your capital and maximise returns. Furthermore, thoroughly vet the trader you wish to copy before engaging in automated copy trading.
Finally, always trade with FCA-regulated companies. Too many fraudulent entities are operating today; don’t make their work easier or risk your hard-earned money by relenting on caution.
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I’ve used eToro for automated copy trading, and it’s been great for me as a beginner. It really simplifies things by automatically copying successful traders, which helped me avoid emotional mistakes early on.
This is a solid breakdown! Thank you!
I’m just starting out and this guide made automated trading seem way less intimidating. eToro looks like a solid pick for beginners like me who want a hands-off approach