Thadeus Geodfrey and finance are inseparable. He is a versatile expert with a strong cryptocurrency and market analysis background. Thadeus provides a unique blend of technical and strategic insights as a seasoned financial writer. His overarching probe and attention to detail inspire the InvestingGuide community. He guides you through the continuously evolving market landscape to build solid investments or make successful trades.
Fact checked
Advertising Disclosure
We may receive compensation from our partners for placement of their products or services, which helps to maintain our site. We may also receive compensation if you click on certain links posted on our site. While compensation arrangements may affect the order, position or placement of product information, it doesn’t influence our assessment of those products.
- High-leverage trading allows you to control larger positions without risking ungodly sums
- With high leverage, you can amplify potential profits
- High leverage can also lead to enhanced losses, so be careful
- Our experts have analyzed countless high leverage forex brokers UK and identified the best service providers
- Choose one of our recommended high leverage brokers to enjoy unmatched services, safety, and security
Forex trading is an exhilarating adventure that gives Brits like you access to uncapped treasure troves of profit. The best part is you don’t need a truckload of cash to try it out and earn returns. Thanks to high leverage, you can commit a small amount of money to forex trading and start your journey to financial freedom.
There are countless forex brokers with high leverage in the UK. But not all of them deserve your attention. Some have deplorable services, and others are owned by criminals who want to rob you. To help you avoid an unsavory fate, our experts embarked on a draining task. They researched, tested, and compared hundreds of service providers with one goal in mind: identifying the best high leverage brokers UK. We’ve listed them in this guide.
List of the Best High Leverage Forex Brokers
- Pepperstone – Overall Best Broker for High-Leverage Forex Trading in the UK
- eToro – Best High-Leverage Forex Broker for UK Social Traders
- Saxo – Best High-Leverage Forex Broker for Investment Aficionados
- FP Markets – Best High-Leverage Forex Broker for Advanced Traders in the UK
- AvaTrade – Best High-Leverage Forex Broker for Beginners in the UK
In This Guide
Comparison Table
Our first item is a comprehensive comparison table we’ve tailored to help you gauge what the best high leverage forex brokers UK offer from a distance. It’ll help you compare all recommended service providers based on a selection of factors, from licensing and regulation to trading software and customer support services.
We have started out with this comparison to help you get a rough idea of what the best high leverage forex brokers offer. Our other intention is to give you insights that will help you pick a promising service provider as early as possible. However, do not rely on this table exclusively. Although we’ve briefly listed important aspects that we consider noteworthy, the most crucial information is in our mini-reviews. But we are getting ahead of ourselves.
Here’s a quick comparison of the UK’s top high leverage forex brokers.
| Best High Leverage Forex Broker UK | Licence & Regulation | Support Service | Software | Payment Method | Demo Account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | FCA, ASIC, FSCA, DFSA, CySEC, CMA, SCB, BaFin, CySEC | 24/7 | TradingView, MT4, MT5, cTrader, Pepperstone Trading Platform, Social trading | Visa, Mastercard, Bank transfer, Neteller, Skrill, PayPal | Yes |
| eToro | FCA, 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 card, Bank transfer, Klarna, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller | Yes |
| Saxo | FCA, ASIC, FSA, MAS, FINMA, JFSA, SFC, AFM, FSMA | 24/5 | SaxoTraderGo, SaxoTraderPRO, SaxoInvestor | Bank/wire transfer, debit card | Yes |
| FP Markets | FCA, FSCA, ASIC, CMA, CySEC, FSA | 24/7 | MT4, MT5, TradingView, cTrader, WebTrader, Mobile App | Debit/credit card, Neteller, Skrill, Bank transfer, Google Pay, Apple Pay | Yes |
| AvaTrade | FCA, FSCA, CBI, CySEC, PFSA, ASIC, B.V.I FSC, FSA, ADGM, ISA | 24/5 | WebTrader, AvaOptions, AvaTradeGo, Mac Trading, MT4, MT5, AvaSocial | Credit/debit cards, Neteller, Skrill, Wire transfer, WebMoney | Yes |
Brokers Short Overview
There are more than enough reasons to avoid spending too much on trading fees and costs. For starters, it can directly impact potential returns, and not in a good way. That is why we encourage you to find a high leverage broker with reasonable minimum deposit requirements, spreads/commissions, transaction fees, and inactivity penalties.
Don’t stop at that. A cost-friendly service provider won’t do you any good if it doesn’t offer your preferred financial instruments. That is why we also urge you to vet every high-leverage broker’s asset selection before taking the last step and committing for the long run.
Fees
| Best High Leverage Forex Broker UK | Minimum Deposit Requirement | Commission/ Spreads | Deposits/ Withdrawals | Inactivity Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | £0 | From 0.0 pips | Free | £0 |
| eToro | £100 | From 1 pip | £5 withdrawal fee | £10 monthly |
| Saxo | £0 | From 0.4 pips | £0 | £0 |
| FP Markets | £100 | From 0.0 pips | Free | £10 monthly |
| AvaTrade | £100 | From 0.13% | Free | £50 after every 3 consecutive months of inactivity |
Assets
| Best High Leverage Forex Broker UK | Stocks | Forex | Crypto | Commodities | Indices | ETFs | Options |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| eToro | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Saxo | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FP Markets | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AvaTrade | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Our Expert’s Opinion about the Best High Leverage Forex Brokers
The service providers that have made it to our list are undeniably better than their peers. They are regulated and licensed by different world-recognized authorities, with the FCA at the forefront. Their users also enjoy competitive fees, intuitive trading features, good support, and many other outstanding perks.
That said, each forex broker is unique and different from its counterparts. That is why we can’t put all of these providers in one basket by saying they are all exceptional and leave it at that. We must explore what makes each broker outstanding and highlight some shortcomings you should be aware of. Let’s get down to it.
1. Pepperstone – Overall Best Broker for High-Leverage Forex Trading in the UK
We consider Pepperstone to be the best high-leveraged forex broker for very good reasons. This broker offers flexible leverages of up to 30:1 to retail clients with standard needs. If you’re pro with escalated, Pepperstone has got you covered, too. After signing up with this broker and meeting the stipulated conditions, you can magnify profitability with higher leverages of up to 500:1.
Pepperstone caters to the needs of both professionals and novices. To ensure the latter enjoy seamless forex trading sessions, this broker provides easy-to-use proprietary platforms, including a mobile designed for traders by traders. If you are a professional, trading with Pepperstone will ensure you have everything needed to elevate your career, including the latest API technology, advanced technical indicators, and expert advisors.
Are you more inclined to use third-party trading software? Then there’s plenty to love regarding Pepperstone. With this broker, you can use the highly customizable MT4 or MT5, the most powerful MetaTrader release as of 2024. You can also leverage TradingView’s powerful charting tools and cTrader’s robust order capabilities.
Pepperstone is also dedicated to providing pocket-friendly services. The company embraces both high-net-worth and low-budget individuals by having no initial minimum deposit requirements. Its clients also have ample opportunity to lower costs with tight spreads from 0.0 pips.
Pepperstone
✔24/7 customer support
✔No inactivity fees
Pros & Cons
Fees
Trading Assets
Pros
- 90+ forex pairs
- No initial minimum deposit
- Simple, intuitive platforms
- Tight forex spreads from 0 pips
- MT4, MT5, and other third-party tools are available
- Expert support is provided 24/7
- No inactivity fee
Cons
- Limited learning materials
- Pro services require a €500,000 minimum portfolio balance
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. eToro – Best High-Leverage Forex Broker for UK Social Traders
Social trading offers newbies the opportunity to learn from experienced forex traders. It also allows skilled individuals to up their knowledge with tips from their peers. Furthermore, both newbies and pros can use social trading to copy the most profitable forex traders, save time, and optimize profitability.
With the perks of social trading in mind, eToro is the best forex broker for social traders. It gives social trading enthusiasts a chance to refine their understanding of forex trading and gain invaluable signs from a community consisting of over 30 million registered users. Plus, this broker supports copy trading.
Join eToro’s community and enhance potential profits by copying the most successful eToro users. You’ll save time and avoid detrimental mistakes, especially if you’re a beginner. We highly encourage newbies and seasoned pros struggling with emotional trading to try out this service provider’s social and copy trading features.
That aside, eToro has an exquisite selection of assets. Sign up today and get your hands on over 6,000 tradeable assets, including 40+ FX pairs and thousands of CFDs. You can also invest in cryptocurrencies and stocks with this multi-regulated service provider.
eToro
✔5000+ financial instruments
✔Cost-free deposits
Pros & Cons
Fees
Trading Assets
Pros
- Vast community for social trading
- Novices can copy pros
- Thousands of trading instruments
- Investing in stocks and crypto is possible
- Wide selection of educational materials
- Up to 400:1 leverage
Cons
- £10 monthly inactivity fee
- Higher minimum spreads than its peers
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.
3. Saxo – Best High-Leverage Forex Broker for Investment Aficionados
Saxo is a forex broker like no other. It offers its users access to 180+ forex pairs, which is an incredible feat compared to its peers. This broker offers every conceivable forex instrument, from majors like GBP/USD and EUR/USD to minors like GBP/JPY and exotics like GBP/ZAR. Users can trade these assets and earn decent amounts courtesy of flexible leverages of up to 1:100.
When it comes to diversifying your trading portfolio, you won’t have any issues while using Saxo. This company has provided a beaver of leveraged tradable instruments besides FX pairs, including futures, commodities, and listed options. Its users can also diversify with over 8,600 CFDs on commodities, single stocks, bonds, etc.
The other element that makes Saxo unique is its investment offerings. This broker allows its customers to invest their hard-earned money in over 23,000 stocks from companies like Alibaba, Softbank, and Meta. 7,400+ ETFs from diverse sectors, including healthcare, tech, and environment, are also available. Not to forget, Saxo users can diversify their portfolios with 5,200+ bonds and 6,000+ funds.
Saxo doesn’t exclusively cater to individual traders. The company is also dedicated to providing indispensable products and services to institutional clients like family offices and fund managers. With this exceptional service provider, such entities can invest in over 71,000 financial instruments.
Saxo
✔No minimum deposit requirement
✔Low commissions for all asset classes
Pros & Cons
Fees
Trading Assets
Pros
- No minimum deposit requirement
- Tens of thousands of tradable assets
- Thousand of investable securities like stocks
- Competitive forex spreads from 0.4 pips
- Unique offerings for institutional clients
- No inactivity fees
Cons
- Lower maximum leverage compared to its peers
- Higher financing rates than other top providers
Saxo is one of the brokers in the UK with transparent fee structures. While analysing its trading and no-trading charges, we noted that the broker has no hidden charges. This makes it easier for users to plan and budget for their activities without worrying about extra charges once fully invested.
Additionally, we find Saxo affordable since it charges low commissions, starting at $1 on US stocks, ETFs, and futures. For traders interested in options and government bonds, Saxo charges low fees, starting at $0.75 and $0.05%, respectively.
When it comes to Saxo’s minimum deposit requirement, the broker has none. This means that any trader, whether new or budget-conscious, can create a trading account with the broker and start exploring the financial space. However, expect to incur a currency conversion fee, especially when you trade using a different currency from your account’s base denomination. The good news is this fee doesn’t apply to marginal collateral and can never exceed +/- 0.25%.
Financing charges for positions left overnight are also applicable at Saxo. For investors, expect to incur annual custody fees if your account holds stock, bond, or ETF/ETC positions. The exact fee will vary depending on your account. Our analysis showed that you will pay up to 0.15% for the classic account, 0.12% for the platinum account, and 0.09% for VIP accounts.
Lastly, Saxo charges fees for additional services besides those mentioned above. For instance, it imposes a $50 fee for online report requests. Plus, transactions are free, and there is no inactivity fee should your account stay idle for some time.
4. FP Markets – Best High-Leverage Forex Broker for Advanced Traders in the UK
A favorite for millions of global traders, FP Markets is the best high-leverage forex broker for Brits with advanced trading skills. If you’ve been in the scene for a long time and have faith in your capabilities, sign up with this service provider and get access to unmatched leverage of up to 500:1. You can play this aspect to your advantage and earn considerable returns on every position.
FP Markets also offers diverse, robust trading platforms ideal for advanced traders. These range from proprietary solutions like WebTrader and the FP Markets mobile app to cTrader, TradingView, and MT4/5. These platforms come with powerful technical analysis, charting, and algo trading tools tailored to the needs of advanced traders.
Furthermore, FP Markets allows advanced traders to choose their preferred Forex trading accounts based on a variety of perks and features. You can open a Standard account, with unique benefits like 0 commission and competitive spreads from 1 pip. Or, you can opt for a Razor account, whose spreads start from 0 pips, but the commission per lot is £3 per side. Your choice will depend on your trading goals and preferences.
Asset-wise, FP Markets is quite competitive. With this broker, you can trade over 70 currency pairs, including sought-after options like GBP/USD, USD/CHF, and USD/JPY. You will also get the chance to hedge against devastating losses by diversifying with CFDS on assets like shares, commodities, and digital currencies.
FP Markets
✔10,000+ tradeable financial instruments
✔Free deposits and withdrawals
Pros & Cons
Fees
Trading Assets
Pros
- Hosts robust platforms like cTrader and TradingView
- Iress and Islamic accounts are available
- Offers social and signal trading functionalities
- Thousands of tradable instruments, including 70+ forex pairs
- No initial minimum deposit requirement
- 24/7 multilingual support
Cons
- £10 monthly inactivity fee
- Limited courses and other training materials
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.
5. AvaTrade – Best High-Leverage Forex Broker for Beginners in the UK
Beginners need proper, sufficient education to make informed decisions, avoid common pitfalls, and increase profitability in the long run. AvaTrade knows this fully well. To ensure newbies who choose the service provider have the opportunity to thrive, AvaTrade offers an abundance of educational and training resources.
The first resource offered by AvaTrade is the highly-recognized Ava Academy. This is a terrific platform that’s loaded with hundreds of free online courses. The courses are laden with crucial information tailored to help you understand the intricacies of popular financial instruments like forex pairs, stocks, commodities, and crypto.
Courses aren’t the only materials we discovered at Ava Academy. Countless guides are available on the platform. They cover basic topics like fundamental trading terms, easy ways to spot scams, and psychology tips for beginners. All of these materials are curated with the details that novices like you need to transition to a forex trading wizard.
We also consider AvaTrade a fitting provider for beginners because it offers a simple, easy-to-navigate trading platform. It has a considerable range of currency pairs, including majors like GBP/USD, AUD/USD, and EUR/USD.
AvaTrade
✔Free deposits and withdrawals
✔Beginner-friendly user interface
Pros & Cons
Fees
Trading Assets
Pros
- An unmatched host of educational resources
- Simple platform interface
- Knowledgeable support agents
- Free deposits and withdrawals
- Offers automated trading tools
- Multiple copy trading options
Cons
- High inactivity fee
- Limited asset range
Before going any further, note that there’s an AvaTrade minimum deposit requirement for UK traders. Fundamentally, this service provider requires Britons to fund their account with at least £100 while using supported payment methods like wire transfer, credit card, and e-payment. You should keep that in mind while funding your trading account.
That aside, while evaluating AvaTrade, we discovered that this broker has numerous fees and costs. For starters, it requires dormant account holders to pay a £50 inactivity fee. It kicks in after 3 successive months of dormancy, and the broker charges it after every 3 months.
Additionally, dormant AvaTrade accounts incur a £100 annual administration fee that takes effect after 12 months of inactivity. Not to forget, while trading with AvaTrade, you’ll have to cover an overnight premium whenever you keep a position open after the stipulated overnight funding time, which is 22:00 GMT.
Regarding spreads and commissions, AvaTrade is one of the most affordable brokers in the UK. With this platform, you will enjoy reasonable spreads starting from 0.13% while trading popular instruments like Tesla and Amazon shares are involved. AvaTrade doesn’t require traders to cover any commissions. The broker uses the Bid-Ask spread to compensate itself.
High Leverage Trading in the UK
High-leverage trading is one of the strategies that many forex traders use to amplify market exposure and optimize profitability. If you are interested in harvesting handsome returns from forex trading while risking a considerably small amount of money, high-leverage trading is the way to go.
Despite high-leverage trading being legal and accessible in the UK, strict regulations require providers to offer this service to adults exclusively. In other words, to benefit from high-leverage trading, you must be at least 18. And once you start using high leverages to trade forex products, your proceeds will be subject to taxation. Please further your knowledge on this topic or consult with tax advisors before diving in to avoid breaking vital laws and attracting hefty penalties.
What Is High Leverage When Trading Forex?
In forex, high-leverage trading refers to the act of borrowing money from a broker and using it to access large positions that would otherwise be beyond your reach if you rely on your capital exclusively. Depending on your chosen broker, you can access high leverage of up to 500:1.
How to Choose the Best High Leverage Forex Broker UK
Each of the following factors will help you find the best UK forex brokers with high leverage. Consider them every time you search for a reliable service provider. That is crucial in protecting yourself from brokers who might be using juicy leverage to hide significant issues like poor support, frequent security breaches, and unfair practices.
Regulatory Status
Online Reviews and Ratings
Costs
Asset Availability
Trading Platforms
Customer Support
Regulators are guardian angels who watch over your forex trading escapades and ensure you are protected accordingly. Check every high-leverage broker’s adherence to regulations set by the FCA and other respected regulators. Don’t open an account or trade with an unregulated company under any circumstance.
Many people have traded forex before you and engaged with the high-leverage brokers you are about to interact with. Use their experiences to vet the reliability of the most promising service provider. Use the reviews they’ve published on Trustpilot, Google Play, and the App Store for that purpose.
High fees and hidden costs are akin to hidden icebergs that have the potential to hurt your trading journey in the long run. To avoid this problem, look for a high-leverage forex broker with transparent and competitive fees.
Your chances of hitting gold will highly depend on the financial products you have access to. Since you are primarily interested in forex trading, the first thing to do is look for a high-leverage broker with as many FX assets as possible, including your favorite currency pairs. We also encourage you to choose a broker whose treasure chest contains other assets, like stocks and commodities, for diversification purposes.
Your chosen high-leverage broker should offer platforms equipped with the tools and resources you need to navigate the forex market smoothly. Check the list of hosted and proprietary platforms before signing up. Also, if you have enough time, test each platform individually in demo mode before committing.
The waters of online trading are unpredictable. While navigating them, you will encounter numerous problems and challenges. You’ll need knowledgeable and responsive support technicians to help you address some of the issues you’ll encounter along the way. That is why we urge you to test each high-leverage broker’s support team before registering a new account.
How to Sign up for an Account with Forex Broker with High Leverage
After identifying the best broker with high leverage, opening a new account follows. Here’s how to go about it:
Step 1: Visit your chosen broker’s website
Step 2: Complete registration
Step 3: Verify your details
Step 4: Make a deposit
Step 5: Trade
Your quest should start on your chosen broker’s official website. There, you’ll find every crumb of information regarding crucial aspects like provided services, fees, and platform features. The site will also offer you access to links to sign up or download the right apps. Don’t sign up via any other avenue to avoid falling prey to malicious entities and exposing your data and money to theft.
You can register via your broker’s online platform or dedicated app. Either way, you’ll need to fill out the provided form with essential details about your personal identity, financial background, location, etc. Providing accurate details is indispensable because any suspicious or inaccurate information will nullify your account application.
The broker will need certain documents for verification purposes, like copies of your ID and utility bill statements. Such documents play a vital role in backing the information you’ve provided, especially where your identity and location are concerned. Due to FCA regulations, the best brokers can’t allow you to trade without verifying your identity and address.
Has your account been approved? It’s time to add some funds that will act as your forex trading capital. The rule of thumb here is to top up the account with money you’re comfortable losing. You can use any of the supported funding methods, which may include standard options like bank transfer and credit/debit cards.
With everything set up and a funded account at your disposal, it’s time to dive in. Choose your favorite forex pairs and implement your preferred trading strategies. Keep a close eye on the market, adjust your positions, and protect yourself against untold losses with proper risk management.
Conclusion
Starting small is incredibly important in leverage trading, more so when beginners are involved. If you are not a seasoned pro, start your journey with the smallest leverage possible. That way, you’ll be in the best position to understand the basics of leverage trading and learn to curb your greed for high profits without putting too much of your capital on the line. We also urge you to start a trading journal and use it to assess your performance as your career progresses.
Related Articles: