For trading US share CFDs from the UK, we pick Pepperstone: it offers 600+ NYSE and Nasdaq shares at the exchange price plus $0.02 a share commission, 24-hour weekday trading on more than 100 of them, and the option to spread bet the same shares commission-free in pounds. Capital.com, with 4,500+ share markets, is the alternative if you want a longer list.
Short answer: Pepperstone for low, transparent US share CFD costs and 24/5 access; Capital.com for the widest range of individual shares.
Retail leverage on share CFDs and spread bets is capped at 5:1 by FCA rules, so margin is 20% of the position.
Pepperstone share CFD commission per side: US shares and ETFs $0.02 a share (minimum $0.02), UK 0.10% (minimum £0.01), Germany and Europe 0.10%, Hong Kong 0.15%.
Share spread bets at Pepperstone have no commission; the minimum spread on UK, German and Australian shares is 0.1% of the price.
Pepperstone lists 600+ US shares, 100+ UK shares, German and wider European shares, 200 Australian and 46 Hong Kong shares.
A share CFD or spread bet gives price exposure only: no voting rights, no ownership, and dividends paid as cash adjustments.
CFD, spread bet or real share?
A US share CFD at Pepperstone is traded at the underlying exchange price with a separate commission, and its profit is in dollars, liable to capital gains tax. A spread bet on the same share is in pounds per point, commission-free with the cost in the spread, and currently outside CGT for most individuals. Both are leveraged at up to 5:1 and both charge overnight funding on positions held overnight.
If you want to own US shares for years, collect dividends as a shareholder and hold them in an ISA, a share dealing account is the right tool, and Pepperstone does not offer one. Our guide to buying US stocks from the UK covers that route.
Best for US share CFDs
600+ US shares at exchange prices plus $0.02 a share, 24/5 trading on 100+ names including Apple, Nvidia and Tesla, and commission-free share spread bets.
65% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider.
Pepperstone, Capital.com and XS are our partners. We may earn a commission if you open an account through our links. That does not change the facts on this page.
Your questions, answered
Which broker offers the most share CFDs?
Capital.com lists more than 4,500 share markets on its UK site, the larger range of our two picks. Pepperstone's platform table shows around 1,400 share CFDs, drawn from the US, UK, Germany and Europe, Australia and Hong Kong. Unless you trade small caps, Pepperstone's list covers the large and mid-cap names most UK traders follow.
Which broker is best for spread betting on shares?
Pepperstone is our pick: share spread bets carry no commission, the minimum spread on UK, German and Australian shares is 0.1% of the price, and US shares can be spread bet 24 hours a day on weekdays. Because a spread bet is staked in pounds, a bet on a US share has no currency conversion. Capital.com also offers spread bets on thousands of UK, US and European shares.
Which broker is best for shorting shares in the UK?
Pepperstone lets you short any of its share CFDs or spread bets as easily as going long, with a 20% margin under FCA rules. When you are short over an ex-dividend date, Pepperstone debits your account with the dividend adjustment, and overnight funding on a short can be a smaller charge or a credit, depending on interest rates. Short positions have unlimited loss potential, so always use a stop.
What commission do UK brokers charge on share CFDs?
At Pepperstone, on both Standard and Razor accounts, commission per side is 0.10% on UK shares (minimum £0.01), $0.02 a share on US shares (minimum $0.02), 0.10% on German and other European shares, 0.07% on Australian shares and 0.15% on Hong Kong shares; there is no minimum commission on the Pepperstone platform. Capital.com charges no commission and adds a fixed mark-up to the exchange spread instead.
Which brokers offer 24 hour trading on US shares?
Pepperstone offers 24-hour trading five days a week on more than 100 US shares, as CFDs or spread bets, including Apple, Nvidia and Tesla. It notes that 95% of US firms report earnings outside regular hours, which is when the 24/5 session helps. Margin stays the same out of hours, but spreads are wider and liquidity thinner. Capital.com offers extended hours on selected shares.
How do brokers handle dividends and corporate actions on share CFDs?
When you hold a share or index CFD past the ex-dividend date, Pepperstone makes a cash adjustment: long positions are credited and short positions debited, with the amount reflecting market conditions and any withholding tax. You never receive a real dividend or voting rights. For corporate actions such as splits, consolidations, rights issues and takeovers, Pepperstone says it passes on the adjustments its liquidity providers make, and does not use them for profit. HMRC counts dividend-style adjustments inside the CFD's capital gains calculation, not as dividend income.
Which broker is cheapest for trading Tesla and Nvidia CFDs?
At Pepperstone, both are traded at the exchange's own bid and offer with a commission of $0.02 a share per side: 100 Nvidia shares cost $2 to open and $2 to close, plus overnight funding if held. Capital.com charges no commission but adds a fixed mark-up to each side of the exchange price; its UK pricing page shows how the mark-up works. For small orders, compare the mark-up in dollars against Pepperstone's $0.02 a share.
Which brokers offer European and Hong Kong share CFDs?
Pepperstone offers German share CFDs, a range of other European markets (its hours table covers Belgium, France, Switzerland, the Nordics, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Austria) and 46 Hong Kong shares. Hong Kong share CFDs trade in two sessions within Asian hours, which is overnight for UK traders. Capital.com offers thousands of global shares including Europe.
What leverage is available on share CFDs in the UK?
UK retail clients are limited to 5:1 on individual shares, meaning 20% margin; Pepperstone's UK leverage table shows shares at 1:5. So a £5,000 position in a US share needs £1,000 of margin. Professional clients can trade stocks and ETFs at up to 1:20 at Pepperstone, without negative balance protection.
Published 2026-10-21. Informational only, not investment advice. CFDs are leveraged products and most retail accounts lose money.
Best for US share CFDs
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