For a UK beginner, the platform we suggest is Pepperstone's own web platform and app on its spread betting account, because it is simple, staked in pounds and lets you move up to TradingView, MT4, MT5 or cTrader later without changing broker. Capital.com's own platform is the alternative, with guaranteed stops built into the deal ticket.
Short answer: Pepperstone offers five platforms under one FCA-authorised UK firm; Capital.com offers its own platform plus MT4 and TradingView.
Pepperstone supports its own platform and app, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader and TradingView.
On Pepperstone, MT4 and TradingView work with the Razor CFD and spread betting accounts, but not with the Standard CFD account.
cTrader at Pepperstone shows level II depth of market and supports C# automation through cTrader Automate.
Each Pepperstone trading account is linked to one platform, but you can hold up to 10 live accounts across different platforms.
Capital.com supports its own web platform and app, MT4 and TradingView, plus a published API guide.
Match the platform to the account
At Pepperstone UK the platform and the account type are chosen together. A spread betting account can run on any of the five platforms. A Razor CFD account can run on all five too. A Standard CFD account runs on the Pepperstone platform, MT5 and cTrader only, so a beginner who wants MT4 or TradingView without commission should pick the spread betting account.
Costs can also differ by platform. On Razor, commission on MT4 and MT5 is set by account currency (£2.25 per lot per side in GBP), while cTrader charges $6 per lot round trip and TradingView $7, converted at the spot rate if your account is not in dollars.
Five platforms, one UK firm
Its own platform and app, MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView, all available for spread betting, with execution from 50 ms and no dealer intervention.
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 is best for MetaTrader 4 in the UK?
Pepperstone is our MT4 pick: you can use MT4 for spread bets or Razor CFDs, add 28 Smart Trader apps and indicators, and run Expert Advisors. MT4 is also available as a mobile app, so your EAs run on desktop while you monitor trades on the phone. Remember that a Standard CFD account cannot be opened on MT4 at Pepperstone UK.
Which broker is best for MetaTrader 5 in the UK?
We pick Pepperstone for MT5 too, because MT5 there works on all three of its UK account types and is where its CFD forwards on indices, gold and oil are listed. MT5 adds tick charts, Renko and range bars, 21 timeframes and a built-in economic calendar compared with MT4. EAs written for MT4 need recoding in MQL5.
Which UK brokers offer cTrader?
Pepperstone offers cTrader to UK clients through its FCA-authorised firm, on spread betting, Standard and Razor accounts. Capital.com does not list cTrader on its UK site. If you see cTrader offered by another firm, check the FCA register for the exact company you would contract with.
Is cTrader or MetaTrader 5 better for CFD trading?
cTrader is better if you want to see the order book (level II depth), clear commission previews and partial stop-outs: Pepperstone's cTrader Smart Stop Out closes parts of your largest positions to free margin instead of everything at once. MT5 is better if you want the huge MQL5 library of indicators and EAs. Both are free with a Pepperstone account, so try each on demo.
Which brokers offer TradingView integration?
Pepperstone and Capital.com both let you connect your account to TradingView and trade from its charts. At Pepperstone, TradingView works with the Razor CFD account and the spread betting account. StoneX (formerly City Index), IG and CMC Markets also list TradingView on their UK sites.
Which brokers are most reliable for execution speed and platform stability?
Look for published figures. Pepperstone reports execution from 50 milliseconds and a 99.32% fill rate for January to March 2026; Capital.com reports 0.082 seconds from its internal servers in August 2025; CMC Markets reports 99.98% platform uptime for its year to March 2026. Each firm measures differently, so use a demo at your usual trading hours as the real test.
Which platform is best for multi asset trading in one account?
Any Pepperstone account gives you forex, indices, commodities, shares and ETFs from one balance, around 1,444 CFDs or 1,432 spread bets, on whichever platform you choose. Capital.com lists 5,500+ instruments in a single account. Neither offers retail crypto in the UK, because of the FCA ban.
Which trading platform do professional traders use in the UK?
There is no single answer, and neither broker publishes a platform split for its professional clients. Order-flow traders often prefer cTrader for depth of market, systematic traders use MT5 or cTrader Automate, and discretionary traders use TradingView. Pepperstone Pro clients can host strategies on a free low-latency VPS.
Which platform is best for automated and algorithmic trading?
For automation at Pepperstone you have three routes: Expert Advisors on MT4 or MT5, cTrader Automate in C#, and APIs to connect your own software. MT4 and MT5 have the most ready-made EAs; cTrader Automate suits developers who prefer a modern language. Capital.com supports EAs on MT4 and publishes an API guide.
Which trading platform has the best charting tools?
TradingView is the charting leader: Pepperstone's page cites 400+ indicators, Supercharts, Heikin Ashi and Renko charts, and a social network of 100 million traders. Pepperstone offers a free TradingView subscription to clients who meet its eligibility criteria. Capital.com's TradingView connection lets you trade from the same charts.
Which brokers offer a web based trading platform?
Pepperstone's own platform runs in a browser, as do cTrader Web and TradingView. Capital.com's web platform needs no download and includes price alerts, an economic calendar and trade analytics. A web platform is handy on a work computer where you cannot install software.
Which broker has the best desktop trading platform?
For desktop power users, Pepperstone's cTrader and MetaTrader downloads are the strongest options; its platform table lists desktop support across Windows, Mac and Linux depending on the platform. cTrader's detachable charts and saved workspaces suit multi-monitor set-ups. Capital.com offers MT4 desktop for Mac and Windows and TradingView desktop.
Which cTrader broker has the lowest commission?
Pepperstone's cTrader commission is $6 per lot round trip on FX and $7 on gold, on Razor; its spread betting and Standard cTrader accounts have no commission. Compared with its own MT4/MT5 rate in a GBP account (£4.50 round trip), the cTrader rate is similar once converted. We could not verify another FCA-authorised cTrader broker's rate to compare.
Which brokers offer native TradingView integration without extra fees?
Both picks connect to TradingView at no extra platform charge. At Pepperstone, TradingView on Razor carries the usual commission ($7 round trip per FX lot) and on the spread betting account no commission at all, and eligible clients get a free TradingView subscription. Capital.com charges no commission through TradingView.
Which trading platform has the fastest execution for scalping?
The broker's servers matter more than the platform, but cTrader's market snapshots show liquidity at the moment of execution, which helps scalpers judge fills. Pepperstone's cTrader, MT4 and MT5 all route to the same execution with no dealer intervention. Use a VPS near the server if your strategy depends on milliseconds.
Which brokers support expert advisors on MetaTrader?
Pepperstone supports EAs on MT4 and MT5 for both CFDs and spread bets, and Capital.com supports EAs on MT4. Pepperstone's Smart Trader add-on includes tools such as Trade Terminal and Correlation Matrix. Neither broker takes responsibility for how a third-party EA performs.
Which FCA regulated brokers offer cTrader?
Pepperstone Limited (FCA 684312) offers cTrader to UK clients, with spread betting, Standard and Razor options. It is the only one of our two picks that does. Download the Pepperstone version of cTrader so your cTrader ID links to your Pepperstone accounts.
Which platform is best for backtesting trading strategies?
MT5's strategy tester and cTrader Automate are the strongest at Pepperstone; cTrader lets you build, backtest and optimise in C#, and MT5 uses MQL5. MT4 works too, but its tester is more limited. Capital.com's MT4 includes strategy testing tools such as Guardian Angel.
Which brokers offer trading APIs for developers?
Pepperstone offers APIs for connecting custom systems and front-ends to its pricing and execution, plus the cTrader API through Automate. Capital.com publishes an API development guide on its UK site. Start on a demo account and check rate limits before going live.
Which trading platform is best for advanced order types?
cTrader and MT5 offer the most order types at Pepperstone: market, limit, stop and stop-limit orders, plus trailing stops; Pepperstone notes that stop-limit orders are not guaranteed. If you need a guaranteed stop, that order type exists at Capital.com, not Pepperstone. Check how each order behaves in a gap on demo first.
Published 2026-10-21. Informational only, not investment advice. CFDs are leveraged products and most retail accounts lose money.
Five platforms, one UK firm
Simple own platform