Best Futures Brokers in the UK (2024)

Interactive Brokers is an outstanding futures broker that offers traders access to a comprehensive range of futures trading products globally with access to over 30 market centers. It was founded in 1978 and is regulated by many top-tier regulators, including the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), making it a good choice for British traders. Additionally, it is listed on the NASDAQ exchange (Ticker: IBKR). 

Interactive Brokers offers a professional trading platform with multiple features, including a range of order types and algorithms that help traders execute various trading strategies. The TWS (desktop version) platform is one of the best trading platforms with advanced features and a high degree of customisation. 

Moreover, the platform offers powerful trading tools like ComboTrader, which helps traders create proprietary combination order strategies or choose from multiple templates with predefined programs to execute futures trades. In addition, they offer a well-designed web interface, IBKR GlobalTrader, and a mobile app. While all the platforms are designed to provide professional tools and resources to traders, they are also user-friendly for beginners. 

IBKR offers competitive pricing starting at $0.1 per contract, among the lowest on the market. Although the pricing structure is a bit complex, it is important to note that IBKR has no added spreads, ticket charges, platform fees, or account minimums, making it a great option for traders looking to minimize their costs. However, the fee you pay will depend on your monthly traded volume.

Here is a table summarizing the pricing of futures contracts on IBKR:

With over 30 years of experience, Saxo Markets is a top futures broker offering traders access to over 300 futures contracts from 28 global exchanges, covering equity indices, energy, metals, agriculture, rates, and Forex. It has successfully served over 876,000 customers globally and processes over 1 million transactions daily. The company is fully licensed and regulated in 15 jurisdictions across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, demonstrating a commitment to the strictest regulatory standards.

Saxo Markets offers competitive pricing on futures trading, with commissions varying based on the contract and the tier of pricing, which is dependent on your trading volume. They offer three tiers of pricing; Classic, Platinum, and VIP, with lower commissions available to traders as they trade more. Below is a small table showing the commissions for USD, GBP, CAD, EUR, and AUD futures contracts for each tier of pricing:

These commissions are for each contract and each trade (buy or sell) through SaxoTrader and exclude exchange fees.

Saxo Markets offers advanced tools for trading futures contracts. With the Futures Spread Trading feature, you can place orders to buy and sell multiple contracts at the same time. The Depth Trader feature lets you see all the buy and sell orders waiting to be executed, so you can manage your trades more effectively. With the Time and Sales feature, you can also monitor real-time futures prices and trade directly from the exchange. Saxo Markets provides 24-hour support and educational resources for all types of traders. VIP traders can receive priority support and exclusive invitations to events.

IG is another broker among our list of top futures brokers in the UK. It has been providing trading services since 1974, with over 320,000 clients worldwide. IG offers a huge selection of CFD futures, including over 80 indices, commodity and bond futures. This makes it easy for traders to diversify their portfolios and access a wide range of global markets.

IG offers you a variety of trading platforms to choose from, depending on your trading needs and preferences. The IG trading platform is available on both iOS and Android devices and features a progressive web app, and can be accessed from any device with internet connection. Additionally, for advanced traders, IG provides access to ProRealTime and MetaTrader4 platforms, which are known for their advanced charting capabilities and customization options. For traders seeking Direct Market Access (DMA), IG provides L2 Dealer, a platform specifically designed for professional traders, providing them with direct access to exchange order books and market depth. IG’s trading platforms also allow you to trade with leverage, which can amplify gains, but it’s important to note that it also increases risks, and you must have a sound risk management strategy in place.

One of the key advantages of trading futures with IG is transparent pricing, with all costs clearly stated upfront. For futures markets, there is no overnight funding fee because the cost of funding is built into the spread. You can check below some of the spreads applied to major futures contracts:

Indices futures spread

Commodities futures spread

Opening an account with IG is free of charge. However, you should note that there is a monthly account charge of £12 if you haven’t used your account for two years or more. It’s important to keep this in mind to avoid any unexpected charges. The required minimum deposit depends on your funding method. For example, there is a £250 minimum for credit/debit card deposits and a £50 minimum for bank transfers.

NinjaTrader was established in 2003, providing specialized software and brokerage services designed specifically for futures and options trading. The platform gives you access to some of the most popular futures markets, such as CME Group, Eurex futures, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), and Coinbase Derivatives. Their trading platform is used by over 800,000 users making it among the top futures brokers.

NinjaTrader’s trading platform caters to the needs of both professional and beginner futures traders, with advanced technical indicators available on desktop, web, and mobile versions. If you’re new to trading, you can start with a free 2-week trial that includes live-streaming market data and utilize a demo account to practice your skills. Once you’re ready to trade with real money, NinjaTrader offers a free and unlimited trading simulator to further sharpen your skills before jumping into the market.

There is no minimum deposit requirement, and they charge low fees by offering three pricing plans to choose from based on your trading needs. Here are the three plans:

In addition to trading fees, you may also be charged for market data depending on which exchange you’re interested in. For example, if you’re looking to access CME Market Data (including CME, CBOT, NYMEX & COMEX), you can opt for a monthly bundle of all four exchanges at $12 or pay $4 per exchange per month. These fees are subject to change based on the exchange and whether you’re a professional or non-professional user.

On the downside, NinjaTrader’s withdrawal and inactivity fees are high. For international bank transfers, you will pay a $50 fee, and if you have an existing account and don’t make any trades during a given month, you will be charged a $25 fee which might not be convenient if you are not an active futures trader.

Tastytrade is a futures broker based in the United States that also ranks among the top futures in the UK. It is a subsidiary of IG Group Holdings plc and gives you access to trade futures and gain exposure to indices, Forex, interest rates, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and more.

Tastytrade offers a commission structure that is particularly advantageous for active traders who specialize in niche securities such as futures and options. For instance, on micro and small futures, the commission starts at $0.50 and $1.70 per contract for a round-trip transaction, regardless of your trading volume. This makes Tastytrade an excellent choice for traders of all levels looking to optimize their trading activities and minimize costs. You can find below the commission on major futures contracts.

Futures commission

Tastytrade also stands out for its exceptional trading platform, which is available across desktop, browser, and mobile devices. It has advanced multi-account support and reporting, an intuitive dashboard layout, and workflow. The Follow Feed feature allows you to view your favorite trades from selected traders which presents an opportunity to learn from successful traders and gain insights into their strategies, including earnings plays and pairs trades. 

Another special feature is the in-platform video feed that sets it apart from other futures brokers. You can watch real traders trade right inside the platform every minute the market is open and hear informed conversations about strategies, concepts, research, and market movements. This feature is an invaluable tool for traders who want to learn from experienced traders and get inspired to try new strategies.

On the drawbacks side, you are limited to opening accounts denominated only in USD, and Tastytrade does not provide any currency conversion services. Additionally, the available deposit methods are limited to bank transfers or CurrencyFair, which may not be ideal for all traders. Finally, when withdrawing funds from your account, it’s important to note that an international bank transfer fee of $45 will apply, which may be inconvenient.