XAU BROKER RATING · v1 · NOVEMBER 2026
Best gold brokers in the United Kingdom (2026)
On our 2026 rating for United Kingdom residents, the highest scores go to: Pepperstone (93, account held by Pepperstone Ltd, FCA); ThinkMarkets (92, account held by TF Global Markets (UK) Ltd, FCA); FOREX.com (91, account held by StoneX Financial Ltd, FCA). The score is based on the company that would hold your account in the United Kingdom, not the best licence the group holds elsewhere.
- Tier 1–2 company for you
- 12
- Offshore for you
- 1
- Do not accept you
- 11
Data checked: November 2026
Trading gold in the United Kingdom: the rules
Retail CFD trading is allowed with FCA-authorised firms. Leverage on gold is capped at 20:1 for retail clients, negative balance protection is required, and FSCS covers up to £85,000 if a firm fails.
Gold broker ratings for United Kingdom residents
13 brokers available in United Kingdom
- 1
Pepperstone
Melbourne, Australia · 2010
Your account would be held by: Pepperstone Ltd, FCA (United Kingdom)Tier 1 · strictest Check this licence yourself
MT4MT5cTraderTradingViewSwap-free- ⚠ Licences taken from the broker’s legal page; register check pending
A+93/100
Trader Voice 79
Provisional
Protection you actually get · 35%
92
Gold trading cost · 25%
Not measured yet
Execution under stress · 15%
Not measured yet
Money in and out · 15%
Not measured yet
Platforms and gold conditions · 10%
95
- 2
ThinkMarkets
London, UK · 2010
Your account would be held by: TF Global Markets (UK) Ltd, FCA (United Kingdom)Tier 1 · strictest Check this licence yourself
MT4MT5TradingViewOwn platformSwap-free- ⚠ Licences taken from the broker’s legal page; register check pending
A+92/100
Trader Voice 63
Provisional
Protection you actually get · 35%
92
Gold trading cost · 25%
Not measured yet
Execution under stress · 15%
Not measured yet
Money in and out · 15%
Not measured yet
Platforms and gold conditions · 10%
90
- 3
FOREX.com
New Jersey, US · 2001 · NASDAQ: SNEX (StoneX)
Your account would be held by: StoneX Financial Ltd, FCA (United Kingdom)Tier 1 · strictest Check this licence yourself
MT4MT5TradingViewOwn platform- ⚠ Licences taken from the broker’s legal page; register check pending
A+91/100
Trader Voice 86
Provisional
Protection you actually get · 35%
96
Gold trading cost · 25%
Not measured yet
Execution under stress · 15%
Not measured yet
Money in and out · 15%
Not measured yet
Platforms and gold conditions · 10%
75
- 4
CMC Markets
London, UK · 1989 · LSE: CMCX
Your account would be held by: CMC Markets UK plc, FCA (United Kingdom)Tier 1 · strictest Check this licence yourself
MT4TradingViewOwn platform- ⚠ Licences taken from the broker’s legal page; register check pending
A+90/100
Trader Voice 80
Provisional
Protection you actually get · 35%
100
Gold trading cost · 25%
Not measured yet
Execution under stress · 15%
Not measured yet
Money in and out · 15%
Not measured yet
Platforms and gold conditions · 10%
55
- 5
Eightcap
Melbourne, Australia · 2009
Your account would be held by: Eightcap Group Ltd, FCA (United Kingdom)Tier 1 · strictest Check this licence yourself
MT4MT5TradingViewSwap-free- ⚠ Licences taken from the broker’s legal page; register check pending
A+90/100
Trader Voice 70
Provisional
Protection you actually get · 35%
92
Gold trading cost · 25%
Not measured yet
Execution under stress · 15%
Not measured yet
Money in and out · 15%
Not measured yet
Platforms and gold conditions · 10%
85
- 6
IG
London, UK · 1974 · LSE: IGG
Your account would be held by: IG Markets Ltd, FCA (United Kingdom)Tier 1 · strictest Check this licence yourself
MT4TradingViewOwn platform- ⚠ Licences taken from the broker’s legal page; register check pending
A+90/100
Trader Voice 63
Provisional
Protection you actually get · 35%
100
Gold trading cost · 25%
Not measured yet
Execution under stress · 15%
Not measured yet
Money in and out · 15%
Not measured yet
Platforms and gold conditions · 10%
55
- 7
Tickmill
London, UK · 2014
Your account would be held by: Tickmill UK Ltd, FCA (United Kingdom)Tier 1 · strictest Check this licence yourself
MT4MT5TradingViewSwap-free- ⚠ Licences taken from the broker’s legal page; register check pending
A+89/100
Trader Voice 37
Provisional
Protection you actually get · 35%
90
Gold trading cost · 25%
Not measured yet
Execution under stress · 15%
Not measured yet
Money in and out · 15%
Not measured yet
Platforms and gold conditions · 10%
85
- 8
HFM
Limassol, Cyprus · 2010
Your account would be held by: HF Markets (UK) Ltd, FCA (United Kingdom)Tier 1 · strictest Check this licence yourself
MT4MT5Own platformSwap-free- ⚠ Licences taken from the broker’s legal page; register check pending
A+88/100
Trader Voice 72
Provisional
Protection you actually get · 35%
92
Gold trading cost · 25%
Not measured yet
Execution under stress · 15%
Not measured yet
Money in and out · 15%
Not measured yet
Platforms and gold conditions · 10%
75
- 9
Admirals
Tallinn, Estonia · 2001
Your account would be held by: Admirals UK Ltd, FCA (United Kingdom)Tier 1 · strictest Check this licence yourself
MT4MT5Own platformSwap-free- ⚠ Licences taken from the broker’s legal page; register check pending
A+85/100
Trader Voice 78
Provisional
Protection you actually get · 35%
88
Gold trading cost · 25%
Not measured yet
Execution under stress · 15%
Not measured yet
Money in and out · 15%
Not measured yet
Platforms and gold conditions · 10%
75
- 10
OANDA
New York, US · 1996
Your account would be held by: OANDA Europe Ltd, FCA (United Kingdom)Tier 1 · strictest Check this licence yourself
MT4MT5TradingViewOwn platform- ⚠ Licences taken from the broker’s legal page; register check pending
A+85/100
Trader Voice 58
Provisional
Protection you actually get · 35%
88
Gold trading cost · 25%
Not measured yet
Execution under stress · 15%
Not measured yet
Money in and out · 15%
Not measured yet
Platforms and gold conditions · 10%
75
- 11
XTB
Warsaw, Poland · 2002 · WSE: XTB
Your account would be held by: XTB Ltd (UK), FCA (United Kingdom)Tier 1 · strictest Check this licence yourself
Own platformSwap-free- ⚠ Licences taken from the broker’s legal page; register check pending
A82/100
Trader Voice 65
Provisional
Protection you actually get · 35%
96
Gold trading cost · 25%
Not measured yet
Execution under stress · 15%
Not measured yet
Money in and out · 15%
Not measured yet
Platforms and gold conditions · 10%
35
- 12
Saxo
Copenhagen, Denmark · 1992
Your account would be held by: Saxo Markets UK Ltd, FCA (United Kingdom)Tier 1 · strictest Check this licence yourself
TradingViewOwn platform- ⚠ Licences taken from the broker’s legal page; register check pending
A76/100
Trader Voice 55
Provisional
Protection you actually get · 35%
88
Gold trading cost · 25%
Not measured yet
Execution under stress · 15%
Not measured yet
Money in and out · 15%
Not measured yet
Platforms and gold conditions · 10%
35
- 13
Wisuno
Kingstown, St Vincent & the Grenadines · 2013
Your account would be held by: Wisuno (SVG), SVG FSA (St Vincent & the Grenadines)Tier 5 · registration only Check this licence yourself
MT4MT5- ⚠ Licences taken from the broker’s legal page; register check pending
- ⚠ Claims licences we could not find on the regulators’ registers
- ⚠ The entity for this country is only a company registration, not a forex licence
We have a commercial relationship with this broker. It does not enter the score.
D12/100
Trader Voice 69
Provisional
Protection you actually get · 35%
0
Gold trading cost · 25%
Not measured yet
Execution under stress · 15%
Not measured yet
Money in and out · 15%
Not measured yet
Platforms and gold conditions · 10%
55
Which licence protects you in the United Kingdom
Of the 24 brokers we rate, 12 would open a United Kingdom resident's account with a Tier 1 or Tier 2 regulated company, 1 would use a light offshore or registration-only company, and 11 do not accept United Kingdom residents.
Account held by a Tier 1–2 regulated company
Account held by an offshore company
These groups may hold strong licences elsewhere, but that protection does not extend to you.
Local regulators seen in this list: Financial Conduct Authority
Brokers that do not accept United Kingdom residents
Questions people ask
Which gold broker is best in the United Kingdom?
On our 2026 rating for United Kingdom residents, the highest scores go to: Pepperstone (93, account held by Pepperstone Ltd, FCA); ThinkMarkets (92, account held by TF Global Markets (UK) Ltd, FCA); FOREX.com (91, account held by StoneX Financial Ltd, FCA). The score is based on the company that would hold your account in the United Kingdom, not the best licence the group holds elsewhere.
Is gold and forex trading legal in the United Kingdom?
Retail CFD trading is allowed with FCA-authorised firms. Leverage on gold is capped at 20:1 for retail clients, negative balance protection is required, and FSCS covers up to £85,000 if a firm fails.
How many international brokers serve the United Kingdom from a local licence?
Of the 24 brokers we rate, 12 would open a United Kingdom resident's account with a Tier 1 or Tier 2 regulated company, 1 would use a light offshore or registration-only company, and 11 do not accept United Kingdom residents.
How do I check a broker's licence in the United Kingdom?
Find the company name on your account agreement (not the brand), then search that exact company on the FCA register (https://register.fca.org.uk/). If the company is not listed, or the licence number belongs to a different company, do not deposit.
See also
Other countries
How we rate
Before you open an account
CFDs are complex instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Ratings are our opinion, based on the data and rules described in the methodology. They are not investment advice.