No, Interactive Brokers does not offer spread betting. Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a US broker founded in 1978 that gives access to stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds, options, futures, forex and CFDs on more than 150 markets. UK clients use Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), with firm reference number 208159. It offers CFDs but no spread betting accounts.
CFDs work in a similar way to spread betting, but they are taxed differently. If spread betting is what you want, you need another FCA-regulated provider. These are three alternatives:
- Pepperstone: spread betting on MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView.
- IG: the UK’s longest-running spread betting provider, with more than 17,000 markets.
- CMC Markets: a wide range of markets on its own platform.
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 69% and 73.6% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and trading CFDs with the three alternatives in this article. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
What is spread betting?
Spread betting lets you bet on whether the price of a market will rise or fall, without owning the asset. You choose a stake per point of movement. If the market moves your way, you win your stake multiplied by the number of points. If it moves against you, you lose the same way.
For example, you bet £2 per point that the FTSE 100 will rise. If it rises 50 points, you make £100. If it falls 50 points, you lose £100.
Every market has two prices. You buy at the higher price (the offer) and sell at the lower price (the bid). The gap between them is the spread, and it’s the main way the provider earns money from you. Positions held overnight also pay a funding charge.
In the UK, spread betting profits are currently free of Capital Gains Tax and stamp duty. Tax treatment depends on your circumstances and can change. HMRC may treat it differently if spread betting is your main source of income.
Spread betting uses leverage. You only put down a deposit (margin), so your gains and losses are based on the full size of the position. FCA rules limit leverage for retail clients to 30:1 on major currency pairs and 5:1 on individual shares.
Does Interactive Brokers offer spread betting?
No. IBKR offers CFDs on shares, indices and forex, as well as options and futures, but it doesn’t offer spread betting accounts.
CFDs work in a similar way to spread betting: you profit or lose from price moves without owning the asset. The main difference for UK traders is tax. CFD, options and futures profits are subject to Capital Gains Tax, while spread betting profits are currently not. In return, losses on CFDs can be offset against other gains.
IBKR is better known in the UK as a low-cost broker for investing. These are its main terms for UK clients:
- UK shares: £3 per trade on fixed pricing, or 0.05% of the trade value (minimum £1) on tiered pricing, plus exchange fees.
- US shares: $0.005 per share, with a $1 minimum per order.
- Currency conversion: 0.002% of the amount, with a $2 minimum.
- Accounts: general account, Stocks and Shares ISA (£3 minimum monthly activity fee) and SIPP.
- Account fees: no account minimum and no custody fee.
Source: Interactive Brokers pricing, October 2026. Other fees may apply.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 58.9% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with IBKR. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Interactive Brokers alternatives for spread betting
1. Pepperstone
| Feature | Pepperstone |
| Founded | 2010, Melbourne |
| UK regulator | FCA (FRN 684312) |
| Markets | 90+ FX pairs, 1,100+ shares, 20+ indices, 40 commodities and 90+ ETFs |
| Spreads | FX from 0.6 points and gold from 0.1 points (Standard account) |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, Pepperstone platform and app |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 73.6% |
Source: Pepperstone, October 2026. Other fees may apply.
Pros:
- Spread betting on MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView
- Choice of a Standard account or a Razor account with raw spreads
- No commission on FX, commodities and indices on the Standard account
Cons:
- No real shares or ISA
- Fewer markets than IG or CMC Markets
Pepperstone was founded in Melbourne in 2010 and is popular with traders who use third-party platforms. In the UK, you can spread bet on MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader and TradingView, as well as Pepperstone’s own platform and app.
There are two account types. The Standard account has no commission on FX, commodities and indices, with costs built into the spread. The Razor account offers raw FX spreads from 0.0 plus a commission from £2.25 per lot per side. Positions held after 10pm UK time pay an overnight fee. Pepperstone Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA, with firm reference number 684312.
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 73.6% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
2. IG
| Feature | IG |
| Founded | 1974, London |
| UK regulator | FCA (IG Index Ltd, register number 114059) |
| Markets | More than 17,000 |
| Inactivity fee | None |
| Deposits and withdrawals | Free by bank transfer, debit card and credit card |
| Overnight admin fee | 1.5% for FX and 3.4% for other markets, on top of the interbank rate |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 70% |
Sources: IG spread betting and IG charges, October 2026.
Pros:
- More than 17,000 markets
- No inactivity fee and free deposits and withdrawals
- Share dealing and a Stocks and Shares ISA in the same app
Cons:
- Overnight admin fee of 3.4% a year on non-FX positions
- The range of markets and tools can feel overwhelming at first
IG was founded in London in 1974 and says it invented spread betting. It offers more than 17,000 markets, including shares, indices, forex and commodities, and you can open trades on major markets with as little as £5.
IG doesn’t charge an inactivity fee, and deposits and withdrawals are free. To hold a position after 10pm UK time, you pay overnight funding: the relevant interbank rate plus an IG admin fee of 1.5% a year for FX and 3.4% for other markets. Spread betting is provided by IG Index Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the FCA. IG also offers share dealing and a Stocks and Shares ISA if you want to invest for the long term.
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
3. CMC Markets
| Feature | CMC Markets |
| Founded | 1989, London |
| UK regulator | FCA (CMC Markets UK plc, FRN 173730) |
| Markets | More than 12,000 |
| Margin | From 3.34% of the position value |
| Platforms | CMC platform and app. MT4 through a separate account |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 69% |
Source: CMC Markets, October 2026.
Pros:
- More than 12,000 markets on one platform
- Lowest share of losing retail accounts of the three (69%)
- Detailed charting on its own platform
Cons:
- MetaTrader 4 needs a separate account and covers fewer markets
- No TradingView for spread betting
CMC Markets was founded in London in 1989 and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. It offers spread betting on more than 12,000 instruments through its own web platform and app, with margin from 3.34% of the position value. MetaTrader 4 is available through a separate account, but it only covers forex, indices and commodities. CMC Markets UK plc is authorised and regulated by the FCA, with firm reference number 173730.
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Comparison table
| Provider | Spread betting | FCA authorised | Markets | Losing accounts |
| Interactive Brokers | No | Yes (FRN 208159) | 150+ markets, including CFDs | 58.9% (CFDs) |
| Pepperstone | Yes | Yes (FRN 684312) | 1,300+ | 73.6% |
| IG | Yes | Yes (114059) | 17,000+ | 70% |
| CMC Markets | Yes | Yes (FRN 173730) | 12,000+ | 69% |
Sources: providers’ websites and the FCA register, October 2026.
How to choose a spread betting provider
- Check the FCA register: only use a firm that is authorised by the FCA, and search the FCA warning list for its name. Offshore brands often offer higher leverage, but you lose the Financial Ombudsman Service and the FSCS.
- Compare total costs: look at the spread on the markets you trade and the overnight funding charge if you hold positions for more than a day.
- Pick the right platform: if you already use MT4, MT5, cTrader or TradingView, Pepperstone supports all of them. IG and CMC Markets have strong platforms of their own.
- Start small: use a demo account first, then a small stake per point, and set a stop loss on every trade.
For more options, see our guide to the best MetaTrader brokers in the UK.
Conclusion
Interactive Brokers doesn’t offer spread betting. It is FCA-regulated and offers CFDs, options and futures alongside low-cost investing, an ISA and a SIPP, but CFD profits are subject to Capital Gains Tax and 58.9% of its retail CFD accounts lose money. If you want to spread bet, choose another FCA-regulated provider. Pepperstone suits traders who use MT4, MT5, cTrader or TradingView, IG offers the widest range with more than 17,000 markets and CMC Markets had the lowest share of losing retail accounts of the three, at 69%.
Spread betting is high risk, and most retail accounts lose money. Only trade with money you can afford to lose.
FAQs
Is Interactive Brokers regulated in the UK?
Yes. Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA, with firm reference number 208159.
What can you trade on Interactive Brokers in the UK?
Stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds, options, futures, forex and CFDs on more than 150 markets. You can also open a Stocks and Shares ISA or a SIPP. Spread betting isn’t available.
Does eToro offer spread betting?
No. See our article Does eToro offer spread betting?
Does DEGIRO offer spread betting?
No. See our article Does DEGIRO offer spread betting?
Does XTB offer spread betting?
No. See our article Does XTB offer spread betting?
Does Plus500 offer spread betting?
No. See our article Does Plus500 offer spread betting?
Do you pay tax on spread betting in the UK?
Spread betting profits are currently free of Capital Gains Tax and stamp duty for most UK traders. If spread betting is your main source of income, HMRC may treat it differently. Tax rules can change, and losses can’t be offset against other gains.
What are the differences between spread betting and CFDs?
Both let you trade price moves with leverage without owning the asset. With spread betting, you choose a stake per point, and profits are free of Capital Gains Tax in the UK. With CFDs, you trade a number of contracts, profits are subject to Capital Gains Tax and losses can be offset against other gains.
Is spread betting good for the long term?
Usually not. Overnight funding charges build up the longer you hold a position, which makes spread betting better suited to short-term trading. For long-term investing, a Stocks and Shares ISA is usually cheaper and also free of UK tax.
Does Hargreaves Lansdown offer spread betting?
No. See our article Does Hargreaves Lansdown offer spread betting?
Does Trading 212 offer spread betting?
No. See our article Does Trading 212 offer spread betting?
Does IC Markets offer spread betting?
No, and IC Markets Global is on the FCA warning list. See our article Does IC Markets offer spread betting?