FCA Regulated Forex Brokers 2026

Top forex brokers regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), offering FSCS protection up to £85,000.

James Anderson

Written by

James Anderson

Emily Watson

Fact Checked by

Emily Watson

Last reviewed:
By:James Anderson
Fact-checked by:Emily Watson

Why Choose FCA Regulated Forex Brokers?

The FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) is the UK's financial services regulator and one of the most respected globally. FCA-regulated brokers must meet strict capital requirements, segregate client funds, and provide FSCS (Financial Services Compensation Scheme) protection up to £85,000 per person. For traders seeking maximum safety, FCA regulation represents the gold standard.

What is FCA regulation?

The FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) is the UK's primary financial services regulator. It ensures firms meet strict standards for client protection, fair trading, and operational integrity. FCA-regulated brokers must hold adequate capital and segregate client funds.

FCA Regulation Details

Compare FCA license numbers and regulatory status.

Broker
XM7054282016
Axi5097462012
ThinkMarkets6296282016
FXTM7779112018
AvaTrade5832632015
Pepperstone6843122016
CMC Markets1737301996
IG Group1953551974
Tickmill7172702017
Admiral Markets5954502013

Detailed Broker Analysis

Recommended
FCA-regulated with £5 minimum deposit.
4.5/5App Score

XM holds FCA license 705428 and offers excellent education for UK traders. FSCS protection up to £85,000 with a remarkably low £5 minimum deposit.

Forex spread classLow
Minimum deposit£5
Inactivity fee£5/mo
Currency pairs55
Deposit methodsBank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller
Withdrawal fee£0
Recommended
FCA-regulated with raw spreads.
4.4/5App Score

Axi holds FCA license 509746 and offers professional-grade trading conditions. Zero minimum deposit with FSCS protection for UK clients.

Forex spread classUltra-Low
Minimum deposit£0
Inactivity fee£10/mo
Currency pairs70
Deposit methodsBank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal
Withdrawal fee£0
ThinkMarkets logo
ThinkMarkets
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Recommended
FCA-regulated with ThinkTrader platform.
4.3/5App Score

ThinkMarkets holds FCA license 629628 and offers their proprietary ThinkTrader platform. No inactivity fees and full FSCS protection.

Forex spread classUltra-Low
Minimum deposit£0
Inactivity fee£0
Currency pairs80
Deposit methodsBank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal
Withdrawal fee£0
Recommended
FCA-regulated with strong education.
4.2/5App Score

FXTM holds FCA license 777911 and provides excellent educational content. FSCS protection and multiple account types for different trading styles.

Forex spread classLow
Minimum deposit£100
Inactivity fee£5/mo
Currency pairs62
Deposit methodsBank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, Skrill
Withdrawal fee£0
AvaTrade logo
AvaTrade
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Recommended
FCA-regulated with AvaProtect.
4.2/5App Score

AvaTrade holds FCA license 583263 and offers innovative AvaProtect risk management. Comprehensive education with FSCS protection.

Forex spread classLow
Minimum deposit£100
Inactivity fee£50/qtr
Currency pairs50
Deposit methodsBank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Skrill
Withdrawal fee£0
Pepperstone logo
Pepperstone
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Recommended
FCA-regulated award-winner.
4.6/5App Score

Pepperstone holds FCA license 684312 and is renowned for exceptional execution. Razor accounts with raw spreads and full FSCS protection.

Forex spread classUltra-Low
Minimum deposit£0
Inactivity fee£0
Currency pairs97
Deposit methodsBank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Skrill
Withdrawal fee£0
CMC Markets logo
CMC Markets
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Recommended
FTSE 250 FCA-regulated broker.
4.5/5App Score

CMC Markets holds FCA license 173730 and is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange. Next Generation platform with extensive instruments.

Forex spread classLow
Minimum deposit£0
Inactivity fee£10/mo
Currency pairs330
Deposit methodsBank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal
Withdrawal fee£0
IG Group logo
IG Group
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Recommended
50+ years of FCA regulation.
4.6/5App Score

IG Group holds FCA license 195355 since 1974, making them the UK's original spread betting provider. Premium research and world-class platform.

Forex spread classLow
Minimum deposit£250
Inactivity fee£12/mo
Currency pairs80
Deposit methodsBank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal
Withdrawal fee£0
Tickmill logo
Tickmill
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Recommended
FCA-regulated with lowest commissions.
4.4/5App Score

Tickmill holds FCA license 717270 and offers some of the lowest commissions in the industry. Raw spreads with FSCS protection.

Forex spread classUltra-Low
Minimum deposit£100
Inactivity fee£0
Currency pairs62
Deposit methodsBank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, Skrill
Withdrawal fee£0
Admiral Markets logo
Admiral Markets
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Recommended
FCA-regulated MetaTrader specialist.
4.3/5App Score

Admiral Markets holds FCA license 595450 and specializes in MetaTrader platforms. Extensive customization options with FSCS protection.

Forex spread classLow
Minimum deposit£100
Inactivity fee£10/mo
Currency pairs80
Deposit methodsBank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, Skrill
Withdrawal fee£0

Frequently Asked Questions

The FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) is the UK's primary financial services regulator. It ensures firms meet strict standards for client protection, fair trading, and operational integrity. FCA-regulated brokers must hold adequate capital and segregate client funds.

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protects clients of FCA-regulated firms up to £85,000 per person. If a broker fails, eligible clients can claim compensation. This provides significant peace of mind for UK traders.

Visit the FCA Register at register.fca.org.uk and search for the broker's Firm Reference Number (FRN). This confirms their regulatory status, permissions, and any regulatory actions.

Under ESMA regulations adopted by the FCA, retail clients can access up to 1:30 leverage on major forex pairs. Professional clients who meet eligibility criteria can access higher leverage up to 1:500 with some brokers.

Yes, many FCA-regulated brokers accept international clients, though they may be onboarded through offshore entities. FSCS protection only applies to clients of the FCA-regulated entity, so always check which entity covers your account.

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Regional Availability Notice

Broker availability depends on your country of residence. Some brokers may not accept clients from certain jurisdictions including the USA, Canada, Japan, and others. The comparison table on this page shows country acceptance status. Please verify availability with the broker directly before proceeding.

Independent Analysis

Rankings based on verified data and hands-on testing. See our methodology →

Data Verified

January 2026