To help you find the best CFD broker in Guatemala for 2021, we went ahead and did the research for you. First, we selected 81 quality online brokers, then we checked and compared their CFD fees, product selection, deposit and withdrawal options, trading platforms and more. We dug deep so you don't have to. 5 brokers made it to the top in Guatemala. We strongly recommend all 5 to you. And now, without further ado...
Our top 5 picks for the best CFD brokers of 2021 for citizens in Guatemala:
- XTB is the best CFD broker in Guatemala in 2021. Low forex fees. Free and fast deposit and withdrawal. Easy and fast account opening.
- City Index takes the second place. Low fees for forex. Fast and smooth account opening. Diverse research tools.
- ActivTrades rounds out the top three. Low trading fees. Free deposit and withdrawal. Good customer support and education services.
- Spreadex, is ranked fourth. Low forex fees. Good web platform. Helpful customer service.
- Trading 212. Just made it to the list by moving to the fifth spot. Real stocks and ETFs are commission-free. Quick and easy account opening. Great trading platforms.
| Broker | CFD fee score | CFD product selection score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | XTB | 3.5 stars | 4.3 stars |
| #2 | City Index | 3.3 stars | 5.0 stars |
| #3 | ActivTrades | 4.7 stars | 3.7 stars |
| #4 | Spreadex | 3.8 stars | 5.0 stars |
| #5 | Trading 212 | 1.9 stars | 4.3 stars |
What makes a good CFD broker? First of all, fair fees. They should provide access to lots of products as well as easy account opening and depositing. Having a great trading platform is also a strong plus for a good CFD broker.
Easy to list, but hard to figure out. We are testing brokers based on more than 300 criteria with real accounts and real money. We know what's going on. You can find the details of all the ranking criteria in our methodology.
Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you can afford to take that kind of risks. If you don't have a clue what a CFD is, you should start by reading more about CFD trading.
Not sure which broker to choose? For a tailored recommendation, check out our broker finder tool. Just enter the name of your country and you will see only the relevant brokers. Want more details? Compare brokers with this in-depth comparison table.
And now, let's see the best CFD brokers for Guatemalan citizens in 2021 one by one. Starting with the winner, XTB.
#1 Best CFD broker
XTB
XTB is a global CFD and forex broker with headquarters in London and Warsaw, founded in 2002. The company is regulated by several financial authorities worldwide, including the top-tier UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). In addition, XTB is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, and as such is required to disclose its financials.
XTB is considered safe because it has a long track record, is listed on a stock exchange, and publishes its financial statements transparently.
Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 79% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Recommended for forex and cfd traders looking for low fees and great deposit/withdrawal service
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low forex fees | • High fees for stock CFDs |
| • Free and fast deposit and withdrawal | • Product portfolio limited mostly to CFDs and FX |
| • Easy and fast account opening | • Limited fundamental data |
#1 XTB
Fees
XTB has low forex fees and there is no withdrawal fee for most transfers. On the other hand, stock CFD fees are high, and XTB also charges an inactivity fee.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low forex fees | • High stock CFD fees |
| • Free withdrawal for transfers above $100 |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 index CFD fee | $1.5 | $1.2 | $0.9 | $1.8 | $4.1 |
| Europe 50 index CFD fee | $1.8 | $1.9 | $0.7 | $3.2 | $6.3 |
| Apple CFD | $8.2 | $10.2 | $1.2 | $3.2 | $1.5 |
| Vodafone CFD | $9.9 | $13.3 | $2.3 | $2.3 | $2.0 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $8.5 | $6.0 | $7.9 | $6.7 | $26.0 |
| GBPUSD benchmark fee | $6.1 | $5.2 | $5.7 | $4.8 | $20.3 |
All spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | No | No | No | No | No |
| Inactivity fee | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
#1 XTB
Markets and products
XTB's default product selection includes only CFDs, forex and crypto. Some European clients can also trade real stocks and ETFs. Popular asset classes like bonds, mutual funds, options and futures are not available.
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Currency pairs (#) | 49 | 84 | 48 | 60 | 167 |
| Stock index CFDs (#) | 42 | 22 | 27 | 30 | 23 |
| Stock CFDs (#) | 1,800 | 4,500 | 660 | 3,000 | 1,700 |
| ETF CFDs (#) | 114 | 690 | 500 | 200 | 28 |
| Commodity CFDs (#) | 22 | 29 | 15 | 27 | 26 |
| Bond CFDs (#) | - | 12 | 5 | 6 | - |
| Cryptos (#) | 25 | 6 | - | - | 16 |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fund | No | No | No | No | No |
| Bond | No | No | No | No | No |
| Options | No | No | No | No | No |
| Futures | No | No | No | No | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
#1 XTB
Account opening
XTB's account opening process is hassle-free, straightforward and fully digital. Your account will be ready for trading on the same day.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | None |
| • Fully digital | |
| • No minimum deposit |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $100 | $1,000 | $0 | $1 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1 day | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1 day |
#1 XTB
Deposit and withdrawal
XTB deposits and withdrawals are fast, mostly free, and can be done via several channels.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Few minor account currencies accepted |
| • Free withdrawal | |
| • No deposit fee |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
#1 XTB
Web trading platform
XTB's xStation 5 platform is user-friendly, can be customized and has a good search function. On the other hand, two-step login is not available.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No two-step (safer) login |
| • Clear fee report | |
| • Good search function |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.4 stars | 4.3 stars | 3.8 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.9 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.4 stars | 4.3 stars | 4.3 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.9 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 4.4 stars | 3.0 stars | 3.4 stars | - | - |
| Can you set leverage manually? | No | No | Yes | No | No |
#1 XTB
Verdict
XTB is a great CFD and forex broker. It is regulated by several financial authorities globally, including the UK's FCA. The company is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
On the plus side, its forex fees are low, and the deposit and withdrawal process is fast and mostly free. We also liked the seamless and hassle-free account opening process.
XTB has some drawbacks, though. Stock CFD fees are high. The product range is mainly limited to FX and CFDs, although real stock and ETF trading are available in some European countries. Fundamental data offered by XTB covers only a few basics such as P/E.
We recommend XTB for clients who prefer forex or CFD trading, and also want to enjoy great deposit and withdrawal options along with fast account opening. Feel free to test it using a demo account.
| XTB | |
|---|---|
| Summary | XTB is a global CFD and forex broker, listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and regulated by financial authorities including the UK FCA, Poland's KNF, and Cyprus's CySec. |
| Fees score | 3.9 stars |
| Recommended for | Forex and CFD traders looking for low fees and great deposit/withdrawal service |
#2 Best CFD broker
City Index
City Index is a global CFD and FX broker that was founded in 1983. City Index is the trading brand of GAIN Capital, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The company is regulated by top-tier financial authorities, such as the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
City Index is considered safe because it has a long track record, it is regulated by top-tier financial authorities, and its parent company is listed on a stock exchange.
Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 73% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Recommended for forex and cfd traders looking for low forex fees and great research tools
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low fees for forex | • Limited product portfolio |
| • Fast and smooth account opening | • High stock CFD fees |
| • Diverse research tools | • Non-user-friendly desktop platform |
#2 City Index
Fees
City Index has low fees for forex and there is no withdrawal fee. On the other hand, stock CFD fees are high and there is an inactivity fee after one year.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low forex fees | • Inactivity fee |
| • No withdrawal fee | • High stock CFD fees |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 index CFD fee | $1.5 | $1.2 | $0.9 | $1.8 | $4.1 |
| Europe 50 index CFD fee | $1.8 | $1.9 | $0.7 | $3.2 | $6.3 |
| Apple CFD | $8.2 | $10.2 | $1.2 | $3.2 | $1.5 |
| Vodafone CFD | $9.9 | $13.3 | $2.3 | $2.3 | $2.0 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $8.5 | $6.0 | $7.9 | $6.7 | $26.0 |
| GBPUSD benchmark fee | $6.1 | $5.2 | $5.7 | $4.8 | $20.3 |
All spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | No | No | No | No | No |
| Inactivity fee | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
#2 City Index
Markets and products
At City Index, you can only trade with CFDs, forex, and cryptos. Other asset classes, like real stocks or funds, are not available.
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Currency pairs (#) | 49 | 84 | 48 | 60 | 167 |
| Stock index CFDs (#) | 42 | 22 | 27 | 30 | 23 |
| Stock CFDs (#) | 1,800 | 4,500 | 660 | 3,000 | 1,700 |
| ETF CFDs (#) | 114 | 690 | 500 | 200 | 28 |
| Commodity CFDs (#) | 22 | 29 | 15 | 27 | 26 |
| Bond CFDs (#) | - | 12 | 5 | 6 | - |
| Cryptos (#) | 25 | 6 | - | - | 16 |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fund | No | No | No | No | No |
| Bond | No | No | No | No | No |
| Options | No | No | No | No | No |
| Futures | No | No | No | No | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
#2 City Index
Account opening
City Index's account opening process is fully digital and there is no minimum deposit. It took one day for us to get the account approved.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | None |
| • Fully digital | |
| • No minimum deposit |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $100 | $1,000 | $0 | $1 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1 day | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1 day |
#2 City Index
Deposit and withdrawal
City Index provides multiple deposit and withdrawal options, all free of charge. However, withdrawal is not possible with some credit cards.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Problem with credit card withdrawal |
| • Free withdrawal | |
| • No deposit fee |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
#2 City Index
Web trading platform
City Index's web trading platform is user-friendly and extremely customizable, with lots of order types. On the negative side, there is no two-step login.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No two-step (safer) login |
| • Good customizability (for charts, workspace) | |
| • Good variety of order types |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.4 stars | 4.3 stars | 3.8 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.9 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.4 stars | 4.3 stars | 4.3 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.9 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 4.4 stars | 3.0 stars | 3.4 stars | - | - |
| Can you set leverage manually? | No | No | Yes | No | No |
#2 City Index
Verdict
City Index is a great CFD and forex broker regulated by top-tier financial authorities, such as the UK's FCA.
On the positive side, it has low forex fees, a smooth account opening process, and high-quality research tools.
It has some drawbacks though. The product portfolio is limited, stock CFD fees are quite high and the desktop platform lags behind its competitors.
As there is no minimum balance required, no withdrawal fee and an inactivity fee only kicks in after one year, feel free to try City Index.
| City Index | |
|---|---|
| Summary | City Index is a global CFD broker, regulated by many financial authorities including the top-tier UK FCA. Its parent company, GAIN Capital is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. |
| Fees score | 4.1 stars |
| Recommended for | Forex and CFD traders looking for low forex fees and great research tools |
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#3 Best CFD broker
ActivTrades
ActivTrades is a global forex broker founded in 2001. It is regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Securities Commission of the Bahamas (SCB).
ActivTrades is considered safe because it has a long track record and it is regulated by a top-tier financial authority, the FCA.
Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Recommended for forex and cfd traders looking for low fees and great deposit/withdrawal conditions
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | • Slim product portfolio |
| • Free deposit and withdrawal | • Basic research tools |
| • Good customer support and education services | • High minimum deposit |
#3 ActivTrades
Fees
ActivTrades has low trading fees and average non-trading fees. It's great that the broker charges no deposit and withdrawal fees in most cases.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | • Inactivity fee |
| • No withdrawal fee |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 index CFD fee | $1.5 | $1.2 | $0.9 | $1.8 | $4.1 |
| Europe 50 index CFD fee | $1.8 | $1.9 | $0.7 | $3.2 | $6.3 |
| Apple CFD | $8.2 | $10.2 | $1.2 | $3.2 | $1.5 |
| Vodafone CFD | $9.9 | $13.3 | $2.3 | $2.3 | $2.0 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $8.5 | $6.0 | $7.9 | $6.7 | $26.0 |
| GBPUSD benchmark fee | $6.1 | $5.2 | $5.7 | $4.8 | $20.3 |
All spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | No | No | No | No | No |
| Inactivity fee | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
#3 ActivTrades
Markets and products
At ActivTrades you can only trade forex and other CFDs. Popular asset classes, such as real stocks, bonds, mutual funds and options are not available.
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Currency pairs (#) | 49 | 84 | 48 | 60 | 167 |
| Stock index CFDs (#) | 42 | 22 | 27 | 30 | 23 |
| Stock CFDs (#) | 1,800 | 4,500 | 660 | 3,000 | 1,700 |
| ETF CFDs (#) | 114 | 690 | 500 | 200 | 28 |
| Commodity CFDs (#) | 22 | 29 | 15 | 27 | 26 |
| Bond CFDs (#) | - | 12 | 5 | 6 | - |
| Cryptos (#) | 25 | 6 | - | - | 16 |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fund | No | No | No | No | No |
| Bond | No | No | No | No | No |
| Options | No | No | No | No | No |
| Futures | No | No | No | No | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
#3 ActivTrades
Account opening
Account opening at ActivTrades is seamless and fully digital. The whole process took less, than five minutes. Our account was verified within one business day. On the downside, the minimum deposit is high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | • Minimum deposit is $1,000 |
| • Fully digital | |
| • User-friendly |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $100 | $1,000 | $0 | $1 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1 day | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1 day |
#3 ActivTrades
Deposit and withdrawal
ActivTrades offers free deposit and withdrawal options, including traditional methods such as bank transfer and credit card, as well as various e-wallets. On the other hand, minor currencies are not accepted.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Minor account currencies not available |
| • Free withdrawal | |
| • No deposit fee |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
#3 ActivTrades
Web trading platform
ActivTrades has its own web trading platform called ActivTrader. It's highly customizable, available in several languages and has a clear fee report. On the flip side, the platform lacks a two-step login and price alerts.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No two-step (safer) login |
| • Clear fee report | |
| • Good search function |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.4 stars | 4.3 stars | 3.8 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.9 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.4 stars | 4.3 stars | 4.3 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.9 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 4.4 stars | 3.0 stars | 3.4 stars | - | - |
| Can you set leverage manually? | No | No | Yes | No | No |
#3 ActivTrades
Verdict
All in all, ActivTrades is a good CFD/forex broker.
ActivTrades has low trading fees, while deposits and withdrawals are free. Customer support is great and it has excellent education tools, including webinars and market analysis.
On the downside, its product portfolio is limited to just a few products, as it offers mainly CFDs and forex instruments. The research tools are basic, and there are no trading ideas or fundamental data. The minimum deposit is high, at $/€/£/CHF 1,000, depending on the currency of your account.
As the trading fees are low and your account will be ready quickly, feel free to try ActivTrades.
| ActivTrades | |
|---|---|
| Summary | ActivTrades is a UK CFD and forex broker. It is regulated by the FCA and is available globally for clients. |
| Fees score | 4.4 stars |
| Recommended for | Forex and CFD traders looking for low fees and great deposit/withdrawal conditions |
#4 Best CFD broker
Spreadex
Spreadex is a global CFD and forex broker founded in 1999. It is regulated by the top-tier UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The company also operates a separate sports betting service.
Spreadex is considered safe because it has a long track record and is regulated by a top-tier financial authority.
Disclaimer: 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 trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. For professional clients, spread betting and CFD trading can also result in losses larger than your initial stake or deposit. This site is intended for those persons of 18 years or older.
Recommended for forex and cfd traders looking for low fees and great deposit/withdrawal options
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low forex fees | • Thin product selection |
| • Good web platform | • No desktop platform |
| • Helpful customer service | • Limited research and education tools |
#4 Spreadex
Fees
Spreadex has low forex fees and low stock CFD fees, and it charges no inactivity fee.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low forex fees | None |
| • No inactivity fee |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 index CFD fee | $1.5 | $1.2 | $0.9 | $1.8 | $4.1 |
| Europe 50 index CFD fee | $1.8 | $1.9 | $0.7 | $3.2 | $6.3 |
| Apple CFD | $8.2 | $10.2 | $1.2 | $3.2 | $1.5 |
| Vodafone CFD | $9.9 | $13.3 | $2.3 | $2.3 | $2.0 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $8.5 | $6.0 | $7.9 | $6.7 | $26.0 |
| GBPUSD benchmark fee | $6.1 | $5.2 | $5.7 | $4.8 | $20.3 |
All spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | No | No | No | No | No |
| Inactivity fee | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
#4 Spreadex
Markets and products
At Spreadex you can only trade forex, CFDs, and spread betting. Popular asset classes such as real stocks, ETFs, or bonds are missing.
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Currency pairs (#) | 49 | 84 | 48 | 60 | 167 |
| Stock index CFDs (#) | 42 | 22 | 27 | 30 | 23 |
| Stock CFDs (#) | 1,800 | 4,500 | 660 | 3,000 | 1,700 |
| ETF CFDs (#) | 114 | 690 | 500 | 200 | 28 |
| Commodity CFDs (#) | 22 | 29 | 15 | 27 | 26 |
| Bond CFDs (#) | - | 12 | 5 | 6 | - |
| Cryptos (#) | 25 | 6 | - | - | 16 |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fund | No | No | No | No | No |
| Bond | No | No | No | No | No |
| Options | No | No | No | No | No |
| Futures | No | No | No | No | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
#4 Spreadex
Account opening
Opening an account at Spreadex is easy and straightforward, and involves no minimum deposit. However, account verification was a bit slow, taking us 2-3 business days.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fully digital | • Slower-than-average account verification |
| • No minimum deposit | |
| • User-friendly |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $100 | $1,000 | $0 | $1 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1 day | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1 day |
#4 Spreadex
Deposit and withdrawal
Deposit and withdrawal, via bank transfer or credit/debit cards, are quick and mostly free. However, the account currency selection is rather average.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Average account currency selection |
| • No deposit fee | |
| • Free withdrawal in most cases |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
#4 Spreadex
Web trading platform
The Spreadex trading platform is user-friendly, with a good search function, clear reports and guaranteed stop orders. However, it lacks a two-step login and is available only in English.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No two-step (safer) login |
| • Clear fee report | • Available only in English |
| • Good search function | |
| • Guaranteed stop |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.4 stars | 4.3 stars | 3.8 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.9 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.4 stars | 4.3 stars | 4.3 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.9 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 4.4 stars | 3.0 stars | 3.4 stars | - | - |
| Can you set leverage manually? | No | No | Yes | No | No |
#4 Spreadex
Verdict
Spreadex is a forex and CFD broker regulated by the top-tier UK FCA.
Spreadex has low forex fees; it offers a good web trading platform; and any problems or enquiries are taken care of by its helpful and fast customer service.
On the flip side, Spreadex's product portfolio is limited to forex and CFDs, meaning that popular asset classes such as real stocks or mutual funds are missing. In addition, there is no desktop platform, while the quality and quantity of research tools and education materials is quite poor.
As Spreadex has a user-friendly web platform and requires no minimum deposit, we encourage you to give it a try.
| Spreadex | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Spreadex is a UK CFD and Forex broker. It is regulated by FCA and is available globally for clients. |
| Fees score | 4.3 stars |
| Recommended for | Forex and CFD traders looking for low fees and great deposit/withdrawal options |
#5 Best CFD broker
Trading 212
Trading 212 is a global CFD and forex broker, but clients can also trade stocks and ETFs free of charge. The company was founded in 2004 and is now headquartered in London. Trading 212 is regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Bulgarian Financial Supervision Commission (FSC).
Trading 212 is considered safe as it is regulated by the top-tier FCA.
Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Recommended for active cfd and fx traders and investors looking for intuitive trading platforms
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Real stocks and ETFs are commission-free | • Limited product portfolio |
| • Quick and easy account opening | • Missing phone and live chat support |
| • Great trading platforms | • High forex fee |
#5 Trading 212
Fees
Trading 212 has commission-free stocks and ETFs, and there are also no fees for deposit, withdrawal or inactivity. However, fees for forex trading are high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Free stock and ETF trading | • High forex fees |
| • Low CFD fees | • High financing rate |
| • No withdrawal and inactivity fee |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 index CFD fee | $1.5 | $1.2 | $0.9 | $1.8 | $4.1 |
| Europe 50 index CFD fee | $1.8 | $1.9 | $0.7 | $3.2 | $6.3 |
| Apple CFD | $8.2 | $10.2 | $1.2 | $3.2 | $1.5 |
| Vodafone CFD | $9.9 | $13.3 | $2.3 | $2.3 | $2.0 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $8.5 | $6.0 | $7.9 | $6.7 | $26.0 |
| GBPUSD benchmark fee | $6.1 | $5.2 | $5.7 | $4.8 | $20.3 |
All spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | No | No | No | No | No |
| Inactivity fee | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
#5 Trading 212
Markets and products
Trading 212 focuses mainly on CFDs, forex and cryptos. You can also trade real stocks and ETFs, but popular asset classes like bonds, mutual funds, options and futures are missing.
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Currency pairs (#) | 49 | 84 | 48 | 60 | 167 |
| Stock index CFDs (#) | 42 | 22 | 27 | 30 | 23 |
| Stock CFDs (#) | 1,800 | 4,500 | 660 | 3,000 | 1,700 |
| ETF CFDs (#) | 114 | 690 | 500 | 200 | 28 |
| Commodity CFDs (#) | 22 | 29 | 15 | 27 | 26 |
| Bond CFDs (#) | - | 12 | 5 | 6 | - |
| Cryptos (#) | 25 | 6 | - | - | 16 |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fund | No | No | No | No | No |
| Bond | No | No | No | No | No |
| Options | No | No | No | No | No |
| Futures | No | No | No | No | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
#5 Trading 212
Account opening
The account opening process is straightforward, user-friendly and quick. Our account was verified within one business day.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | • Problems with verification |
| • Fully digital | |
| • No minimum deposit |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $100 | $1,000 | $0 | $1 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1 day | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1 day |
#5 Trading 212
Deposit and withdrawal
Trading 212 deposits and withdrawals are free, fast, and can be done in several way. On the negative side, there are only a few account base currencies available in each country.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Few base currencies available in each country |
| • Free withdrawal | |
| • No deposit fee |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
#5 Trading 212
Web trading platform
Trading 212 has a user-friendly and customizable web trading platform. It also provides a two-step login.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | None |
| • Two-step (safer) login | |
| • Good search function |
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.4 stars | 4.3 stars | 3.8 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.9 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.4 stars | 4.3 stars | 4.3 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.9 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 4.4 stars | 3.0 stars | 3.4 stars | - | - |
| Can you set leverage manually? | No | No | Yes | No | No |
#5 Trading 212
Verdict
Trading 212 works as a CFD and forex broker regulated by multiple financial supervisory authorities.
On the plus side, Trading 212 offers commission-free stocks and ETFs, while CFD fees and non-trading fees are low as well. The account opening process is seamless and the trading platforms are user-friendly.
However, Trading 212 has a limited product portfolio, lacking popular asset classes such as bonds or options. We missed phone and live chat support, and found forex fees relatively high.
So is Trading 212 good? Trading 212 is a good choice for those interested in investing in equities or trading leveraged forex and CFD products, with the use of a great trading platform. As it offers a demo account, don't hesitate to give it a try.
| Trading 212 | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Trading 212 is a CFD and forex broker regulated by the UK FCA and Bulgarian FSC. In the UK and Germany, Trading212 offers commission-free stock and ETF trading as well. |
| Fees score | 3.4 stars |
| Recommended for | Active CFD and FX traders and investors looking for intuitive trading platforms |
Best CFD brokers
What makes a good CFD broker?
Trading with CFDs became widely popular over the past decade. Keeping your eyes on important criteria like CFD fees or the number of CFDs offered can help find the best CFD broker for you.
In 2021, we ranked CFD brokers based on more than 300 criteria. We list below only the five most important criteria to make sure you don't get overwhelmed.
| 1. Fee structure: | The overall cost of a typical CFD trade can be 10-15 times higher at one CFD broker than at another. So it’s worth checking their fees. |
| 2. Products and markets: | You want to trade with Amazon or Bitcoin CFDs? They might not be available. Check the product coverage before opening an account. |
| 3. Account opening: | Some brokers require a minimum deposit, while others don't. Check what the conditions are at the best CFD brokers. |
| 4. Deposit and withdrawal: | Transferring money to your account can be 5 times slower and more expensive from one CFD broker to another. |
| 5. Web trading platform: | A user-friendly and well-equipped trading platform can significantly increase your comfort. |
Best CFD brokers
CFD broker fees
Fees, fees and fees. We bet fees are always on your mind when you’re looking for the best CFD broker. Let's see how we compared the fees of the various CFD brokers.
It is not easy to compare CFD broker fees, but we are here to help. There are two categories: trading-related fees and non-trading fees.
Trading-related fees
As to trading-related fees, brokers can charge commissions, spreads and overnight fees. To make your life easier we calculated all fees based on real-life scenarios so you can make a simple comparison. We looked at the following products:
- Stock index - S&P 500 index CFD and Europe 50 index CFD
- Stock - Apple CFD and Vodafone CFD
- Forex - EURUSD and GBPUSD
Our assumptions included opening a position, holding it for a week, and then closing it. We calculated with the following positions: $2,000 for stock index and stock CFDs and a $20,000 forex position. These real-life assumptions make CFD fees comparable.
Best CFD brokers
CFD brokers explained
CFDs are derivatives, where you can make bets on the price movement of a wide range of products. However, it is a leveraged product, which means that it is quite risky.
CFDs are derivatives: you bet on price movements
With CFDs, you can bet on whether the price of an asset will go up or down, without buying the underlying asset. Let's say you want to profit from the Microsoft stock price going up. At an online stockbroker, you would simply buy the Microsoft stock. In comparison, at a CFD broker you can instead bet directly on the stock price going up. However, CFDs are much like knives: they can be very useful, but if you have no idea how to use them, you can easily hurt yourself.
CFDs are an easy way to reach a lot of markets with leverage
Why would this be interesting for you? Well, CFDs have three big advantages:
- 1. You can make bets on all kinds of products. If you want to trade with Turkish stocks, you can do so via CFDs, which might not be possible with an online stockbroker. It is easier for a broker to provide a CFD than to have access to the Turkish stock exchange.
- 2. The second advantage is leverage. The potential return on your bet will be much bigger than with owning the actual stock. But this certainly carries greater risks, so you should fully understand leverage before you invest.
- 3. Lastly, CFDs are an easy way to have short positions. This is indeed a big plus.
To better understand these advantages, educate yourself by reading our CFD trading tips.
Not owning the underlying asset exposes you to additional risks
If you do not own the stock (or any other underlying asset), you are running a whole different kind of risk, which you need to understand before trading CFDs.
Let's say Bob owns Siemens stock, while Janet has an open long Siemens CFD position, both of them with “Bust Brokers.” The worst happens, and Bust Brokers goes bust. Bob's Siemens stock is in custody with his custody service provider. This means that sooner or later he will be able to access it again. However, Janet did not own any stock, only a long CFD position, therefore she will be compensated only up to the investor protection scheme of the broker’s country. In most cases, this is a maximum of €20,000.
Best CFD brokers
CFD regulations and security
The regulation of CFDs changed significantly in the last few years. One of the most significant changes were the measures European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published back in 2018. Most recently the Australian regulator followed ESMA's direction and introduced similar regulations for brokers operating in Australia. These measures clearly show how regulators globally aim to protect retail investors from the dark side of the retail brokerage industry.
Based on ESMA's research, around 74-89% of investors were losing money on their CFD investments, and in many cases it was not entirely their fault. One core problem is that some dealing desks brokers made a profit when their clients lost money. If you don't know what this model looks like, this Financemagnates article clearly explains it. Another problem was the aggressive and unbridled marketing of deposit bonuses, cheap prices and messages that promised easy ways of getting rich.
The new ESMA and ASIC regulation is aimed at lowering the proportion of accounts suffering losses. Here are the measures with their explanations:
- Limiting leverage: it was not uncommon to be able to open a position with 400:1 leverage. The possible maximum leverage is now limited to 30:1 for major currency pairs. The limitation varies according to the underlying asset's volatility:
- 30:1 for major currency pairs
- 20:1 for non-major currency pairs, gold and major stock indices
- 10:1 for commodities other than gold and non-major stock indices;
- 5:1 for single stocks and any underlying not otherwise mentioned
- 2:1 for cryptocurrencies
- Margin close out on a per account basis: if an account's total margin falls below 50% of the initially required margin, brokers must close one or more of your positions.
- Negative balance protection: you cannot lose more money than you invested.
- Restrictions on marketing and incentive tools: instead of promoting CFD trading by get-rich-quick, promises, brokers have to clearly show what percentage of their customers are losing money.
To sum it up, do the stricter regulations mean that trading CFDs will become nothing but a bedtime story we tell our kids? On the one hand, retail investors are now protected from losing more than they invest. On the other, canny investors won't be able to multiply their profits by using high leverage. All in all, we think CFDs will remain popular despite the new regulations as trading becomes safer and more transparent.
You should be aware that investor protection regulation is different in every jurisdiction. You should always check the relevant rules.
Being part of a banking group or listed on an exchange should be your primary compass for finding the best CFD brokerss
It's time to discuss how to make a well-informed choice in today's changing landscape of CFD brokers. We prefer exchange-listed and/or banking licensed brokers. Why?
- Being listed on any developed exchange means additional regulations, strict and frequent audits and also the need for constant communication between shareholders and other stakeholders. No wonder that only a small portion of retail brokers decide to give up money in exchange for transparency.
- Banks are the crucial building blocks of any economy. Strict capital requirements, regulations and transparency are a must. Therefore any broker backed by a bank can be considered more reliable than the ones that aren't.
For more help on these points, check out ourcomparison table for online brokers.
Best CFD brokers
Bottom line
You've seen the details, now let's zoom out. here are once again the best CFD brokers in 2021 for citizens in Guatemala:
| XTB | City Index | ActivTrades | Spreadex | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.3 |
| Fees score | 3.9 stars | 4.1 stars | 4.4 stars | 4.3 stars | 3.4 stars |
| Markets and products score | 2.8 stars | 2.0 stars | 1.4 stars | 1.7 stars | 3.7 stars |
| Account opening score | 5.0 stars | 5.0 stars | 3.8 stars | 4.4 stars | 4.5 stars |
| Deposit and withdrawal score | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | 4.3 stars |
| Web platform score | 4.4 stars | 4.3 stars | 3.8 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.9 stars |
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79% of retail CFD accounts lose money |
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73% of retail CFD accounts lose money |
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77% of retail CFD accounts lose money |
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69% of retail CFD accounts lose money |
XTB is our winner, the best CFD broker for Guatemalan citizens in 2021. Low forex fees. Free and fast deposit and withdrawal. Easy and fast account opening.
All the five top brokers are great choices. However, do not forget, that CFDs are really risky. If you are experienced, pick your winner, and take the next step in your trading journey. Let us know what you think in the comments section.
Still unsure? Use the broker finder and find the best broker for you.
