To help you find the best CFD broker in Japan for 2021, we went ahead and did the research for you. First, we selected 89 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 Japan. 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 Japan:
- Trading 212 is the best CFD broker in Japan in 2021. Real stocks and ETFs are commission-free. Quick and easy account opening. Great trading platforms.
- AvaTrade takes the second place. Easy and fast account opening. Free deposit and withdrawal options. Great research tools.
- IG rounds out the top three. First-class web trading platform. Superb educational tools. Great deposit and withdrawal options.
- Capital.com, is ranked fourth. Low forex and stock CFD fees. Great account opening experience. Excellent customer support.
- FxPro. Just made it to the list by moving to the fifth spot. Superb account opening process. Great customer service. Free deposit and withdrawal.
| Broker | CFD fee score | CFD product selection score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Trading 212 | 1.7 stars | 4.3 stars |
| #2 | AvaTrade | 4.4 stars | 3.7 stars |
| #3 | IG | 2.8 stars | 5.0 stars |
| #4 | Capital.com | 3.5 stars | 5.0 stars |
| #5 | FxPro | 2.9 stars | 3.0 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 Japanese citizens in 2021 one by one. Starting with the winner, Trading 212.
#1 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 |
#1 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 |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 index CFD fee | $4.1 | $1.1 | $1.2 | $3.2 | $2.7 |
| Europe 50 index CFD fee | $6.2 | $0.8 | $1.6 | $3.0 | $2.6 |
| Apple CFD | $1.4 | $3.1 | $15.2 | $0.3 | $4.8 |
| Vodafone CFD | $1.8 | $1.7 | $14.3 | $0.1 | $15.1 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $28.5 | $10.3 | $14.7 | $6.4 | $8.8 |
| GBPUSD benchmark fee | $22.7 | $9.0 | $9.3 | $4.1 | $7.1 |
All spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | No | No | No | No | No |
| Inactivity fee | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Withdrawal fee | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 |
#1 Trading 212
Markets and products
Trading 212 focuses mainly on CFDs and forex. You can also trade real stocks and ETFs, but popular asset classes like bonds, mutual funds, options and futures are missing.
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Currency pairs (#) | 184 | 55 | 205 | 142 | 70 |
| Stock index CFDs (#) | 51 | 19 | 78 | 34 | 19 |
| Stock CFDs (#) | 1,700 | 620 | 10,500 | 3,000 | 134 |
| ETF CFDs (#) | 28 | 41 | 1,900 | 87 | - |
| Commodity CFDs (#) | 45 | 17 | 47 | 53 | 30 |
| Bond CFDs (#) | - | 2 | 13 | - | - |
| Cryptos (#) | - | 13 | 8 | 84 | 5 |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| ETF | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Forex | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fund | No | No | No | No | No |
| Bond | No | No | No | No | No |
| Options | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Futures | No | No | No | No | No |
| Crypto | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
#1 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 |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1 | $100 | $0 | $20 | $100 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1 day | 1 day |
#1 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 |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Withdrawal fee | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 |
#1 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 |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.9 stars | 3.8 stars | 5.0 stars | 3.9 stars | 2.8 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.9 stars | 4.7 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.9 stars | 3.8 stars |
| Desktop platform score | - | 3.4 stars | - | 3.4 stars | 3.4 stars |
| Can you set leverage manually? | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
#1 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 |
#2 Best CFD broker
AvaTrade
AvaTrade is a global CFD and forex broker founded in 2006. It is regulated by several financial authorities, such as the Central Bank of Ireland.
Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% 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 an option to use metatrader platforms
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Easy and fast account opening | • Only CFDs, forex, and cryptos offered |
| • Free deposit and withdrawal options | • High inactivity fees |
| • Great research tools | • Average forex fees |
#2 AvaTrade
Fees
AvaTrade has low CFD and average forex fees. Withdrawals are free of charge, but inactivity fees are quite high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • No withdrawal fee | • High inactivity fees |
| • Low CFD fees | • FX trading fees are average |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 index CFD fee | $4.1 | $1.1 | $1.2 | $3.2 | $2.7 |
| Europe 50 index CFD fee | $6.2 | $0.8 | $1.6 | $3.0 | $2.6 |
| Apple CFD | $1.4 | $3.1 | $15.2 | $0.3 | $4.8 |
| Vodafone CFD | $1.8 | $1.7 | $14.3 | $0.1 | $15.1 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $28.5 | $10.3 | $14.7 | $6.4 | $8.8 |
| GBPUSD benchmark fee | $22.7 | $9.0 | $9.3 | $4.1 | $7.1 |
All spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | No | No | No | No | No |
| Inactivity fee | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Withdrawal fee | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 |
#2 AvaTrade
Markets and products
AvaTrade offers only forex and CFDs, such as stock, index, forex and commodity CFDs. It doesn't offer other popular asset classes such as real stocks, bonds or mutual funds.
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Currency pairs (#) | 184 | 55 | 205 | 142 | 70 |
| Stock index CFDs (#) | 51 | 19 | 78 | 34 | 19 |
| Stock CFDs (#) | 1,700 | 620 | 10,500 | 3,000 | 134 |
| ETF CFDs (#) | 28 | 41 | 1,900 | 87 | - |
| Commodity CFDs (#) | 45 | 17 | 47 | 53 | 30 |
| Bond CFDs (#) | - | 2 | 13 | - | - |
| Cryptos (#) | - | 13 | 8 | 84 | 5 |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| ETF | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Forex | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fund | No | No | No | No | No |
| Bond | No | No | No | No | No |
| Options | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Futures | No | No | No | No | No |
| Crypto | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
#2 AvaTrade
Account opening
Account opening at AvaTrade is seamless and fully digital. You can start trading literally in minutes.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | None |
| • Fully digital | |
| • Low minimum deposit |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1 | $100 | $0 | $20 | $100 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1 day | 1 day |
#2 AvaTrade
Deposit and withdrawal
AvaTrade offers several free options for deposit and withdrawal. On the negative side, withdrawal took us 3 business days, and debit card deposits can also be slow.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Free withdrawal | • Slow withdrawal - over 3 days |
| • No deposit fee | |
| • Credit/Debit cards, electronic wallets |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Withdrawal fee | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 |
#2 AvaTrade
Web trading platform
AvaTrade's web platform is user-friendly, well-designed, and has a unique order type to protect you from losses. However, it lacks customizability, two-step login and price alerts.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No two-step (safer) login |
| • Good search function | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • AvaProtect order type | • No price alerts |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.9 stars | 3.8 stars | 5.0 stars | 3.9 stars | 2.8 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.9 stars | 4.7 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.9 stars | 3.8 stars |
| Desktop platform score | - | 3.4 stars | - | 3.4 stars | 3.4 stars |
| Can you set leverage manually? | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
#2 AvaTrade
Verdict
AvaTrade is regulated by several authorities globally, including the top-tier Central Bank of Ireland and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), therefore it is considered safe.
We liked the seamless and hassle-free account opening. You can use a lot of deposit and withdrawal options, all free of charge. We also liked that you can use many user-friendly tools for research.
AvaTrade has some drawbacks though. The product range is limited to forex, CFDs, and cryptos, and there is a high fee charged for inactivity. Lastly, there are better alternatives if forex trading fees are your main concern.
As there is only a small minimum deposit, and your account will be ready for trading quickly, feel free to try AvaTrade.
| AvaTrade | |
|---|---|
| Summary | AvaTrade is a global forex and CFD broker. It is regulated by several financial authorities globally, including the Central Bank of Ireland and Australia's ASIC. |
| Fees score | 3.5 stars |
| Recommended for | Forex and CFD traders looking for an option to use MetaTrader platforms |
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#3 Best CFD broker
IG
IG was established in the UK in 1974 and is one of the biggest CFD brokers in the world. It is regulated by several bodies globally, including top-tier regulators like the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). IG Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
IG is considered safe because it is listed on a stock exchange, discloses its financials and is overseen by top-tier regulators.
Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% 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. CFDs are not provided for US clients. Forex trading involves risk. Losses can exceed deposits.
Recommended for traders of any experience level looking for an easy-to-use trading platform
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • First-class web trading platform | • High forex and stock CFD fees |
| • Superb educational tools | • Limited product portfolio |
| • Great deposit and withdrawal options | • Slow customer support |
#3 IG
Fees
IG has low non-trading fees. There is no fee for withdrawals and an inactivity fee is charged only after 2 years. On the negative side, the forex and stock CFD fees are high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • No withdrawal fee | • High forex fees |
| • Inactivity fee charged only after 2 years | • High financing rate |
| • High stock CFD trading fees |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 index CFD fee | $4.1 | $1.1 | $1.2 | $3.2 | $2.7 |
| Europe 50 index CFD fee | $6.2 | $0.8 | $1.6 | $3.0 | $2.6 |
| Apple CFD | $1.4 | $3.1 | $15.2 | $0.3 | $4.8 |
| Vodafone CFD | $1.8 | $1.7 | $14.3 | $0.1 | $15.1 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $28.5 | $10.3 | $14.7 | $6.4 | $8.8 |
| GBPUSD benchmark fee | $22.7 | $9.0 | $9.3 | $4.1 | $7.1 |
All spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | No | No | No | No | No |
| Inactivity fee | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Withdrawal fee | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 |
#3 IG
Markets and products
At IG, most clients can only trade with CFDs, forex and options. There are literally thousands of CFDs available to trade. Residents in the UK and some other countries can also trade with real stocks. Other popular assets, however, like mutual funds and bonds, are not available.
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Currency pairs (#) | 184 | 55 | 205 | 142 | 70 |
| Stock index CFDs (#) | 51 | 19 | 78 | 34 | 19 |
| Stock CFDs (#) | 1,700 | 620 | 10,500 | 3,000 | 134 |
| ETF CFDs (#) | 28 | 41 | 1,900 | 87 | - |
| Commodity CFDs (#) | 45 | 17 | 47 | 53 | 30 |
| Bond CFDs (#) | - | 2 | 13 | - | - |
| Cryptos (#) | - | 13 | 8 | 84 | 5 |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| ETF | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Forex | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fund | No | No | No | No | No |
| Bond | No | No | No | No | No |
| Options | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Futures | No | No | No | No | No |
| Crypto | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
#3 IG
Account opening
IG's account opening is seamless and fully digital. There is no minimum deposit for bank transfers and a low, $/€300 minimum deposit for credit/debit cards and PayPal. On the other hand, account verification takes around 3 business days, which is slower than at some other brokers.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fully digital | • Slower account opening |
| • Low minimum deposit | |
| • No minimum deposit for bank transfer |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1 | $100 | $0 | $20 | $100 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1 day | 1 day |
#3 IG
Deposit and withdrawal
IG offers free and fast deposits and withdrawals. There are various options for funding your account, including traditional methods such as bank wire transfer and credit card funding, as well as PayPal.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | None |
| • Free withdrawal | |
| • No deposit fee |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Withdrawal fee | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 |
#3 IG
Web trading platform
IG's web trading platform is great for both beginners and professional traders. It is easy to use, has all the necessary functions and can be customized.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | None |
| • Clear fee report | |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.9 stars | 3.8 stars | 5.0 stars | 3.9 stars | 2.8 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.9 stars | 4.7 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.9 stars | 3.8 stars |
| Desktop platform score | - | 3.4 stars | - | 3.4 stars | 3.4 stars |
| Can you set leverage manually? | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
#3 IG
Verdict
IG is one of the biggest and most reliable CFD brokers. It is regulated by several financial authorities around the world. IG Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange.
IG has one of the best web trading platforms BrokerChooser has tested. The deposit and withdrawal conditions are great. You can also expand your knowledge with great educational materials.
On the other hand, there are some drawbacks. The forex and stock CFD fees are high and the product portfolio in most countries is limited to forex, CFDs and options. Customer support could be better.
Feel free to test IG's first-class trading platform, since there is no minimum funding amount for bank transfers and you can also easily open a demo account.
| IG | |
|---|---|
| Summary | IG is a CFD and forex broker. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and regulated by several authorities globally, including the top-tier FCA. |
| Fees score | 3.1 stars |
| Recommended for | Traders of any experience level looking for an easy-to-use trading platform |
#4 Best CFD broker
Capital.com
Capital.com is a global CFD and forex broker that was founded in 2016, with offices in London, Cyprus and Belarus. It is regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), and the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus (NBRB).
Capital.com is considered safe because 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. 67.7% 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 great trading platform and customer service
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low forex and stock CFD fees | • Limited product portfolio |
| • Great account opening experience | • No price alerts on web platform |
| • Excellent customer support | • Smaller account currencies not available |
#4 Capital.com
Fees
Capital.com has low forex and CFD fees. The non-trading fees are low as well, there are no inactivity or withdrawal fees charged. On the other hand, the stock index CFD fees are not the most competitive.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low forex and stock CFD fees | • Average stock index CFD fees |
| • No withdrawal fee | |
| • No inactivity fee |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 index CFD fee | $4.1 | $1.1 | $1.2 | $3.2 | $2.7 |
| Europe 50 index CFD fee | $6.2 | $0.8 | $1.6 | $3.0 | $2.6 |
| Apple CFD | $1.4 | $3.1 | $15.2 | $0.3 | $4.8 |
| Vodafone CFD | $1.8 | $1.7 | $14.3 | $0.1 | $15.1 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $28.5 | $10.3 | $14.7 | $6.4 | $8.8 |
| GBPUSD benchmark fee | $22.7 | $9.0 | $9.3 | $4.1 | $7.1 |
All spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | No | No | No | No | No |
| Inactivity fee | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Withdrawal fee | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 |
#4 Capital.com
Markets and products
Capital.com has an impressive selection of CFD, forex and crypto products compared to other CFD brokers. However, it lacks popular asset types like real stocks, ETFs and funds.
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Currency pairs (#) | 184 | 55 | 205 | 142 | 70 |
| Stock index CFDs (#) | 51 | 19 | 78 | 34 | 19 |
| Stock CFDs (#) | 1,700 | 620 | 10,500 | 3,000 | 134 |
| ETF CFDs (#) | 28 | 41 | 1,900 | 87 | - |
| Commodity CFDs (#) | 45 | 17 | 47 | 53 | 30 |
| Bond CFDs (#) | - | 2 | 13 | - | - |
| Cryptos (#) | - | 13 | 8 | 84 | 5 |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| ETF | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Forex | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fund | No | No | No | No | No |
| Bond | No | No | No | No | No |
| Options | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Futures | No | No | No | No | No |
| Crypto | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
#4 Capital.com
Account opening
Capital.com has one of the best account opening processes we've seen: it is simple, quick, well-designed and intuitive. We were impressed.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | None |
| • Fully digital | |
| • Low minimum deposit |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1 | $100 | $0 | $20 | $100 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1 day | 1 day |
#4 Capital.com
Deposit and withdrawal
Deposits and withdrawals are free at Capital.com and many options are provided, including Apple Pay. However, only three major currencies (USD, GBP, EUR) and one smaller (PLN) are available.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Smaller currencies not available |
| • Free withdrawal | |
| • No deposit fee |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Withdrawal fee | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 |
#4 Capital.com
Web trading platform
Capital.com has an easy-to-use and well-designed web trading platform, with clear fee reports and a two-step login. However, it has limited customizability and lacks price alerts.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Clear fee report | • No price alerts |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.9 stars | 3.8 stars | 5.0 stars | 3.9 stars | 2.8 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.9 stars | 4.7 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.9 stars | 3.8 stars |
| Desktop platform score | - | 3.4 stars | - | 3.4 stars | 3.4 stars |
| Can you set leverage manually? | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
#4 Capital.com
Verdict
Capital.com is a great CFD and forex broker, regulated by the FCA, a top-tier authority.
On the plus side, the stock CFD and forex fees are low, the account opening is very user-friendly, and customer support is exceptional.
On the other hand, Capital.com offers only CFD, forex, and crypto asset classes. Minor account base currencies and price alerts are missing from the web platform.
As there is no inactivity fee and account opening is quick, feel free to try Capital.com.
| Capital.com | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Capital.com is a global CFD and forex broker. It is regulated by the FCA, CySEC, and NBRB. |
| Fees score | 4.2 stars |
| Recommended for | Forex and CFD traders looking for great trading platform and customer service |
#5 Best CFD broker
FxPro
FxPro is a global CFD and forex broker founded in 2006. It is regulated by several financial authorities globally, including the UK's top-tier Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
FxPro is considered safe because it is regulated by the top-tier FCA and it has a relatively long track record.
Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74.02% 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 a broker with great account opening and familiar with metatrader platform
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Superb account opening process | • Only CFDs and forex |
| • Great customer service | • High trading fees for some stock CFDs |
| • Free deposit and withdrawal | • Inactivity fee |
#5 FxPro
Fees
FxPro has free deposit and withdrawal options. On the negative side, FxPro charges an inactivity fee, and stock CFD fees are high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • No withdrawal fee | • Inactivity fee |
| • Low financing rate | • High stock CFD fees |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 index CFD fee | $4.1 | $1.1 | $1.2 | $3.2 | $2.7 |
| Europe 50 index CFD fee | $6.2 | $0.8 | $1.6 | $3.0 | $2.6 |
| Apple CFD | $1.4 | $3.1 | $15.2 | $0.3 | $4.8 |
| Vodafone CFD | $1.8 | $1.7 | $14.3 | $0.1 | $15.1 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $28.5 | $10.3 | $14.7 | $6.4 | $8.8 |
| GBPUSD benchmark fee | $22.7 | $9.0 | $9.3 | $4.1 | $7.1 |
All spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | No | No | No | No | No |
| Inactivity fee | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Withdrawal fee | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 |
#5 FxPro
Markets and products
At FxPro you can trade CFDs of underlying asset classes including forex, stocks, commodities, futures and indices. However, popular products such as real stocks or ETFs are not available.
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Currency pairs (#) | 184 | 55 | 205 | 142 | 70 |
| Stock index CFDs (#) | 51 | 19 | 78 | 34 | 19 |
| Stock CFDs (#) | 1,700 | 620 | 10,500 | 3,000 | 134 |
| ETF CFDs (#) | 28 | 41 | 1,900 | 87 | - |
| Commodity CFDs (#) | 45 | 17 | 47 | 53 | 30 |
| Bond CFDs (#) | - | 2 | 13 | - | - |
| Cryptos (#) | - | 13 | 8 | 84 | 5 |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| ETF | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Forex | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fund | No | No | No | No | No |
| Bond | No | No | No | No | No |
| Options | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Futures | No | No | No | No | No |
| Crypto | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
#5 FxPro
Account opening
FxPro account opening is hassle-free, straightforward and very fast; it may take less than two hours to verify your account.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | None |
| • Fully digital | |
| • Low minimum deposit |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1 | $100 | $0 | $20 | $100 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1 day | 1 day |
#5 FxPro
Deposit and withdrawal
FxPro offers free and fast deposit and withdrawal, via various channels including bank transfer, credit/debit cards and electronic wallets.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Few minor account currencies accepted |
| • Free withdrawal | |
| • No deposit fee |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Withdrawal fee | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 | $0.0 |
#5 FxPro
Web trading platform
FxPro offers several trading platforms. The MT4 platform we tested is highly customizable and has a clear fee report, but the platform lacks price alerts and the design is outdated.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Clear fee report | • No two-step (safer) login |
| • Good customizability (for charts, workspace) | • No price alerts |
| • Order confirmation | • Poor design |
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 4.9 stars | 3.8 stars | 5.0 stars | 3.9 stars | 2.8 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.9 stars | 4.7 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.9 stars | 3.8 stars |
| Desktop platform score | - | 3.4 stars | - | 3.4 stars | 3.4 stars |
| Can you set leverage manually? | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
#5 FxPro
Verdict
FxPro is regulated by several authorities globally, including the top-tier FCA.
On the plus side, opening an account is fast and takes place fully online and there are a lot of free deposit/withdrawal options. FxPro has great customer service, with many languages supported.
FxPro has some drawbacks though. Its product range is limited to CFDs and forex. Its trading fees are generally low, but relatively high for some stock CFDs. A $15 one-off account maintenance fee and a monthly $5 fee is charged after s12 months of inactivity.*
We recommend FxPro for those who are interested in CFD and forex trading and appreciate a quick and hassle-free account opening process. Feel free to test it via the demo account.
| FxPro | |
|---|---|
| Summary | FxPro is an international CFD and forex broker, regulated by the UK FCA, CySEC of Cyprus and the SCB at the Bahamas. It is also licensed by South Africa's FSCA. |
| Fees score | 3.4 stars |
| Recommended for | Forex and CFD traders looking for a broker with great account opening and familiar with MetaTrader platform |
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 Japan:
| Trading 212 | AvaTrade | IG | Capital.com | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.2 |
| Fees score | 3.4 stars | 3.5 stars | 3.1 stars | 4.2 stars | 3.4 stars |
| Markets and products score | 3.9 stars | 2.0 stars | 3.9 stars | 2.2 stars | 1.6 stars |
| Account opening score | 4.5 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.4 stars | 5.0 stars | 5.0 stars |
| Deposit and withdrawal score | 4.3 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.5 stars | 4.5 stars |
| Web platform score | 4.9 stars | 3.8 stars | 5.0 stars | 3.9 stars | 2.8 stars |
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76% of retail CFD accounts lose money |
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71% of retail CFD accounts lose money |
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71% of retail CFD accounts lose money |
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67.7% of retail CFD accounts lose money |
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74.02% of retail CFD accounts lose money |
Trading 212 is our winner, the best CFD broker for Japanese citizens in 2021. Real stocks and ETFs are commission-free. Quick and easy account opening. Great trading platforms.
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.
