Spreadex review summary
Spreadex is a UK CFD and Forex broker. Spreadex has low forex fees and low non-trading fees. It offers a user-friendly web trading platform covering the most commonly used search and order functions. Customer support is fast and helpful via all channels. On the flip side, Spreadex's product portfolio is limited only to forex and CFDs, lacking popular asset classes such as real stocks. There is no desktop trading platform. Lastly, research tools are limited and the education section is very poor. BrokerChooser gave Spreadex a 4.4/5 rating based on analyzing 500+ criteria and testing via opening a live account.
You can't open an account at Spreadex if you live in United States. See the best alternative available in your country.
Spreadex pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low forex fees | • Thin product selection |
| • Good web platform | • No desktop platform |
| • Helpful customer service | • Limited research and education tools |
Spreadex main highlights
| 🗺️ Country of regulation | UK |
| 💰 Trading fees class | Low |
| 💰 Inactivity fee charged | No |
| 💰 Withdrawal fee amount | $0 |
| 💰 Minimum deposit | $0 |
| 🕖 Time to open an account | 1-3 days |
| 💳 Deposit with bank card | Available |
| 👛 Depositing with electronic wallet | Not available |
| 💱 Number of base currencies supported | 3 |
| 🎮 Demo account provided | No |
| 🛍️ Products offered | Forex, CFD |
Spreadex review
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 |
| Assets | Fee level | Fee terms |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 CFD | Low | Individual Account: the fees are built into the spread; the spread cost is 0.4 points during peak trading hours. |
| Europe 50 CFD | Low | Individual Account: the fees are built into the spread; the spread cost is 2 points during peak trading hours. |
| EURUSD | Low | The fees are built into the spread, 0.6 pips is the average spread cost during peak trading hours. |
| Inactivity fee | Low | No inactivity fee |
How we ranked fees
We ranked Spreadex's fee levels as low, average or high based on how they compare to those of all reviewed brokers.
First, let's go over some basic terms related to broker fees. What you need to keep an eye on are trading fees and non-trading fees.
- Trading fees occur when you trade. These can be commissions, spreads, financing rates and conversion fees.
- Non-trading fees include charges not directly related to trading, like withdrawal fees or inactivity fees.
In the sections below, you will find the most relevant fees of Spreadex for each asset class. For example, in the case of forex and stock index trading the most important fees are spreads, commissions and financing rates.
We also compared Spreadex's fees with those of two similar brokers we selected, Trade Nation and FxPro. This selection is based on objective factors such as products offered, client profile, fee structure, etc. See a more detailed rundown of Spreadex alternatives.
To have a clear overview of Spreadex, let's start with the trading fees.
Spreadex trading fees
Spreadex trading fees are generally low.
We know it's hard to compare trading fees for CFD brokers. So how did we approach the problem of making their fees clear and comparable? We compare brokers by calculating all the fees of a typical trade for selected products.
We have selected popular instruments within each asset class:
- Stock index CFDs: SPX and EUSTX50
- Stock CFDs: Apple and Vodafone
- Forex: EURUSD, GBPUSD, AUDUSD, EURCHF and EURGBP
A typical trade means buying a leveraged position, holding it for one week and then selling. For the volume, we chose a $2,000 position for the stock index and stock CFDs and $20,000 for the forex transactions. The leverage we used was:
- 20:1 for stock index CFDs
- 5:1 for stock CFDs
- 30:1 for forex
These catch-all benchmark fees include spreads, commissions and financing costs for all brokers. Let's see the verdict for Spreadex fees.
CFD fees
Spreadex has low CFD trading fees.
| Spreadex | Trade Nation | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 index CFD fee | $3.0 | $2.5 | $2.7 |
| Europe 50 index CFD fee | $1.6 | $1.2 | $2.1 |
| Apple CFD fee | $8.9 | $0.7 | $10.0 |
| Vodafone CFD fee | $6.7 | $3.6 | $16.1 |
Forex fees
Spreadex forex fees are low, sometimes well below those of its closest competitors.
| Spreadex | Trade Nation | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $13.7 | $25.4 | $15.0 |
| GBPUSD benchmark fee | $8.1 | $25.6 | $12.2 |
| AUDUSD benchmark fee | $8.9 | $15.3 | $15.4 |
| EURCHF benchmark fee | $0.7 | $12.2 | $3.6 |
| EURGBP benchmark fee | $11.1 | $11.0 | $12.8 |
Non-trading fees
Spreadex has low non-trading fees. Unlike many of its competitors, Spreadex charges no inactivity fee. There is no account fee, while most deposit and withdrawal options are also free.
| Spreadex | Trade Nation | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | No | No | No |
| Inactivity fee | No | No | Yes |
| Deposit fee | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Spreadex review
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 |
Can you open an account?
Spreadex accepts clients from all over the world, with a few exceptions, most notably the US.
What is the minimum deposit at Spreadex?
The required Spreadex minimum deposit is $0. This is great if you want to start trading with lower amounts only.
Account types
You can open a Spread Betting account and a CFD Trading account at Spreadex. In a unique feature, Spreadex allows you to also use your Spread Betting or CFD Trading account to bet on sports games or in casinos.
Corporate accounts or accounts owned by multiple individuals are not available.
How to open your account
The account opening process at Spreadex is fully digital and fairly straightforward. Account verification was a bit on the slow side, though, as our account was only verified after 2 business days.
To start the process, first fill in your name, email and country of residence; then choose an account type and click 'Create my account'. Your account will be created immediately and you can get a glimpse of the trading platform, but you will need to fill in additional information in order to actually activate your account and be able to start trading:
- Fill in your date of birth and contact details
- Add information about your employment status and trading experience
- Answer a few rather difficult questions assessing your financial and trading knowledge
- Choose an account currency
- Upload identity documents (passports/ID cards are accepted for identity verification; bank statements or utility bills are accepted as proof of residency).
Our best alternatives to Spreadex are:
The highest ranking competitors are:
Spreadex review
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 |
Account base currencies
At Spreadex, you can choose from 3 base currencies: GBP, USD and EUR. This is not the most impressive selection on the market.
| Spreadex | Trade Nation | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of base currencies | 3 | 8 | 8 |
Why does this matter? For two reasons. If you fund your trading account in the same currency as your bank account or you trade assets in the same currency as your trading account base currency, you don't have to pay a conversion fee.
A convenient way to save on currency conversion fees is by opening a multi-currency bank account at a digital bank. These usually offer bank accounts in several currencies with great currency exchange rates, as well as free or cheap international bank transfers. Opening an account only takes a few minutes on your phone.
Deposit fees and options
Spreadex charges no deposit fees in most cases, although it reserves the right to charge £1 on debit card deposits under £50.
You can deposit funds by bank transfer or credit/debit cards. However, you can't use electronic wallets, which is a drawback compared with some of the company's competitors.
| Spreadex | Trade Nation | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | No | Yes | Yes |
A bank transfer can take several business days, while payment with a credit/debit card is instant.
You can only deposit money from accounts that are in your name.
Spreadex withdrawal fees and options
The default Spreadex withdrawal fee is $0. This applies to credit/debit cards, as well as domestic sterling bank transfer (BACS) withdrawals in the UK. A same-day sterling payment (CHAPS) in the UK costs £25. International bank transfers, and bank transfers in currencies other than GBP will be subject to additional charges.
You can use the same options for withdrawal as for deposit; this means that electronic wallets are not supported.
| Spreadex | Trade Nation | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Electronic wallets | No | Yes | Yes |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 |
How long does it take to withdraw money from Spreadex? We tested the debit card withdrawal and it took 2 business days.
You can only withdraw money to accounts in your name.
How do you withdraw money from Spreadex?
- Select 'My Account'
- Choose the withdrawal method
- Add the amount you wish to withdraw
- Click 'Next' and confirm your withdrawal
Spreadex review
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 |
| Trading platform | Score | Available |
|---|---|---|
| Web | 4.5 stars | Yes |
| Mobile | 4.5 stars | Yes |
| Desktop | - | No |
Spreadex has its own in-house developed web trading platform. It is available in English only, a drawback compared with some of the company's closest competitors.
Look and feel
The Spreadex web trading platform is user-friendly. The platform is customizable; you can move the tabs easily. However, the design is somewhat outdated.
Login and security
Spreadex requires only one-step login. A two-step authentication procedure would be more secure.
Search functions
The platform's search functions are good. You can search by starting to type the name of an asset, or by browsing various categories.
Placing orders
You can use the following order types:
- Market
- Limit
- Stop
- Trailing Stop
- Guaranteed Stop
A guaranteed stop means your position will always be stopped out at that level; as opposed to a regular stop, which can be vulnerable to gapping at times of high market volatility. Guaranteed stops will always be filled at the selected level regardless of market slippage. There is an additional cost built into the price of the trade for guaranteed stops. Regular stops cannot be changed to guaranteed stops once a trade has been placed.
To get a better understanding of these terms, read our overview of order types.
There are also order time limits you can use: Good 'til canceled (GTC) and Good 'til time (GTT).
Alerts and notifications
You can set price alerts and notifications on the Spreadex web platform.
Portfolio and fee reports
Spreadex has clear portfolio reports, although they do not include a breakdown of overnight fees. You can find the reports by clicking 'My Account', then 'Statements'. You can also download them in pdf format.
Spreadex review
Mobile trading platform
Spreadex has a well-designed and user-friendly mobile trading platform with a good search function, although it lacks advanced login options like two-step or biometric authentication.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No two-step (safer) login |
| • Good search function | • No Touch/Face ID login |
| • Price alerts |
The mobile trading platform is available only in English.
Look and feel
The Spreadex mobile app is user-friendly.
Login and security
Spreadex only provides a one-step login on its mobile platform. Two-step authentication would be more secure.
You can't log in using biometric authentication such as Touch/Face ID. Having this feature would offer a more convenient login experience.
Search functions
The app's search functions are good. You can search by starting to type the name of an asset, or by browsing various categories.
Placing orders
You can use the same order types as on the web trading platform.
Alerts and notifications
You can easily set alerts and notifications on the Spreadex mobile trading platform, in the form of email, SMS or push notifications.
Spreadex review
Desktop trading platform
Spreadex does not offer a desktop trading platform.
Spreadex review
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.
Spreadex is primarily a CFD and forex broker, explaining the lack of other popular asset classes such as real stocks, ETFs, bonds, options or futures. If you're not familiar with CFDs, check out this article.
Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 64% 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.
Spreadex's currency pair, stock index CFD, ETF CFD and commodity CFD product selections are considered average compared with similar brokers.
On the plus side, Spreadex's stock CFD offer is quite good, with about 3,000 assets at the time of our review.
| Spreadex | Trade Nation | FxPro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency pairs (#) | 54 | 39 | 70 |
| Stock index CFDs (#) | 27 | 16 | 29 |
| Stock CFDs (#) | 3,000 | 1,100 | 1,700 |
| ETF CFDs (#) | 200 | 17 | - |
| Commodity CFDs (#) | 26 | 9 | 25 |
| Bond CFDs (#) | 10 | 3 | - |
| Futures CFDs (#) | - | - | - |
| Cryptos (#) | - | - | 30 |
Besides CFDs, you can also trade spread betting products.
You can't change leverage levels at Spreadex, which is a drawback. Being able to change the leverage manually is a very useful feature when you want to lower the risk of your trade. Always be careful with forex and CFD trading, as preset leverage levels may be too high.
Spreadex review
Research
Spreadex has good market analyses on its blog, but unfortunately this doesn't make up for a lack of trading ideas, limited fundamental data, and a poor selection of analytic tools.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Good financial/trading blog | • No trading ideas |
| • No/limited set of analytic tools | |
| • Limited fundamental data |
You can find all research tools on Spreadex's trading platform and on its website under the 'Analysis' tab.
Trading ideas
Spreadex does not provide trading ideas.
Fundamental data
Spreadex offers some fundamental data, accessible through an economic calendar. However, this feature is quite limited, as historical data is not available for all indicators, and even where it is, it only shows actual past values but not expected values at the time.
It would also be great to have impact categorization and the possibility to filter for certain types of events.
Charting
Spreadex has OK charting tools. Some editor tools are not that intuitive; among others, you can't change the length of a trendline, and you can only modify the settings of an indicator once you have added it.
You can use 58 technical indicators, which is somewhat average. The charts show historical data going back as much as 10 years for all major instruments.
News feed
Spreadex's news feed comprises daily and weekly market updates, produced by the company's in-house analyst team. The brief articles in this section lack any visual elements such as pictures or charts. This part of the site could use some improvement.
Spreadex review
Customer service
Spreadex offers great customer service, with quick and useful responses especially over live chat. They are also helpful over the phone. On the down side, we missed 24/7 support.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Phone support | • No 24/7 support |
| • Live chat | |
| • Fast response time |
You can contact Spreadex via:
- live chat
- phone
Spreadex's live chat is the fastest of these channels, and the quality of responses was also perhaps the best.
When testing Spreadex phone support, we were connected quickly, with helpful agents giving us relevant answers.
Our email enquiries were typically answered within 24 hours, and we received useful and relevant replies.
The only thing we missed was 24/7 availability.
Spreadex review
Education
Spreadex has good platform tutorial videos, but little else in the way of educational material aside from a few basic articles and a glossary. There is also no demo account.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Trading platform tutorial | • No demo account |
| • No educational videos | |
| • No webinars |
Spreadex offers more than a dozen videos demonstrating how to use the trading platform, including detailed guides on how to place a trade, use the charts, withdraw funds or customize the platform. Some of these are also explained in separate FAQs.
You can also find a Spread Betting Glossary and articles about technical analysis, such as 'Chart Analysis' or 'Chart Patterns'. These materials cover only the basics of the terms and tools used in CFD/forex trading and sports betting.
Aside from these, the site offers no demo account, educational videos or webinars.
Spreadex review
Safety
Spreadex is regulated by the top-tier UK FCA, involving strong investor protection; but it has no banking license, is not listed on an exchange, and financial information is not public.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Majority of clients belong to a top-tier financial authority | • Does not hold a banking license |
| • High level of investor protection | • Not listed on stock exchange |
| • Negative balance protection | • Financial information is not publicly available |
Is Spreadex regulated?
Yes, it is regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), a top-tier regulator.
Is Spreadex safe?
To be certain if a brokerage is safe, we highly advise that you check two facts:
- how you are protected if something goes wrong
- what the background of the broker is
How you are protected
| Country of clients | Protection amount | Regulator | Legal entity |
|---|---|---|---|
| All available countries | £85,000 | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Spreadex Ltd. |
Spreadex provides negative balance protection for retail customers. Should the balance on your account go into negative, you will be protected.
Background
Spreadex was established in 1999. The longer track record a broker has, the more proof we have that it has successfully survived previous financial crises.
Being regulated by a top-tier financial authority and being in operation for a long time are all great signs for Spreadex's safety.
Spreadex review
Bottom line
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 review
FAQ
We recommend Spreadex for spread, forex and cfd traders looking for low fees and great deposit/withdrawal options.
Below you can find links to all aspects of Spreadex in this comprehensive collection.
Lower fees, lower costs?
We detailed this in our Spreadex fees article.
What about the minimum deposit?
Our ultimate guide to the Spreadex minimum deposit is updated regularly.
How to start your Spreadex account?
Look no further than our evaluation of the Spreadex account opening.
How's their trading app?
Here's our expert view after checking the Spreadex trading app.
Is the quality of customer service satisfactory?
All you need to know about the Spreadex customer service.
Legit or scam?
Is Spreadex legit features all the key aspects you need to look at to see if a broker is safe and legit.
Free or premium? Or both?
A glance at actual costs and whether Spreadex is really free.
Is this broker good for beginners?
We checked it in Is Spreadex good for beginners.
Should you buy your silver bullets on Spreadex?
Research for silver bugs in the Silver buy on Spreadex guide
I want to trade options, are they available at Spreadex?
We explored the topic in Can you trade options on Spreadex?
What is the minimum account balance at Spreadex?
Check out the current account balance requirements at Spreadex in our What is the minimum account balance at Spreadex article.
Looking for commission and fees data for Spreadex?
We collected them in Spreadex commission and fees.
How do you withdraw money from Spreadex?
We tested it and collected the options and costs in How to withdraw money on Spreadex.
