FTSE Spread Comparison UK: 10 Brokers Tested (2026)

Last updated: 30th October 2026.

The tightest FTSE spread across the 10 UK brokers we checked was 0.5pts from CMC Markets*, followed by Capital.com, IG, FXCM and Forex.com at 1.0pt.

Right, FTSE spreads… all you traders who still play the FTSE, who's the tightest?

Because let's be honest... is there any point in paying more to trade the exact same thing elsewhere?

Probably not. Trading's hard enough without paying more than you need to.

So, in my mega scientific way, I screenshotted ten different CFD and spread betting brokers at the same time. (Actually squeezed them all into one window, so I could get the prices all at once…)

(Quick reminder: spread betting is generally tax-free for UK residents, CFDs aren't, but spreads are usually the same.)

I took live prices during October 2026. Normal cash session, no data coming out, no particularly wild volatility. Just a fair fight.

I just logged what I found...

Because we don't care about so-called headline spreads. "From 0.8pts" means nothing to you and me.

Anyone can be the cheapest at some random time just to claim to be the cheapest.

What we want to know is the real-world spread, at a moment when traders are actually trading... That's what matters.

Right, so here goes. I took live FTSE prices (or UK100, as many brokers call it) from ten CFD and spread betting brokers.

1. Capital.com
2. CMC Markets
3. IG
4. StoneX
5. FXCM
6. Pepperstone
7. Forex.com
8. Oanda
9. Plus500
10. XTB

These were the FTSE 100 spreads ranked from best to worst.

1. CMC Markets 0.5pts* (special offer)
2. Capital.com, IG, FXCM and Forex.com 1.0pt
3. StoneX 1.1pts
4. Pepperstone 1.3pts
5. Oanda 1.5pts
6. Plus500 2.0pts
7. XTB 2.4pts

So, the outright winner this month was CMC Markets, coming in at just 0.5pts on the FTSE.

That's a special promotional spread, so worth keeping in mind when comparing it with the others.

Next up were Capital.com, IG, FXCM and Forex.com, all coming in at a respectable 1.0pt.

At the other end, XTB came in at 2.4pts, with Plus500 at 2.0pts.

And that's quite a difference when you're trading the exact same underlying market.

In fact, compared with CMC's promotional 0.5pt spread, XTB was almost five times wider. Even compared with the other brokers at 1.0pt, you're still paying more than double.

Use the spread saver to see the real cost of trading with an uncompetitive broker.

It just goes to show brokers aren't tight on all markets; the findings were totally different on my other comparisons:

Indices: DAX, Dow, Nasdaq, S&P 500

Commodities: Gold, Oil

Forex: USD/JPY, EUR/USD, GBP/USD

Or take a look at my Spread Checker tool for the whole lot.

As always, do your own due diligence; spreads change, markets move.

CMC Markets topped this one with its special-offer spread, followed by Capital.com, IG, FXCM and Forex.com. But whoever you use, make sure you're not overpaying on the market you trade most.