Trading education library
SpreadComparison is an independent comparison publisher, not a broker. These 520 guides explain trading costs, execution, regulation and risk in plain English. They are general information for people aged 18 and over, not investment advice, and no returns are promised.
Advertising disclosure: some links on this site are affiliate links and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Vantage is an advertising partner. Advertised spreads, fees and conditions are indicative and can change. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage; most retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.
Featured broker: Vantage
Advertised raw spreads from 0.0 pips, FCA-regulated UK entity available, $50 minimum deposit. Advertising partner — we may earn a commission. 18+, availability varies by country.
Choosing
- A beginner's guide to choosing a broker
- Your practical checklist for choosing a broker
- How brokers differ on choosing a broker
- What choosing a broker actually costs you
- The numbers behind choosing a broker
- choosing a broker explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about choosing a broker
- The terms you need to know for choosing a broker
- Common mistakes with choosing a broker
- Key questions to ask about choosing a broker
- How to review choosing a broker before you commit
- choosing a broker and how to protect yourself
- choosing a broker for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to comparing broker fees
- Your practical checklist for comparing broker fees
- How brokers differ on comparing broker fees
- What comparing broker fees actually costs you
- The numbers behind comparing broker fees
- comparing broker fees explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about comparing broker fees
- The terms you need to know for comparing broker fees
- Common mistakes with comparing broker fees
- Key questions to ask about comparing broker fees
- How to review comparing broker fees before you commit
- comparing broker fees and how to protect yourself
- comparing broker fees for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to reading a broker fee table
- Your practical checklist for reading a broker fee table
- How brokers differ on reading a broker fee table
- What reading a broker fee table actually costs you
- The numbers behind reading a broker fee table
- reading a broker fee table explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about reading a broker fee table
- The terms you need to know for reading a broker fee table
- Common mistakes with reading a broker fee table
- Key questions to ask about reading a broker fee table
- How to review reading a broker fee table before you commit
- reading a broker fee table and how to protect yourself
- reading a broker fee table for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to spotting clone firm scams
- Your practical checklist for spotting clone firm scams
- How brokers differ on spotting clone firm scams
- What spotting clone firm scams actually costs you
- The numbers behind spotting clone firm scams
- spotting clone firm scams explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about spotting clone firm scams
- The terms you need to know for spotting clone firm scams
- Common mistakes with spotting clone firm scams
- Key questions to ask about spotting clone firm scams
- How to review spotting clone firm scams before you commit
- spotting clone firm scams and how to protect yourself
- spotting clone firm scams for UK traders
Costs
- A beginner's guide to commission per lot
- Your practical checklist for commission per lot
- How brokers differ on commission per lot
- What commission per lot actually costs you
- The numbers behind commission per lot
- commission per lot explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about commission per lot
- The terms you need to know for commission per lot
- Common mistakes with commission per lot
- Key questions to ask about commission per lot
- How to review commission per lot before you commit
- commission per lot and how to protect yourself
- commission per lot for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to currency conversion charges
- Your practical checklist for currency conversion charges
- How brokers differ on currency conversion charges
- What currency conversion charges actually costs you
- The numbers behind currency conversion charges
- currency conversion charges explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about currency conversion charges
- The terms you need to know for currency conversion charges
- Common mistakes with currency conversion charges
- Key questions to ask about currency conversion charges
- How to review currency conversion charges before you commit
- currency conversion charges and how to protect yourself
- currency conversion charges for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to deposit and withdrawal fees
- Your practical checklist for deposit and withdrawal fees
- How brokers differ on deposit and withdrawal fees
- What deposit and withdrawal fees actually costs you
- The numbers behind deposit and withdrawal fees
- deposit and withdrawal fees explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about deposit and withdrawal fees
- The terms you need to know for deposit and withdrawal fees
- Common mistakes with deposit and withdrawal fees
- Key questions to ask about deposit and withdrawal fees
- How to review deposit and withdrawal fees before you commit
- deposit and withdrawal fees and how to protect yourself
- deposit and withdrawal fees for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to forex spreads
- Your practical checklist for forex spreads
- How brokers differ on forex spreads
- What forex spreads actually costs you
- The numbers behind forex spreads
- forex spreads explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about forex spreads
- The terms you need to know for forex spreads
- Common mistakes with forex spreads
- Key questions to ask about forex spreads
- How to review forex spreads before you commit
- forex spreads and how to protect yourself
- forex spreads for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to overnight swap fees
- Your practical checklist for overnight swap fees
- How brokers differ on overnight swap fees
- What overnight swap fees actually costs you
- The numbers behind overnight swap fees
- overnight swap fees explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about overnight swap fees
- The terms you need to know for overnight swap fees
- Common mistakes with overnight swap fees
- Key questions to ask about overnight swap fees
- How to review overnight swap fees before you commit
- overnight swap fees and how to protect yourself
- overnight swap fees for UK traders
Discipline
- A beginner's guide to avoiding overtrading
- Your practical checklist for avoiding overtrading
- How brokers differ on avoiding overtrading
- What avoiding overtrading actually costs you
- The numbers behind avoiding overtrading
- avoiding overtrading explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about avoiding overtrading
- The terms you need to know for avoiding overtrading
- Common mistakes with avoiding overtrading
- Key questions to ask about avoiding overtrading
- How to review avoiding overtrading before you commit
- avoiding overtrading and how to protect yourself
- avoiding overtrading for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to trading journals
- Your practical checklist for trading journals
- How brokers differ on trading journals
- What trading journals actually costs you
- The numbers behind trading journals
- trading journals explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about trading journals
- The terms you need to know for trading journals
- Common mistakes with trading journals
- Key questions to ask about trading journals
- How to review trading journals before you commit
- trading journals and how to protect yourself
- trading journals for UK traders
Execution
- A beginner's guide to ECN and market maker models
- Your practical checklist for ECN and market maker models
- How brokers differ on ECN and market maker models
- What ECN and market maker models actually costs you
- The numbers behind ECN and market maker models
- ECN and market maker models explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about ECN and market maker models
- The terms you need to know for ECN and market maker models
- Common mistakes with ECN and market maker models
- Key questions to ask about ECN and market maker models
- How to review ECN and market maker models before you commit
- ECN and market maker models and how to protect yourself
- ECN and market maker models for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to market orders and limit orders
- Your practical checklist for market orders and limit orders
- How brokers differ on market orders and limit orders
- What market orders and limit orders actually costs you
- The numbers behind market orders and limit orders
- market orders and limit orders explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about market orders and limit orders
- The terms you need to know for market orders and limit orders
- Common mistakes with market orders and limit orders
- Key questions to ask about market orders and limit orders
- How to review market orders and limit orders before you commit
- market orders and limit orders and how to protect yourself
- market orders and limit orders for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to order execution speed
- Your practical checklist for order execution speed
- How brokers differ on order execution speed
- What order execution speed actually costs you
- The numbers behind order execution speed
- order execution speed explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about order execution speed
- The terms you need to know for order execution speed
- Common mistakes with order execution speed
- Key questions to ask about order execution speed
- How to review order execution speed before you commit
- order execution speed and how to protect yourself
- order execution speed for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to slippage
- Your practical checklist for slippage
- How brokers differ on slippage
- What slippage actually costs you
- The numbers behind slippage
- slippage explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about slippage
- The terms you need to know for slippage
- Common mistakes with slippage
- Key questions to ask about slippage
- How to review slippage before you commit
- slippage and how to protect yourself
- slippage for UK traders
Getting started
- A beginner's guide to account verification
- Your practical checklist for account verification
- How brokers differ on account verification
- What account verification actually costs you
- The numbers behind account verification
- account verification explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about account verification
- The terms you need to know for account verification
- Common mistakes with account verification
- Key questions to ask about account verification
- How to review account verification before you commit
- account verification and how to protect yourself
- account verification for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to demo accounts
- Your practical checklist for demo accounts
- How brokers differ on demo accounts
- What demo accounts actually costs you
- The numbers behind demo accounts
- demo accounts explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about demo accounts
- The terms you need to know for demo accounts
- Common mistakes with demo accounts
- Key questions to ask about demo accounts
- How to review demo accounts before you commit
- demo accounts and how to protect yourself
- demo accounts for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to funding methods
- Your practical checklist for funding methods
- How brokers differ on funding methods
- What funding methods actually costs you
- The numbers behind funding methods
- funding methods explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about funding methods
- The terms you need to know for funding methods
- Common mistakes with funding methods
- Key questions to ask about funding methods
- How to review funding methods before you commit
- funding methods and how to protect yourself
- funding methods for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to minimum deposits
- Your practical checklist for minimum deposits
- How brokers differ on minimum deposits
- What minimum deposits actually costs you
- The numbers behind minimum deposits
- minimum deposits explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about minimum deposits
- The terms you need to know for minimum deposits
- Common mistakes with minimum deposits
- Key questions to ask about minimum deposits
- How to review minimum deposits before you commit
- minimum deposits and how to protect yourself
- minimum deposits for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to withdrawal timescales
- Your practical checklist for withdrawal timescales
- How brokers differ on withdrawal timescales
- What withdrawal timescales actually costs you
- The numbers behind withdrawal timescales
- withdrawal timescales explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about withdrawal timescales
- The terms you need to know for withdrawal timescales
- Common mistakes with withdrawal timescales
- Key questions to ask about withdrawal timescales
- How to review withdrawal timescales before you commit
- withdrawal timescales and how to protect yourself
- withdrawal timescales for UK traders
Markets
- A beginner's guide to gold and index CFDs
- Your practical checklist for gold and index CFDs
- How brokers differ on gold and index CFDs
- What gold and index CFDs actually costs you
- The numbers behind gold and index CFDs
- gold and index CFDs explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about gold and index CFDs
- The terms you need to know for gold and index CFDs
- Common mistakes with gold and index CFDs
- Key questions to ask about gold and index CFDs
- How to review gold and index CFDs before you commit
- gold and index CFDs and how to protect yourself
- gold and index CFDs for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to major currency pairs
- Your practical checklist for major currency pairs
- How brokers differ on major currency pairs
- What major currency pairs actually costs you
- The numbers behind major currency pairs
- major currency pairs explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about major currency pairs
- The terms you need to know for major currency pairs
- Common mistakes with major currency pairs
- Key questions to ask about major currency pairs
- How to review major currency pairs before you commit
- major currency pairs and how to protect yourself
- major currency pairs for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to news events and volatility
- Your practical checklist for news events and volatility
- How brokers differ on news events and volatility
- What news events and volatility actually costs you
- The numbers behind news events and volatility
- news events and volatility explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about news events and volatility
- The terms you need to know for news events and volatility
- Common mistakes with news events and volatility
- Key questions to ask about news events and volatility
- How to review news events and volatility before you commit
- news events and volatility and how to protect yourself
- news events and volatility for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to spread widening at rollover
- Your practical checklist for spread widening at rollover
- How brokers differ on spread widening at rollover
- What spread widening at rollover actually costs you
- The numbers behind spread widening at rollover
- spread widening at rollover explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about spread widening at rollover
- The terms you need to know for spread widening at rollover
- Common mistakes with spread widening at rollover
- Key questions to ask about spread widening at rollover
- How to review spread widening at rollover before you commit
- spread widening at rollover and how to protect yourself
- spread widening at rollover for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to trading sessions and hours
- Your practical checklist for trading sessions and hours
- How brokers differ on trading sessions and hours
- What trading sessions and hours actually costs you
- The numbers behind trading sessions and hours
- trading sessions and hours explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about trading sessions and hours
- The terms you need to know for trading sessions and hours
- Common mistakes with trading sessions and hours
- Key questions to ask about trading sessions and hours
- How to review trading sessions and hours before you commit
- trading sessions and hours and how to protect yourself
- trading sessions and hours for UK traders
Platforms
- A beginner's guide to MetaTrader 4 basics
- Your practical checklist for MetaTrader 4 basics
- How brokers differ on MetaTrader 4 basics
- What MetaTrader 4 basics actually costs you
- The numbers behind MetaTrader 4 basics
- MetaTrader 4 basics explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about MetaTrader 4 basics
- The terms you need to know for MetaTrader 4 basics
- Common mistakes with MetaTrader 4 basics
- Key questions to ask about MetaTrader 4 basics
- How to review MetaTrader 4 basics before you commit
- MetaTrader 4 basics and how to protect yourself
- MetaTrader 4 basics for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to MetaTrader 5 basics
- Your practical checklist for MetaTrader 5 basics
- How brokers differ on MetaTrader 5 basics
- What MetaTrader 5 basics actually costs you
- The numbers behind MetaTrader 5 basics
- MetaTrader 5 basics explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about MetaTrader 5 basics
- The terms you need to know for MetaTrader 5 basics
- Common mistakes with MetaTrader 5 basics
- Key questions to ask about MetaTrader 5 basics
- How to review MetaTrader 5 basics before you commit
- MetaTrader 5 basics and how to protect yourself
- MetaTrader 5 basics for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to mobile trading apps
- Your practical checklist for mobile trading apps
- How brokers differ on mobile trading apps
- What mobile trading apps actually costs you
- The numbers behind mobile trading apps
- mobile trading apps explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about mobile trading apps
- The terms you need to know for mobile trading apps
- Common mistakes with mobile trading apps
- Key questions to ask about mobile trading apps
- How to review mobile trading apps before you commit
- mobile trading apps and how to protect yourself
- mobile trading apps for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to trading platform choice
- Your practical checklist for trading platform choice
- How brokers differ on trading platform choice
- What trading platform choice actually costs you
- The numbers behind trading platform choice
- trading platform choice explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about trading platform choice
- The terms you need to know for trading platform choice
- Common mistakes with trading platform choice
- Key questions to ask about trading platform choice
- How to review trading platform choice before you commit
- trading platform choice and how to protect yourself
- trading platform choice for UK traders
Regulation
- A beginner's guide to client money segregation
- Your practical checklist for client money segregation
- How brokers differ on client money segregation
- What client money segregation actually costs you
- The numbers behind client money segregation
- client money segregation explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about client money segregation
- The terms you need to know for client money segregation
- Common mistakes with client money segregation
- Key questions to ask about client money segregation
- How to review client money segregation before you commit
- client money segregation and how to protect yourself
- client money segregation for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to FCA regulation
- Your practical checklist for FCA regulation
- How brokers differ on FCA regulation
- What FCA regulation actually costs you
- The numbers behind FCA regulation
- FCA regulation explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about FCA regulation
- The terms you need to know for FCA regulation
- Common mistakes with FCA regulation
- Key questions to ask about FCA regulation
- How to review FCA regulation before you commit
- FCA regulation and how to protect yourself
- FCA regulation for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to FSCS protection
- Your practical checklist for FSCS protection
- How brokers differ on FSCS protection
- What FSCS protection actually costs you
- The numbers behind FSCS protection
- FSCS protection explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about FSCS protection
- The terms you need to know for FSCS protection
- Common mistakes with FSCS protection
- Key questions to ask about FSCS protection
- How to review FSCS protection before you commit
- FSCS protection and how to protect yourself
- FSCS protection for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to negative balance protection
- Your practical checklist for negative balance protection
- How brokers differ on negative balance protection
- What negative balance protection actually costs you
- The numbers behind negative balance protection
- negative balance protection explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about negative balance protection
- The terms you need to know for negative balance protection
- Common mistakes with negative balance protection
- Key questions to ask about negative balance protection
- How to review negative balance protection before you commit
- negative balance protection and how to protect yourself
- negative balance protection for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to offshore broker entities
- Your practical checklist for offshore broker entities
- How brokers differ on offshore broker entities
- What offshore broker entities actually costs you
- The numbers behind offshore broker entities
- offshore broker entities explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about offshore broker entities
- The terms you need to know for offshore broker entities
- Common mistakes with offshore broker entities
- Key questions to ask about offshore broker entities
- How to review offshore broker entities before you commit
- offshore broker entities and how to protect yourself
- offshore broker entities for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to professional client status
- Your practical checklist for professional client status
- How brokers differ on professional client status
- What professional client status actually costs you
- The numbers behind professional client status
- professional client status explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about professional client status
- The terms you need to know for professional client status
- Common mistakes with professional client status
- Key questions to ask about professional client status
- How to review professional client status before you commit
- professional client status and how to protect yourself
- professional client status for UK traders
Risk
- A beginner's guide to leverage limits
- Your practical checklist for leverage limits
- How brokers differ on leverage limits
- What leverage limits actually costs you
- The numbers behind leverage limits
- leverage limits explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about leverage limits
- The terms you need to know for leverage limits
- Common mistakes with leverage limits
- Key questions to ask about leverage limits
- How to review leverage limits before you commit
- leverage limits and how to protect yourself
- leverage limits for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to margin calls
- Your practical checklist for margin calls
- How brokers differ on margin calls
- What margin calls actually costs you
- The numbers behind margin calls
- margin calls explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about margin calls
- The terms you need to know for margin calls
- Common mistakes with margin calls
- Key questions to ask about margin calls
- How to review margin calls before you commit
- margin calls and how to protect yourself
- margin calls for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to position sizing
- Your practical checklist for position sizing
- How brokers differ on position sizing
- What position sizing actually costs you
- The numbers behind position sizing
- position sizing explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about position sizing
- The terms you need to know for position sizing
- Common mistakes with position sizing
- Key questions to ask about position sizing
- How to review position sizing before you commit
- position sizing and how to protect yourself
- position sizing for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to risk per trade
- Your practical checklist for risk per trade
- How brokers differ on risk per trade
- What risk per trade actually costs you
- The numbers behind risk per trade
- risk per trade explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about risk per trade
- The terms you need to know for risk per trade
- Common mistakes with risk per trade
- Key questions to ask about risk per trade
- How to review risk per trade before you commit
- risk per trade and how to protect yourself
- risk per trade for UK traders
- A beginner's guide to stop losses
- Your practical checklist for stop losses
- How brokers differ on stop losses
- What stop losses actually costs you
- The numbers behind stop losses
- stop losses explained in plain English
- Frequently asked questions about stop losses
- The terms you need to know for stop losses
- Common mistakes with stop losses
- Key questions to ask about stop losses
- How to review stop losses before you commit
- stop losses and how to protect yourself
- stop losses for UK traders
Risk warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Most retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Nothing here is investment advice.