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Written By
James Barra
Written By
James Barra
James is an investment writer with a background in financial services. He has worked as a management consultant, where he delivered large-scale operational transformational programmes at some of Europe's biggest banks.James authors, edits and fact-checks content for a series of investing websites.
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Fact Checked By
Jemma Grist
Fact Checked By
Jemma Grist
Jemma is a writer, editor and fact-checker focused on retail trading and investing. Jemma brings a unique perspective to the forex, stock, and cryptocurrency markets and works across several investment websites as a researcher and broker analyst.
» Jemma Grist Profile Page
Updated
Mar 12, 2024
CFDs were introduced to the German market in 2005 and surged in popularity following the implementation of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) in 2007, which paved the way for online brokers to expand their CFD operations in Germany.
We’ve identified the best CFD trading platforms and brokers in Germany.Every CFD broker recommended is trusted and accepts German traders.
Top 5 CFD Trading Platforms in Germany
Following our comprehensive testing of nearly 500 brokers, these 5 platforms continue to stand out as the best for CFD traders in Germany:
- Eightcap - Eightcap is great for day traders familiar with MT4 and MT5 and looking to trade forex and CFDs in a secure environment. The brand is also a great pick for crypto traders with 100+ derivatives, a sophisticated market scanner, plus Bitcoin and Tether deposits.
- AvaTrade - AvaTrade offers the full package for short-term traders. There is powerful charting software, reliable execution, transparent fees, and fast account opening with a low minimum deposit.
- Deriv.com - Deriv.com will suit day traders looking to make fast-paced trades using CFDs and multipliers with high leverage up to 1:1000. The broker is also the industry leader in synthetic indices, which simulate real market movements and are available around the clock.
- Pepperstone - Pepperstone stands out as a top choice for day trading, offering razor-sharp spreads, ultra-fast execution, and advanced charting platforms for experienced traders. New traders are also welcomed with no minimum deposit, extensive educational resources, and exceptional 24/7 support.
- XM - XM is one of the best forex and CFD brokers we have tested. The flexible account types will suit a variety of short-term trading styles while the $5 minimum deposit and smooth sign-up process make it easy to start trading.
Best CFD Trading Platforms and Brokers in Germany 2024 Comparison
| Broker | CFD Trading | EUR Account | Minimum Deposit | Markets | Platforms | Leverage | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | ✔ | ✔ | $100 | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto | MT4, MT5, TradingView | 1:30 | Visit |
| | ✔ | ✔ | $100 | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Crypto, Spread Betting | WebTrader, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, MT4, MT5, AlgoTrader, TradingCentral, DupliTrade | 1:30 (Retail) 1:400 (Pro) | Visit |
| | ✔ | ✔ | $5 | CFDs, Multipliers, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities | Deriv Trader, MT5 | 1:1000 | Visit |
| | ✔ | ✔ | $0 | CFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto, Spread Betting | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, DupliTrade | 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) | Visit |
| | ✔ | ✔ | $5 | Forex, Stock CFDs, Turbo Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Precious Metals, Energies, Shares, Crypto, Futures | MT4, MT5 | 1:30 | Visit |
| | ✔ | ✔ | $50 | CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities | MT4, MT5 | 1:30 | Visit |
| | ✔ | ✔ | $100 | CFDs, Forex, Indices, Commodities, Stocks, Crypto | MT4, MT5 | 1:500 | Visit |
| | ✔ | ✔ | €200 | CFDs on Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Forex, Cryptocurrencies, US Synthetic Shares & ETFs, Shares Baskets | MT4, MT5 | 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) | Visit |
| | ✔ | ✔ | $20 | Forex, CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto | MT4 | 1:1000 | Visit |
| | ✔ | ✔ | $0 | Forex, CFDs, Indices, Shares, Commodities, Futures, Bonds, Cryptos (Bahamas Entity Only) | MT4 | 1:500 (entity dependent) | Visit |
| | ✔ | - | $50 | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, ETFs, Smart Portfolios, Commodities, Futures, Crypto, NFTs | eToro Web, CopyTrader, TradingCentral | 1:30 | Visit |
| | ✔ | ✔ | $100 | Forex, CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities and Cryptos | Skilling Trader, MT4, cTrader, TradingView | 1:30 (Retail) 1:200 (Pro) | Visit |
| | ✔ | ✔ | $0 | Forex, CFDs, stocks, indices, energies, metals, commodities, cryptos | MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist | 1:500 | Visit |
| | ✔ | ✔ | $100 | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Futures | FxPro Platform, MT4, MT5, cTrader, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, DupliTrade | 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro), 1:1000 (Via Prime Ash Capital Limited) | Visit |
| | ✔ | ✔ | $0 | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Treasuries, Custom Indices, Spread Betting | Web, MT4 | 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro) | Visit |
#1 - Eightcap
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Review
Why We Chose Eightcap
Eightcap offers over 800 CFDs on popular indices, shares, forex, cryptos and commodities. The firm also offers more choice than some competitors in terms of platforms with MT4, MT5 and TradingView, though this does depend on jurisdiction.
- FTSE Spread: 1.2
- GBPUSD Spread: 1.0
- Stocks Spread: 0.03 (Apple Inc)
- Leverage: 1:30
- Regulator: FCA, ASIC, CySEC, SCB
- Platforms: MT4, MT5, TradingView
About Eightcap
Eightcap is a forex and CFD broker founded in Australia in 2009. The brand is popular with serious day traders for its raw spreads on 1000+ instruments and advanced MetaTrader platforms. With five global offices and ASIC regulation, Eightcap has built a strong reputation. New traders can also sign up for a live account in just a few minutes.
Pros
- Raw spreads from 0.0 pips and a low $3.5 commission will appeal to active traders
- 100+ crypto derivatives are available for global clients, which is more than most brokers, including crypto crosses and indices
- Flexible and fee-free payment methods including cryptocurrencies
Cons
- There are only four commodities available, which may disappoint experienced day traders looking to diversify their portfolios
- The demo account can only be extended upon request
- There are several frustrating jurisdictional restrictions - for example, the Crypto Crusher tool is not available for UK or Australian clients
Visit Eightcap
#2 - AvaTrade
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Review
Why We Chose AvaTrade
AvaTrade's 1250+ leveraged CFD products span a wide range of asset classes including stocks, indices, commodities, bonds, crypto, and ETFs. You can speculate on underlying assets in the broker’s feature-rich web and mobile platforms with market-leading research tools to help discover opportunities.
- FTSE Spread: 0.5
- GBPUSD Spread: 1.5
- Stocks Spread: 0.13
- Leverage: 1:30 (Retail) 1:400 (Pro)
- Regulator: ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, ISA, CBol, FSA, FRSA, BVI, ADGM
- Platforms: WebTrader, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions, MT4, MT5, AlgoTrader, TradingCentral, DupliTrade
About AvaTrade
AvaTrade is a leading forex and CFD broker, established in 2006 and regulated across 9 jurisdictions. Over 400,000 users have signed up with the broker which processes over 2 million trades each month. The firm offers multiple trading platforms, including MT4, MT5, and a proprietary WebTrader. 1250+ financial instruments are available for day trading, alongside a comprehensive education center and multilingual customer support.
Pros
- Day traders can access stable spreads and zero commissions with no hidden fees
- Automated trading is supported through MetaTrader Expert Advisors (EAs), as well as the AvaSocial and DupliTrade tools
- The broker offers reliable 24/5 multilingual customer support with fast response times during testing
Cons
- Traders from the US are not accepted
- There’s an above-average $50 inactivity fee after three months, though this won't impact active day traders
- It’s a shame that there are no rebate schemes for serious traders looking for additional perks - CMC Markets would be a better choice here
Visit AvaTrade
#3 - Deriv.com
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Review
Why We Chose Deriv.com
You can trade CFDs on popular markets, including the broker's exclusive synthetic indices which are available 24/7. There are plenty of charting tools available for technical traders, including over 20 indicators in the Deriv Trader platform. New users can also open an account and start trading CFDs instantly.
- FTSE Spread: 0.5
- GBPUSD Spread: 0.5
- Stocks Spread: 0.07
- Leverage: 1:1000
- Regulator: MFSA, LFSA, VFSC, BFSC
- Platforms: Deriv Trader, MT5
About Deriv.com
Deriv.com is a low cost, multi-asset broker with over 2.5 million global clients. With just a $5 minimum deposit, the firm offers CFDs and multipliers, alongside proprietary synthetic products which can't be found elsewhere. Deriv provides both its own in-house charting software and the hugely popular MetaTrader 5.
Pros
- The free demo account is ideal for practicing short-term trading strategies and no registration is required
- The low $5 minimum initial deposit suits those on a lower budget
- Beginners and experienced day traders can access a good range of 20+ technical indicators in Deriv Trader vs 30+ in MT5
Cons
- There's no loyalty program or rebate scheme for high volume traders
- The range of 100+ assets trails some competitors such as Quotex which offers 400+
- There are limited copy trading tools and analysis features compared to alternatives like IQ Cent
Visit Deriv.com
#4 - Pepperstone
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Review
Why We Chose Pepperstone
Pepperstone maintains its position as one of the fastest and most dependable CFD brokers during our latest round of testing. With execution speeds averaging around 30ms and an outstanding fill rate of 99.90%, the broker ensures a seamless trading experience without requotes or dealing desk interference. It also provides ample trading opportunities across over 1,300 assets.
- FTSE Spread: 1.0
- GBPUSD Spread: 0.4
- Stocks Spread: 0.02
- Leverage: 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
- Regulator: FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, CMA, BaFin, SCB
- Platforms: MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, DupliTrade
About Pepperstone
Established in Australia in 2010, Pepperstone is a top-rated forex and CFD broker with over 400,000 clients worldwide. It offers access to 1,300+ instruments on leading platforms MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView, maintaining low, transparent fees. Pepperstone is also regulated by trusted authorities like the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC, ensuring a secure environment for day traders at all levels.
Pros
- There’s support for a range of industry-leading charting platforms including MT4, MT5, TradingView, and cTrader, catering to various short-term trading styles, including algo trading.
- Now offering spread betting through TradingView, Pepperstone provides a seamless, tax-efficient trading experience with advanced analysis tools.
- Award-winning customer support is available via telephone, email or live chat with response times of <5 minutes during testing.
Cons
- There’s no simplified proprietary trading platform, nor are there any social trading features, which could be a disadvantage if you are new to day trading.
- Pepperstone’s demo accounts are active for only 30 days, which may not be not long enough to familiarize yourself with the different platforms and test trading strategies.
- Pepperstone does not support cTrader Copy, a popular copy trading feature built into the excellent cTrader platform and available at alternatives like IC Markets.
Visit Pepperstone
#5 - XM
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Review
Why We Chose XM
Day traders can speculate on leveraged CFDs with zero commissions, spanning popular markets including currencies, equities and commodities. Additionally, the MetaTrader platforms collectively offer dozens of advanced technical indicators built for short-term strategies.
- FTSE Spread: 1.5 pts
- GBPUSD Spread: 1.9
- Stocks Spread: 0.002
- Leverage: 1:30
- Regulator: ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, FSC, FSCA
- Platforms: MT4, MT5
About XM
XM is a globally recognized forex and CFD broker with 10+ million clients in 190+ countries. Since 2009, this trusted broker has been known for its low fees on 1000+ instruments. XM is regulated by multiple financial bodies, including the ASIC and CySEC.
Pros
- Accessible trading accounts with a $5 minimum deposit and fast account opening
- Transparent and low fees with spreads from 0.0 pips that will protect day trading profit margins
- XM continues to deliver diverse and multilingual educational materials and offers a useful live education schedule for its webinars and insights
Cons
- PayPal deposits are not supported
- There is weak regulatory oversight through the global entity
- There's $5 inactivity fee after only 3 months, though this won't affect active traders
Visit XM
How We Chose The Best CFD Trading Platforms In Germany
To identify the best CFD trading platforms in Germany, we took all the brokers in our almost 500-strong database, pinpointed those that accept traders from Germany, and then sorted them using their overarching rating, which considers key components for CFD traders:
Trust
Only CFD trading platforms we trust, after verifying their regulatory credentials, track record, and the observations of our hands-on testers made our top list.
For German investors, choosing a CFD broker regulated by the Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin) will often provide the best safeguards.
That said, CFD brokers not directly overseen by the BaFin are still permitted to accept German traders via the EU passporting scheme, allowing them to operate with authorization from their domestic regulator.
The BaFin is a‘Green-Tier’ regulator that’s stepped up its oversight of CFD providers in recent years. Its General Administrative Act of 2019 introduced restrictions that mandated CFD brokers in Germany must satisfy 5 requirements:
- Leverage limits, varying depending on the underlying asset.
- Negative balance protection so you can’t lose more than your deposit.
- CFD positions closed out when the initial margin is 50% of the original margin.
- Clear risk warnings that articulate the potential for loss.
- A ban on providing trading bonuses.
💡
Check if a CFD broker is regulated by the BaFin by entering their name or license number in its Database of Companies.
- IG is a BaFin-regulated CFD broker, deemed our ‘safest’, with 50+ years experience, 13 regulatory licenses, and a clean record based on our experts’ real-money trading experiences over years.
Leverage Trading
Only CFD brokers with transparent leverage and margin requirements made our shortlist.
Leverage is a critical component of CFD trading, allowing you to multiply your buying power and trading results in return for an outlay, known as ‘margin’.
Let’s say I believe the share price of Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW: FRA) is going to rise in the short term as the sale of its electric vehicles surpasses industry forecasts. A CFD broker offering me 1:5 leverage would allow me to multiply my €1,000 outlay by 5, giving me €5,000 in trading power.
The BaFin, in line with other regulators in Europe, requires authorized CFD brokers to provide leverage up to a maximum of:
- 1:30 on major currency pairs, e.g. EUR/USD
- 1:20 for minor currency pairs, e.g. EUR/GBP and major stock indices, e.g. the DAX
- 1:10 on commodities aside from gold, e.g. silver and non-major stock indices, e.g. the BIST
- 1:5 for shares, e.g. German equities
- 1:2 for cryptocurrencies, e.g. Bitcoin
- AvaTrade is one of the best CFD brokers with leverage up to 1:30 for German traders. It also stands out for its bespoke risk management tool, AvaProtect, which insures against large losses.
Trading Markets
Only CFD brokers that provide access to popular markets made our list of recommended firms.
After years of using CFD trading platforms that accept German traders, we’ve observed that the top providers facilitate access to stocks, indices, forex, commodities and cryptocurrencies.
This provides short-term traders, including day traders, with ample opportunities to speculate on rising and falling prices across various regions, economies and sectors.
- Pepperstone shines with its excellent selection of CFDs spanning German markets, including the EUR/USD, German equities, the DAX index, plus funds like the iShares MSCI Germany ETF.
CFD Trading Fees
Only providers with competitive CFD trading fees, an assessment we make by regularly logging and analyzing charges on key markets, made our pick.
Low fees, notably spreads and /or commissions, are critical for day traders using CFDs, as a large volume of transaction costs can cut into profits.
That said, our years in the CFD trading industry have shown it’s important to balance pricing with tools, order executions, and research features.
For example, it may be worth paying more for CFD brokers that provide analyst insights into events that will affect equities listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange or economic calendars that track major announcements from Germany’s central bank, the Deutsche Bundesbank.
- Eightcap excels for its low CFD trading fees with spreads from 0.0, plus its AI economic calendar that lets you filter by German events and helpfully assigns a low, medium and high impact rating.
Charting Platforms
Only firms with user-friendly and powerful CFD trading platforms, following our extensive testing, made our recommendations.
The MetaTrader suite, MT4 and MT5, are still the most widely available charting platforms at CFD brokers in Germany. Yet, with their clunky design and increasing competition from alternatives like cTrader and TradingView, users have more choices than ever.
These third-party platforms excel for their charting packages, featuring dozens of indicators and various timeframes for experienced short-term traders.
However, newer CFD traders may benefit from more modern, web-accessible CFD platforms designed in-house. After testing a long row of platforms, we’re finding these can sport a more intuitive design and user-friendly workspace for beginners.
- AvaTrade consistently delivers in the platform department. It offers the MetaTrader package, as well as proprietary software with a genuinely intuitive look and feel, plus integrated pattern recognition tools and real-time sentiment data.
Account Funding
Only CFD brokers with secure, affordable and accessible payment methods made our selection.
We know from first-hand experience using CFD trading platforms that convenient funding can make for a smooth experience, while withdrawal issues and high charges can be extremely frustrating.
Analysis from Rapyd shows that e-wallets are increasingly favored by Germans, while bank cards are experiencing a decline. PayPal is the most popular e-wallet, though Sofort and Giropay also make the list of the 10 most used online payment methods.
- eToro accepts CFD traders in Germany with a low $10 minimum deposit and supports popular payment methods, including PayPal, Sofort and debit cards. Our experts have also personally traded on the eToro platform for years with no withdrawal issues.
FAQ
Who Regulates CFD Trading Platforms And Brokers In Germany?
The Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin), also known as the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, regulates CFD trading platforms and brokers operating in Germany.
The BaFin is a trusted regulator that requires authorized CFD brokers to provide various safeguards to retail investors, notably negative balance protection, leverage limits and clear risk warnings.
However, CFD trading platforms without direct BaFin authorization can also provide services to German traders through the EU passporting scheme, which enables operations throughout the EU with their home regulator’s endorsem*nt.
How Much Money Do I Need To Open A CFD Trading Account In Germany?
After evaluating nearly 500 brokers, we’ve found you usually need between €0 and €250 to start trading CFDs in Germany.
Having said that, Pepperstone stands out with its €0 minimum deposit, making it an excellent option for German CFD traders with less starting capital.
Recommended Reading
Article Sources
- Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin)
- BaFin General Administrative Act 23 July 2019 - Restrictions on CFDs
- BaFin Broker Checker
- Frankfurt Stock Exchange
- Frankfurt Stock Exchange - BMW Shares
- Deutsche Bundesbank
- Rapyd Payment Trends In Germany
The writing and editorial team at DayTrading.com use credible sources to support their work. These include government agencies, white papers, research institutes, and engagement with industry professionals. Content is written free from bias and is fact-checked where appropriate. Learn more about why you can trust DayTrading.com
