Compare 4 best CFD brokers in Canada 2025

Trade your favourite markets with our top-rated broker, IG Markets.

IG Markets 4.4/5

75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider.

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75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider.

This detailed guide is the result of our extensive research. We’ve picked out the top places to invest that offer the best service to help you start CFD trading in Canada.

To identify the best services, we created a checklist of key criteria that a Canada CFD broker must meet in order to earn a high ranking. The features it must offer include:

• Regulatory approval from the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), the financial regulator in Canada
• A low-cost way to trade CFDs in Canada
• A free demo account for beginners
• A significant number of available trading instruments, including stocks, forex, commodities, and crypto CFDs where available

The results are clear: Our panel recommends IG Markets as the best CFD broker in Canada for 2025.

Best CFD brokers Canada

Alongside IG Markets , a number of other Canada CFD brokers impressed the experts. We rank these platforms highly, as CFD trading platforms in Canada that offer a secure, simple, and low cost trading experience.

4.4

IG Markets

Min. Deposit n/a

Fees Spread only

No. assets 17000+

Demo account Yes

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IG review

Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

4.3

AvaTrade

Min. Deposit $100

Fees From 0.13%

No. assets 1250+

Demo account Yes

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AvaTrade review

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.

3.8

XTB Online Investing

Min. Deposit n/a

Fees 8.1 pips

No. assets 2200+

Demo account Yes

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XTB review

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69-83% 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.

Our top 4 best CFD trading platforms in Canada, reviewed & compared

1. IG Markets: Best for trusted and transparent trading

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4

Ratings

$-

Min. deposit

Spread only

Fees

17,000

No. assets

Yes

Demo account

Overview

We love IG because it’s one of the most established and reputable names in the online trading industry, known for its reliability, comprehensive offerings, and strong regulatory compliance. In the United States, IG recently changed its name to TastyFX and is focused solely on forex trading. 

TastyFX is America’s fastest growing forex brokerage and as you’d expect from a subsidiary of IG, it offers excellent service with a wide selection of tools and features. Not only will you have access to over 80 forex pairs like EUR/USD, GBP/USD, and USD/JPY, but you’ll also pay $0 commission and have spreads starting from just 0.8 pips. 

What makes TastyFX stand apart from other US brokers is its excellent bonus schedule. After creating an account you can access up to $10,000 in cash bonuses. You cna also earn up to 15% rebate cashback every month. 

The fees: TastyFX has a clear and easy to understand fee schedule. It is a commission free brokerage and only charges a spread. Spreads are variable and generally lower for more liquid currency pairs. Spreads are as low as 0.8 pips for EUR/USD. Forex markets offer up to 50:1 leverage, or 2% margin requirements, on forex pairs like EUR/USD and USD/CAD.

Highlights

No. of tradable assets	17,000+
Min. Deposit	$0
ID verification required	Yes
Free demo account	Yes
Supported assets	Stock CFDs, ETFs, Forex CFDs, Crypto CFDs, Index CFDs, Commodities
Mobile trading app	Yes
Web trading platform	Yes
Regulatory bodies	FSCA, MAS, FMA, ASIC, FCA, BaFin, FINMA, DFSA, BMA, CFTC, NFA

Fees & Costs

Trading fees	Yes
Inactivity fees	Yes
Rollover/overnight fees	Yes
Withdrawal fees	No
Spreads	Yes
Conversion fees	Yes

Pros & Cons

Intuitive web trading platform Excellent demo account available Variety of deposit and withdrawal options Wide variety of useful educational tools Trading platform tutorial to get you started

Slow account opening process Unavailable in all regions

Read review Visit IG Markets

Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

2. AvaTrade. Best regulated broker for secure trading

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4

Ratings

$100

Min. deposit

From 0.13%

Fees

1,300

No. assets

Yes

Demo account

Overview

We love AvaTrade because it is a reliable CFD broker, that gives users access to a wide range of markets. As a CFD broker, AvaTrade lets you speculate on the price movements of various currency markets without owning the underlying assets. AvaTrade is a multi asset brokerage firm and includes CFDs for multiple forex pairs including EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and more. 

AvaTrade is also highly regarded for its strong regulatory framework and commitment to security. AvaTrade is regulated in multiple jurisdictions, including Europe, Australia, Japan, South Africa, and the British Virgin Islands, which means it must adhere to stringent regulatory standards across the world. 

AvaTrade isn’t just well regulated, it also employs advanced security measures to protect client funds and personal information, including segregated accounts and robust encryption technology. 

The fees: There is no commission on any trading. AvaTrade makes money from the Bid/Ask spread instead. Forex spreads start at 0.7 pips. Positions left overnight are charged a swap fee that varies depending on size. An inactivity fee of £/€/$50 per month is applicable if you don’t log in to your account for three consecutive months.

Highlights

No. of tradable assets	1250+
Min. Deposit	$100
ID verification required	Yes
Free demo account	Yes
Supported assets	Stocks, Stock CFDs, ETF CFDs, Forex CFDs, Crypto CFDs, Commodity CFDs, Index CFDs
Mobile trading app	Yes
Web trading platform	Yes
Regulatory bodies	FSCA, FSA, ASIC, CBI, MiFID, CySEC, BVIFSC, FRSA

Fees & Costs

Trading fees	No
Inactivity fees	Yes
Rollover/overnight fees	Yes
Withdrawal fees	No
Spreads	Yes
Conversion fees	No

Pros & Cons

Trade 1000+ CFDs with competitive spreads Regulated by Tier 1 financial bodies across the world Consistently highly rated trading platform on web and mobile Offers social trading through its proprietary AvaSocial platform

Spreads are competitive without being industry-leading Some assets are only available to trade through the MetaTrader software

Read review Visit AvaTrade

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.

3. XTB: Best for offering global CFD markets to retail traders

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3.5

Ratings

$-

Min. deposit

0.02 pips

Fees

2,200

No. assets

Yes

Demo account

Overview

We love XTB because of its extensive range of international CFD markets, allowing retail traders to buy and sell popular financial assets at competitive prices. XTB offers 78 of the most popular forex pairs. 

This broad selection allows you to diversify your portfolio and explore several trading opportunities across different markets. Whether you are interested in the majors like EUR/USD, or exotics like CAD/MXN, XTB’s comprehensive offering means you have the tools and resources needed to trade effectively.

XTB combines beginner-friendly, introductory tools and resources with a scaling system of accounts that allow experienced traders to access high rates of leverage and advanced analytical tools. 

With more than 180 pre-installed indicators and chart types, its bespoke xStation platform allows for intricate analysis, while beginners can access its Trading Central service, where trade ideas, forecasts, and risk analyses are available for anyone to look through.

The fees: XTB’s fees start from 0.02 pips on major forex pairs. Spreads are higher on the minor pairs, and may be significantly higher on the exotics.

Highlights

No. of tradable assets	2,200
Min. Deposit	$0
ID verification required	Yes
Free demo account	Yes
Supported assets	Stocks, Crypto, Commodities, , Indices, ETFs
Mobile trading app	Yes
Web trading platform	Yes
Regulatory bodies	CySEC, FCA, KNF

Fees & Costs

Trading fees	Yes
Inactivity fees	Yes
Rollover/overnight fees	Yes
Withdrawal fees	Yes
Spreads	Yes
Conversion fees	Yes

Pros & Cons

Trade CFDs on thousands of assets Regulated broker Deposit protection for client accounts Good number of educational resources

Doesn't accept US clients Tradeable assets limited to CFDs and forex pairs

Read review Visit XTB Online Investing

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69-83% 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.

4. Pacific Union. Best for social trading & customer support

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4

Ratings

$-

Min. deposit

...

Fees

-

No. assets

No

Demo account

Overview

We love Pacific Union because its beginner friendly platform comes loaded with lots of educational content, including how to guides and video learning. Pacific Union offers over 30 forex pairs, including majors and minors. 

It’s an award-winning broker with a proprietary social trading application that makes it easy for beginners to follow the strategies and positions of the platform’s top traders. Pacific Union uses the popular Metatrader 4 software alongside its mobile and web based apps. Traders can choose the amount of leverage they want to use, all the way up to 500:1.

The fees: There are fees with Pacific Union, but it depends on your account type. Its standard account is commission free, but Bid/Ask spreads start at 1.3 pips. Pro accounts are charged a $3.5 RT per lot commission and have spreads starting from 0 pips. Swap charges for holding a trade overnight vary depending on size.  

Highlights

No. of tradable assets
Min. Deposit
ID verification required	No
Free demo account	No
Supported assets
Mobile trading app	No
Web trading platform	No
Regulatory bodies

Pros & Cons

70+ forex pairs and 200+ financial assets available to trade Extremely low minimum trade sizes Multilingual support in 18+ languages

Minimum withdrawal of $100 Fewer assets than many competitors

Read review Visit

Contracts for Difference (CFDs) trading carries a high level of risk to your capital and can result in losses, you should only trade with money you can afford to lose. CFDs trading may not be suitable for all investors, please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved and take appropriate measures to manage it.

Is CFD trading legal in Canada?

Yes, you can legally trade CFDs in Canada. However, certain aspects of CFD trading are regulated by the CIRO. The restrictions generally work in your favour, as they are designed to protect traders from large, unexpected losses.

Primarily this means there are limitations on the amount of leverage that CFD brokers in Canada can offer, along with a limit on the maximum losses any retail customer account can experience. In addition, they must clearly warn traders of the risks involved so you can make informed trading decisions.

How to find a reliable CFD broker in Canada

The key features that separate the best CFD broker in Canada from the rest are security, cost, the range of markets available. Keep those in mind and you won’t run into too many problems. 

If you need more help making up your mind, use this short Q&A to find the best CFD trading platform in Canada.

Are CFD brokers in Canada regulated?

Yes, online CFD brokers in Canada are licenced and regulated by CIRO, the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization. CIRO sets the rules on Canada CFD trading, such as by restricting the amount of leverage on offer to 30:1 when you trade a contract for difference (CFD), along with which assets and markets are available.

The Canadian market is unique, in the sense that CIRO is just one of a few regulatory bodies you may see when you’re researching which platform to use. Different states in Canada are regulated by different bodies. So if you see any of these organizations, know that their rules and licences have the same legal force as those laid down by CIRO:

• The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC)
• The British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC)
• The Autorité Des Marchés Financiers (AMF)

To further muddy the waters, CIRO used to be known as IIROC (the Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada). So if you see that name floating around, know that it’s exactly the same regulator as CIRO.

How else do CFD trading platforms in Canada protect me?

The top CFD brokers in Canada offer negative balance protection, which is a form of insurance that protects you from losing more money than you have in your account. This is particularly useful if you use leverage or short CFDs, as it’s possible to lose significantly more than the initial value of your trade.

In Canada, you are also protected by the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF). This serves as a backstop to insure your cash or securities holdings in the event that your CFD firm becomes insolvent. The maximum amount that’s insured is $1 million, though this varies depending on your circumstances and the assets you hold. You can search the CIPF website to check if the firm you want to use is covered.

A Canadian CFD broker should also protect you by providing Two Factor Authentication (2FA) to secure your account and with a customer service line that’s always open and available to help. 

What types of Canadian CFD brokers are there?

Most of the time, you’re going to be dealing with market makers. A market maker is a CFD broker in Canada that effectively creates a market for any asset at all times, so you can always buy or sell.

Other forms of Canada CFD brokers include direct market access (DMA) brokers or STP/ECN brokers. These offer faster trade execution or allow you to buy and sell from other traders directly, rather than through an intermediary. Though the truth is that these services are geared towards professional or high volume traders, rather than casual users.

How much do CFD brokers in Canada cost?

Most CFD brokers in Canada offer no-commission trading, so you don’t have to pay each time you make a trade. However, the costs come elsewhere, usually in the form of the spread.

The spread is the difference between the buy and sell price of a contract for difference (CFD). The best Canada CFD trading platforms make money by taking a cut of that difference, so you can compare the costs of using different platforms by comparing the spreads. The lower the difference between the buy and sell price, the more cost-effective a platform is.

Which assets can I trade through a Canada CFD broker?

Any CFD broker in Canada will offer currency and commodity markets. CFDs are the most common way to trade forex and commodities like gold and oil.

Then the rules can change depending on the whims of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC). Generally, you can trade stock CFDs, though the available companies may vary. In addition, you may be able to trade:

• Crypto CFDs
• ETF CFDs
• Indices CFDs

Though the regulation for crypto CFDs, in particular, can change rapidly.

To buy and sell the underlying assets, rather than using CFDs, consider using the best trading platforms in Canada, the best forex brokers in Canada, or the best crypto exchange in Canada.

Can I use leverage to trade CFDs in Canada?

Yes, it’s common and legal to trade CFDs with leverage in Canada. The maximum permitted leverage is set at 30:1 by CIRO, and all CFD brokers in Canada must abide by those rules.

In reality, each CFD broker in Canada also offers differing leverage on different assets. Currency pairs offer the most leverage, as it’s a vital part of successful forex trading, while stock and crypto CFDs generally offer the lowest.

Do I have to pay tax on CFDs in Canada?

Yes, you will be liable for either a capital gains tax, or business income tax, depending on how often you trade. The tax rules on CFDs in Canada are set out by the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA).

Most CFD traders are charged business income tax, because their main goal is to generate profit (as opposed to as a hobby). As CFD trading relies on a lot of fast, intraday trading and a large number of trades, it generally qualifies as a business operation according to the CRA.

The basic corporation tax rate in Canada is 9% for small businesses, while there may be additional provincial taxes on top of this. It’s best to contact an accountant to ensure you calculate your tax burden accurately, and remember to keep a detailed record of each trade you make.

Are there any other ways to trade?

Yes, one of the most appealing aspects of CFD trading for beginners is the fact you can use CFDs to trade for and against the market. Shorting is when you place a trade on an asset or market to fall in value, and is a very popular way to trade.

Because of that, you can also use CFDs to hedge other trades that you have open. This is where you place a trade on the opposite position to one you made previously. It’s used as a risk management strategy to minimise losses or lock in profit in case something changes.

Do CFD platforms in Canada offer professional trading accounts?

Yes, generally they do, although the qualifications can be steep. Most of the best trading platforms in Canada offer a retail account to all users, then provide faster execution speeds or lower spreads to high volume users who must meet certain capital requirements.

These accounts are only accessible to a small number of people, who have both significant starting funds and a high annual turnover. Unless you can supply the equivalent of at least $500,000 as a qualifying deposit, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to sign up to a professional account with any Canadian CFD provider.

How to start trading CFDs in Canada

Follow this guide to learn how to use a CFD trading platform in Canada and to place your first CFD trade.

To summarise

CFD trading is a popular and accessible way to trade for all Canada users, but there are a few risks as well. Canadian CFD providers give you access to global markets and a greater range of trading options, so you can back markets to go both up and down.

However, using leverage can lead to significant losses and, with CFDs, you don’t own the underlying assets themselves, so you have less investor protection than – for example – company shareholders.

This guide picks out the 4 best CFD brokers in Canada, based on their cost, accessibility, and the range of products available. Once you fully understand the pros and cons, choose any of the top CFD trading platforms above to get started with. It only takes a few minutes to start trading CFDs in Canada. 

FAQs