Platforms for index trading
You can't buy an index directly — traders get exposure through index futures (the US route, also used by futures prop firms), index CFDs (UK/EU retail only) or index ETFs at a stock broker. Every platform below offers one of those routes.
Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission if you open an account or sign up through links on this page. This does not cost you extra. Our rankings are based on our published methodology, not on commission amount.
Stock brokers (1)
Regulated brokers where you deposit your own money to buy stocks, ETFs and options.
XTB
Stock Brokers
- Min deposit
- $0
- Pricing
- Commission-free equities to a threshold; CFD spreads/financing; FX fees.
- Demo account
- Yes
- Regulation
- FCA, KNF
Strong xStation platform
CFDs are high-risk
Futures brokers & platforms (3)
Brokers and trading platforms for futures and micro futures, traded with your own capital.
NinjaTrader
Futures
- Min deposit
- $0
- Pricing
- Per-contract commissions with tiered platform licensing.
- Demo account
- Yes
- Regulation
- NFA, CFTC
Excellent futures charting
Futures-focused (no stocks)
Tradovate
Futures
- Min deposit
- $0
- Pricing
- Per-contract or flat-fee membership pricing.
- Demo account
- Yes
- Regulation
- NFA, CFTC
Modern cloud platform
Futures only
TradeStation
Futures
- Min deposit
- $0
- Pricing
- Commission-free equities; per-contract futures/options; data subscriptions.
- Demo account
- Yes
- Regulation
- SEC, FINRA
Powerful backtesting (EasyLanguage)
Steeper learning curve
Forex & CFD brokers (6)
Regulated brokers for currencies and CFDs. UK/EU retail only — CFDs are not available to US retail traders.
IG
Forex
- Min deposit
- $0
- Pricing
- Spreads + commissions (shares); overnight financing on leverage.
- Demo account
- Yes
- Regulation
- FCA
Large, listed, well-regulated
Leveraged products are high-risk
CMC Markets
Forex
- Min deposit
- $0
- Pricing
- Spreads + commission on share CFDs; financing on leverage.
- Demo account
- Yes
- Regulation
- FCA
Award-winning platform
Leveraged products are high-risk
Pepperstone
Forex
- Min deposit
- $0
- Pricing
- Raw spread + commission or spread-only; financing on leveraged positions.
- Demo account
- Yes
- Regulation
- FCA, CySEC
Tight raw spreads
Leveraged CFDs are high-risk
Forex.com
Forex
- Min deposit
- $100
- Pricing
- Spreads or commission + raw spread; financing on leverage.
- Demo account
- Yes
- Regulation
- NFA, CFTC
Available to US forex traders
CFDs are high-risk (UK/EU only)
OANDA
Forex
- Min deposit
- $0
- Pricing
- Spreads or core pricing + commission; overnight financing on leveraged positions.
- Demo account
- Yes
- Regulation
- NFA, CFTC
Strong regulatory footprint
CFDs are high-risk (UK/EU only)
Plus500
Forex
- Min deposit
- $100
- Pricing
- Spreads + overnight funding; inactivity/FX fees.
- Demo account
- Yes
- Regulation
- FCA, CySEC
Listed and well-regulated
CFDs only (high-risk)
Futures prop firms (6)
Not brokers — funded futures accounts. You pass a paid evaluation, then trade the firm's capital under its rules.
Topstep
Prop Firms
- Min deposit
- None
- Pricing
- Monthly evaluation subscription; profit split on funded accounts.
- Demo account
- Yes
- Regulation
- —
Long, stable track record
Monthly subscription during evaluation
Take Profit Trader
Prop Firms
- Min deposit
- None
- Pricing
- Monthly evaluation (Test) subscription; 80% split on funded PRO accounts, 90% on PRO+; withdraw from day one after building a buffer.
- Demo account
- Yes
- Regulation
- —
Simple one-step evaluation
Intraday trailing drawdown to manage
Tradeify
Prop Firms
- Min deposit
- None
- Pricing
- One-time evaluation fee (Growth/Select) or instant-funding fee (Lightning); 90% profit split — Growth/Lightning advertise 100% of the first ~$15k of payouts, then 90/10.
- Demo account
- Yes
- Regulation
- —
One-time fees — no monthly subscriptions
Founded 2024 — shorter track record than veterans
My Funded Futures
Prop Firms
- Min deposit
- None
- Pricing
- Monthly evaluation subscription; profit split of 80–90% depending on plan (Core/Pro 80, Rapid 90).
- Demo account
- Yes
- Regulation
- —
Flexible multi-plan lineup
Shorter track record than veterans
Apex Trader Funding
Prop Firms
- Min deposit
- None
- Pricing
- Monthly evaluation subscription + one-time activation fee on funded accounts; 100% of the first $25k profit, then a 90/10 split.
- Demo account
- Yes
- Regulation
- —
Frequent, deep discounts
Activation fee on funded accounts
Lucid Trading
Prop Firms
- Min deposit
- None
- Pricing
- One-time evaluation or instant-funding fee; 90/10 profit split on funded accounts with per-cycle payout caps by account size.
- Demo account
- Yes
- Regulation
- —
Very fast payouts (minutes-level processing claimed, with verified proofs)
Launched 2025 — very short track record
Forex & CFD prop firms (3)
Not brokers — funded forex/CFD accounts. You pass a paid evaluation, then trade the firm's capital under its rules.
FTMO
Prop Firms
- Min deposit
- None
- Pricing
- One-time refundable evaluation fee; 80% profit split on funded accounts (scalable to 90%), paid on demand after a 14-day cycle.
- Demo account
- Yes
- Regulation
- —
Long track record
Not focused on US futures
The5ers
Prop Firms
- Min deposit
- None
- Pricing
- One-time program fee; profit split from 50% (early stages) up to 100%; growth-focused scaling up to $4M.
- Demo account
- Yes
- Regulation
- —
Long track record
Forex/CFD focus (high-risk)
FundedNext
Prop Firms
- Min deposit
- None
- Pricing
- One-time evaluation fee (refundable at first payout on most models); reward share from 80% scaling to 90% (Stellar 1-Step starts at 90%).
- Demo account
- Yes
- Regulation
- —
Flexible evaluation models
Shorter track record than veterans
Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission when you click some links on our site. This does not cost you extra. Our comparisons are educational and transparent, and our rankings are not affected by commissions.
Risk warning: Trading stocks, options, futures, forex, crypto, CFDs and funded accounts involves risk. You can lose money. This website is educational only and does not provide financial, investment, tax or legal advice.