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Here are some of the best CFD brokers in Singapore offering low-cost investing, expanded trade markets and intuitive trading platforms.
Hopefully, since you clicked on this article, you have enough knowledge in trading to know what CFDs stand for, and how they should be used in an investment portfolio.
If you’ve no idea what CFDs are though, or are still fuzzy about the difference between trading and investing, fret not. We’ll walk you through exactly what CFDs are, the types of products you can trade with them, and how to choose the right broker for CFD trading.
Buckle up – here we go!
FOREX.com: Best for active traders in CFDs and Forex. Offers low fees (except for stock CFDs), flexible order types like Guaranteed Stop Loss, and a solid rebate programme for frequent traders. Ideal for those who want to trade via mobile, web, or desktop with a clean interface.
IG: Best for experienced traders seeking wide product exposure. Offers one of the largest ranges of CFD products with powerful, customisable platforms and a rich library of market research, trading courses, and daily insights.
Plus500: Best for CFD-focused traders who prioritise fund security. Known for its strict client fund protection, low-cost structure, and beginner-friendly interface. Great for younger traders and those looking for fee transparency.
CMC Markets: Best for traders wanting advanced interfaces and strong research tools. Features a slick trading platform and detailed research content, including weekly economic updates and webinars. No minimum deposit required to open an account.
Saxo Markets: Best for high-volume and professional traders. With low trade fees and a rewarding rebate system, Saxo is suited for those trading large volumes across CFDs, options, and futures. Also offers conventional investment options like stocks and bonds.
OANDA: Best for beginners entering CFD and Forex trading. Beginner-friendly trading tools, automated strategy testing, and an extensive educational hub make this a great starting point for new CFD traders.
FOREX.com is built for people who trade often and want a platform that keeps up. If you’re trading more than just a couple of times a month, you’ll benefit from their tiered rebate programme, which rewards high-volume traders with lower costs the more they trade.
They’re known for tight spreads on major currency pairs (as low as 0.8 pips for EUR/USD on standard accounts), and while most CFD fees are competitive, stock CFDs come with higher costs, so if you’re planning to focus on those, it’s something to watch.
One feature worth highlighting is the Guaranteed Stop Loss Order (GSLO). It locks in your stop-loss price even in highly volatile markets. You pay a small fee for it, but in events like sudden flash crashes, it can literally save you thousands. For Singaporeans juggling work and side trading, that peace of mind is worth it.
They support MetaTrader 4, a solid choice for traders using automated strategies, and their mobile and web apps are reliable, perfect if you’re placing trades during your lunch break or while commuting.
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IG is a heavyweight in the CFD world. With over 17,000 markets, and a wide range of products including shares, indices, commodities, crypto, and even niche sectors like thematic investments, it's perfect if you want to go beyond just Forex.
The minimum spread for Forex starts at just 0.6 pips, and for CFD shares, they charge a commission starting from 0.10%, which is reasonable compared to industry averages.
IG’s real strength lies in its platform and insights. Their ProRealTime charting is robust, and there’s also IG Academy, offering structured lessons for growing your trading skills. If you're someone who enjoys reading deep market insights with your kopi or watching webinars on the way home from Raffles Place, you'll get a lot of value here.
Their Singapore office also provides local support, which adds confidence for traders who prefer help in the same timezone.
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Plus500 is regulated by MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore) and other major financial bodies globally, so your money is in safe hands. They’ve also got a strong reputation for transparency—no surprise fees, and everything is clearly stated upfront.
You won’t pay any commission with Plus500; instead, costs come through the spread. While the spreads aren’t the lowest in the market (e.g. around 0.8 – 1.2 pips on popular Forex pairs), the platform makes up for it with no deposit or withdrawal fees, no inactivity fee for the first three months, and a super clean interface.
If you’re new to trading, Plus500 is one of the least intimidating platforms to use. You can even open a demo account to practice without risking a single cent. And if you’re mostly using your phone, their mobile app is one of the highest-rated globally.
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CMC stands out for its Next Generation trading platform, which is incredibly rich in features. You get over 115 indicators, 70 chart patterns, and even pattern recognition tools that help spot trends for you—great for technical traders in Singapore looking to go beyond basic analysis.
They offer zero commissions on Forex and indices CFDs (cost is only through the spread), and share CFDs come with a competitive 0.10% commission (minimum varies by market). There’s also no minimum deposit, so you don’t need to commit large capital upfront.
CMC is also one of the few platforms offering regular market webinars, including Asia-Pacific-focused updates—useful if you want to stay in tune with what's happening closer to home, like the impact of MAS rate changes or regional trade movements.
A bonus: their client sentiment tool shows you how other traders are positioned on specific markets, which can give useful insight when making trades.
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Saxo is like the BMW of trading platforms—sleek, powerful, and packed with features for serious investors. If you're trading large volumes regularly, their fee structure rewards you: the more you trade, the lower your fees. For example, active traders can get Forex spreads as low as 0.4 pips, which is among the best in the market.
However, Saxo does have a high minimum deposit of S$3,000, so it’s better suited for professionals or serious hobbyists with more capital to work with. That said, you’re paying for quality: they offer access to over 40,000 instruments—including options, ETFs, futures, stocks, and even bonds—all from one account.
Their SaxoTraderGO and SaxoTraderPRO platforms are some of the most advanced in the industry, and perfect if you're combining trading with long-term investing. It’s like having a private bank-style toolkit at your fingertips.
Their Singapore branch also gives you access to local relationship managers, which is great if you're looking for professional support and portfolio-level advice.
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OANDA is the most beginner-friendly platform of the bunch. There’s no minimum deposit, and their intuitive interface makes learning the ropes far less overwhelming. They also allow trading in micro-lots (as small as 0.01 lots), so even if you’re just trying things out with S$100 or less, you can still trade responsibly.
One of the highlights is their “Algo Lab”—if you’re a tech-savvy beginner or developer, you can experiment with creating automated strategies without deep coding knowledge.
Their education centre is well-organised and includes everything from basic “what is a pip” guides to in-depth videos on strategy. OANDA also integrates seamlessly with TradingView, a charting platform that many Singaporean traders love for its social features and technical analysis tools.
On the fee side, OANDA doesn’t charge commissions, just spreads. Forex spreads start from around 0.6 pips, but they also offer premium accounts for lower spreads if you trade frequently or deposit more.
If you’re fresh out of university or starting a side hustle from your home in Bishan or Bedok, OANDA is a fuss-free place to get started without risking too much upfront.
Picking the right broker can save you a lot of money and stress. Here’s what to consider:
Make sure the broker is licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) or another top-tier regulator. This ensures your funds are held securely and the broker meets strict standards.
Look at spreads, commissions, overnight financing charges, and inactivity fees. A broker that seems cheap upfront might end up costing you more in the long run.
Some brokers only offer forex and shares, while others give you access to crypto, commodities, and more. Choose based on what you actually want to trade.
Looking to go beyond CFDs? Compare the best online brokerages in Singapore to find one that suits your broader investment goals.
Good platforms should be fast, intuitive, and stable. IG, Saxo, and CMC all have solid web and mobile apps. If you plan to trade on the go, test their mobile experience first.
Look for charting tools, news feeds, risk management features like stop-losses, and educational content. The more support you get, the better decisions you can make.
CFDs (Contracts-for-Difference) are a type of financial derivative that is traded on leverage. Depending on how much leverage is deployed, CFDs can generate large profits or losses relatively quickly, making them a high-risk, high-reward trading strategy.
Strictly speaking, CFDs should be considered trading, and not investing. If you're looking to invest, CFDs may not be right for you. But if you're comfortable with trading, and have enough experience to know what you're doing, CFDs could play a role in your overall portfolio approach.
But since we always believe in letting our readers judge for themselves, consider the following facts about CFDs.
CFDs are tricky - As many as 75% of retail investors lose money trading CFDs, even at some of the world’s leading brokers. This alone should alert you to the fact that CFDs are not like regular investment products, and require in-depth knowledge and a disciplined approach.
CFDs do not grant ownership - CFD, or Contract-for-Difference, is an agreement to receive (or pay) the difference in the price of an underlying asset between the opening and the closing of the contract. With CFDs, there is no direct ownership of the underlying asset, which means you will not be entitled to shareholder rights, such as dividends, or ownership stakes in a company.
CFDs can be highly leveraged - What makes CFDs so alluring is that they can be traded using extremely high leverage. This means you can make a lot of money in return but you can also take losses very quickly. Importantly, losses in leveraged trades can exceed the amount with which you first started investing, putting your account in the negative (which means owing your broker more money than you deposited).
CFDs are used for speculating - So what determines whether you make or lose money? So say, you short a CFD for Commodity A at 10x. The further the price of Commodity A falls (A.K.A a short position), the more money you make. If however, the price rises instead (A.K.A a long position), you’ll lose money. The higher it rises, the more money you lose.
On the other hand, if you open a long position instead, the opposite happens: you’ll make money if Commodity A’s price rises, and lose money if it falls.
So that begs the question: How do you know whether to open short or long? Answer: You won't know for sure, but careful study of the market and accurate use of technical indicators can improve your chances.
CFDs are highly complex and volatile trading products, especially when leverage is involved. However, this just means that traders wishing to trade CFDs should come armed with the necessary knowledge and experience.
A full guide on how to trade CFDs is beyond the scope of this blog, but there is a wealth of information, articles and guides out there to get you started.
One tip we can give is to ensure you build up basic skills, such as technical analysis, learning how to read economic calendars, and keeping up with market news and developments.
Be wary of claims of outrageous success and get-rich-quick schemes. Remember that CFDs can be rewarding, but success requires having a thorough understanding of how they work, so be prepared to do your homework.
Is CFD trading legal in Singapore?
Yes, CFD trading is legal in Singapore. It’s regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), which ensures that brokers operating here follow strict financial guidelines. However, only brokers with a Capital Markets Services (CMS) license can offer CFDs to retail investors. Always check that your broker is MAS-regulated before opening an account.
Which CFD broker is the best?
The best broker depends on your experience and trading goals. For example:
FOREX.com is best for active traders.
IG suits experienced traders wanting a wide product range.
OANDA is great for beginners.
Saxo Markets is ideal for high-volume or professional traders.
So, the “best” CFD broker really depends on your needs—whether you prioritize low fees, research tools, trading volume, or fund security.
Is CFD good for beginners?
It can be, but beginners should proceed with caution. CFDs are complex and carry a high risk of losing money due to leverage. If you're a beginner in Singapore, consider starting with brokers like OANDA or Plus500, which offer demo accounts, simple interfaces, and strong educational tools. Always start small, use stop-loss orders, and never risk more than you can afford to lose.