Best brokers
Best Copy Trading Platforms in the UK
Copy trading is one of the most sought-after tools by beginner traders who are looking to learn the strategies of professionals. It is a trading system where the user can interact with other experienced traders to learn from their strategies and methods of analysis, as well as mimic their trades.
Therefore, in this article, we will see which are the best brokers for copytrading, taking into account their regulation, number of traders or strategies, and costs.
What are the Best Copy Trading Platforms?
Below, are listed 5 of the best brokers for copytrading, according to their regulation, number of popular investors, and commissions for the trader.
- eToro
- Trading 212
- Darwinex
- MQL5 Signals (metatrader)
- Pepperstone
eToro
Starting with eToro, it's important to highlight that its CopyTrader tool, which allows clients to copy the trades of other investors, is its most notable feature, although it comes with a high cost.
It has more than 2,500 traders, called popular investors, where you can choose the ones that interest you the most. Additionally, it has a demo so you can try the tool before moving to the real environment. With this CopyTrader tool, you can follow other investors in real-time.
All of this has contributed to eToro becoming one of the trading platforms with the largest number of active users, currently boasting over 35 million users with active accounts, trading more than 7,000 products.
👉 For more information on this broker, read our eToro review.
Some of it's features include:
- Regulation: FCA (United Kingdom)
- Financial assets: Offers more than 7,000 financial assets for copy trading and investment, including stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies
- Number of popular investors: Thousands of popular Investors.
- Commissions for the trader: These are the broker's own commissions, namely:
- Stocks: $1 per trade
- Australian and Hong Kong stocks: $2 per trade
- ETFs: No commissions
- Cryptocurrencies: 1% of the trade
| Pros of eToro Copy Trading | Cons of eToro Copy Trading | ||
| ✅ Large number of popular investors to copy, more than 2,500. | ❌ The cost of copying the most prominent investors has a high price. | ||
| ✅ Easy-to-use platform and offers the possibility to start with a demo account with 100,000 USD of virtual balance. | ❌ Customer service is not always easy. | ||
| ✅ In addition to copy trading, it also features the Smart Portfolios function, which allows investing in preconfigured portfolios. | ❌The withdrawal fees are $5. | ||
| ✅ Regulated broker, providing security to its investors. |
| Pros of eToro Copy Trading | Cons of eToro Copy Trading |
| ✅ Large number of popular investors to copy, more than 2,500. | ❌ The cost of copying the most prominent investors has a high price. |
| ✅ Easy-to-use platform and offers the possibility to start with a demo account with 100,000 USD of virtual balance. | ❌ Customer service is not always easy. |
| ✅ In addition to copy trading, it also features the Smart Portfolios function, which allows investing in preconfigured portfolios. | ❌The withdrawal fees are $5. |
| ✅ Regulated broker, providing security to its investors. |
- Equities, ETFs, crypto both real and derivatives
- Social trading e copy trading
- User-friendly platform and demo account
61% of investor accounts lose money by trading CFDs with this provider.
Trading 212
Trading 212 offers a strong copy trading feature that lets users copy successful traders and their strategies. While the platform doesn’t charge fees for copying, it’s important to note that some premium accounts may incur trading costs.
With more than 2,500 traders to choose from, users can pick the ones that align with their investment goals. Trading 212 also offers a demo account, allowing you to explore copy trading without risking real money at first. This makes it accessible for both beginners and experienced traders looking for a hands-off approach.
👉 For more information on this broker, read our Trading 212 review.
Key Features of Trading 212 Copy Trading:
- Regulation: FCA (United Kingdom)
- Financial Assets: Offers stocks, ETFs, and commodities for copy trading
- Number of Popular Investors: Over 2,500 active traders to copy
- Commissions for Traders: No commissions on stocks and ETFs; spreads apply
| Pros of Trading 212 Copy Trading: | Cons of Trading 212 Copy Trading: | ||
| ✅ Large pool of traders to copy, with over 2,500 investors. | ❌ Limited assets for copy trading compared to some other platforms. | ||
| ✅ No fees for copying other investors, making it cost-effective | ❌ Premium accounts may incur trading fees. | ||
| ✅ Easy-to-use platform with an intuitive interface. | ❌ Not as extensive a social trading community as other brokers. | ||
| ✅ Offers a demo account to try before committing. |
| Pros of Trading 212 Copy Trading: | Cons of Trading 212 Copy Trading: |
| ✅ Large pool of traders to copy, with over 2,500 investors. | ❌ Limited assets for copy trading compared to some other platforms. |
| ✅ No fees for copying other investors, making it cost-effective | ❌ Premium accounts may incur trading fees. |
| ✅ Easy-to-use platform with an intuitive interface. | ❌ Not as extensive a social trading community as other brokers. |
| ✅ Offers a demo account to try before committing. |
Overall, Trading 212’s copy trading tool is a solid option, especially for beginners who are looking for a user-friendly platform with no additional copy trading fees.
Darwinex
Darwinex is another broker that stands out for its copytrading tool. In general terms, the broker is regulated by the CNMV (for EU countries), and has more than 1,500 assets for trading, where derivatives and FX trading products essentially stand out.
It has its own capital allocation program called DarwinIA that uses the most innovative algorithmic trading where participants can compete and compare performance indicators. In this program, a seed capital is allocated to the best backtested strategies selected through the DarwinIA robot, and the trader can take up to 15% of the profits achieved.
Overall, each month they allocate capital to 150 strategies, for 6 months with up to 10 million euros.
- Regulation: FCA (United Kingdom)
- Financial assets: 1,500 investment products between forex and derivatives.
- Number of popular investors: Darwinex uses a model based on DARWINs, which are essentially trading strategies transformed into tradable assets. There are hundreds of DARWINs available on the platform where each represents a different trader's strategy.
- Commissions for the trader:
- Operations: Spread
- Benefits for traders: On their website, we can find that they charge a 15% success fee on the profits obtained.
| Pros of Darwinex Copy Trading | Cons of Darwinex Copy Trading | ||
| ✅ Boosts and rewards the best strategies by up to 15%. | ❌ Minimum deposit of 500 dollars. | ||
| ✅ The costs for copytrading are quite competitive. | ❌ It can be complex to understand at first. | ||
| ✅ Innovation in social investment: Offers a unique proposal that allows traders to list their strategies as tradable assets. | |||
| ✅ Advanced copy trading services compared to other brokers. |
| Pros of Darwinex Copy Trading | Cons of Darwinex Copy Trading |
| ✅ Boosts and rewards the best strategies by up to 15%. | ❌ Minimum deposit of 500 dollars. |
| ✅ The costs for copytrading are quite competitive. | ❌ It can be complex to understand at first. |
| ✅ Innovation in social investment: Offers a unique proposal that allows traders to list their strategies as tradable assets. | |
| ✅ Advanced copy trading services compared to other brokers. |
MQL5 Signals
Is MQL5 a good copy trading platform?
MQL5 Signals is one of the most recognised copy trading platforms in the financial market, specifically designed to integrate with the MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms. This functionality allows traders to automatically copy strategies from other traders, directly connecting their trading accounts with thousands of available signals.
One of the standout features of this platform, developed for MetaTrader, is its vast trading community. With over 7 million unique monthly visitors, users can connect based on their investment profiles and experience levels through forums and communities, where they can collaborate and help each other resolve doubts.
With MQL5 Signals, you can copy the strategies of successful investors, replicate their indicators and bots, and benefit from their expertise in programming areas like backtesting.
Let's now look at its main features:
- Global popularity: With thousands of signals available in its database, it is one of the largest copy trading communities worldwide.
- Financial assets: Allows copying strategies of tens of thousands of financial instruments.
- Direct integration: It integrates natively with MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5
- Subscription cost: Signals can be free or paid, with prices ranging between 20 and 100 USD per month, depending on the signal provider.
| Pros of MQL5 Signals Copy Trading | Cons of MQL5 Signals Copy Trading | ||
| ✅ Community: Thousands of strategies are available to be copied. | ❌ Additional costs: In addition to broker commissions, some traders charge a monthly subscription between 20 USD and 100 USD. | ||
| ✅ Detailed statistics of each strategy are offered, including drawdown, profitability ratios, and number of open trades. | ❌ Lack of specific regulation: Since Metatrader is not a broker, MetaQuotes does not regulate signal providers. However, the charting tool is one of the most powerful and established in the world. | ||
| ✅ Seamless integration with MetaTrader: MT4 and MT5 users can activate signals in a few clicks without leaving the platform. | |||
| ✅ Options for all budgets: From free signals to premium strategies. |
| Pros of MQL5 Signals Copy Trading | Cons of MQL5 Signals Copy Trading |
| ✅ Community: Thousands of strategies are available to be copied. | ❌ Additional costs: In addition to broker commissions, some traders charge a monthly subscription between 20 USD and 100 USD. |
| ✅ Detailed statistics of each strategy are offered, including drawdown, profitability ratios, and number of open trades. | ❌ Lack of specific regulation: Since Metatrader is not a broker, MetaQuotes does not regulate signal providers. However, the charting tool is one of the most powerful and established in the world. |
| ✅ Seamless integration with MetaTrader: MT4 and MT5 users can activate signals in a few clicks without leaving the platform. | |
| ✅ Options for all budgets: From free signals to premium strategies. |
Pepperstone
Pepperstone is an Australian-based online Forex and derivatives broker that offers a variety of copy trading services through integrations like Pepperstone Copy Trader (Pelican Exchange), Signal Start (Myfxbook AutoTrade),DupliTrade, and cTrader Copy.
In this way, the Australian broker allows trading in 1,200 financial products across various asset classes, including forex, commodities, indices, cryptocurrencies, shares, and ETFs - with very competitive spreads, starting from 0.0 pips on certain major forex pairs.
Thanks to its integration with leading third-party platforms, users can copy hundreds of experienced traders based on strategy, asset focus, and performance history. This, combined with a tight cost structure and fast execution speeds, has helped Pepperstone become a globally recognised broker with clients in over 160 countries.
👉 For more information on this broker, read our Pepperstone review.
- Regulation: FCA (United Kingdom), ASIC (Australia), CySec (Cyprus)
- Financial assets: Offers trading in over 1,200 tradable instruments across multiple asset classes—Forex, commodities, indices, cryptocurrencies, shares, ETFs, and more
- Number of popular investors: Around 100
- Commissions for the trader: Spreads from 0.0 pips (Razor account); commission ~£4.50 round-trip per lot; no extra Pepperstone fee for copy trading, though some signal providers may charge subscription or performance-based fees.
| Pros of Pepperstone Copy Trading | Cons of Pepperstone Copy Trading | ||
| ✅ Pepperstone supports several top-tier platforms, including cTrader Copy, MetaTrader Signals (MQL5), DupliTrade, and Pelican, offering flexibility and choice for different trading styles and experience levels. | ❌ Unlike eToro, Pepperstone doesn’t offer a proprietary copy trading system. All copy trading is done through third-party integrations, which may require separate sign-ups or platforms. | ||
| ✅ Pepperstone remains cost-effective even when copying high-volume traders, with spreads from 0.0 pips. | ❌ New users may find it slightly less beginner-friendly, especially when using external platforms like MetaTrader or cTrader Copy for the first time. | ||
| ✅ Pepperstone itself does not charge extra fees for using copy trading services. |
| Pros of Pepperstone Copy Trading | Cons of Pepperstone Copy Trading |
| ✅ Pepperstone supports several top-tier platforms, including cTrader Copy, MetaTrader Signals (MQL5), DupliTrade, and Pelican, offering flexibility and choice for different trading styles and experience levels. | ❌ Unlike eToro, Pepperstone doesn’t offer a proprietary copy trading system. All copy trading is done through third-party integrations, which may require separate sign-ups or platforms. |
| ✅ Pepperstone remains cost-effective even when copying high-volume traders, with spreads from 0.0 pips. | ❌ New users may find it slightly less beginner-friendly, especially when using external platforms like MetaTrader or cTrader Copy for the first time. |
| ✅ Pepperstone itself does not charge extra fees for using copy trading services. |
Pros and Cons
Before deciding to engage in copy trading, it’s important to consider both the benefits and potential drawbacks. Below is a table summarising the pros and cons of copy trading:
| Pros | Cons | ||
| Access to Expertise: Allows beginners to copy successful traders, gaining insights from their expertise. | Lack of Control: You're essentially putting trust in another trader's strategy, which could backfire if their strategy fails. | ||
| Time-Saving: Copying eliminates the need for research, strategy development, or monitoring the markets constantly. | Costs Involved: Many platforms charge fees or take commissions on profits, which can eat into returns. | ||
| Learning Opportunity: Offers the chance to observe and learn from more experienced traders. | Risk of Over-Reliance: Over-reliance on others’ strategies can limit your own trading skills and understanding. | ||
| Diversification: You can copy multiple traders with different strategies to diversify your risk. | Platform Fees: Some platforms charge extra fees for copy trading features, which can add to the cost. | ||
| Low Entry Barriers: You don’t need to be a financial expert to start trading or investing. | |||
| Transparency: Most platforms show trader performance and allow you to choose based on their risk profile and results. | |||
| Automation: Once you set up your copy trading, it works automatically, reducing the need for constant monitoring. |
| Pros | Cons |
| Access to Expertise: Allows beginners to copy successful traders, gaining insights from their expertise. | Lack of Control: You're essentially putting trust in another trader's strategy, which could backfire if their strategy fails. |
| Time-Saving: Copying eliminates the need for research, strategy development, or monitoring the markets constantly. | Costs Involved: Many platforms charge fees or take commissions on profits, which can eat into returns. |
| Learning Opportunity: Offers the chance to observe and learn from more experienced traders. | Risk of Over-Reliance: Over-reliance on others’ strategies can limit your own trading skills and understanding. |
| Diversification: You can copy multiple traders with different strategies to diversify your risk. | Platform Fees: Some platforms charge extra fees for copy trading features, which can add to the cost. |
| Low Entry Barriers: You don’t need to be a financial expert to start trading or investing. | |
| Transparency: Most platforms show trader performance and allow you to choose based on their risk profile and results. | |
| Automation: Once you set up your copy trading, it works automatically, reducing the need for constant monitoring. |
FAQs
What is copy trading?
Copy trading is an automated trading tool that allows you to follow the trading strategies of the most successful traders and copy their transactions. Copytrading has become a very popular way to invest in the financial market.
It is an incredibly useful tool for beginner traders or those who decide to delegate the management of their investments. By copying the strategies of successful traders, beginner traders do not have to spend hours and hours studying and trying to understand the financial markets. Instead, they can log into a copytrading platform and see how professional traders operate in the markets.
This allows them to learn how trading is done without having to go through the process of learning by themselves.
Is copy trading good for beginners?
Copy trading could be good for beginners if approached correctly. It allows you to learn and watch how experienced traders operate and since trade are automatically copied, beginners don't need to know technical analysis or spend hours watching the markets. However, beginners should also be aware of picking the wrong trader, or relying too much on them which could prevent you from learning how to potentially trade independently.
Is copy trading profitable?
Copy trading can be profitable, but its success largely depends on various factors, such as the chosen trader to copy, market conditions, and the investor’s risk tolerance. While copying successful traders can yield positive returns, it does not guarantee profits as the financial markets are inherently volatile and unpredictable.
As with any investment strategy, it is important to approach copy trading with realistic expectations and careful management of risk.
Is copy trading legal?
Copy trading is generally legal in most countries, provided that the platform offering the service is properly regulated and complies with local financial regulations. For example, platforms like eToro and Trading 212 are regulated by financial authorities such as the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).
However, the legality may vary depending on the jurisdiction, and it is important for investors to ensure that the platform they use operates within the laws of their country.
Copy trading or social trading?
Copy trading - automatically copy the trades of another trader in real time, allocate a set amount of money and let the system handle the rest.
Social trading - a community based environment where traders can share ideas, strategies and market insights. You can see what tither traders are doing and decide whether to manually copy, follow or engage with them.
Are there risks with copy trading?
Copy trading can be convenient, but like all investing, it comes with real risks — especially if you're not careful. For example; be aware of losing money, blind trusting trades and over-relying on passive trading. Make sure to research traders thoroughly, start small and make sure to monitor performance over time to be prepared.
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