Looking for the top energy trading broker? Based on our hands-on analysis, we’ve identified 5 best options tailored to various trading needs. Practical tips from our experts are included.
*82% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Our team of experts has identified each broker’s strengths and weaknesses using FX Empire’s comprehensive methodology. Here’s how we test.
Now let’s go through the selected brokers.
Founded in 2002 in Poland, XTB is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE:XTB) and is licensed by Tier-1 regulators, the UK FCA, BaFin, CySEC, CMNV, and others. The feature-rich proprietary xStation 5 platform offers over 2,300 financial CFD instruments.
Energy Trading Features:
In addition to CFD instruments, XTB clients can opt for over 3,600 real shares. This is particularly useful for those who want to invest in energy-related stocks and trade the underlying energy market simultaneously. The xStation 5 web platform is feature-rich and comes with one-click trading, watchlists, price alerts, heatmaps, market sentiment, and scanners.
The market sentiment is particularly useful for identifying overbought and oversold markets, as it shows the positioning of XTB clients in different energy markets. The broker also offers its proprietary trading app, which is easy to use and includes breaking news and leading market research covering energy markets and global asset classes.
Our live fee test showed an average spread of 3 cents for WTI Crude Oil CFDs during the London and New York trading session, slightly higher than the 2-cent industry average. However, no commissions to pay make the account suitable for medium-term trading styles.
Established in 2005, FP Markets is a well-regulated broker, boasting oversight from ASIC, CySEC, and FSCA, along with an additional offshore entity. It offers traders a rich selection of over 850 instruments across a wide range of platforms with competitive prices.
Energy Trading Features:
FP Markets caters to energy market traders with an array of robust platforms, including the popular MT4, MT5, and cTrader, each packed with comprehensive features and superior charting tools. For those looking to expand into shares, FP Markets steps up with its Direct Market Access (DMA) platform, IRESS, which opens the door to an impressive range of over 10,000 share CFDs, with a strong emphasis on energy stocks.
Enhancing the trading experience, FP Markets integrates additional resources like Trading Central’s market insights and the powerful pattern-recognition capabilities of Autochartist. These tools equip traders on MT4 and MT5 with cutting-edge, real-time analysis and trading suggestions, particularly valuable for navigating the dynamic energy markets.
During our live fee test, I found the spread for WTI crude oil during the London and New York trading sessions averaged 0.04 pips, beating the industry average of 0.05 pips for a commission-free trading account.
Established in 2006, AvaTrade has a presence in over 150 countries and obtains stringent regulation by several global authorities like CySEC, ASIC, and Japan’s FSA. It offers traders an extensive suite of over 1,250+ commission-free instruments, including access to five key energy markets along with a diverse array of energy stocks.
Energy Trading Features:
Our hands-on evaluation of the Standard Account revealed that WTI crude oil spreads averaged just 0.03 pips during peak trading hours in London and New York. This outperforms the industry benchmark, where the average spread for commission-free accounts sits at 0.05 pips.
AvaTrade stands out for its robust selection of energy products, with CFDs on key commodities like crude oil, Brent oil, heating oil, gasoline, and natural gas. With the use of 1:10 leverage, traders have the flexibility to go long or short, magnifying their trading capacity to tenfold their initial deposit.
Beyond commodities, AvaTrade offers a diverse portfolio of energy stocks, including giants like Shell, BP, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, and more, all tradable without commission. Traders can utilize any of AvaTrade’s platforms, including the intuitive AvaWebTrader and the widely-acclaimed MT4 and MT5 platforms.
Launched in 2008, Plus500 is a well-known broker traded on the London Stock Exchange and overseen by authorities like the CySEC and ASIC. Its robust platform boasts a wide selection of over 2,800 CFDs, including newer options like energy and carbon credits, catering to a variety of trading interests.
Energy Trading Features:
Plus500 stands out for its exceptional variety of energy trading options. Beyond the usual instruments, traders can delve into niche markets like low sulfur gasoil and take positions on carbon emissions with the EUA futures contract. This suite of offerings is arguably one of the most comprehensive in the energy sector.
All of the energy CFDs, options, and stocks can be easily accessed from the Plus500 WebTrader and mobile app, which provide robust charting tools and customized watchlists. The trading ticket also offers a trader sentiment report, showing how many of Plus500s’ clients are long or short in a market. The mobile app has an inbuilt economic calendar that is useful for tracking energy reports.
When it comes to cost-effectiveness, Plus500 scores high marks. Our hands-on assessment revealed that the spread for WTI crude oil clocks in at just 0.04 pips during peak trading hours in London and New York, edging out the typical industry benchmark.
Established in 2007, eToro leads the pack with the largest social copy trading network globally, making it a prime choice for newcomers to the trading scene. Backed by regulatory heavyweights including the FCA, CySEC, ASIC, and FINRA, eToro not only ensures a secure trading environment but also enriches traders’ knowledge through its comprehensive eToro Academy.
Energy Trading Features:
eToro provides an extensive range of educational materials tailored for beginner traders. I found a diverse range of articles and video courses covering topics on investing, trading, cryptocurrency, and platform tutorials.
eToro’s platform is user-friendly, and the detailed tutorials available make it even easier for users to explore its full range of features. These guides are particularly helpful for mastering eToro’s signature copy trading services and for understanding how to invest in its curated Smart Portfolios.
For those just dipping their toes in the trading waters, eToro’s copy trading feature is a standout tool. It enables beginners to observe and replicate the moves of seasoned traders directly in their own accounts. This hands-on learning method not only helps to bolster a new trader’s confidence but also serves as a practical learning curve in developing a personal trading strategy.
Our live fee test showed the spread for WTI crude oil averaged 0.05 pips during the London and New York trading sessions. This aligns with the industry average of 0.05 pips for a commission-free trading account.
Here is a quick guide on how to choose a forex broker for energy trading.
When trading the energy market, it is crucial to use a regulated broker authorized and licensed by a government’s financial authority. Regulated brokers must adhere to strict rules in handling your money and executing your trades. A breach of these rules will result in fines and the loss of their license. Therefore, trading with a regulated broker is generally the safest option.
However, not all regulated brokers share the same standards. In our broker rating reviews, we classify regulators into three tiers:
Tier-1 regulators like the UK FCA, IIROC, CySEC, and ASIC must legally separate client funds from their own and offer negative balance protection to keep accounts from falling into deficit. These regulators also require brokers to join a compensation scheme, which protects client investments if the broker goes bankrupt. To confirm a broker’s regulatory adherence, review their legal terms and check with the relevant country’s regulatory register.
Find Best FCA-regulated brokers and Best ASIC-regulated brokers.
Tier-2 regulators like DFSA, FMA, and FSCA common in smaller or emerging markets, offer a fair level of investor protection with some enforcement of operational rules and client fund security. However, their oversight is not as strict as Tier-1 regulators. These regulators mandate brokers to meet certain financial standards and might require client fund segregation, though other protective measures such as negative balance protection may not be as stringent.
Tier-3 regulators like VFSC and Bahamas SCB found in jurisdictions with lax oversight, provide minimal investor protection with looser regulations on financial reporting and client fund handling. Their less rigorous framework can lead to weaker enforcement and a higher risk for traders. It’s essential for traders to thoroughly vet brokers regulated by these authorities.
Unregulated brokers operate without financial oversight, offering services without standard investor protections or adherence to financial regulations. Such brokers are not bound to segregate client funds or provide negative balance protection, exposing traders to the risk of losing more than their initial investments. In case of disputes or broker failure, clients have no regulatory body to turn to, facing greater risks without any compensatory mechanisms. Traders should exercise extreme caution, fully understand the risks, and weigh the benefits against the potential drawbacks of trading without regulatory safety measures.
Read more about Best regulated forex brokers.
Trading fees significantly influence your overall profitability. Here are several fees to consider when selecting a broker:
A broker’s trading fees must be transparent and clearly outlined on their website. If this information is not readily available, it could indicate the broker is concealing crucial details, and it’s advisable to avoid such entities.
A good quality broker will want you to know how fair their fees are and the protections they provide in protecting your capital.
Read more about Best lowest spread forex brokers and Best zero spread forex brokers.
From my experience, brokers commonly provide a range of one to seven different trading accounts. These account types can differ in the number of tradable instruments, minimum deposit requirements, and the availability of special products. However, the primary contrast between these accounts typically lies in their trading fees.
Trading accounts can generally be categorized into commission-free and commission-based accounts.
The selection of a trading account depends on the individual trader’s style. Novice traders may favor a commission-free account due to the costs being integrated into the spread, simplifying risk management decisions. Conversely, short-term traders might opt for a commission-based account to benefit from reduced spreads, enabling precise trade execution.
Learn more about Best ECN forex brokers and Best STP forex brokers.
Leverage is a powerful tool in forex and CFD trading that lets traders hold a large position with a relatively small capital outlay. For instance, with a leverage ratio of 1:30, you could steer a $3,000 position with just $100.
Regulators like the FCA in the UK, CySEC, ASIC, Japan’s FSA, and IIROC cap leverage for retail energy product trading at 1:10 for safer trading environments. However, some offshore and unregulated brokers might tempt you with leverage as high as 1:3000, which comes with a higher risk profile.
Remember, leverage amplifies both profits and losses based on the full value of the trade, not merely the margin. If your account lacks the necessary funds to sustain your position, a margin call may occur, and your trades could be closed automatically, potentially leading to significant losses. Be wary of brokers that offer extremely high leverage, as this can increase the risk of such events.
Explore Best forex brokers with high leverage.
A trading platform is your gateway to the global energy market, enabling you to observe real-time market data and execute trades. When choosing a platform, consider the following aspects:
Below I’m providing a list of some widely used trading platforms.
MetaTrader 4: The ‘go-to’ forex trading platform which has excellent charting capabilities, technical analysis tools, and automated trading features. Read more about best MT4 brokers.
MetaTrader 5: An updated version of MT4 with more indicators, timeframes, and markets. Read more about best MT5 brokers.
cTrader: A platform specifically designed for high-frequency traders and scalpers. Read more about best cTrader brokers.
TradingView: A browser-based social trading platform with advanced research tools and access to global markets. Read more about best TradingView brokers.
In-House Proprietary Software: Some brokers may invest in having their own proprietary trading software.
Check out our dedicated guide on Best forex trading platforms.
Trading commodities can be an exciting and diverse way to engage with the financial markets. Here are some ways you can trade commodities:
Explore Best commodities trading brokers.
Here are some things to avoid when selecting a forex broker for energy trading:
Unfortunately, the forex and CFD industry are rife with scams. Here are some guidelines to avoid them:
We employ a proprietary rating system to assess brokers, analyzing 250 data points across nine key categories, encompassing:
Here you can learn more about our review process.
For this guide, we delved into the variety of tradable instruments offered by the brokers to confirm they include a wide array of energy products for trading. Our evaluation also included an assessment of whether brokers facilitate the trading of energy commodities with the use of leverage.
To get a hands-on perspective, we opened live trading accounts to scrutinize the energy trading fees imposed by each broker, benchmarking them against the industry standard to gauge their competitiveness. Additionally, we conducted an in-depth review of the account types each broker offers, ensuring that trading in energy markets is a consistent feature across all available options.
The team of forex and CFD writers and editors at FX Empire is composed of trading industry professionals and seasoned financial journalists. Our writers have been published on leading financial websites such as Investopedia and Forbes. In addition, they all have extensive trading experience.
Dan Blystone began his career in the trading industry in 1998 on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Later Dan gained insight into the forex industry during his time as a Series 3 licenced futures and forex broker. He also traded at a couple of different prop trading firms in Chicago. Dan is well-equipped to recommend the best forex brokers due to his extensive experience and understanding of the brokerage industry.
Jitan Solanki is a professional trader, market analyst, and educator. He day trades major currency and index markets and focuses on swing trading US equities and commodities. A qualified Market Technician, Jitan also works with trader education and brokerage companies on various projects. These include market analysis, live trading events, and broker reviews. As an experienced trader and educator, Jitan brings all his qualities in action when reviewing and recommending brokers.
Having been a retail trader since 2013, Plamen has gained an in-depth understanding of the challenges that novice traders face today. His expertise is swing trading and day trading with a heavy emphasis on psychological and fundamental analysis. Plamen’s favourite trading instruments include FX majors and gold. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics and International Relations. Plamen's broad experience has equipped him with the expertise to recommend the best forex brokers.
In more than 15 years of trading in the financial markets, Vladimir dealt with a wide range of brokers and financial instruments. His career as a day-trader at a proprietary trading firm goes back to 2007. Later, Vladimir turned to longer time frames and became an independent trader and analyst managing his own portfolio. Using his experience, he helps traders find the best broker in his reviews.
Jitan Solanki is a professional trader, market analyst, and educator. He day trades major currency and index markets and focuses on swing trading US equities and commodities. A qualified Market Technician, Jitan also works with trader education and brokerage companies on various projects. These include market analysis, live trading events, and broker reviews. As an experienced trader and educator, Jitan brings all his qualities in action when reviewing and recommending brokers.
At FXEmpire, we strive to provide unbiased, thorough and accurate broker reviews by industry experts to help our users make smarter financial decisions.