Which broker is better for United Kingdom traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
When choosing between EasyMarkets and Hantec Markets, United Kingdom traders must weigh FCA regulation, trading costs, and payment convenience. Both brokers are authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, offering strong client protection under UK rules. EasyMarkets (score 3.4/5) is known for its fixed spreads, deal cancellation feature, and user-friendly web platform—ideal for beginners or those who prefer predictable costs. Hantec Markets (score 3.6/5) appeals to more active traders with MetaTrader 4, competitive floating spreads, and a wider range of currency pairs. For UK traders, local payment methods like Faster Payments, PayPal, and Skrill are supported by both, making deposits and withdrawals straightforward in GBP. This comparison will help you decide which broker aligns with your trading style and regulatory expectations in the United Kingdom.
| Instrument | EasyMarkets | Hantec Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Hantec Markets |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Hantec Markets |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Hantec Markets |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Hantec Markets |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $25 | $10 | Hantec Markets |
United Kingdom traders should compare spread costs carefully. Hantec Markets offers floating spreads from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD, ideal for scalpers and high-volume traders using MT4. EasyMarkets uses fixed spreads (e.g., 1.2 pips on EUR/USD), providing certainty but higher costs over many trades. Commission structures differ: EasyMarkets typically includes spreads in the cost, while Hantec may charge a small commission on raw spreads for certain account types. For UK traders trading 10+ lots per month, Hantec's variable pricing can reduce costs significantly. However, EasyMarkets' fixed spreads protect against slippage during volatile news events.
| Account Type | EasyMarkets | Hantec Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✗ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $25 | $10 |
| Entity / Asset | EasyMarkets | Hantec Markets |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (offshore) | Up to 1:2000 | Up to 1:500 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:2000 | 1:500 |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 1:200 | 1:200 |
| Indices | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:2 to 1:10 | 1:2 to 1:10 |
| Asset Class | EasyMarkets | Hantec Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | EasyMarkets |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | EasyMarkets |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | ✗ | EasyMarkets |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | 1,700+ | Hantec Markets |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | EasyMarkets | Hantec Markets |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✗ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✗ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
EasyMarkets provides a proprietary web-based platform with an intuitive interface, deal cancellation, and guaranteed stop-loss—features valued by UK traders who prioritize simplicity. Hantec Markets offers MetaTrader 4, the industry standard for forex trading, with advanced charting, automated trading via Expert Advisors, and mobile apps. For UK traders, Hantec's MT4 is better suited for technical analysis and algorithmic strategies, while EasyMarkets' platform is more beginner-friendly with built-in risk management tools. Both are available on desktop and mobile, but Hantec gives you access to a broader ecosystem of indicators and plugins.
| Factor | EasyMarkets | Hantec Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Hantec Markets |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | EasyMarkets |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
EasyMarkets uses market execution with no requotes, but its fixed spreads can widen under extreme volatility. Hantec Markets offers ECN-style execution with floating spreads, typically providing faster fills at the quoted price. For UK traders trading major pairs during London hours, Hantec's execution is generally more reliable for scalping. Both brokers offer decent slippage control, but Hantec's MT4 platform has a slight edge in order execution speed.
| Safety Factor | EasyMarkets | Hantec Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | CySEC | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Both EasyMarkets and Hantec Markets are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom. This means UK traders benefit from FCA client money protection, negative balance protection, and access to the Financial Ombudsman Service for disputes. Leverage is capped at 30:1 for retail clients under FCA rules. EasyMarkets (FCA register number 246566) and Hantec Markets (FCA register number 540536) both comply with these standards. For United Kingdom traders, FCA regulation is a top priority, and both brokers meet that requirement fully.
| Payment Method | EasyMarkets | Hantec Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✗ | ✗ |
| Withdrawal time | Cards 1-2 business days; e-wallets instant-1 business day; bank wire 3-10 business days; overall back-office processing within 1 business day (24h) | Crypto / USDT: 1 to 3 hours (for eligible wallets)E-wallets: Within hours up to 1 dayBank / Wire Transfers: 2 to 5 business days |
United Kingdom traders can fund accounts using GBP-friendly methods. Both EasyMarkets and Hantec Markets support Bank Transfer, PayPal, Skrill, and Faster Payments—ensuring fast and low-cost deposits. EasyMarkets also accepts debit/credit cards and Neteller, while Hantec adds Visa and Mastercard options. With Faster Payments, deposits are usually instant and free of charge. Withdrawals are processed promptly: EasyMarkets processes within 24 hours (via same methods), and Hantec Markets typically takes 1-3 business days for bank wires. PayPal and Skrill withdrawals are faster—often same day for both brokers. Minimum deposits are £100 for EasyMarkets and £200 for Hantec. No deposit fees are charged by either broker, but bank transfer fees may apply from your UK bank.
| Islamic Account Feature | EasyMarkets | Hantec Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
Both brokers offer swap-free (Islamic) accounts for UK Muslim traders who wish to trade without interest charges. EasyMarkets provides Islamic accounts upon request, where no overnight rollover fees are applied, ensuring Sharia compliance. Hantec Markets also offers Islamic accounts on standard accounts, with swap-free conditions for all forex and CFD instruments. UK traders should confirm with customer support that the account is genuinely swap-free for all traded instruments, as some brokers apply restrictions on certain pairs. Both brokers are FCA-regulated, providing additional trust for UK Islamic traders.
| Support Feature | EasyMarkets | Hantec Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | EasyMarkets |
EasyMarkets offers 24/5 customer support via live chat, email, and phone, with UK-based agents available during business hours. Hantec Markets provides 24/5 support through live chat, phone, and email, with multilingual teams. For United Kingdom traders, both brokers offer responsive service in English. Hantec's chat is slightly faster based on user feedback, while EasyMarkets excels with personalised onboarding support.
| Mobile Feature | EasyMarkets | Hantec Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | EasyMarkets |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | EasyMarkets |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Resource | EasyMarkets | Hantec Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | Weekly | Monthly | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | EasyMarkets |
Choose EasyMarkets if you...
Choose Hantec Markets if you...
For United Kingdom traders, both EasyMarkets and Hantec Markets are solid FCA-regulated choices. Hantec Markets (score 3.6) slightly edges ahead with lower floating spreads, MT4 platform flexibility, and a broader product range—making it better for active traders. EasyMarkets (score 3.4) appeals to beginners and those who value fixed costs and unique risk tools like deal cancellation. Both support local payment methods like Bank Transfer, PayPal, Skrill, and Faster Payments, making GBP deposits easy. Ultimately, your decision hinges on trading style: choose EasyMarkets for simplicity and cost certainty, or Hantec for advanced tools and lower variable spreads. Whichever you pick, FCA oversight ensures your funds are protected.