Put simply, share CFDs allow you to trade with leverage, whereas the trading of physical shares requires payment of the full cost of those shares. By trading share CFDs, you are speculating on the price of the underlying asset, you are not taking ownership of it. The leverage you get with share CFDs will amplify both profits and losses. With physical shares you can only lose the amount you spent to acquire them. This is why buying physical shares is more of a long-term strategy, where you are looking to cash in years down the line, not in a week or two, as would be typical of trading share CFDs.