Choosing the best trading platforms UK for your unique requirements is important and best not left to chance, however, the sheer volume of the best investment apps in the UK can often lead to a paralysis of choice. That’s why, here at Investing Reviews, we’ve done all the leg work for you, wading through all the information to select the best trading platforms in the UK to match your immediate needs as an investor.
Best UK trading platforms at a glance
eToro
- Best for low-cost trading
- Minimum deposit £10
- 0% commission trading stocks
68% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply. For more information, visit etoro.com/trading/fees
Freedom24 by Freedom Finance
- The unique opportunity to get stocks at their initial (IPO) price
- 0% commission in the first 30 days
- Easy to use platform
Capital at risk.
ActivTrades
- Over 1000 trading instruments
- Trading available on Desktop, Mobile, Tablet
- Multi-regulated broker, online since 2001
Spread betting and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 68% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread betting and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Capital.com
- Invest in over 1000+ most popular stocks
- Minimum deposit £20 (except wire transfer)
- 0% commission & tight spreads
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 78.79% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and/or CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Professional clients can lose more than they deposit. All trading involves risk.
Fineco Bank
- £500 in trading commissions – Trade with zero commissions up to a commission amount of £500
- Platform fee: £0
- Lowest cost per trade: £2.95
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 65.11% of retail investor accounts lose money due to CFD trading with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
IG Investments
Best online trading platform overall
- Lowest cost per trade: £3
- Platform fee: £24 quarterly
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
AvaTrade
- 0% commission fees
- Minimum deposit £100
- Zero deposit fees
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Interactive Investor
- Best for Investing in Funds
- Lowest cost per trade: £7.99
- Platform fee: £9.99 per month
Capital at risk.
HYCM – Henyep Markets
- Multi-regulated broker – FCA, CySEC, DFSA, CIMA
- Minimum deposit £100
- Free Demo Account – MT4 and MT5 platforms
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 73% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
AJ Bell Youinvest
- Lowest cost per trade: £4.95
- Platform fee: 0.25%
Remember that investments go up and down in value, and you could lose money as well as make it. How you’re taxed will depend on your circumstances, and the rules can change.
Hargreaves Lansdown
- Lowest cost per trade: £5
- Platform fee: £0
Capital at risk.
InvestEngine
- Suitable for both experienced investors and newcomers
- £25 Welcome Bonus when you invest £100 (T&Cs apply)
- A great investment app with themed portfolios
Capital at risk.
- Best UK trading platforms at a glance
- Best overall trading platform
- Best trading platform for beginners
- Best trading platform for tools and research
- Best trading platform for low cost trading
- Best trading platform for investing in funds
- Best trading platform for ease of use
- Best trading platform for frequent traders
- How I’ve chosen this list of best trading platforms in the UK
- Some common trading platform terminology explained
- Most asked questions about UK trading platforms
- Trading Platform FAQs
A trading platform is basically a neat bit of software that allows you to buy and sell stocks through an online broker. Trading platforms have opened up the world of trading to everyone in the UK and across the globe, regardless of wealth or knowledge.
So, if you’ve had your eye on AstraZeneca stock or would like a piece of the Tesla pie, then an online trading platform could be just the ticket. It’s surprisingly easy to start buying and selling stock online in the UK, less so to actually turn a profit doing it. However, the best trading platforms in the UK have a wealth of tools and features at your disposal to help you make a success of it and with fees that are a far cry from what a traditional broker would charge, more and more people, from beginners to seasoned traders, are turning to online trading platforms for their investment journey.
Best overall trading platform
IG Investments
IG is the biggest spread betting and CFD provider in the UK, offering access to 17,000 markets across the globe. With low rates and excellent tools and research, this easy to use trading platform easily swooped into our top spot.
IG come in as a very low-cost option for investors who are likely to make more than three trades per quarter. Whilst IG Investments caters to experienced investors, it’s not to be overlooked by novice investors with great learning resources in the IG Academy and a free demo account that provides scope for you to ‘try before you buy.’ IG also offer 24-hour support which is great for people who like to trade out of hours as well as great analytics tools and a thriving IG community.
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Pros
Caters for beginners and experienced traders |
Low cost |
Intuitive mobile app |
Dedicated account manager |
Cons
Inactivity fee |
Shorts are not listed |
Inexperienced traders may only be offered a ‘Limited Risk Account’ |
Account opening process is a bit lengthy |
What you pay at IG Investments very much depends on how often you trade. Frequent traders at IG can take advantage of zero platform and custody fees as well as reduced costs per trade.
Cost per Trade: | UK: £8 US: £10 EU: 0.1% (min €10) |
Frequent Trader: | UK: £3 US: £0 EU: 0.1% (min €10) |
Annual Custody Fee: | Up to £96 – Free if you make more than 3 trades per quarter |
Platform Fee: | £24 per quarter – Free if you make more than 3 trades per quarter |
ETFs Fee: | £3 |
Investment Trusts Fee: | £8 |
Phone Dealing Fee: | £40 |
IG offers the following accounts to choose from which include:
- General Investment Account
- ISA
- SIPP
- IG Demo Account
Investment options at IG include:
- Shares
- CFDs
- Funds
- Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)
- Investment Trusts
- Spread betting
Best trading platform for beginners
eToro
eToro is a great option for traders looking for low cost and unlimited trades.
eToro also a favorite amongst beginner traders and they have a massive range of financial products to choose from.
One of the features I really liked was the ability to take part in social trading and copy trading, a strategy which allows you to mirror the trading activities of successful traders.
This can provide invaluable guidance for beginner traders with less confidence, however eToro also has a massive incentive for experienced traders as their Popular Investor Program rewards successful traders for allowing others to copy their positions with monthly payments that can add up to significant amounts.
This means that regardless of whether you are a pro trader or a complete novice, eToro offer plenty of incentives and one of the most cost effective platforms.
eToro also offer their traders a Demo Account with $100,000 of virtual cash with which to build a virtual portfolio without risking any of your own money.
The technical analysis tools at eToro are also worth a mention with analyst recommendations and market sentiment indicators both available on the eToro and app and eToro web platform.
Pros
Low Cost |
Great Interface |
Copy trading capabilities |
Virtual Account |
Cons
Withdrawal fees |
High Forex fees |
Limited Education |
No SIPP or ISA available |
eToro offers both new and seasoned traders excellent value low cost trading.
Frequent Trader: | £0 |
Investment Trusts Fee: | £0 |
Phone Dealing Fee: | NA |
eToro offers just two accounts:
- Demo Account
- General Investment Account
Investment options at eToro include:
- CFDs*
- Forex
- Real Stocks
- EFTs
- Cryptocurrencies
*CFDs are complex instruments and 67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with eToro.
68% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply. For more information, visit etoro.com/trading/fees
Best trading platform for tools and research
Hargreaves Lansdown
Hargreaves Lansdown really look after beginners, offering varying levels of support including pre-selected portfolios, help with investment suggestions, or simply giving you the space to make your own selections. They also have a robust education section with plenty of free information to help you make informed decisions.
Hargreaves Lansdown have a really extensive range of funds, ETFs and shares, however, for investors with larger portfolios, their pricing structure could work out a bit more than the market average. One of the advantages at Hargreaves Lansdown is that you are able to access professional investment advice.
Pros
Great range of products |
No platform fee |
User friendly, fully functional mobile app |
Cons
Can work out expensive for larger pots |
Lack of demo account |
High fees for stocks and ETFs |
Like other providers Hargreaves Lansdown offer a significant drop in trading fees when you trade frequently. However, as you can see, they still come in significantly more expensive than IG.
Cost per Trade: | £11.95 |
Frequent Trader: | £5.95 |
Annual Custody Fee: | 0.45% |
Bonds Fee: | £11.95 |
ETFs Fee: | £11.95 |
Investment Trusts Fee: | £11.95 |
Platform Fee: | £0 |
Phone Dealing Fee: | £20 – £50 |
Hargreaves Lansdown offers the following accounts to choose from which include:
- Stocks and Shares ISA
- Fund and Share Account
- SIPP
- Lifetime ISA
- Active Savings
- Junior Stocks and Shares ISA
- Junior SIPP
- Junior Investment Account
Investment options at Hargreaves Lansdown include:
- Stocks
- ETFs
- Funds
- Bonds
Best trading platform for low cost trading
Freetrade
Freetrade is another provider that offers a commission free trading platform but one of the most attractive offerings here is that when you open a new account and deposit as little as £1, Freetrade will award you with a free stock worth up to £200. This is a great way for small investors to get their investment journey off the ground. What’s more, once you have your free share, there is ample opportunity to earn more free shares by recommending your friends and family to the Freetrade trading platform. At Freetrade there are no withdrawal and deposit fees and no inactivity fee. The general investment account is free of any charges, however you will pay £3 a month for the ISA which is a little steep for small investment pots.
What I liked about the Freetrade trading platform is its simplicity. It’s a perfect place for new investors to get to grips with the stock market. The mobile app is well designed and user friendly and provides access to over 1000 stocks and ETFs.
Pros
Zero commission fee |
Easy to use mobile app |
Free share on first deposit |
Start investing with just £1 |
Cons
Additional monthly account fees for ISA and SIPPs |
Only UK and US stocks |
Limited research |
Freetrade offers both new and seasoned traders excellent value with zero commission trading.
Cost per Trade: | £0 |
Frequent Trader: | £0 |
Annual Custody Fee: | £0 |
Bonds Fee: | £0 |
ETFs Fee: | £0 |
Investment Trusts Fee: | £0 |
Platform Fee: | £0 |
ISA Fee: | £3 per month |
Freetrade offer the following types of accounts:
- General Investing Account
- Stocks and Shares ISA
- SIPP
- Freetrade Plus
Investment options available at Freetrade include:
- Stocks & shares
- ETFs
Best trading platform for investing in funds
Interactive Investor
Interactive Investor really is a one stop shop for investors with different accounts to choose from within the one flat monthly fee. They have an extensive range of investment options for traders looking to build their own portfolio, however, for traders who are just getting started they also offer ‘Quick Start Funds’.
Interactive Investor have won awards for their intuitive and easy to use web based trading platform as well as for their ii mobile app. Traders can access watch lists and in-depth market research as well as take advantage of trading fees that can be as low as £3.99.
Pros
Wide range of available funds |
Several accounts to choose from |
One free trade per month |
Free regular investing |
Cons
Can work out expensive for small investment pots |
Interactive Investor offers free regular investing to their account holders, effectively removing all trading fees and allowing you to drip feed money into the stock market.
Cost per Trade: | £7.99 plus one free trade per month |
Frequent Trader: | £0 |
Annual Custody Fee: | £9.99 per month |
Bonds Fee: | £40.00 |
ETFs Fee: | £7.99 |
Investment Trusts Fee: | £7.99 |
Phone Dealing Fee: | £49.00 |
Platform Fee: | £9.99 per month |
Interactive Investor offer the following types of accounts:
- Stocks and Shares ISA
- Junior Cash ISA
- Junior Stocks and Share ISA
- Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP)
- Company account
- Cash savings
Investment options available at Interactive Investor include:
- Stocks and Shares
- ETFs (Share ETFs and Index ETFs)
- Investment Trusts
- Investment Funds
- Bonds and Gilts
- Venture Capital Trusts
Leveraged Trading options include:
- Spread Betting
- Contracts for Difference (CFDs)
- Options
- Commodities
- Forex Trading
Best trading platform for ease of use
AJ Bell Youinvest
AJ Bell have successfully streamlined online investing to make it as easy as possible for all walks of life. Their trading platform has a clean, easy to use interface as well as outstanding customer service to help you overcome any issues you might experience. There are over 70 active and passive funds to get you started and AJ Bell offer plenty of guides to help you along the way.
AJ Bell also dedicate a section of their site to people who are new to investing where they can help identify which account will suit your needs as well as provide you with useful bits of information to get you started.
Pros
Very quick to open an account |
Trading platform is easy to use |
Excellent customer service |
Cons
Limited investments on offer |
AJ Bell is a great option in terms of cost, especially for smaller pots who might benefit from the percentage fee.
Cost per Trade: | £9.95 |
Frequent Trader: | £4.95 |
Annual Custody Fee: | 0.25% |
Bonds Fee: | 0.25% |
ETFs Fee: | 0.25% |
Investment Trusts Fee: | 0.25% |
Phone Dealing Fee: | £29.95 |
Platform Fee: | 0.25% |
AJ Bell Youinvest offer the following types of accounts:
- SIPP
- Stocks and Shares ISA
- Dealing Account
- Junior Stocks and Shares ISA
- Junior Dealing Account
- Junior SIPP
Investment options available at AJ Bell Youinvest include:
- Funds
- Stocks and Shares
- ETFs
Best trading platform for frequent traders
Fineco Bank
Fineco Bank are a recent addition to the UK market and have entered the space with a highly competitive share dealing price of just £2.95 per trade. They offer a multicurrency account and plenty of options for buying shares outside of the UK where you can trade in local currencies. They have also picked up a number of awards at the London Forex Show including Best Trading Tools, Trading Platform, and All Round Provider in 2020.
Fineco Bank have a fully diverse offering of investments with a massive product portfolio and excellent trading tools. However, for less confident investors, they also offer fully managed portfolios and no minimum deposit which makes them a great option for both new and seasoned investors.
Pros
Excellent mobile app |
Low trading fees |
Easy access to international shares |
Cons
Deposits by bank transfer only |
No SIPP |
Account verification can be slow |
This is one of Fineco Bank’s strong suits, with highly competitive fees.
Cost per Trade: | £2.95 |
Frequent Trader: | NA |
Annual Custody Fee: | 0.25% MAX |
Bonds Fee: | £6.95 |
ETFs Fee: | £2.95 |
Investment Trusts Fee: | NA |
Phone Dealing Fee: | NA |
Platform Fee: | £0 |
Fineco Bank offer the following types of investing accounts:
- Stocks and Shares ISA
- Share Dealing Account
Investment options available at Fineco Bank include:
- Shares
- CFDs
- Funds
- ETFs
- Bonds
- Futures
- Options
- Forex
How I’ve chosen this list of best trading platforms in the UK
I have conducted hours of vigorous research in order to identify the trading platforms in the UK that I believe will best meet your needs as an investor. To clarify how I have gone about this process, here are some of the factors that I have taken into consideration:
Fees and Charges
Custody fee – This is the fee that you pay to the platform for taking care of and managing your investments. This fee is a major consideration as small costs can really start to erode your investment gains.
Cost per trade – This is the fee you will pay every time you buy or sell stocks and shares. Some platforms have zero trading fees which is great, however, you need to weigh up whether they are providing you with all the other features you require from a trading platform.
Frequent trader – some trading platforms UK will reward you for trading more frequently with a reduced fee. This is only relevant if you feel you would be trading more than a certain amount of times each month. Otherwise you will need to pay the cost per trade fee.
Investment trusts fee – Investment trusts allow you to pool your money together with other investors into a ‘trust’. The trust manager will then use these pooled assets to invest in shares and financial assets on your behalf. The charge for an investment trust is usually based on a percentage of the amount of money you put into the trust.
Ease of Use
Trading can be a complex endeavour and the design and usability of the platform you choose can have an impact on how efficient you are at managing your portfolio. I have therefore assessed each UK trading platform to identify which ones will allow you to make quick, accurate trades in an online environment that can help instill a sense of confidence.
Market Research and Education
This section is especially important for beginners who require high levels of research and education in order to help them learn trading and make profitable decisions regarding their investments. Webinars, blogs, videos, seminars and tracking options are all important educational tools to help beginners get up to speed.
Investment Choice
This will be especially important for experienced traders who are creating a highly diversified portfolio. Having a broad spectrum of global investment options including stocks, ETFs, index funds, trusts etc from various stock markets, is what seasoned investors have come to expect. Of course this can be overwhelming for novice investors who may prefer to invest in a pre-made portfolio or engage in copy trading.
Accounts on Offer
This is an important consideration in order to ensure you are being as efficient as possible with your investing. If you are between the ages of 18 and 40 and saving for your first home, then the most efficient account would be the Lifetime ISA as this attracts a government bonus of 20%. Remember that outside of the personal allowance, all income and returns from your investments are subject to tax at your usual rate. Therefore, you may want to consider a tax wrapper, such as an ISA. However, if you are already at the annual allowance for your ISA then a General Investment Account might be more attractive.
Safety
Here at Investing Reviews, we always ensure that the trading platforms UK we recommend meet minimum safety standards. This includes being authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority as well as adequate security and protection of data within the site or app. Some apps also utilise biometric identification and many of the providers listed above are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme which means your account balance is protected up to the sum of £85,000 should the provider go out of business.
Demo Account
If you would like to practice trading before you risk any of your money then you may be best to select a trading platform UK that provides its users with a demo account.
A demo account will give you a certain amount of ‘virtual money’ with which to trade on the stock market. These are useful tools to help you get to grips with the setup of the trading platform UK and to familiarise yourself with the various assets on offer.

Some common trading platform terminology explained
What is online stock trading?
Online stock trading is when you buy shares using an online trading platform UK, in the hope that you will then sell them at a higher price, thus turning a profit. Online stock trading has replaced more traditional stock brokers in the UK and around the globe, and often presents a more accessible and affordable way of stock trading.
What is an ETF (Exchange Traded Fund)?
An EFT is a collection of investments which can include stocks, commodities, bonds, and other investment assets which are all then traded on exchanges just like stocks.
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) provide a passive investment strategy that is often low in cost and can help diversify your portfolio.
What is a diversified portfolio?
A diversified portfolio contains a mix of stocks and bonds, from around the globe, in companies of various sizes and sectors. This is to ensure that if one sector, or country was to experience a sudden fall in value for any reason at all, the remainder of your portfolio would be robust enough to prevent you from experiencing a complete loss.
What is a stock broker?
A stock broker is a professional body that buys and sells shares on behalf of a client. In this case the trading platform UK is the stock broker and you are the client. It is impossible for anyone to buy or sell stock without first becoming a member of an exchange or belonging to a firm that is a member.
What is a stop-loss order?
A stop-loss order enables you to instruct your trading platform UK to buy or sell a specific stock, once that stock reaches a predetermined price. This can act to limit your potential loss on a security position. As an example, were you to buy shares in a company that are worth £10, and you were then to place a stop-loss order for £8, should the price of the shares fall below £8 your shares will then be sold automatically to prevent you from experiencing a further loss.
What are retail investor accounts?
Retail investor accounts belong to investors who are buying and selling stocks and shares for their own personal profit rather than on behalf of an organisation.
Most asked questions about UK trading platforms
What’s the best online trading platform for social trading UK?
eToro is one of the world’s leading platforms for social trading with a vast array of social features including copy trading which allows you to copy successful traders. There is also The Popular Investor program which encourages successful traders onto the platform by incentivising them with rewards of up to 2% of their assets under management.
How do you choose a share dealing platform in the UK?
Choosing the best share dealing platform for you is a very personal journey that will depend largely on your financial goals and aspirations. Are you saving for retirement? Then you will require a SIPP account. Perhaps you just want a tax efficient way to grow your wealth, in which case a Stocks and Shares ISA will be required. You will then need to ascertain whether the share dealing platform in question has a suitable range of investment options and compare the fees charged between the providers you are considering.
What trading platforms can I use in the UK?
There are a number of trading platforms available in the UK, however, identifying the best online trading platform UK for you should be aligned to your unique needs. Here at Investing Reviews, all our recommended platforms cater to UK customers, therefore it is simply a matter of selecting a platform that meets your needs from our list on this page.
How much starting capital do you need to start investing?
You can start investing with as little as £1 depending on the online trading platform you select, and their minimum investment amounts. However, we would caution you to be aware of the fees associated with the platform as these can soon eat away at your investment capital should you be starting with a small amount.
If you are new to investing and would like to try your hand without risking too much of your money, then we would recommend selecting online trading platforms with free demo accounts like eToro where you can use virtual money risk free.
Do I pay UK tax on share dealing?
Yes, any gains you make from share dealing on a trading platform UK are subject to capital gains tax at your normal rate, unless you are share dealing from within a tax wrapper, such as a Stocks and Shares ISA.
What should a beginner invest in?
Choosing your investments is a lengthy process that requires a lot of painstaking research. There are certain metrics that can help you identify great businesses that should be long term performers including price to earnings ratio, the price to earnings growth ratio and the payout ratio.
However, if you are looking for a quick way to get started and want to ensure that you are fully diversified in order to mitigate your exposure to risk, then you may be better off investing in a fund.
A fund is where lots of investors pool their money together in order to invest in plenty of different shares.
Fully managed funds are managed by professionals who will regularly make strategic adjustments in order to maximise returns. These are slightly more expensive than fixed allocation funds which are designed to perform with minimum human intervention.
Usually the best investment websites uk will have the historical returns of their funds listed on their website, and this is certainly worth checking before you select a fund with the correct level of risk for your circumstances.
Who has the cheapest online trading?
Trading 212, eToro and Freetrade all have the edge when it comes to cost effective share dealing, however, at the time of writing, Trading 212 have suspended all new UK accounts in order to catch up with unprecedented demand.
Freetrade have the same zero-commission trading, and also offer a free stock when you open a new account and deposit for the first time. The value of your free stock can be anywhere from £3 to £200 and this could possibly give them the edge when it comes to finding the cheapest online trading platform.
What do I need to open an account with an online trading platform in the UK?
Different trading apps in the UK will require different documents in order for you to open an account and start trading.
Most trading platforms in the UK will require the following:
- Full name
- Valid ID
- Email address
- Phone number
- National Insurance Number
- Bank account details.
Trading Platform FAQs
Which trading platform is best for beginners UK?
In my opinion, the best trading platform for beginners in the UK is eToro. They have a demo account to try without risking any of your own money, and they also have 0% commission on trading stocks, and a low first time deposit.
Which UK trading platform is best?
IG is the best trading platform in the UK and rates the highest for 24-hour customer support, with a large community of traders and a low cost per trade of just £3.