In short:The best stock trading apps for UK investors are Capital.com, IG, Spreadex and Freetrade to name a few. You will find it easy to open an account with these stock trading apps, and they have a good range of shares to trade with leverage via CFD or spread bet, with IG also offering share dealing and an ISA.
There are a number of metrics I have used to identify the best stock trading app including cost, number of stocks available, usability, features, and research. This should provide you with all the information you need to identify which is the best stock trading app for your needs.
Trading apps have taken investing mobile, allowing users to buy, sell, and hold stocks as well as check the performance of their portfolios all from a mobile phone or tablet.
Also consider: My guide to Automatic Investing Apps
Browse the top stock trading apps in October 2026
Capital.com is an excellent option for traders who want to speculate on share price movements via CFDs and spread bets rather than buying stocks outright. With over 4,000 global share CFDs available — covering the US, UK, Europe and Asia — there is no shortage of markets to trade.
Key Features:
- Over 4,000 share CFDs across global markets
- Commission-free trading (other fees apply)
- Mobile app rated 4.7/5 on both Google Play and the Apple App Store
- TradingView integration for advanced charting
- Price alerts, trailing stops and multi-chart toggling
- Tax-free spread betting on shares for UK traders (depending on individual circumstances)
- Demo account available
- Minimum deposit: £20
Who Should Use Capital.com?
Capital.com is ideal for traders who want to go long or short on shares without owning the underlying stock. The app is powerful yet intuitive, and the combination of commission-free trading (other fees apply), excellent education and a very low minimum deposit makes it accessible for traders at all levels.
The Capital.com mobile app is one of the highest-rated trading apps available, with an in-house design that is both user-friendly and feature-rich. Alerts and notifications are particularly well-implemented, and the security features — including two-step login and biometric authentication on iOS — are reassuring.
The key limitation is that this is a derivatives-only platform: there is no physical share dealing, ISAs, or fund investing available. If you want to buy and hold shares for the long term, this is not the right app. But for active traders who want to trade share price movements, it is hard to fault.
Pros
- 4,000+ global share CFDs
- Commission-free trading (other fees apply)
- Highly rated mobile app (4.7/5)
- TradingView integration
- Tax-free spread betting (depending on individual circumstances)
Cons
- No physical share dealing or ISAs
- Overnight fees on leveraged positions
- No ETFs or funds
Spread & Fees:
- Commission: Free (0%)
- Deposit / Withdrawal fees: Free
- Spread: A dynamic fee for executing your trade – the difference between the buy and sell price – reliant on underlying market conditions.
- Inactivity fee: None
- Minimum deposit: £20
- Leverage on shares: Up to 5:1 (retail)
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 65% 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.
I’ve explored IG Investments to provide you with an in-depth review. IG is the one broker on this page that covers both sides: you can buy shares outright through share dealing (commission from £3), a stocks and shares ISA or a SIPP, and you can also trade shares with leverage via spread bet or CFD across more than 16,000 markets.
Key Features:
- Wide range of investment products, including spread betting, and stockbroking
- Extensive product offerings: Forex, Indices, Shares, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Bonds, ETFs, Options, and more
- User-friendly web and mobile trading platforms
- 24/7 customer service
Who Should Use IG Investments?
IG caters to a broad audience, including moderately experienced traders and professionals. Here’s a breakdown:
- Moderately experienced traders: IG’s Smart Portfolio offers a straightforward option
- Active traders: Share Dealing account for hands-on investors
- New investors: Smart Portfolio serves as a robo-advisory option
- Forex traders: IG is well-known for forex trading
Final Thoughts:
IG Investments offers a versatile platform suitable for various investor profiles. It provides an array of products and competitive fees, making it a strong choice for those who want flexibility and accessibility in their investments. The platform’s educational resources and customer support further enhance its appeal. However, the fee structure can vary, so it’s essential to assess your investment goals and trading frequency when choosing IG Investments.
Pros:
- Multiple funding and withdrawal options
- Access to IG Academy courses
- Intuitive and customizable trading platforms
- Extensive market coverage
- No withdrawal or inactivity fees for Smart Portfolios
Cons:
- No copy trading or backtesting integration
- Not optimal for infrequent traders
- Higher forex and stock trading fees compared to some competitors
Fees:
IG’s fee structure varies by product:
- Smart Portfolio: Annual fees can be as low as 0.22%
- Share Dealing: Commission fees on US shares depend on trading frequency
- Custody fee: £24 per quarter (can be avoided with trading activity)
Products:
- Smart Portfolios: A fully managed, diversified investment option
- Share Dealing: Ideal for experienced investors creating their portfolios
- Stocks and Shares ISA: Access to both Smart Portfolios and Share Dealing in one ISA
- SIPP: Self-Invested Personal Pension
- Other leveraged products include spread betting and CFDs
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% 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.
Spreadex lets you trade shares with leverage via spread bet or CFD rather than buying them outright. Its specialism is UK shares, and in particular AIM and small-cap companies, which is the deepest UK small-cap coverage of any broker on this page. US shares, ETFs and IPOs are also on the list, within more than 10,000 markets overall.
The broker has been based in St Albans since 1999, is FCA-authorised (Spreadex Ltd, FRN 190941), holds client money at Barclays and provides FSCS protection up to £85,000.:
Key Features:
- UK and US shares as spread bets or CFDs, with a specialism in AIM and small-cap shares
- More than 10,000 markets including ETFs, IPOs and options
- Own web platform with iOS and Android apps
- TradingView integration and Autochartist
- No commission; no minimum deposit (card deposits from £5)
- UK-based support, 7:30am to 10pm on weekdays
Who Should Use Spreadex?
Spreadex suits traders who want leveraged exposure to AIM and small-cap UK shares, which is where its coverage is deepest. Pricing is easy to follow because there is no commission and the cost sits in the spread, with the FTSE 100 from 1 point.
Two limitations matter for an app-led trader. There is no standalone demo account, so practice trading runs through TradingView paper trading linked to a Spreadex account, and there is no MetaTrader 4 or 5. Education is limited compared with Capital.com and IG, which both run dedicated learning apps.
Pros:
- Deepest AIM and small-cap share coverage on this page
- No minimum deposit
- TradingView integration
- Client money at Barclays with FSCS protection to £85,000
- No commission
Cons:
- No standalone demo account (practice via TradingView paper trading)
- No MetaTrader 4 or 5
- Limited education
Spreadex Fees:
- Commission: None
- Minimum deposit: None (card deposits from £5)
- FTSE 100 spread: from 1 point
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 61% of retail investors 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.
What could be better on your stock trading journey than to start with a completely free share? That’s exactly what you get at Freetrade when you open and fund an account with at least £50.
The share you get will be valued between £10-£100 and by referring your friends to the app, you can obtain even more free shares.
What I like about trading stocks on the Freetrade app
If you are looking for volume of stocks to trade with then Freetrade won’t disappoint with over 6,000 US, UK, and European stocks to choose from. As with eToro, Freetrade has zero-commission trading, meaning you can buy and sell stocks without incurring any charges.
However, to access the full list of stocks, and invest using the Freetrade ISA, you will need to upgrade to Freetrade’s Standard Subscription Plan which comes in at £4.99 a month.
Freetrade also offers fractional shares which allow users to invest in US stocks for just £2.
Fees: Commission-free trading on all stocks, shares and ETFs
Minimum balance: £0
Products available: General Investing Account, S&S ISA, SIPP, Freetrade Plus
When you invest your capital is at risk, the value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than what you invest. *Other charges apply. Free share terms and conditions apply. The probability is weighted, so more expensive free shares will be rarer.
When exploring into the world of stock trading apps, I found XTB to stand out notably.
Known as the premier commodity and forex broker, XTB now offers more than just derivatives trading. With zero-commission investing on real stocks and ETFs (up to £100,000 per month) and a flexible stocks and shares ISA, it has broadened its appeal to cost-conscious investors.
The platform’s usability is enhanced by a proprietary trading system, xStation5 platform, enriched with robust tools and features tailored for traders of all levels.
One notable update is XTB’s expanded product range, now offering access to over 6,900 instruments, including 3,000+ stocks and 1,300 ETFs. This breadth ensures traders can access a wide array of markets. However, users should note that MetaTrader 4 is no longer available to UK clients, which may be a downside for those accustomed to this tool. Despite this, XTB’s in-house platform delivers competitive functionality, including fractional shares, an ETF investment plan, and comprehensive research tools like sentiment indicators and stock screeners. The broker further distinguishes itself with an exhaustive educational resource set that caters to all levels of traders, complete with one-on-one mentoring opportunities provided by industry stalwarts through dedicated account managers.
Considering its comprehensive offerings and accolades, including being named “Brokerage of the year” in 2024 by Invest Cuffs, XTB genuinely merits a closer look for anyone seeking a premium trading experience.
Fees: XTB is one of the most competitive brokers, offering zero commission on real stocks and ETFs (up to £100k/month).
Minimum balance: No minimum balance
Products available: Standard Account, Demo Account, and Professional Services Account
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 72% 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.
Pepperstone lets you trade shares with leverage via spread bet or CFD, alongside 60+ currency pairs, indices, commodities and ETFs, from more than 1,200 instruments. There is no minimum deposit and no inactivity or account fees.
Founded in Melbourne in 2010, the UK entity Pepperstone Ltd is FCA-authorised (FRN 684312).
Key Features:
- Share CFDs and spread bets within 1,200+ instruments
- MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader and TradingView, plus Pepperstone’s own web platform and app
- Standard account: EUR/USD from 0.6 pips, commission-free
- Razor account: raw spreads from 0.0 with commission of about £2.25 ($3.50) per side per lot
- No minimum deposit
- Free demo for 30 days
Who Should Use Pepperstone?
Pepperstone is the pick for traders who already run MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 or cTrader and want to trade share CFDs from the same charts. Five platforms is the widest choice on this page; Freetrade has no MT5 and Spreadex has no MetaTrader at all. Copy trading is not built in but runs through Signal Start, DupliTrade and MetaTrader Signals, and ForexBrokers.com rated Pepperstone best in class for copy trading for the ninth year in 2026.
The drawback for a new app trader is the demo, which lasts 30 days rather than the unlimited demos at Capital.com and IG. The instrument count of 1,200+ is also small next to the 4,000+ share CFDs at Capital.com.
Pros
- MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView all supported
- No minimum deposit
- No inactivity or account fees
- Razor account raw spreads from **0.0 pips**
Cons
- Demo account limited to 30 days
- 1,200+ instruments, fewer than Capital.com or IG
- No built-in copy trading tool
Spread & Fees:
- Commission: None on Standard; about £2.25 ($3.50) per side per lot on Razor
- EUR/USD: from 0.6 pips (Standard), from 0.0 pips (Razor, average 0.17)
- Minimum deposit: None
- Inactivity / account fees: None
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 72.9% 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.
eToro were the pioneer of copy trading and today they have one of the largest copy trading communities in the world.
The trading app is well-designed and easy to use, making share trading a breeze, even for a complete beginner. There are some comprehensive functions to assist users with their trading including push notifications, flexible search functions, and two-step authentication including biometric ID.
What I like about trading stocks on the eToro app
You can access over 3,000 stocks at eToro which should be ample for most retail investors. Given that the premise of trading is to hold stocks for a much shorter period of time, this can make a massive difference.
eToro also provides stop-loss orders which can be used to automatically close out losing trades at a price level that has been predetermined by the user.
eToro also provides access to fractional shares, allowing investors to access stocks they may not otherwise be able to afford.
Fees: $5 withdrawal fee, $10 inactivity fee, currency conversion fees
Minimum balance: £10
Products available: General Investment account
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 52% 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
How to decide which stock trading app is the best for you
To decide on the best trading app for you, you should first compare the different features on offer from each stock trading app, then choose one accordingly.
For example, if you’re still new to stock trading and wish to advance your knowledge of investing while you trade, it may be worth finding the best trading app that offers educational materials, or advanced trading tools designed to take some of the complexity out of trading and help you develop your own trading strategies.
Similarly, some stock trading apps offer access to a free demo account that lets you practise making trades with virtual money. This could be a good choice if you aren’t yet confident making your own investment decisions, and are concerned about putting your money in the market.
You should also keep an eye out for trading costs when choosing the best trading apps. Some brokers may charge a percentage-based fee or commission on every trade, while others may charge a fixed fee.
If you’re planning on trading large volumes of shares, it may be wise to choose a stock trading app with commission-free trading or fixed fees so these costs don’t eat into your potential profits.
Also, non-trading costs, such as platform fees or withdrawal fees, will vary between different brokers, so it’s worth taking these into consideration when choosing the best trading apps.
What is stock trading?
Stock trading is the act of purchasing a share in a company, then either waiting until that investment rises in value or relying on the income that it may provide.
A company usually issues stocks in an attempt to raise money to fund any planned projects, or simply to operate the business.
Trading takes place on the stock market, and there are many different markets you can trade on, such as the London Stock Exchange (LSE) or the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
Depending on the company, stocks tend to be highly liquid. However, even though they can be bought and sold relatively quickly, they are generally seen as long-term investments . This is because you typically have a greater chance of positive returns the longer you hold your stock – sometimes as long as 10 or 15 years.
The most common way to generate returns through stock trading is speculation. This is when you buy a stock for a certain price, wait for it to appreciate in value, and then sell it again for a profit.
Despite this, there is another way to generate returns from stock trading: dividend payments.
What are dividends?
Dividends are regular payments made by companies to investors as a reward for investing in that company.
A company’s dividend yield will depend on its general performance – if a business is performing well, it might distribute the profits in the form of dividends. That said, performance doesn’t automatically mean a company’s dividend yield will increase – the rate is determined by the company’s board of directors.
Dividend yields are typically expressed as a percentage of a company’s share price. For instance, if you purchased one share in Apple for $200, and its dividend yield was 2.5%, you would receive annual dividend payments of $5.
Dividends are often ideal for income investors. Rather than closely monitoring your investments and waiting for them to appreciate in value, you can instead invest in companies that pay dividends and rely on the payments over a longer period of time.
It’s important to remember that not all companies offer dividend payments; some will instead retain profits and reinvest them into the business.
Investing for growth vs investing for income
The two methods of investing described above are commonly referred to as investing for income, and investing for growth.
If you are targeting a regular income that you can either spend in your day-to-day life, or reinvest, then investing for an income might better suit you. Income stocks tend to be companies that are relatively stable and offer high dividend payments.
It’s worth noting that, while income stocks are typically more stable, they usually have lower growth potential.
As such, you should keep an eye out for companies that have high dividend yields, such as the “Dividend Aristocrats”, which are companies that have increased their dividend yield for at least 25 consecutive years.
Meanwhile, investing for growth involves purchasing stocks in companies that have the potential to increase in value. While they may not offer regular payments in the form of dividends, this growth potential could result in your investment rising in value significantly.
Growth stocks are typically companies that seem to be growing at a faster rate than the general market, and usually use the majority of their revenue to fund further expansion.
They tend to be newer companies with exciting and innovative products that are expected to drive growth in the future. However, since these companies are often less established, they typically come with more risk of losing value on your investment.
How are your investments taxed in the UK?
The levels of tax you will face on your investments depends on the type of income you receive, and where you hold your investments.
If you’ve invested through an ISA, you’ll typically be protected from Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax (CGT), and Dividend Tax. This is because an ISA acts as a “tax wrapper” that shields your investments.
If you aren’t holding your investments in an ISA, you will typically be required to pay CGT if you realise a profit from their sale. As of the 2026/27 tax year, CGT rates are:
- 18% for basic-rate taxpayers
- 24% for higher- and additional-rate taxpayers.
You are entitled to earn gains from the sale of your investments up to a certain value before you’re required to pay CGT. This is called the “annual exempt amount”, and as of the 2026/27 tax year, stands at £3,000.
You are entitled to earn gains from the sale of your investments up to a certain value before you’re required to pay CGT. This is called the “annual exempt amount”, and as of the 2022/23 tax year, stands at £12,300.
You should bear in mind that the CGT annual exempt amount will drop to £6,000 in the 2023/24 tax year, then again to £3,000 in 2024/25.
You’ll also pay tax on any dividends you earn through your non-ISA stocks. As of the 2022/23 tax year, Dividend Tax rates stand at:
- 8.75% for basic-rate taxpayers
- 33.75% for higher-rate taxpayers
- 39.35% for additional-rate taxpayers.
Much like the CGT annual exempt amount, you can also earn a certain amount of money from dividends before you’re subject to tax. This is called the Dividend Allowance, and as of the 2022/23 tax year, stands at £2,000.
Following the chancellor’s autumn statement, this allowance will drop to £1,000 in the 2023/24 tax year, then further to £500 in 2024/25.
The different ways you can invest in stocks
There are several different ways you can invest in stocks. Continue reading to discover the different ways you can conduct stock trading.
Direct investments
Direct investing is perhaps the most common way to trade stocks, in which you simply buy stocks directly from one of the many stock exchanges via a broker. You can then either hold onto your investment until it rises in value, or rely on its dividend payments if there are any.
Funds
Funds are a form of pooled investment that reinvest your capital into a selection of financial instruments.
They are typically overseen by fund managers, who tend to be experienced investors. These fund managers will typically aim to diversify the fund’s investments in order to reduce risk by investing in a range of different securities, such as:
- Stocks and shares
- Commodities
- Foreign currency
This means that, by investing in a fund, you’re gaining instant exposure to many stocks from a single investment.
The value of a fund is based on the performance of its constituent investments. If the fund’s investments perform well, the value of the fund – and so your units in it – will rise.
This allows you to purchase a stake in a fund and then sell it for a profit when the fund’s value rises, or hold onto it and rely on regular dividend payments.
There are several different types of fund available, including:
- Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
- Mutual funds
- Index-linked funds
Funds can either be passive or active. The investments held within active funds are regularly examined and monitored, and managers aim to outperform financial markets.
Meanwhile, passive funds take an “invest and hold” approach, and aim to match pace with an underlying index or benchmark.
Derivatives
You can also trade stocks in the form of derivatives. This is essentially when you “bet” on the performance of a particular security.
One of the most popular ways to trade derivatives is through spread betting. This is when you “stake” a certain amount of money for every point a company’s value rises or falls. You can take a long position, which predicts the value of a company will rise, or a short position, which predicts it will fall.
For example, say you staked £100 for every positive point of movement for Apple’s share price. If Apple’s share price increased by two points, you would earn £200 from your spread bet.
Of course, if Apple’s share price fell by two points in the above example, you would instead lose £200.
Another popular method of derivative trading is with “contracts for difference”, or CFDs. Trading CFDs is similar to spread betting, except that you will instead receive the difference in price from when you first opened your position to the close when you trade CFDs.
It’s vital to remember that trading CFDs and spread betting are both fairly complex. In fact, more than half of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Make sure you properly understand the risks involved with trading spread bets and CFDs before you try your hand at it.
The different types of investment accounts
There are different types of investment accounts that determine how much you can invest, and the amount of tax you’re liable to pay. Keep reading to discover the different types of investment accounts.
Stocks and Shares ISA
A Stocks and Shares ISA is a type of investment account that allows you to build a tax-efficient portfolio.
As well as stocks and shares, you can invest in a wide variety of different securities in a S&S ISA. This includes:
- Bonds
- Unit and investment trusts
- Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
- Index funds
Crucially, your investments in a Stocks and Shares ISA are typically protected from Income Tax, CGT, and Dividend Tax.
It’s important to remember that you are limited to the amount of money you can deposit in your ISA each year. As of the 2022/23 tax year, this ISA Allowance stands at £20,000.
This £20,000 allowance covers all types of ISA, too. For example, you could deposit £10,000 into your Stocks and Shares ISA, £4,000 into your Lifetime ISA, and £6,000 into your Cash ISA, meaning you would have used your entire ISA Allowance.
General Investment Account (GIA)
A General Investment Account (GIA) allows you to build a portfolio of investments with no deposit limit.
However, unlike ISAs, any investments made in a GIA will typically be subject to CGT if you realise profits exceeding the CGT annual exempt amount.
You may also face Dividend Tax if you earn money from dividends above the Dividend Allowance.
A GIA could be a good choice if you’ve used up your entire ISA Allowance and still want to make investments.
Which company is best to invest in?
Technically, there is no “best” company to invest in, as different companies will come with varying benefits and downsides to investing.
For instance, if your investment goals are to generate returns through growth, it may be worth investing in a newer company that reinvests its revenue to target rapid growth.
Meanwhile, if you’d rather invest for an income, you may want to keep an eye out for more stable companies with higher dividend yields.
How to decide which investment would best suit your portfolio
With so many different companies out there for you to invest in, it can sometimes be tricky to decide which would best suit your portfolio.
To find potential companies to invest in, it may be worth staying up to date with industry news. This way, you could be better placed to predict a company’s performance based on its actions.
There are also many stock tips and suggestions available that can give you an idea of some companies that are worth watching, such as our weekly share tip guides.
Best Stock Trading Apps in the UK FAQs
How do I start trading in the UK?
To start trading in the UK, you first need to open an account on a trading platform that is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. Then, you should decide which company you wish to invest in, and how you will do so. After this, simply input the number of shares, units, or contracts you want to purchase, and make the trade.
What is the best stock trading app in the UK?
The best stock trading app UK will depend on your individual needs and circumstances. For example, if you’re still new to investing, it may be worth using trading apps that have educational materials on offer.
Or, if you plan on trading in large volumes, you may want to choose a trading app with lower, or fixed, fees.
Please note:
The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.
CFDs are complex instruments and more than half of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Please make sure that you know these risks before you start trading and that you’re aware there’s a high chance of losing money rapidly on your investment.
