To choose the best app for different categories, we evaluated all the share-trading platforms we’ve reviewed on our site against a range of metrics, and then selected platforms offering stand-out features for specific needs from among high-scoring partners. Keep in mind that our best picks may not always be the best for you – it’s important to compare for yourself to find one that works for you. Read our full methodology here to find out more.
There are a lot of different trading apps available if you plan to start share trading – We’ve rounded up the UK’s leading stock trading apps for you to help you find the one that suits your profile best. If you’re in a bit of a hurry you can jump straight to the bottom where we’ve summarised the best trading apps. We’ve also covered how to choose one. (We’ve also updated this page to reflect the best apps available in 2021).
Fineco is a newbie for UK traders, but it’s actually one of Europe’s largest banks, founded in Italy back in 1999. Fineco is an all-rounder that lets you trade futures, stocks, currencies, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), options and funds. It has an advanced platform on offer with great charting tools and notifications, and for the beginners it’s got free webinars, live events and videos to teach you all about share trading.
eToro is a share trading platform that lets you buy and sell a huge range of different types of financial product, including stocks, shares and cryptocurrencies. It has shares from the world’s biggest exchanges and charges nothing in commission. It’s free to create an account, and there’s no limit on how much you can trade.
Hargreaves Lansdown is another all rounder, with an ISA, SIPP and junior accounts all on offer. It’s more expensive than some providers, especially if you don’t trade often, but in return you get a whole lot of information and guides that can help you make trading decisions. The Hargreaves app lets you handle the trading according to your expertise: you can get a pre-selected portfolio, get some suggestions from them or simply do your own thing. Beginners can make the most of the education offered by Hargreaves Lansdown.
A wide range of available products, including ISA and SIPP.
No platform fee.
Easy to use and makes a vast knowledge base available to users.
You can trade on your smartphone with its mobile app.
Cheaper if you trade more.
Not the cheapest option around, especially if you’re trading small amounts.
No demo account available.
Fees can be quite high for ETFs.
Price per trade
£11.95
Frequent trader rate
£5.95
Annual custody fee
0.45%
Bonds fee
£11.95
ETFs fee
£11.95
Investment trusts fee
£11.95
Phone dealing fee
£20 - £50
Hargreaves Lansdown trading account
Capital at risk, investments may fall
Low cost share dealing
Free live share prices online or through the HL app
Wide investment choice, including overseas dealing
Set stop loss and limit orders up to 90 days in advance
Interactive charts and tools for research purposes
With a tagline like “Learn. Trade. Invest”, you expect Trading 212 to have all the resources you need to learn all about trading and how it works. It definitely delivers on the educational front. Trading 212 is quite new to the scene. It has a huge wealth of information on trading in the “learn” tab on its website, where you can find videos, guides and an alphabetical index to find out everything you ever wanted to know about share trading. On top of this, it has a great demo feature. This lets you trade with £50,000 in virtual funds to see more about how the platform works and how share trading works as a whole. Once you’re ready to get started for real, you just hit “Real Money”
Free to use – there aren’t any fees for trading with Trading 212.
Can be used in the web browser and on a mobile app.
Practise mode allows you to give it a go without putting down any money.
Loads of educational tools and guides to teach you more about trading.
No personal pension, lifetime ISA or junior ISA.
The tutorial for demo mode isn’t comprehensive, you do need to have a little play around to work it out.
interactive investor offers nine different accounts including ISAs, pensions and junior accounts to help you manage your investments all in one place with one flat fee. You can invest in shares, funds, investment trusts, exchange traded funds (ETFs), venture capital trusts (VCTs) and bonds and gilts. You can access its award winning platform on a mobile app or with its web app.
A wide range of available products, including ISA and SIPP.
Many funds you can choose among.
You’re given the platform fee back.
You can trade on your smartphone with its mobile app.
Cheaper if you trade more.
Not the cheapest option around, especially if you’re trading small amounts.
Price per trade
£7.99 (with one free trade per month)
Frequent trader rate
N/A
Annual custody fee
£119.88 (£9.99 monthly)
Bonds fee
£40.00
ETFs fee
£7.99
Investment trusts fee
£7.99
Phone dealing fee
£49.00
interactive investor
Capital at risk, investments may fall
Over 40,000 UK and global stocks to choose from
Reduce FX costs by managing money in 9 currencies
One free trade per month
Start investing today for a flat fee £9.99 a month
IG is an all rounder in this department - it’s got an ISA, a pension and general investment account and offers ready made portfolios, individual shares, contracts for difference (CFDs) and spread betting. This makes it suitable for everyone, from beginners all the way to experienced investors. Its platform goes into a lot of depth and with so many options it can be a bit overwhelming for beginners, but it has some great learning resources that are free to access.
Suits beginner and experienced investors
Low fees
Mobile app lets you manage your investments on the go
Fidelity offers your typical stocks and shares ISA and self invested personal pension (SIPP) as well as junior products, including a junior SIPP, if you’re organised enough to pay into your child’s pension. Fidelity’s platform is clear and easy to use, with everything laid out well. It’s got a nice “step by step” approach, instead of just throwing you in at the deep end. If you’re a bit new to the investing game, then it gives you loads of options to invest based on your risk profile and your investment goals, these allow you to try it out without the depth of knowledge that experienced investors have.
Sometimes, a trading app is considered the best because…well, it’s a great app and has loads of features. A lot of the time, it’s down to you, and what features you’re looking for. You wouldn’t judge a goldfish on how well it can climb a tree, would you? There are loads of different things that you should consider when choosing the best trading app for you, such as:
Fees and charges. Some platforms charge a flat fee, while others charge based on how much you invest.
What you can trade. Such as shares, ETFs and funds.
How easy the platform is to use. Some platforms are designed for more experienced investors, so might be quite complicated and difficult to use.
Market research and tools. The tools available on the platform can be helpful in understanding your investments.
Demo account. If there’s a demo account available then you can give it a go without putting down any real money, this is a nice touch if you’re a newbie to investing.
Summary: Finder’s best trading apps and platforms in the UK 2021
All investing should be regarded as longer term. The value of your investments can go up and down, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. If you’re not sure which investments are right for you, please seek out a financial adviser. Capital at risk.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
All investing should be regarded as longer term. The value of your investments can go up and down, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. If you’re not sure which investments are right for you, please seek out a financial adviser. Capital at risk.
It’s difficult to say which trading app is best, as it depends on what exactly you are looking for. We’ve detailed above which apps we reckon are the best for specific things, such as ease of use and social trading.
Loads of banks are getting into the share trading market, from high street banks like Barclays and Lloyds to digital banks, like Revolut. You don’t have to limit your options to high street banks though, there are loads of different platforms available. Consider some different factors such as the fees and charges and the types of investing available to decide which platform is best for you.
It’s difficult to say stock investing app is the best. This depends on what you’re looking for – whether it’s one that’s good for beginners or experienced investors. Take a look at our factors above to consider when choosing which one is best for you.
Investments are risky, that’s how they have the potential returns that they do. There’s always a chance that your investments will lose value.
To protect your money in the case of your chosen platform going bust, you should ensure that you use a platform that’s covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Look out for whether it’s regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Investing in a coronavirus world
Finder published a paper in May 2020 on how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting retail investing, and how the industry is evolving. Our paper includes original research and predictions from experts including Holly Mackay, CEO of Boring Money, Matt Leibowitz, founder of Stake, Viktor Nebehaj, Freetrade co-founder and CMO, Tom Stevenson, investment director at Fidelity Personal Investing, and Danny Cox, head of communications at Hargreaves Lansdown.
Zoe is a writer for Finder specialising in investment and banking. Zoe has a BA in English literature and several years of experience in writing about all things personal finance. She has a particular love for spreadsheets, having also worked as a management accountant. In her spare time, you’ll find Zoe skating at her local ice rink.
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