Our best trading apps are all FCA-regulated and designed to be safe for UK investors, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced trader. We compare fees, features, account types (like stocks and shares ISAs or SIPPs), and user experience from over 30 apps. Below you’ll find an in-depth comparison, pros and cons for each platform, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Best UK trading apps comparison
Here’s a quick comparison of the key features of our top trading apps in the UK:
*Monthly fee applies for ISA (£5.99) and SIPP (£11.99) accounts with premium features. **Portfolios under £50k cost £4.99 per month and over that is a monthly £11.99 for Investor or £19.99 for Super Investor.
Now let’s take a closer look at each of these trading apps, including what we think makes them stand out above the pack, their pros and cons, and how they can help you be a better investor.
Best for 0% commission stocks: eToro
Why we like it
Luckily for UK investors, there’s a decent selection of 0% commission platforms. What sets eToro apart is the seamless integration of all its extra investing resources. You can use advanced price charting tools from TradingView or social features like CopyTrader and News Feed to discuss market movements. Beginner investors and more experienced traders will find plenty to keep them engaged with eToro’s high-tech arsenal of tools so you can make the most out of the 0% commission stock trades.
Finder score. 9/10 – Excellent
Finder fees score. 9/10 – Excellent
Regulation and safety. FCA-regulated in the UK, with FSCS protection for deposits up to £85,000.
Account types. General investing account (no ISA or SIPP).
Fees. £0 platform fee. £0 commission on stock trades. 0.75% FX fee. Withdrawals cost $5, but there are no inactivity fees for UK users.
User-friendly app with active social trading community
CopyTrader feature to mimic top investors
Free demo account to practice trading
Access to fractional shares in global markets
Cons
No stocks and shares ISA or SIPP
All trading is in USD with a 0.75% foreign exchange (FX) fee on deposits/withdrawals
$100 top open an account
$10 minimum investment
What does the app look like?
The main dashboard you see when you launch and log-into the eToro app.Set the instruments you want to keep an eye on – choosing from stocks, ETFs, indices, commodities and more.
XTB is a popular stockbroker that’s gained momentum in the UK by offering a blend of advanced trading and straightforward stock investing with very low fees. XTB’s xStation trading app is fast and user-friendly. You can buy fractional shares of stocks and ETFs from £10 and XTB charges 0% commission (apart from high-rollers trading over £100k a month). You can also set up ETF investment plans from £15, allowing you to build a custom ETF portfolio for long-term investing. This makes it an attractive choice for most retail investors because along with zero commission on trades, XTB has no platform fee and no extra cost to use a stocks and shares ISA.
Finder score. 9.2/10 – Excellent
Finder fees score. 9.1/10 – Excellent
Regulation and safety. FCA-regulated in the UK, with FSCS protection for deposits up to £85,000.
Account types. Along with its general investing account (GIA), XTB recently launched a free stocks and shares ISA wrapper. So you can make your trades without worrying about paying UK tax. But, there’s no SIPP or other type of tax-efficient account available.
Fees. £0 platform fee to use XTB, including a stocks and shares ISA. £0 commission on stock and ETF trades (up to the £100,000 monthly cap). 0.5% FX fee. $10 monthly inactivity fee after 12 months. £5 fee for withdrawals under £50.
Zero commission on stock and ETF trades (up to £100k per month)
Create custom ETF portfolios, called Investment Plans
Thousands of investments and fractional shares from global markets
xStation Academy educational resources to learn how to trade
Advanced trading tools and sophisticated xStation app
No minimum deposit
High-rated customer support and account managers for clients
Cons
No self-invested personal pension (SIPP)
0.2% commission for trades over £100,000 in a month
Inactivity fee after a year of no trades
£5 withdrawal fee if withdrawing less than £50
£10 minimum investment
What does the app look like?
The main dashboard you see when you launch and log-into the XTB app.The discover tab on XTB’s app can help you find new invetments across different categories along with setting up an ETF Investment Plan.
Best for customer satisfaction: Hargreaves Lansdown (HL)
Why we like it
Every year we survey investors just like you all over the UK and ask them if they’d recommend their trading platform. Our top pick for customer satisfaction is the provider that rises above the rest. HL not only topped our customer satisfaction table this year, it’s also won for the past 4 years. So, it’s definitely the platform to beat when it comes to customer service, which is why it charges higher fees than some other trading apps.
Finder score. 8.5/10 – Excellent
Finder ease of use score. 4.6/5 – Excellent
Regulation and safety. FCA-regulated in the UK, with FSCS protection for deposits up to £85,000.
Account types. HL has offers just about every account type imaginable, including a: general investment account (GIA), stocks and shares ISA, SIPP, cash ISA, Lifetime ISA (LISA), Junior ISA (JISA), Junior SIPP, Bare Trust Account.
Fees. Platform fee ranges from £0 to 0.45% (depending on the type of accounts and investments). £11.95 commission for stock trades (gets cheaper with lots of trades). FX fee starts at 1%. Free regular investing by direct debit. Free fund investing.
Plenty of research and investing resources available
Fees get cheaper for large fund portfolios and international trades
Cons
Very high trading commissions starting at £11.95
Fee structure is complex and confusing
Desktop trading app is quite bland
No fractional shares
Some accounts have higher minimum deposits
What does the app look like?
The markets tab on the HL app gives you a snapshot overview of major stock market indices.The search tab on HL’s app lets you find investments to trade or add to your watchlist, or access their funds an expert shortlists.
Freetrade is a UK-based trading app focused on simplicity and long-term investing, with 0% commission at the forefront of eveything it does. You can buy UK, EU and US stocks as well as ETFs, treasury bills and gilts paying zero commission. And, it’s all packed into a clean, user-friendly mobile interface. Freetrade is excellent if you want a no-frills way to invest in shares and don’t need advanced trading features.
You can open a stocks and shares ISA or a SIPP with Freetrade, but you need to subscribe to its Standard plan for the ISA (£5.99/month) or the Plus plan (£11.99/month) for the SIPP. These accounts are cheaper if you pay annually and do also come with added benefits and features to help sweeten the deal. But, you can always try Freetrade’s free Basic plan if you want to see what it’s like first.
Finder score. 9.1/10 – Excellent
Finder ease of use score: 8.9/10 – Great
Regulation and safety. FCA-regulated in the UK, with FSCS protection for deposits up to £85,000.
Account types. General investment account (GIA) is free, but if you want to use a stocks and shares ISA you’ll have to subscribe to Standard, and if you want an ISA and a SIPP, you’ll need to be a Plus subscriber.
Fees. No platform fee for Basic and £0 commission on trades. FX fee starts at 0.99% (gets cheaper with Standard and Plus). Standard and Plus subscriptions cost extra.
Invest in stocks, ETFs, investment trusts and more
No minimum deposit
Simple, clutter-free app ideal for beginners
New desktop app for more in-depth trading
Tax-efficient accounts available
No platform fee for Basic
Flat fee for ISA/SIPP can be cost-effective for larger portfolios)
Cons
Paid subscription for premium plans (to use an ISA or SIPP)
Some of the best features are behind a paywall
Limited range of markets (no crypto, forex, or advanced products)
Basic app with no advanced charting or research tools
FX fees are quite high
What does the app look like?
The Freetrade “Portfolio” tab is your homescreen on the app and gives you an overview of your portfolio along with alerts and offers.On the Freetrade app, jumping to the “Discover” tab will show you newly added stocks along with popular options the ability to find investments by sector.
InvestEngine blows away the competition when it comes to ETF investing. There’s no commission to trade ETFs on the platform, and you can use a stocks and shares ISA or a SIPP for free! Although InvestEngine is limited to ETF investing (you can’t trade individual stocks), the app is packed full of features for ETF investors. You can set up regular savings plans, rebalance your portfolio with a single click, use the look-through feature to see exactly what’s in your portfolio – and much more. Aside from the free DIY investing option, InvestEngine also offers ready-made LifePlan portfolios or a completely managed growth portfolio for just a 0.25% annual fee.
Finder Score. 9.3/10 – Excellent
Finder fees score. 10/10 – Excellent
Account types. InvestEngine offers a free general investment account (GIA), stocks and shares ISA, and SIPP.
Fees. DIY investing with InvestEngine is completely free (apart from external fund charges). So, no platform fees, no commissions, and no extra cost to use a stocks and shares ISA or a SIPP. The only fees charged by InvestEngine is the 0.25% annual fee if you want a managed portfolio or a LifePlan.
Best for safety and security features: interactive investor (ii)
Why we like it
interactive investor (ii) does an excellent job of bridging the gap between the cheaper no-frills platforms and the more expensive legacy brokers. It’s our top pick for safety and security because ii has been around over 30 years and is now part of FTSE 250 firm, abrdn. The ii trading app uses 128-bit SSL encryption, constant system monitoring and biometric logins. On top of the saftey features, ii has one of the largest selection of investments available to UK trades, and although the online trading fee for most investments is £3.99, you can swerve this by setting up a regular monthly investment.
The platform is excellent to use on both mobile or desktop. Beginners will find it easy to navigate and more experienced traders can explore all the tools, resources and insights on offer. With ii, it’s low-cost “Investor Essentials” plan is £4.99 a month for portfolios under £50,000. After that, you’d have to graduate to “Investor” or “Super Investor”, which cost £11.99 and £19.99 per month respectively. The flat fee structure of ii will particularly suit larger portfolios in terms of value.
Finder Score. 8.4/10 – Excellent
Finder safety and security score. 10/10 – Excellent
Account types. ii has a whole bunch of accounts available, including a general investment account (ii calls this a Trading Account), a stocks and shares ISA (including a Managed ISA), a junior ISA (JISA), a SIPP, and cash savings options.
Fees. With ii, you pay a flat monthly fee for a plan. For an ISA or Trading Account it’s £4.99 per month up to £50k and then £11.99 per month once your portfolio is over that. For a SIPP, it’s £5.99 per month up to a £50k pension pot and then £12.99 per month after that on the “Pension Builder” plan. If you want an ISA and a SIPP, it’s £9.99 per month up to £75k and then £21.99 per month after. Trading commissions start at £3.99 for most online trades (£9.99 for international shares outside the US). The FX fee starts at 1.5% and gets cheaper for trades over £25k.
Flat fee platform fee provides value for large portfolios
No commission if you set up a regular monthly investment
Over 40,000 investments available
Industry-leading safety and security features
Well-built mobile and desktop apps
Cons
Fee structure and plans are complex
Provides less value for smaller portfolios
£3.99 online trading commission
High FX fee of 1.5%
Expensive £9.99 commission for international shares (outside US)
What does the app look like?
The portfolio overview gives you a snapshot of all your ii accounts and balances.If you use the trade tab, you can search for investments and then buy shares or set up a regularly monthly investment, which reduces the commission you pay.
Trading 212 has quickly become a favorite investing app in the UK, especially among retail investors on a budget, thanks to its extremely cheap stock trading model. On Trading 212, you can trade thousands of UK and international stocks along with ETFs, paying zero commission and a low 0.15% FX fee. There’s no platform fee to use the Trading 212 Invest or Trading 212 ISA accounts, so it’s free to protect your portfolio in a stocks and shares ISA wrapper. Beginners will find the app easy to navigate, but there’s plenty of tools for more seasoned traders like order types, advanced charting, and fundamental insights. There’s even a social element with its “Pies” and “Communities”. You can also get high rates of interest on any cash you’re holding (or use its free cash ISA).
Finder Score. 10/10 – Excellent
Finder fees score. 9.8/10 – Excellent
Features: Fractional shares are supported, so you can invest as little as £1 in expensive stocks like Amazon. The app provides basic charts and price alerts, but research tools are fairly minimal (no in-depth stock analysis within the app).
Accounts types: You can open a free Stocks and Shares ISA with Trading 212 (as well as a general Invest account). There is no account fee for the ISA, which is a big plus for UK investors.
Fees: £0 commission and no fees on deposits/withdrawals. In the Invest/ISA account they even cover FX costs for you up to a limit, making it effectively free to trade US stocks.
Pros
Commission-free stock and ETF trading
No platform fee (inlcudes free stocks and shares ISA or cash ISA)
Very intuitive app – great for first-time investors
Fractional shares (invest from just £1)
Advanced features available for no extra fee
Low 0.15% FX fee
No minimum deposit
Cons
No SIPP available
Limited market research and analysis tools within the app
Customer support is mainly via email or the community
Limited range of asset types to trade
What does the app look like?
When you open up the Trading 212 app, your homescreen will have your watchlists along with other lists like winners, losers, global markets, and most owned.On the portfolio tab on the Trading 212 app, you can get a snapshot of your overall performance with total return and rate of return along with more details about your investments and cash.
Although the UK implant of Robinhood is still finding its feet, when it comes to US shares, it’s a top dog. There’s no platform fee with Robinhood, no minimum deposit, and no commission to trade thousands of US stocks. The Robinhood app is smooth and functional, beginner investors will find it super straightforward to get signed up and start investing. What sets Robinhood apart from the pack when it comes to US shares is the fact that it charges no FX fee.
However, it’s worth pointing out that a 0.03% third-party fee charged (which is extremely low). The platform is continuously adding new features like share lending, margin trading, and options trading. However, what it’s lacking are some of the basics. Instead of fancy trading options, just give us a stocks and shares ISA and some ETFs please. Robinhood UK isn’t the finished product at the moment, but if you want to buy US shares, it’s extremely cheap and the app itself is easy as pie to use.
Finder Score. 8.8/10 – Excellent
Finder fees score. 10/10 – Excellent
Account types. You can only use a general investment account (GIA) with Robinhood, there’s no ISA or SIPP.
Fees. No platform fee and £0 commission for trading US stocks, there’s also no FX fee from Robinhood (a low 0.03% third-party fee still applies).
No Robinhood FX fee (0.03% third-party charge applies)
Stock insights and intuitive pricing charts
Features like share lending, margin trading, and options trading
Cons
No ISA or SIPP available
US stocks only
No ETFs or other type of investments
Limited market research and analysis tools within the app
Small range of asset types and markets
Experienced investors may find it too simplistic
What does the app look like?
On the Robinhood home screen you can see a snapshot of your portfolio performance, your total holdings and alerts and notifications.If you look on Robinhood’s search tab on the app, you can see stock screeners along with trending lists, and the ability to search for US shares.
Your first step is to make sure you’re prepared – financially and mentally. Once you’re sure investing is right for you and have the money set aside to invest, your next step is to pick a platform.
If you’re a beginner, using one of the free or cheap apps may be worthwhile. This way, it costs you very little to open an account, and you can make a small investment without paying through the nose for fees.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself to help you find an app and get started investing:
Do you want an app with no platform fees? Some apps are free to download and use but there can be limitations compared to other options.
How much are you planning to invest? If it’s only a small amount to start with, you’ll want a platform that allows smaller investments, and ideally no commissions so the fees don’t erode your investments.
What do you want to invest in? Each platform will offer various types of investments. Think about what you’d like to invest in and find an app that offers what you want.
Are you looking to practise first? Some trading apps, such as eToro and Trading 212, let you use a demo account so you can learn how things work before investing with real money.
There are few universal elements that help make investment apps stand out as a top option for beginners. Here are some key thing to look out for when looking for the best app:
Easy to use. First things first, a beginner-friendly app needs to be straightforward to use. This means it should be simple to sign up and open accounts, and the process of making investments should be as seamless as possible.
Low fees. Most beginners are going to start off with smaller investments, so it’s important that the platform fees and commissions (cost of buying or selling an investment) don’t take a big bite out of your portfolio before you even get started. Check out our guide on investment fees to find out more about the different types of costs you might come across.
Simple pricing. Unfortunately, some apps are cheap, but you need a PhD to decipher all the fees. A beginner-friendly app should be both affordable and clear when it comes to fees and costs.
Beginner-friendly investments. You don’t want to jump into the deep end with complex “trading instruments”. As a beginner, you should be looking to use investments you can grasp, such as funds, ETFs and individual shares.
Learning materials. While you’re finding your feet, it can be helpful for apps to provide learning resources or even a demo account, but you can often find this info elsewhere if you need.
At some stage, you might want to do this. But if you’re a beginner, try out one of the apps designed for investors like you first. You can always upgrade to a more sophisticated app once you learn more about trading and investing.
There’s usually no fee to close your account so there’s nothing to stop you from moving to another platform later.
Possibly, it depends on the success of your investments or trades. If you use a trading app to buy stocks or shares that pay dividends, you’ll have to pay tax on any income over £500. The percentage rate depends on your income tax band. Also, if you buy investments on your app and sell them for a profit, you’ll pay capital gains tax (CGT) on any gains over £3,000 (your tax-free allowance for the tax year 2024/25).
A simple way you can avoid these taxes entirely is to use a trading app with a stocks and shares ISA wrapper. Any investments or trades made within the wrapper are shielded from both dividend tax and CGT. You have a yearly ISA allowance of £20,000 that can be used for trading and investing, but not every platform or app offers these accounts.
There are a few reasons for this. Often, it comes down to a lack of patience, making knee-jerk reactions or decisions, or attempting to make money quickly. The truth is, successful investing can be quite slow and boring.
Trading frequently and successfully is difficult and can be costly. If you want to tip the odds in your favour, consider becoming a long-term investor rather than a short-term trader.
Trading apps 101
Trading apps let you buy and sell investments, show how they perform, and give you insights into key investment metrics. They can differ widely in terms of features, fees, charting, and how easy they are to use.
To find the best trading app or platform, it’s worth looking for one that suits you, the stocks you’d like to buy, how often you plan to trade, and your level of investing knowledge. The investment platform with all the bells and whistles may not be the best choice if you’re just starting out. Because, you could end up paying money for features you don’t need from the get-go.
The word “platform” is usually referring to the overall investment provider. Whereas, “trading app” will be either a mobile or desktop application offered by a provider that you can use to trade, invest and manage your portfolio. However, the terms can be used interchangeably.
Yes. Some trading apps have more features and better charting tools or analysis, but you often find that these charge higher fees. In contrast, there are “free” apps that don’t have the same level of detail as more expensive ones. You need to weigh up the costs against the features you’d like.
Yes! However, finding the trading app that’s right for you will come down to your needs. To help you out, we’ve ranked and reviewed all the best trading apps and categorised them based on the results of our analysis.
There’s no single winner here, but it’s always best to look for FCA regulated trading apps. Regulation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) means that there is oversight and rules for the platform.
Ideally, it’s worth looking for apps that also come with FSCS protection. Still, there are some instances where this isn’t needed because the platform comes with even greater insurance or protection for your deposits (like with eToro and Interactive Brokers).
This depends on what markets you’re trying to access. It’s often worth using the app or platform with the lowest fees for your trading needs. Although sometimes, it’s worth paying extra for an account that comes with added features like top customer service or tools to help you become a better investor.
Loads of financial institutions are getting into the share trading market, from high street banks like Barclays and Lloyds to fintechs like Revolut. You don’t have to limit your options to high street banks though, there are loads of different apps 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.
There’s no single best app. Ideally, you’ll want an app with low fees, live stock prices with real-time quotes, and the ability to set various trading order types to automate your trading. Day trading can be a complex and difficult strategy and we think for the majority of people, a longer-term buy and hold strategy would be more appropriate.
If you want to set your trades and investments on auto-pilot, you’ll want to make sure you can set specific trading orders to take place automatically so that you don’t have to continuously watch asset movements and do everything manually. You’ll also want a fast trading platform to make sure you’re getting the latest prices with no lags or delays.
Investment safety and protection
The majority are. But it’s always best to double-check and make sure that the platform you want to use is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) here in the UK. The FCA helps to protect retail investors like you or me from shady behaviour.
It depends on the platform you’re using. If it’s an FCA regulated provider, you should get some protection. For companies that are also members of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), up to £85,000 of your deposits are protected.
Most apps will also segregate funds and assets. This means that they’re not in direct control of your investments. So if they went bust, your assets would be transferred to you, sometimes via a new company.
eToro
Hargreaves Lansdown
IG
Freetrade
Saxo
interactive investor
Trading 212
Degiro
Stake
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.
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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been reviewed by Georgie Frost, a member of Finder's Editorial Review Board.
George is a deputy editor at Finder. He has previously written for The Motley Fool UK, Nasdaq, Freetrade, Investing in the Web, MoneyMagpie, Online Mortgage Advisor, Wealth, and Compare Forex Brokers. He's focused on making personal finance and investing engaging for everyone. To do this he draws from previous work and his Level 4 Diploma for Financial Advisers (DipFA), sharing what he’s learnt. When he’s not geeking out about money, you’ll find him playing sports and staying active. See full bio
George's expertise
George has written 241 Finder guides across topics including:
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