Best for 0% commission stocks
Capital at risk. Fees apply.
Copy picks from top traders
Commission-free trades
Fractional shares
Get dividend payments
Fractional shares
Get dividend payments
Best for fractional shares
Capital at risk. T&Cs apply.
Earn 5.2% on uninvested funds
Commission-free trades
Fractional shares
5,400+ stocks/ETFs
Fractional shares
5,400+ stocks/ETFs
Best for customer satisfaction
Capital at risk. T&Cs apply.
97% would recommend
Free fund trading
Expert insights
Wide range of accounts
Expert insights
Wide range of accounts
★★★★★
1,100+ customer reviews
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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.
There are a lot of different trading apps available if you plan to start share trading. We’ve rounded up popular stock trading apps in our comparison table to help you find the one that suits your profile best. We’ve also covered how to choose one, and we’ve updated this page to reflect the best apps available in 2023 (see top of this page).
What’s a share trading app?
A share dealing account or app lets you buy and sell investments – stocks, for example. Sometimes you can also trade other assets like exchange-traded funds (ETFs), index funds, bonds, investment trusts, and more. A share dealing account is known as a “brokerage account”, “share dealing platform” or a “share trading account”. It all refers to the same thing – a place where you can buy, sell, or hold investments.
Share dealing accounts differ in the range of assets you can trade. So if you’re keen on owning a bit of Apple, for example, you’ll need an account that lets you trade US stocks. Or if you want to trade oranges (not a joke), you’ll want a provider that lets you invest in commodities.
It’s worth considering opening a stocks and shares ISA with your chosen share dealing account provider to “hold” your investments because you can invest up to £20,000 a year in ISAs and you won’t have to pay tax on most profits. But you might have to pay a fee for the ISA, depending on the share dealing platform you use.
How to choose a trading app or platform
Choosing the best trading app ins’t a one-size-fits-all decision. Along with your individual style of investing, you’ll also want to know what an app looks like and how it performs on your device. There can be subtle differences between the Android and iOS versions of trading apps. But it’s not all about good looks. Finding the right investment platform shouldn’t just be a case of picking one that looks sleek on your device.
There are loads of different things that you should consider when choosing the best trading app, such as:
- Fees. There are a few different fee structures on investing platforms. Some are commission-free (but not fee-free), some platforms charge a flat fee, while others charge based on how much you invest. It’s not all about commission, either — look at withdrawal fees, deposit fees, foreign exchange fees and inactivity fees.
- What you can trade. You might want to buy individual shares, ETFs and funds; or you might prefer a ready-made portfolio. Make sure you can invest in all the stock exchanges and markets you want to.
- How easy the platform is to use. Some platforms are designed for more experienced investors, so it might be complex or tricky to use. On our reviews, we’ve explained what type of investor each platform is suitable for.
- Market research and tools. The tools available on the platform can be helpful in understanding your investments, but be careful not to pay more for a platform that has tools you won’t use.
- Demo account. If there’s a demo account available, you can try out the platform without risking any real money. This is a nice touch if you’re a newbie to investing.
Share trading jargon explained
Commission. The fee you pay to make a trade. In our table above, this is the “price per trade”.Regular investing. Some share dealing accounts offer lower fees if you invest or trade regularly. The number and rate differs between platforms, but it’s worth checking if you’re likely to make multiple trades each month.
Platform fees. Some share dealing accounts charge percentage fees based on how much money you’re investing, others charge a flat fee no matter the size of your portfolio.
Robo-advisor. A type of investment platform that invests for you in ready-made portfolios (containing multiple investments) – this isn’t strictly a share dealing account, as you can’t buy individual shares, but it’s closely related.
“Stop loss” and “Take profit”. Tools to help limit your losses if your shares lose value.
Charting tools. Tools that create charts giving insight into the movements of the stocks. Generally for more advanced investors.
Are trading apps safe?
Finder expert Zoe Stabler answers
Trading apps that are authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) are generally safe to invest with. They are required to keep your money in a ring fenced account (which means the money is kept separate from their business funds), and if they were to go bust, you’d be covered by up to £85,000 per account should you lose out financially from their insolvency.
There’s no guarantee that you’ll make a profit, it’s also possible that your investments will go down in value. You can protect yourself somewhat by investing in a well diversified portfolio.
Next steps once you’ve found the right trading app
Once you’ve decided on the right investing platform for your investing style, the next step is to sign up.
To make the process as smooth as possible, you’ll want to have your bank and personal details to hand (including your NI number). Some trading apps will be able to get you up and running within minutes, but some may take a little longer.
If you’re looking to make your first investment but don’t know where to start, we have an investing for beginners hub with plenty of guides for first-time investors like you.
Ready to compare platforms?
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