The best online trading brokers in the UK

★★★★★

1100+ customer reviews

Our top picks for online trading brokers:

Best for fractional shares

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Capital at risk. T&Cs apply.

Personalised market updates

Commission-free trading
Invest in fractional shares
Over 5,400 stocks & ETFs

Best for 0% commission stocks

Finder Award

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Capital at risk. Other fees apply.

Copy picks from top traders

Commission-free stock trades
Receive dividend payments
Invest in fractional shares

Best for customer satisfaction

Finder Award

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Capital at risk. T&Cs apply.

97% would recommend

No commissions for funds
Expert research and insights
Wide range of tax wrappers

Compare online trading brokers

Table: sorted by promoted deals first

Updated regularly

We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.

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Name	Product	Finder score	Min. initial deposit	Price per trade	Frequent trader rate	Platform fees	Offer	Link
XTB XTB		4.3 ★★★★★	£0	£0	£0	£0	Earn up to 4.9% interest on uninvested cash. Tiered interest rate structure applies depending on value of existing assets.	Go to site Capital at risk Platform details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
FREE TRADES eToro Free Stocks eToro Free Stocks Finder Award	FREE TRADES	4.4 ★★★★★	$100	£0 on stocks	N/A	£0		Go to site Capital at risk. Other fees apply. Platform details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
interactive investor Trading Account interactive investor Trading Account		4.2 ★★★★★	£0	£3.99 (free regular investing)	£0	£4.99-£19.99	Get £100 free trading credit when opening a Trading Account by 30 April. Capital at risk. T&Cs apply.	Go to site Capital at risk Platform details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Hargreaves Lansdown Hargreaves Lansdown Finder Award		4.2 ★★★★★	£1	£11.95	£5.95			Go to site Capital at risk Platform details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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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).

How to open a brokerage account

The exact process for opening a share trading account varies depending on the trading platform you select. However, you’ll generally need to complete the following steps when signing up:

1. Choose a broker. Research your options to find the online provider that offers all the features you want at an affordable price. Some providers also offer a choice of share trading platforms, for example a free web-based platform for casual investors and a more complicated software package with a monthly subscription fee for experienced traders.
2. Choose your membership level. Some providers offer a choice of membership tiers, each with a different level of features and a different ongoing fee.
3. Provide your details. You’ll need to provide your full name and a valid form of photo ID, as well as your email address, phone number and national insurance number.
4. Link your bank account. You’ll need to supply details of the bank account which will be used to pay for your trades and you may be required to deposit a minimum amount.
5. Submit your application. Your application to open a share trading account will usually be processed within 1-2 business days.
6. Start trading. Once your application has been approved you can login to your account and start trading.

How to choose the best online stock brokerage account

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.

• What is the best trading broker in the UK?

  It’s difficult to say which trading broker 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.

• What is the best stock broker investing app?

  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.

• Is online trading safe?

  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)