The best online trading brokers in the UK

We've analysed the apps and fees of major online trading brokers so you can quickly see the stand-outs.

Promoted
eToro logo
Invest in shares with 0% commission
Unlimited fee-free trading
Top-rated broker
Open an account in minutes
Go to site
Capital at risk. Other fees apply.
★★★★★
1,100+ customer reviews

Our top picks for online trading brokers:

Best for 0% commission stocks
eToro logo
Finder Award
Capital at risk. T&Cs apply.
Copy picks from top traders
Commission-free trades
Fractional shares
Get dividend payments
Best for advanced trading
IG logo
Capital at risk. T&Cs apply.
Up to 4.25% interest on uninvested cash
11,000+ stocks & ETFs
Commission-free investing
Advanced trading tools
Best for overall trading platform
XTB logo
Capital at risk. T&Cs apply.
Earn 4.5% on uninvested funds
Commission-free trades
Fractional shares
5,400+ stocks/ETFs

Compare online trading brokers

Table: sorted by promoted deals first
1 - 10 of 11
Product Finder Score Min. initial deposit Price per trade Frequent trader rate Platform fees Offer
eToro
Finder AwardFree Trades
eToro logo
$100
£0
N/A
£0
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Capital at risk

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IG
Free Trades
IG logo
£0
£0
From £0
From £0
Earn up to 4.25% AER interest on uninvested cash. T&Cs apply. Capital at risk.
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Capital at risk

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XTB
Free Trades
XTB logo
£0
£0
N/A
£0
Earn up to 4.5% interest on uninvested cash.
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Capital at risk

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Lightyear logo
£0
ETFs: £0
UK: £1
US: 0.1%
(min 1¢, max $1)
EU: €1
N/A
£0
Get $15 of US fractional shares with code FINDER2025 when you open a new account and deposit at least £100.
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Capital at risk

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Freetrade
Free TradesOffer
Freetrade logo
£0
£0
N/A
£0
Get a free share worth up to £100 when you sign up and deposit at least £50. T&Cs apply. Capital at risk.
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Capital at risk

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Robinhood
Free TradesOffer
Robinhood logo
£0
£0
N/A
£0
Get a free share worth up to $175 when you join. T&Cs apply.
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Capital at risk

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Hargreaves Lansdown logo
£1
£11.95
£5.95
£0 (0.45% for funds)
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Capital at risk

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interactive investor logo
£0
£3.99 (free regular investing)
£0
From £4.99 a month
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Capital at risk

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InvestEngine
Finder AwardFunds OnlyOffer
InvestEngine logo
£100
£0
N/A
0% - 0.25%
Get a welcome bonus of up to £100 when you invest at least £100. Use code "FINDER". T&Cs apply.
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Capital at risk

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Charles Stanley logo
£0
£11.50
N/A
0.35%
Get up to £1,500 cashback when you transfer your cash and/or investments to Charles Stanley Direct. T&Cs apply. Capital at risk.
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Capital at risk

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Finder Score for trading platforms

To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Costs, features, ease and range of investments across 30+ platforms are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the platform – simple.

Read the full methodology

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.

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