Our top picks for online trading brokers:
Fractional shares
Free to open an account
Commission-free trades
Advanced trading tools
Fractional shares
6,000+ stocks/ETFs
Compare online trading brokers
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 methodologyAll 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:
- 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.
- Choose your membership level. Some providers offer a choice of membership tiers, each with a different level of features and a different ongoing fee.
- 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.
- 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.
- Submit your application. Your application to open a share trading account will usually be processed within 1-2 business days.
- 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.
Ready to compare platforms?
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