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The Best Trading Platforms UK in 2023
Use our interactive tool to find the best trading platform for you that United Kingdom based traders are accepted at - whether you want to trade stocks, forex, crypto, or another financial asset. We review FCA regulated brokers covering a variety of markets.
- We only review licensed & regulated trading platforms
- Our experts analyse all the fees & spreads you need to know about
- Compare UK brokers with advanced trading tools
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If you’re based in the UK and looking to trade online, you’ll need to find the best trading platforms UK that meet your requirements and trading strategy. The most popular online trading platforms in the UK have low fees, support a variety of financial markets, aim to cater to both beginners and advanced traders, and have 24/7 live chat customer support.
In this guide we review trading platforms in the UK in 2023 regulated by the FCA (the Financial Conduct Authority).
Popular Trading Platform UK Comparison
6
Payment methods
Features
Customer service
Classification
Mobile App
Fixed commissions per operation
Account Fee
Rating
- Buy shares and ETFs with 0% commissions
- Social and copy trading network
- Invest and trade crypto with low fees
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 68% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Account Info
Fees per operation
Rating
- Commission-Free Trading
- Free Demo Trading
- Large number of tradeable assets
Account Info
Fees per operation
Rating
- Low fees
- Supports algo trading
- High quality charting
Trading financial products on margin carries a high degree of risk and is not suitable for all investors. Please ensure you fully understand the risks and take appropriate care to manage your risk.
Account Info
Fees per operation
Rating
- Simple platform for all traders
- Free trading signals
- iOS & Android app
76.57% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Account Info
Fees per operation
Rating
- The world’s largest spread betting firm
- It offers a wide range of other investment options like forex
- Share trading
68% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider.
Account Info
Fees per operation
Rating
- No spreads
- Educational content
- Trade CFDs with Zero-Spreads and Low Commissions
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70.8% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Account Info
Fees per operation
Online Brokers & Trading Sites in the UK 2023 Reviewed
With so many trading sites available in the online arena, knowing which provider to sign up with can be challenging.
You’ll want to research specific metrics about the broker before signing up – such as what commissions it charges, what assets you can trade, and how accessible the platform is.
To save you research time, below you will find a selection of popular UK trading platforms in the market right now.
1. AvaTrade
AvaTrade is a reputable online broker that offers a variety of trading options for traders all around the world. Founded in 2006, the broker is regulated by multiple financial authorities, including the Central Bank of Ireland, the Financial Services Commission of the British Virgin Islands, and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
AvaTrade provides its clients with access to a wide range of financial instruments, including Forex, stocks, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. The broker also offers user-friendly trading platforms, educational resources, and top-notch customer support to help traders make informed decisions and succeed in their trading journey.
In addition to its impressive regulatory framework, AvaTrade offers a range of trading account types to suit the diverse needs of its clients. Traders can choose from a standard account, a demo account, an Islamic account, or a professional account. Each account type comes with its own unique features and benefits, such as tighter spreads, higher leverage, and dedicated account managers.
Moreover, AvaTrade ensures the security of its clients’ funds by segregating them from the broker’s own operational funds and by offering negative balance protection. With a range of trading tools, including market analysis and economic calendars, AvaTrade empowers its clients to make informed trading decisions. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced trader, AvaTrade offers everything you need to succeed in the dynamic world of online trading.
Your money is at risk.
2. eToro
Launched in 2007, eToro is an online trading platform with more than 27 million clients as of Q2 2022. This platform allows you to trade a wide range of asset classes at the click of a button.
Something crucial for UK residents is stamp duty issue, and eToro offers 0% for those customers. The commission-free environment of the online trading platform has been acclaimed within the industry, as eToro does not charge fees to trade with stocks, shares, and ETFs.
This includes more than 2,400 stocks from 17 UK and international stock markets, 250+ ETFs (exchange-traded funds), 60+ cryptocurrencies, and thousands of CFDs. Regarding the latter, this includes everything from gold and silver to oil and forex.
Apart from the assets already mentioned, each and every marketplace offered by eToro can be traded commission-free. This means that the only trading ‘fee’ you need to factor in is the spread. There are no annual maintenance fees either, and deposits cost you just 0.5%. After all, you can trade the UK and foreign assets without needing to worry about currency conversion fees. It’s also a popular trading platform for scalping.
In terms of accessibility, eToro offers a mobile app for iPhone and Android. The processing of finding an asset and placing buy and sell orders can be completed with ease, as the platform is free from complex financial jargon.
eToro is also known worldwide for offering its CopyFunds portfolios, which are an expeditious and accessible way to get into online trading in a short time. Plus, there is even a Copy Trading feature that allows you to invest passively.
This works by selecting a verified trader, choosing how much you wish to invest (minimum $200), and then all ongoing trades will be mirrored in your own eToro portfolio. If you’re looking to trade smaller amounts, eToro requires a minimum stake of $25 of cryptocurrencies, $50 on stocks, and $200 on ETFs. Don’t miss our review to check why eToro is well-known as an automated trading platform UK traders can use.
eToro is authorized and regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), one of the stricter financial watchdogs globally, providing a state-of-the-art regulatory environment for UK investors. It is also licensed by regulators in Cyprus and Australia. Crucially, by opening an account with eToro, your funds are covered by the FSCS. Finally, this cheap trading platform UK supports a selection of payment methods – including debit/credit cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets like Paypal.
eToro fees
| Fee | Amount |
| Stock trading fee | Free |
| Forex trading fee | Spread, 2.1 pips for GBP/USD |
| Crypto trading fee | Spread, 0.75% for Bitcoin |
| Inactivity fee | $10 a month after one year |
| Withdrawal fee | $5 |
79% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
3. XTB
To comply with new Polish regulations, X-Trade Brokers was formed in 2004 as Poland’s first leveraged foreign exchange brokerage house. Later, XTB Online Trading (XTB) went public in 2016, listing under the ticker symbol XTB on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
In this highly competitive and ever-changing online brokerage landscape, XTB has been steadily making inroads, currently offering access to various markets such as forex, shares, indices, metals, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. It is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA #522157) and is registered with the Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF).
In addition to MT4 (downloadable) and a functional mobile application, XTB’s platform is the web-based xStation 5. XTB’s consistently lower spreads set it apart from its competitors, but its ancillary costs were on par with industry standards.
For traders who want to reduce their costs, XTB is an option, whether the cost of placing a trade (bid/ask spread) or not having to deal with extraneous costs (wire fees, for example). A non-U.K. account at XTB gets maximum leverage of 500:1, while a UK account gets up to 30:1. In addition, it focuses on customer service and offers relevant educational tools and research amenities that are suitable for novice traders.
| Fee | Amount |
| Stock trading fee | 0.08% |
| Forex trading fee | $8.3 |
| Crypto trading fee | $4 |
| Inactivity fee | After 12 months €10 |
| Withdrawal fee | 1.5% with credit cards |
Your capital is at risk.
3. Dash 2 Trade
Third place on our list is a brand-new social trading platform that is set to revolutionize the crypto space. Dash 2 Trade is an innovative trading and education platform that aims to improve decision making and help traders to navigate the cryptocurrency market.
The project is set to launch in 2023 and will provide users with everything that they need to invest and trade in crypto confidently. The Dash2Trade platform stands out amongst competitors due to the wide range of features that it offers. These include:
- Automated trading tools
- Educational resources
- Crypto listing alerts
- Strategy builder
- Risk profiler
- Social trading features
- On-chain analytics tools
- Cryptocurrency market news
- Technical analysis
- Performance metrics
Dash2Trade is yet to launch but will become available in 2023. In the meantime, you can invest in the project by purchasing the native token, D2T, via the presale event. D2T is a deflationary token that is completely tax-free! The token will be used by subscribers to pay for Dash2Trade subscriptions, enter competitions and unlock advanced platform features.
The Dash2Trade platform has been created by a team of industry experts to provide everything that you need to navigate the market. You can use the platform for free or subscribe to the trading platform on a monthly or yearly basis. Paid subscriptions come with more advanced features.
Dash2Trade is a crypto platform. While you cannot trade other markets, the educational resources available from the platform could also help you to better understand the traditional stock market and make better investment decisions.
Crypto assets are highly volatile. Your money is at risk.
4. Alvexo
With over 650,000 registered users worldwide and trading volumes exceeding 70 billion, Alvexo is a regulated online broker offering Forex, Commodities, Cryptocurrency, Stocks, Indices, Bonds & CFDs trading. A ‘real broker for a real trader’ is what they pride themselves on.
Alvexo, a team of market veterans founded in 2014, offers an array of intuitive, real-time trading platforms covering more than 450 different assets. There are a variety of tools available on the platforms to assist with market analysis, as well as a flexible interface.
Alvexo is known for its education and service-oriented approach to trading for all traders. The variety of features and graphs also makes it a popular UK Bitcoin Trading Platform. In addition to daily signals and market analysis, Alvexo clients have access to a wide range of economic news and a trading academy, as well as webinars and seminars.
Alvexo fees:
| Fee | Amount |
| Stock trading fee | Variable Spreads |
| Forex trading fee | Variable spreads. 3.3% for EUR/USD on its Classic account |
| Crypto trading fee | Commission |
| Inactivity fee | $10 per month after three months |
| Withdrawal fee | Free |
Your capital is at risk.
5. Libertex
Libertex is a CFD trading platform that is popular with UK traders that seek low fees and commissions. At the forefront of this is the platform’s zero spread offering. This means that irrespective of which asset you decide to trade, there is no gap between the buy and sell price.
Consequently, this allows you to benefit from industry-leading quotes. Additionally, although Libertex charges a commission on each side of the trade, this is often very low. In fact, commissions at this virtual trading platform UK often sit below 0.1% per order.
As a prime example, popular forex pair NZD/USD can be traded with a commission of just 0.012%. In terms of supported markets, Libertex offers CFDs on stocks, commodities, and currencies. As a CFD specialist, you can apply leverage on any trade of your choosing.
This falls in line with FCA limits, meaning you’ll be capped to 1:30 on major forex trading pairs and less on other instruments. All CFD markets at Libertex also come with the option of going long or short. This allows you to profit from both rising and falling markets. Libertex offers two trading platforms that you can choose from.
This includes Meta Trader 4 and its own platform that was built in-house. Both options can be accessed online or via a mobile app. In the case of MT4 trading platforms, this can be downloaded to your desktop device – which is the route you will need to take if you want to install an automated robot.
If you like the sound of Libertex, you can open an account in minutes. The minimum deposit is just £100 and you use a UK debit/credit card, bank account transfer, or an e-wallet. Once you have funded your account for the first time, all future deposits come at a minimum of just £10.
When it comes to safety, we should note that Libertex isn’t regulated by the FCA. However, it is regulated by leading EU license issuers CySEC. Plus, Libertex has been offering online trading and financial services since 1997. As such, the provider has an accomplished track record that spans over two decades.
Libertex fees
| Fee | Amount |
| Stock trading fee | Commission scheme — between 01.5% and 0.2% |
| Forex trading fee | Commission scheme — from 0.008% in EUR/USD |
| Crypto trading fee | Commission scheme — between 0.1% and 0.2% |
| Inactivity fee | Free |
| Withdrawal fee | Free |
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money
6. Skilling
Skilling is a broker that is popular with first-timers. This is because the platform is simple to use – especially when it comes to placing buy and sell orders. Plus, Skilling offers trading education – with the platform packed with guides and explainers.
This UK trading broker specializes exclusively in CFDs, so you won’t be able to buy traditional assets. But, you can trade more than 800+ financial instruments – which includes stocks, commodities, indices, and forex. Skilling offers leverage trading on all these markets – in line with FCA regulations.
Irrespective of which CFD asset class you trade, Skilling does not charge any commissions. This low-cost CFD trading platform is also known for offering some of the tightest spreads in the industry. In fact, you can trade major currency pairs from just 0.1 pips during standard market hours.
Although Skilling is for beginners too, the platform is also popular with seasoned pros that wish to trade via MT4 or cTrader. Once you connect your chosen third-party platform to Skilling, this will give you access to heaps of advanced orders and charting analysis tools. Skilling also offers a mobile trading app for placing orders while on the move.
Although this trading app was only launched in 2019, it is heavily regulated. This includes authorization from the FCA to accept UK traders and full regulation with CySEC and the FSA. Once you open an account with Skilling – which rarely takes more than a few minutes, you can deposit funds instantly with a debit/credit card or e-wallet. The minimum deposit is just £100, which allows you to start trading with small amounts.
Skilling fees
| Fee | Amount |
| Stock trading fee | 2 points in FTSE |
| Forex trading fee | Variable spread |
| Crypto trading fee | Commission, 0.2% in Bitcoin |
| Inactivity fee | Free |
| Withdrawal fee | Free |
75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
7. Eightcap
Eightcap is a relatively new broker that has quickly become the go-to choice for many online traders. For starters, it offers a fantastic range of assets, including CFDs for forex, indices, stocks and commodities, so it accommodates traders of all preferences.
What really sets Eightcap apart is its extremely low fees. There are two account types – raw and standard – and both are very competitive in terms of pricing. Raw accounts have spreads from 0 pips and a small £3.5 commission, while standard accounts have no commission and spreads starting from just 1 pip.
Both accounts offer premium liquidity, fast execution and complete transparency with direct market access and no price manipulation, so you can enjoy these benefits whichever option you go for.
Another highlight is that Eightcap is compatible with both MT4 and MT5, so you can benefit from a wide range of advanced trading tools available on these two platforms.
You can get started on Eightcap with a deposit of just $100, which you can through a variety of different methods, such as PayPal. Other benefits of trading with Eightcap include round the clock customer service and useful resources such as trading guides and free market analysis.
Eightcap fees
| Fee | Amount |
| Stock trading fee | From 0 pips + £3.5 commission, or from 1 pip and no commission |
| Forex trading fee | From 0 pips + £3.5 commission, or from 1 pip and no commission |
| Crypto trading fee | From 0 pips + £3.5 commission, or from 1 pip and no commission |
| Inactivity fee | Free |
| Withdrawal fee | Free |
Your capital is at risk
8. Fineco Bank
If you’re looking to create a portfolio that covers both UK and international assets, Fineco Bank could be the way to go. This European financial institution has attracted a strong following in the UK trading scene for several reasons.
Firstly, Fineco Bank offers a huge library of financial markets. This covers traditional assets, like stocks, ETFs, and funds. Not only does this include companies on the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250, but AIM stocks, too.
Further afield, Fineco gives you access to dozens of non-UK exchanges. This includes markets in the US, Canada, Asia, Europe, Australia, and more. If you’re also interested in a shorter-term day trading strategy, Fineco offers thousands of CFD markets. As well as stocks, this includes forex, hard metals, energies, indices, and more.
These CFD instruments come with the added benefit of leverage and short-selling capabilities. Fineco Bank is also a popular UK stock trading platform as it offers competitive fees on it trading markets. In terms of buying UK stocks, this will cost you £2.95 per trade, US stocks cost $5.95 per trade, and other markets are priced differently.
Either way, buying trading assets at Fineco will attract an annual maintenance fee of 0.25%. CFD fees will depend on the asset. For example, stock CFDs are commission-free, while futures CFDs cost $0.70 per contract. Forex can be traded from just 0.8 pips on major pairs like EUR/USD.
If you like the sound of Fineco Bank for your online trading needs, the minimum deposit is just £100. You will need to transfer funds from your bank account as the provider doesn’t support debit or credit cards. Finally, Fineco Bank is heavily regulated in several countries. This includes a license with the FCA and the platform is covered by the FSCS.
Fineco Bank fees
| Fee | Amount |
| Stock trading fee | £2.95 per trade in UK stocks |
| Forex trading fee | Variable spread |
| Crypto trading fee | N/A |
| Inactivity fee | Free |
| Withdrawal fee | Free |
69.44% of retail investors lose money trading CFDs at this site
9. IG
While many investors like to deploy short-term trading strategies, some of you might be in it for the long run. By this, we mean that you are looking to buy stocks or funds and keep hold of the investment for several years. If this sounds like you, it might be worth considering IG Trading.
Launched in 1974, the brokerage firm is one of the most established in the UK trading scene. In fact, the platform is listed on the London Stock Exchange with a market valuation of approximately $3 billion. By opening an account with IG, you will have access to thousands of traditional assets.
This includes heaps of UK stocks that can be purchased from £3 per trade. If, however, you place less than three trades per month, you will pay a commission of £8. IG also supports a full range of international markets – both big and small. In particular, a lot of investors in the UK will use IG to buy US stocks.
This is because you can get your commission down to £0, should you trade regularly. If you’re more interested in pre-built portfolios, IG offers ETFs, mutual funds, investment trusts, and even managed investment services. The fees on these products will vary depending on your chosen instrument.
Nevertheless, IG is also worth considering if you are looking to trade CFDs. The platform hosts more than 17,000 markets, which also includes spread betting facilities. Other than stocks, all CFD and spread betting markets can be traded commission-free. When it comes to the trading platform itself, buying stocks and funds can be done through the IG website.
If you want to actively trade CFDs, you can use the IG web-trader or connect your account to MT4. IG also offers a mobile trading app, which is available on both iOS and Android devices. If you want to open an account with this broker, the minimum deposit is £250. You can fund your account with a debit/credit card or bank transfer.
IG fees
| Fee | Amount |
| Stock trading fee | £3 per trade in UK stocks |
| Forex trading fee | Spread, 0.9 pips for EUR/USD |
| Crypto trading fee | Spread, 40 pips for Bitcoin |
| Inactivity fee | $18 for two years of inactivity |
| Withdrawal fee | Free |
Your capital is at risk.
10. Hargreaves Lansdown
Like IG, Hargreaves Lansdown is a long-standing, reputable UK broker. It’s slightly different from newer online platforms in that it’s mainly focused on stock trading and investing.
Hargreaves Lansdown offers a wide range of services – share dealing accounts, stocks, and shares ISAs, including stocks and shares ISAs, lifetime ISAs, junior ISAs, and cash ISAs, and pensions. You can invest in everything from stocks and ETFs to investment trusts, funds, bonds, and gilts. There’s a huge range of shares, ETFs, and funds to choose from, and you can invest in companies from all around the world.
However, while Hargreaves Lansdown offers a range of trading and investment options, it’s also more expensive than some other online trading platforms. For example, while eToro offers zero-commission stock trading, Hargreaves Lansdown changes £11.95 per trade if you made less than 10 deals in the previous month, £8.95 if you made less than 20, and £5.95 if you made 20 or more.
That being said, it does have some really useful features which will be a help to some investors. For starters, it has a vast amount of research material as well as some useful tools you can use to analyse the markets. You can also choose from ready-made portfolios, get help choosing stocks, ETFs and funds to invest in, and take advantage of the latest news and expert tips.
Hargreaves Lansdown is an extremely secure broker that’s licensed by the FCA. It also offers a useful mobile app so you can trade on the go, and if you ever need assistance you get in touch with the customer service team via email or telephone.
Hargreaves Lansdown fees
| Fee | Amount |
| Stock trading fee | Variable spread |
| Forex trading fee | N/A |
| Crypto trading fee | N/A |
| Inactivity fee | Free |
| Withdrawal fee | Free |
Your capital is at risk.
11. VantageFX
Another broker UK traders are accepted at is VantageFX. This platform is for traders who wish to trade using a trading platform with high leverage, as it allows up to 500x leverage on some major currency pairs. Moreover, VantageFX offers leverage of up to 75x, even for minor and exotic currency pairs.
In addition to the two account options offered by VantageFX, it also offers ECN order processing. There are advantages and disadvantages to each of these methods, and they also offer different spreads. For example, STP accounts have a spread of 1.6 pips, whereas ECN accounts have a spread of 0 and a commission of $3 per lot.
Despite VantageFX’s easy-to-navigate platform, it lacks some advanced charting and technical analysis tools. As a result, VantageFX is compatible with MT4 and supports automated trading, signals, and bots. Additionally, this allows you to test any existing strategies against the past performance of the markets.
Over 40 forex pairs are available to trade with VantageFX. That is not a trading platform with no minimum deposit. However, its deposit requirements are low, even for trading accounts. Minimum deposits, for example, are 200 GBP for STP accounts and 500 GBP for ECN accounts. Customer service is available 24/5.
Vantage FX fees
| Fee | Amount |
| Stock trading fee | Variable spread |
| Forex trading fee | Spread, 1.4 pips for GBP/USD |
| Crypto trading fee | N/A |
| Inactivity fee | Free |
| Withdrawal fee | Free |
Your capital is at risk.
12. Trading 212
Trading 212, founded in Bulgaria in 2005, is a Fintech company based in the UK with 1.5 million clients and £ 3 billion in client assets. The company offers commission-free trading and a trading platform for both web and mobile users. As easy as a click, you can buy and sell forex, stocks, ETFs, and more with this broker.
Trading 212 is the first brokerage company in Europe and the United Kingdom to offer 0% commission stock trading, which allowed millions of people to start investing at a low cost. Platform funds are held in segregated accounts and are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) for up to £85,000. The platform is regulated by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) in the UK and the Financial Supervision Commission in Bulgaria.
If you are a UK resident, you can join a waiting list by entering your email address and being notified when you can open a new account since they have a high volume of people using their platform right now. You can also download the mobile app for iOS and Android devices if you wish to transact on the go.
| Fee | Amount |
| Stock trading fee | 0% |
| Forex trading fee | 3.33% |
| Crypto trading fee | N/A |
| Inactivity fee | No |
| Withdrawal fee | No |
Your capital is at risk.
13. Pepperstone
Last but not least is Pepperstone. This broker is slightly different from others in that while it offers CFD trading, it also offers spread betting. With spread betting, any earnings you make from your trading are tax-free.
You can trade stocks, indices, forex, and commodities on Pepperstone, all as either CFDs or spread bets, and with up to 1:30 leverage for both ways of trading. You pay a spread for trading all assets on Pepperstone apart from share CFDs, which have a commission of up to 0.10%.
While Pepperstone doesn’t have a proprietary platform, it’s compatible with cTrader, MT4, and MT5. cTrader is a platform that’s for beginners, while MT4 and MT5 are packed with advanced trading tools and designed for experienced traders.
Overall, Pepperstone is an established spread betting platform and a secure broker registered by the FCA, so its users trade in confidence. It accepts a variety of payment methods, including PayPal, so you can enjoy fast deposits and withdrawals.
Pepperstone fees
| Fee | Amount |
| Stock trading fee | $0.02 per US stock |
| Forex trading fee | Spread, 1.59 pips for GBP/USD |
| Crypto trading fee | Spread, 50 pips for Bitcoin |
| Inactivity fee | Free |
| Withdrawal fee | Free |
Your capital is at risk.
14. Saxo Markets
The next one in the pipeline is Saxo Markets. Based in Canary Wharf, London, the broker has been offering access to over 40,000 instruments across a wide range of asset classes. In terms of regulation, Saxo Markets is authorised by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and is a popular UK trading platform for CFDs.
You can trade forex, ETFs, CFDs, commodities, futures, forex options, listed options, stocks, and bonds, with Saxo Markets offering up to 1:30 in leverage – the standard of the regulated brokers in the region.
One of the plus that Saxo Markets holds and makes it a heavyweight in the industry is the offering of their own proprietary trading platform. In fact, the firm offers two platforms: SaxoTraderGO and SaxoTraderPRO. The difference between them is that the PRO version allows the possibility to place algorithmic orders.
Overall,
Saxo Markets fees
| Fee | Amount |
| Stock trading fee | £5.00 for UK stocks |
| Forex trading fee | Spread, from 0.8 pips in EUR/USD |
| Crypto trading fee | N/A |
| Inactivity fee | In the UK, £25 after one-quarter of inactivity |
| Withdrawal fee | Free |
Your capital is at risk.
15. Interactive Brokers
If you are a seasoned stock trading pro – then Interactive Brokers is like to be up your street. This is because the platform comes packed with an abundance of supported markets and trading tools.
Regarding the former, Interactive Brokers gives you access to more than 135 markets in 33 countries. This means you can trade stocks listed in the US, Canada, Europe, Asia, and more.
In other words, if there is a low-cap international stock that you wish to trade, there is every chance that you will find it on this popular UK trading platform. In addition to the stock market, Interactive Brokers also allows you to trade ETFs, mutual funds, and more. In terms of stock trading fees, you can invest in US-listed stocks on a commission-free basis.
If your chosen market is based overseas, then you will pay a commission that varies depending on the market. When it comes to safety, Interactive Brokers has an excellent reputation. Not only was it first launched in the 1970s, but it is heavily regulated by several US-based authorities.
Interactive Brokers fees
| Fee | Amount |
| Stock trading fee | $0.02 per US stock |
| Forex trading fee | Spread, 1.59 pips for GBP/USD |
| Crypto trading fee | Spread, 50 pips for Bitcoin |
| Inactivity fee | Free |
| Withdrawal fee | Free |
Your capital is at risk.
How To Choose A UK Trading Platform
When choosing a UK trading platform, there are several key factors to consider:
- Regulatory compliance: Ensure that the platform is regulated by a reputable authority such as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This will help to protect your funds and ensure that the platform operates in a fair and transparent manner.
- Fees and commissions: Check the fees and commissions charged by the platform for trading. Look for a platform that offers competitive rates and transparent fee structures.
- User interface and functionality: Consider the platform’s user interface and functionality. A user-friendly platform with a range of tools and resources can make it easier to navigate and execute trades.
- Trading options: Look for a platform that offers a wide range of trading options, including stocks, forex, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. This can help to diversify your portfolio and potentially increase your profits.
- Security measures: Ensure that the platform has robust security measures in place to protect your account and personal information. This can include two-factor authentication, SSL encryption, and regular security audits.
- Customer support: Look for a platform with reliable and responsive customer support. This can help to ensure that any issues or questions are addressed promptly and efficiently.
It’s important to choose a UK trading platform that meets your specific trading needs and preferences while also providing a secure and reliable trading environment.
Best Trading Platforms UK – Fee Comparison
We’ve reviewed the UK’s trading sites, in terms of how they compare on fees, check out the table below to find out about the UK’s cheapest trading platforms with the lowest fees and no overnight fees.
| Trading Platform | Stock trading fees | Forex trading fees | Overnight fees |
| eToro | Free. | Fixed spread. 2 pips for GBP/USD. | Overnight fees for CFDs. No overnight fees for non-leveraged stocks, ETFs, and crypto. |
| Eightcap | From 0 pip + £3.5 commission, or from 1 pip + no commission | From 0 pip + £3.5 commission, or from 1 pip + no commission | Yes. Taken at end of each trading day at 9 pm GMT as interest, which may be positive or negative. |
| Libertex | 0%-0.46% commission. 0.034% for Amazon. | Commission. 0.008% for GBP/USD. | Yes. Taken at end of each trading day at 9 pm GMT as interest, which may be positive or negative. For CFDs, the overnight fee is triple when holding from Friday to Monday. |
| Fineco | Free for stock CFDs, £2.95 – £3.95 for real stocks. | Variable spread. 0.8 pips for GBP/USD. | No overnight fees. |
| Skilling | Variable spread. 22.81 pips for Amazon. | Variable spread. 1.3 pips for GBP/USD. | No overnight fees for stocks. For other assets, the overnight fee is taken at end of each trading day at 9 pm GMT as interest, which may be positive or negative. |
| Plus500 | Variable spread. 23.51 pips for Amazon. | Variable spread. 1.3 pips for GBP/USD. | Yes. Applies to all instruments. |
| IG | £0 – £10 commission. | Variable spread. 1.4 pips for GBP/USD. | Yes. Applies to forex, stocks, commodities, and indices. |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | £5.95 – £11.95. | N/A | No overnight fees. |
| Pepperstone | $0.02 per US share, 0.10% for German shares, 0.07% for Australian shares. | Variable spread. 1.59 pips for GBP/USD. | Yes. Applies to all instruments. |
| Saxo Markets | £5.00 for UK stocks. | Spread, from 0.8 pips in EUR/USD | Yes. |
| Interactive Brokers | $0.02 per US stock. | Spread, 1.59 pips for GBP/USD | Free. |
Trading Platform Assets & Software Comparison
Fees aren’t the only thing you’ll need to consider when choosing the right trading platform for you. Let’s take a look at how UK brokers match up in terms of tradable assets, software, and features.
| Trading Platform | Assets | Software | Features |
| eToro | Shares, ETFs, forex, commodities, indices, cryptocurrencies | Proprietary | Social trading, copy trading, CopyPortfolios |
| Eightcap | Shares, ETFs, forex, commodities, indices | MT4, MT5 | Economic news, market analysis |
| Libertex | Shares, ETFs, forex, commodities, indices, options | Proprietary, MT4 | Webinars, economic news |
| Fineco | Shares, ETFs, forex, indices, futures, funds | Proprietary | Technical analysis, historical reports, multi-charts |
| Skilling | Shares, forex, commodities, indices | Proprietary, cTrader, MT4 | Complete charting package, algorithmic trading |
| Plus500 | Shares, ETFs, forex, commodities, indices, options | Proprietary | Trader’s sentiments, risk management tool |
| IG | Shares, ETFs, forex, commodities, indices, options, futures | Proprietary, MT4, ProRealTime | Spread betting, free signals, algorithmic trading |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | Shares, ETFs, funds | Proprietary | Ready-made portfolios, expert insights |
| Pepperstone | Shares, forex, commodities, indices | cTrader, MT4, MT5 | Spread betting, market analysis |
| Saxo Markets | Forex, ETFs, CFDs, commodities, futures, forex options, listed options, stocks, bonds | SaxoTraderGO, SaxoTraderPRO | Algorithmic orders, one-click trading, options chains, charting packages. |
| Interactive Brokers | ETFs, mutual funds, stocks, futures, options, forex | IBKR Trading Platform, Workstation | OptionTrader and Probability Lab for simplified single and complex multi-leg option trading |
Popular Stock Trading Sites in the UK
These days, you don’t need to be sat at home on your computer to trade the financial markets. Virtually all brokers offer a mobile trading app for iPhone and Android devices, meaning you can trade from the palm of your hand whenever, wherever.
That being said, not every stock trading platform in the UK offers a seamless trading experience. eToro is widely regarded as being well designed, intuitive, and running smoothly.
It also offers the full functionality of the eToro website, so you can copy traders from a smartphone.
What Is The Cheapest UK Trading App?
It is difficult to pinpoint one trading app as the cheapest because all apps come with different fees and commissions. For the cheapest platform fees, eToro comes out on top because it does not charge for owning an account or depositing funds and charges low spreads. However, the platform does charge $5 for withdrawing funds which is worth considering before you take any money out of your account.
Your capital is at risk.
How to Choose the Best UK Online Brokers for You
With hundreds of online trading platforms now offering accounts to UK residents, it’s advisable to spend some time thinking about what your priorities are.
For example, are you looking to access a specific marketplace like UK forex or stocks, or are you more concerned with low fees and commissions – maybe you’re looking for a specific feature – like automated trading.
Either way, there’s lots to think about in your search for a trading broker in the UK. To help you along the way, below we list important factors to consider when choosing a UK broker. There are also many Reddit trading forums where UK traders recommend their best UK broker to invest with.
Regulation and Safety
To be regarded among the best UK brokers a trading platform would need to be licensed by at least one reputable financial body. Ideally, this should be with the British FCA – which is responsible for keeping United Kingdom trading and investment industry safe and transparent. By sticking with an FCA broker in the UK, you will benefit from a range of safety nets.
This includes:
- Segregated Funds: Considered the top trading platforms UK sign ups are accepted at, ones regulated by the FCA keep client funds in segregated bank accounts. This means that the platform cannot touch your money to service its own debt.
- Risk Warnings: All FCA-regulated platforms must clearly present the risks associated with trading. This is usually displayed on the homepage with a percentage outlining the number of retail clients that lose money.
- Regular Audits: UK brokers that are FCA-regulated will need to have their books audited on a regular basis. This ensures that you and your fellow investors can trade in a safe and secure environment.
In addition to the above, those regarded as the best UK trading platforms also tend to be covered by the FSCS. This means that your funds are protected up to the first £85,000 – should the platform cease to exist.
The eToro trading platform UK is one example – not only is it authorized and regulated by the FCA, but CySEC and ASIC, too. It is also registered with FINRA in the US – meaning that you have regulatory oversight on several fronts.
Assets
There are thousands of financial instruments across dozens of asset classes that can be traded online. But, not all UK trading brokers will give you access to your desired marketplace.
To be considered among the top trading platforms in the UK, traders expect access to the following tradeable markets:
- Stocks
- Bonds
- ETFs
- Indices
- Funds
- Commodities
- Cryptocurrencies
- Forex
Furthermore, and perhaps most importantly, you need to find out whether you are trading CFDs or buying the asset outright. If it’s a CFD instrument you are trading, you will not own the underlying asset. In turn, this does allow you to short-sell with ease and apply leverage of up to 1:30.
79% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
If, however, you want to invest in the traditional sense, you’ll want to avoid CFDs. This is particularly the case if you want to build a long-term investment plan, as CFDs attract overnight financing. You may consider choosing a UK trading platform that gives you access to both traditional assets and CFDs.
For example, eToro allows you to buy 2,400+ stocks, 250+ ETFs, and 16 cryptocurrencies. It also allows you to trade thousands of CFD markets, which in addition to the aforementioned, include forex, commodities, and indices.
Fees
Before choosing an online trading platform, it is important to understand the fees and commissions charged by the platform. Some platforms charge fees for trading, while others may have no fees, but instead charge a commission on each trade. It is important to compare the fees and commissions of different platforms to determine which one offers the best value. After all, the amount you need to pay to trade online can vary quite considerably.
The main fees that you need to consider in your hunt for brokers UK traders can sign up to are as follows:
Share Dealing Fees
Share dealing fees not only relate to the purchase of stocks, but other traditional assets like ETFs, mutual funds, and investment trusts. In all but a few rare cases, your chosen trading platform UK will charge a flat dealing fee.
This means that irrespective of how much you invest, the fee will remain the same. It goes without saying that this benefits investors that are looking to trade larger amounts.
- For example, let’s suppose that you signed up with popular UK stock broker Hargreaves Lansdown.
- If you purchased £150 worth of BT shares, the provider would charge you a flat dealing fee of £11.95.
- This means that in percentage terms, you’re paying a commission of almost 8%.
- Then, when you cash out your BT shares, you’d need to pay the £11.95 fee again.
If, however, you used UK trading platform eToro – the above transaction would have cost you nothing in commission. This is because the platform is 100% commission-free on all of its markets. Plus, the platform even waives the 0.5% stamp duty tax that you ordinarily need to pay on UK share purchases.
Trading Commission
If you decide to trade assets via a CFD instrument, then your chosen platform will charge you a variable fee. This is more beneficial to entry-level traders, as you won’t be penalized for placing small orders.
As always, the amount of commission that you pay can vary depending on which UK trading platform you sign up with.
- For example, let’s say your chosen UK trading platform charges a CFD commission of 0.2% per slide
- If you stake £500, you will pay a commission of £1 to enter the position
- If you close the trade when it is valued at £750, your 0.2% commission will amount to £1.50
Sure, this might not sound like a lot to pay. However, these costs can quickly add up – resulting in profitable trades becoming somewhat unviable. This is especially the case when you use a trading platform that has a minimum commission policy in place.
Fortunately, the UK brokers that we reviewed on this page allow you to trade CFDs commission-free. This includes eToro, Skilling, and Plus500.
Spreads
If you’re wondering how UK brokers make money when they don’t charge a commission – this comes via the spread. This is simply the difference between the buy and sell price of the financial instrument being traded.
- For example, let’s say you are trading Apple stocks on eToro
- The trading platform is currently quoting a ‘buy price’ of $135.10
- It is quoting a ‘sell price’ of $134.85
- Calculating the difference between the two prices gives us a spread of 0.18%
This means that when you open your Apple trade on eToro, your position is instantly 0.18% in the red. In other words, your trade needs to increase in value by 0.18% for you to get back to the break-even point. In this example, a spread of 0.18% is very competitive – especially when you consider that eToro is commission-free.
Other Trading Platform Fees
The main costs to explore in depth are related to share dealing fees, commissions, and spreads. However, there are other charges that your chosen UK trading platform might have in place, which includes:
- Overnight Financing: If you are trading CFDs, you will always need to pay an overnight financing fee if your position remains open past a certain time of the day. For example, at eToro, this kicks in after 10 pm UK time. This is why CFDs are only suitable for short-term strategies, as they are charged by all UK trading platforms
- Transaction Fees: Some UK online brokers allow you to deposit and withdraw funds fee-free, while others will implement a charge. This might be based on your chosen payment method or because you are using a platform that is denominated in a currency other than GBP.
- Inactivity Fees: Certain UK brokers charge a fee if your account remains inactive for a certain amount of time.
- FX Trading Fees: In a lot of cases, UK brokers charge an FX when you wish to buy, sell, or trade a non-UK-listed asset. For example, Hargreaves Lansdown will charge you its standard share dealing fee of £11.95 to buy US stocks, plus a 1% FX mark-up.
All in all, fees and commissions can and will have a major impact on your ability to make gains, so make sure you understand what you are paying before opening an account.
The Tools & Features Available at UK Trading Sites
Some UK brokers keep things simple by allowing you to buy and sell assets – and nothing more. In other cases, your chosen provider might offer an abundance of tools and features that can take your investment endeavors to the next level.
Below you will find a selection of useful tools and trading apps UK investors can make use of.
Fractional Ownership and Low Minimums
Not all UK traders want to risk thousands of pounds on a single investment. On the contrary, some of you might just be starting out and thus – want to trade with small stakes. That’s why many traders prefer UK brokers that offer ‘fractional ownership’.
For those unaware, this means that you can own or trade a ‘fraction’ of an asset, rather than needing to purchase it outright. An example of this is eToro which allows you to trade cryptocurrencies from just $25 upwards.
79% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
In the case of stocks, the minimum is just $50. This means that you don’t need to fork out over $800 to buy a single Tesla share or $100,000 on a USD/AUD lot.
In line with fractional ownership, trading apps in the UK allow you to get started with a small amount. This means a low minimum deposit that is affordable for traders of all budget levels.
Automated Trading
Automated trading is getting more and more popular in the online space. The main concept is that you can actively trade without needing to do any research. In fact, some automated trading tools will go one step further by placing orders on your behalf. Not only does this suit traders with no experience, but those with little time to analyze the markets.
There are several ways in which you can automate your trades. Some in the UK opt to purchase a trading robot, which they then install into MT4. In order to do this, you’ll need to ensure that your chosen provider supports this third-party platform.
With that said, the safest way to engage in an automated trading platform is to do this directly through an FCA broker. eToro, for example, offers a Copy Trading feature that does not attract any additional fees. All you need to do is decide which verified eToro trader you wish to copy, and the platform will then mirror all trades in your own portfolio.
Orders
Irrespective of which trading platform you use or the asset you wish to access, you will always need to place a series of orders to execute your position.
This essentially lets your chosen trading platform know what you want to achieve. All UK brokers will offer buy and sell orders, as this is required to enter and exit your trade.
Most UK providers in this space will also offer risk-management orders. This should include stop-loss and take-profit orders at a minimum, but trailing stop-loss and guaranteed stop-loss orders are also very useful.
Research and Analysis
Unless you are planning to trade recklessly, you should never execute a position unless it is based on some form of research. Otherwise, you may as well be gambling. To aid your research process, many online trading platforms in the UK will offer an assortment of analysis tools.
For example, platforms like eToro give you access to pricing charts on all of its supported assets. It also offers fundamental data on major stocks, as well as guidance on current market sentiment. Most UK brokers also offer direct access to financial news, which is especially important for long-term investors.
Demo Account
Irrespective of whether you are a seasoned pro or a first-time trader, demo accounts are invaluable. These are offered by many UK trading platforms and allow you to gain access to real market conditions without risking any money. Instead, you’ll be traded with paper funds.
For example, eToro offers demo accounts that come pre-loaded with $100,000. You will still have access to the same markets, prices, and trading volume – which is for testing the waters before you make a real deposit. Even if you have some experience of online trading, demo accounts are also used to try out new trading strategies.
Mobile App
Trading platforms in the UK usually offer a mobile investment app that is compatible with Android and iOS. Sure, you might be planning to trade via your desktop computer or laptop.
But, there might come a time when you need to place a trade when you are on the move. A prime example of this Gamestop (GME) – which prior to writing this guide, saw its share price drop by 60%.
As such, if you had a position in this stock and were unable to close it until you got home, your losses would have been significant.
On the other hand, if you had access to a mobile trading app, you could have exited the position instantly and reduced your losses by some distance.
The most popular mobile trading apps also offer other key account features. For example, the eToro mobile app allows you to check the value of your portfolio in real-time, deposit and withdraw funds, and even speak to customer support via live chat.
Payment Methods
When you go through the process of opening an account with a trading platform, you will be asked to deposit some funds. Trading platforms with instant deposits allow you to do this immediatly with a debit or credit card. Similarly, platforms like eToro, Libertex, and Skilling also accept e-wallets.
With that said, some trading platforms in the UK only support bank account deposits. This can take a few days to reach your trading account, meaning it won’t be suitable if you want to buy an asset immediately. You also need to check what fees are attached to your chosen payment method.
Customer Service
It’s always an idea to see what customer support channels the best trading platform UK offers. Ideally, the provider should offer a live chat feature. Telephone support is also notable, as you’ll be able to speak with an agent in real-time. If, however, the trading platform only offers support via email, this means that you might need to wait several hours to receive a response.
How to Get Started with a UK Online Broker
This section of our guide will show you how to get started with an online trading platform. We walk you through the process of opening an account, making a deposit, and placing your first trade.
Step 1: Open a Trading Account on Trading Site
Open a free account at an FCA regulated platform. You’ll first enter your name, email and choose a password.
Read the terms and conditions, privacy policy and accept those.
Step 2: Confirm Identity
An FCA-regulated trading platform will need to verify your identity to meet anti-money laundering (AML) regulation.
To do this, upload a copy of your:
- Valid passport or driver’s license
- Utility bill or bank account statement (issued within the last 3 months)
You can upload these documents at a later date as long as you are not depositing more than $2,250 (about £1,700).
Step 3: Deposit Funds
If you want to use a demo account first, you can do this to get comfortable with how the trading platform works.
When you’re ready to trade with real money, you can choose from the following payment methods:
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Maestro
- Paypal
- Skrill
- Neteller
- Bank Transfer
Step 4: Search for a Trading Market
Once your deposit has been processed you can start. On the dashboard, click on the ‘Trade Markets’ button to see what assets are supported. Or, if you already know which asset you want to trade, search for it.
Step 5: Place a CFD Trade
Once you click on the ‘Trade’ button next to your chosen asset, an order box will appear.
You then need to fill in the following fields:
- Buy/Sell: If you think the asset will rise in value, place a buy order. Or, place a sell order if you think the asset will fall in value.
- Amount: Enter your stake into the ‘Amount’ box.
- Leverage: Apart from cryptocurrencies (as per FCA regulations),
If you wish, you can also place stop-loss, trailing stop-loss, and take-profit orders on your trade.
To complete your trade, click on the ‘Open Trade’ button.
Latest Trading News in June 2023
- The UK has freed up £4 billion in export finance to boost a post-Brexit trade with Morocco. The fund will be used to support Moroccan buyers so long as 20 percent of content is from UK-based firms. The UK continues to search for global trading opportunities after leaving the EU.
- UK stocks have recently experienced the worst non-covid slowdown since the financial crisis. However, on Wednesday, the FTSE 100 rose by 0.2%. The CAC also rose by 0.2% in Paris and the Frankfurt DAX rose by 0.1%.
- Royal Mail staff have declared a strike over Black Friday weekend. This could cause major delays to the delivery of millions of goods. The postal strikes will last 48 hours
- The UK’s Finance Ministry has scrapped plans for a veto over financial regulators. This comes after theBank of England warned that the plan would undermine its independence and backfire on the financial sector.
- The FTSE has slipped due to a large number of stocks going ex-dividend. Shares of bootmaker Doc Martin dropped as the result of a weak Christmas demand. Trading volumes have been light overall due to US markets closing for Thanksgiving.
Popular Online Trading Platform UK – The Verdict
With more and more UK trading platforms entering the online marketplace, never before has it been so accessible to invest online. Whether you’re interested in stocks, forex, cryptocurrencies, or CFDs – UK trading platforms will often give you access to thousands of markets.
The most popular UK broker with the widest user base that we reviewed above is also regulated by the FCA in Britain, with zero commission trading.
FAQs
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Michael Graw
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