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74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
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Use our interactive tool to find UK trading platforms that offer a variety of asset classes across various markets. We review licensed and regulated brokers that provide UK traders access to stocks, forex and crypto, among other financial instruments.
This guide provides an in-depth analysis of trading platforms UK that are regulated by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority). The prupose of this guide is to help UK traders to better understand the options that are available, so that they can make informed trading decisions.
There are numerous platforms online that present varied features and access to different asset classes. Traders can have different requirements and trading strategies to consider when selecting the most suitable broker to use. UK based traders may wish to identify the different types of services these platforms offer when looking to trade online. The most popular online trading platforms in the UK cater to both beginners and advanced traders, while providing access to an array of financial markets. These platforms are easy to use, present low fees and have 24/7 live chat customer support.
We spent time reviewing 14 UK trading platforms that can be used to trade a variety of assets. Our findings are presented below in a series of mini reviews that outline the main features that each platform has to offer, the type of trading that each platform is suitable for and the platform fees.
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76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
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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.
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76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
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75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
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67.3% of CFD clients lose money.
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81% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
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76.6% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider.
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To provide valuable information that could help readers to better understand different UK trading sites, we spent time carefully reviewing each platform. During our reviews, we looked at regulation, fees, platform features and asset availability. It is possible to find this information on the broker’s website. Regulatory status should be clearly displayed with proof of certification and fees should be evidently disclosed. To better understand how we ranked each platform, here is an overview of the ranking criteria that was used.
After carefully reviewing each of the platforms, those that met the criteria were placed nearer the top of our list. However, this does not mean that the sites in positions 1-3 are the most suitable for every trader. It is important to read through each mini review and conduct your own research before choosing which platform to use.
The UK stock market is one of the largest and most liquid in the world, with a total market capitalisation of £4.4 trillion as of June 2022. With so many trading sites available in the online arena, knowing which provider to sign up with can be challenging.
Users may wish to research specific metrics about the broker before signing up. These factors include queries such as what commissions are charged, which asset classes can be traded, and how accessible the platform is.
To save traders time on researching, below we provide an in-depth review of the most popular trading platforms that currently cater to UK based individuals.
Launched in 2007, eToro is an online trading platform with more than 27 million clients as of Q2 2023. This platform allows users to trade 25 different crypto tokens as well as a range of other financial instruments.
Regarding fees, eToro charges commissions on most instruments including stocks, ETFs amd crypto. Users may also need to watch out for conversion fees when trading currencies with the broker.
Long term crypto investors can also access a handful of ready-made smart portfolios. These are a collection of assets that have been picked based on expert analysis. The portfolios are managed and balanced by professional traders which makes them appealing to investors who want to reduce research and analysis time.
Of course, there is no guarantee that the portfolios with generate returns and it is a good idea to regularly monitor performance and stay up to date with market conditions if you choose to invest any money.
eToro hosts more than 2,400 stocks from 17 different international markets, 250+ ETFs (exchange-traded funds), 25 cryptocurrencies, and thousands of CFDs. Regarding the latter, this includes everything from gold and silver to oil and forex.
In terms of accessibility, eToro offers a mobile app for iPhone and Android. This means that users can manage their portfolios on the go and access their accounts at anytime.
eToro is also known for offering copy trading features that allow users to mirror that trading strategies of experienced traders.
This works by selecting a verified trader, choosing the desired investment amount (minimum $200), which then mirrors all ongoing trades in a user’s own eToro portfolio.
eToro Fees
| Fee | Amount |
| Stock trading fee | Commissions |
| Forex trading fee | Spread, 2.1 pips for GBP/USD |
| Crypto trading fee | 1% commission |
| Inactivity fee | $10 a month after one year |
| Withdrawal fee | $5 |
What we like:
What we don’t like:
Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment, and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more. "
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 which is among the most popular trading platforms for mac. XTB’s considerably lower spreads set it apart from its competitors, but its ancillary costs are on par with industry standards.
For traders who want to reduce costs, XTB is a viable option, considering the low cost of placing a trade (bid/ask spread) and not having to deal with extraneous charges such as wire fees. A non-U.K. account at XTB permits maximum leverage of 500:1, while a UK account allows up to 30:1. In addition, the platform focuses on customer service and offers relevant educational tools with research amenities that are suitable for novice traders.
XTB Fees
| Fee | Amount |
| Stock trading fee | 0.03% |
| Forex trading fee | Between 0.05 – 1 pips incorporated into spread |
| Crypto trading fee | $4 |
| Inactivity fee | After 12 months €10 |
| Withdrawal fee | 1.5% with credit cards |
What we like:
What we don’t like:
Capital at risk.
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 a user-friendly interface, educational resources, and top-notch customer support to provide help and assistance to users on their trading journey.
In addition to its 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, while also offering negative balance protection. Comprising a range of trading tools, including market analysis and economic calendars, AvaTrade empowers its clients to make informed trading decisions. Whether a person is just a beginner or an experienced trader, AvaTrade offers everything to navigate the dynamic world of online trading.
AvaTrade Fees
| Fee | Amount |
| Stock trading fee | Commission in spread between 0.1 – 2% markup across different assets |
| Forex trading fee | Between 0.5 – 1.6 pips incorporated into spread |
| Inactivity fee | After 3 months £50 |
| Withdrawal fee | 1.5% with credit cards |
What we like:
What we don’t like:
Your money is at risk.
Next on our list of trading platforms in the UK is Trade Nation, a regulated broker that offers spread betting, CFD trading, forex trading and access to major indices.
Trade Nation is fully regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, as well as by a number of other financial regulators around the globe. Furthermore, Trade Nation users can also access an FCA regulated signals software, which is one of the only regulated signals providers on the market.
Trade Nation has low fixed-spreads that start at just 0.6 pips. The platform also has a free demo account and no minimum deposit requirement through which it is possible to test out spread-betting strategies.
Traders can choose between the TN Trader platform or MT4 to conduct analysis and place trades. Trade Nation is available on both desktop and mobile for a seamless trading experience that suits all traders.
The platform provides traders with numerous educational resources and charting tools to help users make informed trading decisions. Trade Nation also provides real-time market insights from experts. Users can access Trade Nation’s customer support services 24/5.
Trade Nation Fees
| Fee | Amount |
| Stock trading fee | Variable spread. 0.1% for UK stocks, 0.2% for European |
| Forex trading fee | Variable spread. 0.8 pips average for GBP/USD |
| Inactivity fee | None |
| Withdrawal fee | Free |
What we like:
What we don’t like:
75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs
with this provider.
Admiral Markets was established in 2001 and considers themselves as a trading and investment ecosystem. The platform has a variety of features and offers users the possibility to trade and invest in over 8000 different market instruments. These comprise of CFDs for forex, commodities, indices, stocks, ETFs and bonds. Admiral Markets has many account types that offer different trading instruments, and varied parameters for leverage, account currencies and deposit & trade amounts. Users will want to evaluate which account type is best suited to their requirements before signing up. Admiral’s trading platform connects through both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, and also offers spread betting exclusively to UK clients.
Like many other UK trading platforms, Admiral Markets has a dedicated education section to assist traders on their journey. The platform offers several webinars, articles, tutorials, trading & forex courses, video guides and a trader’s glossary. Aside from education, Admiral Markets also assists their customers with dedicated analytics features. This includes a forex calendar, trading news section, global market updates, weekly trading podcast, fundamental analysis on micro/macro economic factors, a market heat map and market sentiment charts for bull/bear signals.
Admiral also provides traders with advanced trading tools through MetaTrader Supreme Edition and StereoTrader add-on downloads. SteroTrader is a MetaTrader trading panel and provides users with extra options that can enhance efficiency in trading. Features include dedicated asset statistics, multiple charting tools, and advanced trading controls and automation. MetaTrader Supreme gives users the most advanced tools to enhance their trading experience. This trading panel boasts advanced technical insights and analysis on virtually every financial instrument. The features include global opinion widgets, mini terminal for multi asset trading, tick chart trader allowing traders to better monitor price movements, connect tool giving real-time news analysis and importing of RSS feeds, a package of various indicators for better analysis, and a trading simulator giving traders the option to backtest their strategies.
Admiral Markets Fees
| Fee | Amount |
| Stock trading fee | $0.02 per US share, 0.1% – 0.15% for other markets |
| Forex trading fee | £1.4 – £2.4 per 1.0 lots / Zero.MT4 account type spreads start from 0 pips |
| Inactivity fee | €10 per month after 24 months of inactivity |
| Withdrawal fee | One free withdrawal request per month for all payment methods and 1% thereafter. For bank transfer 10 EUR/USD/GBP/CHF thereafter. |
What we like:
What we don’t like:
74% of CFD clients lose money.
Pepperstone is the next platform in our review list. This broker is slightly different from others in that while it offers CFD trading, it also offers spread betting. With spread betting, any earnings made from trading are tax-free.
Users 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 more suited for newer traders, 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 traders 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 |
What we like:
What we don’t like:
Your capital is at risk.
Plus500 is a multi-asset group that offers state of the art trading platforms. The Plus500 Group was founded in 2008 and quickly expanded their operations to the UK by 2011. This trading platform is a UK based company that provides a variety of CFD trading services. Plus500 specializes in offering CFDs in commodities, shares, forex, indices, options and ETFs, and since 2021 boasts a global customer base of over 20 million users. It is noteworthy to mention that this UK trading platform is an FTSE250 company and is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange. Additionally, the Plus500 Group has established subsidiaries worldwide across Australia, Cyprus, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA.
A highlight of Plus500 is that the platform has no commissions, low fees and tight spreads. Most of the services offered are free of charge and clients benefit from zero fees on deposits, live share CFD prices, real-time forex quotes, opening/closing trades, dynamic charts & graphs and roll over positions. The company is very transparent with what fees they do charge which includes overnight fees, currency conversion for trades which are not in the primary currency of users’ account, guaranteed stop order which derives slightly higher spreads, and inactivity fees.
Another unique feature of this UK trading platform is that they offer a +Insights social trading feature, enabling its users to analyse millions of Plus500 customers’ activity in real-time. This allows users to see other traders’ trends and analyse results top to bottom in a visual manner. Trades can also be immediately placed from the +Insights section allowing a similar function to social copy trading. Aside from this, Plus 500 offers other education and insights features to assist traders including a trading academy, an economic calendar section, market alerts, and news & market insights section. They also provide dedicated 24/7 support whereby users can get assistance through online live chat, email and WhatsApp too.
All in all, Plus500 is a viable option when considering trading platforms in the UK. Being regulated, they hold clients’ funds on a segregated basis following the FCA client money rules. Plus500 presents a user-friendly trading interface, offering both web and mobile services on IoS and Android, giving traders access to over 2800 financial instruments.
Plus500 Fees
| Fee | Amount |
| Stock trading fee | Fees incorporated into spread between 0.7 – 2 pips |
| Forex trading fee | 0.7% mark up for trades on instruments denominated in a different currency to user accounts |
| Inactivity fee | $10 per month after 3 months of inactivity |
| Withdrawal fee | Free |
What we like:
What we don’t like:
81% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
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 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 £3.50 commission, while standard accounts have no commission and spreads starting from just 1 pip.
Both accounts offer premium liquidity, fast execution, complete transparency with direct market access and no price manipulation, so traders can enjoy these benefits with whichever chosen option.
Another highlight is that Eightcap is compatible with both MT4 and MT5, allowing users to have access to the wide range of advanced trading tools available on these two platforms.
Traders can get started on Eightcap with a deposit of just $100, which can be made through a variety of different payment methods, including 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 |
What we like:
What we don’t like:
Your capital is at risk
For traders 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 access to dozens of non-UK exchanges. This includes markets in the US, Canada, Asia, Europe, Australia, and more. For traders 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 its trading markets. In terms of buying UK stocks, the cost is £2.95 per trade, while US stocks cost $5.95 per trade, and other markets are priced differently.
Either way, buying tradable 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.
For users wishing to get started with Fineco Bank for their online trading needs, the minimum deposit is just £100. However, depositors will need to transfer funds directly from a bank account as the provider doesn’t support debit or credit cards. Finally, Fineco Bank is regulated in several countries. This includes being licenced by the FCA, and funds on the platform 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 |
What we like:
What we don’t like:
Skilling is a broker that is relatively simple to use – especially when it comes to placing buy and sell orders. Plus, Skilling offers trading education – with the platform being packed with guides and explainers.
This UK trading broker specializes exclusively in CFDs, so users won’t be able to buy traditional assets. But, the platform allows trading of 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 is being traded, 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, users can trade major currency pairs from just 0.1 pips during standard market hours.
Although Skilling offers tools for newer traders, the platform is also used by seasoned pros that wish to trade via MT4 or cTrader. Once a desired third-party platform is connected to Skilling,further access to heaps of advanced orders and charting analysis tools is permitted. 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 authorisation from the FCA to accept UK traders, and full regulation with CySEC and the FSA. Once an account is opened with Skilling – which rarely takes more than a few minutes, traders can deposit funds instantly with a debit/credit card or e-wallet. The minimum deposit is just £100, which allows users 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 |
What we like:
What we don’t like:
75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
While many investors like to deploy short-term trading strategies, some might be in it for the long run. By this, we mean that some traders may be looking to buy stocks or funds and keep hold of the investment for several years. IG Trading is a UK trading platform that supports long term 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, traders will have access to thousands of traditional assets.
This includes heaps of UK stocks that can be purchased from £3 per trade. If, however, users place less than three trades per month, then the commission to pay is £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 traders can get their commission down to £0 in the event of regular trading. For users 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 the chosen instrument.
Nevertheless, IG is also worth considering for traders looking to trade CFDs. The platform hosts more than 17,000 market assets, 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.
For users wishing to actively trade CFDs, the IG web-trader can be used or the account can be connected to MT4. IG also offers a mobile trading app, which is available on both iOS and Android devices.For traders wanting to open an account with this broker, the minimum deposit is £250. The account can be funded 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 |
What we like:
What we don’t like:
Your capital is at risk.
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 ISAs, lifetime ISAs, junior ISAs, and cash ISAs, and pensions. Traders 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, allowing users to 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 charges £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 helpful to some investors. For starters, it has a vast amount of research material as well as some useful tools to analyse the markets. Users 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 making it easy to trade on the go. The platform also provides help and assistance whereby users can 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 |
What we like:
What we don’t like:
Your capital is at risk.
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 trading platform for CFDs.
Users 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 for regulated brokers in the region.
One of the pluses 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 |
What we like:
What we don’t like:
Your capital is at risk.
For traders that are looking for advanced analysis tools– Interactive Brokers is likely 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 investors 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 it can be found on this UK trading platform. In addition to the stock market, Interactive Brokers also allows users to trade ETFs, mutual funds, and more. In terms of stock trading fees, traders can invest in US-listed stocks on a commission-free basis.
If the chosen market is based overseas, then a commission will need to be paid 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 |
What we like:
What we don’t like:
Your capital is at risk.
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 | Variable commissions | Fixed spread. 2 pips for GBP/USD. | Overnight fees for CFDs. No overnight fees for non-leveraged stocks, ETFs, and crypto. |
| XTB | 0% for stock CFDs with 0.3% markup in the spread | Between 0.05 – 1 pips incorporated into spread | Yes calculated using swap point rates. Some commodities and indices are exempt |
| AvaTrade | Commission in spread between 0.1 – 2% markup across different assets | Between 0.5 – 1.6 pips incorporated into spread | Yes for leveraged positions, and for all other positions held over weekends |
| Plus500 | Variable spread. 23.51 pips for Amazon. | Variable spread. 0.7% of realised PnL | Yes. Applies to all instruments. |
| Trade Nation | Variable spread. 0.1% for UK stocks, 0.2% for European stocks, flat $0.04 spread for US stocks | Variable spread. 0.8 pips average for GBP/USD | Yes in Rolling Cash markets. No overnight fee for futures. |
| Admiral Markets | $0.02 per US share, 0.1% – 0.15% for other markets | £1.4 – £2.4 per 1.0 lots / Zero.MT4 account type spreads start from 0 pips | Yes for all margin & leveraged positions. None for shares and ETFs. |
| 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. |
| Fineco | Free for stock CFDs, £2.95 – £3.95 for real stocks. | 2.95% + Variable spread. 1.0 pips for GBP/USD. | Overnight fees for CFD positions 2.5%-3% |
| 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. |
| IG | £0 – £10 commission. | Variable spread. 0.5% fee | 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. 1.51 pips for GBP/USD. 0.51 for premium account. | Yes. Applies to all instruments. |
| Saxo Markets | £5.00 for UK stocks. | Spread from 0.7 pips for EUR/USD. | Yes. |
| Interactive Brokers | $0.0005-$0.0035 per share. | Spread, 0.08 – 0.2 basis points (x) Trade Value per order | Free for accounts with 3x margin requirement. CFDs at +/-1.5%. |
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 |
| XTB | Forex, shares, indices, metals, commodities, cryptocurrencies | Proprietary xStation5, MT4 | Market news, market calendar, live webinars |
| AvaTrade | Forex, stocks, indices, commodities, options, ETFs, bonds | Proprietary web & mobile platform, MT4, MT5 | Social trading, copy trading, spread betting, options trading, education articles & videos |
| Plus500 | CFDs in indices, forex, commodities, shares, options, ETFs | Proprietary | Trader’s sentiments, risk management tool, news & market updates, +Insights section to analyse customer activity |
| Trade Nation | Indices, forex, stocks, commodities | Proprietary TN Trader, MT4 | Insights hub, trading tools, market information, dividend projections |
| Admiral Markets | CFDs for forex, commodities, indices, stocks, ETFs and bonds | MT4, MT5, MetaTrader Supreme, proprietary mobile webtrader | Fractional shares, spread betting, StereoTrader panel access in MetaTrader, education & tutorials, vast analytics section |
| Eightcap | Shares, ETFs, forex, commodities, indices | MT4, MT5 | Economic news, market analysis |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Your capital is at risk.
UK trading platforms are online tools for traders that can be used to buy, sell and swap financial assets. They act as a bridge between traders and the financial markets. These platforms enable users to participate in trading financial assets through a user-friendly interface. A number of UK trading platforms facilitate a variety of trading strategies, including long-term investing, day trading, swing trading and more. Traders can use the features that are offered in order to streamline the trading process and make better informed decisions when analysing the markets.
It is important to note that UK trading platforms may offer varied types of services catering towards different asset classes. Some trading platforms may offer more of a variety of stocks from different markets, while others may specifically be focused on cryptocurrencies. It is important to consider this when choosing which platform to use and evaluate whether it covers the necessary asset classes desired. Here is an overview of the various types of trading platforms that users may come across.
Stock trading platforms in the UK allow users to invest in and trade traditional stocks and shares. These platforms typically provide access to the most popular stocks from around the globe. Stock trading platforms in the UK are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This means that the platforms must adhere to regulatory guidelines that are put in place to protect investors.
Most UK stock trading platforms will provide features that can be used to make informed trading decisions. These include research and analysis tools, as well as real-time market insights. Traders can use the platforms to build a stock portfolio that can be accessed over the internet.
Forex trading platforms provide access to the foreign exchange (forex) markets. These platforms are designed to facilitate forex trading, which involves buying and selling currencies.
Forex traders typically use short term strategies to make small profits over a shorter time period. Therefore, forex trading platforms often provide advanced charting tools that can be used to conduct technical analysis.
UK cryptocurrency trading platforms are online applications that can be used to buy and sell crypto assets and DeFi coins. Crypto trading platforms in the UK are either centralised (regulated by a central authority), or decentralised (secured by blockchain technology). Both types of cryptocurrency trading platforms are legal to use in the UK.
Centralised trading platforms are often regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. However, decentralised crypto trading platforms in the UK are currently unregulated.
Much like other types of trading platforms in the UK, cryptocurrency exchanges provide traders with tools and features that can be used to make informed trading decisions. However, the exact features that are offered by crypto trading sites may differ. For example, crypto trading platforms may provide information about tokenomics that is not applicable to traditional stocks and shares.
Some UK trading platforms allow traders to access a variety of financial markets as well as cryptocurrencies, including stocks and shares, commodities and forex. However, the crypto assets bought on these are owned by a custodian and users will not be able to withdraw those assets to their own wallets. However, these platforms can be used to build a diversified portfolio that taps into each market. Diversification is a good way to minimise trading risk, especially during times of high market volatility.
Most trading platforms don’t charge users to sign up, however, they do require users to pay some trading fees. So ultimately no, trading platforms are not free and charges can include commissions, spreads, deposit/withdrawal and maintenance fees. Below we outline some of the fee types, which are covered in greater detail at the fees section.
With hundreds of online trading platforms available to UK residents, it is important to consider certain factors before opening an account. It is understandable that users may have different requirements and priorities when selecting the most viable platform. For example, some traders may wish to access specific markets such as UK forex or stocks, while others may have a preference for lower fees and commissions. Some traders may specifically be looking for a platform that can accommodate algorithmic trading.
Regardless of the preference there are many different features on offer when considering the right UK trading brokerage platform. To save our readers time, below we list some important features to consider that UK trading platforms present.
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 Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) – which is responsible for keeping the United Kingdom trading and investment industry safe and transparent. By sticking with an FCA broker in the UK, users will benefit from a range of safety nets.
This includes:
In addition to the above, those regarded as the safest trading platforms also tend to be covered by the FSCS. This means that user funds are protected up to the first £85,000 – should the platform cease to exist.
There are thousands of financial instruments across dozens of asset classes that can be traded online. But not all UK trading brokers will give access to every single global marketplace.
To be considered among the leading trading platforms in the UK, traders expect access to the following tradeable markets:
Furthermore, and perhaps most importantly, users should be considerate of whether the platform provides trading CFDs or allows users to buy the asset outright. If it’s a CFD instrument, the trader does not own the underlying asset. In turn, this does allow traders to short-sell with ease and apply leverage of up to 1:30.
74% 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.
CFDs may not be suitable for users taking a more traditional approach to investing. This is particularly the case for investors wanting to build a long-term investment plan, as CFDs attract overnight financing. To ensure access to both types of instruments, traders may consider choosing a trading platform in the UK that gives access to both traditional assets and CFDs.
For example, eToro offers 2,400+ stocks, 250+ ETFs, and 25 cryptocurrencies. It also allows trading of thousands of CFD markets, which in addition to the aforementioned, include forex, commodities, and indices.
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 that traders need to pay to trade online can vary quite considerably.
The main fees to consider when seeking a suitable broker for UK traders are covered below:
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, a chosen trading platform in the UK will charge a flat dealing fee.
This means that irrespective of how much is invested, the fee will remain the same. It goes without saying that this benefits investors that are looking to trade larger amounts.
If users decide to trade assets via a CFD instrument, then the chosen platform will charge a variable fee. This is more beneficial to entry-level traders, as they won’t be penalised for placing small orders.
As always, the amount of commission to pay can vary depending on rates offered by different UK trading platforms.
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.
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.
This means that when the trader opens the Apple trade on eToro, the position is instantly 0.18% in the red. In other words, the 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.
The main costs to explore in depth are related to share dealing fees, commissions, and spreads. However, there are other charges that your chosen platform might have in place, which includes:
All in all, fees and commissions can and will have a major impact on the ability to make gains, so users should make sure they understand what they are paying before opening an account.
Trading platforms in the UK should provide users with a range of research and analysis tools that can be used to make informed trading decisions. This is helpful for novices when looking for trading sites that offer both beginner and advanced research tools as well as educational guides about how to use them.
For example, eToro offers real-time market insight, a financial news feed, expert analysis and helpful price charts that can be used to determine profitable trading opportunities. Advanced traders may also want to look for platforms that offer advanced charting tools and indicators for technical analysis.
Some good research and analysis tools to look for when choosing the most feature rich UK trading platform include:
Market news is helpful for determining potential trading opportunities. The news can have a huge impact on the price of stocks so it is important to be aware of influential news stories. Reliable platforms should provide real-time news that is updated to reflect the most recent stories.
Trading platforms should provide real-time market data that can be used to analyse stocks. The financial markets move quickly so it is essential that any data provided by platforms is up-to-date.
Most trading platforms will provide easy-to-navigate price charts. It is possible to use these charts to conduct analysis and make predictions about future price movements.
Whether you are new to trading in the UK or you are an experienced trader who wants to improve your skills, it is helpful to choose a platform that provides educational materials such as in-depth guides. This can help improve trading skills and navigate the different functionalities of the platform.
Some UK brokers have limited features, allowing users to only buy and sell assets – and nothing more. In other cases, a chosen provider might offer an abundance of tools and features that can enhance investment endeavours to the next level.
Below we cover a selection of useful tools and trading apps UK investors can make use of.
Not all UK traders want to risk thousands of pounds on a single investment. On the contrary, some 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 traders can own or trade a ‘fraction’ of an asset, rather than needing to purchase it outright. An example of this is eToro which allows users to trade cryptocurrencies from $20 upwards.
74% 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 traders 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 investors to get started with a small amount. This means a low minimum deposit that is affordable for traders of all budget levels.
Automated trading is getting more and more popular in the online space. The main concept is that users can actively trade without needing to do any research. In fact, some automated trading tools will go one step further by placing orders on traders’ behalf. Not only does this suit traders with no experience, but those with little time to analyse the markets.
There are several ways in which trades can be automated. Some in the UK opt to purchase a trading robot, which is then installed into a platform such as MT4. In order to do this, traders will need to ensure that your chosen provider supports this third-party platform.
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.
Unless an investor is planning to trade recklessly, a position should never be executed unless it is based on some form of research. Otherwise, it may as well be gambling. To aid in the research process, many online trading platforms in the UK will offer an assortment of analysis tools.
For example, platforms like eToro give 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 accounts are invaluable to traders in the UK. These are offered by many platforms and allow traders to gain access to real market conditions without risking any money. Instead, users will be trading with paper funds.
For example, eToro offers demo accounts that come pre-loaded with $100,000. Traders will still have access to the same markets, prices, and trading volume – which is for testing the waters before making a real deposit. Even for users who have some experience of online trading, demo accounts are also used to try out new trading strategies.
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.
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 immediately with a debit or credit card. Similarly, some platforms 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.
It’s always good to consider what customer support channels are offered by the trading platform. Ideally, the provider should offer a live chat feature. Telephone support is also a notable feature as users can speak with a live agent in real-time. If, however, the platform only provides email support, then clients may have to wait several hours to receive a response.
This section of our guide will show users how to get started with an online trading platform. We provide a walk-through of the process of opening an account, making a deposit, and placing first trades.
Head to the official trading platform homepage and navigate to the account set up option. You’ll first enter your name, email and choose a password.
Read the terms and conditions, privacy policy and accept those.
You will need to verify your identity to meet anti-money laundering (AML) and KYC regulations.
To do this, upload a copy of your:
You can upload these documents at a later date as long as you are not depositing more than $2,250 (about £1,700).
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:
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.
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:
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.
There is quite a bit of choice when selecting a suitable UK trading platform. Many of them have long entered the online trading marketplace and it is becoming increasingly accessible to invest online. Whether it’s stocks, forex, cryptocurrencies, or CFDs, trading platforms in the UK provide access to thousands of global markets across different asset classes.
eToro has a wide user base in the UK and is available on both desktop and mobile. The platform offers access to a variety of asset markets, has substantially low fees, and offers copy trading.
Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment, and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more. "
If you want to trade for free, then you’ll need to use an online platform that doesn’t charge a sign up fee. eToro does not charge any fees for creating an account and it is possible to use the demo trading feature without depositing any funds.
Lots of UK trading platforms now give you access to US shares. However, users need to keep an eye on fees – as most charge a premium when buying non-UK assets. eToro, on the other hand, allows users to purchase hundreds of US shares with low commissions.
As long as the chosen UK trading platform is registered with the FCA, investors will be protected by AML and KYC requirements. Many also prefer platforms that are covered by the FSCS.
Although the FCA banned crypto-CFDs in January 2021, users can still buy digital currencies in the traditional sense. eToro offers Bitcoin and 24 other cryptocurrencies, with the minimum investment standing at just $20.
Commission-free trading platforms in the UK make their money from the spread.
Retail investor accounts in the UK are capped to leverage of 1:30 on major currency pairs, and less on other assets. In order to trade with leverage, you need to use a platform that offers CFD markets.
Yes, many platforms allow clients to start trading in the UK with £100. In fact, eToro allows its users to trade with a minimum of just £10.
In the UK, professional traders use apps such as Meta Trader to conduct technical analysis and also use a broker app such as eToro to place trades. The exact apps professional traders use will depend on their strategy. For example, eToro is better suited to long-term traders whereas XTB is a good app for short-term UK professional traders.
References:
Michael Graw is a freelance journalist who covers finance, trading, and technology. His work has been published on numerous high-profile websites that cover the intersection of markets, global news, and emerging tech such as TechRadar and Top10.com. Michael has also written for StockApps, Buyshares and LearnBonds.
Before starting his career as a freelance writer, Michael studied at Cornell University where he obtained a BA in Microbiology. He then went on to recieve a Ph.D in Philosophy from Oregon State University. With 6 years of finance writing under his belt, Michael is an expert in his niche and has built up significant industry knowledge during his time as a writer. Michael writes informative content with the goal of supporting readers to make better financial judgements.
Best UK Stock, Forex, CFD, Crypto, Social or Day Trading Platform that meets your needs.
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