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Top 7 Best Trading Platforms in the UK February 2025
In page navigation
- 1. Top 7 Best Trading Platforms in the UK February 2025
- 2. Our Favourite UK Trading Platforms for 2025
- 3. Top 7 Online Brokerages, Compared & Reviewed
- 4. What are Trading Platforms? How Do They Work?
- 5. What Assets can I Trade with a UK Broker?
- 6. How Much Money Do I Need to Start Trading?
- 7. Safety and Legality of Trading with UK Stock Brokers
- 8. How to Choose the Best Trading Platform in the UK
- 9. Top Trading Platforms in the UK: Your Reviews
- 10. How We Chose the Best Online Trading Platform in the UK
- 11. FAQs
Our top pick is eToro – a great option for beginners and experienced traders alike, distinguished for its user-friendly interface and low costs. For more advanced traders, we suggest Plus500 and IG, both combine unique trading tools with a wide range of assets.
Ready to trade stocks but unsure where to start?
We continually test 50+ brokers to find the best trading platforms the UK market has to offer.
We know time and money are tight these days, so our favourite brokers are the ones that keep costs down, with a shallow learning curve.
Those factors are one part of a list of criteria that we use to rank and review each broker. Our job is to make your life easier, so we dive into the less glamorous stuff as well – like how each service stores your money and what that means in practice.
Here are some of the criteria we use to put this ranking together:
- Fees,
- Range of assets and access to global markets,
- Safety and regulation,
- Device availability,
- And more.
Right, let’s get to it – scroll down to compare your best options.
Our Favourite UK Trading Platforms for 2025
Copy link to sectionHere are our top three choices:
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 51% 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.
Plus500
Buy or sell stock CFDs with Plus500. 82% 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.
IG Markets
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Top 7 Online Brokerages, Compared & Reviewed
Copy link to sectionUK Trading Platform | Min. Deposit | Trading Fees /Commission | Demo Account? | FCA Regulation? | FSCS Protection? |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
eToro | $50 | 0% | Yes | Yes | Up to £85,000 |
Plus500 | £100 | From 0.08% | Yes | Yes | Up to £85,000 |
IG | £0 | From 0.5% | Yes | Yes | Up to £85,000 |
Degiro | £0.01 | From €1 | Yes | Yes | Up to £85,000 |
AvaTrade | £100 | From 0.13% | Yes | Yes | Up to £85,000 |
XTB | £250 | From 0.2 pips | Yes | Yes | Up to £85,000 |
Pepperstone | £0 | From 0.20% | Yes | Yes | Up to £85,000 |
We found 15 online brokers for users based in
1. eToro. Best for beginners, copy-trading & demo-account
Copy link to sectionOverview
We love eToro because it’s a trading platform built with beginners and casual traders in mind. The platform combines an interactive, social trading experience with an easy-to-use interface, making it ideal for novice traders.
The far-reaching catalog of more than 5,500 stocks and ETFs includes big names like Apple and Tesla, as well as smaller companies with high growth potential. You can start trading with as little as $10 using fractional shares if you’re on a tight budget.
One feature we particularly appreciate is the ability to interact with eToro’s 35 million users on any asset, market, or portfolio page. If you find traders whose strategies match your risk tolerance, you can copy their portfolios automatically using eToro’s flagship copy trading functionality. This is a great way to learn and potentially benefit from the expertise of more experienced traders.
If you don’t feel comfortable investing your cash straight away, you can use a free demo account, credited with $100,000 virtual dollars. This offers plenty of opportunities to try out a trading strategy that works for you across stocks, crypto, and options trading markets.
Highlights
No. of tradable assets | 3600+ |
Min. Deposit | $100 |
ID verification required | Yes |
Free demo account | Yes |
Supported assets | Stock CFDs, ETF CFDs, Forex CFDs, Index CFDs, Commodity CFDs, NFTs, Crypto |
Mobile trading app | Yes |
Web trading platform | Yes |
Regulatory bodies | ASIC, FCA, CySEC, FinCEN |
Fees & Costs
Trading fees | Yes, on certain assets |
Inactivity fees | Yes |
Rollover/overnight fees | Yes, on CFDs |
Withdrawal fees | Yes |
Spreads | Yes, on certain assets |
Conversion fees | Yes, for non-USD currencies |
Pros & Cons
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 51% 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.
2. Plus500. Best for international trading*
Copy link to sectionOverview
We love Plus500 because it is one of the industry’s most transparent and reliable brokers. Its fees are clear and you’ll know exactly what you will be paying before you make a trade. Its technology driven platform gives access to futures contracts for some of the biggest indices.
Plus500 has something for all types of traders, no matter what level of experience. Its low margin requirements (starting at $100) and different contracts make it a top choice for day traders. At the same time, its trading academy is packed with educational content, perfect for beginners just starting.
For accurate instrument availability, visit plus500.com.
The fees: Plus500 charges a commission of $0.49 per Micro contract and $0.89 per Standard contract (per side). There is an Auto-Liquidation fee of $10 per contract. Other exchange fees may be applicable and can be found on the CME group website.
*Based on a comparison of 60+ leading brokers and trading platforms.
Highlights
No. of tradable assets | 2800+ |
Min. Deposit | $100 |
ID verification required | Yes |
Free demo account | Yes |
Supported assets | Stock CFDs, ETF CFDs, Forex CFDs, Crypto CFDs, Index CFDs, Commodity CFDs |
Mobile trading app | Yes |
Web trading platform | Yes |
Regulatory bodies | FSA, ASIC, FMA, FCA, CySEC |
Fees & Costs
Trading fees | No |
Inactivity fees | Yes |
Rollover/overnight fees | Yes |
Withdrawal fees | No |
Spreads | Yes |
Conversion fees | Yes |
Pros & Cons
Buy or sell stock CFDs with Plus500. 82% 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. IG Markets: Best for trusted and transparent trading
Copy link to sectionOverview
We love IG because it’s one of the most established and reputable names in the online trading industry, known for its reliability, comprehensive market offerings, and strong regulatory compliance. IG offers CFD trading in stocks, forex, commodities, indices, ETFs and more, with plenty of useful plugins and integrations to improve the trading experience.
One of the key strengths of IG Markets is its seamless integration with MetaTrader 4 (MT4), a popular third-party trading platform favored by many traders for its advanced charting tools, automated trading capabilities, and custom indicators. This integration allows users to leverage MT4’s sophisticated features while benefiting from IG Markets’ competitive pricing, reliable execution, and extensive market access.
Beyond its product range and platform integrations, IG Markets stands out for its commitment to education and customer support. The company offers a wealth of educational resources, such as webinars, tutorials, and market analysis, which help traders of all levels improve their knowledge and skills.
The fees: For most assets, you don’t pay a trading fee but will be charged through the spread instead. That’s the difference between the buy and sell price of an asset. IG’s spreads are competitive but variable: you’ll pay a smaller spread on popular assets compared to less popular ones. Share trading works differently, and you’ll be charged a minimum fee on each trade of at least $15.
Highlights
No. of tradable assets | 17,000+ |
Min. Deposit | $0 |
ID verification required | Yes |
Free demo account | Yes |
Supported assets | Stock CFDs, ETFs, Forex CFDs, Crypto CFDs, Index CFDs, Commodities |
Mobile trading app | Yes |
Web trading platform | Yes |
Regulatory bodies | FSCA, MAS, FMA, ASIC, FCA, BaFin, FINMA, DFSA, BMA, CFTC, NFA |
Fees & Costs
Trading fees | Yes |
Inactivity fees | Yes |
Rollover/overnight fees | Yes |
Withdrawal fees | No |
Spreads | Yes |
Conversion fees | Yes |
Pros & Cons
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
4. Degiro. Best for 0% commission on US stocks
Copy link to sectionOverview
Degiro is a low-cost platform, making it a great choice for UK investors who want to keep fees to a minimum.
When we tested Degiro, we were impressed by its straightforward, no-frills approach. The platform is designed to be simple and efficient, which is perfect for beginners.
One of the main advantages of Degiro is its low fees. There are no inactivity fees or hidden charges, and the trading costs are among the lowest we’ve seen. You can buy and sell US listed shares and pay just €1 commission.
This makes it ideal if you’re looking to invest without having your profits eaten away by fees. However, it’s worth noting that Degiro doesn’t offer commission-free trading, unlike some other platforms.
Degiro is also regulated by top financial authorities, including the FCA. The platform offers access to a wide range of global markets, which is great if you want to diversify your portfolio beyond UK stocks.
We also liked that Degiro provides a user-friendly mobile app, which makes it easy to manage your investments on the go.
However, the platform is quite basic when it comes to research tools and educational content. If you’re a beginner who wants in-depth guidance, you might find this lacking.
Overall, we think Degiro is an excellent choice for UK investors focused on low-cost trading. It’s simple, cost-effective, and gives you access to a broad range of markets. While it might not have all the bells and whistles, it’s a reliable platform for getting started with investing.
The fees: All stock trades come with a €1 handling fee. US stock trading has no other fees, UK stock trading costs $1.75, and European stock trading costs €3.90. The rest of the world costs €5. A core selection of ETFs are free to trade, other global ETFs cost €2 plus a €1 handling fee. Derivative trading costs €0.75. There are no inactivity, deposit, or withdrawal fees.
Highlights
No. of tradable assets | 2,000,000 + |
Min. Deposit | $0 |
ID verification required | Yes |
Free demo account | No |
Supported assets | Stocks, Indices, Commodities |
Mobile trading app | Yes |
Web trading platform | Yes |
Regulatory bodies | BaFin |
Fees & Costs
Trading fees | Yes |
Inactivity fees | No |
Rollover/overnight fees | Yes |
Withdrawal fees | No |
Spreads | Yes |
Conversion fees | Yes |
Pros & Cons
Investing involves risk of loss
5. AvaTrade. Best regulated broker for secure trading
Copy link to sectionOverview
We love AvaTrade because it is a reliable CFD broker, that gives users access to a wide range of markets. As a CFD broker, AvaTrade lets you speculate on the price movements of various stock markets without owning the underlying assets. AvaTrade is a multi asset brokerage firm and includes CFDs on hundreds of global stocks including Google, Apple, Microsoft, and more.
AvaTrade is also highly regarded for its strong regulatory framework and commitment to security. AvaTrade is regulated in multiple jurisdictions, including Europe, Australia, Japan, South Africa, and the British Virgin Islands, which means it must adhere to stringent regulatory standards across the world.
AvaTrade isn’t just well regulated, it also employs advanced security measures to protect client funds and personal information, including segregated accounts and robust encryption technology.
The fees: There is no commission on any trading. AvaTrade makes money from the Bid/Ask spread instead. Stock spreads start from 0.13. Positions left overnight are charged a swap fee that varies depending on size. An inactivity fee of £/€/$50 per month is applicable if you don’t log in to your account for three consecutive months.
Highlights
No. of tradable assets | 1250+ |
Min. Deposit | $100 |
ID verification required | Yes |
Free demo account | Yes |
Supported assets | Stocks, Stock CFDs, ETF CFDs, Forex CFDs, Crypto CFDs, Commodity CFDs, Index CFDs |
Mobile trading app | Yes |
Web trading platform | Yes |
Regulatory bodies | FSCA, FSA, ASIC, CBI, MiFID, CySEC, BVIFSC, FRSA |
Fees & Costs
Trading fees | No |
Inactivity fees | Yes |
Rollover/overnight fees | Yes |
Withdrawal fees | No |
Spreads | Yes |
Conversion fees | No |
Pros & Cons
6. XTB: Best for offering global CFD markets to retail traders
Copy link to sectionOverview
We love XTB because of its extensive range of international CFD markets, allowing retail traders to buy and sell popular financial assets at competitive prices. XTB offers over 5,900 instruments, including 3,000 stocks and 400 ETFs.
This broad selection allows you to diversify your portfolio and explore several trading opportunities across different global markets. Whether you are interested in big name US stocks, or diverse ETFs, XTB’s comprehensive offering means you have the tools and resources needed to trade effectively.
XTB combines beginner-friendly, introductory tools and resources with a scaling system of accounts that allow experienced traders to access high rates of leverage and advanced analytical tools.
With more than 180 pre-installed indicators and chart types, its bespoke xStation platform allows for intricate analysis, while beginners can access its Trading Central service, where trade ideas, forecasts, and risk analyses are available for anyone to look through.
The fees: XTB’s fees start from 0.2 pips on global stocks and indices. Spreads on lesser traded stocks from less popular exchanges may be significantly higher.
Highlights
No. of tradable assets | 2,200 |
Min. Deposit | $0 |
ID verification required | Yes |
Free demo account | Yes |
Supported assets | Stocks, Crypto, Commodities, , Indices, ETFs |
Mobile trading app | Yes |
Web trading platform | Yes |
Regulatory bodies | CySEC, FCA, KNF |
Fees & Costs
Trading fees | Yes |
Inactivity fees | Yes |
Rollover/overnight fees | Yes |
Withdrawal fees | Yes |
Spreads | Yes |
Conversion fees | Yes |
Pros & Cons
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76-83% 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.
7. Pepperstone. Best low spread & no commission broker
Copy link to sectionOverview
We love Pepperstone because it is a low fee and low commission CFD brokerage, making it an excellent choice for traders looking to keep trading costs down. Pepperstone offers some of the most competitive spreads in the industry, with no commission on its Standard account and low commissions on its Razor account.
Pepperstone is also well known for its top tier regulatory protection. The broker is regulated by both the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), which means it follows stringent rules. Pepperstone also offers a wide selection of stocks from several of the world’s largest markets.
One of the features we found most useful when using Pepperstone is the variety of trading platforms. You can choose from TradingView, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and cTrader, each providing a unique set of features and tools.
The fees: US stock trades are charged a $0.02 commission per share. UK and German stock trades are charged a 0.1% commission, while for Australian stocks, it’s 0.07%.
Highlights
No. of tradable assets | 1200+ |
Min. Deposit | No minimum |
ID verification required | Yes |
Free demo account | Yes |
Supported assets | Stocks, Crypto, Commodities, , Indices, ETFs |
Mobile trading app | Yes |
Web trading platform | Yes |
Regulatory bodies | CMA, SCB, DFSA, ASIC, FCA, CySEC, BaFin |
All supported assets are CFDs.
Fees & Costs
Trading fees | Yes |
Inactivity fees | No |
Rollover/overnight fees | Yes |
Withdrawal fees | No |
Spreads | Yes |
Conversion fees | Yes |
Pros & Cons
Between 74-89 % of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.
What are Trading Platforms? How Do They Work?
Copy link to sectionA trading platform is software investors can use to buy, sell, and manage investments online, typically offered by a broker. They provide a fast and convenient way to trade assets like stocks, currencies, ETFs, CFDs, and more.
You’ve probably seen the iconic image of a chaotic trading floor from footage from the 90s or films like Wolf of Wall Street, full of clamouring traders whose job is to take calls from investors, convince them to buy, and process the trades.
That’s a thing of the past now – most, if not all, trades are now done electronically.
With the coming of trading platforms, traders don’t even have to call brokers anymore. You can get on your platform, find and choose the assets you want, and place your trades.
These platforms also offer tools like real-time quotes, charting tools, and research capabilities, which will collectively help you make better-informed decisions.
DIY trading is not for everyone, though – if it doesn’t float your boat, you can still receive professional help.
Full-service brokerages such as Fidelity or Hargreaves Lansdown are still around, and you can get a professional to manage your portfolio. But the bill will likely be much bigger than a discount, DIY broker.
If you’re still after a hands-off approach but on a tight budget like most of us, I’d recommend trying out robo-advisors: a group of investing experts baked into a code, offered in a cost-effective package.
Visit our guide to the best robo-advisors in the UK for more information.
What Assets can I Trade with a UK Broker?
Copy link to sectionMost of the UK trading platforms market are multi-asset brokers, which means you can access lots of different markets from a single platform, e.g., stocks, cryptocurrencies, and even government bonds.
You can invest in the world’s biggest companies, trade currencies, or place CFD trades using a single platform – you just need to choose which assets you’ll be trading yourself.
Before investing, you need to research what assets make sense for you.
How much do you have to invest? How long do you want to invest for? What are your goals?
All of these things define which assets you should go for, and whether it makes more sense for you to invest for a long time or trade markets.
- Some assets, like penny stocks (stocks under £1), shares of less-established companies or startups, currencies, or cryptocurrencies, are volatile assets, meaning that their value goes up and down way more often. Traders who would like to take advantage of short-term fluctuations choose these assets.
- Some assets are more stable and generate small but consistent returns over time, such as blue-chip stocks (shares of established companies like Apple or Microsoft), mutual funds, or ETFs.
Personally, I have a low risk tolerance, find it difficult to keep up with so many different assets, and prefer a more hands-off approach, so I invest in ETFs, which gives me broad market exposure, and I don’t have to pick individual stocks.
My goal is to receive meaningful returns in the long run.
Our resident forex expert Prash, for example, is quite adept at technical analysis and enjoys trading on a much more regular basis than I do, so he prefers foreign currencies, a very demanding and fast-moving market.
He’s an experienced trader and uses leveraged instruments like CFDs to open larger positions. His goal is to benefit from sudden market movements in a short window.
Long story short, choosing the right assets boils down to your risk tolerance, how involved you’d like to be, and perhaps most importantly, how experienced you are. Below, we dissect each asset and how it works. While reading through them, keep these questions in mind.
Here’s a look at the assets you can trade:
Stocks
Copy link to sectionStocks, also known as equities, are the most common type of asset available on the UK trading platforms. They are simply a small ownership stake in a company.
There are many different types of stocks, and all vary in risk and return potential – here’s a brief look at what they are:
- UK stocks. One approach is simply to buy and sell shares listed here on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) – this is usually the most straightforward option for UK investors. No currency exchange, no fuss. You can buy shares of any company listed on the LSE.
- US stocks. Unfortunately for us in Britain, many of the world’s best-performing and biggest companies are listed on the US stock exchanges. Naturally, a lot of, if not all, UK trading platforms allow access to the NYSE or NASDAQ (the two biggest stock exchanges in the US) – just make sure you check the foreign exchange fee before you sign up if you’re after US stocks.
- International stocks. There is a world of opportunities beyond the US and the UK, and many UK stock brokers tend to grant you access to global markets. The collection might be limited, though; make sure to check the broker’s listings and the foreign exchange fee levied for non-Sterling payments before you sign up.
- Fractional shares. Fractional shares allow you to buy a fraction of a full share. Some companies have a share price that runs into four figures, so if you have a tight budget or a beginner who doesn’t want to commit too much, we highly recommend fractional shares.
- Initial public offering (IPO). An initial public offering (IPO) is when a company goes public by listing on a stock exchange. So you’ll be buying shares in a newly listed company. Some have a lot of hype and high return potential, but remember that they are usually on the riskier side.
- Special purpose acquisition companies (SPAC) are stocks belonging to newly formed companies that exist solely to buy another company. They are often referred to as ‘blank cheque’ companies and are a variation on IPOs. Not all of them find valuable targets, and many do fail – unless you’re a bit of a shark, investing in SPACs is also risky.
We also have a detailed guide on how to buy shares in the UK – check it out if you’re unsure of the process.
Bonds
Copy link to sectionBonds are typically considered low-risk investments compared to stocks, shares, and other asset types. A bond is simply a loan to a government or large corporation. In return for loaning money, you are rewarded with interest payments.
ETFs
Copy link to sectionETFs (exchange-traded funds) are investment funds that pool money from many different investors and use it to track a particular index, like the S&P 500. Even if you can’t invest in every stock from every country, you can usually find an alternative in an ETF that tracks the performance of the top companies here in the UK, in the US, and beyond.
If you’re just starting out, I highly recommend putting a portion of your capital into index funds or ETFs that track indices (like the S&P 500 or FTSE 100).
These indices are made off of the top-performing companies in a given market or industry – they are literally doing the hard job for you, so you’ll always have a diversified exposure to your chosen market.
Popular indices like the S&P 500 also have a good track record of return on investment:
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if you had invested £5,000 every year between 2013 and 2023 and reinvested your dividends and returns, the total value of your investment after ten years would be roughly £121,774.09, a staggering increase of 121.41%.
As Warren Buffet pointed out
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over three decades ago, by periodically investing in an index fund, the know-nothing investor can outperform most investment professionals. For more information, visit our guide to investing in the FTSE 100 Index.
Mutual funds
Copy link to sectionMutual funds are professionally managed investments. You buy shares in the fund through an investment broker, and the manager decides what to invest in.
Mutual funds and ETFs are similar, but the former are managed by a professional who tries to beat the market, while the latter buy and sell stocks automatically based on a set of fixed criteria. Mutual funds also tend to be costlier to invest in compared to ETFs.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs)
Copy link to sectionAs the name suggests, REITs invest in real estate, usually commercial properties and large-scale development projects. Real estate investment trusts can be bought and sold similarly to mutual funds and ETFs.
REITs usually also pay dividends, which is an ideal way to earn additional income from your investments.
Foreign exchange (Forex)
Copy link to sectionForex trading is one of the most popular ways to speculate on short-term price movements. It is insanely popular among UK traders, so you’ll find currencies among available assets on many platforms.
Trading currencies involves swapping one currency for another. As exchange rates constantly fluctuate, changes in your direction can be very profitable – but it also means that it’s quite easy to lose money. To learn more about it, visit our guide to the best forex brokers in the UK.
Futures and options
Copy link to sectionFutures and options are agreements to buy or sell a stock at a set price later, making them a bit more complex than regular trades. To succeed with these, you need solid research tools to analyse the market and fast execution to react to price changes.
Futures contracts are more commonly used for commodities, whereas options are used for stocks – but you can use both of them on a range of assets, including indices, currencies, and ETFs.
The best platforms for this kind of trading don’t just offer low fees – they provide real-time data, advanced charting, and smooth execution, all while balancing features and costs to give you an edge in a fast-moving market.
CFDs and spread betting
Copy link to sectionCFDs, or contracts for difference, allow you to bet on the price movement of a given asset in either direction without owning the underlying asset.
Spread betting uses a similar mechanism, where you essentially “bet” on the price movements of an underlying asset without owning it. The most striking difference between the two is that spread betting winnings are not subject to capital gains tax as it’s considered a form of gambling.
For more information, visit our guide to the UK’s best CFD brokers and top spread betting platforms.
Cryptocurrencies
Copy link to sectionA crypto coin is a token issued by a company that operates on the blockchain, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum. Since their inception in 2008, cryptocurrencies have been increasingly popular among traders – but they are also very volatile, meaning that they fluctuate a lot in value.
This makes crypto assets both very profitable and highly risky, especially if you don’t know what you are doing.
Before investing, it is important to learn the ins and outs of crypto investing. If you’re interested, visit our comparison of the best UK crypto exchanges where we also discuss how to start trading crypto.
How Much Money Do I Need to Start Trading?
Copy link to sectionMany UK brokers allow you to open an account with as little as £100; some discount brokers don’t even have a minimum threshold. However, while you can start with this amount, it’s important to have a smart strategy in place to manage risk.
For example, if you invest £100, splitting it between two stocks at £50 each, and both stocks perform poorly – say, one drops by 50%, reducing your investment to £25, and the other drops by 30%, leaving you with £35 – your total investment value would now be £60.
You’ve lost £40, and to break even back to your original £100, you’d need a 67% gain on your remaining capital, which is difficult to achieve.
One way to avoid this scenario and manage the risks associated with investing is to avoid putting all your money into the market at once. Instead, a better approach for non-professional investors is to buy incrementally, a strategy known as dollar-cost averaging
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.
If you have £1,000 to invest in five stocks, for example, instead of immediately putting £200 into each stock, you could invest £100 into each and spread the remaining £500 over the next few months, buying at intervals.
This method reduces the risk of buying into a stock at a high price and helps smooth out the impact of market fluctuations, ensuring you’re not exposing yourself to too much risk too quickly.
Also, starting with a larger amount, like £2,000 or more, allows for a more balanced portfolio across 8-10 stocks, reducing the impact of poor performance in any single investment. It also helps ensure that trading costs like commissions don’t eat up a disproportionate amount of your capital.
If you don’t have that kind of budget or simply don’t want to commit that much money, you can always trade fractional shares or invest in diversified funds, allowing you to spread your investments across more shares, even with a small amount of capital. I don’t think increasing your buying power using leverage should be your first choice, especially if you’re a beginner.
Do I have to pay taxes while trading?
Copy link to sectionYes, you do. It’s a bit of a minefield, but here are the taxes I think you should be aware of:
A stamp duty of 0.5%
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is levied on stock purchases. There is also a Panel of Takeovers and Mergers (PTM)
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levy of £1 on trades over £10,000.
For stocks and shares held outside tax-efficient accounts, capital gains tax (CGT)
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applies to profits when positions are sold for more than their purchase cost. The annual CGT allowance is currently around £3,000.
Gains up to this amount are tax-free. For higher gains, CGT is 10% for basic rate taxpayers or 20% for higher rate taxpayers. Losses can be claimed against total gains to lower tax liability.
Safety and Legality of Trading with UK Stock Brokers
Copy link to sectionThere are strict regulations that oversee UK trading platforms and protect investors in the country – as long as you’re using a registered broker, you will be safe.
Below, we rounded up the most important things to know before you start trading:
- Regulation: The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates all trading platforms in the UK. You have to make sure that your chosen platform is registered with the FCA – all the platforms we recommend here are registered.
- Insurance: The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protects customer funds for up to £85,000 in the event of broker failure, such as insolvency, but it doesn’t protect against market losses. If you place a wrong trade, there’s no way to recover it through legal means.
- Ban on crypto derivatives: As of 2021, it’s illegal to trade cryptocurrencies using derivative products
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www.fca.org.uk https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/fca-bans-sale-crypto-derivatives-retail-consumers like spread betting or CFDs. You should stray away from any platform offering these services.
How are UK trading platforms regulated?
Copy link to sectionThe FCA enforces strict standards and rules that UK brokers must adhere to, including requirements for fair practices, maintaining adequate capital ratios, undergoing audits, segregation of client funds, transparency through reporting, and more.
FCA regulation ensures investor protection and integrity in the UK’s capital markets. Violations can result in heavy fines.
Perhaps most importantly, FSCS protection comes with FCA regulation, so if you use an unregulated broker, your funds will not be protected if/when a broker becomes insolvent or disappears.
How to Choose the Best Trading Platform in the UK
Copy link to sectionThis is really more of an individual choice, and it depends on your goals and needs. We focused our tests on the costs of trading, regulatory and safety practices, and ease of use, among other things, because we think those are the most important issues that impact most people’s decisions.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the most important things for you.
Here, we’ve quickly detailed some of the most important criteria for assessing a platform by yourself. Pick and choose what’s important to you, and make your decisions accordingly.
Range of assets offered
Copy link to sectionIf you already know what assets you’ll be trading, look for platforms that include them in their catalogue. But we recommend brokers that provide access to a wide range of assets, so you’ll have better chances of diversifying your portfolio.
If you ever want to branch out as a trader, you’ll have the option right there without changing trading platforms.
You should diversify your investments to minimise your risk exposure
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www.investor.gov
https://www.investor.gov/additional-resources/general-resources/publications-research/info-sheets/beginners-guide-asset
– you can achieve that by simply distributing your funds across a diverse array of stocks across different industries and global markets, but also among different asset classes (currencies, funds, commodities, etc).
Ideally, your broker should offer trading in the UK, US, and global markets so you have broad exposure. A good selection of ETFs across various sectors and regions, as well as diversity in currencies, such as major, minor, and exotic pairs, is also beneficial.
By ensuring that the assets you’re trading are diverse, you’ll not only better manage risk but also take advantage of more opportunities.
Here’s a look at the assets available with three of the UK’s leading online trading platforms:
Product | eToro assets | Plus500 assets | IG Markets assets |
---|---|---|---|
Stock CFDs | 3117 | 1,800+ | 17,000 + |
ETF CFDs | 317 | 100+ | – |
Forex CFDs | 49 | 50+ | 99 |
Crypto | 73 | – | – |
Index CFDs | 20 | 20+ | 80 + |
Commodity CFDs | 26 | 20+ | – |
NFTs | 100,000 | – | – |
View more > | eToro > | Plus500 > | IG Markets > |
Exact figures may vary. NFTs are accessed through Delta, an NFT explorer app which is owned and operated by eToro.
Account types
Copy link to sectionUK brokers also offer self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs) and stocks and shares individual saving accounts (ISAs) – which are more suitable for investing rather than trading as you can’t use derivatives like CFDs, spread betting, or option contracts. So, they are better suited for long-term investing strategies.
Stocks and shares ISAs and self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs) are tax-efficient accounts (also called “wrappers”) for holding your investments. You can invest in a range of stocks, funds, and bonds, and your investment returns are tax-free.
- The ISA allowance is £20,000 for the 2024/2025 tax year – all your returns and dividends within this limit would be exempt from capital gains tax.
- SIPP contributions also receive a 20% tax relief on eligible contributions – a significant top-up from the government. But the catch is that you can’t withdraw your money until you’re 55 (57 from 6 April 2028), as essentially it’s a pension investment scheme.
If you’re not interested in CFDs or spread betting and prefer a lower-risk, long-term approach, we highly recommend these tax-wrappers to maximise your returns.
Trading fees and commissions
Copy link to sectionYou need to clearly understand the fee structure of any UK broker you choose – these will be a combination of trading and platform fees.
The major trading fees are commissions and the spread. Here’s how they work:
- Flat fee: For example, if a broker charges £5 per trade, you’ll pay £5 when you buy and £5 when you sell.
- Percentage-based fee: If a broker charges 0.1% per trade and you buy stocks worth £1,000, the commission will be £1. You’ll pay another 0.1% of the sale value when you sell those stocks.
Let’s get this straight – there is no free trading, and there is no “free trading platform”. Many discounted UK brokers today operate on a no-commission basis, but this doesn’t really mean trading is completely free. Brokers still need to cover the trading costs.
The main way a no-commission online broker charges you is via the spread. The spread is the difference between an asset’s buy and sell price and effectively serves as a commission the broker charges you on top of the market price.
For example, if a stock’s buy price is £10.00 and the sell price is £9.95, the spread is £0.05.
So don’t just look at the commission while comparing brokers; it can be very misleading – check the spread. The smaller it is, the better value you’re getting.
Here’s a comparison of the spreads across the top UK trading platforms:
Product | eToro spreads | Plus500 spreads | IG Markets spreads |
---|---|---|---|
Stock CFDs | 0.15% | 0.10% | 0.10% |
ETF CFDs | 0.15% | 0.10% | 0.10% |
Forex CFDs | From 1 pip | 0.8 pips | 0.6 pips |
Crypto | 1% | – | – |
Index CFDs | From 0.75 points | 0.20% | 0.10% |
Commodity CFDs | From 2 pips | 0.50% | 0.3 pts |
View all tradable assets > | eToro > | Plus500 > | IG Markets > |
Besides the commission and spread, pay attention to:
- Overnight or swap fees. When you hold leveraged positions open beyond market hours, brokers charge you extra.
- Foreign exchange fee. As we laid out above, there’s a currency conversion fee you have to pay if you want to buy non-UK stocks. A 1% currency conversion fee on a £1,000 trade means you’ll pay £10 for converting your currency.
- Spreads. Different amounts may apply to CFDs and spread betting depending on the asset.
- Option contract fee. Each options contract is charged additionally. This is often a flat fee per contract, ranging from £0.50 to £0.65.
Trading platforms disclose these charges in their fee structure. After you get an idea of what assets you will trade, compare the relevant costs.
Platform fees
In addition to trading fees, your online broker account may incur other platform fees. Here’s a small recap of charges you may have:
- Inactivity fees if your account lies dormant for a while (usually around 3 to 6 months),
- Deposit or withdrawal fees (variable depending on your preferred method),
- Account fees for ISAs and other registered accounts may apply annually or monthly; management fees are also applicable at times, especially for robo-advisors,
- Some stock brokers also charge real-time data fees if opted in, which could be crucial if you’re thinking of investing actively.
- Some brokers may charge a premium for risk management tools, most notably the guaranteed-stop loss orders (GSLOs). They ensure that your position is closed at a specified price, even in volatile markets.
You need to account for many costs of trading in addition to the cost of the asset and well-known charges like the commission – we always prioritise UK trading platforms with minimal costs; you should also be diligent when comparing for yourself, as every extra penny counts.
Platform capabilities and mobile app
Copy link to sectionWhen choosing a broker, it’s important to find a platform that’s easy to navigate and offers both web and mobile apps so you can manage trades on the go.
Trading apps make it super easy to stay on top of the market, but be careful not to fall into overtrading. It’s tempting to check constantly and react to every little price movement, but this can lead to hasty decisions, extra fees, and losses.
Take your time, stick to your strategy, and don’t let the convenience of the app push you into making unnecessary trades. Sometimes, the best move is to do nothing and wait for the right opportunity.
A good platform should feel intuitive, allow you to customise layouts, and offer powerful tools like advanced charting and technical indicators. Features like automated trading and various order types can streamline your process.
To get the feel of the platform, make sure that the broker has a free demo account. It’s a great way to check whether it suits your preferences, and you can practise without risking real money, which is great for building confidence.
Regulation and security
Copy link to sectionWe can’t stress this enough, only sign up for brokers that are registered with the FCA.
There are about 600 unregulated trading platforms available in the UK. To make sure that you’ve not bumped into one, check your broker’s status easily using the FCA register.
- Head to the broker’s official website. If you scroll down the homepage, you’ll see that they noted the FCA registry number in the footer.
- Copy that number and search on the FCA register.
- There, you can see whether they are registered and updated their details within the last year, which is a requirement by the FCA.
Besides legal regulation, you should also look for industry-standard security features that prevent unauthorised access – they include two-factor authentication and data encryption systems.
The safest brokers would be transparent about their data security measures as well as their adherence to accounting, auditing, and regulatory standards. Especially if you’re investing a large portion, make sure to do your due diligence.
Educational materials and research tools
Copy link to sectionWe highly recommend trading platforms with extensive educational content library – eToro does it very well. The top beginner trading platforms typically offer educational materials in various formats, like videos, blogs, or podcasts, so you’ll have loads of options to choose from.
Regardless of your experience level, having comprehensive market research and technical analysis tools available is useful. To stay on top of the market and be able to identify opportunities, you’ll need research reports, fundamentals data, and news feeds.
While trading platforms today do a great job of consolidating research and data in a single place, you can never get enough data, especially when your money is on the line. To that end, I usually supplement my research with some third-party resources. Here are my top three:
- Morningstar gives me performance reports and risk ratings. It is especially useful for mutual funds and ETFs.
- Seeking Alpha is a crowdsourced stock analysis initiative providing real-time analysis from actual investors. I’d like to stay updated on the crowd sentiment and find it useful to get multiple perspectives.
- Yahoo Finance is great for historical data; it helps me spot trends over time.
Customer support
Copy link to sectionYou’ll definitely want your stock broker to provide responsive, high-quality customer support. Check whether they offer phone, email, and live chat channels. Naturally, a local UK support number would be more useful than offshore support. Around-the-clock support is also ideal for any issues when markets are open.
To check the quality of service, our team reaches out to stock brokers using every available channel to test out the response times as well as their knowledge of the products offered and escalation processes. You can do the same before signing up for a trading platform for peace of mind so you’ll know you’ll be serviced if anything goes wrong.
Ease of account opening
Copy link to sectionA quick and straightforward process is ideal (bear in mind that it could take up to three days with some brokers). There should be an easy online application with clear instructions.
You’ll likely need to submit basic personal details, a copy of your ID, and proof of address verification will be required. This is in line with the Know Your Customer (KYC) process.
Below is a checklist of the documents you usually need to provide when opening an account:
- Proof of ID. Passport/driving licence
- Proof of address. Driving licence/utility bill/bank statement
- National insurance number
- Bank details
- Credit or debit card details
- Source of funds proof. Bank statement/payslip
Funding your account should be simple, too – domestic bank transfers and debit card deposits are convenient options. Your ID and funding method may need to be verified before trading based on regulation, but this is generally a fast process.
Top Trading Platforms in the UK: Your Reviews
Copy link to sectionWhile researching the best trading platforms in the UK, we considered many data points. One key factor we considered was customer reviews.
Along with sites like TrustPilot and our own research, we ranked the best online brokers in the UK according to their scores from real customers. The table below finds the highest-scoring platforms with the best customer review ratings.
Review source | eToro rating | Plus500 rating | IG Markets rating |
---|---|---|---|
Trustpilot | 4.4 | 4 | 4.0 |
Google Play Store | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.3 |
App Store | 3.8 | 4.1 | 4.6 |
View more > | eToro > | Plus500 > | IG Markets > |
How We Chose the Best Online Trading Platform in the UK
Copy link to sectionWe’re a team, so our results are based on a collective effort of several individuals. The raw facts also play into the results – we store lots of data on each broker, so there’s no debate about which platform has the lowest fees.
Our reviewing panel includes industry experts, including our Director, Michael Charalambous, our Senior Editor of News, Harsh Vardhan, expert trader Prash Raval, and me, James Knight, Editor of Education. The panel also includes an independent fact-checker, Richard Stutely.
To properly test the products, we all have accounts on each, and we all place a series of different trades.
For example, I tested eToro by placing a series of intraday trades on Tesla stock with different amounts of leverage, regularly investing in an S&P 500 ETF over the course of a few months, and have also played around with shorting and copying other people’s trades to my account.
When we pooled all our research and experience together, here are the key factors that played into our final ranking of the best stock brokers in the United Kingdom.
- Fees. We prioritised UK brokers that charge low trading fees, don’t charge for deposits or withdrawals, and don’t charge any hidden fees.
- Device availability. We value an all-round service, so brokers with a good app ranked higher than the ones with apps that didn’t work for us (and don’t even get us started on the brokers who didn’t have a proper app at all).
- Platform security. Respected financial institutions regulate all services and trading platforms we recommend and protect investors if anything goes wrong.
- Free demo accounts. We paid attention to the quality and scope of the demo account brokers provide. To us, it’s very important that you have the opportunity to test the product without committing any money.
- Access to global markets. International stock brokers in the UK that allow investing in global markets, particularly popular ones like the United States, scored well in our reviews.
- Trading and analysis tools. Trading platforms that offer analysis tools make it easier to do all your research and trading in one place. Any broker that offered this convenience scored well.
- Third-party integrations. You might want to use downloadable third-party software like MetaTrader 4, MT5, or cTrader to place your trades. We prioritised the UK brokers that offer integration with these apps in our rankings.
- Customer reviews. Finally, we looked into customer reviews to make sure that we only recommend the UK’s best investment brokers where the majority of customers had a positive experience.
Find out more about how we rate, rank, and review platforms.