Top Stock Trading Apps for UK Users in 2022

DEGIRO is great for investing for beginners in the UK due to the low commissions it charges. The main focus of the platform is functionality – although there aren’t that many features, trading is simple and easy.

Overview 

DEGIRO has an extensive product library and provides its users with 50 markets and 30 exchanges, including the US stock market. This allows traders to build diverse portfolios with various assets.

Features

The DEGIRO app lets you create watchlists for investments and trade instantly when you see a good price. If you’re using the app and the website, your preferences are automatically synchronized. As the best trading platform for beginners in the UK, it has face and touch IDs for easy login.

Ease of Use

The app is well-designed and user-friendly. Users can navigate through all the features and options smoothly, making it a great trading app for beginners.

Security

Even though DEGIRO is not regulated by a bank or covered by an investor-safety net, it’s still secure since it uses an SPV (Separate Legal Entity) to hold users’ assets.

Pricing & Fees

DEGIRO charges an exchange fee – £1.75 per trade. The other fees include:

• ETFs – €2.00
• OTC bonds – €35.00
• Investment funds – Up to €3.90 + 0.20%
• Common options – €0.75 per contract
• Exercises – €1.00 per contract
• Common futures – €0.75 per contract

However, if you’re trading funds, you’ll be charged a higher fee. There’s no fee for dividend distributions, making DEGIRO an appealing destination for trading for beginners in the UK, especially dividend investors.

Customer Satisfaction

Customers at DEGIRO were primarily satisfied with the low commissions, but there were complaints about the app crashing.

Competition Overview

DEGIRO is distinguished for low prices and usability, but it lacks some of what its competitors offer.

Disclaimer: investing involves risk of loss.

eToro is often considered the best trading platform in the UK where you can trade stocks, cryptos, forex (foreign exchange), and ETFs (exchange-traded funds). The app can also help you learn how to purchase your own shares!

Overview 

eToro is a popular choice among investors who want to conduct unlimited trades with zero fees. The app offers financial products and allows users to observe and copy the activities of successful traders.

Features

For those wondering how to invest in stocks in the UK, eToro offers a solution. The copy-trading feature allows newcomers to copy the trading practices of experienced investors. There’s also a feature for expert traders, Popular Investor Program, which rewards investors for allowing others to imitate their strategy.

Ease of Use

Using the app is easy for beginners and professionals. The interface is intuitive and users can work it through tapping and swiping.

Security

As the best trading app in the UK, eToro implements a two-step login that ensures data safety and adheres to licencing regulations, making it a safe place to invest money.

Pricing & Fees

Possibly the best thing about eToro is that it offers zero-commission trading, so you can buy stocks or sell them at no cost! There are withdrawal fees for each transaction, though, as well as a fee on Forex trades.

Customer Satisfaction

Customers stated that they were very satisfied with the features offered by eToro and its functionality, but there have been some complaints about the mobile app crashing.

Competition Overview

Among the best investment apps in the UK, eToro stands out with the number of cryptocurrencies you can trade. Although there are 0% commission trades, some exchanges incur large fees. If you want to learn more about eToro, read our full review!

Pepperstone is one of the best investment platforms in the UK for novices in the industry. The platform only deals with Forex and CFD (Contract for Differences).

Overview 

Pepperstone offers the MetaTrader 4 (MT4) software on its mobile app, and although it’s outdated, it’s still the most popular trading software used. This is not the only software available to Pepperstone users: the MetaTrader 5 and proprietary cTrader are faster and modern.

Features

The Pepperstone software is available in 22 languages and there are alerts for various purposes. One of the best features allows you to set price alerts for select products, which makes asset monitoring easier. If you want to begin online trading in the UK, Pepperstone offers trading guides organised by experience and educational videos on forex trading.

Ease of Use

Pepperstone is user-friendly and the main features can be easily located. The registration process is also straightforward and quick – it takes up to one day and it’s free.

Security

Although Pepperstone is not listed on the stock exchange and doesn’t have a banking licence, its operations are regulated by several jurisdictions, making it a safe investment platform. Login procedures could be improved for better security, though.

Pricing & Fees

Pepperstone is a free trading platform for UK citizens – registration is free and no minimum deposit is required. There are trading fees for every transaction, but they are low.

Customer Satisfaction

Pepperstone users were satisfied with the offered services. Although the number of trading options is limited, there’s easier navigation for inexperienced traders.

Competition Overview

The market research tool offered by Pepperstone is exceptional, but the news feed is not very advanced.

Plus500 is user-friendly with a good workflow, making it the best online trading platform for UK active traders. At the end of the day, users get a free report that shows the expenses and fees accrued during the day.

Overview 

Plus500 is a platform that specializes in CFD trading, and it doesn’t require a minimum deposit. It’s popular with traders that focus on trading stocks, crypto exchanges, spread betting, Forex, and of course, CFD. Stock investors can also borrow funds from a broker so they can keep trading without interruptions.

Features

‘Trader Sentiment’ is the Plus500 stand-out feature – it tells traders what others are considering as an investment option! This is used to predict whether a certain stock price will rise or drop. This trading platform for UK users optimizes trading in the stock markets and gives the option to set custom alerts to be notified of market changes.

Ease of Use

The platform is straightforward and suitable to use by anyone, even those lacking experience in the trading business! The login procedure is simple; if you’re a prospective user, you can try the demo version first.

Security

Although Plus500 doesn’t have a banking license, it’s regulated by the FCA, making it safe for stocks trading. It also has a two-step login with biometric authentication, which ensures absolute security.

Pricing & Fees

Among UK trading platforms, Plus500 offers commission-free trading, which is an alluring feature. Although there’s no minimum deposit, the inactivity fee can be quite high.

Customer Satisfaction

Users were satisfied with the Plus500 app, especially praising its customer support. There have been some complaints that trading options are not available at all times.

Competition Overview

The platform stands out with its beginner-friendly design and helps for users available.

Of the many investment apps for UK citizens, IG is renowned for its number of functions and features. Its menu includes numerous types of trading and it brokers in all stocks and cryptocurrencies.

Overview 

The IG platform is a safe place for online trading while being very user-oriented. It provides users with educational tools and interactive charts and also gives trading ideas and suggestions. Customer support is available through phone or email at the time of writing.

Features

As potentially the best trading platform in the UK, IG allows assets to be managed with seven order types. Users can set alarms to notify when something of interest happens on the stock markets, as well as any relevant news. At the end of the day, users receive a free report of money going in and out. The app also allows for chart customization and watchlist creation!

Ease of Use

The IG trading app has an excellent workflow that is easy to get used to. Creating an account is simple as well – it only takes a few minutes!

Security

Like all the best trading apps used in the UK, IG is licensed to conduct investments and operate on the stock market, even though it doesn’t hold a banking license. Information is protected with encryption technology and the two-factor authentication required when logging in.

Pricing & Fees

With IG you don’t have to worry about withdrawal or inactivity fees, but there is an 0.22% annual fee off your total investment amount. To trade at IG, users need to make a minimum deposit of £250 – a large sum for amateur traders.

Customer Satisfaction

IG users were satisfied with its services, especially the courses that help beginners learn online stock trading in the UK, although the minimum deposit might be too high for rookie traders.

Competition Overview

IG is often distinguished from competitors for its numerous features and functionality, but this might be overwhelming for new users.

Saxo Markets is one of the best UK trading platforms, offering users access to various stocks on the global market and a wide range of tools to use.

Overview 

Saxo has proprietary platforms where users can invest in cash products, trade with select stocks, or allow expert brokers to manage their investments. Users of this investment app can choose from the list of 36 international exchanges.

Features

This could easily be the best online broker in the UK (you can read more about brokers here). An Economic Calendar shows the potential impact on the involved assets, while the Autochartist provides automatic monitoring of the stock markets and alerts users of new developments.

Ease of Use

All Saxo platforms are intuitive and customizable – they are designed so traders with different experience levels can customize the platform to suit their needs. There’s also the option of a demo account for those uncertain.

Security

Saxo Markets’ stockbroker for UK trading has to adhere to strict regulations imposed by licensing authorities in 15 jurisdictions. User safety is also guaranteed – upon registration, users need to provide proof of identity and address.

Pricing & Fees

Three accounts are offered to Saxo users – Classic, Platinum, and VIP. Saxo is pricier than competitors: to open a Classic account you need to deposit at least £500. For the Platinum account, the minimum is £50,000; the VIP, £1,000,000.

Customer Satisfaction

Saxo customers are satisfied with the versatility the app offers to those willing to invest in stocks in the UK, but some inexperienced users complained of its prices.

Competition Overview

Saxo is the frontrunner of high-quality investing, but the numerous investment options come at a hefty price.

The FinecoBank platform has UK stockbrokers that cater to price-conscious investors that are familiar with stock trading. It also offers one of the most cost-effective trading strategies currently available to UK citizens.

Overview

Fineco offers a wide range of investment opportunities that investors can locate in the mobile app. Users also have access to market news and analyst opinions on potential investments as well.

Features

One of Fineco’s best features is the access to multi-currency bank accounts; investors can invest without paying income or capital gains tax. Other interesting attributes allow trading ideas, view and personalize multiple charts, change timeframes, and access a stock screener with 90 indicators.

Ease of Use

Among investing apps for UK markets, Fineco offers a functional, intuitive app suitable for all types of trading. It also offers PowerDesk, an advanced version of the platform suitable for active traders.

Security

Since Fineco operates as a commercial bank, it’s subjected to strict regulations which ensure high-level user protection. Users are also protected up to £85,000 per claim, and UK users need to submit a copy of their passport upon registration.

Pricing & Fees

Trading at Fineco is one of the cheapest options for online stock trading. There’s no inactivity fee or monthly commission, although users need to pay a fee per trade, which varies.

Customer Satisfaction

Customers praised the app’s UK options for trading and its useful information packets to guide users to investment decisions.

Competition Overview

FinecoBank stands out with its diverse trading options that come at low prices, but account verification on this platform is slower than others.

Hargreaves Lansdown provides excellent investment options and is a good choice for day trading in the UK. It also offers high-quality research so users can make informed decisions on investments.

Overview 

The investment and day trading app gives you access to 20 international exchanges where you can trade a large number of shares, bonds, and trusts. Hargreaves Lansdown is one of the only brokerage services that have in-house research that provide their commentary on select funds and stocks.

Features

The app allows for customization; users can customize their display and create watchlists that’ll keep tabs on desired stocks, and operate a virtual portfolio. If you want to buy stocks in the UK, you can consult Hargreaves Lansdown market research, or turn to third-party analysts. There are also unique broker tips to help users make decisions.

Ease of Use

The mobile app is suitable for all operating systems and allows for easy navigation through the numerous investment options. It’s also possible to view mobile charts in full-screen mode, making it easier to track funds.

Security

The gold padlock symbol indicates that info is protected by encryption technology. If you change your withdrawal bank account, Hargreaves Lansdown always confirms before approving the withdrawal.

Pricing & Fees

As possibly the best day trading platform for UK users, Hargreaves Lansdown imposes no trading fees, but there are annual charges that can be quite high. If you’re a frequent trader, the platform will offer discounts, and there’s a direct debit option you can go for that costs £25/month.

Customer Satisfaction

Users were satisfied with the services offered at Hargreaves Lansdown, especially the customer support, described as pleasant and very helpful.

Competition Overview

Hargreaves Lansdown has been singled out as an especially good platform for day trading due to the lack of trading fees.

Interactive Investor is an excellent place for stock trading in the UK. It offers research reports and funds recommendations! There is a wide range of assets users can choose from as well.

Overview 

Interactive Investor allows you to make diverse investments based on market research. It’s a popular choice among frequent traders since it allows them to make investments that pay off in the long run, which highlights cost-effectiveness.

Features

Interactive Investor offers a comprehensive market research tool that provides information on shares, funds, and ETFs. It also offers pension trading.

Ease of Use

This UK stock trading app has been described as easy to use. The interface is designed so that you can easily manage investments. The process of opening an account only takes a few minutes!

Security

The platform is regulated by a top-tier regulator. In addition, investors’ assets are protected up to £85,000 per person.

Pricing & Fees

Interactive Investor is one of the most cost-effective stock trading apps for the UK market – it charges £9.99/month. You get at least one free trade a month. However, there’s a fee for foreign exchanges and Stamp Duty.

Customer Satisfaction

Customers were satisfied with the amount of information on the platform. However, there have been some complaints about the website often being down on the weekends.

Competition Overview

Compared to other trading apps, Interactive Investor stands out with the amount and quality of research offered.

Capital.com is one of the most popular stock trading apps the UK offers because of its ease with trading. Users can choose from an extensive offer of markets and international exchanges.

Overview 

As a CFD and stockbroker, Capital.com is popular among experienced investors who can use technical indicators and risk alerts located on the app’s dashboard. There’s also an option to use a demo account first.

Features

Capital.com offers investment instruments that help traders make informed decisions. As the best stock trading platform for the UK, Capital.com offers the latest market news and research and guides on effective CFD trading.

Ease of Use

The Capital.com app is easy to use. Its layout is user-oriented and navigating around the app is simple. Users only need a username, password, and identity verification to register.

Security

Capital.com is compliant with all security standards and encrypts user data. It also stores client funds in separate accounts and provides portfolio protection up to £85,000.

Pricing & Fees

The Capital.com platform is possibly the best free trading platform for UK citizens since it imposes no fees on deposits or withdrawals and there are no trading fees. Users need to deposit only £20 into their account to begin trading (£250 for bank transfer).

Customer Satisfaction

Capital.com users were satisfied with the trading experience, especially with the educational tools provided. On the other hand, there’ve been some complaints about volatile forex trades.

Competition Overview

Capital.com stands out with its cost-effectiveness and a large number of trading options, combined with the platform’s ease of use.

XTB is the best stock broker in the UK for CFD and forex trading. Although the product portfolio is somewhat limited, it’s more than enough for traders working with forex or CFD.

Overview 

At XTB, you can trade with over 2000 stocks and ETFs on 17 international stock markets; there are multiple currency pairs, cryptocurrencies, and other commodities you can trade. The XTB platform supports MT4 software and offers a proprietary platform, xStation 5.

Features

Being one of the best investment apps in the UK, XTB has some great features. There’s an integrated stock and ETF screener you can customise with filters and criteria; you can also create watchlists and set alarms to notify you of opportunities. There are market analysis features and technical charts, as well as access to sentiment gauges.

Ease of Use

The app is easy to use and navigate through; registering for an account is also very quick and easy.

Security

Like all the best UK stockbrokers, XTB is regulated by FCA and CySec and provides negative balance protection so you can never lose more than you’ve deposited.

Pricing & Fees

No minimum deposit is required to open an account with XTB, but if you want to start trading you’ll need to deposit at least £250. CFD trades come with no commission fee, but share trading cost 0.015% of your investment.

Customer Satisfaction

XTB users were satisfied with the platform, with customer service being especially praised for availability and responsiveness.

Competition Overview

Often considered the best UK stock trading app, XTB excels in trading with Forex and CFD, but it lacks other trading options.

Forex.com is the best options trading platform for UK markets – it provides users access to CFDs and lets them participate in spread betting. Besides forex, users can engage in numerous other types of trading.

Overview 

The app supports more than 90 forex pairs, in addition to a plethora of other tradable products from over 300 global markets. Forex is an MT4 broker, and users can trade cryptos at a lower cost.

Features

At Forex.com, users have access to real-time news that reflects the state of the current market. Other features of this trading platform for UK markets include research and trading tools, educational resources, advanced charts, and technical indicators.

Ease of Use

Using the Forex app is simple, with a search bar that easily lets users find whatever they’re looking for. There are numerous indicators to guide you through the trading experience, but if you can’t manage, read the educational section for additional help.

Security

In the UK, Forex.com is highly regulated and offers asset protection up to £85,000. Client funds are segregated and there’s negative balance protection to protect clients from financial losses.

Pricing & Fees

Forex.com might be the best free stock trading app for UK usage since there are no commissions on trades. There are, however, some charges on dealing spreads, which vary depending on market conditions. There’s an inactivity fee and bank withdrawal fee as well.

Customer Satisfaction

Forex.com users were satisfied with available trading options, especially with the number of currency pairs and the lack of trading commission.

Competition Overview

When compared to other trading apps, Forex stands out with its fast reliable trades, making it an excellent choice for high-volume traders.

FXCM offers the best stock trading app for beginners in the UK and specializes in cryptocurrencies. Besides cryptos, there are other top stocks currently available on the market such as Tesla, Amazon, and Apple.

Overview

The FXCM app supports the MT4 and ZuluTrade platforms and allows users to trade with leverage. Users can also speculate on upwards and downwards movements, trade with 0% commission, and participate in spread betting.

Features

FXCM has many useful features and trading tools, like the interactive candlestick, bar charts, and built-in chart indicators. Other features include real-time news, free webinars, and on-demand assistance from an expert trader.

Ease of Use

The FXCM app is well-designed, intuitive, and user-friendly. In this respect, it’s the best trading app for UK citizens, offering numerous order types that can be easily executed on the go.

Security

FXCM has a good track record in the security department – it is highly regulated and offers negative balance protection, so there’s nothing to worry about when using this platform.

Pricing & Fees

The platform requires a minimum deposit of $300 if you want to start trading, but other than that, the trading fees are low. There’s no monthly fee or deposit/withdrawal fee. There is, however, an inactivity fee.

Customer Satisfaction

FXCM users were satisfied with the platform, especially with the low fees it offers on crypto trading.

Competition Overview

Compared to other investment apps for UK markets, FXCM is the best option for cryptocurrency trading, but the lack of trading options might turn away serious traders.

For those wondering how to invest in stocks in the UK, AvaTrade is an excellent solution based on trading options and a 0% commission model. In addition, AvaTrade has MetaTrader support, making it an ideal place for Forex traders.

Overview

AvaTrade offers its users three different mobile apps – AvaTrade GO, AvaTrade Options, and AvaTrade Social. The GO app serves as the main app; it has the AvaProtect feature that ensures that users get money back from every trade they’ve lost. The Options app is suitable for traders that wish to trade options only, and the Social app allows traders to connect and copy each other’s trading patterns.

Features

AvaTrade is the best stock trading app in the UK for its feature variety. There are many research tools available to traders and access to advice from expert traders and trading robots. Users can also interact with each other and follow news feeds that are automatically connected to global markets.

Ease of Use

The AvaTrade app is very user-friendly, with a well-developed search feature. The best thing is that it offers the same functionality as the web platform, so users on mobile won’t notice a difference.

Security

In terms of security, AvaTrade is also the best online trading platform for UK trading – it’s highly regulated and employs 256-bit encryption to protect user data. As for login security, the app allows for fingerprint login.

Pricing & Fees

AvaTrade requires a minimum deposit of $100 (or equivalent) and deposits can be made with various payment methods. There’s no deposit or withdrawal fee, and no trading commission. In addition, users can create a demo account to test the platform.

Customer Satisfaction

Users of the AvaTrade app were extremely satisfied with the versatility of the features and the overall performance.

Competition Overview

AvaTrade is the only platform that has multiple trading apps for UK citizens and offers a larger number of features compared to similar platforms.

Libertex is the best online stock broker in the UK, renowned for its unusual pricing model that doesn’t charge spreads on CFDs. There’s a significant amount of trading options on this platform that you can use with leverage.

Overview 

Users can choose their preferred trading platform with Libertex – they can trade on the proprietary platform or MT4 platform. The app also allows for zero-spread stock trading and offers several investment opportunities.

Features

Libertex offers spread-free stock trading to users, as well as news, blogs, and additional educational materials. Assets are grouped in different classes for easier navigation and there are numerous payment methods available.

Ease of Use

Being one of the best investment platforms in the UK, Libertex has a simple interface that allows fast execution of all trades. The platform is user-oriented and account creation is quick and uncomplicated.

Security

Libertex is a CySec licensed and highly regulated trading app, so you can rest assured that your funds are safe when using this app.

Pricing & Fees

Commissions are charged by Libertex – they vary depending on the trade, but usually range from 0% to 0.5%. The minimum deposit for all payment methods is low (€10), except for bank transfers (€100).

Customer Satisfaction

When discussing UK trading platforms, users stated that they were satisfied with Libertex because of the low trading commissions, but they said the platform could be improved and modernized.

Competition Overview

Libertex stands out with its pricing model since there’s no other app that offers free-spread stock trading while charging low commissions.