Best Trading Platforms UK Compared

Best Trading Platforms UK Compared
Best Trading Platforms UK Compared
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If you live in the United Kingdom and want to start investing or trading online, there are several aspects to consider when trying to find the right trading platform. At first glance, the specifics can be overwhelming. There are many different online trading platforms in the UK to choose from, how and what assets to invest in, and what fees and tools to use. From an administrative perspective, there are specific laws and government regulations related to trading online in the UK and, of course, the question of taxes on capital gains. In our reviews, we have answered questions and outlined all these aspects of different trading platforms in the UK, all of which are Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulated. We’ve also answered questions such as why investing in stocks and other assets is a good idea. There are several “How-tos,” for example, registering an account and trading online in the UK. You can also find overviews of different types of trading and asset classes.

Most importantly, to help you get started, you’ll need to find a trading platform UK. To assist you with that, we have created lists of trading platforms in the UK along with detailed information and links for each platform. To provide accurate information, we’ve analysed all the UK trading platforms and reviewed them on our site. This way, you can find the lowest trading fees, beginner-friendly trading applications, what types of financial markets are offered and if 24/7 customer support is available.

Overview of the Best Trading Platforms in the UK

Our researcher's team of trading professionals has analysed and ranked trading platforms UK looking at features, user experience fees, and other aspects to produce the below list. We aim to provide information on investment options catering to beginners and experienced traders in the United Kingdom.

Overview – Best Trading Platforms in UK
Best Trading Platform Overall DeGiro
Best for Low Fees eToro
Best Trading App Saxo
Best for Stocks Capital.com
‍ Best for Advanced Traders Pepperstone
Best for Forex Trading Forex.com
‍ Best for Day Trading Avatrade
Best for Beginners Plus500
Best for CFDs Skilling
⚡ Best for Leverage Trading Vantage

1. DeGiro – Best Trading Platform Overall

DeGiro – Rating 5 out of 5 Stars

DeGiro made it to our list as the best choice for online stock trading platform thanks to its coverage of over 50 exchanges in 30 countries worldwide. Fees for international stock trading vary in DeGiro but are generally low compared to other online brokers. What makes DeGiro particularly attractive from this point of view is their low foreign exchange fee, sitting at a flat 0.25%. This is an essential aspect because when you buy foreign stocks, you buy the stock in the stock’s national currency. It’s not uncommon for other brokers to have currency exchange fees of 0.50-1%.

DeGiro launched its services in 2008, and in 2021 it merged with a Dutch bank. Today, they are the biggest execution-only trading platform in Europe with a banking licence. They serve over 2 million customers worldwide. Besides share dealing accounts, DeGiro offers trading on ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds), bonds, futures, options, indices, and commodities. DeGiro offers no forex trading nor CFDs, an important note to make for anyone considering trading such assets.

Overview Type
Review rating 5 out of 5 stars
Licence no (FCA) 595455
Number of tradable assets 10,000+
Types of tradable assets Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Futures, Options, Indices, Commodities
Regulation & licence FCA, AFM, DNB, BaFin
Payment options Visa, MasterCard, Bank Transfer, Rapid Bank Transfer
Minimum deposit £0
Type of trading accounts Custody Account, Basic Account, Active Account, Trader Account, Day Trader Account
Features 360 Trading Platform, Calendar, News, Portfolio
Leverage Maximum 50:1
Platform Fee Amount
Stock trading fee Variable (low)
Forex trading fee Not available
Inactivity fee No fee
Withdrawal fee No fee
Pros Cons
✅ 50+ stock exchange ❌ No forex trading
✅ Low fees ❌ No CFDs
✅ No minimum deposit ❌ No third-party software
✅ Beginner-friendly  

2. eToro – Best Trading Platform for Low Fees

Overview Type
Review rating 5 out of 5 stars
Licence no (FCA) 583263
Number of tradable assets 3,000+
Types of tradable assets Stocks, Forex, ETFs, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies, CFDs
Regulation & licence FCA, CIF, CySec
Payment options eToro Money, Visa, MasterCard, Neteller, Skrill, Rapid Transfer, iDeal, Klarna, Trustly, Bank Transfer
Minimum deposit £10
Type of trading accounts Demo Accounts, Live Account, Islamic Account, Corporate Account, eToro Professional Account
Features Social trading, Smart portfolios, Popular investor's program
Leverage 30:1
Platform Fee Amount
Stock trading fee Free
Forex trading fee Spread, example: 2.1 pips for GBP/USD
Inactivity fee £10 per month after one year of inactivity
Withdrawal fee £5 (minimum withdrawal £30)
Pros Cons
✅ Zero commission trading on stocks ❌ High non-trading fees
✅ Low fees ❌ Limited customer service
✅ Segregated accounts  
✅ Beginner-to-advanced traders  
Overview Type
Review rating 5 out of 5 stars
Licence no (FCA) 583263
Number of tradable assets 3,000+
Types of tradable assets Stocks, Forex, ETFs, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies, CFDs
Regulation & licence FCA, CIF, CySec
Payment options eToro Money, Visa, MasterCard, Neteller, Skrill, Rapid Transfer, iDeal, Klarna, Trustly, Bank Transfer
Minimum deposit £10
Type of trading accounts Demo Accounts, Live Account, Islamic Account, Corporate Account, eToro Professional Account
Features Social trading, Smart portfolios, Popular investor's program
Leverage 30:1
Platform Fee Amount
Stock trading fee Free
Forex trading fee Spread, example: 2.1 pips for GBP/USD
Inactivity fee £10 per month after one year of inactivity
Withdrawal fee £5 (minimum withdrawal £30)
Pros Cons
✅ Zero commission trading on stocks ❌ High non-trading fees
✅ Low fees ❌ Limited customer service
✅ Segregated accounts  
✅ Beginner-to-advanced traders  
Overview Type
Review rating 5 out of 5 stars
Licence no (FCA) 551422
Number of tradable assets 60,000+
Types of tradable assets Stocks, Forex, Indices, Futures, Commodities, Bonds, ETFs, CFDs
Regulation & Licence FCA, FSA, FINMA, MAS, MiFID, SFC
Payment options Visa, MasterCard, Bank Transfer, Rapid Bank Transfer
Minimum deposit £500
Type of trading accounts Demo Account (20-days), Classic Account, Platinum Account, VIP Account, Professional Account
Features SaxoTrader GO, Saxo Trader PRO, SaxoOpenAPI, TradingView, DynamicTrend, MultiCharts, Updata
Leverage Maximum 50:1
Platform Fee Amount
Stock trading fee Variable spread
Forex trading fee Spread, example: 0.8 pips for EUR/USD
Inactivity fee £25 per month after three months of inactivity
Withdrawal fee No fee
Pros Cons
✅ 30+ years track record ❌ Demo account only available for 20 days
✅ 60,000+ tradeable assets ❌ MetaTrader not available
✅ Low forex trading fee ❌ High minimum deposit
✅ Beginner-to-advanced traders  
Overview Type
Review rating 5 out of 5 stars
Licence no (FCA) 793714
Number of tradable assets 6,100+
Types of tradable assets Stocks, Forex, ETFs, Indices, Commodities, CFDs
Regulation & Licence FCA, CySec, ASIC, MiFID
Payment options Visa, MasterCard, Neteller, Skrill, PayPal, Bank Transfer, Rapid Bank Transfer
Minimum deposit £20
Type of trading accounts Demo Account, Standard Account, Plus Account, Premier Account, Invest Account
Features AvaTrade Go, WebTrader, AvaSocial (copy trading), AvaOptions, DupliTrade, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5
Leverage Maximum 30:1
Platform Fee Amount
Stock trading fee Free
Forex trading fee Spread, example: 0.6 pips for EUR/USD
Inactivity fee No fee
Withdrawal fee No fee (minimum withdrawal £50)
Pros Cons
✅ 6,200+ tradeable assets ❌ High fees on stock index CFDs
✅ Low deposit limit ❌ MetaTrader 5 is not available
✅ Great customer service  
✅ Beginner-friendly  
Overview Type
Review rating 4 out of 5 stars
Licence no (FCA) 684312
Number of tradable assets 1,200+
Types of tradable assets Stocks, Forex, ETFs, Indices, Commodities, CFDs
Regulation & Licence FCA, ASIC, DFSA
Payment options Visa, MasterCard, Neteller, Skrill, Klarna, Trustly, Bank Transfer, Rapid Bank Transfer
Minimum deposit No minimum requirement
Type of trading accounts Demo Account (30-days), Standard Account, Razor Account
Features cTrader, Social Trading, TradingView, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Capitalise.ai
Leverage Maximum 500:1
Platform Fee Amount
Stock trading fee Variable spread
Forex trading fee Spread, example: 1.59 pips for GBP/USD
Inactivity fee No fee
Withdrawal fee No fee (no minimum requirement)
Pros Cons
✅ No requirements for deposit & withdrawal ❌ Demo account only available for 30 days
✅ Great customer service ❌ No news feeds
✅ Lots of third-party software  
✅ Beginner-friendly  
Overview Type
Review rating 4 out of 5 stars
Licence no (FCA) 446717
Number of tradable assets 4,500+
Types of tradable assets Forex, Stocks, CFDs, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds
Regulation & Licence FCA, CFTC, NFA, SFC
Payment options Visa, MasterCard, Neteller, Skrill, Klarna, Trustly, Bank Transfer, Rapid Bank Transfer
Minimum deposit £100
Type of trading accounts Demo Account, Standard Account, Commission Account, Direct Market Access Account, Corporate Account, MetaTrader 5 Account
Features Market 360, Trading Central, Advanced Charts, MetaTrader 5, News, Academy
Leverage Maximum 50:1
Platform Fee Amount
Stock trading fee Variable
Forex trading fee Spread, example: 1.1 pips for GBP/USD
Inactivity fee £15 per month after one year of inactivity
Withdrawal fee No fee (no minimum requirement)
Pros Cons
✅ ~100 currency pairs ❌ Above average fee on stock CFDs
✅ Low forex fees ❌ No 24/7 customer service
✅ Safe and reliable  
✅ Beginner-to-advanced  
Overview Type
Review rating 4 out of 5 stars
Licence no (FCA) 783200
Number of tradable assets 3,000+
Types of tradable assets Stocks, Forex, ETFs, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, CFDs
Regulation & Licence FCA, CySec, FFAJ, ISA, IIROC, ADGM/FSRA, CBI, BVIFSC, FSCA, ASIC
Payment options Visa, MasterCard, Neteller, Skrill, Bank Transfer, Rapid Bank Transfer
Minimum deposit £100
Type of trading accounts Demo Account, Standard Account, Retail Account, Professional Account, Islamic Account
Features Web Platform, WebTrader, InvestMate, MetaTrader 4
Leverage Maximum 30:1
Platform Fee Amount
Stock trading fee Variable spread
Forex trading fee Spread, example: 2.1 pips for GBP/USD
Inactivity fee £50 per month after three months of inactivity
Withdrawal fee £5 (minimum withdrawal £30)
Pros Cons
✅ Great mobile platform ❌ High non-trading fee
✅ Lots of features ❌ Only 24/5 customer service
✅ Segregated accounts  
✅ Beginner-to-advanced traders  
Overview Type
Review rating 4 out of 5 stars
Licence no (FCA) 509909
Number of tradable assets 2,000+
Types of tradable assets Stocks, Forex, ETFs, Indices, Commodities, Options, CFDs
Regulation & Licence FCA, CySec, FI, AFSL, FSCA, SFSA
Payment options Visa, MasterCard, Skrill, Klarna, PayPal, Bank Transfer, Rapid Bank Transfer
Minimum deposit £100
Type of trading accounts Demo Account, Retail Account, Professional Account
Features WebTrader, Economic Calendar, Trading Education
Leverage Maximum 30:1
Platform Fee Amount
Stock trading fee Commission free (charge through spread)
Forex trading fee Variable spread
Inactivity fee £10 per month after three months of inactivity
Withdrawal fee No fee
Pros Cons
✅ Proprietary trading platform ❌ Only CFD trading available
✅ Zero commissions trading ❌ No third-party software offered
✅ Segregated accounts  
✅ Beginner friendly  
Overview Type
Review rating 4 out of 5 stars
Licence no (FCA) 810951
Number of tradable assets 900+
Types of tradable assets Stocks, Forex, ETFs, Indices, Commodities, CFDs
Regulation & Licence FCA, CIF, CySec, FSA
Payment options Visa, MasterCard, Neteller, Skrill, Klarna, Trustly, PayPal, Bank Transfer
Minimum deposit £50
Type of trading accounts Demo Account, Standard Account, Premium Account, MetaTrader 4
Features Social Trading, Skilling Trader, Skilling cTrader, TradingView, MetaTrader
Leverage Maximum 30:1
Platform Fee Amount
Stock trading fee Free
Forex trading fee Spread, example: from 0.2 pips for GBP/USD
Inactivity fee No fee
Withdrawal fee No fee
Pros Cons
✅ Low fees ❌ Only CFDs
✅ Low non-trading fee ❌ Only 24/5 customer service
✅ Segregated accounts  
✅ Beginner-to-advanced traders  
Overview Type
Review rating 3.5 out of 5 stars
Licence no (FCA) 313486
Number of tradable assets 1,000+
Types of tradable assets Stocks, Forex, ETFs, Indices, Commodities, CFDs
Regulation & Licence FCA, CIMA, SIBL, VFSC, ASIC,
Payment options Visa, MasterCard, Neteller, Skrill, Broker-to-Broker Transfer, AstroPay, Bank Transfer, Rapid Bank Transfer
Minimum deposit £200
Type of trading accounts Demo Account, Live Account, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5
Features Social trading, MetaTrader, ProTrader, TradingView
Leverage Maximum 500:1
Platform Fee Amount
Stock trading fee Free and variable
Forex trading fee Spread, example: 1.4 pips for GBP/USD
Inactivity fee No fee
Withdrawal fee No fee
Pros Cons
✅ Zero commission trading on many CFD shares ❌ High minimum deposit
✅ Low non-trading fees ❌ Less beginner friendly
✅ Segregated accounts  
✅ Good customer service  
Compare Trading Platform Fees
Trading platform Stocks Forex ETFs CFDs Cryptocurrencies Currency conversion Inactivity fees Withdrawal fees
DeGiro Low N/A Low Low N/A 0.25% Free Free
eToro Low Medium Low Low Low 0.50% £10 £5
Saxo Medium Low Medium Medium N/A 1.00% £25 Free
Capital.com Low Low Low High N/A 0.70% Free Free
Pepperstone Low Low Low Low N/A 0.40% Free Free
Forex.com High Low Medium Low N/A 0.50% £15 Free
AvaTrade Low Medium Low Low N/A 0.70% £50 £5
Plus500 Medium High Medium Medium N/A 0.70% £10 Free
Skilling Medium Medium Medium Low N/A 0.70% Free Free
Vantage Medium Low Medium Medium N/A 0.70% Free Free
Online Trading Platform – Assets Overview
Trading platform Stocks Forex ETFs CFDs Cryptocurrencies Indices Commodities Bonds Futures Options
eToro Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
Skilling Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No
Vantage Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No
Plus500 Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No Yes
AvaTrade Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No
Capital.com Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No
Pepperstone Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No
Saxo Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes No
DeGiro Yes No Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Forex.com Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No

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