Best Stock Trading Apps in the UK Top Picks for Beginners and Experts

I remember the first time I tried to buy a share. It was like going to a casino where you didn’t know the rules. The language was hard to understand, the fees were hard to figure out, and the platform looked like it was made by an engineer in the 1990s. Things are different now. Your phone is the key to the stock market. But how do you choose the best stock trading app in the UK when there are so many to choose from? Not everyone has the same choice. The right app for a seasoned day trader could be a nightmare for a beginner. When you’re done reading this article, you’ll know exactly which of the best trading apps in the UK is right for you based on your goals, level of experience, and budget. Let’s get going.

How to Use Stock Trading Apps in the UK?

Before we get to the picks, let’s make sure we know what we’re talking about. A stock trading app is a mobile app that lets you buy and sell investments like stocks, ETFs, and sometimes even cryptocurrencies. There is no other market like the one in the UK. One of our best tax-efficient accounts is the Stocks and Shares ISA. It protects your profits from capital gains tax. With the best UK stock trading app, using an ISA will be as easy as tapping a few times. The company is regulated by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority), which means your money is safe (up to £85,000 per institution under FSCS). This is a safety net that can’t be changed. Finding an app that fits your trading style is very important. 

The Best Stock Trading Apps for Beginners in the UK

If you’re new to investing, your top priorities should be low costs, an easy-to-use interface, and materials that teach you how to do it. You don’t need complicated charts; you just need to be clear and sure. Based on that, these are the best UK trading apps for beginners that I think you should try.

1. Trading 212 is the Best Choice for Everything

There is a good reason why so many people use Trading 212. A lot of people say it’s the easiest app to use.

• Fees: There is no commission on buying or selling stocks or ETFs. This is a big win for people who are new to investing and want to put small amounts of money into the market on a regular basis without having to pay fees that cut into their capital.
• Usability: The interface is clean, modern, and simple to use. It’s simple to buy your first stock.
• The “Pie” part is the best. With just one click, you can make a mini-portfolio (a pie) and invest in it. It’s a great way to invest without having to do anything.
• Best for: People who are new to the game and want to play without paying anything.

2. eToro: The First Site for Social Investing

eToro is more than just a trading app; it’s a place for investors to meet. If you learn best by watching others, this is the place for you.

• Fees: You can buy and sell stocks without paying a commission, but be aware of the spread, which is the difference between the buy and sell price.
• The social feed is the most important part of usability. You can see what other traders are buying, talk about strategies, and even see how well-known investors are doing.
• The best part is CopyTrading. This lets you automatically copy the trades of people who are doing well on the site. You choose an amount, and the app copies the moves in their portfolio. It’s a great way to learn and invest without having to do anything.
• Best for: people who are new and want to learn from others in the community.

3. Freetrade: The ISA Expert That Makes It Simple

Freetrade is true to its name because it has a simple, commission-free model that is aimed at UK investors.

• Fees: You can get a free basic account with a few stocks. You can trade more stocks, use more advanced order types, and open an ISA with a Freetrade Plus subscription (£9.99/month).
• Ease of use: Very simple. It was made to do one thing well: buy and sell stocks without any other features.
• The best part is that it works perfectly with a Stocks and Shares ISA. It’s one of the easiest ways to start investing in a way that saves you money on taxes.
• Best for: beginners in the UK who want to keep things simple and save money on taxes from the start.

A Comparison Table of the Best Trading Apps for Beginners in the UK

Simple ISAs: The Best Apps for Day Traders and Experienced Traders

When you go from being a beginner to a pro, your needs change. You need to be quick, have advanced charting tools, do a lot of research, and have lower margins. The best day trading apps for the UK are not only easy to use, but they also work well.

1. Interactive Brokers (IBKR): The Best Option for Professionals

IBKR is the best broker for serious traders all over the world. It’s a great tool, but it takes a while to learn how to use it.

• Fees: A very competitive tiered pricing structure, especially for traders who do a lot of business.
• Tools: No one else has them. You can trade in markets all over the world, not just US and UK stocks. You can use professional-grade charts, a huge number of order types, and powerful trading APIs.

There is a lot of market data and research out there. This is one of the best apps for trading stocks in the UK if you use both fundamental and technical analysis.

• Best for: professionals, active traders, and anyone who needs to trade in global markets and use advanced tools.

2. IG Trading: The UK’s Established Powerhouse

IG is a well-known company in the UK for spread betting and CFDs. It is also listed on the FTSE 250. Their platform is very stable and has a lot of options.

• Fees: Spreads that are fair. It costs £3 to trade UK stocks and $10 to trade US stocks on their share dealing platform.
• Tools: The IG platform has great charting tools (you can use ProRealTime with it) and news and market analysis right in the app.

What makes it different is its reputation and safety. It is a large company that is traded on the stock market, which makes it very stable. It’s one of the best stock trading apps in the UK for serious investors.

• Best for: Traders who want a well-known brand, in-depth research, and advanced charting.

3. Saxo Bank: The Place for Wealthy People

With Saxo Markets, you get a top-notch experience and access to over 60,000 instruments in a wide range of asset classes.

• Fees: You have to pay more in fees and make bigger deposits, but you get a great platform in return. Bigger portfolios cost more.
• Tools: The SaxoTraderGO app is a beautiful piece of work in terms of design and function. It has a mobile-friendly interface and professional tools.

One of the best things about this service is that it has all of your investment options in one place, including stocks, ETFs, bonds, futures, and forex.

• Best for: Investors who have a lot of money and experience and need to be able to trade in markets all over the world.

What to Look for in a UK Stock Trading App

Don’t just pick the app that looks the best. Take a close look at these features to find the best UK trading app for you.

Costs and Fees: This is very important. Look for:

• Pay for each trade
• Costs for buying US stocks in FX
• Spreads (the cost that isn’t clear)
• Fees for not using an account or for inactivity
• Costs for making and taking out deposits
• Account Types: Does it have a Stocks and Shares ISA that lets you make money without paying taxes? What do you think of a SIPP for retirement? The best trading apps in the UK help you save money on taxes.
• Available Assets: Do you only buy and sell UK stocks, or do you also buy and sell US stocks, ETFs, investment trusts, and cryptocurrencies? Make sure that what the app can do fits with your plan.

For professionals, there are charting quality, technical indicators, news feeds, and screeners. For beginners: materials to learn from and basic analysis.

Is the app simple and quick to use? Is it simple for you to trade? The best stock trading apps in the UK are the ones that work well on mobile devices.

Rules and Safety: Always, always check to see if the FCA controls the platform. This is your main line of defense.

How to Choose the Best Stock Trading App UK for You?

You can follow this simple plan to help you decide.

• Set a goal: Are you learning, day trading, or saving for retirement? What you need depends on what you want to do.
• Take a look at your experience:Please be truthful. A beginner on a professional platform will feel lost. Someone who knows a lot about a simple app will be upset.
• Set Your Budget: How much money do you have to start with? Some apps need you to put down a certain amount of money. Also, think about how fees will change the way you trade. For instance, if you trade a lot, you need very low commissions.
• My top piece of advice is to open a demo account. You can usually try out the best stock trading apps in the UK for free with fake money. Try out the interface, make some trades, and see which app you like best.

• Start Small: After you make your choice, put a small amount of money into your account that you can live with. Get used to the real platform before you put more money into it.

Important Things to Know and Do

The best stock trading app UK for you will depend on your experience and goals.

Interactive Brokers and IG are the best choices for experienced traders because they have advanced tools, low fees for active traders, and access to the market. They are the best apps for day trading in the UK, without a doubt.

The most important thing to remember is to use a demo account first.You can’t learn better than by doing it yourself without risking your money.

You can start investing right away. The right app will help you, not get in your way. Do your homework, pick the platform that works best for you, and take control of your money. I’d like to hear from you now.What do you find most difficult about choosing a trading app? Please leave a comment below and let me know.