ChartsView - Stock Trading Community

Best UK Stock Brokers 2026

Compared and reviewed by the ChartsView community

Quick Comparison

Broker Type UK Stocks US Stocks ISA Min Deposit Commission Rating
Trading 212 Investment Yes Yes Yes £1 Free 4.5/5 Visit Broker
IC Markets Global CFD/Forex No Yes (CFDs) No $200 From $0 4.5/5 Visit Broker
IG CFD/Investment Yes Yes Yes £250 From £8 4.5/5 Visit Broker
Interactive Brokers Investment Yes Yes Yes £0 From £3 4/5 Visit Broker
eToro Social Trading Yes Yes Yes $50 Free 4/5 Visit Broker
AJ Bell Investment Yes Yes Yes £500 £5 4/5 Visit Broker
Hargreaves Lansdown Full-Service Yes Yes Yes £1 £11.95 4.5/5 Visit Broker
Freetrade Commission-Free Yes Yes No £2 Free 4/5 Visit Broker
XTB CFD/Investment Yes No No £0 Free (under £1M) 4/5 Visit Broker
Saxo Markets Pro Trading Yes Yes No £500 From £3 4/5 Visit Broker
DEGIRO Low-Cost Dealing No No No £0 £1.75 + 0.022% 4/5 Visit Broker
CMC Markets CFD/Investment Yes No No £0 From £9.90 4/5 Visit Broker
Vanguard UK Index/Passive Yes Yes No £500 Free 4/5 Visit Broker
Swissquote Pro Trading Yes No No CHF 1,000 From £9 3.5/5 Visit Broker

Detailed Reviews

Trading 212

Investment Platform · FCA Regulated
4.5
out of 5

Pros

  • Commission-free trading on stocks and ETFs
  • Fractional shares from as little as £1
  • Free stocks & shares ISA
  • Auto-invest feature for passive investing
  • Intuitive mobile app with great UX

Cons

  • Limited research and charting tools
  • No SIPP or pension account
  • 0.15% FX fee on non-GBP trades
  • Customer support can be slow

Fee Breakdown

UK share dealingFree
US share dealingFree
ISA feeFree
FX conversion0.15%
WithdrawalFree

Key Information

Min deposit£1
RegulationFCA (UK)
ISA availableYes
Fractional sharesYes
Demo accountYes
Best for: Beginners and passive investors wanting free trading Visit Trading 212

IC Markets Global

CFD & Forex Broker · MT4/MT5 · ASIC / CySEC Regulated
4.5
out of 5

Pros

  • Raw spreads from 0.0 pips on Raw Spread account
  • Full MetaTrader 4 and MT5 support with Expert Advisors (EAs)
  • Excellent for algorithmic and automated trading strategies
  • Ultra-fast execution with low latency — ideal for scalping
  • Popular with serious forex and indices traders worldwide

Cons

  • No real stock investing (CFDs only)
  • No ISA or tax wrapper accounts
  • Not FCA regulated (offshore entity)
  • $200 minimum deposit

Fee Breakdown

EUR/USD spreadFrom 0.0 pips
Commission (Raw)$3.50/lot
Commission (Standard)$0 (built into spread)
Swap ratesStandard
WithdrawalFree

Key Information

Min deposit$200
RegulationASIC, CySEC, SCB
PlatformsMT4, MT5, cTrader
Algo tradingFull EA support
Max leverageUp to 1:500
Best for: Active traders and algo traders wanting raw spreads and fast execution Visit IC Markets

IG

CFD & Investment Platform · FCA Regulated
4.5
out of 5

Pros

  • One of the most established brokers (50+ years)
  • Excellent proprietary trading platform
  • Huge range of markets (17,000+ instruments)
  • ISA, SIPP and share dealing accounts
  • Comprehensive research and education

Cons

  • Higher commission than discount brokers (£8 per trade)
  • £250 minimum deposit for share dealing
  • Inactivity fee after 2 years
  • CFD platform can be complex for beginners

Fee Breakdown

UK share dealing£8 per trade
US share dealing£10 per trade
ISA feeFree
FX conversion0.5%
CFD spread (FTSE)1 point

Key Information

Min deposit£250
RegulationFCA (UK)
ISA availableYes
SIPP availableYes
Demo accountYes

🎉 Current IG Promotions

Offer 1
5% Cashback on Investments – up to £200
Use code CASHBACK200 when opening a GIA, ISA or SIPP. Place a first trade of at least £100 by 30 March 2026 and maintain an active portfolio until 30 June 2026. Cashback credited to your GIA by 31 July 2026. Expires 30 March 2026. Smart Portfolios excluded. Cannot combine with other promotions.
Offer 2
7% Boosted Interest Rate on Uninvested Cash
Use code INTEREST10 when opening a GIA, ISA or SIPP. Earn 7.0% variable AER on uninvested cash up to £10,000. Must be a new IG client, place a first trade and invest at least £500 by 31 March 2026. Boosted rate applies 1 April – 30 September 2026. Expires 31 March 2026. Cannot combine with other promotions.
Offer 3
1% Transfer Cashback – up to £3,000
Use code TRANS3K when opening a GIA, ISA or SIPP. Transfer existing investments (min £1,000) by 5 April 2026. Must be a new IG client with no previous IG account before 31 January 2026. Transfers completed by 31 May 2026. Cashback credited by 30 November 2026. Expires 5 April 2026. Cannot combine with other promotions.
Best for: Experienced traders wanting a comprehensive all-in-one platform Visit IG

Interactive Brokers

Investment Platform · FCA Regulated
4
out of 5

Pros

  • Access to 150+ markets in 33 countries
  • Very competitive commissions (£3 per UK trade)
  • Professional-grade Trader Workstation (TWS)
  • ISA available with low fees
  • Excellent for international investing

Cons

  • Complex platform — steep learning curve
  • Interface can feel dated and overwhelming
  • Customer support quality varies
  • Tiered pricing structure can be confusing

Fee Breakdown

UK share dealingFrom £3
US share dealingFrom $1
ISA feeFree
FX conversion0.002% (min $2)
Inactivity feeNone

Key Information

Min deposit£0
RegulationFCA, SEC, CFTC
ISA availableYes
Markets150+ globally
Demo accountYes
Best for: Serious investors wanting global market access at low cost Visit Interactive Brokers

eToro

Social Trading Platform · FCA Regulated
4
out of 5

Pros

  • Commission-free stock trading
  • Stocks & Shares ISA available (free)
  • SIPP (pension account) available
  • Unique CopyTrader feature to follow top investors
  • Easy-to-use platform ideal for beginners
  • Wide range of assets including crypto
  • Strong social community and sentiment tools

Cons

  • $5 withdrawal fee
  • Spreads can be wider than competitors
  • $10/month inactivity fee after 12 months

Fee Breakdown

Stock tradingFree (spread only)
FX conversion0.5% (GBP/USD)
Withdrawal$5
Inactivity$10/month (12+ months)
CopyTraderFree

Key Information

Min deposit$50
RegulationFCA, CySEC, ASIC
ISA availableYes (free)
SIPP availableYes
Copy tradingYes
Demo accountYes ($100k virtual)
Best for: Social traders and beginners who want to copy experienced investors Visit eToro

AJ Bell

Investment Platform · FCA Regulated
4
out of 5

Pros

  • Full range of accounts: ISA, SIPP, GIA, LISA
  • Award-winning Dodl app for simplified investing
  • Extensive fund and investment trust selection
  • Strong research, news and educational content
  • FTSE 250 listed company — well established

Cons

  • £500 minimum to open a share dealing account
  • £5 dealing fee is higher than free platforms
  • 0.25% annual platform fee on funds
  • Interface not as modern as newer platforms

Fee Breakdown

UK share dealing£5 per trade
US share dealing£5 per trade
Fund dealing£1.50
Platform fee (shares)0.25% (max £3.50/m)
FX conversion0.75%

Key Information

Min deposit£500
RegulationFCA (UK)
ISA availableYes
SIPP availableYes
LISA availableYes
Best for: Long-term investors wanting ISA/SIPP with strong research tools Visit AJ Bell
Affiliate Disclosure: ChartsView may receive compensation from brokers featured on this page when you open an account through our links. This does not influence our ratings or reviews, and comes at no additional cost to you. Our reviews are based on independent research and community feedback. We only recommend brokers we believe offer genuine value to UK traders and investors.
FCA Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. The value of your investments can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. All information is accurate as of February 2026 but may change. Always verify details on the broker's website before opening an account.

Hargreaves Lansdown

Full-Service Investment Platform · FCA Regulated
4.5
out of 5

Pros

  • UK’s largest investment platform — trusted by 1.8M+ clients
  • Full account range: ISA, SIPP, LISA, GIA, Junior ISA
  • Exceptional research, market data and stock analysis tools
  • Award-winning customer service and educational resources
  • Wide choice of funds, shares, ETFs, bonds and investment trusts
  • Telephone dealing available for larger orders

Cons

  • £11.95 per trade (reduces with higher activity) — expensive vs free platforms
  • 0.45% annual platform fee on shares (capped at £45/yr)
  • 0.75% FX fee on overseas trades
  • Not suitable for active day traders or CFD trading

Fee Breakdown

UK share dealing£11.95 (0–9 trades/m)
UK share dealing£8.95 (10–19 trades/m)
UK share dealing£5.95 (20+ trades/m)
Fund dealingFree
Platform fee (shares)0.45% (max £45/yr)
Platform fee (funds)0.45% (max £45/yr)
FX conversion0.75%
ISA feeFree (no extra charge)
SIPP fee0.45% (max £200/yr)

Key Information

Min deposit£1
RegulationFCA (UK)
ISA availableYes
SIPP availableYes
LISA availableYes
Junior ISAYes
FSCS protectedYes (up to £85,000)
Best for: Long-term UK investors wanting a trusted full-service platform with excellent research Visit Hargreaves Lansdown

Freetrade

Commission-Free Investment App · FCA Regulated
4
out of 5

Pros

  • Commission-free trading on UK and US stocks and ETFs
  • Stocks & Shares ISA included (with paid plans)
  • SIPP available — excellent for pension investing at low cost
  • Fractional shares from £2
  • Clean, beginner-friendly mobile app
  • Over 6,000 stocks and ETFs available

Cons

  • ISA and SIPP require a paid plan (£9.99/month)
  • No CFD or spread betting products
  • No desktop platform — mobile app only
  • Limited charting and research tools
  • 3.99% FX fee on overseas trades is high

Fee Breakdown

UK share dealingFree
US share dealingFree
FX conversion3.99% (0.99% with Plus)
Basic planFree (no ISA/SIPP)
Plus plan£9.99/month (ISA + SIPP)
Inactivity feeNone

Key Information

Min deposit£2
RegulationFCA (UK)
ISA availableYes (Plus plan)
SIPP availableYes (Plus plan)
Fractional sharesYes (from £2)
FSCS protectedYes (up to £85,000)
Best for: Beginner investors and those wanting a simple commission-free ISA or SIPP Visit Freetrade

XTB

CFD & Investment Platform · FCA Regulated
4
out of 5

Pros

  • Commission-free real stock and ETF trading up to £1M/month
  • Stocks & Shares ISA now available
  • Powerful xStation 5 trading platform with advanced charting
  • Wide range of CFDs: forex, indices, commodities, crypto
  • No minimum deposit
  • Excellent educational tools and market analysis

Cons

  • 0.5% commission above £1M monthly turnover
  • No SIPP or pension account
  • Currency conversion fee of 0.5%
  • £10/month inactivity fee after 12 months
  • CFD trading carries high risk — not suitable for beginners

Fee Breakdown

Stock dealingFree (under £1M/month)
Stock dealing0.5% (above £1M/month)
ETF dealingFree (under £1M/month)
FX conversion0.5%
Inactivity fee£10/month (12+ months)
ISA feeFree

Key Information

Min deposit£0
RegulationFCA (UK), KNF (Poland)
ISA availableYes
SIPP availableNo
CFD tradingYes (2,100+ instruments)
Demo accountYes (£100,000 virtual)
Best for: Active traders wanting commission-free stocks with a powerful platform and CFD access Visit XTB

Saxo Markets

Professional Trading Platform · FCA Regulated
4
out of 5

Pros

  • Access to 71,000+ instruments across global markets
  • Professional-grade SaxoTraderGO and SaxoTraderPRO platforms
  • Stocks & Shares ISA and SIPP available
  • Competitive pricing that improves with trading volume (Platinum/VIP tiers)
  • Direct market access (DMA) for professional traders
  • Excellent charting, research and risk management tools

Cons

  • £500 minimum deposit — high barrier for beginners
  • Fees are complex and can be expensive for small portfolios
  • Platform can be overwhelming for less experienced traders
  • £25/quarter custody fee if balance under £10,000

Fee Breakdown

UK share dealingFrom £3 (Classic tier)
US share dealingFrom $1 per trade
ETF dealingFrom £3
FX conversion0.25–0.75%
Custody fee£25/quarter (if <£10k)
ISA feeNo extra charge

Key Information

Min deposit£500
RegulationFCA (UK), FSA (Denmark)
ISA availableYes
SIPP availableYes
Markets available71,000+ instruments
Demo accountYes
Best for: Experienced and professional traders wanting access to global markets and advanced tools Visit Saxo Markets

DEGIRO

Low-Cost European Broker · FCA Regulated
4
out of 5

Pros

  • Among the lowest share dealing fees in the UK (£1.75 + 0.022%)
  • Access to 50+ global exchanges in 30+ countries
  • No account maintenance or inactivity fees
  • Wide range of stocks, ETFs, options, futures and bonds
  • Clean, intuitive platform and mobile app
  • No minimum deposit

Cons

  • No ISA or SIPP available — not tax-efficient for UK investors
  • No CFD trading
  • FX fee of 0.25% on overseas trades
  • Customer service can be slow to respond
  • Research and charting tools are basic

Fee Breakdown

UK share dealing£1.75 + 0.022%
US share dealing£1.75 + 0.022%
ETF dealing£1.75 + 0.022%
FX conversion0.25% per trade
Inactivity feeNone
Annual custody feeNone

Key Information

Min deposit£0
RegulationFCA (UK), AFM (Netherlands)
ISA availableNo
SIPP availableNo
Exchanges50+ global exchanges
FSCS protectedYes (up to £85,000)
Best for: Cost-conscious investors who want to access global markets at rock-bottom fees Visit DEGIRO

CMC Markets

CFD & Investment Platform · FCA Regulated
4
out of 5

Pros

  • One of the longest-established UK CFD brokers (founded 1989)
  • Over 12,000 CFD instruments including forex, indices and commodities
  • Stocks & Shares ISA via CMC Invest platform
  • Award-winning Next Generation platform with advanced charting
  • No minimum deposit for CFD account
  • Competitive spreads on major indices and forex pairs

Cons

  • Share dealing fee of £9.90 per trade (free for first trade of day on UK/US stocks)
  • No SIPP account available
  • Inactivity fee of £10/month after 12 months
  • CFD trading carries significant risk of loss

Fee Breakdown

UK share dealing£9.90 (1st trade/day free)
US share dealing£9.90 (1st trade/day free)
CFD tradingSpread only
FX conversion0.5%
Inactivity fee£10/month (12+ months)
ISA feeFree (via CMC Invest)

Key Information

Min deposit£0
RegulationFCA (UK)
ISA availableYes (CMC Invest)
SIPP availableNo
CFD instruments12,000+
Demo accountYes
Best for: Active CFD and spread bet traders wanting a trusted UK platform with a huge range of markets Visit CMC Markets

Vanguard UK

Index Fund Platform · FCA Regulated
4
out of 5

Pros

  • Low-cost index funds and ETFs from one of the world’s most respected fund managers
  • Very low platform fee: 0.15% (capped at £375/year)
  • Stocks & Shares ISA and SIPP available
  • No dealing fees on Vanguard funds
  • Simple, clean platform ideal for long-term passive investing
  • Strong reputation for putting investors first (investor-owned structure)

Cons

  • Only Vanguard funds available — no external stocks, shares or ETFs
  • £500 lump sum or £100/month minimum to open
  • No trading tools, charts or research capabilities
  • Not suitable for active traders or stock pickers

Fee Breakdown

Fund dealingFree (Vanguard funds)
Platform fee0.15% per year (max £375)
Fund OCF (avg)0.10–0.22% per year
ISA feeNo extra charge
SIPP fee0.15% (max £375/yr)
Inactivity feeNone

Key Information

Min deposit£500 lump / £100/month
RegulationFCA (UK)
ISA availableYes
SIPP availableYes
Funds availableVanguard funds only
FSCS protectedYes (up to £85,000)
Best for: Passive long-term investors who want a simple low-cost ISA or SIPP using index funds Visit Vanguard

Swissquote

Professional Swiss Broker · FCA Regulated
3.5
out of 5

Pros

  • Swiss bank-level security and financial stability
  • Access to 3M+ financial products across global markets
  • Stocks & Shares ISA available for UK clients
  • Regulated by both FCA (UK) and FINMA (Switzerland)
  • Advanced trading platforms: SQX, MetaTrader 4/5
  • Robo-advisory service (ePrivateBanker) for hands-off investing

Cons

  • High minimum deposit: CHF 1,000 (approx £900)
  • Fees are higher than most UK competitors
  • No SIPP available for UK clients
  • Custody fees apply on smaller accounts
  • Interface less intuitive than modern UK platforms

Fee Breakdown

UK share dealingFrom £9 per trade
US share dealingFrom $10 per trade
FX conversion0.95% (standard)
Custody fee0.025%/month (>£50k waived)
ISA feeNo extra charge
Inactivity feeCHF 10/month (24+ months)

Key Information

Min depositCHF 1,000 (~£900)
RegulationFCA (UK), FINMA (Swiss)
ISA availableYes
SIPP availableNo
Instruments3M+ products
MetaTraderMT4 and MT5 supported
Best for: High-net-worth and experienced traders wanting Swiss banking security with global market access Visit Swissquote