Buying shares used to mean calling a broker or filling out paperwork through a bank. That has changed a great deal, and a group of UK trading apps now lets everyday investors open an account and place trades from a phone in a few minutes. This article will look at seven platforms that have shaped how people in the UK access financial markets.
Hargreaves Lansdown
Hargreaves Lansdown is one of the largest and longest running investment platforms in the UK, offering access to shares, funds, and pensions through a single account.
Key Features
- A wide range of investment options, including shares, funds, and investment trusts
- Research tools and market commentary aimed at both new and experienced investors
- ISA, pension, and general investment account options
- A well established customer support team
Hargreaves Lansdown tends to appeal to investors who want a broad platform with strong research tools, rather than the simplest or cheapest option available.
Freetrade
Freetrade is a mobile first investing app built around commission free share dealing, aimed largely at newer investors.
Notable Features
- Commission free trading on a core range of UK and US shares
- A simple, mobile focused app design
- ISA and general investment account options
- A subscription model for access to a wider range of shares and features
Freetrade suits investors who want a straightforward way to start buying shares without a complicated interface or a long list of fees for every trade.
Trading 212
Trading 212 offers commission free trading across shares and exchange traded funds, along with a separate service for trading contracts for difference.
What Sets It Apart
- Commission free share and ETF dealing
- Fractional shares, allowing investors to buy a portion of an expensive stock
- An ISA option alongside a general investment account
- A separate CFD platform for investors interested in leveraged trading
Trading 212 works well for investors who want to build a diversified portfolio gradually, thanks to its fractional share feature.
eToro
eToro is an international trading platform known for its social trading features, which let users view and, in some cases, copy the trades of other investors.
Common Uses
- Browsing and following the activity of other traders on the platform
- Copy trading, where a user’s account mirrors another trader’s positions
- Access to shares, ETFs, and cryptoassets in one place
- Community discussion features built into the app
eToro appeals to investors who want to learn by observing others, though copying another trader’s activity still carries the same market risk as any other investment decision.
interactive investor
interactive investor is a UK platform that uses a flat monthly fee structure rather than charging a percentage of the amount invested.
Key Features
- A fixed monthly subscription fee instead of a percentage based charge
- Access to shares, funds, investment trusts, and bonds
- ISA, pension, and general investment account options
- Research and portfolio tools included as part of the subscription
interactive investor tends to suit investors with larger portfolios, since a flat fee can work out cheaper than a percentage based charge as the account grows.
AJ Bell
AJ Bell is a UK investment platform offering both a full service option and a simplified app aimed at newer investors called AJ Bell Dodl.
How It Serves Different Investors
- Choose between the full AJ Bell platform or the simpler Dodl app
- Access shares, funds, and investment trusts through the main platform
- Use Dodl for a smaller, curated range of investments with lower minimums
- Hold investments within an ISA, pension, or general account
AJ Bell gives investors a choice between a more detailed platform and a simplified app, depending on how much control they want over their investment options.
Plus500
Plus500 is a trading platform focused on contracts for difference, allowing investors to speculate on price movements across shares, indices, and other assets without owning them directly.
Notable Features
- A wide range of markets available through CFDs
- A simple, chart focused trading interface
- Risk management tools such as stop loss orders
- No commission on trades, though spreads and other costs apply
Plus500 is aimed at investors comfortable with the added risk that comes with CFD trading, since these products can amplify both gains and losses.
Key Takeaways
- Best for broad research and fund access: Hargreaves Lansdown.
- Best for simple, commission free share dealing: Freetrade.
- Best for fractional shares and gradual investing: Trading 212.
- Best for social and copy trading: eToro.
- Best for larger portfolios with flat fees: interactive investor.
- Best for choosing between full service and simplified investing: AJ Bell.
- Best for CFD trading across multiple markets: Plus500.
FAQs
Are UK trading apps regulated?
Most major UK trading apps are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, though investors should always confirm a platform’s regulatory status before using it.
Is commission free trading really free of all costs?
No, commission free platforms often still charge through spreads, currency conversion fees, or subscription costs, depending on the provider.
Can I hold an ISA through these trading apps?
Many of these platforms, including Hargreaves Lansdown, Freetrade, Trading 212, interactive investor, and AJ Bell, offer ISA accounts.
Is CFD trading suitable for beginners?
CFD trading carries a higher level of risk than standard share dealing, so it is generally considered more suitable for experienced investors.
Do these apps offer access to US shares as well as UK shares?
Several of these platforms, including Freetrade and Trading 212, offer access to both UK and US listed shares.
Conclusion
Access to financial markets in the UK has become far easier thanks to these trading apps, though each one takes a slightly different approach. Hargreaves Lansdown and interactive investor suit investors who want broad research and flat fee structures, while Freetrade and Trading 212 focus on simple, commission free share dealing. eToro adds a social element through copy trading, AJ Bell offers a choice between full service and simplified investing, and Plus500 caters to investors comfortable with CFD trading. This article is for general information only and is not financial advice, so it is worth researching each platform and considering your own circumstances before choosing where to invest through UK trading apps.
