What are the best stock trading platforms in the UK? Are you trying to find the best app to trade stocks and shares?

The stock market has always been a great way to invest in the future of companies. Whether you want to speculate or simply get involved in the financial markets, investing in stocks can be a lucrative venture.

However, before you start buying shares, you should consider whether you are ready to take on the responsibility of managing your investments. If you don’t know much about investing, then you might want to spend some time studying before you get started studying or investing.

Trading and Investing. They're Different?

It is also important to note the difference between trading and investing. Trading involves buying and selling securities for profit. Investing is when you buy a security because you believe it will increase in value over time. i.e. one is more focused on the short term gains, the other on the long term gains.

Because of this distinct difference, different platforms may be suited better to each activity. For example, if you are interested in trading, then you would probably want a platform that allows you to trade quickly and easily. On the other hand, if you are looking to invest, then you would want a platform that offers a wide variety of investment options.

There are many different types of online trading platforms available. Some offer only basic features while others have all the bells and whistles. The following sections will help you decide which type of trading platform is right for you with our top 5 picks

1. Freetrade

Freetrade is an award-winning broker offering a range of products including fixed income, FX and CFDs. It provides a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy to navigate through its various offerings. Freetrade is great for mid to long-term investors who want to gain exposure to a large range of assets at ease. They are constantly expanding the number of stocks available through there app.

Freetrade also offers a Stocks-and-Shares ISA for £3 per month which gives your more tax advantages when you profit on some investments and it's time to sell. If your profiting enough, Freetrade's ISA is worth considering as it can save you a lot of money long term if your profits are growing consistently .

Personally Freetrade is my primary investing app. I am a long-term investor so Freetrades simplicity really appeals to my style of investing.

If you sign up with the link below you will receive 1 free share worth between £3 and £200. (We will also receive a free share so appreciate if you use our link) 😊

You can find out more information about Freetrade here

 2. Stake

Stake is another great app for mid to long-term traders. This app is designed to make it easier for new investors to enter the world of trading. Stake offers a wide array of tools such as technical indicators, news feeds, charts and even a chat feature.

Stake is actually an Australian company however they do allow access for UK investors to trade on the global stock market via their app. You can choose from a selection of markets including the US, Europe and Asia.

The platform itself is very clean and user friendly making it perfect for beginners. As well as allowing you to trade directly, Stake also has a section where you can learn about the markets by reading articles written by experts.

The best thing about Stake is that they provide a free demo account meaning you can try out the platform before committing any funds.

Sign up using the link below. Stake is also another app I use personally to manage my investments and the link below once again provides both you and me a free share. This time it will either be a Nike, Dropbox or GoPro stock at no extra cost to yourself.

You can find out more information about Stake here

3. Trading212

Trading212 is another popular choice amongst traders as it offers a number of tools designed specifically for active traders. These include technical analysis charts, news feeds, and chat rooms. This means that you can keep track of what is happening in the markets 24/7 without having to log into your account.

The main drawback is that it doesn't provide any kind of advice on how to make trades. So if you are looking to learn how trading works you will likely need to explore other areas of the internet... or maybe a book? Nah, YouTube will do. 

Similarly to stake, Trading212 also allows customers to create practice accounts where they can test out the platform and see how things work. This way you won't have to risk any real cash until you feel confident enough to start trading for real.Trading212 also allows users to deposit funds directly into their accounts from a variety of sources including credit cards, bank transfers and PayPal.

As well as this, Trading212 offers a range of different types of investment options including Forex, Shares, Commodities, ETFs and Bonds. We do not have any free share offer with Trading212 however you can still check them out with the link below:

You can find out more information about Trading212 here.

4. Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers is a leading provider of financial services with a strong focus technology. They have a client portal web application that is available across all platforms including mobile devices. The software is easy to navigate and allows users to perform many functions.

Their flagship desktop platform, Trader Workstation, is designed for experienced traders who want to take advantage of advanced charting features. It includes over 100 indicators and overlays which can be used to analyse price action.

Interactive Brokers also offer a range of educational resources such as videos, tutorials and eBooks. You can access these through the IB website. They also allow clients to set up automated trading systems which can help reduce the amount of manual input required when trading.

IB also offers an online broker service called IB Direct. This allows clients to trade stocks, commodities, forex and indices via their computer or phone.

You can find out more information about Interactive Brokers here.

5. eToro

eToro is one of the most popular online brokerages in the world. It was founded in 2007 and currently boasts over 7 million customers across 200 countries. The company focuses heavily on social media marketing and uses its Facebook page to post regular updates regarding new features and promotions.

eToro also offers a wide selection of investment products including stocks, commodities, indices, forex, CFDs and crypto-currencies. All of these can be traded manually or through an algorithm which makes it easy to trade even when market conditions change quickly.

One of the main benefits of eToro is that it does not charge fees for opening or closing positions. However, there are some restrictions on certain assets. For example, you cannot open a position in gold, silver or oil futures contracts. You can read more about the rules here.

eToro is available in 14 languages and supports all major debit and credit card payment methods

You can find out more information about eToro here.

BONUS

6. FinecoBank

FinecoBank is a Cyprus based brokerage firm offering both traditional stockbroking and cryptocurrency trading. It provides clients access to a diverse range of investments including shares, bonds, currencies, commodities and cryptocurrencies.

It also offers a range of educational resources including videos, articles and calculators. These help investors understand what they should know before investing in the markets.

The platform is very user friendly and includes features like live chat support, mobile apps and webtrader. This means that traders can log in from anywhere at anytime using their phone or tablet.

FinecoBank also offers several different accounts depending on your needs. There’s a standard account for beginners and a premium account for experienced traders. Both include a number of useful features.

You can find out more information about FinecoBank here

As mentioned, the best investing platform for you depends entirely on personal preference. Some people prefer to use desktop applications while others enjoy using mobile apps. In this article we have listed five of the top platforms and explained why each one is suitable for different types of users. Hopefully, you will now be able to make an informed decision when choosing the right platform for you!

Please let me know your thoughts after reading our article. Are you considering opening one of these accounts? Or even if you have suggestions of how we could improve our blog, let us know.

Thanks for reading 

Want to Know More?

The Portfolio Hub blog aims to share information on financial independence and retiring early. Stick around to hear more about how to save money, retire rich, and travel the world. We plan to cover topics such as frugal living, passive investing, early retirement and online business. 

We hope you find these articles helpful.

Create an account with us to get updated when we release new blogs and feel free to share our blog on social media. It is really appreciated.

Let me know your thoughts on Financial Independence. Are you currently involved in the FIRE movement? Do you want to be? Leave a comment below and let me know what you think.

FAQ

What is the best stock trading platform for beginners UK?

As mentioned in the article, it is really down to preference. Try checking out the reviews on each platform and see which one suits you best.

How much time do I need to invest to start making a profit?

This varies greatly between individuals. The amount of time required to reach financial independence will depend on many factors. Different investments can give vastly different yields