Best 16 UK Investing Platforms 2024
Updated May 1, 2024
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76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with eToro. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take two mins to learn more.
The Top 16 UK Investing Platforms for May 2024
- eToro – Best UK investment broker
- IG
- Saxo – Best UK investment platform for beginners
- AJ Bell – Best UK stock investment platform
- InvestEngine – Best investing platform for low fees
- Bestinvest – Best UK fund investment platform
- Interactive Investor – Best DIY investment platform
- FinecoBank – Best investment platform for global markets
- Moneybox – Best investment platform for ISA investment
- Hargreaves Lansdown – Best UK platform for dividend investing
- Freetrade – Best free UK investment platform
- Moneyfarm – Best investment platform for a personalised investment plan
- Wealthify – Best investment platform for risk management
- Plum – Best investment platform for ethical options
- Netwealth – Best UK broker for long term investing
- Vanguard – Best investment platform for a ready-made portfolio
Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned investor, the platform you use makes an enormous difference in whether you gain returns.
There are many differences between the various investment platforms, from the interface to different investment options to customer support. Therefore, choosing the right one for you can be difficult.
Thankfully, WikiJob is here to help. Here, you’ll explore the best investment platforms in the UK and how to make the right choice for your individual investment goals.
Read on to find out more!
The Best UK Investing Platforms for May 2024
Numerous platforms can be used within the UK. Below is a list of the 15 best UK investing platforms.
1. eToro
Pros
- Regulated by FCA, ASIC
- No withdrawal fee for US clients
- 0% commission on stocks
- Social and copy trading
Cons
- Not available in every US State
- More expensive than most of its competitors
- No MetaTrader platforms
Best: UK investment broker
Rating: 9.8 out of 10
Annual platform fee: £0
Dealing fee: £0
Minimum deposit: £8
The platform offers the following account types:
- Ready-made portfolio
- DIY portfolio
These cover stocks, forex, ETFs, indices, cryptocurrencies, commodities and NFTs, either directly or using contracts for difference (CFDs).
If you prefer pre-made portfolios, you'll be able to choose from over 40 balanced investment portfolios, which are based on your understanding of specific market segments and your ability to relate to these.
The platform doesn't offer an ISA or SIPP.
UK investors can incur currency fees because trading eToro is done in USD. However, using the app can reduce these fees even if you choose to withdraw funds in a currency other than USD.
For those looking for the best UK online investment platform, look no further.
76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with eToro. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take two mins to learn more.
2. IG
Pros
- Highly regulated
- MetaTrader 4 (MT4)
- Over 10,000 instruments
- Available in the UK and US
- 24/7 customer support
Cons
- High fees
- No deposit compensation scheme for US accounts
- No copy trading
- Inactivity fees
IG is a great share trading platform for beginners thanks to its user-friendly interface and extensive educational resources.
Pros of IG include a wide range of trading instruments and markets, as well as the ability to access multiple account types and trading platforms. The platform also offers a demo account for beginners to practise trading strategies before investing real money.
However, IG isn’t the cheapest share trading platform, with relatively high trading fees and a minimum deposit requirement of £250 when paying by credit/debit card or PayPal.
In terms of additional fees, IG charges a commission fee for share trading, starting from £8 per trade. There’s also a custody fee of 0.25% per year for holdings of £250 or more.
Overall, IG is a solid choice for beginners looking for a user-friendly platform with extensive educational resources, but investors should be aware of its fees and minimum deposit requirements.
3. Saxo
Pros
- Heavily regulated
- Good product portfolio
- Low forex fees
- No withdrawal fee
Cons
- Does not accept US clients
- High fees for options, futures and bonds
Best for: Beginners
Rating: 9.2 out of 10
Annual Platform Fee: 0.08% to 0.12% (minimum £108)
Dealing fee: 0.10% for UK and $0.02 for US shares
Minimum deposit: £500
The platform offers the following account types:
- DIY
- Ready-made
Brand owned products include a Trading Account, SIPP and Stocks and Shares ISA.
Saxo allows you to build your portfolio in two ways depending on your experience level.
This may be the best UK investment platform for beginners, as you can opt for one of the ready-made portfolios managed by the platform experts. Whereas seasoned investors can choose from the variety of investment options on the platform and grow their portfolios themselves.
4. AJ Bell
Best for: Investing in stocks
Rating: 9.7 out of 10
Annual platform fee: 0 to 0.25% for funds
Dealing fee: £1.50 for funds and £4.95 to £9.95 for shares
Minimum deposit: £25/month or £500 lump sum
The platform offers the following account types:
- DIY
- Pre-made portfolio
You can choose from products like SIPP and Junior SIPP, Share Dealing Account, Lifetime ISA, Stocks and Shares ISA, and Junior Stocks and Shares ISA.
The platform provides thousands of investment tools for those wanting to build their own portfolio, including shares, warrants, funds, investment trusts, bonds, ETFs and ETCs.
If you opt for ready-made portfolios, you'll be able to select your investments based on your personal preference and willingness to take risks. Its large range of benefits marks it out as the best UK platform to invest in stocks.
5. InvestEngine
Best for: Low fees
Rating: 9.5 out of 10
Annual platform fee: 0% to 0.25%
Dealing fee: £0
Minimum deposit: £100
The platform offers the following account types:
- Pre-made
- Customisable
By investing as little as £100, you can start with an account like a stocks and shares ISA, personal account and business account.
The platform is mostly recommended for those looking for a low-cost ETF investment platform.
It can work for those requiring managed portfolios tailored to their individual needs and those preferring commission-free ways to build their own portfolio.
With the latter, there are no platform fees. The former offers several options, including fractional investing, which has a small fee of £1 per investment. For the top UK investment platforms, InvestEngine deserves its spot near the top of the list.
6. Bestinvest
Best for: UK fund investment platforms
Rating: 9.5 out of 10
Annual platform fee: 0-0.4% for DIY and 0 to 0.2% for ready-made portfolios
Dealing fee: £0 for funds and £4.95 for shares
Minimum deposit: £0
The platform offers the following account types:
- Ready-made
- DIY
Its list of accounts includes a SIPP and Junior SIPP, Stocks and Shares ISA, General Investment Account, and Junior Stocks and Shares ISA.
Bestinvest is also the cheapest UK investment platform, and therefore perfect for anyone looking for an introduction to the world of investing.
With this platform, you can trade or invest more than 3,000 options, including funds, shares, investment trusts and ETFs.
Not only that, but you can build your portfolio in two ways depending on your willingness to risk your capital, personal preferences and investment goals.
7. Interactive Investor
Best: DIY Investment Platform
Rating: 9.4 out of 10
Annual platform fee: £120 to £240
Dealing fee: £5.99
Minimum deposit: £25
The platform offers the following account types:
- Ready-made
- DIY
Interactive Investor’s accounts include a Trading Junior ISA, Stocks and Shares ISA and SIPP.
The platform covers over 40,000 different investment tools, including investment trusts, UK and overseas shares, ETFs and funds.
Investors can gain access to 17 global markets, and one free trade every month, which they can use to sell or buy any stock. Unlike most investing platforms, Interactive Investor is one of the few platforms that offer flat fees.
8. FinecoBank
Best for: Global Markets
Rating: 9.2 out of 10
Annual Platform Fee: 0.25%
Dealing Fee: £0 for funds and £2.95 for shares
Minimum Deposit: £25
The platform offers the following account types:
- Customisable
- Ready-made
By investing in this platform, you gain access to 26 global markets with a single click.
You will be able to invest in over 20,000 financial assets, which include UK and overseas shares, funds, ETFs, CFDs and bonds.
You can also invest and trade directly in over 20 different currencies. You will be able to choose from brand-owned products like Trading Account and Stocks and Shares ISA.
9. Moneybox
Best for: ISA investment
Rating: 8.1 out of 10
Annual platform fee: 0.45% + £1 per month after the third month
Dealing fee: £0 for the UK and 0.45% for UK shares
Minimum deposit: £1
The platform offers the following account types:
- Ready-made
- Customisable
Moneybox's suite of products includes a General Investment Account, a Stocks and Shares ISA, Junior ISA, Lifetime ISA and Personal Pension Account.
If you opt for a ready-made portfolio, you'll be able to choose from three different risk levels: Cautious (comes with negligible risk), Balanced (carries medium risk) and Adventurous (has extensive risk).
10. Hargreaves Lansdown
Best for: Dividend investing
Rating: 9.2 out of 10
Annual platform fee: 0 to 0.45% for funds and 0.45% for shares
Dealing fee: £0 for funds and £5.95 to £11.95 for shares
Minimum deposit: £25/month or a £100 lump sum
The platform offers the following account types:
- DIY
- Premade
Generally, the platform caters to clients who prefer making their own investment-related decisions.
They can choose from products like a SIPP, Fund and Share Account, Junior ISA, Stocks and Shares ISA and Lifetime ISA.
By investing on the platform, you will gain access to over 2,500 funds and shares, investment trusts, ETFs, ETCs and much more. Hargreaves Lansdown is another strong contender for the best UK online investment platform.
11. Freetrade
Best: Free UK investment platforms
Rating: 9.1 out of 10
Annual platform fee: £0 to £120
Dealing fee: £0 and 0.45% Forex fee
Minimum deposit: £2
The platform offers the following account types: Customisable.
You'll be able to choose from products like a General Investment Account (GIA), a Stocks and Shares ISA, and SIPP.
These cover thousands of UK and overseas shares, ETFs, investment trusts and REITs.
You can also opt for one of the three subscription plans: Basic (£0.00 per month), Standard (£4.99 per month) and Plus Plan (at £9.99 per month). Dealing with UK stocks on Freetrade is commission-free irrespective of your plan.
12. Moneyfarm
Best for: A personalised investment plan
Rating: 8.8 out of 10
Annual platform fee: 0.35% -0.75%
Dealing fee: 0.20%
Minimum deposit: £500
The platform offers the following account types: Premade.
The platform's own suite of products includes Personal Pension, Stocks and Shares ISA, General Investment Account, and Junior ISA.
Each of them comes with a personalised investment plan based on your risk preferences and goals.
You'll be able to choose from seven plans with different risk rates, all of which are equipped with options for cost-efficient exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other passive market trackers.
Upon registering, you'll be asked to complete a survey, which the platform advisors will use to guide you toward your investment goals.
13. Wealthify
Best for: Risk management
Rating: 8.6 out of 10
Annual platform fee: 0.60%
Dealing fee: 0.16% to 0.70% annually
Minimum deposit: £1
Wealthify’s brand-owned versions include a General Investment Account, Junior ISA and SIPP and Stocks and Shares ISA, most of which come in Original and Ethical themes.
The platform has five different investment plans: Cautious, Tentative, Confident, Ambitious and Adventurous.
Each comes with a slightly higher risk level than the previous one, which allows you to pick the one that best suits your needs.
They'll also enable you to stay true to your values while growing your portfolio. For those looking for the best UK online investment platform with a low minimum deposit, Wealthify may be the one for you.
14. Plum
Best for: Ethical options
Rating: 8.6 out of 10
Annual platform fee: £36 to £120 or £2.99 to £9.99 per month
Dealing fee: 0.39% annually
Minimum deposit: £1
Another one of the best UK online investment platforms, Plum offers several different account types.
It also has its own-brand products, including and inflexible Stocks and Shares ISA, Personal Pension and General Investment Account.
When you start trading on Plum, you get the first month free.
Stock trading in the UK is commission-free, but other charges may apply, including a 0.45% Forex rate to US stocks.
You can invest in over 3,000 shares and 31 funds, with several ethical options available.
15. Netwealth
Best for: Long term investing
Rating: 8.4 out of 10
Annual platform fee: 0.35% to 0.65%
Dealing fee: 0.30% annually
Minimum deposit: £50,000
The platform offers the following account types: Ready-made portfolio.
You'll be able to choose from the products such as Self-Invested Personal Pension, Stocks and Shares ISA, Self-Invested Personal Pension, Junior Stocks and Shares ISA.
There could be pricing differences between these portfolios.
For example, the minimum portfolio size for Junior Stocks and Shares ISA is £1,000, while for other products, this number will be different.
The platform is designed for high profile investors looking to generate a secure income over the medium to long term to cover important financial events in life while effectively managing their money.
16. Vanguard
Best for: A ready-made portfolio
Rating: 8.3 out of 10
Annual platform fee: 0.15% (max. £375)
Dealing fee: £0
Minimum deposit: £100 per month or a £500 lump sum
It may be last on our list, but Vanguard is still one of the top UK investment platforms.
The platform offers the following account types:
- Ready-made
- DIY
Among these, you'll find options for own-brand funds, active and index funds, and ETFs.
From its own-brand suite, you can choose from products like Junior ISA, Stocks and Shares ISA, SIPP and General Account.
For those interested in the best UK investment platform for beginners, it's recommended to choose a ready-made investment portfolio that can build your own portfolio. You'll be able to choose from thousands of bonds and shares in a single investment.
What Is an Investing Platform?
An investment platform is an online website and service that allows a person to invest at a discounted rate.
These are also known as fund platforms. These are different from trading platforms, which are generally for much shorter term gains.
How to Choose the Best UK Investing Platforms for You
As you can see, in this article, there are 15 investment platform options to choose from.
To learn which is the best platform for you, you should analyse them according to certain criteria.
There are many things to consider here. For example:
- Costs of running the account
- Minimum deposits
- Range of tools
- Customer support
- Type of investments available
- The reputation of the trading platform
- Learning guides
It’s important to look at all of these factors before coming to a final decision.
For example, you may not be phased by a large minimum deposit, whereas someone else may be looking to start off small in their investing journey.
Think about what you need, and which features are going to be most helpful to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
This depends on your needs and preferences. Overall, eToro is the best platform in many regards, closely followed by Interactive Investor and Hargreaves Lansdown.
However, there are other great investing platforms in the country that offer different benefits.
Reputable investment platforms in the UK are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, which provides protection for customers against fraud. Other regulatory bodies might also supervise certain platforms.
The cheapest UK investment platform is BestInvest. It has the lowest fees overall, which is why it has become a customer favourite.
Hargreaves Lansdown is the investment platform with the largest online clientele base in the UK. It offers traditional portfolios, which over 1.7 million users found helpful in their daily investing ventures.
It’s hard to make a UK investment platforms comparison, as they all have their benefits, but eToro is perhaps the best investment platform in the UK for beginners.
It offers plenty of educational tools and support for anything you need as you start investing. Saxo is another great choice due to its ready-made portfolios.
Some of the crucial factors to consider when choosing an investment platform include the costs of running the account, minimum deposits, range of tools and customer support available.
You might also want to look into the different types of investments, the reputation of the trading platform and whether there are learning guides or a helping hand available.
This depends on several factors, including your capital and your portfolio. Investing more money often results in higher returns. However, a diversified portfolio can help you make even more money.
While with the appropriate strategy, investment platforms can lead to significant returns, they will not make you rich quickly. Instead, they require patience and many hours of work and effort.
All investment platforms in the UK carry risks, and not all are supervised by FCA and other major regulatory bodies. You should be aware of these risks before you start using any investment platform.
Online investment platforms in the UK aren't scams. However, you should do extensive research on the platforms you want to use to avoid running into unexpected costs and risks.
Trading on investment platforms in the UK can be a lucrative business.
However, you'll need to learn how to invest smartly, mitigate risks and damages and avoid unnecessary mistakes. For beginners, it's not recommended to leave a full-time job until you start earning a significant amount from investing regularly.
You'll need to be at least 18 years old to register for an online investment platform in the UK.
Under that age, you can’t buy and sell shares. However, you might be able to invest under an adult's name and supervision if you are 14 years or older.
Final Thoughts
An investment platform is essential for those who want to earn money from investments. It helps them analyse and assess the risk and investments they’ve made.
Here, you've explored the best investment platforms across the UK, and, with enough research, you’re sure to find the perfect one for you.
The best platform for you depends on your criteria, including the type of assistance you need, the type of available investments, the range of tools, the minimum deposit on each platform and more.
All you need to do now is choose your favourite and start investing!
76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with eToro. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take two mins to learn more.
