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Best Investment Platforms in the UK 2024

Thadeus Geodfrey, an experienced writer and self-taught trader, is not just about market analysis. His skill in identifying fraudulent brokers and ensuring traders’ safety offers security. Join Thadeus and feel protected in your trading endeavours.

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As a Briton, you can put your money to work by investing in company shares, ETFs, and other assets. In this context, investing refers to purchasing a specific security while hoping to generate income or earn juicy profits in the future. To avoid losing your hard-earned money, you must invest with an FCA-regulated company. Also, you should evaluate every option’s suitability based on crucial elements like security, products, and charges. We’ve evaluated the investment platforms in the UK and recommended 5 of the best in this guide.

Investing in assets like shares and crypto is one of the best ways to earn income and build wealth. If you have some money you can put to work, invest it. But don’t jump in at the deep end yet. First, educate yourself. Then, look for a reliable and trustworthy investment platform in the UK.

Identifying a good investment platform can be challenging because countless service providers cater to Britons. But don’t sweat it; you don’t have to research and assess every available option. We’ve done that for you and pinpointed the best investment platforms UK. These have many of the qualities that are indispensable to ambitious investors, from unparalleled security to reasonable fees and commissions.

List of the Best UK Investment Platforms

  • Pepperstone – Best For MetaTrader Users
  • XTB Overall Best UK Investment Platform
  • eToro – Best UK Investment Platform for Beginners
  • OANDA – Best Investment Platform for Professionals
  • Coinbase – Best UK Investment Platform for Crypto Investors
  • IG Markets Best Platform for ETF Investors in the UK
In This Guide

UK Investment Platforms: Comparison Table

Picking the best investment platforms in the UK was a taxing challenge since many service providers operate in this region. But we did it. Our experts selected the best after researching countless options. While vetting and picking the best companies, we considered numerous factors, including regulatory status, customer support services, and fees.

We also picked the most outstanding platforms based on user reviews and ratings. Our team analysed testimonials published on Google Play, the App Store, Trustpilot, and various reputable communities for UK investors. We did that to ensure this guide is free from bias and as factual as possible.

Let’s begin with a brief comparison of the best investment platforms UK.

Best Investment PlatformLicence & RegulationSupport ServiceSoftwarePayment MethodDemo Account
PepperstoneFCA, ASIC, FSCA, DFSA, CySEC, CMA, SCB, BaFin24/7TradingView, MT4, MT5, cTrader, Pepperstone Trading Platform, Social tradingVisa, Mastercard, Bank transfer, Neteller, Skrill, PayPalYes
XTBFCA, CySEC, FSC24/5xStation, xStation MobileNeteller, Credit/debit cards, Bank transfer, Skrill, PayPal Yes
eToroFCA, CySEC, FSCA, ASIC, SFSA ADGM, MFSA, FSAS, GFSC, SEC24/5eToro investing platform and app, Multi-asset platform, Social Trading, Copy Trader, Smart PortfoliosCredit/debit cards, Bank transfer, Klarna, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller Yes
OANDAFCA, B.V.I FSC, CySEC, ASIC24/5MT4, TradingView, Web, MobileCredit/debit cards, Bank/wire transfer, Skrill, NetellerYes
CoinbaseFCA, BaFin, CBI, DNB24/7Coinbase, Coinbase One, Coinbase Pro, Coinbase Prime, Coinbase CommerceEasy Bank Transfer, 3D Secure Card, Faster Payments Transfer, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google PayNo
IG MarketsFCA, BaFin, MiFID, CySEC, FINMA, DFSA, FSCA, MAS, JFSA, ASIC, CFTC, BMA24/5Online platforms, Mobile apps, MT4, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, US options and futuresCredit/debit cards, Bank wire transfers, Neteller, Skrill, PayPalYes

Platforms Short Overview

We also considered fees and assets while comparing UK investment platforms and picking the most outstanding options. After all, you must find a platform with your preferred investment vehicle, right? What’s more, investing with a company with low fees is beneficial to your profit margins. So, signing up with a company that charges reasonable fees is vital.

Use the comparison tables below to examine the fees and assets associated with the best investment platforms UK.

Fees

Best Investment PlatformMinimum Deposit RequirementCommission/ SpreadsDeposits/ WithdrawalsInactivity Fee
Pepperstone£0From 0.0 pipsFree£0
XTB£0From 0%Free£10 monthly
eToro£100From 0%£5 withdrawal fee£10 monthly
OANDA£0From 0%£20 withdrawal fee£10 monthly fee
Coinbase£00.1% processing feeFree£0
IG Markets£0£3 commissionFree£0

Assets

Best Investment PlatformStocksForexCryptosCommoditiesIndicesETFsOptions
PepperstoneYesYesYesYesYesYesNo
XTBYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
eToroYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
OANDAYesYesYesYesYesYesNo
CoinbaseNoNoYesNoNoNoNo
IG MarketsYesYesYesYesYesYesYes

Our Expert’s Opinion about the Best Investment Platforms

The best investment platforms are authorised and supervised by the FCA. Therefore, they are safe and secure. But, for the best experiences and maximum returns, you must find a UK investment platform that matches your needs and preferences. So, vet service providers carefully while considering indispensable factors like supported assets, fees, and minimum deposit requirements.

Considering all that, we’ve reviewed the best investment platforms in the UK below. You can make your work easier and save time by picking a service provider from our list.

1. Pepperstone – Best For MetaTrader Users

From our analysis, Pepperstone is one of the leading investment platforms not only for UK investors but also for global clients. While we did not discover assets for physical purchases, there is a variety (1200+) to trade as CFDs and spread betting. These include forex, shares, commodities, indices, and more. We also like its MT4 and MT5 platforms, which host quality resources for all types of traders. Among the features we explored on these platforms include social trading, automated trading, strategy backtesting, and more. On top of that, the app offers access to TradingView and cTrader platforms, all with unique quality offerings. 

Besides hosting quality investment resources, Pepperstone charges some of the lowest fees. For instance, trading major currency pairs attracts low spreads from 0.0 pips. When it comes to minimum deposit requirements, Pepperstone doesn’t have any, and all transactions are free of charge. It is definitely a broker for all types of traders in the UK. If you are new to this broker, you can test it out via its demo account to decide whether it suits your needs. There is also a dedicated support team and an FAQ section to cater to any inquiries.

Pepperstone

✔24/7 customer support
✔No inactivity fees

trustpilor logo
2,831 User Reviews
google
4,490 User Reviews
apple
130 User Reviews
investingguide logo
Our Rating
Total Rating:
7,451 User Reviews
Pros & Cons
Fees
Trading Assets

Pros

  • Quality market analysis and trading tools on its MT4 and MT5 platforms
  • A user-friendly and modern-design platform
  • Excellent selection of learning materials, including articles, guides, webinars, and more
  • There is no minimum deposit requirement for UK clients
  • Low spreads from 0.0 pips on major currency pairs

Cons

  • Only CFD and spread betting supported
  • Limited asset offerings compared to its peers

After evaluating Pepperstone, we opened a trading account for conducting extensive tests. The process was quick and easy.

But what impressed us most was the Pepperstone minimum deposit requirement. This platform has no minimum deposit, which makes it ideal for low-budget and high-budget traders. If you are a beginner, joining this broker is advisable since you can start with a low amount and increase your stakes with time. To top it off, Pepperstone supports free deposits and withdrawals. This broker allows you to use diverse payment methods for free, from Visa debit and credit cards to PayPal and domestic bank transfers.

When it comes to spreads and commissions, Pepperstone is very cost-friendly. You can open a Razor account with this broker and enjoy 20 commission-free trades. Pepperstone’s Standard accounts also have zero commissions. On the other hand, spreads start from as low as 0.0 pips for forex pairs like EUR/USD and 0.5 for commodities like XAUUSD.

Finally, unlike most of its peers, Pepperstone charges zero inactivity fees. However, any positions you hold overnight with this platform are subject to swap rates. Visit Pepperstone’s pricing page for a detailed account of how this broker calculated swap rates for different financial instruments.

The Pepperstone trading platform gives traders access to over 90 FX pairs and 1200+ CFDs on different assets, including shares, indices, and commodities. UK traders can access all the products that this broker offers. But, to minimize losses, prioritize trading assets you are familiar with. If there’s an alien instrument you’d like to try, learn its fundamentals before risking your money.

Here’s an overview of Pepperstone’s products:

  • Forex: You can trade diverse currency pairs with Pepperstone, including majors, minors, exotics, and crosses. This trading platform promises to fulfill all FX exchange trades fully, without requotes or partial executions.
  • Commodities: Pepperstone users can trade CFDs on popular commodities like crude oil, natural gas, silver, and gold. This broker doesn’t have rollovers or expiry for CFD commodities.
  • Indices: With a Pepperstone account, you can speculate on the price movements of indices like JPN225, UK100, and US500. This platform supports leverage trading, meaning you won’t need large sums to open sizable positions while trading CFDs on indices.
  • Currency indices: You can use the Pepperstone trading platform to trade popular currency indices like EURX, USDX, and JPYX. However, note that some of these instruments have high spreads.
  • Shares: If you want to trade shares CFDs, Pepperstone is the platform to choose. It offers CFDs on shares from different corners of the globe, from the UK to Germany and the US.
  • ETFs: Pepperstone supports over 100 ETFs. You can trade CFDs on these assets and profit from rising and falling prices. The ETFs available on this platform follow the performance of diverse sectors, from technology and energy to mining and bonds markets.

2. XTB – Overall Best UK Investment Platform

We compared numerous exceptional platforms and picked XTB as our best overall. We discovered that this service provider allows users to invest in real stocks and ETFs with 0% commission. Additionally, as an investor, you can purchase and sell ETFs and stocks with XTB and pay zero additional fees for monthly turnovers of up to £100,000.

Over 3,000 popular stocks are available on XTB, including Netflix, Amazon, and Tesla. You can start investing in them with as little as £10. You can also diversify your portfolio with real ETFs like 2B76.DE, 2B77.DE, and AGED.UK. While investing in ETFs, you can buy worth as little as £1. That makes XTB a fitting platform for both high and low-budget investors.

XTB has no minimum deposit requirement, meaning you can open an account today and fund it with what you can afford. Furthermore, this platform enables you to cut expenses with commissions as low as 0% and cost-free transactions.  

XTB

✔5,700+ financial instruments
✔No minimum deposit requirement

trustpilor logo
1,342 User Reviews
google
65,300 User Reviews
apple
997 User Reviews
investingguide logo
Our Rating
Total Rating:
67,639 User Reviews
Pros & Cons
Fees
Trading Assets

Pros

  • Zero commissions for real stocks and ETFs
  • No minimum deposit requirement
  • Free deposits and withdrawals
  • Thousands of investable assets
  • Simple, intuitive user interface

Cons

  • Limited educational resources
  • Higher transaction fees for withdrawals below £50

XTB is a cost-effective trading platform. We used a live account to assess its fees and commissions. The first applaudable aspect we noticed is setting up an account with this broker is quick and easy. Furthermore, there’s no set XTB minimum deposit requirement, and the platform supports free transactions. When it comes to withdrawals, transactions above £50 are free.

That aside, we noticed various mandates on the XTB UK trading platform during our exploration. For starters, this entity has a £10 minimum order requirement for shares from companies like the Associated British Food PLC. Additionally, it requires users to cover a 0.5% conversion fee while trading with anything besides the base currency.

Not to forget, XTB charges different spreads for different instruments and requires traders who hold open positions to cover swap costs.

XTB users can access thousands of financial instruments, from 3,000+ shares to countless currency pairs. Most of these are CFDs, meaning you can speculate on their prices without owning the underlying assets.

Here’s an overview of what we found out while exploring the assets offered on this trading platform:

  • Stocks: XTB allows users to invest in real, commission-free shares from established companies like Amazon, Tesla, and Netflix. You can use one XTB account to access shares from over 16 major global exchanges. If you don’t plan on becoming a shareholder, you can trade stock CFDs on XTB and profit from speculation.
  • ETFs: This broker offers over 300 ETFs from around the globe. The best part is that it allows users to invest in real ETFs without being subjected to commissions. Investors can rake in monthly turnovers of up to £100,000 from buying and selling ETFs without worrying about additional fees undermining profitability. Additionally, the XTB trading platform allows users to trade ETF CFDs.
  • Forex: XTB gives users access to 48+ currency pairs, including GPB/USD, USD/CAD, and EUR/GBP. These instruments come with tight spreads starting from 0.1 pips for popular pairs. Moreover, this broker supports FX micro lot trading, making it ideal for beginners and low-budget forex traders.
  • Indices: With an XTB account, you can access indices from China, Germany, the US, and other regions. Standard options range from UK100 and US30 to FRA40 and EU50. You can also maximise profitability with flexible leverages of up to 20:1 and transparent rollovers.
  • Commodities: A wide variety of commodities is available on XTB, including gold, oil, and corn. You can trade CFDs on these instruments 24 hours a day from your PC, smartphone, or tablet.

3. eToro – Best UK Investment Platform for Beginners

Investment newbies should join eToro. We evaluated this platform and discovered numerous aspects that make it ideal for beginners. First, it has an intuitive and professionally designed interface that’s easy to navigate. Moreover, diverse educational tools and resources are available here, including eToro Academy, which offers countless guides, courses, and tutorials on the fundamentals and intricacies of investing.

Moreover, while investing with eToro, you can copy what the most successful investors do and earn handsome returns. That is because this platform supports copy trading and investing. Emulating experienced investors’ moves can benefit beginners who have yet to find their footing and identify strategies for generating consistent returns.

eToro users can invest in stocks like Lyft, Nintendo, and Apple. Additionally, this platform allows crypto staking. That means you can buy digital assets, stake them on eToro, and earn rewards.

eToro

✔5000+ financial instruments
✔Cost-free deposits

Visit site
{etoroCFDrisk}% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Read review
trustpilor logo
5 User Reviews
google
143,000 User Reviews
apple
9,500 User Reviews
investingguide logo
Our Rating
Total Rating:
152,505 User Reviews
Pros & Cons
Fees
Trading Assets

Pros

  • Captivating, beginner-friendly interface
  • Quality educational materials
  • Commissions as low as 0%
  • Free deposits
  • Supports investing in fractional shares
  • Over 4,500 stocks and 100+ crypto assets

Cons

  • £5 transaction fee for every withdrawal request
  • £10 monthly inactivity fee

If there’s anything that can eat away at your profit margins, it’s unnecessary costs. Thankfully, eToro fees UK are reasonable and pocket-friendly. We acquired a new account without paying a single cent, which was quite a relief. We also noticed that you can enjoy free deposits by using USD. That said, eToro supports many other currencies, including GBP, EUR, and RMB.

You will incur conversion fees if you use any currency other than USD. And if you use any currency that eToro doesn’t support, you must pay conversion fees to your payment provider. The exact conversion fees you may incur at any moment will depend on various factors, including your preferred currency and payment method.

Please note that eToro subjects each withdrawal request to a £5 fee. The platform uses this money to pay expenses arising from international money transfers. Most importantly, you can’t withdraw less than £30 from the eToro trading platform.

While depositing money into our account, we noticed that eToro has strict minimum deposit requirements. Britons using this platform have to deposit at least £100 the first time. Afterwards, you can fund your account with as little as £10, depending on your preferred payment method.

Commission-wise, eToro is very friendly to people who trade ETFs or invest in real stocks since the broker charges 0% for these assets. On the other hand, if you buy or sell crypto on this platform, expect to pay a 1% fee. CFD trading also attracts variable spreads depending on the involved instruments. For instance, the spreads for currencies and commodities start from 1 pip and 2 pips, respectively.

Not to forget, eToro charges a £10 monthly inactivity fee that kicks in after 12 months of dormancy.

eToro has 5,000+ product offerings. Finding something that fits your trading goals won’t be a problem with this platform. And the best part is this broker allows you to trade and invest in different assets. Here’s an overview of the products we encounter while evaluating eToro:

  • Stocks: eToro supports 4900+ stocks. As an eToro account holder, you can trade or invest in stocks from popular companies like Apple, Alphabet, and Microsoft.
  • Cryptocurrencies: Over 100 digital currencies are available on the eToro trading platform. They range from BTC and LTC to ETH and SOL. You can trade CFDs on these currencies or buy the assets and hold them in your eToro crypto wallet.
  • ETFs: eToro allows traders and investors to diversify their portfolios with ETFs and CFDs on ETFs. In other words, this platform lets you either buy exchange-traded funds or trade these assets as CFDs without owning the underlying assets.
  • Indices: We found a rich selection of top indices on eToro, including USDOLLAR, SPX500, and NSDQ100. You can trade CFDs on such instruments and profit from rising or falling prices.
  • Commodities: If you love trading commodity CFDs, eToro won’t disappoint. This platform offers 30+ popular commodities, including Gold, Oil, Palladium, and Corn.
  • Currencies: Joining eToro gives you the opportunity to trade CFDs on different currency pairs, from GBP/USD and USD/JPY to GBP/CHF and EUR/CAD. You can also buy and sell FX pairs on this trading platform.

4. OANDA – Best Investment Platform for Professionals

When it comes to supporting professional investors, OANDA takes the cake. This investment platform lets users choose their favourite assets from a list of 2,200 British, German, French, and Spanish shares. To make things easier, it provides filter and search functions that investors can use to identify the best investments quickly.

OANDA offers shares from Unilever and Pfizer to Microsoft, Tesla, and Volkswagen. Pros can invest in US shares and enjoy zero commissions. We also recommend OANDA to seasoned traders because it allows users to trade diverse assets, including CFDs on shares, stocks, and ETFs. These instruments allow you to hedge against potential losses.

OANDA does not require a minimum deposit. It also allows seasoned traders and investors to apply for a Professional Client status, which comes with irresistible perks like personalised support and negative balance protection.

OANDA

✔No minimum deposit requirement
✔Excellent customer support service

trustpilor logo
946 User Reviews
google
6,220 User Reviews
apple
2,300 User Reviews
investingguide logo
Our Rating
Total Rating:
9,466 User Reviews
Pros & Cons
Fees
Trading Assets

Pros

  • Awards professional clients with personalised care and other boons
  • Zero commission for US shares
  • No minimum deposit requirement
  • Cost-free deposits
  • Offers over 2,200 shares from the most popular markets

Cons

  • Higher withdrawal fees than its peers
  • Inactive OANDA accounts incur a £10 monthly fee

Opening an OANDA trading account is free, and you only need your personal details to set it up. From our experience, there is no minimum deposit requirement. We believe this attracts even low-budget traders as they can easily dive into financial market investment with any amount they can afford.

We also noticed that the OANDA broker doesn’t charge fees for deposits. This is whether you transact using credit/debit cards, e-wallets, or bank transfers. Plus, users can make one free withdrawal every month using their credit/debit cards. Subsequent withdrawals attract a fee, which varies depending on the currency you are transacting with. Bank transfers and e-wallet withdrawals also attract a fee, which from our analysis, is higher than credit/debit card withdrawals.

When it comes to inactivity fees, OANDA charges £10 monthly should your account remain dormant for over 12 months. Financing charges also apply for positions left overnight. Overall, we can confidently state that OANDA has no hidden charges. It allows users to easily plan and budget for their activities without worrying about future surprises.

OANDA prides itself on being one of the best forex and CFD brokers. We also discovered that it offers spread betting services for UK clients. You can explore over 120 instruments, including indices, forex, commodities, and more.

Note that CFD trading carries inherent risks, and you can incur massive losses without a solid plan and strategy. From our analysis, over 76% of retail traders lose money from CFD assets. Therefore, always conduct thorough market research and be confident in your strategy before opening a CFD position.

5. Coinbase – Best UK Invest Platform for Crypto Investors

Millions of Brits own cryptos like Bitcoin and Ethereum. You can do the same. What’s more, you can hold digital assets for a certain period, sell when prices skyrocket, and earn decent returns. Remember, crypto prices often fluctuate wildly. Take BTC as an example. Investors bought 1BTC for less than a dollar in 2009 and 2010. But, as of 2024, 1 Bitcoin costs tens of thousands of pounds.

If you’d like to invest in crypto assets, we recommend Coinbase. With over 98 million users, this platform is one of the most popular worldwide. Joining Coinbase today will enable you to invest in over 200 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, USDC, and Ethereum.

The other noteworthy thing about investing with Coinbase is that you can enjoy free fiat deposits and withdrawals via several payment methods, including ACH. Furthermore, your account can remain dormant for a long time without accumulating inactivity fees.

Coinbase

✔Authorised and regulated by the FCA
✔No account inactivity fee

trustpilor logo
5 User Reviews
google
864,000 User Reviews
apple
184,300 User Reviews
investingguide logo
Our Rating
Total Rating:
1,048,305 User Reviews
Pros & Cons
Fees
Trading Assets

Pros

  • Supports investing in over 200 popular crypto assets
  • Well-organized website and powerful mobile app
  • Users can earn rewards from crypto staking
  • Offers secure wallets for holding crypto assets
  • No inactivity fees for dormant accounts

Cons

  • Higher deposit and withdrawal fees for wire transfer
  • Only supports crypto assets
  • High commissions for staked crypto

Creating and maintaining a Coinbase account is free. We used that fact to our advantage by opening a new account and using it to test the Coinbase exchange. While exploring and evaluating this platform, we stumbled upon a few other noteworthy details.

For starters, Coinbase allows its users to store their FIAT and digital assets on the platform free of charge. Moreover, the company’s clients can transfer crypto to and from different primary balances at no cost.

That said, this company requires its users to pay a stipulated fee when transferring crypto from their Coinbase wallets to other digital wallets. The exact charges depend on factors like the prevailing network fees. Moreover, all Coinbase users must cover a 0.1% processing fee while using the Lightning Network to send Bitcoin from the exchange.

Coinbase also requires investors and traders to cover specific fees while buying, selling, or converting crypto on the exchange. Numerous factors, including your order size and preferred payment method, will determine the costs you’ll incur while partaking in such ventures. You should always use the preview screen to view the fees you are supposed to cover before placing an order.

Not to forget, this exchange includes a spread in every quoted price. Expect to cover this expense whenever you place simple buy/sell orders. If you want to avoid paying the spread, switch to Coinbase Advanced, where you can interact with the order book without an intermediary.

Finally, Coinbase charges maker fees starting from 0bps and taker fees starting from 5bps. And although some payment methods, like ACH, offer free deposits and withdrawals, most require Coinbase users to pay transaction fees. For instance, when withdrawing GBP with Swift, you must pay a £1 withdrawal fee.

With Coinbase, you gain access to over 200 cryptocurrencies that you can buy, sell, stake, or trade. Some of the most popular assets on this exchange include:

  • Bitcoin
  • Dogecoin
  • Tether
  • Ethereum
  • Bitcoin Cash
  • Cardano
  • Solana
  • Litecoin

6. IG Markets – Best Platform for ETF Investors in the UK

Would you like to invest in ETFs? Open an IG Markets investment account today. You will be in the best position to reap juicy returns and enjoy free withdrawals, among other boons. IG Markets is a popular platform that allows each user to open their preferred investment accounts, such as share dealing, ISA, and SIPP.

Besides investing in ETFs, IG Markets lets you diversify your portfolio with 13,000+ shares. Moreover, with an IG Markets account, you can enjoy low commissions starting at £0 while diversifying your portfolio with US stocks.

We also urge Britons interested in ETFs to invest with IG Markets since this platform has no minimum deposit requirements and charges zero transaction fees. Additionally, users with inactive IG Markets accounts don’t have to worry about inactivity fees.

IG Markets

✔Zero minimum deposit requirements
✔17,000+ available products

trustpilor logo
7,269 User Reviews
google
20,600 User Reviews
apple
29,800 User Reviews
investingguide logo
Our Rating
Total Rating:
57,669 User Reviews
Pros & Cons
Fees
Trading Assets

Pros

  • 2,000+ UK-eligible ETFs are available
  • No minimum deposit requirements
  • Zero deposit and withdrawal fees
  • Users can open fully managed accounts
  • Excellent customer support services
  • No account inactivity fee

Cons

  • The platform is primarily ideal for seasoned investors
  • Higher commissions than other reputable UK platforms

Opening an IG Markets account doesn’t cost a dime. Moreover, this broker has no minimum deposit, so you don’t have to worry about compromising your budget. You can also enjoy significant savings by trading with IG Markets since it offers tight spreads, starting from 0.1 points on commodities and 0.6 points on popular currency pairs.

With that in mind, IG Markets charges overnight funding for cash CFD positions and daily funded bets (DFBs) that remain open past 10 pm UK time. The broker also requires traders to cover a small guaranteed stop fee. The fee kicks in every time the guaranteed stop feature is triggered. You should also expect to incur additional when shorting stocks and augmenting your trading experiences with premium services like live data streams.

Luckily, deposits and withdrawals are free on IG Markets. The broker only requires traders to pay a 0.5% standard currency conversion fee. Furthermore, the platform has zero inactivity fees, though your account will be terminated if it remains dormant for 24 consecutive months.

You can engage in spread betting and trade CFDs across 17,000+ markets as an IG Markets user. Some of the product offerings available on this platform include:

  • Forex: You can trade 80+ FX pairs on IG Markets, from GBP/USD and EUR/GBP to USD/CHF and EUR/JPY. These come with margins as low as 0.45% for professional account holders.
  • Indices: This spread betting and CFD trading broker offers access to 80+ indices, including FTSE 100, US 500, and Germany 40. Retail traders can enjoy leverage of up to 1:20 while trading indices on IG Markets.
  • Shares: With IG Markets, you can seamlessly invest in company stocks or trade shares. Over 12,000 shares are offered here, including products linked to popular companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Tesla.
  • Commodities: IG Markets offers diverse commodities, from zinc and iron to cobalt and lead. You can speculate on their prices and enjoy spreads as low as 0.6 pips.
  • ETFs: IG Markets offers traders unmatched access to 5,400+ ETF markets related to currencies, commodities, and more. These products are ideal for diversification since a single trade exposes you to multiple assets.
  • Thematics: You can use IG Markets to trade and invest in thematics like AI, inflation, and robotics. These are unique products that very few UK brokers offer.
  • IPOs: IG Markets is the only reputable UK broker that allows users to speculate before, during, and after an IPO. In other words, this broker lets you open a position before an IPO, participate in the IPO, and speculate on the stock prices after the involved company is fully listed.
  • Bonds: With this broker, you can earn returns from investing in dividend-paying ETFs or speculating on bond prices. The IG Markets trading platform offers numerous popular bonds, including BUND, Japanese Government Bond, and Schatz.  
  • Interest rates: You can trade local and global interest rates with IG Markets. Available products include Euribor, SONIA, and Eurodollar.
  • Options: IG Markets supports options trading. As a registered IG Markets user, you can trade options with CFDs or spread bets and enjoy perks like zero closing spread.
  • Futures: You can trade a wide variety of index futures, commodity futures, and bond futures on IG Markets. Popular products include index futures like FTSE 100 and commodity futures like spot gold.

Investing in the UK

Investing in the UK

Investing in assets like stocks, crypto, and ETFs is legal in the UK, but investors must be at least 18. Most importantly, as an investor, you must invest with an FCA-regulated platform to avoid issues like extensive financial losses and data theft.

The FCA is a regulatory body that vets, authorises, and supervises UK investment platforms. It ensures that every company adheres to strict regulatory requirements and upholds top-notch standards. Additionally, the FCA ensures that investment platforms operating in the UK treat customers fairly and avoid catastrophic issues like fraud and market abuse.

Note that the UK government may deduct Capital Gains Tax from your earnings as an investor. That applies to some shares not included in an ISA and other assets. Visit the official GOV.UK website for more information.

What is Investing?

What is Investing?

Investing refers to buying assets like stocks while expecting their value to increase in the long run. As an investor, you can reap returns from dividends and periodic interest payments. Your returns might also materialise once you sell your assets after a significant spike in their value.  

For the best outcomes, you should familiarise yourself with different investment options before committing financially. Then, set clear long-term or short-term investment goals. Finally, pick your best assets and find a reliable investment platform. The last part should be easy since we’ve introduced you to the best UK investment platforms.

The sections below outline tips for picking the best investment platforms in the UK and opening new accounts.

How to Choose the Best Investment Platform UK

Countless popular investment platforms are available in the UK. However, choosing a service provider based on popularity alone is a terrible idea since some popular options have questionable standards. You have to be careful and factor in the following while evaluating and picking the most suitable investment platform:

Security
Investment Options
Fees
Support
Online Reputation

Investing with an FCA-regulated platform is the best way to optimise the safety of your data and assets. Additionally, while assessing whether a specific option is ideal, examine available security features and protocols. The best platforms implement recommended solutions like encryption and 2FA.

Before searching for a suitable investment platform in the UK, identify one or more assets you’d like to invest in. That will make the selection process easier since you can weed out companies that don’t offer what you seek. Also, since diversification is crucial, we urge you to prioritise investing with platforms with a wide range of investment options.

Don’t sign up with any platform before checking affordability. Examine all indispensable fees, including currency conversion, inactivity, and account management charges. While doing so, watch out for hidden costs that may not be stipulated from the get-go.

While comparing investment platforms, consider the available customer support channels. You should also ascertain the availability of the company’s support technicians. Don’t believe what the service provider says blindly; test the responsiveness and availability of support yourself.

By reviewing past user testimonials and ratings, you can form a rough picture of what investing with a particular platform might be like. You should find plenty of helpful information on platforms like Google Play, the App Store, and Trustpilot.

How to Sign up for an Account with an Investment Platform

After picking a service provider from our list of the best UK investment platforms, the next thing to do is open your account. The FCA regulates the companies in our guide, so they have to take new signups through KYC. But that shouldn’t scare you. The best platforms have narrowed their registration process to a few manageable steps.

Follow this procedure to open an account with one of the best investment platforms:

Step 1: Visit your selected platform’s official site
Step 2: Sign up
Step 3: Complete verification
Step 4: Fund your account
Step 5: Invest

To avoid future disappointments, visit your chosen platform’s official website and double-check everything. Ensure the company offers everything you are looking for, including your favourite investment products. Additionally, check if a mobile app for investing on the go is available.

Registering a new account requires you to submit personal information like your name, phone number, and email address. Fill out the provided sign-up form with applicable details to avoid rejections. The platform will also ask you to set a strong password to protect your account and assets. Never use guessable information like your email address since malicious actors can guess it.

After filling out the registration form, scan or take a photo of the required documents, depending on the platform’s requirements. Some companies might also ask you to take a selfie. Either way, ensure you share clear and valid copies of every document. Then, wait for the company’s team to verify your account and respond accordingly.

Once your investment account has been verified, use a supported payment method to send funds to it. Before doing that, check and meet any stipulated minimum deposit requirements. Also, if you are a novice investor, we highly encourage starting with a small capital before you gain experience.

Browse available investment options and pick what you prefer. Most platforms in our guide offer one or more of the following investable assets: stocks, crypto, and ETFs. Keep that in mind while picking a fitting service provider. Remember to diversify your portfolio and activate alerts for news updates, price changes, etc.

Conclusion

You can build considerable wealth over time after investing in instruments like stocks. However, you must invest with a company authorised and regulated by the FCA. Furthermore, if you are new to investing, you must learn the basics of investing in different products.

Finally, investing in stocks, crypto, bonds, and other assets is risky, and you might lose your hard-earned money. You might also earn less returns than you expect. Don’t become an investor before familiarising yourself with the associated risks. Most importantly, ensure you’re ready to lose whatever you risk.

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Thadeus Geodfrey

Thadeus Geodfrey and finance are inseparable. He is a versatile expert with a strong cryptocurrency and market analysis background. Thadeus provides a unique blend of technical and strategic insights as a seasoned financial writer. His overarching probe and attention to detail inspire the InvestingGuide community. He guides you through the continuously evolving market landscape to build solid investments or make successful trades.

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