Independent broker reviews since 1996
How to Start Trading and Investing in the UK
We test FCA-regulated brokers and trading platforms with real accounts, and explain trading and investing in plain English.
What would you like to do?
New to this? Start with the best brokers for beginners or compare the lowest fees.
- 30 years helping UK investors and traders
- FCA status checked for every broker we rank
- Named experts write and fact-check every review
- Cited in the press – see where
Best brokers for…
Ranked lists, re-tested and updated through the year.
- BeginnersSimple apps, free demo accounts and strong education.See the list
- Low feesTight spreads and low commissions, from our live tests.See the list
- Spread bettingTax-efficient trading for UK residents.See the list
- FCA regulatedBrokers authorised by the UK Financial Conduct Authority.See the list
- ForexMajor, minor and exotic currency pairs.See the list
- CFD tradingLeveraged trading on shares, indices and commodities.See the list
- Copy tradingFollow experienced traders automatically.See the list
- MT4 brokersBrokers that support MetaTrader 4.See the list
- Day tradingPlatforms and tools for active intraday traders.See the list
- Stock tradingBuy UK and international shares.See the list
- CryptoBrokers and exchanges for trading cryptocurrency.See the list
- Learn forexHow currency trading works, explained simply.See the list
Compare at a glance
Scores out of 5 from our hands-on tests. All brokers below are FCA regulated.
| Broker | Overall | Trust | Fees | Platforms | Spread betting | GBP account | Min. deposit | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.8 | $0 | Review | ||
| XTB | 4.8 | 4.6 | 3.9 | 4.0 | $0 | Review | ||
| Spreadex | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.3 | £0 (but £5 minimum for standard payment methods) | Review | ||
| Interactive Brokers | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 3.3 | $0 | Review | ||
| IG | 4.5 | 4.4 | 5.0 | 4.8 | $0 | Review | ||
| Trade Nation | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 3.9 | $0 | Review |
CFDs and spread bets are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. See each broker's review for its own risk warning.
Latest updates
New and recently updated reviews and guides.
Who we are
Where UK traders go to invest smarter
Investing.co.uk has helped British investors and traders since 1996. Our reviewers are active traders and industry professionals who test every broker with real accounts, and our analysts are regularly quoted in the UK and international press.
- Established in 1996A trusted source of investing education, trading guides and broker reviews for 30 years.
- 100% UK-focusedBuilt for British investors by British investors, with a focus on UK financial markets.
- Expert-led contentWritten by active traders and industry professionals with hands-on experience.
- For all skill levelsEducational resources for complete beginners through to advanced traders.
- TransparentHonest, unbiased market insights and UK broker evaluations.
Learn to trade
Plain-English tutorials, each with the brokers we rate for that market.
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CFDs
Trade price moves in shares, indices, forex and commodities without owning the asset, and without stamp duty. You can go long or short, but leverage magnifies losses as well as gains.
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Forex
The world's largest market. Speculate on exchange rates between currency pairs, usually through CFDs or spread bets rather than holding currency.
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Stocks
Buy shares directly for long-term growth and dividends. UK share purchases carry stamp duty, so frequent trading costs more.
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Bitcoin & crypto
A young, highly volatile asset class covering Bitcoin, Ethereum and hundreds of other coins.
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Copy trading
Automatically mirror the trades of experienced traders – a hands-off way to start and to learn how others trade.
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Day trading
Open and close positions within the same day. Making it pay takes consistent returns, and most day traders use leveraged products.
UK trading & investing at a glance
Who invests in the UK, what newcomers buy, and when markets are busiest.
- 20 FCA-regulated brokers in our database, each tested and kept up to date. See the list
-
39%
of UK adults actively invest
42% of them are aged 18–35.
63% male37% female
- 46% of 18–24 year-olds hold crypto Crypto trading guide
- 44% of young investors have a Stocks & Shares ISA Tax-free investing up to £20,000 a year. How ISAs work
- Over half of UK investors under 44 invest mainly through a mobile app Best trading apps
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Busiest trading hours (GMT)
Best time to trade in the UK
Investor statistics: The Investment Association, Investment Management in the UK 2023–2024.
Your protection
How the FCA protects UK traders
The Financial Conduct Authority is the UK's financial regulator. Choosing an FCA-regulated broker means strict rules on how your money is held, plus the safeguards below. Trading always puts your capital at risk.
- £85,000 FSCS investment cover If an FCA-authorised broker fails and can't return your assets. Per person, per firm. Market losses aren't covered.
- £120,000 FSCS cash cover For eligible cash held at UK banks, per person, per banking licence – shared with your other accounts at the same banking group.
- 1:30 Maximum leverage The most UK brokers can offer retail clients, and less on riskier assets such as shares and crypto.
- £0 Lowest balance Negative balance protection means you can't lose more than you deposited.
Keep reading
Investing involves risk. Asset prices can move rapidly and you may lose some or all of the money you invest. Never invest more than you can afford to lose.Advertising disclosure