Best Trading Apps in the UK 2026

Author - James Barra
Author
James Barra
James is a UK-based writer and investor with consultancy experience at some of Britain's largest financial organisations. James authors, edits and fact-checks content for a row of investing websites.
Fact Checker - Jemma Grist
Fact Checker
Jemma Grist
Jemma is an investment writer located in the UK. She covers forex, stocks, and cryptocurrency markets, providing detailed research and in-depth analysis on different brokers and investment trends in the UK and further afield.

Explore the best UK trading apps, informed by our years of personal experiences and feedback from millions of British investors on the App Store and Google Play. Many of our top apps cater specifically to British traders with convenient mobile deposits using GBP accounts and regulation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

⚠ Investing involves risk. Asset prices can move rapidly and you may lose some or all money invested. Never invest more than you can afford to lose.

Top Trading Apps In The UK

Our tests show these 7 platforms continue to stand out as the best apps for trading in the UK:
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    IG provides an excellent trading app. As a mobile trading pioneer, it has evolved over the years into a top-tier app. Expect swift responses, an intuitive interface, comprehensive charting, and dependable performance. Additionally, it includes guaranteed stops, a crucial risk management feature absent in many apps we've evaluated.

    iOS App Rating
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    4.6
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    4
    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    CFDs (not in US), Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting (UK only) CFTC, NFA, FCA, BaFin, ASIC, FINMA, MAS, JFSA, FMA, DFSA, BMA Web, L2 Dealer, MT4, TradingView, AutoChartist, TradingCentral, ProRealTime
    Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage
    $0 0.01 Lots 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro)
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    Each year, XTB's app impresses with its sleek design and clear interface. It's fast, responsive, and full of practical features like integrated sentiment data, market news, economic calendars, and educational content. The intuitive order panel below the chart simplifies trade execution, including take profit and stop loss settings.

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    4.7
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    4.1
    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    CFDs on shares, Indices, ETFs, Raw Materials, Forex currencies, cryptocurrencies, Real shares, Real ETFs FCA, CySEC, KNF, DFSA, FSC, SCA, CMF, Bappebti xStation
    Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage
    $0 0.01 Lots 1:30
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    Spreadex offers a top-notch mobile trading app for iOS and Android. It includes advanced charts ranging from 1 tick to 1 month, with over 10 years of historical data. Setting price alerts via the bell icon beside each asset is straightforward, ensuring crucial opportunities aren't missed. Nonetheless, features like the economic calendar and market updates are less integrated as they open in an external browser, slightly detracting from the mobile trading experience.

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    4.5
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    4.5
    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    Forex, CFDs, Indices, Commodities, Stocks, Crypto, Bonds, Interest Rates, ETFs, Options, Spread Betting FCA Spreadex Platform, TradingView, AutoChartist
    Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage
    £0 (but £5 minimum for standard payment methods) £0.01 1:30
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    Trade Nation is a leading FX and CFD broker regulated in the UK and Australia, among other places. The company provides competitively priced fixed and variable spreads on over 1,000 assets. Traders benefit from advanced platforms and comprehensive training materials. Additionally, the Signal Centre offers valuable trade ideas.

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    4.5
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    4.5
    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    CFDs, Forex, Indices, Shares, Commodities, Futures, Bonds, Spread Betting (UK and Ireland only), Cryptos (Bahamas entity only) FCA, ASIC, CMVM , FSCA, SCB, FSA TN Trader, MT4, TradingView
    Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage
    $0 0.1 Lots 1:30
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    The IBKR Mobile app, for iOS and Android, transforms your phone into a robust portal to access your IBKR accounts. It allows users to monitor portfolios, execute trades, view real-time quotes and charts, and manage account activities seamlessly. With its intuitive design, the app is particularly user-friendly for novices, offering a simpler experience compared to the advanced TWS platform.

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    4.3
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    4.5
    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    Stocks, Options, Futures, Forex, Funds, Bonds, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies, CFDs SEC, FINRA, CFTC, NFA, CIRO, FCA, CBI, ASIC, SFC, SEBI, JFSA, MAS Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Desktop, GlobalTrader, Mobile, Client Portal, AlgoTrader, OmniTrader, TradingView, eSignal, TradingCentral, ProRealTime, Quantower
    Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage
    $0 $1 1:30
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    Pepperstone shines with top-tier integration with MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView, ideal for traders using these major platforms. They offer stable mobile trading, boosted by Pepperstone's rapid execution speeds and extensive asset variety. It recently achieved second place in DayTrading.com's 2025 'Best Trading App' award.

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    4.4
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    4.1
    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    CFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto CFDs (only Pro clients), Spread Betting FCA, ASIC, CySEC, BaFin, DFSA, SCA, SCB, CMA-Kenya Pepperstone Trading Platform, MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView
    Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage
    $0 0.01 Lots 1:30 (Retail - UK, EU, Australia), 1:500 (Pro), 1:200 (Offshore), 1:400 (Kenya)
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    Eightcap offers MT4, MT5, and TradingView apps, being the sole FCA-regulated broker with TradingView, ideal for mobile traders seeking advanced charting. Although MetaTrader's design feels dated, its numerous technical indicators, drawing tools, diverse chart styles, and simple horizontal overlays are impressive. Push notifications and an active social network on TradingView are beneficial for traders, with Eightcap providing guidance videos on linking TradingView to iOS and Android.

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    4.8
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    4.4
    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    CFDs in Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSC, SCB, FSA MT4, MT5, TradingView, TradeLocker
    Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage
    £100 0.01 Lots 1:30

Safety Comparison

Compare how safe the Best Trading Apps in the UK 2026 are and what features they offer to protect traders.

Safety Comparison
Broker Trust Rating FCA Regulated Negative Balance Protection Guaranteed Stop Loss Segregated Accounts
IG 4.4 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
XTB 4.6 ✔ ✔ ✘ ✔
Spreadex 4 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Trade Nation 4.3 ✔ ✔ ✘ ✔
Interactive Brokers 4.5 ✔ ✔ ✘ ✔
Pepperstone 4.6 ✔ ✔ ✘ ✔
Eightcap 4.3 ✔ ✔ ✘ ✔

Payments Comparison

Compare which popular payment methods the Best Trading Apps in the UK 2026 support and whether they have trading accounts denominated in British Pounds (GBP).

Payments Comparison
Broker GBP Account Debit Card Credit Card Neteller Skrill Apple Pay
IG ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✘ ✘
XTB ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘
Spreadex ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✘ ✘
Trade Nation ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘ ✔ ✘
Interactive Brokers ✔ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
Pepperstone ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Eightcap ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘

Mobile Trading Comparison

How good are the Best Trading Apps in the UK 2026 at mobile trading using apps or other mobile interfaces.

Mobile Trading Comparison
Broker Mobile Apps iOS Rating Android Rating Smart Watch App
IG iOS & Android 4.6 4 ✔
XTB iOS & Android 4.7 4.1 ✔
Spreadex iOS & Android 4.5 4.5 ✘
Trade Nation iOS & Android 4.5 4.5 ✘
Interactive Brokers iOS & Android 4.3 4.5 ✔
Pepperstone iOS & Android 4.4 4.1 ✘
Eightcap iOS & Android 4.8 4.4 ✘

Beginners Comparison

Are the Best Trading Apps in the UK 2026 good for beginner traders, that might want an affordable setup to get started, along with good support and educational resources?

Beginners Comparison
Broker Demo Account Minimum Deposit Minimum Trade Support Rating Education Rating
IG ✔ $0 0.01 Lots 4.5 5
XTB ✔ $0 0.01 Lots 4.3 3.8
Spreadex ✘ £0 (but £5 minimum for standard payment methods) £0.01 4.3 4
Trade Nation ✔ $0 0.1 Lots 4.9 4.2
Interactive Brokers ✔ $0 $1 3 4.3
Pepperstone ✔ $0 0.01 Lots 4.6 4
Eightcap ✔ £100 0.01 Lots 4 3.5

Advanced Trading Comparison

Do the Best Trading Apps in the UK 2026 offer features that allow for more advanced trading strategies?

Advanced Trading Comparison
Broker Automated Trading Pro Account Leverage VPS AI Low Latency Extended Hours
IG Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, build your own on ProRealTime ✔ 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro) ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
XTB - ✔ 1:30 ✘ ✘ ✔ ✘
Spreadex ✘ ✔ 1:30 ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔
Trade Nation Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader ✘ 1:30 ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘
Interactive Brokers TWS API ✘ 1:30 ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔
Pepperstone Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader ✔ 1:30 (Retail - UK, EU, Australia), 1:500 (Pro), 1:200 (Offshore), 1:400 (Kenya) ✘ ✘ ✔ ✘
Eightcap TradingView Bots ✘ 1:30 ✔ ✘ ✔ ✘

Detailed Rating Comparison

Use this heatmap to compare our detailed ratings for all of the Best Trading Apps in the UK 2026.

Detailed Rating Comparison
Broker Trust Platforms Mobile Assets Fees Accounts Support Research Education
IG 4.4 4.9 4.3 4.5 5 4 4.5 4.9 5
XTB 4.6 4 4.4 4.6 3.9 4 4.3 4.1 3.8
Spreadex 4 4.3 4.5 4.5 4 3.8 4.3 4.3 4
Trade Nation 4.3 3.9 4.5 3.7 4.3 4.2 4.9 3.9 4.2
Interactive Brokers 4.5 3.3 4.4 4.7 4.3 3.5 3 4.4 4.3
Pepperstone 4.6 4.8 4.3 4.6 4.5 4 4.6 4.3 4
Eightcap 4.3 4.3 4.6 3.6 3.8 4 4 3.5 3.5

Our Take On IG

"IG offers a complete package: an easy-to-use web platform, top-tier beginner education, enhanced charting via TradingView, up-to-date data, and strong trade execution for seasoned traders."
Tobias Robinson
Tobias Robinson
Reviewer

Pros

  • As a seasoned broker, IG adheres to stringent regulatory standards across various regions, ensuring significant trust.
  • The ProRealTime advanced charting platform remains free, provided traders meet modest monthly activity requirements.
  • The web-based platform supports traders at every level, offering advanced charting tools and real-time market data vital for trading. Additionally, IG now includes TradingView integration.

Cons

  • IG imposes a monthly inactivity fee of $12 to $18 after two years, discouraging occasional investors.
  • In the UK and EU, negative balance protection is available. However, US clients lack account protection and guaranteed stop losses.
  • Beginners may find IG's fees complicated, as they vary depending on the trades or services. This could cause confusion and unexpected costs.

Our Take On XTB

"XTB excels for novice traders with its superb xStation platform, minimal trading costs, no required deposit, and outstanding educational resources, many of which are fully integrated into the platform."
William Berg
William Berg
Reviewer

Pros

  • XTB offers a superb array of educational resources, such as training videos and articles, embedded within the platform to assist traders of all experience levels.
  • Top-notch customer support, available 24/5, includes a welcoming live chat with response times under two minutes during tests.
  • XTB processes withdrawals swiftly, paying within 3 business days, subject to the method and amount.

Cons

  • The research tools at XTB are commendable but have the potential to excel further. Enhancing them with access to top-tier third-party services like Autochartist, Trading Central, and TipRanks would significantly elevate their offering.
  • XTB lacks a raw spread account, a feature increasingly offered by competitors such as Pepperstone. This omission might not satisfy traders seeking the most competitive spreads.
  • Trading fees are competitive, with average EUR/USD spreads of about 1 pip. However, they are not as low as the most affordable brokers, such as IC Markets. Additionally, an inactivity fee applies after a year.

Our Take On Spreadex

"Spreadex attracts UK traders keen on spread betting in financial markets and traditional sports wagers. It offers low fees for short trades, and spread bet profits are tax-free. With a robust charting platform and no minimum deposit, it's easy to begin."
Tobias Robinson
Tobias Robinson
Reviewer

Pros

  • From testing, the platform facilitates seamless active trading. Features like one-click trading, watchlists, and saved layouts functioned effectively, including Force Open. Constructing a tidy workspace and handling short-term trades proved straightforward.
  • During live trials near London, Spreadex exhibited 120–200ms round-trip latency across over 50 FTSE and EUR/USD trades. There were no requotes, and slippage remained largely controlled under normal market conditions.
  • Our fee analysis shows the EUR/USD at 0.6 pips during off-peak hours. FTSE and S&P 500 spreads remain competitively priced for spread-betting brokers. Trading costs are reasonable.

Cons

  • CFDs, financial spread bets, sports, and casino activities are combined in one account balance. For serious traders, this means non-trading losses can immediately decrease the margin for trading positions.
  • Spreadex lacks MT4, MT5, cTrader, API, VPS, and algorithmic trading support, making it ideal for active traders rather than those using automated or bespoke trading systems.
  • Spreadex requires real funds initially, offering no demo accounts. Few spread betting brokers neglect to accommodate new traders in this manner.

Our Take On Trade Nation

"Trade Nation caters to discretionary traders aiming to speculate on major indices like the US 500 or liquid FX pairs, with the certainty of fixed spreads. Our tests revealed the TN Trader's fixed spreads to be advantageous, especially during economic announcements, thanks to its dependable charting and capped spreads."
Tobias Robinson
Tobias Robinson
Reviewer

Pros

  • During tests of the TN Trader account in standard market conditions, fixed spreads remained stable. Major forex pairs experienced prompt order fills, albeit with slight entry level drift as prices fluctuated between click and execution.
  • Trade Nation accounts can now connect to TradingView, offering enhanced multi-chart functionality and direct trade execution.
  • Trade Nation's 2026 alliance with Volt has streamlined payments for Australian traders, enabling instant deposits and withdrawals via PayID. Faster payout features are also anticipated for UK and EU clients.

Cons

  • There is no raw or ECN pricing tier, often favoured by traders. Regardless of your deposit or trading volume, you receive the same fixed (or variable on MT4) pricing as novices, rendering it particularly unsuitable for scalpers.
  • Offshore SCB and FSA firms offer retail investors leverage up to 1:200 and 1:500. In contrast, regions like the UK, Europe, and Australia cap leverage at 1:30. Thus, an FSA client can access 16 times more exposure than a UK retail client on identical trades. However, this comes with reduced oversight and no compensation schemes.
  • Withdrawals may take up to five business days, aligning with industry norms. However, this is slower compared to the 1-3 days many brokers now offer to minimise complaints from retail investors.

Our Take On Interactive Brokers

"Interactive Brokers ranks highly for seasoned traders due to its robust charting platforms, live data, and bespoke layouts via the new IBKR Desktop app. Its competitive pricing and sophisticated order choices appeal to traders, and its wide equity options are industry-leading."
Tobias Robinson
Tobias Robinson
Reviewer

Pros

  • IBKR offers an economical environment for traders, featuring low commissions, narrow spreads, and a clear fee structure.
  • A wide range of third-party research subscriptions, both free and paid, are available for traders. Additionally, by subscribing to Toggle AI, traders can receive commission rebates from IBKR.
  • While initially targeting seasoned traders, IBKR has recently widened its appeal by eliminating its $10,000 minimum deposit requirement.

Cons

  • In 2025, IBKR was fined $11.8m by the US OFAC for operating in sanctioned areas. That same year, FINRA imposed a $125k fine for lapses in municipal bond disclosure.
  • TWS has a steep learning curve, making it difficult for newcomers to navigate and grasp its features.
  • Support can be sluggish and frustrating. Tests reveal that you may face challenges reaching customer service quickly, which could result in delays in issue resolution.

Our Take On Pepperstone

"Pepperstone excels in trading with tight spreads, swift execution, and advanced charting for seasoned traders. Beginners enjoy zero minimum deposit, comprehensive educational materials, and outstanding 24/5 support, including 18-hour weekend assistance."
Tobias Robinson
Tobias Robinson
Reviewer

Pros

  • Provides a specialised CopyTrading app for traders preferring a more passive strategy, available in select countries.
  • Pepperstone presents itself as an economical choice for traders, offering spreads as low as 0.0 in its Razor account. The Active Trader programme provides rebates up to 30% on indices and commodities, plus $3 per lot on forex.
  • Pepperstone now offers trading in pre-IPO perpetual futures, including SpaceX (SPCX.US-PERP), in select areas like the UAE.

Cons

  • Execution might not appear as dependable in rapid markets as headline speeds imply. Our tests showed swift execution at targeted prices. However, community feedback highlights concerns over slippage, stop-loss fills, and order triggers sensitive to spreads amid volatility.
  • Pepperstone has withdrawn support for key tools enhancing the trading experience for active retail traders, including Autochartist, Capitalise.ai, and a free VPS, now limited to pro traders in certain countries.
  • Although the market range has expanded, crypto CFD options remain somewhat restricted, especially when compared to specialised brokers like Eightcap. Additionally, there is no facility to invest in actual cryptocurrencies.

Our Take On Eightcap

"Eightcap excels for traders, offering diverse charting platforms, educational Labs, and AI tools. With over 120 crypto CFDs, it stands out in crypto trading and has won our 'Best Crypto Broker' award twice consecutively."
William Berg
William Berg
Reviewer

Pros

  • In 2026, Eightcap integrated TradeLocker in select areas, establishing itself as the premier regulated broker for this platform. It continues to offer ultra-fast execution and competitive fees for active traders using the charting software.
  • Eightcap has excelled in all essential trading areas, surpassing all rivals to clinch our 'Best Overall Broker' award for 2024. It also earned the titles of 'Best Crypto Broker' and 'Best TradingView Broker' for 2025.
  • Eightcap excels with a suite of advanced trading tools, such as MT4 and MT5, and has recently joined the 100-million-user social trading network, TradingView.

Cons

  • Despite a helpful array of educational guides and e-books in Labs, Eightcap lags behind IG's extensive resources for aspiring traders. IG boasts a dedicated Academy app and features 18 diverse course categories.
  • Despite the growing range of tools available, Eightcap lacks popular industry resources such as Autochartist and Trading Central. These provide advanced charting analytics, live news, and essential market insights for traders focused on short-term strategies.
  • The demo account is available for 30 days, after which it requires a request for extension. This is less convenient than XM's offering, which provides an unlimited demo mode.

When brokers rely on third-party apps like MT4 or MT5 instead of proprietary trading software, we’ve displayed those apps’ store ratings. Please note app store ratings may change.

Comparing Trading Apps

In recent years, we’ve seen a shift towards mobile investing, with trading app downloads in the UK doubling to 8.5 million from September 2020 to September 2023, according to Fintech Global.

Trading apps have also evolved. Gone are the days when you could simply buy and sell shares, the leading applications today cater to investors at every level with integrated research tools, price alerts, in-app support, and mobile wallet deposits.

Yet despite millions of pounds pouring into app development, the hallmarks of an exceptional trading app remain consistent:

Infographic showing how Investing.co.uk test trading apps in the UK

We unpack our app testing methodology in more detail below.

They Are User-Friendly And Smooth To Operate

It’s key to choose an app that’s easy to use and navigate, focusing on smart decision-making amidst the growing number of applications in the UK introducing distractions like perks for frequent deposits, such as Stash.

Therefore, we rate online trading apps by their mix of helpful features against information overload and needless extras, only suggesting those that offer a superior mobile trading experience for investors of every level.

XTB iOS app 'markets' section

XTB iOS trading app

Use a demo account to make sure you find the trading app intuitive and easy to use before investing real money.
  • XTB leads the pack with its mobile application, featuring a distinctive light design that makes trading on the go enjoyable. It offers easy access to charts, historical data, and news, while the bottom menu bar simplifies trade and account management, searching for instruments and managing your portfolio in a few taps.

They Have A Wide Investment Offering

Downloading an app that provides access to the markets you want to trade is essential. For UK traders, this could include shares on the London Stock Exchange, the FTSE 100 index, and currency pairs with the British Pound like the GBP/USD.

UK trading markets on IBKR mobile app

IBKR App

However, we also look for apps that provide access to a wide range of global markets, such as US, European, Asian and Australian equities, ensuring a diverse range of trading opportunities across different sectors and industries.

Moreover, we recognise the needs of different traders. Short-term traders may prefer platforms like CMC Markets for CFDs and spread betting in a fast and dependable app, while long-term investors might prefer XTB for share dealing and its new Investment Plans which are available exclusively in the app, and allow you to build tailored portfolios from 390 ETFs.

  • Interactive Brokers offers a superior range of markets spanning 150 exchanges, including the UK. The IBKR mobile app also caters to an array of trading styles with fractional shares, stocks, ETFs, currencies, CFDs and even warrants and structured products.

They Offer Excellent Pricing

Choosing an app with low fees is crucial for both active and casual traders to maximise returns. That’s why we regularly assess fees across key markets like stocks, indices, commodities and cryptos to find low-cost apps for all types of traders.

Pricing on GBP currency pairs at IC Markets trading app

IC Markets Spreads

We also factor in the needs of different traders. For example, new stock investors might lean towards the increasing number of commission-free apps like XTB, which offer straightforward pricing with no deposit fees, whereas advanced forex traders may prefer Pepperstone with its Razor account that features raw spreads from 0.0 pips and a £2.25 commission per side, per lot.

  • IC Markets is one of the lowest-cost investing apps in the UK, especially for active traders, with consistently tight average spreads of 0.1 on the EUR/USD and 1.0 on the FTSE 100. It also excels with rebates for high-volume traders and charges no fees for deposits or withdrawals.

They Provide Outstanding In-App Tools

Picking an app with intelligent tools to identify and capitalise on opportunities is crucial. Our years in the industry also show that mobile features are increasingly what sets a trading app apart.

As a result, we prioritise apps with essential tools like mobile-optimised charts with multiple indicators, drawing tools and timeframes, through to push notifications with price alerts, integrated signals and social investment networks so traders can share ideas on the go.

Trading tools on Forex.com UK investing app

Forex.com App

It’s also an area brokers are focusing on. For example, XTB upgraded its xStation app in 2023, providing 5,400 instruments on mobile and tablet devices.

  • Forex.com is hard to beat for tools with a clear investment in its app development. It now has it all, from market insights from its own analysts to integrated technical analysis from Trading Central, a stacked newsfeed, price alerts and economic calendars. It also outperforms MT4 in charting, boasting over 90 indicators and a superior design.

They Are Regulated In The UK

Opting for a trading app regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will provide the best safeguards for British investors, notably access to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) with coverage up to £85,000 if the firm goes bankrupt.

That’s why as part of our exhaustive reviews we check whether firms are regulated by the FCA or another reputable body.

IG UK license details on FCA database

IG FCA License

However, we also consider a firm’s years in the industry, whether they are listed on a stock exchange, and their reputation to determine whether they can be trusted.

For instance, both IG and Robinhood are FCA-regulated, but IG boasts over 30 years more experience, is listed on the London Stock Exchange, and has a fantastic reputation, contrasting with Robinhood’s controversial trading practices that have cost investors millions of pounds.

  • IG consistently earns our recommendation as the UK’s most trusted trading app, licensed by the FCA and 12 other regulators. Our experts, active traders in the UK themselves, have used the IG app with real funds for years without major problems.

They Offer Convenient Deposits In The App

A smooth mobile trading experience hinges on secure and easy deposits and withdrawals directly via the app. That’s why our evaluations include investigating the availability of popular payment methods in the UK.

Over 50% of transactions in the country use debit and credit cards according to UK Finance, with Apple Pay and Google Pay leading as the top digital wallets increasingly accepted on trading apps, such as Plus500.

Select a trading app that offers a GBP account to simplify managing trades while minimising conversion fees.

Additional Reading

The FCA’s market review of UK trading apps found that a growing number of retail investors, especially younger men, use trading apps that offer easy, low-cost access to a wider range of investments, prompting calls for strong oversight to ensure informed, sustainable consumer participation.

FAQ

What Is A Trading App?

A trading app is a mobile application that can be downloaded to iOS and/or Android devices that enables trading on markets like the London Stock Exchange, FTSE, and GBP/USD. Besides executing orders, investment trading apps usually offer tools for market analysis and making deposits and withdrawals from your palm.

Some UK brokers like XTB have designed comprehensive proprietary apps, while others provide a number of specialised apps for forex and index trading, market news, and currency conversion.

Alternatively, many firms such as Eightcap in the UK, only support trading via popular third-party applications like MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5) or TradingView.

What Are The Most Popular Trading Apps In The UK?

The most popular trading apps in the UK based on download data from the app stores include Trading212 (10+ million), Webull (10+ million), TradingView (10+ million), MetaTrader 4 (10+ million), and MetaTrader 5 (10+ million).

What Is The Best Trading App For Beginners?

XTB continues to stand out as the best trading app for beginners. Our UK team’s real-money trading on the XTB app highlights its user-friendly design and valuable resources for new investors, including comprehensive educational videos, a £100,000 demo account, and rapid UK-based support with <2 minute response times during tests.

What Is The Best App For Experienced Traders?

IG maintains its position as the best app for experienced traders. Our UK experts, with years of real-money trading on the IG app, commend its first-rate mobile investing experience, featuring a nearly unrivalled selection of 17,000+ markets, customisable watchlists and feeds, plus the growing suite of research tools, most recently analysts’ consensus ratings on popular stocks.

How Do I Start Using A Trading App?

Once you have chosen a trading app, download it from the relevant app store. An increasing number of brokers, notably Interactive Brokers and City Index, host QR codes on their websites so installing their apps is a breeze.

Then open an account by providing your basic contact details and personal information. You’ll also normally need to verify your identity. Once your account is active, you can make a deposit (usually <£250) and start trading from your mobile.

Can I Trade Crypto On UK Trading Apps?

Some crypto exchanges have apps where you can buy and sell tokens like Bitcoin, the largest being Binance which has been downloaded 100+ million times.

However, the FCA brought in restrictions on the sale and distribution of retail crypto-derivatives on 6 January 2021. Since then, British investors have not been able to trade products like crypto CFDs unless they use apps from offshore, weakly regulated brokers.

Article Sources

Apple App Store

Google Play Store

Fintech Global – UK Trading App Download Data

London Stock Exchange (LSE)

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)

FCA Ban On Retail Crypto Derivatives