Best Brokers For Beginners In The UK 2025

Author - Christian Harris
Author
Christian Harris
Christian is a UK-based investment writer who's been actively trading an array of financial instruments for over 10 years. Having used most of the major brokers in the UK, Christian provides valuable insights on all things investing for British traders.

Starting your investment journey can feel overwhelming—especially with so many trading platforms and brokers competing for your attention.

In this guide, we’ll highlight the best brokers for new investors, helping you take your first confident steps into the world of investing.

Best Brokers For Beginners UK

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    In our tests, Pepperstone aided beginners with a low minimum deposit, responsive 24/5 support, and free demo accounts. Educational resources featured webinars, trading guides, and strategy tutorials. Execution was swift, with intuitive MT4, MT5, and cTrader platforms. Access to forex, indices, commodities, and crypto enabled new traders to practise and develop skills in a secure, low-risk setting.

    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    CFDs, Forex, Currency Indices, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Crypto (only Pro clients), Spread Betting FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, CMA, BaFin, SCB MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, AutoChartist, DupliTrade, Quantower
    Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage
    $0 0.01 Lots 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
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    In our tests, XTB served novices with a minimal deposit requirement, prompt support, and complimentary demo accounts. Educational materials featured videos, webinars, and comprehensive trading guides. The xStation platform provided user-friendly tools and risk management options. Access to forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies enabled new traders to learn and practise in a safe, affordable setting.

    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    CFDs on shares, Indices, ETFs, Raw Materials, Forex currencies, cryptocurrencies, Real shares, Real ETFs FCA, CySEC, KNF, DFSA, FSC, SCA, Bappebti xStation
    Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage
    $0 0.01 Lots 1:30
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    In our analysis, IG offered user-friendly trading with comprehensive educational materials, such as webinars, guides, and demo accounts. Customer service was responsive through chat and phone. Execution proved reliable, allowing beginners access to forex, stocks, indices, and commodities with intuitive platforms and risk management tools, making IG a good fit for novice traders.

    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto, Spread Betting FCA, ASIC, NFA, CFTC, DFSA, BaFin, MAS, FSCA, FINMA, CONSOB, AFM, JFSA Web, ProRealTime, 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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    In our recent tests, eToro assisted novices with a minimal deposit requirement, efficient 24/5 support, and complimentary demo accounts. Educational tools featured webinars, trading manuals, and importantly, social trading elements for peer learning. Executions were dependable, while access to stocks, ETFs, forex, and crypto offered a low-risk setting for new traders to practise and gain confidence.

    Instruments Regulator Platforms
    CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, ETFs, Smart Portfolios, Commodities, Futures, Crypto, NFTs FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSA, FSRA, MFSA, CNMV, AMF eToro Web, CopyTrader, TradingCentral
    Min. Deposit Min. Trade Leverage
    $50 $10 1:30

Safety Comparison

Compare how safe the Best Brokers For Beginners In The UK 2025 are and what features they offer to protect traders.

Safety Comparison
Broker Trust Rating FCA Regulated Negative Balance Protection Guaranteed Stop Loss Segregated Accounts
Pepperstone 4.6
XTB 4.6
IG 4.9
eToro 4.5

Payments Comparison

Compare which popular payment methods the Best Brokers For Beginners In The UK 2025 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
Pepperstone
XTB
IG
eToro

Mobile Trading Comparison

How good are the Best Brokers For Beginners In The UK 2025 at mobile trading using apps or other mobile interfaces.

Mobile Trading Comparison
Broker Mobile Apps iOS Rating Android Rating Smart Watch App
Pepperstone iOS & Android 4.4 4.1
XTB iOS & Android 4.7 4.1
IG iOS & Android 4.6 4
eToro iOS & Android 4 3.8

Beginners Comparison

Are the Best Brokers For Beginners In The UK 2025 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
Pepperstone $0 0.01 Lots 4.6 4
XTB $0 0.01 Lots 4.3 3.8
IG $0 0.01 Lots 4.5 5
eToro $50 $10 2.5 4

Advanced Trading Comparison

Do the Best Brokers For Beginners In The UK 2025 offer features that allow for more advanced trading strategies?

Advanced Trading Comparison
Broker Automated Trading Pro Account Leverage VPS AI Low Latency Extended Hours
Pepperstone Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
XTB Open API 1:30
IG Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, build your own on ProRealTime 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro)
eToro Automate your trades via CopyTrader - follow profitable traders. Open and close trades automatically when they do. 1:30

Detailed Rating Comparison

Use this heatmap to compare our detailed ratings for all of the Best Brokers For Beginners In The UK 2025.

Detailed Rating Comparison
Broker Trust Platforms Mobile Assets Fees Accounts Support Research Education
Pepperstone 4.6 4.4 4.3 3.8 4.5 4 4.6 4.3 4
XTB 4.6 4 4.4 4 4.3 4 4.3 4.1 3.8
IG 4.9 4.9 4.3 4.5 3.5 4 4.5 4.9 5
eToro 4.5 2.8 3.9 3.8 3.4 4.1 2.5 4.3 4

Our Take On Pepperstone

"Pepperstone is a premier trading platform, providing tight spreads, swift execution, and sophisticated charting tools for seasoned traders. Beginners benefit from no minimum deposit, comprehensive learning materials, and outstanding 24/7 support."
Tobias Robinson
Tobias Robinson
Reviewer

Pros

  • Pepperstone now offers spread betting via TradingView, delivering a streamlined and tax-efficient trading experience with sophisticated analytical tools.
  • In recent years, Pepperstone has significantly enhanced the deposit and withdrawal process. By 2025, clients can use Apple Pay and Google Pay, while 2024 saw the introduction of PIX and SPEI for customers in Brazil and Mexico.
  • Pepperstone offers rapid execution speeds of approximately 30ms, enabling swift order processing and execution, making it ideal for traders.

Cons

  • Although its market range has improved, its crypto offerings remain limited compared to brokers specialising in this sector, lacking real coin investment options.
  • Pepperstone's demo accounts expire after 30 days, which may not provide sufficient time to explore various platforms and evaluate trading strategies.
  • Pepperstone doesn't offer cTrader Copy, a favoured feature for copying trades found in the cTrader platform, which is available on other platforms such as IC Markets. However, Pepperstone has launched its own user-friendly copy trading app.

Our Take On XTB

"XTB emerges as an ideal option for novice traders, offering the impressive xStation platform, zero commission pricing, no required minimum deposit, and outstanding educational resources, many of which are conveniently integrated into the platform."

Pros

  • XTB has raised its interest rate on uninvested funds and introduced zero-fee ISAs for UK clients, offering access to 3,000 stocks and 700 ETFs for diverse investment opportunities.
  • XTB ensures swift access to funds, providing fast withdrawals with same-day payments for requests made before 1 pm.
  • Setting up an XTB account is straightforward and fully online, requiring only a few minutes. This simplicity eases new traders into the world of trading.

Cons

  • The demo account lasts only four weeks, posing a challenge for traders wanting to fully explore the xStation platform and refine short-term strategies before investing actual money.
  • 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.

Our Take On IG

"IG offers a complete package with an intuitive online platform, top-tier beginner education, advanced charting tools through its TradingView integration, real-time data, and swift execution for seasoned traders."

Pros

  • IG provides a wide range of professional and engaging educational materials, such as webinars, articles, and analyses, tailored for traders.
  • IG stands out with its extensive range of instruments, offering stocks, forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Additionally, it has recently introduced US-listed futures and options, along with an AI Index. These options enhance opportunities for diversification in trading.
  • The IG app provides an excellent mobile trading experience with an intuitive design, earning it the Runner Up position in our 'Best Trading App' award.

Cons

  • Beginners may find IG's fees complicated, as they vary depending on the trades or services. This could cause confusion and unexpected costs.
  • IG has ended its swap-free account, diminishing its attractiveness to Islamic traders.
  • Based on tests, stock and CFD spreads remain less competitive than the lowest-cost brokers, such as CMC Markets.

Our Take On eToro

"eToro's social trading platform excels with its outstanding user experience and lively community chat, aiding beginners in spotting opportunities. It offers competitive fees on numerous CFDs and real stocks, alongside exceptional rewards for seasoned strategists."

Pros

  • eToro now offers accounts in EUR and GBP, with recent additions of BTC and ETH payment options. This reduces conversion costs and delivers a tailored trading experience.
  • The broker offers excellent services for beginners, featuring commission-free stock trading, a low minimum deposit, and an unlimited demo account.
  • In 2025, eToro enhanced its trading experience by incorporating insights from over 10 million Stocktwits users, enabling better assessment of market sentiment.

Cons

  • The only significant contact option, besides the in-platform live chat, is limited.
  • There are no assured stop-loss orders, which could be a valuable risk management tool for novice traders.
  • The minimum withdrawal is set at $30, accompanied by a $5 fee. This may impact traders with limited funds, particularly those just starting out.

How To Compare Brokers For Beginners

With so many online brokers competing for attention, choosing the right platform can feel overwhelming. The best options for beginners, however, tend to share a few key qualities:

Account Fees & Trading Costs

It’s common for beginners to be drawn in by the promise of ‘commission-free investing‘, only to discover later that currency conversion fees or wider spreads eat into returns. For example, buying US stocks through some UK brokers can quietly cost an extra 1% or more per trade. Over a year of monthly investing, this can add up to more than the headline savings on commission.

Platform Usability

Many new investors start with platforms that initially seem exciting but quickly become overwhelming due to flashing charts and endless menus. A simple, intuitive dashboard reduces mistakes and makes it easier to focus on long-term investing. Those who start on complex trading-style platforms often find themselves distracted by tools they don’t understand or need.

Finding the right broker as a beginner often comes down to more than fees—it’s about clarity, support, and confidence. Hands-on experience shows that a platform that feels intuitive and transparent makes learning the markets far less intimidating.
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Christian Harris
Author

Investment Choice

A broad menu of investments sounds ideal, but too much choice can lead to ‘analysis paralysis.’ Beginners often end up sticking to familiar UK shares or a single ETF simply because the platform doesn’t guide them well. Brokers that highlight starter-friendly funds or provide model portfolios often help new investors make more confident first choices.

Educational Resources

Good educational support goes beyond articles buried in a help centre. Some platforms provide structured learning modules, quizzes, or video explainers that gradually build knowledge. Without this, many beginners rely on social media advice or forums—sometimes picking up risky habits before even understanding the basics of diversification.

Training courses at IG

Learn trading skills from beginner to advanced with IG’s interactive courses

Customer Support

When withdrawals get delayed or an order doesn’t execute, waiting days for a reply can be stressful. Many new investors discover too late that their broker relies heavily on chatbots with little real support. Platforms with quick access to human help during market hours can provide peace of mind at critical moments.

Copy Trading & Social Investing

Copy trading feels like a safety net at first—simply follow someone experienced and learn by watching. But many discover that the most-followed traders often use high-risk strategies that look good in the short term but swing wildly over time. The most useful platforms are those that display each trader’s risk score, portfolio breakdown, and past drawdowns, so beginners can learn responsibly instead of blindly following.

Copy trading portfolios at eToro

Mirror experienced investors with eToro’s copy trading portfolios

Safety & Regulation

Discovering later that a broker isn’t FCA-regulated can be an expensive lesson. FSCS protection and segregated client funds aren’t just technical jargon—they’re the line between recovering your money in a worst-case scenario and losing it altogether. Beginners who research this early tend to avoid costly mistakes.

Fractional Shares & Minimum Deposits

Fractional shares often make the difference between investing £20 a week in big names like Amazon or being locked out until more cash is available. However, some brokers only allow fractions through riskier CFD products, leaving beginners confused about what they own. Direct fractional ownership is safer and keeps things simpler for first-time investors.

Buying fractional shares at Trading212

Invest in expensive stocks with small amounts using Trading 212’s fractional shares

Mobile App vs Desktop

Starting with just a mobile app is convenient, but it can hide the limitations of a platform. Many beginners only realise later that they can’t set advanced orders, export statements easily, or access research tools from mobile alone. Platforms that sync seamlessly between mobile and desktop provide a smoother learning curve and better long-term usability.

Demo Accounts

A demo account is one of the most underrated beginner tools. Practising with virtual money allows new investors to place trades, explore order types, and get comfortable with a platform’s features without risking real capital. Using a demo first often reveals whether a platform feels intuitive or overly complex, and highlights risky habits—like overtrading—before real money is committed. The absence of a demo option means the first mistakes are likely to come with actual losses, making it harder to learn safely.

Practising on a demo account before investing real money revealed exactly how trades behave and where mistakes happen. Experiencing it firsthand made my initial live trades far less stressful and much more manageable.
author image
Christian Harris
Author

Hidden Features & Future-Proofing

Many beginners choose a broker solely on fees, only to regret it when they later want access to international markets, better research tools, or tax wrappers. Moving investments to a new platform can trigger capital gains tax or involve weeks of delays. Starting with a broker that can grow with you—offering both beginner simplicity and advanced tools—saves frustration down the road.

Bottom Line

Choosing the best broker for beginners in the UK isn’t about chasing the lowest fees or the flashiest features—it’s about finding a platform that balances cost, usability, safety, and long-term flexibility.

The best brokers help new investors learn as they go, offer accessible entry points like fractional shares or demo accounts, and provide reassurance through strong regulation and reliable support.

With the right choice at the start, beginners can focus less on the mechanics of trading and more on building the confidence and habits that lead to long-term investing success.