6 Best Brokers UK for Stocks, ETFs, and DIY Investing

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You are a UK retail investor deciding where to open an online broker account. You may want low-cost trading, active day trading, ISA/SIPP wrappers, or a simple app for long-term saving. Pick a broker that fits your style. Check fees, account types, and market access before you sign.

This article narrows the crowded UK broker market to six strong options. It matches a broker to a clear goal: low fees, advanced tools, social trading, tax wrappers, or fractional shares. It flags the key numbers and limitations you must check before funding an account.

What you get next: a quick TL;DR, the criteria we used, a deep dive on six brokers with concrete fees and limits, a compact comparison table, and a short decision guide to pick the right one. Read the TL;DR if you want a one-minute pick. Dive into the reviews for exact fees and limits.

Quick Answer / TL;DR box

• If you want commission-free share trading and social features → pick eToro (0% commission on many stocks; typical copy minimum from £200).
• If you want the absolute lowest trading costs and advanced order types → pick Interactive Brokers (commissions from $0.0005–$0.0035 per share equivalent; access to 135+ markets).
• If you want a simple, free app for buy-and-hold UK stocks → pick Freetrade (0% commission on basic plan; optional £9.99/month for extras).
• If you need a full-service platform with ISAs and SIPPs plus research → pick Hargreaves Lansdown or AJ Bell (dealing fees typically £5–£12 or £6.95–£9.95).
• If you trade CFDs or forex with deep liquidity → pick IG (EUR/USD spreads from ~0.6 pips; CFD share commission around £8).

What We Looked For

Check the metrics we used to rank these brokers. We tested 6 brokers across 5 categories. Use these checkpoints to compare any platform you consider.

• Fees & pricing clarity. Look at headline commission rates, spread levels, platform fees, and custody fees. We logged 0% commissions, £5 trades, sub-penny per-share rates, and platform charges of 0.25%–0.45% where applicable.
• Account types & tax wrappers. Check Stocks & Shares ISA and SIPP presence. Verify transfer fees, annual platform charges, and ISA contribution limits set by regulation. Confirm if ISAs and SIPPs have extra monthly fees like £3 or platform charges of 0.25%.
• Asset coverage. Count markets and instruments. We measured access to 2,000+ equities on some platforms, 135+ markets on advanced brokers, and crypto availability on select apps.
• Usability & tools. Test mobile apps, order types (limit, stop, trailing stop), APIs, and charting. Note platforms with 10+ advanced order types or API access for automated trading.
• Safety & customer support. Check FCA regulation, segregation of client assets, and average support times of 24–72 hours. Verify custodial models and withdrawal rules.

Watch out for: currency conversion fees (often 0.5%–1%), withdrawal fees (e.g., £5), and overnight financing on leveraged products (base rate + 2%–4%).

1. eToro — Best for commission-free stocks and social trading

eToro is a social trading platform with commission-free share dealing on many listed stocks. You get zero percent commission on standard equities, a social feed, and CopyTrader to mirror other users. Expect spreads on CFD trades starting around 0.75% depending on the asset.

Use CopyTrader to automate signals. Copy a dividend-growth investor and mirror their 10 monthly trades automatically. Minimums apply. Typical minimum to start copying is about £200 per copied trader. Minimum deposit varies from roughly £10 to £200 by payment method.

The broker holds assets under a custodial model and is regulated. You get access to around 2,000 equities, ETFs, crypto, and CFD instruments. Check non-trading costs: currency conversion fees often range 0.5%–1%, and withdrawals commonly carry a £5 fee.

Best for: You who want commission-free stocks and social idea discovery.
Skip if: You want pro-level order types or deep margin/leverage controls.

Key points:
– Commission: 0% on many stocks.
– Copy trader minimum: commonly £200 per copied strategy.
– Minimum deposit: typically £10–£200 depending on payment method.
– Asset access: about 2,000 equities plus ETFs and crypto.
– Spread example: CFD spreads from ~0.75% on some assets.

Watch out for: currency conversion at ~0.5%–1% per FX trade and a typical £5 withdrawal fee.

2. Interactive Brokers — Best for active and institutional-style traders

Interactive Brokers (IB) is a pro-grade broker with ultra-low per-share pricing. Commissions can fall to fractions of a penny per share. Expect pricing in the range of $0.0005–$0.0035 per share on some schedules, or small flat fees depending on region and volume.

Trade across 135+ markets and access advanced order types like hidden orders, algo routing, and smart order routing. Use case: if you place 100 US-stock trades per month, low per-share rates and direct market access cut your costs substantially. Margin rates often start from roughly 1.5% and rise to 4% depending on currency and borrowing size.

Account options include individual and joint retail accounts; ISA and SIPP access often requires local partners or wrapper transfers. Minimum deposit varies by plan: often £0–£100 for standard retail accounts, depending on promotions and IBKR Lite vs Pro choices.

Best for: You who trade frequently and need the lowest per-trade cost and deep market access.
Skip if: You prefer a simple app or occasional investing.

Key points:
– Commission: from $0.0005–$0.0035 per share equivalent or small fixed fees.
– Market access: 135+ markets globally.
– Minimum deposit: commonly £0–£100 for retail accounts.
– Margin rates: often from ~1.5% to ~4% depending on size/currency.
– Tools: API access and dozens of advanced order types.

Watch out for: complex fee schedules and platform complexity. Expect a learning curve of days to weeks for advanced features.

3. Freetrade — Best for low-cost buy-and-hold investors

Freetrade is an app-first broker focused on simple, commission-free investing for UK retail clients. The basic plan offers 0% commission on UK and US shares. Opt into Plus for about £9.99 per month to unlock more stocks and order types.

Use auto-invest and fractional shares for regular saving. Buy portions from £1 and set monthly contributions of £25 or £100. Fractional purchases let you own slices of expensive stocks with a minimum buy often at £1 per position.

Freetrade lists UK and US stocks and a selection of ETFs and funds. Plus subscribers get access to an additional 2,000+ US stocks. ISA is available with a monthly fee that sometimes starts around £3 for the tax wrapper.

Best for: You who save regularly and prefer a simple mobile experience.
Skip if: You need advanced charting, complex order types, or many international exchanges.

Key points:
– Commission: 0% on basic trades.
– Plus subscription: ~£9.99 per month for extras.
– Fractional shares: buy from £1.
– ISA fee: sometimes from ~£3 per month for ISA wrapper.
– Asset coverage: UK, US stocks; ETFs; some funds; 2,000+ US stocks added on Plus.

Watch out for: limited market coverage and fewer order types. Extended-hours trading is not common.

4. Hargreaves Lansdown — Best for research and full-service investors needing ISAs/SIPPs

Hargreaves Lansdown (HL) is a full-service broker with deep research and a broad funds supermarket. Dealing fees typically sit in the low-double digits per trade. Expect trade fees around £5–£12 on standard online share trades.

Use HL to run an ISA and a SIPP, and to hold a large mix of funds. Platform fund charges often range from 0.25% to 0.45% depending on fund and balance. If you plan regular moves across multiple funds, check transfer fees and exit charges that can affect net returns.

Customer service is extensive, with telephone and online support. HL offers managed funds, model portfolios, and a large research team. Typical minimum trades are low; you can start with single-share purchases or fund investments from small sums such as £1–£50 depending on the product.

Best for: You who value research, telephone support, and a huge funds list.
Skip if: You prioritize the lowest per-trade cost for high-frequency small trades.

Key points:
– Dealing fee: typically £5–£12 per trade on standard plans.
– Fund platform fees: often 0.25%–0.45% on funds.
– Account types: Stocks & Shares ISA, SIPP, Junior ISA.
– Minimum trade sizes: often from £1–£50 for funds or single shares.
– Support: phone and online channels; expect response windows of 24–72 hours for some queries.

Watch out for: higher per-trade fees for small traders and platform charges that scale with assets.

5. AJ Bell — Best for balanced cost and service for long-term savers

AJ Bell sits in the mid-market. It balances predictable fees with solid service and ISA/SIPP support. Typical dealing fees range from about £6.95 to £9.95 per trade. Platform charges usually sit near 0.25% on held investments.

Use case: rebalance quarterly across 30–50 holdings. You will pay predictable per-trade costs and a platform charge that scales with assets under management. Minimums are low. You can hold funds or shares from small amounts such as £1–£100 depending on product.

AJ Bell offers an online platform, a mobile app, and phone support. They list a broad fund supermarket and many UK shares. For larger balances, platform charges are tiered, and negotiating lower fees is sometimes possible for high balances.

Best for: You who want a dependable broker for ISAs and SIPPs without premium prices.
Skip if: You need the cheapest per-trade rates for high-volume day trading.

Key points:
– Dealing fee: typically £6.95–£9.95 per trade.
– Platform charge: about 0.25% on investments held.
– Account types: Stocks & Shares ISA, SIPP, Junior ISA.
– Rebalance use case: quarterly rebalances across 30–50 holdings.
– Minimums: often from £0–£1 to open, depending on product.

Watch out for: fewer advanced trading tools than pro platforms and custody/platform charge tiers.

6. IG — Best for forex, CFDs, and spread betting with deep liquidity

IG is a market leader for CFD trading, forex, and spread betting. Spread betting offers different UK tax treatment for some traders. If you trade FX actively, IG provides deep liquidity and tight spreads. Expect EUR/USD spreads from around 0.6 pips on competitive accounts.

Share CFDs may be commission-based or spread-only. Commission on share CFDs can be around £8 per trade on some accounts. Overnight financing rates often follow base rate plus about 2%–4% depending on position size and currency.

Leverage limits for retail clients are regulated. For example, major FX pairs can have leverage up to 30:1 for retail accounts on standard settings. IG also provides advanced charting, education, and execution tools for active traders.

Best for: You who trade forex/CFDs and require competitive spreads and platform depth.
Skip if: You only want to buy and hold physical shares in an ISA/SIPP (CFDs are not eligible).

Key points:
– Forex spread (EUR/USD): from ~0.6 pips on some accounts.
– Share CFD commission: around £8 per trade in some setups.
– Overnight financing: base rate + ~2%–4% depending on size.
– Leverage: up to 30:1 on major FX pairs for retail clients.
– Account minimum: often £0–£250 depending on account type.

Watch out for: leverage risks and compounding overnight financing costs on multi-day holds.

Comparison table section — quick comparison and at-a-glance numbers

Below is a compact snapshot to compare typical headline fees, minimum deposits, and best uses across the six brokers. Use the table to match your primary need to the broker’s strengths quickly.

Summary sentence: Patterns — low-fee app brokers favor buy-and-hold savers; pro brokers favor volume traders; full-service platforms favor tax-wrapped investors who value research.

Closing — How to Choose / Bottom Line

If you trade very often or need global access → pick Interactive Brokers for the lowest per-trade cost and 135+ market access. Expect commissions from fractions of a penny per share and margin rates from about 1.5% to 4%.

If you want commission-free, social discovery and fractional shares → pick eToro or Freetrade. eToro offers 0% commission on many stocks and social copy-minimums commonly at £200. Freetrade offers 0% basic trading and a Plus tier at ~£9.99 per month.

If you need ISAs and SIPPs with research and telephone help → pick Hargreaves Lansdown or AJ Bell. HL has dealing fees around £5–£12 and fund platform fees of 0.25%–0.45%. AJ Bell charges roughly £6.95–£9.95 per trade and 0.25% platform fees on holdings.

If you trade CFDs or forex → pick IG for spreads from ~0.6 pips on EUR/USD and share CFD commissions around £8. Use leverage carefully. Remember overnight financing typically equals base rate plus ~2%–4%.

Decide by answering three quick checks:
1. Are you trading more than 50 times per year? If yes, prefer IB or IG.
2. Do you want tax wrappers and phone support? If yes, prefer HL or AJ Bell.
3. Do you want zero-commission app simplicity and fractional shares? If yes, prefer Freetrade or eToro.

Test two platforms with small deposits first. Compare currency conversion fees of 0.5%–1%, withdrawal costs of about £5, and platform charges from 0.25% to 0.45% before full transfers. Track your real costs for 3–6 months and switch if fees erode returns.