8 “Best” UK Stock Brokers (May 2024)

With a huge range of brokers to choose from, it has never been easier to get started in stock trading. If you are trading in the UK, there is also an excellent range of top stock broker choices.

Here, we will take a closer look at 8 top UK stock brokers, which can be ideal for getting started trading if you are new to the industry or if you are a more experienced trader. We will also cover a few important points for you to consider when choosing your broker.

Things to Think About Before You Start Trading

It is important before you start trading to do some due diligence on key areas even with the top brokers. Here are a few of the most important key points you should take into account before deciding on a broker:

Fees and Commissions: Most stock brokers do extremely well in offering commission-free trading and very low costs and fees. This is something to keep an eye on and research though before you sign up.

Broker Features and Trading Platform: If you are a new trader you will want a trading platform that is easy to use and understand. If you are more experienced you may want more in-depth charting, tools, and indicators along with a wider range of assets.

Trading Style: There are now many ways to trade stocks. This could mean a more hands-off approach from you with the ability to invest in ETFs and similar basket type products, or a completely automated trading experience. There is sure to be a broker out there catering to your trading style.

Warning: Regardless of broker choice or capital deployment, investing always brings a level of risk that must be understood and considered.

1. Saxobank

Select from an extensive array of products for cash and margin trading across global markets. Whatever your trading choice, access what you need for confident decision-making, including advanced tools, trading insights, and comprehensive market research. Offerings include trading in stocks, ETFs, bonds, cryptocurrency, forex, CFDs, and much more.

Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 64% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs, FX or any of our other products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Losses can exceed deposits on some products.

2. XTB

XTB, established in 2002, stands out as a leading UK stock broker, renowned for its extensive range of investment products and services tailored specifically to the needs of UK traders. With a focus on stocks, XTB offers an impressive selection of over 3000 shares from 16 major exchanges around the world.

Additionally, XTB provides access to around 300 global ETFs, catering to a broad spectrum of investment preferences.

Their advanced and intuitive investing platform, xStation 5, is accessible via browser, while xStation Mobile caters to iOS and Android users, offering a seamless trading experience. This platform features an advanced shares scanner, free access to real-time quotes, and a user-friendly interface that appeals to both novice and experienced traders.

For UK clients, XTB's commitment to transparency is evident through their regular disclosure of earnings and cash reserves. The firm is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority, ensuring compliance with stringent financial standards. The company's flagship location in London underscores its focus on catering to UK users, providing a local point of contact.

In summary, XTB's combination of a comprehensive stock and ETF offering, user-friendly technology, and a strong regulatory framework makes it a standout choice for UK traders looking for a reliable and efficient stock brokerage.

Catering specifically to UK users, XTB is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. The company emphasizes transparency, regularly disclosing its earnings and cash reserves, and operates from its flagship location in Canary Wharf, London.

Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 77% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with XTB Limited. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Read our XTB Review or visit XTB.

3. Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers offers U.K. investors an expansive gateway to various global financial markets.  Renowned for its comprehensive trading options, the platform caters to novice and experienced investors/traders, presenting an extensive portfolio that includes stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, futures, forex, and cryptocurrencies.

U.K. traders looking to diversify their investment strategies will find Interactive Brokers an invaluable partner, thanks to its access to over 150 markets worldwide.  This includes premier financial centers such as New York, London, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, allowing traders to capitalize on global opportunities, day or night.

Interactive Brokers is known for boasting impressive liquidity across a cost-effective trading environment.  This is particularly advantageous for U.K. investors seeking efficient, low-cost trading options.  The platform's cutting-edge trading technologies and tools offer advanced charting capabilities, real-time market data, and comprehensive analytical resources to support informed trading decisions.

For those interested in stock trading, Interactive Brokers has the ability to invest in an extensive selection of over 40,000 stocks.  This includes the benefit of participating in U.S. extended-hours trading, giving traders the flexibility to respond to market changes outside of standard trading hours.

Moreover, the platform's wide range of ETFs, exceeding 8,300, enables investors to swiftly and economically diversify their portfolios.  By investing in ETFs that track various indices and sectors, U.K. traders can easily spread their investment across different market segments, enhancing their portfolio's potential for growth while managing risk.

Based in the United States and adhering to the strict regulations of NYSE, FINRA, and SIPC, Interactive Brokers assures a high degree of investor protection and credibility.  This regulatory framework establishes a secure and reliable trading environment, making Interactive Brokers a trusted choice for U.K. investors navigating the global financial markets.

As of 2002, Interactive Brokers is part of the U.K. market under the name ‘Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited’.  It is authorised and regulated by the U.K.'s  Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under entry number 208159.

4. eToro

eToro is one of most popular trading platforms in the world with over 20 million registered users. They offer low fees and minimum deposits, combined with a user-friendly platform. When you invest in the underlying asset – in other words, when you open a non-leveraged, BUY (long) stock position, you will pay zero commission.

Unlike most stock brokers, they also allow investing in fractional shares. A fractional share is a portion of an equity stock that is less than one full share. Fractional shares allow you to purchase stocks based on the dollar amount you want to invest.

eToro is regulated by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) and your funds are protected by industry-leading security protocols.

Read our eToro Review or visit eToro.

Warning: eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. Residents of Brazil, China, Japan, Korea, Portugal, Turkey, Ukraine, & Russia are prohibited.

5. Freedom Finance

Freedom Finance is one of the biggest names in online stock trading around the world. Freedom Finance Europe Ltd is the European subsidiary of the Nasdaq-listed Freedom Holding Corp.

They have more than 1 million instruments in total to offer. You will find some 35,000 shares, 147,000 bonds, and 3,100 ETFs to be traded in addition to 500 futures and a mammoth 855,000 options instruments in an asset offering that is continuing to expand all the time. It provides ample possibility for traders across 15 global exchanges in the US, Europe, and Asia.

Read our Freedom Finance Review or visit Freedom Finance.

6. Interactive Investor

Interactive Investor is another longstanding stock broker offering a wide range of services in the UK where they are well-regulated by the FCA for the most trusted experience. The broker was founded in 1995 and has been a popular choice since.

The asset offering at this broker is slightly more restricted than some others though you can still trade stocks, ETFs, Bonds, and mutual funds with almost 2,000 assets to choose from major exchanges around the world.

You will also find a user-friendly trading platform that is available as both web-based and mobile. The account opening process here is also extremely convenient and the broker does very well in supporting multiple base currencies though the withdrawal process for some can be lengthy. Debit and credit card deposits are facilitated but you will need to use a bank transfer to make a withdrawal.

Read our Interactive Investor Review, or visit Interactive Investor.

7. Fineco

Fineco is an Italian bank founded in 1999 and they have been offering online trading services since 2004. They are also publically listed in Italy and regulated in the UK by the FCA making them a hugely transparent and trustworthy stock broker. They currently offer service only to UK and Italian traders and you will find very low fees, a great range of assets, and easy to use trading platform.

You can trade a wide variety of assets here including more than 5,000 stocks and ETFs from major exchanges in the US, the UK, and Europe. Mutual funds, bonds, options, futures, and some stock CFDs are also available.

You will also find both web-based and mobile trading platforms that are very intuitive and user-friendly that, while not being customizable, still provide a positive overall trading experience. The broker also provides an excellent depth of research tools including extensive fundamental data on each asset and trading recommendations.

8. Stake

Stake is our a top pick and the reason for this is they enable investors to directly trade over 3,800 US stocks and ETFs from the UK from major US stock exchanges such as the NASDAQ and NYSE.  These are where the majority of the world's tech stocks are traded, and this opens up a world of opportunity to UK traders.

With Stake, you are able to buy and sell securities in fractional amounts. This means that you can buy a whole dollar amount of a security (i.e. $1000 of Berkshire Hathaway Class A).

The broker is FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) regulated and they have partnered with members of the SIPC, in return securities in your account are protected up to US$500,000.

Warning: When you invest, your capital is at risk.