Thadeus Geodfrey is an experienced and celebrated writer and self-taught trader specialising in cryptocurrencies and forex. Market analysis, identifying fraudulent brokers, and security are his cup of tea. At BrokerRaters Thadeus develops educational materials and user guides, offers market insights, and ensures our content conforms to the best standards. Join Thadeus to succeed in your trading endeavors.
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Are you interested in investing? To become a successful investor, you need to do more than just pick the right asset. You must also have access to a trustworthy and reliable investment platform. Fortunately, there are plenty of such sites in the UK, and they are monitored closely by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) alongside other reputable regulatory bodies.
But with so many regulated platforms out there, finding one that suits your needs and goals can be difficult. And the task is made even harder by the enormous number of inferior sites available today. That said, you don’t need to stress over such issues. I’ve made your work easier by testing a wide range of UK investment platforms and recommending the best 5 in this guide.
Each platform I’ve recommended here has a unique blend of features and functionalities. For instance, some have 24/7 support while other brokers’ representatives are available 24/5. Additionally, some have money insurance of up to £85,000 for UK residents, while a few of their counterparts don’t have this advantage.
Since the service providers I’ve recommended have notable differences, we’ll kick off with a comprehensive comparison table. It’ll give you a snapshot of what I discovered while researching and evaluating each broker.
Neteller, Credit/debit cards, Bank transfer, Skrill, PayPal
Yes
Yes
Platforms Reviews
As someone who has traded on innumerable platforms for over a decade, I know that trading platforms are not created equal. You will find a platform that has a rich collection of educational materials, which makes it ideal for beginners, and another with endless advanced tools that can overwhelm novices. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The bottom line is, and I can’t overemphasise this: all trading platforms are not cut from the same cloth, including the ones I’ve ranked as the best in this guide. I strongly suggest reading every service provider’s extensive review and comparing them before committing to a specific broker.
1. Saxo – Top Investment Platform in the UK
Saxo stands out as the best and most well-rounded investment platform in the UK. Saxo has one of the largest collections of investment products I’ve ever encountered. The total number of assets is a whopping 71,000+, an offer you won’t find on any other platform recommended here. So, if your top priority is an extensive product range, you can’t go wrong with this broker.
Stocks are the first category of assets offered by Saxo. This platform has over 23,000 stocks and shares, not just from the UK, but globally. You can buy stocks from the US, Europe, Africa, and more. The commission you’ll pay will depend on your account tier. VIP has the lowest at 0.03%, whereas Classic’s commissions start at 0.08%. Every account has eligibility requirements; check them out before signing up.
In addition to stocks, Saxo has 7,400+ ETFs from major sectors like tech, 6,000+ funds from renowned fund managers like Fidelity International, and 5,200+ government & corporate bonds. While investing in these products, you can also trade leveraged products such as CFDs on indices, commodities, and currency pairs.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Over 70,000 investment products
No minimum deposit requirement
Low commission from 0.03%
UK products available from just £3
Investors can trade leveraged products
No inactivity fee
Cons
Doesn’t support trading with MT4/MT5
Can overwhelm beginners
2. eToro – Best Platform for Novices
eToro is the most beginner-friendly investment platform I have come across. I was impressed by its clean, intuitive interface. It’s clutter-free and optimised to make trading less overwhelming to newbies. I found everything I needed with remarkable ease from the get-go, from the sign-up button and product information to news and educational materials.
The other reason I recommend eToro to novices is related to educational resources. I was blown away by the eToro academy, which has hundreds of in-depth courses, guides, and tutorials. This is where you should start if you’re new to investing. Learn everything indispensable to investing, then open an eToro demo account and practice till you’re ready for the next step: live investing.
Not to forget, eToro has an impressive asset collection. While testing the platform, I had ample opportunity to invest in any stocks I chose from over 6,000 options. I saw products from at least 20 exchanges, including the London Stock Exchange. I also had the chance to diversify with crypto assets, including top coins and tokens like Bitcoin, Solana, and Ethereum.
eToro
✔ User-friendly trading platform
✔ Over 6000 trading instruments
eToro has a transparent fee structure that is easy to understand and helps you plan accordingly. From our analysis, we discovered the following trading and non-trading eToro fees.
Trading and Non-Trading Charges
Details
Account Opening
$0
Management Fee
$0
From $50, depending on your jurisdiction
0.6
Commission
From 0% on stocks and ETF trading
Spreads
From 1 pip on major currency pairs
Deposits and Withdrawals
$5 withdrawal
Inactivity
$10 monthly
Currency Conversion
1.5% or 3.0%, depending on the currency or payment method
Overnight Funding
Varies based on global market conditions
Copy Trading
Free
We discovered that eToro allows users to trade and invest in global markets. You can go long or short in a single portfolio. Overall, there are more than 6,000 instruments, which are spread across multiple classes. Investment options are stocks, which allow you to buy and take ownership of global stocks across various sectors. Fractional share purchases are also supported at eToro. This will enable you to fill your portfolio with leading stocks from global exchanges. ETFs are also other investment assets at eToro.
When it comes to CFD trading, this broker offers it with flexible leverage limits for both new and professional traders. From our experience, retail traders get up to 1:30 leverage limit and professionals up to 1:400. With CFD assets, you can go long or short and speculate on both rising and falling asset prices.
That being said, here is the number of tradable assets available at eToro.
Asset Class
Number Offered
Forex
55+ currency pairs
Shares
5558+
Indices
21+
Commodities
35+
Cryptocurrencies
100+
ETFs
680+
Note that eToro also supports options trading but is limited to US clients only. You can also explore diverse non-fungible tokens (NFTs) via its Delta platform.
Disclaimer: CFD trading is risky and complex, thus not suitable for all types of traders. This is primarily due to the application of leverage attached, which can give you good profits as well as leave you with massive losses. So far, over 76% lose their money in CFD trading. That is why it is important to conduct extensive research and understand CFD trading risks before you invest your money in it.
3. FP Markets – Best Platform for CFD Enthusiasts
When it comes to CFDs, FP Markets has always been one of my favourite platforms of all time. I love this platform because it has a vast variety of financial products, 10,000+ to be exact. They range from forex pairs to CFDs on shares, commodities, indices, etc. Note that FP Markets deals primarily with CFDs, which is why I’ve recommended it to UK residents who are CFD enthusiasts.
FP Markets is also very cost-friendly. The broker’s minimum deposit requirement is £100, which is competitive compared to other mandates I’ve encountered over the years. On top of that, the platform has zero deposit, withdrawal, and inactivity fees. When it comes to spreads, FP Markets has sweet offers from 0.0 pips on Raw. Standard account users’ spreads start from 1.0 pips.
I also consider FP Markets a top choice for CFD trading due to its excellent selection of platforms. The broker hosts the most popular trading systems today: MT4 and MT5. You can trade with them from your mobile phone or web browser. cTrader and TradingView are also available here. Not to forget, Islamic traders can open swap-free accounts.
We reviewed the applicable FP Markets fees, and like that the broker has a transparent structure. This allows users to efficiently plan for their activities without worrying about incurring additional costs. There are no hidden charges and no price manipulation with this broker.
Trading and Non-Trading Charges
Details
Account Opening
$0
Management Fee
$0
Minimum Deposit Requirement
From $50, depending on your jurisdiction
Commission
From 0%
Spreads
From 0.0 pips on major currency pairs
Deposits and Withdrawals
Free deposits. Withdrawal fees apply based on the payment method used
Inactivity
$0
Overnight Funding
Varies based on global market conditions
Copy Trading
Free
There are more than 10,000 CFD instruments at FP Markets across various asset classes. These include forex, shares, commodities, cryptos, and more. The best element about exploring these securities is that you have access to multiple platforms to choose from. Whether you prefer the MT4, MT5, cTrader, or TradingView, FP Markets has it all for you. You are guaranteed quality resources to maximize your potential.
When it comes to leverage applications, FP Markets has favorable limits for all types of traders. Retail traders can get up to 30:1, while professionals get 500:1. Moreover, we discovered multiple account types to suit every trader’s needs.
Here is a breakdown of the number of assets you will trade at FP Markets Standard, Raw, and Iress accounts.
Asset Class
Number Offered
Forex
70+ currency pairs
Shares
10000+
Indices
19+
Commodities
12+
Cryptocurrencies
12+
ETFs
46+
Bonds
2+
Futures
7+
Disclaimer: CFD trading is risky, especially with the application of leverage attached. While many traders earn good profits from it, it can leave you with massive losses should a trade work out against you. Therefore, start by understanding CFD trading and all the risks involved before venturing into such securities. Remember, over 76% of retail traders lose money in CFD trading.
4. Kraken – Best Platform for Crypto Investors
For good reasons, I’ve ranked Kraken as the best platform for UK investors interested in cryptocurrencies. First and foremost, over 350 crypto assets are available on the platform. I discovered and had the chance to buy, sell, and trade everything from Bitcoin, Polkadot, and Dogecoin to XRP, Monero, and Cardano. Regarding crypto, none of the other service providers can compete with Kraken.
I was captivated by Kraken’s platform options. There’s Kraken, which is ideal for all sorts of traders, Kraken Desktop, a power-packed platform tailored for desktop users, and Kraken Pro, the most suitable choice for professionals. In addition, this service provider offers Kraken Institutional, which is equipped with the tools needed by institutional traders and investors.
Kraken is also expanding its product selection. The company recently embraced the trading of 11,000+ stocks and ETFs. This new offering is currently exclusively for US residents, but the company officials say they plan to make it accessible to traders in the UK and other regions in the near future.
Ideal for different investor categories, from individuals to institutions
Excellent variety of educational materials
Offers top-tier support service 24/7
Keeps embracing new types of assets
Cons
Stocks and ETFs are yet to be available in the UK
No investor protection for UK investors
Fees are a bone of contention with Kraken because while some praise the platform’s affordability, lenient fees are mostly available to pro users and high-volume traders. For instance, individuals with a 30-day trading volume can enjoysuper-low maker fees starting from 0.00%. On the other hand, the maker/taker fees for low-volume traders can go as high 0.25%/0.4%. We’ve outlined some of the fees that our gurus unearthed while evaluating Kraken in the table below.
Fees and Charges
Details
Maker/taker fees
From 0.00%/0.10%
Margin trading fees
Between 0.01% and 0.02%
Rollover fee
Up to 0.02% (per 4 hours)
Instant buy fees
Yes
Account inactivity fees
No
Minimum deposit requirement
0.00001 BTC
As mentioned, Kraken supports a plethora of cryptocurrencies, from popular names like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) to less popular crypto like Astar (ASTR) and the likes. The exchange supports over 280 cryptocurrencies with approximately 100 crypto-to-crypto trading pairs. It also supports NFTs in 5 networks, from Ethereum and Base to Polygon, Solana, Arbitrum, and Optimism. That said, here are some of the most notable cryptocurrencies available in Kraken:
Bitcoin (BTC)
Ethereum (ETH)
Solana (SOL)
Dogecoin (DOGE)
Cardano (ADA)
Cosmos (ATOM)
Dash (DASH)
Dymension (DYM)
5. XTB – Best Platform for Stock Investors
If your favourite investment product is stocks, I recommend signing up with XTB. I’ve used this platform for both short-term and long-term investing and, based on my experience, it’s one of the most underrated gems. Very few of the brokers I’ve ever used allow their clients to invest in over 3000 stocks, a perk that XTB’s users enjoy.
XTB has over 3,400 stocks from over 14 markets, including the UK. While testing and investing with the platform, I found many stocks from some of the most popular companies on the London Stock Exchange, like 888 Holdings PLC, Barclays PLC, and Dechra Pharmaceuticals. I was also given the chance to diversify with shares from other corners of the globe, from Belgium to the US.
While investing in stocks with XTB, you can also diversify with over 1,400 ETFs and trade CFDs on forex, indices, commodities, and other financial instruments. Getting started should be relatively easy since this service provider has no minimum deposit requirement and its clients can start investing with as little as 10 pounds.
XTB
✔User-friendly interface
✔Expert customer support services
We love XTB because it is one of the most affordable brokers out here. How so? For starters, there are no XTB minimum deposit requirements. Moreover, the broker’s users don’t have to pay additional fees while funding their accounts or cashing out. Most importantly, XTB doesn’t require traders to cover account opening, maintenance, or inactivity fees. In the table below, we’ve highlighted the fees, commissions, and costs you should take note of before committing to XTB.
Fees and Charges
Amount
Account opening and maintenance
$0
Minimum deposit
$0
Deposit fee
$0
Withdrawal fee
$0 for withdrawals above $50; $30 for withdrawals below $50
Investing commission
From 0%
Spreads
From 0.3 pips
Currency conversion fee
0.5%
Inactivity fee
$0
XTB users have unlimited access to 5,800+ financial products, ranging from forex pairs to commodities. You will be hard-pressed to find a broker with a more impressive asset portfolio than XTB. Let’s run through some of the assets we encountered while exploring and evaluating the XTB online trading platform:
Shares: Over 2,900 stocks are available on the XTB online trading platform, including popular products like Tesla, Amazon, and Intel Corp. You can start investing in them with capital as low as $10.
ETFs: As an XTB client, you can diversify your portfolio by investing in different ETFs, such as Dell Technologies, FACC AG, and PayPal Holdings PLC. The best part is such products have zero commission and a $10 minimum order requirement, which is pretty low.
Forex: Over 71 popular forex pairs are accessible to XTB users, from EUR/GBP and AUDCHF to NZD/USD, USD/CAD, and GBP/ZAR.
Indices: Presently, this broker offers 30+ indices, including popular instruments like AUS200, FRA, and US100. You can trade these products and magnify potential returns with flexible leverage.
Commodities: XTB offers you the opportunity to trade CFDs over 25 commodities, from cocoa and coffee to oil, gold, and gas.
How to Start Investing in the UK?
Getting started should be as easy as it can get since the best investment platforms UK have a streamlined registration process. I registered with all of them and encountered no complications worth mentioning. In fact, most of my applications were approved within less than 10 minutes. I’ve compiled a checklist of what to expect while starting below.
Step 1: Visit your chosen platform’s official site
Step 2: Fill out the registration form
Step 3: Complete KYC
Step 4: Top up your account
Step 5: Start investing
Signing up is more than just Googling the name of a particular platform and clicking the first link that pops. I don’t encourage that because there are countless phishing sites out there. Always visit your chosen investment platform’s official site via the links I’ve provided. When you get to the site, explore available products, systems, terms, and every other crucial element.
Also, note that the service providers I’ve recommended here are licensed and authorised by a variety of respected regulatory bodies, like the FCA and CySEC. That said, whenever you vet an investment platform’s credibility, I urge you to check the validity of the registration details from the mentioned regulatory authorities’ official websites.
After evaluating the credibility and suitability of your chosen investment platform, you can start the registration process. Click the register or sign-up button to get started. Then fill out the registration form with the right details, from your full name and date of birth to your address and phone number.
Some platforms also ask for details like your employment status and annual income, as required by regulatory authorities. Either way, ensure you use real and valid information. Don’t waste your time trying to sign up with fake details because you’ll get stuck on the next step.
Regulated platforms require new clients to verify their identity and address after completing the registration form. This is a crucial mandate meant to protect both the service providers and new users from complications like money laundering and fraud.
To complete KYC, you have to submit the right documents. Most investment platforms I’ve used ask for a government-issued ID for identity verification. They also request proof of address documentation, like a copy of a utility bill that’s no more than 3 months old.
Deposit funds after confirming your account is verified and active. You can’t invest in stocks and other assets without funds. Check the deposit methods that your chosen service provider offers and pick one that suits you based on factors like transaction limits, fees, and processing times.
While making your first deposit, remember that some platforms have a minimum deposit requirement and others don’t. If you choose a service provider like eToro, which has a £50 initial funding requirement for UK residents, deposit a minimum of 50 GBP.
Now that you’ve funded your account, you can start investing in your favourite financial assets. Remember to diversify by having more than one product in your portfolio. Never put all your capital in one security because your portfolio will take a massive hit if it crashes.
If this is your first time investing, I urge you to take advantage of the free educational materials offered on the best UK investment platforms, YouTube, and other sites. And don’t go all-in as soon as you feel ready; start with small amounts and work your way up over time.
How We Test
This guide is based on my professional scrutiny and hands-on experience. That is what we at BrokerRaters always do. Before recommending and reviewing the best service providers, we test every plausible option with a live account. While conducting our tests, we gauge and evaluate crucial factors like regulation, platform stability, and support team responsiveness.
We also factor in responsible trading and investing while choosing brokers to recommend. Our team gives top ratings to platforms with crucial tools like negative balance protection and stop-loss/take-profit orders. That said, you must play your part by practising self-discipline, learning non-stop, and adhering to other responsible trading practices.
Bottom Line
You’re now ready to invest in stocks, crypto, ETFs, and other assets. That said, in addition to every tip and recommendation I’ve provided, I urge you to look up tax mandates for investors in the UK. That is because you may need to pay a specific tax, depending on the type of investment and total gains. For instance, if you buy dividend-paying shares and get paid more than the £500 2025/2026 allowance, you’ll have to pay dividend tax.
On the other hand, if you buy stocks and later sell them for a profit, you must pay Capital Gains tax on earnings exceeding the £3,000 2025/2026 allowance. Always pay your taxes diligently because failure can attract many complications, from late payment penalties to time-consuming audits and investigations. You may also be charged and prosecuted in extreme cases. That is why you should ignore the relevant government mandates in the UK.
Have you been privileged to get trading insider information? But who doesn’t want that unfair advantage? Meet your insider source, Thadeus Geodfrey. He provides insider information on anything trading. But the information he shares is not the kind that would get you in trouble with regulators. Thadeus writes on trade and investment.
With more than a decade of experience, Thadeus has an eagle eye for spotting opportunities and risks. If he tells you a specific broker isn’t to be trusted, you better believe him. He has been swimming in these trading waters long enough to spot scam brokers from afar. Thadeus’s priority is your safety as an investor or trader.
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