A free app can now open a stocks and shares ISA in ten minutes, and a crypto exchange will sell you a sliver of bitcoin before the kettle boils. Access is easy. The hard part is knowing who regulates the app, what it really charges once currency conversion is counted, and what happens to your holdings if the firm fails.
We rank ten platforms a UK investor should consider in 2027: eight share and ETF brokers and two crypto exchanges. We checked every firm against the FCA register or its own regulatory pages, read official pricing pages on 30 October 2026 and took ratings from the UK App Store. This is general information, not personal financial advice. Capital at risk. The value of investments can fall as well as rise.
Trading platforms at a glance
| Rank | Platform | UK regulator (FRN) | Fees from | Best for | Standout fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Interactive Brokers | FCA (208159) | 0.05%, £3 minimum (Fixed) | Global investors | 170+ markets from one account |
| 2 | Trading 212 | FCA (609146) | £0 commission, 0.15% FX | Low-cost ISA investing | ISA and SIPP with no account fee |
| 3 | Hargreaves Lansdown | FCA (115248) | £6.95 per online share deal | Funds and support | Share charge capped at £150 a year |
| 4 | Freetrade | FCA (783189) | £0 plan, 0.99% FX | Simple ISA and SIPP | SIPP on the free plan |
| 5 | Saxo | FCA (551422) | 0.08% per trade | Larger portfolios | No minimum to open |
| 6 | Revolut | FCA (933846) | 1 to 10 free trades a month | Revolut customers | ISA with no custody fee |
| 7 | eToro | FCA (583263) | $0 on ETFs | Social investing | ISA commission cut to 0% in July 2026 |
| 8 | Robinhood UK | FCA (823590) | £0 commission, 0.1% FX | US shares | Trades US stocks 24 hours, five days a week |
| 9 | Coinbase | FCA | Spread plus fee | First crypto purchase | 185k UK App Store ratings |
| 10 | Kraken | FCA crypto register (928768) | 1% on instant buys | Active crypto traders | MiCA licensed in Ireland |
Fees checked 30 October 2026. FX is the charge for converting pounds into other currencies.
How we chose the best trading platforms
We began with twelve candidates, from big British brokers to American apps and the largest crypto exchanges. Each had to be authorised or registered with the Financial Conduct Authority for what it sells here. We then compared dealing commission, currency conversion, account and custody charges and, for crypto, trading fees and spreads, alongside market range, ISA and SIPP availability, asset protection and UK app ratings. We did not open funded accounts at every platform: the rankings rest on pricing pages, regulator records and terms documents.
Binance missed the cut. It stopped taking new UK customers in 2023 after the FCA’s crypto promotion rules arrived, and holds no FCA registration. Bitstamp, owned by Robinhood, appears as the crypto provider inside Robinhood UK.
The 10 best trading platforms for 2027, ranked
1. Interactive Brokers
The broker professionals use, and our pick if you keep only one account. Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited is authorised by the FCA (FRN 208159); its American parent, Interactive Brokers LLC, is regulated by the SEC and CFTC and is a SIPC member. One login reaches shares, ETFs, bonds, funds, options and futures on more than 170 markets, with a stocks and shares ISA and a SIPP run through approved administrators.
On the Fixed plan a UK share trade costs 0.05% of its value, minimum £3; Tiered drops the minimum to £1 but adds exchange fees. There is no custody fee or account minimum, though ISAs carry a minimum activity fee. The catch is complexity: IBKR Mobile rates 4.4 from 2k UK ratings, with complaints about a dated look. IBKR says FSCS cover applies only in limited circumstances.
Fees: UK shares 0.05%, minimum £3 (Fixed) or £1 (Tiered); no custody fee; no account minimum (checked 30 October 2026).
Pros
- Widest market access, at professional prices
- ISA and SIPP alongside a general account
Cons
- Intimidating for beginners
- ISA activity fee; limited FSCS cover
2. Trading 212
Trading 212 is where many first-time investors in Britain land, and with reason. Trading 212 UK Ltd is authorised by the FCA (FRN 609146), with sister firms regulated by CySEC, BaFin and ASIC. Shares and ETFs are commission-free in the Invest account and the ISA; the main cost is a 0.15% FX fee on anything priced in another currency. The SIPP, administered by Platform One, has no account, custody, dealing or transfer fee, but accepts personal contributions only.
Fractional shares and Pies make drip-feeding easy. Client cash sits with banks including J.P. Morgan and Barclays, assets with custodians including BNY Mellon, and Trading 212 says the FSCS covers up to £85,000 per person if it fails. The app scores 4.7 from 411k UK ratings. The same app sells leveraged products, which we have not assessed.
Fees: £0 commission; 0.15% FX; no ISA or SIPP account fee (checked 30 October 2026).
Pros
- Free ISA and SIPP with a low FX fee
- Polished app with fractional shares
Cons
- SIPP takes personal contributions only
- Higher-risk products a tap away
3. Hargreaves Lansdown
One of Britain’s largest platforms, and the pick for funds, research and a phone line in Bristol. Hargreaves Lansdown Asset Management Limited is authorised by the FCA (FRN 115248). Shares, more than 2,500 funds, bonds and investment trusts sit in an ISA, SIPP, Lifetime ISA or Fund and Share Account.
HL cut prices on 1 March 2026. The platform charge fell from 0.45% to 0.35% a year, with share holdings capped at £150 a year per account. Online share deals dropped from £11.95 to £6.95, or £3.95 after more than 20 deals the previous month; online fund deals now cost £1.95, while monthly Direct Debit investing is free. Overseas shares add an FX charge. Holdings sit in a nominee, cash in trust at UK banks, and the FSCS can pay up to £85,000. The app rates 4.7 from 71k UK ratings.
Fees: 0.35% a year (shares capped at £150 per account); £6.95 per online share deal (checked 30 October 2026).
Pros
- Vast fund range, research and phone support
- Capped share charges suit bigger portfolios
Cons
- Dearer than app rivals for small trades
- New £1.95 fund dealing charge
4. Freetrade
Freetrade made commission-free investing mainstream here, and IG Group has owned it since April 2025. Freetrade Limited is authorised by the FCA (FRN 783189) and lists more than 8,000 stocks, ETFs, funds, investment trusts and gilts, from £1.
The free Basic plan includes an ISA, Junior ISA, SIPP and general account. No plan charges commission; the catch is FX at 0.99% on Basic, 0.59% on Standard (£4.99 a month) and 0.39% on Plus (£9.99 a month). Paid plans also pay more interest on uninvested cash. The app rates 4.4 from 18k UK ratings, though some users miss live in-app prices, which Freetrade does not offer. FSCS cover applies to eligible claims up to £85,000.
Fees: £0 commission; FX 0.99%, 0.59% or 0.39% by plan; plans £0, £4.99 or £9.99 a month; invest from £1 (checked 30 October 2026).
Pros
- ISA and SIPP on the free plan
- Clear, beginner-friendly app
Cons
- 0.99% FX makes US shares pricey on Basic
- No live in-app prices
5. Saxo
The Danish investment bank suits larger pots that want global reach without Interactive Brokers’ learning curve. Saxo Capital Markets UK Ltd is authorised by the FCA (FRN 551422). Stocks, ETFs, bonds and funds go in a general account, a sterling-only ISA or a SIPP arranged through partner administrators such as @SIPP and I.P.M.
Commission on UK and US shares starts at 0.08% with no minimum, falling to 0.03% on higher tiers. Custody matters more over time: 0.12% a year on shares, ETFs and bonds for Classic and Platinum clients, 0.08% for VIP. Currency conversion starts from 0.2% on top tiers; the SIPP page quotes 0.25%. There is no minimum to open. SaxoInvestor rates 4.7 on the UK App Store, but from only 171 ratings. FSCS cover applies to eligible claims up to £85,000.
Fees: shares from 0.08%, no minimum commission; custody 0.12% a year (Classic); no minimum deposit (checked 30 October 2026).
Pros
- Strong research and global markets
- No minimum commission
Cons
- Annual custody fee
- SIPP administrator charges on top
6. Revolut
If you already bank with Revolut, its investing tab is the easiest route in. Investments come from Revolut Trading Ltd, authorised by the FCA (FRN 933846) on an execution-only basis. More than 4,000 UK, US and European stocks and ETFs can sit in a general account or an ISA with no custody, subscription or transfer fee.
Pricing works on allowances: one commission-free trade a month on Standard, three on Plus, five on Premium and ten on Metal and Ultra. After that you pay 0.25% of the order, or 0.12% on Ultra. Currency exchange is free on weekdays within your plan’s limit; beyond it, and at weekends, Standard users typically pay 1%. Revolut says assets are held under FCA client asset rules, with FSCS cover up to £85,000 if Revolut Trading fails to return them; market losses are not covered. The app rates 4.9 from 1.1m UK ratings, for banking as a whole.
Fees: 1 to 10 free trades a month, then 0.25% (0.12% on Ultra); no custody fee (checked 30 October 2026).
Pros
- Investing inside an app you may already use
- No custody or ISA fees
Cons
- One free trade a month on Standard
- FX costs rise past your plan limit
7. eToro
eToro made its name with social investing, letting you follow and copy other users. eToro (UK) Ltd is authorised by the FCA (FRN 583263) and lists more than 6,000 stocks, plus ETFs and over 100 cryptoassets.
ETFs are commission-free. Stocks cost $1 or $2 when you open and again when you close, depending on the exchange, plus 0.5% stamp duty on UK shares. Crypto costs 1% per trade for most members. A GBP account avoids conversion on sterling deposits, but dollar assets carry a conversion charge that varies by club tier.
The ISA, powered by Moneyfarm (MFM Investment Ltd, FRN 629539), dropped its dealing commission to 0% and its custody fee on 29 July 2026, though FX still applies to non-sterling assets. It holds UK, US and European stocks, ETFs, bonds and funds, with FSCS cover up to £85,000 across Moneyfarm brands. There is no SIPP, and the app rates 4.2 from 18k UK ratings.
Fees: ETFs $0; stocks $1 or $2 per open and close; crypto 1%; ISA 0% commission (checked 30 October 2026).
Pros
- Social and copy features
- Commission-free ISA
Cons
- Dollar pricing and conversion charges
- Lowest app rating here; no SIPP
8. Robinhood UK
The American app now serves UK customers who mainly want US stocks. Robinhood U.K. Ltd is authorised by the FCA (FRN 823590); its US brokers answer to the SEC and FINRA. You can trade US-listed stocks and ADRs in a brokerage account or an ISA from Sunday evening to Friday evening, US Eastern time.
Trades are commission-free, and FX costs 0.1% in market hours (0.3% on Friday evenings), the cheapest conversion here.
Understand the protection. Brokerage assets are held by Robinhood Securities, LLC in the US, outside the FSCS; Robinhood points to US protections, meaning SIPC. ISA cash, held by Quai Investment Services, falls under FSCS rules. Crypto comes from Bitstamp UK Ltd and is not FSCS-protected. Cryptoassets are high risk and largely unregulated for consumer protection; be prepared to lose all the money you invest. The app rates 4.7 from 5.6k UK ratings.
Fees: £0 commission; FX 0.1% (0.3% Friday evenings); fractional shares from $1 (checked 30 October 2026).
Pros
- Cheapest FX and long US trading hours
- Slick app with an ISA
Cons
- No UK shares, ETFs or SIPP
- Brokerage account outside the FSCS
9. Coinbase
Nasdaq-listed Coinbase is the friendliest place to buy crypto for the first time. Its UK arm, CB Payments Ltd, is an FCA-authorised e-money institution and joined the FCA’s cryptoasset register in 2025. For the EU, Coinbase holds a MiCA licence from Luxembourg’s CSSF, granted in June 2025. Since August 2026, eligible UK users have been gaining access to commission-free US shares from £1.
The main app charges a spread plus a fee, both shown before you confirm. Coinbase Advanced uses cheaper maker-taker pricing that falls as 30-day volume rises.
Coinbase’s UK user agreement says crypto and e-money are not FSCS-protected, and most crypto services sit outside the Financial Ombudsman Service. Cryptoassets are high risk and largely unregulated for consumer protection; you should be prepared to lose all the money you invest. The app scores 4.6 from 185k UK ratings.
Fees: spread plus a fee shown before you buy; Advanced maker-taker by volume; US shares from £1 (checked 30 October 2026).
Pros
- Easiest crypto app for beginners
- FCA registered, MiCA licensed
Cons
- Simple trades cost more than Advanced
- No FSCS or ombudsman cover for crypto
10. Kraken
Kraken is where crypto regulars tend to graduate. In the UK, Payward Limited is a registered cryptoasset firm (FRN 928768) and Payward Services Limited an authorised e-money institution (FRN 1010381). EU customers are served under MiCA licences from the Central Bank of Ireland, and in the US Kraken Securities LLC is an SEC-registered broker-dealer and FINRA member, though its shares are US-only.
Kraken Pro lists more than 600 crypto pairs. The standard app charges 1% on instant and recurring buys and 1.5% on custom orders, plus the spread. Pro fees fall with volume. Retail UK clients cannot trade derivatives.
Kraken states that its UK crypto services are not covered by the FSCS. Cryptoassets are high risk and largely unregulated for consumer protection; you should be prepared to lose all the money you invest. The app rates 4.7 from 6k UK ratings.
Fees: 1% instant buys, 1.5% custom orders; Kraken Pro maker-taker by volume (checked 30 October 2026).
Pros
- Low Pro fees for frequent traders
- Long regulatory record across three regions
Cons
- Instant buys are costly once spread is added
- No shares for UK customers
Buying guide: what to check before you open an account
Regulation comes first
Check the firm’s FRN on the FCA register before sending money, and make sure the entity you sign up with is the one listed. “Authorised” means a full licence to deal in investments; “registered” usually means the anti-money-laundering registration most crypto firms hold.
The fees that matter
Commission-free is not free. For long-term investors the big costs are FX on overseas shares and annual percentage charges, which can outweigh a £3 dealing fee.
How safe is the platform?
UK investment firms must keep client assets separate from their own. If a firm fails and assets go missing, the FSCS can pay up to £85,000 per person per firm, and bank cash is covered to £120,000. Neither covers falling markets. Accounts held by a US affiliate rely on SIPC, which covers up to $500,000, including $250,000 cash.
Crypto custody
An exchange holding your crypto holds the keys, with no FSCS backstop. Use two-factor authentication and withdrawal allow-lists, and consider a hardware wallet for larger sums.
Tax wrappers
A stocks and shares ISA shelters up to £20,000 a year from income and capital gains tax. A SIPP adds tax relief but locks money away until 55 (57 from 2028). Neither can hold crypto directly.
Trading Apps in 2027: New ISA Rules and a UK Crypto Rulebook
This year the tax wrappers changed shape. Since 6 April 2027, savers under 65 can put no more than £12,000 of their £20,000 annual allowance into cash ISAs, and interest earned on cash left sitting in a stocks and shares ISA now carries a flat-rate charge, so idle balances in your investing account cost more than they did. A stocks and shares ISA also cannot consist entirely of money market funds.
Crypto regulation has caught up too. MiCA has applied in full across the European Economic Area since 1 July 2026, and on 25 October 2027 the FCA’s authorisation regime for cryptoasset firms, created by regulations made in February 2026, comes into force. From that date, exchanges serving British customers need full FCA permission rather than a money laundering registration alone.
Trading platforms: your questions answered
Which trading platform is best for beginners in the UK?
Trading 212 and Freetrade are the easiest starts, with free ISAs and fractional shares. Hargreaves Lansdown costs more but adds research and phone support.
Is my money protected if a trading app goes bust?
At UK-authorised investment firms, client assets are ring-fenced and the FSCS can pay up to £85,000 per person if assets go missing in a failure. It does not cover investment losses. Robinhood UK’s brokerage account is held in the US and relies on SIPC instead.
Does the FSCS cover crypto?
No. Every exchange here says its crypto services fall outside the FSCS. Cryptoassets are high risk and largely unregulated for consumer protection, so be prepared to lose all the money you invest.
Can I use Binance in the UK?
Binance stopped accepting new UK customers in 2023 and has no FCA registration. Coinbase and Kraken are both on the FCA’s cryptoasset register.
What is the cheapest way to buy US shares from the UK?
Watch the FX fee more than commission. Robinhood UK charges 0.1% in market hours, Trading 212 0.15% and Interactive Brokers about 0.03% on automatic conversion; Freetrade’s free plan charges 0.99%.
