What are the Best Trading Apps in 2024?

Trading apps simplify buying and selling financial assets, such as stocks, forex, commodities, and crypto, from something as small as a mobile device. Buy and sell these assets in real-time, monitor your positions and analyse the markets.

You’ll get access to advanced charting tools, technical indicators, and other market analysis tools to help you make the best decisions from your smartphone.

But with so many online trading platforms in the UK, which is right for you? And which is the best?

We’ve evaluated each in detail, reviewing the functionality and scoring each to create our top choices. We used two phones: a Google Pixel (Android) and an Apple iPhone 14 (Apple iOS).

Our verdict on the best trading apps: which should you pick?

Here’s an overview of some of the best trading platforms available in the UK.

Best trading app for international and commission-free ETFs: Degiro

If you’re looking for a stock trading app that’s safe, easy to use, and affordable, then DEGIRO should be on your shortlist.

As a Dutch (now German-owned) broker, DEGIRO has gained a reputation for its access to a wide range of products and fees that undercut almost every other broker. The account opening process is straightforward and doesn’t require a minimum deposit.

With over 633,175 customers and more than 24.5 million transactions in 2020, DEGIRO offers inexpensive stock trading on over 50 US and European exchanges with very few extra fees.

In addition, DEGIRO has an impressive selection of up to 200 ETFs that can be traded commission-free, which means you won’t have to pay a dealing charge, subject to certain terms and conditions.

While DEGIRO’s research section may be thinner than some competitors, its basic but user-friendly trading platforms suit novice and experienced traders.

How Good is Degiro’s Trading App?

DEGIRO’s trading app has a very intuitive interface that is easy to navigate, even for beginners. All you need is a computer and a browser to access the online version, which is available in various languages, including German, Spanish, French, and Italian. 

The phone app is also user-friendly, and users have given it an average rating of 4.5 out of 5.

The DEGIRO app allows you to create watchlists, or “Favourites,” and trade directly from the app. The “Favourites” automatically synchronise between the website and the mobile app, which is a nice feature.

The app also has a face and touch ID for easy login, which is another plus. 

However, the app has constraints in terms of research and education offered. The charting package felt slightly cumbersome, and pulling up an interactive chart takes you out of the app into a third-party website, which is far from convenient.

Best trading app for beginners: eToro

eToro is a top-notch trading platform that offers an easy-to-use copy-trading feature, allowing traders to copy the trades of experienced investors or even receive exclusive perks for sharing their own trading strategies.

With over 3,000 tradeable symbols, including CFDs, forex, and exchange-traded securities, eToro offers a comprehensive trading experience.

The trading fees on eToro may be slightly pricey compared to other platforms, but for traders who value ease of use, the copy-trading feature and wide selection of tradeable symbols may be worth the cost.

How good are eToro’s trading apps?

eToro provides two mobile apps – the eToro app and eToro Money for crypto and money transfers.

The eToro mobile app maintains the look and feel of the web version, making it easy for users to transition between devices.

The app includes useful functions such as dark and light mode themes and synced watchlists, providing a unified platform experience across devices. 

We found the app easy to use and navigate on Android and Apple devices.

The charts in the eToro mobile app are responsive and match the web platform experience, although only five indicators are present compared to 67 on the web. We couldn’t find drawing tools on the APP, which would have been a nice feature.

The eToro wallet, known as eToro Money, is a separate mobile app where users can deposit and withdraw money and actual cryptocurrencies.

The eToro Money Wallet closely resembles the look and feel of the eToro mobile app and includes support for social trading.

eToro’s mobile platform is considered safe thanks to the two-step and biometric login functions. The app has received mostly positive reviews and offers advanced charting capabilities, customisation, and alerts. One downside is that the app does not offer crypto-to-crypto trading pairs.

76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply. For more information, visit etoro.com/trading/fees

Best low-cost trading app: Fineco

Fineco Bank, one of the largest investment companies in the world, was founded in 1999 but only began operating in the UK in 2020.

It’s an excellent online broker with a wide offering of 20,000+ stocks, shares, ETFs, Futures, FX, CFDs and other financial instruments.

Although you can use the platform simply for trading, it also offers the possibility to have a regular current account and investment platform in one, providing a one-stop trading solution.

It’s dual-regulated by the FCA and the Prudential Regulation Authority, and users get deposit protection up to 100,000 Euros if Fineco runs into difficulty.

Fineco Bank’s platform is also highly competitive on fees. Fineco Bank’s investment platform has no monthly fee, minimum deposit requirement, custody or deposit fees, inactivity charges, or portfolio transfer cost.

Additionally, there are no conversion fees or market connectivity costs, making it a very cost-effective option for investors.

Although it doesn’t offer SIPPS, you can invest in a tax-free ISA wrapper, taking advantage of their ‘managed by experts’ functionality where fund managers from places like  Fidelity, J.P. Morgan, Abrdn, and AXA will take care of the investments for you (for a fee).

How good is the Fineco trading app?

FinecoBank offers a range of options for traders to navigate the market, with its advanced PowerDesk trading platform, web platform, and mobile app.

The PowerDesk platform is an advanced trading platform accessible on the web, which provides traders with personalised dashboards, intuitive chart trading, personalised listings, and technical analyses, all on one screen.

You can also get Live prices,66,000 real-time news articles per day, push notifications, automatic orders, detailed snapshots, and a stock screener, to name some of the functionality. We found it to be user-friendly and well-designed, with an intuitive interface that’s easy to navigate.

The Web Platform provides easy market access with live quotes, intuitive search options, and more.

Meanwhile, mobile trading through the native Fineco app allows traders to trade all products anywhere, with streaming quotes, news, P&L updates, and personalised interactive charts.

Fineco Bank provides only a one-step login, with the drawback being you can’t set biometric authentication. On the other hand, you can use Mobile Code, which allows you to confirm transactions through a mobile code or Touch/Face ID.

*CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 71.91% of retail investor accounts lose money due to CFD trading with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to risk losing your money.

Best trading app for simplicity: Freetrade

Freetrade has emerged as the best app for simplicity, catering to both novice and experienced traders who value simplicity and convenience.

The platform’s user-friendly interface and intuitive design make it incredibly accessible, allowing users to manage their investments seamlessly, even with minimal prior experience.

As the name suggests, Freetrade offers commission-free trading on a broad range of stocks and ETFs, enabling investors to build and diversify their portfolios without incurring high transaction costs.

This cost-effective approach makes investing more accessible and appealing to a wider audience, particularly those new to the world of trading.

In addition to its commission-free offering, Freetrade provides fractional share investing, allowing users to invest in high-value stocks with a smaller initial capital outlay.

This feature empowers investors to participate in the growth of top-tier companies without committing to purchasing whole shares, making it an attractive option for those with limited funds or who prefer to spread their investments across various assets.

Freetrade also offers a selection of pre-built portfolios, known as investment themes, designed to cater to different risk appetites and investment goals.

These curated portfolios simplify the investment process for users by providing diversified exposure to specific industries, regions, or investment strategies without the need for extensive research or decision-making.

How good is the Freetrade app?

The Freetrade app has a solid reputation, with a rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars on Google Play, over 18.2K reviews, and 500K+ downloads.

On the Apple Store, it has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars based on 12.3K ratings.

Freetrade is a mobile-first provider, and its interface reflects this by being clear and efficient, catering to the needs of smartphone users.

While the app’s simplicity makes it a great choice for beginners, we did encounter some issues with its performance. The app was sometimes slow to load, and the share prices displayed were not always accurate. Additionally, its search function is rather basic, and it can be tricky to locate specific shares or filter search results.

Best trading app for experienced investors: IG

IG is a huge brand in the investment world, and its trading experience is applauded by many top investors.

One of the highlights of IG’s trading app is the extensive range of investment options, including shares, ETFs, forex, commodities, and more.

How good is IG’s trading app?

IG provides customers access to two distinct trading apps: MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and its proprietary mobile app, IG Trading (also called IG Forex).

Additionally, two other apps are available from IG: the IG Academy app, which focuses on educational content, and the IG Access app, which provides enhanced account security features. However, neither of these apps is intended for trading purposes.

The IG Trading app is particularly notable for its well-designed layout, which features a plethora of advanced tools such as alerts, sentiment readings, and highly detailed charts.

The research offerings in the IG Trading app include news headlines sourced from Reuters, trading signals provided by Autochartist, and expert analysis from PIA First. Together, these features make the IG Trading app an excellent resource for traders seeking to stay informed about market trends and make more informed trading decisions.

*CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail CFD accounts lose money. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Best trading app for demo accounts: Trading 212

Trading 212 is a commission-free trading platform with over 2 million customers. You can trade a range financial assets including shares, ETFs, forex, and CFDs.

Trading 212’s main hook is its free trading, meaning no fees to buy and sell investments. This is a huge difference from traditional platforms, which charge anywhere from £3 to £11.95 per deal.

It’s got a user-friendly interface, competitive spreads, and educational resources to help users learn about trading.

The quality of customer support provided by Trading 212 is top-notch, with their round-the-clock service and an impressive average response time of just 29 seconds for messages sent within your account.

Auto-invest is also a great feature that allows users to set up regular payments for a long-term investment strategy, making it easy to pound the average cost.

When it comes to currency conversion fees, Trading 212 charges only 0.15%, making it one of the lowest rates available. Other platforms and brokers like Freetrade, eToro and Interactive Investor charge higher rates ranging from 0.45% to 1.5%.

However, it is essential to note that the currency conversion fee for CFDs on Trading 212 is slightly higher at 0.5%.

How good is the Trading 212 app?

Trading 212 has received mixed reviews on Google Play, with an average rating of 3.9 stars out of 5. The app has been reviewed by over 131,000 users and has been downloaded more than 10 million times.

On the Apple Store, Trading 212 is ranked #24 in Finance and has a higher average rating of 4.6 stars out of 188.7K ratings.

Overall, we give the app high scores for user-friendliness. Compared to other similar brokers, Trading 212’s app offers great search functions, 2-step authentication, biometric authentication, and price alerts in the app.

We also appreciated the app’s range of order types, including market, limit, stop, and OCO, as well as the option to use Good ’til canceled (GTC) order terms and expiry. It’s also great that the app is available in multiple languages.

Best trading app for Research: Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers is a global trading platform offering various financial assets, including stocks, options, futures, and bonds.

It boasts powerful trading tools and advanced features, including various order types, customisable charts, and market analysis tools.

The platform is regulated by several financial authorities, including the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, and is, therefore, a safe and secure trading platform.

Interactive Brokers pricing is competitive with low commissions and fees and has a range of deposit and withdrawal options to make it easy for users to manage their funds.

The platform also offers a demo account for users to try out the platform before investing real money.

Overall, Interactive Brokers is an influential and highly-regarded trading platform for experienced traders looking for advanced trading features and a wide range of investment options.

How good is the IKBR mobile trading app?

Based on the user reviews on Google Play, IKBR Mobile has a rating of 4.7 stars with over 13.8K reviews and has been downloaded over 1 million times.

On the Apple App Store, IKBR Mobile has a rating of 4.1 stars with 3.7K ratings, with similar positive and negative comments.

The app offers real-time streaming data and charts, the ability to transmit orders instantaneously or use the order ticket, and allows users to monitor their trades and access account balances and portfolio data on the go.

The SmartRouting℠ technology searches for the best price available at the time of the order and dynamically routes and re-routes all or parts of the order to achieve optimal execution.

Best trading app design: TD Ameritrade

TD Ameritrade is a fantastic trading platform that offers a range of investment options, including stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and options.

The platform is available for both desktop and mobile devices, and it offers a variety of research and educational resources to help users make informed decisions.

One of the key advantages of TD Ameritrade is its range of investment options, which includes a variety of assets that can be traded on US and international markets.

Additionally, the platform offers a range of advanced trading tools, such as stock and option screeners, which can be particularly attractive to more experienced investors.

Another advantage of TD Ameritrade is that it offers access to a range of educational resources, including articles, videos, and webinars, to help users learn about investing and stay informed about market trends.

How good are the TD Ameritrade apps?

TD Ameritrade offer two apps: TD Ameritrade Mobile, which is very similar to their web portal; and the powerful thinkorswim app.

Based on user reviews, the TD Ameritrade Thinkorswim app has a 3.7 star rating on Google Play, with over 11.6K reviews and more than 1 million downloads. Meanwhile, the TD Ameritrade Mobile app on the Apple Store has a 4.7 rating with over 301.1K ratings.

We found Thinkorswim to be efficient. The app’s smooth trading process is a standout feature, making it easy to execute trades quickly and accurately, especially during busy market times.

While some users have reported occasional slowdowns during peak market times or app crashes, I have found the app to be generally reliable. I appreciate the app’s user-friendly interface, which makes it easy to navigate, and I have found it to be one of my favorite trading and charting apps.

One minor complaint is that customization options on the app can sometimes feel clunky. However, this does not detract significantly from the app’s overall functionality.

*Your capital is at risk

Fees and charges comparison between trading apps

Here’s a comparison of the fees and charges for some of the top trading platforms in the UK:

Safety comparison between trading apps

Here’s a comparison of the safety measures in place for some of the top trading platforms in the UK:

Demo account availability comparison between trading apps

Here’s a comparison of the availability of demo accounts for some of the top trading platforms in the UK:

Market research and education resources comparison between trading apps

Here’s a comparison of the market research and education resources available for some of the top trading platforms in the UK:

What’s the best online trading app for social trading UK?

We consider eToro the best online social trading platform in the UK, versus competitors such as ZuluTrade, Darwinex, NAFA Trader, Tradeo, Ayondo, Collective2 and Myfxbook.

As the founder of ‘social trading,’ eToro allows users to follow and learn from successful traders, share ideas, and discuss market trends.

The platform offers a range of social trading tools, including copy trading, which allows users to replicate the trades of successful traders automatically, and a leaderboard that displays the performance of top traders on the platform.

Who has the cheapest online trading?

1. eToro: eToro offers zero-commission trading on stocks and ETFs. While it does charge fees for other assets, such as forex and commodities, they are generally lower than industry averages.
2. Freetrade is an excellent online trading platform that provides a cost-effective and user-friendly solution for those looking to trade shares. The platform offers zero-commission trading, which is on par with other popular platforms such as Trading 212 and eToro. However, what sets Freetrade apart from the competition is its unique offering of a free stock when you open a new account and deposit for the first time. The value of the free stock can be anywhere from £3 to £200, which is a fantastic incentive for new traders to consider Freetrade as their preferred platform.
3. Trading 212: Trading 212 offers commission-free trading on most assets but charges fees for withdrawals and currency conversion. However, Trading 212 has currently paused accepting new UK accounts to manage a surge in demand that is beyond its capacity to handle.

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