Best Online Brokerages in the U.K. for 2025 – Top Platforms for Every Investor • Benzinga

With so many platforms to choose from, selecting the right online brokerage in the United Kingdom can be overwhelming. 

From commission structures and investment choices to platform usability and educational resources, each brokerage offers a unique set of features designed to cater to different investor needs.

Whether you’re a seasoned trader looking for advanced tools and global market access or a beginner wanting a user-friendly experience and comprehensive support, these 5 top U.K. online brokers can fit your needs.

How We Chose the Best Online Brokerages In the U.K.

We evaluated all of our picks based on their ease of use, educational tools, quality and breadth of educational resources and customer service responsiveness.

Best Online Brokerages In the U.K.

Interactive Brokers U.K. — Best for Global Investing

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) U.K. offers many investment products with access to more than a hundred global markets. Known for its sophisticated trading platforms, competitive pricing and robust tools, it caters primarily to experienced traders and active investors who want comprehensive market access and advanced features. 

Key Features: 

• Fees: Interactive Brokers U.K. is known for its low fees, although the structure can be complex with both fixed and tiered pricing options. For U.K. and most European stocks, commissions are up to £3 per trade.  A 0.05% commission applies to amounts less than £40,000. There are no added spreads, ticket charges or platform fees for general trading accounts. There is no minimum deposit to open a general account.

• Investment Access: Covering 160 global markets, Interactive Brokers U.K. offers a range of investment products, including stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), options, futures, forex, bonds and mutual funds. Fractional shares are available for many assets.

• Platform Experience: Interactive Brokers offers several trading platforms, including Trader Workstation for advanced users, IBKR Desktop for a streamlined experience, and IBKR Mobile and IBKR GlobalTrader for on-the-go trading. The platforms offer charting, analytical tools and a range of order types.

• Tools/Education Highlights: IBKR’s analysis and portfolio management tools include market scanners, risk navigators and advanced charting. It provides access to more than 200 free and premium research, market commentary and news providers. A demo account is available to explore the platform before committing real funds.

• Drawbacks: The complex platforms and fee structure may be challenging to navigate. Customer support for specific U.S. questions sometimes requires calling a Swiss phone number.  

Who It’s Best For: Experienced traders who want extensive global market access, a wide selection of tradable products and professional-grade trading tools at competitive prices.  

eToro U.K. — Best for Social Investing for Beginners

eToro U.K.’s social trading features make it a popular choice for beginners and those interested in a collaborative investment experience. It offers commission-free stock and ETF trading, a range of cryptocurrencies and the ability to copy successful investors. 

Key Features: 

• Fees: eToro offers zero commission on stock and ETF trading, but it charges a 1% fee for buying and selling cryptocurrencies, a $5 withdrawal fee and a $10 monthly inactivity fee after 12 months of no login activity. All accounts are in USD, so currency conversion fees apply when depositing or withdrawing GBP. The minimum deposit for a general account is $100.

• Investment Access: eToro provides access to stocks from various global exchanges, ETFs and cryptocurrencies. It offers options trading, but it’s typically through a separate app and primarily for U.S. equity options. Index funds are not a primary offering but ETFs can provide similar exposure. Contracts for difference (CFDs) also are available, but for U.K. clients, regulations restrict crypto CFDs to real asset trading.

• Platform Experience: eToro’s user-friendly web platform and mobile app are well-suited for beginners. A key feature is the social newsfeed, allowing users to interact, share insights and discuss trading strategies. Its CopyTrader feature allows users to replicate the trades of successful investors, and Smart Portfolios offer pre-built investment portfolios. 

• Tools/Education Highlights: The eToro Academy offers guides, videos and courses for beginner to intermediate investors. It also has an economic calendar, news analysis and a free $100,000 virtual portfolio for practice. The social feed provides market insight from other users. 

• Drawbacks: The $5 withdrawal fee and currency conversion fees can add up, and the inactivity fee is a disadvantage for passive investors. Support is offered through live chat, but phone support is not available.  

Who It’s Best For: New investors, those interested in social trading, and people who want a user-friendly platform with broad access to stocks, ETFs and a wide range of cryptocurrencies.

AJ Bell — Best for Long-Term Investors

AJ Bell offers a range of accounts, competitive pricing for long-term investors and a user-friendly platform. It’s well-suited for those looking to build and manage individual savings accounts (ISAs) and self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs) with a wide selection of investment options. It may not be the cheapest for active traders, but its clear fee structure and excellent customer service make it a good choice for many U.K. investors.

Key Features: 

• Fees: AJ Bell has a tiered fee structure, which decreases as the value of your investments increases. For funds, the fee starts at 0.25%. For stocks and shares ISAs, you’ll never pay more than 0.25%. Share trading commissions are £5 per online trade for U.K. and international shares. There is no minimum deposit to open an account.

• Investment Access: AJ Bell offers more than 3,000 funds, U.K. and international shares, ETFs, investment trusts and bonds. It also provides access to its own low-cost Passive Funds and Ready-made Portfolios for investors who prefer a simpler approach. Options trading is not available.

• Platform Experience: AJ Bell’s easy-to-navigate platform is accessible via desktop and a mobile app. The platform offers clear portfolio overviews, simple trading functionality and tools to help select investments. 

• Tools/Education Highlights: AJ Bell’s educational resources include articles, videos, webinars and podcasts covering various investment topics suitable for beginners and intermediate investors. It also offers tools like fund screening, portfolio analysis and market commentary to help investors make informed decisions. Its Ready-made Portfolios and Favourite Funds lists can help less experienced investors get started. 

• Drawbacks: The flat £5 share dealing charge can make AJ Bell less cost-effective for frequent, small trades. Options trading is not available.  

Who It’s Best For: Long-term investors in the U.K., particularly those looking to invest in ISAs and SIPPs, who value a user-friendly platform, a wide selection of funds and shares and a transparent fee structure.

Interactive Investor — Best for Flat-Fee Investing

Interactive Investor is known for its flat-fee pricing model. It provides access to many investment options, including global stocks, funds and investment trusts, as well as research and analytical tools. The flat fee may not suit small portfolios, but Interactive Investor’s transparent structure and extensive offerings make it ideal for U.K. investors with more money. 

Key Features: 

• Fees: Interactive Investor (ii) operates on a flat-fee subscription model, which can be cost-effective for larger portfolios. Its standard plan costs £11.99 per month for an ii ISA. The Investor Essentials plan is £4.99 per month up to £50,000.

• Investment Access: Interactive Investor offers investment products across 17 global exchanges, including U.K. and international stocks, more than 40,000 funds, investment trusts, ETFs and bonds.  

• Platform Experience: Interactive Investor provides a web-based platform and a mobile app. The platforms allow users to easily manage their portfolios, research investments and place trades. 

• Tools/Education Highlights: Interactive Investor offers research and educational content, including articles, market commentary, news and videos. It provides screening tools for funds and investment trusts as well as factsheets and performance data. Its Super 60 list of recommended funds and Ace 40 list of investment trusts offer curated selections for investors.

• Drawbacks: For investors with small portfolios or those trading infrequently, the flat monthly fee may be less cost-effective than percentage-based platforms. Customer service is typically solid, but phone support may have wait times during peak periods. 

Who It’s Best For: Engaged U.K. investors with mid-sized to large portfolios who trade regularly or want a transparent flat-fee structure across multiple account types.

Hargreaves Lansdown — Best for Customer Support

Hargreaves Lansdown is the U.K.’s largest direct-to-consumer investment platform. It offers a wide range of investment options, excellent customer service and comprehensive educational resources. Its fee structure is higher for smaller fund portfolios or frequent share trading, but its platform, research and support may justify the cost for those who want a comprehensive and reliable service.

Key Features: 

• Fees: Hargreaves Lansdown has a £100 minimum to open most accounts, or £25 per month through Direct Debit. It offers a free regular investing account.

• Investment Access: Hargreaves Lansdown offers many investment choices, including more than 3,000 funds, U.K. and international shares, investment trusts, ETFs and corporate bonds.

• Platform Experience: Hargreaves Lansdown’s web platform and mobile app are intuitive, making it easy for investors to manage their accounts, research investments and place trades. The platforms provide live share prices, watchlists, interactive charts and portfolio analysis tools. 

• Tools/Education Highlights: Hargreaves Lansdown provides guides, articles, videos and webinars on investment topics that are suitable for all levels. Tools include pension and ISA calculators, fund and share screeners and daily market updates. Its research team provides insights and fund shortlists. It also offers financial advice services for those who want personalized guidance. Hargreaves Lansdown earns high marks for its phone and chat support.

• Drawbacks: For small portfolios, the percentage-based platform charge is higher than competing platforms.  

Who It’s Best For: U.K. investors who want a reliable, comprehensive and user-friendly platform with many investment choices, robust research and strong customer service. 

Choosing the Best Online Brokerages In the U.K.

With dozens of platforms vying for investor attention, finding the right online brokerage in the United Kingdom requires more than comparing fee tables or app reviews. Each platform serves a specific type of investor — whether it’s a long-term ISA holder, an active trader seeking low latency, or a beginner exploring the markets through a mobile-first experience.

The best brokerage for you depends on your goals, trading frequency, investment style, and desired account types. Here’s a breakdown of how to choose:

Ask yourself whether you’re investing for retirement, income, growth, or short-term opportunities. If long-term wealth building is the objective, platforms like AJ Bell or Hargreaves Lansdown offer strong ISA and SIPP support. Active traders focused on international exposure may find Interactive Brokers U.K. more appropriate due to its powerful tools and access to 160+ markets.

If you’re new to investing, user-friendly navigation and a clean interface make a big difference. Platforms like eToro and SoFi (for U.S. investors) stand out for their approachable design and intuitive features. AJ Bell and Hargreaves Lansdown also offer simplified interfaces for less experienced users.

Fee structures can vary dramatically. While eToro offers commission-free trading, it imposes withdrawal and inactivity fees. Interactive Investor uses a flat monthly fee model, which benefits investors with larger portfolios. Consider what you’ll pay not only to trade, but to maintain an account, access tools, or convert currency.

For newer investors, robust education matters. Platforms like eToro, Hargreaves Lansdown, and AJ Bell offer comprehensive investor education through articles, webinars, and tools like fund screeners and calculators. Active traders may prioritize charting tools, order customization and technical indicators.

Strong customer service adds peace of mind — especially when managing large accounts or navigating complex platforms. Hargreaves Lansdown is noted for its superior phone and chat support, while Interactive Brokers U.K. provides extensive documentation and global service coverage, albeit with a steeper learning curve.

Frequently Asked Questions