Stock trading apps allow you ro buy and sell ETF stocks – however, the best stock trading apps will allow you to do this at any given time, with zero to low commissions, and minimal fees added.
This rules out a good amount of apps in the UK you can use to buy stocks with. However, there are still some great apps available, and we’re going to look at which ones are worth downloading for the average person.
Similarly, we’ll also delve into the best crypto exchanges USA to ensure seamless trading experiences and secure handling of digital assets.Â
However, there are still some great apps available, and we’re going to look at which ones are worth downloading for the average person.
eToro – Best stock trading app for beginners
eToro is one of the best trading apps available in the UK, and it’s specifically good if you’re looking for a platform as a beginner.
It has a shallow learning curve to get started, so it’s easy for beginner investors to make their first trades.
One thing we like about eToro is that it has a great copytrading section where you can make the same trades as advanced traders as they make them.
They essentially manage a portfolio of funds, and it’s easy to see their track record within the mobile app to see their past performance and investment style.
eToro has a low minimum deposit to get started, and is generally low on trading fees and withdrawals too.
If you’re not that experienced in stock trading, it’s a great app for beginners to learn the ropes. Full: eToro app review.
Plus500 – A really good UK trading app for CFDs
Another great trading platform that’s focussed specifically on the UK is Plus500, which has been around for 15 years or more now.
Plus500 is leading in CFD trading, which is extremely popular when it comes to trading nowadays.
CFDs essentially allow you to both go long and short on stocks without actually owning them – you predict their future performance.
This is usually used by more advanced traders, though due to Plus500’s learning and educational resources, it can be a good place to learn this style of trading.
Though it can be a little confusing, here’s a good guide to CFD trading.
As well as this, the Plus500 app is heavily regulated and they offer a free demo account if you want to get started trading without risking your own money.
They have low trading fees and zero withdrawal fees, making them one of the best stock trading apps for retail investors. Full: Plus500 app review.
Trading 212 – Share Dealing App in UK
Another one of the best stock trading apps to check out is Trading 212 – the mobile app is one of the most well designed apps, which makes it extremely easy to get set up and start trading.
Trading 212 is a good choice if you’re looking for a stock trading app – bear in mind they have no mutual funds, so it’s pretty much all stock and ETF trading on the platform.
They also have no crypto trading on the platform too, which may be a pro or a con depending on your preference – many sophisticated investors prefer to avoid crypto trading, so it’s not a necessity.
However, it does offer commission free trading – you will therefore not have to pay trading fees when you buy or sell shares, which is one of the most attractive things to look for when you trade stocks.
You have access to buy thousands of different stocks on the platform, and overall Trading 212 is a pretty solid choice – they offer a convenient way to trade shares at a relatively low cost.
Hargreaves Lansdown – Stock App for Experienced Investors
Another app we have listed is Hargreaves Lansdown, a well known UK stock trading app and broker that you’ve likely heard of before.
Hargreaves Lansdown has an impressive track record which has been operating since the early eighties and is listed on the London Stock Exchange – so if security and safety is a concern for you, Hargreaves Lansdown is one of the safest brokers you can go with.
If you’re ready to take trading stocks serious, this might be the right fit. They have a lot of educational resources with commission free trading on UK stocks, as well as thousands of investment funds to invest in.
The only potential downside is that Hargreaves Lansdown has some quite expensive stock market trading fees, because its services target professional traders rather than amateur investors.
However, for many it’s a small price to pay to use one of the biggest trading platforms that the UK has to offer.
Vanguard – Best for index funds
Vanguard has a reputation as an affordable index fund investment provider, and although the trading platform is quite simple, it’s a great choice if you want to invest in index funds and ETFs.
The truth is that many active traders lose money, and a much safer bet is to place your money into an index fund – which is basically investing in a variety of different stocks at the same time.
These funds track the big exchanges like S & P 500 in the US, or the FTSE 100 in the UK.Vanguard is a great choice for this, as the firm has always promoted index funds with a low fees approach.
Vanguard lacks the advanced trading tools that you’ll find with other trading apps, but it offers low to zero commissions, a large range of mutual funds to invest in, and ultimately lower risk than other trading platforms.
How to choose the right Stock Trading App
There are currently various stock trading apps available to use, and it can be difficult and time-consuming to find the right one for you.
There are obvious things you need to consider – transaction fees, low or fully commission free trading and more.
And, the less experienced you are, the more cautious you need to be when getting started (which is why many experienced traders advise you stick with ETFs and index funds).
Below is a few essential things you need to consider when looking for stock options trading software.
How much money do I need to start?
It’s extremely easy to set up an account, but most users aren’t even sure how much money they should start trading with.
Honestly, it varies depending on what asset you are planning to invest in. Most users can get started with as little as a few hundred pounds, and slowly add to that balance over time – this is the best way to build up a larger sum.
If you’re looking to start actively stock trading, you’ll more than likely need £1000 or more to get started – just make sure you know what you’re doing beforehand, as it’s very easy to lose money trading stocks.
Common security issues with Stock Trading Apps
Most larger well known trading platforms are generally safe to use. With smaller or lesser known stock trading apps, there are still security issues. This is definitely something to consider when selecting the best app.
All of the apps that we’ve recommended above safeguard your money to protect you against potential issues. You can also look for apps that ensure that your money is protected through the FSCS, which mean that funds up to £85k are protected by their scheme.
Use an App with Virtual Money First
For people who are not familiar with stock markets, it can be a good idea to use a demo account for a while first. This allows you to essentially create a fake portfolio with play money first, which can avoid you having to spend your own money on testing strategies.
This is a good idea if you’re brand new to stock trading apps, and most larger platforms have a demo account that you can use for this.
Conclusion
To find the best stock trading app available in the UK, you have to do some research.
Many trading apps are designed for US users, so it’s worth doing a little extra investigation into which ones are good for UK users – this can vary based on their fees, their withdrawal and deposit methods, and overall how comfortable you feel using the platform.
Many online brokers have their own app to trade stocks – hopefully our rundown above can help you make the decision of which one is right for you.
