Best Trading Apps in The UK 2022

This is a complete guide to the best trading apps in the UK 2022. In this new guide, you’ll find the best trading app for your personal needs.

Which Are The Best Trading Apps in the UK?

• One of the Best Trading Apps: Plus500
• Best Stock Trading App: IG Markets
• Best Long-term Investment App: Revolut
• Best Free Trading App: AvaTrade
• Best Trading App for News & Education: Financial Times

To further help you find the best trading app for your specific needs, we’ve divided this guide into different categories where we’ve listed the best apps based on different criteria.

For example, the best stock trading app, the best long-term investment app, and our favorite business news app, to mention a few.

Below, you can find detailed descriptions about the said trading apps, including all the information you need before signing up such as fees, payment options, and pros.

In the name of transparency, we’ve also included cons and things that could be improved.

Which is one of the Best Trading Apps in the UK?

Plus500

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When you trade with Plus500's app, you will be using the highest-ranked trading app for both Android and iOS.

You will also gain access to some of the world's best mobile trading features and a great selection of asset classes.

What we like

✔ Easy to use mobile software

✔ Competitive spread

✔ Top rated in both app stores

What we don't like

✔ Limited monthly transactions

✔ Only 2,200 CFD assets on offer

✔ Easy to use mobile software

✔ Competitive spread

✔ Top rated in both app stores

✗ Limited monthly transactions

✗ Only 2,200 CFD assets on offer

Go to Plus500 ➤

Features

Fees: Overnight Funding, Currency Conversion Fee and Inactivity fee (read more about Plus500 fees here)
Demo Account: Yes
Min Deposit: £100
CFD Assets: 2,000+
License: FCA, CySEC, ASIC, FSCA, MAS

Ratings:

Rating by our editorial team

users gave the score of ERROR/5

4.8K users gave the score of 4.0 /5

99,476 users gave the score of ERROR/5

16 users gave the score of 4.4/5

Total score:

104,276 users gave the score of 2.13/5

82% 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. Plus500 has been named the best CFD provider in the UK, Spain, and Germany by the Investment Trends 2019 Leverage Trading Report in the UK and Spain. In 2018, Plus500 was named the best CFD mobile platform by the Investment Trends 2018 Australia CFD report.

Plus500 is one of the best multi-asset CFD trading app in the UK because they offer a great selection of different asset classes and instruments. Not to mention one of the top mobile trading software that we’ve ever come across.

Not only has Plus500’s app won several prestigious awards over the years, but it is currently one of the highest-ranked trading apps in both Google Play and Apple App Store.

Which Is The Best Stock Trading App in the UK?

IG Markets

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IG Markets is one of the oldest and biggest online brokers in the world.

This UK-based broker has been offering trading opportunities since the early 1970s.

Still to this day, IG Markets keeps trail blazing the industry and setting the standard for all other online brokers.

What we like

✔ Real stock trading of the exchanges

✔ Huge selection of international stocks.

What we don't like

✔ High minimum deposit.

✔ Commission on spread betting and CFD stock trading.

✔ Real stock trading of the exchanges

✔ Huge selection of international stocks.

✗ High minimum deposit.

✗ Commission on spread betting and CFD stock trading.

Go to IG Markets ➤

Features

Fees: Low spread & commission.
Demo Account: Yes
Min Deposit: £300
Deposit Options: Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Bank Transfer
Assets: 10,000+
License: FCA, ASIC, CFTC, MAS

Ratings:

Rating by our editorial team

users gave the score of ERROR/5

29.6K users gave the score of 4.6 /5

15,137 users gave the score of ERROR/5

9 users gave the score of 4.7/5

Total score:

44,737 users gave the score of 2.15/5

Between 73-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.

IG Markets is one of the oldest online brokers in the UK. And thanks to a combination of great software and more than 10,000 shares on offer, IG Markets offers the best stock trading app in the UK.

Better yet, the app allows you to trade stocks as they are (Direct Market Access), as Contract for Differences (CFDs), or try your luck with spread betting – which is tax-free in the UK. You are not charged commission when trading stocks as they are. 

Which Is The Best Long-term Investment App in the UK?

Revolut

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Revolut is effectively changing the way we handle money, transactions, and investments on a global scale.

Their services are only offered through a mobile app that allows you to open bank accounts as well as invest in stocks, cryptocurrencies & commodities.

What we like

✔ Commission-free stock trading

✔ Fractional stocks for as low as £1

✔ Virtual bank account

What we don't like

✔ Not great for short-term trading

✔ No investment demo account

✔ Problems with the automated account-suspension

✔ Commission-free stock trading

✔ Fractional stocks for as low as £1

✔ Virtual bank account

✗ Not great for short-term trading

✗ No investment demo account

✗ Problems with the automated account-suspension

Go to Revolut ➤

Features

Fees: 0% commission stock trading
Demo Account: No
Assets: 850 stocks.
License: European Central Bank (UK banking license is pending).

Ratings:

Rating by our editorial team

users gave the score of ERROR/5

48.3K users gave the score of 4.7 /5

1,792,396 users gave the score of ERROR/5

2 users gave the score of 4.5/5

Total score:

1,840,696 users gave the score of 2.18/5

Between 73-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.

In case you’re looking for an app for long-term stock investments, there is one that stands out above all competition; namely Revolut.

Revolut is a British fintech company offering bank accounts, virtual bank cards as well as Visa & Mastercards. Then there is a state of the art mobile investment platform where you can invest in stocks, cryptocurrencies, and commodities.

The company was founded in 2015 and has already taken the world by storm. After the latest round of investments in February 2020, Revolut became the most valuable fintech company in the UK.

Stock investments with Revolut are commission-free and extremely easy to conduct. You also have the option of buying fractions of company shares for as little as £1 per trade.

Which Is The Best Free Trading App in the UK?

AvaTrade

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AvaTrade represents the top tier of online brokers.

With a combination of their own software and third-party platforms, you'll gain access to some of the best trading services and features.

What we like

✔ Easily integrated trading robots

✔ Commission-free trading

What we don't like

✔ A limited selection of assets

✔ Rather high spread on certain assets

✔ Easily integrated trading robots

✔ Commission-free trading

✗ A limited selection of assets

✗ Rather high spread on certain assets

Go to Avatrade ➤

Features

Fees: 0% commission but spread on each trade
Demo Account: Yes
Min Deposit: £100
Deposit Options: Debit & Credit Cards, Skrill, Neteller, Webmoney
Assets: 1,000 assets
License: Central Bank of Ireland, ASIC, FSCA, FSA

Ratings:

Rating by our editorial team

users gave the score of ERROR/5

447 users gave the score of 4.2 /5

8,061 users gave the score of ERROR/5

4 users gave the score of 4.8/5

Total score:

8,508 users gave the score of 2.18/5

Between 73-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.

AvaTrade’s app, AvatradeGo is the best free trading app in the UK and the rest of Europe now. The app was developed in-house and features a plethora of excellent tools that help improve your ability to trade, even when you’re on the go.

This trading app is available on iOS (iPhones & iPads) as well as Android, and it’s free to download and register an account.

Opening a demo account with AvatradeGo does not cost anything. Just keep in mind that AvaTrade will charge trading fees such as spread when you trade using real money.

Which Is The Best Trading App For News & Education in the UK?

Financial Times

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Financial Times is a daily financial & business newspaper with some of the most reliable and up-to-date trading information on the market.

I'ts free to use FT and the service gives you incredible trading news directly to the device of your choice.

What we like

✔ Daily business news and updates

✔ News notifications on your smartphone

What we don't like

✔ Costly subscription for the printed edition

✔ Lots of negative reviews on their customer support

✔ Daily business news and updates

✔ News notifications on your smartphone

✗ Costly subscription for the printed edition

✗ Lots of negative reviews on their customer support

Go to Financial Times ➤

Features

Price: £37,50/month (digital), £60/month (print)
Based in: London, UK
Political alignment: Liberal
Founded: 1888

Ratings:

Rating by our editorial team

users gave the score of ERROR/5

19.8K users gave the score of 4.8 /5

41,593 users gave the score of ERROR/5

0 users gave the score of 0/5

Total score:

61,393 users gave the score of 2.08/5

Since 1888, Financial Times has provided the UK with the latest financial news and breaking economic news. Today, Financial Times is a global phenomenon with one of the best trading apps for news and education.

With the app, you can enjoy international business news, market data, company information, browse different securities, and set up news alerts. All you have to do is download it from one of the app stores and you’ll have direct access to priceless market statistics and news in the palm of your hand.

Everything you need to stay up to date with the latest investment news can be found in this app.

Your Trading App Guide

How To Choose The Best Trading App?

Choosing the best trading app is a personal decision that’s completely based on each trader’s unique preferences.

That being said, there are a few things to keep in mind when finding the best trading app in 2022.

First and foremost, you should never use a trading app or broker that is not licensed and regulated.

In the United Kingdom, it’s the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) that oversees the market, and in the rest of Europe, the responsibility falls on the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). Every region in the world, has their own financial regulatory body, in Australia it’s ASIC and in South Africa it’s FSCA.

Naturally, you also have to ensure that the app supports the securities you want to trade, that you think the fees are fair for the service offered, and that you feel comfortable with the app in question.

We recommend that you open a demo account with a broker before signing up and making your first deposit. That way, you get a chance to try it out before making your final decision.

How Do We Pick the Best Trading Apps?

In order to only recommend the best of the best, our team follows a strict protocol when reviewing and testing brokers.

During a process that often takes several days, we test everything a broker and its app has to offer.

We always start by ensuring that the app is operating legally with all the necessary licenses. Then we take a close look at the selection of assets offered and what it costs to trade using the app.

Once we’re happy with what we find, we put the app through rigorous tests where we trade, invest, and use the app as much as we can.

Based on these tests, we determine which broker has the best trading app for certain tasks such as stock trading, or free trading, etc.

How Do I Start Trading Stocks In The UK?

Learning how to trade stocks is not easy by any means. That being said, it’s not impossible if you put some effort into it.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that you’ll need a lot of patience.

Naturally, you also need access to an online stock trading platform, either on your computer or smartphone.

It will also get easier the more you practice and with the use of some tested stock trading strategies, you’ll even be able to start making some profit.

Let’s also take this opportunity to differentiate between stock trading and stock investments. Generally speaking, long-term stock investments are slightly easier to do well with as a beginner.

Do Day Traders Pay Tax In The UK?

That depends on how and what you trade and there is no fixed tax rate. For example, when spread betting in the UK, you don’t have to pay taxes.

However, when trading CFDs and regular stocks, you are obliged to pay taxes on your profits.

Furthermore, you pay taxes based on your other income and employment. Because of this, it’s advisable to contact a tax accountant before you start trading. That way, you can avoid nasty surprises down the road.

Are Trading Apps Safe?

Yes, trading apps are safe as long as you use a respectable and licensed trading app.

The same goes for any online trading as long as the broker in question is regulated.

With that said, you always run the risk of losing the money you invest. Thus, improving your skillset and applying tested strategies, will make trading even safer.

What Is Online Stock Trading?

Online stock trading refers to trading stocks online using a broker or stock trading app.

A stock, also called a share, is a security that represents a unit of a company that the shareholder owns.

Like any security, stock prices are affected by the companies performance as well as global and local economic developments.

The aim when trading stocks is to predict when a stock will increase or decrease in price and either buy or short-trade (sell) the stock.

In most cases, stock trading refers to when you’re buying and selling stocks with short-term goals that might span a few minutes, hours, or days, which separates it from long-term stock investing where you hold shares for months and often years.

FAQs

Conclusion

There is a good selection of top trading apps in the UK 2022 and finding one that suits you should not be a major issue. Using this trading app guide makes the process easier since you can find the best trading app for your needs directly.

Note: Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below in case you have any questions regarding trading apps, safety, day trading, investments, financial systems, or anything else that might come to mind while spending time on our website. We promise to answer you as soon as possible.

Our Author:

Adam Jarfjord is a Swedish day trader, investor, and copywriter. He works as head of content at BullMarketz.com and has been providing editorial content within the financial sector for more than 5 years.

Read more about him by visiting his LinkedIn profile or contact us directly to learn more about the team.