In today’s business environment, a well-designed mobile app is crucial for companies, especially stock brokers interacting with consumers. An excellent investing app should be user-friendly, catering to both beginners and experienced investors.

It must enable easy transactions, stock searches, and personalized watchlists, while also providing research materials, advanced charting features, and the ability to filter investments by sector and country.

In our evaluation of 17 U.K. brokers’ mobile apps, we found all to be impressive, except Vanguard, which currently lacks a dedicated app. The challenge was to identify the top six brokers excelling across various usability categories, offering an outstanding stock trading and investing experience.

The selected brokers not only exhibited user-friendliness but also provided diverse investment options, in-depth research tools, and charts. Testing was conducted on an iPhone 15 Pro using Apple iOS.

In summary, the industry deserves praise for delivering diverse and solid mobile experiences to U.K. investors, reflecting a commitment to excellence in the ever-evolving landscape of stock trading and investment.

4.5 Overall

Minimum Deposit: £0.0

Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month: £8

ISA: Yes

SIPP: Yes

Saxo Markets boasts a highly sophisticated trading platform with an extensive selection of international shares and funds. However, its notable drawback lies in higher costs compared to its U.K. counterparts. This platform is better tailored for experienced investors rather than beginners.

Pros:

  • Exceptional web and mobile trading applications
  • Availability of ISAs and SIPPs
  • Inclusion of mutual funds in the offering

 

Cons:

  • Elevated fees for share and bond transactions
  • Limited chart features on the mobile app
  • Presents a steep learning curve for newer investors.
4.5 Overall

Minimum Deposit: £0.0

Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month: £3

ISA: Yes

SIPP: Yes

Interactive Brokers caters to sophisticated investors and institutions with a platform designed for confidence and high-grade trading. While it may seem more intimidating for newer investors, exploring the platform is worthwhile. Doing so could reveal potential cost savings and access to a broader range of investments compared to other brokers.

Pros:

  • Competitive commission rates for stock trading
  • Absence of mutual fund fees
  • Robust trading tools tailored for experienced investors

 

Cons:

  • Educational content primarily focuses on the U.S.
  • May seem overwhelming for new investors
  • Fee structures can be intricate and confusing.
4.5 Overall

Minimum Deposit: £0.0

Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month: £9.95

ISA: Yes

SIPP: Yes

AJ Bell stands out as a prominent investment platform, boasting nearly half a million customers. This trusted platform caters to investors across a spectrum of portfolio values, appealing to both those with modest and substantial investments. Notably, their recently introduced Dodl app is highly competitive in terms of both cost-effectiveness and design.

Pros:

  • Offers a wide variety of accounts and investment options
  • Excellent customer service
  • The new Dodl app features significantly lower fees

 

Cons:

  • Expensive for individuals with larger fund portfolios
  • Chart tools may be considered basic for more advanced or sophisticated traders.
4.5 Overall

Minimum Deposit: £1

Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month: £11.95

ISA: Yes

SIPP: Yes

As the largest investment platform in the U.K., Hargreaves Lansdown provides a diverse array of investments and account options. The platform excels in educational and research resources, and its mobile app is highly commendable. However, it is worth noting that pricing on Hargreaves Lansdown is relatively high when compared to other brokers offering similar services.

Pros:

  • Wide range of account options
  • No custody charges for Junior ISAs
  • Abundant educational materials

 

Cons:

  • High stock trading fees
  • Charting features may not be as sophisticated as those offered by other platforms.
4.5 Overall

Minimum Deposit: £50

Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month: £0

ISA: No

SIPP: No

eToro, recognized for its social trading features and cost-effectiveness, is an investment platform that caters to a user-friendly experience. Particularly favored by younger investors exploring stock market trading, it stands out for its simplicity. However, it’s important to note that eToro does not provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) or Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs).

Pros:

  • Very cost-effective
  • Virtual account for practice
  • Excellent mobile app

 

Cons:

  • Absence of bonds, mutual funds, or investment trusts
  • Some hidden fees may apply
  • No provision for ISA accounts or SIPPs
4.0 Overall

Minimum Deposit: £0.0

Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month: £3-£8

ISA: Yes

SIPP: Yes

IG is a trading platform designed for seasoned investors seeking to execute frequent stock market transactions. With an extensive selection of shares, trusts, and ETFs available for trading, IG provides a user-friendly and comprehensive trading platform catering to both private and professional investors.

Pros:

  • Accessible trading through ISA or SIPP
  • Outstanding mobile app and trading platform
  • Abundant learning resources

 

Cons:

  • The platform may be costly for investors engaging in infrequent small trades
  • Absence of mutual funds or bonds in the offering
  • Chart tools are relatively basic, particularly for traders who make infrequent transactions.