Compare Our Top Picks for Share Dealing Accounts in the UK

Check out our featured share dealing account picks for some of the top-rated trading platforms in the UK and start buying shares today.

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

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The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

Picking the best online brokerage for you doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In fact, getting your trading portfolio up and running online can be fairly simple, and often cheap. We’ll help you understand how to compare brokers and where to get started.

What to consider when comparing online brokers

  1. Fees: all else equal, lower share dealing fees and lower platform fees are better. When you pay fewer fees, more of your money can help build your portfolio.
  2. Investment selection: it’s ideal that your share dealing account has a wide selection of investments to choose from. Even if you plan to invest simply, a wider selection ensures that you can find the most low-cost provider.
  3. Platform ease of use: look for platforms that are user-friendly and easy to navigate. You’ll want to be able to find information and place trades on the platforms quickly and easily.
  4. Extra features and benefits: online brokers can vary considerably on how many bells and whistles come with their platform. Especially for beginner investors, look for extra offerings like company data and analyst research.

With these four factors in mind, you’re ready to start looking for the best share dealing account for you.

The Motley Fool’s Featured Brokerages

Good for beginner investors looking to invest regularly in funds or shares

Barclays Investment Account *

Barclays Investment Account *
Apply Now On Barclays’ secure website
Risk Warning Investments are complex and involve various risks, and you may get back less than you put in.

The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may not get back all the money you put in. All investments carry a varying degree of risk and it’s necessary for you to understand the nature of these risks. You should consider whether you understand how Share Dealing Accounts work and whether you can afford to take the risk of losing money. The Motley Fool believes in building wealth through long-term investing and so we do not promote or encourage high-risk activities including day trading, CFDs, spread betting, cryptocurrencies, and forex. Click here to learn more.

Trading Commission

From £0

Account Management Fee

0.25% p.a.

  • Pros & Cons
  • Fees & Charges

Pros

  • Low-cost investing, with no charge to buy or sell funds online
  • No minimum fee
  • Huge choice of investments
  • Easy for beginners

Cons

  • Expensive to hold large portfolios of equities, compared to peers
  • Barclays current account required if you want to use the Barclays app to manage your investments

Platform Fees:

Monthly subscription fee: 0.25% per annum

Shares custody charge: covered by subscription fee

Fund custody charge: covered by subscription fee

Dealing Fees:

UK shares & ETFs: £6 (no charge for automated regular investments)

US shares: £6

European shares: £6

Fund trades: £0 (no charge for automated regular investments)

Spot + FX fees: tapered from 1% to 0.1% (depends on trade value)

Telephone dealing charge: £25

* This is an offer from one of our affiliate partners. For more information on why and how we work with partners, click here.

Good for long-term, active investors looking for shares and funds

Hargreaves Lansdown Fund and Share Account *

Hargreaves Lansdown Fund and Share Account *
Apply Now On Hargreaves Lansdown’s secure website
Risk Warning Investments are complex and involve various risks, and you may get back less than you put in.

The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may not get back all the money you put in. All investments carry a varying degree of risk and it’s necessary for you to understand the nature of these risks. You should consider whether you understand how Share Dealing Accounts work and whether you can afford to take the risk of losing money. The Motley Fool believes in building wealth through long-term investing and so we do not promote or encourage high-risk activities including day trading, CFDs, spread betting, cryptocurrencies, and forex. Click here to learn more.

Trading Commission

£5.95 – £11.95

Account Management Fee

From £0.00

  • Pros & Cons
  • Fees & Charges

Pros

  • Wide choice of investments and research material
  • Good value for active investors
  • Clear and functional platform
  • £100 of free trades for new and existing clients.

Cons

  • Expensive commissions for infrequent investors
  • Limited options for traders
  • Complex fee structure
Platform Fees:

Monthly subscription fee: £0

Equities custody charge: £0

Fund management charge

On the first £0 to £250,000 = 0.45%,
On the value between £250,000 to £1m = 0.25%,
On the value between £1m and £2m = 0.1%,
On the value over £2m = free

Dealing Fees:

UK shares & ETFs: £11.95 (for 0-9 trades in previous month), £8.95 (for 10-19 trades in previous month), £5.95 (for 20+ trades in previous month)

US shares & ETFs: £11.95 (for 0-9 trades in previous month), £8.95 (for 10-19 trades in previous month), £5.95 (for 20+ trades in previous month)

EU shares & ETFs: £11.95 (for 0-9 trades in previous month), £8.95 (for 10-19 trades in previous month), £5.95 (for 20+ trades in previous month)

Fund trades: £0

Spot + FX fees: 1%

Telephone dealing charge: 1% of trade value (£20 min/£50 max)

* This is an offer from one of our affiliate partners. For more information on why and how we work with partners, click here.

Good for active investors who want lots of control and choice

IG Share Dealing Account *

IG Share Dealing Account *
Apply Now On IG’s secure website
Risk Warning Investments are complex and involve various risks, and you may get back less than you put in.

The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may not get back all the money you put in. All investments carry a varying degree of risk and it’s necessary for you to understand the nature of these risks. You should consider whether you understand how Share Dealing Accounts work and whether you can afford to take the risk of losing money. The Motley Fool believes in building wealth through long-term investing and so we do not promote or encourage high-risk activities including day trading, CFDs, spread betting, cryptocurrencies, and forex. Click here to learn more.

Trading Commission

£8.00

Account Management Fee

£8.00

  • Pros & Cons
  • Fees & Charges

Pros

  • Huge choice of investments
  • Lots of research, learning, and trading tools
  • Good value for active investors

Cons

  • Platform can feel quite complex
  • Expensive for infrequent investors
  • Big emphasis on trading

Platform Fees:

Monthly subscription fee: £0.00

Equities custody charge: £8.00/month, or £0.00 if you trade more than 3 times per quarter

Fund management charge: N/A

Dealing Fees:

UK shares & ETFs: £8.00 if you place 0-2 trades in the previous month, £3.00 if you place 3 or more

US shares & ETFs: £10.00 if you place 0-2 trades in the previous month, £0.00 if you place 3 or more

EU shares & ETFs: 0.1% trade value (€10.00 minimum)

Fund trades: See the Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) commission rates above. (Units trusts and OEICs are not supported)

Spot + FX fees: 0.5%

Telephone dealing charge: £40.00 for UK shares, £50.00 for US shares

* This is an offer from one of our affiliate partners. For more information on why and how we work with partners, click here.

Good for long-term, cost-conscious investors who want lots of flexibility

Interactive Investor Share Dealing Account *

Interactive Investor Share Dealing Account *
Apply Now On Interactive Investor’s secure website
Risk Warning Investments are complex and involve various risks, and you may get back less than you put in.

The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may not get back all the money you put in. All investments carry a varying degree of risk and it’s necessary for you to understand the nature of these risks. You should consider whether you understand how Share Dealing Accounts work and whether you can afford to take the risk of losing money. The Motley Fool believes in building wealth through long-term investing and so we do not promote or encourage high-risk activities including day trading, CFDs, spread betting, cryptocurrencies, and forex. Click here to learn more.

Trading Commission

From £3.99

Account Management Fee

From £4.99

  • Pros & Cons
  • Fees & Charges

Pros

  • Low dealing costs
  • Flat-rate platform fee structure
  • Inclusive free trades with some plans

Cons

  • No dealing fee discount for frequent trading
  • Some plans can be expensive for smaller portfolios
  • Limited trading tools

Interactive Investor offers three different subscription plans – these are easy to switch between at a later date, should circumstances change.

Investor Essentials plan

Platform Fees:

Monthly subscription fee: £4.99

Equities custody charge: covered by subscription fee

Fund management charge: covered by subscription fee

Note: the ‘Investor Essentials’ plan has a £50,000 investment limit; if this is exceeded the account will automatically be upgraded to the ‘Investor’ plan.

Dealing Fees:

UK shares & ETFs: £3.99

US shares: £3.99

Other international shares: £9.99

UK fund trades: £3.99


Investor plan

Platform Fees:

Monthly subscription fee: £11.99

Equities custody charge: covered by subscription fee

Fund management charge: covered by subscription fee

Dealing Fees:

A monthly dealing credit, worth £3.99, is included as part of the account subscription and is valid for 31 days. (Equivalent to 1 free trade per month).

Additional trades are charged as follows:

UK shares & ETFs: £3.99

US shares: £3.99

Other international shares: £9.99

UK fund trades: £3.99


Super Investor plan

Platform Fees:

Monthly subscription fee: £19.99

Equities custody charge: covered by subscription fee

Fund management charge: covered by subscription fee

Dealing Fees:

A monthly dealing credit, worth £7.98, is included as part of the account subscription and is valid for 31 days. (Equivalent to 2 free trades per month).

Additional trades are charged as follows:

UK shares & ETFs: £3.99

US shares: £3.99

Other international shares: £5.99

Fund trades: £3.99


Applicable to all plans

Regular investing service: free to use (£25 minimum investment amount, no dealing fees)

Spot + FX fees: 1.5%

Telephone dealing charge: £49

Note: For UK and US trades over £100,000, and other International share trades over £25,000 additional fees and charges apply. (See the Interactive Investor website for full details.)

* This is an offer from one of our affiliate partners. For more information on why and how we work with partners, click here.

Risk Warning

Investments involve various risks, and you may get back less than you put in.

The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may not get back all the money you put in. All investments carry a varying degree of risk and it’s important you understand the nature of these risks. The Motley Fool believes in building wealth through long-term investing and so we do not promote or encourage high-risk activities including day trading, CFDs, spread betting, cryptocurrencies, and forex. Click here to learn more.

What is a Share Dealing Broker?

A share dealing broker is a company that facilitates the buying and selling of shares for investors. While human involvement still plays a role, much of the process is now handled by technology, with computers matching buyers and sellers in real time.

Traditionally, brokers were individuals who executed trades on behalf of investors. However, today the term is just as often used to refer to platforms where investors can trade shares independently. Whether referring to a company, a platform, or an individual, a broker’s core function remains the same—enabling investors to buy and sell shares in the stock market.

Features of the best brokers

There is no single “best” broker, as the right choice depends on your individual needs and investment style. However, here are some key factors to consider when selecting a broker:

  • Trading fees – Lower fees mean you keep more of your investment returns. Some brokers charge a flat fee per trade, while others may have percentage-based fees.
  • Platform usability – A well-designed and user-friendly platform makes it easier to place trades and manage your portfolio, particularly for beginners.
  • Investment selection – Some brokers offer a wide range of UK and international shares, index funds, and ETFs, while others have a more limited selection.
  • Research tools and features – Many brokers provide additional tools such as stock screeners, company data, and analyst research, which can be helpful for making informed investment decisions.
  • Customer support – Reliable customer service is crucial for when you need assistance. Look for brokers that offer support via online chat, phone, or a mobile app with quick response times.

Choosing a broker that aligns with your investment needs and preferences will help you trade with confidence and efficiency.

Understanding Share Dealing Fees

Different brokers have different fee structures, and understanding these charges is crucial before opening an account. It’s important to carefully review the terms and conditions of your brokerage account, as there may be additional fees beyond those listed here. These are just some of the key charges to keep in mind.

Platform fees

Many brokers charge a platform fee, which is a recurring cost for maintaining an account. This may be billed monthly, quarterly, or annually, depending on the provider..

Trading fees

Trading fees (also known as dealing fees) apply when buying or selling shares. While some brokers charge a flat fee per trade, others take a percentage of the trade value.

Fund charges 

If you invest in funds rather than individual shares, fund charges may apply. These can vary widely, so it’s important to compare costs if you plan to invest in managed funds.

Overseas dealing charges 

When buying shares in companies outside the UK, additional charges may apply. These can include currency conversion or FX fees, which are often a percentage of your trade value. Some brokers charge a fixed fee instead, while others may apply both a conversion fee and a flat fee.

How Have Trading Platforms Evolved?

The biggest shift in share dealing has been the transition from full-service brokers to online brokers.

Full-service brokers

Full-service brokers were once the standard, with investors relying on personal brokers to place trades and provide investment advice. These services typically came with higher fees and were often reserved for investors with significant capital.

Online brokers

The rise of online brokers has changed this landscape by offering self-directed trading platforms that allow investors to manage their own portfolios at significantly lower costs. Most online brokers now provide competitive pricing, and some have eliminated trading commissions altogether. While full-service brokers still exist, they primarily cater to high-net-worth individuals seeking bespoke investment advice.

Today, online brokers continue to expand their offerings, incorporating features that were once exclusive to full-service firms. Depending on your investment needs, you may find an online broker that provides tools and research to support your trading decisions, combining affordability with advanced features.

For many investors, the cost of a full-service broker eats up most, all or even more-than-all of their investment gains. It simply doesn’t make sense.

The low fees of online share dealing make much more sense for investors without huge portfolios. Which, of course, isn’t to say that investors with massive portfolios shouldn’t use online brokers — after all, doesn’t everyone love saving money?

What is the Best Online Trading Platform in the UK?

There is no universal “best” trading platform, as different investors have different priorities. When selecting a broker, it’s important to match the platform’s offerings with your investment style.

New investors may benefit from a balanced platform that combines affordability with ease of use and educational tools. Those who focus on funds should prioritise brokers with a broad selection of investment funds and low fund-related fees. More experienced investors may prefer platforms with the lowest possible trading commissions, even if that means sacrificing some additional features.

Understanding your investment goals and preferences will help you choose a broker that aligns with your needs.

Investing vs. Trading: Key Differences

Investing and trading are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different approaches. Investing is typically a long-term strategy, where shares are bought and held over an extended period to build wealth. Trading, on the other hand, focuses on short-term price movements, with frequent buying and selling to capitalise on market fluctuations.

At The Motley Fool, we advocate for long-term investing as a strategy for building wealth over time. However, for those interested in short-term trading, online brokers and trading platforms provide the necessary tools.

Online trading platforms tend to have lower fees due to the higher volume of trades they facilitate. They often include advanced charting tools and data analysis but may require minimum trade volumes. Standard online brokers, on the other hand, typically offer lower commissions for casual traders and are more likely to provide research tools and stock screeners. For beginners and those conducting in-depth research, an online broker is often the better choice. More active traders who focus on short-term price movements may find online trading platforms more suitable.

How Much Money Do You Need to Start Investing?

Contrary to popular belief, investing doesn’t require a large amount of money. While some brokers have minimum investment requirements, many allow you to start with small amounts. The amount you need will depend on the broker, the types of investments you choose, and your financial circumstances.

That said, investing more can increase potential returns—but it also increases risk. Before deciding how much to invest, it’s important to assess your financial situation and risk tolerance.

How Many Shares Should a Beginner Buy?

At The Motley Fool, we advocate for a long-term investment approach. We believe it’s wise to invest money for at least five years, allowing time to ride out market fluctuations.

The number of shares to buy depends on several factors, including share price and investment goals. Some shares are priced in pennies, while others cost hundreds or even thousands of pounds. Certain platforms offer fractional shares, allowing investors to buy a portion of a share rather than a full one, making it easier to invest with smaller amounts. If you’d like to explore a more thorough breakdown of how to buy shares, check out this guide. 

What Should Beginners Know About Investing with Limited Funds?

For those starting with a small investment, minimising fees is essential. High fees can erode returns, making it crucial to choose a broker with low commissions. Fractional shares can also help beginners invest in high-value companies without needing large sums of money.

Why Trust The Motley Fool’s Broker Comparisons?

At The Motley Fool, our goal is to provide clear and unbiased information to help you make informed financial decisions. We evaluate financial products based on key criteria and present both their strengths and weaknesses in an easy-to-understand format.

With over two decades of experience in financial education across the UK, US, Australia, and Germany, we aim to simplify investing and help you find the best financial products for your needs.

Is Investing in the Stock Market Only for Experts?

Investing in stocks is not just for experts, but it does require careful planning, patience, and risk management. The stock market can be unpredictable, and losses are possible, but with a sound investment approach, it can also provide significant opportunities for long-term wealth growth.

Taking the time to educate yourself about investing—understanding how markets work, how to evaluate stocks, and how to manage risk—will put you in a stronger position to succeed. Whether you’re investing for retirement, wealth building, or financial security, a well-informed approach is your best tool for long-term success.

Here are some additional tips to help you in your consideration of embarking on your investment journey:

1. Avoid Higher-Risk Trading

Not all forms of stock trading carry the same level of risk. Certain trading strategies involve significantly more risk, volatility and complexity, making them less suitable for beginners. These include:

  • Penny stock trading – Shares of small, less-established companies that can be highly speculative.
  • CFD trading (Contracts for Difference) – Leveraged trading that allows you to speculate on price movements without owning the asset, increasing both potential gains and losses.
  • Forex trading – Trading currencies can be highly unpredictable and impacted by factors beyond the average investor’s control.
  • Spread betting – A speculative approach that involves predicting marketmovements, which can result in substantial losses.
  • Day trading – Frequent buying and selling of shares within short timeframes, often leading to high transaction costs and the potential for significant losses.

2. Take a Long-Term Approach

While some investors successfully trade in the short term, long-term investing is generally considered the more reliable strategy for wealth accumulation. Remember: stock prices fluctuate daily, and attempting to profit from short-term market movements can be difficult, even for experienced investors. A long-term investment strategy allows you to potentially:

  • Benefit from market growth – Historically, stock markets have trended upward over time, rewarding patient investors.
  • Smooth out short-term volatility – Investing over multiple years helps mitigate the impact of temporary market downturns.
  • Leverage the power of compounding – Reinvesting dividends and capital gains over time can significantly enhance returns.

3. Consider Diversified Investments

Diversification helps spread risk, reducing the impact of any single company’s performance on your portfolio. Investing in individual stocks means your returns are tied to the success or failure of a single company. A more balanced approach involves:

  • Mutual funds – Actively managed funds that invest in a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds.
  • Index trackers – Funds that passively track a market index, such as the FTSE 100, offering broad market exposure.
  • ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds) – Funds that trade on stock exchanges and provide diversified holdings similar to mutual funds, often with lower fees.

4. Invest in Companies You Understand

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) hosts thousands of listed companies, with even more available on global stock exchanges. This provides investors with a vast selection of opportunities across different industries and markets.

Each stock in your portfolio represents ownership in a real company, so it’s important to know what you’re investing in. A good rule of thumb is to start with companies you are familiar with—ones you already use or have knowledge of through your profession or personal experiences. Before buying shares, consider:

  • What the company does and how it generates revenue.
  • Whether the business has a competitive advantage or strong market position.
  • The company’s long-term growth potential.

5. Be Mindful of How Much You Invest

One of the most effective ways to manage risk is to control the amount you invest. Keep in mind:

  • Only invest what you can afford to lose – While the stock market has historically delivered strong returns, there is no guarantee of future performance.
  • Start with small amounts – Investing smaller sums when you’re beginning allows you to gain experience without excessive risk.
  • Gradually build your portfolio – Over time, as you become more confident in your investing decisions, you can increase your investments.

Investing in stocks comes with big opportunities—but with equal risks. That’s why it pays to take a thoughtful approach: focus on the long term, diversify your portfolio, and avoid speculative traps. Most importantly, invest the time to learn how the market works and how to manage risk. A well-informed investor is a more confident (and often more successful) one.

Learn more about share dealing

Frequently Asked Questions

The short answer is: low fees, a wide selection of investments, an easy-to-use trading platform, and good investment research and tools.

The slightly longer answer is that you should find a balance among those elements to find a platform that fits your needs.

Start by considering your needs as an investor. If you're brand new to investing, for example, you may want to choose a broker that offers a simple-to-use site and plenty of investment research to buy and sell shares. If you're more experienced, you could prioritise simply choosing the broker that keeps your fees the lowest.

In order to buy shares, you'll need a share dealing account. This is where you'll buy, sell and hold your shares. Once you're set up with a share dealing account, you need to decide which shares you want to buy (how to do that requires a much longer answer!). Once you've decided on the shares to buy, you will place the trade through your share dealing service. Looking for more help? Check out this guide to learn more about online share dealing

There’s no one-size-fits-all here, so when choosing an online broker, it’s important to consider your needs and not get hung up with an outside view of which broker is the ‘best’ (yes, even if that’s our ‘best’!).

To do this, you’ll want to consider what is most important to you in your broker. The top online brokers have compelling offerings, but these offerings vary slightly and will advantage certain investors. To make the best choice, it may help to consider what kind of investor you are, since that can help match you up with one online investment account or another.

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