2020-2021 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING UK STOCK BROKERS
Intro: Where Can I Find Online Trading in the UK? Who Are the Best UK Brokers?
When it comes to growing a nest egg, many individuals and families in the UK look towards investing in the stock market, which leads them on a search of the top stock brokers in the UK.
But UK brokers can differ widely, and finding just what you’re looking for can take some time. Every investor is going to have a different set of priorities they keep in mind when selecting UK stock brokers.
For example, some investors may prefer to work only with the best online stock brokers in the UK, while others might value the availability and location of a firm’s offices, where they can meet with financial professionals in person. Others may simply be looking for discount brokers in the UK with the lowest fees.
The types of financial products you intend to trade can also impact which UK stockbrokers you consider. Some investors may be looking to invest in the U.S. stock market, while others may be seeking UK forex brokers for currency trades.
Award Emblem: Top 12 Best Stock Brokers UK
Trying to sort through all of the UK online share brokers and UK brokerage firms to compare them can be incredibly time-consuming. Still, you don’t want to just choose the first result in a search of “best online stock broker UK” or you could end up with a less than reputable firm.
Our ranking guide is designed to make your search for the best UK share broker easier. We’ve researched multiple top UK brokerage firms and the top UK online stock brokers. We then narrowed down the list to the top 12.
The following review and ranking of these top 12 UK stockbrokers will include details on each one, including the services they offer and what makes them stand out.
This review and ranking focuses on the best online stock brokers in the UK primarily, as well as discount brokers in the UK. We’ve also included top UK brokers that offer more concierge-type services and guidance.
So whichever type of UK stockbroker you’re looking for, you should find them represented on this list.
Top Stock Brokers in the UK | Brief Comparison & Ranking
| Best UK Brokers | 2020-2021 Ratings |
| AJ Bell Youinvest | 5 |
| Equiniti Financial Services Limited | 5 |
| Halifax | 5 |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | 5 |
| IG Markets Ltd | 5 |
| Interactive Investor | 5 |
| Lloyds Bank | 5 |
| Redmayne Bentley LLP | 5 |
| The Share Centre | 5 |
| Charles Schwab | 3 |
| IWEB Share Dealing Service | 3 |
| Wealth Club | 3 |
Table: Top 12 Best Stock Broker in the UK | Above list is sorted by rating
What Things Should You Consider When Choosing the Best UK Brokers?
As you’re reviewing online UK stockbrokers and UK brokerage firms, there are several factors that can help you narrow down the list to find the ones that are the best fit for the type of investing that you’re planning to do.
Best Online Stock Broker UK
Some of the key considerations to keep in mind when selecting the best stock broker in the UK include the following:
- The cost of trading: Both offline and online UK stock brokers can vary significantly in the trading costs they charge investors. Every time you trade, you’re paying the broker a fee, so depending on your needs, you may prefer something like a fixed fee or a percentage fee.
- Account management fees: In addition to the cost of making actual trades, some share brokers in the UK may also charge platform and account management fees just for using their services. This is especially true if you’re working with full-service UK brokers.
- Advisory services: Some investors, particularly if they’re new to the process, may be looking for online UK stockbrokers or top stock brokers in the UK that offer some level of advisory service. That way they can discuss their investment choices and their portfolio, rather than having everything done automatically through a robo-investing platform.
- Investment opportunities: Most of the best UK share broker companies and online UK stockbrokers trade on international exchanges, giving you access to equities in other countries. There are also UK forex brokers that deal in currency exchange. You’ll want to ensure that the broker you chose offers the types of investment opportunities you’re seeking.
There are also some key traits that the best share brokers in the UK have in common, which you’ll want to look out for. These include:
- Helpful market charts and research
- Easy to use trading platform
- Fast trade execution speed
- Risk management tools
- Offer stocks and share ISAs (individual savings accounts)
- Responsive online help or support
2020-2021 AdvisoryHQ’s Selection Methodology
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Detailed Review—Best UK Brokers
Below, please find a detailed review of each of the top UK brokers on our list of the best stock brokers in the UK for 2020-2021. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these top UK brokerage firms to score so high in our selection ranking.
Click on any of the names below to go directly to the review for that firm.
- AJ Bell Youinvest
- Charles Schwab
- Equiniti Financial Services Limited
- Halifax
- Hargreaves Lansdown
- IG Markets Ltd
- Interactive Investor
- IWEB Share Dealing Service
- Lloyds Bank
- Redmayne Bentley LLP
- The Share Centre
- Wealth Club
Click below for previous years’ rankings:
- 2017 Ranking: Top 11 Best UK Stock Brokers
See Also: Best Forex Brokers and Forex Trading Platform for Beginners
Equiniti Financial Services Review
Equiniti Financial Services (EQi) is a UK broker created to give people independence and choice when it comes to investing. EQi, formerly Selftrade, was purchased in 2015 by Equiniti, and the new company was officially launched in February of 2020.
Equiniti is an FTSE 250 listed company and it manages the shares for 70% of the FTSE 100. This top UK stock broker emphasises transparency and states that it does not receive any fee or commissions from companies or funds that its customers invest in.
Giving its investors confidence and helping them invest intelligently are two hallmarks of this best online UK broker.
Key Factors That Enabled Us to Rank Equiniti Financial Services as One of the Top Stock Brokers in the UK
Competitive Pricing
For investors looking for discount brokers in the UK, EQi will be particularly interesting. Its pricing model is designed to be very competitive with other top UK stock brokers and it offers discounts the more you trade.
If you make more than 20 trades in a month, the dealing commission drops to ₤5.99 per trade from the ₤10.99 online trade rate. Additionally, if this top online UK broker does not meet the Best Execution price, you pay zero commission on that trade.
EQi additionally states that its LISA rate is the “cheapest in the market” at 0.2%. You’ll find a full comprehensive fee list on the firm’s website.
Invest Without Limits
When investing in an ISA (individual savings account) investors will hit a limit of ₤20,000 annually. This can hamper the growth of your wealth and limit your trading strategies.
EQi dealing has no limits. When you open a SIPP, stock and shares ISA, or Lifetime ISA, this best online UK broker will automatically set up a dealing account for you, so you can trade without capping how much you put into your investments.
It only costs ₤50 to get started on this DIY investing platform, and investors have about 8,000 different options to choose from. EQi offers a range of industries and markets, in the UK and overseas.
Investing Strategy Tips
The best UK brokers will offer plenty of guidance to help investors. While you may enjoy the freedom of investing on your own, resources that allow you to properly research investment strategies can be a huge help, while still affording you the same feeling of freedom.
As one of the top stock brokers in the UK, EQi offers multiple resources, including an investing strategy page. Investors can use this to learn more about tactics used by top investors, as well as the best ways to approach trading online in the UK from a different perspective.
Some of the current investing strategy topics include:
- “Don’t wait for a stock market crash to plan ahead”
- “Tips from an ISA millionaire”
- “Several strategies for the new financial year”
- “Using diversification to defend your investments”
Rating Summary
Investors looking for a platform that’s nimble, intelligent, and puts all of the power into investors’ own hands will find EQi a top choice among the best UK brokers. Transparency is one of the mantas of this UK broker, which is why so many trust the service.
The educational and strategic resources on the site of this online UK share broker are also a highlight, and they give investors a great deal of information to help them research their investment picks and strategies.
With a focus on keeping prices low and trading easy, Equiniti Financial Services is one of the best online stock brokers in the UK to consider this year and earns a 5-star rating.
Halifax Review
Halifax is a division of the Bank of Scotland, which is part of the larger Lloyds Banking Group. In addition to offering a variety of banking and financial services, it also offers stock broker services and shares dealing.
Interestingly enough, the firm was originally founded in 1853 as a building society. Today, it is one of the top stock brokers in the UK to use if you’re looking for all of the features of a bank and broker in one.
Through this best UK share broker, investors can enjoy low cost investing, the ability to invest in stocks and shares ISAs, access to seven world markets, and even the opportunity to join a ready-made investment vehicle.
Key Factors That Enabled Us to Rank Halifax as One of the Top Stock Brokers in the UK
Convenience & Choice
When asking investors what they’re looking for in UK stock brokers, or what factors they often consider when looking for the best stock broker in the UK, convenience is often at the top of that list. This includes trading tools powered by innovation and technology.
Halifax Share Dealing Accounts, which allow for online trading, take less than 10 minutes to open. Your account can easily be viewed through your online banking portal.
The ability to choose different types of investments is also a key consideration when reviewing UK online stock brokers, and Halifax offers several options for investing with its Share Dealing account. These include:
- UK and international equities
- Funds
- Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
- Bonds
- Gilts
TradePlan Automated Trading Tools
Another reason Halifax is named as one of the best online stock brokers in the UK is because of its automated tools and capabilities. Halifax’s TradePlans, for example, are automated trading tools that give investors control over their money to help them avoid risk and make the most of share price movements.
Automated tools like this make online trading in the UK easier for investors, especially for those who are new to the intricacies of the markets.
As one of the top UK online share brokers, Halifax offers five different TradePlans that can be customised to automatically trigger with investor-defined criteria. These include:
- Limit Order: Sets a price threshold that blocks sales above or below that limit
- Stop Loss: Protects against sharp falls by setting a price at which all shares will be automatically sold.
- Target Setting: Combination of Limit Order and Stop Loss, this helps you maximise profits
- Range Trading: A combination of two Limit Orders, one that sets a buy price lower than the current price and one that sets a higher sell price
- Price Locking: A Stop Loss that automatically adjusts your stop price to lock in profits when shares climb
Research Centre
One of the reasons that Halifax is ranked as one of the leading online stock brokers in the UK is because of the research resources they provide investors.
Research is a big part of knowing where to invest, and the top discount brokers in the UK will add value by offering extensive research information investors can use.
Halifax offers a Research Centre on its website that includes the following helpful areas:
- Shares Centre: Access the latest performance data and use filters to find the right investments for you
- Funds Centre: Choose from a shortlist of highly rated funds – compare thousands of funds from leading UK fund managers
- Investment Ideas: Keep on top of the latest market news and find expert articles that are updated daily
Rating Summary
For investors looking for a combination of low prices and the ability to get more guidance if they need it, Halifax is an excellent option among share brokers in the UK.
The firm has multiple tools to assist clients in making smart investment decisions and its automated tools help reduce loss risk and keep portfolios on the right track.
With a full range of financial services and multiple options for online trading in the UK and other countries, Halifax earns 5 stars as one of the best UK brokers to consider for 2020-2021.
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Hargreaves Lansdown Review
One of the UK’s leading savings and investment platforms, Hargreaves Lansdown was founded in 1981 and has grown to over 1.2 million clients with ₤99 billion savings and investments.
This is one of the top UK online share brokers that is also a Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) 100 company. The firm’s goal is to simplify the financial lives of its clients and to make it easy to manage investments, pensions, and savings in one place.
Hargreaves Lansdown offers a broad range of investment options, including more than 3,000 funds, UK, US, Canadian and European shares, ETFs, investment trusts, and more.
Key Factors That Enabled Hargreaves Lansdown to Rank as One of the Top Online Stock Brokers in the UK
Low Cost
Despite the established history of Hargreaves Lansdown, their Fund and Share Account is actually considered one of the top products for investors looking for discount brokers in the UK.
Pricing is currently noted on the firm’s site at between ₤5.95 – ₤11.95 per UK share online. It’s also free to hold shares in this account.
Investors using this best UK share broker won’t pay any dealing charges for funds, and the maximum annual charge is 0.45%.
Along with the low cost, investors have plenty of portfolio options with the Fund and Share Account, including:
- More than 2,500 funds
- UK and overseas equities
- Corporate and government bonds
- ETFs
- Investment trusts
These low and transparent fees are a key reason Hargreaves Lansdown was included on this list of UK online stock brokers and has continued to rank high among UK brokerage firms overall.
Best Online Stock Broker UK | 2020-2021 Ranking
Convenience
A key consideration for many investors when they’re reviewing the best online stock brokers in the UK is convenience. People want to be able to check on their accounts and make trades easily, whether they’re at their computer or on the go.
This is an area where Hargreaves Lansdown excels and stands out as one of the top UK brokers.
A Funds and Share Account can be opened online in just minutes. All you need is your debit card and NI number.
The account can be managed 24/7 either on their web portal or by using the free HL mobile app. If you’d like to speak with a real person, the firm’s Bristol-based helpdesk is also available to help answer any questions.
Are you transferring investments from another UK broker? Hargreaves Lansdown will take care of everything for you. You just apply for a transfer, and a firm representative will contact your provider and keep you informed of the process.
Features and Benefits
Not all of the top stock brokers in the UK offer the same features and benefits with their accounts. This is one of the primary areas you’ll want to consider when comparing pricing between top UK brokerage firms.
One firm might offer slight savings, but not have nearly as many benefits as another, so you’ll want to look at everything, not just pricing when comparing UK stockbrokers.
Some of the benefits included with a Share Dealing Account from Hargreaves Lansdown, one of the best online stock brokers in the UK, include:
- Buy and sell shares in minutes, online or through the HL mobile app
- Award-winning service
- Investors can decide between a wide variety of options which include not only UK shares but also options from America, Canada, and throughout Europe
- Live share prices in order to keep you up to date
- Detailed factsheets and interactive share charts
- Readily available research to help you discover new investment ideas
Rating Summary
Hargreaves Lansdown is one of the top share brokers in the UK and is trusted by over 1 million investors. The ease of use of the platform and low fees are two reasons this is one of the most popular UK brokers.
Investor testimonials on the firm’s site praise the firm for its helpful customer service and comprehensive information including live share prices. The combination of investor information and easy to use technology makes this platform for online trading in the UK a winner.
With an emphasis on keeping costs low and a wide array of investment options, Hargreaves Lansdown scores a 5-star rating and is one of the top UK online share brokers to consider using this year.
Related: Details on How To Start Investing In Stocks Online
IG Markets Ltd Review
IG Markets Ltd was founded in 1974. It serves more than 178,000 clients and over 17,000 markets. Besides providing low-cost share dealing, IG is also one of the top UK forex brokers.
One of the best stock brokers in the UK, IG is a great option for both experienced and new traders alike, offering multiple tools and online platforms to fit just about any investor. Additionally, it offers free trading courses and webinars, as well as online peer and staff support.
For those interested in currency trading, IG is home to more retail forex traders than other UK forex brokers. It also has more 24-hour indices than any other provider, along with out-of-hours US shares.
Key Factors That Enabled IG to Rank as One of the Top Stock Brokers in the UK
Free Demo Account
IG is one of the only UK online share brokers included on this list that offers a free demo account. This gives investors a great opportunity to get a feel for the platform and trading in general without putting any of their money at risk.
The demo account is a simulated market environment that recreates the experience of real trading as closely as possible. This gives investors a chance to practice, hone their skills, and experiment with different strategies.
The online demo account available from IG includes the following features:
- Trading practice with £10,000 in virtual funds
- Demo account that can access the firm’s free mobile apps
- Access to exclusive educational content on IG Academy
- Over 17,000 markets are included in the demo account
Share Trading Options
There are quite a few benefits to trading with IG that make it one of the best UK share broker platforms. You have the option to trade with CFDs (contract for difference), spread bets, or purchase equities online with the firm’s share dealing service.
If you’re unsure which type of trading to get started with, you’ll find plenty of help to explain the differences.
This is truly one of the top UK brokers to use if you’re new to investing due to its extensive educational articles. These articles include:
As one of the best UK brokers, IG allows investors to use their products to trade on share prices or invest in stocks directly via their share dealing service, whichever they prefer.
The firm promises the following benefits with its share trading service:
- Fast execution
- Easy trading anywhere through their award-winning app
- 45 years of market-leading experience
- Tools that allow you to see price charts, historical data, market sentiment, and more
After Hours Trading
As one of the best online stock brokers in the UK, IG offers extended hours for trading on US stocks, which can allow you to take advantage of company announcements.
Investors have the ability to trade on over 70 popular stocks during extended times – past what other UK stock brokers offer, which is typically only until 9 p.m. UK time.
IG recognises that many traders want to go outside of standard hours to maximise their trading activities, so clients can trade CFDs and spread bet on many of the pivotal US stocks at important times.
Using IG’s platform, you can access US stocks during the following extended time windows:
- CFD and spread bets on All Session US shares:
- 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. M-Th, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday (UK Time)
- Share dealing on All Session US shares:
- 12 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. M-Th, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday (UK Time)
After-hours trading is an added value that not all other UK brokers offer, and one that adds a level of convenience, as well as the ability to act quickly on news and announcements.
Rating Summary
IG Markets Ltd offers more markets than you’ll find at many other top UK brokerage firms, plus the convenience of easy online trading by web and mobile app. The firm is also one of the top UK forex brokers.
The free demo account is a perfect way for new investors to “get their feet wet” and learn the ropes. Experienced investors can also benefit from it by trying out new strategies and experimenting without risking their money.
With a wealth of comprehensive investor resources and an excellent range of funds, IG is awarded a 5-star rating as one of the best online stock brokers in the UK to take a look at for 2020-2021.
Related: Trading with Commodity Brokers – What You Should Know
Lloyds Bank Review
Serving businesses, communities, and households for over 250 years, Lloyds Bank is a full-service financial institution that offers investment services and Share Dealing Accounts.
As one of the top UK stock brokers, Lloyds Bank is part of Lloyds Banking Group, the UK’s largest financial services group. Through its share dealing service, it offers investors the opportunity to choose their own investments or use ready-made investments, managed by fund experts.
For those individuals who are looking for a solid partner when it comes to UK stockbrokers, Lloyds offers one of the most respected options you could find, serving customers since 1765.
Key Factors That Allowed Lloyds Bank to Rank as One of the Best Online Stock Brokers in the UK
Share Dealing Account
Lloyds Bank offers a flat rate per trade structure, which makes it fairly low-cost to get started with online trading in the UK. Its Share Dealing Account offers the opportunity to buy, sell, or hold a variety of UK and international shares.
All funds have a 0% initial charge, and after that, the ongoing charges are payable directly to the fund manager. Dealing commissions per trade are ₤1.50.
If you’re interested in trading internationally, this is one of the online UK stockbrokers which allows you to do that. In addition to the UK, you can invest in 6 different international stock markets.
A Share Dealing Account can be opened in less than 10 minutes by filling out their online form. This best stock broker in the UK also makes it easy to switch from one of the other UK brokerage firms. They’ll handle all the transfer work for you.
Best Stock Brokers UK
Choose Your Own or Ready-Made
Some UK investors like the thrill of researching companies and choosing their own stocks and funds, while others would rather leave the legwork to a professional. Lloyds is one of the top UK online stock brokers that allows you to choose either path.
You can choose to build your portfolio yourself from scratch, choosing from shares, over 2,000 funds, ETFs, and investment trusts. This option gives you the most freedom and allows you to be the driver of all your investment choices.
Or, if you’d rather have an experienced fund manager handle your portfolio, you can choose the ready-made option offered by this best stock broker in the UK.
You get three ready-made choices, all with varying risk levels. The benefits of going with a ready-made investment include:
- Choice: You get to choose between three funds, picking a lower, medium, or higher risk level
- Diversified: You’ll be invested in a wide range of markets (shares, bonds, property, etc.)
- Flexible: You can invest as little as ₤100 a month or a minimum ₤2,000 lump sum
Shares Centre
Investigating things like history, risk considerations, and ratings is important when choosing your investment vehicles. The Shares Centre offered by Lloyds Bank puts a world of research at your fingertips for thousands of shares, ETFs, and investment trusts.
As one of the top share brokers in the UK, Lloyds makes investment research simple. From its Shares Centre, you can find information on:
- UK, US, and European stock markets
- Investment research
- Up-to-date market information
- 200+ investment trusts
In addition to the Shares Centre, this top UK brokerage offers more research options in the form of a Funds Centre, Market News, and Investment Ideas.
Rating Summary
Lloyds Bank may have fewer fund options than some discount brokers in the UK, but they offer an unparalleled history in the financial services industry, which gives many investors a sense of comfort.
With ready-made investments for those who prefer to be less hands-on, as well as a “do-it-yourself” portfolio creation, you can find all manner of investment options with this top UK broker.
With a wide range of financial services and investment options and robust investor research tools, Lloyds Bank has solidified a 5-star rating and is one of the top UK brokers to consider investing through this year.
Redmayne Bentley LLP Review
Redmayne Bentley LLP began its history in the stockbroking industry in 1875 and was founded to provide first-class service with a personal touch.
If you’re not specifically looking for UK online stock brokers, but would rather work with full-service UK brokers, then Redmayne Bentley is going to be a firm that you’ll want to take a closer look at.
The model used by this UK brokerage firm is more personal, giving investors access to a qualified stockbroker for questions, as well as the ability to trade either by telephone or in-person at one of its nationwide offices.
Key Factors That Allowed Redmayne Bentley to Rank as One of the Best Online Stock Brokers in the UK
Stockbroking Account Options
Along with a concierge-like approach to investing and stock broking, Redmayne Bentley offers its clients multiple options when it comes to stockbroking accounts. This means you can choose exactly how you would like to invest, as well as your preferred level of service.
As one of the best UK brokers for those who want more personlised service, Redmayne Bentley offers five different account options. These include:
- Nominee Service: No hassles or paperwork, this account offers a secure and fast settlement process and the ability to access your holdings online
- Tax-Efficient Accounts: Tax-efficient wrappers for your investments to maximise tax efficiency
- Dealing with Advice Service: Direct access to a qualified adviser, a complimentary Equity Insight newsletter subscription, and proactive service
- Self-invested Personal Pensions: Control over who manages the fund and how it’s invested, plus flexibility over contribution amounts
- Crest Personal Membership Account: Direct link to the companies you have holdings with while maintaining the benefits of Nominee service
A Personal Approach
While some UK investors would rather not speak to anyone directly and just have great online tools from discount brokers in the UK, others want personal interaction and guidance.
For those looking for a personal approach, Redmayne and Bentley is an excellent option. The firm was founded on the principle of offering personalised service and this is one way that it stands out from other top UK brokerage firms.
Some of the personal touches and benefits of working with this top UK stockbroker are:
- Free market information and the latest news
- Access to global markets and a range of asset classes
- Trading by phone or in-person
- When you call to trade, you’ll speak directly to a qualified stockbroker
- Personal broker service that provides you a direct contact to speak with at your convenience
Stay Up to Date with Newsletters
Redmayne Bentley offers investors two newsletters they can subscribe to that provide insights to help drive intelligent investing.
Rather than having to seek information out on a website, receiving these helpful publications from this best stock broker in the UK means that these market insights are regularly sent directly to you.
- Market Insight: This is a monthly publication and it explores the UK and global backdrop, offering ideas for gaining exposure.
- 1875: This quarterly publication covers additional topics and offers features related to the macro-economic environment.
An additional service that’s offered by the firm is a New Issues/IPOs e-mail alert that ensures you’re aware of any retail offerings available.
Rating Summary
While Redmayne Bentley may not be the first choice for investors just looking for the lowest-priced top stock brokers in the UK, they are a top option for those that want a little more.
Their personal touch and ability to have regular contact to get guidance from is exactly what certain clients are looking for in one of the best UK brokers. And in this area, Redmayne Bentley is hard to beat.
With a wide range of account types and experienced stockbroker professionals, Redmayne Bentley is one of the best UK brokers for those wanting a hands-on service and is awarded 5 stars.
Read More: What are Forex Brokers?
Charles Schwab Review
Offering a modern way for UK investors to access US stock markets, Charles Schwab is a Fortune 500 company with over 40 years of market experience.
As one of the best online stock brokers in the UK, Charles Schwab is focused on offering intuitive tools and investor education through the use of webinars and workshops. Uniquely, it also offers a fee and commission refund if you’re not completely satisfied.
With advanced online technology, research, and no service fees, Charles Schwab is one of the top stock brokers in the UK for those interested in investing in the US markets.
Key Factors That Led Us to Rank Charles Schwab as a Best Stock Broker in the UK
Powerful Trading Platforms
Having the right tools to support your trading is important, and in this regard, Charles Schwab stands out as one of the best UK brokers. It offers a full range of digital tools and resources to support your trading activity.
These include the following:
- Web Trading: Use the Schwab website from any device to easily access your account and tools
- Software Trading: Schwab has a premier trading software platform called StreetSmart Edge® that’s available both as a download and online via the cloud
- Mobile Trading: If you like to trade while on the go, this may be the best stock broker in the UK for you because their mobile app is available on Android, iPhone, iPad, and the Apple Watch
Within the trading platforms of this best stock broker in the UK, you have a robust set of features that include things like real-time quotes, custom screens, advanced stock charting, a gain/loss analyzer, and more.
Best Online Stock Broker UK
Wide Range of U.S. Investment Products
For those UK individuals who want to build a U.S. portfolio, Charles Schwab is one of the best UK stock brokers to use due to their large range of offerings.
Costs associated with this UK broker are also low, at US $0 per online trade and US $0.65 per contract. The combination of low pricing and advanced tools is unique among UK brokers.
U.S. investment product options include:
- Stocks: You can narrow down your stock selection choices with Schwab Equity Ratings® stock lists
- Fixed Income: For those looking for fixed income investments, you’ll find multiple options that include U.S. treasury bonds, corporate bonds, and more
- Options: You have access to dedicated option trading specialists that can help you navigate this market
- American Depositary Receipts (ADRs): Gain access to over 2,400 established companies from other 80 countries listed in the U.S.
Trade the Way You Like
Charles Schwab lets you trade the way you like, either doing it all yourself or getting expert help and guidance. This makes them one of the top UK stockbrokers for any type of investor who wants to build a US-based portfolio.
You can build and manage your own U.S. portfolio using Schwab’s sophisticated online and mobile tools. If you’d like a little boost getting started, you can take advantage of in-person workshops or live webinars that will give you advanced insights.
Are you interested in working with a consultant at one of the best online stock brokers in the UK? Schwab has that option too. You can get personalised advice and guidance from a financial consultant who’s dedicated to helping you make the best choices.
If you happen to be a U.S. expatriate and need help understanding the tax implications of investing from the UK, Schwab has you covered here too. The firm’s experts will help you sort through everything you need to know about the tax impact of your trades.
Rating Summary
Charles Schwab is a well-known and well-respected name in the U.S. investment market. Its London-based arm is just as helpful when it comes to UK investors wanting access to the markets in the United States.
With some of the most advanced trading tools of any of the best UK brokers on this list, this will definitely be a top option for you (especially if you’re tech-savvy). It also gives you the room to trade as you like, on your own or with expert help.
While Charles Schwab is considered one of the top stock brokers in the UK, because they are limited to U.S. markets, we’ve rated them with 3-stars on this Top UK brokers rating.
Wealth Club Review
Serving high-net-worth individuals and experienced investors, Wealth Club offers a different experience than many other top stock brokers in the UK.
The offerings of this firm are generally higher risk and require a longer investment term than you’ll find with other UK brokers. These opportunities include Venture Capital Trusts, EIS and SEIS investments, forestry, Inheritance Tax Portfolios, and AIM ISAs.
Wealth Club notes on its site that one of its directors (and most employees) are former Hargreaves Lansdown employees, who bring with them a broad range of experience. Of note, the firm acquired Clubfinance in 2018, which is an execution-only discount broker.
Key Factors Leading Us to Rank Wealth Club as One of the Top Stock Brokers in the UK
Featured Offers
If you’re someone that likes to take advantage of the hottest stock deals, then the Featured Offers that Wealth Club lists on its site will be of interest.
As one of the best online stock brokers in the UK, this firm’s team keeps their eyes peeled for opportunities they can offer their clients. After researching what is currently available, the firm lists three to four investments of interest.
The firm notes that these are not personal recommendations, but rather considerations for experienced investors. Each investment is chosen purely based on its individual merit.
Investors will find these featured offerings available in several categories of investments, including:
- Venture Capital Trust (VCT)
- Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS)
- Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS)
- Inheritance Tax (IHT) Portfolios
- Alternative Investment Market (AIM) Individual Savings Account (ISA)
Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs)
Not all of the best UK brokers on this list work with VCTs, likely due to their high-risk nature. However, there are certain investors who enjoy the chance of getting in on the ground floor of the next “Facebook” or “Google”, and VCTs give them the opportunity to do just that.
Wealth Club offers VCTs that bet on small, entrepreneurial companies, and help them grow. Investing in a VCT can help grow jobs and support economic growth.
For that reason, the government offers some tax benefits for VCT investments. As noted by this top UK broker, these include:
- Up to 30% tax relief
- Tax-free dividends
- No CGT on gains
- Dividends do not need to be declared on your tax return
- You can invest up to ₤200,000 per tax year
Alternative Investment Opportunities
For those seasoned and high net-worth investors that already have an established portfolio and are looking to add a bit of diversity, Wealth Club offers alternative investments.
As one of the top stock brokers in the UK, this firm is completely transparent on its site about the risk of alternative investments, which can be more illiquid than other investments, and may put your capital at risk.
However, for those who understand the risk and are looking for alternative investments, Wealth Club offers several options. These include:
- Access to private equity
- Bond investment opportunities
- Exclusive property deals
- Forestry
- Solar
- Wind energy
- Tenanted retail property
Rating Summary
If you are looking for high risk with potentially high reward, and are a savvy, high-net-worth investor, then Wealth Club may just be the best stock broker in the UK for you to try out.
While they are definitely not for everyone, this UK broker is very clear on its site about the nature of its investments, and about the fact that they are geared towards a select group of investors who fully understand the risk.
We’ve rated Wealth Club with 3-stars due to the risks of these types of investments, but do commend them for their transparency. The firm remains one of the best UK brokers for those looking to add some diversity to their portfolio using alternative investment options.
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Conclusion—2020-2021 Best UK Brokers & Online Stock Brokers in the UK
The emergence of online trading in the UK has completely changed the investment market. It puts the ability to buy and sell shares into the hands of individual investors, giving them more control over their portfolios.
The above list of the top stock brokers in the UK covers primarily online stock brokers in the UK, but some of the names on this list of best UK brokers also have physical locations and over-the-phone service.
We wanted to ensure a mix of options for all types of investors looking for the best stock broker in the UK. This includes investors looking for discount online-only brokers, UK forex brokers, those offering alternative investments, and full-service UK brokerage firms that are part of banks.
Wherever you fall on the spectrum of UK investors, we trust that this ranking of the 12 best UK brokers will help you find the right home to begin investing, growing your wealth, and planning for your financial future.
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Image Sources:
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- https://www.hl.co.uk/investment-services/fund-and-share-account
- https://unsplash.com/photos/MFms-wkv3Ow
- https://www.schwab.co.uk/
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