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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →There is no single best stock broker for every UK investor. The right choice depends on the account you need, the investments you want, and what the platform would cost for your portfolio and trading habits. Compare the full tariff—not just a headline dealing fee—and check that the firm has the FCA permissions relevant to the service it offers. The examples below are dated comparisons, not personal recommendations or a definitive current shortlist.
What counts as a stock broker in the UK?
For most people comparing online brokers, the practical choice is an investment platform: a service for holding and buying investments through an account such as a Stocks and Shares ISA, a SIPP or a general investment account. Providers differ in the investments and account types they offer, how they charge, and the tools and support available. A platform described as a broker may not offer every kind of investment.
That matters if you have a specific goal. Someone looking for individual shares needs a platform that offers them; someone who wants only a particular selection of funds may care more about that range and its costs. First identify the account and investments you need, then compare providers that actually offer them.
How should you compare broker fees?
There is no universal cheapest platform. The total depends on factors including portfolio size, account wrapper, investment type and how often you trade. The FCA’s 2019 Investment Platforms Market Study found that these factors materially affected relative costs in its modelled scenarios; dealing charges accounted for around a third of costs in some scenarios. That is a finding about those models, not a current fee quote or a forecast of what any one investor will pay.
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For each platform, check the charges that apply to your own likely use:
- Platform or custody fee: the charge for holding investments, which may be a percentage of your portfolio or a fixed amount.
- Dealing charges: fees for buying or selling, including any difference between ordinary trades and regular-investment plans.
- Foreign-exchange costs: relevant when buying or selling investments priced in another currency.
- Account or wrapper charges: charges specific to an ISA, SIPP or other account type.
- Other applicable costs: check the provider’s tariff for any additional charges that fit your account or transactions.
Then calculate an estimated annual cost using the same assumptions for each platform: account type, approximate portfolio value, funds versus shares, UK versus overseas dealing, and expected number and type of transactions. A “free trades” offer does not establish that the whole account will cost less.
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Which account type and investments do you need?
A Stocks and Shares ISA, a SIPP and a general investment account are different account wrappers, intended for different purposes. Confirm that a provider offers the one you want and compare its wrapper-specific charges. Understand the tax rules relevant to your circumstances before choosing an account.
Check the investment list as carefully as the account list. Platforms can differ in whether they offer shares, funds, ETFs, trusts and investments from different markets. A restricted range can be a reasonable fit if it includes what you need, but a low fee is of little use if the platform does not offer your intended investments.
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What do the 2026 platform examples show?
Which?’s 2026 comparison illustrates different platform models. These descriptions are not a complete shortlist, and provider tariffs, investment ranges and account eligibility can change. Check the provider’s current terms before opening an account.
| Provider | What Which? described in its 2026 comparison | What to check for your needs |
|---|---|---|
| InvestEngine | ETF-only. | Whether an ETF-only range suits you; it will not meet a need for individual shares or other asset types. |
| Scottish Widows (formerly iWeb) | No account fee and a £5 charge for each asset buy or sale; Which? described a regular monthly investment plan as a way to avoid that dealing charge. | Current provider terms, which account and transactions the charges apply to, and whether the regular plan fits your investing pattern. |
| Vanguard | 90 low-cost passive funds. | Whether its fund-focused range includes the investments you want; the figure describes Which?’s 2026 comparison, not a promise about a current catalogue. |
| Trading 212 | Which? reported an 83% overall score but did not award Recommended Provider status because the platform offers CFDs. | Which account and service you would use, and the current terms. Which?’s award decision reflects its own criteria, not a regulator finding that all Trading 212 accounts or services are unsuitable. |
| Freetrade | Which? identified it as a Great Value platform in its 2026 review. | Current pricing and the charges applicable to your account; the award alone does not establish that charges are zero. |
Which?’s awards and descriptions are one publisher’s comparison, not a recommendation that any provider is best for every investor. The Scottish Widows, Vanguard and InvestEngine descriptions above are not a like-for-like fee comparison; the available evidence does not establish one common portfolio and trading pattern for calculating equivalent costs.
How much should you rely on ratings and rankings?
Which? surveyed 3,053 investors and collected 4,146 Stocks and Shares ISA reviews in January 2026. Its methodology weighted customer score at 60%, fees at 30% and asset range at 10%. Which? also says its customer-score sample was not weighted and was not representative of the target population. Treat the results as that publisher’s assessment under its stated method, not a census of UK investors or a measure of future investment performance.
Consumer priorities also vary. In the FCA’s 2024 Financial Lives survey, 62% of non-advised investment platform users said low platform fees mattered when choosing a platform, 52% cited the range of shares and funds, and 51% cited website usability. Those survey findings help explain what people consider; they do not identify the best provider for an individual.
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In the same FCA survey, 74% of non-advised platform users said choosing a platform was very or fairly easy in 2024, compared with 63% in 2020. Meanwhile, 64% said they shopped around in 2024, down from 69% in 2022. The figures describe reported user experiences and shopping behaviour, not a guarantee that choosing without comparison will be straightforward.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How do you check a broker is authorised?
The FCA says almost all UK firms providing financial services must be authorised or registered. Use the FCA Firm Checker or the Financial Services Register to verify the firm’s identity and check that its permissions cover the service being offered. Do not assume that a familiar trading name is the legal entity shown on the register, or that one authorised service means every service from a firm is regulated.
FCA authorisation does not eliminate investment risk or guarantee returns. Check protections for the specific firm, account and asset rather than assuming a blanket compensation claim applies.
Quick Recap
A practical shortlist checklist
- Write down the account you need. Decide whether you are comparing a Stocks and Shares ISA, SIPP, general investment account or another wrapper.
- List the investments you want. Check each platform’s current range for the specific shares, funds, ETFs or other assets you intend to use.
- Model your costs consistently. Use the same portfolio value and expected transactions for each provider, adding platform, dealing, foreign-exchange and wrapper charges that apply.
- Compare service features. Consider usability, customer support, tools and research, and any investing features that matter to you. The FCA’s 2024 survey found that fees, investment range, usability, reputation, account availability and customer support all featured in consumers’ platform choices.
- Check the firm and permissions. Confirm the legal entity and relevant FCA permissions using the Firm Checker or Financial Services Register.
- Recheck before opening the account. Confirm live charges, account eligibility, investments available and terms directly with the provider.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
