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Compare Cheap Share Dealing Accounts

Updated: 7th March 2022

Here, we’ve gathered together what we view as some of the top low-cost share-dealing platforms in the UK. It’s often far cheaper to buy or sell stocks online, with many share-dealing accounts charging comparatively higher fees for trading over the phone. Remember, past performance is no guarantee of future returns and unlike cash, the value of investments, and any income from them, can fall as well as rise so you could get back less than you invest. If you’re unsure about the suitability of an investment for your own circumstances, please seek independent financial advice first.

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Here are The Motley Fool UK's picks for some of the top-rated cheap share dealing accounts currently available

Broker Great For Star Rating
FinecoBank Multi-Currency Trading Account * Low-cost deals for active traders
DEGIRO Share Dealing Account * Experienced investors looking for low costs and a broad international reach
Freetrade simple and cheap investing.
eToro active traders looking for zero-commission trading on stocks.
Halifax Stocks and Shares ISA regular tax-free investing in funds and shares
Stake UK investors who want to trade a vast number of US stocks and ETFs
iWeb Share Dealing Account investors looking for a simple, low-cost share dealing account
Trading 212 Invest frequent stock traders

Offers from our affiliate partners appear first and are ordered from highest rating to lowest, followed by other top-rated offers. You can read more about our ratings and page sort here. Offers from affiliate partners are marked with a *.

Top Product

Great For: Low-cost deals for active traders

5 stars question mark

Fineco Bank
Apply Now!

On FinecoBank's Secure Website

* Affiliate partner

FinecoBank is a new kid on the block in the UK and they’re making a splash. The service is highly competitive on share-dealing price at just £2.95 per trade and offers particularly attractive rates for investors buying shares outside of the UK. In this multi-currency account, you can also trade directly in many local currencies. Better still, there’s no platform fee.

Read full review >

Risk Warning

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

More details [+]

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.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

  • Just £2.95 per trade
  • Open your account using promo code TRD500-ML and during your first 3 months you can trade without incurring commission charges – up to a total commission amount of £500. (Terms and conditions apply.)
  • Easy access to UK and non-UK shares
  • No annual fee

* This is an offer from one of our affiliate partners. Click here to learn about how and why we work with partners.

what we like

  • Just £2.95 per trade
  • Trade without incurring commission charges for the first 3 months – up to a total commission amount of £500. Use promo code: TRD500-ML. (Terms and conditions apply.)
  • Easy access to UK and non-UK shares
  • No annual fee

  • PLATFORM FEE:

    £0

  • Share dealing charge:

    £2.95

Risk Warning

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

- More details

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

  • Just £2.95 per trade
  • Open your account using promo code TRD500-ML and during your first 3 months you can trade without incurring commission charges – up to a total commission amount of £500. (Terms and conditions apply.)
  • Easy access to UK and non-UK shares
  • No annual fee

* This is an offer from one of our affiliate partners. Click here to learn about how and why we work with partners.

Show More

Great For: Experienced investors looking for low costs and a broad international reach

4.5 stars question mark

DEGIRO Logo
Apply Now!

On DEGIRO's Secure Website

* Affiliate partner

For experienced investors who trade frequently, DEGIRO has a lot to offer: global reach, ultra-low costs, and a relatively easy-to-use trading platform that’s now available on mobile. For those who want a little more hand-holding, or who don’t trade so frequently – or globally – then a DEGIRO account will probably have less appeal.

 

Read full review >

Risk Warning

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

More details [+]

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.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

 

  • *€2.50 fee per non-UK exchange on which you trade, per calendar year.
  • Degiro’s commission is volume-based and exchange-based, so you’ll only ever pay the £2.03 quoted above if you trade exactly £2,000 worth of shares on the London Stock Exchange. Buy or sell a different amount, or on a different exchange, and you’ll pay a different amount. On the London Stock Exchange, the price calculation is £1.75 + 0.014% for a trade, with a maximum of £5 charge.
  • Headquartered in The Netherlands, DEGIRO is subject to Dutch financial regulations, which bar brokers from holding client funds. Investors used to facilities such as dividend reinvestment will therefore find that DEGIRO can’t oblige.
  • DEGIRO doesn’t offer tax-advantaged ISA or SIPP accounts.

* This is an offer from one of our affiliate partners. Click here to learn about how and why we work with partners.

what we like

  • Ultra-low trading costs
  • Direct access to a wide range of international exchanges
  • Fast, simple trading of shares, ETFs, options and futures

  • PLATFORM FEE:

    £0.00*

  • Share dealing charge:

    £2.03

Risk Warning

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

- More details

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

 

  • *€2.50 fee per non-UK exchange on which you trade, per calendar year.
  • Degiro’s commission is volume-based and exchange-based, so you’ll only ever pay the £2.03 quoted above if you trade exactly £2,000 worth of shares on the London Stock Exchange. Buy or sell a different amount, or on a different exchange, and you’ll pay a different amount. On the London Stock Exchange, the price calculation is £1.75 + 0.014% for a trade, with a maximum of £5 charge.
  • Headquartered in The Netherlands, DEGIRO is subject to Dutch financial regulations, which bar brokers from holding client funds. Investors used to facilities such as dividend reinvestment will therefore find that DEGIRO can’t oblige.
  • DEGIRO doesn’t offer tax-advantaged ISA or SIPP accounts.

* This is an offer from one of our affiliate partners. Click here to learn about how and why we work with partners.

Show More

Great For: simple and cheap investing.

5 stars question mark

Freetrade logo
Read full review

If you want cheap and simple investing right at your fingertips, Freetrade could be the platform for you: the commission-free trading coupled with just a £2 minimum investment makes it a great app to dip your toes into the world of stock-picking. 

Read full review >

Risk Warning

Investments involve various risks, and you may get back less than you put in. Tax benefits depend on individual circumstances and tax rules, which could change.

More details [+]

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. Remember that taxes can be complicated and the tax benefits of this product depends on your personal circumstances. Tax rules are subject to change. 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.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

  • Free trading with no commission charge.
  • No monthly, annual, or inactivity charges for a basic general investment account.
  • Invest from as little as £2.
  • Ability to purchase fractional shares of US companies.
  • Additional monthly account fees apply for a Freetrade Stocks & Shares ISA or Freetrade Plus account.
  • On non-UK trades, a foreign exchange (FX) rate is charged equal to the current spot rate plus 0.45%.

what we like

  • Free trading
  • Simple and straightforward account opening
  • Attractive mobile app platform

  • PLATFORM FEE:

    £0.00

  • Share dealing charge:

    £0.00

Risk Warning

Investments involve various risks, and you may get back less than you put in. Tax benefits depend on individual circumstances and tax rules, which could change.

- More details

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

  • Free trading with no commission charge.
  • No monthly, annual, or inactivity charges for a basic general investment account.
  • Invest from as little as £2.
  • Ability to purchase fractional shares of US companies.
  • Additional monthly account fees apply for a Freetrade Stocks & Shares ISA or Freetrade Plus account.
  • On non-UK trades, a foreign exchange (FX) rate is charged equal to the current spot rate plus 0.45%.
Show More

Great For: active traders looking for zero-commission trading on stocks.

4.5 stars question mark

etoro logo
Read full review

“The world’s leading social trading platform”, global multi-asset investment platform eToro offers zero-commission trades on stocks, while there is no platform fee to pay. For those looking to trade stocks from the UK and beyond regularly, who are happy with a taxable, US$-denominated account, eToro might be a great choice.

Read full review >

Risk Warning

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

More details [+]

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.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

  • Being able to see what other traders are up to, via eToro's social trading features, might be appealing to some.
  • eToro does allow and promote leveraged trading using CFDs, and alternative investments, which can lead to excessive risk and losses in excess of initial capital (at the time of writing, eToro stated that 67% of CFD traders on its platform lose money)
  • As all accounts are denominated in US$, there will be a conversion charge for deposits and withdrawals made in GBP. There is also a $5 withdrawal charge.
  • Free demo account and eToro Trading School resource (including webinars, courses, podcasts, guides, etc)
  • eToro does not offer an ISA or SIPP so this will be a taxable account.

what we like

  • Zero-commission trading on stocks
  • Access to a wide selection of UK and international stocks and ETFs
  • No platform fee

  • PLATFORM FEE:

    £0.00

  • Share dealing charge:

    £0.00

Risk Warning

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

- More details

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

  • Being able to see what other traders are up to, via eToro's social trading features, might be appealing to some.
  • eToro does allow and promote leveraged trading using CFDs, and alternative investments, which can lead to excessive risk and losses in excess of initial capital (at the time of writing, eToro stated that 67% of CFD traders on its platform lose money)
  • As all accounts are denominated in US$, there will be a conversion charge for deposits and withdrawals made in GBP. There is also a $5 withdrawal charge.
  • Free demo account and eToro Trading School resource (including webinars, courses, podcasts, guides, etc)
  • eToro does not offer an ISA or SIPP so this will be a taxable account.
Show More

Great For: regular tax-free investing in funds and shares

4.5 stars question mark

Halifax logo
Read full review

By conducting trading during its Countdown Commission offer periods, I’m able to keep costs very low. What’s more, the recent introduction of a £36 annual customer administration fee that covers all Halifax investing accounts I hold means an even cheaper experience than I had before.

Read full review >

Risk Warning

Investments involve various risks, and you may get back less than you put in. Tax benefits depend on individual circumstances and tax rules, which could change.

More details [+]

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. Remember that taxes can be complicated and the tax benefits of this product depends on your personal circumstances. Tax rules are subject to change. 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.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

  • Competitive £9.50 dealing fee relates to online transactions only; Halifax charges a £25 commission for share-dealing over the phone
  • Only £2 per trade using the scheduled investment service
  • Invest up to £20,000 in a tax-free account
  • Comprehensive Share Centre
  • Online Funds Centre
  • Dividend Diary option where you can see companies due to pay dividends each month
  • **No monthly fees to use the platform; £36 customer administration fee (covering any and all accounts held) taken annually.

what we like

  • No custody charges for fund holdings
  • Competitive reduced dealing commission once a month
  • Flat rate pricing avoids any confusing percentage-based fee

  • PLATFORM FEE:

    £0**

  • Share dealing charge:

    £9.50

Risk Warning

Investments involve various risks, and you may get back less than you put in. Tax benefits depend on individual circumstances and tax rules, which could change.

- More details

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

  • Competitive £9.50 dealing fee relates to online transactions only; Halifax charges a £25 commission for share-dealing over the phone
  • Only £2 per trade using the scheduled investment service
  • Invest up to £20,000 in a tax-free account
  • Comprehensive Share Centre
  • Online Funds Centre
  • Dividend Diary option where you can see companies due to pay dividends each month
  • **No monthly fees to use the platform; £36 customer administration fee (covering any and all accounts held) taken annually.
Show More

Great For: UK investors who want to trade a vast number of US stocks and ETFs

4.5 stars question mark

Stake logo
Read full review

Stake has stepped into the UK market with features rivalling other share-dealing accounts. Direct investments in over 4,000 US stocks and ETFs on commission-free trading and no FX on trades. If you are in the UK and have always felt that there is no platform to help you buy particular American investments, it is worth looking at the Stake app.

Read full review >

Risk Warning

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

More details [+]

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.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

  • Stake does not offer UK stocks
  • Bonds, mutual funds and options aren’t available
  • Fractional US shares are available
  • For deposits and withdrawals, Stake charges a 0.5% FX fee
  • $2 bank processing fee with a minimal withdrawal of $10
  • Minimum deposit of £50

what we like

  • Commission-free trading and no FX on trades
  • Direct investments in over 4,000 US stocks and ETFs
  • No inactivity fee

  • PLATFORM FEE:

    £0.00

  • Share dealing charge:

    £0.00

Risk Warning

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

- More details

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

  • Stake does not offer UK stocks
  • Bonds, mutual funds and options aren’t available
  • Fractional US shares are available
  • For deposits and withdrawals, Stake charges a 0.5% FX fee
  • $2 bank processing fee with a minimal withdrawal of $10
  • Minimum deposit of £50
Show More

Great For: investors looking for a simple, low-cost share dealing account

4 stars question mark

Read full review

For beginner & intermediate investors, the iWeb share dealing account shouldn’t be ignored. Operated by Halifax Share Dealing, this account offers a wide range of lower cost investment opportunities. However, limited access to foreign markets might frustrate more adventurous investors.  

Read full review >

Risk Warning

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

More details [+]

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.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

  • Basic platform with no mobile app
  • Access to investments across seven world markets
  • † One-time £100 fee when you open an account, but you won’t pay any annual administration fees
  • ‡ If you sell or buy any international stock, iWeb converts the price into GBP, adjusts the exchange rate by 1.5%, and keeps the difference as commission
  • Access to research tools

what we like

  • Low commissions and no platform fees
  • No penalties for inactivity
  • UK telephone and live chat available 5 days a week

  • PLATFORM FEE:

    £0.00†

  • Share dealing charge:

    From £5.00‡

Risk Warning

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

- More details

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

  • Basic platform with no mobile app
  • Access to investments across seven world markets
  • † One-time £100 fee when you open an account, but you won’t pay any annual administration fees
  • ‡ If you sell or buy any international stock, iWeb converts the price into GBP, adjusts the exchange rate by 1.5%, and keeps the difference as commission
  • Access to research tools
Show More

Great For: frequent stock traders

4 stars question mark

Trading 212 Invest Logo
Read full review

Trading 212 is geared towards ‘technical’ traders – those using chart patterns and news events to help determine when to buy and sell. Its user-friendly mobile app has over 15 million downloads and an average of 4.4 stars on Trustpilot. The app is free to download, with no fees on UK stock/ETF trades.

Read full review >

Risk Warning

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

More details [+]

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.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

  • Buy and sell stocks without paying fees
  • Free, easy-to-use mobile app – ranked 4.4 stars on Trustpilot
  • Practice ‘virtual’ account and tutorials make it perfect for beginners

what we like

  • No trading fees on stocks and ETFs
  • 60+ easy-to-use trading tools and chart indicators
  • No foreign exchange fees

  • PLATFORM FEE:

    £0.00

  • Share dealing charge:

    £0.00

Risk Warning

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

- More details

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

  • Buy and sell stocks without paying fees
  • Free, easy-to-use mobile app – ranked 4.4 stars on Trustpilot
  • Practice ‘virtual’ account and tutorials make it perfect for beginners
Show More

How do you choose a share dealing platform?

Different platforms might suit one investor over another depending on their personal circumstances and preferences. For example, someone looking for the cheapest share dealing account might only plan to make moves in the stock market a handful of times each year, in which case they may look for a low platform fee plus cheap share dealing charges. Alternatively, those who consider themselves active traders might seek a broker offering low costs for regular share dealing.

Buying US shares from the UK

Some trading accounts don’t place as much emphasis on trying to be the best value share dealing service for US stocks, preferring to position themselves as one of the cheapest share dealing accounts for UK shares. Other platforms aim for low (though maybe not the lowest) trading fees across both local and foreign equities to appeal to investors buying and selling shares across many exchanges. At the time of writing, we’re not aware of any online share dealing accounts that offer cheaper trading fees for US stocks than UK shares.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I buy stocks with low fees?

Investors should pay close attention to the fees listed by online share-trading platforms. Often, there are deals that lead to lower fees if an accountholder commits to a certain number of trades on the stock market each month.

What is the cheapest share dealing account?

Providers constantly look to provide competitive offers, in order to entice investors towards their online share dealing account. Zero-fee trading platforms do exist, especially amongst app-based trading accounts, though watch out for hidden fees.

The Motley Fool receives compensation from some advertisers who provide products and services that may be covered by our editorial team. It’s one way we make money. But know that our editorial integrity and transparency matters most and our ratings aren’t influenced by compensation. The statements above are The Motley Fool’s alone and have not been provided or endorsed by bank advertisers.