Investment apps have made growing your wealth on the stock market truly mobile. But which apps have the best costs, options, and features so you get the most gains? Whether you’re a first-time investor or experienced, I’ve done the research for you.
4.5/5
InvestEngine – Lowest cost way to invest in ETFs with an easy-to-use app
Welcome Bonus of up to £50
Refer a friend and get Up to £100 free
Account types include S&S ISA, GIA SIPPs and Business Accounts
With investments, your capital is at risk. This could mean the value of your investments goes down as well as up.
4.5/5
Moneybox – Great money-saving tools for those with little to no starting capital
Join over 1 million other investors and start investing from as little as £1
Fully featured platform including S&S ISA, LISA, SIPP, Cash ISA
Capital at risk.
4.5/5
Trading 212 – The UK’s #1 trading app with ultra-low fees
Free fractional shares worth up to £100
4.9% APY on cash, paid daily
When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results
4.5/5
AJ Bell – Great research tools that would suit active investors
Switch your account and receive up to £500
Refer a friend who transfers at least £10,000 and you both receive £100 in Amazon vouchers
Capital at risk.
5.0/5
Saxo Markets – Professional level investing for experts
Trade UK stocks from £3 per trade
Trade US stocks from $1 per trade
Capital at risk.
4.5/5
– Lowest cost way to invest in ETFs with an easy-to-use app
Welcome Bonus of up to £50
Refer a friend and get Up to £100 free
Account types include S&S ISA, GIA SIPPs and Business Accounts
With investments, your capital is at risk. This could mean the value of your investments goes down as well as up.
ETFs are easy. They offer instant diversification by grouping together assets, geographies and industries in a single fund. This effectively helps to spread your risk. After careful analysis of all the fees on all the platforms, I can confirm that InvestEngine is the lowest-cost way to invest in ETFs. This will reflect positively on your investment returns. Investors willing to pick their own funds will encounter zero charges of any type.
The app itself is very simple and easy to use, lacking any of the complexities that can be daunting to new investors.
Fees
Account Fees: None
Trading Fees: None
Managed Portfolios: 0.25% fee
ETF Charges: Starting at 0.05% per year
Investment Options
5.0
4.0
4.5
4.0
3.0
4.0
For a detailed analysis of InvestEngine services, check out our review for 2024
Read full review4.5out of 5
4.5/5
– Great money-saving tools for those with little to no starting capital
Join over 1 million other investors and start investing from as little as £1
Fully featured platform including S&S ISA, LISA, SIPP, Cash ISA
Capital at risk.
This isn’t the cheapest option out there, however, Moneybox have achieved impressive historical results with their fully managed portfolios which could offset their high fees while still providing access to a great range of saving tools and account types. Round-ups and payday boosts make saving painless, allowing beginners to build a pot for investing free of any of the costs associated with investing on this app.
The app is simple and user-friendly without compromising on functionality.
Fees
Subscription: £1 per month (after three free months)
Platform Fee: 0.45%
Fund Costs: 0.09% – 0.88% annually
FX Fee: 0.45% for US stocks
Investment Options
3.5
4.0
5.0
3.5
3.5
3.5
For a detailed analysis of Monebox, check out our review for 2024
Read full review4.5/5
– The UK’s #1 trading app with ultra-low fees
Free fractional shares worth up to £100
4.9% APY on cash, paid daily
When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results
There’s no doubt that Trading 212 is a cost-effective option with a well-designed and user-friendly interface. There are unbeatable rates of interest on savings and serious traders would be well served here.
The app gets excellent accolades and is one of the most popular trading apps in the world. It manages to offer enough functionality without drowning out the key elements. There is also a pro version of the app for serious investors.
Fees
Commission: None
FX Fee: 0.15% (lowest in the market)
Inactivity Fee: None
Investment Options
5.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
2.0
2.5
Read my full review of Trading 212
Read full review4.5/5
– Great research tools that would suit active investors
Switch your account and receive up to £500
Refer a friend who transfers at least £10,000 and you both receive £100 in Amazon vouchers
Capital at risk.
In-depth research, a user-friendly interface and low fees combine to make this an excellent investment experience for active investors. The app itself is very intuitive, making it easy to access your investments and insights on the go. The ready-made portfolios offer a risk-tailored alternative for beginners seeking consistently good returns.
All in all a solid choice for investors seeking low-cost investing without sacrificing research tools.
Fees
Custody charges: 0.25% (capped at £10 per month) for shares/ETFs
Annual ongoing charges: 0.10%–0.65% for funds, depending on the type
Share dealing fees: £5.00 standard, £3.50 for frequent traders (10+ trades per month)
No fees for holding cash or transferring out funds
Investments
4.5
4.5
5.0
4.5
5.0
5.0
For a detailed analysis of AJ Bell, check out our review for 2024
Read full review5.0/5
– Professional level investing for experts
Trade UK stocks from £3 per trade
Trade US stocks from $1 per trade
Capital at risk.
Know what you’re doing when it comes to investing? Then this is the platform for you. Professional-grade tools and global market access make this hard to beat. There is a high minimum deposit that may be a barrier for some people, however, the strong education and expert research alongside competitive pricing make this a premium service that meets the needs of most investors, particularly seasoned professionals.
Fees
Management Fees: 0.75% – 1.25% depending on the account
Trading Costs: Competitive spreads
FX Fees: Low for large trades
Investment Options
4.0
5.0
4.0
5.0
5.0
3.5
For a detailed analysis of Saxo Markets, check out our review for 2024
Read full reviewWhilst cost is not the only factor to consider when choosing an app, it is advisable that the pricing structure matches your investment strategy in order for you to keep more of your gains.
InvestEngine and Trading 212 excel in this area and offer a cost-effective solution for all investors. However, AJ Bell and Saxo provide comprehensive services that would undoubtedly be worth the cost for serious traders.
Managed or ready-made portfolios provide a hands-off alternative for investors lacking the confidence to choose their own investments. However, whether this is a good option or not comes down to the returns achieved. Whilst historical returns won’t guarantee future returns, they can provide an indication of how successfully the portfolio is being managed.
We have done all the analysis on ready-made portfolios for the past 10 years where information is available and pitched them against each other as a direct comparison. Head to the page here for comprehensive results.
Pay attention to fees. Large portfolios will be best served with a flat fee structure, while smaller ones could benefit from percentage fees or zero fees. InvestEngine is the most cost-effective platform I have encountered to date.
Consider your investment goals. Are you a buy-and-hold investor or do you like to trade frequently? What sort of tools and resources do you need from your investment app?
That’s actually pretty straightforward. First and foremost, think about your level of experience and knowledge when it comes to investing. We all need to start somewhere but are you happy to take risks with your money or would you rather leave the tough decisions to a professional? Moneybox and InvestEngine both offer the kind of service that a complete novice can happily sail through.
Trading 212 and AJ Bell are more suited to investors with a little know-how and both are well-priced as well as offering a decent range of investment options and research.
Cost is always a factor, but you won’t get recommended anything that is overcharging here. We factor in platform fees, management fees,
Yes! Because they cut out the ‘middle man’, these platforms are able to offer investment solutions at a fraction of the cost of traditional wealth management.
Firstly you must consider this a long-term endeavour. Once you have chosen your platform, a simple S&P 500 tracker fund is often the most lucrative investment.
* Wondering whether we get paid for writing good things about platforms? Good question! It's how many comparison sites get paid.
The answer is – no, we proudly do things a little differently at Investing Insiders. Our sole criteria is what's best for you – the consumer. So, although we do receive a commission if you choose to click through and open an account from any of our reviews, we will never bend our opinions to suit the requests of providers, or the needs of our bank balance. Bottom line – what you read on this page is what I'd recommend to my family, friends and colleagues, and indeed, what I choose for my own money.
Opening and closing accounts at these platforms can usually be done in minutes. You are at liberty to change platforms at any time. When choosing an account, consider an ISA as this is the most tax effecient way to invest.