This is our guide to the best investment apps in the UK.
When I started out as an FX trader more than 10 years ago, smart phones were non-existent which meant that web- and desktop-based platforms were the only good options. Nowadays it feels like a new investment app springs up every week looking for funding on Seedrs and CrowdCube!
It’s easier than ever to start investing or trading with your own money and there are a lot of options to consider. Some investment apps allow you to buy and sell stocks and shares directly. Others such as robo-advisors allow you to invest in ready-made portfolios with little effort on your part.
There are investment apps that allow you to invest in US and international stocks and ETFs, crypto currencies, bonds and commodities. So whilst it may sound easy to get started, there are lots of factors to consider.
Given the sheer number of options available, we’ll be regularly updating this guide to the best investment apps the UK has to offer.
Before diving into the details, here are our top picks for the best investment apps:
- Best Overall
eToro
A comprehensive trading app which allows you to trade and invest in thousands of stocks, currencies and funds. With over 20 million users, eToro has a thriving trading community where you can copy the trades of others, discuss and learn from each other. Investing is commission-free too.
- Auto-copy the trades of top traders
- Best For Beginners
Wombat Invest
A beginner friendly investment app with plenty of investments to choose from. You can get started with just £10, invest by theme and buy fractional shares. Plus, earn interest on any uninvested cash in your account.
- Get A Free £10 Bonus To Get Started
- Best For Passive Investing
Moneyfarm
Investing made easy, Moneyfarm is a robo-advisor which invests your money for you. Answer a questionnaire and Moneyfarm’s experts take care of the rest. You can also add themes to your portfolio and pick socially responsible options. Plus, the more you invest the lower the fees.
- Enter Moneyfarm’s £20,000 prize draw by opening or transferring a pension
- Best All-Round
Hargreaves Lansdown
The largest retail investment platform in the UK, Hargreaves Lansdown offers all the main ISAs and pensions as well as thousands of shares, funds and bonds to invest in. Trade and manage your portfolio from its easy-to-use app. It’s a little pricier than other platforms but its customer service is top-rated.
- Cashback of up to £1,000 if you transfer an ISA or GIA and up to £3,500 for a pension
Use the following links to skip ahead for all the details to find out which investment app is right for you:
- Best Investment Apps In The UK: DIY Apps
- Best Investment Apps In The UK: Passive Investing Apps
- Best Investment Apps In The UK: All-Round App
- Best Investment Apps In The UK: How To Choose Which Is Right For You
Summary: Best Investment Apps In The UK
We’ll go into detail on each of the investment apps on our list, but first here’s a full summary table of the best investment apps in the UK for 2023.
| App | Best For | Additional Features | Offer |
| eToro* | Commission-free investing | Copy the trades of top traders through eToro’s CopyTrader | N/A |
| Wombat | Beginners | Invest by theme | £10 Welcome Bonus. Ts&Cs apply. Capital at risk if you invest. |
| Interactive Investor | Huge range of investments | Invest in ready-made income portfolios | £100 Cashback for new customers. Terms & fees apply. Capital at risk if you invest. |
| Moneyfarm | Passive investing | Socially responsible investing | N/A |
| Plum | Automated saving & investing | Earn interest on uninvested cash | N/A |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | Best all-round | Speak to a qualified financial advisor | Cashback on transfers: ISA/GIA – £50-£1,000. SIPP – £100-£3,500. Ts&Cs apply. Capital at risk if you invest. |
Best Investment Apps in the UK
We’ve tested and reviewed many investment and trading apps to find the best investment apps in the UK. Our guide below is split into three sections: expert managed (passive) investment apps, DIY (self-investment) apps and finally the best all-round investment app.
The apps in our guide all have their own unique and positive features, but of course, choosing the right one for you will depend on what you’re looking for. We cover how to choose the best investment app for you towards the end of our run-through.
Best ‘DIY’ (Self-Invested) Investment App
eToro – Top Pick
One of the best-known trading platforms in the UK, eToro offers some of the most innovative trading features alongside thousands of stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies* to invest in.
One of eToro’s most popular features is its CopyTrader, which allows you to automatically copy the trades of the best traders on its platform. There’s no extra fee for using CopyTrader, either, aside from any trading or account fees required to carry out the trades.
On top of this, eToro also offers ‘Smart Portfolios’ which are investment portfolios put together around certain themes or strategies. You’re able to automatically invest in these portfolios, with no added fees.
An eToro Trading Account will allow you to buy and sell shares commission-free, trade in CFDs* across a range of assets and choose your level of leverage. It’s one of the most comprehensive and best investment apps available in the UK. The only real downside is that it does not offer ISAs at the moment.
Best For: Trading US stocks and ETFs commission-free.
- Investment Options:
- Stocks & Shares: 3,208
- ETFs: 325
- Cryptocurrencies: 74
- Indices (CFDs): 20
- Commodities (CFDs): 32
- Currencies (CFDs): 52
- CopyTrader Verified Traders: 24,000+
- Smart Portfolios: 86
- Products: Trading Account, Pro Account, eToro Money Account, Demo Account
- Fees:
- Withdrawal fee of $5 on all withdrawals (deposits are free)
- FX conversion fee on all non-US dollar withdrawals & deposits. This fee depends on the method of transaction, e.g. bank transfer is 0.50%. No FX charge if using eToro Money account to fund your trading account
- $10 monthly inactivity fee if no login after 12 monthsUK share dealing: £2.95 per transaction
- Daily financing fees on all CFD trades kept open overnight (inc. weekends) and broker spread, exact fee depends on asset being traded
- See detailed fees walkthrough here
- Minimum Investment: $50 for first deposit then $10 minimum investment. Smart Portfolios minimum investment is $500
- FCA Regulated: Yes
- FSCS Protection: Yes
- Trustpilot Rating: 4.4
Read our in-depth eToro review for more about eToro.
*CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Cryptocurrency markets are high risk. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.
Wombat Invest – Best For Beginners
Founded in 2019, Wombat is a beginner-friendly and low-cost investment app. You’re able to invest in shares and ETFs, including international shares, with a low minimum investment of just £10.
Wombat also supports fractional shares in GIAs, so you can invest in a portion of high-priced shares if you don’t have the cash to buy an entire share. Stocks such as Amazon and Tesla have share prices that typically hover in the hundreds which can put them out of reach for novice investors. Fractional shares are a great way of being able to invest in these companies with smaller amounts.
There are two plans offered by Wombat – an ‘Instant’ plan and a ‘Standard’ plan. Wombat’s Instant GIA is totally free of platform and subscription charges but you can only invest in 400+ US shares and there’s an FX fee of 0.65% for each transaction. There’s also 0.20% cashback on buys which goes into your Instant GIA cash account.
Standard account holders can choose from a GIA, Stocks and Shares ISA or Junior ISA to invest through. In these accounts you can invest in UK, EU and US shares as well as 30+ ETFs. There’s a £1 per month subscription charge and a low annual platform fee of 0.10%. FX fees of 0.75% apply on non-GBP share transactions.
WOMBAT OFFER: Get a free £10 bonus to invest. Sign up to Wombat using the link below and you’ll get £10 for free to invest with. T&Cs apply. Capital at risk if you invest.
Wombat’s Key Features
- Investment Options: UK shares and ETFs, US shares and European shares
- Accounts: Stocks & Shares ISA., Junior ISA and General Investment Account (GIA)
- Fees & Charges:
- Instant Account (GIA only):
- No platform, subscription or dealing fees
- FX fee of 0.65% when purchasing non-GBP shares
- Standard Account (GIA, ISA o JISA):
- £1 per month subscription fee
- 0.10% annual platform fee
- 0.75% FX fees on non-GBP transactions
- No commission or dealing fees
- Instant Account (GIA only):
- Minimum Investment: £10
- FCA Regulated: Yes
- FSCS Protection: Yes
- Trustpilot Rating: 4.1
- Apple App Store Rating: 4.6 (700+ reviews)
Wombat is an easy-to-use investment app aimed at beginners which has continued to add more features and investment options over time. With its low fees compared to bigger rivals, Wombat is one of our favourite options for new investors.
Don’t forget to use our exclusive link to get a free £10 bonus!
Capital at risk if you invest.
Interactive Investor
Founded more than 25 years ago, Interactive Investor – or ii – is one of the largest investment platforms in the UK. It has over £50bn in assets under administration (AUA), with over 400,000 customers.
It offers a wide range of thousands of stocks, funds and bonds to invest in, making it one of the best investment apps in the UK. Interactive Investor also offers a good choice of accounts and ISA products.
Where Interactive Investor differs from many other investment apps is its pricing. It charges monthly subscription fees instead of annual percentage charges based on the value of your investments. Full details below:
- Investment Options: Thousands of investment assets across mutual funds, investment trusts, ETFs, shares and bonds
- Ready-Made Portfolios: 5 to choose from – 3 growth and 2 income portfolios
- Products: Stocks & Shares ISA, SIPP, Junior ISA, GIA, personal financial advice
- Fees:
- Investor Essentials: £4.99 per month (max. investment of £50k)
- Investor: £11.99 per month
- Super Investor: £19.99 per month
- Pension Essentials: £5.99 per month for penions up to £50k in value
- Pension Builder (SIPP): £12.99 per month for pensions above £50 in value
- Note, SIPP can be added to Investor and Super Investor Plans for £10 a month extra
- Online share dealing: £3.99 per transaction for UK funds & shares and US shares on all plans. £9.99 for non-US international share dealing. Dividend reinvestment £0.99 for all plans
- Minimum Investment: No minimum investment to open an account. £25 per month minimum for regular investing
- FSCS Protection: Yes
- Trustpilot Rating: 4.7
The higher the value of your investments, the more cost effective Interactive Investor becomes in percentage terms, as its pricing is based on fixed monthly fees.
With its huge range of investing options and accounts, alongside its top rated service, Interactive Investor is one of the best investment apps on the market in the UK. Read our detailed comparison of Interactive Investor vs Hargreaves Lansdown for how it stacks up to its biggest competitor.
OFFER: Interactive Investor is currently giving cashback of up to £100 if you open an ISA or Trading account and deposit or transfer £5k. Click below to take advantage of this offer:
Get £100 Cashback
New customers who open an Interactive Investor ISA or Trading Account by 30th November and deposit or transfer £5k will receive £100 cashback.
Terms and fees apply. Capital at risk if you invest.
£100 Cashback Offer
New customers who open an Interactive Investor ISA or Trading Account by 30th November and deposit or transfer £5k will receive £100 cashback.
Terms and fees apply. Capital at risk if you invest.
Best ‘Expert Managed’ (Passive) Investment Apps
Here’s my list of the best UK investment apps for passive investing. This is where you don’t pick your own investments or buy and sell financial assets yourself – the app does it for you based on your risk appetite and goals.
Moneyfarm – Top Pick
Moneyfarm is a well-established robo-advisor in the UK. It’s ideal for casual investors who want a hands-off approach and it’s well-suited for beginners. Moneyfarm gets to know its investors well enough to make investments depending on your desired risk level. It can also create a starter portfolio for you, depending on your level of knowledge.
You can open a general investment account, a Stocks and Shares ISA, a pension or a Junior ISA. It requires a minimum investment of £500, which is on the higher side, especially for newer investors. However, its fees are low, with a flat fee starting at 0.75% for amounts under £10,000, and then reducing the more you invest.
Moneyfarm is an intuitive app that allows you to invest with minimal fuss involved. I’ve used it for 5 years now and keep it as my primary robo-advisor investment.
Best For: Passive investing for beginners with an easy-to-use app and a good range of portfolio options.
Click here to sign up to Moneyfarm. Read our independent Moneyfarm review for more.
Plum
Plum operates in a unique way compared to the others on this list. It works by connecting to your bank account and using an algorithm to calculate how much you can save. You can then choose to invest that money in a cash savings account, stocks and shares ISA, a general investment account or a self-invested personal pension.
Plum is a good platform for beginners, and it also lets you choose from varying risk levels, so you don’t need to commit to high-stakes investments if you’re not too confident.
You’ll pay a £1 fee per month with Plum once you have started investing money in the platform. You’ll also pay a product provider fee of 0.15% and a 0.06%–0.90% fund management fee.
Best For: Beginners starting small who want a simple jargon-free approach.
Click here to get started with Plum. Read our detailed Plum review for more.
Best All-Round Investment App
Hargreaves Lansdown
While lots of new apps continue to appear in the UK investing scene, Hargreaves Lansdown stands out as the best investment app among the long-established investment platforms.
It’s more expensive to use than many of the newer apps, but it has a comprehensive offering packed full of features and tools. Their customer service is also first-class.
In addition to the app, Hargreaves Lansdown has a very good web-based investment platform which, like the app, has a ton of features. I’ve personally used Hargreaves Lansdown for many years now, mostly for its free charts, tools and research features.
You could consider starting off with Hargreaves Lansdown to make the most of their comprehensive features and tools and then, once you gain experience, switch to a lower cost investment app.
Best For: Experienced investors who value customer support and lots of features and tools.
Click here to sign up to Hargreaves Lansdown.
You can also download Hargreaves Lansdown’s free investing guide here:
How To Choose The Best Investment App For You
Here are some important points you need to consider when choosing the best investment app for you:
Is it easy to use?
Mobile investing should provide you with a smooth and efficient way to invest your money. If you’re looking for a mobile investment app, it’s important that it’s easy to use. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has stopped using an app because of poor user experience. So a good app design and simple interface are important features in the investment app you choose.
What are the fees?
It’s important that you understand the fees before committing to an investment platform. Of course, you always want to pay the lowest amount possible and get the best value for money. Generally, the expert managed apps on this list will cost more than the DIY apps since you pay more to have the platform manage your investments. However, high fees often mean you’re simply paying for a higher quality service.
What is the minimum deposit amount?
Some investment apps require a minimum deposit amount. This can be as little as 1p to £500. So make sure you’re aware of this before choosing an investment app.
How easy is it to manage your money?
At the end of the day, you’re putting your hard-earned money into these apps. So it’s extremely important you choose an app that allows you to manage your money easily. This means you should consider how you deposit or withdraw your money within the app and the fees incurred by doing so, as well as how long it’ll take for account transfers to complete.
Which asset classes does it allow you to invest in?
If you’re new to investing and want to make your own investment decisions, then it’s worth thinking about what kind of assets you would like to invest in. Do you want to buy stocks and shares and hold on to them over time? If so, I’d recommend sticking to commission-free trading apps.
For a hands-off approach where you want investment exposure but don’t have the time or desire to make your own investment decisions, a robo-advisor is a great option. This will automatically invest your money primarily into stocks and shares, plus some bonds. Some of the best investment apps in the UK belong to the robo-advisors outlined above.
If you’re a more experienced investor, then you may want to consider the investment apps that offer a wider choice of asset classes to trade in. These could be commodities, cryptocurrencies and FX. Investment apps such as eToro offer many of these options.
You can also trade using leveraged instruments such as CFDs, but I would not recommend this for beginners as they come with much greater risk. CFDs are typically used for short-term trading as they come with overnight interest charges. Read more on the differences between trading vs investing.
Best Investment Apps UK – Final Verdict
As you can see, there are a lot of investment apps in the UK to choose from. Not to mention that there are new ones appearing all the time.
To decide which is the best UK investment app for you, you should consider which features are most important to you and then work out which app meets your needs the most. That could be based purely on the lowest cost, or which one has the most tools and research features.
Don’t be afraid to try out a few different investment apps – many of them have demo accounts – and work out which one suits you the best.
Our winner for best passive investing app is Moneyfarm. For trading its eToro due to its commission-free trades and innovative features. The best all-round investment app in the UK is Hargreaves Lansdown in our view. It has the most account and ISA options, great custome service and a huge range of investments.
Fact-checked.
This article has been fact-checked by Talal, who is a CFA qualified finance professional. Talal previously advised clients with at least £1 billion to invest, so you’re in safe hands.
