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Since its inception in 2016, UK.StockBrokers.com has established itself as a trusted resource for millions of visitors and has developed proprietary tools and ratings to make it easier to find, compare and choose a broker.
These first Annual Awards commend exceptional features and services in areas important to the everyday investor in the U.K. The Awards represent the culmination of rigorous research, thorough analysis and meticulous data collection.
To select award winners, the UK.StockBrokers.com team assessed, rated, and ranked 17 U.K. share dealing platforms over a 10-week period. Each broker’s platforms and features were exhaustively tested by hand and graded on 53 different variables.
Congratulations to the winners of the UK.StockBrokers.com 2024 Annual Awards.
#1 Charges & Fees
Winner: Trading 212
Methodology: This award recognizes the brokerage with the lowest share dealing costs, which vary significantly among U.K. platforms. Factors considered include trading commissions, transaction fees, custody fees, and other account fees.
Trading 212 is among a handful of newer brokers that have disrupted the market by offering commission-free stock trading. Trading 212’s charging structure is simple – there are no fees for buying and selling shares. — UK.StockBrokers.com Trading 212 review
#1 Website
Winner: Interactive Brokers
Methodology: The #1 Website award recognizes the best web-based trading platform for the everyday investor. Key criteria include availability of tools, learning materials and data, as well as ease of use, design and responsiveness.
Through Interactive Brokers' web portal, you have access to a huge amount of data, learning materials and investment options. It’s easy to buy or sell shares or investments. A mutual fund scanner allows you to search for mutual funds according to country, provider or type. Overall the web portal offers very useful material and options for any investor. — UK.StockBrokers.com Interactive Brokers review
#1 Investment Choices
Winner: Saxo Markets
Methodology: This award recognizes the broker that scored the most points for the Investment Choices category, which considers availability of instruments such as stocks, bonds, CFDs, funds, and trusts.
You have a choice of 23,500 shares on 50 stock exchanges worldwide through Saxo Markets, which is the widest range of stocks of any U.K. broker we tested. Saxo also offers ETFs, investment trusts, bonds and mutual funds, meaning you can achieve wide diversification. — UK.StockBrokers.com Saxo Markets review
#1 Education
Winner: Interactive Investor
Methodology: This award recognizes the brokerage that scored the most points for the Education category, which factors in the availability and quality of articles, webinars and other materials surrounding various aspects of share dealing and investing.
It’s clear that overall, Interactive Investor believes it has a duty in providing the support, intelligence and investment choice to help Britons make better financial decisions. It offers educational content that is detailed, easy to understand and available in accessible formats from articles to videos. — UK.StockBrokers.com Interactive Investor review
#1 Broker for Beginners
Winner: Interactive Investor
Methodology: This award considers several factors important to new investors, such as a wide range of available assets, quality and breadth of educational material, ease of use, and a highly competitive pricing structure.
Interactive Investor offers every asset a new investor is likely to need, has extensive educational material and is very competitive on price too. —UK.StockBrokers.com Best Trading Platforms for Beginners
#1 Mobile App
Winner: Saxo Markets
Methodology: The Mobile App award recognizes the best mobile app for everyday investors. Key criteria included tools, research availability, ease of use, design, and responsiveness.
Placing trades is quick and simple through the app, and it's easy to do basic functions such as create and manage my watch list. I like the look and feel of the app and was impressed by the new design of the portfolio section, where you can see in detail your historical performance and can see a clear summary of your positions, including your profit and loss. — UK.StockBrokers.com Saxo Markets review
#1 Ease of Use
Winner: Trading 212
Methodology: This award goes to the brokerage that scored the highest in the Ease of Use category. Navigation, task efficiency, layout fluidity, responsiveness, and overall design were assessed to determine the overall usability of each broker’s website and mobile app.
The Trading 212 app is fun to use – particularly as you can open a demo account funded with £5,000 of virtual money, allowing you to test your own investment hunches without losing any cash. The website is comprehensive, allowing you to buy and sell in real time. You can see upcoming economic events and there are extensive charting tools available for free to all users. — UK.StockBrokers.com Trading 212 review
Methodology
For the UK.StockBrokers.com Annual Awards, we assessed, rated, and ranked 17 U.K. share dealing platforms over a 10-week time period. Each broker’s platforms and features were exhaustively tested by hand and graded on 53 different variables. In total, over 25,000 words of research were produced.
We thoroughly tested and compared features of prime interest to everyday investors, including but not limited to:
- Investment choices, such as whether the broker offers trading of shares, ETFs, funds, bonds, and CFDs; and offers SIPP and ISA accounts.
- The broker’s charges and fees for investing.
- Functionality and design of mobile apps and website platform, and a fluid experience moving between app and web.
- Usability of tools such as charting and watch lists.
- Market research, such as screening, news and analysis.
- Educational resources including tutorials, online courses, videos, webinars and articles.