ETFs (exchange-traded funds) are one of the cheapest ways to invest in the stock market. One ETF can hold hundreds of companies, and you can buy or sell it at any time during the trading day.
Which platform is the best ETF broker in the UK? It depends on how much you invest and how often you trade. We compared four FCA-regulated platforms on trading fees, account fees and their Stocks and Shares ISA, using the prices on their UK websites in October 2026.
| Broker | ETF trade | Account fee | Best for |
| eToro | £0 | £0 | Commission-free ETFs and copy trading |
| Freetrade | £0 | £0 (Basic) to £11.99 a month | A low-cost ISA in an app |
| Interactive Brokers | £3 (fixed) or 0.05%, min. £1 (tiered) | £0 (£3 minimum monthly activity in the ISA) | Global ETF range |
| Interactive Investor | £3.99 (Core plan) | £5.99 a month (Core plan) | Large portfolios |
Online trades in UK-listed ETFs. Other fees may apply. Sources: eToro, Freetrade, Interactive Brokers and Interactive Investor, October 2026.
How much would you pay each year?
The table below shows the yearly platform costs for an ETF portfolio in a Stocks and Shares ISA, with one UK-listed ETF purchase a month.
| Broker | £20,000 | £100,000 |
| eToro | £0 | £0 |
| Freetrade (Basic) | £0 | £0 |
| Interactive Brokers | £36 | £36 |
| Interactive Investor (Core) | £71.88 | £71.88 |
Interactive Brokers: one ETF purchase a month at £3 (fixed pricing), which also covers the £3 minimum monthly activity fee. Interactive Investor: Core plan at £5.99 a month with free regular investing. ETF management charges and FX fees on non-GBP assets not included.
For a portfolio of UK-listed ETFs, eToro and Freetrade cost nothing in platform fees. The difference appears when you buy assets in other currencies: eToro charges 0.70% FX in its ISA and Freetrade 0.99% on the Basic plan. If you hold ETFs listed in pounds, such as a global or S&P 500 UCITS ETF on the London Stock Exchange, you avoid these fees.
eToro: best for commission-free ETFs and copy trading
76% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
eToro in a nutshell
eToro charges no commission on real ETFs and stocks for UK clients. Other fees may apply. UK clients can hold a GBP account, with no conversion fee on pound deposits, no withdrawal fee and, since 28 May 2026, no inactivity fee. The minimum first deposit is $50.
eToro also offers a Stocks and Shares ISA, run on Moneyfarm’s platform. Since July 2026 it has no commission and no custody fee, with a 0.70% FX charge on assets that are not in pounds.
What sets eToro apart is the social side. You can follow other investors, see their portfolios and use copy trading to replicate them automatically, ETFs included. eToro (UK) Ltd is authorised and regulated by the FCA.
eToro also offers CFDs, which are leveraged products. If you only want ETFs, you don’t need to use them.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 52% 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.
Freetrade: best for a low-cost ISA in an app
Freetrade in a nutshell
Freetrade is a UK investment app with commission-free trading in stocks, ETFs, funds and investment trusts. Every plan, including the free Basic plan, gives you a Stocks and Shares ISA, a Junior ISA, a SIPP and a general investment account, with access to the same range of more than 8,600 investments.
The paid plans lower the FX fee and pay more interest on cash:
| Plan | Price | FX fee | Interest on cash |
| Basic | £0 | 0.99% | 1% AER up to £1,000 |
| Standard | £5.99 a month (£4.99 if paid yearly) | 0.59% | 2.5% AER up to £2,000 |
| Plus | £11.99 a month (£9.99 if paid yearly) | 0.39% | 3.5% AER up to £3,000 |
Source: Freetrade pricing, October 2026. Other charges may apply.
If you mainly buy ETFs listed in pounds, the Basic plan is enough. A paid plan makes sense if you trade often in US dollars or keep cash in the account.
Interactive Brokers: best for a global ETF range
Interactive Brokers in a nutshell
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) gives UK investors access to more than 150 exchanges worldwide, so you can buy ETFs listed in London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and other markets. Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA, with reference number 208159.
For UK-listed ETFs, IBKR has two pricing plans:
- Fixed: £3 per trade up to £6,000, then 0.05% of the trade value.
- Tiered: 0.05% of the trade value, with a minimum of £1 per order, plus exchange and clearing fees.
IBKR charges no custody fee. In the Stocks and Shares ISA there is a minimum monthly activity fee of £3, so a single £3 trade a month covers it.
IBKR suits investors who want ETFs from several European exchanges or plan to trade large amounts, where the 0.05% rate keeps costs low. The trade-off is complexity: account opening takes longer and the main platform, Trader Workstation, has a steep learning curve. The IBKR GlobalTrader app is simpler for beginners.
Interactive Investor: best for large portfolios
Interactive Investor in a nutshell
Interactive Investor (ii) charges a flat monthly fee instead of a percentage of your portfolio. Every plan includes a Stocks and Shares ISA, a SIPP and a Trading Account for one fee.
ii has three plans:
- Core: £5.99 a month for portfolios up to £100,000. UK and US shares, ETFs and funds cost £3.99 per trade.
- Plus: £14.99 a month with no portfolio limit, and one free trade a month.
- Premium: £39.99 a month. ETFs cost £2.99 per trade and you get 10 free trades a month.
Regular investing is free on every plan, from £25 a month. If you buy the same ETFs each month, the monthly fee is often the only platform cost.
A flat fee weighs more on a small portfolio, but becomes cheap as your savings grow. ii also publishes research, fund shortlists and investment guides, and you can reach its UK support team by phone.
Which ETFs can you buy in the UK?
UK retail investors buy UCITS ETFs, which are mostly domiciled in Ireland or Luxembourg and listed on the London Stock Exchange and other European markets. US-listed ETFs, such as SPY or VOO, are generally not available to UK retail investors. Most US funds have a UCITS version that tracks the same index, such as the Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS ETF or the iShares Core S&P 500 UCITS ETF.
The main types of ETF are:
- Equity ETFs: track a stock index, such as the FTSE 100, the S&P 500 or the MSCI World.
- Bond ETFs: hold government or corporate bonds, such as UK gilts.
- Commodity ETCs: track gold, oil or other commodities. In Europe these are usually exchange-traded commodities rather than ETFs.
- Thematic and ESG ETFs: focus on a sector, a theme or companies that meet environmental, social and governance criteria.
Most ETFs are passive and simply track an index, but the number of actively managed ETFs is growing.
Conclusion
| # | Broker | Best for |
| 1 | eToro | Commission-free ETFs and copy trading |
| 2 | Freetrade | A low-cost ISA in an app |
| 3 | Interactive Brokers | Global ETF range |
| 4 | Interactive Investor | Large portfolios |
For a portfolio of ETFs listed in pounds, eToro and Freetrade have no commission and no account fee. Interactive Brokers costs about £36 a year in an ISA with one purchase a month and gives you the widest choice of exchanges. Interactive Investor’s flat £5.99 a month suits investors who want one fee for an ISA, a SIPP and a Trading Account.
When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than you invest.
FAQs
What is the best ETF broker in the UK?
It depends on how you invest. eToro and Freetrade charge no commission and no account fee on UK-listed ETFs. Interactive Brokers offers the widest range of exchanges, and Interactive Investor’s flat fee suits large portfolios.
Can I hold ETFs in a Stocks and Shares ISA?
Yes. All four brokers in this article offer a Stocks and Shares ISA that can hold ETFs. You can invest up to £20,000 a year across all your ISAs, and you pay no tax on gains or dividends inside them.
Can I buy US ETFs like VOO from the UK?
Generally not as a retail investor. US-listed ETFs don’t provide the documents UK rules require for retail sale. Buy a UCITS ETF that tracks the same index instead, such as an S&P 500 UCITS ETF listed in London.
How risky are ETFs?
An ETF can fall in value, and you may get back less than you invest. A broad ETF spreads your money across many companies, which reduces the impact of any single one, but it still moves with the market. Leveraged and inverse ETFs are much riskier and are designed for short-term trading.
Is my money protected if my broker fails?
FCA-regulated brokers must hold client investments separately from their own money. If a broker fails and money is missing, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) may compensate eligible investors up to £85,000. FSCS protection does not cover falls in the value of your investments. You can check any broker on the FCA register.
Are ETFs good for beginners?
Yes, broad ETFs are a simple way to start. One global or S&P 500 ETF gives you hundreds of companies at a low yearly cost. Setting up a monthly investment helps you build the habit and spread your purchases over time. See our guide to the best trading apps for beginners.