TD Ameritrade no longer exists as a separate broker. Charles Schwab bought TD Ameritrade in 2020 and moved its last clients to Schwab in May 2024. You can’t open a TD Ameritrade account in the UK or anywhere else.
The good news is that its best-known platform, Thinkorswim, is now available to UK residents through Charles Schwab. Below we explain how to access it from the UK and compare UK alternatives for investors who want an ISA, a SIPP or UK shares.
| Platform | Best for | ISA | Stock and ETF trades |
| Charles Schwab | Thinkorswim and US markets | No | US stocks $0 online |
| Interactive Brokers | Active traders and global markets | Yes | UK £3, US $0.005 per share, min. $1 (fixed) |
| eToro | Social investing | Yes | No commission (other fees may apply) |
| Bestinvest | Free coaching and ready-made portfolios | Yes | UK £4.95, US £0 (0.95% FX) |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | Customer service and research | Yes | £6.95 online |
| InvestEngine | ETF investors | Yes | £0 on 870+ ETFs |
Sources: Schwab UK, Interactive Brokers, eToro, Bestinvest, Hargreaves Lansdown and InvestEngine, October 2026.
What happened to TD Ameritrade?
Charles Schwab completed its purchase of TD Ameritrade in October 2020. It then moved TD Ameritrade clients to Schwab in several groups, and the last 1.8 million accounts moved in May 2024. Since then, the TD Ameritrade platforms have been retired.
Schwab kept Thinkorswim, TD Ameritrade’s trading platform for active traders, and now offers it to its own clients.
Can I use TD Ameritrade’s Thinkorswim in the UK?
Yes. In June 2024, Schwab launched Thinkorswim for UK residents. You open an account through Charles Schwab, U.K., Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), with reference number 225116.
Schwab UK states a US$0 account minimum. Online trades in US-listed stocks cost $0 and US options $0.65 per contract. US regulatory fees apply on some trades.
There are trade-offs for UK investors. The account is held with Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. in the US, so the UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) does not apply, and US SIPC protection applies instead. Schwab also doesn’t offer an ISA or a SIPP, so gains and dividends are taxed as normal.
Other US brokers, such as E*TRADE, still don’t accept UK residents.
TD Ameritrade UK alternatives
If you want a UK account with an ISA or a SIPP, these platforms are worth comparing.
Interactive Brokers: best for active traders and global markets
Interactive Brokers in a nutshell
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is the strongest alternative for active traders. Founded by Thomas Peterffy in 1978, it gives you stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds, options and futures on more than 150 exchanges, with advanced tools in its Trader Workstation platform.
Interactive Brokers (U.K.) Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA, with reference number 208159. On fixed pricing, UK shares cost £3 per trade and US shares $0.005 per share, with a $1 minimum. There is no account minimum. IBKR offers a Stocks and Shares ISA, with a £3 minimum monthly activity fee, and a SIPP.
eToro: best for social investing
76% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
eToro in a nutshell
eToro was founded in Israel in 2007. It charges no commission on real stocks and ETFs for UK clients. Other fees may apply. With CopyTrader, you can copy the portfolios of other investors automatically.
UK clients can hold a GBP account with no fee on pound deposits or withdrawals, and eToro offers a Stocks and Shares ISA run on Moneyfarm’s platform. The minimum first deposit is $50. eToro (UK) Ltd is authorised and regulated by the FCA.
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.
Bestinvest: best for free coaching and ready-made portfolios
Bestinvest in a nutshell
Bestinvest is the investment platform of Evelyn Partners, which NatWest agreed to buy in February 2026. It offers free, unlimited coaching sessions, even if you are not a client, and a range of ready-made portfolios.
Its fees depend on what you hold:
| Portfolio value | Ready-made portfolios and US shares | Other funds and UK shares |
| Up to £250,000 | 0.2% a year | 0.4% a year |
| £250,000 to £500,000 | 0.2% a year | 0.2% a year |
| £500,000 to £1 million | 0.1% a year | 0.1% a year |
| Above £1 million | 0% | 0% |
Online trades in UK shares and ETFs cost £4.95, and US shares and funds have no dealing charge. Currency conversion on US share trades costs 0.95%. A Portfolio Health Check with an adviser costs £495.
Hargreaves Lansdown: best for customer service and research
Hargreaves Lansdown in a nutshell
Hargreaves Lansdown (HL) was founded in Bristol in 1981 by Peter Hargreaves and Stephen Lansdown and is one of the largest UK investment platforms. It is known for its UK-based helpdesk and free research. It offers a Stocks and Shares ISA, a SIPP, a Lifetime ISA, a Junior ISA and a Fund and Share Account.
HL is more expensive for frequent traders. Online share and ETF trades cost £6.95, or £3.95 if you placed 20 or more trades the month before. Regular investing by monthly Direct Debit is free. For shares and ETFs, the account charge is capped at £150 a year per account.
InvestEngine: best for ETF investors
When investing your capital is at risk.
InvestEngine in a nutshell
InvestEngine is a UK platform built only for ETFs. It charges no buying or selling fees on more than 870 ETFs and no platform fee on DIY portfolios, including the ISA and SIPP. Managed Portfolios cost 0.25% a year. ETF charges apply on top, from 0.03% a year.
The minimum investment is £100. InvestEngine is authorised and regulated by the FCA, with reference number 801128. It doesn’t offer individual stocks, so it suits long-term ETF investors rather than traders.
Final thoughts
TD Ameritrade is gone, but its Thinkorswim platform lives on at Charles Schwab, which accepts UK residents with $0 online commissions on US stocks. The catch is no ISA or SIPP and no FSCS protection.
If you want a UK tax wrapper, Interactive Brokers is the closest match for active traders. eToro is the simplest app with no commission on stocks and ETFs, Bestinvest adds free coaching, Hargreaves Lansdown leads on support and research, and InvestEngine is the cheapest way to build an ETF portfolio.
When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than you invest.
FAQ
Does TD Ameritrade still exist?
No. Charles Schwab bought TD Ameritrade in 2020 and moved its last accounts to Schwab in May 2024. TD Ameritrade no longer opens accounts.
Is Thinkorswim available in the UK?
Yes. Since June 2024, UK residents can use Thinkorswim through Charles Schwab, U.K., Limited.
Can I hold Thinkorswim in an ISA?
No. Schwab doesn’t offer ISAs or SIPPs. Interactive Brokers, eToro, Bestinvest, Hargreaves Lansdown and InvestEngine all offer a Stocks and Shares ISA.