Trading 212 is an investment app where UK investors can buy stocks and ETFs, including fractional shares, without paying commission. Other fees may apply. See the terms and fees. It is often picked as one of the best trading platforms for beginners.
In this Trading 212 review we look at its accounts, fees, features and safety for UK investors, using the information on Trading 212’s website in October 2026, and at its main drawbacks.
When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.
Trading 212 at a glance
| Feature | Trading 212 (UK) |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Regulation | Trading 212 UK Ltd, authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN 609146) |
| Clients | More than 5 million (lifetime funded accounts) |
| Accounts | Invest, Stocks and Shares ISA, Cash ISA, SIPP |
| Stocks and ETFs | No commission (other fees may apply) |
| FX fee | 0.15% |
| Account and custody fees | None |
| Deposits | Free by bank transfer. Card, Apple Pay and Google Pay free up to £2,000 in total, then 0.7% |
| Withdrawals | Free |
| Support | 24/7 |
Sources: Trading 212, fees and funding fees, October 2026.
Pros and cons of Trading 212
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️ No commission on stocks and ETFs (other fees may apply) | ❌ Limited research tools for advanced investors |
| ✔️ ISA, Cash ISA and SIPP with no account fees | ❌ No options, individual bonds or mutual funds |
| ✔️ Low 0.15% FX fee | ❌ 0.7% on card deposits above £2,000 |
Trading 212 accounts
Trading 212 UK Ltd offers four accounts to UK residents:
- Invest: a general investment account for real stocks and ETFs, including fractional shares, from the UK, the US and Europe.
- Stocks and Shares ISA: the same investments, with no tax on gains or dividends. You can pay in up to £20,000 a year across all your ISAs.
- Cash ISA: a tax-free cash account whose rate tracks the Bank of England base rate, 0.15 percentage points below it. With the base rate at 3.75% in October 2026, that works out at 3.60%. Check the live rate in the app.
- SIPP: a self-invested personal pension with no account, custody, commission or transfer fee. Trading 212 claims basic rate tax relief from HMRC for you, so a £100 contribution becomes £125.
From 6 April 2027, the Cash ISA limit falls to £12,000 a year for savers under 65, while the total ISA allowance stays at £20,000. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may change.
Trading 212 fees
Trading 212 charges no commission and no custody fee on stocks and ETFs in the Invest account, the ISA and the SIPP. Other fees may apply. See terms and fees. The main fee Trading 212 itself charges is for currency conversion: 0.15% FX fee applies when converting funds. Other fees may apply.
| Fee | Cost |
| Commission on stocks and ETFs | £0 |
| FX fee | 0.15% |
| Account, custody and inactivity fees | £0 |
| Bank transfer deposits | £0 |
| Card, Apple Pay and Google Pay deposits | £0 up to £2,000 in total, then 0.7% |
| Withdrawals | £0 |
Source: Trading 212 Help Centre, October 2026.
Taxes and exchange charges still apply. UK share purchases carry 0.5% Stamp Duty Reserve Tax, while ETFs and most AIM shares are exempt. The Panel on Takeovers and Mergers levy of £1.50 applies to UK orders over £10,000, and US share sales carry small SEC and FINRA fees. All of these are shown on the review screen before you confirm an order.
Example: buying £1,000 of a US stock costs £1.50 in FX fees at Trading 212. Selling it later costs about the same again.
Trading 212 features
Pies and AutoInvest
With Pies, you build a basket of stocks and ETFs and set a target weight for each one. AutoInvest then invests your scheduled deposits in the Pie automatically. You can also share your Pies and browse those created by other users.
Pies & Autoinvest is an execution-only service. Not investment advice or portfolio management. Automatic investing refers to executing scheduled deposits. You are responsible for all investment and rebalancing decisions.
Interest on cash
You can earn interest on uninvested cash in your investment account.
When investing, your capital is at risk. If you enable interest, Trading 212 will hold your cash in qualifying money market funds and banks. Otherwise, your cash will be held only in banks. Interest applies on cash in an investment account. Terms apply.
212 Card
The 212 Card is a debit card linked to your account, with no monthly subscription. A 0% FX fee applies to card transactions. Other fees may apply. ATM withdrawals are free up to £400 per month, 1% ATM fee applies thereafter. Available with a T212 Invest Account. 212 Cards are issued by Paynetics which provide all payment services. T212 provides customer support and user interface.
Trading 212 app and platform
Trading 212 offers a mobile app for iOS and Android and a web platform, with the same account on both. The app is simple to use, with charts, watchlists, price alerts, news and key company data. Fractional shares let you invest small amounts in expensive stocks.
Advanced investors may find the research tools limited. For each company you get a summary of results and key ratios, rather than full financial statements or advanced screeners.
How to open a Trading 212 account
You open an account online or in the app:
- Sign up: enter your email and choose the account you want to open.
- Add your details: provide your personal information and answer a few questions about your experience and finances.
- Verify your identity: upload an ID document, such as a passport or driving licence, and proof of address if asked, such as a recent bank statement or utility bill.
- Fund your account: deposit by bank transfer, card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Trading 212 doesn’t accept residents of the United States or Canada.
Trading 212 customer service
Trading 212 offers support around the clock and reports an average response time of 29 seconds on its website. Its Help Centre answers most common questions, and the Trading 212 Community forum lets users share ideas and feedback.
Is Trading 212 safe?
Trading 212 UK Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), with firm reference number 609146. According to its money protection page:
- Investments: held in segregated accounts with custody partners Interactive Brokers and the Bank of New York Mellon, separate from Trading 212’s own assets.
- Uninvested cash: held at FCA-regulated partner banks, including Barclays, NatWest and J.P. Morgan Chase, and covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £120,000 per person, per bank.
No protection scheme covers falls in the value of your investments.
Our verdict
Trading 212 is a strong choice for UK investors who want to build a portfolio of stocks and ETFs at low cost. It charges no commission and no account fees on its Invest account, ISA and SIPP, and its main fee is a 0.15% FX fee. Other fees may apply. It also features among the cheapest stock trading platforms in the UK and the best ETF brokers in the UK.
The trade-offs are a narrower product range than brokers such as Interactive Brokers, with no options, individual bonds or funds, and fewer research tools.
Sponsored code. To get a free fractional share worth up to £100, you can open an account with Trading 212 using the code FINTECH or this link. The share is worth between £8 and £100, and 80% of rewards are worth £25 or less. Terms apply.
When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.
FAQ
Is Trading 212 legit or a scam?
Trading 212 is a legitimate broker founded in 2004. UK clients are served by Trading 212 UK Ltd, authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN 609146). Its investments are held with Interactive Brokers and BNY Mellon, and uninvested cash is covered by the FSCS up to £120,000 per bank.
Does Trading 212 have an ISA?
Yes. Trading 212 offers a Stocks and Shares ISA and a Cash ISA, both with no account fees. You can pay in up to £20,000 a year across all your ISAs.
Does Trading 212 have a SIPP?
Yes. The Trading 212 SIPP has no account, custody, commission or transfer fee, and Trading 212 claims basic rate tax relief on your contributions. A 0.15% FX fee applies when currency conversion is needed.
How does Trading 212 make money?
Its visible charges are the 0.15% FX fee and the 0.7% fee on card deposits above £2,000.
Which countries does Trading 212 accept?
Trading 212 serves clients in the UK, most of Europe and other markets through separately regulated companies. It doesn’t accept residents of the United States or Canada.