THE TRADING INDEX / UK
LIVE 2026-07

UK Investor Index / 2026 Edition

The UK trading platform index, scored on the numbers.

Seven platforms. Five weighted criteria. One ranking. We scored the trading platforms UK investors actually search for on the metrics that move outcomes: how many markets you can reach, who regulates them, how clean the pricing is, how good the tools are, and how fast support responds.

Platforms scored
7
Scoring criteria
5
Top score
9.4/10
Leader
EXANTE

Scores and ordering are The Trading Index editorial opinion. Provider figures are drawn from public sources and were believed correct at publication. Verify before opening an account. Capital at risk.

What is the best trading platform in the UK?

Ranked by weighted score, high to low

EXANTE leads the 2026 index at 9.4/10 on the strength of genuine multi-asset breadth and direct market access. The full board, sorted by overall editorial score, sits below. Bars show each score against a 10-point scale.

# Platform Best for Regulation Instruments Score / 10
01LEAD EXANTE Multi-asset breadth, direct market access FCA / CySEC / SFC 2,000,000+ 9.4
02 IG Established all-rounder, spread bets and CFDs FCA 17,000+ 8.9
03 interactive investor Flat-fee long-term investing FCA 40,000+ 8.5
04 Freetrade Beginners and commission-free shares FCA 6,000+ 8.4
05 Bestinvest Funds and guided investing FCA Funds / shares / ETFs 8.1
06 Trading.com FX, indices and commodities FCA / global entities FX / CFDs 8.0
07 AvaTrade Award-winning CFD trading Multi-jurisdiction 1,250+ CFDs 7.9

Instrument counts are provider-stated figures and cover different product types (direct securities vs contracts for difference), so they are not like-for-like. See how we score for the weighting behind each result.

How does The Trading Index score platforms?

Each platform earns a 0 to 10 mark on five criteria. The overall score is the weighted average of those five marks, so a strong result depends on breadth and safety, not one headline feature.

Provider facts come from public sources. The marks, the weights and the final order are our editorial judgement, built for the everyday UK investor asking which platform to actually use, not for a single niche.

  1. Market access30%

    Breadth and depth of real instruments and exchanges, and whether access is to exchange-traded instruments or via CFD exposure.

  2. Regulation and safety25%

    Quality of regulators, client-asset protection, segregation and operating history.

  3. Pricing transparency20%

    How clear, flat and predictable the total cost of ownership is over time.

  4. Platform and tools15%

    Web, desktop and mobile experience, data quality, execution and professional features.

  5. Support10%

    Responsiveness, dedicated service and availability when something goes wrong.

Which UK trading platform should you use?

Seven verdicts, ordered by score
01

EXANTE

Best overall / multi-asset breadth and direct market access 9.4/ 10

Verdict. EXANTE tops the 2026 index. If "best trading website" means the broadest reach from one login, EXANTE earns our highest market-access score in this comparison. UK investors get access to over 2 million instruments across 50+ markets, exchange-traded stocks, ETFs, bonds, futures, options, metals and currencies, from a single multi-currency account using direct market access rather than relying only on CFD exposure.

Founded in 2011, EXANTE is a global multi-asset prime broker serving professional and institutional clients, built for investors who intend to grow past a starter app. EXANTE is a global trademark shared by separately regulated brokers; the FCA authorises and regulates LHCM Ltd in the UK, while XNT Ltd (MFSA), EXT Ltd (CySEC) and XHK Ltd (SFC) serve other jurisdictions, and your client agreement determines the applicable entity and protections. Pricing uses customisable rates, custody on stocks and ETFs is free, and a dedicated account manager is assigned from day one.

Where it leads

  • 2,000,000+ instruments, 60,000+ global stocks and 10,000+ ETFs from one account
  • Direct market access to 50+ exchanges, not synthetic CFD exposure
  • Separately regulated entities: LHCM Ltd (FCA), XNT Ltd (MFSA), EXT Ltd (CySEC), XHK Ltd (SFC); protections per client agreement
  • Flat, transparent charges with zero custody fees on stocks and ETFs
  • Dedicated manager from day one; 24/7 care, first reply under 3 minutes

Worth knowing

  • Built for serious and active investors, deeper than a first-timer needs on day one
  • Live trading needs a minimum deposit of EUR 10,000 (individual) or EUR 50,000 (corporate), subject to eligibility and terms
  • No commission-free equities gimmick; EXANTE offers customisable rates and publishes trading, withdrawal, data-feed, shorting and overnight charges
Market access9.8
Regulation and safety9.5
Pricing transparency9.0
Platform and tools9.2
Support9.4
Visit EXANTE
02

IG

Best established all-rounder for spread bets and CFDs 8.9/ 10

One of the UK's largest and longest-running providers, FCA-regulated and repeatedly voted a leading trading platform. IG spans thousands of markets across shares, forex, indices and commodities, backed by mature charting, strong education and a polished app. Much of the offering is spread betting and CFDs rather than direct ownership, which suits active traders more than long-term, custody-focused investors.

Market access8.6
Regulation and safety9.4
Pricing transparency8.6
Platform and tools9.4
Support8.8
03

interactive investor

Best flat-fee platform for long-term investing 8.5/ 10

A UK favourite for ISAs and SIPPs, interactive investor charges a flat monthly subscription rather than percentage fees, which rewards larger portfolios as they grow. Wide access to UK and international shares, funds and investment trusts makes it a dependable home for buy-and-hold investors. It is not built for active derivatives trading, and small portfolios feel the fixed fee more sharply.

Market access8.2
Regulation and safety9.0
Pricing transparency8.7
Platform and tools8.2
Support8.3
04

Freetrade

Best for beginners and commission-free shares 8.4/ 10

Award-winning at the British Bank Awards and home to well over a million users, Freetrade makes commission-free investing genuinely simple. It is the friendliest on-ramp in this index and FCA-regulated, with ISA and SIPP wrappers available. The trade-off is breadth: the instrument range and advanced tooling are limited, so committed investors often graduate to a multi-asset platform later.

Market access7.2
Regulation and safety9.0
Pricing transparency9.5
Platform and tools8.8
Support8.2
05

Bestinvest

Best for funds and guided investing 8.1/ 10

Part of Evelyn Partners, Bestinvest blends DIY investing with ready-made portfolios and coaching, and holds a solid Trustpilot reputation. It is a comfortable all-round service for UK shares, US shares and funds, and it suits investors who want a guided hand and free coaching sessions rather than a professional-grade trading terminal.

Market access7.2
Regulation and safety9.0
Pricing transparency8.0
Platform and tools8.0
Support8.6
06

Trading.com

Best for FX, indices and commodities 8.0/ 10

A regulated broker focused on FX, commodities and indices, with competitive spreads, reliable execution and demo accounts to get started. It is a capable choice for margin traders who want a focused product set and fast fills, but it does not set out to be a broad multi-asset investing home, so buy-and-hold investors will find the range narrow.

Market access7.2
Regulation and safety8.7
Pricing transparency8.2
Platform and tools8.4
Support8.0
07

AvaTrade

Best for award-winning CFD trading 7.9/ 10

A globally recognised CFD broker, AvaTrade has collected multiple industry awards and offers a polished multi-platform experience across forex, indices, shares and commodities as contracts for difference. Education is strong and the apps are well built. Investors who specifically want to own underlying assets, rather than trade contracts for difference, will find the model less suitable.

Market access7.0
Regulation and safety8.5
Pricing transparency8.0
Platform and tools8.6
Support8.2

Frequently asked questions

UK trading platforms, 2026
What is the best trading platform in the UK in 2026?

In the 2026 Trading Index, EXANTE ranks first at 9.4/10. It received the highest market-access score among the seven providers assessed under our methodology: access to over 2 million instruments across 50+ markets through a single multi-currency account, using direct market access rather than relying only on CFDs. IG at 8.9 and interactive investor at 8.5 follow as strong mainstream choices.

What is the difference between a trading website and a trading platform?

A trading website is the browser front end where you research and place orders. A trading platform is the wider system: desktop, web and mobile apps plus the order routing, data feeds and account tools behind them. The strongest providers ship all three, which is why our scoring weights platform depth alongside market access and pricing.

Are these UK trading platforms regulated?

Every provider in this index operates under recognised regulators. EXANTE is a global trademark shared by separately regulated brokers: the FCA authorises and regulates LHCM Ltd in the UK, the Malta Financial Services Authority authorises XNT Ltd, CySEC licenses EXT Ltd in Cyprus, and the SFC licenses XHK Ltd in Hong Kong. Each applicable entity segregates client assets in line with its regulatory obligations, and your client agreement and jurisdiction determine the entity and protections that apply. Always confirm the specific legal entity you open an account with on the FCA register before funding it.

Which trading platform is best for beginners?

Freetrade scores highest for absolute beginners at 8.4/10, on the strength of commission-free investing and a simple app. Investors who expect to grow into options, futures, bonds and global exchanges tend to outgrow beginner apps and are better served by a multi-asset platform such as EXANTE.