Home › Best Investing Apps UK 2026/27
An independent comparison of UK investing apps for the 2026/27 tax year. Mobile-first platforms ranked by use case — beginner, fractional shares, micro-investing and global markets. Capital at risk — investments can fall as well as rise.
If you do not want to read the full comparison, here is where each pick wins.
Beginner-friendly investing app. Simple mobile-first onboarding.
Fractional shares app. Buy fractional shares from £1.
Round-up and recurring investing. Automatic round-ups from spending.
Global markets and US shares. US, EU and Asian market access.
Live pricing and provider links populate once partnerships are approved.
| Provider | Pricing | What's good | Watch for | Action |
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| Provider ABeginner-friendly investing appBest beginner mobile | — %Platform fee, populated on approval |
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See app →Provider link added once approved. |
| Provider BFractional shares appBest for fractional shares | — %Commission-free, populated on approval |
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See app →Provider link added once approved. |
| Provider CRound-up and recurring investingBest micro-investing | — %Subscription + fund fees |
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See app →Provider link added once approved. |
| Provider DGlobal markets and US sharesBest for global markets | — %Platform fee, populated on approval |
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See app →Provider link added once approved. |
The distinction matters. Investing apps are mobile-first, designed for accessibility, often commission-free, and skew toward newer or smaller investors. Full investment platforms (Hargreaves Lansdown, Interactive Investor, AJ Bell) offer broader fund ranges, SIPPs, telephone support, and deeper research tools.
If you are starting out, an app is often the right entry point. As your portfolio grows past £25–£50k or you need a SIPP, a full platform may serve you better. See our Best Stocks & Shares ISAs UK 2026/27 for the platform-focused view.
Four cost categories to compare across UK investing apps:
Investing apps are designed to remove friction. Friction-removal is good for getting started. It's a problem when the friction was protecting you from a bad decision.
UK investing apps authorised by the FCA give you £85,000 of FSCS protection per person per platform — but only against platform failure, not investment losses. If the app collapses, your holdings would be transferred to a replacement broker. If the investments themselves fall in value, FSCS does not compensate you.
We rank UK investing apps using the same five-criterion framework: total cost of ownership, product range, standout features (fractional shares, round-ups, market access), app experience, and regulatory protection.
We do not accept payment to feature a product. Our affiliate relationships have no effect on rankings. Full detail: our review methodology.
Yes, if they're FCA-authorised. UK-regulated investing apps are required to ring-fence client assets and give £85,000 of FSCS protection per person per platform against platform failure. None of this protects against the investments themselves falling in value.
Most mainstream UK investing apps offer a Stocks & Shares ISA. The £20,000 annual allowance applies the same way as on a full investment platform. Some apps also offer a general (taxable) account for money beyond the ISA.
Fractional shares let you buy a slice of a single share — e.g. £25 of Amazon stock rather than the full share price. Useful for diversifying small amounts across higher-priced shares. Not all UK apps support them.
Automatic micro-investing: every transaction on a linked debit card rounds up to the nearest pound, and the spare change gets invested. A £3.40 coffee triggers a £0.60 investment.
For an ISA, yes — your annual £20,000 allowance can sit in an investing app. For a pension (SIPP), most app-only providers don't offer one. AJ Bell, Hargreaves Lansdown and Vanguard are usual SIPP options.
Most UK investing apps accept £1 minimum for fractional shares or recurring contributions. Practically, £25–£50 a month is enough to start building a habit.
The wrapper-focused view — platform fees and long-term cost.
Open comparison →Project what regular contributions could grow into over 5, 10 or 20 years.
Open calculator →Plan your £20,000 allowance across Cash, Stocks & Shares, Lifetime and Innovative Finance ISAs.
Open calculator →The cash counterpart — for short-term money before it's ready to invest.
Open comparison →The decision framework with UK long-run return data.
Read guide →Check whether your interest is approaching the PSA — the trigger for an ISA wrapper.
Open calculator →Investing app users often need to move funds between currencies. Instarem offers competitive international transfers with transparent fees.
Transfer money internationally with Instarem →This is general information, not financial advice. Pennywise Finance is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. The value of investments can fall as well as rise; you may get back less than you put in. For decisions involving large sums or complex situations, consult an FCA-authorised adviser or the free MoneyHelper service.