Trading 212 Review 2026

Trading 212 Offers

Money to the Masses readers can get one of two offers when they create a Trading 212 account. You can choose from one of the following:

Get up to £100 of free fractional shares

Get free fraction shares worth up to £100* when you create a Trading 212 account. Sponsored content. Terms apply. Capital at risk.

Get a boosted Cash ISA rate for 12 months

Earn a boosted Cash ISA rate of 4.76%* AER (variable tracker) for 12 months. Rate includes a bonus of 1.16% for the first 12 months. T&Cs and eligibility criteria apply.

What is Trading 212?

Trading 212 started life in Bulgaria in 2005 but entered the UK market in 2016 as a forex trading app and was among the first to offer zero-commission share trading in 2017. Today, its mobile app is one of the most popular trading apps in the UK with 5 million lifetime funded accounts globally. Its app has also amassed around 15 million downloads worldwide and received over 400,000 customer reviews. Trading 212’s mission is to help its customers build wealth over time

The app lets users invest in shares, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), contracts for difference, gold and cryptocurrencies all in one place. Additionally, if you are just starting out, there is an option to practice first with a virtual £50,000.

You can open a Trading 212 account* either via its website or smartphone app and you will be required to enter your personal details and submit an identity document and a selfie to prove who you are. The minimum age to open an account is 18 and you can start trading once your account is verified and approved.

Partner Offer

Get 4.51% (AER Variable) with the Trading 212 Cash ISA

Earn 4.51% (AER Variable) with the Trading 212 Flexible Cash ISA:

• 3.60% AER (variable tracker) + 0.91% 12 month boost
• Flexible - withdraw anytime
• Completely free - no account fees
• T&Cs and eligibility criteria apply

In partnership with

Find out more*

ISA rules apply. Includes a bonus of 0.91% for the first 12 months only for current tax year contributions. Cash ISA T&Cs apply. Trading 212 account required. Trading 212 is not a bank.

Trading 212 key features

• Low minimum investment – Start share trading from just £1
• Zero commission investing – Most of the main brokers or DIY investing platforms charge a fee for buying or selling shares. This can be as much as £12 per trade, which is pretty costly for those trading regularly. Trades placed in the same currency are free with Trading 212
• Flexible Cash ISA offering a boosted rate of 4.76% AER (variable) – A free, flexible Cash ISA offering a boosted rate of 4.76% interest. You can withdraw your cash at any time via the app.
• Zero fee flexible Stocks and Shares ISA – There is often a platform charge for stocks and shares ISAs on DIY investing platforms but Trading 212 has no fee for the tax wrapper which is also flexible. You can also earn 3.80% AER on uninvested cash held in the Stocks and Shares ISA
• Earn interest on uninvested cash – Trading 212 pays interest on uninvested cash held in its accounts. Interest is paid on thirteen currencies including USD, GBP, EUR, CAD, CHF, PLN and CZK. The rate is 3.80% AER for GBP.
• Debit card with cashback – The new debit card allows you to spend your uninvested cash whenever you need it and earn up to £15 in cashback per month.
• Practice portfolio – Trade with a virtual £50,000 to see how good you really are on the stock markets.
• More than global stocks & ETFs – Large choice of shares in the world’s best-known companies such as Google and Tesla as well as the opportunity to spot rising stars.
• Fractional shares – Rather than purchasing a full stock, you are buying a fraction of a share, which helps keep costs low and means you can slowly build up your holding.
• Low 0.15% FX fee – Trading 212 uses the live Interbank rate and charges a 0.15% FX fee.
• Unlimited instant trades – No limits on the number of free trades and they are made instantly so you get the price you want.
• 24/7 live support – Get questions answered using Trading 212’s live chat service any time of day
• 212 hotlist – See a list of the most popular shares, listed by the number of users with holdings. Users can also track risers and fallers, a feature that tracks user ownership over a period of time
• Tutorials – Video guides help you learn the basics and terminology of investing as well as the more complicated strategies such as with CFDs.
• Multi-currency account – Investors can deposit and withdraw with the same currency as their bank account's currency to avoid conversion fees from their bank. Investors can also avoid paying FX fees by trading in the asset's currency.

Partner Offer

Get 4.51% (AER Variable) with the Trading 212 Cash ISA

Earn 4.51% (AER Variable) with the Trading 212 Flexible Cash ISA:

• 3.60% AER (variable tracker) + 0.91% 12 month boost
• Flexible - withdraw anytime
• Completely free - no account fees
• T&Cs and eligibility criteria apply

In partnership with

Find out more*

ISA rules apply. Includes a bonus of 0.91% for the first 12 months only for current tax year contributions. Cash ISA T&Cs apply. Trading 212 account required. Trading 212 is not a bank.

Trading 212 accounts

There are four types of Trading 212 accounts available: a flexible Stocks and Shares ISA, a flexible Cash ISA, a Trading account, and a Contracts for Difference (CFD) account. Users can easily switch between these accounts within the app. Below, you will find a comparison table summarising the various account types. For a more detailed explanation of each account, please refer to the information provided under the comparison table.

Trading 212 account summary

Trading 212 Stocks and Shares ISA

Returns earned from your investments can be taken tax-free by using Trading 212’s flexible Stocks & Shares ISA product. There are no charges for administration or dividend investment, unlike most other brokers. Customers can also earn 3.80% AER on their uninvested cash held within the Stocks and Shares ISA.

There is a minimum investment of £1 (£10 if setting up a bank transfer). Users can trade in pounds, euros and dollars across all accounts.

Trading 212 executes all withdrawal requests within two business days, which can be completed either via the app or the desktop website.

If you are interested in opening a Trading 212 Stocks and Shares ISA then you can get free fraction shares worth up to £100* when you create a Trading 212 account. Sponsored content. Terms apply. Capital at risk.

Trading 212 Cash ISA

Trading 212's Cash ISA offers a boosted rate of 4.76% AER (variable) on your cash. As you're saving within an ISA, any interest you earn will be tax-free. Much like its Stocks & Shares ISA, the Cash ISA is fully flexible. This means that you can withdraw cash during a particular financial year and then add it again during the same financial year without losing any of your £20,000 tax-free allowance.

Trading 212's Cash ISA is also completely free. There are no administrative fees or account fees. In addition to this, the minimum deposit is just £1 and you can earn tax-free interest on your cash daily. It's also an easy-access ISA where you can withdraw your cash whenever you need it and as many times as you want without impacting your interest rate.

Those interested in Trading 212's Cash ISA can earn a boosted Cash ISA rate of 4.62% AER (variable tracker) for 12 months. Rate includes a bonus of 1.02% for the first 12 months. T&Cs and eligibility criteria apply.

Trading 212 Invest

The Trading 212 Invest option offers more than 13,000 shares and ETFs that can be invested in from as little as £1. Shares can be purchased in companies listed in the UK, Germany, America, Netherlands, Switzerland and Madrid. It offers a slightly wider choice than its closest rival, Freetrade, which tends to focus more on shares from the UK and US. Trades can be placed with zero commission, unlike other platforms that can charge up to £12 for share dealing; however, there is a 0.15% fee on all trades of stocks or ETFs that are in a different currency than that held in the customer's account.

There is a minimum investment of £1 (£10 if setting up a bank transfer). Users can trade in pounds, euros and dollars.

At the time of writing, Trading 212 pays interest on uninvested cash at the following rates:

• USD – 3.30%
• GBP – 3.80%
• EUR – 2.20%

If you are interested in opening a Trading 212 Invest account, then you can get free fraction shares worth up to £100* when you sign up. Sponsored content. Terms apply. Capital at risk.

Trading 212 debit card

If you have a Trading 212 Invest account, you can apply for a debit card (there's a one-time £4.95 fee to cover the manufacturing and shipping) which allows you to spend the uninvested cash in your account instantly.

You'll also continue earning 3.80% interest on your uninvested cash balance, making this a lucrative way to earn interest on cash you can spend whenever you like. You can even withdraw up to £400 fee-free each month, although there is a 1% ATM withdrawal fee thereafter.

The debit card also allows you to earn up to £15 in cashback each month at a rate of 1.5%.

If you're spending abroad, you can convert funds easily at the interbank rate, which is the rate banks use when they convert currencies with each other. Trading 212 does, however, apply a 0.15FX charge.

Card distributed by T212, issued and provided by Paynetics UK. Available with an Invest account

Trading 212 CFD

There are no commission fees for trading CFDs in the same currency. Trading 212 does, however, charge a fee of 0.50% for closing a position in a currency that differs from the account holder's.

It is important to remember that these types of products are best suited to the most sophisticated of investors who can afford to take more risks. A CFD is essentially a bet on whether an asset’s price will rise or fall. So for example with forex trading you can make a bet on the direction of a currency. There are plenty of risks as you can stand to lose a lot of money, and most people do, so it is important to understand the product.

There is a minimum deposit of £10 and no fees for withdrawals. Users can trade in pounds, euros and dollars.

How much does Trading 212 cost?

Trading 212’s big unique selling point used to be its zero-commission trading; however, it does have some fees and charges, which we have listed in the following table.

Trading 212 fees and charges

How does Trading 212 make money?

Trading 212 generates revenue through various channels and we have summarised the most popular revenue streams below:

• Currency Conversion Fee (FX Fee): When you buy or sell an investment that is priced in a currency different from your account's base currency (e.g., buying a US stock in a GBP account), Trading 212 charges a 0.15% foreign exchange fee.
• Share Lending: Trading 212 operates a share lending program. Assuming you agree, this involves lending out your shares to other financial institutions. Trading 212 splits the income generated, keeping 50% as revenue. Users = can opt out of this feature at any time.
• Interest on Cash Balances: While Trading 212 pays its users a high rate of interest on their uninvested cash, it may earn a slightly higher rate from the banks where this cash is held. The difference between the interest it earns and the interest it pays out is a source of revenue.

Is Trading 212 safe?

Trading 212 is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, which means it must adhere to strict rules to protect its clients. Your investments are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £85,000 in the unlikely event that Trading 212 goes into liquidation. Your cash is held in a segregated bank account, and your investments are held by a separate custodian, Interactive Brokers, one of the world's largest brokers. This means that your assets are ring-fenced from Trading 212's own finances. Additionally, for those interested in investing, Trading 212 states the following on its website: ‘Investing for 5+ years increases your chances of positive returns compared to cash savings. But investments rise and fall in value, so you could get back less than you put in. You’re responsible for your investment decisions.'

Alternatives to Trading 212

Below, we outline some of the alternatives to Trading 212.

Trading 212 vs Freetrade

Freetrade is Trading 212’s closest rival. Both pride themselves on making share trading more accessible. Each offers a user-friendly app with details on shares and ETFs. It offers a larger choice of shares with more than 13,000 stocks listed in the UK, USA and Europe, whereas Freetrade offers a total of around 6,000 shares mainly from the UK and US. In terms of products, Freetrade does not offer a Cash ISA, but does offer a Pension; however, users must upgrade to the ‘Plus' account at a cost of £11.99 per month. Check out our independent ‘Freetrade review‘.

Trading 212 vs eToro

eToro is a share trading platform established in 2007 and has over 38 million registered users. It has a popular social trading feature that allows users to copy the trades of other successful traders in real-time. Users need to deposit an initial $100 when using eToro, compared to just £1 when using Trading 212. eToro also charges a currency conversion fee as well as a $5 withdrawal fee. Check out our independent ‘eToro review‘.

Trading 212 vs Moneybox

Rather than free trading, another low-cost way to get exposure to the markets is by using apps such as Moneybox to invest your spare change. Moneybox links to your bank account and rounds up your spending to invest the ‘change’ in a Lifetime or Stocks and Shares ISA and a pension. Moneybox charges £1 a month for its investment accounts and there is a platform fee of 0.45% of the value of your investments per year.

In addition, you will also pay the fund management charges levied directly by the fund providers, of up to 0.65%. There is no monthly fee for its pension but you will need to pay the platform and fund charges. Check out our independent ‘Moneybox review‘

Trading 212 vs Plum

Similar to Moneybox, rather than actively trading, Plum* regularly assesses your income and expenditure and decides how much you can afford to save. This money can then be put into either shares or a mixture of shares and bonds. You'll need to pay a monthly fee to invest with Plum paying and depending on which subscription tier you choose you'll pay £3.99 or £11.99 per month. You'll also need to pay a product provider fee ranging between 0.15% to 0.45% depending on your plan, plus fund fees ranging from 0.06% to 0.90%. Read our independent ‘Plum review‘.

Trading 212 customer reviews

Trading 212 is rated as ‘Excellent' on Trustpilot, with a score of 4.6 stars out of 5.0 from around 92,000 reviews. Users say it is easy to use and a great investing app for beginners. Of the few bad reviews, most complain about account verification issues and not being able to withdraw funds.

The app has a rating of 4.7 out of 5.0 on the Apple Store and 4.7 out of 5.0 on Google Play. The app has been downloaded more than 15 million times, making it one of the most popular trading apps in the world. Reviews cite the good design and that the app makes investing fun.

Pros and Cons of Trading 212

Below, we outline some of the pros and cons of using Trading 212.

Pros of Trading 212

• Commission-free trading
• Offers Fractional shares, making investing accessible to everyone, regardless of budget
• Free flexible Stocks and Shares ISA and Cash ISA
• Pays a high interest rate on uninvested cash

Cons of Trading 212

• Does not currently offer a Self-Invested Personal Pension or a Lifetime ISA
• No mutual funds are available. The investment choice is limited to stocks and ETFs.
• While available 24/7, response times can be slow during busy periods.

Summary

Trading 212 is an excellent option for a wide range of investors, particularly those who are cost-conscious and comfortable managing their own investments via a mobile app. For beginners, the low minimum investment and fractional shares provide a great entry point into the world of investing. The commission-free Stocks and Shares ISA is a standout product, offering a tax-efficient way to build a portfolio without being eroded by platform fees. Additionally, it offers a generous interest rate on its flexible Cash ISA and consistently ranks among our top-rated Cash ISAs in our Best Buy tables.

However, it’s not suitable for everyone. Investors wishing to invest in other tax-efficient products, such as a SIPP, Junior ISA or Lifetime ISA, will have to look elsewhere and those wanting to access other investment types, such as mutual funds or bonds, may find the platform limiting.

Overall, if you are looking for a good rate on your Cash ISA or simply want a low-cost, straightforward way to invest in stocks and ETFs within an ISA or general investment account, then Trading 212 is one of the best platforms available in the UK market today.

When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.

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