6 Best ETF Platforms in the UK (2026)
11 JUN, 2026
Index
ETFs are increasingly becoming a core component of long-term investment portfolios for UK investors. Their low fees and wide range of options make it easy to gain exposure to almost any type of asset.
In this guide, we'll look at the best brokers for buying ETFs in the UK, along with a comparison of each platform's key strengths and weaknesses when it comes to ETF investing.
Best brokers to buy ETFs in 2026
These are the 6 best online brokers to invest in ETFs in the UK in 2026 — all FCA-regulated.
- InvestEngine
- Trading 212
- eToro
- Hargreaves Lansdown
- AJ Bell
- Interactive Brokers
Let's now have a look at each of the brokers in detail to determine which one best suits your investment style.
InvestEngine
InvestEngine is the UK's only platform built exclusively around ETF investing. Launched in 2020 and FCA-regulated, it is consistently ranked as the best ETF platform in the UK for cost-conscious, long-term investors — particularly well suited for those using a Stocks and Shares ISA or SIPP as their primary investment vehicle.
The platform offers two options: a DIY portfolio (zero platform fee, zero dealing commission — the cheapest way to run an ISA in the UK if ETFs are your entire strategy) and a Managed portfolio (0.25% per year, where InvestEngine builds and auto-rebalances a diversified ETF portfolio for you). Both are available inside a Stocks and Shares ISA and a SIPP.
InvestEngine's ETF library covers over 780 UCITS ETFs from iShares, Vanguard, Invesco, Amundi, and other leading providers. You can create multiple named investment pots within a single account, each with its own target allocation and automated contribution schedule.
Main Features
- Regulation: FCA (UK), FSCS-protected up to £85,000
- Number of ETFs: 780+ UCITS ETFs
- Fees: 0% platform fee and 0% dealing (DIY); 0.25%/year (Managed)
- Minimum investment: £100 lump sum or £1/month via regular investing
- Platform: Web and mobile app
| Pros | Cons | ||
| ✅ Zero fees on DIY plan — no platform fee, no dealing commission, no ISA wrapper fee | ❌ ETFs only — no individual stocks, investment trusts, or active funds | ||
| ✅ ISA and SIPP both available at no extra cost | ❌ Trades execute once per day — not suitable for active or intraday traders | ||
| ✅ Auto-rebalancing and automated investing — genuinely hands-off | ❌ No fractional ETF units — minimum 1 unit per ETF | ||
| ✅ 780+ UCITS ETFs from all major providers | ❌ Uninvested cash earns no interest |
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Zero fees on DIY plan — no platform fee, no dealing commission, no ISA wrapper fee | ❌ ETFs only — no individual stocks, investment trusts, or active funds |
| ✅ ISA and SIPP both available at no extra cost | ❌ Trades execute once per day — not suitable for active or intraday traders |
| ✅ Auto-rebalancing and automated investing — genuinely hands-off | ❌ No fractional ETF units — minimum 1 unit per ETF |
| ✅ 780+ UCITS ETFs from all major providers | ❌ Uninvested cash earns no interest |
Trading 212
Trading 212 is one of the most popular investing platforms in the UK, with over 4.5 million customers and around £18 billion in client assets. FCA-regulated with FSCS protection up to £85,000, it offers a genuinely zero-cost ETF investing experience — no platform fee, no dealing commission, and no ISA fee — making it the default choice for many UK retail investors in 2026.
For ETF investors, Trading 212 provides access to over 1,300 ETFs — including the full range of popular UCITS global equity ETFs such as VWRP, CSPX, SWDA, and SMEA — alongside over 12,000 individual stocks. The 0.15% FX conversion fee applies when buying ETFs denominated in a currency other than GBP — one of the lowest in the UK market (vs 0.35–0.70% at most competitors).
The AutoInvest Pies feature lets you create a custom ETF portfolio with preset percentage allocations and set up recurring automatic investments — ideal for passive investors who want a set-and-forget approach. Fractional shares are available from just £1, meaning you can invest in any ETF regardless of unit price.
In 2026, Trading 212 also offers a Cash ISA (competitive variable rate) and a SIPP (launched February 2026 following FCA approval) — making it one of the few platforms where you can hold a Stocks & Shares ISA, Cash ISA, and pension all in one place at zero platform cost.
Main Features
- Regulation: FCA (UK), FSCS-protected up to £85,000
- Number of ETFs: 1,300+ (including VWRP, CSPX, SWDA, SMEA and all major UCITS global ETFs)
- Fees: 0% platform fee, 0% dealing commission; 0.15% FX fee on non-GBP instruments
- Minimum investment: £1 (fractional shares supported)
- Platform: Web and mobile app (highly rated)
| Pros | Cons | ||
| ✅ Zero fees — no platform fee, no dealing commission, no ISA or Cash ISA fee | ❌ No mutual funds or bonds — ETFs and stocks only | ||
| ✅ 0.15% FX fee — among the lowest in the UK market for international ETFs | ❌ No telephone support — customer service is app/email only | ||
| ✅ AutoInvest Pies — build a custom ETF portfolio and automate contributions | ❌ Limited research and educational tools vs HL or Interactive Brokers | ||
| ✅ Fractional shares from £1 — invest in any ETF regardless of unit price | ❌ SIPP launched 2026 but still limited features vs dedicated pension platforms | ||
| ✅ ISA, Cash ISA and SIPP all on one platform at zero cost |
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Zero fees — no platform fee, no dealing commission, no ISA or Cash ISA fee | ❌ No mutual funds or bonds — ETFs and stocks only |
| ✅ 0.15% FX fee — among the lowest in the UK market for international ETFs | ❌ No telephone support — customer service is app/email only |
| ✅ AutoInvest Pies — build a custom ETF portfolio and automate contributions | ❌ Limited research and educational tools vs HL or Interactive Brokers |
| ✅ Fractional shares from £1 — invest in any ETF regardless of unit price | ❌ SIPP launched 2026 but still limited features vs dedicated pension platforms |
| ✅ ISA, Cash ISA and SIPP all on one platform at zero cost |
👉 For more information read our Trading 212 review.
eToro
eToro is a globally recognised multi-asset trading platform popular among both beginner and experienced investors. Regulated by the FCA (UK), CySEC (EU) and ASIC (Australia), it provides a secure environment for retail investors across the UK.
eToro offers access to over 300 commission-free ETFs, covering major indices such as the S&P 500 and MSCI World, as well as sector and thematic ETFs from providers including iShares, Vanguard and SPDR. Its standout features are Smart Portfolios and Copy Trading — allowing investors to mirror the portfolios of experienced traders, including ETF-based strategies.
Main Features
- Regulation: FCA, CySec and ASIC
- Number of ETFs: 300+
- Fees: £0 commission on ETFs; 0.50% FX conversion fee on non-GBP trades
- Platform: Proprietary web platform & mobile app
| Pros | Cons | ||
| ✅ Commission-free ETF trading | ❌ Only 300+ ETFs — smallest range on this list | ||
| ✅ User-friendly interface — ideal for beginners | ❌ 0.50% FX fee — higher than Trading 212 (0.15%) or IBKR (0.03%) | ||
| ✅ Smart Portfolios and Copy Trading — passive hands-off investing | ❌ $10/month inactivity fee after 12 months — bad for passive investors | ||
| ✅ Fractional investing from $10 | ❌ No SIPP |
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ Commission-free ETF trading | ❌ Only 300+ ETFs — smallest range on this list |
| ✅ User-friendly interface — ideal for beginners | ❌ 0.50% FX fee — higher than Trading 212 (0.15%) or IBKR (0.03%) |
| ✅ Smart Portfolios and Copy Trading — passive hands-off investing | ❌ $10/month inactivity fee after 12 months — bad for passive investors |
| ✅ Fractional investing from $10 | ❌ No SIPP |
👉 For more information read our eToro review.
Hargreaves Lansdown
Hargreaves Lansdown is one of the UK's best Stocks and Shares ISA brokers — very established and trusted — and offers a wide range of ETFs listed on the London Stock Exchange and other major markets. Investors can access over 1,400 ETFs from leading providers such as iShares, Vanguard, Invesco, and L&G, covering global indices, thematic, sectoral, and bond ETFs.
HL does not offer commission-free ETF dealing but is known for its reliable platform, comprehensive research tools, and excellent customer service. Note that HL overhauled its fee structure in March 2026 — the most significant change in over 10 years.
ETF fees at Hargreaves Lansdown (updated March 2026):
- Online ETF/share dealing: £6.95 per trade (reduced from £11.95); £3.95 after 20+ trades/month
- Platform fee: 0.35%/year on the first £250,000 (reduced from 0.45%), capped at £150/year for shares and ETFs
- Regular investing via Direct Debit: Free — ideal for monthly ETF contributions
Main Features
- Regulation: FCA
- Number of ETFs: 1,400+
- Fees: 0.35% platform fee (capped £150/yr); £6.95/trade; free via Direct Debit
- Platform: Web and Mobile app
| Pros | Cons | ||
| ✅ 1,400+ ETFs with strong research tools and educational resources | ❌ Not the cheapest — 0.35% fee plus £6.95/trade | ||
| ✅ UK's most established platform — £172B AUM, award-winning customer service | ❌ No commission-free ETF dealing (except via Direct Debit) | ||
| ✅ ISA, SIPP, Junior ISA all available; fees cut in March 2026 | ❌ No fractional ETF units |
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ 1,400+ ETFs with strong research tools and educational resources | ❌ Not the cheapest — 0.35% fee plus £6.95/trade |
| ✅ UK's most established platform — £172B AUM, award-winning customer service | ❌ No commission-free ETF dealing (except via Direct Debit) |
| ✅ ISA, SIPP, Junior ISA all available; fees cut in March 2026 | ❌ No fractional ETF units |
👉 To learn more, read our Hargreaves Lansdown review.
AJ Bell
AJ Bell stands out for its broad selection of 3,500+ UCITS ETFs and its straightforward platform. Investors can access ETFs covering indices, sectors, commodities, and global markets, all within a tax-efficient ISA or SIPP wrapper. The Dodl app by AJ Bell offers a streamlined version at just 0.15%/year with no dealing fees.
The regular investing service charges just £1.50 per ETF trade — ideal for monthly contributions. Standard online trades cost £5. Fractional investing is not supported, but minimum investment amounts are low.
Main Features
- Regulation: FCA
- Number of ETFs: 3,500+
- Fees: 0.25%/year (capped £42/yr); £5/trade (£1.50 via regular investing); Dodl: 0.15%/year, no dealing fees
- Platform: Web and Mobile app; Dodl app
| Pros | Cons | ||
| ✅ 3,500+ ETFs — widest range among the lower-cost UK platforms | ❌ No fractional ETF units | ||
| ✅ £1.50/trade via regular investing — excellent for monthly contributions | ❌ £5 per standard trade outside regular investing | ||
| ✅ ISA, SIPP and GIA; Dodl app option at 0.15%/year |
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ 3,500+ ETFs — widest range among the lower-cost UK platforms | ❌ No fractional ETF units |
| ✅ £1.50/trade via regular investing — excellent for monthly contributions | ❌ £5 per standard trade outside regular investing |
| ✅ ISA, SIPP and GIA; Dodl app option at 0.15%/year |
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers offers UK investors access to over 15,000 ETFs across global exchanges — the widest selection available on any platform. For UK-listed UCITS ETFs, the commission is 0.05% of trade value, minimum £3. 150 ETFs are available commission-free. The platform is best suited to experienced investors who need global access, multi-currency accounts, or want to combine ETFs with other instruments.
Main Features
- Regulation: FCA, SEC
- Number of ETFs: 15,000+ (150 commission-free)
- Fees: 0.05% min £3 for UK ETFs; from $0 for selected US ETFs; 0.03% FX fee
- Platform: Trader WorkStation (TWS), Global Trader, Mobile App
| Pros | Cons | ||
| ✅ 15,000+ ETFs — by far the widest global selection | ❌ Platform complexity — not suitable for beginners | ||
| ✅ 0.03% FX fee — the cheapest in the market for international ETFs | ❌ Most free ETFs are US-listed in USD — FX conversion applies for UK investors | ||
| ✅ FCA-regulated; ISA available (mutual funds added 2026) | ❌ No SIPP directly available | ||
| ✅ Multi-currency accounts; no inactivity fees |
| Pros | Cons |
| ✅ 15,000+ ETFs — by far the widest global selection | ❌ Platform complexity — not suitable for beginners |
| ✅ 0.03% FX fee — the cheapest in the market for international ETFs | ❌ Most free ETFs are US-listed in USD — FX conversion applies for UK investors |
| ✅ FCA-regulated; ISA available (mutual funds added 2026) | ❌ No SIPP directly available |
| ✅ Multi-currency accounts; no inactivity fees |
Platform comparison at a glance
| Platform | ETFs | Platform fee | Dealing fee | FX fee | ISA | SIPP | Best for | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| InvestEngine | 780+ | 0% | £0 | 0%* | ✅ | ✅ | ETF specialists, zero cost | ||||||||
| Trading 212 | 1,300+ | 0% | £0 | 0.15% | ✅ | ✅ | Beginners & passive investors | ||||||||
| eToro | 300+ | 0% | £0 | 0.50% | ✅ | ❌ | Social trading, copy investing | ||||||||
| Hargreaves Lansdown | 1,400+ | 0.35% (cap £150) | £6.95 | 0.50% | ✅ | ✅ | Full-service, best support | ||||||||
| AJ Bell | 3,500+ | 0.25% (cap £42) | £5 (£1.50) | 0.50% | ✅ | ✅ | Wide range, low cost | ||||||||
| Interactive Brokers | 15,000+ | Low | From £0 | 0.03% | ✅ | ❌ | Global access, advanced |
| Platform | ETFs | Platform fee | Dealing fee | FX fee | ISA | SIPP | Best for | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| InvestEngine | 780+ | 0% | £0 | 0%* | ✅ | ✅ | ETF specialists, zero cost | ||||||||
| Trading 212 | 1,300+ | 0% | £0 | 0.15% | ✅ | ✅ | Beginners & passive investors | ||||||||
| eToro | 300+ | 0% | £0 | 0.50% | ✅ | ❌ | Social trading, copy investing | ||||||||
| Hargreaves Lansdown | 1,400+ | 0.35% (cap £150) | £6.95 | 0.50% | ✅ | ✅ | Full-service, best support | ||||||||
| AJ Bell | 3,500+ | 0.25% (cap £42) | £5 (£1.50) | 0.50% | ✅ | ✅ | Wide range, low cost | ||||||||
| Interactive Brokers | 15,000+ | Low | From £0 | 0.03% | ✅ | ❌ | Global access, advanced |
*InvestEngine only holds UCITS ETFs denominated in GBP or hedged to GBP — no FX conversion fee applies in practice.
Key features of the best ETF brokers
| Requirements of a good ETF broker | Definition | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 🔒 Security | Always look for ETF brokers regulated by FCA (UK). FCA-regulated brokers provide FSCS protection up to £85,000. All six platforms above are FCA-regulated. | ||
| 💼 Wide range of ETFs | Look for a minimum of 300 ETFs. For pure passive investing, 780+ UCITS ETFs (InvestEngine) is sufficient. For global breadth, 3,500+ (AJ Bell) or 15,000+ (IBKR). | ||
| 📈 Intuitive platform | Beginners: InvestEngine, Trading 212, or eToro. Advanced: Interactive Brokers or AJ Bell. | ||
| 💲 Low commissions | ETF dealing should never exceed 0.5% of the transaction. InvestEngine and Trading 212 offer zero dealing fees on all their ETFs. | ||
| 🏛️ ISA/SIPP wrapper | For UK investors, a Stocks and Shares ISA (£20,000/year, 2026/27) or SIPP is essential to shelter ETF gains from CGT and dividend tax. | ||
| ℹ️ ETF fact sheets | The best platforms provide access to historical performance, holdings, benchmark indices, TERs and all other relevant data. |
| Requirements of a good ETF broker | Definition |
| 🔒 Security | Always look for ETF brokers regulated by FCA (UK). FCA-regulated brokers provide FSCS protection up to £85,000. All six platforms above are FCA-regulated. |
| 💼 Wide range of ETFs | Look for a minimum of 300 ETFs. For pure passive investing, 780+ UCITS ETFs (InvestEngine) is sufficient. For global breadth, 3,500+ (AJ Bell) or 15,000+ (IBKR). |
| 📈 Intuitive platform | Beginners: InvestEngine, Trading 212, or eToro. Advanced: Interactive Brokers or AJ Bell. |
| 💲 Low commissions | ETF dealing should never exceed 0.5% of the transaction. InvestEngine and Trading 212 offer zero dealing fees on all their ETFs. |
| 🏛️ ISA/SIPP wrapper | For UK investors, a Stocks and Shares ISA (£20,000/year, 2026/27) or SIPP is essential to shelter ETF gains from CGT and dividend tax. |
| ℹ️ ETF fact sheets | The best platforms provide access to historical performance, holdings, benchmark indices, TERs and all other relevant data. |
FAQs
What is an ETF?
An ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund) is an investment fund that trades on a stock exchange like individual shares, bundling together a range of assets — shares, bonds, commodities — into a single investment. In the UK, ETF gains are subject to Capital Gains Tax outside a wrapper, but completely tax-free inside a Stocks and Shares ISA or SIPP. With CGT now capped at just £3,000 per year, using an ISA wrapper for ETF investing is more important than ever.
What is the best ETF platform in the UK for 2026?
InvestEngine is best for pure ETF investors wanting zero fees with ISA and SIPP. Trading 212 is best for beginners and passive investors who also want individual stocks, fractional shares, and the lowest FX fee among zero-commission platforms. AJ Bell has the widest range at low cost. Interactive Brokers is best for global access and advanced investors. Hargreaves Lansdown is best for full-service investing with the broadest support.
Should I use an ISA to invest in ETFs?
Yes — for most UK investors, holding ETFs inside a Stocks and Shares ISA is strongly recommended. With CGT at just £3,000 annual exempt amount and dividend tax up to 35.75% for higher-rate taxpayers, the ISA wrapper shelters all gains and income from tax. The £20,000 annual allowance for 2026/27 applies. Learn more here.
What fees can I expect when trading ETFs?
- Dealing commission: £0 (InvestEngine, Trading 212, eToro) to £6.95 (HL)
- Platform fee: 0% (InvestEngine, Trading 212) to 0.35% (HL)
- FX conversion fee: 0.03% (IBKR) to 0.50% (eToro, HL, AJ Bell) — applies when buying ETFs in non-GBP currencies
- Management fee (TER): Built into the ETF itself — typically 0.07% to 0.75%/year depending on the fund
What are the advantages of investing in ETFs?
Diversification — one ETF gives you exposure to hundreds of companies. Low costs — TERs are typically far lower than active funds. Liquidity — trade throughout the day like a stock. Flexibility — access any market, sector, or strategy. Transparency — holdings disclosed daily.
What are the disadvantages of investing in ETFs?
Market risk — ETFs fall with the market and can lose value. FX risk — international ETFs carry currency exposure. Bid-ask spread — illiquid ETFs can have wide spreads. Complexity — leveraged or inverse ETFs carry significantly higher risk and are not suitable for long-term investors.
Disclaimer: