Over the past ten years, DIY investing has changed the way of trading. What used to be for stockbrokers and wealth managers is now available to millions of everyday investors. Since the pandemic, over 10 million DIY investment accounts have been opened in the UK. This growth has brought a wide range of platforms offering low fees and new investment opportunities.
With so many platforms to choose from, it can feel difficult for a new trader. That’s why we’ve reviewed and ranked the top platforms based on important factors like fees, investment choices, and customer support. We will help you find the best platform for your needs, whether you want easy platforms or more advanced tools like MetaTrader 5.
Best Platforms for New Traders For 2026
Here are the best platforms for new traders. They offer a range of features to suit various investment needs and help traders get started with ease.
1. Freetrade
Freetrade has no commission charged on 6,000 UK, European, or US shares, as well as ETFs and investment trusts. The platform does not have any trading charges, and it offers a free basic plan, which suits cost-effective investors. However, it does not have the deep research tools and may not be appropriate in the hands of those who want to have a more detailed analysis of investments.
2. Interactive Investor
The interactive Investor also provides access to more than 40,000 global assets with no commissions, based on the monthly fees. This feature makes it perfect to use by high-value investors. On portfolios less than 50000, the monthly charge is four point ninety, which escalates with bigger portfolios. Its Trustpilot rating is 4.6, and the company is highly rated in terms of its extensive range of investments and trusted customer services.
3. AJ Bell
AJ Bell offers more than 16,000 shares, ETFs and investment trusts at fair charges. It has a fee of 0.25% limited to £3.50 a month on shares and ETFs, and has a variety of accounts, including ISAs and SIPPs. AJ Bell is characterised by a high level of customer satisfaction as 4.9 rating on Trustpilot and good customer support.
4. IG
IG also has more than 12,000 international shares and 3,000 ETFs, which is why it is the favourite among professional traders. It levies no trading charges on UK and US shares and European shares, with the platform charge of £96 per annum imposed on individuals who trade less than three times per quarter. IG offers a high level of trading functionality and may confuse novices by presenting such a complex environment.
5. Bestinvest
Bestinvest is optimal when targeting the US shares, with it not charging any trading fee in the case of US stocks and platform fee being competitive in relation to UK shares. It has a platform fee of 0.4% on investments below 250,000 dollars and hence can be considered by the US-oriented investor. It also has financial coaching and a broad spectrum of investment including more than 1,200 UK and US shares.
Conclusion
DIY investing has enabled every new trader to enter the market easily, and the number of platforms available to use also varies according to the requirements. When you have the correct platform, you are able to maintain low costs and make wiser investment choices. With factors like fees, investment opportunities, and customer service, you can settle on the most appropriate one to enable you to achieve your financial objectives.