At a glance
- Minimum deposit
- $10
- Platforms
- Trading 212 web app
- Regulators
- FCA, BaFin, CySEC, ASIC, BaFin
- Leverage
- 500
Our Verdict on Trading 212
4.2/5Overall score
Risk warning: CFDs and leveraged trading can lead to rapid losses. Leverage magnifies both gains and losses, and you should trade only with money you can afford to lose.
Trading 212 is best suited to investors seeking commission-free share and ETF dealing through a web or mobile app, with Stocks ISA and Cash ISA options for eligible UK users. Foreign-currency trades can still incur conversion charges, so commission-free dealing does not mean every transaction is cost-free. CFD accounts add leveraged products but bring variable spreads and overnight financing, and CFD scalping is prohibited. The proprietary-only platform and absence of VPS hosting also limit traders who rely on third-party software or automated systems. The central choice is therefore between accessible app-based investing and a more restricted CFD workflow.
| Best for | Long-term share and ETF investors seeking app-based portfolio management and commission-free dealing. |
|---|---|
| Not ideal for | CFD scalpers or traders who require VPS hosting or third-party trading software. |
| Biggest strength | Commission-free share and ETF dealing through Invest and ISA accounts, with web and mobile access. |
| Main drawback | Currency conversion fees can apply, and CFD positions may incur overnight financing. |
How we reviewed it: This review assesses the stated account terms, costs, regulatory entities, platform features and product restrictions; it does not present those details as results of hands-on testing. See our review methodology.
What stands out
- Invest and ISA share and ETF trades have no dealing commission.
- Stocks ISA and Cash ISA accounts have a stated £1 minimum deposit.
- Web and mobile apps are available, with a beta public API for Invest and Stocks ISA accounts.
- Community Pies can be copied and customized in Invest and ISA accounts.
What to consider
- Currency conversion fees apply when conversion is required: 0.15% for Invest/ISA transactions and 0.5% on CFD results.
- CFD positions held overnight incur financing that can be a charge or a credit.
- CFD scalping is prohibited, and the broker does not offer VPS hosting.
- The public API is in beta and currently supports only Invest and Stocks ISA accounts.
Trading 212 at a Glance
| Feature | Broker disclosures and checked findings |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2004 |
| Regulator / licence | FCA (609146), BaFin (10109603), CySEC (398/21) and ASIC (541122), through separate group entities |
| Minimum initial deposit | £1 for Invest, Stocks ISA and Cash ISA; £10 for CFD, subject to payment method and account terms |
| Account types | Invest, CFD, Stocks ISA, Cash ISA and Professional CFD |
| Trading platforms | Trading 212 web app and mobile app; public API in beta for eligible accounts |
| Markets | Forex, indices, commodities, stocks, ETFs/ETCs and crypto instruments in eligible regions |
| Maximum leverage | Retail limits vary by instrument and jurisdiction; up to 1:500 for qualifying professional clients on major instruments |
| Account / funding currencies | GBP, USD, EUR, CHF, DKK, NOK, PLN, SEK, CZK, RON, HUF, CAD and AUD |
| Demo account | Yes |
Is Trading 212 Safe, Legit and Regulated?
4.4/5Area score
Overall review score: 4.2
Trading 212 operates separate regulated entities for different client groups. Trading 212 UK Ltd is regulated by the FCA under licence 609146; Trading 212 EU GmbH is regulated by BaFin under 10109603, while Trading 212 Markets Ltd is regulated by CySEC under 398/21 for certain EEA clients. Trading 212 AU Pty Ltd is regulated by ASIC under 541122. The account terms identify the contracting entity, which determines the applicable protections and rules alongside the client’s classification.
Regulation and Client Protections
| Regulatory question | Documented finding and limitations |
|---|---|
| Contracting legal entities | Trading 212 AU Pty Ltd (Australian clients); Trading 212 EU GmbH (Germany / EEA clients routed to Trading 212 EU GmbH); Trading 212 Markets Ltd (EEA clients routed to Trading 212 Markets Ltd where applicable); Trading 212 UK Ltd (United Kingdom clients) |
| Regulators / jurisdictions | ASIC (Australian clients); BaFin (Germany / EEA clients routed to Trading 212 EU GmbH); CySEC (EEA clients routed to Trading 212 Markets Ltd where applicable); FCA (United Kingdom clients) |
| Licence / registration | ASIC: 541122; BaFin: 10109603; CySEC: 398/21; FCA: 609146 |
| Client-money arrangements | Trading 212 says uninvested cash and investments are held separately from company funds in segregated accounts. |
| Negative balance protection | Stated for retail CFD clients; this should not be assumed to apply identically to professional clients or every entity. Invest and ISA accounts are unleveraged. |
| Investor compensation | Eligible claims against the UK entity may qualify for FSCS protection up to £85,000 per eligible claimant, per firm. Other entities follow their own applicable rules. |
Segregation is a client-money arrangement, not protection against investment losses. FSCS cover is limited to qualifying claims against the UK entity, up to £85,000 per eligible claimant, per firm; it is not a general guarantee for every client. Retail CFD protections also differ from the terms available to professional clients.
Trading 212 Fees, Spreads and Commissions
3.3/5Area score
Overall review score: 4.2
For Invest and ISA users, share and ETF dealing has no commission, but a transaction requiring currency conversion can still cost more. CFD users should factor in variable spreads and overnight financing, as well as the separate conversion charge on CFD results where relevant. Deposit fees depend on the payment method and cumulative funding.
Spreads, Commissions and Total Trading Costs
CFD pricing is variable and instrument-specific; the spread is therefore part of the cost of entering and exiting a position, rather than a fixed commission. Invest and ISA users can avoid conversion charges by buying an asset with funds already held in its native currency through the multi-currency account.
Other Trading and Non-Trading Fees
| Fee | Amount / trigger | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Overnight financing, swap or margin interest | CFD positions kept open overnight incur overnight interest, which can be a charge or a credit depending on the trade direction and instrument. | CFD positions kept open overnight incur overnight interest, which can be a charge or a credit depending on the trade direction and instrument. |
| Currency conversion | A conversion-related FX charge applies: 0.15% for Invest/ISA transactions and 0.5% for CFD results. | An foreign-exchange fee is charged when currency conversion is required. The current rate is 0.15% for Invest/ISA transactions and 0.5% for CFD results. |
| Inactivity | No | Not applicable (no inactivity fee is listed) |
| Deposits / withdrawals | Deposit: Deposits by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay and similar methods are free up to a combined €2,000 (or equivalent). Amounts exceeding that total incur a 0.7% fee.; Withdrawal: No | Deposit: The listed methods are normally free on the broker’s side. Charges from the provider, currency exchange or regional rules may still apply.; Withdrawal: Trading 212 charges no fee for processing withdrawals, though the receiving bank may deduct a fee; deposit-card charging thresholds are separate. |
For CFDs, holding beyond the daily market cut-off can add financing, which may be a charge or credit depending on the instrument and trade direction. Investors trading foreign-currency assets should account for conversion when buying and selling, while card and wallet users should track cumulative deposits against the free threshold.
Which Trading 212 Account Should You Choose?
3.7/5Area score
Overall review score: 4.2
Choose by intended use: Invest is the unleveraged route for shares and ETFs, while a Stocks ISA combines commission-free share and ETF dealing with a £1 UK minimum deposit. The Cash ISA is a savings account, not a trading account; it pays variable interest at the Bank of England base rate minus 0.15%, has no trading fees, and can be opened with £1. CFD accounts suit users seeking leveraged derivatives, but their variable spreads and overnight financing make them a different cost proposition; the stated minimum deposit is £10, subject to payment method. Professional CFD status requires qualification and may change protections and leverage limits.
Trading 212 Trading Platforms
4.4/5Area score
Overall review score: 4.2
Trading 212 uses its own web and mobile apps, so traders looking for a third-party platform will not find that choice here. The beta API offers programmatic access only to eligible Invest and Stocks ISA users; it is not a route to automated CFD trading. The lack of VPS hosting is another constraint for workflows that require a continuously hosted system.
Desktop, Web and Trading Platforms
| Platform | Availability | Evidence-backed strength or limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Trading 212 web app | Web, Mobile | Trading 212 covers web and mobile investing, and its separate Public API can place demo or live trades. The API is still in beta and currently supports only Invest and Stocks ISA accounts. |
The proprietary platform runs in web browsers and on iOS and Android. Its charts are described as powered by TradingView and include more than 100 indicators and drawing tools, giving chart-focused users tools within the same app rather than requiring a separate platform.
Markets and Instruments Available
4.8/5Area score
Overall review score: 4.2
| Asset class | Products offered | Restriction |
|---|---|---|
| Forex | Forex CFDs; 180 | Keeping a forex trade open overnight can result in swap or financing charges. Available currency pairs and margin requirements depend on the account. Leverage can reach 1:30 for eligible clients. |
| Indices | Index CFDs; 36 | Trading an index CFD does not mean owning the shares that make up the index. Trading hours, rollover arrangements and holding costs vary by contract. Leverage can reach 1:20 for eligible clients. |
| Commodities | Commodity CFDs; 29 | Trading commodity CFDs does not involve taking delivery of the physical commodity. Trading hours vary by contract, and some contracts expire or need to be rolled over. Financing charges may also apply. Leverage can reach 1:20 for eligible clients. |
| Stocks | Direct shares / stock CFDs; 8000 | A direct share purchase makes you a shareholder, unlike trading a share CFD. The instruments available and margin requirements depend on the account. Leverage can reach 1:5 for eligible clients. |
| Crypto | Crypto account (eligible regions); Eligible-account crypto instrument count not verified | Eligible residents and entities can open a separate Crypto account, distinct from Invest and CFD accounts. UK retail restrictions on crypto derivatives still apply. |
| ETFs | Direct ETFs / ETCs; 2800 | Investors buy these ETFs outright instead of trading them through CFDs. The selection and margin requirements depend on the account and region. Ordinary direct purchases do not use leverage. |
The key distinction is whether a position gives you an asset or only exposure to its price: direct shares and ETFs represent ownership, while CFDs are derivatives without ownership of the underlying. Crypto uses a separate account and is available only in eligible regions, so its availability does not follow automatically from access to Invest or CFD accounts.
Execution, Trading Tools and Research
4.2/5Area score
Overall review score: 4.2
Market Analysis, the Economic Calendar, charts, sentiment and news provide market information, while the Learn Centre and Investing 101 articles cover topics including diversification, dividends and valuation. Invest and ISA users can copy and customize community Pies, then receive notifications when linked changes prompt them; Pies are not available on CFD accounts and do not automatically mirror individual day trades. These resources support research and portfolio planning, but they do not remove execution risk: gaps, low liquidity and fast trading can move market or pending orders away from the desired price.
Trading 212 Deposits, Withdrawals and Account Opening
4.5/5Area score
Overall review score: 4.2
Minimum deposits are stated as £1 for Invest, Stocks ISA and Cash ISA accounts and £10 for CFDs, though the payment method and account terms can affect the amount required. Identity and anti-money-laundering verification must be completed before using the account.
Account Opening and Identity Verification
Verification requires personal details such as name, date of birth and address, plus a government-issued photo ID and, where requested, proof of address. A selfie or identity-holding photo may also be requested, and acceptance remains subject to the applicable onboarding requirements.
Deposit and Withdrawal Methods
| Method | Deposit / withdrawal availability | Broker fee | Processing time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Deposits are available. Minimum requirement: Invest: GBP/EUR/USD 1; CFD: GBP/EUR/USD 10. Withdrawals are available. Minimum requirement: Invest: GBP/EUR/USD 1; CFD: GBP/EUR/USD 10. | No broker fee applies to deposits. No broker fee applies to withdrawals. Provider fees may apply. | Deposit processing time: up to 3 business days. Withdrawal processing time: up to 3 business days. |
| Debit / credit card | Deposits are available. Minimum requirement: Invest: GBP/EUR/USD 1; CFD: GBP/EUR/USD 10. Withdrawals are available. Minimum requirement: Invest: GBP/EUR/USD 1; CFD: GBP/EUR/USD 10. | Deposit broker fee: Invest: free to GBP 2,000 cumulative; then 0.7%; CFD: free. No broker fee applies to withdrawals. Provider fees may apply. | Deposit processing time: Usually under 10 minutes. Withdrawal processing time: up to 3 business days. |
| E-wallets | Deposits are available. Minimum requirement: GBP/EUR/USD 1 (Invest) / 10 (CFD). Withdrawals through this method are not confirmed. | No broker fee applies to deposits. Withdrawal fee information is not available. | Deposits are processed instantly. Withdrawal processing time is not available. |
Customer Support
Support is available 24/7 through live chat, email and a contact form, in English. Telephone support is not offered.
Who Should Choose Trading 212?
Trading 212 fits investors who want direct shares and ETFs managed through a web or mobile app, including eligible UK users seeking an ISA. CFD traders should weigh the product’s limits against their strategy: variable pricing and overnight financing apply, and scalping is prohibited. Traders who depend on third-party software or VPS hosting may need a different setup.
| Profile | Fit | Decisive reason |
|---|---|---|
| Long-term share and ETF investor | Good | Invest and ISA accounts offer commission-free share and ETF trades; currency conversion can still apply. |
| UK investor seeking a Stocks ISA or Cash ISA | Good | Both account types have a stated £1 opening minimum; Cash ISA pays variable interest and is not a trading account. |
| CFD scalper or VPS-dependent automated trader | Poor | Scalping is prohibited on CFD accounts, and Trading 212 does not offer VPS hosting. |
Trading 212 vs Alternatives
Libertex1:999Maximum leverageDetailed Review
Capital.com- No deposit fee
AdmiralsStocks, ETFs, Bonds, Forex Pairs, Indices, Commodities, CryptocurrenciesDetailed Review
ActivTradesFCA, SCB, BACEN & CVM, CMVM, FSCDetailed Review
The clearest dividing line is account purpose: Invest and ISA provide direct, commission-free share and ETF dealing, whereas CFDs add leverage and financing without allowing scalping.
FAQs
Which regulators oversee Trading 212?
Its separate entities are regulated by the FCA (Trading 212 UK Ltd, licence 609146), BaFin (Trading 212 EU GmbH, 10109603), CySEC (Trading 212 Markets Ltd, 398/21) and ASIC (Trading 212 AU Pty Ltd, 541122). The applicable entity depends on the client group and account terms.
What is Trading 212’s minimum deposit?
The stated minimum is £1 for Invest, Stocks ISA and Cash ISA accounts, and £10 for CFD accounts. Payment method and account terms can affect the minimum that applies.
Does Trading 212 charge trading commission?
Invest and ISA share and ETF trades have no dealing commission. Currency conversion charges may apply, and CFDs have variable spreads and can incur overnight financing.
Which platforms can I use with Trading 212?
Trading 212 offers its proprietary web app and mobile apps for iOS and Android. Its public API is in beta and currently supports Invest and Stocks ISA accounts.
What markets can I trade with Trading 212?
Products include forex, indices, commodities, stocks, ETFs/ETCs and crypto instruments in eligible regions. Some are offered as CFDs, while direct shares and ETFs involve buying the underlying asset.
Are deposits and withdrawals free?
Bank-transfer deposits and standard fiat withdrawals have no Trading 212 broker fee. Card and digital-wallet deposits are free up to the combined £2,000 or equivalent threshold for Invest and ISA accounts; amounts above it incur a 0.7% fee. Provider charges may still apply.
Does Trading 212 offer a demo account?
Yes. Trading 212 lists a demo account, and its API supports testing strategies in a paper-trading environment.