Top 7 Best Online Trading Platforms in 2025

The best trading platforms online are often not the ones with the most flashy UI. According to the users, the ranking hinges on measurable execution, transparent fee models, platform stability, and customer support. 

In this article, we have assessed total cost of ownership across commission schedules, FX conversion, spreads, financing, and account fees, then map that against tool depth, asset coverage from equities and ETFs to CFDs, and availability of ISA, SIPP, and demo accounts. The roundup centers on real use: portfolio automation, copy features, advanced charting, risk controls, and mobile parity. 

1. XTB

XTB is considered the best online trading platform in 2025, offering a fantastic combination of features, competitive pricing and regulation. This well established broker has been around for over 20 years.

Founded: 2002
Min Deposit: £0
FCA Regulated: Yes
Demo Account: Yes
Educational Materials: Extensive

Why we Consider XTB the Best

XTB has over 10,800 instruments to trade, including Stocks, ETFs, Commodities, Indices, Forex, a Flexible Stocks & Shares ISA, Investment Plans and Fractional Shares. This means you can build a diversified portfolio across multiple asset classes.

The platform excels at market analysis and research. XTB has real-time market analysis, an economic calendar and video updates from their research director, Kathleen Brooks. This gives you the information you need to make informed decisions based on current market conditions and expert insight.

Risk management is key in trading and XTB delivers with built in risk management features, including stop-loss and take-profit orders. These help you manage downside risk and secure profits when trades go in your favour.

Getting started is super easy - you can open an account for free and start trading with as little as £10. The platform has commission free trading on stocks and ETFs up to €100,000 monthly volume, with spreads from 0.1 pips on forex pairs.

XTB’s xStation 5 platform is a seamless trading experience across desktop, web and mobile. The platform has advanced charting with over 50 technical indicators, one-click trading and customisable workspaces. The mobile app mirrors the desktop functionality so you can trade on the go.

XTB also offers interest on your uninvested funds whilst you wait for the perfect investment opportunity. You can earn 4.25% on your GBP free funds, 4.2% on your USD and 2.3% on EUR. 

Transactions above the equivalent of 100,000 EUR will be charged a commission of 0.2% (minimum 10 GBP). 0.5% currency conversion cost may apply. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

2. eToro

eToro has revolutionized trading through its innovative social trading features, serving over 30 million users worldwide. The platform combines traditional trading with community-driven insights, making it particularly appealing for both beginners and experienced traders.

Founded: 2007 
Minimum Deposit: $100
FCA Regulated: Yes
Demo Account: Yes
Educational Materials: Extensive

Social Trading Innovation

eToro's CopyTrader™ feature allows users to automatically replicate the trades of successful investors with a minimum investment of $200. You can copy up to 100 traders simultaneously, diversifying your strategy across multiple top performers. This feature is invaluable for beginners who want to learn from experienced traders while potentially earning returns.

The platform offers Smart Portfolios (formerly CopyFunds) - pre-built, professionally managed portfolios focused on specific themes or sectors. These portfolios cover areas like artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and cryptocurrency, providing instant diversification without the need for extensive research.

Comprehensive Asset Selection

eToro provides access to over 3,000 global stocks and ETFs with commission-free trading for US-based stocks and ETFs. The platform also offers one of the most extensive cryptocurrency selections with 85+ digital assets, making it ideal for traders seeking exposure to both traditional and alternative investments.

User Experience and Education

The platform features an intuitive, user-friendly interface that makes navigation simple for traders of all experience levels. eToro's social features include news feeds where users can engage in market discussions, share insights, and learn from the community.

Educational resources are comprehensive, including live and on-demand courses, webinars, articles, and eBooks through eToro's Trading Academy. The platform offers a free $100,000 demo account for risk-free practice.

3. CMC Invest

CMC Invest represents the newer generation of investment platforms, launched by the established CMC Markets group. Despite being relatively new, it has quickly gained traction by offering commission-free trading with no minimum deposit requirements.

Founded: 2022
Minimum Deposit: £0
FCA Regulated: Yes
Demo Account: No
Educational Materials: Basic

Flexible Account Options

CMC Invest offers three distinct plans to accommodate different investor needs:

Core Plan (Free): Provides commission-free trading on over 3,250 UK and US shares, plus 400+ ETFs and Investment Trusts via a General Investment Account.

Plus Plan (£10/month): Adds Stocks & Shares ISA access, 1,000 Mutual Funds, and multi-currency wallets (USD & EUR) for General Investment Account holders.

Premium Plan (£25/month): Includes everything from Plus, plus Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) access.

Competitive Features

All plans include 2% interest on uninvested cash, though this is lower than some competitors like Trading 212's offerings. The platform provides same-day withdrawals for requests submitted before 11am, though funds may take up to two business days to appear in external accounts.

CMC Invest focuses on simplicity and transparency, making it particularly suitable for cost-conscious retail investors seeking straightforward access to UK and US markets without complex features.

4. Hargreaves Lansdown

As one of the UK's most established investment platforms, Hargreaves Lansdown serves over one million clients and maintains a reputation for reliability and comprehensive service. While it charges higher fees than newer platforms, it offers exceptional value through expert research and extensive market access.

Founded: 1981
Minimum Deposit: £1
FCA Regulated: Yes
Demo Account: No
Educational Materials: Comprehensive

Research Excellence

Hargreaves Lansdown provides expert research and analysis from their in-house team, including detailed fund reports, stock analysis, and market commentary. Their research quality is particularly valuable for investors seeking professional insights to inform their decision-making.

The platform offers access to over 8,000 investment options, including stocks, funds, ETFs, and bonds across global markets. This extensive selection ensures investors can build truly diversified portfolios across all major asset classes.

Professional Service

The platform is designed for long-term financial planning, offering comprehensive account types including ISAs, SIPPs, and Junior ISAs. Customer support is highly rated, with responsive service and knowledgeable advisors available to assist with complex investment queries.

While fees are higher than app-based competitors, the platform provides value through its comprehensive research, reliable execution, and professional-grade tools that justify the premium for serious investors.

5. Saxo

Saxo Bank stands out as a premium multi-asset broker that serves experienced retail traders and institutions with institutional-grade infrastructure and global market access. The platform is known for its sophisticated tools and comprehensive asset selection.

Founded: 1992
Minimum Deposit: £0
FCA Regulated: Yes
Demo Account: Yes
Educational Materials: Extensive

Institutional-Grade Platform

Saxo offers access to over 70,000 tradeable instruments across global markets, including stocks, bonds, forex, commodities, ETFs, and derivatives. This extensive range makes it one of the most comprehensive platforms available to retail traders.

The proprietary SaxoTraderGO and SaxoTraderPRO platforms provide advanced trading tools, deep liquidity, and professional-grade execution. The platforms feature sophisticated charting, risk management tools, and customizable interfaces that cater to demanding traders.

Premium Research and Analysis

Saxo earned the #1 ranking for research in multiple industry reviews, providing in-house analysis, third-party content, and comprehensive market commentary. The research includes geopolitical analysis, thematic coverage, and insights from dozens of top-tier sources.

With tiered pricing that offers tighter spreads and lower fees for high-volume clients, Saxo rewards active traders with institutional-level pricing as trading volume increases.

6. Plus500

Plus500 specializes in Contracts for Difference (CFD) trading, offering a user-friendly platform designed specifically for CFD and derivative trading. The platform serves traders interested in leveraged trading across multiple asset classes.

Founded: 2008
Minimum Deposit: £100
FCA Regulated: Yes
Demo Account: Yes
Educational Materials: Basic

CFD Specialization

Plus500 provides access to over 2,800 tradeable CFD instruments including forex, stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. The platform's focus on CFDs allows for leveraged trading with competitive spreads across all major asset classes.

The proprietary WebTrader platform offers a clean, uncluttered interface designed specifically for CFD trading. The platform includes over 100 technical indicators, multiple chart types, and advanced analysis tools for technical traders.

Unique Trading Tools

Plus500's +Insights tool provides trend exploration features, showing most bought/sold instruments, profitable positions, and market sentiment data. The platform also offers the "+Me" comparison tool, allowing traders to compare their trading behavior with other Plus500 users.

Push notifications and alerts keep traders informed of market events and price movements, while the platform's sentiment analysis provides insights into market positioning.

7. Trading212

Trading212 has gained significant popularity with over 2.5 million users through its commitment to commission-free trading and beginner-friendly design. The platform excels in making investing accessible to newcomers while offering sophisticated features for growth.

Founded: 2004
Minimum Deposit: £1
FCA Regulated: Yes
Demo Account: Yes
Educational Materials: Basic

Commission-Free Trading

Trading212 offers completely commission-free trading on stocks and ETFs with no monthly volume limits, unlike many competitors. The platform supports fractional shares starting at just €1, enabling diversification even with small investment amounts.

AutoInvest and Pie Features

The innovative AutoInvest feature allows users to create custom investment "Pies" containing up to 100 securities with automatic rebalancing. Users can build custom pies or choose from ready-made community pies, with the ability to set up automated recurring investments through direct debit.

Interest on uninvested cash reaches up to 4.1% annually, providing competitive returns on idle funds. The platform also offers a unique share lending program where users can earn additional income by lending their shares to short sellers on a 50/50 split basis.

Summary

These seven trading platforms represent the best options available in 2025, each excelling in different areas:

When choosing a platform, consider your experience level, investment goals, preferred markets, and fee sensitivity. All platforms listed are properly regulated and offer robust security, ensuring your investments are protected regardless of your choice.