IG Share Dealing

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1
Open a stock trading account
A share dealing account is what allows you to buy and sell shares.
2
Add money to it
This is the money you want to use to invest in shares.
3
Buy the shares you want
Find and purchase the shares you want.
4
Sell shares if you chose to
When the stock price of your shares rises, you can sell them to make a profit.
Your investments are not guaranteed; they can decrease in value as well as increase and you may not get back the full amount you put in.
Sometimes called 'share dealing' or 'share trading', online stock trading is the buying and selling of shares in publicly traded companies listed on the stock exchange.
Interest in stock trading in the UK has been increasing in recent years, with about 13.5% of UK shares being owned by UK residents¹.
During the COVID-19 pandemic this interest soared thanks to the availability of commission-free stock trading apps and the rise of 'meme stocks' such as GameStop that made headlines in early 2021.
A 'share' or 'stock' is a unit of ownership in a given company. Stock trading allows you to buy shares in publicly listed companies such Google, Tesla, or Amazon and then sell that stock for a profit if the price of the stock rises in future.
The price of a single share of a company is calculated by dividing the total market value of the company by the number of shares.
This price rises and falls due to a few factors such as company performance or other events such as new regulations, or world events such as war or recession. These factors affect the supply and demand of a particular company's stock. If there are more buyers of a particular stock than people willing to sell, the stock price will likely rise. If there are more sellers in the market than buyers, the stock price usually drops.
Stock trading platforms can come in the form of desktop software, web-based platforms, or even smartphone apps. When looking for the best trading platform, UK residents should think about these factors:
Fees
All online market trading platforms, UK wide, charge you a fee for each transaction you make. This is the case whether you want to buy shares online or sell them.
Ease of use
Online stock trading can be complex. Often you'll need to respond quickly to market changes. So look for a share dealing platform that lets you make fast, accurate, hassle-free trades.
Access to data and research
The best trading platforms, UK wide, will give real-time market updates or broker analysis on individual stock. This information can be helpful to decide on which shares to buy.
Trade options
Look at what options are available for you to buy shares or sell them. Can you buy or sell shares at a set price? Are stop loss orders an option? This will help reduce your risk.
Margin loans
Some people borrow money to help build their investment portfolio. If you want to do this, check to see if your share dealing platform or online broker offers margin loans.
Security
How secure is the platform? Security is vital to make sure your funds are safe. Typically, the best trading platforms have robust features in place to protect your investments.
There is no definitive answer to which is the best online trading platform. UK investors should think about the following factors before choosing a trading platform:
Design and ease of use
Share selection
Extra features.
The best stock trading app should offer you a wide variety of stocks to trade. If it has a limited share selection, and the shares you want to buy aren't on the app, you could miss out on important money-making opportunities.
Some well-known and reputed stock trading platforms include:
Trading Platfrom | Platform Fee | Share dealing charge | Investment Options |
---|---|---|---|
Degiro | £0 | £2.03 | Shares, ETFs, Options, Futures |
IG | £8 | £8 | Shares, ETFs, Funds |
Interactive Investor | £9.99 | £7.99 | International shares, Funds, Investment trusts, ETFs |
Hargreaves Lansdown | £0 | £11.95 | Shares, ETFs, Funds |
Saxo Markets | £0 | £8 | Shares, ETFs, Funds |
1
Only invest what you can afford to lose
Stock trading is risky as the value of stocks can rise and fall because of external economic factors. This means that you might get back less money than you originally invested.
2
Start with small investments
This'll give you time to get used to the process of buying and selling shares on trading platform that you've chosen. This is especially important if you're new to online stock trading.
3
Do your research
Research each company you want to buy and sell shares from. Visit their website and search for economic news stories about them as well as look at how they're performing and have performed historically.
Online stock trading is about risk and reward, but there are ways to minimise your risk by doing the research, picking a platform to suits your financial circumstances and being patient if the market takes a dip.”Salman Haqqi, Personal Finance Editor
Although everyone has their own particular investment needs and goals, the end goal is essentially the same - make as much of a return on your investment as you can.
Here are some tips based on conventional wisdom that investors can keep in mind:
Think long term. Unless you're an expert trader with knowledge of the day-to-day intricacies of the stock market, trying to make short-term gains is probably not a good idea. Instead, if you're thinking of investing in stocks, be prepared to tie your money up for at least five years. That covers any market fluctuations from affecting your eventual return on investment.
Diversify your portfolio. Investing in a variety of different industries, maximises returns by investing in different areas that would react differently to the same economic developments.
Don't panic. Many investors often panic when the market has a momentary dip and follow other people into selling. Highs and lows are part of investing in the stock market, and it can be more profitable to be patient and ride it out.
Has your savings rate got you looking for alternative ways to use your hard-earned money? Whether it's for long term growth or to generate income, investing in shares can be a profitable way to use your savings!
More about how to start investing in sharesYou may have to pay extra types of tax if you make money from your investments. Here is how your investments are taxed and how your tax band can affect what you pay.
Find out how are investments taxedMaking investments during financial uncertainty can be particularly unnerving. The personal finance at money.co.uk have pulled together some tips to guide you during these times.
Read MoreComparing stock trading accounts could save you money. Our multiple award-winning comparison service makes sure you get the lowest fees and charges possible based on your individual circumstances. Our aim is to provide you with the most up-to-date information, as well as useful tools and calculators so to help you make life's most important decisions and take control of your money.
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¹Based on data from the 'Ownership of UK quoted shares' report by ons.gov.uk
Last updated: 19 January, 2022