Summary: Trading 212 is one of the largest and fastest-growing multi-asset trading platforms in the United Kingdom and Europe. They offer over 10,000 global Stocks & ETFs from markets including the United States, Europe, Japan, Australia, and more. With over 1.5 million customers on their app, Trading 212 is one of the most popular destinations to invest and trade in global markets. In this review, we overview exactly why that is by breaking down their key features, assets, fees, and more.
- Trade over 12,000 global stocks & ETFs with industry-leading fees.
- FCA Licensed and regulated platform with FSCS protection up to £85,000.
- Over 1.5 million clients in the UK with a Trustpilot score of 4.6 from 20,000 reviews.
What is Trading 212?
Trading 212, a distinguished fintech entity, empowers individuals with free, intelligent, and user-friendly applications, democratizing access to financial markets. The platform allows users to engage in trading a diverse range of financial instruments, including stocks, ETFs, forex, and commodities. It has notably disrupted the brokerage industry by introducing the first zero-commission stock trading service in the UK and Europe, making the stock market accessible to millions.
With over 2.5 million lifetime funded accounts and managing £3.5 billion in client assets, Trading 212 has earned a TrustScore of 4.6 from over 25,070 reviews on Trustpilot. Its success is underscored by its highly popular mobile app, which has garnered more than 15 million downloads, consistently ranking as the UK's top trading app since 2016 and achieving the number one spot in Germany in 2017.
Trading 212 Features
Trading 212 revolutionizes the trading landscape with its zero-commission model, providing access to a vast range of financial markets, including stocks, ETFs, forex, and commodities, through an intuitive app. Here's an overview of what Trading 212 offers:
- Zero-Commission Trading: Enjoy trading without any commission, making it highly cost-effective for all types of investors.
- Vibrant Community: Engage with a dynamic trading community, sharing insights and strategies to enhance your trading knowledge.
- Secure Account: Manage your investments with ease using a secure account that aggregates your assets for simplified oversight.
- Comprehensive Resources: Access a wealth of educational materials and market analysis to inform your trading decisions, covering a broad spectrum of global markets.
- Innovative Tools: Benefit from advanced tools like automated investing and detailed analytics to refine your investment strategy.
- Global Reach: Diversify your portfolio by trading in international markets, including prominent US and European stocks.
- Mobile Trading: Stay connected to the markets with Trading 212's mobile app, available on iOS and Android, for trading anytime, anywhere.
- Multiple Funding Methods: Trading 212 is widely regarded for having the widest range of account funding methods in the industry. You can fund your Trading 212 account with Bank Transfers, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Credit Card, Debit Card, Skrill, Dotpay, Giropay, Blik, Direct eBanking, PayPal & iDEAL.
Is Trading 212 Regulated?
Yes, Trading 212 is a secure brokerage platform that is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom. Their platform offers free and safe customer-segregated accounts that are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FCSC) in the UK. The registered company number of Trading 212 UK Ltd in England and Wales is 8590005. For Europe, Trading 212 Markets Ltd operates out of Cyprus and is licensed by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission. Their license number in that jurisdiction is HE 409763.
Fee Schedule
The Trading 212 platform also provides transparent trading terms with zero commissions and tight spreads that beat industry standards. The average spread on the Trading 212 Invest or CFD platform during normal market conditions averages around 0.1%, depending on the stock or ETF. You can review the average spreads to calculate your estimated fees on their transparent trading instrument spreads page.
The margin requirements for open interest on the platform will vary depending on the instrument you are trading. The following are the current margin funding requirements for CFD positions:
- Stocks: 20% margin
- Commodities: Gold - 5% margin & other commodities - 10% margin
- Forex: 3.33% margin
- Indices: Base Indices - 5% margin & non-major indices - 10% margin
Mobile Application
Beyond its desktop platform, Trading 212 extends its offerings through a mobile app available for both iOS and Android users. This app is distinguished by its user-friendly interface, making it stand out among global trading apps for its simplicity and ease of navigation. The app is highly regarded by its users, reflected in its impressive ratings, with a 4.6 star rating on the Apple App Store and a 4 star rating on the Google Play Store, showcasing its widespread acceptance and satisfaction among the trading community.
Customer Care
Trading 212 is dedicated to providing exceptional customer service, although it's worth noting that support is not around the clock. Assistance can be sought through email or by submitting a ticket during standard business hours, ensuring timely and effective responses that highlight a commitment to user satisfaction. Beyond direct support, Trading 212 enriches its users with an extensive array of educational content designed to cater to investors at varying levels of expertise, from beginners to advanced, focusing on a wide range of topics.
Final Thoughts
To recap, Trading 212 is one of the best platforms in the UK and Europe for investors to buy, sell, and trade thousands of popular stocks and ETFs. Through their platform, users can enjoy a seamless user experience and low fees to get access to global markets and up to 10x leverage. We recommend Trading 212 to any investor looking to securely buy and hold equities, commodities, indices, and other global assets.
Co-Founder & former Investment Banker (Finance MBA) turned Full-Time analyst and Head of Research at Buy Bitcoin Bank. Left traditional finance to pursue my interest in digital assets and decentralized finance.
