While Trading 212 may not yet be a household name globally, it’s a rising star in the trading world, used by 2.5 million investors across the UK, France, Germany, and beyond.
Why Can You Trust this Trading 212 Review?
Hey there! Just so you know, I’ve tested Trading 212 extensively, with my own Trading 212 account. Additionally, I’m also a certified EFPA (European Financial Advisor #37363). I can’t wait to share all my know-how, experience and research about this UK-based broker.
Josep GarciaFinancial Advisor
Trading 212 offers several intriguing advantages, such as investments in derivatives and real assets. Notably, their website claims no commissions for certain investments – more about this later on.
But what are the disadvantages?
Like everything, Trading 212 isn’t without imperfections (e.g. no options or bonds), since your money/investment is at stake. I’ve put together an in-depth Trading 212 review, guiding you to decide if it’s the ideal choice for your financial journey.
Trading 212 Review: The Verdict
Trading 212 it’s more than just an online broker; it offers a gateway to invest in a wide range of assets, including real shares (whole and fractional), ETFs, and more, predominantly in European and American markets— it doesn’t provide access to Australia, Latin America, Asia, and other global markets.
Trading 212 is user-friendly with apps available for both iOS and Android (smartphones and tablets), you can also use your preferred web browser like Safari or Google Chrome. Sadly, you’ll not be able to connect to external trading platforms such as MetaTrader or cTrader.
Trading 212 Pros & Cons
Pros
Account Currencies
Trading 212 offers the flexibility to set up your account in US Dollars, British Pounds, or Euros. However, it’s crucial to choose wisely, as your selected account currency cannot be changed later.
Well-Designed
The platform is well-designed and intuitive. Opening an account is a relatively quick and effortless process.
Real Assets (& Fractional)
With Trading 212, you have the option to invest in real shares and ETFs, either as whole assets or in fractional form.
No Trading Fees *
Trading 212 does not charge any fees when investing in real stocks and ETFs * – this is a bold move to attract new clients. However, you may be charged a foreign exchange fee if you trade assets in other currencies than your main one.
Methods to Deposit Funds
Deposits can be made using various payment methods (transfer, cards and e-wallets). In addition, some of these are commission-free * – instant deposit methods like credit cards may incur a fee.
Regulated Broker
It is a broker regulated by various international bodies like The Financial Conduct Authority (of the UK), and other entities – FCA #609146.
Demo Account
Trading 212 comes with a demo account, so you can practice and get a feel for how it works without risking your money.
Account Segregation
Trading 212 holds client funds in segregated bank accounts. It’s also part of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) provisions.
Cons
Market & Asset Variety
While Trading 212 offers a decent selection of stocks for investment, they could expand their range of available markets and financial instruments. For instance, you can’t invest in other assets like mutual funds, and many markets like Asia aren’t available.
Support Materials
The help and support materials could benefit from being more comprehensive, as they currently lack the level of detail that users might find helpful.
News Feed
It doesn’t come with a section to read relevant news. This may not be a deal-breaker for many, but numerous competitors offer a dedicated news section.
Social & Algo Investing
Trading 212 doesn’t have social investing options like eToro, and algorithmic trading isn’t available either.
Fixed Leverage
When trading CFDs, users are unable to adjust the leverage levels, not even if they wish to reduce them.
Connecting External Platforms
You won’t be able to connect your Trading 212 account with an external platform like cTrader o MetaTrader.
Trading 212 in Detail
Trading 212 Assets & Markets
Truth to be told, Trading 212 stands out among online brokers by offering both derivatives (like CFDs) and real assets (such as shares and ETFs).
Additionally, Trading 212 allows investments in both full and fractional shares and ETFs. Investing in fractional shares means buying or selling a part of a share.. It’s a handy feature, if you’re on a tighter budget, but remember, fractional shares have some limitations (e.g. you aren’t the formal owner of the share).
As for CFDs, you can find derivatives on major indices (e.g. S&P 500, FTSE or STOXX Europe 50), stocks, commodities (e.g. gold, oil, silver, etc.) and currency pairs (e.g. EUR/USD, USD/JPY, AUD/USD, etc.).
Trading 212 provides access to numerous financial markets, primarily in Europe and the US. For more variety, including regions like Asia, Australia, and the Middle East, consider brokers like eToro and XTB.
While Trading 212 offers a wide range of stocks and CFDs, it lacks other asset types like cryptocurrencies, bonds, and mutual funds.
Trading 212 Fees Explained
This UK-regulated broker offers a remarkable deal: no fees for trading stocks and ETFs, and holding your investments is also free.
How is this possible? Here’s a breakdown of its fee structure.
Let’s start with the good news. The services Trading 212 won’t charge you a penny for:
- Stock and ETFs: There are no charges for buying, selling, or holding ETFs and shares. You may have to pay external fees and taxes, like the UK stamp duty.
- Inactivity: Some trading platforms will charge you a fee if you don’t use them for a while. Trading 212 won’t.
- Deposits and withdrawals: It won’t cost you anything to add or take money from Trading 212 if you use a bank transfer.
- Admin processes: There are no fees for opening or closing your account, or for receiving statements.
Now, let’s look at the services for which Trading 212 does charge. There are not many.
- Currency conversion: Trading 212 will charge 0.15% for ETF and stock trading if you use a different currency than your account’s currency. For CFD trading, this conversion fee is 0.5%. For example, if your account is set in GBP, and you buy stocks in USD, EUR or JPY, a charge applies.
- Card deposits: The first £2,000 deposit won’t have a cost, but after you’ll be charged 0.7% of the deposited amount.
- CFD spread: For each CFD trade you make, there is a spread you’ll need to consider. It’s tricky to predict what the spread will be. However, Trading 212 publishes their average values.
- Overnight fees: If you trade a leveraged product (e.g., a CFD) and hold the position after market hours, you’ll be charged a financing fee. This fee is a bit tricky to calculate, but you can find the information for each instrument in their app.
Although a fee and a spread aren’t technically the same, both can hurt your investment (i.e., they are a cost for you). A fee is a set and explicit price for a service – let’s say a broker charges 1% as a transaction fee.
On the other hand, a spread is a cost already included in a trade. For example, trading derivatives like CFD doesn’t come with a fee. However, Trading 212 (and other trading platforms) will sell a CFD to you at a higher price than what they will buy it from you – that cut they take is the spread.
Why Trading 212 Doesn’t Charge a Fee for Shares and ETFs?
It’s likely that they don’t earn much from allowing users to buy, hold, and sell ETFs and shares for free. So, they may as well offer the service free of charge, hoping that investors will also trade CFDs on their platform – which are far more lucrative for them.
Additionally, Trading 212 may make some money from you by lending securities to third parties. These are complex financial operations (e.g., for short selling) that come with some risk. Although, be aware that Trading 212 will pay you some interest for your lent stocks.
Trading 212 ensures collateral is in place to secure your investments (i.e., if the counterpart fails to return the shares). However, this is not 100% risk-free.
How to Open a Trading 212 Account?
Opening a Trading 212 account is straightforward. Follow these steps for guidance:
- Visit the Trading 212 homepage.
- Choose the account type that suits your needs: ‘CFD‘ for trading derivatives and ‘Invest‘ for buying and selling real assets such as shares and ETFs.
- Enter your email and password.
- Provide your personal details.
- Complete the short financial test.
- Review and accept (if you agree) the terms of use and policies..
- Confirm your identity (e.g., using your passport).
- Verify your phone number.
- Wait for an email confirming your account’s opening.
Is Trading 212 Safe?
Trading 212 is regulated by top authorities, including the FCA. As a duly registered investment company, its clients are protected under schemes like the UK’s Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
Clients’ assets are segregated, held in separate accounts from the company’s. Additionally, cash balances are stored in separate bank accounts. However, it’s important to note that Trading 212 is not a bank and does not possess a banking license.
Trading 212 Accounts
Trading 212 offers various accounts tailored to your investment goals and preferences. Let’s explore these in detail.
Trading 212 Invest Account
The Trading 212 Invest account enables investors to buy and sell shares and ETFs from multiple stock markets, primarily in Europe and the US.
You can invest using fractional shares (bits of a stock) or the full asset. For now, the platform won’t charge you a fee for buying or selling shares – quite a good deal.
- Share lending: Initially, Trading 212 lends your shares to others, such as traders shorting stocks, to generate interest – you’re compensated for this. They diligently work to minimize risks (e.g., by requiring collateral from third parties), but some risks persist. You can always opt-out.
- Share transfers not allowed: Trading 212 currently does not permit asset transfers to other platforms. To switch brokers, you must sell all securities at Trading 212 and repurchase them on the new platform, leading to additional fees and taxes.
Trading 212 ISA Account
UK users can open an ISA account with Trading 212, similar to to the Invest account. So, you can benefit from the tax advantages offered by Individual Savings Accounts in the UK. However, there are specific requirements and a registration process to follow. Note that this account is exclusively available for UK-based clients.
Trading 212 CFD Account
The Trading 212 CFD account allows users to invest in CFDs, as the name suggests.
With this account, you’ll be able to trade long and short stocks, indices, forex, and commodities. But, note that CFD trading comes with leverage, and it’s a complex way of investing. So, be sure to understand the risks before trading CFDs.
How to Use Trading 212?
Once your Trading 212 account is confirmed as open and active, you can begin using the platform. Read on to learn how.
Use the Demo Account
I recommend starting with the demo account to familiarize yourself with the platform’s features. To access the demo account, you only need to click on the top right arrow and select ‘Switch to practice’ as shown in the screenshot below.
As you can see, Trading 212 provides virtual money for practising investments without risk. Remember, using the demo account is like playing Monopoly: it’s exciting, but no real profits or losses occur.
How to Add and Withdraw Money from Trading 212?
To start using Trading 212 with real money, your first step is to add funds to your account. For that, follow these steps:
- From the Trading 212 dashboard, select ‘Start investing now.
- Choose your preferred method to deposit funds, such as bank transfer or card. In this example, we’ll use a card.
- Select the amount you’d like to deposit – fees may apply to card and electronic wallet deposits.
- Enter your card information and click ‘Pay’.
Note that it can take up to 2 business days to make a deposit via bank transfer. Moreover, you’ll need to manually transfer the money from your bank account to your Trading 212 account.
Find and Invest in Securities
With funds in your Trading 212 account, you’re ready to start investing. I will use the Invest account (for stocks and ETFs) to illustrate this example, but the CFD and ISA accounts work similarly.
On the Trading 212 main screen, click the magnifying glass in the left-hand sidebar, search for an asset, and select your preferred option. You will find relevant information such as charts, company details, and key ratios. Feel free to explore in-depth.
To place an order, click on the ‘Buy’ button. You will be prompted to select the order type (e.g., market, limit, stop, and stop limit), specify your investment amount, and complete all other relevant fields. Then, click ‘Review order’ to proceed and ‘Send buy order’ on the following screen.
Research and Technical Analysis
There are several tools at your disposal to research and analyse the assets you are invested in (or planning to). Here’s my perspective on these tools.
The first tool we can look at is the economic calendar. It offers vital information on upcoming economic events like central bank announcements. However, it’s not the most comprehensive calendar I’ve tested, and the presentation of information seems somewhat cluttered.
On the other hand, I’m a bit more impressed with Trading 212’s chart tools. If you select the advanced graphic options, you can perform many types of technical analysis (e.g., EMA, Bollinger Bands, etc). You can also customize the charts (e.g., area, candlestick, line) and add notes, lines, and shapes. However, I didn’t see a way to add benchmarks to charts.
Another useful aspect is the plenty of information that is shown when browsing different assets. This is a good way to start your research, as you’d have access to key ratios, balance sheet summaries, cash flows, and so on. However, the information is somewhat basic. If you’re deeply into financial research, as I am, you might find it insufficient, such as the lack of effective information filtering.
Trading 212 Alternatives
While Trading 212 is an excellent online investment broker, several alternatives might interest you. Below, find some of the top Trading 212 competitors.
eToro
eToro dominates the online brokerage industry with around 20 million users, distinguishing it from other platforms. Similar to Trading 212, it offers CFD trading, fractional stocks, and ETFs. eToro also facilitates crypto trading and provides social trading options.
XTB
XTB provides access to a wide array of derivatives, mainly CFDs, with an impressive user interface and competitive spreads. In countries like Spain, France, and Germany, XTB offers actual shares and ETFs, along with derivatives.
DEGIRO
DEGIRO, much like Trading 212, focuses on the European market, serving the UK, Germany, Spain, and 15 other countries. It offers a user-friendly platform for stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, and futures. With around 2.5 million users since 2013, DEGIRO’s success is evident. However, it doesn’t cater to those interested in CFDs.
Trading 212 Review: Parting Thoughts
We’ve reached the end of this Trading 212 review. Hopefully, it has clarified whether this broker suits your needs or if you should consider alternatives.
Here are some reasons why Trading 212 might appeal to you.
- Offers both derivatives and real asset investments.
- Provides a flexible demo account.
- Opening an account is relatively simple.
- Regulation by FCA, FCS, and other authorities.
- Zero fees for stocks and ETFs transactions.
However, the following aspects might be deal-breakers.
- Cannot integrate with third-party platforms like cTrader or Metatrader
- Certain markets, including Asia, Emerging Markets, and Australia, are unavailable.
- Lacks options for trading bonds, cryptocurrencies, and Forex.
- Prohibits asset transfers to other brokers.
- It’s not available for clients outside the UK and Europe.
That’s it! All you need to know about Trading 212 to make your decision. If you have any questions or doubts, feel free to leave a comment, and I’ll assist as best as I can.
* Be aware that other fees may apply (source).
Trading 212 Review FAQs
Trading 212 is a London-based fintech company and trading platform for stocks, Forex, commodities, and more. It’s regulated by the British Financial Conduct Authority among others.
It’s popular in the United Kingdom and Europe for providing a mobile and web-based platform to trade securities. Furthermore, it offers a practice mode where users can trade with virtual money to get a feel for how trading works before committing real money.
In addition to the demo account for trying its system out, Trading 212 offers 3 different types of accounts:
- Invest: Ideal for investing in real assets like stocks or ETFs using Trading 212.
- CFD: Designed for trading Contract for Differences (CFDs).
- ISA: Exclusive to UK users, offering tax advantages through the Individual Savings Accounts scheme.
Trading 212 is an online broker operating in multiple countries, regulated by various financial authorities. Here’s more detail:
- Trading 212 UK Ltd., the UK subsidiary, is regulated by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority), licence number 609146.
- Trading 212 Ltd., registered in Bulgaria, is regulated by the FSC (Financial Supervision Commission), license number RG-03-0237.
Initially established in Bulgaria, Trading 212 now has offices in various European countries, including the UK and Cyprus.
Trading 212 was founded by Borislav Nedialkov and Ivan Ashminov. As it is not a publicly traded company, the precise ownership details of Trading 212 are not publicly available.
However, since the founders are still listed on the Trading 212 website, they likely retain partial ownership of the company.
Trading 212, as a regulated broker, is licensed by various authorities, including the UK’s FCA, providing investor protections and safeguards.
Nevertheless, it’s crucial to understand that investments in stocks, ETFs, and CFDs carry inherent risks, including potential monetary losses. Therefore, losses incurred while investing in company shares through Trading 212, or any other broker, are not reimbursable.
Trading 212 is a legitimate broker, regulated and overseen by multiple financial authorities. It’s unlikely they’ll misuse your funds, but as with any investment, there’s always a risk.
Trustworthiness is subjective, so it’s important to consider that your investment is at stake. Additionally, it’s worth noting some Reddit users expressed dissatisfaction with Trading 212’s handling of the GameStop situation in January 2021. (source).
No, Trading 212 doesn’t have social trading (or copying other investors) features. We’ll see if they add it in the future.
Sadly not. Algo trading is not possible with Trading 212.
Trading 212 allows you to trade Contracts for Difference (CFD), which is a suitable instrument for short-term traders. There are also stocks and ETFs available for longer-term investors.
Trading 212 allows you to buy real assets, something longer-term investors are looking for. Moreover, the variety of stocks and ETFs is quite impressive, so many will love the platform for this.
Yes, Trading 212 is generally considered a good platform for beginners. It provides a user-friendly interface that’s easy to navigate, even for those new to investing. This broker offers a vast selection of stocks and ETFs, assets that beginners may feel more comfortable with.
In addition, Trading 212 provides a free practice account with virtual money, allowing novices to experiment without the financial risk. There is also some educational content that can help new investors.
However, the CFD account to trade using Contracts for Difference is not the most beginner-friendly as these instruments are complex and involve leverage – please be aware of the risks. Beginners should focus on the Invest account.
Currently, Trading 212 doesn’t charge money for ETF and stock trading. Also, there is no cost to hold your investment with them. Therefore, this is a suitable option for long-term investors.
However, there are a couple of caveats:
- Fees are unbelievably low; one of the best brokers for shares and ETFs. But, this could change in the future, so keep an eye on it.
- Trading 212 doesn’t allow users to transfer their investments (e.g., stocks and ETFs) to other brokers. This can be tricky if you’d like to migrate platforms down the line.
Absolutely! When using the CFD account, you have the option to short securities through CFDs. A friendly reminder: while you may already be aware, it’s important to note that trading with CFDs and going short carries increased risks, so beginners should exercise caution when engaging in this form of trading.
If you buy shares before the dividend is distributed, Trading 212 will arrange for you to receive the dividend. In the case of fractions of shares, you’ll also be entitled to the proportional part of the distributed dividend.
What Are Trading 212’s Trading Hours?
Trading 212 allows its users to access many markets. Therefore, trading hours change depending on what securities you follow. Here are the most relevant times:
- US Markets: The New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ are open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on weekdays.
- UK Markets: The London Stock Exchange operates from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. UK Time on weekdays.
- European Markets: Most European exchanges, like the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, are open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Central European Time (CET).
- Forex Market: The forex market is open 24 hours a day from 5 p.m. ET on Sunday to 5 p.m. ET on Friday.
Remember, these are general times and might vary on public holidays. And please, always confirm the specific trading hours for the asset you’re interested in on the Trading 212 platform.
That is an excellent question, especially since they offer free ETFs and share trading. I haven’t analysed Trading 212’s income sheets, but I am convinced they make most of their money with the CFD users. In other words, the Invest and ISA users don’t generate much of a profit, and they just cover the costs.
You can reach out to Trading 212 through their live chat option or by using the contact form available on their website. Unfortunately, phone support is not available.
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