Trading 212 Review 2026: Features, Fees & Pros & Cons

Trading 212 Review 2026: Commission-Free Investing Done Right

Trading 212 has quietly become one of the most successful investment platforms for retail investors worldwide. While newer fintech brokers compete for attention with flashy marketing, Trading 212 has focused on building a genuinely excellent product that speaks for itself. With over 4.5 million funded accounts and €30 billion in client assets, the numbers tell the story.

We have used Trading 212 for several years now, and it remains one of our top recommendations for investors in the UK, Europe, the UAE, and many other regions. For beginners and intermediate investors especially, Trading 212 is genuinely a joy to use. The interface is clean, intuitive, and makes investing feel approachable rather than intimidating. The combination of zero commissions, extremely low FX fees, competitive interest on cash, and features like Pies makes it an excellent choice for building long-term wealth. But it is not perfect, and we will cover the drawbacks honestly too.

New users can claim a free fractional share worth up to £100/€100 when opening an account through our link.

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What is Trading 212?

Trading 212 is a UK-based online broker offering commission-free trading on stocks, ETFs, and CFDs. Founded in 2004 in Bulgaria before relocating its headquarters to London, the company pioneered zero-commission stock trading in Europe before it became the industry standard.

The platform is regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Germany's BaFin, and Australia's ASIC. UK clients benefit from FSCS protection up to £85,000 for investments and £120,000 for cash deposits (the latter increased from £85,000 in December 2025), providing strong security for your money.

We recently enjoyed Trading 212's 2025 rebrand, which gives the app a more modern and sleek appearance. The updated interface makes navigation even smoother, particularly for beginners just getting started with investing. It is easily one of the most user-friendly brokers we have tested, and using the app genuinely feels effortless.

Trading 212 Fees: The Full Picture

One of Trading 212's biggest selling points is its fee structure. The platform charges zero commission on stock and ETF trades, with no platform fees, no ISA fees, and no inactivity fees.

The main cost to be aware of is the 0.15% FX conversion fee when trading assets in a different currency than your account's base currency. However, Trading 212's multi-currency account feature allows you to hold balances in 13 different currencies (GBP, USD, EUR, CHF, and more), effectively avoiding FX fees if you deposit in the same currency as your trades.

Compared to traditional brokers like Hargreaves Lansdown (which charges up to 1% FX fees) or even eToro (0.5% FX fee), Trading 212's 0.15% rate is extremely competitive.

Interest on Uninvested Cash

Trading 212 pays above-industry-standard interest on uninvested cash held in your account. The rates track central bank rates closely and are among the best offered by any retail broker in both the UK and Europe.

For UK investors, Trading 212 consistently ranks among the best high-yield savings options in the UK. European investors benefit similarly, with EUR rates competitive with the best high-yield accounts in Europe.

Interest is paid daily and there is no minimum balance required. Your cash remains fully accessible, and you can withdraw or invest it at any time without penalties. This is a significant benefit for investors who keep some cash on the side for buying opportunities.

Trading 212 generates these returns by investing idle cash into Qualifying Money Market Funds (QMMFs), time deposits, and current accounts with regulated financial institutions. The rates are tied to central bank rates, so they may change when the Bank of England or ECB adjusts its base rate.

For more details on how this works, read our guide on Trading 212 stock lending and earning interest.

Trading 212 Pies and AutoInvest

One of Trading 212's standout features is the Pies system, which allows you to create custom portfolios and automate your investments through dollar-cost averaging.

With AutoInvest, you can set up recurring deposits that automatically buy your chosen assets according to your predefined allocation. This is perfect for long-term investors who want to consistently build wealth without manually placing trades each month. You can also copy community Pies created by other investors if you want inspiration or a ready-made portfolio structure.

We have a detailed breakdown in our Trading 212 Pies guide if you want to learn how to set this up effectively.

Portfolio Transfers

A major improvement in 2025 was the full rollout of portfolio transfers. You can now transfer your investments into Trading 212 from other brokers (or out of Trading 212) completely free of charge.

Both ISA and Invest accounts support transfers, though there are some limitations:

• Only whole shares can be transferred (fractional shares must be sold first)
• ISA transfers must be for the full account if transferring stocks
• Transfers between Invest and ISA accounts are not supported

The process is paperless and typically completes within 30 calendar days. This removes a significant barrier that previously locked investors into the platform.

Trading 212 Pros and Cons

Is Trading 212 Safe?

Safety is a common concern for investors considering newer platforms, and it is a valid question to ask. Trading 212 is regulated by multiple financial authorities including the FCA in the UK, which provides strong consumer protections.

Key safety features include:

• FCA regulation (UK) and BaFin (Germany), ASIC (Australia)
• FSCS protection up to £85,000 for investments, £120,000 for cash deposits
• Client funds held separately from company funds under CASS 6 and CASS 7 rules
• Custodians include The Bank of New York Mellon and Interactive Brokers
• Two-factor authentication available
• Annual external audits by Buzzacott

For a deeper analysis including what happens if Trading 212 were to fail, see our full article on whether Trading 212 is safe.

Trading 212 Card

Trading 212 has expanded beyond investing with their 212 Card, launched in mid-2025. The debit card offers 1% cashback on purchases and zero FX fees for international spending, making it competitive with premium travel cards.

The card is directly linked to your Trading 212 account, making it easy to spend from your investment returns or uninvested cash. Availability varies by country, primarily available in the UK and select European markets.

Read our full Trading 212 Card review for more details on eligibility and benefits.

UK Investors: ISA and SIPP

For UK investors, Trading 212 offers a Stocks and Shares ISA with no fees. This allows you to invest up to £20,000 per tax year and pay no capital gains tax or dividend tax on your returns. They also offer a Cash ISA with rates that track the Bank of England base rate.

However, Trading 212 does not currently offer a SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension). While there have been hints about a potential SIPP launch, as of early 2026 it has not materialized. If pension investing is important to you, alternatives like Interactive Brokers or Freetrade offer SIPP options.

How to Open a Trading 212 Account

Trading 212 vs Interactive Brokers

A common question we receive is how Trading 212 compares to Interactive Brokers. The short answer: for beginners, Trading 212 is the better choice. For advanced traders, Interactive Brokers offers more tools and market access.

Trading 212 wins on: Simplicity, zero commissions, user experience, and interest on cash. It is probably one of the easiest investing apps to use, making it ideal for those just starting out or who prefer a streamlined experience.

Interactive Brokers wins on: Research tools, market access (including options and futures), advanced order types, API trading, and the ability to open a SIPP. The learning curve is steeper, but the capabilities are far greater.

We cover this comparison in depth in our Trading 212 vs Interactive Brokers article.

Invest vs CFD Account

Trading 212 offers two main account types: Invest (for buying real shares) and CFD (for trading contracts for difference with leverage). For long-term investors, we strongly recommend the Invest account.

CFD trading involves leverage and the risk of losing more than your deposit. The spreads are also higher compared to specialist CFD platforms. Unless you specifically want to trade CFDs and understand the risks, stick with the Invest or ISA accounts.

For more details on the differences, see our Trading 212 Invest vs CFD guide.

What We Don't Recommend Trading 212 For

Being honest about limitations:

Advanced traders: If you need sophisticated charting, API access, options trading, or complex order types, Trading 212's simplicity becomes a limitation. Interactive Brokers would serve you better.

Pension investing: No SIPP means you cannot use Trading 212 for tax-advantaged pension contributions. Look at Interactive Brokers or Freetrade for SIPP options.

CFD trading: While Trading 212 offers CFDs, the spreads are not competitive with specialist platforms. If CFD trading is your focus, there are better options.

Alternatives to Consider

While Trading 212 is an excellent choice for most beginner and intermediate investors, it may not be right for everyone. Here are some alternatives worth considering:

• Interactive Brokers - Better for advanced traders who need research tools, global market access, and a SIPP
• eToro - Similar ease of use with social trading features and Smart Portfolios. New users can get up to $500 in free assets
• Lightyear - Another commission-free option with competitive FX rates. Claim up to £100 in free stock with our promo code

For UAE-based investors, check our guide on Trading 212 in the UAE.

Not sure which broker is right for you? Try our Broker Match Tool to get a personalized recommendation, or browse our complete broker reviews.

Our Verdict

Trading 212 remains one of our top recommendations for investors in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. For beginners and intermediate investors especially, it is genuinely one of the easiest and most enjoyable brokers to use. The app is intuitive, the fees are minimal, and features like Pies make long-term wealth building straightforward.

The platform has executed remarkably well, reaching 4.5 million funded accounts and over €30 billion in client assets. They continue to add features and improve the platform consistently, with the 212 Card and improved portfolio transfers being recent examples.

The platform is especially well-suited for:

• Beginner and intermediate investors who want a simple, intuitive interface
• UK investors looking for a fee-free Stocks and Shares ISA
• European investors wanting competitive EUR cash interest rates
• UAE and Middle East investors seeking a reliable, well-regulated broker
• Anyone who wants to automate their investing with Pies and AutoInvest

The main drawbacks are the lack of a SIPP for pension investing and limited research tools for advanced traders. If those are priorities, consider alternatives like Interactive Brokers.

FAQ

Is Trading 212 safe to use?

Yes. Trading 212 is regulated by the FCA (UK), BaFin (Germany), and ASIC (Australia). UK clients receive FSCS protection up to £85,000 for investments and £120,000 for cash deposits. Client funds are held in segregated accounts with custodians including The Bank of New York Mellon.

Does Trading 212 charge any fees?

Trading 212 offers commission-free stock and ETF trading with no platform fees, no ISA fees, and no inactivity fees. The main cost is a 0.15% FX conversion fee when trading assets in a different currency, though this can be avoided using the multi-currency feature.

Can I transfer my portfolio out of Trading 212?

Yes. Trading 212 now supports free portfolio transfers both in and out. The process is paperless and typically completes within 30 days. Note that only whole shares can be transferred.

Does Trading 212 pay interest on cash?

Yes. Trading 212 pays above-average interest on uninvested cash in GBP, EUR, USD and 10 other currencies. Interest is paid daily with no minimum balance required. Rates track central bank rates closely. See our UK high-yield comparison and EU high-yield comparison for current rates.

Does Trading 212 offer an ISA?

Yes. Trading 212 offers both a Stocks and Shares ISA and a Cash ISA, both completely fee-free. The annual ISA allowance is £20,000 for the 2025/26 tax year. See how Trading 212 compares in our best Cash ISAs in the UK ranking.

Does Trading 212 offer a SIPP?

No. Trading 212 does not currently offer a SIPP pension account. If pension investing is important to you, consider alternatives like Interactive Brokers or Freetrade.

How does Trading 212 compare to eToro?

Trading 212 offers lower fees overall (0.15% FX vs 0.5%, no withdrawal fees, no inactivity fees) and interest on cash. eToro offers CopyTrader for social trading and Smart Portfolios for thematic investing. For cost-conscious investors, Trading 212 has the edge. For those interested in social features, eToro may be preferable.

Risk Disclaimer

Trading involves significant risk and may not be suitable for all investors. The value of investments can go down as well as up, and you may lose some or all of your initial investment. Past performance is not indicative of future results. CFD trading carries a particularly high risk of loss.