Trading 212 is a fantastic platform – they offer CFD Trading, Stocks & Shares ISAs, SIPPs and even Cash ISAs. But what are the best alternatives for CFD trading? Where can you also open a Stocks & Shares ISA and also trade competitively? Let’s look at the top Trading 212 alternatives for UK traders.
Trading 212 Alternatives for UK Traders
If you’re a UK trader currently using Trading 212, but are looking for some alternative FCA-regulated platforms & brokers, then you’re in luck. We’ve distilled the best Trading 212 alternatives for UK traders so you can make your own decision on which might be best for you.
Our top picks are IG, XTB and CMC.
Each has their own set of advantages and disadvantages but there is one broker that ticks nearly all the right boxes.
Best Trading 212 Alternatives for Trading
The best Trading 212 alternatives for UK traders and investors are:
Best All-Round Alternative IG
Best Alternative for ISAs: XTB
Best Alternative for Platform Experience: CMC
Each of these competitors offer something that Trading 212 offers, and are often much more competitive for spread costs & CFD trading.
For example, both IG & CMC offer a Stocks and Shares ISA as well as SIPPs, and XTB offers a Cash ISA, Stocks and Shares ISA but no SIPP.
But mainly, what we’ve identified through our research is that these brokers are far more competitive than Trading 212 when it comes to trading costs.
We’ve explored what Trading 212 trading costs actually are and researched how much it costs to trade on Trading 212 vs top UK brokers.
Great Trading Options and ISAs Offered with an Excellent Platform
Loads of instruments (17,000+) to trade + a great Stocks & Shares ISA option.
69% 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.
Best Alternative for ISAs (Cash & Stocks & Shares) Investing
XTB offers Stocks and Cash ISAs – something UK traders and investors use to protect from capital gains tax – this is a possible the most like-for-like replacement.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74% 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.
Great for Thematic Trading & an Award-Winning Platform
Lots of trading options 12,000+, and a thematic replacement for Trading 212
83% 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.
What Makes a Good Trading 212 Alternative?
Trading 212 has surged in popularity in the UK over the past few years. They did this through a unique combination of an easy-to-use mobile-first platform experiences, combined with Cash ISAs, Stocks and Shares ISAs, SIPP and CFD trading – it really covers the range of possible investment and trading options in the UK. One thing that goes overlooked, but is a key part of their success is thematic trading / investment buckets – which we will come onto later – but if you take all of this and package it into offer a great beginner friendly platform, you have a recipe for success.
Challenging them becomes difficult, so where did we begin? Well, whilst we are not stocks and shares or SIPP experts, we are experts in ranking the best trading platforms in the UK and so there are a couple of key elements to consider when considering an alternative and we’ve broken it down as follows:
| Trading 212 Benefits | Competitor scoring criteria |
| Mobile-friendly | Does the platform work seamlessly on mobile? |
| Beginner-friendly | Is the platform easy to start trading or investing? |
| ISA options | Does the broker offer ISAs (Cash & Stocks and Shares) |
| CFD Trading Options | Does the broker offer, and beat Trading 212 for trading? |
Based on this scoring criteria, we narrowed down our list to 4 platforms and brokers that excel and sometimes, even beat Trading 212 on a lot of this criteria. So let’s take a look.
Best Trading 212 Alternatives List
1. IG: Best Trading 212 Alternative
IG is a cut above the rest, Trading 212 included. IG has 16,000+ instruments to trade vs Trading 212’s 12,000+ as of May 2026. IG is a far more established broker than Trading 212, IG was founded in 1974 and Trading 212 was founded in2004. You might think then, that IG is an old fuddy-duddy style broker, made for your Dad or Uncle – but you’d be wrong. IG is a broker that’s managed to adapt to the times. They launched their ISA in March 2017, and in 2026 so far they have both abolished the inactivity fee in 2026, the even had a brand new logo refresh the same year. But besides all of the cosmetic changes – IG underneath all of this, remains the go-to broker for UK traders. So how does it stack up against Trading 212?
IG: Might be too much for intermediate traders but worth learning
IG has thousands of tradable assets to choose from and it’s frankly a beast compared to any other broker, but it’s worth considering if you are truly looking for a step up..
69% 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.
Why IG is a great Trading 212 Alternative:
- More instruments to trade
IG has 4,000+ more instruments to trade in 2026. This might not sound like a lot, but it means that almost all instruments – stocks, forex, commodities and indicies – are within touching distance at all times, no compromises. - ISA & SIPP options
IG offers stocks and shares ISA as well as 3.76% AER on uninvested cash within that ISA in 2026 – so in effect, you still get a return on your cash. IG also offers SIPP management, just like Trading 212. Where it falls down is that is doesn’t offer a Cash ISa, so Trading 212 wins here – IG needs a Cash ISA option to be competitive. - Education:
IG’s educational offering – IG academy – is far better than Trading 212 for beginners learning how to trade or invest. Trading 212 has a nice looking educational offering (click on ‘Learn’ from their app or visit it here), but it’s nowhere near comparable to the depth of IG academy. - Spreads:
Whilst Trading 212 doesn’t publicly disclose their spreads for trading – IG has spread starting from 0.6 pips for EUR/USD – an extremely competitive spread for any broker – and we can safely say that from our testing (see image below) where we traded EURUSD on Tuesday US open – we got a very wide spread of 1.3 pips. We also tested other pairs and the spread was consistently wider than IG.
Who Should Switch to IG?
- Traders Who Value a Reputable Brand:
IG Group is one of the largest brokers in the UK (owned by the publicly traded IG Group) and has a storied reputation amongst traders. - More Experienced Traders:
If you are looking for a step up in your CFD trading and Trading 212 just isn’t cutting it anymore, then IG offers tighter spreads and a better variety to trade. - Traders Looking for Development:
Traders looking to build their own experience and knowledge, you can’t beat IG academy.
My Bottom Line on IG:
If you want tight spreads, are a more active trader, and want a step up from Trading 212 from investing to more active trading then IG is your best bet. If you are looking for Stocks and Shares ISas IG also offers that, although the Cash ISA option is missing. You’ll be happy you made the switch or alternatively, open both and see how you get on.
No Minimum Deposit
Best for Stocks
IG offers 17,000+ trading instruments and combines robust regulation with cutting-edge platforms like ProRealTime, TradingView, and L2 Dealer.
68% 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. XTB: Best Trading 212 Beginner Alternative
You may have never heard of XTB, and that’s no bad thing. Newer platforms often imitate or learn from what’s successful and adapt to the changing environment. With Trading212 offering ISAs, XTB has made a big push in this space in the last few years – with highly competitive Cash ISA offerings complimenting their already outstanding trading experience. What makes XTB so competitive, and such a good Trading 212 alternative is their xStation 5 platform. It’s simple enough for beginners to pick up and learn but comprehensive enough to not eel like you are giving anything up.
XTB: Great Beginner Option
With both ISAs and trading – the xStation5 platform is easy to get started and a nice smooth transition from Oanda’s platform.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 73% 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.
Why XTB is a Great Trading 212 alternative:
- Mobile First:
If you try to open an account with XTB, they will prompt you to download their app. They have actively avoided using their desktop experience. This isn’t necessarily a good thing, as I consider trading and investing both a desktop and mobile experience – but if you are a mobile-first trader on Trading 212, then you might find this a nice change. - Platform Experience:
XTB’s xStation 5 platform is great to use, nice, beginner friendly and packed full of useful information and data so you won’t be missing - ISAs:
Offering a step above Oanda, XTB offers ISAs, which may seem strange but hey – Trading 212 does it, so if it’s good enough for them…
Who Should Switch to XTB:
- Tradevestors / Traders who want ISAs:
If you want to trade and invest on the same platform then XTB offers both a stocks and shares ISA as well as a cash ISA which makes this almost a like-for-like switch. - Absolute Beginners:
XTB is simple and easy to start trading, even alongside Trading 212, and the platform is intentionally designed to be easy for beginners – so it doesn’t have the first-time learning curve that CMC and IG have.
My Bottom Line on XTB:
If you will miss having the option to invest as well as trade, which i imagine most Trading 212 user will, then XTB offers both a cash ISA and stocks and shares ISA so you won’t be missing out. Is it the most competitive broker for spreads? No. Is it a step above or better than Trading 212 – probably not. But it is definitely a similar platform that some users may prefer.
No Minimum Deposit
Best for Investing
XTB offers a proprietary platform with incredible trading resources & educational material in an easy-to-use, low cost trading environment. Perfect for currency traders.
73% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with XTB Limited. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
3. CMC: Best Trading 212 Platform Alternative
If you are looking for a platform that competes with, but is still similar to Trading 212, then CMC is your best bet. With a few caveats… CMC’s award-winning platform is definitely a step above Trading 212, but this comes with it’s own drawbacks. It is clunky, difficult to use for beginners, and is geared towards more active traders searching across it’s wide instrument range. The similarities are striking though – both offer thematic trading (buckets of stocks, commodities and forex pairs) – enabling quick theme-based trades, something that Trading 212 users will be used to.
They both offer the same number of pairs to trade: 12,000+ so there is no clear advantage there, and Trading 212 platform experience is much easier to find things to trade, but if you are looking for the next step in a trading platform, then CMC is your best bet.
CMC: Best Platform Experience Alternative
CMC’s platform is truly fantastic for thematic trading – clear buckets of stocks all ready to invest and trade.
75% 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.
Why Switch to CMC from Trading 212
- Thematic trading & investing platform
Trading and investing based on themes like 5G, AI, Robotics is extremely easy on CMC – Trading 212 fans will appreciate this as the first place to go, then build investing and trading strategies based on these themes. - More platform options
Trading 212 notoriously doesn’t integrate with any other platform like most major brokers do, CMC offers TradingView and MetaTrader integrations so this is an added bonus, you can take your broker anywhere. - Spread betting option
CMC offer a fantastic spread betting option – something that Trading 212 currently doesn’t offer – much to the annoyance of many UK traders.So if spread betting is something you’re interested in then CMC might be the place for you – check out our full review for more details.
Who Should Switch to CMC
- Spread Betting Advocates:
If you want to spread bet then this is probably the best option / alternative for you. - Cost-sensitive traders
CMC has some o the most competitive spreads in the industry starting from 0.5 pips on EURUSD – compared to our experiment where Trading 212 had 1.3 pips – this is a huge difference. If you are looking to more actively trade, then CMC offers great spreads to get started. - Traders who like platform experience
For traders who like trading thematically, investing or trading buckets of stocks, then CMC offers this option just like Trading 212. - Traders who want to manage ISA & SIPP investments
Just like IG & XTB, CMC also offers a stocks & shares ISA. However, unlike XTB and Trading 212, CMC doesn’t have a Cash ISA – which might be a drawback for some users. CMC does also have a SIPP through their CMC Invest platform – so this is a great bonus for those looking to invest.
£100 Minimum Deposit
Best for Spread Betting
CMC is a leading CFD & Spread Betting platforms in the UK, founded in 1989, it is truly one of the oldest and greatest platforms for trading CFDs and spread betting with both a professional and beginner-friendly fee.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% 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.
My Bottom Line on CMC:
If you are a more active trader, looking for better trading costs / spreads – then CMC offers some of the most competitive spreads in the industry. If you are also a fan of trading thematically, then CMC would be a great alternative. Whilst CMC doesn’t offer more instruments to trade – they both offer 12,000+ – it does offer a similar interface and has a spread betting option…something Trading 212 currently lacks. If you are looking for ISAs and SIPPs – CMC also offers those, but they do not currently offer a Cash ISA. I would switch to CMC if you are looking for a step up in platform experience, and want to manage ISAs, SIPPs and still want to trade thematically.
How to Switch From Trading 212 as a UK Trader
- Open a Demo Account:
Start by signing up for a free demo account with your chosen broker. This helps you practice with virtual funds and get comfortable with the platform’s interface and features. - Go through onboarding / KYC
KYC is a regulatory must for FCA-regulated brokers in the UK. Get all the respective documents like utility bills, passport docs and other relevant documents to make this quick and easy. - Close your Oanda account
Withdraw your funds and close your account using this guide here. - Start Trading
When you’re ready, open a live account, verify your documents, deposit funds, and start trading.
FAQs
What is the best Trading 212 alternative for trading?
IG is the best Trading 212 alternative overall. They offer a wider range of instruments 16,000+ vs Trading 212’s 12,000+. They have a better educational offering than Trading 212 – IG Academy outclasses Trading 212’s ‘Learn’ page. They also offer Stocks & Shares ISA and cash returns on uninvested capital from that account, so it meets a lot of Trading 212’s benefits.
What broker has a similar trading platform to Trading 212?
CMC has a similar platform to Trading 212 – it is an award-winning platform that offers thematic trading – similar to how Trading 212 works.
Are there better brokers than Trading 212?
Yes, IG & CMC in particular are better than Trading 212. They offer more instruments to trade, offer a wide variety of platforms to integrate with, and are more competitive on fees / spreads.
Is there another trading platform that offers Cash ISAs and Stocks & Shares ISAs like Trading 212?
Yes, XTB offers both Cash ISAs and Stocks and Shares ISAs like Trading 212. The platform is also a great platform for trading – xStation 5 is one of the best platforms for beginner UK traders.
Is XTB Better than Trading 212?
Not necessarily. XTB does not offer SIPP management like Trading 212 so this is clearly lacking. XTB also only has 11,000+ instruments vs Trading 212’s 12,000+. If you are looking for active SIPP management then CMC may be better.
Is IG Better than Trading 212?
Yes, roughly in every measure, for CFD trading, IG is better than Trading 212 – more instruments to trade (16,000+ vs 12,000+) & lower spread costs (from our testing), and IG also offers a Stocks & Shares ISA. The only thing to be aware of is that IG doesn’t offer Cash ISAs but it does offer SIPPs and Stocks and Shares ISAs like Trading 212.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking to replace all the features on Trading 212 – Cash ISA’s, Stocks & Shares ISAs, SIPPs, and CFD trading – then there is no single UK broker that can do all of that – and that’s not what we are comparing. However, we’ve identified three of the best trading brokers who outclass Trading 212 for both CFD Trading, they are IG, CMC and XTB. Here’s what I would choose:
- Choose IG if you want a wider variety of options to trade and are concerned about Trading 212 costs.
- Choose XTB if you’d like to switch both your cash ISA and Stocks and Shares ISA and CFD trading is a side project.
- Choose CMC if you like Trading 212’s platform mainly and want a platform that also has thematic trading and also offers spread betting.
Choosing an alternative broker to match Trading 212s overall dominance is hard, so you will ultimately have to pick what you like about the platform and then decide which of the features are most important to you.
- Best Trading 212 Alternatives - May 26, 2026
- Best Oanda Alternatives - May 24, 2026
- Pepperstone vs CMC Broker Comparison - May 24, 2026
