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Review of Trading212

  • Tools
  • Assets & Markets
  • Fees
  • Account Types
  • Security
  • Customer Support
  • Additional Resources
5/5Overall Score

Quick Summary

Trading212 stands out in the digital brokerage space with its forward-thinking approach, offering a user-friendly platform since 2006. It gained prominence by introducing zero-commission stock trading in the UK and Europe, opening the market to a broader audience. With over 1.5 million clients globally, Trading212 continues to lead with innovation, ensuring accessibility and regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

Pros
  • Zero commission trading
  • Wide range of assets
  • Strong customer support
Cons
  • No direct market access
  • Limited research tools compared to competitors

Review of Services offered by Trading212

Introduction

Trading212 has emerged as a significant player in the online brokerage industry, offering a wide range of services for traders and investors. Its unique features and benefits attract both beginners and experienced traders, promising a seamless trading experience with low fees and multiple investment options. Let’s explore what makes Trading212 a popular choice for many.

Varied Service Offerings at Trading212

Trading212’s diverse service offerings cater to different types of traders and investors. Its goal is to enhance the trading experience, ensuring ease of access and diversified investment opportunities. Here’s an in-depth look at the key services provided by Trading212.

Diverse Trading Accounts

Trading212 offers three primary account types, each tailored to meet different investment objectives:

  • Trading 212 Invest: This account is ideal for those keen on trading stocks and ETFs through the spot market. You can own underlying assets and purchase fractional shares. The trading fee is 0.15% on executed trades, and UK-based traders must pay a 0.5% stamp duty when buying shares.
  • Trading 212 CFD: This account is for those interested in speculating on price movements of financial instruments like Forex, indices, ETFs, and commodities without owning the assets. It offers leverage for amplifying exposure with less capital. The spreads start from 1.0 pips, with no commission fees.
  • Trading 212 ISA: Exclusively available to UK residents, this tax-efficient account allows investing in shares and ETFs. Investors can shield trades and investments from income tax, tax on dividends, and capital gains up to £20,000 annually.

Zero-Commission Trading

Trading212 is one of the pioneers in offering zero-commission trading, reducing the cost of trading and investing. This no-commission model applies to both CFD trading and shares, making it cost-effective for traders .

Multi-Currency Support

A unique offering from Trading212 is multi-currency support, allowing traders to deposit, hold, and invest in multiple currencies without incurring FX fees. This feature is expected to be introduced to the Trading 212 Invest account, beginning with a selection of currencies including GBP, USD, and EUR.

User-Friendly Trading Platforms

Trading212 provides its own trading platforms for both mobile and web trading, designed to be user-friendly. The mobile app has over 10 million downloads, emphasizing its popularity among beginner traders for its simple interface.

Low Minimum Deposit and Various Funding Methods

With a minimum deposit requirement of $10, Trading212 ensures a low barrier to entry for new traders. The platform supports a range of funding methods, including bank transfers, debit and credit cards, Google Pay, and Apple Pay.

Seamless Trading Journey with Trading212

Trading212’s user-friendly interface facilitates a seamless trading journey for users, providing a satisfying experience for both novice and professional traders. Let’s dive deeper into what makes this platform so accessible and engaging.

Web Trading Platform

Trading212’s web trading platform allows easy access and smooth trading operations. Users can access the platform directly through any web browser without requiring software downloads. The platform offers a clean design and intuitive tool placement for market analysis, charting, and order setting. It includes a built-in economic calendar and real-time news feed, enhancing the trading experience.

Mobile Trading Platform

Trading212’s mobile trading platform caters to on-the-go trading. Compatible with iOS and Android devices, the mobile platform offers an advanced trading experience similar to the desktop version. The app is intuitive, allowing users to trade anywhere, anytime, meeting the needs of modern traders.

User-Friendly Interface

The platform scores high on user-friendliness, with an overall rating of 8.9 out of 10 among over 500 other brokers. The easy-to-navigate interface makes it a suitable choice for professional trading.

Notable Features

Trading212 offers various features that enhance the user experience:

  • Auto Invest and Pies: Facilitates automated investment and diversified portfolio creation.
  • Fractional Shares: Allows traders to own part of a share, making investing more accessible.
  • Limits, Stops, and Orders: Enables efficient trade management.
  • News and Calendar: Keeps traders informed about market events and updates.

Cost-Effectiveness at Trading212: A Glimpse into Fees and Commissions

Trading212’s fee-friendly structure appeals to a wide range of investors. It offers commission-free trading on stocks and ETFs through the Trading 212 Invest account, with commission-free CFD trading. While other fees, such as spreads and overnight holding fees, apply, the cost is lower compared to industry standards.

Comparative Fee Benchmarks

When compared to industry averages, Trading212’s fee structure is competitive. For instance:

  • Apple Stock: A $2,000 buy order, held for a week, and then sold, costs $14.2 at Trading212, compared to $9.3 at eToro and $10.1 at XTB.
  • Vodafone Stock: The same operation costs $15.3 at Trading212, compared to $8.0 at XTB.
  • EURUSD Forex Pair: Trading212 charges $13.9 for this operation, compared to $14.4 at eToro and $15.2 at XTB .

Non-Trading Fees

Trading212 doesn’t charge fees for withdrawal, deposit, inactivity, or account maintenance, making it a cheap broker in terms of non-trading fees. This low-cost environment is attractive for many traders .

Industry Averages

Several other online brokers also offer commission-free trading, with platforms like eToro, TD Ameritrade, and Webull following suit. Fidelity, for example, charges $11.2 for UK stocks, showing a trend toward zero-commission trading .

Ensuring Client Satisfaction: A Look at Trading212’s Customer Support

A strong customer support system is crucial for a trading platform, ensuring users can quickly resolve issues. Trading212 offers support to assist traders around the clock through multiple communication channels.

  • 24/7 Availability: Trading212 provides 24/7 customer support, ensuring help is always available.
  • Communication Channels: Traders can reach out via email, live chat, and possibly phone support.
  • Response Time: Users have praised the fast response times, especially in live chat.
  • Knowledgeable Support Staff: The support staff are commended for their knowledge and patience, crucial in resolving client issues satisfactorily.

Ensuring a Secure Trading Environment: A Review of Trading212’s Security Measures

Trading212 has implemented stringent security measures to ensure a safe trading environment for its clients. This includes:

  • Fund Safety: Trading212 adheres to the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Client Assets Sourcebook (CASS, Chapter 7), ensuring all client funds are held in a segregated ‘client money bank account’.
  • Account Security: Features like secure passwords, two-factor authentication, and device monitoring enhance account security.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about Trading212:

  • What types of accounts does Trading212 offer? Trading212 offers three primary accounts: Trading 212 Invest, Trading 212 CFD, and Trading 212 ISA. Each is tailored to meet different trading and investment objectives.
  • Does Trading212 charge commissions? No, Trading212 offers zero-commission trading on stocks, ETFs, and CFDs.
  • What are the funding methods available on Trading212? Trading212 allows various funding methods, including bank transfer, debit and credit cards, Google Pay, and Apple Pay.
  • Is Trading212’s trading platform user-friendly? Yes, Trading212’s platform is user-friendly, with a simple and intuitive interface for both mobile and web trading.
  • Does Trading212 offer customer support? Yes, Trading212 provides 24/7 customer support through email, live chat, and potentially phone support.
  • What security measures does Trading212 employ? Trading212 employs secure passwords, two-factor authentication, and device monitoring to ensure a safe trading environment. It also adheres to the FCA’s Client Assets Sourcebook for fund safety.