Skip to content

Investing puts your capital at risk Investing puts your capital at risk

How to invest in stocks in the UK: everything you need to know

You can buy and own a portion of the brands you value when you open a share dealing account. Learn how to invest in stocks with us, commission-free.1

Call 0800 195 3100 or email newaccounts.uk@ig.com to talk about opening a trading account.

Contact us 0800 195 3100

Get info fast via our instant help and support portal. Available for account queries, ProRealTime, product info and more.

Visit help and support for more information.

Get info fast via our instant help and support portal. Available for account queries, ProRealTime, product info and more.

Visit help and support for more information.

Call 0800 409 6789 or email helpdesk.uk@ig.com if you have any questions about trading or investing. We're available 24/7 between 8am Saturday and 10pm Friday.

Contact us 0800 409 6789

Three steps to start investing in stocks

Getting started with investing is simple with the IG Invest app. Download our app to access over 13,000 global stocks and ETFs across eight exchanges, with commission-free trading on shares.

Download the IG Invest app and create your account

Fund your account in minutes

Buy and sell shares instantly

Alternatively, open a web-based share dealing account

How to invest in stocks

After opening an account with a stockbroker, you can use their trading platform to buy and sell shares and funds.

When investing, you have two main options: you can choose to purchase a specific number of shares in a company or fund, or you can decide on a fixed amount of money to invest.

For example, if a stock is trading at 50p per share, you could buy 100 shares for £50, or you could invest £250 to receive 500 shares. Keep in mind that these calculations don't include any associated fees, which vary by broker and should be factored into your investment decisions.

Take a look at the video below which shows how you can deal shares on our platform.

Video poster image

Why do you need a stockbroker?

The main reason why you need a stockbroker is to access shares listed on an exchange (eg the London Stock Exchange, or LSE). That’s because only registered brokers can access the exchange, place orders and execute deals.

A stockbroker can be seen as the middleman between buyers and sellers of shares. Brokers often have high-performing technologies available to them that enable investors to get exposure to a variety of stocks; charging a fee for their service.

Alt text: Three icons illustrating that an investor places and order with a broker, which then places the order with the exchange. The exchange grants shares to the broker, who sells them to the investor.

Costs and fees


Great news: we're waiving the custody fee for new clients until the end of May 2025.


Here's what you'll pay:

Costs and fees

Great news: we're waiving the custody fee for new clients until the end of May 2025.
Here's what you'll pay:

UK shares US shares European shares Australian shares
Commission Free** Free** Free** Free**
Forex conversion fee 0%*** 0.5%*** 0.5%*** 0.5%***
General Investment Account Free
Stocks and shares ISA Free
News and insights Free
Access to the learning centre Free
Custody fee £8 per month, billed quarterly *

£0 per month until the end of May 2025


*The fee will be waived if you make 3 or more investments within the previous quarter.
**Other fees may apply
***Increasing to 0.7% from 7 April 2025

UK shares US shares European and
Australian shares
Commission Free** Free** Free**
Forex conversion fee 0%*** 0.5%*** 0.5%***
General Investment Account Free
Stocks and shares ISA Free
News and insights Free
Access to the learning centre Free
Custody fee

£8 per month, billed quarterly *

£0 per month until the end of May 2025


*The fee will be waived if you make 3 or more investments within the previous quarter.
**Other fees may apply
***Increasing to 0.7% from 7 April 2025

How do you open a stockbrokerage account?

How you open a stockbrokerage account will depend on the broker you choose. With us, you can open a stockbrokerage account in two ways; via the IG Invest app or through a share dealing account in just a few minutes.

IG Invest app:

  1. Download from Apple App Store or Google Play Store

  2. Set up your profile in minutes

  3. Choose between a General Investment Account or stocks and shares ISA


Share dealing account:

  1. Fill in an application form. We’ll verify your identity almost immediately

  2. Once open, you can deposit funds into your account

  3. You’re now ready to buy and sell shares

How does a stockbrokerage account work?

Not all stockbrokerage accounts work the same. With us, it works as follows:

When you invest via the IG Invest app, you can explore the market and buy stocks and ETFs with ease. You get access to commission-free trading on stocks. Choose from over 13,000+ global stocks and ETFs and enjoy 24/5 support via the app and WhatsApp as well as secure login with face or fingerprint ID. You’ll have access to your shares and their value through your account.

You’ll be able to see the number of shares you own, as well as what they’re worth when you log in. If the value goes up or down in the stock market, this will reflect in your account, too.

Any dividends owning to you will also be paid into your IG Invest app account. So, any profits and losses, as well as earnings from dividends will be kept here. You can reinvest these dividends – ie use the money to buy more shares, or you can withdraw it whenever you want, for free.

Download IG Invest app

If you’d rather trade on desktop, you can do so by opening a share dealing account online.

Open share dealing account

A few icons showing that an accountholder has an open investment account, and both shares and dividends are stored in that account for them to access.

How do I fund my account?

You can fund your account – and withdraw these funds – quickly and easily, using a variety of methods. You can also earn while you wait; get up to 4.6% interest* on uninvested cash with our Xtrackers UK interest rate-linked fund.

Choose between using a debit or credit card, or doing a bank transfer. There’s no minimum deposit required when doing a bank transfer, but all other methods require at least £250. You can deposit money whenever you’re ready.

If you want to withdraw money from your account, you can do so at any time, for free. We’ll pay the money to you via the same card or account you used to fund.

* Interest-earning ETFs are tied to, and aim to beat, the SONIA (Sterling Overnight Index Average) benchmark rate. The current SONIA rate is 4.7%, and XSTR has a 0.1% TER fee. Dividends are paid semi-annually.

How do you invest using the IG Invest app or our share dealing platform?

Log in to your IG Invest app or our share dealing platform. From there, you can invest in thousands of popular shares, from exchanges across the world.

Simply search for your preferred stock, ETF or investment trust on the app or our platform, open its chart and place your deal in the deal ticket.

How much should I invest?

How much you should invest is completely up to you. There’s no minimum amount you’re required to invest with us, but there may be certain deposit requirements. You should only ever invest an amount that you’re willing to risk, as the markets could move against you.

Find out how to manage your risk before investing in any shares.

Why invest in shares with us?

  • Get started within minutes: you can download the IG Invest app or open your share dealing account quickly and easily, using a funding method that suits you

  • Commission-free trading: trade shares with zero commission.

  • Extensive market access: choose from over 13,000 global stocks and ETFs across eight exchanges

  • Extended hours on US shares: trade 80+ key US shares even when normal market hours have ended

  • Earn while you wait: get up to 4.6% interest* on uninvested cash with our Xtrackers UK interest rate-linked fund

  • Security first: use face or fingerprint ID for secure login, backed by a regulated market leader since 1974

  • 24/5 expert support: get help via the app and WhatsApp from 8am Sunday to 10pm Friday

* Interest-earning ETFs are tied to, and aim to beat, the SONIA (Sterling Overnight Index Average) benchmark rate. The current SONIA rate is 4.7%, and XSTR has a 0.1% TER fee. Dividends are paid semi-annually.

Other investment products

If you don’t want to invest in individual stocks, we also offer exchange trade funds (ETFs) and expertly managed Smart Portfolios.

Exchange traded funds

Invest in a basket of assets and themes, such as tech stocks or green energy, from a single position

Smart Portfolios

Have your investment portfolio tailored and managed by our experts, with fees from just 0.5%

What are the risks of investing in stocks?

There are different types of risks when investing in stocks. Some shares are riskier or more volatile than others. But one thing is certain – no matter the type of investment – there will always be a degree of risk involved.

Investment risk

This is the most general type of risk when you own shares. The price of the underlying asset can fluctuate based on supply and demand. This means the value of your investment can go down, and you could get back less than you put in. If you want to invest in stocks, consider how much you’re willing to risk before you place your deal.

Market risk

As the name suggests, this type of risk affects the entire market, and not specific stocks. So, even if you have a diverse portfolio of shares, you could be exposed to market risk. It can be linked to general economic turmoil, natural disasters, interest rate changes, etc.

Other risks

Some of the other risks to be aware of when investing include currency risk, liquidity risk and business risk. With currency risk, you’re at the mercy of the exchange rate between countries. Liquidity risk comes into play when there is low demand for (or supply of) a certain asset. Lastly, business risk is the risk that a company won’t generate a profit or stay afloat.

Note that this isn’t an exhaustive list– make sure you conduct thorough research on all possible risks before investing.

How to manage your risk when investing

Here are a few ways you can manage your risk when investing in stocks:

Remember, while buying and owning shares can be risky, there are also possible rewards if the market moves in your favour.

Learn more about the basics of stock investing

  1. What is a stock?
  2. Why do companies issue shares?
  3. What is a stock exchange?
  4. What is the stock market?
  5. What are dividends?
  6. Why invest in stocks?

1. What is a stock?

It’s important to note that ‘stocks’ and ‘shares’ are related, but not entirely the same. A stock is a security that represents a collection of shares listed on an exchange. A share is a single unit of ownership.

Think about it this way – if Vodafone lists all its available shares on the LSE, it has listed its ‘stock’. Post-listing, the public can then invest in Vodafone shares.

2. Why do companies issue shares?

Companies will issue shares for different reasons. Some may simply want to raise their public profile. Others might want to raise money to fund business expansion, pay debts, attract talent, or monetise its assets.

3. What is a stock exchange?

A stock exchange is a marketplace where financial instruments, like shares, are bought and sold. The LSE is a popular example of a stock exchange. For a company’s shares to be listed on a stock exchange, it has to go through an initial public offering (IPO).

A stock exchange’s opening hours will depend on where in the world it’s located. We offer extended hours on 80+ US shares, even when the market is closed.

4. What is the stock market?

The stock market is a slightly more abstract concept than a stock exchange, as it’s not a specific place. Rather, it represents every exchange, and the space where all buyers and sellers participate in the financial markets.

So, as an example, if you hear news terms like ‘stock market crash’, it means that practically all financial assets and markets are facing a serious downturn.

5. What are dividends?

Dividends are payments made to shareholders by the companies in which they’re invested. If a company makes a profit, and they choose to pay dividends, shareholders will receive a portion of the profit. Not all companies pay dividends.

You can reinvest your dividends – ie use the money to buy more shares in the company – or withdraw it as cash. With us, dividends received from your investments are paid directly into your share dealing account.

6. Why invest in stocks?

Many people choose to invest in stocks because it’s a way to own a portion of the brands you value. If you invest in shares, you can make a profit if you sell them for a higher price. You can also earn a passive income from dividends (if paid) and receive voting rights, enabling you to have a say in company matters.

When you invest with us through the IG Invest app, you’ll get:

  • Access more stocks and ETFs: over 13,000 global stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) across eight exchanges

  • Explore the marketplace: build your watchlist or – if you know exactly what you want – buy your favourite stocks in seconds

When you invest in shares with us through a web-based share dealing account, you’ll get:

  • Low dealing costs: from zero commission on shares,3 with a foreign exchange fee of just 0.5%*

  • A huge choice of investments: choose from over 13,000 shares, funds, and investment trusts

  • Longer market hours: access more than 80 key US stocks outside of normal market times

*Increasing to 0.7% from 7 April 2025

FAQs

How can I start investing in stocks?

To start investing in stocks, you’ll need to open an account with a stockbroker. First, download the IG Invest app. You can find it on the Apple App store and Google Play store. Setting up your profile and signing in just takes a few minutes. Then, open your investment account directly in the app. You can also open a share dealing account with us within minutes and access over 13,000 stocks to invest in, including big names such as Apple, Netflix and Tesla.

You have no obligation to fund the account until you’re ready to invest.

Can anyone invest in stocks?

Yes, anyone with a funded stockbrokerage account can invest in stocks. The main reason why you need a stockbroker to access listed shares is because only registered brokers can access an exchange, place orders and execute deals.

How much is the minimum I can invest in stocks?

There is no minimum – you can invest however much you can afford. Just remember that investments are risky and past performance is no guarantee of future results, so you could get back less than what you put in.

Do I need a stockbroker to buy shares?

Yes, you need a stockbroker to buy shares. You can’t buy or sell shares directly on an exchange – you’ll do so ‘over the counter’, using a broker. Only registered stockbrokers will have access to an exchange where shares are listed.

Is it expensive to invest in stocks?

Whether or not it’s expensive to invest in stocks is completely subjective. All shares have different values, and all investors have different amounts of capital on hand. You should only ever invest what you can afford to lose.

Try these next

Explore the ins and outs of the stock market

Learn more about ETFs and how to invest

Get in on the ground floor. Trade IPOs with us

1 Please note published rates are valid up to £25,000 notional value. See our full list of share dealing charges and fees.
2 Please note that rates are valid up to £25,000 trade considerations. Rates above this trade size are agreed by negotiation. Please call 0207 663 0336.
3 Minimum charge of €10 for European shares and A$10 for Australian shares.
4 Commission-free trading applies to shares. See our full list of [share dealing charges and fees].