Stocks Vs Funds for 2026

We found 11 online brokers that are appropriate for Trading Investment Platforms.

Stocks Vs Funds Guide

Analysis by Andrew Blumer, Updated Last updated – September 30, 2026

Stocks VS Funds

I compare my experience of stocks and funds in this article.

Stocks are purchased in order to gain profits, and in most cases this profit is immediately realised. Fundamentally, funds are purchased in order to gain returns that are not realised immediately and so they have a riskier element attached to them. As you can imagine, funds are a more flexible way to invest as you do not have to buy individual stocks. When you purchase individual stocks, you usually pay commission fees to your broker, but in my experience these have almost disappeared over the last few years. When I placed my very first trade I was charged a flat fee just for clicking buy, and it felt like a tax on getting started at all. Now most major platforms, including eToro, XTB and IC Markets, let you trade US stocks and ETFs with zero commission, and many also let you buy fractional shares for as little as one to ten dollars, so you no longer need hundreds saved up just to own a slice of a company like Amazon or Microsoft. You can of course purchase any variety of mutual funds with no commission payment at all to yourself but you do need to pay ongoing fees for managed account services. This can include account management, exchange rate fees, and occasionally even redemption fees if you sell out too early or the fund has an annual minimum balance. I got caught out by one of these once, a fund I sold within ninety days landed me with a small early redemption charge I hadn't noticed buried in the small print, and it taught me to always check a fund's fee schedule before I invest a penny. If you don't pay attention to these costs you can quickly build up a large additional amount of debt.

The single most useful number I check before buying into any fund is the expense ratio, which is the yearly charge a fund takes as a percentage of your investment. Industry data from the Investment Company Institute (ICI) puts the average expense ratio for actively managed equity mutual funds at around 0.40% a year, while a plain index fund or ETF tracking something like the S&P 500 can charge as little as 0.03%. That gap of a fraction of a percent does not sound like much until you run the numbers over 10 or 20 years, at which point it can quietly cost you thousands. I learned to always look up this figure before I look at anything else about a fund, because strong past performance means very little once high fees have been taken off the top.

One advantage that mutual funds offer over individual stocks is that they tend to diversify your portfolio by spreading losses between more than one category of investment. If one sector is doing well then you might be able to sell those stocks in order to take advantage of the profit from another part of the market. Most fund managers will absorb some of your losses elsewhere in the fund when one holding drops so you will never have a complete loss on your entire portfolio. On the other hand, individual stocks can only really profit if the company itself does well, something I found out the hard way when a handful of individual tech shares I was holding all fell together in the same rough quarter, with nothing else in my account to soften the blow.

The data backs up just how hard that kind of stock picking really is. S&P's SPIVA Scorecard for 2025 found that 79% of actively managed large cap US equity funds underperformed the S&P 500 that year, and looking back over the past 15 to 20 years, not one of the 22 main US equity fund categories saw the majority of active managers beat their benchmark. That is a big part of why I now keep most of my longterm savings in low cost index funds and only use a small portion of my portfolio to pick individual stocks I genuinely want to follow closely. Funds still are not risk free and they will not shield you from a market wide downturn, but for most people they take a lot of the guesswork out of building a diversified portfolio.

Stocks vs Funds

Stocks VS Funds Compared

Comparison of individual stocks and investment funds
Comparison Factor Individual Stocks Investment Funds
Definition A stock represents partial ownership in one specific company. For example, buying 20 shares at £50 per share would require an investment of £1,000. A fund combines money from multiple investors to purchase a collection of stocks, bonds, or other assets. A £1,000 investment in a broad fund could provide indirect exposure to hundreds of companies.
Examples Examples include shares in Apple, Microsoft, Tesla, Unilever, or another publicly traded company. If a company's shares cost £100 each, an investor could purchase 10 shares for £1,000, excluding fees. Examples include an S&P 500 index fund, a global equity ETF, a bond fund, or a professionally managed mutual fund. A fund might hold 500, 1,000, or several thousand different securities.
Diversification Diversification is limited when an investor owns only one or two companies. For example, investing £5,000 equally across five stocks would place £1,000, or 20% of the portfolio, in each company. One fund may contain dozens, hundreds, or thousands of investments. If a fund holds 500 equally weighted companies, each company would represent approximately 0.2% of the portfolio.
Company Specific Risk High. If an investor places £2,000 in one company and its share price falls by 40%, the investment would decline to approximately £1,200. Lower. If one company represents 1% of a fund and its value falls by 40%, its direct effect on the fund would be approximately 0.4%, assuming the other holdings do not change.
Market Risk Stocks can fall because of company news, economic conditions, interest rates, or broader market declines. A £10,000 stock portfolio falling by 15% would decline to £8,500. Funds can also decline during market downturns. A £10,000 index fund falling by 15% would also decline to £8,500. Diversification reduces concentration risk but does not remove market risk.
Potential Return A successful company may produce returns above the market average. For example, a £2,000 investment rising by 30% would be worth £2,600. However, a 30% decline would reduce it to £1,400. Returns generally reflect the market, industry, asset class, or strategy followed by the fund. A hypothetical 8% return on £2,000 would increase the investment to £2,160 before fees and taxes.
Volatility Individual stocks may experience large price movements over short periods. A £50 share moving between £40 and £60 has fluctuated by 20% below and 20% above its original price. Broadly diversified funds are often less volatile than a single stock. For example, a diversified fund might move by 8% during a period when an individual company moves by 25%, although this is not guaranteed.
Research Required Investors may study revenue, profits, debt, management, competition, valuation, and industry conditions. For example, they might compare revenue growth of 12%, a profit margin of 15%, and debt of £500 million before investing. Investors normally examine the fund's objective, holdings, fees, performance history, risk level, and tracking method. They might compare one fund charging 0.15% annually with another charging 0.75%.
Time Commitment Selecting and monitoring individual companies can require regular research. An investor following 10 companies might spend one hour per company each quarter, or approximately 40 hours per year. Broad market funds usually require less ongoing research. An investor might review the fund, fees, allocation, and performance two to four times per year.
Management The investor personally chooses which companies to buy, hold, or sell. For example, a 10 stock portfolio could allocate 10% to each company, or use different percentages based on risk. Holdings are selected by a fund manager or determined by the index being tracked. A fund might rebalance from a 6% holding in one company to 5% as market values change.
Level of Control High. The investor controls every company included in the portfolio. For example, they could invest 40% in technology, 30% in healthcare, and 30% in consumer companies. Lower. Investors select the fund but normally cannot choose or remove its individual holdings. A fund may automatically allocate 25% to technology even if the investor would prefer 15%.
Ongoing Costs There may be trading fees, platform charges, bid-ask spreads, taxes, and currency conversion costs. Ten trades costing £5 each would create £50 in trading charges. Funds normally charge an annual expense ratio. A 0.20% fee on £10,000 equals approximately £20 per year, while a 1% fee equals approximately £100 per year.
Minimum Investment The required amount depends on the share price and whether fractional shares are available. A stock priced at £250 would require £250 for one full share, but a platform offering fractional shares might allow a £25 investment. ETFs may be purchased for the price of one share or through fractional investing. A mutual fund might require an initial minimum of £500, while another may accept monthly contributions of £50.
Income Some companies pay dividends directly to shareholders. A stock investment of £5,000 with a 3% dividend yield could produce approximately £150 per year before tax, although dividends are not guaranteed. Income funds may distribute dividends or interest from their holdings. A £5,000 fund investment yielding 4% could distribute approximately £200 per year before fees and tax. Accumulation funds may reinvest this income instead.
Tax Considerations Selling shares at a profit may create a taxable capital gain. For example, buying shares for £4,000 and selling them for £5,500 creates a £1,500 gain before applying allowances, losses, or local tax rules. Fund distributions and the sale of fund units may also create tax obligations. Buying fund units for £4,000 and selling them for £5,000 creates a £1,000 gain before local tax rules are applied.
Liquidity Shares in large publicly traded companies are normally easy to buy and sell during market hours. An investor might sell 100 shares at £20 each for approximately £2,000, excluding spreads and fees. ETFs trade during market hours, while traditional mutual funds are usually priced once each business day. Selling 200 ETF units at £10 each would produce approximately £2,000 before costs.
Transparency Investors know exactly which company they own and how much is invested. For example, 50 shares worth £40 each represent a £2,000 position in that company. Transparency varies. An ETF may disclose all 500 holdings daily, while some managed funds may publish their largest 10 holdings monthly or quarterly.
Emotional Pressure Sharp movements in one company's share price may encourage emotional buying or selling. Seeing a £3,000 position fall by 25% to £2,250 may create pressure to sell. Diversification may reduce the emotional effect of one company's poor performance. A £3,000 diversified fund falling by 10% would decline to £2,700, although broader market declines can still be stressful.
Illustrative Experience Stock scenario: An investor buys 40 shares in a technology company at £50 per share, investing £2,000. The shares rise by 25% to £62.50, increasing the position to £2,500. After weaker results, the shares fall to £45 and the position becomes worth £1,800. This illustrates both growth potential and company specific risk. Fund scenario: Another investor contributes £200 per month to a diversified global index fund. After 12 months, total contributions equal £2,400. If the fund finishes the year 6% above the investor's average purchase value, the account might be worth approximately £2,544 before fees, although actual results depend on when each monthly contribution was invested.
Another Practical Scenario An investor places £4,000 in one bank. If the bank's shares fall by 35% following regulatory or financial difficulties, the investment would decline to approximately £2,600. An investor places £4,000 in a financial-sector fund containing 50 companies. If the troubled bank represents 2% of the fund and falls by 35%, its direct effect would be approximately £28, assuming the other holdings remain unchanged.
May Be Suitable For Investors who enjoy analysing companies, want direct control, and can tolerate concentration risk. For example, an investor might allocate no more than 5% of a £20,000 portfolio, or £1,000, to each stock. Investors who prefer diversification, simpler management, regular contributions, and broad market exposure. For example, an investor might automatically contribute £100 or £250 each month to one or more funds.
Main Advantage Greater control and the possibility of outperforming the market. A £1,000 stock gaining 50% would become worth £1,500, although such gains are not guaranteed. Immediate diversification and easier portfolio management. A single £1,000 fund investment may provide exposure to hundreds of companies.
Main Disadvantage Greater concentration risk and a higher research requirement. A 50% loss on a £2,000 position would reduce it to £1,000, requiring a 100% gain to return to its original value. Less control over individual holdings and ongoing fund fees. A 0.50% annual fee on a £20,000 investment would cost approximately £100 per year before considering investment growth or decline.

Stocks vs Funds Difference

Difference Between Stocks and Funds Verdict

Investing can feel confusing at first, but understanding the difference between stocks and funds can help you choose an approach that matches your goals and risk tolerance. A stock represents partial ownership in one company. For example, if a company has 1,000,000 shares and you own 100 shares, you own 0.01% of that company. If each share costs £50, your total investment would be £5,000.

A fund, by comparison, pools money from many investors and invests it in a collection of assets such as stocks, bonds, or both. For example, a broad stock market fund may hold shares in 500 different companies. If you invest £5,000 in that fund, your money is spread indirectly across all of those companies rather than being invested in only one business.

The main difference is diversification. Suppose you invest £1,000 in one company and its share price falls by 30%. Your investment would decline to approximately £700. However, if you invest the same £1,000 in a diversified fund containing 100 companies, one company falling by 30% may have only a small effect on the total value of the fund, depending on how much of the fund is invested in that company.

Stocks may offer higher growth potential, but they also carry greater company specific risk. For example, a £2,000 stock investment that increases by 20% would be worth £2,400. If the stock falls by 20%, it would be worth £1,600. Individual stock prices can change sharply because of company earnings, management decisions, competition, regulation, or economic news.

Funds usually provide greater diversification and may require less ongoing research. For example, an investor could contribute £200 each month to an index fund. Over one year, the total contributions would equal £2,400, excluding investment gains or losses. If the fund produced a hypothetical annual return of 7%, the investment value would increase, although actual returns are never guaranteed and can be negative.

Costs should also be considered. Buying individual stocks may involve trading commissions, platform charges, bid and offer spreads, and currency conversion fees. Funds often charge an annual expense ratio. For example, a fund with a 0.20% annual expense ratio would charge approximately £10 per year on a £5,000 investment. A more expensive actively managed fund charging 1% would cost approximately £50 per year on the same amount.

It is also important to understand that not all funds have the same level of risk. A broad global equity fund may be more diversified than a fund that invests only in technology companies. For example, a technology fund holding 40 companies could still fall sharply if the entire technology sector performs poorly. A bond fund may fluctuate less than a stock fund, but it can still lose value when interest rates rise or when bond issuers experience financial difficulties.

In my experience, stocks may be more suitable for investors who are comfortable researching individual businesses and accepting larger price movements. Funds may be more suitable for investors who prefer diversification, simplicity, and regular long term investing. Some investors combine both approaches by placing most of their money in diversified funds and a smaller portion in selected individual stocks.

We have conducted extensive research and analysis on over multiple data points on Stocks Vs Funds to present you with a comprehensive guide that can help you find the most suitable Stocks Vs Funds. Below we shortlist what we think are the best Investment Platforms after careful consideration and evaluation. We hope this list will assist you in making an informed decision when researching Stocks Vs Funds.

Reputable Stocks Vs Funds Checklist

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Selecting the right online Investment Platforms trading brokerage requires careful consideration of several critical factors. Here are some essential points to keep in mind:

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Top 15 Investment Platforms of 2026 compared

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Compare Investment Platforms brokers for min deposits, funding, used by, benefits, account types, platforms, and support levels. When searching for a Investment Platforms broker, it's crucial to compare several factors to choose the right one for your Investment Platforms needs. Our comparison tool allows you to compare the essential features side by side.

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Broker IC Markets Roboforex eToro XTB XM Pepperstone AvaTrade FP Markets SpreadEx EasyMarkets FXPro
Rating
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Regulation International Capital Markets Pty Ltd (Australia) (ASIC) Australian Securities & Investments Commission Licence No. 335692, Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA) (SD018), IC Markets (EU) Ltd (CySEC) Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission with License No. 362/18, Capital Markets Authority(CMA) Kenya IC Markets (KE) Ltd, Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) IC Markets (Bahamas) Ltd RoboForex Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Belize under licence No. 000138/32, under the Securities Industry Act 2021, RoboForex Ltd is an (A category) member of The Financial Commission, also RoboForex Ltd is a participant of the Financial Commission Compensation Fund FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) eToro (UK) Ltd (FCA reference 583263), eToro (Europe) Ltd CySEC (Cyprus Securities Exchange Commission), ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) eToro AUS Capital Limited ASIC license 491139, CySec (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission under the license 109/10), FSAS (Financial Services Authority Seychelles) eToro (Seychelles) Ltd license SD076, eToro (ME) Limited (ADGM) Abu Dhabi (UAE) number 220073, eToro (Europe) Ltd (AMF) Autorité des marchés financiers as a digital assets provider France FCA (Financial Conduct Authority reference 522157) XTB Limited, CySEC (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission reference 169/12), DFSA (Dubai Financial Services Authority XTB MENA Limited licensed 8 July 2021), FSA (Financial Services Authority Seychelles license number SD148), FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority XTB Africa (Pty) Ltd licensed 10 August 2021), KNF (Komisja Nadzoru Finansowego Polish Financial Supervision Authority) Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) (49976) XM ZA (Pty) Ltd, Financial Services Commission (FSC) (000261/27) XM Global Limited, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) (license 120/10) Trading Point of Financial Instruments Ltd, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) (number 443670) Trading Point of Financial Instruments Pty Ltd Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Capital Markets Authority of Kenya (CMA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F217 Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Ava Capital Markets Australia Pty Ltd (406684), South African Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) Ava Capital Markets Pty Ltd (45984), Financial Services Agency (Japan FSA) Ava Trade Japan K.K. (1662), Financial Futures Association of Japan (FFAJ) Ava Trade Japan K.K. (1574), Abu Dhabi Global Markets (ADGM) / Financial Regulatory Services Authority (FRSA) Ava Trade Middle East Ltd (190018), Central Bank of Ireland (C53877) AVA Trade EU Ltd, Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF) AVA Trade EU Ltd (branch authorisation), British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (BVI) Ava Trade Markets Ltd (SIBA/L/13/1049), Israel Securities Authority (ISA) ATrade Ltd (514666577), Financial Superintendence of Colombia (SFC 0261 of 2024), Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada through Friedberg Direct (IIROC) CySEC (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission) (371/18), ASIC AFS (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) (286354), FSP (Financial Sector Conduct Authority in South Africa) (50926), Financial Services Authority Seychelles (FSA) (SD 130) FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) (190941), Gambling Commission (Great Britain) (8835), licence in Ireland as remote bookmaker for fixed odds betting licence number 1016176 Easy Forex Trading Ltd is regulated by CySEC (License 079/07). This is the only entity that onboards EU clients. easyMarkets Pty Ltd is regulated by ASIC (AFS License 246566), EF Worldwide Ltd (Seychelles) is regulated by FSA (License SD056), EF Worldwide Ltd (British Virgin Islands) is regulated by FSC (License SIBA/L/20/1135), EF Worldwide (PTY) Ltd is regulated by FSCA (License 54018) FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) (509956), CySEC (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission) (078/07), FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority) (45052), SCB (Securities Commission of The Bahamas) (SIA-F184), FSA (Financial Services Authority of Seychelles) (SD120)
Min Deposit 200 10 50 No minimum deposit 5 No minimum deposit 100 100 No minimum deposit 25 100
Funding
  • Bank transfer
  • Credit Card
  • Paypal
  • Bank transfer
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  • Paypal
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  • Paypal
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  • Credit Card
  • Paypal
Used By 200,000+ 730,000+ 40,000,000+ 2,000,000+ 15,000,000+ 830,000+ 400,000+ 200,000+ 60,000+ 250,000+ 11,200,000+
Benefits
  • Allows scalping
  • Allows hedging
  • Low min deposit
  • Offers Negative Balance Protection
  • Allows scalping
  • Allows hedging
  • Offers STP
  • Low min deposit
  • Offers Negative Balance Protection
  • Offers STP
  • Low min deposit
  • Offers Negative Balance Protection
  • Allows scalping
  • Allows hedging
  • Offers STP
  • Low min deposit
  • Offers Negative Balance Protection
  • Allows scalping
  • Allows hedging
  • Low min deposit
  • Offers Negative Balance Protection
  • Allows scalping
  • Allows hedging
  • Offers STP
  • Low min deposit
  • Guaranteed stop loss
  • Offers Negative Balance Protection
  • Allows scalping
  • Allows hedging
  • Low min deposit
  • Offers Negative Balance Protection
  • Allows scalping
  • Allows hedging
  • Low min deposit
  • Offers Negative Balance Protection
  • Allows scalping
  • Allows hedging
  • Low min deposit
  • Offers Negative Balance Protection
  • Allows scalping
  • Allows hedging
  • Low min deposit
  • Guaranteed stop loss
  • Offers Negative Balance Protection
  • Allows scalping
  • Allows hedging
  • Low min deposit
  • Offers Negative Balance Protection
Accounts
  • Demo account
  • Mini account
  • Standard account
  • Zero spread account
  • ECN account
  • Raw Spread account
  • Islamic account
  • Demo account
  • Micro account
  • Mini account
  • Standard account
  • Zero spread account
  • ECN account
  • Islamic account
  • Demo account
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  • Islamic account
  • Pro account
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  • Micro account
  • Mini account
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  • Islamic account
  • Demo account
  • Micro account
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  • Islamic account
  • Demo account
  • Standard account
  • Zero spread account
  • ECN account
  • Islamic account
  • Demo account
  • Micro account
  • Mini account
  • Standard account
  • Managed account
  • Islamic account
  • Demo account
  • Micro account
  • Standard account
  • ECN account
  • Islamic account
  • Demo account
  • Standard account
  • Demo account
  • Standard account
  • Islamic account
  • Demo account
  • Mini account
  • Islamic account
Platforms MT5, MT4, MetaTrader WebTrader, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play), MetaTrader iPhone/iPad, MetaTrader Android Google Play, MetaTrader Mac, cTrader, cTrader Web, cTrader iPhone/iPad, cTrader iMac, cTrader Android Google Play, cTrader Automate, cTrader Copy Trading, TradingView, Virtual Private Server, Trading Servers, MT4 Advanced Trading Tools, IC Insights, Trading Central MT4, MT5, R Mobile Trader, R StocksTrader, WebTrader, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play), Windows eToro Trading App, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play), CopyTrading, Web MT4, Mirror Trader, Web Trader, Tablet, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play) MT5, MT5 WebTrader, XM Apple App for iPhone, XM App for Android Google Play, Tablet: MT5 for iPad, MT5 for Android Google Play, XM App for iPad, XM App for iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play), Mobile Apps MT4, MT5, cTrader,WebTrader, TradingView, Windows, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play) MT4, MT5, Web Trading, AvaTrade App, AvaOptions, Mac Trading, AvaSocial, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play) MT4, MT5, TradingView, cTrader, WebTrader, Mobile Trader, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play) Web, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play), iPad App, iPhone App, TradingView easyMarkets App, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play), Web Platform, TradingView, MT4, MT5 MT4, MT5, cTrader, FxPro WebTrader, FxPro Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play)
Support
  • Live chat
  • Phone support
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  • Email support
  • Live chat
  • Phone support
  • Email support
  • Live chat
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Risk Warning Losses can exceed deposits Losses can exceed deposits 52% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. 69% - 80% 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. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74.48% 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. 75-95 % of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs 57% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider Losses can exceed deposits 62% of retail CFD accounts lose money 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs and Spread Betting with this provider
Demo IC Markets
Demo
Roboforex
Demo
eToro
Demo
XTB
Demo
XM
Demo
Pepperstone
Demo
AvaTrade
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FP Markets
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SpreadEx
Demo
easyMarkets
Demo
FxPro
Demo
Excluded Countries US, IR, CA, NZ, JP AU, BE, BQ, BR, CA, CW, CZ, DE, ES, EE, EU, FM, FR, FI, GW, ID, IR, JP, LR, MP, NL, PF, PL, RU, SE, SJ, SS, SL, SI, TL, TR, DO, US, IT, AT, PT, BG, HR, CY, DK, FL, GR, IE, LV, LT, MT, RO, SK, CH ZA, ID, IR, KP, BE, CA, JP, SY, TR, IL, BY, AL, MD, MK, RS, GN, CD, SD, SA, ZW, ET, GH, TZ, LY, UG, ZM, BW, RW, TN, SO, NA, TG, SL, LR, GM, DJ, CI, PK, BN, TW, WS, NP, SG, VI, TM, TJ, UZ, LK, TT, HT, MM, BT, MH, MV, MG, MK, KZ, GD, FJ, PT, BB, BM, BS, AG, AI, AW, AX, LB, SV, PY, HN, GT, PR, NI, VG, AN, CN, BZ, DZ, MY, KH, PH, VN, EG, MN, MO, UA, JO, KR, AO, BR, HR, GL, IS, IM, JM, FM, MC, NG, SI, US, IN, PK, BD, NG , ID, BE, AU US, CA, IL, IR AF, AS, AQ, AM, AZ, BY, BE, BZ, BT, BA, BI, CM, CA, CF, TD, CG, CI, ER, GF, PF, GP, GU, GN, GW, GY, HT, VA, IR, IQ, JP, KZ, LB, LR, LY, ML, MQ, YT, MZ, MM, NZ, NI, KP, PS, PR, RE, KN, LC, VC, WS, SO, GS, KR, SS, SD, SR, SY, TJ, TN, TM, TC, US, VU, VG, EH, ES, YE, ZW, ET BE, BR, KP, NZ, TR, US, CA, SG US, JP, NZ US, TR US, IL, BC, MB, QC, ON, AF, BY, BI, KH, KY, TD, KM, CG, CU, CD, GQ, ER, FJ, GN, GW, HT, IR, IQ, LA, LY, MZ, MM, NI, KP, PW, PA, RU, SO, SS, SD, SY, TT, TM, VU, VE, YE US, CA, IR


All Investment Platforms in more detail

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We also have an indepth Top Investment Platforms for 2026 article further below. You can see it now by clicking here

We have listed top Investment Platforms below.

Stocks Vs Funds List

IC Markets
★★★★☆ (4/5)
Min deposit : 200
IC Markets was established in 2007 and is used by over 200000+ traders. Losses can exceed deposits IC Markets offers Forex, CFDs, Spread Betting, Share dealing, Cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrency availability with IC Markets is subject to regulation.

Funding methods

Bank transfer Credit Card Paypal

Platforms

MT5, MT4, MetaTrader WebTrader, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play), MetaTrader iPhone/iPad, MetaTrader Android Google Play, MetaTrader Mac, cTrader, cTrader Web, cTrader iPhone/iPad, cTrader iMac, cTrader Android Google Play, cTrader Automate, cTrader Copy Trading, TradingView, Virtual Private Server, Trading Servers, MT4 Advanced Trading Tools, IC Insights, Trading Central

Customer support

Live chat Phone support Email support

Account Types

Micro account Standard account ECN account
Islamic account VIP account
Regulated by International Capital Markets Pty Ltd (Australia) (ASIC) Australian Securities & Investments Commission Licence No. 335692, Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA) (SD018), IC Markets (EU) Ltd (CySEC) Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission with License No. 362/18, Capital Markets Authority(CMA) Kenya IC Markets (KE) Ltd, Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) IC Markets (Bahamas) Ltd
Roboforex
★★★★☆ (4/5)
Min deposit : 10
Roboforex was established in 2009 and is used by over 730000+ traders. Losses can exceed deposits Roboforex offers Forex, CFDs.

Funding methods

Bank transfer Credit Card Paypal

Platforms

MT4, MT5, R Mobile Trader, R StocksTrader, WebTrader, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play), Windows

Customer support

Live chat Phone support Email support

Account Types

Micro account Standard account ECN account
Islamic account VIP account
Regulated by RoboForex Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Belize under licence No. 000138/32, under the Securities Industry Act 2021, RoboForex Ltd is an (A category) member of The Financial Commission, also RoboForex Ltd is a participant of the Financial Commission Compensation Fund
eToro
★★★★☆ (4/5)
Min deposit : 50
Visit eToro Try a Demo Read review

eToro is a multi-asset platform which offers both investing in stocks and cryptoassets, as well as trading CFDs.

Please note that CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 52% 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.

This communication is intended for information and educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice or investment recommendation. Past performance is not an indication of future results.

Copy Trading does not amount to investment advice. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.

Crypto investments are risky and may not suit retail investors; you could lose your entire investment. Understand the risks here.

Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment, and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.

eToro USA LLC does not offer CFDs and makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the content of this publication, which has been prepared by our partner utilizing publicly available non-entity specific information about eToro.

eToro was established in 2007 and is used by over 40000000+ traders. 52% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. eToro offers Social Trading, Stocks, Commodities, Indices, Forex (Currencies), CFDs, Cryptocurrency, Exchange Traded Funds (ETF), Index Based Funds. Cryptocurrency availability with eToro is subject to regulation. Buying and selling real cryptocurrency assets may not be available in your country through eToro. Please check the latest information made available on their website.

Funding methods

Bank transfer Credit Card Paypal

Platforms

eToro Trading App, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play), CopyTrading, Web

Customer support

Live chat Phone support Email support

Account Types

Micro account Standard account ECN account
Islamic account VIP account
Regulated by FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) eToro (UK) Ltd (FCA reference 583263), eToro (Europe) Ltd CySEC (Cyprus Securities Exchange Commission), ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) eToro AUS Capital Limited ASIC license 491139, CySec (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission under the license 109/10), FSAS (Financial Services Authority Seychelles) eToro (Seychelles) Ltd license SD076, eToro (ME) Limited (ADGM) Abu Dhabi (UAE) number 220073, eToro (Europe) Ltd (AMF) Autorité des marchés financiers as a digital assets provider France
XTB
★★★★☆ (4/5)
Min deposit : 0
XTB was established in 2002 and is used by over 2000000+ traders. 69% - 80% 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. XTB offers Forex, CFDs, Cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency availability with XTB is subject to regulation.

Funding methods

Bank transfer Credit Card Paypal

Platforms

MT4, Mirror Trader, Web Trader, Tablet, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play)

Customer support

Live chat Phone support Email support

Account Types

Micro account Standard account ECN account
Islamic account VIP account
Regulated by FCA (Financial Conduct Authority reference 522157) XTB Limited, CySEC (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission reference 169/12), DFSA (Dubai Financial Services Authority XTB MENA Limited licensed 8 July 2021), FSA (Financial Services Authority Seychelles license number SD148), FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority XTB Africa (Pty) Ltd licensed 10 August 2021), KNF (Komisja Nadzoru Finansowego Polish Financial Supervision Authority)
XM
★★★★☆ (4/5)
Min deposit : 5
XM was established in 2009 and is used by over 15000000+ traders. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74.48% 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. XM offers Forex Trading, Stocks CFDs, Commodities CFDs, Equity Indices CFDs, Precious Metals CFDs, Energies CFDs.

Funding methods

Bank transfer Credit Card Paypal

Platforms

MT5, MT5 WebTrader, XM Apple App for iPhone, XM App for Android Google Play, Tablet: MT5 for iPad, MT5 for Android Google Play, XM App for iPad, XM App for iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play), Mobile Apps

Customer support

Live chat Phone support Email support

Account Types

Micro account Standard account ECN account
Islamic account XM Swap-Free account (XM Ultra Low Account) VIP account
Regulated by Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) (49976) XM ZA (Pty) Ltd, Financial Services Commission (FSC) (000261/27) XM Global Limited, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) (license 120/10) Trading Point of Financial Instruments Ltd, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) (number 443670) Trading Point of Financial Instruments Pty Ltd
Pepperstone
★★★★☆ (4/5)
Min deposit : 0
Pepperstone was established in 2010 and is used by over 830000+ traders. 75-95 % of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs Pepperstone offers Forex, CFDs, Social Trading.

Funding methods

Bank transfer Credit Card Paypal

Platforms

MT4, MT5, cTrader,WebTrader, TradingView, Windows, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play)

Customer support

Live chat Phone support Email support

Account Types

Micro account Standard account ECN account
Islamic account Pro Account VIP account
Regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Capital Markets Authority of Kenya (CMA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F217
AvaTrade
★★★★☆ (4/5)
Min deposit : 100
AvaTrade was established in 2006 and is used by over 400000+ traders. 57% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider AvaTrade offers Forex, Cryptocurrencies, Commodities, Indices, Stocks, Bonds, Vanilla Options, ETFs, CFDs, Spread Betting, Social Trading. Cryptocurrency availability with AvaTrade is subject to regulation.

Funding methods

Bank transfer Credit Card Paypal

Platforms

MT4, MT5, Web Trading, AvaTrade App, AvaOptions, Mac Trading, AvaSocial, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play)

Customer support

Live chat Phone support Email support

Account Types

Micro account Standard account ECN account
Islamic account VIP account
Regulated by Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Ava Capital Markets Australia Pty Ltd (406684), South African Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) Ava Capital Markets Pty Ltd (45984), Financial Services Agency (Japan FSA) Ava Trade Japan K.K. (1662), Financial Futures Association of Japan (FFAJ) Ava Trade Japan K.K. (1574), Abu Dhabi Global Markets (ADGM) / Financial Regulatory Services Authority (FRSA) Ava Trade Middle East Ltd (190018), Central Bank of Ireland (C53877) AVA Trade EU Ltd, Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF) AVA Trade EU Ltd (branch authorisation), British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (BVI) Ava Trade Markets Ltd (SIBA/L/13/1049), Israel Securities Authority (ISA) ATrade Ltd (514666577), Financial Superintendence of Colombia (SFC 0261 of 2024), Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada through Friedberg Direct (IIROC)
FP Markets
★★★★☆ (4/5)
Min deposit : 100
FP Markets was established in 2005 and is used by over 200000+ traders. Losses can exceed deposits FP Markets offers Forex, CFDs, Bonds.

Funding methods

Bank transfer Credit Card Paypal

Platforms

MT4, MT5, TradingView, cTrader, WebTrader, Mobile Trader, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play)

Customer support

Live chat Phone support Email support

Account Types

Micro account Standard account ECN account
Islamic account VIP account
Regulated by CySEC (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission) (371/18), ASIC AFS (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) (286354), FSP (Financial Sector Conduct Authority in South Africa) (50926), Financial Services Authority Seychelles (FSA) (SD 130)
SpreadEx
★★★★☆ (4/5)
Min deposit : 0
SpreadEx was established in 1999 and is used by over 60000+ traders. 62% of retail CFD accounts lose money SpreadEx offers Forex, CFDs, and spread betting.

Funding methods

Bank transfer Credit Card Paypal

Platforms

Web, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play), iPad App, iPhone App, TradingView

Customer support

Live chat Phone support Email support

Account Types

Micro account Standard account ECN account
Islamic account VIP account
Regulated by FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) (190941), Gambling Commission (Great Britain) (8835), licence in Ireland as remote bookmaker for fixed odds betting licence number 1016176
EasyMarkets
★★★★☆ (4/5)
Min deposit : 25
easyMarkets was established in 2001 and is used by over 250000+ traders. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. easyMarkets offers CFD, Forex, Commodities, Indices, Shares, Crypto. Cryptocurrency availability with easyMarkets is subject to regulation.

Funding methods

Bank transfer Credit Card Paypal

Platforms

easyMarkets App, Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play), Web Platform, TradingView, MT4, MT5

Customer support

Live chat Phone support Email support

Account Types

Micro account Standard account ECN account
Islamic account VIP account
Regulated by Easy Forex Trading Ltd is regulated by CySEC (License 079/07). This is the only entity that onboards EU clients. easyMarkets Pty Ltd is regulated by ASIC (AFS License 246566), EF Worldwide Ltd (Seychelles) is regulated by FSA (License SD056), EF Worldwide Ltd (British Virgin Islands) is regulated by FSC (License SIBA/L/20/1135), EF Worldwide (PTY) Ltd is regulated by FSCA (License 54018)
FXPro
★★★★☆ (4/5)
Min deposit : 100
FxPro was established in 2006 and is used by over 11200000+ traders. 74% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs and Spread Betting with this provider FxPro offers Forex trading, Share Dealing, Spot Indices, Futures, Spot Metals and Spot Energies.

Funding methods

Bank transfer Credit Card Paypal

Platforms

MT4, MT5, cTrader, FxPro WebTrader, FxPro Mobile Apps, iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play)

Customer support

Live chat Phone support Email support

Account Types

Micro account Standard account ECN account
Islamic account VIP account
Regulated by FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) (509956), CySEC (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission) (078/07), FSCA (Financial Sector Conduct Authority) (45052), SCB (Securities Commission of The Bahamas) (SIA-F184), FSA (Financial Services Authority of Seychelles) (SD120)

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Losses can exceed deposits
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Losses can exceed deposits