UK international stock brokers comparison table

 
Last UpdatedMar 312013

The table below compares the main UK international stock brokers and the stock markets they can deal in. It includes both online international stock brokers and the traditional full service private client stock brokers that offer international stock trading by telephone.

If you haven’t already done so, I recommend you begin by reading the UK international stock brokers guide for an overview of what’s available and then using this table to compare firms. Further details of fees and services are listed on each stock broker’s individual page. To find a stock broker that can trade a specific international market, use the search function in the international stock brokers directory.

If you’re looking for the cheapest stock brokers in the UK to buy UK shares rather than international ones, try the UK online stock brokers comparison table.

 
Markets available
Minimum commissions
Multicurrency account
Tax wrappers
Minimum investment
Alliance Trust
More details
Online: UK

Broker-assisted: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, USA
Online: £12.50

Broker-assisted: £20-40
NoISA, SIPPNone
Barclays Stockbrokers
More details
Online: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA

Broker-assisted: Japan, Malaysia
Online: min £12.95-17.95

Broker-assisted: min £27.95-100
YesHas ISA and SIPP but only a limited range of international stocks are permitted in an ISANone
Brewin Dolphin and Stocktrade
More details
Online: UK

Broker-assisted: Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, USA, Western Europe
Online: min £14.5

Broker-assisted: min £15-65
NoISA, SIPPNone
Charles Stanley
More details
Online: UK

Broker-assisted: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, USA
Online: UK £11.5

Broker-assisted: £20-£50
YesISA, SIPPNone - but minimum trade sizes will need to be £2,500-5,000 to be cost-effective
Daniel Stewart
More details
Broker-assisted: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China B, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, UK, USABroker-assisted: min £52.50YesISA, SIPPNone - but minimum trade sizes will need to be £5,000-10,000 to be cost-effective
Halifax Share Dealing
More details
Online: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, UK, USAOnline: £11.95

Broker-assisted: £25
NoISA, SIPPNone
Hargreaves Lansdown
More details
Online: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USAOnline: £5.95-11.95

Broker-assisted: min £20
NoISA, SIPPNone
HSBC
InvestDirect Plus
More details
Online: UK, USAOnline: ~£7.95-25YesISANone
iDealing
More details
Online: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USAOnline: min ~£5-£15YesISA, SIPPNone
Interactive Brokers
More details
Online: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India (for NRIs only), Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USAOnline: min ~£0.5-8YesSIPPUS$10,000 equivalent
Interactive Investor
More details
Online: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USAOnline: £5-10NoISA, SIPPNone
Killik & Co
More details
Broker-assisted: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, UAE, UK, USABroker-assisted: min £30-70YesISA, SIPPNone - but minimum trade sizes will need to be £2,500-5,000 to be cost-effective
NatWest Stockbrokers
More details
Online: Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, UK, USA

Broker-assisted: Sweden, Switzerland
Online: £12-20

Broker-assisted: min £36-50
YesISA, SIPPNone
Redmayne Bentley
More details
Broker-assisted: Australia, Canada, Greece (CFDs only), Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Western Europe, UK, USABroker-assisted: UK min £25, international min ~£35-125YesISA, SIPPNone
Saxo Bank
More details
Online: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece (CFDs only), Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USAOnline: min ~£8-18YesISA, SIPP£2,000
Selftrade
More details
Online: Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, UK, USAOnline: £6-12.5

Broker-assisted: £17.5-40
NoISA, SIPPNone
Sippdeal
More details
Online: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USAOnline: £9.95NoISA, SIPPNone
Sucden Financial
More details
Online: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USAOnline: min ~£15-50YesSIPP£5,000 online, £20,000 telephone
TD Direct
Investing
More details
Online: Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, UK, USA

Broker-assisted: Sweden, Switzerland
Online: £5.95-19.5

Broker-assisted: £45.95-59.5
YesISA, SIPPNone
Notes on the UK international stock brokers comparison table

1. Be aware that some international stock brokers will charge low trading fees, but very high currency conversion fees. Make sure you take these extra costs into account – the currency conversion fees are listed in each stock broker’s profile.

2. Most UK international stock brokers will not accept non-resident investors due to UK money laundering regulations, although it’s always worth asking. One exception is TD Direct Investing, both directly and through its Luxembourg subsidiary Internaxx. The international firms Interactive Brokers and Saxo Bank will accept clients of most nationalities, although Saxo Bank will not accept US residents. See the update on UK stock broker accounts for non-residents for more details

3. NatWest Stockbrokers is a ‘white label’ product provided by TD Direct Investing, with slightly different fees. RBS Sharedealing is exactly the same as the NatWest-branded service. Other ‘white label’ UK international stock brokers are generally not included since you should go to the underlying provider for better rates. These include Motley Fool Share Dealing, provided by Halifax, and the building society share dealing services, mostly backed by TD Direct Investing. One possible exception is iWeb Share Dealing, which is owned by Halifax and will deal in the same international stock markets at slightly lower commissions.

4. TD Direct Investing was formerly known as TD Waterhouse – it rebranded in November 2011, but the service is unchanged.

Information in the UK international stock brokers table comes from the stock brokers’ websites and leaflets, conversations with stock broker staff members and conversations with investors who use the services. While I try to ensure it is accurate and up-to-date, I cannot guarantee that. You should always check current terms and conditions before opening an account. If you identify any errors or omissions, please email me using the contact form.