Trading 212 is a fintech company that democratises the financial markets with free, smart and easy to use apps, enabling anyone to trade Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Commodities, and more. We disrupted the stock brokerage industry by offering the first zero-commission stock trading service in the UK and Europe, unlocking the stock market for millions of people.
What is Trading 212?
Registered in the United Kingdom, Trading 212 is a fintech company that democratizes the financial markets with its free, smart, and easy-to-use apps. The platform enables anyone to trade various instruments, including stocks, ETFs, forex, commodities, and more.
Regulation
Trading 212 is currently licensed by the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under license number 609146 and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) under license number 398/21.
Pros & Cons
Trading 212, regulated by both the FCA in the UK and CySEC in Cyprus, offers a robust trading platform with several advantages and some limitations. The platform supports zero-commission trading, providing cost-effective access to a variety of markets, including forex. However, it does not support crypto trading and lacks live chat support, which could impact user experience. Additionally, the educational resources provided are limited. On the positive side, Trading 212 offers multiple payment methods, enhancing flexibility for users.
Tradable Securities and Services
Trading 212 offers a variety of trading instruments, including stocks, ETFs, forex, commodities, and more. Traders can go long or short on thousands of stocks, such as Tesla, GameStop, and AMC. The platform also provides access to major global indices, including USA 500, USA 30, and UK 100. In the commodities market, Trading 212 allows trading in precious metals, oil, and niche agricultural products like lumber and cattle. Additionally, it supports forex trading with over 180 currency pairs available for trading 24/5.
Commissions & Fees
Trading 212 offers a competitive and transparent fee structure for both invest and CFD trading, making it an attractive option for cost-conscious traders. For invest trading, Trading 212 charges no trading commission and no custody fees. The FX fee is set at 0.15%, applied whenever funds are converted from one currency to another or on trades involving currency conversion. This conversion is done at the live interbank rate, with no additional FX costs, ensuring the fee never exceeds 0.15%, even on weekends.
For CFD trading, Trading 212 also offers commission-free trading and no custody fees. The spreads are dynamic and fluctuate based on underlying market conditions. An overnight holding fee is applied to positions held past 22:00 GMT, which can be either positive or negative depending on the trade direction and product. The specific fees for each instrument are detailed in the app on the 'Instrument details' page. Additionally, there is a 0.5% FX fee on the results only, which applies when closing a position with an instrument priced in a currency different from the trading's base currency.
Platforms
Trading 212 offers a user-friendly and feature-rich mobile app, providing traders with seamless access to the financial markets on the go.
Deposit & Withdrawal
Trading 212 offers a diverse range of payment methods to fund your active trading account, providing convenience and flexibility for traders. These payment methods include bank transfers, instant bank transfers, card payments, online banking, Carte Bleue, Blik, direct eBanking, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and iDEAL. Card payments are typically processed swiftly, with funds reaching your Trading 212 account in less than 10 minutes. On the other hand, bank transfers may take slightly longer, usually 2-3 business days to process. It's important to note that the processing time for bank transfers starts counting after the transfer has been initiated, and most transfers are not processed during weekends or bank holidays.
Educational Resources
Trading 212 offers a range of educational resources aimed at empowering traders with essential knowledge and skills to make informed investment decisions. Beginners can benefit from articles such as “The Basics of Investing,” which includes topics like dollar-cost averaging, reading financial statements, and diversification. For those interested in dividend investing, there's a deep dive into the subject, covering aspects like how dividends work, creating a dividend portfolio, and identifying good dividend stocks.
Customer Service
The support team is available 24/7, providing continuous help around the clock. With an impressive average response time of just 29 seconds, traders can expect quick resolutions to their queries. For further assistance, customers can reach out via email at info@trading212.com.
Conclusion
Overall, Trading 212, regulated by both the FCA in the UK and CySEC in Cyprus, offers a robust trading platform with several advantages and some limitations. The platform supports zero-commission trading, providing cost-effective access to a variety of markets, including forex. However, it does not support crypto trading and lacks live chat support, which could impact user experience. Additionally, the educational resources provided are limited. On the positive side, Trading 212 offers multiple payment methods, enhancing flexibility for users.
FAQs
Q: Is Trading 212 a safe and reliable brokerage?
A: Trading 212 is a regulated brokerage, which offers investor protection in case of brokerage failure. They also use security measures like two-factor authentication. However, extra vigilance should still be taken when trading with any online brokerage.
Q: Does Trading 212 offer commission-free trading?
A: Yes, for invest trading and CFD trading, Trading 212 charges no trading commission.
Q: What kind of trading platform does Trading 212 offer?
A: Trading 212 offers a user-friendly and feature-rich mobile app, providing traders with seamless access to the financial markets on the go.
Q: Is Trading 212 suitable for beginners?
A: Trading 212's user-friendly interface and educational resources can be helpful for beginners. Beginners can benefit from articles such as “The Basics of Investing,” which includes topics like dollar-cost averaging, reading financial statements, and diversification.
Risk Warning
Online trading involves significant risk and may result in the complete loss of invested funds. It may not be suitable for all traders or investors. It is essential to fully understand the associated risks before engaging in trading activities. Furthermore, the content of this review is subject to change, as it reflects updates in the company's services and policies. The creation date of the review is also important, as information may become outdated. Before making any investment decisions, readers should verify the most current information directly with the company. The responsibility for acting on the information contained in this document rests solely with the reader.