Which one is the best shares/stocks trading platform for beginners?

adamsw

I am looking for a share/stock platform where I can easily trade shares and stocks, with a friendly straightforward website where you can place your orders etc in a self-select way. Like a market. I tried so far AJ Bell, but honestly I'm so disappointed with their website, they having errors and they told me to call them if I want to buy US shares between 2.30 and 4.30 (when I am at work). Honestly in 2015 I can't believe there is no better company or website than they. So many software developers must have made a better more friendly more automated website with good features than what they have (with errors).

I would really appreciate your help. :j

adamsw

I have about 20k to invest and I am interested mostly in US shares like google facebook etc. so the platform should support US stockmarket exchange

tamiami

Charles Stanley is supposed to be an easy website to navigate, I'm thinking of using them.

jimjames

HL is very easy to use. Not the cheapest but then maybe you're getting what you pay for.

adamsw

As far as I know Charles is not self select
I will have a look at HL, I would like to know if people used them personally and they are very satisfied.

colsten

adamsw wrote: »

As far as I know Charles is not self select

They do have a self-select offer.

masonic

adamsw wrote: »

As far as I know Charles is not self select
I will have a look at HL, I would like to know if people used them personally and they are very satisfied.

You'll be wanting to look at Charles Stanley Direct. Same operating company, but a very different offering and target market.

I've used HL. They are fine and not a great deal more expensive than others if you are only holding shares.

Scarpacci

I have my S&S ISA at Hargreaves Lansdown, which includes U.S. stocks, and I can't fault the service at all. Of the platforms I've used - Halifax, HL and AJ Bell - HL, in my experience, have the widest availability of markets and the most reliable service. The annual ISA fee capped at 0.45% fee, capped at £45 for stocks, seems competitive to me. The dealing fees are in line with most other brokers, although I think their foreign currency charges (1.5% at the lowest trade level) perhaps look a little steeper than most. All in all though, I've got no complaints.

I actually just opened an AJ Bell share dealing account. The service with AJ Bell has been fine, but you're right about their international markets coverage being lacklustre. They only trade CDIs so a great many American stocks, or indeed stocks on the other markets they include, aren't necessarily available. Since it defaults to CDIs, searching for a share can take you to a foreign listing you didn't expect. Although the underlying asset would be the same, the bid-spread in particular can catch you off guard. It's not clear even if they would trade those stocks, but that's what I've seen when I've searched for a few U.S. stocks on their dealing site.

Thrugelmir

adamsw wrote: »

I am looking for a share/stock platform where I can easily trade shares and stocks, with a friendly straightforward website where you can place your orders etc in a self-select way. Like a market. I tried so far AJ Bell, but honestly I'm so disappointed with their website, they having errors and they told me to call them if I want to buy US shares between 2.30 and 4.30 (when I am at work). Honestly in 2015 I can't believe there is no better company or website than they. So many software developers must have made a better more friendly more automated website with good features than what they have (with errors).

I would really appreciate your help. :j

Barclays offer an international trader account.

https://www.barclaystradinghub.co.uk/home/international-equities/open-account.html

Flobberchops

Not wanting to hijack OP's thread, but related:

Within a S&S ISA, are you tied to a particular platform or can you choose your own?

And, where can you find the full list of stocks and funds available to buy within each platform? I understand it varies by platform?

Confused here.

masonic

Flobberchops wrote: »

Within a S&S ISA, are you tied to a particular platform or can you choose your own?

The ISA is an account within the platform.

And, where can you find the full list of stocks and funds available to buy within each platform? I understand it varies by platform?

You would generally find this information on the platform's website. For stocks it is easy, you just need to determine if the market is available and you should be able to trade any available stock listed in that market.