Method for acquiring gratis stocks valued at hundreds of British pounds
In an effort to foster a retail investing culture in the UK, Chancellor Rachel Reeves encourages individuals to venture into the exciting world of investments. For those who are new to the scene, investing can seem daunting, but fear not! A plethora of beginner-friendly platforms are available, offering commission-free trades, educational resources, and incentives such as free shares and cash bonuses for new customers.
Top Platforms for Beginners
Here's a roundup of some of the best platforms for beginners and the incentives they offer:
| Platform | Best For | Incentives for New Customers | |------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------| | Charles Schwab | Beginner investors | $101 to invest across 5 S&P 500 stocks with account funding; fractional shares from $5; extensive educational resources[1] | | Acorns | Families | $20 cash bonus upon signup | | Stash | Young investors | $20 in free stock plus additional rewards for referrals | | SoFi Invest | Full-service investing | $5 to $1,000 in free stock bonus on signup | | TradeStation | Active traders | $150 - $3,500 cash bonus depending on deposit and trading volume | | Robinhood | Beginners focused on US stocks | 1 free share valued between $7 and $175 after $1 deposit; referral bonuses for additional free shares; stock sale proceeds must remain 30 days before withdrawal[2] | | Trading 212 | UK investors & fractional shares | Free fractional share worth £5 to £100 after £1 deposit and identity verification[2] | | Webull | Trading-oriented beginners | 20 free fractional shares (up to $3,000 each) on account funding; also 2 free shares on signup[3][4] | | Ally Invest | Commission-free investing with solid app | Up to $3,000 bonus for transferring assets[3] | | Moomoo | New entrants & international markets | Up to 15 free stocks after signing up[3] |
Claiming Your Rewards
To qualify for these free shares or cash bonuses, you'll typically need to open an account, complete identity verification, and fund your account with a minimum deposit (sometimes as low as $1). The free shares are usually fractional shares or specific stocks selected by the platform, but you can usually keep or sell them as you wish. Some platforms also offer referral bonuses where both the referrer and new user receive additional free shares or bonuses after the new user meets deposit requirements[2][3][4].
Education and Advanced Tools
Many top beginner platforms such as Charles Schwab emphasize education, ease of use, and no commission trading to help newcomers build investing confidence[1]. Others like Webull and Moomoo appeal to beginners who want more advanced trading tools alongside their bonuses[3][4].
Choosing the Right Platform
Consider your investing goals and preferences (e.g., long-term investing, active trading, international stocks) to choose which platform fits best for you and take advantage of their new customer promotions.
Additional Offers
Interactive investor also offers a referral program where each referral can earn both parties £200, but the friend must fund their account with at least £5,000. IG is offering a bundle of free UK shares worth up to £100 to new clients who invest a minimum of £20 and remain invested until 31 August. Trading 212 offers a free fractional share worth between £5 and £100 to new customers who sign up using a referral link.
Building Long-Term Wealth
Learning how to start investing can help build long-term wealth. With the array of beginner-friendly platforms available, there's never been a better time to dive into the world of investing. Kalpana Fitzpatrick, editor of our website and author of Invest Now, advises not to let a free trade be the only investment, and suggests using exchange-traded funds for a good investment strategy. Remember, a well-diversified portfolio based on your risk attitude is one of the easiest ways to start investing.
- For those interested in long-term investing, charles schwab offers a bonus of $101 to invest across 5 S&P 500 stocks when funding an account, along with extensive educational resources.
- Families who want to invest can sign up for Acorns and receive a $20 cash bonus upon account creation.
- Young investors may find the incentives offered by Stash appealing, such as $20 in free stock plus additional rewards for referrals.
- To claim the $5 to $1,000 in free stock bonus on signup, consider SoFi Invest as a full-service investing platform.
