Always remember that investments can go down as well as up in value, so you could get back less than you put in. A rule of thumb is to hang on to your investments for at least five years to give them the best chance of providing the returns you want.

How to Buy Apple (AAPL) Shares in the UK

Updated On: Dec 9, 2024
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How to Buy Apple Shares UK

Contents:

If you’re interested in investing in the world of technology and innovation, Apple (AAPL) might be the perfect stock for you. But how do you buy Apple shares if you’re based in the UK? In this article, we’ll walk you through how to buy Apple stock for beginners, guiding you on everything you need to know to get started, including the different ways to invest and the best time to buy.

How to Buy Apple Shares in the UK

You can buy Apple shares in the UK from reputable stockbrokers such as eToro, Freetrade, and AJ Bell. Depending on your budget, attitude to risk, and investment objectives, there are several other ways to buy Apple shares in the UK, including buying Apple shares through a fractional share provider, mutual fund or ETF, investment trust, and even contracts for difference (CFDs).

We’ll cover each method in turn below:


Featured Broker

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Invest in Apple ($AAPL) Shares With 0% Commission!

  • Start investing with as little as $100 (£80).
  • Pay no stamp duty on UK shares.
  • Join 25 million users who trust their investments with eToro.

Capital at risk. Other fees apply.

1. Buying Apple Shares Through a Broker

One of the most common ways to invest in Apple shares is through a broker. A broker is a financial institution that allows you to buy and sell stocks on the stock market. In the UK, there are many different brokers to choose from, including traditional full-service brokers and online discount brokers.

To buy Apple shares in the UK through a broker, you’ll need to:

  1. Create an account with a broker, such as eToro or AJ Bell. Creating an account with a stockbroker is a straightforward process. It usually involves signing up via an online portal, providing personal information, like your name and address, and verifying your identity. It is important to research various brokers and compare their fees, trading platforms, and customer support before investing. Some popular brokers for investors looking to buy Apple shares in the UK include eToro, AJ Bell, and Interactive Investor. Scroll down for a detailed review of each broker.

  2. Fund your account with GBP using your debit card or via bank transfer. Before you can buy Apple shares, you’ll need to deposit money into your brokerage account. This can typically be done through a bank transfer or debit/credit card payment.

  3. Complete a W-8BEN form for tax purposes. As a UK investor, you’ll need to complete a W-8BEN form, which allows you to claim a reduced rate of withholding tax on any US-sourced income, such as dividends from Apple shares. Apple currently pays dividends to shareholders on a quarterly basis.

  4. Choose a tax wrapper, such as an ISA or a SIPP. Depending on your investment goals and personal circumstances, you may want to consider using a tax wrapper like an ISA or SIPP to invest in Apple shares. These wrappers can help you save on taxes and maximise your investment returns.

  5. Research Apple and other stocks. Before buying any stock, including Apple stock, it is important to carry out thorough research. You’d want to consider factors such as market capitalisation, earnings reports, liquidity, technology and innovation, team, company performance and competition. More on these below.

  6. Buy Apple shares with GBP using the broker’s web or mobile app. Once your account is funded and you’ve carried out thorough research, you can place an order to buy Apple shares. This involves entering the name of the stock, Apple, or the ticker symbol, $AAPL, and specifying the number of shares you want to buy or the amount you want to invest.

  7. Monitor and adjust your investments. After you’ve bought Apple shares, you’ll want to keep an eye on your investment and make any necessary adjustments. This could include setting up alerts for price changes or selling your shares if you need to free up cash.

When buying Apple shares through a broker, it is important to be aware of any fees and charges associated with the investment. Brokers typically charge a commission for each trade, which can vary depending on the broker and the size of the trade.

Some brokers charge additional fees, like account maintenance fees, FX fees or inactivity fees, which can eat into your returns if you’re not careful. It is also worth considering the tax implications of buying Apple shares, as you may be subject to Capital Gains Tax and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax.

2. Buying Apple Shares Through a Fractional Share Provider

If you do not have enough capital to buy a full share of Apple or prefer to take advantage of pound cost averaging by investing small amounts regularly, fractional share investing might be right for you.

Fractional shares allow you to own a portion of a share instead of a full share, making it more affordable and accessible for many investors. For example, if Apple’s share price is £100 and you only have £20 to invest, you could use a fractional share provider to buy one-fifth of a share of Apple. Popular fractional share providers in the UK include eToro and Freetrade.

To buy fractional shares of Apple in the UK, you’ll need to follow a similar process to buying full shares through a broker:

  1. Choose a fractional share provider: Research different providers, comparing their fees, investment options, and customer support. Some popular fractional share providers for UK investors looking to buy Apple shares are eToro, Freetrade, and Moneybox. Scroll down for a detailed review of each fractional share provider.

  1. Open an account: Once you’ve chosen a provider, you’ll need to open an account with them. This typically involves providing some personal information, like your name and address, and verifying your identity.

  1. Complete a W-8BEN form: The W-8BEN form is a requirement for UK-based investors intending to buy shares of a US-based company like Apple. It verifies your foreign status, ensuring that the correct tax amount is withheld from any dividends you might earn from your Apple shares. As previously mentioned, Apple pays dividends on a quarterly basis.

  1. Choose a tax wrapper: When investing in Apple fractional shares, you may want to explore the option of using a tax wrapper like an ISA or SIPP. This can help you reduce taxes and maximise your investment returns, depending on your investment goals and personal circumstances.

  1. Fund your account: Before you can buy fractional shares of Apple, you’ll need to deposit money into your account. This can typically be done through a bank transfer or debit/credit card payment.

  1. Place an order: Once your account is funded, you can place a buy order by specifying the amount of money you want to invest or the percentage of a share you wish to own (e.g., £100 worth of Apple shares).

  1. Monitor your investment: Keep an eye on your investment and make adjustments as needed, such as setting up alerts for price changes or selling shares to free up cash.

When buying fractional shares of Apple, it is important to be aware of any fees and charges associated with the investment. Most fractional share providers are commission-free brokers and do not charge a commission for each trade. However, there are some other fees you should be aware of, such as FX fees, withdrawal fees, ISA fees, platform fees, and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax, depending on the platform you choose.

3. Buying Apple Shares Through a Mutual Fund or ETF

Another way to invest in Apple shares is through a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF). Mutual funds and ETFs are investment vehicles that pool money from multiple investors and use it to buy a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, or other assets. This can be a good option for investors who want exposure to Apple but don’t want to buy individual shares or require more diversification in their portfolios.

To invest in Apple shares in the UK through a mutual fund or ETF, you’ll need to follow these steps:

  1. Choose a mutual fund or ETF: Research different mutual funds and ETFs that invest in Apple and compare their performance, fees, and investment strategies. Some popular UK mutual funds and ETFs that invest in Apple include the iShares S&P 500 Information Technology Sector ETF (IUIT) and the L&G Global Technology Index Trust Fund.

  1. Open an account: Once you’ve chosen a mutual fund or ETF, you’ll need to open an account with a broker or investment platform that offers access to that fund. This typically involves providing some personal information, like your name and address, and verifying your identity. The best online investment platforms for buying mutual funds and ETFs that invest in Apple shares in the UK are AJ Bell, Interactive Investor, and InvestEngine. Scroll down for a detailed review of each investment platform.

  1. Choose a tax wrapper: When investing in Apple mutual funds or ETFs, consider using a tax wrapper like an ISA or SIPP. This can help you save on taxes and increase your investment returns, depending on your individual situation and investment objectives.

  1. Fund your account: Before you can invest in the mutual fund or ETF, you’ll need to deposit money into your account. This can typically be done through a bank transfer or debit/credit card payment.

  1. Invest in the mutual fund or ETF: Once your account is funded, you can invest in the mutual fund or ETF that holds Apple shares. This involves specifying the amount of money you want to invest and the share class or ticker symbol of the fund.

  1. Monitor your investment: After you’ve invested in the mutual fund or ETF, you’ll want to keep an eye on your investment and make any necessary adjustments. This could include checking the fund’s performance, monitoring any fees or expenses, or rebalancing your portfolio.

When investing in a mutual fund or ETF that holds Apple shares, it is important to be aware of any fees and charges associated with the investment. Mutual funds and ETFs typically charge a fund management fee (expense ratio or ongoing charges figure (OCF)), which can vary depending on the fund and the size of your investment. Some funds may also charge additional fees, like transaction fees or redemption fees, which can impact your returns.

You can also buy Apple shares by investing in an investment trust, which functions a bit like a mutual fund with certain distinctions.

4. Buying Apple Shares Through CFDs

A final way to invest in Apple shares is through contracts for difference (CFDs). CFDs are derivative products that allow you to speculate on the price movements of an underlying asset, like a commodity or stock, such as Apple shares, without actually owning the asset.

When you invest in a CFD, you don’t actually own the underlying asset–instead, you’re betting on whether the price of the asset will go up or down. For example, if you think the price of Apple will fall and want to take a short position in the stock, you can make use of a CFD. CFDs are complex and high-risk financial products, so they may not be suitable for all investors.

To buy Apple shares in the UK using CFDs, you’ll need to follow these steps:

  1. Choose a CFD provider: Research different CFD providers and compare their fees, trading platforms, and customer support. Some popular CFD providers for UK investors looking to buy Apple share CFDs are eToro, XTB, and Pepperstone. Scroll down for a detailed review of each CFD provider.

  1. Open an account: Once you’ve chosen a CFD provider, you’ll need to open an account with them. This typically involves providing some personal information, like your name and address, and verifying your identity.

  1. Fund your account: Before you can invest in Apple CFDs, you’ll need to deposit money into your account. This can typically be done through a bank transfer or debit/credit card payment.

  1. Place an order: Once your account is funded, you can place an order to invest in Apple CFDs. This involves specifying the direction of your trade (long or short), the size of your trade (number of CFDs), the leverage you want to use, and any additional order parameters, such as stop-loss and take-profit levels.

  1. Monitor your investment: Keep an eye on your investment and make any necessary adjustments, such as monitoring the price movements of Apple shares, adjusting your stop-loss and take-profit levels, or closing your trade when you believe it is the right time.

  1. Close your trade: To close your CFD trade, place an order in the opposite direction of your original trade. Your profit or loss will be determined by the difference between the opening and closing prices of the trade.

Note that CFDs are complex and high-risk financial products, and they may not be suitable for all investors. Before investing in Apple CFDs, make sure you understand the risks involved and are comfortable with the potential for losses. CFDs also typically involve higher fees and charges than other investment options, which can impact your returns over time.

Where to Buy Apple Shares

We’ve compiled a list of the best places to buy Apple shares in the UK. These are our top trading platforms for buying, selling and holding UK and overseas stocks and shares, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), exchange-traded commodities (ETCs), investment trusts (ITs), contracts for difference (CFDs), foreign exchange (forex), and other trading products.

Please keep in mind that when you trade, your capital is at risk. The fees below are not exhaustive–other fees apply. ISA, pension, and tax rules also apply.

Here are the best places to buy Apple shares in the UK:


eToro - 0% Commission on real stocks; 4,500+ Instruments

eToro Logo
Annual Platform Fee
N/A
Dealing Fee
N/A
Regular Investor Fee
N/A
Instruments
4,500+
Stocks, ETFs, Stock CFDs, Index CFDs, ETF CFDs, Forex, and Commodities.

eToro is a multi-asset trading platform that offers both investing in stocks and cryptoassets, as well as trading CFDs. With eToro, UK traders have real-time access to thousands of stocks, ETFs, indices, commodities, forex, cryptocurrencies, and NFTs from top exchanges worldwide. Catering to beginners and expert traders, eToro provides an impressive range of fundamental and technical analysis tools, including market news, economic data, social media trends, news sentiment trends, and advanced charting tools. ProCharts, a professional-grade technical analysis tool available on eToro, allows users to compare charts from different financial instruments and time frames. eToro also offers risk management tools, such as Stop Loss, Take Profit, and Trailing Stop Loss, to help you better manage your positions and protect your investments. Stop Loss and Take Profit are not guaranteed.

For customers who prefer ready-made investment portfolios, eToro has over 40 fully allocated, balanced investment portfolios, focusing on market segments you can understand and relate to. Some of the portfolios include MetaverseLife, BigTech, GoldWorldWide, Vaccine-Med, BitcoinWorldWide, Diabetes-Med, Driverless, and GigEconomy. These portfolios are a grouping of several assets, such as stocks, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, and even people, bundled together based on a predetermined theme or strategy. eToro also offers Copy Trading, a unique feature that allows everyday investors to copy the trades or investments of top-performing traders on the eToro platform. Anyone can copy trades on eToro; likewise, anyone can give others access to copy their trades. If you are an expert trader approved to participate in eToro’s Popular Investor Program, where others copy your trades, you will be eligible to receive monthly earnings.

It is entirely free to open an account with eToro, and all registered users receive a US$100,000 demo account for free, which you can use to practise trading until you become confident. Trading on eToro occurs in USD, so a currency conversion fee will apply if you deposit or withdraw in a currency other than USD. Withdrawals incur a fee of US$5 (£4), and the minimum withdrawal amount is US$30 (£24). For UK customers, eToro offers an eToro Money app that allows you to convert your GBP to USD free of charge, thereby reducing your foreign exchange costs.

Please note: Your capital is at risk. 51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Additionally, cryptoassets are high-risk investments, and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Tax on profits may apply. Copy Trading does not amount to investment advice. Other fees apply. For more information, visit eToro.

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AJ Bell - Low cost; Lots of research; 15,000+ Instruments

AJ Bell Logo
Annual Platform Fee
0.25%
(max £3.50 per month)
Dealing Fee (Online)
£5 - £3.50
Regular Investor Fee (Online)
£1.50 per deal
Instruments
15,000+
Stocks, Bonds, Funds, ETFs, Investment Trusts, and Warrants.

AJ Bell is one of the UK’s largest online investment platforms, and its mission is to make investing as easy as possible for anyone. The platform offers thousands of investment options for the DIY investor, including shares, funds, bonds, investment trusts, ETFs, ETCs, and warrants.

There are multiple ways to get started with AJ Bell, depending on your risk tolerance and investing savviness. Beginner investors or those who prefer to choose a ready-made investment portfolio can get a little, or a lot, of help from AJ Bell’s specialists by selecting one of the investment ideas on offer. Investment ideas are diversified ready-made baskets of investments that you can select based on your personal preference and attitude to risk. There are eight total investment ideas, each built by a specialist team, and you can pick the right one for you depending on whether you are seeking to simply grow your money over time or receive an income whilst still growing your money. Expert investors can take advantage of the stock and fund screeners and complex instruments available on AJ Bell and build their portfolios themselves.

AJ Bell charges an annual platform fee ranging from 0.25% to 0%, depending on the size of your portfolio. Dealing fees for buying and selling investments online are £1.50 for funds and £5 for shares (reducing to £3.50 if there were ten or more online share deals in the previous month). AJ Bell’s products include a Share Dealing Account, Stocks and Shares ISA, Junior Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA, SIPP and Junior SIPP.

Capital at risk.

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XTB - 0% Commission on real stocks and ETFs; 5,800+ Instruments

XTB logo
Annual Platform Fee
£0
Dealing Fee
£0
Regular Investor Fee
£0
Instruments
5,800+
Stocks, ETFs, Stock CFDs, Index CFDs, ETF CFDs, Forex, and Commodities.

Earn up to 4.75% annual interest on uninvested cash

XTB is a user-friendly, fully-customisable European trading platform renowned for its extensive CFD and forex trading offerings. XTB provides traders instant access to hundreds of global markets and over 5,800 instruments, including UK and overseas stocks and shares, ETFs, forex, indices, commodities, stock CFDs, and ETF CFDs.

XTB is good for beginners and even better for experts. Beginners can take advantage of XTB’s Passive Investment Plan, which is designed for long-term investing. This plan allows you to build a portfolio of ETFs, set up recurring deposits so you invest regularly while taking advantage of pound-cost averaging, and invest fractionally so you can afford even the most expensive ETFs with as little as £15. Expert or advanced traders and investors can take advantage of the in-house trading software, xStation. xStation by XTB is a powerful trading software available on iOS, Android, and desktop devices and is suitable for beginners and advanced traders. The xStation trading software provides comprehensive charting and risk management tools. With the built-in trading calculator, you can easily estimate costs, profits, or losses before opening a position, modify stop loss, and take profit orders directly on the chart or close all positions with a click of a button. XTB also provides an extensive library of educational materials, including videos, webinars, and courses suitable for beginners and experienced traders. When you sign up, you will have access to a dedicated account officer who will work with you to help you better understand your needs and how XTB operates.

It is free to open a trading account with XTB, and all users have access to a free demo account with £100,000 of virtual funds that you can use to practise trading and investing until you become confident enough to use real money. Deposits in GBP and EUR are free of charge, but withdrawals below £60 have a £12 processing fee. Real stock trading is commission-free for monthly turnover up to €100,000 (£85,000). Transactions above this limit will attract a commission of 0.2% (minimum €10 (£8.50). If you invest in foreign stocks and ETFs, a 0.5% currency conversion fee may apply. Stock and ETF CFD trading are also commission-free. Other fees apply. XTB does not offer an ISA or SIPP.

Please note: Contracts for Difference (CFDs) are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% 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.

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Interactive Investor - One free trade per month; 40,000+ Instruments

Interactive Investor
Annual Platform Fee
£60 - £240
(£4.99 - £19.99/month)
Dealing Fee
£3.99
Regular Investor Fee
£0
Instruments
40,000+
Stocks, Bonds, Funds, ETFs, and Investment Trusts.

Earn up to 4.07% annual interest on uninvested cash

Interactive Investor is a subsidiary of wealth management giant Abrdn and the second-largest investment platform in the country. Also well known for its fixed monthly subscription fees (as opposed to annual percentage-based fees like most other investment platforms), Interactive Investor has been providing investment services and financial information to UK customers since 1995.

If you choose to invest with Interactive Investor, you will gain access to over 40,000 investment options, including UK and overseas shares, funds, investment trusts, and ETFs. This is the second-widest choice of UK and international investments offered by an investment platform in the UK. Interactive Investor allows you to build your portfolio in multiple ways depending on your investment goals, attitude to risk and personal preferences. Beginner investors or those who prefer ready-made investments can build their portfolios using Interactive Investor’s Quick-Start Funds, an easy way to start investing where you choose from six low-cost funds prepared by the team of experts at Interactive Investor. Advanced or more confident investors can choose from a wide range of funds and shares and build their portfolios themselves. Interactive Investor gives you access to 17 global stock exchanges, including exchanges in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. These include markets such as the FTSE 100, FTSE 250, FTSE All-Share, S&P 500, NASDAQ, NYSE, Dow Jones and more. In addition to the above, Interactive Investor offers Japanese, Indian and Chinese shares in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs).

Interactive Investor gives you a free trade every month, which you can use to buy or sell any investment. After that, trades usually cost £3.99. For those investing £50,000 or less, you can sign up for the cheapest plan (Investor Essentials), which costs only £4.99 a month but does not come with the monthly free trade. The platform also offers a free regular investing service that allows you to deposit as little as £25 a month towards your investments without paying a trading fee each time, irrespective of the plan you choose. Interactive Investor also has lots of expert ideas, research and insights, which can be helpful when selecting investments. Interactive Investor’s suite of products includes a Trading Account, Stocks and Shares ISA, SIPP and Junior ISA.

Capital at risk.

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InvestEngine - Low cost; 500+ Commission-free ETFs

InvestEngine Logo
Annual Platform Fee
0% - 0.25%
Dealing Fee
£0
Regular Investor Fee
£0
Instruments
500+
ETFs.

InvestEngine is a low-cost ETF investment platform that provides a choice of managed portfolios tailored to you and commission-free DIY investing to help you build long-term wealth. Users can invest in over 500 exchange-traded funds (ETFs) from leading global asset managers.

With InvestEngine, you can invest in two ways depending on your tolerance for risk and savviness as an investor: beginner investors or those who prefer a ready-made investment portfolio can select from one of the managed portfolios on offer, where the team of experts at InvestEngine will take care of the day-to-day investment decisions for you. These portfolios are a selection of ETFs based on your preferences and risk tolerance. Once you’ve selected one, you do not have to do anything else besides monitor the performance of your investments. Advanced or more confident investors can choose from 500+ commission-free ETFs and build their portfolios themselves. InvestEngine also offers fractional investing, which allows you to buy bits and pieces of an ETF with as little as £1. This enhances your ability to build a diversified portfolio even if you have a small amount of money to invest. With the DIY Portfolio, there are no platform fees. However, the managed portfolios attract a fee of 0.25% per year. All InvestEngine portfolios are free of set-up fees, dealing fees, ISA subscription fees or withdrawal fees.

InvestEngine stands out amongst its competitors as one of the cheapest trading platforms in the UK because it charges no platform or management fees on its DIY Portfolio and just 0.25% a year on its managed portfolio. You can also start investing with as little as £100. InvestEngine’s suite of products includes a Stocks and Shares ISA, Personal Account and Business Account.

Capital at risk.

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Freetrade - Low cost; Commission-free trading; 6,500+ Instruments

Freetrade
Annual Platform Fee
£0
Dealing Fee
£0
(+0.99% FX fee on US stocks)
Regular Investor Fee
£0
Instruments
6,500+
Stocks, ETFs, and Investment Trusts.

Freetrade is a mobile trading app that gives you access to thousands of UK and overseas stocks, ETFs, REITs, and investment trusts covering different sectors and markets worldwide. The Freetrade app can be accessed on iOS, Android and desktop devices and offers a slick and easy-to-use user interface and experience. The app is a great choice for both beginners and experienced investors.

With Freetrade, you can invest in fractional shares of even the most expensive US shares with as little as £2. Depositing, trading and withdrawing on Freetrade are commission-free (other charges may apply). FX rates apply to US stocks at the spot rate + 0.99%. To get the most out of Freetrade, you can choose from three subscription plans. The Basic Plan costs £0.00 per month and allows you to open a General Investment Account (GIA) and trade commission-free. The Standard Plan costs £5.99 per month and allows you to open a Stocks and Shares ISA in addition to your GIA. With the Plus Plan at £11.99 a month, you get a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) and a Stocks and Shares ISA in addition to your GIA. Dealing on Freetrade is commission-free, irrespective of the subscription plan you choose. Freetrade’s suite of products includes a Stocks and Shares ISA, General Investment Account (GIA) and SIPP.

Special offer: Get a free share worth £10 when you join Freetrade and fund your account with at least £50.

Please note: When you invest, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invest. ISA rules apply. SIPP eligibility and tax rules apply. Free share terms and conditions apply.

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Moneybox - 0% Commission on US stocks; Good for beginners

Moneybox
Annual Platform Fee
0.45%
(+ £1/month subscription fee)
Dealing Fee
£0
(+ 0.45% FX fee on US Stocks)

Regular Investor Fee
£0
Instruments
Stocks, Funds, and ETFs.

Moneybox is a UK investment app that allows you to invest in a range of tracker funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), exchange-traded commodities (ETCs) and US stocks. Moneybox offers two forms of investing depending on your investing savviness, investing strategy and attitude to risk. Beginner investors or those who prefer a ready-made portfolio can choose from the three ready-made portfolios on offer - Cautious (lower risk), Balanced (medium risk) and Adventurous (higher risk). Advanced or more confident investors can pick from the range of tracker funds, ETFs, ETCs and US stocks available and build their portfolios themselves.

The Moneybox app also empowers you to invest your spare change by rounding up your card transactions to the nearest pound and investing the difference on your behalf. For example, if you spend £2.30 on a snack, Moneybox will invest 70p for you. You can also instruct the app to make weekly or one-off deposits into your investment portfolio as it rounds up your spare change.

You can start investing with Moneybox with as little as £1. Moneybox offers commission-free trading on US stocks. However, fund management fees apply to other types of investments, ranging from 0.12% to 0.61% per annum. A currency conversion fee of 0.45% also applies to US stocks. Moneybox also charges an annual platform fee of 0.45% and a monthly subscription fee of £1 (you get the first three months free). Moneybox’s suite of products includes a Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA, Junior ISA, Personal Pension, and General Investment Account.

Capital at risk.

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Pepperstone - Low cost; Speedy execution; 1,200+ Instruments

Pepperstone logo
Annual Platform Fee
£0
Dealing Fee
From 0.10% (UK Stock CFDs)
From 0.6 pips (Forex)
Regular Investor Fee
£0
Instruments
1,200+
Stock CFDs, Index CFDs, ETF CFDs, Forex, and Commodities.

Pepperstone is a CFD and forex broker that allows you to trade a wide variety of instruments, including forex, indices, stocks, ETFs, commodities and other assets via contracts for difference (CFDs). The Pepperstone platform boasts low-cost spreads, fast execution speeds and access to over 1,200 trading instruments. The Pepperstone CFD trading accounts allow a minimum trading size of 0.01 lots and a maximum of 100 lots. Retail traders can access leverage up to 30:1 and over 60 currency pairs.

Pepperstone also allows scalping, expert advisors, hedging, and news trading. With Pepperstone, you can trade and enjoy the seamless creation of advanced trading strategies via some of the most popular and powerful trading software in the world, including TradingView, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), CTrader, DupliTrade (for social and copy trading), and Capitalise AI (for code-free trading automation). The Pepperstone platform is suitable for both beginners and advanced traders. It is especially suitable for professional traders who want to take advantage of higher leverage. Pepperstone also has a suite of educational materials to help traders at every level.

It is entirely free to open an account with Pepperstone, and all registered users gain access to a free demo account, which you can use to practise CFD trading until you become confident. On Pepperstone, the spreads, which function as trading fees for CFD brokers, start at 0.6 pips for forex CFDs, 0.4 for index CFDs, 0.05 for commodity CFDs, and 0.10% per side for UK share CFDs. Pepperstone also charges a swap rate (overnight fee) for holding CFD positions overnight. Other fees apply. Pepperstone does not offer an ISA or SIPP.

Please note: When you invest, your capital is at risk. Between 74 and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

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Saxo - Diverse product range; 71,000+ Instruments

Saxo logo
Annual Platform Fee
0.12% - 0.08%
(min €120 (~ £108))
Dealing Fee
0.08% (min. £3) UK Stocks
US$0.015 (min. U$1) US Stocks
Regular Investor Fee
£0
Instruments
71,000+
Stocks, Bonds, Funds, ETFs, Investment Trusts, CFDs, Forex, Commodities, Futures, and Options.

Earn up to 3.91% annual interest on uninvested cash

Saxo is the UK division of Saxo Bank, a large European bank that allows you to invest in 71,000+ financial products from stock markets worldwide. With Saxo, you can invest in UK and overseas stocks and shares, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, forex, CFDs, futures, commodities, and options.

Saxo allows you to invest in one of two ways depending on your investment knowledge: Beginner investors or those who prefer to choose a ready-made portfolio can select from one of the managed portfolios on offer, where Saxo experts navigate the markets and manage your investments on your behalf. The average cost of this managed portfolio is 0.95% per year (including fund costs). Advanced or more confident investors can choose from the range of financial products on offer and build their portfolios themselves. Saxo traders benefit from extensive charting with 50+ technical indicators, integrated trade signals, news feeds and risk-management features via the SaxoTraderGO platform. Advanced traders can access even more sophisticated trading features on SaxoTraderPRO, Saxo Bank’s desktop-only advanced trading platform.

Saxo has different transaction fees grouped into trading tiers. If you plan to trade high volumes, you can upgrade your tier to get lower transaction fees. The Classic tier, which attracts the highest trading fees, costs 0.08% (min. £3) per deal for UK Stocks and US$0.015 (min. US$1) per deal for US Stocks. Other fees apply. Saxo’s suite of products includes a Trading Account, Stocks and Shares ISA and SIPP.

Please note: Capital at risk. 64% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

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Apple Share Price

As of December 2024, one share of Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) costs around $242 (£189). This price is subject to constant fluctuations due to various factors such as company performance, market trends, and global events.

Investors can stay up to date on Apple’s share price by monitoring the stock market or using financial news platforms. You can find Apple’s share price and more information about the company, including news, ideas, financials and technicals, at any time by visiting TradingView.

It is important to note that the share price of a company does not necessarily reflect its value. A company may have a high share price, but if its earnings and growth prospects are not strong, the stock may not be a good investment.

Therefore, it is essential to conduct thorough research and analysis before investing in any company’s stock, including Apple’s. Additionally, you should consider your investment goals, risk tolerance, and overall portfolio diversification when making investment decisions.

Why Invest in Apple?

Apple is one of the largest and most successful technology companies globally, with a market capitalisation of over $3.67 trillion as of December 2024. It operates in various sectors, including consumer electronics, software, and services, and has a strong track record of innovation and growth.

Here are some reasons why you may want to consider investing in Apple:

  1. Product Ecosystem: Apple boasts a robust product ecosystem, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. The seamless integration of these devices with software and services, such as iCloud, Apple Music, and the App Store, creates a loyal customer base and encourages repeat purchases.

  2. Innovation: Apple is known for its innovation and design capabilities. With a history of groundbreaking products and services, the company continually reinvents its product line and explores new markets, driving growth and securing its position as a market leader.

  3. iPhone Sales: The iPhone remains Apple’s primary revenue driver, accounting for more than 50% of its sales in recent years. Despite strong competition, Apple has maintained its position in the premium smartphone market, with iPhone sales reaching $205.49 billion in 2022, up from $191.97 billion in 2021.

  4. Services Growth: Apple’s services segment, which includes the App Store, Apple Music, iCloud, and Apple TV+, has seen significant growth. In 2022, services revenue reached $78.13 billion, up from $68.42 billion in 2021. The continuous expansion of its services business contributes to the company’s overall growth and diversification.

  5. Dividends and Stock Splits: Apple has a history of paying dividends to its shareholders and conducting stock splits. These events can impact the stock’s value and may be worth considering as part of your investment strategy.

  6. Strong Financials: Apple has a solid balance sheet, with substantial cash reserves and low debt levels. The company’s revenue and earnings have consistently grown over the years, with revenue of $394.33 billion and operating income of $‪119.44 billion in 2022. This financial stability and growth potential make Apple an attractive investment opportunity for many investors.

When conducting your own research, you can find the kinds of data highlighted above on TradingView.

Overall, Apple’s product ecosystem, innovation, iPhone sales, services growth, and strong financials make it a compelling investment opportunity for investors seeking long-term growth and stability. However, as with any investment, it is crucial to carefully evaluate the risks and potential returns before making a decision.

Factors to Consider When Buying Apple Shares

When investing in Apple shares, there are several factors to consider that can impact the value of the shares. Here are some key factors to keep in mind:

  1. Earnings reports: Apple releases quarterly earnings reports that provide important information about the company’s financial health. These reports can impact the value of the stock, so it’s important to stay informed about them.

  2. Market trends: The stock market can be volatile, and external factors such as economic conditions, political events, and industry trends can impact the value of Apple shares.

  3. Company performance: It’s important to evaluate the health of the company and its potential for future growth. Apple has been expanding its product line and investing in new technologies, which could indicate strong potential for growth.

  4. Competition: Apple operates in several highly competitive industries, including consumer electronics and software. It’s important to keep an eye on competitors and assess their potential impact on Apple’s growth.

If you’re considering investing in Apple shares, here are some tips for evaluating the health of the company:

  1. Research the company’s financials: Look at Apple’s earnings reports and financial statements to get a sense of the company’s revenue, profit, and growth trends.

  2. Evaluate the company’s leadership: Apple’s late founder, Steve Jobs, and its current CEO, Tim Cook, have been driving forces behind the company’s growth. Consider the leadership team’s experience and track record when evaluating the company’s potential for future growth.

  1. Analyse industry trends: Look at the overall trends in the industries that Apple operates in and consider how the company is positioned to take advantage of these trends.

  2. Keep an eye on competitors: Apple faces stiff competition from companies like Samsung and Google. Stay informed about these companies’ strategies and assess their potential impact on Apple’s growth.

The best places to find data on Apple include Apple’s website, news sites such as CNBC and Financial Times, and charting and trading websites such as TradingView and Investors Business Daily’s MarketSmith.

Cheapest Way to Buy Apple Stock

The cheapest way to buy Apple stock in the UK is through a commission-free fractional share broker such as eToro, Freetrade, or Moneybox. These brokers allow you to purchase fractional shares of Apple stock, which can be a more affordable option than buying full shares. They are also commission-free, meaning you do not pay a trading fee each time you buy or sell a share.

Another cost-effective way to gain exposure to Apple’s stock is through mutual funds and ETFs that invest in the company. These funds typically have lower fees and expenses than actively-managed funds, making them a good choice for investors looking to save on costs. A good example is the iShares S&P 500 Information Technology Sector ETF (IUIT), which has Apple as one of its largest holdings.

While CFDs may seem cheaper in terms of upfront costs, they can be more expensive in the long run due to high fees and leverage costs. As with any investment, it is important to consider the real cost of investing in Apple shares, which will depend on factors such as the size of your investment, the frequency of your trades, and the fees and charges associated with different investment options. By carefully evaluating your options and seeking out cost-effective strategies, you can maximise your returns while minimising your expenses.

Is It Worth Buying One Share of Apple?

If you’re a new investor, you may be wondering if it’s worth buying one share of Apple. The answer to this question depends on your investment goals, risk tolerance, and overall financial situation.

On the one hand, owning a single share of Apple can be an excellent way to participate in the growth potential of one of the world’s largest and most successful technology companies. Additionally, Apple’s shares have historically performed well, and it has a reputation for producing innovative products and having a loyal customer base.

On the other hand, buying a single share of Apple may not be the most cost-effective way to invest in the stock market. The current market price for a single share of Apple may be too high for some investors, and you may be subject to high commissions and fees for a small investment.

If you’re interested in investing in Apple but don’t want to buy a full share, fractional shares or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) may be a better option. These investment vehicles allow you to invest in Apple with smaller amounts of money and may offer lower fees and expenses than individual shares.

Ultimately, whether buying one share of Apple is worth it depends on your investment goals and risk tolerance. It’s always a good idea to consult with a financial adviser and do your research before making any investment decisions.

What Happens If I Buy Apple Stock Today?

If you buy Apple stock today, you become a shareholder in the company and have the potential to benefit from its growth and profitability over time. As a shareholder, you will also have the right to vote on certain company matters and may receive dividends if the company chooses to distribute them.

Investing in the stock market always carries some risk, and the price of Apple’s shares can be influenced by various factors, including market conditions, company performance, and investor sentiment. This means that there is a risk of losing money if the share price falls.

However, if Apple continues to perform well and grow over time, your investment in the company may increase in value, providing a return on your investment. By carefully monitoring market conditions and staying up to date on the company’s performance, you can make informed decisions about when to buy and sell Apple stock and potentially maximise your returns over time.

Best Time to Invest in Apple Stock

The best time to invest in Apple stock is a question that is difficult to answer definitively. Stock prices are subject to a wide range of factors, including macroeconomic trends, company performance, and investor sentiment, which can be hard to predict.

That being said, there are some general guidelines that can help you make informed investment decisions. Here are three strategies that can help determine the best time to invest in Apple stock:

  1. Pound-cost averaging: Investing a fixed amount of money on a regular basis can be an effective strategy to mitigate the impact of market volatility. By doing this, you will buy more shares when the stock price is low and fewer shares when the price is high, leading to a lower average cost per share over time. For example, you could invest £100 in Apple stock every month, regardless of whether the share price has gone up or down.

  2. Focus on long-term growth potential: Instead of trying to time the market, focus on the long-term growth potential of the company. This requires careful analysis of the company’s financials, market trends, and innovation pipeline. For example, if Apple is expected to launch a new product or enter a new market, it may be a good time to invest. You can also keep an eye on significant announcements from the company, such as earnings reports or key executive changes.

  3. Be mindful of market trends: Market trends can provide insights into the best time to invest in Apple stock. For example, if the technology industry is expected to grow rapidly, it may be a good time to invest. Conversely, if the industry is facing significant headwinds, it may be better to wait for a more favourable investing environment.

Ultimately, the best time to invest in Apple stock will depend on your individual financial goals and risk tolerance. By carefully evaluating your options and monitoring market conditions, you can make informed decisions about when to invest in Apple stock and potentially maximise your returns over time.

Whether you use pound-cost averaging, focus on long-term growth potential, or take a different approach altogether, it’s important to remain patient and stay committed to your investment strategy.

What’s the Minimum Number of Apple Shares I Can Buy?

The minimum number of Apple shares you can buy depends on the brokerage you use. Some brokers may require you to buy at least one full share, which, as of December 2024, would cost over £100.

Other brokers offer the option to buy fractional shares, which means you can purchase a small portion of a share instead of a whole share. This allows investors to own a stake in a company with less capital than would be required to purchase a full share. For example, if Apple’s share price is £100 and you only have £50 to invest, you could use a fractional share brokerage platform to buy 0.5 shares of Apple. This means you own half of a share of Apple, and your investment is worth £50 based on the current share price.

Fractional share investing can be a useful strategy for investors who want to own shares in companies like Apple but may not have the capital to purchase a full share. However, it is worth noting that some brokers may charge fees for fractional share purchases or may only offer the option for certain stocks or ETFs. Be sure to research the fees and terms of any broker before using their platform for fractional share investing.

Examples of commission-free fractional share brokers in the UK are eToro, Freetrade, and Moneybox. All three platforms allow you to buy small fractions of Apple shares with as little as £10.

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