If you’re looking to make extra money with minimal effort, you can’t go wrong with grabbing some free shares for signing up as a new customer for trading apps. Here is a list of investment platforms that will give you a free stock or share in a company or even cash for joining. Plus, I’ll share with you what you need to do to qualify and how I got on when I gave them a go.
Please remember that when you invest, your capital is at risk.
UK Apps with Free Shares (Or cash)
| What’s on offer? | Minimum deposit | |
| Stake | One free share | £50 |
| Trading 212 | One free share | £1 |
| Robinhood | One free share | £1 |
| Wealthyhood | One free ETF | £50 |
| Wealthify | £50 cash | £250 |
| Webull | Two free shares | £100 |
| Shares.io | £5 free share | £1 |
| Freetrade | One free share | £50 |
| Wombat | £10 cash | None |
I have a lot of side hustles going on at the same time, but one of my favourites is building a passive income. It means that I can earn a return without having to do anything. To help me on my way, I’m trying to build up a large investment portfolio to earn a dividend payment.
And what better way to do it than get my hands on some free shares? The good news is, you can too.
How to get free stocks and shares in the UK
It’s a pretty simple process. Just choose the company that appeals the most (or all of them if you like) and click on the referral link. Follow the instructions I have listed below and you’ll be rewarded with a free share or cash.
Please note that all the conditions and bonuses were correct at the time of writing, although I do regularly update the terms.
Also worth reading
Why not take a look at my other free money offers?
Stake (Hello Stake)
Stake referral offer:
One free share – either Nike, GoPro or Dropbox.
How to claim:
- On your mobile, click on this link (or the button below).
- Download the app.
- Create your account.
- Add funds.
- Claim your free share.
Important to note:
- The minimum amount you can top up is £50.
- You must fund your account within 24 hours.
- There is a fee of $2 when transferring funds.
- You earn a free share by referring others.
My free share:
- Trivago – $2.90 (£2.09)
Stake referral code: peterc839
About Stake
Stake allows you to trade over 6,000 US stocks and ETFs. So, if you’re in buying shares in UK companies, this is one to avoid. Although created in Australia, Stake has an office in the UK and is regulated by the FCA.
Trading 212
Trading 212 offer:
One free share (or fractional share) worth up to £100.
How to claim:
- Click on this link (or the button below).
- Create an account and verify your identity.
- Fund your account (minimum of £1 in the UK).
Important to note:
- You can refer friends, but only a maximum of 5.
My free share:
- None, as the offer wasn’t available when I joined.
Trading 212 referral code: 11QlB9tMZl
About Trading 212
Trading 212 began life back in 2005 but only entered the UK market in 2016. This can be a bit of a tricky trading app to join and I had to wait for over a year before gaining access. However, they do seem to be taking on new customers again.
*Please note that the free share offer ends on the 29th of April 2024.
Robinhood
Robinhood offer:
One free share (or fractional share) worth between $7–$175.
How to claim:
- Click on this link (or the button below).
- Create an account and verify your identity.
- Fund your account (minimum of £1 in the UK).
Important to note:
- If you sell your free share, you can’t withdraw the cash for 30 days.
- You can refer friends and receive a maximum of $1,500 per year.
My free share:
- $7.28, which I invested in Ford.
Trading 212 referral code: peterc-32ae079
About Robinhood
Okay, so this isn’t an app… but you can run an account from the browser on your phone. Robinhood is new to the UK and allows commission-free investing, and tools to help shape your financial future.
Wealthyhood
Wealthyhood referral offer:
One free ETF worth up to £200.
How to claim:
- Click on this link (or the button below).
- Create an account and verify your ID.
- Create a portfolio.
- Deposit and invest £50 into your account.
- Receive your ETF within 10 days.
Important to note:
- You can’t sell your free ETF share for 90 days.
- Receive at least £10 for every friend you invite.
My free share:
- ETF worth £5.80
Wealthyhood referral code: fp7syd
About Wealthyhood
Wealthyhood is styled as the first DIY wealth-building app for long-term investors. From just £10, Wealthyhood allows you to build a personalised portfolio and invest in stocks, bonds, commodities and real estate from all around the world.
Wealthify
Wealthify referral offer:
£50 joining bonus.
How to claim:
- Click on this link (or the button below).
- Create an account.
- Invest at least £250 and leave it invested for at least three months.
- You’ll be given a £50 bonus.
Important to note:
- You can refer others for a £50 bonus.
My free share:
- £50 cash to my account
About Wealthify
Wealthify offers a range of investment features, including ISAs, Junior ISAs and pensions and is backed by Aviva. It will appeal to many because you need no minimum amount to start investing. And don’t forget, a shares ISA means you can reduce the amount you pay in income tax.
Webull
Webull referral offer:
2 fractional shares worth up to $4,000.
How to claim:
- Click on this link (or the button below).
- Create an account and verify your ID.
- Deposit £100 for your first free fractional share.
- Maintain your funds for 30 days for a 2nd free share.
Important to note:
- WeBull sometimes offers 3 free fractional shares and a minimum deposit of £5.
My free shares:
- $10 worth of Tesla stock
WeBull referral code: kbRukc67IbzVzmVsSg
About Webull
Webull is a commission-free stock trading platform that offers advanced tools for traders and investors. It provides access to a wide range of financial instruments, including stocks, options, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies.
Shares.io
Shares.io referral offer:
Free shares worth £5
How to claim:
- Click on this link (or the button below).
- Create your account and verify your ID.
- Deposit £1.
- Choose your £5 worth of stock.
Important to note:
- You can sell your share straight away but can’t withdraw for 30 days.
- You will get your own referral link once you have deposited £1.
My free share:
- £5 worth of Tesla stock
Shares.io referral code: chocmuffin-333852
About Shares.io
Shares.io sells itself as more of a social investing platform. You can invest with friends and discuss strategies to grow your portfolio. Or, you can go it alone. Based in the UK, they are regulated by the FCA.
Freetrade
Freetrade referral offer:
One free share worth between £3-£200.
How to claim:
- Click on this link (or the button below) and enter your mobile number or email address.
- Complete your account set-up. You will need to fill in the W-8BEN (this excludes you from tax in the US and will take seconds).
- Fund your account with at least £50.
Important to note:
- Make sure you register your email address or mobile number by using a referral link.
- You need to fund your account within 30 days.
- Your free share should be added within 7-10 days.
My free share:
- Atlas Crest – $9.93 (£7.18)
Freetrade Referral code: 13c01ad5
About Freetrade
Freetrade is a UK-based company offering commission-free investment. And because they’re located in the UK, they are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). They offer thousands of stocks from the UK and US as well as ETFs & Investment Trusts.
Wombat
Wombat referral offer:
£10 cash
How to claim:
- Click on this link (or the button below) and install Wombat.
- Open an investment account. Choose from an Instant GIA, or Standard GIA or ISA account.
- The £10 bonus should land in your account within two working days of account creation.
- Use your bonus for your first investment!
- The reward must remain in the account it was allocated to for 90 days and have been invested during this period to be eligible for withdrawal.
Important to note:
- The minimum amount you can invest is £10.
- Standard accounts (GIA or ISA) are £1 per month (other fees apply).
- Instant GIA is free, but with a 0.65% FX fee on trades.
Capital at risk. T&Cs apply. FX or other fees apply.
My free share:
- £10 cash
About Wombat
This investment app allows you to invest in funds through an ISA or GIA or to buy individual stocks from the likes of Amazon, Nike and Apple.
Do you need to pay tax on your free shares?
Possibly, as being given a free share counts as an income. If you earn under the Personal Allowance limit of £12,570 per year, you don’t need to pay UK income tax on a free share. More than this, it should be declared on your self-assessment as it will class as income. When you sell your share, it may also be liable for capital gains tax – although this depends on if you have sold other assets.
Dividends
You may qualify for a dividend payment depending on the free stock you receive.
If you start to receive a dividend payment, this may also attract tax. At the moment, you can receive £1,000 each year from dividends without paying tax. Above this, you will need to pay –
- Basic rate taxpayers: 8.75% on dividend income
- Higher rate taxpayers: 33.75% on dividend income
- Additional rate taxpayers: 39.35% on dividend income
A word of warning
When you invest, your capital is at risk.
If you’re thinking of opening one of these accounts because it could be a way of making a large amount of money, think again. There are plenty of people out there (especially on social media) that claim to make a fortune from trading stocks and share dealing. It’s a dangerous business. It’s estimated that 90% of people lose money when trading on the stock exchange. If somebody tells you it’s easy, they’re probably after some of your money.
Which is the best free share offer?
If you’re looking for the best returns, then Wealthify stands out. A guaranteed £50 is quite a return. Apart from that, take a look at Wombat, as you’ll earn a bonus for free.
My free shares conclusion
A decent way to make some extra money, if not a little underwhelming. Although a lot of companies offer free stocks worth up to $200, it’s often far lower. I have to wonder how many people actually do receive shares that are worth close to $200. But that said, it is money for nothing and you’re beginning to open up your own portfolio, no matter how small. A free stock in a company is nothing to be sniffed at.
If investing and playing the stock market is something that interests you, why not take a look at the best investment apps in the UK?
FAQs
Can you cash in your free share?
In most cases, you must wait for a certain period before selling your share. However, once that minimum amount of time has passed, it can be exchanged for cash.
Does Fidelity offer free shares?
Not quite. It has a refer a friend scheme and if you share your link with a friend, you’ll both receive a £50 Amazon.co.uk Gift Card if your friend invests £5,000 or more.
Can you get a free share from Hargreaves Lansdown?
No, there is currently no free share offer.
Does Nutmeg offer free shares?
There are no free shares on offer, but the robo-advisor Nutmeg does have a refer a friend scheme. If a friend joins using your link, you could earn an Amazon gift card worth between £50 and £100
Does eToro offer a free share?
Because this trading app is one of the most popular in the UK, eToro doesn’t offer a free share to new customers. However, you can earn by referring your friends.
Is Robinhood available in the UK yet?
An incredibly popular investment app in the US, Robinhood is still not available in the UK. Well, it’s not like it’s named after a person from UK folklore…
What happened to Tulipshare?
This investment app offered new users a bonus of up to £25 when taking part in ethical investing. It was withdrawn in April 2023.
Does your free share give you voting rights?
Your free stock will give you precisely the same rights as if you bought it.
What happened to Freedom 24?
Due to an issue with UK regulators, Freedom 24 was withdrawn for UK residents.