Stake Review 2026
According to our idea, the TU Overall Score indicator should answer the biggest question of all: “Can I trust this broker with my money?”. The scores range within 0.01 – 9.99 (the higher the indicator the more trust the broker has). More details
- £50
- Mobile Apps
- Web Trading platform
- 1:1
- Zero brokerage fees, no desktop terminal
Our Evaluation of Stake
According to our idea, the TU Overall Score indicator should answer the biggest question of all: “Can I trust this broker with my money?”. The scores range within 0.01 – 9.99 (the higher the indicator the more trust the broker has). More details
Stake is a broker with higher-than-average risk and the TU Overall Score of 4.09 out of 10. Having reviewed trading opportunities offered by the company and reviews posted by Stake clients on our website, Traders Union expert Anton Kharitonov recommends users to consider a more reliable broker with better conditions, as, according to reviews, many clients of this broker are not satisfied with the company’s work.
Stake is a broker for investors who are interested in the U.S. stock market but are outside the U.S. and do not need to be trained.
How we tested Stake
Traders Union has analyzed financial markets for over 14 years, evaluating brokers based on 250+ transparent criteria, including security, regulation, and trading conditions. Our expert team of over 50 professionals regularly updates a Watch List of 500+ brokers to provide users with data-driven insights. While our research is based on objective data, we recommend that users perform independent due diligence and consult official regulatory sources before making any financial decisions.
Learn more about our methodology and editorial policies.
Brief Look at Stake
Stake is a broker that has been providing trading services for U.S. securities in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil since 2017. It is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (830771) and is licensed for financial services in Australia. Stake offers its clients zero fees on trades in U.S. stocks and ETFs, a convenient and easy-to-use mobile trading app, and investment protection from the FSCS and SIPC. The trading conditions for clients from different countries are similar, but there are slight differences. In this review, the main focus is on the UK branch of Stake.
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- Available minimum deposit size for medium- and long-term strategies.
- Regulation in multiple jurisdictions, including by the FCA.
- Zero trading fees on unlimited trades in stocks, ETFs, and ADRs listed on U.S. exchanges.
- Easy-to-use trading platforms.
- Ability to invest in equities.
- Lightning-fast and fully digital account opening.
- Offers one free stock to every new customer who deposits within 24 hours of account opening.
- Having a GBP to USD (and vice versa) conversion fee for deposits and withdrawals.
- The list of countries whose citizens can become a client of the broker is limited. Registration is not available for U.S. residents.
- There is no online chat and telephone support is not available.
TU Expert Verdict
Chief Analytics Officer
Stake provides access to trading U.S. stocks, ETFs, and fractional shares for investors outside the U.S., with support for web and mobile platforms. The broker is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and offers investment protection through the FSCS and SIPC, ensuring a level of security for client funds. Zero brokerage fees are charged for trading U.S.-listed equities, and the minimum deposit is just £50. Three account types are available: the Standard Account, Stake Black with premium features, and the Limited Purpose Margin Account that enables settlement flexibility.
A few disadvantages are the 0.5% currency conversion fee for GBP to USD deposits and withdrawals, the absence of live chat or phone support, and limited payment options to bank transfers only. Traders seeking a desktop trading terminal or broader investor support may not find Stake suitable, but the broker fits long-term investors who want low-cost access to the U.S. stock market and are comfortable with a mobile-first experience.
Stake Summary
| 💻 Trading platform: | Mobile app, web trading platform (Australia and New Zealand clients only) |
|---|---|
| 📊 Accounts: | Standard Account, Stake Black, Limited Purpose Margin Account (LPMA) |
| 💰 Account currency: | USD |
| 💵 Deposit / Withdrawal: | Bank transfer via Open Banking app |
| 🚀 Minimum deposit: | From £50 |
| ⚖️ Leverage: | 1:1 |
| 💼 Copy Trading: | No |
| 📈️ Min Order: | No |
| 💱 EUR/USD spread: | Not indicated |
| 🔧 Instruments: | U.S. stocks & ETFs, fractional shares, inverse & leveraged ETFs |
| 💹 Margin Call / Stop Out: | No |
| 🏛 Liquidity provider: | BATS Global Markets |
| 📱 Mobile trading: | Yes |
| ➕ Affiliate program: | Yes |
| 📋 Order execution: | No |
| ⭐ Trading features: | Zero brokerage fees, no desktop terminal |
| 🎁 Contests and bonuses: | Yes |
Stake offers investment in the most popular U.S. asset classes with zero trading fees after depositing £50 or more. At the same time, the broker does not limit the number of trades. Intraday traders can also trade without restrictions, but with an account balance of $25,000. Stake accepts deposits in pounds from clients from Great Britain but converts them into dollars — the account currency, which allows making transactions on the U.S. exchanges.
Stake Key Parameters Evaluation
Trading Account Opening
Currently, Australians and New Zealanders can open an account at Stake, and citizens of Great Britain and Brazil can only register via the mobile app. Here is a quick guide on how to set up a Live Account on the Mobile App:
Go to the broker's official website and click Sign Up on its home page.
Select your country of residence:
Follow the on-screen instructions to install the app. Or download the Stake mobile app directly from the Google Play Store or App Store:
Fill in the application to open a brokerage account. You will need to provide your personal information, national insurance, and ID card numbers, and your personal bank account details.
In Stake's personal office, the trader can perform the following actions:
Is Stake Safe?
Stake is regulated in multiple jurisdictions. The company is registered in the UK as Hellostake Limited (No. 11676409) and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 830771). In Australia, Stake is an authorized representative of Sanlam Private Wealth Pty Ltd with Australian Financial Services License No. 337927.
Brokerage and execution services in the United States are provided to Stake and its clients by DriveWealth, Llc, a FINRA-registered (CRD#: 165429/SEC#: 8-69161) U.S. broker-dealer that is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). It protects Stake clients who have up to $500,000 (and up to $250,000 in cash) in U.S. securities accounts. Because Stake is an FCA-regulated company, its clients' money is protected by the FSCS for up to £85,000.
Advantages
- SIPC coverage is available to all investors working for the company
- Customers' funds and securities are held at Citibank - one of the largest banks in the world
- Regulatory authorities monitor the broker's compliance with its obligations to clients
Disadvantages
- The ability to deposit and withdraw funds only by bank transfer
- Full verification of personal and payment data is required to open an account
- U.S. traders cannot open an account with a foreign broker to trade U.S. securities
Commissions and Fees
Stake does not withhold commissions for trading stocks and ETFs. However, the broker does charge non-trading fees. The monthly fee for using a Stake Black account with advanced features is $9. The fee for express deposits, deposits, and withdrawals in foreign currencies (GBP converted to USD and vice versa) through partners is 0.5% of the amount, but no less than $2. If a client transfers funds in USD, not through a direct Stake partner, each transfer will cost $5. The SEC fee for dealer and stock market regulation costs $0.051 for every $10,000 (charged only on sales of securities). The TAF sales charge is $0.000119 per share with a $5.95 transaction limit. The ADR fee is $0.01-$0.03 per quarter.
| Account type | Spread (minimum value) | Withdrawal commission |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Account | From $5.95 | Yes |
| Stake Black | From $5.95 | Yes |
| Limited Purpose Margin Account | From $5.95 | Yes |
Stock transfer fees: from another broker via ACATS is free of charge; for DTC, it’s $15 per position; to another broker via ACATS, it’s $100; for DTC, it’s $15 per position.
We compared the average fee for trading U.S. stocks of three stockbrokers - Stake, Ally, and Charles Schwab. You can view the results of the study in the table below.
| Broker | Average commission | Level |
|---|---|---|
|
$5.95 | |
|
$4 | |
|
$ |
Account Types
Stake offers three types of trading accounts for retail clients: two cash accounts and one margin account with limited capacity. The minimum deposit for all account types is £50. The broker does not currently offer ISA and SIPP accounts, but they are scheduled to launch in 2021.
Account Types:
The broker does not provide a demo account, so new clients do not have the opportunity to practice trading with a virtual deposit. Stake offers non-U.S. residents to trade U.S. securities on favorable terms.
Deposit and Withdrawal
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A client of the broker can only withdraw money from their accounts by bank transfer to a local bank account in their name.
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If the trader's personal bank account is not in U.S. dollars, a conversion fee of 0.5% of the amount (min $2) will be charged if deposited via a direct Stake partner or $5 per transaction if withdrawn using another method.
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Minimum withdrawal amount: $10.
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Money will be credited to your bank account within four business days.
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If there is a suspicion of illegal activity, the broker may block the deposited funds until the circumstances are clarified. In this case, the funds can be inaccessible for withdrawal within 60 days from the date of deposit.
Investment Options
Stake allows you to invest in U.S. stocks, ETFs and ADRs (American Depositary Receipts) but is focused on investors with placement experience who can build a portfolio of assets themselves. Also, its clients can attract referrals and get bonuses in the form of free trading fees.
Dividends — passive income on the U.S. stock market
Dividends are the profits an investor can receive for the securities he or she has purchased. Dividends are paid by the company whose shares were purchased by the investor. They are accrued based on the distribution of net income, that is, the company's income that was generated after all taxes were paid. Rules for receiving dividends through Stake:
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U.S. companies pay dividends to shareholders monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, and annually. In personal account, an investor can track not only the amount of income accrued but also the taxes withheld on it.
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Dividends are paid to the brokerage account 2-3 trading days after the date of accrual.
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In the U.S., a 30% tax is withheld on dividends. However, Stake clients can reduce it to 15% by filling out Form W-8 when they open their account.
Depending on currency exchange rates or foreign tax changes (for example, due to government regulation), distributions to shareholders may increase or decrease. However, the complete cancellation of dividends is extremely rare, so dividend income can be considered stable.
If you are a large investor and plan on investments over $10,000, contact us at vip-invest@tradersunion.com or by the feedback form on our website. Our professional team will take you through all the intricacies of the deal and all the steps from signing up to withdrawal of profits.
Stake’s affiliate program:
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The affiliate program allows active clients to receive remuneration for the trading of the attracted referrals. Affiliate payments are made every month, but their amount is not indicated on the website. The number of referrals is not limited.
Affiliates can participate in company events to increase the number of referrals and develop their content creation skills.
Customer Support
Support representatives answer clients' questions by email and only during Stake's business hours.
Advantages
- In-depth and crystal clear responses
- Prompt response time
Disadvantages
- There is no live chat
- Inability to reach out to the support team via phone
- Support is available during company business hours
You can use the following methods to contact email support:
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Send an email to uksupport@hellostake.com;
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Click Ask Us in the mobile app or at the bottom of the Support section of the official website.
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You can also contact support via Stake’s Instagram and LinkedIn social media profiles or Facebook and Twitter messengers.
Contacts
| Foundation date | 2017 |
|---|---|
| Registration address | 85 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 7LT |
| Regulation | SIPC, FCA, FSCS |
| Official site | https://hellostake.com/ |
| Contacts |
Education
There is no tutorial section on Stake's website. There are also no detailed terminal manuals, a dictionary of stock market terms, or their deciphering. General information on trading conditions can be found in the Support section.
The educational information presented on the website may be insufficient to master the basics of stock trading.
Detailed Review of Stake
Stake is a broker that offers direct investment in more than 4,500 U.S. stocks and ETFs without being a U.S. citizen. In addition to stocks listed on the major U.S. exchanges, such as the NYSE and Nasdaq, Stake's clients have access to more than 200 ADRs of global companies traded on the U.S. market.
Stake's success in numbers:
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More than 4 years in the stock markets.
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Over 330,000 clients.
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Registrations in 4 jurisdictions.
Stake is the broker for traders from Australia, Europe, South America, and Oceania who want to invest in U.S. securities
Stake is constantly adding new stocks, ETFs, and ADRs to its list of available assets. In addition, its clients can request securities that are not yet available for trading. However, only Elective Professional Investors — non-retail clients who meet certain criteria set by MiFID II can invest in U.S. ETFs from the U.K. In addition, a new listing can be traded through the broker on the day of its IPO, further attracting professional investors.
All of the broker's clients can make trades in the mobile app. The web platform is currently only available to traders from Australia and New Zealand. The desktop terminal is not provided by Stake. Once registered, traders can improve their security at any time by enabling two-factor authentication with special applications such as Google Authenticator or Authy.
Useful services of Stake:
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Day trading counter in terminals. It tracks the number of daily trades and notifies the user if he has already made three trades in five days, as well as warns of possible consequences.
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Trading ideas. Stock ratings are generated by analysts from various research companies.
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Newsfeed. In terminals, users can view news from third-party news providers, including Bloomberg and CNBC.
Advantages:
The broker offers a wide range of securities listed on U.S. exchanges — more than 4,500 stocks, ETFs and ADRs.
All payments and asset purchases and trades can be made in a mobile app that is compatible with Android and iOS devices.
The company does not withhold trading fees for investing in securities.
The support team responds quickly to email queries and the average response time to a question asked is 10 minutes.
The broker has an affiliate program for passive income.
The number of free trades is not limited. Day trading is allowed but under certain conditions.
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