If you've hung around 30 Pence for more than five minutes, you know that we love bank switch offers, but there's a new kid on the block. Investment app offers!
Don't be put off by the word 'investment' - you're don't need to actually invest any money to get these bonuses. Investing apps are actually running the same playbook as the banks.
Sign up as a new customer. Fund your account. Get free shares.
Right now there are FOUR offers worth your time: Freetrade will give you a free share worth up to £100, Robinhood will give you a free share up to £130, Lightyear will give you a free share worth up to £100. Oh, and Trading212 will also give you a free share worth up to £100.
Stack all of them and you could be sat on a nice chunk of free stock for about 30 minutes of 'work'.
Robinhood: Get Up To £130 In Free Shares
Reward: A random gift stock when you sign up via a referral link.
To qualify: Make a minimum deposit of just £1 to get your free share.
Robinhood is commission-free with 6,000+ US stocks and fractional shares from £1. It's the most popular trading app in the US, and now it's making a splash in the UK.
Trading212: Get Up To £100 In Free Shares
Reward: A random stock worth up to £100 when you sign up via a referral link.
To qualify: Sign up as a new customer, verify identity and deposit a minimum of £1 to get your free share.
Your free share will added to your account within 3 business days (it's normally insant after your deposit).
Freetrade: Get Up To £100 In Free Shares
Reward: A free share worth £10 to £100 for new customers.
To qualify: Fund your account with at least £50 (net), fill in the W-8BEN form and verify your identity.
Timing: Your free share is usually revealed within 7 to 10 days.
Lightyear: Get Up To £100 In Free Shares
Reward: Get a free share when you sign up with our referral link.
Lightyear requires a larger £100 deposit, but they have better probabilities on the free share, so you're more likely to get a bigger reward when you join.
Free shares are the investing version of bank switch bonuses
Investment apps are happy to give you free shares because once you're in, you might stay, add more money, and trade with them.
The mechanics are near-identical to bank switching. Just open an account, fund it with a minimum amount, and the free share gets credited. You don't have to actually buy anything with it if you don't want to.
And unlike a bank switch, there's no Direct Debit juggling or switching service involved. In a lot of ways it's easier.
Robinhood: Get A Free Share Worth Up To £130
THE QUICK VERSION
Sign up with our link below, fund your account with £1 and fill in a W-8BEN form. The free share appears immediately. Capital at risk.
Robinhood is the other name in the mix. It launched in the UK in 2024 and it's a genuinely good app. Commission-free trading of 6,000+ US stocks, fractional shares from £1, and a clean interface.
If you want the free share, here's the process:
- Tap our Robinhood link below and download the app.
- Sign up, verify your identity and fill in the W-8BEN form. This usually takes a few minutes to complete.
- Fund your account. There's no minimum in the UK, so £1 is enough to qualify for the offer.
- Your free share will appear immediately after you've signed up and funded the account.
Trading212: Get A Free Share Worth Up To £100
THE QUICK VERSION
Sign up with our link below, fund your account with £1 and verify your identity. The free share usually appears immediately, but could take up to 3 business days. Capital at risk.
Trading212 is the UK's leading retail investment platform and a hugely popular investing app. They have 5 million users, 25 billion in assets under their management, and they usually rank first place for the best paying Cash ISA.
They're a brilliant company frequently recommended by Martin Lewis, and they offer commission-free trading with no account, custody, or inactivity fees.
If you've never used them before, you'll be eligible to get a free share worth up to £100 when you sign up with our link.
If you want the free share, here's the process:
- Tap our Trading212 link below (this ensures you get the free share).
- Sign up and verify your identity. It only takes a few minutes.
- Fund your account. There's a minimum deposit of £1 to qualify for the offer.
- Your free share will appear within 3 business days, but most people's free share appears immediately after depositing the £1.
Freetrade: Get A Free Share Worth Up To £100
THE QUICK VERSION
Sign up with our link below, fund your account with £50 (net) and fill in a W-8BEN form. The free share usually appears within 7 to 10 days. Capital at risk.
Freetrade is an FCA-regulated broker with 6,200+ UK and US stocks, ETFs, and trusts. Your free share is picked at random from a list of UK and US companies, ETFs, and trusts.
Here's how to claim the free share:
- Tap our link and open a Freetrade account. It only works for new customers.
- Fill in the W-8BEN form. It's just a US tax form declaring you're not a US taxpayer. Takes about two minutes.
- Fund your account with at least £50 (net). This is your money, it stays in your account, and you can withdraw or invest it.
- Your free share will show as a 'pending' order immediately after funding the £50, however, the share and the value is revealed 7 to 10 days afterwards.
The £50 funding is the main hurdle. It's a funding requirement, not a fee, so you're not losing that money. But you do need £50 spare to sit in the account while the free share gets processed.
Lightyear: Get A Free Share Worth Up To £100
THE QUICK VERSION
Lightyear are giving new customers up to £100. You'll need to fund your account with £100 and complete onboarding. The free share is awarded within about 10 business days. Capital at risk.
Lightyear is an FCA-regulated broker with 6,000+ stocks and funds, zero commission, and a 0.10% FX fee. The free share is picked at random from a list of fractional shares. Of all the options on this list, Lightyear gave me the largest reward when I signed up.
If you want the free share, here's the process:
- Tap the button below and open an account. It only works for new customers and you'll need to our special link to get the bonus.
- Complete the onboarding and verify your identity. Takes a few minutes.
- Fund your account with at least £100. This is your money, it stays in your account, and you can withdraw or invest it.
- Your free share lands within about 10 business days. You can then keep it or sell it once the minimum holding period is over.
Editorial disclaimer
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links (at no additional cost to you). However, not all recommendations are sponsored.
I only recommend products and services I trust and believe will add value to my readers. All opinions on recommended products & services are my own.
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Remember to do your own research before signing up to any financial product. Information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and is not personalised financial advice.
For these offers, you need to deposit funds into your account, but the funds do not need to be invested. If you do decide to invest using these apps, be aware that your capital may be at risk, and the value of your investments could go down.
For these offers, you need to deposit funds into your account, but the funds do not need to be invested. If you do decide to invest using these apps, be aware that your capital may be at risk, and the value of your investments could go down.
The small print: key details you need to know
- Freetrade is FCA regulated and your capital is at risk. Investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.
- The Freetrade free share needs £50 of net funding. Net means deposits minus any withdrawals.
- The Freetrade W-8BEN form is required. It declares you're not a US taxpayer for US tax purposes.
- Freetrade free shares are usually revealed within 7 to 10 days of funding.
- Robinhood UK is FCA regulated, but its gift-stock referral appears to be the US programme.
- Both offers are for new customers only. If you've had an account before, you won't qualify.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these free shares actually free?
Yes, but with conditions. You need to fund your account with real money first (£50 for Freetrade). That money stays yours and you can withdraw it. The free share itself is genuinely free, and you can sell it or keep it. Just know the value is random and usually at the cheap end.
How much will my free share actually be worth?
With Freetrade, about 80% of people get a share worth £10 to £25. Only about 2% land the top £75 to £100 band. Expect £10 to £25 and treat anything more as a lucky bonus.
Do I need to invest my money to get the free share?
No. You just need to fund the account. The £50 can sit there as cash. You don't have to buy anything, though if you're opening a broker account anyway you might as well consider investing it.
Is Robinhood's free stock available in the UK?
This is the one we're cautious about. Robinhood's gift-stock referral is quoted in US dollars and appears to be their US programme. Robinhood UK doesn't clearly advertise the same offer. We've kept the link because Robinhood is a good commission-free broker, but don't bank on a specific free-stock reward if you're in the UK.
Do I pay tax on free shares?
The free share is generally treated like any other investment. If you sell it for a profit, you may owe capital gains tax above your allowance. Held in a Stocks and Shares ISA it can be tax-free, and Freetrade offers one on paid plans. This isn't tax advice, so check with HMRC or an accountant if you're unsure.
Can I do both offers?
Yes. They're separate companies with separate offers. You can claim Freetrade's free share and sign up to Robinhood too. There's no rule against stacking them.
Full disclosure: if you use our links, we may also receive a free share as a thank you. It doesn't change what you get, and it's what helps keep 30 Pence running.
Last updated: 15th September 2026. These offers can change or disappear without warning, so check the terms before you sign up.
