Best Broker for Fractional Shares (2026)
Fractional shares let you invest exact amounts and put every pound or euro to work. Which brokers offer them, what to look for, and the options that fit.
Written by an 11-year retail-brokerage insider. · Updated 11/6/2026
Fractional shares let you buy part of a share or ETF rather than a whole unit. That means you can invest an exact amount (say €50, not “however much one share costs”), put spare cash fully to work, and build a diversified portfolio with small, regular contributions. It’s especially useful for beginners and for automated monthly investing. Here’s what to look for and which brokers do it well.
Why fractional matters
- Invest exact amounts. Put your whole monthly contribution to work, with no leftover cash because a share was too expensive.
- Access expensive shares. Own a slice of a high-priced share or fund without needing the full unit price.
- Better for regular investing. Automated monthly plans work neatly when every pound buys a fraction.
Not every broker offers it, and some only offer it on certain markets, so it’s worth checking.
Which brokers offer fractional shares
A starting point, not a verdict. Compare them on Brokerlens (filter by “Fractional”) and check current terms.
- Trading 212: commission-free, fractional from €1, automated “Pies”, and a free UK ISA. One of the easiest for fractional regular investing.
- Lightyear: fractional investing with multi-currency accounts and low FX.
- InvestEngine: fractional ETF investing with free DIY ISA and SIPP (ETF-only).
- Interactive Brokers: fractional shares with the widest global market access, suited to more confident investors.
- Trade Republic: fractional ETF and share investing built around free savings plans, popular across the EU.
Note that some traditional platforms (and a few brokers like DEGIRO) do not offer fractional shares, so if it matters to you, confirm before opening an account.
What else to weigh
Fractional is one feature, not the whole decision. Still check the usual things: overall cost, FX fees if you’ll buy foreign shares, whether it offers a tax wrapper you want, and the range of investments. A broker that’s free and fractional but charges high FX may cost you more than one with a small fee and cheap currency conversion.
The bottom line
If you want to invest exact amounts and automate small regular contributions, fractional shares make it far easier, and several low-cost brokers offer them well. Pick one that’s fractional and cheap on the things that matter to you. Filter for fractional support and compare on everything else with Brokerlens.
Educational information, not personal advice. Broker features change, so always check current details. We may earn a commission if you open an account through our links, which never affects which brokers we recommend.