Even though the internet has made the world more global, there are still a lot of local variations and we suspect that many people in the UK will have experienced the frustration of undertaking an internet search, seeing some great results, then realising that they were only available in the U.S. (or at least only actually worked in the U.S. even if people in the UK could, technically, access them).  So, to resolve that frustration, here are five investing apps which are available to UK-based investors.

Best Brokers

This is one of the two investment games we’ve picked, the other one being Little Traders 2.  We like both games for different reasons.  In Best Brokers, you are in charge of your own virtual investment funds and, of course, the aim of the game is to grow them as much as possible.  The app world is a pretty good simulation of the real one, so the game does feel like genuine life experience.  One of the great points about this app is that there is a social element to it, basically you can chat to other players so that you learn from each other while you have fun.

Bloomberg

Bloomberg and Reuters have spent years battling it out to be the top provider of news to the world at large and crucial financial data to the world of business.  Now, you can have access to Bloomberg for free on your smartphone.  Before you get too excited, obviously there’s a limit to what Bloomberg will provide to people who aren’t adding to its profits, however, in fairness, that limit is actually pretty high and we think it will probably be more than enough for the majority of private investors.  The one caveat we have about this app is that it isn’t exactly the most intuitive one we’ve ever encountered and the sheer quantity of information of offer can make it hard to find what you want at first, but we do think it’s worth persevering.

Investr

The tagline for Investr is “Investing for everyone” and while its core offering of a fantasy stock portfolio isn’t exactly unique, like Best Brokers, it has an active user community with whom you can share news and views and from whom you can potentially learn.

Little Traders 2

Back in 2016, the world saw the arrival of Little Traders.  It was so popular, it has now become Little Traders 2 although the basic premise is essentially the same.  It’s 1920s New York and you are an investor charged with helping dear, sweet Mrs Mueller and her friends to make the most of their limited investment funds.  If you do well, you’ll be able to unlock more floors, hire more staff and attract more clients including those with more money to invest.  The premise may sound a bit corny, but the game itself is good fun and genuinely educational.  It’s a great way to get a feel for what stock market trading is really like without actually putting any funds at risk.  What’s more, you can compete against your friends.

MSN Money

Once you’ve taken a few moments to appreciate the irony of Microsoft making apps for Android and iOS devices, you’ll have plenty of time to appreciate the thought which has gone into MSN Money.  Unlike Bloomberg, which can be a bit of a case of “too much information” until you get used to it, MSN Money is all about simplicity and ease of use.  In fact, we’d suggest you make MSN Money your first port of call for financial data and news and then go to Bloomberg for more information if you need it.  Having said that, MSN Money also covers investment funds whereas Bloomberg (currently) only covers individual stocks.  Interestingly, MSN Money is also pretty good as a basic financial management tool and can help with tasks such as budgeting and currency conversion.