How to buy Apple (AAPL) shares in the UK

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may be subject to future change. The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice.

Investments in a currency other than GBP are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in GBP terms. You could lose money in GBP even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

Getting started with investing in the UK? If you like the idea of backing a major global corporation, one option to consider is technology company Apple.

As one of the largest companies in the US, Apple (AAPL) is listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange and is regularly in a top position on leading stock market indices such as the S&P 500.

But how easy is it to buy Apple shares in the UK, and how do you go about it? Find out everything you need to know here in this helpful guide.

We’ll give you a step-by-step guide to buying Apple shares, along with the latest Apple share prices and some info on trading fees and foreign exchange charges.

Can I buy Apple shares in the UK?

Yes, you can buy shares in Apple as a UK investor, and it’s actually pretty easy to do.

All you need to do is sign up to an online investment platform, such as:

• eToro
• XTB
• Hargreaves Lansdown
• Trading 212
• Webull
• Interactive Brokers.

You can then buy shares in just a few clicks.

Alternatively, you could use a broker service for buying and selling shares in stock markets all over the world.

How to buy Apple shares

Now, how do you actually buy shares in companies like Apple? The easiest way to do it as a beginner investor is to use an online investment platform.

Here’s how to do it, step-by-step:

1. Find an investment platform

As Apple is such a major company, you should find that most major platforms offer trading in its stock. Some platforms to check out are eToro, XTB, Trading 212, Webull and Interactive Brokers.

You might want to take some time to compare fees and charges before choosing a platform to open an investment account with. It could also be a good idea to take advantage of platforms which offer demo trading accounts, so you can get a feel for how it all works before committing any funds.

2. Sign up for an account

You’ll usually need to provide some personal details as part of the application process, as well as verifying your identity. Remember, always check that the company is listed on the FCA register to ensure that they are a legitimate company before you sign up.

3. Add money to your account

In order to purchase shares, you’ll firstly need to transfer funds from your bank account over to your chosen investment platform. Simply follow the platform’s processes to do this.

4. Search the platform for Apple stock

You can search for the company name or its stock ticker symbol, which for Apple is AAPL.

5. Choose number of shares or the amount of investment

There are two ways you can place an order for shares. The first is to choose the number of shares you want to buy (i.e. 50 shares), while the second is to enter the maximum amount you want to invest.

6. Confirm the order

Check the details of the order and submit once you’re happy. Your shares will be purchased immediately, as long as it’s within market hours.

How to invest in Apple via a fund

There are alternative ways to invest in Apple and similar companies, as well as directly buying shares.

You can also look into investing via global funds, investment trusts and exchange traded funds (ETFs).

These types of investment products are ready-made portfolios, made up of shares in multiple different companies. They offer a way of spreading your investment across multiple stocks, helping you to diversify your portfolio.

As Apple is a major global company included in the likes of the S&P 500 stock market index, you can expect to find it included in many funds, trusts and ETFs.

These are also available to buy through online investment platforms, as long as you have an investor account.

Apple (AAPL) share price

The current Apple (AAPL) share price at the publish date of this article (5th September 2024) is: $220.85 USD or £167.76 GBP.¹

It’s important to bear in mind though that share prices fluctuate. The above is the accurate share price at the time of writing, but it’s likely to be different at the time you’re buying your shares.

The good news though is that you can check the latest Apple share prices at any time using the handy Wise stock ticker.

Check the latest AAPL share price

Does Apple stock pay out dividends?

Dividends are payments made by a company to its shareholders, based on annual overall profits. The aim is to reward shareholders for their investment, and potentially to encourage future investment.

It’s most common for dividends to be paid as cash payments, but it’s also possible to receive dividends in the form of additional shares in the same company.

Apple stock does pay dividends to shareholders, usually in cash and on a quarterly basis. At the time of writing, its dividend yield is 0.44%. This means that for every $100 you invest in Apple shares, you’ll receive $0.44 in cash dividends each year.²

What does it cost to buy and sell Apple shares?

When you buy shares in the UK, there will usually be some fees attached. These vary depending on which online investment platform, broker or other service you use.

Some platforms have an account or platform fee, while others are free to join.

There are also fees per trade, along with foreign exchange fees (to convert your money from GBP to USD) if you’re buying US stock.

Take a look at the table below for an idea of the trading and foreign exchange fees charged by online investment platforms commonly used by UK investors:

Platform	US trade (commission) fees	Foreign exchange fees
eToro	£03	1.5%4
XTB5	£0	0.5%
Hargreaves Lansdown6	£11.95	1%
Trading 2127	£0	0.15%
Interactive Brokers8	£1.45	0.03%

Note: All above investment platform fees were correct as of 5th September 2024.

The fees for investing in Apple via a fund, trust or ETF will be different. You’ll need to check the individual platform for details of these.

Avoid hidden currency conversion mark-ups

In this article, we’ve covered everything you need to know about how to buy shares in Apple here in the UK. This includes the latest Apple share prices, info on fees and steps to buy your first shares in the company.

But if you’re planning on buying and selling shares and funds listed abroad, there’s another crucial thing to consider - currency conversion.

Trade in different currencies and you could be hit with extra cost for cross border money transfer.

You may wish to hold your money in a Wise account until you decide to invest it in your chosen platform. Open a Wise account and you can convert currency at mid-market exchange rates, for low, transparent fees*.

You can also use your Wise account to conveniently manage your money in up to 40+ currencies, sending payments worldwide a the mid-market rate for low fees*.

There’s even an extra feature, Wise Interest. With a Wise account you can earn returns on GBP, USD and EUR by opening a Wise account and investing in a fund that holds government-guaranteed assets. Capital at risk.

Open your Wise account

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may be subject to future change. The content of this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice.

Investments in a currency other than GBP are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in GBP terms. You could lose money in GBP even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

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Sources used:

1. Wise - current Apple Inc stock price (AAPL)
2. Koyfin - Apple Inc. (AAPL) dividends
3. eToro - eToro fees and charges
4. eToro - eToro conversion fees
5. XTB - XTB fees
6. Hargreaves Lansdown - Hargreaves Lansdown fees
7. Trading 212 - Trading 212 fees
8. Interactive Brokers - Interactive Brokers fees for UK residents

Sources last checked on date: 05-Sep-2024