The Trading 212 free share is a reward from its Invite a Friend programme. It works like this. First, a new client opens an Invest account or Stocks and Shares ISA through an existing client’s referral link. Then they verify their identity and deposit the minimum amount within 10 days. If so, both usually receive a randomly selected share worth between 8 and 100 GBP/EUR. However, Trading 212 locks the cash value for 30 days.
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How the free share offer works
Trading 212 runs its referral scheme as time-limited campaigns under its “Invite a Friend Terms”. The current version, published on 21 September 2026, runs from 21 September 2026 to 3 November 2026. Trading 212 issues referral links and IDs at the start of each programme period. They expire automatically when it ends, so a link shared in an earlier campaign may no longer work.
Two people take part:
- The referrer is an existing client with an active Invest account or Stocks ISA and a referral link. According to the terms, Trading 212 hands out links on a limited basis, so not every client gets one.
- The referred client is a new customer. They must never have held a Trading 212 Invest or Stocks ISA account with any Trading 212 group entity. Also, they must never have received a reward from any earlier Trading 212 promotion.
If both meet the conditions, each gets a reward. Trading 212’s terms say the reward can be one or more shares, or occasionally a fixed cash amount instead. They also say it can change the reward at any time.
How much is the Trading 212 free share worth?
According to the terms, a reward share’s value can range from 8 GBP/EUR up to 100 GBP/EUR, depending on your account currency. Trading 212 picks the share at random with a weighted probability, so higher-value shares are less common. It publishes the odds on its Invite a Friend page.
In practice, expect the lower end of that range. The share may be a fraction of a single share. Once it is in your account, its price moves like any other investment. Trading 212’s help centre notes you cannot lose money by claiming it, because you did not pay for it. But its value can go down as well as up after you receive it.
Step by step: how a new client qualifies
A few details trip people up:
- The 10-day window. Your minimum deposit must reach the Invest account or Stocks ISA within ten calendar days of opening it. Trading 212 sets the minimum amount on its Terms and Fees page for your account type. So check it before you open.
- Using the ID instead of the link. You may have opened the account without clicking the link. In that case, you can enter the referral ID in the app immediately after opening, within the timeframe shown on Trading 212’s website. Also, the help centre suggests entering the ID under “Use promo code” if a reward has not arrived after you meet the conditions.
- One promotion only. The referral programme does not stack with other promo codes or links. If your account already has a linked promotion, you will see a “Bonus already claimed” message.
- Excluded accounts. CFD accounts, Cash ISAs and crypto accounts are outside the programme.
When can you sell the share and withdraw the money?
You can sell the reward share at any time. However, its cash value stays locked for 30 days from when it reached your account. During the lock-up you can reinvest the proceeds inside the account, but you cannot withdraw them. If you sell at a loss during that period, the lock applies only to the sale proceeds. In addition, the lock-up covers only the reward, so your own deposits and other investments stay fully accessible.
To see when the lock-up ends, the help centre says to go to the menu, then “Manage funds” and “Withdraw funds”. There, the expiry date appears once you have sold the reward share.
Trading 212 can also take the reward back. Its terms allow it to cancel or reclaim a reward in three cases. First, a referred client closes the account or withdraws all deposited funds within seven calendar days after receiving it. Second, they hold more than one in-scope account. Finally, they otherwise abuse the programme.
The ISA wrinkle for UK investors
If your reward lands in a Stocks and Shares ISA, the terms state that it counts towards your £20,000 annual ISA allowance. If you have already used your full allowance for the tax year, the reward goes to your Invest account instead. And if you do not have one, you must open one within six weeks or you lose the reward.
Outside an ISA, the reward is a normal holding in a general investment account. Trading 212’s terms say each participant is responsible for their own tax. So keep a note of the reward’s value when you received it. You may need it if you later sell the share at a gain in a taxable account.
Who can take part
The terms list the eligible countries. These include the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Nordic and Baltic countries and several others. Trading 212 UK Limited serves UK clients, and the terms describe it as FCA-authorised with licence number 609146. Meanwhile, Trading 212 Markets Limited in Cyprus or Trading 212 EU GmbH in Germany serve EU clients. Employees of the Trading 212 group and their relatives cannot take part.
A referrer can earn at most five rewards per campaign. Even so, friends referred beyond that limit still get their own reward.
Is a free share a good reason to choose Trading 212?
A share worth somewhere between 8 and 100 pounds or euros is a pleasant bonus. However, it is small next to the costs that matter over years of investing. So choose a broker on its fees, protection and the investments you want to hold. Then take the free share if you happen to qualify. For the full picture, read our Trading 212 review, the breakdown of Trading 212 fees, and is Trading 212 safe? If you are deciding between account types, our guide to Trading 212 account types explains the Invest account, ISA and SIPP. Once your account is open, our walkthrough on how to buy ETFs on Trading 212 covers the next step.
If you want the free share, you need a personal link or ID from an existing client, such as a friend who already uses Trading 212.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Trading 212 free share take?
Trading 212 says it allocates the reward within three business days. That clock starts once both you and your friend have verified your accounts and deposited the minimum amount. You must make the deposit within ten calendar days of opening the account.
What is the Trading 212 referral code for a free share?
There is no single public code. Instead, each eligible existing client receives a personal referral link and ID for the current campaign, and a new client uses one of those. Links expire at the end of each programme period; the current one runs to 3 November 2026.
Can I withdraw the free share straight away?
No. You can sell it immediately, but the cash value stays locked for 30 days from when the reward arrived. After that you can withdraw it like any other cash.
Does the free share count towards my ISA allowance?
Yes, if it lands in your Stocks and Shares ISA. Trading 212’s terms state that the reward counts towards the £20,000 annual allowance. If your ISA is already full, however, it goes to your Invest account instead.
Cited sources: Trading 212 Invite a Friend Terms (21 Sep 2026), Trading 212: Invite your friends, get free fractional shares, Trading 212: Invite a Friend FAQs, Trading 212: reward lock-up period, and Trading 212: reward not received. Verify current fund figures before investing. Educational content, not financial advice.
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European UCITS/ETF investor with 11+ years building a global dividend and index portfolio, and founder of Financial Expert Class. I write every guide here from first-hand experience investing across EU brokers and tax regimes — not theory. More about me →