Best ISA Platform
Compare ISA platforms to find the best option for your tax free allowance.
Investment ISAs put your capital at risk & you may get back less than you originally invested
- Fund Choice: Access 40,000+ UK, US and international shares on 17 global exchanges. Choose from over 3,000 funds
- Invest From: £25 pm
Why we like it: An award-winning ISA that gives you complete control. The second largest platform in the UK with the widest choice of investment options in the market including funds, investment trusts, ETF’s and more. Open online in less than 10 minutes. Access to expert independent ideas and analysis. Low cost fees and trading. Capital at risk.
- Fund Choice: Invest in over 2,000 funds, plus Exchange Traded Funds, Investment Trusts, UK & International shares and more. Five Ready-made Investment funds if you’re not sure where to invest. Capital at risk.
- Invest From: £50
- Fund Choice: Offering commission-free DIY investing from a choice of 700 ETF's, or low-cost professionally managed income or growth portfolios built for you
- Invest From: £100
Why we like it: Make the most of the world’s best ETFs commission free. Build your own portfolio commission free or leave it to our experts for just 0.25%. Zero‑ISA fees. Choice of 700+ ETFs. Low cost, diversified, index-tracking of stock markets, bonds and commodities. DIY or Managed. ETF costs apply. Capital at Risk
- Fund Choice: Over 12,500 investments, or a choice of five managed funds
- Invest From: No minimum
Why we like it: Take charge of your investment decisions and invest from just £1 to build your investment portfolio from over 12,500 investments, from stocks and shares, funds, ETFs and more. Low platform fee is a maximum 0.30%. Alternatively choose an expertly managed portfolio by selecting from a range of five actively managed funds that most closely matches your investment objectives and risk appetite with an annual review to ensure to ensure your money is being managed in a suitable investment strategy. Advice is restricted to Charles Stanley Direct’s in-house funds and is subject to a minimum investment £20,000. Capital at risk.
- Fund Choice: Nutmeg offer 5 investment styles with ETFs, using technology to keep charges low
- Invest From: Min. £500
Why we like it: Get a stocks & shares ISA portfolio – Choose one of five investment styles, either fully managed by Nutmeg’s expert team or a fixed allocation portfolio. No tie-ins, no set-up fees, no exit charges. Easy, online set up. Start with as little as £500. Portfolio management fees of 0.45%-0.75% up to £100k. 0.25%-0.35% beyond £100k. There are also underlying investment charges, see the fees page. Plus, live chat, amazing customer support and brilliant investor tools and guides. Nutmeg are regulated by the FCA & are covered by the FSCS. ISA eligibility and tax rules apply. Capital at risk. Approved by Nutmeg 09/08/2024
- Fund Choice: Invest in over 2,000 funds, shares and more across 25 markets
- Invest From: £25 pm
Why we like it: Invest in over 2,000 funds, shares and more across 25 markets. Invest from £25 per month. Which? Recommended Provider for Investment Platforms 2019–2023. Low-cost online dealing from £3.50. Open your account in minutes from app or website, manage your portfolio on the move. FSCS protected. Capital at risk
- Fund Choice: 10 managed portfolios to choose from. Choose your risk profile and have an investment Plan built and managed for you
- Invest From: £1
Why we like it: Choose your level of risk from cautious to adventurous and have a plan expertly created and managed for you. Create multiple Plans – including Ethical Plans – with different risk levels. Invest as little or much as you like, add regular payments and top up whenever you like. Withdraw money or transfer out without notice or penalty fees. Wealthify app lets you check how your Plan is performing, manage your transactions and provide investment news and insights. Simple annual management charge of 0.6%
- Fund Choice: Invest in the Shepherds With Profits Fund which offers medium to low risk investing, with the aim of growing your money in a smooth manner over the long term
- Invest From: £30 pm
Why we like it: You don’t have to make any tricky investment decisions; your money will be invested in Shepherds With Profits Fund, and the bonuses you could receive will depend on the future performance of the fund. To try to achieve higher returns for you, your money is invested in a variety of assets, the majority of which consist of stocks and shares, but also property, bonds and cash. While returns are not guaranteed in stocks and shares investments and the value can go down as well as up, Shepherds apply a process known as ‘smoothing’ that attempts to even out fluctuations in the value and aims to keep a consistent level of bonus payments. Capital at risk.
- Fund Choice: Choose from a range of 36 funds and ETFs and 20 US stocks. Select one of three simple starting options with a range of tracker funds or build your own investment portfolio by customising your investment options
- Invest From: £1
Why we like it: Choose from a range of 36 funds and ETFs and 20 US stocks to invest with Moneybox. Earn 3.5% AER Variable on any uninvested cash you hold. There are additional fees charged directly by the fund provider. Please check the key investor information document (KIID) for a particular fund for more information. Keep things simple and get started with one of our three starting options: Cautious, Balanced or Adventurous – and customise your investments to align with your values. Open with as little as £1. When investing, your capital is at risk
- Fund Choice: Choose from over 3,000 funds, shares, investment trusts and more to build your portfolio
- Invest From: £25 pm or £100 lump sum
Why we like it: Hargreaves Lansdown are the UK’s no. 1 investment platform for private investors – kickstart your investing with their award-winning ISA. Choose your own investments with expert research and ideas to help you, or simply pick a ready-made portfolio. Manage via website, app or phone. Capital at risk.
- Fund Choice: TILLIT filter the market and select the best-in-class active and passive funds across asset classes, regions and styles
Why we like it: Let Tillett filter the market for you. From well-known classics to trailblazers and wildcards. No one needs 5,000 funds. Get breadth and variety, without the choice paralysis
- Fund Choice: Over 2,500 funds, UK shares, investment trusts and ETFs or choose Ready Made & Managed Portfolios
- Invest From: No minimum
Why we like it: Pick your own investments or choose a Ready-made Portfolio. Some of the lowest investment ISA account fees available. Tiered service fees of 0.2% or less a year, no set-up fees and share dealing for just £4.95 per trade. You don’t pay anything to open your ISA or buy funds, and share dealing costs just £4.95 per trade. Voted Best ISA Provider at the City of London Wealth Management Awards 2020. Capital at risk.
- Fund Choice: Invest in 6,100+ US, UK & European stocks & ETFs commission-free
- Invest From: £2
Why we like it: Commission-free investing: No fees for buying or selling stocks (other charges may apply). Support: Fast and friendly customer support. A wide range of investments: 6,100+ US, UK, and European stocks, ETFs, and investment trusts. Low monthly fees: From £4.99/month. Capital at risk. Other charges may apply
- Fund Choice: Allocate your savings between a cash money market fund from L&G and investment shares fund from Fidelity
- Invest From: £10
Why we like it: App based stocks & shares ISA account. Choose to allocate your contributions between the two funds on offer in whatever proportion you choose: a shares fund (Fidelity Global Index fund) which aims to track the performance of global stock markets and therefore large companies such as Amazon, Facebook, Google and Johnson & Johnson, and a cash fund (Legal & General Cash Trust fund) which aims to provide returns in line with money market rates. Annual fee of 0.5% on the value of any investments. Two funds with their own management fees of between 0.12% and 0.15%. Change your allocation at any point. Option to opt into Round ups – collected from your bank by direct debit on a weekly basis and invested in line with your investment allocation
- Fund Choice: Invested in a single fund - the Unitised With-Profits fund. A mixed managed fund from Scottish Friendly where premiums are pooled with those of other clients and returns are linked to the performance of the underlying assets within the fund
- Invest From: £10 pm o r £100 single
Why we like it: Invest from only £10 a month, lump sums from just £100 or a combination of both using your tax-free Investment ISA allowance. You can stop, restart, raise or lower your payments or your investments and cash in whenever you want. When you set up a My MoneyBuilder Select (ISA), your money will be invested in a single fund – the Unitised With-Profits fund. A mixed managed fund from Scottish Friendly where premiums are pooled with those of other clients and returns are linked to the performance of the underlying assets within the fund. Remember the value of investments can go down as well as up, and you could get back less than you’ve paid in. If you cash in before the end of 5 years there will be a £50 deduction from your cash-in value.
- Fund Choice: Choose your risk profile and have it matched to an investment portfolio expertly built and managed.
- Invest From: £1,500
Why we like it: Answer questions about your goals, financial situation and attitude to risk, and Moneyfarm will recommend the right ISA portfolio for you, built and managed by experts to help your money grow. You’ll always be invested in a portfolio that’s suitable for you, and you can manage this through the Advice Centre. See what you’re invested in, how you’re performing and how much you’re paying anywhere and any time with the Moneyfarm app. Add money to your ISA by setting up a direct debit, investing a lump-sum, or by transferring old ISAs for free. Capital at risk.
- Trade From (frequent trader rate): £3.00
- Trade From (standard trader rate): £8.00
Good to know: Pay zero commission on US share trades, and just £3 on UK share trades, when you trade three or more times a month with IG. No admin or transfer fees. Custody fee of £24 per quarter, charged if you hold share dealing or ISA assets at the end of the quarter. Capital at risk. Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider
- Fund Choice: Choose from over 4,000 investment options, including one of the widest fund ranges in the UK. With online guidance tools and expert fund ideas to help you choose
- Invest From: £25 pm
Why we like it: This award-winning ISA has an extensive range of investment options, including thousands of funds and shares, plus a guidance service to help you find investment ideas. There is a low service fee (typically 0.35%), easy online application process and apps to manage your money on the move. Additional charges apply depending on your choice of investments. Plus, everything is backed by Fidelity’s 50 years of investment experience. Boring Money Best Buy ISA 2023
What is an ISA platform?
An ISA platform is typically a type of Stocks and Shares ISA account in which you choose your own investments.
An ISA account is a tax-free savings account, and a Stocks and Shares ISA allows you to invest your ISA funds into the stock market via a range of investment vehicles.
What are the tax benefits of an ISA?
ISA savings are completely free from the following taxes that are usually paid on investments you’d hold outside of a tax-free account:
- Income tax on dividends
- Income tax on interest
- Capital Gains Tax (CGT) in investment growth
You can invest up to £20,000 in an ISA each tax year – this is your annual ISA allowance.
What does a Stocks and Shares ISA platform invest in?
You’ll usually be required to choose your investments yourself in an ISA platform, although some providers do offer ready-made portfolios that are built for you and then managed by professionals.
Here are some of the most popular types of ISA platform investments:
- Shares
Individual shares of companies that are traded on a live stock market such as the London Stock Exchange.
- Managed Funds
Including investment trusts, OEICs and unit trusts, these are investment funds that operate in a specific sector managed by investment professionals.
- Tracker Funds
Including index funds and ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds), these track a specific index or sector by investing proportionately in the companies within them. They are not actively managed by a fund manager so typically have lower charges than managed funds.
- Bonds
Bonds are forms of corporate or government lending that you can invest in to receive an annual target interest rate. They are classed as low risk compared to other stock investments, but they can still depreciate in value.
How to Compare ISA Platforms
Here are some of the most important factors to consider in an ISA platform comparison:
- Can they hold all the assets in your portfolio?
If you know what shares and funds you’ll be holding in your account, check that your new ISA platform can support the investments. Particularly if they are overseas stocks or if they are listed on a smaller stock exchange.
- What are the annual platform charges?
Some platforms charge more for holding shares compared to funds, or vice versa, so make sure you compare the platform charges to your own portfolio to see how much you’ll be paying.
Some providers also charge a percentage of your portfolio as opposed to a flat fee – this may be cheaper for you if you have a smaller account.
- Are there any ad hoc platform charges to consider?
Dealing fees can be expensive through some ISA platforms, so if you’re a frequent trader you’ll want to compare the charges in comparison to the ongoing fees.
You should also look out for other admin fees such as account closure fees and transfer out fees.
- What platform features are available?
Certain trading features are invaluable to ISA investors that buy and sell shares frequently. The most important ones include price notifications, limit orders and stop losses.
The online ISA platform itself also needs to be reliable, functional and easy to use. Some providers allow you to open a fake, free ISA account to test out the platform with.
- What about customer service ratings?
Remember, a more expensive ISA platform may be reinvesting your charges into their customer service teams. If you’re new to DIY investing, this could be the best online ISA platform for you, as you’ll likely have questions that need answering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I committed to one ISA provider forever?
No. You can switch providers with an ISA transfer if you wish. You can also contribute to other ISA providers in separate tax years.
How do I open an Investment Platform ISA?
You can open a Stocks and Shares platform ISA online, over the phone or by post.
You’ll need to add money with a debit card top-up and buy the investments you want to hold through the platform.
Is an Investment ISA platform a good idea?
An Investment ISA is a good idea as long as you understand the risks involved and you’re comfortable making your own investment decisions. You could lose money on your investments, but they could also significantly outperform other ISA investment options.
Is now a good time to invest in an Investment ISA platform?
Yes. There is never really a good or bad time to invest in stocks and shares within an ISA, but generally, the longer you invest for the better.
Can I lose money in a Stocks and Share ISA?
Your investments can go up as well as down, and so you should always be prepared for the event that you could lose money.
How much money can I put in a Stocks and Shares ISA?
You can add £20,000 for the current tax year, and this amount refreshes each tax year.
Can I withdraw funds from a Stocks and Shares ISA?
You can withdraw money at any time from your Stocks and Shares ISA.
Can I transfer my Cash ISA into a Stocks and Shares ISA?
Yes, you can transfer from your Cash ISA to a Stocks and Shares ISA at any time. However, do check you won’t lose out by transferring, as some Fixed Rate Cash ISAs may charge a fee or void your interest if you surrender your policy before the fixed term has ended