Compare Investment ISA Platforms
Select the best investment ISA platforms to make the most of your tax free allowance this year.
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: 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: 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 Investment ISA Platform?
An Investment ISA platform is a Stocks and Shares ISA account that lets you choose the funds and shares you invest in.
They have all the standard tax benefits of an ISA, which means you never have to pay income, dividend or capital gains tax on your investments.
Stocks and Shares ISA Platform providers give you access to thousands of investment options, and it’s up to you to pick your portfolio yourself.
How does an Investment ISA Platform work?
You can think of an Investment ISA Platform as an investment supermarket. They list thousands of investments on their ISA platform and you choose the ones you want to buy.
You can hold any number of different investments, from shares to funds and investment trusts, and it’s usually a good idea to diversify your portfolio to spread the risk.
It can be daunting at first to understand what’s out there, but with a little research, you should be able to make confident investment decisions for the long term.
Here are some of the most popular investments you can buy through an Investment ISA Platform:
- Shares
- Managed Funds (Unit Trusts and OEICs
- Investment Trusts
- ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds)
How do I pick my investments in an Investment Platform ISA?
First, you need to decide what type of investments are best for you.
Shares of individual companies allow you to tap into the growth and success of a business and reap the rewards. However, they’re fairly high risk because your investment is concentrated on only one holding.
Managed Funds and Investment Trusts invest in a specific sector or industry and spread your investment across multiple companies in that area.
This means your investment is diversified and your risk is spread, and you can even invest in several funds in different sectors to diversify even more.
Don’t forget, the fund manager’s charges are deducted from the performance of your investment.
ETFs invest in a particular sector or index like managed funds, but they are designed to simply replicate the performance of that market.
They aren’t controlled by a fund manager who picks the best companies. Instead, they instead aim to mirror the main holdings to simply replicate the growth of that sector.
There’s no professional fund management, but the charges are significantly lower to compensate and often the performance is similar to managed funds.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Investment Platform ISAs?
Advantages:
- 100% tax-free savings
- High potential returns in the stock market
- Take your investment dividends as regular, tax-free income
- Withdraw at any time
Disadvantages:
- Your investments can lose value
- Maximum contribution of £20,000 in the 2021/22 tax year
- Platform and investment charges
Which is the Best Investment ISA Platform?
Here are some key account features to think about when comparing the best ISA Platform for you:
- Can they hold your entire portfolio?
Most ISA providers will be able to, but if you have overseas stocks or sophisticated investments then it’s worth checking.
- What are the annual management charges?
Some providers will charge more depending on the assets you hold, so make sure you cross-reference the charges with your portfolio to work out the cheapest ISA platform for you.
- What ad hoc charges will you pay?
If you think you’ll be trading frequently, check the dealing charges for your provider to find the cheapest ISA trading fees. If you plan to hold each of your individual investments for a long time, this is less of a factor for you.
- What account features are available?
Dealing features like limit orders, stop losses and price alerts are essential if you plan to trade regularly via your Stocks and Shares ISA platform. However, they’re not so important for long term investments, so consider what’s best for you.
- How good are the ISA provider’s customer service ratings?
Often an overlooked aspect of ISA platform comparisons, customer service forms the backbone of an investment supermarket. The cheapest ISA platform isn’t necessarily the best – you’re likely to need help at some point and you’ll want to speak to a well-trained professional without waiting hours on hold.
A few other considerations:
- How good is their app and online platform usability?
- Do they provide investment insight, research and tips to investors?
Frequently Asked Questions
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 an Investment ISA platform?
Yes, your underlying investments can lose value, particularly in periods of short-term volatility.
How much can I contribute to an Investment ISA platform?
The current annual ISA allowance is £20,000 per person for the 2023/24 tax year. This is your allowance across Stocks and Shares ISAs, Cash ISAs, Lifetime ISAs and Innovative Finance ISAs combined.
Can I withdraw money from an Investment ISA platform?
You can withdraw at any time from your ISA after you wait for your investments to sell. The process usually completes within two weeks.