.png){kind=logo}
Always remember that investments can go down as well as up in value, so you could get back less than you put in. A rule of thumb is to hang on to your investments for at least five years to give them the best chance of providing the returns you want.
Contents:
We’ve compiled a list of the best investment platforms in the UK. These are our top fifteen investment companies for buying, selling and holding a wide variety of instruments in one place, including stocks and shares, funds, bonds, commodities, property, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), exchange-traded commodities (ETCs), contracts for difference (CFDs) and more.
Please remember that when you invest, your capital is at risk. ISA, pension, and tax rules also apply.
The investment platforms listed below are authorised and regulated by the UK’s financial watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Here are the best investment platforms in the UK:
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform that offers both investing in stocks and cryptoassets, as well as trading CFDs. With eToro, UK traders have real-time access to thousands of stocks, ETFs, indices, commodities, forex, cryptocurrencies, and NFTs from top exchanges worldwide. Catering to beginners and expert traders, eToro provides an impressive range of fundamental and technical analysis tools, including market news, economic data, social media trends, news sentiment trends, and advanced charting tools.
If you are new to investing or prefer a more hands-off approach, eToro offers over 40 fully allocated, balanced, ready-made investment portfolios that focus on different market segments you can understand and to which you can relate. Some of the portfolios include MetaverseLife, BigTech, GoldWorldWide, Vaccine-Med, BitcoinWorldWide, Diabetes-Med, Driverless, GigEconomy, and many more. These portfolios are a grouping of several assets, such as stocks, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, and even people, bundled together based on a predetermined theme or strategy.
It is entirely free to open an account with eToro, and all registered users receive a US$100,000 demo account for free, which you can use to practise trading or investing until you become confident. Trading on eToro occurs in USD, so a currency conversion fee will apply if you deposit or withdraw a currency other than USD. Withdrawals incur a fee of US$5 (£4), and the minimum withdrawal amount is US$30 (£24). For UK customers, eToro offers an eToro Money app which allows you to convert your GBP to USD free of charge, thereby reducing your foreign exchange costs. eToro does not offer an ISA or SIPP.
Please note: Your capital is at risk. 80 - 90% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Additionally, cryptoassets are highly volatile and unregulated in the UK. No consumer protection. Tax on profits may apply. Copy Trading does not amount to investment advice. Other fees apply. For more information, visit eToro.
AJ Bell is one of the UK’s largest online investment platforms, and its mission is to make investing as easy as possible for anyone. The platform offers thousands of investment options for the DIY investor, including UK and overseas shares, funds, bonds, investment trusts, ETFs, ETCs, warrants, and ready-made investments.
There are multiple ways to get started with AJ Bell, depending on your risk tolerance and investing savviness. Beginner investors or those who prefer to choose a ready-made investment portfolio can get a little, or a lot, of help from AJ Bell’s specialists by selecting one of the investment ideas on offer. Investment ideas are diversified ready-made baskets of investments that you can select based on your personal preference and attitude to risk. There are eight total investment ideas, each built by a specialist team, and you can pick the right one for you depending on whether you are seeking to simply grow your money over time or receive an income whilst still growing your money. Expert investors can take advantage of the stock and fund screeners and complex instruments available on AJ Bell and build their portfolios themselves.
AJ Bell charges an annual platform fee ranging from 0.25% to 0%, depending on the size of your portfolio. Dealing fees for buying and selling investments online are £1.50 for funds and £9.95 for shares (reducing to £4.95 if there were 10 or more online share deals in the previous month). AJ Bell’s products include a Share Dealing Account, Stocks and Shares ISA, Junior Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA, SIPP and Junior SIPP.
Capital at risk.
Interactive Investor, recently acquired by wealth management giant Abrdn, is the second-largest investment platform in the UK. It is well known for its fixed charges (as opposed to percentage-based fees like most other investment platforms) and has been providing investment services and financial information since 1995.
If you choose to invest with Interactive Investor, you will gain access to over 40,000 investment options, including UK and overseas shares, funds, investment trusts, and ETFs. This is the second-widest choice of UK and international investments offered by an investment platform in the UK. Interactive Investor allows you to build your portfolio in multiple ways depending on your investment goals, attitude to risk and personal preferences. Beginner investors or those who prefer ready-made investments can build their portfolios using Interactive Investor’s Quick-Start Funds, an easy way to start investing where you choose from six low-cost funds prepared by the team of experts at Interactive Investor. Advanced or more confident investors can choose from a wide range of funds and shares and build their portfolios themselves. Interactive Investor gives you access to 17 global stock exchanges, including exchanges in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. These include markets such as the FTSE 100, FTSE 250, FTSE All-Share, S&P 500, NASDAQ, NYSE, Dow Jones and more. In addition to the above, Interactive Investor offers Japanese, Indian and Chinese shares in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs).
Interactive Investor gives you a free trade every month, which you can use to buy or sell any investment. After that, trades usually cost £3.99. For those investing £50,000 or less, you can sign up for the cheapest plan (Investor Essentials), which costs only £4.99 a month but does not come with the monthly free trade. The platform also offers a free regular investing service that allows you to deposit as little as £25 a month towards your investments without paying a trading fee each time, irrespective of the plan you choose. Interactive Investor also has lots of expert ideas, research and insights, which can be helpful when selecting investments. Interactive Investor’s suite of products includes a Trading Account, Stocks and Shares ISA, SIPP and Junior ISA.
Capital at risk.
InvestEngine is a low-cost ETF investment platform that provides a choice of managed portfolios tailored to you and commission-free DIY investing to help you build long-term wealth. Users can invest in over 500 exchange-traded funds (ETFs) from leading global asset managers.
With InvestEngine, you can invest in two ways depending on your tolerance for risk and savviness as an investor: beginner investors or those who prefer a ready-made investment portfolio can select from one of the Managed Portfolios on offer, where the team of experts at InvestEngine will take care of the day-to-day investment decisions for you. These portfolios are a selection of ETFs based on your preferences and risk tolerance. Once you’ve selected one, you do not have to do anything else besides monitor the performance of your investments. Advanced or more confident investors can choose from 500+ commission-free ETFs and build their portfolios themselves. InvestEngine also offers fractional investing, which allows you to buy bits and pieces of an ETF with as little as £1. This enhances your ability to build a diversified portfolio even if you have a small amount of money to invest. With the DIY Portfolio, there are no platform fees. All InvestEngine portfolios are free of setup fees, dealing fees, ISA fees or withdrawal fees.
InvestEngine stands out amongst its competitors as one of the cheapest investment apps in the UK because it charges no platform or management fees on its DIY Portfolio and just 0.25% a year on its Managed Portfolio. You can also start investing with as little as £100. InvestEngine’s suite of products includes a Stocks and Shares ISA, Personal Account and Business Account.
Capital at risk.
Dodl is a user-friendly, no-nonsense investment app brought to you by AJ Bell, one of the UK’s largest online investment platforms. The Dodl app has been designed with the goal of making investing simple and less intimidating, whether you are a novice investor or a seasoned trader. With Dodl, you can invest in a variety of instruments, including funds, themed investments, and shares. This means you have the flexibility to build a bespoke portfolio or opt for ready-made funds depending on your preferences and level of expertise.
If you’re new to investing or prefer to leave the hard work to the experts, the funds (created by AJ Bell) are an excellent choice. These ready-made investment portfolios cater to varying levels of risk and can be chosen to align with your specific investing goals. If you’re more confident or have specific investment themes in mind, Dodl allows you to construct your own portfolio with themed investments. These can reflect your personal values, interests or particular trends. You also have the opportunity to buy shares directly in a selection of well-known UK and US companies. This allows you to become a part-owner of your favourite big-name brands and possibly profit from their success. One of the standout features of Dodl is its focus on investor education and support. The “learn” tab within the app is a goldmine of information aimed at helping you build your investment knowledge as you build your portfolio. Dodl does not offer advice, but if you need any assistance with your account, Team Dodl is always just a message away.
You can start investing with Dodl with as little as £25 a month or a one-off deposit of £100. Dodl offers commission-free dealing on UK and US stocks as well as funds. Fund management fees or Ongoing Charges Figure (OCF) will still apply. A currency conversion fee ranging from 0.75% to 0.25% applies to US stocks. Other fees may apply. Dodl’s suite of products includes a Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA, General Investment Account, and SIPP. The Dodl Stocks and Shares ISA is not flexible.
Capital at risk.
Moneybox is a UK investment app that allows you to invest in a range of tracker funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), exchange-traded commodities (ETCs) and US stocks. Moneybox offers two forms of investing depending on your investing savviness, investing strategy and attitude to risk. Beginner investors or those who prefer a ready-made portfolio can choose from the three ready-made portfolios on offer - Cautious (lower risk), Balanced (medium risk) and Adventurous (higher risk). Advanced or more confident investors can pick from the range of tracker funds, ETFs, ETCs and US stocks available and build their portfolios themselves.
The Moneybox app also empowers you to invest your spare change by rounding up your card transactions to the nearest pound and investing the difference on your behalf. For example, if you spend £2.30 on a snack, Moneybox will invest 70p for you. You can also instruct the app to make weekly or one-off deposits into your investment portfolio as it rounds up your spare change.
You can start investing with Moneybox with as little as £1. Moneybox offers commission-free trading on US stocks. However, fund management fees apply to other types of investments, ranging from 0.12% to 0.61% per annum. A currency conversion fee of 0.45% also applies to US stocks. Moneybox’s suite of products includes a Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA, Junior ISA, Personal Pension, and General Investment Account.
Capital at risk.
Freetrade is a UK mobile trading app that gives you access to thousands of UK and overseas stocks, ETFs, REITs, and investment trusts covering different sectors and markets worldwide. The Freetrade app can be accessed on iOS, Android and desktop devices and offers a slick and easy-to-use user interface and experience. The app is a great choice for both beginners and experienced investors.
With Freetrade, you can invest in fractional shares of even the most expensive US shares with as little as £2. Depositing, trading and withdrawing on Freetrade are commission-free (other charges may apply). FX rates apply to US stocks at the spot rate + 0.99%. To get the most out of Freetrade, you can choose from three subscription plans. The Basic Plan costs £0.00 per month and allows you to open a General Investment Account (GIA) and trade commission-free. The Standard Plan costs £5.99 per month and allows you to open a Stocks and Shares ISA in addition to your GIA. With the Plus Plan at £11.99 a month, you get a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) and a Stocks and Shares ISA in addition to your GIA. Dealing on Freetrade is commission-free, irrespective of your subscription plan. Freetrade’s suite of products includes a Stocks and Shares ISA, General Investment Account (GIA) and SIPP.
Promo: Get a free share worth £10 when you join Freetrade and fund your account with at least £50.
Please note: When you invest, 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 invest. ISA rules apply. SIPP eligibility and tax rules apply. Free share terms and conditions apply.
XTB is an easy-to-use, fully-customisable European trading platform that allows you to trade and invest in over 3,000 real shares from 16 major exchanges around the world. The platform provides traders instant access to hundreds of global markets and over 5,600 instruments, including UK and overseas stocks and shares, ETFs, forex, indices, commodities, stock CFDs, and ETF CFDs.
With XTB, you can trade using the in-house trading software, xStation, or via MetaTrader 4 (MT4). xStation by XTB is a powerful trading software available on iOS, Android and desktop devices and suitable for both beginners and advanced traders. The xStation trading software provides comprehensive charting and risk management tools. XTB also provides an extensive library of educational materials, including videos, webinars, and courses suitable for beginners and experienced traders. When you sign up, you will have access to a dedicated account officer who will work with you to help you better understand your needs and how XTB operates.
It is free to open a trading account with XTB, and all users have access to a free demo account with £100,000 in virtual funds that you can use to practise trading and investing until you become confident enough to use real money. Deposits in GBP and EUR are free of charge, but withdrawals below £60 have a £12 processing fee. Real stock trading is commission-free for monthly turnover up to €100,000 (£85,000). Transactions above this limit will attract a commission of 0.2% (minimum €10 (£8.50). Stock and ETF CFD trading are also commission-free. Other fees apply. XTB does not offer an ISA or SIPP.
Please note: Contracts for Difference (CFDs) are leveraged products and carry a significant risk of loss to your capital, as prices may move rapidly against you, and you may be required to make further payments to keep any trades open. Between 74 and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. These products are not suitable for all clients. Therefore, please ensure you fully understand the risks and seek independent advice.
Bestinvest is a UK low-cost investment platform that allows you to trade or invest in over 3,000 instruments, including shares, funds, ETFs, and investment trusts. With Bestinvest, you can build an investment portfolio in two ways depending on your personal preferences, goals and attitude to risk.
Beginners or those who prefer a ready-made investment can build their portfolio by selecting one of Bestinvest’s ready-made investment portfolios. These off-the-shelf style portfolios are created and managed by the team at Bestinvest and come with a carefully selected and diversified collection of investments. Once you have picked one, you do not need to do anything else. There are three ranges to choose from: Expert, Smart and Direct, depending on whether you want to maximise the returns for the risk you take, focus on cost-efficiency or focus on individual investments. The team at Bestinvest will walk you through the process of selecting a ready-made portfolio. Advanced or more confident investors can choose from a wide range of funds, shares, ETFs and ITs and build their portfolios themselves.
To start building your portfolio with Bestinvest, you can deposit a lump sum or set up a monthly savings plan which allows you to automatically save or invest a set amount into your investment account every month. There are no setup fees or fund dealing charges with Bestinvest. Bestinvest charges an annual platform fee ranging from 0.40% to 0% for DIY investing and 0.20% to 0% for ready-made investing. The dealing fee for buying and selling shares online is £4.95 per deal. Bestinvest’s suite of products includes a Stocks and Shares ISA, Junior Stocks and Shares ISA, General Investment Account, SIPP and Junior SIPP.
Capital at risk.
Founded by ex-Wise (TransferWise) employees, Lightyear is a new low-cost pan-European investing app on a mission to provide everyone friction-free access to the international financial markets. With Lightyear, you can invest in over 3,500 UK and overseas stocks and ETFs and access real-time market data and live news while managing your investments in multi-currency accounts. The Lightyear multi-currency accounts allow you to earn competitive interest on uninvested cash in pounds sterling, euros, and US dollars and save on foreign exchange costs by holding your investments in their local currencies. Users can have balances in all three currencies at the same time, and there is no fee for opening a multi-currency account.
The Lightyear mobile app, available on iOS and Android devices, is simple yet powerful. Users can access market updates, professional analyst ratings and price targets via a clean and user-friendly interface. You can also tune in to earning calls directly from your mobile phone or web browser and enjoy keeping up-to-date with the latest happenings about the stocks you own or follow.
Opening an account with Lightyear is free, and you can start building a portfolio with as little as you are comfortable with. Dealing UK, US, and EU shares cost £1, 0.1% (up to $1 max), and €1 per order, respectively. There is no dealing charge for trading ETFs. However, a 0.35% FX fee applies when converting one currency to another. Lightyear also charges a 0.5% transfer fee when depositing with your card (after exhausting the free £500 lifetime allowance). However, there are other means of depositing funds that are completely free. Other fees may apply. Lightyear does not offer an ISA or SIPP.
Capital at risk.
Kickstart your investing with an award-winning ISA. Hargreaves Lansdown is a FTSE 100 company and the largest investment platform in the UK. Its core mission is to build long-term client relationships by becoming a trusted partner and financial champion, ultimately helping you increase your financial security for the future.
If you choose to invest with Hargreaves Lansdown, you will gain access to over 2,500 funds, UK and overseas shares, ETFs, ETCs, investment trusts and more. With Hargreaves Lansdown, you can build your investment portfolio in one of two ways depending on your investing savviness: Beginner investors or those who prefer to choose a ready-made investment portfolio can build their portfolios by choosing from a range of ready-made options where the team of experts at Hargreaves Lansdown will take care of the day-to-day investment decisions for you. Advanced or more confident investors can choose from a wide range of funds, shares and other investments and build their portfolios themselves.
Hargreaves Lansdown does not charge a platform fee on its Fund and Share Account but charges 0.45% (capped at £45) a year on its ISA and 0.45% (capped at £200) a year on its SIPP. It offers most products, including a Fund and Share Account, Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA, Junior ISA, and SIPP. These services are intended for investors who are happy making their own decisions.
Capital at risk. The fees quoted here are not exhaustive. Other charges apply.
Saxo Markets is the UK division of Saxo Bank, a large European bank and investment platform that allows you to invest in 71,000+ financial products from stock markets around the world, including London, New York, Hong Kong, and 50+ other global markets. With Saxo Markets, you can invest your ISA allowance in more than 11,000 global stocks, ETFs and bonds.
Saxo Markets allows you to build your stocks and shares ISA portfolio in two ways depending on your investing savviness: beginner investors or those who prefer a ready-made investment portfolio can select from one of the managed portfolios on offer, where Saxo experts navigate the markets and manage your investments on your behalf. One managed portfolio gives you access to thousands of bonds and shares in a single investment. The average cost of this managed portfolio is 0.95% per year (including fund costs). Advanced or more confident investors can choose from the range of financial products on offer and build their portfolios themselves.
The minimum deposit to open a Saxo stocks and shares ISA is £500. There is an annual platform fee ranging from 0.12% to 0.08%, depending on the size of your portfolio. Fund management and share dealing fees also apply. Saxo Markets’ suite of products includes a Trading Account, Stocks and Shares ISA and SIPP.
Capital at risk.
Moneyfarm is a UK robo advisor that provides you with a personalised investment plan based on your risk preferences and goals. With Moneyfarm, you can invest in one of seven risk-rated portfolios recommended to you based on the result of an online assessment. Each portfolio comprises a mix of cost-efficient exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other passive index trackers. Moneyfarm also offers ethical or ESG investment options for those who want to invest in line with their values.
Moneyfarm’s customers benefit from free and personalised digital financial advice from Moneyfarm’s investment consultants, and you can chat, phone, email, or meet your consultant in person. To get started, you will be asked to complete a short survey so that Moneyfarm can better understand how you approach your finances before matching you to your investment portfolio and consultant.
You can start investing with Moneyfarm with as little as £500. Moneyfarm charges an annual management fee depending on how you choose to invest, ranging from 0.75% to 0.35% on the total value of your portfolio. An annual fund management fee of 0.20% (average) also applies to all portfolios. This is built into the cost of the ETF or tracker fund on any given day, so you will not see fund charges being deducted from your portfolio directly. Moneyfarm’s suite of products includes a Stocks and Shares ISA, Junior ISA, General Investment Account, and Personal Pension.
Capital at risk.
Wealthify is a UK robo advisor that allows you to choose from five investment plans based on your attitude to risk. These investment plans are named Cautious, Tentative, Confident, Ambitious and Adventurous and allow you to choose a risk level that best suits your needs. If you are conscious about the environment or would simply like to invest in line with your values, Wealthify’s five portfolios are also available as ethical investment plans, so you can stay true to your values while potentially growing your money.
With Wealthify, the minimum investment is £1, and you can withdraw your money anytime. There is an annual platform fee of 0.60%, and fund management fees range from 0.16% to 0.70% per year, depending on your chosen investment theme. Once you complete the signup process, you can start investing with a lump sum of £1, which you can top up as frequently as you want.
Wealthify’s suite of products includes a General Investment Account, Stocks and Shares ISA, Junior ISA and SIPP in both Original and Ethical themes.
Capital at risk.
Vanguard is a low-cost investment platform with over 75 own-brand funds, including ETFs, active funds and index funds. Vanguard does not offer stocks and shares, but there are various ETFs on offer for those interested in exchange-traded securities.
The Vanguard Stocks and Shares ISA allows you to build an investment portfolio in two ways depending on your investing savviness: beginner investors or those who prefer a ready-made investment portfolio can build their portfolio by selecting one of Vanguard’s ready-made portfolios, which give you access to thousands of bonds and shares in a single investment. Advanced or more confident investors can choose from over 75 individual Vanguard funds and ETFs and build their portfolios themselves.
To open a Vanguard Stocks and Shares ISA, you need at least £100 per month or a lump sum of £500. There is a yearly management fee of 0.15% (capped at £375) per year. Some of the funds on offer have separate charges, so please check these before investing. Vanguard’s suite of products includes a Stocks and Shares ISA, Junior ISA, General Account and SIPP.
Capital at risk.
Typically, your annual charge depends on whether you hold funds or shares in your Stocks and Shares ISA. Here, we assume you will invest in funds only.
If you plan to invest in individual stocks and shares, use our dedicated investment comparison tool for shares. If you are considering ready-made or managed portfolios, use our dedicated comparison tool for robo advisors.
The investment platform comparison tool below shows the annual charges (platform and dealing charges only) for holding funds in Self-Select or DIY ISAs.
A Self-Select ISA is a type of Stocks and Shares ISA that gives you the freedom to select the specific investments that make up your portfolio. Depending on the provider you choose, you’ll have the option to either select individual shares, bonds, funds, etc. and manage your portfolio yourself or choose from a range of managed and ready-made portfolios.
To make the best use of the table below, click on the column headers to sort from the most expensive to the cheapest investment platform and vice versa.
To make the best use of the table below, click on the column headers to sort from the most expensive to the cheapest investment platform and vice versa.
For example, if you want to see the cheapest platforms for regular investments of £100 per month, click once on the £100 per month header. To see the most expensive platform for a lump sum investment of £20k, click twice on the £20,000 lump sum header.
Continue this exercise on all the headers until you find what you are looking for. Then, scroll down to read our assumptions and to learn more about Self-Select ISAs.
Capital at risk. ISA rules apply. Other charges apply.
| Platform | £100 per Month | £500 per Month | £1,000 per Month | £20,000 Lump Sum | £100,000 Lump Sum | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 26 | 34 | 56 | 256 | DETAILS |
.png) | 3 | 13 | 26 | 80 | 375 | DETAILS |
 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 212 | DETAILS |
| 3 | 13 | 26 | 80 | 400 | DETAILS |
 | 2 | 11 | 23 | 70 | 350 | DETAILS |
 | 2 | 8 | 16 | 50 | 250 | DETAILS |
 | 39 | 53 | 71 | 95 | 310 | DETAILS |
 | 2 | 11 | 23 | 70 | 350 | DETAILS |
 | 2 | 8 | 16 | 50 | 250 | DETAILS |
| 72 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 72 | DETAILS |
 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 74 | 74 | DETAILS |
| 3 | 15 | 29 | 90 | 450 | DETAILS |
 | 2 | 8 | 16 | 50 | 250 | DETAILS |
| 144 | 144 | 144 | 144 | 144 | DETAILS |
| 240 | 240 | 240 | 240 | 240 | DETAILS |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | DETAILS |
 | 160 | 160 | 160 | 120 | 120 | DETAILS |
 | 2 | 11 | 23 | 70 | 275 | DETAILS |
 | 2 | 11 | 23 | 70 | 350 | DETAILS |
 | 24 | 24 | 27 | 60 | 250 | DETAILS |
| 1 | 5 | 10 | 30 | 150 | DETAILS |
 | 3 | 13 | 26 | 80 | 350 | DETAILS |
When you invest in a fund, the fund manager will add various charges to the fund, including a fund management fee. We haven’t included any fund management fees in our calculations, just the platform and dealing fees.
If you would like an idea of how fund management fees could impact the total amount you pay to a platform, have a look at our other Stocks and Shares ISA comparison tool - Best Robo Advisors.
The calculations above are based on the following scenarios:
For regular investments, we assume you’ll make 12 deals each year or one deal every month.
For lump sums, we assume you’ll make four deals a year.
A deal is either one of buying or selling an investment. It is also called a trade.
We use the colours green, amber, and red to indicate how expensive or cheap an investment platform is compared to the others. The cheapest investment platforms are coloured green, the more expensive ones red, and the others amber.
Keep in mind that a platform showing up as green doesn’t make it the best investment platform for you, as cheap doesn’t always equal good. Some of the more expensive platforms could have a wider variety of stocks, bonds, funds, ETFs, etc., depending on what you are looking for.
If you are investing small amounts and choose to go with the cheapest Stocks and Shares ISA platform for that amount, note that some of the more expensive platforms become cheaper as your pot increases. Consider Interactive Investor and Halifax Share Dealing, for example.
Additionally, we show the costs which apply to the first year only. It is important to mention this because, with platforms like iWeb, your charges reduce after the first year. Whereas with platforms like EQi, your charges might increase after the first year.
Finally, for each provider listed in our Stocks and Shares ISA comparison table, your money is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
An investment platform is essentially a service that allows you to buy, sell, and manage a range of investment products such as stocks, bonds, funds, ETFs, and more. Much like an online supermarket, an investment platform offers a diverse selection of investment products from various providers. It can be seen as an intermediary between you and the global investment market, and these platforms often come with tools to help you manage your investments more effectively.
To better understand investment platforms, let’s illustrate with a few examples:
Each type of investment platform has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of which to use will depend on various factors, including your investment goals, your level of investment knowledge, the amount of time you have to manage your investments, and the level of control you want over your investment decisions.
To invest money in the UK, you’ll need to choose an investment product and platform, pick a tax wrapper, research stocks, index funds and ETFs, develop an investment strategy, open an account, invest regularly, and monitor your portfolio.
Here is a detailed breakdown of how to invest money in the UK:
Choosing the right investment platform is a pivotal step in your investing journey. It can seem overwhelming initially, especially with numerous options available. However, by focusing on your specific needs and investment objectives, you can find a platform that fits your preferences.
Here’s a simplified guide to help you choose the right investment platform:
By taking the time to consider your needs and objectives, evaluate your options, and understand the costs involved, you’ll be well-positioned to choose an investment platform that’s a perfect fit for you. Remember, investing is a long-term journey, and choosing the right platform is a crucial step on this journey.
The total cost of your investment depends on a number of factors, including the platform you choose, the type of investments you hold and the total value of your investments.
Here is a breakdown of some of the fees you might pay when investing in the UK:
For beginners, it is often advisable to start with simple and diversified investment products, such as index funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs). These funds invest in a wide range of assets (like stocks or bonds) which follow a specific market index. They offer an easy way to spread your money across multiple investments, reducing the risk compared to investing in individual stocks. A popular choice among beginners is a low-cost global index fund such as the Vanguard FTSE Global All Cap Index Fund, which provides broad exposure to thousands of companies around the world.
The choice between stocks, index funds, and ETFs largely depends on your risk tolerance, investment knowledge, and time commitment. Investing in individual stocks can yield high returns if you pick the right ones, but it also involves higher risk and requires a considerable amount of research. On the other hand, index funds and ETFs are typically more diversified, thus reducing risk. They also require less time and knowledge to manage, making them a preferable choice for beginners and those with a more passive investment strategy.
A great starting point for first-time investors might be a low-cost index fund or ETF that tracks a broad market index. This provides broad exposure to a wide range of companies and sectors, which helps diversify your portfolio and spread out risk. Funds that track large indices, such as the S&P 500 or the FTSE 100, are popular choices for beginners due to their wide diversification and simplicity.
Here are the best investment platforms for beginners in the UK:
The best investments that generate regular income in the UK include dividend-paying stocks, bonds, or real estate investment trusts (REITs). Dividend stocks distribute a portion of the company’s earnings to shareholders, while bonds pay regular interest. REITs, which invest in commercial properties, pay out a portion of their rental income to investors.
For instance, UK companies like Vodafone and Unilever or US companies like Apple and Microsoft often pay regular dividends to their shareholders.
Bonds, such as UK government bonds (also known as gilts), offer regular interest payments, providing a steady income.
In terms of REITs, Tritax Big Box REIT PLC, a UK REIT that focuses on large-scale logistics real estate, is an example that distributes a portion of its rental income to investors.
Finally, an income-focused fund like the iShares UK Dividend UCITS ETF (IUKD) could be a good option as it combines these income-producing investments. Always remember that investments can go down as well as up, and you may not get back the original amount invested.
The cheapest investment platform in the UK is InvestEngine. InvestEngine stands out amongst its competitors as the cheapest investment platform because it charges no platform or management fee on its DIY Portfolio and just 0.25% a year on its managed portfolio. However, please note that with InvestEngine, you can only invest in or trade exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Investing £100k safely involves diversification and taking advantage of tax-efficient accounts. You could diversify by investing in a blend of assets such as stocks, bonds, ETFs, and index funds. A tax-efficient account like a Stocks and Shares ISA or SIPP is an excellent tool for enhancing your returns. For instance, a Stocks and Shares ISA allows you to invest up to £20,000 tax-free, while a SIPP offers tax relief on pension contributions.
Achieving a tenfold increase in your investment is ambitious and would typically require a combination of strategic investing, time, and a fair amount of risk. Consistent investing in a diversified portfolio, reinvesting any returns, and allowing your investments to grow over a long period can help you reach this goal. Remember, however, that all investing involves risk, and it is important to only invest money you can afford to lose.
There’s no definitive age by which you should have £100k invested, as this greatly depends on your personal circumstances, including income, financial obligations, and your saving and investment goals. However, the principle of ‘the earlier, the better’ generally applies to investing. This is due to the power of compound interest, which allows your investments to grow exponentially over time - the longer your money is invested, the more potential it has to grow.
For example, if you start investing £200 a month at age 25, assuming an average annual return of 5%, you would have over £100k by the time you reach your mid-40s. However, if you start investing the same amount at age 35, you won’t reach £100k until your mid-50s.
It is important to set realistic investment goals, develop a consistent investment plan, and start as early as possible to maximise the potential of your investments. Also, it is never too late to start investing. Even if you’ve passed these ages, starting to invest now can still help improve your financial future.
Here are the best investment platforms in the UK:
Every month, we’ll send you The Plug - a curation of the best personal finance content in the UK. We share real-life stories, how-to guides, top personal finance news, popular community questions, and tips to help you stay on top of your money.
