Best Stocks and Shares ISAs 2024
Sammie Ellard-King
I’m Sammie, a money expert and business owner passionate about helping you take control of your wallet. My mission with Up the Gains is to create a safe space to help improve your finances, cut your costs and make you feel good while doing it.
You’ll need an account with low fees, access to a wide range of investments and one with a good reputation.
Don’t forget every adult can invest up to £20,000 per tax year as part of your ISA allowance.
Put simply:
- DIY – you choose your investments yourself (usually lower fees but you are solely in control)
- Robo advisor – you answer a series of questions and based on your answers you are match with a suitable portfolio with. no human interaction.
- Expert Managed – you answer a series of questions and are assisted by a human to create you a suitable portfolio.
For me the best DIY ISA is currently InvestEngine* due to their fantastic selection of funds, easy to use mobile app and commission free investing.
They’re also running an offer right now which gives you £50 cashback when you invest your first £100 (T&C’s Apply) and they have an expert managed option also available.
My personal favourite for the best robo stocks and shares ISA right now is Moneyfarm*. They provide free financial advice as part of the service, tailor their funds based on your risk profile and their fees get smaller the more you invest but you do need £500 to start an account.Â
Best Stocks and Shares ISA
- Important Note
You capital is at risk when you invest. If you decide to invest it’s recommended to have a long term mindset (5 years or more). ISA rules apply.
Below we split the accounts by robo-advisors and self-invested (DIY) starting with the best robo-advisors.Â
These ISA platforms includes apps, websites, high street banks and robo-advisors giving you access to global markets where you can purchase stocks, ETFs (exchange-traded funds), bonds, investment trusts and other investing products
Best Robo Advisor / Expert Managed ISAs
- MoneyFarm* – Best Ready Made ISAs
- InvestEngine* – Best For Fund Investing
- Moneybox* – Best Roundup ISA
- Wealthify* – Best For Low Budget Entry
Best DIY ISAs
- InvestEngine* – Best For Fund Investing
- Trading 212* – Best Mobile App
- Hargreaves Lansdown* – Most Trusted
- Plum* – Best Saving & Investing App
- FreeTrade – Best For Low Cost Investing
If you want further information on any of the products then we have full reviews also available further down the page.
Best Robo Stocks And Shares ISA
| Platform | Min Deposit | Management Fee | Average Fund fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moneyfarm* | £500 (initial) / £25 after | Free for 12 months | 0.75% - 0.35% (annual) | 0.3% |
| InvestEngine* | £100 - Get £25 cashback (T&C's Apply) | 0.25% | 0.23% |
| Wealthify* | £1 | 0.6% | 0.16% or 0.7% |
| Moneybox* | £1 | 0.45% + £1 a month subscription | 0.17 - 0.58% |
Robo-advisors run off technology and algorithms to provide investors with financial products that require little or no human supervision.Â
Expert financial advisors and investors will create the funds within the robo-advisors in what is also called a managed portfolio or ready made portfolio.
They work by asking you a series of questions to establish your financial goals, risk tolerance and investment preferences. These types of accounts are fantastic for beginners and hands-off investors who want experts to manage their money for them.
Below we have included a table for our recommended robo ISAs.
Best DIY ISA
| Platform | Min Deposit | Cost | Buy / Sell Share Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| InvestEngine* | £100 (initial) / £25 after | None | Funds only |
| Trading 212* | £10 | £1 a month | Free (other fees apply) |
| Hargreaves Lansdown* | £100 / £25 monthly | 0.45% yearly | £9.95 |
| Plum* | £1 | £2.99 - £9.99 monthly | 0.45% |
| Freetrade | £2 | £5.99 a month | Free (other fees apply) |
With a DIY ISA be prepared to do it all yourself. You need to research, invest and keep track of all of your own investments.
Make sure you’re aware of the platform fees, dealing fees and fund charges before making an investment.
It’s important to note that fund charges will vary by fund and this amount will be displayed on the platform of your choice.Â
Below we have put together a table which includes our recommended DIY ISAs.
InvestEngine
Key Features
- Ready made & DIY ISAs
- Annual Platform Fees: 0% -0.25%
- Minimum deposit: £100
For ETF investing, we don't think you can get better than InvestEngine. It's literally what they do.
There are no fees on their DIY portfolios for 500+ exchange-traded funds from iShares, Vanguard and Blackrock.
They also have expert-managed options that manage your money for just 0.25% a year.
EXCLUSIVE OFFER - Get up to a £50 BONUS when you invest your first £100 (T&C's Apply)
- Lowest fees on the market
- Brilliant for beginners
- 4.5/5 Trustpilot score
- Does not pay interest on cash balances
- No pensions
What I like about InvestEngine
InvestEngine offers access to over 500 exchange-traded funds from leading brands like Vanguard and Blackrock (iShares).
They offer both ready-made portfolios depending on your personal risk tolerance and the opportunity to choose your investments yourself.
Their fees are very low compared to the other accounts here, and they are very easy to set up with an account online in minutes.
Trading 212
Key Features
- DIY ISAs & Investment Funds
- Annual Platform Fee: Free
- Min deposit: £1
Trading 212 provides access to over 10,000 stocks, funds, ETFs and investment trusts.
They offer commission-free trading and their auto investing feature is excellent.
OUR OFFER - GET A FREE SHARE WORTH UP TO £100 WHEN YOU DEPOSIT £1 WITH OUR LINK
- Commission free trading
- Earn interest on uninvested cash
- Fantastic mobile app
- Award winning ISA
- No personal pension
What I like about Trading 212
Trading 212 is for me hands down the cheapest and the best investment ISA in the UK right now.Â
They provide access to a range of over 10,000 stocks and funds plus have the ability to create your own funds called investment pies.
With commission free investing and a highly engaging mobile app you’ll be hard pressed to find a better ISA on the market right now.
Moneyfarm​
Key Features
- Ready made ISA
- Min Deposit: £500
- Annual Platform Fee: 0.75% - 0.35%
Award-winning investing app, offering handpicked expert-managed portfolios. Simple investing at its finest.
Min initial deposit £500
- Expert managed portfolios
- Free financial advice
- ISAs available
- Low fees
- Not for individual stock pickers
What I like about Moneyfarm
Moneyfarm is one of the best performing robo-advisors on the market.
They provide financial products and advice to their users using a complex set of algorithms uniquely tailored you suggesting a wide range of investment opportunities.
They have a range of portfolios suited to each individual and establish this with you through a financial questionnaire when you sign up.
These also include Ethical (ESG) options too alongside personal pensions and general investment accounts.
Moneybox
Key Features
- Ready made & DIY ISAs
- Annual platform fee: 0.45%
- Minimum deposit: £1
Moneybox works a little differently. It rounds up your spare change when you spend money.
You can use these round-up funds to invest straight through Moneybox. This is an app to use once you have your budgeting on point.
There is a £1 per month subscription fee, and for me, Moneybox is the perfect option for those looking for a more extensive selection of savings accounts like ISAs and equally investing too.
- Award winning personal finance app
- ISAs and savings accounts available
- Excellent Lifetime ISAs
- More of a tool once you have your budgeting sorted
What I like about Moneybox
Moneybox is one of the most popular low cost ISA providers and investment apps in the UK. The app is fantastic and has so many great features to help savers and investors.
The investing arm of the business gives you access to some of the worlds best ETFs, funds and stocks so you have a suite of products to choose from.Â
They offer self and expert managed options so they really do cater for all types of investors.
They also offer the ability to round-up purchases directly into your chosen accounts alongside personal pensions and more!
Wealthify​
Key Features
- Robo-Advisor / Ready Made ISAs
- Annual Platform Fee: 0.6%
- Min deposit: £1
Popular robo-advisor with 5 expert-managed portfolios tailored to your investing style.
- No minimum investment - portfolios start at £1
- Engaging app and user experience
- Charge a flat rate - keeping fees simple
- Not for those who want to pick individual stocks
What I like about Wealthify
For those looking for a hands off but high quality investment platform then look no further than Wealthify.Â
Wealthify really do keep it simple and are also part of the robo-advisor breed of investment apps.
Their approach is similar to Moneyfarm’s where they ask you questions based on your personal profile and tailor a strategy for you after this.
Plum
Key Features
- Ready made & DIY ISAs
- Annual plaform fee: £12 (first month free)
- Min Deposit: £1
Plum is the award-wining ultimate smart money app, helping over 1 million people to invest, save and manage their spending with automation.
I'm personally using the app as part of my savings plan and absolutely love their automatic saving features.
What I like about Plum
We love Plum. It’s a super slick and easy to use app that’s also in the robo advisor category. Signing up took less than 5 minutes.
It connects all your banks, displaying a real-time view of your income and expenses alongside 21 investment funds and over 3000 individual stocks to choose from.Â
It can also make recommendations for your investing based on your income and spending habits and can then automatically invest into your chosen funds each month.
They have a free option which is brilliant and paid upgrade available too!
We particulary like the dashboard where you can see your savings pots and investment portfolio results.
Hargreaves Lansdown​
Key Features
- DIY & Ready made ISAs
- Annual Platform Fee: Varies by fund / £11.95 per trade (Single stocks)
- Min Deposit: £100 lump or £25 per month
One of the most popular investing platforms in the UK. With a range of ISAs, SIPPs and share dealing accounts.
They have over 15,000 instruments available but I think it's more suited to larger investors for individual trading and for fund investing for lower income investors.
If you have a small amount to trade with you might be better suited with another lower commission provider.
- Award winning investment and trading provider
- First class educational and research tools
- FTSE100 company and highly trusted in the UK
- Fantastic customer service
- Over 5000 5 star reviews on Trustpilot
- High individual trading fees
- Only in GBP currency
What I like about Hargreaves Lansdown
This award-winning broker has access to thousands of stocks, ETFs and index funds.
It has extensive research available for index funds and blurbs on the fund managers themselves which is great.Â
The trading accounts can charge up to £11.95 for a single trade so they’re not really an option for those who aren’t day traders.
They also offer fantastic customer service, with personal account management and financial planning available alongside a more comprehensive suite of services.
Freetrade
Key Features
- Stocks and Shares ISAs and multiple account types
- Annual Platform Fee: 0% (monthly costs for paid plans)
- Minimum Deposit: £1
What I like about Freetrade
Freetrade plans to get everyone investing.Â
The platform has a fantastic user experience where they make investing simple and easy to access, which we of course like a lot!
The app has highly visual stock charts, updates and research available.Â
They also have a suite of different types of accounts available including a free general investing account, stocks and shares ISA, and a SIPP.
This investment ISA provider is fantastic for beginners and you also get a free share when you sign up worth up to £100… I got Nike when I signed up.
Full Brand Reviews
Types of Stocks & Shares ISAs
Stocks & Shares ISAs
Stocks and Shares ISAs are a tax-free way of investing in the stock market in the UK. You can invest £20,000 per year and the profits are not subject to capital gains tax.Â
These account types provide you access to the stock market and the potential returns that come with it.
It essentially a place for you to house your investment portfolio.
Junior Stocks and Shares ISAs
Junior ISAs allow you to give your children a tax-free head start in life. You can open a Junior ISA for each of your children if they’re under the age of 18.Â
This money can be kept in cash or invested and you also keep all of the gains you may receive.
The tax allowance for each Junior Stocks and Shares ISAs is £9000 and this does not affect your £20k annual ISA allowance for your personal ISA.
Ethical ISAs
Ethical ISAs follow similar principles to a standard Stocks and Shares ISA. The difference being where your money is invested.Â
The funds or stocks within these ISAs look to invest in ESG (environmental, social, governance) funds that are green focused or looking to benefit the planet in some way.
Lifetime Stocks and Shares ISAs
Lifetime Stocks and Shares ISAs allow you to invest up to £4000 a year and receive a £1000 (25%) government bonus.Â
They differ slightly from the standard Lifetime ISAs which you would usually only save into.
These products are great for those looking to put money away for retirement or their first home.Â
If you withdraw before you retire or buy your first home, then you lose your bonus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most frequent questions and answers when it comes to the best stocks and shares ISAs
What is a Stocks and Shares ISA?
A Stocks and Shares ISA is an investment account that allows you to invest in shares, bonds and funds with up to £20,000 tax-free contributions per year.Â
The interest, gains or dividends you receive from these accounts are not subject to capital gains tax or income tax.
That’s the great thing about ISAs is not having to pay tax.
What is the tax-free allowance for a Stocks and Shares ISA?
The personal savings allowance or ISA limit as it’s also known for a Stocks and Shares ISA is £20,000.Â
You can split your yearly ISA allowance across other ISA products like a Cash ISA or Lifetime ISA but the overall amount must be £20,000 or less.
Nobody likes paying tax and so the tax free benefits of an ISA are huge and these investment platforms are great way to build wealth.
Is it easy to withdraw from a Stocks and Shares ISA?
Yes, it is very easy to withdraw from a Stocks and Shares ISA. If your funds are invested you will need to sell your holdings into cash before you can withdraw them.
It is important to note that whatever you sell your holdings for could be less or more than the original purchase price.
Be sure there is no platform fee for withdrawing as this can add up.
What are the pros and cons of a Stocks and Shares ISA?
Pros
- Tax-free investing
- Historically performs better than other ISA products
- You can transfer your ISA to other providers
- Diverse range of investment opportunities
- Options for self-managed or expert managed investment portfolios
Cons
- You may get back less than you put in
- There are fees for investing in certain products
How many stocks and shares ISAs can I have?
You can have as many stocks and shares ISAs as you like but you can only open and contribute to one each tax year. The tax year in the UK runs from 6th April to 5th April.
What type of investments can I make from a Stocks and Shares ISA?
You can invest in a range of different assets including stocks, funds, investment trusts, bonds and REITs (real estate investment trusts). ISA providers will have a range of different investment options available and some will differ from others.
It’s important to check with your ISA provider before opening an account to ensure their selection of investments are suitable for you.Â
You can use our list above as a guide.
What is better a Cash ISA or Stocks and Shares ISA?
Neither is better than the other as they have very different purposes.Â
Cash ISAs are great for saving and shorter term goals whilst Stocks and Shares ISAs are great for investing and longer term financial goals.
What is the best stocks and shares ISA for beginners?
The best stocks and shares ISAs for beginners are Moneybox, Moneyfarm and Wealthify.Â
These accounts are robo-advisors and expert managed often by a dedicated Fund Manager with low costs and great performance. This allows you to invest hands off and make good returns.
Each person is unique but there is always an investment ISA suitable for beginners. Just make sure you do you research and be sure to check over the platform fees before committing.
Round Up
We hope you’ve found some useful information on the best investment ISA.Â
These individual saving accounts are your access to the stock market and are designed to help you create long-term wealth.Â
Returns from an investment ISA can far outweigh those from a Cash ISA provider over the long term, but short term remember you could lose money so we encourage you to think about your financial plan before committing any capital.
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- Disclaimer
This article does not constitute financial advice, and we are not financial advisors. We may earn a small commission if you click on one of these links. Your capital is at risk, and you may get back less than you put in. If you are worried about money or investments, please seek independent financial advice.
