If you only want my top pick for investing, it’s Trading 212 for a DIY stocks and shares ISA, where I hold my own. If you’d rather the cheapest way to buy ETFs, look at InvestEngine. Every other comparison on Up the Gains is below: pick the kind of account you’re after and you’ll see the providers side by side, with fees and scores checked on their own sites in October 2026.
When you invest, your capital is at risk.
Which comparison do you need?
| I want to… | Comparison | My current pick |
|---|---|---|
| Invest tax-free | Best Stocks and Shares ISAs | Trading 212 |
| Find an app to invest with | Best investing apps | Trading 212 |
| Save for retirement | Best pension providers | InvestEngine |
| Invest for my kids | Best Junior Stocks and Shares ISAs | IG Junior ISA |
| Get more interest on my savings | The 3 savings accounts everyone should have | Chip |
| See where my money goes | Best budgeting apps | Snoop |
| Save without thinking about it | Best money saving apps | Plum |
The big platforms at a glance
- Platform fee
- Free
- ISA
- Yes
- SIPP
- Yes
- Platform fee
- FreeISA, GIA, Junior ISA, self-managed SIPP
- ISA
- Yes
- SIPP
- Yes
- Platform fee
- FreeDIY; 0.25% (Managed)
- ISA
- Yes
- SIPP
- Yes
- Platform fee
- FreeBasic; Standard £4.99/mo, Plus £9.99/mo billed annually
- ISA
- Yes
- SIPP
- Yes
- Platform fee
- £1/mo subscriptionFree first 3 months; waived with £5k+ + 0.15% on Moneybox funds or 0.45% on other funds
- ISA
- Yes
- SIPP
- Yes
- Platform fee
- 0.35%Shares capped at £150/yr
- ISA
- Yes
- SIPP
- Yes
- Platform fee
- 0.45% managementTo £50k; 0.20% £50k-£100k; 0.10% £100k-£1.5m + 0.25% platform fee (min £1.25/mo)
- ISA
- Yes
- SIPP
- Yes
- Platform fee
- FreeCustody £0 under €250k
- ISA
- Yes
- SIPP
- No
- Platform fee
- From £5.99/moCore, up to £100k; Plus £14.99/mo; Premium £39.99/mo
- ISA
- Yes
- SIPP
- Yes
Last checked 29 October 2026. Fees and offers change, so check before you open an account. Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Capital at risk.
Vanguard Investor isn’t in the table, but it’s worth a look if all you want is Vanguard’s own index funds. Here’s my Vanguard review.
Head-to-head comparisons and full reviews
Head to head
- eToro vs Trading 212
- eToro vs Freetrade vs Trading 212
- Moneybox vs Moneyfarm
- Moneyfarm vs Nutmeg
- Cash ISA vs Stocks and Shares ISA
- SIPP vs ISA
- GIA vs Stocks and Shares ISA
Platform reviews
- Trading 212 review
- InvestEngine review
- Freetrade review
- Lightyear review
- eToro review
- Moneybox review
- Moneyfarm review
- Nutmeg (J.P. Morgan Personal Investing) review
How do investment platform fees work?
Platforms charge in one of four main ways, and which one is cheapest depends on how much you have and what you buy.
- No platform fee: the app makes its money elsewhere, often from FX fees when you buy foreign shares.
- Percentage fee: a slice of your pot each year, so the bill grows as your money grows.
- Flat fee: a fixed monthly charge, whatever the size of your pot.
- Managed fee: robo-advisers charge more each year to pick and run your investments for you.
On top of that, look for dealing fees (per buy or sell), FX fees, and the fund’s own yearly charge, which you pay wherever you hold it.
A quick example: a 0.3% fee costs £30 a year on £10,000 but £600 on £200,000. A flat £10 a month is £120 a year either way, so in that example the flat fee wins once you’re above £40,000. My best investing apps guide goes through every fee in more detail.
How to choose
- DIY or managed? Pick your own investments and pay less, or let a robo-adviser do it for a higher fee.
- Which accounts do you need? If you want an ISA and a pension in one place, check the provider offers both.
- What will it cost you? Add up the platform fee, dealing fees and FX fees for how you’ll actually invest.
- How big is your pot? Percentage fees tend to suit smaller pots and flat fees bigger ones.
- Is it regulated? Search the provider on the FCA register before you sign up.
How I check the numbers
Every fee, minimum and account type in these tables comes from each provider’s own website, and the scores come from Trustpilot. The last full check was in October 2026, and the date at the top of each comparison shows when it was last checked. Fees and offers change, so always check the provider’s site before you sign up.
New to investing?
Get my free Checklist: the steps I would follow to open and fill an ISA without the classic mistakes. Plus one email a week, unsubscribe any time.
FAQs
What’s the cheapest investment platform in the UK?
It depends on what you buy and how much you have. For ETFs, platforms with no platform, dealing or FX fee are cheapest. For individual shares, commission-free apps usually win on smaller pots, while a flat fee platform can work out cheaper on a big pot. Remember to add fund charges and FX fees, not just the headline fee.
How do free investment platforms make money?
Usually through FX fees on foreign shares, keeping part of the interest earned on cash you haven’t invested, paid subscription plans, and sometimes other products like CFDs. Free can still be the cheapest option, as long as you know where the cost sits.
Can I have ISAs with more than one provider?
Yes. Since April 2024 you can pay into more than one ISA of the same type in the same tax year, as long as your total stays within the £20,000 allowance. So you could pay into a stocks and shares ISA with one provider and another with a second provider in the same year. The exception is the Lifetime ISA: only one a year.
Should I keep all my investments on one platform?
One platform is simplest to manage. FSCS cover for investments is up to £85,000 per person, per firm, but it’s a backstop: your investments are held separately from the firm’s own money in the first place. Some people with bigger pots split them across two platforms for peace of mind.
How do I transfer between providers?
Start the transfer with your new provider, not the old one, and never withdraw the money yourself or it loses its ISA status. Transfers don’t count towards your yearly allowance. Your investments either move across as they are, or get sold and moved as cash. ISA transfers usually take a few weeks, and pensions can take longer. My guide on how to transfer an ISA has the details.
What’s the difference between a managed and a DIY portfolio?
With DIY, you pick the investments yourself and pay platform and dealing fees, but you’re in full control. With a managed portfolio, the provider builds and rebalances it for you based on your goals and risk, and you pay a higher fee for that. Moneyfarm and Wealthify are managed; Trading 212, Freetrade and InvestEngine are DIY; Moneybox does both.
Are these providers safe? What happens if one goes bust?
Check the provider is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. Your investments should be held separately from the company’s own money, and if anything is missing the FSCS can cover eligible investments up to £85,000 per person, per firm. It protects you if the provider fails, not if your investments fall in value.
Should I go for low fees or better features?
Both matter, but fees compound. If your money grows by 5% a year (which isn’t guaranteed), a 0.5% difference in fees on £50,000 over 30 years costs you roughly £29,000. Features matter when they change your behaviour, like round-ups or auto-investing that keep you investing every month.