The best stocks and shares Isas: Compare the top providers
- Which provider do you use? Email sam.bromley@thisismoney.co.uk to let us know what you like and dislike about your platform of choice
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Finding the best stocks and shares Isa for your circumstances is essential, because it's a vital tool for building your wealth thanks to its tax-free perks.
There is a huge range on offer and the stocks and shares Isa that's right for you depends on how you want to invest.
Investing comes with more decisions to make than saving cash, which usually involves simply picking an account with a best-buy savings rate. Do you want to pick shares, choose funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or have your investing platform do the work for you? The answer to this should heavily influence which platform you choose.
We run through the best stocks and shares Isas below, from do-it-yourself platforms to providers that can manage your investments for you. We explain our pick of platforms to try depending on the type of investor you are.
> Read more: Our pick of the best investment platforms
Best stocks and shares Isa: At-a-glance view for DIY investors
- For beginners who want low fees and ready-made options: AJ Bell Dodl*
- For straightforward account fees: Charles Stanley Direct*
- For dedicated investment research and customer support: Hargreaves Lansdown*
- For keeping fees low as your pot grows: Interactive Investor*
- For investing in exchange-traded funds (ETFs): InvestEngine*
- For potentially zero-cost investing: Prosper*
- For intermediate investors who want low fees: Trading 212*
If you're looking to save tax-efficiently for retirement, read our guide to the best self-invested personal pensions (Sipps) for more on the top providers.
How we review stocks and shares Isa providers
This is Money's view of the best stocks and shares Isa providers is informed by the team's experience of testing and reviewing different investing platforms.
We consider fees primarily, but the cheapest stocks and shares Isa won't always be the best for you. For this reason we also consider investment choice, how easy it is to use the platform, the research and educational content on offer, plus customer service. Read more about how we test and review investment platforms.
Why trust us
Sam is This is Money's Money and Consumer Guides Writer. He has more than a decade of experience writing about financial products, including Isas and Sipps, and invests using both a managed stocks and shares Isa and a do-it-yourself one. He's tested several investing platforms and keeps up-to-date with the fees that each charges.
He's written for Simply Business, the Financial Ombudsman Service and NerdWallet, where he was Lead Writer.
Should you choose a do-it-yourself Isa or a managed one?
It can be daunting to know where to start. But when building long-term wealth, it's important to take action, even if that action is relatively small - such as picking an account and setting up a small monthly contribution.
One place to start is whether you want to pick and manage investments yourself or have the investment platform do it for you. Then you can look at the services different stocks and shares Isa platforms provide and their costs.
You can find the best stocks and shares Isas to consider below, separated into DIY investing and managed options.
> Investing for beginners: How to get started
Best stocks and shares Isas for DIY investors
Here's our selection of the top DIY stocks and shares Isa providers to consider, along with how we believe each provider stands out. These are in alphabetical order. Before going ahead, make sure you do your own research and think carefully about your needs and goals.
A good Isa for beginners who want low fees and ready-made options
AJ Bell is a well-known investment platform and Dodl is its app-based offering. It offers cheap access to ready-made investments, with a platform fee of 0.15 per cent (£1 a month minimum) and a fee for ready-made funds of 0.31 per cent, or 0.45 per cent for an ethical alternative. This makes it attractive for those new to investing.
A selection of around 80 stocks lets you get started with choosing your own investments, and you can also pick from a selection of index funds and ETFs under Dodl's 'themed investments' - but for more choice you'll have to move elsewhere.
> Learn more about AJ Bell Dodl*
A good Isa for straightforward account fees
Unlike other investment platforms, Charles Stanley Direct doesn't charge platform fees in different bands – 0.3 per cent is what you'll pay across all of your investments, with a £60 minimum and £600 maximum fee. This keeps fees simple.
Charles Stanley Direct also offers a free, no-obligation 15-minute investment coaching session and although a downside is its high dealing fee of £10 a trade (or £4 for fund dealing), you get £100 in trading credits a year.
> Learn more about Charles Stanley Direct*
A good Isa if you want dedicated investment research and customer support
Hargreaves Lansdown is the biggest and most well-known of the UK's investment platforms. It's particularly regarded for its investment research and customer support, but its account fee is higher than other DIY investing platforms at 0.45 per cent.
Fund dealing is free but share dealing costs £11.95, which is also high. Still, if you'd prefer to choose an established name and think you'll need extensive research and customer support, it's worth considering Hargreaves Lansdown.
> Learn more about Hargreaves Lansdown*
A good Isa for keeping fees low as your pot grows
Interactive Investor is different to other stocks and shares Isa providers because it charges flat account fees, rather than fees as a percentage of your investments. It's £4.99 a month for a stocks and shares Isa up to £50,000 and £11.99 a month above that.
This is good for people with larger pots, because you'll pay the same whether you have £50,000 or £150,000. Just watch out for other fees, for fund dealing for example. This costs £3.99 but other providers offer this at no cost.
> Learn more about Interactive Investor*
A good Isa for investing in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)
InvestEngine was founded in 2019 and has been growing in popularity for its simplified approach to investing. It only offers ETFs, which are products that track the performance of a particular market or sector. There is no account fee when investing yourself and a low 0.25 per cent account fee when choosing a ready-made option.
The low fees and easy access to a diversified range of investments through ETFs make InvestEngine an option to consider for beginners, however it's possible investors may prefer to go with a more well-known name.
> Learn more about InvestEngine*
A good Isa for potentially zero-cost investing
Prosper stands out because it refunds fees on around 30 funds. This along with zero account fees means that you could invest at no cost to you, however as a new platform it's not well-known or tried-and-tested yet among investors, plus it's app-only.
The platform is also worth considering if you want to invest in active investment funds. The likes of Trading 212 and InvestEngine don't allow you to choose Open Ended Investment Companies (OEICs), while Prosper gives you a limited choice of them including Fundsmith Equity and M&G Global Dividend.
A good Isa for intermediate investors who want low fees
Trading 212 can feel a little overwhelming when you first open an account, but you soon get used to it and it's a good low-cost option. It may suit intermediate and experienced investors best but its pies can help you easily build portfolios. There's no account fee or dealing fees and the foreign exchange fees are lower than some other platforms.
Trading 212's social trading features allow you to discuss investments, follow other investors and replicate investment strategies and there's a large range of investments to choose from. Just make sure you stick to its investing accounts rather than opening a CFD trading account. CFDs are very risky and not something that we cover.
> Learn more about Trading 212*
Stocks and shares Isa fees:
| Provider | Account fee | Fund dealing | Standard share, trust, ETF dealing | Investment choice | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AJ Bell* | 0.25% | £1.50 | £5 | Stocks and shares, funds, investment trusts, bonds and gilts, ETFs | Max £3.50 a month account charge when investing in shares, trusts, ETFs | Read more* |
| AJ Bell Dodl* | 0.15% (min £1 a month) | Free (but a smaller choice than other options) | Free | Stocks and shares, funds, ETFs | Around 80 stocks and shares, plus ready-made options | Read more* |
| Bestinvest | 0.40% | Free | £4.95 (US shares free) | Stocks and shares, funds, investment trusts, ETFs | Account fee reduced to 0.20% when choosing a ready-made portfolio | Read more |
| Charles Stanley Direct* | 0.30% | £4 | £10 | Stocks and shares, funds, investment trusts, ETFs | Min platform fee of £60, max of £600. £100 back in free trades per year | Read more* |
| Fidelity* | 0.35% | Free | £7.50 | Stocks and shares, funds, investment trusts, ETFs | If less than £25,000 and no regular savings plan, account fee is £7.50 a month rather than 0.35% | Read more* |
| Freetrade* | Free | Free (but only available on paid tiers) | Free | Stocks and shares, ETFs, investment trusts, funds (on paid subscription) | Standard subscription costs £5.99 a month, Plus subscription costs £11.99 and allows you to add Sipp | Read more* |
| Hargreaves Lansdown* | 0.45% | Free | £11.95 | Stocks and shares, funds, investment trusts, bonds and gilts, ETFs | Account fee capped at £45 a year for shares, trusts, ETFs | Read more* |
| Interactive Investor* | £4.99 a month up to £50,000, £11.99 above | £3.99 | £3.99 | Stocks and shares, funds, investment trusts, bonds and gilts, ETFs | £3.99 to trade UK shares and funds and US shares; £9.99 for other international shares | Our Interactive Investor review |
| InvestEngine* | Free | Not available | Free (only ETFs) | ETFs | No dealing charges, 0.25% account charge when choosing a ready-made option (these are temporarily unavailable) | Our InvestEngine review |
| Prosper* | Free | Free | Not available | Funds, ETFs | Refunded underlying fees on around 30 ETFs | Our Prosper review |
| Trading 212* | Free | Not available | Free | Stocks and shares, investment trusts, ETFs | Competitive interest rate on uninvested cash, no dealing fees | Our Trading 212 review |
| Vanguard | £4 monthly up to £32k, 0.15% above (max £375 a year) | Free (only Vanguard funds available) | Not available | 88 Vanguard funds, Vanguard ready-made portfolios | Vanguard's ready-made portfolios are low-cost, OCF from 0.22% to 0.24% | Read more |
| Source: This is Money based on published information from investment providers, checked 22.10.2025 | ||||||
Managed stocks and shares Isas to consider
If you’d rather make a few decisions before opening a stocks and shares Isa and then have the provider manage your investments, these are some of the best-known options.
| Provider | Account fee | Cost for underlying investments (actively managed options) |
|---|---|---|
| InvestEngine*† | 0.25% | 0.12% on average |
| Moneyfarm | 0.70% | Between 0.21% and 0.24% |
| Nutmeg | 0.75% | Between 0.22% and 0.43% |
| Wealthify* | 0.6% | Between 0.16% and 0.7% |
| Source: This is Money based on published information from investment providers, checked 22.10.25. †New InvestEngine LifePlan and managed portfolios are temporarily unavailable while it makes improvements to these services. | ||
How to choose a stocks and shares Isa
You need to think about the type of investor you'd like to be when picking an account. For example, are you interested in being hands-on, or would you prefer to just set up a regular contribution and forget about it, only checking in from time to time?
Answering the questions below can help:
- How much experience do you have with investing – and if you’re a beginner, do you want to learn as you go along, or delegate investing to someone else?
- How much risk are you willing to take when investing?
- Do you know what you’d like to invest in based on your attitude to risk – for example shares, investment funds, or investments that track certain markets?
If you have some ideas about the above, you could consider opening a DIY stocks and shares Isa.
On the other hand, if you’re inexperienced or don’t have much time to dedicate to managing your investments, you could start with a managed option. Just be aware that managed platform fees are usually more expensive than DIY options.
When it comes to fees, you'll want to keep them as low as possible, but you should think about the level of service and support you'll need when investing. For example, the cheapest stocks and shares Isas include InvestEngine, Prosper and Trading 212, but fee-free platforms won't always offer the same level of investment research and customer service as more established players like Hargreaves Lansdown and Interactive Investor.
Once you know which type of stocks and shares Isa you'd like, you should compare the platform fees as well as other key aspects of the account, such as the choice and flexibility available and the fees and limitations around transferring to another provider later on.
STOCKS AND SHARES ISA PROVIDERS
Hargreaves Lansdown
Interactive Investor
Do you want to manage your own investments?
If you have some experience with investing already – or want to learn – you might be comfortable opening an account with a DIY investing platform.
These let you pick your investments yourself or choose a ready-made set of investments that the provider puts together.
Decisions about where to invest rest on your shoulders. Even when choosing a ready-made option, the provider won’t recommend what to choose or how to manage your money on an ongoing basis.
You'll need to think carefully about how much time you can dedicate to managing your investments, and if you're not experienced already, how motivated you are to learn.
There's plenty to consider, including the ideal mix of investments based on the level of risk you want to take. For example, what will you allocate to more volatile investments such as equities, and what will you allocate to investments considered to be safer, such as bonds?
Many of these services support you with educational content and detailed investment research designed to help you answer questions like the above, so they can still be suitable for more adventurous beginners who are happy to learn as they go along.
Do you want someone else to manage your investments?
Alternatively, some providers can manage your investments for you. You'll usually have to tell the investment platform about your attitude to risk initially, and sometimes you can choose a particular investment style.
The key difference is these services pick investments based on your profile and then look after them on an ongoing basis. The platforms we've listed are ‘robo-advisors’ which means they use algorithms to pick and manage investments, although you usually still have access to human customer support.
For beginners, those with little investing experience, or people who just don’t want to dedicate time to investing, this can be a stress-free route. But these providers usually charge higher fees than do-it-yourself platforms. And you should still keep an eye on performance, comparing it against other platforms and how the markets have performed more generally.
Ready-made investments vs managed options
Even when investing in a ready-made portfolio, it’s best to see this as a form of DIY investing. The important difference between the services above is the level of personalisation and ongoing management of your investments.
Many DIY investing platforms offer ready-made investments. This is a set of investments built around a particular investment style and attitude to risk – for example 'cautious', 'adventurous' or 'ethical and green' portfolios.
But these ready-made investments aren’t specific to you. They’re often made up of existing funds that track certain markets or sectors and you still must choose a ready-made portfolio yourself.
With a managed option, the provider picks and looks after your investments based on information you give initially, tweaking them over time. Investments are more personalised to you and your goals, but management fees are more expensive than DIY options.
No matter whether you want to pick investments yourself or go for a managed option, you should check the fees for the underlying investments as well as the annual account fees.
These vary depending on the type of fund or investments. Keep this mantra in mind: high fees eat into investment growth, so it’s best to keep costs as low as possible.
What is a stocks and shares Isa?
A stocks and shares Isa – or Individual Savings Account to give it the full official term – is a tax-free account for your investments.
In the same way that the interest earned within a cash Isa isn’t subject to income tax, investments within a stocks and shares Isa can grow tax-free.
Investments held outside of a tax-free account are liable for taxes including capital gains tax, dividend tax and income tax.
The downside is you can only save up to £20,000 a year across all your Isa accounts, which is your annual Isa allowance.
You can split this any way you like, for example by stashing £5,000 in a cash Isa as part of an emergency fund and then investing up to £15,000 in a stocks and shares Isa.
Usually when you withdraw money from an Isa, you won't be able to replace it in the same tax year without using up more of your Isa allowance. As an example, if you still have your full allowance left to use, but withdraw £2,000 and then pay it back in a week later, your allowance will reduce to £18,000 for that tax year.
But there is a type of Isa called a flexible Isa, which does allow you to withdraw money and replace it in the same tax year without affecting your allowance. If you think you'd like this feature, check whether the Isa is flexible when comparing accounts.
How do stocks and shares Isas work?
Think of an Isa as a protective shield for the investments you own within the account.
If you buy a share in a company for £100 and then sell it for £125, you’ve made a decent profit – which is tax-free within your stocks and shares Isa.
Outside of your Isa account, you’d potentially have to pay capital gains tax on your profit.
Investing your money in stocks and shares comes with more risk than saving within a cash Isa.
The value of your investments can rise and fall in value, so it’s best to choose an investment Isa if you’re happy with keeping your money locked away for the longer term. Many experts suggest five years as a minimum.
This helps to smooth out the highs and lows of the market. For example, if you had to withdraw money when markets tumbled at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, you’d be solidifying any losses your money had suffered.
Are stocks and shares Isas worth it?
A stocks and shares Isa can be worth it if you’re happy to lock your money away over the long term and are comfortable with taking on some risk.
It’s a good idea to have emergency savings that you can access easily. Many experts recommend saving between three and six months’ worth of essential living expenses, which can keep you afloat if your income changes.
A stocks and shares Isa isn't right for this purpose, because the value of investments rise and fall regularly and it can take time to sell them. If there’s a downturn in the markets when you need to withdraw money, you’ll end up cementing any losses.
Beyond your emergency fund, it's a good idea to consider ways to make your money work harder for you. By taking more risks with your money, it’s possible to get a better return than the interest on cash savings – although it’s possible to get back less than you invested, too.
It’s important to think about your attitude to risk and how comfortable you are with riding out any dips in the value of your investments. If you think a sustained downturn in how much your investments are worth will cause you sleepless nights, it might be wiser to consider safer places to store your money first.
Many experts suggest investing for at least five years. This gives investments enough time to smooth out fluctuations in their value. When you eventually withdraw your money, it means there’s a better chance your investments would have grown on average.
> Here are the best easy-access cash savings rates
How does inflation affect cash?
If you stashed cash under your bed and forgot about it for five years, it’ll be worth less than when you stored it away because prices of goods and services rise over time. This is known as inflation.
This means you won’t be able to buy as much with your money as you did when you hid it under your mattress.
The interest rate you receive in cash savings accounts helps to mitigate the effects of inflation. But you must keep track of which accounts pay more than the current inflation rate.
Interest offered in easy access accounts from the UK’s biggest banks often don’t beat it, meaning savings languishing in these accounts are losing money over time.
Another way you can potentially beat inflation is by investing. Over time, the growth of your investments stops inflation from eroding the value of your money.
Keep in mind there’s no risk-free way to invest in an attempt to beat inflation. But over the long term, returns on investments in a diversified portfolio of stocks and shares tend to outpace it.
Be sure to keep an eye on the UK’s current inflation rate, as well as the top rates offered in cash savings accounts.
