What is the best Stocks and Shares ISA?

AJ Bell

Fees

Low 0.25% fees

Products

Excellent range and choice

Benefits

Excellent ready-made portfolio performance

Capital at risk.

4.5/5

Savvy Investor

Confident investors wanting top-tier tools

Savvy Investor

Saxo Markets

Fees

0.12% fees to trade stocks/ETFs

Products

71,000+ investments

Benefits

Expert insights & analysis

Capital at risk.

4.0/5

High Value

High-value portfolios

High Value

interactive investor

Fees

Flat fees

Products

One of the UK's largest selections

Benefits

Suited to both beginners and pro investors

Capital at risk. Terms & fees apply.

5.0/5

Cost-Cutters

Lowest-cost ISA

Cost-Cutters

InvestEngine

Fees

No account or subscription fees

Products

ETFs only

Benefits

Lowest cost ISA and SIPP

With investments, your capital is at risk. This could mean the value of your investments goes down as well as up. T&Cs apply.

4.5/5

First Timers

New starters looking for low-cost, simple investing

First Timers

Dodl

Fees

Ultra-low fees

Products

Broad range of options

Benefits

4.06% AER paid on uninvested cash

Capital at risk.

4.5/5

Portfolio Pro

Pro-level investors wanting advanced features

Portfolio Pro

IG

Fees

Zero commission on all stocks & ETFs

Products

Full range of assets

Benefits

4.00% paid on uninvested cash

Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

3.5/5

Stock-Picker

Investors happy to pick their own stocks

Stock-Picker

Freetrade

Fees

Free ISA

Products

UK, US & EU stocks, ETFs and bonds

Benefits

Up to 5.00% interest on cash

Capital at risk.

+ Show more (4)

4.5/5

Set-and-GO

AJ Bell

Set-and-GO

Hands-off, easy investing with help from experts

Set-and-GO

Fees

Low 0.25% fees

Products

Excellent range and choice

Benefits

Excellent ready-made portfolio performance

Capital at risk.

4.5/5

Savvy Investor

Saxo Markets

Savvy Investor

Confident investors wanting top-tier tools

Savvy Investor

Fees

0.12% fees to trade stocks/ETFs

Products

71,000+ investments

Benefits

Expert insights & analysis

Capital at risk.

4.0/5

High Value

interactive investor

High Value

High-value portfolios

High Value

Fees

Flat fees

Products

One of the UK's largest selections

Benefits

Suited to both beginners and pro investors

Capital at risk. Terms & fees apply.

5.0/5

Cost-Cutters

InvestEngine

Cost-Cutters

Lowest-cost ISA

Cost-Cutters

Fees

No account or subscription fees

Products

ETFs only

Benefits

Lowest cost ISA and SIPP

With investments, your capital is at risk. This could mean the value of your investments goes down as well as up. T&Cs apply.

4.5/5

First Timers

Dodl

First Timers

New starters looking for low-cost, simple investing

First Timers

Fees

Ultra-low fees

Products

Broad range of options

Benefits

4.06% AER paid on uninvested cash

Capital at risk.

4.5/5

Portfolio Pro

IG

Portfolio Pro

Pro-level investors wanting advanced features

Portfolio Pro

Fees

Zero commission on all stocks & ETFs

Products

Full range of assets

Benefits

4.00% paid on uninvested cash

3.5/5

Stock-Picker

Freetrade

Stock-Picker

Investors happy to pick their own stocks

Stock-Picker

Fees

Free ISA

Products

UK, US & EU stocks, ETFs and bonds

Benefits

Up to 5.00% interest on cash

Take Our Investor Persona Quiz

Capital at risk.

+ Show more (4)

What kind of investor are you?

Ethical Investor

"My focus is on ethical or sustainable investing"

High Value

"I want the best option for larger portfolios"

Copy Trader

"I want a platform that offers copy trading"

First-Timer

"I want a platform designed for beginners"

Seasoned Trader

"I am confident and want a sophisticated platform"

Easy Access

"I want penalty-free withdrawals"

Pocket-Size Saver

"I'm starting with a small amount of cash"

Seeking Security

"I want a guaranteed, fixed rate of interest"

Set-and-Go

"I want an expert to do it all for me"

Cost-Cutter

"I want to focus on keeping costs to a minimum"

Stock Picker

"I feel comfortable picking shares/ETFs"

Savvy Investor

"I want a sophisticated platform with a range of tools"

Not sure what kind of investor you are?

AJ Bell

A well-established platform with ready-made portfolios that are simple to set up.

4.5/5

4.5 out of 5

I want an expert to do it all for me.

A well-established platform with ready-made portfolios that are simple to set up.

I want an expert to do it all for me.

Switch your account and receive up to £500

Refer a friend who transfers at least £10,000 and you both receive £100 in Amazon vouchers

Capital at risk.

Antonia says

AJ Bell is one of the UK’s leading online investment platforms with a more than 30 year history, a listing on the London Stock Exchange, and a reputation for attentive customer service.

It’s also cheap, with annual platform fees of just 0.25%. There are dealing fees to watch out for but they’re by no means the most expensive I’ve come across. Plus, if you pick an AJ Bell fund, they’re exempt, so free to buy and sell.

AJ Bell offers a strong selection of four ready-made ‘Starter Portfolios’ and seven managed funds that span a wide range of risk appetites from ‘Cautious’ all the way up to ‘Adventurous’. The differences are all explained well and they are easy to get set-up.

You will need at least £1,000 to get going with a ready-made portfolio, but there’s no minimum for a managed fund.

Strong historical returns

Many of AJ Bell's ready-made portfolios and managed funds have impressive performance history, offering above-average growth.

Intuitive, well-designed web platform and mobile app

Unlike many modern app-only investment platforms, AJ Bell provides account access through your web browser too. The fast, effective mobile app is rated highly on the Google Play Store and it's easy to execute trades and research investments whichever method you choose.

Straightforward and fast account opening

Fully digital account opening is available - no need to send in paper forms.

Reasons to use

Low cost platform
Selection of ready-made portfolios
Excellent customer service
First class educational resources
Zero dealing fees on AJ Bell's own funds

Reasons to avoid

£1,000 minimum deposit for AJ Bell Starter portfolios
Not a If an ISA is flexible, you’re able to withdraw money and pay it back in, without it counting twice within your annual ISA allowance. It must be repaid within the same tax year it's withdrawn to be eligible, however.Flexible ISA
Cheaper dealing fees on stocks are available elsewhere

Scores

Fees:

4.5

Trading platform:

4.5

Account opening:

5.0

Research:

4.5

Education:

5.0

Customer service:

5.0

For a detailed analysis of AJ Bell, check out our review for 2025

AJ Bell

Fees

Low 0.25% fees

Products

Excellent range and choice

Benefits

Excellent ready-made portfolio performance

4.5out of 5

Switch your account and receive up to £500

Refer a friend who transfers at least £10,000 and you both receive £100 in Amazon vouchers

Saxo Markets

Saxo is a premium broker offering access to sophisticated tools, exceptional research and 70,000+ products on 50+ leading exchanges.

4.5/5

4.5 out of 5

I want a sophisticated platform with a range of tools.

Saxo is a premium broker offering access to sophisticated tools, exceptional research and 70,000+ products on 50+ leading exchanges.

I want a sophisticated platform with a range of tools.

Trade UK stocks from £3 per trade

Trade US stocks from $1 per trade

Capital at risk.

Antonia says

With Saxo, you can choose from almost 30,500 global stocks, ETFs, investment trusts, all accessible from a range of different platforms, which are designed to suit different experience levels.

That colossal choice, combined with Saxo’s advanced trading features, stellar research features and plenty of free in-house expert analysis, places them very firmly in the top tier of UK trading platforms.

A choice of different trading interfaces to suit different experience levels

Saxo offers multiple platform interfaces including SaxoInvestor, a simplified but powerful platform where you can invest in stocks, bonds, ETFs and funds, and SaxoTraderGO, an advanced trading platform which offers access to Saxo's full range of products, and detailed analytics and charting tools.

Competitive pricing

Saxo has recently taken steps to make their pricing more transparent and straightforward. As a provider that offers more complex instruments, it isn't as easy to navigate pricing as it is on the very simple platforms. For holding an investment ISA at Saxo, there are custody fees to pay, which vary depending on what you're invested in, trading fees when you buy and sell, and FX fees to convert currency when buying overseas investments. All are reasonable and competitive.

News, expert insights and analysis

Saxo's highly skilled team provides daily commentary and in-depth analysis across the global markets. A programme of regular webinars enables investors to learn from industry experts.

Reasons to use

Multiple platform interfaces for different experience levels
72,000+ instruments
Top-tier research tools and analysis
Low custody fees for trading stocks & ETFs: 0.12% / 0.08%
High performing ready-made portfolioinfo held in an ISA
24-hour customer service

Reasons to avoid

Not a If an ISA is flexible, you’re able to withdraw money and pay it back in, without it counting twice within your annual ISA allowance. It must be repaid within the same tax year it's withdrawn to be eligible, however.flexible ISA
Need to be a relatively confident investor

Scores

Fees:

4.0

Trading platform:

5.0

Account opening:

4.0

Research:

5.0

Education:

5.0

Customer service:

3.5

For a detailed analysis of Saxo Markets, check out our review for 2024

Saxo Markets

Fees

0.12% fees to trade stocks/ETFs

Products

71,000+ investments

Benefits

Expert insights & analysis

interactive investor

The UK’s most popular flat-fee investment platform. Those flat fees can work out terrific value for higher-net-worth investors.

4.0/5

4.5 out of 5

I want the best option for larger portfolios.

The UK’s most popular flat-fee investment platform. Those flat fees can work out terrific value for higher-net-worth investors.

I want the best option for larger portfolios.

Open a SIPP before 31st October 2025 and get £200 cashback when you deposit or transfer at least £15,000.

Get £50 of free trades when you open an ii Stocks & Shares ISA or General Investment Account before 31 December 2025.

Capital at risk. Terms & fees apply.

Antonia says

With its flat-fee price structure, interactive investor (ii) can work out very economical for those with large sums to invest. It offers an astonishingly wide range of assets, has fantastic research materials, and great customer service.

The downsides? This is not a flexible ISA, which means if you withdraw money from your ISA and then return it within the same tax year, it’s a double impact on your ISA annual allowance.

There is a very hefty A foreign exchange (FX) fee is added to all trades involving foreign currencies. If you buy a stock that trades in US dollars, for example, and your home account is in GB pounds, you'll need to pay an FX fee.FX fee info to watch out for too: 1.5%.

ii also doesn’t facilitate Fractional shares are portions of shares (or ETFs) that are smaller than one whole share. They are designed to make ownership of large, expensive shares more accessible. fractional investing info , meaning you don’t get the option to buy anything less than a whole share. If you’re a high-net-worth investor, this may be less of a problem than it is for those with smaller budgets, however.

Flat fees that benefit large portfolios

There are potentially very large savings to be made by using a flat-fee provider if you are a high value investor.

Excellent range of investment options

With around 18,000 assets covering UK and international shares, funds, ETFs, investment trusts, and bonds, you won't find your choices limited.

Exceptional research and educational materials

Whether you're a stock-picker or you want an expert to help you find the right investment options for your goals, interactive investor has plenty of tools, features and educational materials to help.

Reasons to use

Excellent value for large portfolio holders
Huge investment choice
Part of a FTSE 100 company
Low trading fees for UK and US stocks
Exceptionally low fees for actively managed, ready-made funds
General trading and SIPP accounts can be funded in multiple currencies

Reasons to avoid

Not a flexible ISA
1.5% FX fee
No fractional shares
Expensive for small portfolios

Scores

Fees:

3.5

Trading platform:

4.0

Account opening:

3.5

Research:

4.0

Education:

4.0

Customer service:

4.0

For a detailed analysis of Interactive Investor, check out our review for 2025

interactive investor

Fees

Flat fees

Products

One of the UK's largest selections

Benefits

Suited to both beginners and pro investors

InvestEngine

This is the lowest-cost ISA on the market.

5.0/5

4.5 out of 5

My focus is keeping costs to a minimum.

This is the lowest-cost ISA on the market.

My focus is keeping costs to a minimum.

With investments, your capital is at risk. This could mean the value of your investments goes down as well as up. T&Cs apply.

Antonia says

Zero platform fees, zero trading fees, low-cost ETFs, and fractional investing make InvestEngine an impressively cheap platform.

There are both fully managed and DIY options available. And while the fully managed portfolios come with a management fee, it’s a very reasonable 0.25%. If you’re a DIY investor, just about the only costs you need to factor in are the fund fees, which start from 0.05% per year, get taken from your investments (so no upfront payment needed), and are applicable whichever platform you choose.

While investment options are limited just to Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are traded in much the same way as stocks. Instead of an individual stock, however, you own a basket of different assets which track the performance of a particular index or market. ETFs info (so you can’t buy individual shares with InvestEngine), there are more than 830 to choose from, and ETFs are a simple, low-cost, research-light and beginner-friendly way to achieve a diversified portfolio.

Fractional investing offered

Fractional investing means you can buy part of a share, rather than needing to purchase a whole one at full price. As InvestEngine only offers ETFs, that means you can invest in any ETF from just £1, no matter how much the full shares within that ETF cost. That allows you to hold portions of ordinarily very expensive shares.

ETFs are low-cost funds

Most ETFs are passively managed, meaning they aim to track an index (like the S&P 500) rather than trying to beat it. This requires fewer research analysts, portfolio managers, and trading costs, making them relatively low-cost funds to own.

830+ ETFs available

DIY investors can choose from over 800 different ETFs across a range of asset classes, markets and sectors including leading global indices, thematics such as AI, robotics and clean energy, ESG, and emerging markets.

Reasons to use

Zero-fee ISA
Lowest cost ISA on the market
Fractional investing available
Welcome Bonus of up to £100
Fully managed service available
830+ ETFs to choose from

Reasons to avoid

Can only invest in Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are traded in much the same way as stocks. Instead of an individual stock, however, you own a basket of different assets which track the performance of a particular index or market. ETFs
Not a If an ISA is flexible, you’re able to withdraw money and pay it back in, without it counting twice within your annual ISA allowance. It must be repaid within the same tax year it's withdrawn to be eligible, however.flexible ISA
£100 initial minimum investment required

Scores

Fees:

5.0

Trading platform:

4.0

Account opening:

4.5

Research:

4.0

Education:

3.0

Customer service:

4.0

For a detailed analysis of InvestEngine services, check out our review for 2025

InvestEngine

Fees

No account or subscription fees

Products

ETFs only

Benefits

Lowest cost ISA and SIPP

Dodl

Dodl is purposefully designed for new investors who are looking for a simple entry into investing, through an easy-to-use app.

4.5/5

4.5 out of 5

You’re new to investing and want an easy way in

Dodl is purposefully designed for new investors who are looking for a simple entry into investing, through an easy-to-use app.

You’re new to investing and want an easy way in

Zero-commission stock trading

Low 0.15% annual account fee

Capital at risk.

Antonia says

Dodl sets out to avoid over-complicating things. For that reason, it’s a good match to those investing for the first time.

It’s a simple but well-designed app, and the pared-back menu of investment options takes away some of the anxiety that comes with overwhelming choice.

Dodl’s fees are about as low as you’re going to find for a provider offering such a broad range of investment options, covering US and UK stocks, funds and ETFs. It’s a shame about the £1 per month flat minimum annual fee, however, as although £12 per year might not break the bank, for a very small-scale investor, it’s a tad pricey if you think of it in percentage terms.

Dodl's ready-made portfolios have performed well

Dodl's collection of ready-made portfolios have, on average, far outperformed the industry average over the past 5 years with some stand-out results. Remember, however, that past performance is not a guarantee of future performance.

Account fees are very low

While there are some providers who offer zero account fees, those providers tend to offer a more limited range of investment assets (just ETFs, or just US stocks, for example). Dodl offers a good range of different types of assets. The £1 per month minimum fee is a flat fee though, meaning it's less good value for those investing very small amounts. An annual fee of £12 on a £500 pot, for example, is the equivalent of paying 2.4%.

Simple, easy-to-use mobile app

Dodl is a mobile app-only platform. It's designed to keep things uncomplicated.

4.06% AER paid on your uninvested cash

This is one of the highest rates of interest paid on uninvested cash in the UK, making it a good place to park your money if you're waiting for the right time to invest.

Reasons to use

Simplified user experience
Low annual 0.15% fees
Zero dealing charges
High interest rate on uninvested cash
Part of AJ Bell
Excellent customer service

Reasons to avoid

Small number of investments options
Flat £1 p/mo minimum charge
No fractional shares
Buying US stocks can be expensive
£100 min deposit required (or £25 for regular deposits)
Mobile-app only

Scores

Fees:

5.0

Trading platform:

4.5

Account opening:

5.0

Research:

1.5

Education:

5.0

Customer service:

3.5

For a detailed analysis of Dodl, check out our review for 2025

Dodl

Fees

Ultra-low fees

Products

Broad range of options

Benefits

4.06% AER paid on uninvested cash

IG

A If an ISA is flexible, you’re able to withdraw money and pay it back in, without it counting twice within your annual ISA allowance. It must be repaid within the same tax year it's withdrawn to be eligible, however.flexible ISA info

on a well-respected trading platform with exceptional educational materials and access to complex assets.

4.5/5

4.5 out of 5

I am experienced and trade complex assets.

on a well-respected trading platform with exceptional educational materials and access to complex assets.

I am experienced and trade complex assets.

GIA / ISA / SIPP: Receive up to £200 in a free UK share when you invest £50 until 30 November 2025 (T&Cs apply)

Out of hours US stock trading

Antonia says

IG offers access to an extensive menu of options which includes more than 13,000 international shares and ETFs on global indices. It’s also one of just a small number of platforms that provides access to US stocks outside of regular market hours.

This is a trading platform so it’s a more intricate interface than the simpler investment platforms. That means it won’t be right for inexperienced investors or those just looking to put some money away for the future in a simple investment ISA.

That said, the IG platform provides a great user experience, access to top-tier research tools, and unsurpassed educational materials. So, it’s worth sticking with if you’re not yet a pro, but want to learn. Plus they’ve now scrapped commission altogether on all stocks and ETFs, making it great for the cost-conscious too.

Large choice of investment assets, plus excellent research tools and best-in-class trader education.

Investment options include: UK stocks, US stocks, European stocks, Rest of World stocks, ETFs, ready-made portfolios, bonds and gilts, mutual funds, CFDs, forex, commodities, indices, futures, IPOs, REITs, spread betting.

Zero-commission trading

Custody fees of £24 p/quarter are reduced to £0 if you trade 3+ times p/quarter. Plus zero-commission trading on all stocks and ETFs means no dealing fees to worry about.

Also offers well-priced managed portfolios

IG’s low-cost ready-made portfolios performed well in our latest independent analysis of portfolio performance, with returns above the industry average. They’re well-priced and worth looking at if you don’t want the responsibility of building and managing your own portfolio of stocks.

Reasons to use

Flexible ISA
Top-tier research tools
Outstanding trader education
4.00% interest paid on uninvested cash
Low-cost ready-made portfolios
Out-of-hours US market trading
No commission on all stocks and ETFs

Reasons to avoid

Can’t buy or sell fractional shares
0.7% FX fee isn't the cheapest

Scores

Fees:

4.5

Trading platform:

5.0

Account opening:

4.0

Research:

4.5

Education:

5.0

Customer service:

4.5

For a detailed analysis of IG, check out our review for 2024

IG

Fees

Zero commission on all stocks & ETFs

Products

Full range of assets

Benefits

4.00% paid on uninvested cash

Freetrade

Freetrade offers an extremely cheap way to trade stocks.

3.5/5

4.5 out of 5

I feel comfortable picking shares/ETFs.

Freetrade offers an extremely cheap way to trade stocks.

I feel comfortable picking shares/ETFs.

Deposit at least £50 and get a free share worth between £10 and £100 (T&Cs apply)

Capital at risk.

Antonia says

This good-looking and well-designed mobile app-only platform does a great job of paring things down and translating the bewildering world of investing into something relatable, digestible and enjoyable.

You won’t find as wide a choice of investment assets as some other, more established trading and investment platforms, but there’s certainly enough to satisfy most ISA investors. And, it often comes out as one of the lowest-cost options in our testing thanks to zero ISA account fees, zero withdrawal fees, and zero trading fees on stocks, ETFs and mutual funds. That makes Freetrade a super-cheap and simple way to get stocks into your ISA.

Ultra-low cost

Although Freetrade does offer some paid-subscription accounts, you can access their Stocks and Shares ISA for free. You can then fill your ISA with commission-free stocks, ETFs and mutual funds, making this a free, or near to free way to build an investment portfolio. (Watch out for the currency conversion fees though if you're buying non-UK assets)

Excellent user experience

This is one of my favourite apps for simple investing. It's a great user interface that's been cleverly thought-through to cut back on confusion while still allowing you choice.

Flexible ISA

The Freetrade ISA is flexible, meaning you can withdraw and replace money during the tax year without impacting your annual allowance.

Reasons to use

Commission-free trading
Offers fractional US shares
No minimum deposit
No inactivity or withdrawal fees
Simple, easy-to-use app

Reasons to avoid

Only US, UK and EU shares
No mutual funds on the free Basic account
Relatively high FX fees
Interest rate on uninvested cash has a ceiling

Scores

Fees:

4.0

Trading platform:

3.5

Account opening:

5.0

Research:

2.5

Education:

2.0

Customer service:

3.5

For a detailed analysis of Freetrade services, check out our review for 2025

Freetrade

Fees

Free ISA

Products

UK, US & EU stocks, ETFs and bonds

Benefits

Up to 5.00% interest on cash