TL;DR
This Is Money has published an updated guide to UK investment platforms, comparing account fees, dealing charges and available features using providers’ published information. The guide says investors should weigh costs, investment choice and support against their needs; its platform examples and charges are not a guarantee of the best fit for every investor.
This Is Money has published an updated comparison of UK investment platforms, setting out account charges, dealing fees and features to help readers choose an account. The report says several providers, including Freetrade, IG, Interactive Investor and Hargreaves Lansdown, changed fees earlier in 2026; its table is dated October 2026 and uses information published by the platforms.
The comparison covers providers including AJ Bell, Hargreaves Lansdown, Interactive Investor, Trading 212, InvestEngine and Vanguard. It lists charges for account administration, fund dealing, share and exchange-traded product dealing, regular investing and dividend reinvestment. The figures vary by platform and, in some cases, account size or plan. For example, the table lists Interactive Investor’s Core plan at £5.99 a month for accounts below £100,000, while Trading 212 and InvestEngine are listed with no account fee for their specified services.
The report also distinguishes platforms by what they offer, rather than treating price as the only measure. Its examples include Trading 212 for low-cost share and exchange-traded fund investing, Interactive Investor for flat-fee pricing, Prosper for a limited range of funds with fees refunded, and InvestEngine for ETF investing. These are the report’s editorial recommendations, not guarantees that a provider is suitable for every investor. This Is Money says featured products are selected by its journalists and discloses that it may receive affiliate commission when readers open accounts through marked links.
Most UK platforms in the guide offer a stocks and shares ISA and a self-invested personal pension (SIPP); a general investment account can be used for investing outside those tax-advantaged wrappers. Availability differs: the table says eToro offers an ISA through a partnership with Moneyfarm but not a SIPP, while InvestEngine’s listed offering is limited to ETFs. The report says platforms included in its comparison must be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Fees Can Change the Account Cost
The update matters because platform pricing can affect the cost of holding and trading investments, and the headline account fee is only one part of that calculation. Dealing charges, monthly subscriptions, percentage-based administration fees and foreign-exchange charges may apply differently depending on the account and activity. A flat fee can work differently from a percentage fee as an account grows, while a provider advertising free dealing may still have other charges or limits.
Choosing based only on the lowest listed price can also mean giving up features a reader values. This Is Money says lower-cost apps may offer less sophisticated customer service and investment analysis than providers such as Hargreaves Lansdown and Interactive Investor. That is the report’s comparison; the level of support a particular customer receives is not quantified in the supplied material. Investors should compare the services and charges relevant to their own intended account and transactions, rather than assuming that one platform is cheapest for everyone.
The account type matters too. An ISA, SIPP and general investment account have different purposes, while providers do not all offer the same wrappers or investments. The guide helps readers identify those differences, but it does not establish which investments to buy or whether any investment is appropriate for an individual.
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Why Platform Prices Are Shifting
The guide describes do-it-yourself platforms as a lower-cost route to investing than traditional arrangements involving a stockbroker, financial adviser or fund manager. Online services and smartphone apps can provide access to shares, funds, investment trusts, ETFs and bonds, although the range depends on the provider. Some platforms also provide ready-made portfolios, research or customer support.
According to This Is Money, several providers revised their fees earlier in 2026, against the backdrop of a Government effort to encourage more people in Britain to invest. The guide characterises the changes as largely positive for investors because competition could put pressure on costs. That is an expectation, not a measured outcome reported in the supplied material. Its table gives a snapshot of published charges in October 2026, rather than a promise that prices will remain unchanged.
The report states that its journalists independently select featured products and that affiliate commissions from some account links do not affect editorial independence. Readers can use that disclosure when weighing the guide’s recommendations alongside the underlying fee information.
„“The cheapest investment platform won’t always be the best one for you.”“
— This Is Money
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Charges and Features May Differ
The comparison is based on platform information published for the October 2026 table. The supplied material does not provide a complete breakdown of every possible cost, such as how charges may vary with a reader’s precise account balance, transaction pattern or chosen investments. Some fees are conditional: the table lists percentage charges, caps, minimums, plan prices and separate SIPP charges, so a single headline figure may not describe a customer’s total cost.
It is also not clear from the supplied report extract how each platform’s service quality was measured, or whether the fee changes will reduce costs for investors overall. Provider terms and product availability can change after publication. The listed recommendations are editorial selections, not personalised financial advice or a forecast of investment performance.
self-invested personal pension SIPP
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Check Current Terms Before Opening
Readers considering an account should check the provider’s current fee schedule and account eligibility before applying, then compare the charges that match their expected use: administration, dealing, regular contributions, reinvestment and currency conversion where relevant. They should also confirm that the platform offers the account wrapper and investments they want, and review what support and research are available.
The next practical step is to compare the relevant provider terms directly, since the article’s table is a dated snapshot and charges may change. The supplied material does not announce another scheduled update or a forthcoming regulatory decision.
investment platform fee calculator
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
What does the updated comparison cover?
This Is Money’s October 2026 table compares published platform fees and features, including account administration, dealing, regular investing and dividend reinvestment charges. It covers a selection of UK providers rather than every available service.
Which investment accounts can platforms offer?
The guide says most UK platforms offer a stocks and shares ISA and a SIPP, as well as a general investment account for investing outside a tax-advantaged wrapper. Availability varies by provider, so check the account options directly.
Is a platform with no account fee always cheapest?
No. A zero account fee does not by itself establish the lowest overall cost. Dealing fees, subscription charges, foreign-exchange costs and service limits may also matter, depending on how the account is used.
How does This Is Money disclose affiliate links?
This Is Money says it may earn an affiliate commission when readers open accounts using marked links. It says featured products are selected independently by its specialist journalists and that commissions do not affect editorial independence.
Source: rss
