Compare UK Stocks & Shares ISAs

Lightyear

Ultra-low-cost app-based ISA with global stocks, ETFs and new Cash ISA.

Overall

9.0/10

Use code Mate for a free ETF or stock

Fees10.0

Cost10.0

Ease8.0

Range7.0

Flex8.0

Fees10.0

£0 platform/dealing; ~0.1% FX on foreign trades; no ISA account fee.

Ease of use8.0

Modern, simple app; good UX; still lighter on tools than big platforms.

Monthly cost10.0

On £10k mainly UK/GBP ETFs, typical cost ≈£0.50–£1/month in FX skim.

Options7.0

UK, US, EU stocks & ETFs, fractional shares; no mutual funds or bonds.

Flexibility8.0

Flexible S&S ISA; transfers in; auto-invest “Plans” and fractional buys.

FSCS Protected

Other platforms, ranked

Trading 212

Score

8.5

Commission-free trading app with low-cost S&S ISA and wide stock coverage.

Fees9.0

Cost9.0

Ease7.0

Range8.0

Flex9.0

Fees9.0

£0 platform/dealing; ~0.15% FX on FX conversions; no ISA account fee.

Monthly cost9.0

On £10k diversified, costs typically under £1–£2/month from FX & spread.

Ease7.0

Options8.0

Flexibility9.0

FSCS

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InvestEngine

Score

8.0

ETF-only ISA with no platform, dealing or FX fees, built around portfolios.

Fees9.0

Cost10.0

Ease7.0

Range6.0

Flex6.0

Fees9.0

DIY ISA: £0 platform/dealing/FX; Managed: ~0.25% annual management fee.

Monthly cost10.0

DIY £10k portfolio ~£0/month platform cost; only ETF OCFs apply.

Ease7.0

Options6.0

Flexibility6.0

FSCS

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Vanguard

Score

7.0

Low-cost index fund giant offering simple S&S ISA with own funds/ETFs.

Fees7.0

Cost8.0

Ease7.0

Range6.0

Flex6.0

Fees7.0

0.15% platform fee (capped), £0 fund dealing, £7.50 ETF trades; no FX fee.

Monthly cost8.0

On £10k, platform ~£1.25/month plus underlying fund/ETF OCFs.

Ease7.0

Options6.0

Flexibility6.0

FSCS

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Hargreaves Lansdown

Score

7.0

Full-service platform with huge fund range, research and strong customer support.

Fees5.0

Cost6.0

Ease8.0

Range9.0

Flex7.0

Fees5.0

0.45% on funds to £250k; shares/ETFs from 0.45% capped; £5.95–£11.95 trading.

Monthly cost6.0

£10k in funds ≈£3.75/month platform fee, plus any share dealing charges.

Ease8.0

Options9.0

Flexibility7.0

FSCS

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AJ Bell

Score

7.0

Well-established low-cost platform with wide market access and research tools.

Fees7.0

Cost7.0

Ease7.0

Range8.0

Flex7.0

Fees7.0

~0.25% platform on funds; capped share custody; £5.95 online share dealing.

Monthly cost7.0

£10k mainly in funds ≈£2.10/month platform fee, plus any dealing charges.

Ease7.0

Options8.0

Flexibility7.0

FSCS

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Freetrade

Score

8.0

App-only, commission-free broker with simple S&S ISA and basic features.

Fees8.5

Cost8.8

Ease8.0

Range7.0

Flex6.0

Fees8.5

ISA now FREE on Basic plan (Sept 2025). 0.99% FX. Standard £5.99/mo unlocks mutual funds & 0.39% FX.

Monthly cost8.8

£0/month on Basic (ISA free). £5.99 for funds + lower FX.

Ease8.0

Options7.0

Flexibility6.0

FSCS

Visit Freetrade →

How we score & key terms explained▾

Scoring (1–10)

Fees — platform/custody, dealing commission, FX. 10 = effectively free.
Monthly cost — estimated £/month on a £10k portfolio. 10 = cheapest.
Ease — app polish, onboarding, statements, customer support.
Options — breadth of investments (stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds, fractional).
Flexibility — flexible ISA status, transfers in/out, partial withdrawals.

Glossary

ISA allowance — £20,000/year total across all ISA types (2025/26).
Flexible ISA — withdraw money and replace it in the same tax year without using extra allowance.
FX fee — currency conversion charge when buying non-GBP assets (e.g. US stocks).
Platform fee — annual % or flat fee to hold the account, separate from dealing costs.
FSCS — UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme: protects cash deposits up to £120,000 and investments up to £85,000 per person per firm if the provider fails.
AER — Annual Equivalent Rate; the standardised interest rate on cash savings.

Rates and fees change frequently. Always verify on the provider's website before opening an account. This is information, not financial advice.

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Updated 19 Jun 2026, 11:05

For information only. Not financial advice. Capital is at risk. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and ISA rules may change. Verify fees, rates & features on each provider's site before investing.

Providers listed are UK ISA managers authorised & regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Eligible cash deposits are protected by the FSCS up to £120,000 per person, per firm; eligible investments up to £85,000. Limits and eligibility vary by provider and product. This site is not affiliated with the FCA. Some links are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no cost to you, which never affects our rankings.