Looking for the best stocks and shares ISA?
Stocks and shares ISAs historically tend to provide a greater return on investment than cash ISAs so they’re well worth a look if you have money to invest.
Below are my picks of the best UK Stocks and Shares ISA providers in July 2025.
ISA Cashback Offer
Capital at risk. T&Cs apply.
Strong Research Tools
- Excellent customer service
- Suitable for all levels of experience
- Flexible ISA Advantage
Best commission-free ISA
Capital at risk. T&Cs apply.
Zero commission
- 0% commission investing and trading
- Fractional shares available
- 4.5% AER on uninvested GBP cash
Best stocks and shares ISA
Capital at risk. T&Cs apply.
DIY Investors
- Flat fees platform
- Part of FTSE 100 company
- Easy transfer service
Our best rated investment platforms in the UK, July 2025
- IG – Best Low-cost trading
- XTB – Best commission-free ISA
- Interactive Investor – Best ISA for DIY investors
- InvestEngine – Best low-cost ISA
- Interactive Brokers – Best ISA for interest
- Nutmeg – Best done for you ISA with access to human experts
- MoneyBox – Best ISA for beginners and savers
- FreeTrade – Best commission-free* ISA
- BestInvest – Best ISA with free advice
- Saxo – Best ISA for frequent traders
- AJ Bell – Best ISA for frequent trading
Overview
IG offers a compelling Stocks and Shares ISA, providing UK investors with a tax-efficient way to grow their wealth. With competitive fees, a user-friendly platform, and a range of investment options, IG has positioned itself as one of the best ISA providers in 2024, earning accolades such as Best Stocks and Shares ISA Provider (Online Personal Wealth Awards) and Best for Low-Cost ISA (Boring Money).
Key Features
- Tax-Free Investing: Invest up to £20,000 per year without paying capital gains tax (CGT) or dividend tax.
- Flexible ISA: Withdraw and reinvest funds within the same tax year without affecting your allowance.
- Low Fees: Competitive commission rates on UK and US shares, with no custody fees if you make at least three trades per quarter.
- Diverse Investment Options: Choose from over 13,000 global shares and ETFs.
- User-Friendly Trading Platforms: Access investments via the IG Invest app, web platform, MetaTrader 4, or ProRealTime.
- 24/7 Support: Customer support available via app, WhatsApp, and live chat.
Pros
- Low-cost trading with competitive commission rates.
- Award-winning platform with intuitive design and mobile accessibility.
- Access to 13,000+ investment options, including global stocks and ETFs.
Cons
- Managed Smart Portfolios have underperformed industry averages.
- No fractional shares, which may be a downside for smaller investors.
- No interest paid on uninvested cash.
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% 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.
When it comes to investing platforms, XTB offers a simple yet powerful solution for investors seeking low costs and flexibility. With zero-commission investing on real stocks and ETFs (up to £100,000 monthly), alongside a flexible stocks and shares ISA, XTB stands out as one of the most affordable and accessible options on the market.
Investors can choose from over 3,000 stocks and 1,300 ETFs, providing plenty of opportunities to build a diversified portfolio. The flexible ISA is particularly noteworthy, allowing you to withdraw and repay funds within the same tax year without impacting your allowance. While the absence of mutual funds or ready-made portfolios might deter hands-off investors, the availability of fractional shares makes it easy to get started with as little as £10.
For those new to investing, XTB offers an impressive library of educational resources and tutorials to guide you along the way. The proprietary xStation5 platform ensures a smooth and intuitive experience, whether you are managing a long-term portfolio or tracking ETFs in real-time.
With its transparent pricing structure, including no account or deposit fees, XTB is an excellent choice for cost-conscious investors looking to take control of their financial future.
Key Features: Zero-commission investing, fractional shares, flexible stocks and shares ISA, 4.50% interest on uninvested cash
Minimum balance: None – no minimum deposit required.
Assets available: Real stocks, ETFs, and a wide range of CFDs for those who want to mix investing with trading.
Pros
- 0% commission investing or trading
- Fractional shares available
- 4.50% interest paid on uninvested cash
Cons
- No MetaTrader
- £5 fee for withdrawals under £50
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
If you are a DIY investor who plans to build a diversified portfolio from a range of individual stocks and funds, then interactive investor is the best platform to meet your needs.
Here, you can access more than 40,000 UK and international investment options, and the trading app provides plenty of functionality for managing your portfolio.
What I like about the interactive investor Stocks and Shares ISA
The cost of the interactive investor Stocks and Shares ISA comes in at £4.99 a month, which may seem a lot at first glance. Still, in reality, this is much more cost-effective for larger portfolios than a percentage fee such as you might find at another platform.
interactive investor also provides a regular investing service where you can commit to as little as £25 a month. This can be an excellent way to drip-feed your money into the stock market and average out the price you pay for your investments.
Fees: £5.99 per trade, annual custody fee starting at £4.99, £40 bonds fee
Minimum balance: £0
Products available: S&S ISA, Junior cash ISA, Junior stocks and shares ISA, Self-invested personal pension, company account, cash savings
Pros
- Wide range of financial instruments
- Excellent account options
- One free trade per month
- Free, regular investing
Cons
- Expensive for small investment pots
Important information - investment value can go up or down and you could get back less than you invest. If you're in any doubt about the suitability of a Stocks & Shares ISA, you should seek independent financial advice. The tax treatment of this product depends on your individual circumstances and may change in future. If you are uncertain about the tax treatment of the product you should contact HMRC or seek independent tax advice.
If you are looking for a low-cost, simple way to invest, then look no further than InvestEngine. Here, you can invest in a choice of 500+ Exchange Traded Funds for as little as £1.
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are actually a lot simpler than they sound. They are merely a mix of assets, including commodities and shares, that aim to track the performance of a stock market. They make investing a breeze and are diversified, which can help reduce your risk.
What I like about the InvestEngine Stocks and Shares ISA
With no setup fees or ISA fees to contend with, InvestEngine is one of the cheapest ways to invest in the stock market via a Stocks and Shares ISA. At InvestEngine, you can build your own portfolio or leave it to their experts for a more hands-off approach.
The InvestEngine Stocks and Shares ISA also comes with some great automation tools, including Auto Invest and Smart Portfolio top-ups so you can sit back and relax while your money is put to work for you.
Fees: 0.25% platform fee for managed portfolios, £0 DIY portfolio
Minimum balance: £100
Products available: S&S ISA, Personal Account, Business Account
Pros
- Lowest cost platform available
- Excellent customer service
- Suitable for all levels of experience
Cons
- No direct share dealing
- No SIPP product
- No ethical investment options
With investment, your capital is at risk. This could mean the value of your investments goes down as well as up.
When you open an account at Freetrade, and deposit at least £50, they give you a free share straight into your account.
The share you get will be worth between £10-£100 which is a nice way to top up your portfolio.
What I like about the Freetrade Stocks and Shares ISA
For DIY investors who like to pick and choose their own assets, Freetrade offers commission-free investing when you buy or sell stocks. There are over 6,000 stocks to choose from, which should be ample for most investors, and you can even access expensive stocks for just £2 with their fractional shares.
It’s important to point out that you will need to pay a monthly fee to access the Stocks and Shares ISA at Freetrade, which, at a minimum, comes in at £4.99 (soon to be increased to £5.99). This makes this a better option for DIY investors who like to frequently buy and sell their own investments, and for those who have a sizable portfolio.
Fees: Commission-free trading on all stocks, shares, and ETFs; £4.99 for the standard plan that includes the Stocks and Shares ISA.
Minimum balance: £0
Products available: General Investing Account, Stocks and Shares ISA, SIPP, Freetrade Plus
Pros
- Zero commission fee
- Free share for new accounts
- Very beginner-friendly interface
Cons
- $3 per month ISA fee
- Only provides access to US and UK shares
- Limited research is available
When you invest your capital is at risk, the value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than what you invest. Eligibility to invest into an ISA and the value of tax savings depends on personal circumstances and all tax rules may change. Other charges may apply. ISA Promotion free share terms and conditions apply.
Interactive Brokers is well known as a low-cost broker that offers a wide range of tradable assets from global markets. These are accessible from a range of five different platforms, each suited to different levels of experience.
This highly tailored approach, with its advanced research platform and risk analysis tools, as well as technical research news, advanced charting, and 20 order types, makes for the ideal place for active traders to save into an ISA.
What I like about the Interactive Brokers Stocks and Shares ISA
Interactive Brokers successfully stands out from the crowd of ISA providers by offering up to USD 4.85% interest on instantly available cash balances. In addition, there are no custody or transfer fees, and ISA holders can enjoy low commissions on all trades (£3 per trade for UK and European stocks).
There are also fractional shares available here and powerful trading tools such as GlobalAnalyst to identify opportunities. Traders and investors can easily create a globally diversified portfolio either on desktop, web, or mobile app.
Fees: £3 per trade for Western European stocks
Minimum balance: £0
Products available: S&S ISA, Personal Account, SIPP
Pros
- Extensive range of assets
- Interest available
- Low cost for high-volume traders
Cons
- Poor level of customer service
- Hidden fees on the IBKR Pro Plan
Capital at risk.
Nutmeg is an established robo advisor in the UK, offering security in their size and longevity in an otherwise saturated marketplace. They offer a range of pre-made, fully managed portfolios that can be matched to your level of risk.
What I like about the Nutmeg Stocks and Shares ISA
In addition to their excellent range of accounts is the Stocks and Shares ISA, which provides access to Nutmeg’s great service and choice of portfolios and can be easily managed from their easy-to-use mobile app.
For those that already have a Stocks and Shares ISA with another provider, the Nutmeg experts will help you understand how your current provider compares to Nutmeg, so you can be sure that this is the best move for your portfolio.
Fees: 0.25%–0.75% annual management fee plus an average 0.2% fund management fee.
Accounts: Stocks and Shares ISA, Junior ISA, Lifetime ISA, General Investment Account, Pension account
Features: Smart Alpha Portfolios, socially responsible portfolios, fixed allocation portfolios, fully managed portfolios
Pros
- Leading UK Robo Advisor
- Good selection of portfolios
- Excellent customer service
Cons
- Fees can work out higher than other investment platforms
- Minimum investment contributions
Approved by Nutmeg 
11/12/24
As with all investing, your capital is at risk. Tax treatments depend on your individual circumstances and may change in the future. The value of your portfolio with Nutmeg can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invest.
I’ve divided this table into those top-rated platforms I considered to be best for those who are new to investing or feel less confident making investment decisions, and those who are more experienced and would like more active control over how their portfolio is built and managed.
| Highly rated for new or less confident investors | Highly rated for experienced investors | Fees | Minimum balance | Investment options | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. AJ Bell |
|
You’ll never pay more than 0.25% to hold your investments (0% for holding over £500k in funds) + Dealing fees: £9.95 – £1.50 |
£500 lump sum or at least £25 monthly as a regular saver. |
Managed and DIY ISAs. 4,000 funds and shares from 24 markets, investment trusts and ETFs |
|
| 2. InvestEngine |
|
Managed platform: 0.25% DIY portfolio: £0 + Average annual fund cost: 0.23% |
£100 |
Managed and DIY ISAs. Choice of 580 ETFs. |
|
| 3. Wealthify |
|
Monthly management fee: 0.6% + Fund fees = average of 0.16% for Original portfolio and 0.7% for Ethical. |
£1 |
Managed ISAs. Invested in mostly ETFs and mutual funds. |
|
| 4. Moneyfarm |
|
Managed ISAs: Platform fees: 0.75% – 0.40% Share Investing ISAs: £3.95 per trade – currently at £0 until 31/10/23. Custody service fees: 0.35% (max £45.00 pa) – currently at £0 until 31/10/23. Currency conversion fees are 0.70%. |
£500 |
Managed & DIY ISAs. Choice of stocks, ETFs and mutual funds. |
|
| 5. Nutmeg |
|
Account fees: 0.75% Fund fees: 0.36% – 0.21% Market spread: 0.04% |
£500 | Managed ISAs invested in ETFs. | |
| 6. Vanguard |
|
Managed ISA total fee: 0.60% Build-your-own ISA total fee: 0.21% – 0.95% |
£500 |
Managed and DIY portfolios. Choose from 85 different Vanguard funds. |
|
| 7. Freetrade |
|
£5.99/mo Standard plan or £59.99/yr | £0 |
DIY investors only. Choose from more than 6,000 UK, US and European stocks, ETFs and investment trusts. |
|
| 8. IG |
|
Tiered management fees: max. £250 pa. ETF costs: average 0.15%. Market spread: estimated 0.07% pa. |
£500 |
DIY and Managed ISAs. For DIY ISAs, choose from over 13,000+ global stocks and ETFs. |
|
| 9. CMC Invest |
|
Custody service fee: £10 per mo. (New customers to the Plus Plan will get their first 3 months free.) |
£0 | DIY ISAs. Choose from 250 UK equities, 3000+ US shares, large-cap UK shares, 400+ EFTs and investment trusts, 2,100+ funds. | |
| 10. Interactive Investor |
|
Subscription fee: £4.99 per month. UK and US trades: £3.99 per trade. |
£0 | DIY ISAs. Choose from 40,000 UK and global stocks, plus a wide range of shares, funds, trusts and ETFs |
An investment ISA, also known as a Stocks & Shares ISA (individual savings account), is an investment account that allows you to invest in the stock market and you won’t pay dividend, capital gains tax, or income tax.
Anyone over the age of 18 is able to open an ISA and deposit up to £20,000 of ISA allowance into their ISA for the tax year 2022/23.
In order to choose the most suitable ISA (individual savings accounts) for your needs, you should first ask yourself some important questions:
Will you need help with your investment?
Investing can be complex and for aspiring investors who don’t have much knowledge of the market and who don’t have time to dedicate to meticulously studying the marketplace, there are platforms that can manage the whole process for you.
These ‘set it and leave it’ type investments are constantly monitored throughout, with a team of experts and a fund manager who can make changes to the funds underlying investments in response to fluctuations within the marketplace.
Whilst a fully managed portfolio will usually incur a management fee, this is usually a worthwhile cost if you have little experience to fall back on and require help with investment ideas.
The management fee you are charged will vary between providers, so it is worthwhile shopping around as high fund charges can end up eating into your profits.
Would you rather do your own trading?
If you would rather engage in a ‘do-it-yourself’ option, then there are plenty of do-it-yourself platforms that can facilitate this, and in this instance, you may want to consider what tools you will require in order to make informed choices when trading stocks and shares.
The trading fees will also be a consideration, and each platform will have its own charging structure, so you should ensure you engage with the best one for your investment strategy.
How much are you looking to invest?
The reason this is relevant is due to the various charging structures within the platforms that are available.
For a smaller investment pot, you may be best to look for a platform which charges a percentage of your pot in order to keep costs low.
However, percentage fees can soon add up for larger investment pots and in this instance, it is best to find a provider with a flat fee.
Many providers will also require an initial lump sum to get your investments started. It would be prudent to check the value of the lump sum required. Should you wish to invest on a monthly basis there are providers who don’t require a lump sum and will allow you to start investing for as little as £1. In this instance, beware of providers who charge a flat rate, as this can eliminate small investment amounts quickly.
What are you looking to invest in?
Most DIY platforms will provide access to a wide variety of investments, including UK and overseas shares, corporate bonds, investment funds, investment trusts, and ETFs. But some are limited to, for example, just funds. You’ll need to decide if this is important to you.
There are then some key factors to consider:
Cost
Cost is obviously an important factor, and fees can vary considerably between various providers. For small investment amounts, look for a percentage fee, and for large portfolios, look for a flat fee. Also, consider whether you will be paying tax over and above the personal allowance. If not, the fees associated with an ISA may not be worth it.
Range of investments
Ensure the provider offers the investments you would like to include in your portfolio, whether they are funds, shares, or ETFs. This will provide you with greater flexibility when building your portfolio.
Customer service
This is especially important for beginners, who may require some additional support. The best customer service is available via phone, live chat, and email, and agents should be quick to respond and helpful in providing investment guidance.
Features
Depending on your investment style, you may require research tools, analysis, and even tax assistance.
Is it worth getting a Stocks and Shares ISA?
As far as savings accounts go, it is really important to understand that while you could earn more in a Stocks and Shares ISA, you can also lose some, or even all, of the money you invest.
That being said, the returns from a Stock and Shares ISA are free from income tax, and they could be a lot higher than you would get from the interest earned in a Cash ISA. A Cash ISA acts as a tax-free savings account, usually offering a small amount of interest on the money held within the account. Currently, the interest rates on Cash ISAs are starting to pick up, and given that the gains over the personal savings allowance and dividend allowance are free from any income tax, they are also a good option.
If you currently have a Cash ISA and you decide that you would rather move your savings to a Stocks and Shares ISA, it is important to remember NOT to withdraw money from your Cash ISA but rather to contact your Cash ISA provider to arrange a transfer. This is to avoid exceeding your annual ISA allowance by withdrawing and depositing. Transfers do not count towards your allowance.
It is also possible to reduce your risk by creating a truly diversified investment portfolio across different markets and sectors. Remember that you don’t have to pay tax on any income earned within a Stocks and Shares ISA; should you still be uncertain as to whether this is a good option for you, then financial advisers are always well placed to help.
