Stocks and shares ISA platforms for beginners in the UK (2026): what they charge
Four ISA platforms compared on what they charge a year on £10,000 with four trades, from no platform fee to a percentage charge plus dealing fees.
Quick answer
On a £10,000 stocks and shares ISA with four trades a year, Freetrade's Basic plan and InvestEngine charge no platform or dealing fees. Vanguard UK charges £4 a month below £32,000, so £48 a year. Hargreaves Lansdown charges up to 0.35% plus up to £6.95 per online share deal, so £62.80. Fund and ETF running costs come on top everywhere.
Key points
- Freetrade Basic and InvestEngine charge no platform fee and no commission at our profile.
- Freetrade charges 0.99% FX on Basic when you buy shares in other currencies.
- Vanguard UK charges £4 a month under £32,000, then 0.15% a year capped at £375.
- Hargreaves Lansdown charges up to 0.35% a year and up to £6.95 per online share deal.
- The 2026–27 ISA allowance is £20,000 across all your ISAs.
- Trading 212, AJ Bell, interactive investor and Moneybox could not be read and are not yet included.
What you would pay
Set your own numbers. The list below is ranked with this same calculator at our reference profile: £10,000 in a stocks and shares ISA and four trades a year.
- Freetrade Basic£0.00
- InvestEngine DIY£0.00
- Vanguard UK Self-managed£48.00
- Hargreaves Lansdown Stocks and shares ISA£62.80
Regular published prices only. Introductory offers and tax are left out. Figures are arithmetic on the provider’s own numbers, not a recommendation.
The list, in order
Order follows the published method on How we rank. Providers cannot pay for a position.
Freetrade
A free Basic plan and paid Standard and Plus subscriptions, all with £0 commission. Paid plans cut the FX fee and pay more interest on cash.
Suits: share and ETF investors who trade in pounds. Watch for: a 0.99% FX fee on Basic when you buy shares in other currencies.
- Basic
- £0
- Standard
- £4.99/mo yearly
- Plus
- £9.99/mo yearly
- FX fee
- 0.99% / 0.59% / 0.39%
InvestEngine
Commission-free ETF investing with no platform fee on ISAs, SIPPs and general accounts. ETF running costs and spreads still apply.
Suits: ETF investors who want no platform fee. Watch for: ETFs only, and its managed portfolios are closed to new clients.
- Platform fee
- £0
- ETF trades
- Commission-free
- Managed
- 0.25% (closed to new)
- Accounts
- ISA, SIPP, GIA
Vanguard UK
Vanguard's own funds and ETFs, with a £4 monthly account fee under £32,000 and 0.15% a year above it, capped at £375.
Suits: index-fund investors with over £32,000. Watch for: the flat £48 a year weighs heavily on small balances, and only Vanguard funds are available.
- Under £32K
- £4/mo
- £32K and over
- 0.15%, max £375/yr
- Fund costs
- 0.06%–0.79%
- Phone dealing
- £7.50
Hargreaves Lansdown
A wide fund and share range with an account charge of at most 0.35% a year and online share deals of no more than £6.95. Monthly direct-debit investing has no dealing charge.
Suits: investors who want a broad fund range and phone support. Watch for: share deals up to £6.95 each online and £29 by phone.
- Account charge
- Max 0.35% a year
- Share deals
- Up to £6.95 online
- Fund deals
- From £1.95
- Regular investing
- No dealing charge
Figures read from each provider’s own page on 29 October 2026. Platform and dealing charges only; fund and ETF running costs, spreads and stamp duty are extra. Reference profile: £10,000 in a stocks and shares ISA and four trades a year. Unranked entries publish no price that fits it.
- Trading 212, AJ Bell, interactive investor and Moneybox — their charges pages could not be read on 29 Oct 2026. To be confirmed by hand.
UK investing platforms charge in different ways: a percentage of what you hold, a flat monthly fee, a subscription, per-trade dealing fees, or nothing at all on the platform. Which costs least depends on how much you invest and how often you trade.
How the ranking works
We ranked platforms by yearly platform and dealing charges on a £10,000 stocks and shares ISA with four share or ETF trades a year, using charges read from each platform's own page on 29 October 2026. Fund and ETF running costs, spreads and stamp duty are left out. We do not forecast returns. See how we rank.
| Platform | How it charges | A year at our profile |
|---|---|---|
| Freetrade (Basic) | £0; 0.99% FX on non-GBP shares | £0 |
| InvestEngine | No platform fee; ETFs only | £0 |
| Vanguard UK | £4 a month under £32,000 | £48 |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | Up to 0.35% + up to £6.95 a deal | £62.80 |
The platforms
Freetrade offers Basic free, Standard at £4.99 a month billed yearly and Plus at £9.99, all with £0 commission. Paid plans cut the FX fee from 0.99% to 0.59% or 0.39%.
InvestEngine offers commission-free ETF investing with "zero platform fees" on ISAs, SIPPs and general accounts. It says investments are FSCS-protected up to £85,000 if the firm fails.
Vanguard UK charges £4 a month below £32,000 and 0.15% a year above it, capped at £375. Fund costs range from 0.06% to 0.79%.
Hargreaves Lansdown says the maximum account charge is 0.35% a year and online share deals cost no more than £6.95, with no dealing charge on monthly direct-debit investing.
The ISA allowance
gov.uk says the ISA allowance for 2026–27 is £20,000. Our guide to investing app fees shows how platform and fund charges add up over years, and the investing fee calculator tests your own balance.
Not yet included
Trading 212, AJ Bell, interactive investor and Moneybox could not be read on 29 October 2026. The US comparison covers dollar brokerages.
Keep reading
Investing apps for beginners in the US (2026): what they charge
Six brokerages and automated investing apps compared on what they charge a year on a $10,000 balance, from $0 commissions to flat subscriptions.
Guide · US & UKInvesting app fees explained: platform fees, subscriptions, fund costs and spreads
The fees an investing app can charge, how percentage and flat fees differ, and how small charges add up over years.
Calculator · UK editionInvesting fee calculator
The same calculator on its own page, in pounds.
Questions
What is the cheapest stocks and shares ISA?
On the charges we read on 29 October 2026, Freetrade’s Basic plan and InvestEngine charge no platform or dealing fee for a £10,000 ISA with four trades a year. Fund or ETF running costs and spreads still apply, and Freetrade adds a 0.99% FX fee on non-sterling shares on its Basic plan.
How much can I put in an ISA?
gov.uk says the maximum you can save in ISAs in the 2026 to 2027 tax year is £20,000. That allowance is shared across all your ISAs, including cash, stocks and shares, innovative finance and Lifetime ISAs. Growth and income inside an ISA are free of UK income and capital gains tax.
Is a flat fee or a percentage fee better?
It depends on the balance. Vanguard UK’s £4 a month is £48 a year, which is 0.48% of £10,000 but only 0.15% of £32,000. A 0.35% fee is £35 on £10,000 and £350 on £100,000. The calculator shows the cost for your own balance and trading.
Is my ISA protected if the platform fails?
InvestEngine says investments are protected by the FSCS up to £85,000 if the firm fails. This covers losses from the firm failing, not falls in the value of investments. Check each platform’s FSCS statement and firm reference number on the FCA Register before you open an account.
Do these platforms predict returns?
We do not, and the ranking ignores returns. The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in. Fees are certain and reduce whatever the investments earn or lose, which is why this comparison is limited to them.