ISA Platform Comparison 2026

Best Stocks & Shares ISA Platforms Compared (2026)

Which UK platform costs least at your portfolio size? Compare InvestEngine, Vanguard, AJ Bell, Hargreaves Lansdown, and Trading212.

Published May 2026 · Money Meister · 5 min read

The platform you choose for your Stocks and Shares ISA can have a surprisingly large impact on your long-term returns. A 0.3% fee difference on a £100,000 portfolio over 20 years adds up to over £20,000 in lost growth — before you even account for the effect of compounding on those fees.

Key insight: The right platform depends on your portfolio size, what you invest in (ETFs vs funds), and how often you trade. There is no single best platform — only the best platform for your situation.

Platform Fee Comparison

The table below shows the core fees for the most popular UK ISA platforms. All-in costs will also include fund OCFs (typically 0.05-0.25% for ETFs, 0.20-0.75% for active funds).

Platform	Platform Fee	Dealing Cost	£10k/yr (ETF)	£100k/yr (ETF)
eToro	0% (no platform fee)	£0 — UK & US shares, ETFs & mutual funds	£0 + OCFs	£0 + OCFs
InvestEngine	0% (DIY) / 0.25% (managed)	Free	£0 + OCFs	£0 + OCFs
Trading212	0%	Free (ISA) / £0 on most trades	£0 + OCFs	£0 + OCFs
Vanguard	0.15%	Free	£15 + OCFs	£150 + OCFs
AJ Bell	0.25% (capped at £42/year for ETFs, £3.50/month for funds)	£1.50 (funds) / £5 (ETFs and shares)	£42 + dealing + OCFs	£42 + dealing + OCFs
Hargreaves Lansdown	0.45% (capped at £45/year for ETFs & shares)	Free (funds) / £3.95-£11.95 (ETFs and shares)	£45 + dealing + OCFs	£45 + dealing + OCFs

Platform-by-Platform Breakdown

eToro — Best for 0% Stocks & ISA

eToro offers 0% commission on UK & US stocks, ETFs and mutual funds inside its Stocks & Shares ISA (powered by Moneyfarm, FCA-regulated, FSCS protected to £85k). DIY ISA gives access to 1,000+ assets; Managed ISA is run by Moneyfarm experts. ISA holdings count toward eToro Club tiers. Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply including FX on non-GBP assets. 0.5% UK stamp duty on UK share buys.

Clear charges: no custody fee, no platform fee. Trades on bonds & European shares £0; currency conversion 0% via GBP local account. See eToro fees for full schedule. Sponsored by eToro — we may earn commission. #ad

Open eToro Stocks & Shares ISA →

Best for: Cost-conscious ISA investors wanting US/UK stocks with 0% platform fee

InvestEngine — Best for ETF Investors

InvestEngine offers a 0% platform fee on its DIY account, making it the cheapest option for ETF investors regardless of portfolio size. Dealing is free, and the platform offers access to over 500 ETFs. The managed portfolio service costs 0.25% if you want automatic rebalancing. No dealing charges and no FX fees on GBP-denominated ETFs.

Best for: ETF investors of any portfolio size

Trading212 — Best for Active Traders

Trading212 charges 0% platform fee and 0% dealing commission on most trades, making it extremely competitive. The ISA account lets you invest in thousands of shares and ETFs. FX fees of 0.15% apply to non-GBP assets. The platform also offers fractional shares, pies (automated portfolio baskets), and a well-designed mobile app.

Best for: Frequent traders, small portfolios, beginners

Vanguard — Best for Fund Investors

Vanguard charges 0.15% platform fee with no dealing charges for Vanguard funds and ETFs. This is competitive for smaller to medium fund portfolios. Investment choice is limited to Vanguard products (around 80 funds and ETFs). Vanguard's low-cost index funds are among the cheapest available, making this a solid choice for long-term buy-and-hold investors.

Best for: Vanguard fund investors, portfolios up to £100k

AJ Bell — Best for Large Portfolios

AJ Bell charges 0.25% platform fee but caps ETF and share dealing at £42/year. For fund investors, the charge is £3.50/ month (£42/year) capped. This means a £250,000 ETF portfolio pays just £42/year in platform fees. Dealing costs are £1.50 for funds and £5 for ETFs and shares. The platform offers a wide investment choice including shares, funds, ETFs, and investment trusts.

Best for: Large ETF portfolios over £50k, wide investment choice

Hargreaves Lansdown — Best for Features

Hargreaves Lansdown (HL) is the UK's largest investment platform with a 0.45% platform fee, capped at £45/year for ETFs and shares. Fund dealing is free; ETF and share dealing costs £3.95-£11.95. HL offers the widest investment range, extensive research tools, a highly-rated mobile app, and excellent customer service. The higher platform fee makes it less competitive for smaller portfolios.

Best for: Large portfolios over £100k, research, premium features

How to Choose Your ISA Platform

Estimate your portfolio size — current savings plus projected monthly contributions over 3-5 years.
Decide ETFs vs funds — ETFs are generally cheaper and trade like shares. Funds are simpler for regular investing.
Model platform costs — yearly platform fee + dealing costs + OCFs. Multiply by your expected years to see the real cost.
Check investment range — does the platform offer the specific funds or ETFs you want?
Consider the experience — mobile app, customer service, ease of use matter for long-term consistency.

Quick Recommendations

Under £20k, ETF investor: eToro, InvestEngine or Trading212 (0% platform fee)
Under £100k, fund investor: Vanguard (0.15% platform fee) — eToro for stocks/ETFs at 0%
Over £100k, ETF investor: eToro (0% platform) or AJ Bell / Hargreaves Lansdown (capped fees)
Frequent trader: eToro or Trading212 (free dealing)
Want full research suite: Hargreaves Lansdown

Hidden Costs to Watch For

FX fees: Platforms charge 0.15-1% when buying non-GBP assets. On a £10,000 US ETF purchase, that's £15-£100.
Inactivity fees: Some platforms charge if you don't trade regularly. Vanguard and InvestEngine do not.
Transfer fees: Most platforms charge £25-£50 to transfer your ISA to another provider. Some (like Trading212) may reimburse this.
Regular investing fees: Some platforms charge dealing fees on regular monthly investments, others offer them free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Stocks and Shares ISA platform is cheapest?

There is no single cheapest platform for everyone. For small ETF portfolios, InvestEngine (0% platform fee) or Trading212 are cheapest. For medium fund portfolios, Vanguard (0.15%) is competitive. For large portfolios over £100k, fixed-fee platforms like AJ Bell or Hargreaves Lansdown can work out cheaper than percentage-based models. Always model fees based on your portfolio size and trading frequency.

Do I need to pay fees on my ISA every year?

Yes, most platforms charge annual fees calculated as a percentage of your portfolio or a flat fee. You also pay fund OCFs (ongoing charges figure) on the underlying investments. On a £50,000 portfolio, annual all-in costs typically range from £100 to £500 depending on the platform and investments you choose.

What is an OCF and why does it matter?

OCF stands for Ongoing Charges Figure — the annual cost of the fund or ETF you have invested in. It covers the fund manager's fees, admin costs, and other expenses. A 0.25% OCF means £2.50 per £1,000 invested. Combined with your platform fee, this is your total annual cost.

Is a free platform like InvestEngine or Trading212 safe?

Yes, platforms like InvestEngine and Trading212 are FCA-regulated and covered by the FSCS (Financial Services Compensation Scheme) up to £85,000. Free platforms typically make money from FX spreads, securities lending, or premium tiers. Always check the platform's FCA registration and FSCS protection before investing.

Should I pick the cheapest platform or the most features?

For most long-term investors who buy and hold, platform fees are the biggest factor in long-term returns. A 0.45% fee vs 0.15% fee on £100,000 over 20 years can cost £30,000+ in lost growth. Prioritise low fees, then consider features: investment choice, ease of use, customer service, and mobile app quality.