Best for Beginners
No account or dealing fees, start from £1 and a flexible ISA.
Visit Trading 212
Capital at risk.
Best Stocks and Shares ISAs 2026
We compared 13 UK Stocks and Shares ISA providers on fees, flexibility and what you can hold. Start with how you want to invest, then check what each one costs at your balance.
Some links are affiliate or referral links. Capital at risk. Terms & Conditions apply.
Quick answer: how to choose a Stocks and Shares ISA
Start with how you want to invest, then check what it costs at your balance.
- New to investing or starting small? Look for no account fee, a low minimum and a flexible ISA. Our pick: Trading 212.
- Want it managed for you? Compare the yearly management fee, with fund costs on top. Lowest in our table: InvestEngine.
- Mixing DIY and managed? IG, or eToro if you also want a Cash ISA in the same app.
- Holding funds? Check the fund range and whether the fee is flat or a percentage. Vanguard, or Interactive Investor as your portfolio grows.
- Buying US shares often? The currency fee matters more than dealing. Interactive Brokers suits experienced investors.
- Already used your £20,000 allowance? Invest the rest in a general investment account, where there is no yearly limit.
Fees checked against each provider's own pricing, 20 October 2026Compare all 13How we rank
Our top pick
No account fee and no dealing commission, a £1 minimum with fractional shares, and a flexible ISA. Shares and ETFs only, no funds.
Visit Trading 212
Capital at risk.
Compare Stocks and Shares ISAs at a glance
The 13 providers we rank, side by side. Change the portfolio size to see what each would charge you a year to hold your ISA, or sort by the lowest fee.
Fees checked 20 October 2026 on each provider's own pricing page · How we rank
Provider
Account fee a yearOn £20,000 in shares and ETFs
Trading costsPer trade, and FX on foreign shares
What you can invest inIncluding whether funds are offered
Getting startedMinimum, flexibility, withdrawals
Open an account
Account fee a year on £20,000£0No account fee
Trading costs£0 commissionFX fee 0.15%
What you can invest inShares and ETFsFunds: No
Getting startedMinimum: £1Flexible ISA: YesWithdrawals: Free
Visit Trading 212
Capital at risk.
Account fee a year on £20,000£0No account fee
Trading costs£0 on trades up to £25,000FX fee 0.70%
What you can invest inShares, ETFs, investment trusts20,000+ shares and ETFs, per IGFunds: No
Getting startedMinimum: not statedFlexible ISA: YesWithdrawals: Free
Visit IG
Capital at risk.
Account fee a year on £20,000£0No account fee on the DIY ISA
Trading costs£0 commissionFX fee 0.70%
What you can invest inShares, ETFs, bondsFunds: Yes
Getting startedNo minimumFlexible ISA: YesWithdrawals: Free from a GBP account
Visit eToro
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. Sponsored link.
Account fee a year on £20,000£0No custody fee below €250,000
Trading costs£0 up to €100,000 a month, then 0.2%FX fee 0.50%
What you can invest inShares and ETFsFunds: No
Getting startedNo minimumFlexible ISA: YesWithdrawals: Free
Visit XTB
Capital at risk.
Account fee a year on £20,000£0No fee on DIY; managed 0.25%
Trading costs£0 dealingNo FX fee
What you can invest inETFs onlyFunds: ETFs only
Getting startedNo minimumFlexible ISA: YesWithdrawals: Free
Visit InvestEngine
Capital at risk.
Account fee a year on £20,000£71.88£5.99 a month on the Core plan
Trading costs£3.99 UK and US sharesFX fee 0.75%
What you can invest inShares, ETFs, investment trustsFunds: Yes
Getting startedNo minimumFlexible ISA: NoWithdrawals: Free (urgent £15)
Visit Interactive Investor
Capital at risk.
Account fee a year on £20,000£420.25%, max £3.50 a month on shares
Trading costs£3.50 to £5 shares, £1.50 fundsFX fee 0.75%, tiered
What you can invest inShares, ETFs, trusts, bondsFunds: Yes
Getting startedMinimum: £250 or £25 a monthFlexible ISA: NoWithdrawals: Free, no exit fees
Visit AJ Bell
Capital at risk.
Account fee a year on £20,000£700.35%, max £12.50 a month on shares
Trading costs£6.95 shares, £1.95 fundsFX fee 0.99%, tiered
What you can invest inShares, ETFs, trusts, bondsFunds: Yes
Getting startedMinimum: £100 or £25 a monthFlexible ISA: NoWithdrawals: No exit or transfer-out fees
Visit Hargreaves Lansdown
Capital at risk.
Account fee a year on £20,000£48£4 a month under £32,000, then 0.15%
Trading costs£0 on Vanguard funds and ETFsNo overseas share dealing
What you can invest inVanguard funds and ETFs onlyFunds: Vanguard's own
Getting startedMinimum: £500 or £100 a monthFlexible ISA: YesWithdrawals: Free
Visit Vanguard
Capital at risk.
Account fee a year on £20,000£1500.75% to £100,000, plus fund costs
Trading costsPortfolios run for youNo individual share dealing
What you can invest inReady-made portfoliosFunds: Within portfolios
Getting startedMinimum: £500Flexible ISA: NoWithdrawals: Free
Visit J.P. Morgan Personal Investing
Capital at risk.
Account fee a year on £20,000£0No account fee
Trading costs£0 commissionFX fee 0.10%
What you can invest inShares, ETFs, giltsFunds: Money market funds
Getting startedNo minimumFlexible ISA: YesWithdrawals: Free
Visit Lightyear
Capital at risk.
Account fee a year on £20,000£240.12% custody on shares and ETFs
Trading costsFrom 0.08%, no minimumFX fee 0.60%
What you can invest inShares, ETFs, bondsFunds: Yes
Getting startedNo minimumFlexible ISA: YesWithdrawals: Free
Visit Saxo
Capital at risk.
Account fee a year on £20,000£0No custody fee
Trading costsFrom £3 UK, $0.005 a share USFX fee 0.002%, min $2
What you can invest inShares, ETFs, global marketsFunds: Yes
Getting startedNo minimumFlexible ISA: Not statedWithdrawals: Two free a month
Visit Interactive Brokers
Capital at risk.
Account fees assume your ISA holds shares and ETFs; several providers charge differently on funds. Dealing, FX and fund costs come on top. The order is our editorial ranking, explained in how we rank. Some links are affiliate links, which never change the order. Capital at risk: the value of investments can go down as well as up.
Our picks by situation
Short on time? Pick the line that sounds like you. Each choice is explained further down the page.
Best for A low-cost managed ISA
Ready-made ETF portfolios for 0.25% a year, the lowest managed fee in our table. The DIY plan has no platform fee at all.
Visit InvestEngine
Capital at risk.
Best for A DIY, managed and Cash ISA in one app
Three ISAs under one login: a £0 commission DIY ISA, a managed ISA and a Cash ISA.
Visit eToro
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. ISA powered by Moneyfarm. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change. Sponsored link.
Best for Large share and ETF portfolios
Shares and ETFs capped at £42 a year, however large your ISA grows.
Visit AJ Bell
Capital at risk.
Best for Low-cost funds
Vanguard funds with no dealing charge, from £4 a month.
Visit Vanguard
Capital at risk.
Best for Larger fund portfolios
A flat monthly fee from £5.99, so costs stop rising as you grow.
Visit Interactive Investor
Capital at risk.
ISA welcome offers right now
These offers work with a Stocks and Shares ISA. We check each one against the provider’s own terms, and offers never change our ranking.
Live until 11 November
5 free Vanguard ETF shares with code WALLET
- Worth about £18 at 21 October 2026 prices
- Deposit at least £50 and buy one share or ETF within 7 days
- Works with the Stocks and Shares ISA
Last checked 23 October 2026
Claim 5 free shares
Capital at risk. Investment values can rise or fall. 0% commission up to €100k/month. Other fees may apply. XTB Ltd. is an investing platform. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and ISA regulations which may change. Limited Availability. T&Cs apply.
No ISA welcome offers are live right now. See our Offers page for the latest.
Best Stocks and Shares ISA for beginners
When you are starting small, flat fees hurt most because they land whatever your balance. Here is what to look for.
- No account feeA flat £48 a year is almost 1% of a £5,000 pot.
- A low minimumSome platforms ask for £500 to start. Trading 212 starts from £1.
- A flexible ISAMoney you take out can go back in during the same tax year.
- Free regular investingMonthly top-ups should not cost you a dealing charge.
Our pick for beginners
No account fee and no dealing commission, a £1 minimum with fractional shares, and a flexible ISA. Shares and ETFs only, no funds.
Visit Trading 212
Capital at risk.
Only want ETFs? InvestEngine charges no account, dealing or currency fee on its DIY plan.
Best managed Stocks and Shares ISA
A managed ISA chooses and rebalances the investments for you, in a portfolio matched to the risk you are comfortable with. You pay a management fee, with fund costs on top.
| Managed ISA | Yearly fee, before fund costs | Flexible ISA |
|---|---|---|
| InvestEngine Managed | 0.25% | Yes |
| IG Smart Portfolios | 0.50% on the first £50,000, nothing above, so £250 a year at most | Yes |
| Vanguard Managed | 0.35% (0.15% account fee plus 0.20% management) | Yes |
| eToro, powered by Moneyfarm | 0.75% below £10,000, falling in steps to 0.35% above £500,000 | Yes |
| J.P. Morgan Personal Investing | 0.75% to £100,000, 0.35% above | No |
From each provider's own pricing pages, checked 20 and 21 October 2026, and eToro's ISA page on 27 October 2026. Fund costs come on top of every figure: eToro puts its own at about 0.16% a year, plus up to 0.05% in market spread.
Our pick for a managed ISA
Ready-made ETF portfolios built and rebalanced for you for 0.25% a year, the lowest managed fee in our table, with a flexible ISA. Fund costs come on top.
Visit InvestEngine
Capital at risk.
Want a DIY and a managed ISA side by side? IG charges 0.50% on the first £50,000 of a Smart Portfolio, and eToro puts a DIY, managed and Cash ISA in one app.
Cheapest Stocks and Shares ISA for your portfolio size
There is no single cheapest ISA. Percentage fees barely register on a small pot but grow with it, while flat fees work the other way round.
Under £10,000
Lightyear, Trading 212, IG or InvestEngine
£0 a year
Avoid flat fees at this size. Vanguard's £48 a year is 0.96% of a £5,000 pot.
£10,000 to £30,000
The fee-free apps, or Vanguard for funds
£0, or £48
For funds, Vanguard's flat £48 beats AJ Bell's 0.25% above about £19,200.
£30,000 to £100,000
AJ Bell for shares, Interactive Investor for funds
£42 to £150
AJ Bell caps shares and ETFs at £3.50 a month. Interactive Investor's flat £71.88 beats Vanguard above about £48,000.
Over £100,000
AJ Bell, HL or Interactive Investor
£42 to £180
Uncapped percentage pricing reaches £525 a year on a £150,000 fund portfolio.
| Platform fee on £50,000 | A year |
|---|---|
| Lightyear, Trading 212, IG, InvestEngine | £0 |
| AJ Bell, shares and ETFs (capped) | £42 |
| Saxo, 0.12% custody | £60 |
| Interactive Investor, Core plan | £71.88 |
| Vanguard, 0.15% | £75 |
| AJ Bell, funds at 0.25% | £125 |
| Hargreaves Lansdown, shares (capped) | £150 |
| Hargreaves Lansdown, funds at 0.35% | £175 |
| Platform fee on £150,000 | A year |
|---|---|
| Lightyear, Trading 212, IG, InvestEngine | £0 |
| AJ Bell, shares and ETFs (capped) | £42 |
| Hargreaves Lansdown, shares (capped) | £150 |
| Interactive Investor, Plus plan | £179.88 |
| Saxo, 0.12% custody | £180 |
| Vanguard, 0.15% | £225 |
| AJ Bell, funds at 0.25% | £375 |
| Hargreaves Lansdown, funds at 0.35% | £525 |
Fund charges of roughly 0.06% to 0.79% a year sit on top of every figure. Run your own balance through our broker fees calculator
Best Stocks and Shares ISA for funds
If you will hold funds rather than shares, the fund range and fund charges matter most. Trading 212, IG and XTB offer no funds, and InvestEngine holds ETFs only.
Best for Low-cost index funds
- No dealing charge on funds
- £4 a month below £32,000, then 0.15% capped at £375
- Cheapest full fund platform from about £19,200 to £32,000
Visit Vanguard
Capital at risk.
Best for Larger fund portfolios
- A flat fee from £5.99 a month
- Fund dealing £3.99 on Core, £1.49 on Plus, free on Premium
- Free regular investing on every plan
Visit Interactive Investor
Capital at risk.
Best for The widest fund choice
- 0.25% a year on funds, falling above £250,000
- £1.50 per fund deal
- Over 19,000 investments
Visit AJ Bell
Capital at risk.
Prefer in-house research? Hargreaves Lansdown charges 0.35% and £1.95 a fund deal, with free research such as the Wealth Shortlist.
Which Stocks and Shares ISA performs best?
No ISA performs better than another on its own. The return comes from what you hold inside it, and the same fund grows at the same rate on any platform before charges. What the platform decides is how much of that growth you keep.
Illustration only. Assumes 5% growth a year before fees, with the platform fee taken once a year. Fund charges are not included and would reduce every figure. Returns are not guaranteed and you may get back less than you invest.
Managed ISAs publish past returns for each risk level, but past performance is not a reliable guide to future returns. See what your ISA could grow to with our Stocks and Shares ISA calculator.
All 13 Stocks and Shares ISAs compared
Every figure comes from the provider’s own published pricing. Four of the 13 do not offer a flexible ISA, so anything you withdraw still counts against your £20,000 allowance for the year.
| Provider | ISA account fee | UK and US shares | Funds | FX fee | Minimum | Flexible ISA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lightyear | £0 | Free | Free | 0.10% | None | Yes |
| Trading 212 | £0 | Free | No funds offered | 0.15% | £1 | Yes |
| InvestEngine | £0 (DIY) | ETFs only | Free | Free | None | Yes |
| IG | £0 | Free, on trades up to £25,000 | No funds (investment trusts available) | 0.70% | Not stated | Yes |
| XTB | £0 below €250k | Free to €100k a month, then 0.2% | No funds offered | 0.50% | None | Yes |
| eToro (powered by Moneyfarm) | £0 | £0 | Available | 0.70% | None | Yes |
| Interactive Brokers | No custody fee | From £3 UK, USD 0.005 per share | £0 to £4.95 | 0.002%, min USD 2 | None | Not stated |
| Saxo | 0.12% custody, 0.05% on funds | From 0.08% | Free to trade | 0.60% | None | Yes |
| AJ Bell | 0.25%, shares capped £3.50 a month | £3.50 to £5.00 | £1.50 | 0.75% tiered | £250 or £25 a month | No |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | 0.35%, shares capped £150 a year | £6.95, or £3.95 above 20 trades | £1.95 | 0.99% | £100 or £25 a month | No |
| Interactive Investor | £5.99 to £39.99 a month | £3.99, or £2.99 on Premium | £3.99, £1.49 on Plus, free on Premium | 0.75% down to 0.25% | None | No |
| Vanguard | £4 a month under £32k, then 0.15%, capped £375 | Own funds and ETFs only | Free | Not applicable | £500 or £100 a month, per fund | Yes |
| J.P. Morgan Personal Investing | 0.75% to £100k, 0.35% above | Managed portfolios | Managed portfolios | Not applicable | £500 | No |
IG's commission-free dealing applies to trades up to £25,000. Saxo figures are the Classic tier most retail investors pay. Vanguard and J.P. Morgan show no FX fee because neither offers direct overseas share dealing in the ISA. Fees last checked: 20 October 2026. Confirm the current rate on the provider's own site before opening an account.
Our 13 Stocks and Shares ISA picks, ranked
Ranked by how well each provider fits what most of our readers need, starting with beginners. Each card shows what it is best for, its ISA charges and the catch.
Best for Beginners starting small
- ISA fee
- £0
- Dealing
- £0
- Currency fee
- 0.15%
- Flexible ISA
- Yes
Why we picked it: Start from £1 with fractional shares and pay no account or dealing fees. Pies and AutoInvest make regular investing simple.
The catch: No funds, and no phone support.
Visit Trading 212
Capital at risk.
Best for Combining a DIY and a managed ISA
- ISA fee
- £0
- Dealing
- £0 on shares and ETFs
- Currency fee
- 0.70%
- Flexible ISA
- Yes
Why we picked it: No account fee or commission on shares and ETFs, and you can split your allowance between a DIY ISA and a Smart Portfolio managed for you at 0.50% on the first £50,000, capped at £250 a year.
The catch: A 0.70% currency fee, no traditional funds, and fractional shares are not available in the ISA.
Visit IG
Capital at risk.
Best for A DIY, managed and Cash ISA in one app
- DIY ISA
- £0 a trade, no custody fee
- Managed ISA
- 0.75% falling to 0.35%
- Currency fee
- 0.70%
- Flexible ISA
- Yes
Why we picked it: Three ISA routes under one login, powered by Moneyfarm: a DIY ISA with more than 1,000 investments, a managed ISA with no minimum, and a Cash ISA.
The catch: The managed ISA costs more than most managed rivals in our table, the 0.70% currency fee is higher than most fee-free apps, and crypto cannot be held in any ISA.
Visit eToro
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. ISA powered by Moneyfarm. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change. Sponsored link.
Free shares offer until 11 November
Best for Interest on uninvested cash
- ISA fee
- £0 below €250,000
- Dealing
- £0 up to €100,000 a month
- Currency fee
- 0.50%
- Flexible ISA
- Yes
Why we picked it: No platform or dealing fees on the ISA, and uninvested cash earns interest, 4.00% AER variable on GBP at the time of writing.
The catch: No funds, bonds or investment trusts, and a 0.5% fee on assets priced in other currencies.
New customer offer: 5 free shares of the Vanguard FTSE Global All-Cap ETF, worth about £18 at 21 October 2026 prices, when you open a Stocks and Shares ISA or investment account with code WALLET, deposit at least £50 and buy one share or ETF within 7 days. Ends 11 November 2026. T&Cs apply. How the code works
Visit XTB
Capital at risk. Investment values can rise or fall. 0% commission up to €100k/month. Other fees may apply. XTB Ltd. is an investing platform. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and ISA regulations which may change. Limited Availability. T&Cs apply.
Best for Low-cost managed and DIY ETF investing
- ISA fee
- £0 DIY, 0.25% managed
- Dealing
- £0
- Currency fee
- Free
- Flexible ISA
- Yes
Why we picked it: No account, dealing or currency fee on the DIY plan, and the lowest managed fee in our table at 0.25% a year.
The catch: ETFs only, so no individual shares or traditional funds.
Visit InvestEngine
Capital at risk.
Best for Larger fund portfolios
- ISA fee
- £5.99 to £39.99 a month
- Dealing
- £3.99 UK and US shares
- Currency fee
- 0.75% down to 0.25%
- Flexible ISA
- No
Why we picked it: A flat monthly fee, so your bill stops rising as your portfolio grows, and one of the widest investment ranges in the UK.
The catch: On a small balance the flat fee is costly: £71.88 a year is 1.44% of £5,000. The ISA is not flexible.
Visit Interactive Investor
Capital at risk.
Best for Large share and ETF portfolios
- ISA fee
- 0.25%, shares capped £3.50 a month
- Dealing
- £3.50 to £5.00 shares, £1.50 funds
- Currency fee
- 0.75% tiered
- Flexible ISA
- No
Why we picked it: Shares and ETFs are capped at £42 a year however large your ISA grows, with over 19,000 investments and phone support six days a week.
The catch: Dealing charges add up if you trade often, and the ISA is not flexible.
Visit AJ Bell
Capital at risk.
Best for Every account type and research in one place
- ISA fee
- 0.35%, shares capped £150 a year
- Dealing
- £6.95 shares, £1.95 funds
- Currency fee
- 0.99%
- Flexible ISA
- No
Why we picked it: The UK's largest platform, with ISA, SIPP, Lifetime ISA, Junior ISA and more under one login, plus free in-house research such as the Wealth Shortlist.
The catch: Among the most expensive for funds, at 0.35% a year up to £250,000, and the ISA is not flexible.
Visit Hargreaves Lansdown
Capital at risk.
Best for Low-cost Vanguard funds
- ISA fee
- £4 a month under £32,000, then 0.15%
- Dealing
- £0 on funds
- Currency fee
- Not applicable
- Flexible ISA
- Yes
Why we picked it: Simple, low-cost Vanguard index funds and ETFs, no dealing charge on funds, and a managed option at 0.35% a year before fund costs.
The catch: Vanguard's own funds and ETFs only, and the £48 minimum fee is steep on a small pot.
Visit Vanguard
Capital at risk.
Best for Ready-made portfolios across ISA, Lifetime ISA and Junior ISA
- Management fee
- 0.75% to £100,000, then 0.35%
- Dealing
- Managed portfolios
- Currency fee
- Not applicable
- Flexible ISA
- No
Why we picked it: Formerly Nutmeg. Four investment styles and risk levels from 1 to 10, with a Lifetime ISA and Junior ISA alongside the Stocks and Shares ISA.
The catch: Among the pricier options, with fund costs on top, and the ISA is not flexible.
Visit J.P. Morgan
Capital at risk.
Best for Low-cost overseas shares
- ISA fee
- £0
- Dealing
- £0
- Currency fee
- 0.10%
- Flexible ISA
- Yes
Why we picked it: No account fee, free dealing on UK, US and EU shares and ETFs, and the lowest currency fee of the fee-free platforms.
The catch: The ISA holds pounds only, so every overseas trade is converted.
Visit Lightyear
Capital at risk.
Best for Global markets and research tools
- ISA fee
- 0.12% custody, 0.05% funds
- Dealing
- From 0.08%
- Currency fee
- 0.60%
- Flexible ISA
- Yes
Why we picked it: A wide range of global shares, bonds, ETFs and funds, with advanced research and analysis tools.
The catch: Custody and currency fees on the Classic tier are higher than the fee-free apps.
Visit Saxo
Capital at risk.
For experienced investors
Best for Experienced investors who buy US shares often
- ISA fee
- No custody fee
- Dealing
- From £3 UK, USD 0.005 a share US
- Currency fee
- 0.002%, min USD 2
- Flexible ISA
- Not stated
Why we picked it: Very low currency conversion and access to markets worldwide, which adds up if you trade US shares often.
The catch: A complex platform built for confident investors. Beginners will find the fee-free apps above simpler.
Visit Interactive Brokers
Capital at risk.
Moving an ISA you already have
You can move all or part of an ISA to any provider above without touching this year’s £20,000 allowance.
- Open your new ISAPick the provider first. Transferring in is free at every provider in our table.
- Ask the new provider to transfer itUse their transfer form. Never withdraw the money and pay it in yourself, or it loses its tax-free status.
- Allow up to 30 daysA Stocks and Shares transfer should take no more than 30 calendar days, and the money stays tax-free while it moves.
Stocks and Shares ISA questions, answered
What is a Stocks and Shares ISA?
A Stocks and Shares ISA is a tax-free wrapper for investments such as shares, funds and ETFs. You can pay in up to £20,000 a year across all of your ISAs, and any growth, dividends or interest inside it are free of UK tax.
It is still an investment, so its value can fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you put in.
How much can I pay into a Stocks and Shares ISA in 2026/27?
£20,000 across all of your ISAs combined, not £20,000 per account. The allowance resets on 6 April each year and anything you do not use is lost rather than carried forward.
All of it can go into a Cash ISA if you prefer. A planned cut to £12,000 a year in Cash ISAs for under-65s from April 2027 was dropped in the Autumn Budget on 28 October 2026, so the full £20,000 stays available for cash and investments alike.
Can I have more than one Stocks and Shares ISA?
Yes. Since April 2024 you can open and pay into several ISAs of the same type within a single tax year, provided your total contributions stay inside the £20,000 limit. Lifetime ISAs are the exception, as you can still only pay into one per tax year, capped at £4,000.
What is a flexible ISA, and does it matter?
A flexible ISA lets you take money out and pay it back in during the same tax year without using up any more of your allowance. With a non-flexible ISA, once you withdraw, that slice of your allowance is gone until April.
Four of the 13 providers in our table are not flexible, and they include several of the best known names, so it is worth checking before you commit.
Can I transfer an ISA I already have?
Yes, and you should always use the new provider's official transfer process rather than withdrawing the money yourself. A proper transfer keeps the tax wrapper intact, whereas taking the cash out and paying it back in eats into this year's allowance. Check for exit fees first, as some platforms charge per holding. Our ISA transfer guide walks through it.
Do I pay tax on a Stocks and Shares ISA?
No UK Capital Gains Tax on your profits, and no tax on dividends or interest earned inside the wrapper. There is nothing to declare on a tax return either.
One exception catches people out: dividends from US shares still have withholding tax taken at source, usually 15% once you have completed a W-8BEN form with your provider. An ISA does not shelter you from that.
What happens if my provider goes out of business?
Every provider in our table is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, and eligible claims are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £85,000 per person per firm. That protects you if the firm itself fails.
It does not protect you against your investments falling in value, which is a normal part of investing and not something any compensation scheme covers.
Which Stocks and Shares ISA is cheapest?
It depends on how much you hold and how often you trade. Percentage-based fees usually work out cheaper on smaller balances, while a flat monthly fee wins once your portfolio grows. Currency conversion matters more than most people expect if you buy overseas shares.
The cheapest ISA by portfolio size section above compares the yearly cost at £50,000 and £150,000, and our broker fees calculator works it out on your own numbers.
How we choose and rank these ISAs
Written by Dimitar Kanazirski
Founder and Editor-in-chief. BA (Hons) Business Economics, ACMI. Researches and writes on ETFs and Stocks and Shares ISAs.
Fact-checked by David Katzarov
Editor. Background in law and personal investing, focusing on regulation and ISA rules.
- What we assessCost, safety and regulation, investment range, platform experience, account options, and support and education.
- Where the figures come fromEach provider's own fee schedule, terms and the FCA Register. We have used several of these platforms ourselves.
- How often we checkAt least once a quarter, and sooner when a provider changes its charges or launches a new account.
- How the order is decidedBy how well each provider fits what our readers need. Commercial relationships and welcome offers never change the order or the fees we report.
Free tools to narrow it down
Find My Broker
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UK Broker Fees Calculator
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Stocks and Shares ISA Calculator
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Risk disclaimer
This page is for general information and education. It is not personal financial advice and does not take account of your circumstances. When you invest, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than you put in. Past performance is not a guide to future returns.
Fees and offers are set by each provider and can change at any time. The provider's own terms always take precedence over anything on this page, so check them before you open an account. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and ISA rules may change. If you are unsure whether a product is right for you, seek advice from an FCA authorised adviser.
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