Every platform below is FCA regulated and FSCS protected. The differences that actually matter are fees, investment range and service. Here they are, side by side.
Fees verified July 2026. Capital at risk. This is information, not financial advice.
| Broker | Platform fee | Share dealing | FX fee | Trustpilot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freetrade | £0 on Basic; Standard £4.99/month; Plus £9.99/month (annual billing) | £0 commission | 0.99% Basic, 0.59% Standard, 0.39% Plus | 4.2 | Full review |
| Trading 212 | £0 | £0 commission | 0.15% | 4.6 | Full review |
| AJ Bell | 0.25% on funds up to £250k (tiered lower above); shares capped at £3.50/month in an ISA and £10/month in a SIPP | £5.00 per trade | 0.75% on the first £10k, tiered lower above | 4.8 | Full review |
| Vanguard | £4/month minimum below £32k; 0.15% above £32k, capped at £375/year | Not available (funds and Vanguard ETFs only) | None (GBP funds) | 4 | Full review |
| Fidelity | 0.35% up to £250k (0.20% above); £90/year flat if under £25k without a regular savings plan | £7.50 per online trade | 0.75% tiered | 4.6 | Full review |
| IG | £0 (custody fee removed January 2026) | £0 commission with instant currency conversion | 0.7% | 3.8 | Full review |
| Interactive Investor | Core £5.99/month (up to £100k); Plus £14.99/month (no limit); Premium £39.99/month | £3.99 per trade (£2.99 on Premium) | 1.5% on the first £25k, tiered lower above | 4.6 | Full review |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | 0.35% on funds up to £250k (tiered lower above); shares capped at £45/year in an ISA and £150/year in a SIPP | £6.95 per trade (cut from £11.95 in March 2026) | 1% on the first £5k, tiered lower above | 4.3 | Full review |
| Prosper | £0 | Not applicable (funds and ETFs) | None on GBP fund classes | 4.6 | Full review |
| Moneybox | £1/month subscription plus 0.45% platform fee | US stocks available, 0.45% FX fee | 0.45% on US stocks | 4.4 | Full review |
Headline rates shown. Tiers, caps and plan options are covered on each broker page.
Simple commission-free app with paid plans for lower FX fees
Best for: Beginners who want a simple app and are happy with shares and ETFs
Freetrade fees and reviewsCommission-free investing with no platform fee
Best for: Cost-conscious DIY investors who want to keep every fee at zero
Trading 212 fees and reviewsLow-cost full-service platform with funds, shares and a strong SIPP
Best for: Investors who want funds and shares on one platform without paying Hargreaves Lansdown prices
AJ Bell fees and reviewsRock-bottom fund costs, but only Vanguard funds
Best for: Hands-off investors happy to hold only Vanguard index funds and LifeStrategy
Vanguard fees and reviewsFull-service platform with strong fund range and guidance content
Best for: Fund investors who value guidance, tools and phone support
Fidelity fees and reviewsTrading-grade platform now with commission-free share dealing
Best for: Active investors who want professional tools alongside long-term holdings
IG fees and reviewsFlat monthly fee that gets cheaper the more you invest
Best for: Portfolios above roughly £60k where a flat fee beats percentage charges
Interactive Investor fees and reviewsThe UK's biggest platform, now cheaper after 2026 fee cuts
Best for: Investors who want the fullest service, research and support and will pay a premium for it
Hargreaves Lansdown fees and reviewsZero platform fees and fee refunds on 30+ index funds
Best for: Index fund investors who want the lowest possible total cost and are comfortable with a newer app
Prosper fees and reviewsRound-ups and simple investing for first-time savers
Best for: Beginners building a habit, and first-time buyers using the Lifetime ISA
Moneybox fees and reviewsEvery broker page links to its full set of head-to-head comparisons.
Whichever platform you pick, the harder question is whether you are on track. Delphina models your pensions, ISAs and investments over the next 30 years and gives you a straight answer.
All ten are authorised and regulated by the FCA, and cash is protected by the FSCS up to £120,000 per firm if the broker fails. FSCS protection does not cover investment losses, only provider failure. Investments are ring fenced and are owned by you.
It depends on what you hold. For shares and ETFs, Trading 212 and Prosper get close to zero all-in cost. For large portfolios, Interactive Investor's flat fee usually wins. For funds with full service, AJ Bell tends to undercut Hargreaves Lansdown. Our comparison pages run the numbers pair by pair.
Yes, and 2026 has been unusually busy: Hargreaves Lansdown cut fees in March, IG removed custody charges in January and Interactive Investor relaunched its plans in February. We last verified every figure on this page in July 2026, and each broker page links to the provider's own fee schedule.