Both are FCA-regulated and FSCS-protected. The real difference is fees, account types and how each platform feels to use. Verified against each provider’s published charges.
Fees verified July 2026. Capital at risk. Information, not financial advice.
Active investors who want professional tools alongside long-term holdings.
Portfolios above roughly £60k where a flat fee beats percentage charges.
Tick what you need. No account, no email. The answer is on this page.
Tick what you need above and we'll tell you which of the two covers it.
Account availability verified July 2026. Capital at risk. Information, not financial advice.
Experienced traders rate the platform quality, charting and market access.
Lower scores than rivals, with complaints about account queries and the complexity of the product range.
Read IG reviews on TrustpilotLong-standing customers value the flat fee and the breadth of investments.
The 1.5% headline FX fee and occasional platform outages are the recurring complaints.
Read Interactive Investor reviews on Trustpilot| Fee | IG | Interactive Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | £0 (custody fee removed January 2026) | Core £5.99/month (up to £100k); Plus £14.99/month (no limit); Premium £39.99/month |
| Share dealing | £0 commission with instant currency conversion | £3.99 per trade (£2.99 on Premium) |
| Fund dealing | Not available (shares and ETFs only) | £3.99 per trade (£2.99 on Premium) |
| FX fee | 0.7% | 1.5% on the first £25k, tiered lower above |
| Stocks & Shares ISA | Free | Included in the monthly plan |
| SIPP | Available, third-party administration fees apply | Included in the monthly plan |
| Withdrawals | Free | Free |
| Minimum to start | No minimum | No minimum (£25/month for regular investing) |
IG is best known for trading, but its share dealing account and ISA became far more competitive in 2026 when it removed custody fees and commissions. You get institutional-quality tools with no platform charge.
The 0.7% currency conversion fee is the main cost to watch on US shares, and there are no traditional funds. It suits confident investors; beginners will find simpler homes elsewhere.
Interactive Investor charges a flat monthly subscription instead of a percentage. On a £200,000 portfolio, £5.99 a month is a fraction of what percentage-fee platforms charge, which is why ii keeps winning larger DIY investors.
The equation flips for small pots: £71.88 a year on £10,000 is 0.7%, more than almost any rival. Work out your portfolio size first, then decide.
It depends on what you hold and how often you trade. IG's platform fee is £0 (custody fee removed January 2026), against core £5.99/month (up to £100k); Plus £14.99/month (no limit); Premium £39.99/month at Interactive Investor. On dealing, IG charges £0 commission with instant currency conversion for shares and not available (shares and ETFs only) for funds, while Interactive Investor charges £3.99 per trade (£2.99 on Premium) for shares and £3.99 per trade (£2.99 on Premium) for funds. Fees verified July 2026.
IG is best for active investors who want professional tools alongside long-term holdings. Interactive Investor is best for portfolios above roughly £60k where a flat fee beats percentage charges. Both are FCA regulated and covered by the FSCS.
On IG's ISA: Free. On Interactive Investor's ISA: Included in the monthly plan. IG offers a flexible ISA and Interactive Investor does not. Minimums are No minimum at IG and No minimum (£25/month for regular investing) at Interactive Investor.
IG offers a SIPP (available, third-party administration fees apply). Interactive Investor offers a SIPP (included in the monthly plan).
IG scores 3.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot (Great) from around 8,500 reviews. Interactive Investor scores 4.6 out of 5 (Excellent) from over 28,000 reviews. Lower scores than rivals, with complaints about account queries and the complexity of the product range. The 1.5% headline FX fee and occasional platform outages are the recurring complaints.
Yes. UK platforms accept ISA and SIPP transfers in, and you start the transfer with the receiving provider rather than the one you are leaving. IG charges free on withdrawals and Interactive Investor charges free. Transfer as cash and you are out of the market while it settles; transfer in specie and you keep your holdings but it takes longer.
IG or Interactive Investor, the account is the easy part. What decides when you can retire is how much goes in and for how long. Delphina works that out from what you already hold and what you pay in each month.
Free to check. No card required. Takes about two minutes.