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.
Beginners building a habit, and first-time buyers using the Lifetime ISA.
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 TrustpilotUsers love the round-ups, the goal-based design and how painless it makes starting. 93% of customers surveyed in 2026 would recommend it.
The £1 monthly subscription on top of the platform fee is often flagged as expensive for balances under £5,000.
Read Moneybox reviews on Trustpilot| Fee | IG | Moneybox |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | £0 (custody fee removed January 2026) | £1/month subscription (waived at £5,000+) plus 0.15% to 0.45% platform fee |
| Share dealing | £0 commission with instant currency conversion | US stocks available, 0.45% FX fee |
| Fund dealing | Not confirmed: check IG's site for fund availability | Free (fund fees apply) |
| FX fee | 0.7% | 0.45% on US stocks |
| Stocks & Shares ISA | Free | Subscription plus 0.15% on Moneybox funds or 0.45% on other funds |
| SIPP | Commission-free; administered by Options Pensions, £205 a year | 0.45% on the first £100k then 0.15% (other funds); 0.15% capped at £150 a year (Moneybox funds); no subscription |
| Withdrawals | Free | Free |
| Minimum to start | No minimum | £1 |
A 0.25% yearly fee gap sounds small. On £50,000 over 20 years it is about £5,900 (illustrative). Add your ISA and pension balances to Delphina yourself and see what your charges cost by retirement and whether you're on track.
See what my fees costIllustrative: £50,000, 5% a year growth before charges, 0.25% vs 0.50% a year in charges, no further contributions. Not a recommendation of IG or Moneybox. Delphina is guidance, not financial advice.
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.
Moneybox is designed for getting started. Round-ups, weekly deposits and simple starter portfolios remove the friction that stops most people investing, and its Lifetime ISA is one of the most popular routes to a first home deposit.
The convenience has a cost on small balances: £1 a month plus up to 0.45% is one of the higher fee stacks here below £5,000 in non-Moneybox funds. The subscription drops away at £5,000, and Moneybox's own funds carry 0.15% rather than 0.45%, so the total depends on your pot size and fund choice.
It depends on what you hold and how often you trade. IG's platform fee is £0 (custody fee removed January 2026), against £1/month subscription (waived at £5,000+) plus 0.15% to 0.45% platform fee at Moneybox. On dealing, IG charges £0 commission with instant currency conversion for shares and not confirmed: check IG's site for fund availability for funds, while Moneybox charges US stocks available, 0.45% FX fee for shares and free (fund fees apply) for funds. Fees verified July 2026.
IG is best for active investors who want professional tools alongside long-term holdings. Moneybox is best for beginners building a habit, and first-time buyers using the Lifetime ISA. Both are FCA regulated and covered by the FSCS.
On IG's ISA: Free. On Moneybox's ISA: Subscription plus 0.15% on Moneybox funds or 0.45% on other funds. IG offers a flexible ISA and Moneybox does not. Minimums are No minimum at IG and £1 at Moneybox.
IG offers a SIPP (commission-free; administered by Options Pensions, £205 a year). Moneybox does not offer a SIPP.
IG scores 3.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot (Great) from around 8,500 reviews. Moneybox scores 4.4 out of 5 (Excellent) from around 4,800 reviews. Lower scores than rivals, with complaints about account queries and the complexity of the product range. The £1 monthly subscription on top of the platform fee is often flagged as expensive for balances under £5,000.
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 Moneybox 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 Moneybox, 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.