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.
Cost-conscious DIY investors who want to keep every fee at zero.
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.
Reviewers consistently rate the app as easy to use and good value, and many mention the competitive interest paid on uninvested cash.
The most common criticisms are slow identity verification for new accounts and support that can take time to respond.
Read Trading 212 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 | Trading 212 | Moneybox |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | £0 | £1/month subscription (waived at £5,000+) plus 0.15% to 0.45% platform fee |
| Share dealing | £0 commission | US stocks available, 0.45% FX fee |
| Fund dealing | ETFs only, £0 commission | Free (fund fees apply) |
| FX fee | 0.15% | 0.45% on US stocks |
| Stocks & Shares ISA | Free | Subscription plus 0.15% on Moneybox funds or 0.45% on other funds |
| SIPP | Free | 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 | £1 | £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 Trading 212 or Moneybox. Delphina is guidance, not financial advice.
Trading 212 built its name on removing fees. There is no platform fee, no dealing commission and no account charge on its ISA or SIPP. The only cost most investors pay is a 0.15% currency conversion fee when buying shares priced in dollars or euros.
The trade-off is scope. You can hold shares and ETFs but not traditional funds, and support is app-based. For an investor who wants a global tracker ETF inside an ISA at close to zero cost, it is very hard to beat on price.
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. Trading 212's platform fee is £0, against £1/month subscription (waived at £5,000+) plus 0.15% to 0.45% platform fee at Moneybox. On dealing, Trading 212 charges £0 commission for shares and eTFs only, £0 commission 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.
Trading 212 is best for cost-conscious DIY investors who want to keep every fee at zero. 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 Trading 212's ISA: Free. On Moneybox's ISA: Subscription plus 0.15% on Moneybox funds or 0.45% on other funds. Trading 212 offers a flexible ISA and Moneybox does not. Minimums are £1 at Trading 212 and £1 at Moneybox.
Trading 212 offers a SIPP (free). Moneybox does not offer a SIPP.
Trading 212 scores 4.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot (Excellent) from tens of thousands of reviews. Moneybox scores 4.4 out of 5 (Excellent) from around 4,800 reviews. The most common criticisms are slow identity verification for new accounts and support that can take time to respond. 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. Trading 212 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.
Trading 212 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.
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