Leading UK investment platforms in 2025—helping you identify where best to grow your money safely.

1. The Regulatory Foundation & Investor Protection 🛡️

All platforms highlighted below are FCA‑regulated and eligible for FSCS protection (up to £85,000 per person, per firm, in most eligible assets). Always check that ISAs, SIPPs or GIA balances fall under FSCS coverage.

2. Commission-Free & Low‑Cost Trading Platforms

Freetrade

Offers commission‑free trading on UK and US stocks, fractional shares, ISAs and SIPPs. Minimal trading fees, but currency‑conversion spreads apply to US equities .
Monthly fees apply for ISA/SIPP or premium features like Freetrade Plus, which adds limit orders and a broader stock universe (Wikipedia).
Ideal for both beginners and cost-conscious self-directed investors.

Trading 212

Zero‑commission for stocks, ETFs and forex (excluding FX conversion fees). Minimum investment from £1; fractional shares available ).
Focuses on user experience and educational tools. Best for beginners or smaller portfolios. FX fee around 0.15–0.45% on foreign trades .

InvestEngine

Tailored for ETF investors: DIY portfolios incur no platform fee, while managed portfolios are 0.25% annually plus fund fees (typically 0.11–0.12%) .
Offers detailed analytics tools, fractional investing and auto‑rebalancing—excellent for long‑term passive investors .
Highly rated by Which? and Forbes Advisor for low fees.

3. Robo‑Advisers: Convenience & Automated Portfolios

Nutmeg

Online discretionary portfolio management via ETFs and funds, with risk‑based portfolios covering ISAs, pensions, and GIAs .
Fees typically range between 0.6% and 0.98% for a £3,000 investment. Transparent performance reporting and range of risk levels available .

Wealthify

Simplicity-centered robo‑advisor with low minimum investments (often £1) and ethical investment options. Platform fee ~0.6%, with underlying fund fees of 0.15–0.70% .
Offers Stocks & Shares ISA and pension accounts; best for hands-off investors focused on ease and sustainability.

Moneyfarm

Personalized portfolios designed with digital advice and human consultant access. Fees range 0.35–0.75% plus average fund fee ~0.20% .
May suit investors who value human support and tailored advice.

4. Full-Service Platforms for Serious Investors

Interactive Investor (ii)

Subscription‑based model with flat monthly fees (£4.99–£19.99). Ideal for larger portfolios—no per‑trade fees, and free regular investing .
Offers stocks, funds, investment trusts, SIPPs, ISAs, ready-made portfolios and ethical filters like ACE 40 .
Best suited to intermediate/advanced investors or those with portfolios over £30,000.

AJ Bell / Dodl

AJ Bell provides broad market access, diverse ETFs, funds, and pensions; solid reputation with large asset base (≈£90 bn) and steady finance metrics .
Dodl, AJ Bell’s simpler app, offers themed portfolios for beginners with a flat ~0.15% fee and no dealing charges; minimal investment from £1 .

Hargreaves Lansdown (HL)

UK’s leading direct‑to‑investor platform with roughly £155 bn AUM and nearly 1.9 m clients. Offers multi-manager funds, stocks, SIPPs, ISAs, and advisory services .
Known for strong customer support, research and curated funds—though higher fee structure (~0.45% platform fee).

Barclays Smart Investor

Well-suited for customers wanting platform + banking integration; transparent tiered fee structure (0.25% up to £200k, then 0.05%) and £6 per trade on funds/shares .
FSCS protection via Barclays adds institutional trust; good for conservative investors preferring high‑street banking linkage.

5. Emerging & Social Trading Platforms

eToro

Social trading functionality: allows copying strategies of other investors. Assets include stocks, ETFs, crypto, commodities, and CFDs. No commission on stocks but generates revenue via wider spreads.
Very beginner-friendly and adds diversification via multiple asset classes.

Revolut

Entering investment space with stocks and ETFs for 2025, targeting commission‑free trades for limited volume. Integrates banking, budgeting, crypto and investing in one app, highly convenient.
Strong fintech credentials, although investment tools are newer compared to established brokers.

6. Ethical & ESG‑Focused Platforms

The Big Exchange: lists only sustainable funds aligned with UN SDGs; low 0.25% fee; minimum investment £100 or £25 monthly .
Wealthify, Nutmeg, Moneyfarm, Plum all offer ethical or ESG-targeted portfolio options .

7. Side‑by‑Side Overview

Platform	Best For	Fee Structure	Key Strengths	Considerations
InvestEngine	DIY ETF investors	0% DIY / 0.25% managed + fund costs	Lowest cost, detailed tools, rebalancing	ETF‑only; limited account types
Freetrade	Beginners who trade stocks	Free trades; fees for ISA/Premium	Easy to use, fractional shares	FX spreads; limited advanced tools
Trading 212	Commission‑free, small balances	Zero dealing; FX‑fees around 0.15%	Low entry; great app	No SIPP; forex/CFD complexity
Nutmeg	Hands‑off robo investing	~0.6–0.98% incl. fund fees	Automated portfolios; ease of use	Higher cost for small sums
Wealthify / Moneyfarm	Beginners wanting advice + automation	0.6% platform + fund fees / 0.35–0.75%	Ethical options; live support (Moneyfarm)	Fees are higher than DIY options
Interactive Investor	Investors with larger portfolios	Flat ≈£5–20/month	Fixed fee, full-featured platform	Can be costly for small balances
AJ Bell / Dodl	Simple thematic portfolios	Dodl ~0.15%, AJ Bell varies	Low‑cost beginner app; broad AJ access	Dodl limited options; full AJ fees
Hargreaves Lansdown	Research-heavy, full support	~0.45% platform	Excellent support, tools, curated funds	Relatively expensive
Barclays Smart Investor	Bank–platform integrated investing	0.25–0.05% tiered + £6 deal fee	Banking linkage; trusted brand	Less sophisticated trading tools
eToro	Social trading & multi-asset	No stock commission; crypto spread fees	Copy trading, asset variety	Crypto risk; spreads, inactive profile
Revolut	All‑in‑one banking/trading combo	Free trades limit, other fees apply	Seamless finance app	New investment arm; tools evolving
The Big Exchange	Ethical investors only	0.25% fee; sustainable fund list only	Impact‑driven investments	Limited to ESG funds only

8. How to Choose: Matching Platform to Your Needs

Portfolio size
- Small (<£5k): InvestEngine, Trading 212, Freetrade or robo‑advisors like Wealthify.
- Larger (>£30k): Interactive Investor, Hargreaves Lansdown, AJ Bell.
Investment style
- DIY ETF focus: InvestEngine
- Active trading: Freetrade, Trading 212, eToro
- Hands‑off automation: Nutmeg, Wealthify, Moneyfarm
Ethical/ESG goals
- The Big Exchange, Wealthify, Nutmeg, Moneyfarm offer ESG‑themed portfolios or ethical fund filters.
Support & tools
- Research/tools-heavy: HL, Interactive Investor, Barclays
- Social/educational features: eToro, Trading 212
Cost control
- Lowest total fees: InvestEngine
- Transparency & minimal surprises: Barclays, AJ Bell, II

9. Safety First: What to Verify

Ensure FCA regulation and FSCS protection.
Review ISA and SIPP coverage limits and eligibility.
Understand currency and FX breakdown if you trade non‑GBP assets.
Identify inactivity fees, FX spreads, or platform minimums.

10. Final Takeaways

For lowest fees and ETF-only investors → InvestEngine is standout.
For commission-free trading with flexibility → Freetrade or Trading 212.
For automated, beginner-friendly investing → Nutmeg, Wealthify or Moneyfarm.
For full platform features, research and portfolio scale → Hargreaves Lansdown, Interactive Investor, AJ Bell.
For ethical or sustainable-only investing → The Big Exchange or robo‑advisors with ESG options.
For social copy‑trading or multi-asset exposure → eToro and emerging Revolut.

✅ Verdict: Where to Grow Your Money Safely in 2025

If cost-efficiency is your priority: InvestEngine (DIY) or Trading 212 / Freetrade.
For hands‑off investing: Nutmeg, Wealthify, or Moneyfarm, depending on the level of advice desired.
For a rich toolset, wide options and trusted support: Interactive Investor, Hargreaves Lansdown, or AJ Bell.
For ESG/ethical alignment: The Big Exchange, Wealthify, Moneyfarm, or Nutmeg.

Each platform has unique strengths—and the best one for you depends on your control preference, portfolio size, and investment style. If you’d like help comparing fee examples or finding which platform suits your exact goals (ISA, SIPP, ESG), I’m happy to help dig further!