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Reviews By Richard Berry - Updated
Ethical investment accounts let you invest in companies, funds and portfolios focused on making the world a better place and which avoid companies operating in unethical sectors.
The Vanguard ESG Global All Cap UCITS ETF is the standout ethical fund thanks to its broad global diversification, low 0.24% fee, and strong three-year performance of over 70%. For UK investors, Newton UK Opportunities (Responsible) is the leading active fund, while Legal & General Future World ESG Tilted & Optimised Developed Index offers one of the best low-cost ESG options.
Compare The Best Ethical Investment Platforms In The UK
We have ranked, compared and reviewed some of the best ethical investment platforms and accounts in the UK that are regulated by the FCA.
You can use our comparison tables of what we think are the best accounts for ethical investing and compare if they are managed or DIY, plus if they offer the opportunity to invest ethically in tax-efficient accounts.
Interactive Brokers IMPACT app: Best app for ethical investing
- βοΈExcellent market coverage
- βοΈAdvanced ethical investment app
- βοΈLow-cost share dealing of 0.05% or Β£1 minimum*
Interactive Brokers IMPACT app makes it easy to find and invest in companies that share your values, helping to better align your portfolio with the kind of world you want to create. The IMPACT app automatically scans your investment portfolio and ranks your position on an ethical basis. It will even suggest more ethical alternatives with a similar investment profile and let you switch with a single click. *Minimum dealing commisssions are Β£1 in the UK or 0.05% of the deal size.
- Experts commend Interactive Brokers for its unmatched market access, diverse account types, and low trading costs, highlighting its institutional-grade tools and innovative features. However, they note that customer service can be slow, particularly for smaller clients, which may detract from the overall experience.
- Across 1375 user reviews on Good Money Guide, averaging 4.6/5, customers frequently praise the platform’s low fees, extensive market access, and advanced trading tools. While many appreciate the user-friendly interface and comprehensive resources, some express frustration with the complexity of the platform and slower customer support responses.
Interactive Brokers Expert rating
Our expert rating is the average of the areas listed here, each scored out of 5 by our team.Our experts have rated Interactive Brokers across five key areas of our review framework.
- Pricing5.0
- Market Access5.0
- Apps & Platform5.0
- Customer Service4.0
- Research & Analysis5.0
Pros
- Very low dealing fees
- Wide market range
- Direct market access
- Complex order types
Cons
- Customer services can be slow
- No financial spread betting
See full expert review
Our verdict
Interactive Brokers is an exceptional trading platform that offers institutional-grade trading capabilities to private clients around the world. IBKR has some of the lowest trading and investing fees and the widest market range in the industry. Interactive Brokers is a major US online automated electronic broker company. The financial broker is listed on the Nasdaq Exchange with ticker IBKR. The firm operates in 150 electronic exchanges in 34 countries, and offers trading in 28 currencies. Interactive Brokers has more than 3.19 million institutional and retail customers.
Is Interactive Brokers any good?
Yes, Interactive Brokers is simply unmatched in terms of market access, account types and execution options for retail traders. It always has been and remains one of the cheapest trading and investing platforms globally.
The proof they say is in the pidding and IBKR, has increased it’s market share in the UK dramatically over the past few years. In 2024 alone, they increased the number of accounts by 142%. An amount I suspect will continue to rise, of all the brokers we cover, they provide the most updates, most platforms and are always looking to offer new markets, that investors actually want.
2025 Awards: Best Professional/DMA Broker 2025
Pricing: Top marks as IBKR don’t charge a custody (account) fee and commission are the cheapest around
Market Access: Top marks again for the widest selection of markets available
App & Platform: Hard to beat – excellent range of institutional grade execution tools and simple apps for beginners
Customer Service: IBKR let themselves down a bit here. If you are a big customer you get an account manager, otherwise online support is slow
Research & Analysis: Some of the best education, screeners and market data for free on their website and integrated into IBKR platforms.
I’ve used Interactive Brokers for about 20 years now. I’ve interviewed their founder (Thomas Peterffy), their UK MD (Gerry Perez), they’ve been a competitor (when I was a broker myself), a customer and a partner over the years. I’ve traded live with real money when thoroughly testing their platforms.
This included an in-depth conversations with their Head Of Product (Steven Sanders) to get inside insights on the best parts of the platform and services that some clients may not know about. In this review, I lay out my verdict on Interactive Brokers as an industry expert so you can decide if they are the right investing and trading platform for you.
There is one thing that Interactive Brokers gives you above all other brokers, and that is control. You can invest and trade in pretty much anything you want, in pretty much any account type, pretty much how you want.
If you are not familiar with Interactive Brokers (IBKR) they are American, but global, as most American things are, with the notable exception of their news, which always seems to be local. But I digress, IBKR was one of the first brokers to offer electronic trading to the masses. They were founded in 1978 and if you want to know more about the man who founded them and is still running the show, read my interview with Thomas Peterffy, the founder and chairman.
Highlights: The key things to focus on if you are considering opening an account with Interactive Brokers is that:
They are cheap: No other investment or trading platform can match their discount commissions, FX rates and zero account charges
Huge market range: IBKR offer by far the best access to global stock exchanges around the world
They innovate and create :You can invest in so many different ways through IBKR, from their beginner IBKR LITE apps, to their institutional-grade desktop workstation trading platform. They have some of the most advanced and easy-to-use features available to private investors.
Interactive Brokers Account Types: IBKR offer by far the most types of accounts globally including regular investing account, active trader accounts, direct market access, futures, options and fractional stock trading
You can also earn money on your cash, you can buy bonds (high and low yielding), buy warrants, partake in placings, vote on company corporate actions. You can convert currency at 0.2%, which is cheaper than most specialist currency brokers or money transfer apps.
Foreign Exchange: Which actually segues me nicely to prove my control point. With most brokers you have to choose an account base currency (if you are in the UK that is probably going to be GBP) and when you trade, no matter what currency an asset is traded in your P&L will be converted to that base currency. But with Interactive Brokers you can run your account in multiple currencies.
So, if you put in GBP and trade the S&P for example, your P&L will be in USD. If you buy USD stock you get the option to attach a currency conversion to the transaction so you can convert exactly the right amount to cover the purchase, or you can choose to run a deficit in USD.
Itβs not such an issue for small traders, as currency exposure, whilst important to be aware of, isn’t the most pressing matter. But if you are running a net flat long/short global macro portfolio, then keeping on top of your currency exposure could be the difference between making money or not.
Desktop Trader: Through ScaleTrader, (one of the founder’s favourite features) IBKR also gives you some very advanced order functionality, the sort you usually only get with professional trading systems like Fidessa (for stocks) or TT (for futures).
If youβre building a big position and donβt want the market to know youβve got a big order to work, IBKRβs order ticket will let you gradually feed that into the market (but only charge you for the single order).
You can automatically drop bids and offers into the market based on time and price to take advantage of volatile markets. You can also set it to scalp for quick profits in choppy markets.
Pairs Trading: You can trade one stock against another automatically by spread, percentage or price.
Why is that important? Because it can help you build a market-neutral portfolio and when we asked the boss of IBKR the habits he saw in his most profitable customers, (referring back to our interview with him for the third time) he said the ones that traded one stock against another, often did well.
Interactive Brokers Universal Account: You can of course do these things with other brokers, but what you canβt do is do them all in one place.
For this review, I spent a while talking to Steven Sanders, IBKRβs head of Marketing & Product Development, and he said in the twenty years, heβs worked for Interactive Brokers the thing heβs most proud of (other than it being founder lead and therefore very little red tape when you want to get things done) is the implementation of the Universal Account, where everything is done from one account.
Whatβs amazing to me is that nobody else really offers it. Ten years ago when I was a derivatives broker at Man Financial, we offered everything that IBKR did, but all on separate platforms. We have a couple of big accounts, Β£20m upwards, that we were always trying to lure back from IBKR with our personalised voice brokerage where you could phone us up weβd take care of your complicated orders for you.
But times change, there is still demand for bespoke voice brokerage, but not as far as Interactive Brokers are concerned. They do offer it from specialists desks if needed, but most trading and investing is done online.
Demo Account: Interactive Brokers does have a demo account, but they call it a free trial instead. This is odd, because you don’t actually have to pay to have an account with IBKR. In fact, Interactive Brokers is one of the only trading platforms that does not have a custody fee for investing in a GIA, SIPP and ISA.
If you want to know more about that, you can listen to my podcast with Gerry Perez, the UK MD, who explains, how they offer such amazing market access for such little cost.
You get a cool $1m to paper trade with on the Interactive Brokers demo account or ‘Paper Trading version’ as they call it. You get access to the easy-to-use investors portal and the more complex IBKR TWS provides delayed market data, simulated trading and access to all of our unique tools and offerings, including the IBKR Risk Navigator, the Volatility and Probability Labs, Portfolio Builder, Research and News.
But, to be honest, I didn’t find the demo account very good. Lots of information was missing and I couldn’t place a trade. I’m not sure why, and actually, that’s going to be a bit of an issue for Interactive Brokers because demo accounts are a great way to get client’s interest. In a world where so many brokerages a vying for the same business, even small hiccups like that can cause a massive drop off rate in opening an account.
Usually, IBKR’s technology is first-rate, but the demo account isn’t up to scratch. I didn’t use the paper trading account, just the live trading platform with real market orders.
Customer Service At Interactive Brokers: Itβs not all great, it takes a while to get through on the phone to customer service, and it has a slightly outsourced feel about it (if you know what I mean).
The desktop trading platform, despite its exceptional functionality, is also a bit ‘Windows 95’. But if you donβt need all the bells and whistles, the web based platform, or app has a more modern feel to them.
Options Strategy Builder: Options trading is gaining in popularity in the UK, mainly because of the press attention they derived from meme stocks (where US traders punt via options). But they are still a very complicated product. So what Interactive Brokers has down is create a Strategy Builder product, that essentially reverse the process of putting on options strategy trades.
You tell Strategy Builder what you think the market is going to do. For example, either, go up, stay still, not move for a while, or volatility will increase and it will create an options strategy around that. Instead of you having to know what strategy to put in place or working out the individual options legs.
IMPACT Ethical Investing: In tune with moving with the times, Interactive Brokers has also released the IMPACT app to help people investing in ESG and impact sectors, so they can put their money to good.
You can see the IMPACT dashboard on desktop, but it also operates as a standalone app that connects directly to your IBKR account and scores your portfolio based on how ethical the stocks you hold in it are. Ratings come from FactSet and Refinitiv, and there is this excellent feature that allows you to swap into more ethical stocks.
If one of your holdings is flagged as not that ethical, the app will suggest another one and at the click of a button, it will sell your shares and calculate how many new shares of a more ethical but similar company to buy and do it all for you. If youβre in the US, you can also make charitable donations directly on the app.
Interactive Brokers For Beginners: There is no doubt that Interactive Brokers is a proper trading platform, for those who know what they are doing and cater mainly to the more sophisticated investor. But they are making an effort to open their services up to the newer breed of investor and trader.
Itβs standard now among many fintechs, but IBKR were actually the first to offer no commission trading. They also offer fractional shares through IBKR LITE and IBKR Pro accounts and have removed the monthly minimum account charge.
The hope of course is that by onboarding investors when they just start, they can look after their investments for the next 40 years, just as they have been doing for their existing clients for the last 40.
Interactive Brokers runs a Student Trading Lab where students from 600 schools and universities take part in a $1m paper trading account for the purposes of getting a better understanding of the markets. No broker these days can tell you what to buy or sell, but IBKR GlobalAnalyst helps you hunt out undervalued opportunities, across the world, not just in the US.
IBKR offer a Trading Academy, podcasts, webinars and blogs for beginners and experienced traders so that new customers survive the markets to become long-term clients.
Plus, they are cheap.
24-Hour ETFs At Interactive Brokers:Interactive Brokers has a list of 24 selected ETFs available to trade around the clock from Sunday evening, east coast time, through to the close on Friday, by adding these funds to its US overnight trading facility.
Clients who are permissioned to deal in US stocks, are able to trade these ETFs 23.50 hours a day, five days per week, allowing them to react to news stories, macroeconomic and geo-political events as they happen, rather than waiting for US markets to open.
The trading hours and ETFs are available to both retail and institutional clients alike and are traded via the firmβs IBEOS system. Trades can be submitted using multiple order types.
The range of ETFs is pretty broad and includes firm favourites such as SPY, QQQ, DIA and IWM, which track the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, Dow 30 and Russell 2000 indices respectively. You can also short those indices by trading the SH, PSQ, DOG, and RWM inverse ETFs.
Interactive Brokers Customer reviews
Customer ratings come from reviews left on this site. Every review is read and approved before it is published.Based on 1,375 reviews
- Excellent74%
- Very good14%
- Basic7%
- Poor2%
- Bad2%
Read customer reviews
Useful
Useful overview of Interactive Brokersβ strengths and trade-offs: low costs, broad global market access, and advanced tools stand out, while platform complexity and slower customer support for some smaller clients are worth considering. The articleβs 4.6/5 customer rating is helpful context alongside the risks of CFD trading. More details are available in the Bestecision review: https://bestecision.com/review/interactive-brokers-review
good
information
Yes, I'm just wait to see how they perform
Digital Crypto currency, stock exchange, trading and stock market
Informative
All the information is so easily accessible for beginner investors like myself.
Simple & Best Price
Nice Interface and very good Prices in General…also easy to use.
Excellent
Excellent mobile platform for trading global markets
Complete
Very broad, stable and cost efficient
Value
They provide a comprehensive service, which they are constantly improving and enhancing. Excellent value for money and sophisticated functionality. I’m constantly finding new resources to help with my investment decisions and risk management.
Quickly & easy
Answer/ trasnfers
Best
Fast and easy execution
professional
great value for money
Outstanding
The level and quality of service is above and beyond any other ‘broker’ operating in the UK. Most others call themselves brokers but don’t have direct market access and so are, in reality, merely platforms: agents that push orders to other brokers. The result is a poor service, bad execution quality and a negative impact on investment returns. Additionally, the Interactive Broker platform is in a league of its own.
If you want an analogy, Interactive Brokers is like driving a Ferrari, while the competition are still using bicycles!
Reliable
Is reliable and diversified
Professional
Customer support is excellent. The app are clunky but work well. I used them for personal investments.
World class trading
‘- Multi-currency account
– Worldwide trading
– Sophisticated 24h real-time trading system
– Easy to use client interface
– FX trading
– Favorable fees, commissions and interest rates
– Powerful reporting tools
– Broad range of investment products
– Fair deal execution
– Comprehensive worldwide market information
– Client focus – Fantastic value for money
Organised
They are very clear and sympathetic in encouraging good practice were proper risk management is concerned.
Value for money
Excellent rates
Confusing customer service
My experience with IBKR customer service fell short of my expectations and the response time was excessively long.
Their customer service representatives appear to copy-paste responses without much care.
Security
Provides several investment instruments.
Cheap and complete
IBKR shows really good prices and provide more details and better record-keeping than other providers.
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AJ Bell: Best for low-cost ethical investing
- βοΈAccount fee capped at Β£3.50 per month
- βοΈLots of account types
- βοΈGood research on ethical investing
Capital at risk
AJ Bell is the cheapest ethical investment platform for shares, funds and ETFs in sustainable sectors. They provide a wide range of research and analysis on who to invest ethically, as well as constantly update their AJ Bell Favourite funds list with ethical investing choices. *Share account fees are capped at Β£3.50 a month. Dealing costs are Β£1.50 for funds and Β£9.95 for shares but drop to Β£4.95 where there were 10 or more online share deals in the previous month.
- Experts commend AJ Bell as an excellent full-service stock broker, highlighting its wide range of investment options and low account costs. They note the platform’s strengths in pricing, market access, and customer service, all rated at 5.0/5, while pointing out high charges for phone dealings and foreign exchange fees for smaller transactions as drawbacks.
- Across 1103 user reviews on Good Money Guide, averaging 4.2/5, customers frequently praise the platform’s user-friendly interface, responsive customer service, and transparent fee structure. However, some users express concerns about the app’s functionality and occasional platform stability issues, indicating a need for improvement in these areas.
AJ Bell Expert rating
Our expert rating is the average of the areas listed here, each scored out of 5 by our team.- Pricing5.0
- Market Access5.0
- Online Platform5.0
- Customer Service5.0
- Research & Analysis4.0
Pros
- Wide range of investments
- Low account costs
- Discounts for frequent investors
Cons
- High charge when you deal over the phone
- High FX charges below Β£10k
See full expert review
Our verdict
AJ Bell is an award-winning, low-cost online investing platform for UK DIY investors. Founded in 1995, AJ Bell has grown to become one of the UKβs leading investment platforms. Today, it has more than 488,000 customers and assets under administration (AUA) of over Β£180 billion as of January 2026.
Is AJ Bell good for investing?
AJ Bell is an excellent full-service stock broker that offers a wide range of services for investors, including share dealing, fund investing, cash-saving services, and mobile dealing. It also offers a range of accounts including Stocks and Shares ISAs, Lifetime ISAs, Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), dealing accounts, and investment accounts for children.
AJ Bell Customer reviews
Customer ratings come from reviews left on this site. Every review is read and approved before it is published.Based on 1,103 reviews
- Excellent46%
- Very good35%
- Basic15%
- Poor3%
- Bad2%
Read customer reviews
Good
Good
relatively
Relatively user-friendly investment app. Still very confusing and tricky to use, for me at least
Reliable
I trust AJBell to look after my pension fund and do what is best for me. They are responsive and thoroughly professional at all times
Helpful
Great anti fraud procedures saved me losing money to an impersonator.
Simple to use app
Simple
Really good company who have transparent fees and have a really friendly client app to trade on. Feel my retirement funds are in good hands
improving
good website, app needs to catch up
Effortless
Makes investing simple and quick.
Trusted
They dont do the hard sell. They provide you with information to guide you to your investing choice
Reliable
Easy to use platform
Great
easy to use app and strong customer service
Simple
Makes investing stress free and manageable
User friendly experience
Decent service and few headaches
The best thing about AJ Bell is that generally their platform just works and they don’t make any mistakes that cause me difficulties. For a fairly low-cost, execution-only service this is what I need from my investment provider.
Great
We have 4 products with Aj Bell and no issues with anything.
Very reliable platform
I keep my SIPP here & am impressed with the service, their comms & sensible prices.
I have been a customer for +/- 10 years
Easy to navigate and deal, reasonable prices
I’ve had a SIPP with AJ Bell for several years and have been very pleased with the service. The site is easy to navigate, stocks simple to trade and the costs are reasonable.
Simple and easy to use
Very happy with the service. Clean layout and relatively low commission costs.
The best Iβve used
Iβve used a few different options and started with the free trading apps. However, Iβve found AJ Bell to be great since making the switch.
My choice and no regrets
Very pleased with their service. Good help line with any issues. Lots of guidance and I trust them.
Good
Good all round communication, services,website
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Interactive Investor: Best fixed-fee ethical investing
- βοΈLow share dealing commission
- βοΈΒ£1 minimum deposit
- βοΈii ACE 40 ethical investment list
Capital at risk
Interactive Investor provides a specific tax-efficient stocks and shares ISA for ethical investing. As well as being able to pick your own ethical companies, funds and ETFs to invest in they have created an ethical growth portfolio, a long list of ethical companies to invest in their II ACE 40 is a list of sustainable investment funds. *Dealing commissions are a free trade every month, then UK Shares and Funds, US Shares charged Β£7.99 or upgrade to a Β£19.99 “Super Investor” account 2 free monthly trades and deal for Β£3.99. Regular investing is free.
- Experts commend interactive investor for its fixed account fee structure, which is particularly beneficial for medium to large investors, potentially saving them significant costs over time. The platform is noted for its excellent usability and comprehensive research offerings, although it is considered expensive for smaller accounts and lacks certain investment options like derivatives.
- Across 1125 user reviews on Good Money Guide, averaging 4.3/5, customers frequently highlight the platform’s ease of use, reliable customer service, and the attractive flat fee structure, especially for high-volume trading. However, some users express dissatisfaction with rising fees, clunky platform navigation, and issues with missing funds, indicating a mix of positive experiences alongside notable frustrations.
interactive investor Expert rating
Our expert rating is the average of the areas listed here, each scored out of 5 by our team.Our experts have rated interactive investor across five key areas of our review framework.
- Pricing4.5
- Market Access5.0
- Online Platform5.0
- Customer Service5.0
- Research & Analysis5.0
Pros
- Fixed account fees
- Easy to use
- Good research
Cons
- No Lifetime ISA
- Expensive for very small accounts
- No derivatives for hedging
See full expert review
Our verdict
interactive investor (ii) offers fixed fee investing on a wide range of investments with a fixed fee account structure make them one of the most cost effective ways for people with large portfolios to manage their investments, ISAs and pensions. ii are expecially good for high value portfolios and those wanting access to small cap stocks.
What does interactive investor do?
Interactive Investor or II as its known is one of the UKβs largest self-determined investor platforms. II can trace its roots back to 1995 and the startup floated on the London stock exchange back in the year 2000 before being bought by the Australian business Ample in 2002. Today, Interactive Investor is a owned by abrdn with assets under administration of more than Β£50 billion and 400,000 customers to whom II offers share trading and investment services including, ISAs SIPPs and share dealing, alongside research and analysis. Including model portfolios, selected funds and thematic investments.
Interactive Investor differs from other investment platforms as it charges a fixed account fee, rather than a percentage of the funds you have on account. Which, over time, could save you thousands in costs.
As a low-cost provider ii competes directly with the likes of Hargreaves Lansdown and AJ Bell offering general investment accounts, ISAs and pensions.
Pricing: Brilliant for medium and large investors, expensive for small accounts.
Market Access: You’ll be hard-pressed to find something you can’t invest in.
Platform & Apps: Very good, excellent data and usability.
Customer Service: They are massive and mostly online, but you can call them directly, generally good.
Research & Analysis: Loads, daily and weekly updates across all the asset classes they cover, with lots of analysts and opinions. No advice service though.
Does interactive investor pay interest on cash?
Yes, but only 2% for under Β£10k and you need at least Β£100k in your account to get their best rate of 3.25%. There are other brokers that offer better rates on uninvested cash, though.
interactive investor versus Interactive Brokers
interactive broker and interactive investor may sound similar but cater to different investor profiles and operate under different jurisdictions and cater for different types of investors.
interactive brokers is a USβbased global brokerage offering a wide spectrum of asset classes and advanced trading tools, often targeting active traders and professionals. interactive investor, by contrast, is a UKβfocused subscriptionβbased platform offering a fixedβfee structure suited to mediumβtoβlongβterm investors primarily in equities, funds, bonds, Gilts, ISAs, and SIPPs.
interactive investor employs simpler platforms with relatively basic charting tools, while interactive brokers features a more complex interface and lower per-trade costs but with more variable fees. interactive investor is better for large longer term investment accounts because of its simplicity, flat monthly fee and broad UK offerings, whereas Interactive Brokers suits users seeking global market access and sophisticated execution tools.
Can you buy Gilts on interactive investor?
Yes, ii supports investment in government bonds, including UK Gilts, via its platform. This is confirmed on the site, which lists bonds and Gilts as available investments .
interactive investor Customer reviews
Customer ratings come from reviews left on this site. Every review is read and approved before it is published.Based on 1,125 reviews
- Excellent51%
- Very good33%
- Basic10%
- Poor4%
- Bad2%
Read customer reviews
Missing Funds
My Sipp pension funds have been missing for two weeks, the company do not seem to care and can not be bothered to even return my calls.
Useless and expensive
Useless and expensive. High fees, which will continue to increase, for rubbish service. They will tell you ” you can’t do that online, you need to phone”. Then when you find an opportunity to phone within their limited opening times, they will tell you “you can’t do that on the phone, you need to do it online”, then when you do it online you will wait for four days and still won’t receive a response. Then you’ll process a transaction and it will say it will complete by 14:00 tomorrow, but when you submit the request, it will say that it will complete three days later. There are many other cheaper or free trading platforms, use them not Interactive Investor.
Must pay fees from ISA, not SIPP
Sipp for several years. now added ‘free’ISA only to find they insist on all chagres being taken from ISA, not Sipp as before
Sipp is taxable, ISA is tax free. why do we have to pay charges out of ISA?
Increased account fees.
I’ve been with ii for some years now, and have seen their account fees rise from Β£9.99 to Β£14.99 as of February 2026. However, what is disturbing, is that since Brexit they’ve introduced an additional non UK resident charge of Β£5.99. These year on year increases are becoming a worrying trend.
Aside from this, I have found them to be a good broker, with an easy to use web site and pleasantly helpful staff. Would recommend with a caution regarding fees.
Not so Clunky
I also amended a drawdown amount this month. an entirely automated process but admittedly hard to find. (ref Albert’s comment). The new fee structure from February is excellent and improves the previous costly FX charges.
Clunky platform
I recently tried to amend the monthly drawdown amount from my II SIPP. I expected to find a simple option on their secure platform. Instead I was taken through multiple web pages and eventually asked to complete a pdf form that their site linked to and submit using their secure messaging option. I did this only to be told that the form was out of date and I would need to complete a different form. This new form requires the user to complete several text boxes some of which do not retain the election once the document is saved. It also requires a signature meaning the user must either have electronic signing facilities or a printer and scanner. It’s submitted via their secure messaging platform so why require a signature? This whole process should be automated.
Investments in other currencies
While the platform for basic usage is a little more expensive than the competition, it offers a unique service of investment (including funds) in currency other than sterling.
efficient transfer. helpful customer service
efficient transfer. helpful customer service
Good range
Great range of different accounts and a decent fee structure, especially if you make a lot of trades, and will definitely save money against some of the traditional investment providers/brokers.
Excellent.
Straight forward and easy to work with. Helpful people.
Reliable service and easy to use platform
Have been with Interactive Investor for many years and have found the service to be very reliable. The online platform is straigtforward to use and the customer support team has always been helpful.
average
Commission for UK stocks when added to the monthly fee is not as cheap as first appears. For overseas transactions the fx fees are large and frankly a rip off.
Customer service is painful as they often ask for NI number which not many would know. Some customer representatives seem to think they are quiz masters rather than customer service reps, so I try to avoid the phone.
Great platform
Interactive Investor stands out as a reliable platform for serious investors who value a flat-fee structure and a wealth of investment options. While it may not be the best fit for beginners or those with smaller portfolios, its robust tools and transparency make it a compelling choice for experienced investors.
STABLE PLATFORM WITH A GOOD INTERFACE AND GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE
I have been with Interactive Investor for over a decade and highly recommend the service. The fixed fee pricing for high volume trading is excellent value.
Opening an account
Opening an account is very easy and the interface is easy to navigate
Excellent functionality, good value
Iβve been a very satisfied ii customer for many years now. They have a great range of accounts (trading, ISA, SIPP and JISAβs) all for a single monthly fee. Communication with the company is excellent when needed.
Lots of simple features, easy to use
Lots of simple features, easy to get the handle on and use ongoing. Access instant quotes and get a simple to understand historical record of transtions. Very good phone support.
Platform is good but charts are poor
I use II for most of my ISA and some of my SIPP investments. Overall the platform is excellent, fees are pretty good, however I find charts quite poor, can be glitchy when switching through different timelines, for that reason alone I keep other platform accounts where better charts are available.
Reasonable fees
There is good information on shares but they used to have brokers’ views and I wish they would bring that back.
Very efficient user friendly investment platform
The fees are among the lowest around and it has a very informative platform with many very good analysis from several analysts
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Hargreaves Lansdown: Wide range of ethical funds and shares
- βοΈNo account fee for shares
- βοΈWide range of shares to buy
- βοΈExcellent ethical investment research
Capital at risk
Hargreaves Lansdown lets you invest in a wide range of large and small cap ethical companies as well as investment funds and investment trusts with an ethical bias. You can also build your own portfolio of ethical ETFs with the help of HLs in-house expert research. *There is no account charge for shares. Funds are charged at 0.45% for the first Β£250,000. There is no charge for buying funds, but shares are charged at Β£11.95 per deal or Β£5.95 if you do over 20 deals per month.
- Experts rate Hargreaves Lansdown highly, noting its extensive range of investment options and excellent customer service. The platform is praised for its user-friendly online interface and comprehensive research tools, although some experts point out that it may be pricier compared to other fund investing options and lacks advanced portfolio hedging tools.
- Across 1775 user reviews on Good Money Guide, averaging 3.8/5, customers frequently highlight the platform’s intuitive app, responsive customer service, and the wide range of investment accounts available. However, there are notable criticisms regarding high fees, particularly for buying shares, and some users report frustrations with account management and customer support responsiveness.
Hargreaves Lansdown Expert rating
Our expert rating is the average of the areas listed here, each scored out of 5 by our team.Our experts have rated Hargreaves Lansdown across five key areas of our review framework.
- Pricing4.5
- Market Access5.0
- Online Platform5.0
- Customer Service5.0
- Research & Analysis5.0
Pros
- Wide range of investments and accounts
- Top-notch customer service
- Excellent research and analysis
Cons
- There are cheaper options for fund investing
- Limited portfolio hedging tools
See full expert review
Our verdict
Founded in 1981 Hargreaves Lansdown is one of the largest investment platforms in the UK. They offer investing, savings, ISAs and SIPP account to over 1.8 million clients with 142bn in assets under management.
Is Hargreaves Lansdown a good broker?
Yes, Hargreaves Lansdown is one of our best-rated stock brokers and investment platforms. HL offers access to a huge range of investment types, through a wide range of general and tax-efficient accounts and is suitable for almost all types of investors.
I always think of Hargreaves Lansdown as the Waitrose of the investing world. Yes, it may be a bit pricier sometimes, but I think it’s just a nicer, safer place to shop for stocks.
Hargreaves Lansdown Customer reviews
Customer ratings come from reviews left on this site. Every review is read and approved before it is published.Based on 1,775 reviews
- Excellent27%
- Very good38%
- Basic24%
- Poor7%
- Bad4%
Read customer reviews
hideous experience
just speechless! I created the kids accounts. They changed the primary person on my child’s account without telling either parent, locked me out when I Phoned about a login issue, then dictated what I do in my own home and with whom. Never had an experience like that!
Website
Excellent platform for stocks, shares and cash investing.
Class
Amazing customer service
Efficient
Very simple app. Brilliant customer service. Good range of ETFs, which I use for long-term investing. Brilliant Cash ISA also, with great interest rate. Trusted and credible. I trust my money is in a safe place.
Good
Communication
Intuitive
Good, intuitive app. Very responsive customer service.
Excellent
Easy platform to use
Confidence
Easy to use platform, very supportive and excellent telephone service.
fantastic
They listen then execute the right strategy
Accessible
Easy to use and patient/friendly when contacted. 5he brand provides access at all investment skill and money levels.
Great for junior ISA
Provide good junior stocks and shares ISA
Quality
Been with them for years and I have always felt they provide me with the best service for my needs as being retired now , not the force of old but heh ho still looking . Pb
Bereavement Support – Incompetent and Difficult
Where do I start.
Claiming they sent forms when they didn’t. Then sent them in an email, but the forms were not attached.
Provided all information requested.
Week later I get an email requesting more information. We are all HL clients but they have made a bad situation so much worse because of their incompetence and awkwardness.
I have NEVER dealt with a more difficult organisation in thise who bereavement process.
They offer good products but I am seriously considering moving my considerable financial invesment away from HL.
Utterly appalled.
Overall good but the app could be easier to use.
One of only a few providers of a JISA where you can pick and manage your investments. Setting up the account was reasonably easy. The app UI is ok but not great. Can only fund the account through a card payment is a little frustrating but not a deal breaker.
Free JISA and app is great
Opened up a JISA on HL due to fees and ease of use. Good stock universe and the app works very well. Got no complaints
Good but room for improvement
HL Junior ISA is okay but their website and app need improvement compared to competitors like InvestEngine and Trading212.
Operating outside of Law Demanding Facial Recognition to Verify / Fake Reviews
Hargreaves Landsdown operate outside of the law demanding Facial Recognition to verify accounts of both new and existing customers. They will tell you its the only way to verify, but when you look into the privacy law, this is simply not the case.
The system they use is MITEK. A quick search will show you who owns MITEK. Its the same corporations whom own everything.
Furthermore, HL are using extremely unscrupulous resources to keep their image squeeky clean by using BLACK MARKETING sources to write positive reviews. They pay approx Β£10 a review. Search Black Marketing and you will find many people happy to lie and cheat for money.
Go onto Trustpilot and see how many reviews they receive per day. I just counted over 20 in 24 hours. This is a statistical impossibility.
Now, do you really want a company that lies and cheats and sells your data to look after your hard earning money?
Think about that
I have been a customer of theirs for many years and i am absolutely disgusted at their practices and you should be too.
Good service
one of the very few services that allows for some investments… It could be improved and made even more powerful (i.e. investments in other currencies) but really probably the best platform for easy access and universe of investments possible!
Not as good as they used to be
I’ve used HL for more than 10 years. They used to be low cost. Customer service was excellent. Online platform was great. Still not bad, but other platforms are now cheaper. Slower to resolve the occasional problem.
Cheap and easy to trade with, but lacking advanced features for active traders
Hargreaves Lansdown are good value for those that are low volume traders of stocks. If you hold funds then they are not such great value because of the admin fees that they charge. However, they don’t charge dealing fees on funds which is a good point. A negative thought is that fund trades have to be placed by 9am or 8am for some in order to receive that day’s valuation price. Many other brokers have a cut-off time of 11am-11.30am. HL are also one of the slowest to update fund prices – if you check Fidelity, Morningstar or AJ Bell, at 4pm, most fund prices are update, whereas HL take until 6pm or later.
The process of placing a deal with HL using the app is the best of many brokers that I have used as it is so smooth and quick. Very quick to login. However, there are many small companies, foreign companies or investment trusts that don’t load up on the app and only can be viewed or traded on the desktop website.
The app and website are my first choice for checking share prices and news/RNS releases for UK stocks. Historical performance indicators are good too. However there is no provision of key metric data like P/CF, Forward P/E, Debt/Equity, Quick ratio, current ratio, Free cash flow yield, ROCE, ROE, ROA etc so I have to go to Reuters or other sites to check such details.
HL has always been very unaccommodating for those who wished to subscribe to IPOs or share offers, I have found other brokers providing access to new IPOs but HL will not.
They also have a strange system whereby they put dividends you receive into a hidden account and then only 2 weeks later transfer them to your capital account to allow you to trade with that cash.
Watchlists are very good in providing current prices and being well layed out.
It would be good if we could see futures prices for US markets and individual stocks in the morning when the UK is open. I have to check marketwatch or investing.com for that.
Why can’t you make charts with HL of different stocks all on the same chart?
The total return chart function is great for funds but why can’t that be extended to longer than 5 year periods and for stocks as well?
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Moneyfarm: Excellent choice of risk-based ethical portfolios
- βοΈSimple managed ethical account
- βοΈSet your own risk and reward
- βοΈLow account fee of 0.75%*
Capital at risk
Moneyfarm’s ethical investment plans and socially responsible portfolios are designed using funds invested in some of the most forward-thinking and impactful companies in the world β along with many others working hard to improve. *Moneyfarm investing account fees are scaled between 0.75% for accounts between Β£500 and Β£50,000, then above Β£100k are 0.45% to 0.35%. Average investment fund fees are 0.2% and the average market spread when buying and selling is 0.10%.
- Experts highlight Moneyfarm as a digital wealth manager that combines automated portfolio management with the ability to invest in individual shares and ETFs. They commend its user-friendly platform and competitive fees, while noting the relatively high minimum investment requirement and account fees as potential drawbacks.
- Across 248 user reviews on Good Money Guide, averaging 4.3/5, customers frequently praise the platform’s ease of use, responsive customer service, and solid investment performance. However, a significant number of users express frustration over issues with fund transfers and a lack of accountability from the company, indicating a divide in overall satisfaction.
Moneyfarm Expert rating
Our expert rating is the average of the areas listed here, each scored out of 5 by our team.- Pricing5.0
- Market Access5.0
- Online Platform5.0
- Customer Service5.0
- Research & Analysis5.0
Pros
- Easy to use with low fees
- The ability to buy shares, bonds, ETFs & funds
- Diverse managed portfolios
Cons
- High Β£500 minimum investment
- 0.45%* account fee is relatively high
See full expert review
Our verdict
Moneyfarm is a digital wealth manager that aims to make personal investing simple and accessible. It was launched initially in Italy in 2012 by Italian bankers Paolo Galvani and Giovanni Dapra and entered the UK in 2016 and has big-name financial backers such as Allianz Global Investors, Cabot Square Capital, United Ventures and Poste Italiane.
Is Moneyfarm any good for wealth management?
Yes, Moneyfarm is more of a digital wealth manager rather than a robo-advisor as the portfolios are put together by investment managers, rather than automatically. The automation, as it were, is fine-tuning your portfolio to match your risk/reward choices. Unlike with other robo-advisors, with Moneyfarm you can also top up your portfolio with individual shares and ETFs.
Fees: Moneyfarm charges 0.75% to 0.6% up to Β£100k then 0.45% to 0.35% over Β£100k. Moneyfarm investing account fees are scaled between 0.75% for accounts between Β£500 and Β£50,000, then above Β£100k are 0.45% to 0.35%. Average investment fund fees are 0.2% and the average market spread when buying and selling is 0.10%.
Market Access: You can invest in 7 pre-made portfolios, but also (unlike a lot of other digital wealth managers and robo-adviors) also buy individual shares, ETFs, bonds and mutual funds online. It’s a bit of a shame you can’t buy US stocks, But Moneyfarm is best really for setting up regular investments in a GIA, ISA or SIPP, then letting them grow over time without too much tinkering and speculating on Tech stocks.
App & Platform: It’s really easy to use, plus it puts you through your paces to make sure you understand what you are investing in. Apparently, my Moneyfarm investor profile is “pioneering”, which means I want to take on more risk for potentially better returns.
Customer Service: This is mostly online as you’d expect but solves all issues – I’ve had some good calls with Moneyfarm about how its products work over the years, and its people really know their stuff. If you want to find out more about the ethos, you can read my interview with the CEO Giovanni DaprΓ on how they are so much more than a robo-advisor.
Research & Analysis: Not much to speak of other than a few guides, but that’s ok, as I don’t really want Moneyfarm spamming me with stock trading ideas.
Moneyfarm Customer reviews
Customer ratings come from reviews left on this site. Every review is read and approved before it is published.Based on 248 reviews
- Excellent63%
- Very good19%
- Basic9%
- Poor3%
- Bad6%
What customers like
- Helpful customer service
- Clear communication
- Good investment performance
What customers dislike
- Poor transfer handling
- Lack of accountability
- Misleading fees and returns
Read customer reviews
Incompetent, dishonest, do not trust
It gets betterβ¦
So, after they couldnβt transfer money of mine into the right account, which cost me Β£15kβ¦ they didnβt accept responsibility at first, then accepted it was their error. Offered a few hundred quid as compensation, which I obviously declined and then Iβve had 15 back and forth emails with the team and no actual explanation of why it happened and why they wonβt put it right for me.
Iβm a bit suspicious as to why they canβt work out what the right thing to do is here. So I made a Subject Access Request so that I could understand the chain of events.
Obviously theyβve subsequently managed to not meet the deadline for my Subject Access Request because itβs βcomplicatedβ.
This business is incompetent. They give me absolutely no confidence that this is something theyβll make right.
Cowboys
Have come back with another assessment of my case recently.
Case background – they were unable to simply transfer my funds to a pension account. They had a week to move the funds and I called every day to make sure it was fine. They reassured me it was ok and would happen. It didnβt happenβ¦
Has subsequently cost me Β£15k of tax relief. They have admitted it was their fault, but their βfinalβ compensation offer has come in at a meagre Β£1,500.
Having to go down the legal route as nobody there wants to accept responsibility for their mistake.
Absolute disgrace of an operation. Do not trust them with your money.
Just appalling
Still refusing to pay me the money that they cost me. I lost Β£15k in tax relief purely because they couldnβt work out how to transfer money from one account to another.
I called several times to make sure they could do it. I was reassured every time. Somehow they messed it up and then told me it was my fault.
Appalling customer service. Do not seem to care that they are incompetent.
I have the call recordings if anyone is interested lol
Awful company. Cost me money and wouldnβt accept responsibility
Messed up the transfer of my pension funds. Then blamed me for not simply being able to allocate it into my pension account.
Offered Β£500 as compensation when their incompetence cost me Β£15k in tax relief. Their error has cost me Β£15k and they wonβt acknowledge it.
Iβve lost out massively due to the company and the customer service is dreadful.
Do not trust this company.
Absolute disgrace. Do not trust them
Worst company Iβve ever dealt with.
Messed up the transfer of my funds. Subsequently blamed me for not simply being able to allocate it into my pension account.
Took weeks to βreviewβ the situation. Offered Β£500 as compensation when their incompetence cost me Β£15k in tax relief. Tried to say I should transfer more capital in the next tax year to achieve a βsimilar positionβ when that is not the case. Their error has cost me Β£15k and they wonβt acknowledge it.
Iβve lost out massively due to the company and the customer service Iβve received since is one of the worst Iβve ever experienced.
Do not trust this company. Do not trust their people. They will not do the right thing when things go wrong. Very disappointed.
A Rabble of Thieves
After receiving my Β£10,000 into a Stocks and Shares ISA, they then proceeded to close the account and refuse to return the money. The financial Ombudsman is now having to get involved. Liars, cheats, frauds. Despicable company that must be avoided.
Awful company that shirks responsibility when they've made errors
Dreadful business.
Messed up transferring my money into a pension account and has since offered me a pathetic Β£200 in compensation for the several thousands (>Β£10k) that it has cost me.
Technology clearly doesn’t work. Despite speaking to their team about 5/6 times they still were unable to allocate my funds to my pension on time.
Have since blamed the error on not being able to “automatically allocate” money into the fund despite me speaking to them several times before the end of the tax year and knowing exactly what I wanted to achieve.
Hiding behind pathetic excuses and not interested in making this right for a customer. It would be refreshing if they would hold up their hands when a clear error has been made, but instead they would rather push the financial loss onto me.
Dreadful business to deal with.
Misleading Interest Rate on Cash ISA and Bad Customer Service
I have just transferred a Cash ISA over to Moneyfarm from Zopa, due to better interest rates. The transfer went smoothly, however the value of the ISA has decreased, even though the interest rate is currently quoted as 4.33%. Iβm no financial wizard, but by my reckoning the value should be going up, rather than down. The βChat to Usβ section was of no help and my email to customer services went unanswered. Very disappointed! I will be moving my Cash ISA somewhere else before it disappears completely. Zopa weβre far better by comparison and their website was, in my opinion, more user friendly.
Excellent
Consistently good performance
Professional
Pretty much “outstanding” , easy to contact, smart folk at the other end of the phone along with great financial returns – simple as.
Customer service
Moneyfarm offers an excellent straightforward platform for investing in a stocks and shares ISA, with ethical options available. I particularly value the clear communication and helpful customer service, with regular updates provided both regarding my specific product and also news and education around broader market conditions.
Reliable and helpful
Sipp
ONE TO BET ON THIS YEAR
KEEPS YOU UP TO DATE AT ALL TIMES
AVOID – Misleading, Low Returns, Extra Fees
Drawn into Moneyfarm with a misleading advert, I’m very disappointed. Call centre staff hiding behind terms & conditions to add fees when trying to withdraw my cash.
Returns from Moneyfarm (even on 6/7 risk) have been lower than Wealthify and way lower than Santander (all invested same amount at the same time).
Definitely avoid this one, invest with a proper bank or take independent financial advice, I feel like I’m been scammed by Moneyfarm.
Excellent service and return for the economic layman!
I have a stocks and shares ISA in a mid- risk portfolio. I consider it is well curated. Periodically it is tweaked and improved. I also appreciate that I can call and speak to a knowledgeable staff member who will advise me on risk level and contents of my portfolio. Money farm has an excellent App that is secure, several billion pounds of investment behind it and I feel well looked after.
Moneyfarm
This is a ‘Robo’ advisor, the middle man between either using the expensive services of a financial adviser or doing it all yourself. Not the cheapest investment option. Ideal for the beginner investor, their is a friendly knowledgeable team on hand you can contact via email or phone if you need a helping hand. Their online platform is very attractive, easy to understand and user friendly. Steady ongoing performance, with the ability to switch up or down the risk scale should you so wish. A simple annual questionnaire determines your appetite for risk. Regular news articles and updates on how your chosen fund is performing.
easy to deal with
excellent service
Intuitive access and good performance
I m very pleased wit their performance so far.
For me, they are an…
For me, they are an exceptional business and long may that continue. Enjoyed being part of the journey since 2017 and would highly recommend. Feel I am in very good hands when it comes to wealth management.Thank you!
very good
very good
Leave a review
Wealthify: Ethically managed portfolios
Wealthify, part of the Aviva Group, lets you invest in either an original portfolio of investments from the UK and overseas or choose an ethical investment plan made from a blend of environmentally and socially responsible investments. *There are also investment costs of on average 0.14% for original plans and 0.46% for ethical plans.
- Experts highlight Wealthify as a user-friendly robo-advisor that simplifies the investment process, making it accessible for individuals who may have previously found investing daunting. They commend its low fees compared to traditional wealth managers and the ease of setting up an account, although they note limitations such as the inability to purchase individual shares and a minimum deposit requirement.
- Across 2571 user reviews on Good Money Guide, averaging 4.6/5, customers frequently praise the platform’s ease of use, efficient customer service, and the clarity of information provided. Many appreciate the ability to start investing with small amounts and the diverse range of investment options available, while some express concerns about the waiting time for investment credits and the limitation to in-house portfolios.
Wealthify Expert rating
Our expert rating is the average of the areas listed here, each scored out of 5 by our team.- Pricing4.5
- Market Access4.5
- Apps & Platform5.0
- Customer Service5.0
- Research & Analysis4.0
Pros
- Easy regular investing
- Simple investment options
- Low-cost simple price structure
Cons
- Cannot buy individual shares
- Limited to in-house portfolios
- Β£5000 minimum deposit for general investing and pension accounts
See full expert review
Our verdict
Wealthify won best “Robo-Advisor” in the 2025 Good Money Guide Awards as they offer simple, low-cost investment accounts made of pre-made diverse Original or Ethical investment plans. Owned by Aviva, customers can set their own risk/reward threshold and invest through a general investment account, stocks and shares ISA, junior ISA or pension.
Capital at risk
Wealthify Tested: Investing Isnβt A Sprint, Or Even A Marathon Anymore, Itβs A Triathlonβ¦
For years people have been trying to make investing interesting, but it’s not, it’s dull. Trading is fun, high-risk, fast, dangerous and like sprinting. But, like trying to run too fast, especially when you hit 40, you’ll probably injure yourself just as in trading, you’ll probably lose money.
Investing used to be like a marathon, you’d have an annual four-hour meeting with a wealth manager who would recite your fund prices from the back of the FT, before rolling your portfolio over for his annual commission, but now it’s even harder work.
To make investing interesting, robo-advisors like Wealthify (or ‘digital wealth managers’ as they prefer to be called) have been trying to democratise it and make investing open for everyone. They say, “Look, investing can be fun, if you don’t want it to be a marathon, we’ll make it a triathlon instead.”
Which, as you know takes roughly about the same amount of time as a marathon, but is a swim, a bike ride and then a run. This closely translates into investing similes as, “it’s still a massive slog, but we’ll make it more interesting by giving you an app (like Strava) so you can track your performance in real-time and give you variety by risk and region”.
So, by democratising investing, robo-advisors have actually made it harder. You have to make more decisions, be more involved, and you’ve now got an app so you’ll constantly be looking at (and therefore tweaking), your ISA and pension. When actually, what you should be doing is investing, then do nothing.
Or should you?
The Value of Compounding
A while ago I interviewed the then Wealthify CEO, Andrew Russell, and one thing we discussed was how important it is to encourage people to start investing, instead of just saving. Because without the benefit of compounding returns in the long-term if you just save and don’t invest, your money will be worth less.
He told me:
Currently, with such low interest rates on savings products, people are walking past their own money really as they are missing out on that opportunity for greater fund growth.
Clearly, if you tried to convince the young to start investing by explaining how compounding works, you’d have no customers at all. But one, thing Wealthify does really well is straight off the bat tell people how much their money “could” be worth in the future, particularly for regular investing.
Which is a very powerful message to send, and one that should always be front and centre.
Generally, the earlier you start investing, no matter how small, the better off you will be.
When I was setting up an account, I said I would invest Β£1,000 initially, then Β£250 a month with one of their Confident plans, which Wealthify said after 25 years could be worth Β£122k (or Β£173k if the market performed better than expected). Think of the rubbish you spend Β£100 a month on. When I retire, I might be able to buy a Caterham, although I’ll be too old to drive it then.
It’s not entirely clear where this prediction comes from when they give it to you, but presumably, it’s based on historic returns from the various plans.
Obviously, “Past performance is not indicative of future results.” If the market tanks (which it always does at some point) you’re going to be sitting on a loss. But before robo-advisors came along, if you wanted to open an account and invest with low-to-medium risk you had to go to the bank and sit down with an advisor, fill in a load of forms, and nod in bemusement as they explained why the Asia ex-Japan emerging markets fund would potentially make you more money than a treasury based fund of funds. I remember doing it, and it was exhausting, and I had just come back from working on the NYMEX oil trading floor in New York, so was in the business even back then.
Thankfully now though, it’s so easy to open an account and invest, and that’s where the real democratisation of investing is.
The way people are invested is basically the same, with diverse portfolios spread across asset classes and regions, albeit cheaper, with the use of low-cost funds instead of active fund managers. People have always been able to invest monthly, with even very modest amounts. But what makes investing accessible is not how it’s done, but how easy it is to get started. Even up to a few years ago, if you wanted to open an ISA account with Hargreaves Lansdown, you had to fill in a paper application and post it back.
Simple Apps & Platforms
Both are very easy to use with good portfolio projection tools.
When setting up my Wealthify account, I didn’t even have to put in a password to get started. I managed to fund my account without getting my debit card out of my pocket, by directly linking my bank account, another massive bonus for regular investors (because if you pay by debit card and it expires, your contributions stop). I think overall it took less than five minutes to get a plan set up and funded.
It’s a very slick app and website, and everything is where you expect it to be. There will always be a debate around active versus passive fund management, but the performance difference between wealth managers is generally very slim as there is a fairly standard way to create risk and region-based portfolios. Plus, if you want to beat the market, you have to take on more risk. If you just want to beat inflation, you probably won’t beat the market.
Wealthify Fee Comparison
One of the main advantages of robo-advisors is how cheap they are compared to traditional wealth managers (because you don’t get personal advice) and Wealthify is one of the cheapest of the bunch. Wealthify account fees are 0.6% a year of your portfolio, versus Nutmeg & Moneyfarm’s 0.75%.
So if you have Β£100k on account, you’ll be paying Wealthify Β£600 as opposed to Β£750 for the other accounts. Over a 23-year period, that is a saving of Β£3,450 (and that doesn’t take into account compounding returns if you reinvested that saving).
Wealthify pensions are a little cheaper, as Wealthify fees reduce to 0.3% on the portion of your pension balance over Β£100,000.
You do, of course, have to pay fund fees on top, which are actually quite cheap with Wealthify. Wealthify say their average fund fees are 0.14% p.a. Fund fees are the costs of the assets in the Wealthify plans, which are managed by investment professionals. These are higher for Ethical Plans, where the average investment costs are 0.46% p.a.
Wealthify updated its minimum deposit amounts in January 2026. For the GIA, the minimum is Β£5,000.
Market Access
You are limited to their own pre-made portfolios, but they are suitably diverse, and you can set your risk level. You can invest through a GIA, Stocks and Shares ISA or Private Pension. Unfortunately, there is no Lifetime Investment ISA to take advantage of the Government’s 25% top-up bonus. But you can invest for your children as well with a Junior Stocks and Shares ISA.
Wealthify plans are made up of funds from Vanguard, L&G, HSBC, Fidelity and Mercer. All those funds charge a fee for choosing and managing the assets that the funds are invested in. If you want to know what is in the funds, you can look it up on Trustnet, see for example the HSBC America Index Fund (which is currently 28% of the Adventurous plan). So actually, just like everyone else, your investments are quite heavily linked to US tech stocks like Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Tesla and Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway.
Ethical Investing
For the more ESG and ethically minded, you can still invest in an Ethical Adventurous plan, but assets include funds with “sustainable” in the title, like the Liontrust Sustainable Global Fund that contains stocks like 3i, a British company worth around Β£33bn takes a pragmatic approach to sustainable investing by influencing company boards to ensure that they assess their material environmental and social impacts and dependencies and, where relevant, support them in developing plans to mitigate ESG risks and invest in value creation opportunities that may arise. Despite that, 3i has generally performed well in recent years.
Wealthify as a Business
I also really like Weathify as a business. It seems there are new investing apps being set up every week, all with different USPs. But most are woefully underfunded and you have to wonder how many times they will be going back to Seedrs and Crowdcude to tap up investors because their burn rate is extortionate as they have yet to onboard a meaningful number of customers to generate revenue, or even, god forbid, make a profit.
Wealthify has gone through that, but come out the other side. It was founded by Michelle Pearce-Burkestarted with Β£500k from Richard Theo in 2015, then a further Β£1m from crowdfunding on Seedrs in 2016, followed by Β£15m from Aviva in 2017.
Wealthify was then fully bought out by Aviva in 2020. Which, if I were to have founded a new fintech, would be my dream roadmap.
Even though I have invested with Wealthify, I wish I had also invested in Wealthify, but that’s a whole other story and one with a completely different risk appetite.
Aviva Backed for More Security
Being Aviva owned is great for clients because it offers a huge amount of financial security, and of all the robo-advisors out there only Wealthify and Nutmeg (JP Morgan), have the backing to ensure that they may still exist in twenty years time. This is important because investing isn’t like using a credit card or buying car insurance, where you can switch every year. When you invest, you may well be with that provider for 50 years.
When I interviewed Linsey Rix, the head of UK Savings and Retirement at Aviva, one of the reasons they were so interested in Wealthify was it gives them a chance to get people investing, who may have been put off by the established and grown-up nature of Aviva.
She told me:
Wealthify plays a very important role for certain types of savers, which means we offer a broad range, both of digital journeys that customers can invest in, but also, we think it important for many of our pension customers to have the opportunity to talk to people as well.
You can tell Wealthify is owned by one of the bigger boys like Aviva as well, because even though it is very easy to set up an account, they are still heavy on the compliance. I actually failed the suitability test. I filled it in as though I was a beginner investor and was told I couldn’t invest because I didn’t understand the risks of stock market investing. Although, I re-took it with a greater appreciation for risk and was granted permission to create a plan. But it’s a good example, of how whilst everyone should be able to invest, not everyone should actually invest.
After all, just like training for a triathlon, if you do it with friends it is easier, and just like investing if you take an active interest in your health you will be healthier and wealthier in the long run.
Customer Service
Wealthify is rated highly for support from real people in Wales, so you can handle most issues online, but also have the ability to phone straight through for more complex issues.
Research & Analysis
Some good analysis around portfolio rebalancing, although it’s mainly passive commenatry updating on performance rather then ideas on what to invest in. But this is not surprising as Wealthify is very much a “invest and forget platform”. So much so that When I tested the platform and set up some regular investments, I am genuinely surprised when I log on and see them. The way a long term investing account should be.
Wealthify Customer reviews
Customer ratings come from reviews left on this site. Every review is read and approved before it is published.Based on 2,571 reviews
- Excellent68%
- Very good24%
- Basic6%
- Poor1%
- Bad1%
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Accessible
Processes are easy to understand and staff are helpful and friendly. App is well designed and tell you what you need to know without data overload. I’m in control of my money without needing to be a financial expert
Efficient
Customer service with Wealthify is second to none, whenever there’s an issue be it app based or user error, there’s always be a form of communication open to work out the problem.
Trustworthy
They make me feel safe with my money in their hands
Variety
Good selection of products made simple.
Slick
Easy to use platform, functional with handy and topical news
Clarity
Providing clear information and updates
Steady Wealth Management
Good steady return
Good performance
Provides good performance, for 3 JISAs I hold for my three grandchildren. They’d get 5 stars if it wasn’t for the ludicrous 6-working-days waiting time before investments I make actually get credited to my grandchildren’s JISAs. In this day and age, that’s unacceptable, frankly.
Easy way to start investing
Can start with very small amounts. Very easy to use and professional
Great company for all round saving and investing
I’ve had an ISA, Pension and two Junior ISAs with Wealthify, and now more recently I’ve started saving with them too. Their platform is so simple to use and easy to understand. I feel like my money has grown so much more than it would have in a savings account, and I was lucky that I transferred my pension to them when I did, since it was out of the market (in the middle of being transferred from one provider to the other when markets fell) so my pension pot has only ever grown since.
My boys always ask to see the money in their Junior ISA and it’s a great opportunity for me to teach them about money too. The savings rate is really good especially if someone doesn’t feel comfortable investing yet. So its a great all rounder for me.
User friendly with easy to understand options
Great for routine investment in shares and also for the easy access savings account.
Very efficient SIPP
The SIPP works effectively to add on your tax straightaway unlike other providers .
All the information needed to review investments are available and the mix is regularly monitored and the mix changes
Great investment platform
Wealthify offers an excellent range of products and service combined with real value for money.
Good service
Good communication and websites
Attention to detail.
Attention to detail is fabulous. I have used them for about 4 years now and never had a problem. Watch the money grow.
Excellent Value and easy to use.
Some years back I was able to open a simple managed ISA on the actual terms and target I wished. You can choose your risk – this can be changed down the line. The contact from the company is good, as are the updates. It’s very straight forward.
Great company for a small investor
Having limited funds to invest and not having experience of stocks and shares I started an ISA with Wealthify as I liked the idea of having a choice of risk levels . I have recently changed to a more ambitious level and the change was easy and handled with no problem or hassle . Very happy with an inflation beating result with Wealthify.
Sofa investing at its best!
Sit back and watch your money grow – I invested small to see if they were any good and have since opened the tap! Good performance and fees are low.
Straightforward method of investing based on your risk apetite
Have had ISAs, JISAs and LISA with Nutmeg.
The website and app are fairly straightforward, allowing you to create portfolios based on different criteria. I like the fact that I don’t have to select individual funds / shares.
The only criticism I have is, the time it takes to deposit or withdraw on funds. As they have a limited number of days on which they buy / sell funds. E.g. it can take over a week to receive any funds.
Love the simple platform
Making investing for myself and my children accessible
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β Methodology: We have chosen what we think are the best ethical investment accounts based on:
- over 40,000 votes and reviews in our annual awards
- our own experiences testing the ethical investment accounts with real money
- an in-depth comparison of the features that make them stand out compared to alternative ethical investment platforms dealing platforms.
- interviews with the ethical investment account CEOs and senior management
How do you choose ethical investments?
The first step is to define which sectors to avoid. This is known as negative screening. Generally, there is a common list of sectors to keep clear (see above). But remember that within ethical investing there are sub-sectors, such as Green-Focussed, Health-Focussed, Community-Focussed, Gender-Equality etc.
Ethical investing not investing in companies that engage in unethical operations. Examples of these activities include:
- Tobacco
- Defence-related
- Alcohol
- Gambling/Casino
- Adult entertainment
Ethical investing is different from impact investing in that it is about avoiding investing in bad things, where are impact investing is about investing in companies that actively do “good”, like climate tech.
Once the universe is defined, the next step is to apply a ESG scoring mechanism to the firms and rank them.
The last step is to find the best-in-class firms using traditional financial metrics, and build a narrowed list that we can invest in.
The above process, you may observe, is generic. The devil is in the details. How does one apply a EGC scoring mechanism to a firm? What specific financial metrics should we look for? What is the portfolio weightings should we apply?
What is an ethical investment fund?
Ethical and ESG investing is also about focussing on firms that are more socially responsible and better governed. Collectively, these companies tend to score higher in the environment, social, and governance factors (ESG), described below:
- Environment – Is the firm a steward of the environment?
- Social – Is the firm making a positive impact on its employees, suppliers, customers, and its wider social circle?
- Governance – Is the firm showing leadership in internal control, audit, diversity and shareholder rights?
The argument for ethical investment is clear: To make the world a better place by channeling funds into high-ESG firms.
Best Ethical Investment Funds For 2026
Amid a growing realisation that corporate behaviour has real-world consequences, more and more people are putting their money into ethical investment funds. We can see this in assets under management (AUM) β at the end of 2025 global AUM in sustainable and socially responsible investment (SRI) funds was a record $4.1 trillion.
Looking for the best ethical investment funds for a Stocks and Shares ISA or SIPP? Here are some options to consider.
What are ethical investment funds?
Ethical investment funds (often called sustainable funds, socially responsible investment funds, or ESG funds) are funds in which holdings are selected based on a specific set of ethical values rather than just potential financial returns. Their goal is to achieve financial growth while simultaneously driving positive social and environmental outcomes.
While every ethical fund is a little bit different, most of these funds engage in whatβs known as βnegative screeningβ when selecting stocks. This is the practice of excluding specific industries such as weapons and defence, gambling, adult entertainment, fossil fuels, tobacco, and alcohol.
The pros and cons of ethical funds
The main advantage of ethical funds is that they allow investors to align their capital with their personal values. For example, an investor who is passionate about combating climate change could choose a fund that explicitly excludes fossil fuel producers and instead overweights companies developing renewable energy, green hydrogen, or sustainable agricultural technologies.
Another benefit is that they offer a straightforward way of investing responsibly. Not only do these funds provide you with exposure to a diversified range of responsible companies but they also save you having to screen businesses for ESG criteria yourself.
A third advantage is that they can offer an added layer of risk management. Research has shown that companies with high ESG ratings tend to be more resilient than others, so in theory these funds might hold up better in market downturns.
On the downside, because ethical funds completely slice out entire sectors of the economy, theyβre less diversified than standard index funds. This can have a negative impact on performance at times.
For example, if oil stocks or defence stocks surge, an ethical fund may underperform the broader market. So, investors need to be prepared for returns that differ from market returns.
Best UK-focused ethical investment funds
Looking at performance figures over the last three years, some of the best UK-focused ethical investment funds have been:
- Newton UK Opportunities (Responsible) β This fund β which must allocate at least 80% of its capital to UK equities β invests in companies that demonstrate positive sustainability characteristics by either contributing to or aligning with Newtonβs proprietary sustainable investment themes. It actively omits companies involved in areas deemed to be harmful from an environmental or social perspective, as well as those that violate the UN Global Compact Principles. Over the last three years, it has returned over 50%, making it one of the best-performers in the UK ethical fund arena. Ongoing fees are 0.73% through Hargreaves Lansdown.
- Royal London Sustainable Leaders β This ethical fund targets capital growth by investing primarily in mid-to-large-cap UK companies that make a positive contribution to one or more βSustainability Themesβ (Clean, Healthy, Safe, Inclusive). Over the last three years, it has returned nearly 40%. Fees are 0.76% through Hargreaves Lansdown.
- Schroder Sustainable UK Equity β This fund focuses directly on the UK market, investing in companies that are deemed to make a positive contribution to the planet and/or people. Over the last three years, it has returned around 35%. Fees are 0.67% through Hargreaves Lansdown.
Best US-focused ethical investment funds
Analysing performance over the last three years, some of the best US-focused ethical investment funds have been:
- JPM US ESG Equity β Employing a bottom-up stock selection process, this fund invests the majority of its capital in US large-cap companies that have positive ESG characteristics or improving ESG characteristics. Over the last three years, it has returned over 60%. Ongoing fees are 0.65% through Hargreaves Lansdown.
- Janus Henderson US Sustainable Equity β This fund targets long-term capital growth by investing in US companies that contribute to the development of a more sustainable global economy. Over the last three years, it has returned more than 50%. Fees are 0.88% through Hargreaves Lansdown.
- GS US Equity ESG Portfolio β This fund targets capital growth by investing in a relatively small number of US-domiciled or US-focused companies that meet Goldman Sachs’ rigorous ESG criteria. It has returned about 45% over the last three years. Fees are 0.96% through Hargreaves Lansdown.
Best global ethical investment funds
Those looking for a top-performing global ethical fund may wish to take a look at:
- Vanguard ESG Global All Cap UCITS ETF (USD) β This passive ETF tracks thousands of large, mid, and small-cap companies across both developed and emerging markets worldwide, applying strict screens to filter out businesses involved in fossil fuels, weapons, tobacco, and human rights controversies. Over the last three years, it has returned a little over 70%. Ongoing fees are 0.24%.
- Legal & General Future World ESG Tilted & Optimised Developed Index fund β Instead of just screening companies out, this fund actively shifts (tilts) its weightings to invest more in developed-market companies with strong ESG scores. Over the last three years, it has returned a little over 60%. Fees through Hargreaves Lansdown are just 0.15%.
- Janus Henderson Sustainable Future Technologies β This global fund invests in companies that provide technology solutions designed to have a positive impact on the environment and society. Over the last three years, it has returned about 110%. Fees are 0.46% through Hargreaves Lansdown.
Best low-cost ethical funds
If youβre seeking a low-cost ethical fund, take a look at the products on offer from Vanguard, iShares, Legal & General, and HSBC. These managers all offer passive index funds with ongoing fees of 0.20% or less. Here are some examples:
- Legal & General Future World ESG Tilted & Optimised Developed Index fund β This ethical index fund β which actively tilts its weightings to invest more in developed-market companies with strong ESG scores and has returned more than 60% over the last three years β has an ongoing fee of just 0.15% through Hargreaves Lansdown.
- HSBC Developed World Lower Carbon ESG Tilt Equity Index Fund β This passive index fund β which aims to track the performance of the FTSE Developed ESG Low Carbon Select Index and has returned almost 65% over the last three years β has a fee of 0.18% through Hargreaves Lansdown.
- iShares MSCI World Screened UCITS ETF β This ETF β which tracks a large basket of large and mid-cap companies across developed countries globally and has returned a little over 70% over the last three years β has a fee of 0.20% through Hargreaves Lansdown.
Best ethical funds by performance
Some of the best-performing ethical funds over the last three years have been:
- Janus Henderson Sustainable Future Technologies β This global fund invests in businesses that provide technology solutions designed to have a positive impact on the environment and society. Over the last three years, it has returned about 110%. Fees are 0.46% through Hargreaves Lansdown.
- iShares MSCI World Screened UCITS ETF β This is an ETF that tracks a basket of large- and mid-cap companies across developed countries globally while applying basic negative screens to omit businesses involved in weapons, civilian firearms, tobacco, thermal coal, and fossil fuel extraction. Over the last three years, it has returned a little over 70%. Fees are 0.20%.
- Vanguard ESG Global All Cap UCITS ETF (USD) β This passive ETF tracks thousands of large, mid, and small-cap companies across both developed and emerging markets worldwide, applying strict screens to filter out businesses involved in fossil fuels, weapons, tobacco, and human rights controversies. Over the last three years, it has returned a little over 70%. Fees are 0.24%.
The biggest ethical funds
Some of the biggest ethical investment funds available to UK investors include:
- iShares MSCI USA CTB Enhanced ESG UCITS ETF β This iShares ETF has AUM of around $17 billion.
- iShares MSCI World Screened UCITS ETF β This iShares ETF has AUM of almost $10 billion.
- Vanguard ESG Developed World All Cap Equity Index Fund β This passive fund from Vanguard has AUM of over $7 billion.
What are some ethical ETFs (exchange-traded funds) to invest in?
ESG-based investment has been around for a decade or so. There are many financial services companies that cater for this niche sector, such as Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI). They have build screening frameworks to invest in high-ESG firms. I show one example below.
Example – UBS MSCI World Socially Responsible (LSE: UC44)
In the UK, you can invest in Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) to gain exposure to foreign and domestic markets, here is how to invest in ETFs.
Here I pick one ETF that is engaging in socially responsible investing. It is sponsored by UBS and is based on the MSCI Socially Responsible Index (SRI, with factsheet here). LSE-listed with the ticker UC44, the fund has AUM of about Β£730 million. It has been around since 2013. (Note, there is a sister fund with ticker UB39.)
According to the MSCI SRI fact sheet, the SR index excludes firms “involved in Nuclear Power, Tobacco, Alcohol, Gambling, Military Weapons, Civilian Firearms, GMOs and Adult Entertainment” and that “current constituents of the MSCI SRI Indexes must have an MSCI ESG Rating above B and the MSCI ESG Controversies score above zero to be eligible.” Finally, the construction the SRI is “float-adjusted market capitalization weighted.“
Here are some of the most popular ETFs for ethical investors and what they invest in:
| What do they invest in? | ETF Name & Ticker |
| Ageing | IShares Ageing Population UCITS ETF (AGES) |
| Smart City | IShares Smart City Infra. UCITS ETF (CT2B) |
| IT, Digital | IShares Digital. UCITS ETF (DGIT) |
| Health, Bio | IShares Healthcare Innovation UCITS ETF (DRDR) |
| Digital | Lyxor MSCI Digital Economy ESG Filtered UCITS ETF (EBUY) |
| World | IShares MSCI World ESG Enhanced UCITS ETF (EGMW) |
| Mobility | Lyxor MSCI Future Mobility ESG Filtered UCITS ETF (ELCR) |
| Gender, Equality | Lyxor Global Gender Equality (DR) Ucits ETF (GEND) |
| Climate, Paris Aligned | HSBC MSCI World Climate Paris Aligned UCITS ETF (HPAO) |
| Climate, Clean Energy | IShares Global Clean Energy UCITS ETF (INRG) |
| Climate, Impact | RIZE ENV. IMPACT 100 UCITS ETF (LVNG) |
| World, Low Volatility | IShares Edge MSCI World Min. Volatility ESG UCITS ETF (MVEW) |
| Auto, Robotics | IShares AUTO & ROBOTICS UCITS ETF (RBTX) |
| Digital, Security | IShares Digital Security UCITS ETF (SHLG) |
| Water | Lyxor World Water UCITS ETF (WATL) |
| SRI, World, Paris Aligned | Amundi Index MSCI World SRI UCITS ETF (WSRI) |
β οΈ FCA Regulation
All ethical investment platforms that operate in the UK must be regulated by the FCA. The FCA is the Financial Conduct Authority and is responsible for ensuring that UK ESG trading platforms are properly capitalised, treat customers fairly and have sufficient compliance systems in place. We only feature ethical investment accounts that are regulated by the FCA, where your funds are protected by the FSCS.
Ethical Investing FAQs
Yes. Ethical investing is a growing financial phenomenon that could last for years. Public companies, with increased public scrutiny, can no longer shy away from their public responsibilities. Those firms that showed leadership in this area may benefit from higher investment ratings.
However, from the investor standpoint, it is better to buy into a ‘ethical’ fund that can diversify into multiple holdings and regions. Maintaining a ESG framework is difficult and so it should be outsourced to professional financial firms. Even some newcomers, such as Nutmeg, are latching on to ethical investing. You should do so too.
Similar to ESG investing, ethical investments are growing in popularity because of the rise in social awareness and transparency. For example, many investors are asking: “Do I want to be associated with firms that thrive from gambling/addictions?” Probably not.
As the popularity of ESG investing continues to rise, more banks will likely offer more choice in ESG investment products, like HSBC.
Yes. Although with all types of investing you can also lose money. If you compare the 5-year performance to 2019 of this ETF and the FTSE 100 Index, the return difference is stark (see below). If you compare MSCI SRI and MSCI World Index, there are some improvements too over traditional investments.
Yes, if you invest with an FCA-regulated ethical investment platform as your money is protected by the FSCS.
Richard Berry
This article contains affiliate links which may earn us some form of income if you go on to open an account. However, if you would rather visit the ethical investment accounts via a non-affiliate link, you can view the product pages directly here: