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Richard Berry
- September 21, 2023
We have ranked, compared and reviewed some of the best Junior stocks and shares ISA providers and accounts in the UK that are regulated by the FCA. Junior Stocks and Shares ISAs offer better potential returns than cash ISAs as they are investment accounts rather than savings accounts. JISAs let you invest in a tax-efficient wrapper for your children which they can only access at 18. For the 2023/24 tax year, you have until 5th April 2024 to invest up to £9,000 tax-free for each of your children, which they can only access when they reach 18.
| JISA Provider | JISA Account Fees | DIY or Managed | Minimum Deposit | Our Rating | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 0.5% per year | Managed | £10 | See Offers Capital at Risk |
|
 | £0 | DIY | £1 | See Offers Capital at Risk |
|
 | £0 | DIY | £1 | See Offers Capital at Risk |
|
 | 0.25% per year | DIY | £500 | See Offers Capital at Risk |
|
 | 0.75% | Managed | £500 | See Offers Capital at Risk |
|
 | 0.75% | Managed | £500 | See Offers Capital at Risk |
|
 | 0.6% | Managed | £1 | See Offers Capital at Risk |
|
 | 0.2% | DIY | £1 | See Offers Capital at Risk |
|
 | 0.45% | Managed | £1 | See Offers Capital at Risk |
❓Methodology: We have chosen what we think are the best Junior investment ISAs based on:
- over 17,000 votes in our annual awards
- our own experiences testing the Junior ISA accounts with real money
- an in-depth comparison of the features that make them stand out compared to alternative Junior stocks and shares ISAs.
- interviews with the JISA company CEOs and senior management
You can use our comparison of what we think are the best junior stocks and share ISA accounts to compare whether or not you have to make your own investment decision or you get help from an expert, what the minimum deposit is and how much the accounts costs to run.
Beanstalk JISA Review
Name: Beanstalk
Description: Beanstalk is an investment app that helps you invest for your children through a Junior ISA. It was founded by the team behind Kidstart (a cashback site for children’s shopping) and won our 2022 & 2023 award for Best Junior Stocks & Shares ISA as they make setting up an account to invest for your children’s future cheap, easy, flexible and accessible for you and for others to contribute to.
Summary
Beanstalk’s Junior ISA won our award for the best JISA in 2023 and 2022 as they provide a simple yet effective way to invest for your children’s future. Friends and family can also make deposits directly into your child’s account via the app. The investment options are split between cash and the stock market enabling parents to adjust the level of risk they are prepared to take. It’s a good option for parents who want to investment for their children, but don’t want to pick individual invesments.
Pros
- Switch between stocks and cash
- Low cost & tax efficient
- Easy to use & contribute
Cons
- JISA funds can only be accessed when your child turns 18
- App only, no website access
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Pricing
(4)
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Market Access
(3)
-
Online Platform
(4.5)
-
Customer Service
(4.5)
-
Research & Analysis
(3.5)
Overall
3.9Capital at risk
Interactive Investor: Cheapest self-select JISA
Interactive Investor Junior ISA Review
Name: Interactive Investor Junior ISA
Description: If you have an investing account with Interactive Investor, you get a free Junior stock and shares ISAs account for your children. You can invest in over 40,000 shares, bonds, funds or pre-built portfolios. So if you are looking for a free self-select JISA it is one of the cheapest and most flexible investment ISAs for children on the market at the moment compared to Hargreaves Lansdown (0.45%) and AJ Bell (0.25%). You also get one free trade per month, after that it costs £5.99 per deal, compared to AJ Bell’s £9.95 per share deal or Hargreaves Lansdown’s £5.95.
Capital at risk.
Summary
- Investments: Shares, ETFs, bonds & funds
- Minimum deposit: £1
- JISA account charge: £0
- Dealing fee: £3.99 – £5.99
Fees: *II JISAs are free for customers who have already opened an ISA or Trading Account. Dealing commissions are a free trade every month, then UK Shares and Funds, US Shares charged £7.99 or upgrade to a £19.99 “Super Investor” account 2 free monthly trades and deal for £3.99. Regular investing is free.
Special Offers:
- One free trade per month – One buy or sell order is free every month, after that, the cost is between £3.99 and £5.99 depending on what plan you are on.
- Free investing for your friends and family – You can give up to five people a free investment account subscription with Interactive Investor’s Friends and Family plan. You pay a single extra fee of £5 a month, and their monthly cost is zero. Each member can invest up to £30,000 in an ISA or a general investing account with free regular investing and no account fees. However, they will still pay normal dealing commissions when they buy and sell investments.
- Get £200 when you refer a friend to Interactive Investor – Recommend a friend or family member to ii and get a £200 reward. Your friend will get their first year’s service plan for free – saving £120. To qualify, your friend must transfer or fund their account with at least £10,000 in combined cash/investments. However, your friend will not receive the usually monthly free trade.
Pros
- Pick your own investments or use their model portfolios
- £1 minimum deposit makes it easy to get started
- £0 account fee*
Cons
- You have to pick your own investments
- Only free if you have an II trading account
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Pricing
(5)
-
Market Access
(4.5)
-
Online Platform
(4)
-
Customer Service
(4.5)
-
Research & Analysis
(4)
Overall
4.4Capital at risk
Hargreaves Lansdown: Excellent full-service investment platform
Hargreaves Lansdown Junior ISA Review
Name: Hargreaves Lansdown Junior ISA
Description: Hargreaves Lansdown is one of the largest investment platforms in the UK, but it has a reputation for being expensive. You do get the widest selection of UK and international shares as well as bonds, ETFs, VCTs, gilts and bonds, but this does come at a price. A Junior stocks and shares ISA with HL costs 0.45% of the account value per year, which is capped at £45, so there is essentially no charge for balances above £10,000. There is no charge for buying funds, but share deals cost £5.95 each. Overall it is more expensive than Interactive Investor and AJ Bell, but Hargreaves Lansdown have always scored higher in customer satisfaction in our awards surveys.
Capital at risk.
Summary
- Investments: Shares, ETFs, bonds & funds
- Minimum deposit: £1
- JISA account charge: 0%
- Dealing fee: Shares £0, funds £0
Fees: Hargreaves Lansdown has recently reduced the cost of their Junior ISA and JISA are now free for HL customers. There are also no fees for buying and selling funds and shares.
Pros
- Thousands of UK and international shares, bonds & funds
- Ready-made portfolios with different levels of risk
- Excellent research and analysis
- An established and listed company on the LSE.
Cons
- Can be expensive for large fund portfolios
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Pricing
(5)
-
Market Access
(4.5)
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Online Platform
(4.5)
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Customer Service
(4.5)
-
Research & Analysis
(4.5)
Overall
4.6Capital at risk
AJ Bell: A well-rounded and good-value low-cost JISA investing account
AJ Bell Junior ISA Review
Name: AJ Bell Junior ISA
Description: AJ Bell is one of the cheapest self-select JISAs with account fees of only 0.25%. Fees are capped at £2.50 per month for shares, investment trusts ETFs, gilts and bonds, but there is no cap for holding funds. You also have dealing charges of £1.50 for funds and £9.95 for shares. It is cheaper than Hargreaves Lansdown’s 0.45% and providers a relatively similar service.
Capital at risk.
Summary
- Investments: Shares, ETFs, bonds & funds
- Minimum deposit: £500
- JISA account charge: 0.25%
- Dealing fee: Shares £4.95 – £9.95, funds £1.50
Fees: AJ Bell charges 0.25% of the value of your for a Junior ISA. Share account fees are capped at £2.50 a month. Dealing costs are £1.50 for funds and £9.95 for shares but drop to £4.95 where there were 10 or more online share deals in the previous month.
Special Offers:
- Recommend a friend, and you’ll both get £100 gift vouchers – When you recommend a friend to AJ Bell Youinvest that invests more than £10,000 in a SIPP or ISA, you and your friend can get One4All gift vouchers worth £100.
- Switch your share dealing account and receive up to £500 to cover exit fees – If you transfer your share dealing general investment account valued at more than £20,000 to AJ Bell they will help cover any exit fees charged by your current provider. They will cover £35 per investment moved and up to £100 for general exit fees, up to an overall maximum of £500 per person.
- Free subscription to Shares Magazine worth £220
Get a free subscription to Shares (worth over £220 per year) by maintaining a balance of £4,000 or more across your AJ Bell investing accounts.
Pros
- Pick your own shares, funds and bonds or use their investing ideas
- Low JISA account fees capped at £2.50 a month for shares
- Lots of account types
Cons
- High phone dealing charges
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Pricing
(4)
-
Market Access
(4.5)
-
Online Platform
(4)
-
Customer Service
(4)
-
Research & Analysis
(4.5)
Overall
4.2Capital at risk
Nutmeg: Best JISA for simple investment options
Approved by Nutmeg on the 11 September 2023
Nutmeg Junior ISA Review
Name: Nutmeg Junior ISA
Description: Nutmeg’s Junior ISA is good for parents who do not need such a wide range of investment options from platforms like Hargreaves Lansdown, Interactive Investor and AJ Bell as you cannot buy individual stocks or funds. Instead, you invest in pre-made portfolios built up from low-cost ETFs. This is a great way to build a cheap and diverse investment ISA for your children for investors who are willing to take on some level of risk. There are no dealing costs, and the fully managed account costs 0.75% per year.
Capital at risk.
Summary
- Investments: Pre-made portfolios
- Minimum deposit: £100
- JISA account charge: 0.75% – 0.45%
- Dealing fee: £0
Fees: Nutmeg charge 0.75% for their managed portfolios which drops to 0.35% for balances over £100k. For their fixed allocation portfolios, they charge 0.45% dropping to 0.25% for balances over £100k. For all portfolios, there is an addition charged by the investment fund managers of around 0.2% and the market spread on buying and selling portfolios is on average 0.07%.
Pros
- Simple managed JISA
- Regular investing is available (one off payments or Direct Debits)
- Scaled account fees that reduce as your portfolio grows
Cons
- Cannot invest in individual shares
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Pricing
(4)
-
Market Access
(3.5)
-
Online Platform
(4.5)
-
Customer Service
(4.5)
-
Research & Analysis
(4)
Overall
4.1Capital at risk. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may change in the future
Moneyfarm Junior ISA Review
Name: Moneyfarm Junior ISA
Description: Moneyfarm smart tech allows you to monitor your JISA’s performance from anywhere, automate your monthly deposits so you’ll never miss an opportunity again, and their team of dedicated investment consultants are on hand to answer any queries you may have via anytime calls, chats, or emails.
Capital at risk.
Summary
- Investments: Pre-made portfolios
- Minimum deposit: £500
- JISA account charge: 0.75%
- Dealing fee: £0
Fees: Moneyfarm junior stocks and shares ISA account fees are scaled between 0.75% for accounts between £500 and £50,000, then above £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%
Pros
- Risk-based JISA portfolios
- Low-cost investing
- Easy-to-use
Cons
- Cannot buy and sell individual shares
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Pricing
(4)
-
Market Access
(3.5)
-
Online Platform
(4)
-
Customer Service
(4)
-
Research & Analysis
(3.5)
Overall
3.8Capital at risk
GoHenry: Simple child friendly investment ISA
GoHenry JISA Review
Name: GoHenry
Description: GoHenry is a pocket money app that helps children learn about money by giving them the independence to make their own choices about what they spend their cash on. They also have a Junior Stocks and Shares ISA that lets you invest in your children’s future. Once you invest in a JISA the money is held in a tax-efficient account and can only be accessed by your child when they turn 18.
Summary
GoHenry is a great way to combine educating your children about the future value of money along side giving the financial independence with their pocket money app. When you invest in the GoHenry Junior ISA you are buying Vanguards LifeStrategy 60% Equity Accumulation Fund, which contains a mixture of stocks and bond
Pros
- Investments by Vanguard
- Low cost and easy to use
- Get contributions from friends and family
Cons
- Children cannot make their own contributions from pocket money.
- More expensive than investing direct
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Pricing
(4)
-
Market Access
(3.5)
-
Online Platform
(4)
-
Customer Service
(4)
-
Research & Analysis
(3.5)
Overall
3.8Capital at risk
Bestinvest: Good for JISA investment advice and low costs
Bestinvest Junior ISA Review
Name: Bestinvest Junior ISA Review
Description: Bestinvest has combined low-cost online investing and share dealing with personalised expert advice to help clients choose the right investments for their junior ISAs. A good choice for parents that want to pick their own investments with a bit of advice.
Capital at risk.
Summary
- Investments: Shares, ETFs, funds
- Minimum deposit: £1
- JISA account charge: 0.2% to 0.4%
- Dealing fee: Shares £4.95, funds £0
Fees: 0.2% account fee is for holding ready-made portfolios. above £500,000 it reduces to 0.1%. For other investments, the account fee is 0.4% up to £250k. Dealing commissions £4.95 per online share trade, fund dealing is free.
Pros
- Expert advice from professionals
- Low minimum deposit of £1
- Very low account fees from 0.2%
Cons
- No bond investing
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Pricing
(4)
-
Market Access
(4)
-
Online Platform
(3.5)
-
Customer Service
(4)
-
Research & Analysis
(4.5)
Overall
4Capital at risk
Wealthify Junior ISA Review
Summary
- Investments: Pre-made portfolios
- Minimum deposit: £1
- JISA account charge: 0.6%
- Dealing fee: £0
Fees: It costs 0.6% to start investing in a junior ISA with Wealthify, which is one of the cheapest robo-advisor general investment account fees. There are also investment costs of on average 0.16% for original plans and 0.7% for ethical plans.
Special Offers:
- £50 when you refer a friend – You can get a unique link when you have a funded Wealthify account to use to recommend them to friends. To get the £50 bonus, your friend needs to invest at least £250 for three months.
Pros
- Managed portfolios
- Low minimum deposit of £1
- Low account fee of 0.6%
Cons
- Cannot trade individual shares or ETFs
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Pricing
(4)
-
Market Access
(3.5)
-
Online Platform
(4.5)
-
Customer Service
(4)
-
Research & Analysis
(4.5)
Overall
4.1Capital at risk
⚠️ FCA Regulation
All junior stocks and shares ISA providers 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 junior investment ISA platforms are properly capitalised, treat customers fairly and have sufficient compliance systems in place. We only JISA providers that are regulated by the FCA, where your funds are protected by the FSCS.
Beanstalk has won “best junior stocks and shares ISA” in our 2023 and 2022 awards. They offer one of the easiest ways to invest for your children and you can quickly move money between cash and the stock market to manage the amount of risk/reward you want to take.
Yes. The FSCS or Financial Services Compensation Scheme was set up by parliament and is funded by the financial services industry and it can compensate eligible investors in the event of fraud or insolvency. Under current legislation, the scheme can payout up to £85,000 for savings accounts and £50,000 on investment accounts. A Junior Investment ISA would fall into the latter category, so in the event of the provider of the ISA or the custodian of the assets becoming insolvent, the FSCS would step in.
The implicit guarantee provided by the fund and the tax-free benefits of the shelter certainly helps to make the Junior Stocks and shares ISA an attractive proposition when considering investment for the next generation.
It’s important to remember that past performance is not an indication of how well a stock and shares ISA account will do in the future. One way to ensure you get the right performance for you is by using a DIY JISA where you pick and choose exactly what investments you want for your children.
Or, view our comparison of Junior stocks and shares ISA accounts and visit the providers to see their individual performance.
Money can be invested in a Junior Investment ISA for a maximum of 18 years during which time it has the potential to compound and grow.
With a junior cash ISA money is held in a savings account and you receive interest. With a Junior stocks and shares ISA your money is invested in the stock market. This can result in better returns, but also comes with risk and you may get less back than you put in if the market underperforms.
Money invested in a Junior Investment ISA cannot be withdrawn until the child’s 18th birthday when it reverts to the child.
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 junior stocks and shares provides via a non-affiliate link, you can view the product pages directly here: