interactive investor Review (2026)
*The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you originally invested. Tax rules can change and benefits depend on your personal circumstances. interactive investor Services Limited is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Capital is protected up to £85,000 under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
The Vibe Check
"interactive investor (ii) is the arithmetic nemesis of percentage-fee wealth managers. While legacy platforms like Hargreaves Lansdown siphon off 0.45% of your portfolio every year—extracting thousands of pounds annually once your wealth compounds past six figures—interactive investor charges a **transparent, flat subscription model**. Under their pricing structure, **£5.99 a month (Core plan)** covers your Stocks & Shares ISA, General Investment Account, and SIPP pension in one bundle for portfolios up to £100,000. For portfolios over £100,000, the **Plus plan (£14.99/mo)** removes all asset caps and includes free accounts for family members. When managing £250,000+, that flat subscription saves you over £800 every year compared to percentage platforms. Just be aware of the friction: manual ad-hoc trades cost **£3.99 per deal**, and the automatic jump from Core to Plus once your portfolio crosses £100,000 increases your monthly platform cost by 150%."
The Fine Print: Valerie's interactive investor Fee Audit
interactive investor bills an all-inclusive flat monthly subscription fee that bundles accounts together, paired with low flat-rate trading tickets:
| Fee Type | interactive investor Pricing Schedule | Valerie's Audit Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core Plan (Up to £100k) | £5.99 / Month (£71.88 / Year) | Covers ISA, SIPP, and Trading Account under one roof. Trades cost £3.99 for UK/US shares and funds. Auto-upgrades to Plus at £100k. |
| Plus Plan (Unlimited Balance) | £14.99 / Month (£179.88 / Year) | No investment limits. Includes ISA, SIPP, free Junior ISAs, 5 free family accounts, 1 free monthly trade, and £1.49 fund trades. |
| Premium Plan (Active Wealth) | £39.99 / Month (£479.88 / Year) | Unlimited balance. Free fund trades, £2.99 UK/US shares, 2 free monthly trades, flat 0.25% FX, and upcoming ii360 advanced platform access. |
| Regular Monthly Direct Debit Buys | £0.00 Commission | 100% free automated investing into funds, ETFs, investment trusts, and UK shares via monthly direct debit (min. £25/month). |
| UK & US Share Dealing | £3.99 Flat Per Trade | Fixed dealing fee across UK shares, investment trusts, and US equities on Core and Plus (£2.99 on Premium). |
| Unit Trusts & OEIC Funds | £3.99 Core / £1.49 Plus / Free Premium | Unlike percentage platforms that charge uncapped 0.45% holding fees, ii charges flat dealing fees with zero ongoing platform percentage markups. |
| Foreign Exchange (FX) Markup | 0.75% Flat (Core) / 0.25% Tiered | Core plan FX is 0.75%. Plus plan drops to 0.25% on amounts over £50k. Multi-currency accounts permit holding 9 currencies directly. |
| Dividend Reinvestment (DRIP) | £0.99 Per Holding (Free on Premium) | Automated reinvestment of dividend distributions directly back into underlying portfolio shares and investment trusts. |
| Account Transfer-Out (Exit) | £0.00 (No Exit Fees) | ii permanently abolished all exit and account closure fees. Moving your ISA or SIPP to another provider costs £0. |
*UK Government Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (0.50% SDRT) applies to purchases of UK-listed shares. ETFs and AIM-listed shares are legally exempt.
The Core Edge: The Flat-Fee Advantage, Bundled SIPP & Multi-Currency Accounts
interactive investor's structural moat is built on fixed subscription economics that reward wealth accumulation:
The defining mathematical edge is the **flat-fee pricing model**. On percentage-based platforms like Hargreaves Lansdown (0.45%) or Vanguard UK (0.15%), your platform costs grow indefinitely as your portfolio compounds. At £250,000 invested in funds, Hargreaves Lansdown takes £1,125 per year in platform fees alone. On interactive investor's Plus plan, you pay £14.99 a month (£179.88/year) regardless of how large your pot grows—**saving over £940 in annual platform drag**.
Furthermore, their pricing structure **bundles your SIPP and ISA wrappers together under one subscription fee**. Historically, retail platforms charged separate administrative surcharges to maintain a personal pension alongside an ISA. Under ii's model, a single £5.99/mo (Core) or £14.99/mo (Plus) subscription covers your trading account, your Stocks & Shares ISA, and your SIPP drawdown pension simultaneously.
For international equity investors, ii offers **multi-currency cash wallets** supporting 9 major fiat currencies (including USD, EUR, CAD, and AUD). Instead of being forced to convert currency on every dividend payout or US stock transaction (incurring repeated foreign exchange spreads), you can retain USD cash from US stock sales and reinvest directly into other American equities with zero FX drag.
Pros and Cons Breakdown
What We Love
- Flat subscription model (£5.99 or £14.99/mo) generates massive fee savings on £50k+ portfolios
- Stocks & Shares ISA, SIPP, and Trading Account bundled together with no extra wrapper fees
- £0 dealing commissions on automated monthly direct debit regular investing
- Multi-currency accounts allow holding 9 foreign currencies to dodge repeated FX spreads
- Free Junior ISAs and free accounts for up to 5 family members on the Plus plan
- Backed by institutional parent abrdn plc with full FCA regulation and £85,000 FSCS safety
- Zero account closure or transfer-out exit charges on all cash and stock transfers
Where It Falls Short
- Expensive for small portfolios under £20,000 (flat £5.99/mo equates to high percentage drag)
- Crossing the £100,000 portfolio mark forces an automatic upgrade from £5.99 to £14.99/month
- Manual ad-hoc trades incur a £3.99 dealing fee (£1.49 for funds on Plus plan)
- Core plan foreign exchange fee is 0.75%, which adds friction on single ad-hoc foreign buys
- No Lifetime ISA (LISA) wrapper offered for first-time home buyers
- Desktop web portal focuses on long-term portfolio tracking rather than high-speed day trading
Valerie's Final Verdict
"interactive investor is the undisputed platform of choice for serious UK investors holding £50,000 or more in mutual funds, investment trusts, and equities. By replacing percentage-based platform gouging with a predictable flat monthly subscription (£5.99 on Core, £14.99 on Plus) that covers both your ISA and SIPP, ii protects your wealth from compounding fee drag. The optimal strategy here is simple: use their £0 regular monthly investing service to drip-feed capital without paying the £3.99 dealing fee, take advantage of multi-currency wallets for US dividend payers, and avoid using the platform for portfolios under £20,000 where flat fees represent an unnecessarily high percentage of your capital."
Open An Account If:
You have a portfolio over £50,000, hold both an ISA and SIPP, invest monthly via Direct Debit, or hold US dividend shares in native USD.
Skip It If:
You have a small portfolio under £20,000 (where percentage brokers like Vanguard or Trading 212 are cheaper), or need a Lifetime ISA.
interactive investor Services Limited is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Capital is protected up to £85,000 under the FSCS.