interactive investor — Review, fees and rating 2026

What you need to know

interactive investor (ii) is one of the UK's largest investment platforms, distinguished from most competitors by its flat monthly subscription model rather than percentage-based fees. This structure means costs stay constant regardless of portfolio size, which becomes increasingly advantageous the larger your ISA, SIPP or Trading Account grows — a key reason many investors switch to ii once their portfolio passes a certain threshold.

Flat monthly subscription starting at £4.99/month on the Investor Essentials plan
Dealing fee of £3.99 per trade on shares and ETFs, lower than Hargreaves Lansdown's £6.95
One flat fee covers ISA, SIPP and Trading Account together under a single subscription
No trading charges for regular investing on eligible funds and ETFs
Family plans (Plus/Premium) allow adding family members under one subscription
For pensions above £20,000, ii is often cheaper than Hargreaves Lansdown's percentage-based SIPP fee

Strengths

Flat monthly fee, ideal for medium-to-large portfolios where percentage fees would cost more
£3.99 dealing fee, lower than Hargreaves Lansdown's £6.95
ISA, SIPP and Trading Account can sit under one subscription
Family plans allow multiple accounts under a single fee
Free regular investing on eligible funds and ETFs

Limitations

Flat fee makes ii relatively more expensive for very small portfolios compared to percentage-fee platforms
No Junior ISA, Junior SIPP or Lifetime ISA, unlike Hargreaves Lansdown
£3.99 dealing fee is still higher than the £0 charged by Trading 212 or InvestEngine
Core plan capped at £100,000 in assets before requiring an upgrade

Fees in detail

Item	Cost
Investor Essentials plan	£4.99/month
Core plan (up to £100k)	From £5.99/month (indicative)
Share/ETF trade	£3.99
Fund trade	£3.99
FX fee (Core / Plus first £50k / Premium)	0.75% / 0.75% / 0.25%
Regular investing	No dealing charge on eligible funds/ETFs

The Core plan is limited to £100,000 in assets; above this, or for access to additional accounts and lower trading fees, the Plus and Premium plans apply, with FX fees ranging from 0.75% down to 0.25% depending on the plan and amount converted. Because the subscription is flat, investors with smaller portfolios (roughly under £13,300, depending on account type) will typically find Hargreaves Lansdown cheaper, while ii becomes progressively better value as your portfolio grows.

Regular investing plan

interactive investor offers commission-free regular investing on a range of eligible funds and ETFs, letting you build a position over time without paying the standard £3.99 dealing fee on each contribution. Combined with the flat subscription model, this makes ii particularly attractive for long-term investors who want predictable monthly costs that don't rise as their portfolio grows, unlike percentage-fee platforms.

Safety and regulation

interactive investor is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Client cash is protected under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £85,000 per person, per authorised firm, and investments are ring-fenced separately from the company's own assets.

Customer support

ii provides customer support through its website and app, with the flat-fee model designed to be transparent about costs. Family plan subscribers (Plus/Premium) can add family members to their subscription, sharing the flat fee across multiple accounts.

Frequently asked questions

How does interactive investor's pricing work?

ii charges a flat monthly subscription (from £4.99 on Investor Essentials) rather than a percentage of your portfolio. This means your platform costs stay the same regardless of how much your investments grow.

How much does it cost to trade shares or ETFs on ii?

£3.99 per trade on shares and ETFs, lower than Hargreaves Lansdown's £6.95, and the same £3.99 applies to fund trades.

Is ii cheaper than Hargreaves Lansdown?

It depends on your portfolio size and account mix. For portfolios above roughly £13,300–£20,000 (depending on account type), ii's flat fee typically works out cheaper than HL's percentage-based charges, especially if you hold both an ISA and a SIPP.

Can I hold an ISA and a SIPP on ii for one fee?

Yes, one of the key advantages of ii is that a single flat-fee subscription can cover your Personal Pension, Shares ISA and Trading Account together, rather than paying separate percentage fees on each.

Does ii offer free regular investing?

Yes, there are no trading charges for regular investing on eligible funds and ETFs, letting you build a position over time without the standard £3.99 dealing fee.

Is interactive investor safe?

Yes, ii is authorised and regulated by the FCA, with client cash protected by the FSCS up to £85,000 per person, and investments held separately from the company's own assets.

Does ii offer a Junior ISA or Lifetime ISA?

ii offers a Junior Stocks & Shares ISA but does not currently offer a Junior SIPP or a Lifetime ISA, unlike Hargreaves Lansdown which offers both.

How to open an account

Go to the official interactive investor website and choose your plan (Core, Plus or Premium)
Select the account type(s) you want: ISA, SIPP, Trading Account, or a combination
Enter your personal and tax details to complete the application
Complete identity verification as required by UK regulation
Fund your account and start investing, or set up regular investing on eligible funds and ETFs

In summary

interactive investor is the stronger choice for UK investors with medium-to-large portfolios who want predictable, flat monthly costs rather than fees that grow with their investments, especially if they want to combine an ISA and a SIPP under one subscription. For very small portfolios or investors who want zero platform fees altogether, commission-free platforms like Trading 212 or InvestEngine will usually be cheaper.