Investlytic
InvestEngine
Broker Review · UK ETF-only platform with zero platform fees on DIY portfolios

InvestEngine

🇬🇧 UK ETF specialist platform, FCA regulated, DIY portfolios accept UK residents only
Only directly with the broker
No affiliate partnership with Investlytic

What you need to know

InvestEngine is a UK investment platform built entirely around ETFs, offering a genuinely zero-platform-fee DIY option across its General Investment Account, Stocks & Shares ISA and SIPP. Rather than offering thousands of individual shares like most competitors, InvestEngine gives you access to around 800 carefully selected UCITS ETFs, letting you build your own portfolio (DIY) or hand it to InvestEngine's managed option — making it one of the cheapest ways to hold a passive ETF portfolio in the UK.

  • 0% platform fee on DIY portfolios across ISA, SIPP and General Investment Account
  • SIPP platform fee removed in December 2024 — now genuinely free of charge, only ETF costs apply
  • Around 800 UCITS ETFs available, including major providers like Vanguard and iShares
  • Fractional investing from just £1, regardless of the ETF's share price
  • Managed Portfolios available at 0.25%/year for a hands-off approach (availability may vary, verify before opening)
  • Free transfers in for existing ISAs and SIPPs, potentially in-specie if InvestEngine offers the same ETFs

Strengths

  • Genuinely 0% platform fee on DIY portfolios across ISA, SIPP and GIA
  • SIPP platform fee removed in December 2024, one of the lowest-cost DIY pensions available
  • Fractional investing from £1 across around 800 ETFs
  • Free in-specie transfers where InvestEngine offers matching ETFs
  • Competitive 0.25%/year Managed Portfolio option for hands-off investors

Limitations

  • ETFs only — no individual stocks, investment trusts, bonds, or options
  • UK residents only, not available to EU or international investors
  • No interest paid on uninvested cash
  • £100 minimum investment to open an account, higher than some competitors
  • Managed Portfolio availability has changed in 2026 — verify current options before opening

Fees in detail

ItemCost
Platform fee, DIY (ISA/SIPP/GIA)£0
Managed Portfolio0.25%/year (subject to availability)
Dealing fee, DIY£0 on all trades
ETF underlying charge (OCF)Typically 0.03%–0.25%/year, varies by fund
Minimum to open an account£100
Transfer in (ISA/SIPP)£0
The only cost on the DIY option is the underlying ETF's own annual charge (OCF), typically ranging from 0.03% to 0.25% depending on the fund — for example, holding the Vanguard FTSE All-World ETF (VWRP, OCF 0.22%) via InvestEngine's DIY option means your total annual cost is 0.22%, with no platform fee on top. The £100 minimum investment to open an account is higher than some competitors, and InvestEngine does not pay interest on uninvested cash, since AutoInvest is designed to keep your money deployed instead.

Regular investing plan

InvestEngine's AutoInvest feature lets you set up regular contributions and maintain your target ETF allocations automatically, with no dealing fee and no platform charge on the DIY option. Regular investing is available weekly, fortnightly or monthly via Variable Recurring Payments or Direct Debit, and fractional investing from £1 means you can maintain precise target weights even with small regular contributions.

Safety and regulation

InvestEngine is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and only accepts UK residents. Client cash and investments are held in line with FCA client money rules, with FSCS protection applying up to the standard limits in the event the firm were to fail.

Customer support

Support is provided through the InvestEngine app and website. As a newer, more focused platform, the investment universe and research tools are narrower than full-service platforms like Hargreaves Lansdown, but the streamlined ETF-only approach keeps the product simple to understand.

Frequently asked questions

Is InvestEngine really free?
The DIY option charges no platform fee and no dealing commission across ISA, SIPP and General Investment Account. The only cost is the underlying ETF's own annual charge (OCF), which you would pay on any platform holding that same ETF.
Does InvestEngine have a SIPP fee?
No, InvestEngine removed its 0.15% SIPP platform fee in December 2024. The SIPP is now free of platform charges, just like the ISA and GIA — only the underlying ETF costs apply.
What can I invest in on InvestEngine?
InvestEngine offers around 800 carefully selected UCITS ETFs from providers including Vanguard and iShares. It does not offer individual stocks, investment trusts, bonds or options.
What is the minimum investment on InvestEngine?
£100 to open an account, after which you can invest as little as £1 at a time thanks to fractional investing across the available ETFs.
Can I transfer my existing ISA or SIPP to InvestEngine?
Yes, transfers of existing Stocks & Shares ISAs and SIPPs are accepted free of charge. If your current holdings are ETFs that InvestEngine also offers, the transfer can potentially be done in-specie without selling first.
Is InvestEngine available outside the UK?
No, InvestEngine only accepts UK residents. Investors based in the EU or elsewhere would need to look at a different platform.
What's the difference between DIY and Managed on InvestEngine?
With DIY, you select your own ETFs and set target weights, with 0% platform fee. With Managed, InvestEngine builds and rebalances a risk-profiled portfolio for you, at 0.25%/year — though availability of Managed Portfolios has changed in 2026, so it's worth checking current options directly on the site.

How to open an account

  1. Go to the official InvestEngine website and select GIA, ISA or SIPP
  2. Enter your personal and tax details to complete the application (UK residents only)
  3. Complete identity verification as required by FCA regulation
  4. Deposit at least £100 to activate your account
  5. Choose DIY (select your own ETFs and target weights) or a Managed Portfolio, if available

In summary

InvestEngine is the strongest option for UK investors who want a genuinely zero-fee way to hold a passive ETF portfolio inside an ISA or SIPP, and its removal of the SIPP fee in 2024 makes it one of the cheapest DIY pensions on the market. The trade-off is a narrower investment universe limited to ETFs, with no individual stocks or bonds — investors who want that flexibility should look elsewhere.