Cheapest Investment Platform UK 2026
Platform fees, trading costs, and FX charges compared across the top 25 providers — so you keep more of what you earn.
Not financial advice. Capital at risk. Fees accurate as of March 2026.
Quick answer
The cheapest investment platforms in the UK for 2026 are Trading 212, InvestEngine, and Freetrade: all charge zero platform fees and zero trading commissions. If you invest primarily in ETFs, InvestEngine is the standout cheapest option with zero FX fees too.
Zero-fee investment platforms
These platforms charge no annual platform fee and no trading commission. Costs come only from FX charges (for non-GBP trades) or optional premium features.
| Platform | Platform fee | Trading fee | FX charge | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trading 212 | Free | Free | 0.15% | Shares, ETFs, ISA |
| InvestEngine | Free | Free | Free | ETF portfolios, ISA, SIPP |
| Freetrade | Free | Free | 0.99% | Stocks, ETFs, ISA, SIPP |
| Lightyear | Free | Free | 0.35% | ISA, low FX costs |
| XTB | Free | Free | 0.5% | Stocks, ETFs, ISA |
| Robinhood UK | Free | Free | 0.1% | Low FX, ISA (no SIPP) |
| Vanguard | 0.15% | Free | Free | Index funds, ISA, SIPP |
| Dodl by AJ Bell | 0.15% | Free | 0.75% | Simple passive investing |
How platform fees affect your returns
A 0.35% annual platform fee on a £50,000 portfolio costs £175 per year. Over 20 years, assuming 7% annual growth, that's roughly £7,000 lost to fees compared to a zero-fee platform. Fees matter — especially for larger portfolios.
- Under £10,000: Any platform works. Prioritise simplicity and investment choice.
- £10,000–£50,000: Percentage-fee platforms like Vanguard (0.15%) keep costs low.
- Over £50,000: Consider flat-fee platforms like Interactive Investor to avoid rising percentage costs.
- Frequent trader: Zero-commission platforms (Trading 212, Freetrade) save the most.
Hidden costs to watch out for
- FX (foreign exchange) fees: Charged when you buy stocks priced in foreign currencies. Can range from 0.1% (Robinhood UK) to 1.5% (eToro).
- Exit fees: Some platforms charge to transfer your portfolio to another provider. Always check before joining.
- Fund OCF (Ongoing Charges Figure): Charged by the fund itself, not the platform. A 0.07% ETF OCF on a £20k portfolio costs £14/yr.
- Inactivity fees: Rare, but some platforms charge if you don't trade for a set period.
Find the cheapest platform for your portfolio size
Our quiz calculates your real estimated annual cost with each provider.
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