Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about investment platforms, wrappers, and how Wrapper Mapper works.
What is a wrapper?
A tax wrapper is an account type that shields your investments from UK tax. Instead of paying Capital Gains Tax on profits or Income Tax on dividends, any growth inside the wrapper is protected. Common wrappers include the Stocks and Shares ISA (tax-free on gains and income), the SIPP (tax relief on contributions, tax-free growth), and the Lifetime ISA (25% government bonus). The wrapper doesn't change what you invest in. It just changes how that investment is taxed.
What is Wrapper Mapper?
Wrapper Mapper is a free, independent comparison tool that helps UK investors find the best investment platform for their needs. You answer a few simple questions about the account types you need, your investing style, portfolio size, and priorities. We then filter the top 25 FCA-regulated providers to show which ones match your criteria.
Is Wrapper Mapper free to use?
Yes, completely free. We make money through affiliate referral fees from some of the platforms we list. This never affects our rankings. Our scoring engine runs the same logic regardless of whether we have an affiliate relationship with a platform.
What is a Stocks and Shares ISA?
A Stocks and Shares ISA is a tax-efficient account that lets you invest up to £20,000 per year in stocks, funds, and ETFs. Any gains and income within the ISA are completely free from UK tax. You can open one with most UK investment platforms.
What is a SIPP?
A SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension) is a type of pension that gives you control over your own investments. The government adds tax relief to every contribution: basic rate taxpayers get 20% relief, meaning a £800 contribution becomes £1,000 in your pension. You can currently access your pension from age 55, rising to 57 in April 2028.
What is a Lifetime ISA (LISA)?
A Lifetime ISA lets you save up to £4,000 per year and receive a 25% government bonus (up to £1,000 per year). You can use it to buy your first home or as a retirement fund from age 60. You must open one before age 40.
What is the difference between an ISA and a SIPP?
An ISA is a flexible tax wrapper. You can withdraw money at any time with no tax on gains or income. A SIPP is a pension: you get upfront tax relief on contributions, but cannot access the money until age 55 (rising to 57 in April 2028). Both are tax-efficient, but for different goals. ISAs for medium-term savings, SIPPs for retirement.
How many platforms does Wrapper Mapper compare?
We compare the top 25 FCA-regulated UK investment platforms, including Trading 212, Vanguard, AJ Bell, Hargreaves Lansdown, Freetrade, InvestEngine, Interactive Investor, Fidelity, Moneybox, Moneyfarm, and more.
Are all the platforms FCA regulated?
Yes. Every platform in our database is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which protects up to £85,000 of your investments per firm if the platform fails.
Does Wrapper Mapper provide financial advice?
No. Wrapper Mapper is a comparison and filtering tool, not a regulated financial adviser. Our rankings are based on publicly available platform data and the preferences you enter. For advice tailored to your full financial situation, please consult an FCA-authorised financial adviser.
How are platform fees calculated?
We calculate estimated annual costs based on your portfolio size. This includes the platform fee (percentage or flat fee), estimated trading costs based on your investing frequency, and FX charges for international holdings where applicable. All fee estimates are based on each platform's published rates.
Can I have more than one ISA?
You can hold multiple ISAs across different providers, but you can only pay into one of each type in a single tax year. For example, you can pay into one Stocks and Shares ISA and one Cash ISA in the same tax year, but not two Stocks and Shares ISAs simultaneously.
What is the best platform for beginners?
Platforms with no platform fee, simple interfaces, and managed portfolio options tend to work well for beginners. Trading 212, InvestEngine, Moneybox, and Vanguard are popular with first-time investors. Take our quiz to filter all 25 platforms based on your criteria.
How often is the platform data updated?
We review and update platform fees, features, and account data regularly. Each platform record includes a data verification date. Platform fees can change, so always confirm current rates directly with the provider before investing.
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