⚡ Updated April 2026

Best Interactive Investor Alternatives in the UK (2026)

By InvestCompareUK Editorial 📖 7 min read Part of the Interactive Investor Review

Interactive Investor is a strong full-service investment platform, but it is no longer just a “large portfolio only” option. Since its 2026 pricing update, the Core plan costs £5.99/month and covers portfolios up to £100,000, making it more competitive than before for investors who want a Stocks & Shares ISA, SIPP, funds, bonds and deeper research tools in one place. For the full breakdown of the platform itself, read our Interactive Investor review.

That said, Interactive Investor is still not the best fit for everyone. If you want the lowest-cost ISA for stocks and ETFs, a simpler beginner app, or a more hands-off managed option, there are stronger alternatives. This guide breaks down the best Interactive Investor alternatives in the UK based on fees, investment range, ease of use and investor type. If cost is your main issue, start with our Interactive Investor fees guide.

ℹ️ Blunt reality: if you only want a cheap ISA for ETFs and stocks, Interactive Investor usually is not your best option. It only becomes the better fit when you actually need the broader toolset — funds, bonds, SIPP access or deeper research.

The right alternative depends on what you actually need. Lower cost is not the same thing as better value. If you need only stocks and ETFs, go cheaper. If you need a full-service platform, compare feature depth as well as price.

⭐ Best Low-Cost Alternative

Trading 212 — Best for Beginners and Cost-Focused Investors

Platform fee: 0%  |  Min deposit: £1  |  Rating: 9.4/10

Trading 212 is the strongest alternative for investors who mainly want to buy stocks and ETFs at the lowest possible cost. There is no account fee, no trading commission, and the FX fee is just 0.15% on relevant trades. It also supports fractional investing from £1 and offers a free practice account, which makes it especially attractive for beginners.

The trade-off is that Trading 212 is still narrower than Interactive Investor. It does not offer the same depth of research, and it is not the better choice if you want a fuller investing setup built around funds, bonds, or a pension account. For the direct head-to-head, read our Interactive Investor vs Trading 212 comparison.

Choose Trading 212 instead of Interactive Investor if: you want the cheapest and simplest Stocks & Shares ISA for stocks and ETFs, and do not need a SIPP or broader asset coverage.

Best for ETF Investors

InvestEngine — Best for ETF-Only Portfolios

Platform fee: £0 DIY / 0.45% Managed / 0.25% LifePlan  |  Min deposit: £100  |  Rating: 9.2/10

InvestEngine is the strongest alternative if you want an ETF-only portfolio and do not need individual shares, funds or bonds. Its DIY ISA has no platform fee, which makes it one of the cheapest long-term options for passive investors. Managed and LifePlan options are also available for investors who want more guidance.

The limitation is obvious: InvestEngine is built around ETFs, not a full-service investment menu. If you want a broader platform with funds, bonds, trusts, or a SIPP in one place, Interactive Investor remains more capable.

Choose InvestEngine instead of Interactive Investor if: you want a simple ETF-based ISA at the lowest possible cost and you do not need a wider investment range.

Best Full-Service Alternative

AJ Bell — Best for Mid-Sized Portfolios Wanting Full Investment Choice

Platform fee: 0.25%  |  Min deposit: £25  |  Rating: 8.7/10

AJ Bell is the closest like-for-like alternative to Interactive Investor. It offers shares, ETFs, funds, bonds, investment trusts and a SIPP, but uses a percentage-based fee model rather than a flat monthly charge. That makes it more attractive for smaller and mid-sized portfolios that are not yet large enough to fully benefit from Interactive Investor’s flat-fee structure.

Interactive Investor can become cheaper as portfolios grow, especially once you move beyond smaller balances and value the all-in-one account structure. But AJ Bell is usually the cleaner full-service option for investors who want wide choice without committing to a monthly fee from day one. For the direct comparison, read our Interactive Investor vs AJ Bell comparison.

Choose AJ Bell instead of Interactive Investor if: you want a full-service ISA platform but prefer a percentage-based fee that scales with your portfolio.

Best Managed Alternative

Nutmeg — Best for Hands-Off Investors

Fees: 0.75% Fully Managed / 0.45% Fixed Allocation on the first £100,000  |  Min deposit: £100  |  Rating: 8.4/10

Nutmeg is a strong alternative for investors who do not want to choose investments themselves. It builds and manages diversified portfolios for you, which makes it appealing to beginners and hands-off investors who value simplicity more than control.

It is not a true substitute for Interactive Investor if you want to select your own funds, shares or bonds. It is a different proposition: convenience and delegated investing instead of direct control.

Choose Nutmeg instead of Interactive Investor if: you want a managed ISA and would rather outsource portfolio construction than make your own investment decisions.

Interactive Investor is included below as the benchmark so you can compare its current fee structure and feature set directly against the strongest alternatives.

Platform Main Fee Investment Range Best For Rating
Interactive Investor Core £5.99/month up to £100,000 Stocks, ETFs, Funds, Bonds, Trusts, SIPP Broader investing needs 8.8/10
Trading 212 0% Stocks, ETFs Beginners / low-cost investing 9.4/10
InvestEngine £0 DIY / 0.45% Managed / 0.25% LifePlan ETFs only ETF investors 9.2/10
AJ Bell 0.25% Stocks, ETFs, Funds, Bonds, Trusts, SIPP Mid-sized full-service portfolios 8.7/10
Nutmeg 0.75% Fully Managed / 0.45% Fixed Allocation Managed portfolios Hands-off investors 8.4/10
💡 The real decision: if your portfolio is simple, pay simple fees. If your platform choice is more complex than your portfolio, you are probably overpaying.

Our Recommendation

If you are considering Interactive Investor mainly because you want a Stocks & Shares ISA for stocks and ETFs, the better alternative for most people is Trading 212. It is cheaper, simpler, and easier to grow into as a beginner.

If you want a low-cost ETF-only portfolio, InvestEngine is the strongest specialist alternative. If you want a broader full-service platform but prefer percentage-based pricing, AJ Bell is the closest like-for-like substitute. If you want a managed ISA, Nutmeg is the better fit.

Interactive Investor only remains the stronger choice when you actually need its broader feature set — funds, bonds, deeper research tools, or a SIPP alongside your ISA. If trust and regulation are part of your decision, see our Is Interactive Investor safe? page.

Read the full reviews for detailed fees, features and platform fit. Capital at risk.

Risk Warning & Disclaimer: Investments can go up as well as down and you may get back less than you invest. A Stocks & Shares ISA provides tax advantages but does not protect against investment losses. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. InvestCompareUK may receive affiliate commission when you open an account via links on this page. Always do your own research before investing.