Interactive Investor ISA Review (2026): Fees, Features and Verdict
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What is Interactive Investor?
Interactive Investor (ii) is one of the UK's longest-established investment platforms, founded in 1995. It is a full-service platform for self-directed UK investors, giving access to shares, ETFs, funds, bonds, and investment trusts — a wider range than most mainstream UK platforms.
Interactive Investor operates on a flat monthly fee model rather than a percentage-based charge. From 1 February 2026, ii replaced its previous plans with three simplified tiers — Core (£5.99/month), Plus (£14.99/month), and Premium (£39.99/month). All three plans include a Stocks & Shares ISA, SIPP, and general investment account under a single fee, making it easier and cheaper to consolidate investments in one place.
The platform is best suited to experienced or self-directed investors who want access to the widest possible range of investments and professional-grade research tools. Its comprehensive offering — including funds, bonds, and international markets — goes well beyond the stocks and ETFs available on newer app-based platforms. The Core plan is particularly competitive for portfolios up to £100,000.
Pros and Cons
- Widest investment range of any mainstream UK ISA platform — stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds, investment trusts
- New flat-fee plans from February 2026 — Core £5.99/month is highly competitive for most portfolios
- ISA, SIPP and General Investment Account all included under one plan fee
- Free regular investing on all plans — no dealing charge on monthly direct debit
- Comprehensive research tools, fund factsheets, analyst data and investment news
- UK-based telephone customer support — a genuine differentiator from app-only platforms
- FCA authorised and FSCS protected up to £85,000
- Junior ISA available with no service charges
- More complex than app-first platforms like Trading 212 or Freetrade
- Core plan (£5.99/month) may still not suit very small or starter portfolios
- Full-service structure may be more than simple ETF-only investors need
- SIPP pension admin charged separately (£2.50/month on Core)
- FX fees still apply on international trades (0.75% on Core plan)
Interactive Investor ISA Features
What is a Stocks & Shares ISA?
A Stocks & Shares ISA is a tax-efficient investment account available to UK residents aged 18 and over. You can invest up to £20,000 per tax year and pay no Income Tax on dividends or Capital Gains Tax on profits — making it one of the most powerful tools for long-term wealth building in the UK.
Interactive Investor offers a Stocks & Shares ISA on all three of its plans — Core, Plus, and Premium. All plans include ISA access alongside a SIPP and general investment account under a single flat monthly fee. The Core plan at £5.99/month makes ii cost-effective for a much wider range of investors than before its February 2026 repricing.
The ISA provides access to the platform's full investment range, including thousands of UK and international funds, ETFs, stocks, bonds, and investment trusts. This breadth of choice sets ii apart from newer platforms that are limited to stocks and ETFs only.
Interactive Investor Platform Fees
Fees are one of the most important factors when choosing an ISA platform. Over long periods, even small differences in fees can have a significant impact on your investment returns. Here is a full breakdown of what Interactive Investor charges. For a deeper analysis including break-even calculations, see our dedicated Interactive Investor fees guide.
| Plan | Monthly Fee | Portfolio | What's Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core | £5.99/month | Up to £100,000 | ISA, SIPP (£2.50/mo extra), GIA, free regular investing |
| Plus | £14.99/month | No limit | Everything in Core + 1 free trade/month, £1.49 fund trades, up to 5 family accounts |
| Premium | £39.99/month | No limit | Everything in Plus + 2 free trades/month, free fund trades, £2.99 share trades, unlimited family accounts |
| Fee Type | Core | Plus | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK & US Share Trade | £3.99 | £3.99 (1 free/mo) | £2.99 (2 free/mo) |
| Fund Trade | £3.99 | £1.49 | Free |
| Regular Investing (direct debit) | Free | Free | Free |
| FX Fee | 0.75% | 0.75% (0.25% above £50k) | 0.25% flat |
| SIPP Pension Admin | £2.50/month | Included | Included |
| Withdrawal | Free | Free | Free |
Available Investments
Interactive Investor gives UK investors access to a range of investment types within its Stocks & Shares ISA. Below are the main asset classes available on the platform.
Platform Security & Regulation
Security and regulation are critical factors when choosing where to invest your money. Here is how Interactive Investor protects your investments. For a full breakdown of regulation and safety, see our Is Interactive Investor Safe? guide.
FCA Regulated
The platform is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the UK's financial regulator. This means it must meet strict standards for how it handles client money and treats customers.
FSCS Protected
Your investments are protected up to £85,000 per person under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) if the platform were to fail. Note this does not protect against investment losses — only platform failure.
Two-Factor Authentication
Accounts can be secured with two-factor authentication (2FA), adding an extra layer of protection beyond your password.
Client Money Segregation
Your money is held separately from the platform's own funds in ring-fenced client accounts, meaning it cannot be used by the company for its own purposes.
Ease of Use
Interactive Investor's platform is comprehensive rather than minimal, which means it has more depth than newer app-based platforms but a steeper learning curve. The interface has improved significantly in recent years but still feels more traditional than the likes of Trading 212 or Freetrade.
For experienced investors, the research tools are a major asset. ii provides access to detailed company financials, analyst recommendations, fund factsheets, and market news — the kind of information that serious investors need to make informed decisions.
The mobile app provides core portfolio management features and is adequate for monitoring and placing trades, though the full range of research tools is better experienced on the desktop version. Regular investment features allow automated monthly contributions.
Research tools: ii's research offering is a genuine differentiator from app-first platforms. The platform gives access to company financials, analyst ratings, fund factsheets, and investment news directly within the interface. The Quickrank tool lets you screen investments by criteria such as yield, performance, and risk. For investors who want to do their own research rather than follow a ready-made portfolio, this depth is a real advantage.
How to Open an Interactive Investor ISA Account
Opening a Stocks & Shares ISA with Interactive Investor is straightforward and typically takes around 10 to 15 minutes.
Visit ii.co.uk and Click Open Account
Go to ii.co.uk and select 'Open an Account'. You will automatically start on the Core plan (£5.99/month) — ii's entry-level tier that covers portfolios up to £100,000.
Choose Your Account Type
Select Stocks & Shares ISA. You can also add a SIPP or Trading Account — all are included under the same monthly plan fee at no extra cost (a SIPP incurs a separate £2.50/month admin fee on the Core plan).
Verify Your Identity
As an FCA-regulated platform, ii will ask for your National Insurance number, date of birth, and address. Most applications are verified electronically within minutes. If additional documents are needed, you will be prompted to upload a photo ID.
Set Up Your Direct Debit
ii collects its monthly fee by Direct Debit — this is the required payment method for the Core plan. You can set this up during account opening or immediately after via the ii Help Centre.
Deposit Funds and Start Investing
Transfer funds via bank transfer. Once your account is funded you can browse ii's full investment range — stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds, and investment trusts. Use the Quick-Start Funds or ii Model Portfolios if you want a ready-made starting point.
Set Up Regular Investing (Optional)
ii's Regular Investing feature lets you automate monthly contributions to any eligible investment free of dealing charges. This is one of the most cost-effective ways to build your ISA consistently over time.
Capital at risk. Investments can go down as well as up. InvestCompareUK may earn a commission.
ISA Tax Benefits
Inside a Stocks & Shares ISA, all investment gains are free from Capital Gains Tax and all income is free from dividend tax — regardless of how much your portfolio grows. Outside an ISA, CGT applies to gains above £3,000 and dividend tax applies above the £500 allowance. For long-term investors, keeping investments inside an ISA can save thousands of pounds in tax over time.
How Interactive Investor Compares
Interactive Investor is not the right platform for every investor. Here is how it sits against the most common alternatives.
| Platform | Best For | Fee Model | Investment Range | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Investor | Full-service, self-directed | Flat monthly fee | Very wide — stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds | 8.8/10 |
| Trading 212 | Beginners & cost-focused | 0% platform fee | Stocks & ETFs only | 9.4/10 |
| InvestEngine | ETF investors | 0% DIY plan | ETFs only | 9.2/10 |
| AJ Bell | Mid-size portfolios | 0.25% percentage fee | Wide — stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds | 8.7/10 |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | Premium service | 0.35% percentage fee | Very wide — 4,000+ funds | 8.6/10 |
Final Verdict
Interactive Investor suits experienced, self-directed UK investors who want access to shares, funds, ETFs, bonds and trusts alongside solid research tools. Its February 2026 repricing makes it significantly more competitive — the Core plan at £5.99/month covers portfolios up to £100,000, making it genuinely cost-effective for a much wider range of investors than before.
For complete beginners or very small portfolios, the monthly fee and steeper learning curve still make it less suitable than Trading 212, InvestEngine, or Freetrade. See our Interactive Investor alternatives guide for a full comparison. The platform rewards investors who take the time to use its full capabilities.
Compare Interactive Investor with all other ISA platforms in our full ISA platform comparison.
Capital at risk. Investments can go down as well as up. InvestCompareUK may earn a commission if you open an account via our link.