Best Alternatives to interactive investor in 2026
People look for interactive investor alternatives for different reasons — fees, missing features, or a simpler experience. Here are the closest options, ranked.
1. Lightyear
Lightyear is a UK- and EU-available investing app offering commission-free stocks and ETFs, a very low currency-conversion fee, and interest on uninvested cash. UK personal accounts (GIA and Stocks & Shares ISA) pay just 0.10% FX; EU accounts pay 0.35%. There are no account, withdrawal or inactivity fees, and no minimum deposit — making it one of the cheapest ways to hold a global portfolio.
Compare interactive investor and Lightyear side by side →Visit LightyearLightyear
Best low-FX investing app for the UK and EU with interest on cash
Capital at risk. This is not financial advice. Investing involves risk of loss.
2. InvestEngine
InvestEngine is a UK ETF-only investment platform with no platform fee, no dealing commission and no FX fee on its DIY portfolios, across ISA, SIPP and General accounts. All ETFs are GBP-denominated, so you pay only the underlying ETF's ongoing charge. ETFs only — no individual stocks.
Compare interactive investor and InvestEngine side by side →Visit InvestEngineInvestEngine
Best for zero-fee DIY ETF investing with a free ISA and SIPP
Capital at risk. This is not financial advice. Investing involves risk of loss.
3. Freetrade
Freetrade is a UK mobile-first investing app offering commission-free trading on stocks, ETFs and investment trusts, with a genuinely free Stocks & Shares ISA and SIPP on its Basic plan. The main cost for most users is the FX fee on non-GBP trades: 0.99% on the free plan, dropping to 0.59% (Standard, £5.99/mo) and 0.39% (Plus, £11.99/mo).
Compare interactive investor and Freetrade side by side →Visit FreetradeFreetrade
Best free ISA and SIPP for commission-free UK investing
Capital at risk. This is not financial advice. Investing involves risk of loss.
4. Vanguard UK
Vanguard's UK platform charges 0.15% a year capped at £375, with no dealing charges on its funds. It is one of the cheapest ways to hold a simple index portfolio, with two significant caveats: you can only buy Vanguard's own funds and ETFs, and accounts below £32,000 now pay a £4 monthly minimum fee, which is expensive on a small pot.
Compare interactive investor and Vanguard UK side by side →Vanguard UK
Cheap index investing, but only in Vanguard's own funds
Visit the Vanguard UK website →We earn no commission from Vanguard UK. It is listed here because a fee comparison that leaves out the market leaders is not a fee comparison.
5. AJ Bell
AJ Bell is a long-established UK platform that repriced on 1 May 2026. Its custody charge is 0.25%, tiering down on funds above £250,000, and — crucially — capped at just £3.50 a month on shares, ETFs and investment trusts. That cap makes it one of the cheapest mainstream platforms for a large ETF or share portfolio held in an ISA.
Compare interactive investor and AJ Bell side by side →AJ Bell
Cheaper than HL on shares, with a low monthly cap
Visit the AJ Bell website →We earn no commission from AJ Bell. It is listed here because a fee comparison that leaves out the market leaders is not a fee comparison.
6. Hargreaves Lansdown
Hargreaves Lansdown is the largest investment platform in the UK, offering the widest fund range, strong research and well-regarded service. It repriced on 1 March 2026, cutting the account charge from 0.45% to 0.35% and capping the charge on shares at £12.50 a month. It remains a percentage-fee platform, so it is competitive for smaller portfolios of funds and expensive for large ones.
Compare interactive investor and Hargreaves Lansdown side by side →Hargreaves Lansdown
The UK's largest platform, with research to match its charges
Visit the Hargreaves Lansdown website →We earn no commission from Hargreaves Lansdown. It is listed here because a fee comparison that leaves out the market leaders is not a fee comparison.
7. Fidelity
Fidelity Personal Investing charges a 0.35% service fee that tiers down above £250,000, with a flat £7.50 a month for accounts under £25,000 that have no regular savings plan. Its most useful feature for cost-conscious investors is the £90-a-year cap on the service fee for shares, ETFs and investment trusts held in an ISA or SIPP.
Compare interactive investor and Fidelity side by side →Fidelity
Broad fund range with a capped charge on shares and ETFs
Visit the Fidelity website →We earn no commission from Fidelity. It is listed here because a fee comparison that leaves out the market leaders is not a fee comparison.
Compare alternatives
| Feature | interactive investor | Lightyear | InvestEngine | Freetrade | Vanguard UK | AJ Bell | Hargreaves Lansdown | Fidelity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 3.3 / 5 | 5 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 | 3.4 / 5 | 3.2 / 5 | 3.1 / 5 |
| Stock commission | £3.99 per UK share trade (£2.99 on Premium); funds £3.99 on Core, £1.49 on Plus, free on Premium | UK personal accounts (GIA and ISA): no execution fee on UK, US and European stocks or ETFs. EU accounts: GBP 1 per order on UK stocks, EUR 1 per order on EUR-denominated stocks, 0.1% on other European stocks, and 0.10% (min $0.10, max $1) on US stocks. ETFs are execution-fee-free on both. | £0 dealing commission on all ETFs (DIY portfolios); no platform fee | £0 commission on all UK & US stocks, ETFs and investment trusts (all plans) | No dealing charge on Vanguard funds and ETFs at the scheduled daily trade; £7.50 for optional live 'quote and deal' ETF trades | £5.00 per online share deal (£3.50 if you made 10+ share deals in the previous month); regular investing is free | £6.95 per online share deal (£3.95 if you dealt 20+ times in the previous month); free via monthly direct debit | £7.50 per online share, ETF or investment trust deal; £1.50 for regular savings plan trades and dividend reinvestment; funds free |
| Withdrawal fee | Free to a linked UK bank account | Free by local bank transfer. USD wire payments are charged (up to $8.50 UK, $6.11 EU). | Free — no withdrawal fee | Free standard withdrawals; £5 for same-day withdrawal | Free to a linked UK bank account | Free to a linked UK bank account | Free to a linked UK bank account | Free to a linked UK bank account |
| Inactivity fee | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| Min deposit | $0 | $0 | $100 | $0 | $500 | $500 | $100 | $25 |
| Fractional shares | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Demo account | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Regulators | FCA | FCA, EFSA | FCA | FCA | FCA | FCA | FCA | FCA |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best alternative to interactive investor?
Lightyear is the strongest alternative for most users — best low-fx investing app for the uk and eu with interest on cash.
Why switch from interactive investor?
Common reasons include lower fees, different account types, or a simpler interface. Compare the options above against what matters to you.