The best Investment Platforms

Choosing the right investment platform is critical—fees, product range, user experience, and account features can all impact your returns. But with so many options out there, each with its own pricing model and features, it can be overwhelming to know where to start.

To help, we’ve reviewed and summarised over 30 of the most popular investment platforms in the UK. You'll find our take on each one, along with our top picks across different categories and use cases.

To make things easier, we've grouped the platforms into four main categories:

Platform Category Cards

Traditional Investment Platforms

Well-established providers offering a broad range of investments and account types.

Challenger Investment Platforms

Newer, app-first services focused on user-friendly design and lower fees.

Robo-Advisors & Managed Portfolios

Ideal for passive investors seeking automated, hands-off portfolio management.

High-Street Banks & Traditional Institutions

Recognisable household names that offer investing alongside their core banking products.

Note: We've excluded workplace pension-only providers, which are generally not cost-competitive for DIY investing.

Our Top Picks

Here’s a quick reference for the best platform based on your investing style:

Investment Platform Overview Financial Penguin Rating Website
Hargreaves Lansdown logo Top pick for long-term investors looking for a full-featured, highly reputable platform.
Offers a wide range of investments including funds, shares, SIPPs, and ISAs. Known for excellent research tools and customer service. Higher fees reflect the depth of features and trusted brand.
£ £ £ £ £
5/5 Coins
Visit Site ↗
Nutmeg logo Best for Managed Portfolios.
Ideal for hands-off investors. Backed by J.P. Morgan, offering professionally managed portfolios tailored to your risk level. Great for those wanting simplicity without picking individual investments.
£ £ £ £ £
5/5 Coins
Visit Site ↗
Trading 212 logo Best for Low-Cost and Casual Investing.
A standout platform for commission-free trading of stocks and ETFs. Great for hobby investors with an easy-to-use app, no trading fees, and competitive FX rates. No SIPPs or funds (yet).
£ £ £ £ £
5/5 Coins
Visit Site ↗
Investment Platform
Hargreaves Lansdown
Overview
Top pick for long-term investors looking for a full-featured, highly reputable platform. Offers a wide range of investments including funds, shares, SIPPs, and ISAs. Known for excellent research tools and customer service. Higher fees reflect the depth of features and trusted brand.
Financial Penguin Rating
£ £ £ £ £
5/5 Coins Visit Site ↗
Investment Platform
Nutmeg
Overview
Best for Managed Portfolios. Ideal for hands-off investors. Backed by J.P. Morgan, offering professionally managed portfolios tailored to your risk level. Great for those wanting simplicity without picking individual investments.
Financial Penguin Rating
£ £ £ £ £
5/5 Coins Visit Site ↗
Investment Platform
Trading 212
Overview
Best for Low-Cost and Casual Investing. A standout platform for commission-free trading of stocks and ETFs. Great for hobby investors with an easy-to-use app, no trading fees, and competitive FX rates. No SIPPs or funds (yet).
Financial Penguin Rating
£ £ £ £ £
5/5 Coins Visit Site ↗

Compare all Investment Platforms

Here’s our complete list of investment platforms avaliable:

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