How we calculate fees
Platform fee
We support these fee models, detected automatically from the platform’s data:
Tiered percentage (HL, AJ Bell): each slice of your portfolio is charged at the rate for that tier. For example, HL charges 0.35% on the first £250,000, then 0.25% on the next £750,000. A £300,000 fund portfolio pays (£250,000 × 0.35%) + (£50,000 × 0.25%) = £875 + £125 = £1,000.
Banded percentage (Fidelity): one rate applies to the whole portfolio, set by its size. Fidelity charges 0.35% below £250,000 and 0.20% on the whole balance from £250,000, so a £300,000 portfolio pays £300,000 × 0.20% = £600, up to a £2,000 maximum.
Simple percentage (Vanguard): portfolio × rate.
Caps and minimums apply on top of the percentage models: for example AJ Bell caps ISA share and ETF fees at £42 a year, Vanguard has a £48 a year minimum, and Fidelity charges £90 a year under £25,000 (we assume no regular savings plan).
Plans by portfolio size (Interactive Investor): a fixed monthly subscription, with the plan chosen by portfolio size. We use Core (£5.99/month) up to £100,000 and Plus (£14.99/month) above.
Zero fee (InvestEngine, Trading 212, Freetrade Basic, Barclays): no platform charge.
Dealing fees
Dealing fees are calculated as:
dealing cost = max(0, annual trades − free trades) × cost per trade
Interactive Investor’s Plus plan includes one free trade a month (12 a year); Core includes none. We assume trades are placed manually; regular investing is free or cheaper on most platforms.
Total annual cost
total = platform fee + dealing fees
Rounded to the nearest pound.
What we don’t include
- Fund OCF (ongoing charges figure): This is charged by the fund itself and applies regardless of which platform you use. We exclude it from platform comparisons.
- FX charges: Currency conversion fees for overseas shares.
- One-off fees: Transfers, paper certificates, CHAPS payments.
- Interest on cash: Some platforms pay interest on uninvested cash — not included.
Data sources
All fee data is sourced directly from each platform’s charges page. Source links are shown on every platform page. We update data when platforms publish changes.
Limitations
- Fees shown are for the stated assumptions. Changing portfolio size, asset type, or trading frequency will change the result.
- Promotional rates and new customer offers are not included.
- Some platforms have minimum fees or charges that may apply to small portfolios — these are noted where applicable.
- SIPP fees may include pension-specific charges not captured here.
Last updated: April 2026