Our Bottom Line
In our review, the Barclays Smart Investor Account is designed with beginners in mind. For individuals who are new to the financial markets or simply short on time, this account allows rapid deployment of capital with ready-made portfolios built and managed by professionals.
There are five portfolios to pick from, each with varying levels of exposure to cash, bond, and stock investments with unique risk-return profiles. While investors can’t pick individual investments, they are able to select and transfer their wealth between these portfolios to match their risk tolerance as well as return objectives.
The platform offers simple and transparent pricing to provide cost certainty, as well as a host of research tools and stock alerts to help novices grow into more confident, hands-on investors over time.
Pros & Cons
What we like about the Barclays Smart Investor Account:
- Five ready-made portfolios managed by experts.
- Transparent fee structure.
- Easy transferring of existing investments without affecting their tax-efficiency status.
- Comprehensive research centre with stock alerts.
- Compatible with SIPP and ISA wrappers.
- Automatic rebalancing and diversification.
But there are also some limitations to consider:
- No fractional share dealing.
- Lacks advanced trading features that experienced investors may want.
- Trading fees are higher compared to some low-cost alternatives.
- Unsuitable for short-term traders or DIY investors.
- No ESG or ethical investment pre-built portfolios are currently available.
Key Features and Service
The Barclays Smart Investor service can be tied in directly with an existing Barclays investment account. This includes the Barclays Investment ISA, general investment account, and a Barclays SIPP.
- Ready-made portfolios – Choose from five diversified, multi-asset portfolios actively managed by experts.
- Research centre – Access in-depth data, advance searching tools, stock alerts, and market insights to track and evaluate investments.
- Automatic rebalancing – Pre-built portfolios are regularly adjusted to maintain the optimal asset allocation without needing input from investors.
- Barclays fund list – Venture beyond pre-built portfolios with a curated shortlist of funds selected for their long-term performance potential.
- Investment transfer – Move existing investments from another provider without affecting their tax-efficient status (such as an ISA, SIPP, etc).
- Earn interest on cash – Uninvested capital sitting in an account earns a small amount of interest ranging from 0% to 1.66% depending on the account type.
Fees and Trading Costs in 2025
Barclays Smart Investor charges an annual management fee determined by the size of an investor’s overall portfolio. However, this management fee is billed on a monthly basis and varies depending on account type.
- Management fee – For Barclays Smart Investor, there is a 0.25% annual fee up to £200,000. The fee drops to 0.05% for any amount beyond this. This fee is only charged on investments held in the account, not cash, so any uninvested capital is excluded. While this is an annual fee, Barclays charges a portion of it each month, with the money automatically taken from the cash in an account or a linked debit card.
- Transaction costs – Whenever buying and selling shares, ETFs, investment trusts, bonds, or gilts, Barclays charges a flat £6 transaction fee per trade. This increases to £25 for any trades completed over the phone. However, there is no fee when buying and selling funds online.
- Foreign exchange – When buying and selling international investments, Barclays charges a foreign exchange fee that’s linked to the value of the trade. The first £5,000 incurs a 1% foreign exchange fee. The next £5,000 is 0.75%. The next £15,000 is 0.5%. The next £225,000 is 0.25%. And any value above £250,000 is charged at 0.1%.
- Deposit fee – None.
- Withdrawal fee – None.
Smart Investor Account Requirements
There are some minimum requirements for investors to start using the Barclays Smart Investor service.
- Minimum opening amount – There is no minimum amount of cash needed to open an account.
- Minimum top-up amount – Once an account has been created, investors can invest and top up from a minimum of £50 at a time.
- Minimum direct debit – If you want to make regular contributions to your Barclays Smart Investor account, you can set up a direct debit starting from £50 a month.
- Eligibility – The Barclays Smart Investor service is available to all UK residents aged 18+. You need a National Insurance Number to get started.
- Account opening time – Opening a Barclays Smart Investor account can be done online within a few minutes. However, there is an ID verification step which can take several working days to complete.
Platform and App Experience in 2025
The Smart Investor platform offers a streamlined and straightforward method to quickly deploy capital into the markets with little experience. The interface successfully balances simplicity with functionality, allowing investors to easily review how much wealth they have and how it has grown over time.
Whether using the desktop or mobile app, investors have access to a plethora of research tools and resources to build watchlists and set up stock alerts, helping investors transition into a more active investing strategy (should they want to). And the fact that Barclays Smart Investor ties directly into its other trading accounts means that picking individual stocks, ETFs, or funds is a simple transition.
For investors sticking exclusively to the Smart Investor service, Barclays allows multiple separate investments into different pre-built portfolios. This allows investors to allocate funds accordingly for different objectives, such as saving for retirement or earning safer returns a few months before making a down payment on a house.
The platform is definitely not a good fit for investors seeking professional charting or trading tools. Therefore, investors with more experience who want a fully hands-on approach may want to consider other platforms. But for beginners, Barclays Smart Investor is a great fit, especially for those wanting to build up their confidence without distraction.
Is A Barclays Smart Investor Account Right For You?
As previously mentioned, the Barclay Smart Investor service is designed for novice investors seeking a beginner-friendly, hands-off approach to building wealth. Specifically, it’s for those who value ready-made portfolios, curated fund lists, and a simple, transparent cost structure.
The recurring monthly fees can encourage investors to be more active to get their money’s worth. But since fees are ultimately tied to the total value of an account (excluding cash), it’s still cost-effective to adopt a passive investing strategy.
For new investors wanting their hand held while entering the world of the financial markets and investing, the Barclays Smart Investor account is a strong option.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Barclays Smart Investor?
Barclays Smart Investor is an online platform that allows individuals to buy and sell shares, funds, ETFs, and ready-made portfolios. It’s built for beginners who want a simple start to their investing journey with a transparent fee structure.
Can you withdraw money from Barclays Smart Investor?
Yes. You can withdraw your money from a Barclays Smart Investor account at any time by selling your investments and transferring the cash to your linked bank account. Typically, funds will arrive within three working days.
Is Barclays Smart Investor Worth It?
Barclays Smart Investor can be worth it if you value simplicity and want ready-made investment options. However, the platform may be less cost-effective compared to some low-cost competitors.
Alternatives To Consider
If you’re interested in exploring other pre-built portfolio services, other great options worth comparing include: