Our Bottom Line
The Interactive Investor Trading Account stands out as one of the few UK brokers offering a flat-fee subscription service model. For investors with larger portfolios, this can translate into enormous savings over the long term compared to other trading platforms.
The platform itself is clean, straightforward, and easy to get to grips with. And it’s general investment account, the Interactive Investor Trading Account, provides access to a vast universe of UK and international shares, as well as funds, trusts, and ETFs.
A relatively unique feature offered by Interactive Investor is its Quick-Start Funds. These are designed for novices who want to deploy their capital and try to grow wealth in the financial markets with little to no knowledge.
There are a variety of funds available designed for different risk tolerances. And for investors who want to take things even further, the ii Super 60 list provides an easy way to screen a range of low-cost investment funds, trusts, and ETFs hand-picked by Interactive Investor’s Investment Selection Committee. Additionally, the platform even offers alerts and the ability to take part in the latest initial public offerings (IPOs) and new bond issues.
As such, the Interactive Investor Trading Account is suitable for both experienced and beginner investors alike. And there are currently over 450,000 investors taking advantage of its offerings.
Pros & Cons
Here are the main advantages of using an Interactive Investor Trading Account:
- Flat-fee subscription pricing.
- Free monthly trades (depending on subscription).
- Free regular investing.
- Wide range of investments.
- Curated investment tools (Quick-Start Funds, Super 60 shortlist).
- Regular investing tools to automate wealth-building.
- High-quality educational resources.
- User-friendly platform for managing portfolios.
- Participate in IPOs.
- Complimentary market commentary.
- Multiple currency support with interest earned on any Euros or US Dollars held.
But these come at the cost of several disadvantages:
- Monthly fees might be expensive for small portfolio investors.
- No fractional share trading.
- Free trade credits expire in 31 days.
- Additional fees for large transactions.
- No AI-driven tools or robo-advice features.
- Watchlist and alerts are basic compared to other platforms.
Key Features and Services
The Interactive Investor Trading Account offers a wide range of essential and powerful features at a significantly lower cost compared to other platforms.
- Wide range of investments – Choose from thousands of shares listed on 17 global exchanges (UK, US, Canada, Europe, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore), mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, investment trusts, bonds, gilts, and IPOs.
- Subscription-based pricing – Pay a fixed monthly fee instead of a percentage-based annual fee.
- Free monthly trading – Execute a number of trades for free each month (depending on your subscription plan).
- Expert portfolios – Use features like the Quick-Start Funds and the Interactive Investor 60 list to discover curated investment ideas.
- Hold multiple currencies – Rather than pay conversion fees on each trade, you can hold up to nine different currencies in an Interactive Investor Trading Account to minimise foreign exchange fees.
- App and web access – manage your investment from a desktop web platform or from your mobile phone using the Interactive Investor App.
- Customer support – II offers a UK-based helpdesk available during the week (not weekends) with responsible email support and additional guides in its Help Centre.
Fees and Trading Costs in 2025
Despite being one of the lowest-cost brokerage providers, Interactive Investor still has several fees that investors must consider in 2025. Most of these fees are transparent, but a few can slip under the radar.
For the Interactive Investor Trading Account, there are three subscription tiers investors can choose from.
- Investor Essentials (£4.99 per month) – This is the entry-level subscription for investors with less than £50,000. It allows for free regular investing where a small sum of capital is drip-fed into a selection of eligible investments at no cost. You can also include a Stocks and Shares ISA under this plan.
- Investor (£11.99 per month) – In addition to the features of the Investor Essentials plan, the Investor plan removes the £50,000 limit, allows the addition of Junior ISAs, provides a free membership to two family or friend members, and grants one free trade per month.
- Super Investor (£19.99 per month) – In addition to the features of the Investor plan, the Super Investor plan grants up to four free trades per month, as well as up to five free memberships to family and friends. It also provides discounts on international trading fees.
Additional fees include:
- Share dealing (online) – The standard trading fee for UK shares and funds, and US stocks is £3.99 across all subscription plans. For any other international investment, the trading fee is £9.99, or £5.99 when using the Super Investor plan. There is also a £0.99 fee for automatic dividend reinvestment.
- Share dealing (phone) – II charges a flat £49 for trades executed over the phone. Note that free trade credits from subscriptions cannot be used for phone trades. Furthermore, buying or selling shares listed on exchanges in Sweden or Switzerland can only be executed over the phone.
- Large transaction fees – When buying or selling UK shares with a trade value exceeding £100,000, there is an additional £40 fee. When buying or selling US shares with a trade value exceeding £100,000, there is a 0.04% fee. When buying or selling other international shares with a trade value exceeding £25,000, there is a 0.1% fee.
- Foreign exchange – When trading internationally, Interactive Investor will charge a foreign currency exchange fee unless you have sufficient funds of the required currency already in your account. The fee depends on the transaction size.
- £0 to £24,999 – 1.5%
- £25,000 to £49,999 – 1.25%
- £50,000 to £99,999 – 1.0%
- £100,000 to £599,999 – 0.5%
- £600,000 or more – 0.25%
- International investor fee – If you are no longer a UK resident, Interactive Investor will still allow you to keep an existing account. However, there is an additional £4 a month subscription fee required.
- Deposit fee – None.
- Withdrawal fee – No fees for next-day withdrawals. A £15 fee for same-day withdrawals, which must be requested before 2pm.
Trading Account Requirements
Here are the minimum requirements for investors to be eligible for an Interactive Investor Trading Account:
- Minimum opening amount – There is no minimum opening amount required. You can get started with £0.
- Minimum trading amount – There is no minimum trading amount set by the II platform. However, certain investments, such as funds, may have their own minimum investing requirements.
- Minimum Direct Debit – Direct Debit payments can be made starting from a minimum of £25 a month.
- Eligibility – To open an Interactive Investor Trading account, you must be a resident of the UK, Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man and aged 18+. You’ll need a National Insurance Number and a debit card to get started. If you later become a resident elsewhere, you can continue to use your Interactive Investor account, but with additional fees.
- Account opening time – Opening an account online takes an estimated 10 minutes. However, Interactive Investors may need to perform verification, which can take up to two business days.
Platform and App Experience in 2025
II’s investment platform strikes a delicate balance between simplicity and control. On the web-based management dashboard, you can quickly gain a clear overview of all your holdings, portfolio performance, and cash balances.
The functional layout can appear to be a bit dated compared to other modernised trading platforms. But it’s very easy to see exactly what’s going on, tracking trade credits, viewing upcoming subscription payments, and checking individual share performance over time.
Similarly, the mobile app is quite intuitive and includes plenty of essential tools. This includes price alerts, personalised watchlists, and a market news feed. The latter, in particular, is handy for investors seeking new ideas from experts in the form of articles, videos, and podcasts. Altogether, the quality and ease-of-use of the mobile reflected in the glowing user reviews with a 4.5 out of 5 on the Google Play store, and a 4.6 on the Apple App Store.
Both the web platform and the II mobile app provide access to the Knowledge Centre, helping novice investors get past all the jargon and learn how to build wealth more efficiently.
The support for beginners is only compounded by the curated lists of starter investments through the platforms Quick-Start Funds and Super 60 shortlist. And should you run into any trouble relating to investing or your account, there is a handy UK-based call centre available throughout the work week.
Is An Interactive Investor Share Dealing Account Right For You?
The Interactive Investor Trading Account has a lot to offer, especially for long-term focused investors with larger portfolios. It provides a simple yet effective trading solution with expert-curated investment ideas. Although the interface may appear dated, it makes up for it in terms of ease of use and functionality.
However, even with its cheaper Investor Essentials subscription plan, the service is not the cheapest offering compared to others for smaller investors. It also lacks advanced trading tools that expert traders rely upon for options and hedging strategies.
Therefore, the Interactive Investor Trading Account could be a great fit for wealthier long-term investors who are mindful of costs. The larger a portfolio grows, the greater the benefit of these cost savings. But for short-term traders, it’s likely worth exploring other investment accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Interactive Investor A Good Platform?
Yes. The Interactive Investor Trading Account is a strong choice for long-term investors who prefer a flat-fee pricing structure. It offers a vast range of investment options, access to investment research, and provides a user-friendly platform.
Is My Money Safe With Interactive Investor?
Yes. Interactive Investor is registered and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Your assets are held separately from the company’s own assets, so if Interactive Investor were to suddenly go bust, your investments are protected. Cash held in an account is also protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £85,000.
Is Interactive Investor Cheaper Than Hargreaves Lansdown?
It can be. Investors with larger portfolios who trade more frequently will often find Interactive Investor to be a cheaper brokerage account compared to Hargreaves Lansdown. This is due to the flat-free structure rather than percentage-based fees that offer better value over time.
Does Interactive Investor Charge A Commission?
Yes. Trading UK and US stocks incurs a £3.99 trading fee, while other international online trades can cost up to £9.99, depending on your chosen subscription plan. However, regular investing plans are commission-free.
Alternatives To Consider
If you’re interested in platforms that are of great value for frequent and regular investors and have some excellent research materials for beginners, you should also take a look at: