Our Bottom Line
Moneybox is a user-friendly investment mobile platform targeted at beginner investors seeking a hands-off approach to building long-term wealth. Moneybox is predominantly known for its savings instruments. However, the service has recently expanded to support other financial products such as a Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA, General Investment Accounts, and Pensions.
The Moneybox Stocks and Shares ISA provides the most flexibility, allowing investors to own a combination of pre-built portfolios, ETFs, and a shortlist of individual US stocks. However, this ease of use does come at a cost, with fees being higher relative to ETF-only alternatives. At the same time, investors can only choose from the 20 largest US stocks to invest in, making it far more limited compared to other investment platforms.
Nevertheless, if an investor wants to build wealth with a managed portfolio or start investing spare change, the Moneybox platform provides an accessible gateway to the financial markets.
Pros & Cons
Here are the main advantages of investing with Moneybox:
- Designed for beginners.
- Earn interest on uninvested cash.
- Round-up feature makes saving effortless.
- Managed and DIY investing options.
- Wide range of investment account types (GIA, ISA, LISA, SIPP).
- Thematic investing options with ESG-managed portfolios.
- Simple and intuitive interface.
But there are also some drawbacks:
- Exclusively a mobile experience (no desktop web app).
- Management fees are higher compared to other robo-advisor services.
- Limited selection of investments for both stocks and ETFs.
- No advanced charting or trading tools.
Key Features and Services
Moneybox combines savings, pensions, and investments all under one roof. This makes managing finances far easier, especially when combined with the platform’s key capabilities.
- Round Ups – Automatically round up your everyday purchases to the nearest pound, investing the spare change.
- Payday Boost – Automatically invest a set amount of money whenever your monthly salary arrives to help establish more disciplined invested habits.
- Managed portfolios – Three pre-built and curated investment portfolios (Cautious, Balanced, Adventurous) for different levels of risk with ESG alternatives.
- Portfolio customisation – While limited, investors can adjust their exposure between equities, bonds, and property funds.
- Fraction shares – You can purchase fractional shares of US stocks available in a Moneybox Stocks and Shares ISA.
- Educational content – There is a detailed collection of guides and financial blog content within the Moneybox app to help new investors.
- Personalised goals – Set financial goals for savings and investments to track progress.
- Customer rewards – Occasionally, Moneybox hosts saving and investing events that users can participate in to win cash prizes (although the odds of winning are quite slim).
Fees and Trading Costs in 2025
Compared to other robo-advisory services, Moneybox generally has higher fees in exchange for more flexibility and control. Investors need to consider carefully whether the increased cost aligns with their needs.
- Subscription fee – To access the Moneybox investment features, investors will have to pay a monthly subscription fee of £1, charged at the end of each month. This Subscription fee does not need to be paid if the account is empty.
- Platform fee – In addition to the subscription fee, investors need to pay an annual platform fee equal to 0.45% of the value of their investments. This is charged in instalments at the end of each month. Note that for pensions, this fee drops to 0.15% for balances over £100,000.
- Fund costs – When investing in ETFs, there are additional fund management fees that need to be paid as specified by the ETFs themselves. Moneybox does not make any money off these fees, and the amount charged depends on the ETFs owned in a portfolio. Moneybox has provided a complete list of the funds it offers and their annual fund fees.
- Transaction costs – None. Moneybox does not charge commissions on trades.
- Foreign exchange – When buying or selling US stocks from the UK, Moneybox charges a 0.45% currency conversion fee.
- Deposit fee – None.
- Withdrawal fee – None. However, penalties can apply when withdrawing funds from a Lifetime ISA if certain eligibility criteria are not met.
Moneybox Account Requirements
Here are the minimum requirements to start using Moneybox to grow wealth with investments.
- Minimum opening amount – Start investing with as little as £1.
- Minimum top-up amount – Additional funds can be added to the Moneybox platform from as little as £1 or less when using the Round Ups feature. Depositing less than £100 can take up to several days to appear in an account, whereas depositing more than £100 makes the funds available instantly.
- Eligibility – Moneybox is only available to UK tax residents aged 18+ with a UK bank account. You’ll also need a National Insurance Number and a debit card to get started.
- Account opening time – Opening an account with Moneybox can be completed within a few minutes. However, additional ID verification may be required which could take several working days to complete.
Platform and App Experience in 2025
The Moneybox platform is entirely mobile app-based and is arguably one of the most intuitive financial investing platforms available to British investors. The interface is minimalistic and purpose-built for beginners, designed to be exceptionally easy to navigate and use.
Tracking portfolio performance, contributions, withdrawals, and progress towards investing goals is painless, with historical and future charting. The app also provides handy push notifications about upcoming collection or ISA allowance deadlines. It also notifies users of when key milestones have been hit to give a greater sense of accomplishment and help maintain consistency.
Sadly, the range of available investments is quite limited. While there are more than enough funds and US stocks available to build a balanced portfolio, it’s a far cry compared to other robo-advisor platforms. And this is arguably a deal breaker for investors who want complete control over where their money ends up.
Similarly, being a mobile-only platform may deter some investors who prefer to manage their wealth from a desktop web platform.
However, for investors who want a more hands-off approach and don’t mind working on a phone, Moneybox offers all the essentials. It also provides a way to invest exclusively in ESG funds and ETFs for those who want to pursue an ethical approach to investing.
As for customer support, there is a live chat available within the Moneybox app from 9am to 5pm, along with a plethora of handy guides on investing and how to use the platform.
Overall, Moneybox appears to be a solid pick for long-term passive investors who don’t mind paying a higher fee to keep all their finances under one roof.
Is Moneybox Right For You?
The Moneybox platform is generally ideal for first-time investors who want to start small and put their wealth-building journey on autopilot. Its collection of managed portfolios paves the way to an almost entirely hands-off approach with a bit more control for those using the Moneybox Stocks and Shares ISA.
However, if you’re an active trader seeking to pick individual stocks across multiple markets, Moneybox is likely a poor fit. Cost-conscious ETF investors may also be deterred given the higher platform fees compared to alternative providers. And investors wanting to be able to manage their investments from a desktop or laptop will similarly find Moneybox to be a poor fit, given it’s a mobile-only platform.
Great for investors who want more control over their investment funds
Moneybox *
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- Pros & Cons
- Fees & Charges
Pros
- Designed for beginners.
- Earn interest on uninvested cash.
- Round-up feature makes saving effortless.
- Managed and DIY investing options.
- Wide range of investment account types (GIA, ISA, LISA, SIPP).
- Thematic investing options with ESG-managed portfolios.
- Simple and intuitive interface.
Cons
- Exclusively a mobile experience (no desktop web app).
- Management fees are higher compared to other robo-advisor services.
- Limited selection of investments for both stocks and ETFs.
- No advanced charting or trading tools.
- Subscription fee – To access the Moneybox investment features, investors will have to pay a monthly subscription fee of £1, charged at the end of each month. This Subscription fee does not need to be paid if the account is empty.
- Platform fee – In addition to the subscription fee, investors need to pay an annual platform fee equal to 0.45% of the value of their investments. This is charged in instalments at the end of each month. Note that for pensions, this fee drops to 0.15% for balances over £100,000.
- Fund costs – When investing in ETFs, there are additional fund management fees that need to be paid as specified by the ETFs themselves. Moneybox does not make any money off these fees, and the amount charged depends on the ETFs owned in a portfolio. Moneybox has provided a complete list of the funds it offers and their annual fund fees.
- Transaction costs – None. Moneybox does not charge commissions on trades.
- Foreign exchange – When buying or selling US stocks from the UK, Moneybox charges a 0.45% currency conversion fee.
- Deposit fee – None.
- Withdrawal fee – None. However, penalties can apply when withdrawing funds from a Lifetime ISA if certain eligibility criteria are not met.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moneybox Safe?
Yes. Moneybox is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with all eligible deposits protected up to £85,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). However, when investing capital into the financial markets, it’s important to remember that no investment is risk-free, and you could end up with less than what you started with depending on market conditions.
Can I Withdraw My Money At Anytime?
When withdrawing funds from a Moneybox Stocks and Shares ISA or General Investment Account, money can be taken out at any time. However, withdrawing funds from a Lifetime ISA that is not used to buy a first home or retirement will incur a hefty 25% penalty.
Does Moneybox Offer Fractional Investing?
Yes, but only for US stocks held inside a Moneybox Stocks and Shares ISA.
Alternatives To Consider
If you’re interested in exploring other robo-advisor services, other great options worth comparing include: