Interactive Investor (ii) is the UK’s second-largest investment platform, known for its flat-fee pricing model. But does a monthly subscription make sense for your portfolio? This review has everything you need to decide.
Interactive Investor at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Platform | Interactive Investor (ii) |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Regulation | FCA regulated |
| FSCS Protection | Up to £85,000 |
| Minimum Investment | None |
| Account Types | ISA, SIPP, GIA, Junior ISA, Lifetime ISA |
| Mobile App | iOS and Android |
| Customer Service | Phone, email, live chat |
Interactive Investor Pricing Plans 2026
ii uses a subscription model rather than percentage-based fees:
Monthly Plans
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Best For | Free Trades |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investor Essentials | £4.99 | Beginners/small portfolios | 0 |
| Investor | £11.99 | Most investors | 1/month |
| Super Investor | £19.99 | Active traders | 2/month |
What’s Included in Each Plan
Investor Essentials (£4.99/month)
- Access to ISA, Trading Account, Junior ISA
- No free trades included
- Limited to UK shares, funds, ETFs, investment trusts
- No international shares
Investor (£11.99/month)
- Full platform access including SIPP
- 1 free trade per month
- International share dealing
- Full investment range
Super Investor (£19.99/month)
- Everything in Investor plan
- 2 free trades per month
- Better suited for active traders
Trading Costs
| Trade Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| UK shares/ETFs | £3.99 (or use free trade) |
| US shares | £3.99 + 0.99% FX fee |
| Other international | £9.99 + FX fee |
| Funds | Free |
| Regular investing | Free |
SIPP Fees
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Annual SIPP admin | Included in Investor/Super Investor plan |
| Drawdown setup | Free |
| Drawdown income | Free |
| Transfer out | Free |
Investment Options
Interactive Investor offers one of the UK’s broadest investment selections:
Available Investments
- Funds: 3,000+ from all major providers
- UK Shares: Full LSE access
- International Shares: 16+ markets including US, Europe, Asia
- ETFs: 600+
- Investment Trusts: Full range
- Bonds: Government and corporate gilts
- Warrants and Covered Warrants
ii’s Quick-Start Funds
For those unsure where to start, ii curates “Quick-Start” funds:
| Fund | Focus |
|---|---|
| ii Active Growth | Actively managed growth |
| ii Low Cost Growth | Index-tracking growth |
| ii Active Income | Dividend focus |
| ii Low Cost Income | Index-tracking income |
| ii Ethical Growth | ESG-screened |
These have total costs around 0.30-0.75% depending on the fund.
ACE 40
ii’s analyst-picked list of 40 funds and investment trusts across different sectors, refreshed annually.
Account Types
Stocks & Shares ISA
- £20,000 annual limit
- Tax-free growth and dividends
- Transfer existing ISAs
- Included in all subscription plans
Lifetime ISA
- £4,000 annual limit
- 25% government bonus
- For first home purchase or retirement
- Only available on Investor/Super Investor
Junior ISA
- £9,000 annual limit
- Managed by parent until 18
- Same investments as adult ISA
SIPP
- Full pension tax relief
- Flexible drawdown included
- No transfer fees
- Carry forward unused allowances
- Requires Investor or Super Investor plan
Trading Account (GIA)
- No annual limit
- Same investments as ISA
- Subject to CGT and dividend tax
Interactive Investor Pros
✅ Flat fee model - Excellent value for larger portfolios (£50k+)
✅ Free fund dealing - Buy and sell funds at no extra cost
✅ Free regular investing - £0 to set up monthly investments
✅ Massive investment choice - 3,000+ funds and international shares
✅ Included free trades - 1-2 free trades per month depending on plan
✅ No exit fees - Transfer out for free
✅ All account types - ISA, LISA, JISA, SIPP under one roof
✅ Quality research - ii’s magazine and analyst insights included
✅ Live chat support - Quick customer service option
Interactive Investor Cons
❌ Monthly fee regardless - Pay even if you don’t trade
❌ Expensive for small portfolios - £143.88/year eats into small pots
❌ Platform can feel dated - Interface less modern than newer apps
❌ FX fees - 0.99% on US trades, 1.5% on others adds up
❌ No fractional shares - Must buy whole shares
❌ Subscription may auto-upgrade - Check you’re on the right plan
Who Is Interactive Investor Best For?
Ideal for:
- Larger portfolios (£50,000+) - Flat fee becomes very cheap as percentage
- Buy-and-hold investors - Free regular investing is excellent
- SIPP investors - Comprehensive pension features included
- Fund investors - Free fund dealing keeps costs down
- Those wanting variety - Excellent international share access
Portfolio Size Comparison
At what size does ii become better value than percentage-fee platforms?
| Portfolio Size | ii Cost | 0.25% Platform | 0.45% Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| £10,000 | £143.88 | £25 | £45 |
| £25,000 | £143.88 | £62.50 | £112.50 |
| £50,000 | £143.88 | £125 | £225 |
| £57,552 | £143.88 | £143.88 | £259 |
| £100,000 | £143.88 | £250 | £450 |
| £250,000 | £143.88 | £625 | £1,125 |
Break-even point: ii becomes cheaper than a 0.25% platform at around £57,500.
Less suitable for:
- Small portfolios - Flat fee is expensive as a percentage
- Beginners wanting simplicity - Subscription tiers can confuse
- Very active traders - Per-trade costs add up vs commission-free platforms
Interactive Investor vs Competitors
| Feature | Interactive Investor | AJ Bell | Hargreaves Lansdown | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fee model | Flat (£11.99/mo) | Percentage (0.25%) | Percentage (0.45%) | Percentage (0.15%) |
| Fund dealing | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Share dealing | £3.99 | £5.00 | £11.95 | N/A |
| Free trades | 1-2/month | None | None | None |
| Investment choice | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Own funds only |
| Best for | Larger portfolios | Mid-size portfolios | Service seekers | Index investors |
Interactive Investor Mobile App
The ii app includes:
- Portfolio dashboard
- Buy and sell investments
- Price alerts and watchlists
- Market news
- Secure biometric login
The app is functional but has a more “traditional” feel compared to slicker apps from Trading 212 or Freetrade. It’s designed more for monitoring than rapid trading.
Customer Service
- Phone: UK-based team with reasonable wait times
- Live chat: Available during market hours
- Email: Response typically within 1-2 days
- Help centre: Detailed FAQs and guides
Customer reviews generally rate ii’s service well, particularly the live chat feature.
Security and Regulation
- FCA regulated - Financial Conduct Authority authorised
- FSCS protected - Investments covered up to £85,000
- Segregated assets - Your holdings are separate from ii’s accounts
- Two-factor authentication - Extra security layer available
Opening an Account
- Choose your subscription plan
- Select account type (ISA, SIPP, Trading Account)
- Complete identity verification
- Link a bank account
- Fund and start investing
Required:
- National Insurance number
- Bank account details
- Identity verification (online available)
Transferring to Interactive Investor
- ISA transfers: 4-8 weeks typically
- SIPP transfers: Variable (4-12 weeks)
- In-specie available: Keep existing investments
- No exit fees from ii: Transfer out free if leaving
- Transfer incentives: ii often offers cash bonuses for large transfers
Is Interactive Investor Worth It?
Verdict: Interactive Investor is excellent value for investors with portfolios above £50,000 where the flat fee works out cheaper than percentage-based alternatives. The free fund dealing and regular investing make it ideal for buy-and-hold investors.
For smaller portfolios, the £143.88 annual minimum is hard to justify when percentage-fee platforms would cost less. However, if you plan to grow your portfolio and want to consolidate ISA and SIPP in one place, ii is a strong long-term choice.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Interactive Investor good for beginners?
What's the minimum investment for Interactive Investor?
Can I transfer my pension to Interactive Investor?
Does Interactive Investor offer fractional shares?
How does the flat fee work?
Is Interactive Investor better than Hargreaves Lansdown?
Capital at risk. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change. This is not financial advice.