Interactive Investor review
Best Flat Fee
Flat-fee investment platform with a massive range of investments. Fixed monthly subscription model rather than percentage fees.
Overview
Interactive Investor is the UK's largest flat-fee investment platform. Instead of charging a percentage of your portfolio, you pay a fixed monthly subscription — making it one of the cheapest options for larger portfolios.
Who Is Interactive Investor Best For?
- Larger portfolios (£50,000+) — flat fee beats percentage-based platforms
- Active traders — includes free regular investing and reduced dealing fees
- ISA + SIPP investors — both included in the subscription
- People who want everything in one place — massive investment range
Fee Breakdown
| Plan |
Monthly Fee |
Free Trades |
Best For |
| Investor Essentials |
£4.99 |
0 |
Small portfolios, beginners |
| Investor |
£11.99 |
1/month |
Most investors |
| Super Investor |
£19.99 |
2/month |
Active traders |
| Fee Type |
Cost |
| Share dealing |
£3.99 per trade (on top of plan) |
| ISA wrapper |
Included |
| SIPP wrapper |
Included |
| Regular investing |
£0 (monthly auto-invest) |
| FX conversion |
1.5% |
On a £200,000 portfolio, Interactive Investor costs £143.88/year (Investor plan). The same portfolio at HL would cost £900 in platform fees alone. At that scale, ii saves you over £750/year.
The Crossover Point
The flat fee works against you on small portfolios and in your favour on large ones. Here is where ii becomes cheaper than percentage-based alternatives:
| Portfolio Value |
ii Cost/Year |
HL Cost/Year |
Vanguard Cost/Year |
| £10,000 |
£143.88 |
£45 |
£15 |
| £50,000 |
£143.88 |
£225 |
£75 |
| £100,000 |
£143.88 |
£450 |
£150 |
| £250,000 |
£143.88 |
£1,125 |
£375 |
Interactive Investor becomes the better deal once your portfolio exceeds roughly £50,000 compared to HL, or £100,000 compared to Vanguard. Below those thresholds, percentage-based platforms are cheaper.
Investment Range
Huge — comparable to Hargreaves Lansdown:
- Thousands of funds, ETFs, and investment trusts
- UK and international shares
- Bonds and gilts
- ISA, SIPP, and Junior ISA
- Quick-start funds for beginners
What Interactive Investor Lacks
- Expensive for small portfolios — even the cheapest plan costs £59.88/year
- Interface feels dated — functional but not as sleek as modern apps
- High FX fee (1.5%) — one of the highest for international trading
- Content can feel overwhelming — lots of information, not always well-organised
The Bottom Line
Interactive Investor is the smart choice for portfolios above £50,000 where the flat fee delivers genuine savings. The investment range and included SIPP make it a strong all-in-one platform. But if your portfolio is under £50,000, you will pay less elsewhere. And if you primarily trade international shares, the 1.5% FX fee is a significant drag.
Pros
- Flat monthly fee — great for large portfolios
- Huge investment range
- ISA, SIPP, and JISA
- Free regular investing
- Quality research content
Cons
- Monthly fee expensive for small portfolios
- Interface feels dated
- Free trades are limited