Cheat sheet
UK brokerage accounts, one page
Ignore the marketing: UK investment platforms come in three fee models, and which is cheapest for you is pure arithmetic on your balance. Providers change prices; the models do not. Check the current schedule before opening anything.
| Fee model | How it charges | Who it suits and the trap |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage of assets | A yearly percentage of everything you hold (commonly around 0.25% to 0.45%, sometimes capped or tiered). Typical of the big full-service platforms. | Painless when small, expensive when large: 0.45% of £200,000 is £900 every year. Fine to start; check the arithmetic again every time your balance doubles. |
| Flat monthly fee | A fixed pounds-per-month subscription (often roughly £5 to £13) regardless of balance, common on platforms aimed at larger DIY portfolios. | Brutal on small pots (£120 a year on £2,000 is 6%!) and brilliant on big ones. The crossover against a 0.4% platform sits somewhere around £25,000 to £40,000; do your own division. |
| Zero platform fee | No account charge; the platform earns on FX conversion, spreads, interest on cash, or premium tiers. Common among newer app-first brokers. | Free is a price, not a guarantee. Check the FX fee if you buy US shares (often 0.15% to 0.5% per trade), what interest they keep on your cash, and whether the fund range covers what you actually want. |
| Also check, whatever the model | Fund dealing charges, share dealing charges, FX fees, exit and transfer fees, and whether the ISA and SIPP are included or extra. | The platform fee is only half the bill. A cheap platform with £12 dealing charges is expensive for monthly investors; a fee-capped platform for shares can be dramatically cheap for large share portfolios. |
The one-line method: estimate your all-in yearly cost (platform + dealing + FX) at your current balance and at double it, in pounds, not percent. Move when the pounds say so. Fee schedules checked July 2026; verify current pricing before choosing.
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Educational information, not financial advice. Figures current as of July 2026 where dated; allowances and rates change, so check the source before acting.