Here are some Stocks and Shares ISA for when you want to choose your own investments
Do-it-yourself Stocks and Shares ISAs are ones where you choose the investments for your portfolio yourself. This could be a range of company shares, different types of funds and possibly even some commodities or precious metals. You’d be in control of managing your portfolio and ensuring it reflects the risk you plan to take.
Our picks below assume that you’re mostly interested in passive investing, which is mostly suited to beginners. This would mean you’d want to invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or index funds. With many of these providers, you can also invest in shares, but this takes a lot more knowledge and skill.
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Best DIY Stocks and Shares ISAs
Here at Be Clever With Your Cash, we’re not regulated to give you financial advice. We aim to give you the facts about a provider or investment but it’s up to you to decide if it’s suitable for you. If you’re looking for more personalised guidance, find a financial adviser who can give you specific advice. Remember that your capital is at risk when investing — don’t invest more than you are prepared to lose.
Our top picks
Convert currencies free for 30 days
Use the code CLEVERISAFX when signing up to convert currencies in Lightyear for free, up to a total buying and selling value of £10,000. Capital at risk.
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Additional Info
FSCS Protected: If Lightyear goes out of business and there is a shortfall in the funds they are holding for customers, they may be able to claim for losses up to the value of £85,000 through FSCS
Transfer in existing ISA?: Yes
ETF trading fee: £0
UK shares trading fee: £1
EU shares trading fee: £1
US shares trading fee: 0.1% (min $0.10 / max $1)
Fractional shares: Yes
Interest on uninvested cash: 3%
Flexible ISA: Yes
Foreign exchange fee: 0.35%
Fund fees: If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees between 0.03% and 0.78% depending on the funds you choose
Offer details: The code CLEVERISAFX lets customers convert currencies in Lightyear for free, up to a total buying and selling value of £10,000. The free conversion allowance will last for 30 days from the moment it's claimed, or until the £10,000 cap is reached. To get it, you need to sign up with the code BCWYC and deposit at least £100 into the account. Capital at risk. Standard terms apply.
Further details: Capital at risk. ISA rules apply. The value of investments can go down as well as up. Lightyear UK Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 987226)
▲ Up to £100 welcome bonus and up to £4,000 Tax Year End bonus
Get up to £100 welcome bonus when you invest £100 or more. Sign up via the button or use promo code BCWYC (T&Cs apply). Plus, get an additional Tax Year End bonus of up to £4,000 when you open a new ISA or transfer your ISA by 31 May 2025 (T&Cs apply). You need to stay invested for at least 12 months to qualify for the bonus. We may receive commission from those who sign up through our link. ETF costs apply.
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Additional Info
You can't invest in individual shares with InvestEngine, just exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
FSCS Protected: Yes
Transfer in existing ISA?: Yes
Interest on uninvested cash: No
Flexible ISA: Yes
Foreign exchange fee: N/A
Fund fees: When you invest in funds you'll also have to pay fund fees between 0.03% and 0.89%, depending on which ones you choose
Offer details: £100 welcome offer ends 31 August 2025. The amount you'll get for the Tax Year End bonus depends on how much you deposit or transfer, ranging from £12,000 for a £50 bonus to £3m for a £4,000 bonus. You need to stay invested for at least 12 months to qualify for the bonus. We may receive commission from those who sign up through our link.
▲ Free fractional share
New customers get a free fractional share worth up to £100 when you sign up via our link or use the code BCWYC
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Additional Info
FSCS Protected: Yes
Transfer in existing ISA?: Yes
Fractional shares: Yes
Interest on uninvested cash: 4.90%
Flexible ISA: Yes
Foreign exchange fee: 0.15%
Fund fees: If you invest in ETFs, you'll have to pay fund fees depending on the funds you choose
Offer details: Once the account is open, you then need to add at least £1 to your account within 10 calendar days. It will take about three days for the share to be added. This offer is only for Trading 212 Invest or the Trading 212 Stocks & Shares ISA.
Further details: Remember, the value of any money invested, which includes your free share, could go up or down.
▲ Other options
6.5% interest on uninvested cash for 90 days
Any money not invested can earn 6.5% for 90 days if you open an account by 30 April 2025, and 4.5% after that. Your Capital is at risk. T&Cs apply.
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Additional Info
FSCS Protected: Yes
Transfer in existing ISA?: Yes
Fractional shares: Yes
Interest on uninvested cash: 6.5% for 90 days, then 4.5%. 4.5% for accounts opened after 1 May 2025.
Flexible ISA: Yes
Foreign exchange fee: 0.50%
Fund fees: If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees depending on the funds you choose
Offer details: 6.5% interest on uninvested GBP funds (4.5% standard plus 2% boost for first 90 days) for accounts opened by 30 April 2025 After this, the interest on uninvested cash will revert to 4.5%.
Further details: Your capital is at risk. The value of your investments may go up or down. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and ISA regulations which may change. T&Cs apply.
▲ AJ Bell Dodl Platform fees
0.15% (minimum £1 per month)
Minimum deposit
£100 or £25 per month
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Additional Info
FSCS Protected: Yes
Transfer in existing ISA?: Yes
Other investment options: You could also choose to invest in managed portfolios with Dodl
Interest on uninvested cash: 4.58%
Flexible ISA: No
Foreign exchange fee: 0.75% (up to £10,000)
Fund fees: If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees between 0.03% and 0.45% depending on the funds you choose
▲ NuWealth Platform fees
£2 per month + 0.25%
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Additional Info
FSCS Protected: Yes
Transfer in existing ISA?: Yes
Interest on uninvested cash: No
Flexible ISA: Yes
Foreign exchange fee: 0.75%
Fund fees: If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees depending on the funds you choose
▲ Vanguard Platform fees
0.15% (minimum £4 per month)
Minimum deposit
£100 per month or £500
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Additional Info
FSCS Protected: Yes
Transfer in existing ISA?: Yes
Interest on uninvested cash: 2.35%
Flexible ISA: Yes
Foreign exchange fee: N/A
Fund fees: If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees depending on the funds you choose
▲ AJ Bell Minimum deposit
£25 per month or £500
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Additional Info
FSCS Protected: Yes
Transfer in existing ISA?: Yes
Interest on uninvested cash: 2.07% up to £10,000
Flexible ISA: No
Foreign exchange fee: 0.75%
Fund fees: If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees between 0.04% and 1.16%
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Additional Info
FSCS Protected: Yes
Transfer in existing ISA?: Yes
Interest on uninvested cash: 2.53%
Flexible ISA: No
Foreign exchange fee: 1.00%
Fund fees: If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees depending on the funds you choose
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Additional Info
To get an ISA with Freetrade you need to be signed up to the Standard Plan, which costs £4.99 per month
FSCS Protected: Yes
Transfer in existing ISA?: Yes
Interest on uninvested cash: 3% on up to £2,000
Flexible ISA: Yes
Foreign exchange fee: 0.59%
Fund fees: If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees depending on the funds you choose
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Additional Info
FSCS Protected: Yes
Transfer in existing ISA?: Yes
Interest on uninvested cash: 1.51%
Flexible ISA: No
Foreign exchange fee: 1.50%
Fund fees: If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees between 0.03% and 1.5%
▲ Three months free
CMC Invest Platform fees
£10 per month (after three months)
Get the first 3 months of the Plus plan for free
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Additional Info
To get an ISA with CMC Invest you need to be signed up to the Plus Plan, which costs £10 per month
FSCS Protected: Yes
Transfer in existing ISA?: Yes
Interest on uninvested cash: 2%
Flexible ISA: Yes
Foreign exchange fee: 0.50%
Fund fees: If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees depending on the funds you choose
Offer details: The first three months of the Plus Plan are free, after which it'll cost you £10 per month
▲ Plum Platform fees
£2.99 per month + 0.45% annual fee
You can only invest in funds with the ISA. You need a Plum Pro account which costs £2.99 per month to start investing in funds. Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up.
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Additional Info
FSCS Protected: Protection of up to £85,000 of your deposits
Transfer in existing ISA?: Yes
Interest on uninvested cash: No
Flexible ISA: No
Foreign exchange fee: 0.45%
Fund fees: If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees depending on the funds you choose
Further details: You're limited to 16 funds to invest in, and can invest in the full range of 26 funds with the Premium plan which costs £9.99 per month. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may change in the future.
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Additional Info
FSCS Protected: Yes
Transfer in existing ISA?: Yes
Interest on uninvested cash: No
Flexible ISA: No
Foreign exchange fee: 0.99%
Fund fees: If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees depending on the funds you choose
▲ IG Platform fees
£8 per month custody fee
You can reduce the custody fee to £0 per month when you place more than 3 trades in the previous quarter.
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Additional Info
FSCS Protected: Yes
Transfer in existing ISA?: Yes
Interest on uninvested cash: 4.5% on up to £100,000
Flexible ISA: Yes
Foreign exchange fee: 0.70%
Fund fees: If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees depending on the funds you choose
▲ Up to £1,500 cashback
Charles Stanley Platform fees
0.3% (min £5 per month)
Trading fee
£50 worth of free trades every 6 months
You can get £300-£1,500 cashback when you transfer an ISA between £20,000 and £200,000
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Additional Info
Trading fees: You get £50 worth of free trades every 6 months. Funds cost £4 per trade and shares cost £10 per trade.
Fund fees: If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees depending on the funds you choose. There are no platform or trading fees when you invest in Charles Stanley Multi Asset Funds
FSCS Protected: Yes
Transfer in existing ISA?: Yes
Fractional shares: No
Interest on uninvested cash: No
Flexible ISA: No
Foreign exchange fee: 1.00%
Offer details: The amount you'll get in cashback depends on how much you transfer. A transfer of £20,000 gets you £300 cashback.
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