Here are some of the best self-managed Stocks and Shares ISAs for when you want to choose your own investments
Do-it-yourself, or self-select 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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A self-managed stocks and shares ISA, sometimes called a self-select ISA, is an investment account where you choose and manage your own investments, rather than having a fund manager do it for you. Like all ISAs, it lets you invest up to £20,000 per tax year completely free of UK income tax and capital gains tax.
The “DIY” part means you’re in the driving seat. You can invest in whatever’s available on your chosen platform – typically exchange-traded funds (ETFs), index funds, investment trusts or individual company shares. You decide what to buy, when to buy it and how to structure your portfolio.
That said, you don’t need to be an expert to get started. Many beginners use DIY ISAs to invest passively – putting their money into a small number of low-cost index funds that track the market and then largely leaving them alone. This approach keeps costs low and has historically performed well over the long term.
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.
Top picks
Customer rating
4.3/5
- Annual fee£5.99 per month for portfolios up to £100,000
- Trading feeFrom £3.99
- Minimum deposit£0
- Offer£150 in free trades*
- FSCS Protected? Yes
- Transfer in existing ISA? Yes
- Interest on uninvested cash Yes – tiered interest is paid on cash balances within your ISA, based on the amount held.
- Fees £5.99 per month (up to £100,000), £14.99 per month (no upper limit)
- Flexible ISA No
- Foreign exchange fee Core plan: 0.75%; Plus plan: 0.75% (first £50,000), then 0.25% above this
- Fund fees Ongoing fund charges vary depending on the investments you choose. These are set by fund managers and typically differ across funds.
- Trading fees Funds: from £3.99 per trade, UK & US shares (including ETFs and investment trusts): £3.99 per trade, Other international shares: from £9.99 per trade, Regular investing: free
- Investments available Shares (UK and international), Funds, ETFs, Investment trusts, Bonds
- Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes: FRN 141282
- Risk warning Capital at risk. The value of your investments may go up or down
- Offer details You can get £150 towards your trading fees when you open an ISA. Open to new customers only and ends 31 October 2026.
Customer rating
4.7/5
- Annual fee£0
- Trading fee£0
- Minimum deposit£0
- 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 £0
- US shares trading fee £0
- Fractional shares Available in General Investment Account only
- Flexible ISA Yes
- Interest on uninvested cash 1% on GBP for UK customers
- Foreign exchange fee 0.1%
- 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
- EU shares trading fee £0
- Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes: FRN 987226
- Risk warning Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up
Customer rating
4.7/5
- Annual fee£0
- Trading fee£0
- Minimum deposit£100
- Important details 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
- 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
- Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes: FRN 801128
- Risk warning Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up
Other options
Customer rating
4.7/5
- Annual fee£0
- Trading fee£0
- Minimum deposit£0
- Offerup to £300 in free shares*
- FSCS Protected? Yes
- Transfer in existing ISA? Yes
- Interest on uninvested cash 3.75%
- Fractional shares No
- 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
- Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes: FRN 944492
- Risk warning Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up.
- Offer Invest a minimum of £300 and get up to £300 in free shares. T&Cs apply. Other fees may apply.
Customer rating
4.6/5
- Annual fee£0
- Trading fee£0
- Minimum deposit£0
- FSCS Protected? Yes
- Transfer in existing ISA? Yes
- Fractional shares Yes
- Interest on uninvested cash 4.50%
- 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
- Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes: FRN 522157
- Risk warning Capital at risk. The value of your investments may go up or down
Customer rating
4.9/5
- Annual fee£0
- Trading fee£0
- Minimum deposit£1
- FSCS Protected? Yes
- Transfer in existing ISA? Yes
- Interest on uninvested cash No
- Flexible ISA No
- Fractional shares 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
- Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes: FRN 669450
- Risk warning Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up
Platform fees
Most platforms charge either a flat monthly or annual fee, or a percentage of the amount you hold. Percentage fees are generally cheaper when you’re starting out; flat fees tend to make more sense once you’ve built up a larger pot. Watch out for additional charges too – some platforms add dealing fees each time you buy or sell.
Range of investments
If you’re a beginner focusing on passive investing, most platforms will offer everything you need. But if you want to access a wider range of ETFs, investment trusts or individual stocks, it’s worth checking what’s available before you sign up.
Minimum investment
Some platforms have a minimum lump sum to open an account, while others let you start with as little as £1. If you’re starting small or want to invest a fixed amount each month, make sure the platform you choose works for your budget.
App and interface quality
If you’ll be checking your ISA regularly or managing your investments on the go, it’s worth considering how good the app or website is. Most providers now offer mobile apps, but ease of use and depth of information vary significantly.
FSCS protection
Always check that any platform you invest with is regulated by the FCA and covered by the FSCS, which protects your eligible investments up to £85,000 per firm if the provider fails. This does not cover investment losses.
Frequently asked questions
Are self-managed stocks and shares ISAs good for beginners?
Yes, especially if you’re interested in passive investing through ETFs or index funds. You don’t need deep knowledge to get started, and many platforms have been designed specifically with beginners in mind. The key is to start simple, keep costs low and invest for the long term. Remember that your capital is at risk and you could get back less than you invest.
How much do DIY stocks and shares ISAs cost?
Costs vary by platform. You’ll typically pay a platform fee (either a flat monthly amount or a percentage of what you hold) plus any fund fees charged by the investments themselves.
Can I transfer an existing ISA into a DIY stocks and shares ISA?
Yes, you can transfer cash or investments from an existing ISA into a DIY stocks and shares ISA without it counting towards your annual £20,000 allowance. Most platforms support ISA transfers, though the process can take a few weeks. You should initiate the transfer through your new provider rather than withdrawing the cash yourself, to keep the tax-free status intact.
DIY stocks and shares ISAs are one of the most rewarding financial tools available – there’s real satisfaction in building your own portfolio, and the potential for long-term returns that leave cash savings accounts in the dust. That said, for anyone new to investing, the best starting point is always to keep things simple.
The most common mistake beginners make is jumping straight into individual shares before getting to grips with the basics. Starting with a low-cost global index fund through one of the platforms above is a perfectly sensible strategy as it gives you broad market exposure, keeps fees low, and means you don’t need to spend hours researching individual companies.
