Digital bank Monzo offers managed portfolios to invest in, or you can create your own portfolio from a range of ETFs (which stands for exchange-traded funds)
Monzo launched investing in its banking app in 2023, offering 11 funds to invest in. The platform is mostly aimed at beginner investors — those looking to make a little extra on their savings. When investing with Monzo, you can choose between risk-based managed portfolios created by experts; or by creating your own portfolio from a collection of thematic funds.
Here’s everything you need to know to get started investing with Monzo.
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What is Monzo’s investment account?
Monzo’s investment account is built directly into its banking app, so you need to sign up for Monzo’s bank account if you want to invest with Monzo. It’s a decent option for beginners, as you can start small, with as little as £1.
The investment account isn’t quite comparable to some of its competitors, as its DIY option doesn’t give you the option to choose individual shares, which you see with big players. Instead, you choose between a collection of thematic funds to create a portfolio, or go for a pre-made portfolio — more on these below.
Featured switching deal
Our top pick
Customer rating
3.8/5
- Switch bonus£200
- Offer endsUnknown
- FSCS Protected? Yes
- Bonus requirements Switch using the Current Account Switch Service and close your old account within 60 days of starting the switch
- Deposit requirements Deposit £1,500 in the first 60 days from opening the account
- Direct debits transferred over Set up two Direct Debits before or after the switch from a selected list of household bills
- Existing customers? Can't have held any Santander current account on 1 January 2025
- Restrictions Can't have received a switching bonus from Santander already, offer limited to once per person
- Eligible accounts Open a new or hold an existing Everyday, Edge, Edge Up or Edge Explorer current account
You can invest into a Stocks & Shares ISA with Monzo and use your £20,000 annual ISA allowance, which means that you won’t need to pay income tax or capital gains on anything you earn. Your ISA allowance is shared between all types of ISA, so any money paid into a Cash ISA, Lifetime ISA and other Stocks & Shares ISAs during one tax year needs to add up to a maximum of £20,000.
As you’ll be investing the money, you’ll be able to use your full £20,000 ISA allowance with the Monzo Stocks & Shares ISA – if you want to – when the ISA allowances change in April 2027.
Monzo General Investment Account
The General Investment Account is an alternative if you don’t want to put money in an ISA or if you’ve already used up your ISA allowance. There’s no annual limit for this account.
You may need to pay tax on your capital gains and dividends paid, however there are annual allowances for these, too.
Ways you can invest with Monzo
There are two options when investing with Monzo — going your own way and creating your own portfolio, or choosing a pre-made risk based profile, which Monzo refers to as ‘Keeping it simple”.
Keep it simple: Monzo’s managed portfolios
Monzo offers three different risk-based portfolios that you can choose between: Careful, Balanced or Adventurous.
- Careful. This portfolio is about 80% bonds and about 20% in shares. It’s a lower risk portfolio with the potential to earn smaller returns, but can be suitable for investors that don’t want to take on a lot of risk.
- Balanced. This one is about 34% bonds and 66% in shares. It’s got a medium level of risk, and has higher potential returns than the Careful portfolio.
- Adventurous. In this portfolio, 100% of the funds are put into shares. It’s for those willing to take on more risk for potentially higher returns.
Build your own portfolio
If you’d prefer to have the flexibility to choose your own investments, the DIY portfolio option might be better suited to you.
With this option, you’ll get to build your own portfolio from a range of thematic and geographic funds. These are essentially just exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that have been renamed to highlight the types of investments within them. An ETF is a collection of investments that’s traded on an exchange. In this case, the ETFs are provided by BlackRock.
You can pick as many or as few of these as you like to build your portfolio.
| Monzo thematic fund | ETF |
| Automation and robotics | iShares Automation and Robotics UCITS ETF (RBOT) |
| Blockchain creators | iShares Blockchain Technology UCITS ETF (BLKC) |
| Clean energy | iShares Global Clean Energy Transition UCITS ETF (INRG) |
| Healthcare innovation | iShares Healthcare Innovation UCITS ETF (HEAL) |
| Metaverse | iShares Metaverse UCITS ETF (MTAV) |
| Tech focused | iShares NASDAQ 100 UCITS ETF (CNDX) |
| Monzo geographic fund | ETF |
| American companies | iShares Core S&P 500 UCITS ETF (CSPX) |
| British companies | iShares Core FTSE 100 UCITS ETF (ISF) |
| Emerging markets | iShares MSCI Emerging Markets UCITS ETF (IDEM) |
| European companies | iShares Core MSCI Europe UCITS ETF (ISEU) |
| Global companies | iShares Core MSCI World UCITS ETF (IWDA) |
Monzo’s investment fees
The fees are refreshingly simple — there are two fees that you’ll pay.
Annual platform fee
The annual platform fee is paid on the amount that you invest. It’s 0.25%, or 0.2% if you have Monzo Plus, Premium, Perks or Max.
This has a maximum fee of £250 a year, or £200 for Plus, Premium, Perks and Max customers, so any investments over £100,000 incur no platform fees.
Fund management fees
Fund management fees are the fees to BlackRock, the ETF provider. These are determined by BlackRock and would be payable if you invest in this fund via any investment provider. Monzo’s laid out the average fee charged by BlackRock in its fees document, but they range from 0.07% to 0.65%.
You’ll have to pay a fund fee of around 0.14% if you go for one of the pre-made risk based options.
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How to open an account
To open a Monzo investment account, you need to start with Monzo’s bank account. It’s completely free to open one. If you already have a Monzo bank account, you can get started right away.
Then, you need to open the Monzo app and scroll down to the savings section (you may need to add this at the bottom). Here, you can press the three dots and choose “Start investing”.
Summary: is Monzo investing any good?
Zoe’s analysis
Monzo’s investment platform is pretty decent, if you’re a beginner that wants to start investing, especially if you’re already a Monzo customer, as it keeps your finances in the same app. But there are definitely cheaper investment apps available — AJ Bell Dodl, for example, charges just 0.15% on managed portfolios and has seven to choose between.
a`For DIY investing, there are definitely better options available. More experienced investors may find the platform to be disappointing — there aren’t many investments available to choose between at all, and they’re pretty standard iShares funds. You can invest in the same funds on another platform like Trading 212 or InvestEngine without any platform fees, paying exactly the same fund management fees.
If you want to invest directly in shares, this isn’t an option with Monzo at all. We have a table of the Best Stocks & Shares ISAs if you want to find a provider that offers this.
DIY Stocks & Shares ISAs - Other options
Monzo Stocks & Shares ISA
Customer rating
4.9/5
- Annual fee0.25% (max £250 per year)
- Trading fee£0
- Minimum deposit£1
- FSCS Protected? Your eligible investments are protected by the FSCS up to £85,000 per person per firm. This doesn’t cover losses incurred due to investment performance.
- Transfer in existing ISA? Yes
- Interest on uninvested cash No
- Flexible ISA Yes
- Investments available You can create your portfolio by selecting themed collections. These include: Automation and robotics, Blockchain creators, Clean energy, Healthcare innovation, Metaverse, Tech focused, American companies, British companies, Emerging markets, European companies and Global companies. Or keep it simple with ready-made funds.
- Fractional shares No
- Foreign exchange fee N/A
- Fees If you invest in funds, you'll have to pay fund fees depending on the funds you choose. Management fees are dependent on what you invest in. See full fees breakdown on monzo.com/help/investments/investments-fees
- Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes: FRN 730427
- Risk warning You could get back less than you invest.
- Eligibility You need a Monzo current account to use Investments. UK residents 18+. T&Cs apply.
