Interactive Investor Review 2025

Pros

• 40,000+ stocks and shares
• User-friendly investment app
• No minimum deposit
• Highly trusted by 400,000 traders.
• FCA-regulated

Cons

• No free demo account
• No copy trading tools

Interactive Investor (ii) offers a flat-fee investment platform. It is ideal for SIPP and ISA savings, featuring over 40,000 products, including shares and ETFs. With robust account security and a reliable terminal, ii provides excellent options for traders. Their mobile apps enhance trading convenience. The customer service is efficient, too. However, regular investing charges may not suit everyone. Overall, our experts find Interactive Investor an appealing choice for traders.

Company Details

Interactive Investor is a top trading platform based in the UK. It offers accounts for trading, cash savings, and pensions with expert advice. Serving over 400,000 UK customers, its assets exceed £50 billion. The company, founded in 1995, is headquartered in Manchester, with offices in London and Leeds. In May 2022, it joined forces with FTSE-listed abrdn, but CEO Richard Wilson remained at the helm. The merger launched new services like a Pension solution and the Friends and Family tool. Interactive Investor has earned awards like Investment Platform of the Year and Best Low Cost SIPP in 2022.

Investment Products

Interactive Investor serves as a comprehensive hub for diverse financial products and investment needs. It covers:

• Junior ISA
• Cash Savings
• Trading Account
• Stocks & Shares ISA
• Managed ISA
• SIPP & Retirement Funds

With access to 40,000 UK, US, and international shares on 17 global exchanges, you can invest in well-known companies like Lloyds, Apple, Microsoft, and Tesla. It also supports trading in ETFs, funds, investment trusts, bonds, gilts, and VCTs.

Investors find Interactive Investor appealing for its straightforward and flexible investing opportunities. It offers ready-made portfolios in categories like top performers, sustainability, and ethical options, including the iiSuper 60 and ACE 40 selections. These are curated by the firm’s financial analysts.

Though Interactive Investor supports market, limit, stop-loss, and fill-or-kill orders, it lacks access to commodities, options, futures, cryptocurrency, and CFDs. This limitation could be a drawback for traders seeking derivatives.

Platform

Interactive Investor excels with its user-friendly platform. Most useful icons are on the main menu: Find & Invest to search, Research for news, and Cash & Transfers for transactions. The platform’s features include:

• Product watchlists
• Dividend history
• Level 2 pricing with Quotestream
• SMS or email alerts for 10 positions
• Morningstar charts with 11 indicators
• Detailed order lists by market and status

However, compared to major brokers, Interactive Investor offers fewer tools for technical and fundamental analysis.

How To Place An Order

1. Go to Find & Invest from the dashboard
2. Search for the financial instrument by name or symbol
3. Click Buy or Sell
4. Enter the share number or investment amount
5. Select Get Quote for the latest price
6. Click Place Order to confirm

Mobile App Review

Interactive Investor provides a free mobile app on iOS and Android for convenient trading. The app offers features like account management, customer service, market updates, and online trading. Users can create watchlists, track price changes, and access live news.

The mobile dashboard is user-friendly, with an intuitive menu at the bottom. Charts work well on small screens and offer various timeframes. Start by logging in with your ii username and password, with options for face and fingerprint recognition for security.

Interactive Investor Fees

Interactive Investor excels in clarity with its trading fees and subscription plans. They offer various plans with fixed monthly rates to fit different investing styles.

Investor Essentials Account

For £4.99 a month, it’s ideal for those investing up to £50,000. Fees include £5 for Friends and Family access, £3.99 for UK/US trading, £0.99 for dividend reinvestment, and £9.99 for non-US trades.

Investor Account

This £11.99 monthly plan caters to balances over £50,000 and includes one free trade monthly. Fees mirror the Essentials Account, except Friends and Family access costs £5.

Super Investor Account

At £19.99 per month, it offers two free trades monthly, with no Friends and Family fee. Other charges match the Essentials Account.

Pension Essentials Account

Starting at £5.99 monthly for pensions under £50,000. Once above £50,000, you switch to the Pension Builder plan at £12.99 per month.

Other Fees

• Telephone trades – £49 fee
• Foreign exchange rates – 1.5% fee (for transactions up to £24,999)
• US shares trading over £100,000 – 0.04% fee
• International shares trading over £100,000 – 0.10% fee
• UK shares, funds, and other assets trading over £100,000 – £40 fee

On account balances, they pay 0.5% interest up to £10,000 and 1.5% for over £10,000. Traders should also prepare tax statements and annual capital gains tax reports.

Leverage

Interactive Investor is not ideal for short-term traders due to limited leverage trading. However, it does offer leveraged ETFs, which can be advantageous. For instance, the WisdomTree FTSE 100 3x Daily Leverage ETF 3UKL provides triple exposure compared to a standard FTSE 100 investment, using equity swaps and options. This feature can benefit traders seeking higher returns.

Payment Methods

Deposits

Add funds to your Interactive Investor account with a UK debit card, bank wire, or cheque, including monthly direct debits. Debit card transfers are instant, while wire transfers take a day. The maximum debit card payment is £99,999.

Move funds from a Trading Account to an ISA with Bed and ISA transfers. Regular Investing allows monthly top-ups, requiring a £25 minimum. Select Portfolio and Free Regular Investing to set it up.

How To Make A Payment

1. Login to your Interactive Investor account
2. Select Cash & Transfers and then Add Cash
3. Select Add Card to register a UK debit card
4. Enter your card details
5. Input the deposit amount and choose the account
6. Click Add Cash to confirm

Withdrawals

Withdrawals are only through bank wire transfer, a downside compared to other options. Funds reach your bank within a day if requested before 2 PM GMT.

Transfers are free unless urgent, which incurs a £15 fee for same-day or non-GBP/EUR payments.

How To Withdraw Money

1. Sign into your Interactive Investor account
2. Select Cash & Transfers, then Withdraw Or Transfer Cash
3. Select Bank Transfer and Withdraw Cash
4. Choose the bank account and currency
5. Enter the withdrawal amount and the ii account
6. Click Check And Preview for a mobile verification code
7. Confirm the transfer

Demo Account

Interactive Investor lacks a demo account, unlike eToro and Interactive Brokers, which provide virtual portfolios for practice. You can’t explore their client dashboard without committing to a live profile. However, they are transparent with fees, account features, and services. It’s worth reviewing this information before signing up.

Bonuses & Promotions

Interactive Investor seldom provides deposit bonuses or welcome incentives. Yet, sometimes there are transfer rewards for moving funds from other firms. For instance, in 2023, they offered up to £1000 cashback for pension transfers. Our team also enjoyed a six-month waiver on the Pension Builder Monthly subscription fee. Additionally, they have a refer-a-friend scheme. This offers up to £200 for recommendations and an annual free service plan for the new account holder.

Interactive Investor Regulation

Interactive Investor, regulated by the FCA, is known for its stringent compliance. The firm’s client funds are securely held in separate bank accounts with statutory trust status, ensuring protection against business insolvency. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme offers protection up to £85,000 for customers in case of business default. Accounts like SIPPs and ISAs cannot have a negative balance; Interactive Investor will reach out if you need to add credit. However, it’s important to know that US and international citizens can’t open accounts with them.

Additional Features

Interactive Investor offers innovative tools and advice to enhance your trading skills. It highlights top funds based on your goals and risk tolerance, featuring pre-made portfolios, educational videos, and insights.

Investment Ideas

Interactive Investor impresses with its wealth of beginner-friendly information. It showcases daily traded shares and curated lists like the ii Super 60 and ii Ace 40, offering simple product filtering by asset type and return.

Explore model portfolios picked by Morningstar, categorized by growth or income.

Insights

Access the latest market updates with a team of financial experts. Enjoy podcasts and YouTube content on research and outlooks. Newsletters deliver fresh articles and news, yet there’s no personalized support or one-on-one guidance.

Education

The site is rich with resources for both new and seasoned traders. Find jargon busters, tutorials, podcasts, and articles covering topics like SIPP income, inflation, dividend reinvestment, yield, and charges.

Interactive Investor Accounts

Interactive Investor shines with three core accounts: Trading, ISA, and SIPP, tailored for diverse investment needs.

The Trading Account offers limitless investment in various financial instruments, ideal for do-it-yourself investors. You can explore over 40,000 UK and global shares, funds, and ETFs. Joint accounts are an option for partners. Experts provide six quick-start funds, catering to both novice and seasoned traders. These include portfolios like Columbia Threadneedle sustainable funds and Vanguard LifeStrategy funds.

An ISA Account allows up to £20,000 yearly investment, avoiding income or capital gains tax. Invest in shares, ETFs, and more, with flexibility to choose investments. Helpful resources like investment ideas and model portfolios are available.

For pensions, the SIPP Account provides flexibility and consolidation of individual pension pots into one account. Enjoy control over investments, tax benefits, and simple retirement planning.

Interactive Investor offers subscription plans with flat fees ranging from £4.99 to £19.99 monthly. The Investor Essentials Plan suits investments up to £50,000, while the Investor Plan supports investments beyond £50,000. The latter includes a free monthly trade and access to a Junior ISA.

Trade in multiple currencies, including GBP, USD, and EUR. Interactive Investor is committed to providing convenient and flexible investment solutions.

How To Register For An Interactive Investor Account

Interactive Investor offers easy account setup for trading, ISA, or SIPP accounts. Have your payment details and National Insurance number ready.

Here’s how to get started with the Trading Account:

1. State your investment amount (below or above £30,000).
2. Choose a plan that fits your goals.
3. Agree to the terms and click Next.
4. Fill in personal details, tax info, and employment history.
5. Click Go to Step 3, then Agree & Continue after reviewing terms.
6. Provide card details to verify identity and click Add Card.
7. Complete sign-up and start trading.

Customer Support

Interactive Investor falters in customer service, relying heavily on online resources that lack personal touch. While no email or live chat is offered, account holders can use secure messaging and reach support by phone. Phone support is available Monday to Friday, 7:45 AM to 5:30 PM (GMT). Contact them at:

• UK: 0345 607 6001
• Non-UK: +44 113 346 2309

Their help center is rich in FAQs, covering topics like market hours, dividends, and order stop losses. It also provides links to exit fees, earnings calendars, and more, ensuring you have the information you need.

Security & Safety

Interactive Investor ensures your money and investments are safe. They use two-factor authentication (2FA) and a 24-digit recovery code for account access. Personal data is encrypted both on their website and mobile app. You can customize security settings with face recognition on iPhones and fingerprint scans on both iPhones and Androids. An annual Cyber Essentials Plus security audit further protects your data.

Interactive Investor Verdict

Interactive Investor is a versatile investment platform, offering numerous trading instruments, ISA, and pension accounts. As an FCA-regulated firm, it ensures a secure experience with expert portfolio insights and product suggestions.

However, it’s best for longer-term traders and equity enthusiasts. Traders focusing on short-term derivatives, such as forex, commodities, and cryptocurrencies, might explore other options.

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