Top junior ISA providers compared

About Top junior ISA providers compared

A Junior ISA lets an adult put money away for a child and watch it grow tax free, so the provider you pick shapes what the account is worth years later. This ranking covers 14 Junior ISA providers, all regulated in the UK and covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. The main trade-off is cost against choice: some charge nothing to open or hold an account or to deal in shares, while others charge an annual fee but hand you a wider menu of investments and more ways to get help. Every provider here is aimed at beginners, and a mobile app is standard across the ranking. What separates them is the price of dealing, the size of the entry payment, and whether a Lifetime ISA sits alongside the Junior ISA, which helps if you want child accounts kept in the same place.

How we picked

Scores here come from a weighted blend of trust, cost and offer. Trust carries the largest weight at 40%, which matters most in this category because a Junior ISA is money set aside for a child over many years, so the strength of the protection scheme and the regulator behind the provider count for more than the price of a single trade. Cost is weighted at 35% and covers account fees, dealing charges, currency conversion fees and the minimum deposit needed to open the account. Offer is weighted at 25% and covers the account types on offer, the range of markets, the app and web platforms, features such as fractional shares and a demo account, and the support channels available. Figures come from each provider's own published pages on accounts, charges, fees, markets and regulatory status, plus regulatory register entries where a provider's own site does not spell out its protection. Where providers report the same measure, the cheaper option scores better. Partners are listed first, then everything else in score order, so a partner listing can outrank a stronger score, and the top pick label belongs to whichever provider sits first.

Our top picks

1. 2. Nutmeg

   Nutmeg is in this ranking for a simple reason: it is set up for beginners, charges £0 to deal in shares and runs a broad investment menu of ETFs, funds, stocks and bonds. There are no set-up, trading or exit fees, and support runs through email, chat and phone, the widest reach among the providers near it. Its minimum deposit of £500 sits above the median of €58.11 here, and its accounts cover an ISA and a SIPP rather than a Junior ISA. Compared with Police Friendly next, Nutmeg is the cheaper and more flexible choice for choosing investments, while Police Friendly pairs a Junior ISA and a Lifetime ISA.

   • Management fee: 0.25% to 0.75%
   • Minimum investment: £100 to £500
   • Regulators: Financial Conduct Authority

   Pros

   • One ongoing charge to read: management fees of 0.25% to 0.75%, with no set-up, trading or exit fees on top.
   • Holdings span etfs, funds and stocks, so a managed basket can still cover a wide spread of asset types.
   • Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, with FSCS protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 behind the account.
   • The same portfolios can sit in an ISA or a SIPP (isa and sipp), so the wrapper does not change the investments.
   • Support runs through email, chat and phone, which includes a phone line as well as chat, email and a help centre.

   Cons

   • Management fees of 0.25% to 0.75% sit above the robo-adviser median of 0.35%, and the cost rises as the balance grows.
   • The opening deposit is £500 and later money goes in from £100 to £500, higher than the robo-adviser median of €60.06.
   • The portfolio range is etf, esg and cash only, so there is no crypto or thematic option to tilt towards.
   • The account list is isa and sipp, so there is no general investment account or joint holding outside a wrapper.

2. 3. Moneyfarm

   Moneyfarm sits in this ranking with a wide market spread, covering stocks, ETFs, bonds and funds, and it makes no charge for deposits or withdrawals. Its costs sit below the commission-free names above it: £3.95 to buy shares plus a currency conversion fee of 0.7% on foreign dealings, so a parent investing mainly in UK assets pays less. Support runs through email, phone and help centre, including chat, and the accounts cover an ISA and a SIPP. Compared with Wealthify next, Moneyfarm's published dealing charge is the higher of the pair, while Wealthify's low-fee model asks for £1,000 to start and makes no charge for deposits, withdrawals or transfers.

   • Management fee: 0.1% to 0.45%
   • Minimum investment: £500
   • Regulators: Financial Conduct Authority

   Pros

   • Regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority, with licence 629539 to check on the register.
   • Deposits and withdrawals carry no charge, so money can move in and out without a transaction fee eating the saving.
   • Portfolio styles run to etf, esg and cash, letting a saver tilt towards ESG, cash or crypto alongside a diversified core.
   • Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so help is available by phone and chat as well as email.

   Cons

   • The management fee of 0.1% to 0.45% sits above the robo-advisor median of 0.35%.
   • The £500 entry point is well above the robo-advisor median of €60.06, and above Axos Invest at $100.
   • Costs stack up: a stock trade fee of £3.95 applies alongside the management fee, while eToro lists a management fee of 0%.
   • The account range is isa and sipp accounts, so money held outside a wrapper has no home here.

3. 4. Police Friendly

   Police Friendly earns its place in this ranking by pairing a Junior ISA, a Lifetime ISA and a standard ISA with a low starting payment of £50 and stocks and funds to invest in. It is a friendly society founded in 1893 and run by the Metropolitan Police Friendly Society Limited, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, with protection at FSCS up to GBP 85,000. Support runs on email and phone. Compared with Moneyfarm next, Police Friendly keeps both child tax-advantaged accounts under a single provider, where Moneyfarm's account types are an ISA and a SIPP and it charges £3.95 to buy shares.

   • Minimum deposit: £50
   • Markets: Stocks, Funds
   • Regulators: Financial Conduct Authority / Prudential Regulation Authority

   Pros

   • A minimum deposit of £50 makes the entry point manageable for steady savers.
   • All three wrappers, isa, lisa and jisa, sit with one provider.
   • Members are covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000 if the firm fails.
   • Support runs on email and phone, so phone and email both work.

   Cons

   • A government charge cuts non-qualifying withdrawals, which limits access before the account matures.
   • The investment range is limited to stocks and funds, with no wider market for ISA money.
   • The £50 minimum deposit runs ahead of CFI at $0 and Vantage at $5.

4. 5. Freetrade: best for lowest-min-deposit

   Freetrade takes the lowest minimum deposit label in this ranking, starting at £1, which suits a parent making small regular payments rather than opening the account with a lump sum. Costs stay minimal: an account fee of £0, a share dealing charge of £0 and a cash interest rate of 1% on uninvested cash. Its Junior ISA sits alongside an ISA and a SIPP, and it covers stocks, ETFs, bonds and funds through an app and web platform, with fractional shares and a demo account. Against Nutmeg next the choice is close, but Freetrade needs a much smaller first payment and adds a demo account, where Nutmeg's listed features are a mobile app.

   • Minimum deposit: £1
   • Stock trade fee: £0
   • Account fee: £0

   Pros

   • Dealing commission of £0 and an account fee of £0 keep the running cost of an ISA, SIPP or Junior ISA low.
   • Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, with protection stated as FSCS up to GBP 85,000.
   • Fractional shares and a demo account let you size positions in small amounts and practise before committing money.
   • Cash earns an interest rate of 1%, so uninvested balances still work while you decide.
   • Trading runs on app and web platforms, so the same account works from a phone or a desktop.

   Cons

   • A currency conversion fee of 0.99% applies whenever you hold investments in more than one currency.
   • Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, with no phone line listed for account or transfer questions.
   • The account range is limited to isa, sipp and jisa, so there is no general investment account for shares outside a wrapper.
   • The minimum deposit is £1, which sits above the $0 at CFI.

5. VI6. Vanguard Investor UK

   Vanguard Investor UK closes this ranking with the narrowest and simplest proposition: an ISA, a SIPP and a Junior ISA built around funds and ETFs, with a minimum deposit of £500 and an annual account charge of £48. It has been trading since 1975, is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and carries protection at FSCS up to GBP 85,000. Support runs by phone. Against J.P. Morgan Personal Investing, ranked just above it, the trade-off is that account charge and a range limited to funds and ETFs, set against a Lifetime ISA, bonds and phone support next door.

   • Minimum deposit: £500
   • Account fee: £48
   • Markets: ETFs, Funds

   Pros

   • A 0.2% management fee keeps the ongoing fund charge low, which fits the low-cost model listed in low fees.
   • Investor protection is FSCS up to GBP 85,000 under Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), so the money sits inside a UK regulated structure.
   • The audience named is beginners, and the range of etfs and funds keeps the choice simple for a first account.
   • The provider is Vanguard Asset Management, founded in 1975, so a long operating record sits behind the brand.

   Cons

   • The £48 account fee is a fixed platform charge, where the account fee at eToro is $0.
   • A £500 minimum deposit sits far above the $0 minimum deposit at CFI and the $5 minimum deposit at Vantage.
   • Support runs on phone only, so anyone expecting written help or a live chat route has a single line.
   • The range is etfs and funds only, so an investor who wants to pick individual shares will not find them here.

6. 7. Wealthify

   Wealthify is in this ranking as a beginner-friendly provider that keeps running costs down and spreads money across stocks, ETFs, bonds and funds. Its published charges make no fee for deposits, withdrawals or transfers, and it is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority with protection at FSCS up to GBP 85,000. Support runs through email, chat and phone, and the service works on web, iOS and Android apps. The trade-off is entry size: a minimum deposit of £1,000 puts it above several providers in this ranking, including AJ Bell next, which starts at £25 but charges an account fee of £3.50 and runs a Junior ISA and a Lifetime ISA alongside its ISA and SIPP.

   • Management fee: 0.6%
   • Minimum investment: £1,000 to £5,000
   • Regulators: Financial Conduct Authority

   Pros

   • A management fee of 0.6% sits below the 0.5% to 1.5% charged on Vivid Standard business plans.
   • The whole account is reachable through Web, iOS app and Android app, so a phone and a browser cover it end to end.
   • Support runs on email, chat and phone, putting phone and chat help alongside email.
   • The portfolio options in esg and cash add an ESG tilt and a cash option, so the portfolio can be steered without leaving the range.

   Cons

   • The minimum investment of £1,000 to £5,000 is well above the $100 entry point at Axos Invest, and Wealthify ranks 68 of 82 brands on this measure.
   • The management fee of 0.6% is not the lowest available, since eToro charges a management fee of 0%.
   • The account line-up covers isa and sipp only, with no joint, corporate or general investment account in the range.
   • On management fee it ranks 36 of 49 brands, so the rate is mid-table rather than a standout.

7. 8. AJ Bell

   AJ Bell is in this ranking because it runs an ISA, a SIPP, a Lifetime ISA and a Junior ISA, pairs them with a low starting deposit of £25 and free withdrawals, and covers stocks, ETFs, bonds and funds through a web platform and a mobile app. Costs sit higher in the list: £5 to buy shares, an account fee of £3.50 and a currency conversion fee of 0.75%, which suits a parent investing steadily rather than often. Against J.P. Morgan Personal Investing next, AJ Bell adds chat to its help centre, where J.P. Morgan runs on help centre only, and AJ Bell's markets include shares next to the ETFs, funds and bonds offered there.

   • Minimum deposit: £25
   • Stock trade fee: £5
   • Account fee: £3.50

   Pros

   • Four account types in one place: isa, sipp and lisa.
   • Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), with FSCS up to GBP 85,000 of cover on eligible money.
   • A flat £3.50 annual charge against a market median of €0.
   • A small £25 opening deposit, well inside the range most brands ask.
   • A mobile app among Web platform and Mobile app, so dealing does not need a desktop.

   Cons

   • Dealing shares costs £5, where eToro charges $0.
   • The account fee places AJ Bell 111 of 138 brands on our data.
   • Support runs on chat and help centre only, with no phone line listed.
   • Currency conversion at 0.75% adds a cost on overseas holdings.

8. 9. OneFamily

   OneFamily sits in this ranking because it is a friendly society rather than a commission-free app, which matters for money that may stay put for years. It offers a Lifetime ISA and a Junior ISA, invests in stocks and funds, and takes a minimum deposit of £25, near the bottom of the range here. It is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and its protection stands at FSCS up to GBP 85,000. Against Freetrade next, the difference is cost: Freetrade publishes an account fee of £0 and a share dealing charge of £0, while OneFamily's published charges centre on the government withdrawal charge for non-qualifying Lifetime ISA withdrawals. In exchange, the mutual structure and support by help centre and email sit alongside it.

   • Minimum deposit: £25
   • Markets: Stocks, Funds
   • Regulators: Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

   Pros

   • Minimum deposit of £25 keeps starting small easy for family saving
   • You can hold stocks and funds in the account, so a child account can be invested rather than only held in cash
   • Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK
   • Investments covered by the FSCS at FSCS up to GBP 85,000

   Cons

   • Deposit and withdrawal fees run a government withdrawal charge of a share of the pot on non-qualifying withdrawals, so money taken out early is reduced
   • Support runs on help centre and email only, with no phone or live chat route listed
   • The account list is lisa and jisa, so there is no general investing or pension account here

9. 10. J.P. Morgan Personal Investing

   J.P. Morgan Personal Investing is in this ranking for running an ISA, a SIPP, a Lifetime ISA and a Junior ISA under a familiar name, with no withdrawal fee and a minimum deposit of £500. It is aimed at beginners, and the investment range is ETFs, funds and bonds, reached through a web platform and a mobile app. It is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and its protection stands at FSCS up to GBP 85,000. Compared with Vanguard Investor UK, the entry level is the same, but J.P. Morgan adds a Lifetime ISA and covers bonds, where Vanguard's range is funds and ETFs, and support runs on help centre only.

   • Minimum deposit: £500
   • Markets: ETFs, Funds, Bonds
   • Regulators: Financial Conduct Authority

   Pros

   • Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, with FSCS up to GBP 85,000 on eligible holdings.
   • A focused range of etfs, funds and bonds that suits steady, fund based portfolios.
   • Web and app access through Web and Mobile app, with a mobile app as a listed feature.
   • Covers isa, sipp and lisa, so ISA, SIPP, LISA and Junior ISA saving all run through the same platform.

   Cons

   • The £500 minimum deposit is well above €4.64 across the brands compared here, which puts it out of reach for small monthly savers.
   • Help runs through help centre only, so there is no phone line and no live chat listed.
   • Trading is limited to etfs, funds and bonds, so anyone wanting to pick individual shares or reach other asset classes should look elsewhere.

What to look for

Cost of holding and dealing

Account fees and dealing charges decide what a Junior ISA is worth over a long saving period. The median dealing charge in this ranking is €0, with the upper end at €5.81, and the median account fee across the brands tracked here sits at €0. Parents buying often feel the dealing charge far more than the account fee.

Minimum deposit

A low minimum deposit lets a parent start with small monthly amounts instead of a lump sum. The median minimum deposit in this ranking is €58.11, the middle range runs €29.05 to €581.09, and the smallest entry requirement is €1.16.

Safety of the money

A Junior ISA is money held for a child, so the protection behind the provider matters as much as the price. 9 of the 14 providers here are licensed businesses and each names the Financial Services Compensation Scheme for investor protection. Check that the named legal entity matches the brand you open with.

What you can invest in

A wider choice means a parent can hold a mixture of investments for a child instead of one type. Funds lead the choices in this ranking at 92.9%, with stocks and ETFs both at 85.7% and bonds at 50%.

App and support

Every provider in this ranking has a mobile app, which makes a standing monthly payment easy to set up. Help centres are close to universal at 83.3%, with email at 58.3% and phone and chat at 50%.

Account types under one roof

Opening a Junior ISA and a Lifetime ISA with the same provider means one login and one set of details. Most also run a standard ISA and a SIPP, with a SIPP offered by 85.7% of them and a Junior ISA by 78.6%. A Lifetime ISA pairs with a Junior ISA at 42.9%.

Frequently asked questions

Top junior ISA providers compared by country

• United Kingdom

Brokers compared head to head

• Nutmeg vs Police Friendly
• Moneyfarm vs Police Friendly

The data behind this ranking

All data and the CSV