Top lifetime ISA providers compared

About Top lifetime ISA providers compared

A Lifetime ISA is the most restrictive of the individual savings accounts, and that shape drives which provider suits you. Money must stay in the account until the target age, and any earlier withdrawal carries a government charge, so the provider you pick governs how long you can leave money untouched without giving up access to shares, funds, support and cash interest. This ranking covers 13 brands that offer a Lifetime ISA, and it weighs them on the three things a saver is weighing: what the account costs to run, who stands behind the money, and how the account works day to day. The main trade-off runs between low entry costs and low running charges on one side, and a wider choice of investments, more support channels and a longer trading history on the other. Every provider here lists Financial Conduct Authority regulation, and every one lists Financial Services Compensation Scheme protection. Beyond that, minimum deposits across this ranking run from €1.16 to €581.09, with a median of €29.05, while funds are the one investment type that appears on every account here.

How we picked

Scores come from three weighted measures. Trust carries 40%, cost carries 35%, and the strength of the offer carries 25%. Trust looks at the regulator, the legal entity behind the account and the deposit protection listed for the brand. Cost weighs the stock trade fee, the account fee, the minimum deposit and any deposit or withdrawal charge. The offer measure looks at what you can hold, the account types available, whether a mobile app is offered and how the brand is aimed at new investors. Each brand is scored on what is published about it, not on brand awareness or advertising spend. Partners are listed first, so Moneybox heads the table on its score, and the rest follow in score order. Sources are the providers' own pages, including their charge sheets, legal terms, product pages, app pages, help centres and the Financial Conduct Authority register. Where a value is not published for a brand, that gap is left open and nothing is filled in for it.

Our top picks

1. 1. Hargreaves Lansdown

   Hargreaves Lansdown makes this ranking on breadth of choice, with a Lifetime ISA, a Junior ISA, a pension and an ISA at isa, lisa and jisa and stocks, ETFs, funds and bonds available at stocks, etfs and funds. That range lets a saver hold the same account through adulthood and pass it on, which suits a product that must run until the target age. It sits near the foot of the table because the published detail for it is thin: costs, support and deposit levels are not set out in the material compared here, so the pricing picture stays open. Newcastle Building Society, ranked last, is narrower again, offering a Lifetime ISA alone. Anyone weighing the pair should check current charges directly before choosing.

   • Markets: Stocks, ETFs, Funds, and 1 more
   • Account types: ISA, Lisa, Jisa, and 1 more

2. 2. Nutmeg

   Nutmeg earns its place in this ranking as the counterweight to cheaper platforms, with support on email, chat and phone, the fullest help offering of any member, and access on both web and mobile. It charges no set-up, trading or exit fees, and stock trades are priced at £0 on a commission-free model. The account list covers a Lifetime ISA and a pension at isa and sipp, and the investment range is the widest in the ranking, with ETFs, funds, stocks and bonds at etfs, funds and stocks. The legal entity is J.P. Morgan Personal Investing Limited, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, with protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000. The trade-off is the minimum deposit of £500. Police Friendly, ranked next, asks for less and is a mutual society.

   • 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.

3. 3. Police Friendly

   Police Friendly holds a place in this ranking as the mutual option, with a Lifetime ISA, an ISA and a Junior ISA at isa, lisa and jisa and a minimum deposit of £50. Stocks and funds make up the investment range at stocks and funds, and support runs on email and phone, which includes phone support that several higher members do not offer. The legal entity is Metropolitan Police Friendly Society Limited, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, with protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000, and the organisation dates back to 1893. A government charge applies on non-qualifying withdrawals. AJ Bell, ranked next, adds web access, ETFs and bonds but sets a stock trade fee of £5.

   • 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. 4. Plum

   Plum takes third place in this ranking because it is the cheapest way in among the names with a published minimum deposit, at £2, and its subscription fee is £0. Stock trades cost £0 on a commission-free model, and fractional shares sit alongside a mobile app, so a modest payment buys a partial holding rather than forcing a choice between buying nothing and overpaying. A Lifetime ISA, a pension and a Junior ISA are all offered at isa, sipp and lisa, with stocks, ETFs and funds to invest in. The account runs through Plum Fintech Limited, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, with protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000. Compared with OneFamily, ranked next, Plum offers more investment types and a lower entry point, while OneFamily covers savings products as well.

   • Minimum deposit: £2
   • Stock trade fee: £0
   • Account fee: £0

   Pros

   • Stock trades cost £0 and the account fee is £0, so holding and dealing carry no charge.
   • The account opens from £2 and the smallest investment is £1, which suits small regular amounts.
   • Fractional shares on a Mobile app let a small sum hold part of a share rather than a whole one.
   • Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, with investor protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000.
   • Every account in isa, sipp and lisa carries the £0 account fee rather than a subscription.

   Cons

   • Support runs on email and help centre only, so an urgent question waits for a written answer.
   • The market list is stocks, etfs and funds and portfolio types run to etf and cash, so the account is narrow beside a full trading platform.
   • The minimum deposit of £2 ranks 89 of 213, and CFI lists a minimum deposit of $0.
   • Cheap dealing does not mean cheap investing: management fees run 0.15% to 0.6% on portfolios even though stock trades are £0.

5. 5. Dodl

   Dodl sits second in this ranking on a simple bargain: commission-free dealing with a cash rate of 3.8% alongside, and free deposits and withdrawals. Stock trades cost £0, and the entry point of £25 keeps the door open for small savers. A Lifetime ISA, a pension and a Junior ISA all sit under the same roof at isa, sipp and lisa, and the platform is a mobile app, which suits the beginners this brand is aimed at. The legal entity is AJ Bell, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, with protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000, and the account also carries a foreign exchange fee of 0.75%. Plum, ranked next, offers a similar mobile experience with a lower minimum and no listed cash rate.

   • Minimum deposit: £25
   • Stock trade fee: £0
   • Markets: Stocks, ETFs, Funds

   Pros

   • Stock trades cost £0, the lowest stock trade fee recorded in this comparison
   • free deposits and withdrawals means moving money in and out adds nothing to a portfolio
   • Cash held with the account earns interest of 3.8% while you save for a purchase
   • Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, with FSCS up to GBP 85,000 behind eligible balances
   • Built for beginners, with a mobile app for Dodl app

   Cons

   • Cash interest of 3.8% is a variable rate, so the return on uninvested money can move
   • Dealing runs on Dodl app only, which suits casual investors less well than a desktop platform
   • Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, so there is no phone line for urgent account problems
   • Foreign exchange charges of 0.75% apply when you buy shares priced in another currency

6. 6. AJ Bell

   AJ Bell is in this ranking as the last member charging on every trade, which makes its value the range rather than the price. A Lifetime ISA, a pension and a Junior ISA are offered at isa, sipp and lisa, alongside stocks, ETFs, bonds and funds at stocks, etfs and bonds, and the account is reachable on web and mobile with free withdrawals. The stock trade fee is £5 and the account fee is £3.50, with a minimum deposit of £25 and a foreign exchange fee of 0.75%. Support is limited to chat and help centre. The legal entity is AJ Bell, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, with protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000. J.P. Morgan Personal Investing, ranked next, charges no withdrawal fee and covers a wider set of account types.

   • 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.

7. 7. OneFamily

   OneFamily is in this ranking because it is built around savings products rather than dealing, holding a Lifetime ISA and a Junior ISA at lisa and jisa with a minimum deposit of £25. Stocks and funds are available at stocks and funds, so a saver is not forced into cash. The account belongs to Family Assurance Friendly Society Limited, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, with protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000, and support runs on help centre and email. A government withdrawal charge applies on non-qualifying withdrawals, which matters more here than at a platform with a wider product range. Nutmeg, ranked next, holds a Lifetime ISA and a pension instead, and charges nothing on entry, trading or exit.

   • 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

8. 8. J.P. Morgan Personal Investing

   J.P. Morgan Personal Investing appears in this ranking on the strength of the account it sits in: a Lifetime ISA, a pension, an ISA and a Junior ISA at isa, sipp and lisa, reachable on web and mobile, with no withdrawal fee. The investment range is ETFs, funds and bonds at etfs, funds and bonds, and the minimum deposit of £500 is the joint highest in the ranking. The legal entity is J.P. Morgan Personal Investing Limited, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, with protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000, and the brand is aimed at beginners. Support runs on help centre only. Hargreaves Lansdown, ranked next, covers a wider account list and adds stocks to the investment range, though it publishes fewer details for comparison.

   • 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.

9. 9. Moneybox: best for top-pick

   Moneybox earns the top pick in this ranking by letting a saver keep a Lifetime ISA, a Junior ISA, a pension and an ISA in one place, run from a mobile app. The account list runs to isa, lisa and jisa, and stocks, ETFs and funds are all available. It is also one of the few names here with a demo account, which lets a first-time saver try the app before committing money, and fractional shares mean small monthly payments can still buy a slice of something. The account is operated by Digital Moneybox Limited, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, with protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000. Support runs on help centre only, which is thinner than the members below it. Dodl, ranked next, offers a longer list of help channels but no demo account.

   • Markets: Stocks, ETFs, Funds
   • Regulators: Financial Conduct Authority
   • Investor protection: FSCS up to GBP 85,000

10. 10. Newcastle Building Society

    Newcastle Building Society completes this ranking as the narrowest option, offering a Lifetime ISA on its own at lisa and nothing else in the way of account types. There is no pension, ISA or Junior ISA to pair it with, so a saver wanting more from the same provider needs a second one. The legal entity is Newcastle Building Society. Compared with Hargreaves Lansdown, ranked above it, the choice of investments and account types is much smaller, though both sit in this ranking because they do offer the account itself and members can weigh them on what a full product list is worth. The published material here sets out no charge or deposit detail, so costs stay an open question for this member.

    • Account types: Lisa
    • Legal entity: Newcastle Building Society

What to look for

Who holds the money and who regulates them

A Lifetime ISA that you can leave alone for decades is only as good as the company holding it. All names here list Financial Conduct Authority regulation, and each lists protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000, so the differences sit in the legal entity, which ranges from Digital Moneybox Limited to Family Assurance Friendly Society Limited. Checking who stands behind the account tells you who answers if something goes wrong.

What each trade and the account itself cost

The stock trade fee decides what a regular investor pays on every purchase, and the account fee decides what you pay while saving. The median stock trade fee here is €0 and the median account fee is €0, so commission-free platforms are the norm. Where a charge does exist, the minimum deposit shows how small a first payment can be, and €2.32 is the lower quartile here.

The minimum deposit you can live with

Because the money is locked, entry point matters more than usual. A provider asking for £500 and a provider asking for £2 serve very different savers, particularly anyone paying in small amounts each month. The upper quartile of minimum deposits here is €58.11.

How the account is run and who answers questions

A mobile app is the norm in this category, and a help centre is the most common support channel, with email close behind. The gaps matter as much as the presence: help centre covers Moneybox alone, while Nutmeg lists email, chat and phone and Police Friendly adds phone support. Where you get help when a transfer or withdrawal question goes wrong is a practical difference between otherwise similar accounts.

What you can actually invest in

A lifetime account is for the whole span of adult life, so it helps to know what you can hold. Funds are available on 100% of the accounts in this ranking, stocks on 88.9% and bonds on 44.4%. Anything beyond shares, funds and bonds is absent from every account here.

Frequently asked questions

Top lifetime ISA providers compared by country

• United Kingdom

Brokers compared head to head

• Nutmeg vs Police Friendly
• Nutmeg vs Plum
• Police Friendly vs Plum

The data behind this ranking

All data and the CSV