Flat fees vs percentage fees - are you paying too much for your investments?

We investigate whether it’s better to choose an investment platform with flat fees, or whether percentage charges could work out cheaper.

pink calculator surrounded by yellow pencils
(Image credit: © Getty Images)

Choosing the best investment platform for you can be tricky. You need to look at the investment range, customer service, functionality like whether it has an app, and of course, the fees.

Comparing platform charges is challenging and sometimes downright bewildering, but they are important as they can eat into your returns.

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Header Cell - Column 0 £5,000£15,000£20,000£25,000£50,000£100,000£250,000£500,000£1,000,000
AJ Bell Youinvest£31£56£68£81£143£268£643£893£893
Aviva Consumer Platform£20£60£80£100£200£375£900£1,525£1,525
Barclays£60£60£60£62£112£212£512£1,012£1,512
Bestinvest£20£60£80£100£200£400£1,000£1,500£2,000
Charles Stanley Direct£18£53£70£88£175£350£875£1,375£2,125
Close Brothers A.M. Self Directed Service£13£38£50£63£125£250£625£1,250£2,250
Fidelity Personal Investing£18£53£70£88£175£350£500£1,000£2,000
Halifax Share Dealing£36£36£36£36£36£36£36£36£36
Hargreaves Lansdown£23£68£90£113£225£450£1,125£1,750£3,000
Interactive Investor (Essentials)£60£60£60£60Row 9 - Cell 5 Row 9 - Cell 6 Row 9 - Cell 7 Row 9 - Cell 8 Row 9 - Cell 9
Interactive Investor (Investor Product)£144£144£144£144£144£144£144£144£144
iWeb£160£160£160£160£160£160£160£160£160
Santander£18£53£70£88£175£275£575£1,075£1,575
Willis Owen£20£60£80£100£200£350£650£1,025£1,775
Vanguard£8£23£30£38£75£150£375£375£375
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Ruth Emery
Contributing editor

Ruth is an award-winning financial journalist with more than 15 years' experience of working on national newspapers, websites and specialist magazines.

She is passionate about helping people feel more confident about their finances. She was previously editor of Times Money Mentor, and prior to that was deputy Money editor at The Sunday Times. 

A multi-award winning journalist, Ruth started her career on a pensions magazine at the FT Group, and has also worked at Money Observer and Money Advice Service. 

Outside of work, she is a mum to two young children, while also serving as a magistrate and an NHS volunteer.