Best Junior ISAs for 2026

No platform or dealing fees on Junior ISAs. One of its biggest advantages is cost. Hargreaves Lansdown doesn't charge platform fees or trading fees within its Junior ISA, whether you’re buying funds, shares, or ETFs. You’ll still pay standard costs like underlying fund charges, 0.5% stamp duty on U.K. shares, and FX fees on overseas investments, but there are no additional account-level charges, which is rare among major brokers.

Extensive investment choice and research. You can access thousands of funds, shares, ETFs, bonds, and ready-made portfolios. The Wealth Shortlist and in-house research help narrow down options, which is useful if you’re unsure where to begin. While the platform can initially feel information-heavy, it offers strong educational support and reliable customer service.

The Hargreaves Lansdown mobile app is easy to use but not as extensive as other brokers such as IG, Trading 212, Saxo or IBKR.

Elizabeth's take:

"The combination of no platform charges, no dealing fees, and access to thousands of investments makes it one of the most cost-effective and flexible options available for families investing for the long term."

Elizabeth Anderson

Flexible contributions with long-term support. You can start from £25 per month or £100 as a lump sum, making it easy to build contributions gradually. Transfers from existing Junior ISAs or Child Trust Funds are supported. For parents who want flexibility, depth, and the backing of an established provider, Hargreaves Lansdown sets the benchmark.

A deliberately narrower investment range. You’ll have access to roughly 80–90 Vanguard funds and ETFs, with options that cover global equities, bonds, and multi-asset “all-in-one” funds. This makes it easier to choose without getting lost in endless lists. Funds can be filtered by things like risk level and asset type, and the platform is geared toward steady, long-term investing rather than frequent buying and selling.

With Vanguard’s ISA you can view fees, compare fund performance at a glance, and see and manage your holdings.

Clear, low platform fees. Vanguard charges a 0.15% annual platform fee (capped at £375 per year), plus the ongoing cost of whichever fund you choose. For Junior ISAs, the £4 monthly minimum fee that applies to other Vanguard accounts doesn’t apply, which helps keep costs low for smaller balances. There are no fees to buy, sell, or switch Vanguard funds, though buying or selling ETFs in real time can involve a trading charge.

A clean setup. The Junior ISA sits within your main Vanguard login, so you can view and manage it alongside your own accounts on the website or app. The experience is functional rather than flashy, but it does the job well for hands-off investors. The main drawback is the entry point: contributions start at £500 as a lump sum or £100 per month, which may be higher than some families want to commit upfront.

Wide Investment choice. AJ Bell gives you access to a huge range of investments, including thousands of funds, ETFs, investment trusts, and shares. That’s useful for parents who want to start with a simple global fund and later add extra diversification or income-focused holdings without switching platforms.

One of AJ Bell’s main benefits is its range of investment choice, including 16,000 shares, 4,000 ETFs, and 4,000 mutual funds.

Reasonable fees. AJ Bell charges a 0.25% platform fee on funds, and if you buy or sell funds you’ll usually pay £1.50 per trade (AJ Bell’s own funds don’t have this dealing fee). If you’re buying shares or ETFs, one-off trades cost £5, but regular investing can reduce that to £1.50. For share/ETF holdings, the custody charge is capped at £3.50 per month.

Great support. The main AJ Bell app and website are straightforward for managing a Junior ISA, and its educational content is genuinely helpful. Customer service is also easy to reach by phone. If you want something more stripped-back for beginners, AJ Bell’s Dodl app is worth a look as it’s simpler and has a cleaner fee structure.

Useful website. ii offers a wide range of funds, ETFs, investment trusts, shares, and bonds, and its web platform is where it shines. There’s lots of research, strong educational content, and curated lists like Super 60 that help narrow things down if you don’t want to start from scratch.

Worth it if you’ll actually use it. The main downside is that the subscription can feel expensive for small or rarely used accounts, and the mobile app is more “check-in and place a trade” than deep research. But for hands-on parents running multiple accounts, ii is a very solid long-term home.

Strong app options. You can invest in shares, ETFs, funds, bonds, and more across 90+ global exchanges, and there’s also fractional share dealing if you want to drip-feed smaller amounts. The main IBKR Mobile app is packed with data and order types, while the newer IBKR GlobalTrader app is a bit more streamlined for simpler trading.

Low fees. Trading costs can be very competitive, with FX at around 0.03%, but the Junior ISA has a £1 monthly minimum fee (and £3/month for an adult ISA) unless you generate enough commission. If you’re planning to set-and-forget with small balances, that minimum can be a downside, whereas for larger accounts or families already using IBKR, it can still work well.