The online broker InvestEngine provides a straightforward way to invest in ETFs, offering both a DIY platform and a managed robo-advice service. The platform is designed to be approachable for beginners while remaining useful for experienced investors with larger portfolios.
Its main selling point is low cost: the DIY option carries no platform fee or dealing commission, and the managed portfolios are competitively priced compared with many rivals.
Strengths
- Low costs: The DIY service charges no platform fee and no dealing commission, making it very cost-efficient for ETF investors. The managed service is also priced attractively.
- Easy to use: The app and web interface are clean, intuitive and designed to simplify the key investment decisions.
- Pro passive investing: The curated ETF selection and calm user experience encourage sensible, long-term investing rather than short-term trading impulses.
Weaknesses
- Limited investment universe: InvestEngine currently focuses on ETFs only. There are no individual shares, mutual funds or investment trusts available.
- Restricted account types: There is no SIPP, Lifetime ISA or Junior ISA option at present.
- Managed portfolio complexity: The ready-made portfolios can be more elaborate than some investors prefer, with numerous ETFs and small allocation slices that add complexity.
InvestEngine fees
| Platform | Annual fee | Fee notes | Dealing: Funds | Dealing: ETFs | Regular investing | FX charge | Entry/exit fee | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| InvestEngine | £0 DIY investing | 0.25% for managed portfolios | n/a | £0 for fixed times daily | n/a | n/a | £0 | Very low fees |
| Shares ISA | £0 | 0.25% | n/a | £0 | n/a | n/a | £0 | – |
| Trading | £0 | 0.25% | n/a | £0 | n/a | n/a | £0 | – |
| SIPP | No SIPPs | |||||||
Note that a dash in the table means “as above”.
Minimums:
- Investment amount: £1
- Account balance: £100
- Account top-up: £1
Pros and cons
InvestEngine combines two distinct approaches in one platform: a near-free DIY ETF service and a managed robo-advice service. That double offering suits investors who want a low-cost way to build and manage a passive portfolio, whether they prefer to control each trade or hand the day-to-day decisions to a manager.
The DIY side is compelling if you accept the platform’s limitations. Only a curated selection of ETFs is available — no individual stocks, funds or investment trusts — which some investors will find restrictive, but others will appreciate for reducing choice overload and keeping costs down.
The available ETFs cover major providers such as Vanguard, iShares and SPDR, and include low-cost options across the main asset classes. While a few favourite ETFs may be absent, it is generally straightforward to assemble a diversified portfolio from the offered range.
Trades are executed in fixed windows each day (typically between mid-afternoon trading windows), so orders are placed in advance rather than executed instantly. There are no advanced trading features such as stop-loss or limit orders and pricing information is updated only a couple of times daily — suitable for passive investors but less so for active traders.
Account choices include a stocks and shares ISA and a general investment account, but there is no SIPP, Lifetime ISA or Junior ISA at present. Transfers into the platform are accepted in cash only (no in-specie transfers).
Key advantage
The standout advantage is the absence of a platform fee for DIY investing. You pay only the underlying ETF management fees and any spread. There are no inactivity charges, withdrawal fees or entry/exit fees, which makes the platform welcoming for new and small investors.
InvestEngine keeps costs low in part by restricting platform complexity and focusing on a streamlined user experience. Customer support is generally responsive, based on available feedback, and the simplified design helps reduce decision fatigue.
User experience
The website and mobile app are minimalist, uncluttered and easy to navigate. The platform avoids gamification and focuses on helping users make sensible investment choices.
Portfolio tools are intentionally light-touch, but there is a useful “fund portfolio order” feature: specify the ETFs you want and the target allocation, and InvestEngine executes the trades to achieve that allocation. You can rebalance to target with a single action — a handy feature for passive investors.
Robo-advice service
The managed portfolios charge 0.25% per year plus estimated trading spreads, which is competitive. The service uses a risk-tolerance questionnaire to suggest a portfolio, after which InvestEngine implements and rebalances the allocation and may tweak holdings over time.
Some investors may find managed portfolios over-complicated — samples have included many ETFs with small weightings and some overlap. That complexity is common across many discretionary services, and the trade-off is convenience for investors who prefer to outsource portfolio management.
Note that InvestEngine is not authorised to provide personalised regulated financial advice; it offers discretionary management rather than tailored regulated advice.
InvestEngine review summary
Overall, InvestEngine is an attractive option for cost-conscious, passive ETF investors. Its low to zero platform fees make it particularly appealing to small or new investors who want to build diversified portfolios without high charges. The curated ETF range and daily execution windows suit long-term, buy-and-hold strategies rather than active trading.
Trustpilot review score: 4.6
InvestEngine regulation
InvestEngine is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority — Firm Reference Number 801128.
- Client cash is held in a pooled account at NatWest.
- Investments are held in a pooled nominee account with Euroclear (CREST) and are segregated from InvestEngine’s company assets.
These protections follow standard industry practice.
Alternatives
- Vanguard — cost-effective choice for small investors
- Freetrade or Lloyds Bank Share Dealing — useful options for ISAs
- AJ Bell Youinvest — a common SIPP provider
Some promotions or referral incentives may apply when signing up; terms and conditions and capital-at-risk notices apply. Reviews are editorially independent.