Interactive Investor Referral Code — 6 Months Free + Summer Cashback Offer
Use a verified referral link to get 6 months with no platform fee. Stack it with the Summer 2026 offer: £100–£3,000 cashback on a SIPP or £150 free trades on an ISA. Is ii expensive? For portfolios over £21k, it is the cheapest major UK platform. No promo code needed.
Capital at risk. You must fund your account with £5,000+ within 12 months. Full terms apply.
Offer Update — 2 September 2026
Interactive Investor is running a "Summer cashback offer" promotion (1 August – 30 September 2026) that can be stacked with the 6 months free referral offer. New customers can choose one of two bonuses: £100–£3,000 cashback when you open a new SIPP, or £150 in free trades when you open an ISA or Trading Account — the bonus account must be your first ii account, opened via the referral link. This offer ends 30 September 2026.
The 6 months free referral offer is fully active with no expiry date. Use the referral link to get 6 months free, and if you act before 30 September, you can stack it with the Summer promotion for up to £3,000 cashback or £150 free trades on top.
Note: the previous transfer cashback offer (£100–£3,000) ended on 30 April 2026 and has not been renewed. The current Summer offer is a separate promotion with its own tiered SIPP cashback and ISA free-trades bonus. See all current ii offers on ii.co.uk.
Summary: Interactive Investor Referral Offer 2026
Interactive Investor offers 6 months free platform fees to new customers who sign up through a referral link and deposit at least £5,000. Use the referral link on this page to activate the offer — no promo code is needed.
This can be stacked with the September 2026 "Summer cashback offer": £100–£3,000 cashback on a new SIPP, or £150 in free trades on a new ISA. Act before 30 September 2026 to claim both. The previous £100–£3,000 transfer cashback offer ended on 30 April.
Interactive Investor is the cheapest major UK platform for portfolios over £30,000 thanks to its flat monthly fee (£5.99–£14.99/mo). For smaller portfolios under £10,000, percentage-based platforms like Vanguard are cheaper. Eligible accounts: ISA, SIPP, Trading Account.
What the Interactive Investor Referral Offer Gives You
Interactive Investor’s refer-a-friend scheme is one of the most generous in the UK investment platform market. Here is exactly what you get and how to claim it.
What you get: Sign up through the referral link, open an eligible account, and fund it with £5,000+ within 12 months. Your monthly platform fee is waived for 6 months — saving £35.94 on Core (£5.99/mo) or £89.94 on Plus (£14.99/mo). The free period activates within 10 working days of qualifying. No promo code needed — the link does everything.
6 Months Free
No monthly platform fee for 6 months on Core (£35.94 saving) or Plus (£89.94 saving). Annual costs: Core £71.88/yr, Plus £179.88/yr, Pension Builder £155.88/yr.
Eligible Accounts
Stocks & Shares ISA, Personal Pension (SIPP), Trading Account, or Managed ISA. Must be a new ii customer, aged 18+, UK resident. Transfer an existing ISA or pension — it counts toward the £5,000 minimum.
4 Simple Steps
1. Click the referral link below. 2. Open an eligible account. 3. Fund with £5,000+ within 12 months. 4. Free period activates within 10 working days. Normal trading fees apply throughout.
Interactive Investor Summer Cashback Offer — Ends 30 September 2026
On top of 6 months free from the referral, Interactive Investor is currently running a "Summer cashback offer" promotion that can be stacked with the referral deal. This offer ends 30 September 2026.
⏰ Ends 30 September 2026: Interactive Investor's "Summer cashback offer" offer gives new customers either £100–£3,000 cashback on a new SIPP or £150 in free trades on a new ISA or Trading Account. Stack this with 6 months free via the referral link. See full current offers on ii.co.uk.
Key fact: The referral offer (6 months free) and the "Summer cashback offer" promotion are separate offers that stack. Sign up through the referral link first. Then, if you open a SIPP before 30 September 2026, claim the £100–£3,000 cashback; or if you open an ISA, claim the £150 in free trades.
For reference: the previous tiered transfer cashback offer (ended 30 April 2026) used the following tiers. ii periodically runs similar promotions, so these amounts may return in a future offer.
| Transfer / Deposit Amount | Cashback | Plus Referral Saving | Total Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| £20,000 – £49,999 | £100 | Up to £90 | Up to £190 |
| £50,000 – £99,999 | £150 | Up to £90 | Up to £240 |
| £100,000 – £249,999 | £250 | Up to £90 | Up to £340 |
| £250,000 – £749,999 | £500 | Up to £90 | Up to £590 |
| £750,000 – £999,999 | £750 | Up to £90 | Up to £840 |
| £1,000,000 – £1,999,999 | £1,000 | Up to £90 | Up to £1,090 |
| £2,000,000+ | £3,000 | Up to £90 | Up to £3,090 |
The tiered transfer cashback offer (£100–£3,000) ended 30 April 2026 and has not been renewed. The current "Summer cashback offer" (ends 30 September 2026) gives tiered £100–£3,000 cashback on a new SIPP or £150 in free trades on a new ISA/Trading Account. Verified on ii.co.uk 2 September 2026. Current offers on ii.co.uk.
How to Stack Both Offers
1. Click the referral link to open your account — this secures 6 months free. 2. Open a SIPP for £100–£3,000 cashback (tiered by transfer/deposit amount), or an ISA/Trading Account for £150 free trades (Summer offer, ends 30 September 2026). 3. Fund with £5,000+ within 12 months to activate the free period. 4. The referral offer and Summer promotion are separate and both apply.
What Counts Towards the £5,000 Minimum?
Cash deposits, ISA transfers (in-specie or cash), and pension transfers to SIPP all count towards the £5,000 minimum required to activate 6 months free. Amounts are aggregated across all new accounts. Internal transfers from existing ii accounts do not qualify. Bed & ISA transfers are also excluded.
Is Interactive Investor Expensive? An Honest Breakdown
This is one of the most common questions about ii. The short answer: it depends entirely on how much you have invested. Here is the maths.
Under £10,000: ii Is Relatively Expensive
On the Core plan (£5.99/mo = £72/yr), ii charges more than Vanguard (£15/yr at 0.15%), AJ Bell (£25/yr), or Hargreaves Lansdown (£35/yr after their March 2026 fee cut). If you are just starting out with a small pot, a percentage-based platform is genuinely cheaper.
£30,000–£100,000: ii Starts to Win
At £50,000, HL charges £175/yr vs ii's £72/yr (after HL's March 2026 fee cut from 0.45% to 0.35%). At £100,000, HL charges £350/yr vs ii's £72/yr (Core, up to £100k). The flat fee becomes a significant advantage once you cross the ~£20,600 threshold vs HL. Vanguard remains cheaper until about £120k for ISAs.
Over £100,000: ii Is the Clear Winner
A £250k portfolio costs £875/yr on HL (down from £1,125 before March 2026), £625/yr on AJ Bell, £375/yr on Vanguard, but just £180/yr on ii. At £500k the gap is enormous: around £1,500 on HL vs £180 on ii. Even with HL's fee cut, the savings compound year after year and run into tens of thousands over a lifetime.
The Bottom Line
Interactive Investor is not expensive for anyone with more than about £30,000 invested. It is the cheapest major UK platform for medium and large portfolios. For small investors under £10k, there are cheaper options. This is the honest picture — ii is not for everyone, but it is the best value for the majority of serious investors.
Should I Switch to Interactive Investor? Who It Is Best For
Switching investment platforms feels daunting, but it is straightforward. Here is who should consider moving to ii, and who should probably stay where they are.
You Should Switch If
- Your portfolio is over ~£20,600. You will save money vs HL, AJ Bell, and most other percentage-based platforms — even after HL's March 2026 fee cut.
- You are on Hargreaves Lansdown. Even with HL's new lower fees (0.35% from March 2026), it remains the most expensive major platform for mid-to-large portfolios. Switching to ii could save you hundreds or thousands per year.
- You want a SIPP with drawdown. ii's pension is one of the best value in the UK with no hidden charges for drawdown pots.
- You invest for your family. Family accounts are included free on Plus/Premium. On HL, each family member needs their own fee-paying account.
- You use regular investing. Monthly direct debit investments are free on ii. This is ideal for drip-feeding into index funds or ETFs.
You Should Probably Stay If
- Your portfolio is under £10,000. A percentage-based platform like Vanguard or InvestEngine will be cheaper for small pots.
- You only invest in Vanguard funds. Vanguard's own platform is cheaper for Vanguard-only portfolios under ~£96k.
- You want the slickest app. Trading 212 and Freetrade have more polished mobile apps. ii's app works fine but is not best-in-class.
- You trade international shares very frequently. ii's FX fee (0.75% on Core/Plus) adds up for heavy international traders. IBKR may be better.
- You value phone support highly. HL's customer service is generally considered the gold standard. ii is good but not quite at that level.
Interactive Investor vs Hargreaves Lansdown vs Vanguard vs AJ Bell: 2026 Fee Comparison
This table compares the annual cost of the four most popular UK investment platforms for different portfolio sizes. Costs include platform fees only — trading fees are separate.
| Portfolio Size | Interactive Investor | Hargreaves Lansdown | Vanguard | AJ Bell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £10,000 | £72/yr (Core) | £35/yr | £15/yr | £25/yr |
| £30,000 | £72/yr (Core) | £105/yr | £45/yr | £75/yr |
| £50,000 | £72/yr (Core) | £175/yr | £75/yr | £125/yr |
| £100,000 | £180/yr (Plus) | £350/yr | £150/yr | £250/yr |
| £250,000 | £180/yr (Plus) | £875/yr | £375/yr (cap) | £625/yr |
| £500,000 | £180/yr (Plus) | £1,500/yr | £375/yr (cap) | £875/yr |
Hargreaves Lansdown reduced its platform fee from 0.45% to 0.35% from 1 March 2026 (shares/ETFs capped at £150/yr in ISAs). Vanguard charges 0.15%, capped at £375/yr. AJ Bell charges 0.25% (reducing at higher tiers). Interactive Investor's flat fee means the larger your portfolio, the more you save. Figures assume ISA accounts holding funds; SIPP fees may differ. Updated 2 September 2026.
The crossover point: Even after HL's March 2026 fee cut, Interactive Investor becomes cheaper than Hargreaves Lansdown at around £20,600 in portfolio value (up from ~£16,000 previously). It becomes cheaper than AJ Bell at around £29,000. For portfolios under £10,000, a percentage-based platform like Vanguard is cheaper. The gap narrows slightly at lower amounts but remains enormous for larger portfolios — a £250k ISA still costs £875/yr on HL vs £180/yr on ii.
Want to see your exact number? Use our interactive fee calculator — enter your portfolio size and instantly see what you’d pay on each platform. Honest comparison including where ii is not the cheapest. Open the fee calculator →
Switching From Hargreaves Lansdown?
HL cut its platform fee from 0.45% to 0.35% on 1 March 2026 — but ii remains substantially cheaper above roughly £20,600. A £100,000 ISA still costs £350/yr on HL vs £72/yr on ii (Core), and the gap widens as your portfolio grows.
We've published a full side-by-side breakdown covering the fee cut, trading charges, where HL still wins, and the exact crossover point for your portfolio size. Read the full ii vs Hargreaves Lansdown 2026 comparison →
ISA Transfer Season 2026: How Interactive Investor's Offer Compares
It is ISA transfer season and several platforms are competing for your business with cashback deals. Here is how Interactive Investor stacks up against the main alternatives.
| Platform | Transfer Bonus | Maximum Cashback | Deadline | Ongoing Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive Investor | 6 months free (referral) + £100–£3,000 SIPP cashback or £150 free trades (Summer offer, ends 30 September) | £3,000 SIPP / £150 ISA | Summer offer ends 30 September 2026 ✅ | Flat £5.99–£14.99/mo |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | £300–£3,000 tiered + exit fee cover | £3,000 (+ up to £500 exit fees) | Check HL website | 0.35% of portfolio |
| InvestEngine | Up to £5,000 tiered cashback | £5,000 | Check InvestEngine | 0% (DIY) / 0.25% (managed) |
| Freetrade | 1% cashback on transfers | £5,000 | Check Freetrade | £0–£11.99/mo |
| IG | 1% cashback (code TRANS3K) | £3,000 | Check IG website | £0 (3+ trades/quarter) |
| AJ Bell | £25–£5,000 tiered | £5,000 | Check provider website | 0.25% (reducing) |
Offers correct as of 2 September 2026. Interactive Investor's transfer cashback offer (£100–£3,000) ended 30 April 2026. Current ii offer: "Summer cashback offer" ends 30 September 2026 (£100–£3,000 SIPP cashback or £150 free trades on ISA). Other provider offers may have changed — always check each provider's website for current terms. Ongoing fees shown are platform fees only; trading fees are additional.
Why ii stands out: While some competitors offer higher maximum cashback, Interactive Investor is the only major platform where you can combine the transfer bonus with a referral offer for 6 months free. Plus, ii's flat-fee model means your ongoing costs stay low as your portfolio grows — unlike percentage-based platforms where fees scale with your wealth. For a £100k+ portfolio, the long-term fee savings on ii far outweigh a slightly higher one-off cashback elsewhere.
Interactive Investor: Honest Pros and Cons
No platform is perfect. Here is an honest assessment of Interactive Investor's strengths and weaknesses to help you decide if it is right for you.
Pros
- Best value for larger portfolios. Flat fee means you pay the same whether your portfolio is £50k or £500k.
- Free regular investing. No trading fees on monthly direct debit investments — ideal for long-term wealth building.
- Wide investment range. 40,000+ investments including international shares in multiple currencies.
- Transparent pricing. No hidden percentage charges that creep up as your wealth grows.
- Which? Recommended. Independent endorsement from the UK's leading consumer body.
- Family accounts included. Share your plan with family members at no extra cost (Plus/Premium).
- Excellent SIPP. Drawdown flexibility without extra charges. One of the best pension platforms in the UK.
- No exit fees. Transfer out at any time without penalty.
Cons
- Monthly fee even with small portfolios. If you are investing less than £10,000, a percentage-based platform like Vanguard may be cheaper.
- Trading fees still apply. £3.99 per trade on top of the monthly fee. Frequent traders should compare total costs.
- App could be better. The mobile app is functional but not as polished as Freetrade or Trading 212. Desktop experience is stronger.
- FX fees on international shares. 0.75% on Core/Plus plans — not the cheapest for heavy international trading.
- Customer service wait times. Phone support can be slow during busy periods, though generally rated well overall.
- Core plan capped at £100k. You must upgrade to Plus (£14.99/mo) once your portfolio exceeds £100,000.
Interactive Investor Pricing Plans 2026
Interactive Investor offers three pricing tiers. The referral offer gives you 6 months free on either the Core or Plus plan.
Core
Best for investors with less than £100,000
- Portfolio limit: up to £100,000
- UK/US shares: £3.99/trade
- Funds: £3.99/trade
- Int'l shares: £9.99/trade
- FX fee: 0.75%
- Regular investing: Free
- ISA, SIPP, Trading Account
Plus
Best for growing portfolios over £100,000
- Portfolio limit: Unlimited
- UK/US shares: £3.99/trade
- Funds: £1.49/trade
- Int'l shares: £7.99/trade
- FX: 0.75% (first £50k), 0.25% after
- Regular investing: Free
- 1 free family account
Premium
Best for active traders and large portfolios
- Portfolio limit: Unlimited
- UK/US shares: £2.99/trade
- Funds: Free
- Int'l shares: £5.99/trade
- FX fee: 0.25%
- 2 free monthly trades
- Up to 5 free family accounts
Frequently Asked Questions About the Interactive Investor Referral Offer
Where can I find an Interactive Investor referral code for 6 months free?
Interactive Investor does not use traditional referral codes — instead, new customers sign up via the referral link on this page. Deposit £5,000 within 12 months and you get 6 months with no monthly platform fee (saving up to £89.94 on the Plus plan). You can also stack this with the current Summer offer (ends 30 September 2026): £100–£3,000 cashback on a new SIPP or £150 in free trades on a new ISA.
How do I get 6 months free on Interactive Investor in 2026?
Use a refer-a-friend link to sign up for Interactive Investor. Open an eligible account (ISA, SIPP, or Trading Account) and fund it with at least £5,000 within 12 months. You will then receive 6 months with no monthly platform fee, saving up to £89.94 on the Plus plan or £35.94 on the Core plan. Normal trading fees still apply during the free period.
What is the Interactive Investor referral code for 2026?
Interactive Investor uses unique referral links rather than traditional promo codes. Use the referral link on this page to get 6 months with no monthly subscription fee.
What is the minimum deposit for the Interactive Investor referral offer?
You must fund your new Interactive Investor account with at least £5,000 within 12 months of opening it. This can be via cash deposits or transfers from another provider (ISA transfers, pension transfers, etc.). Both new money and transfers count towards the £5,000 minimum.
Can I transfer my ISA or pension from another provider to get the offer?
Yes. ISA transfers and pension transfers count towards the £5,000 minimum funding requirement. You can transfer from Hargreaves Lansdown, Vanguard, AJ Bell, Fidelity, or any other UK platform. ii does not charge exit fees, and most transfers complete within 2-6 weeks. There is no charge from ii for in-specie or cash transfers.
Which accounts are eligible for the Interactive Investor referral offer?
The following account types are eligible: Trading Account, Stocks and Shares ISA, Managed ISA, and Personal Pension (SIPP). You must be a new Interactive Investor customer (not an existing account holder), aged 18 or over, and a UK resident. The free period applies to the Core or Plus plans — upgrading to Premium ends the free period.
Do I still pay trading fees during the free 6 months?
Yes. The referral offer waives the monthly platform fee only. Normal trading fees still apply (£3.99 per UK/US share trade on the Core plan). However, regular investments (monthly direct debit purchases) remain free on all plans, so you can invest regularly without any trading costs.
Is Interactive Investor safe? Is my money protected?
Yes. Interactive Investor is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Your investments are held in nominee accounts, meaning they are ring-fenced from ii's own assets. Cash balances up to £85,000 are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). ii is one of the UK's largest investment platforms, managing over £70 billion in assets.
Can I combine the referral offer with the transfer cashback bonus?
Yes. The referral offer (6 months free) and the current "Summer cashback offer" promotion are separate offers that stack. Sign up via the referral link first to secure 6 months free. Then, if you open a SIPP before 30 September 2026, you can claim £100–£3,000 cashback (tiered by transfer/deposit amount); or if you open an ISA, you can claim £150 in free trades. The previous large tiered transfer cashback (up to £3,000) ended on 30 April 2026 and has not been renewed.
More questions — including ii vs HL, the best ISA transfer deals, and tax-year timing — are answered on the full FAQ page and in the ii vs Hargreaves Lansdown comparison.