Robo-advisors sit between a DIY index fund and a full financial adviser — they handle portfolio construction, rebalancing, and risk management automatically, at a cost far lower than a human adviser. All UK robo-advisors are FCA-regulated and offer ISA wrappers.
Provider Comparison — UK Robo-Advisors 2026
| Provider | Min. investment | Annual fee | ISA | SIPP | FSCS protected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nutmeg | £500 (fixed) / £100 (managed) | 0.25%–0.75% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Moneyfarm | £500 | 0.35%–0.75% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wealthify | £1 | 0.60% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Moneybox | £1 | 0.45% platform + fund fees | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vanguard LifeStrategy (DIY) | £500 | 0.15% + 0.22% fund = 0.37% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Moola | £1 | 0.50% | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
Fee Comparison — Real Impact on £10,000 Over 10 Years
Fees compound just like returns — a higher annual fee has a material impact on long-term outcomes.
| Provider | Annual fee (all-in) | £10,000 after 10 years (7% gross) | Fee drag vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nutmeg (fixed allocation) | 0.40% | £17,900 | Baseline |
| Moneyfarm | 0.55% | £17,600 | -£300 |
| Wealthify | 0.70% | £17,300 | -£600 |
| Moneybox | 0.65% | £17,400 | -£500 |
Figures are illustrative. Fund costs vary. 7% gross return is not guaranteed.
Nutmeg — UK’s Largest Robo-Advisor
- Owned by: JPMorgan Chase
- AUM: Over £4 billion
- Portfolios: Fixed Allocation (cheapest, passive ETFs), Managed (active rebalancing), Smart Alpha (factor-tilted)
- Fee: 0.25% (Fixed) to 0.75% (Smart Alpha), plus fund costs ~0.15–0.20%
- Best for: Larger pots (over £5,000); those wanting a JPMorgan-backed product
- Drawback: Higher minimum on managed portfolios; customer service is automated
Moneyfarm — Best for Personalised Portfolios
- AUM: Over £3 billion
- Portfolios: 7 risk levels; ETF-based; human adviser consultations available
- Fee: 0.35% above £100,000; 0.75% below £10,000; sliding scale between
- Best for: Hands-off investors who want occasional human contact; higher net worth
- Drawback: Higher minimum; fee not competitive at lower amounts
Wealthify — Best for Low Minimums
- Owned by: Aviva
- Portfolios: 5 investment styles from Cautious to Adventurous; ethical option available
- Fee: 0.60% platform + fund costs (~0.16%)
- Min: £1
- Best for: New investors starting small; ethical investing; those wanting Aviva backing
- Drawback: Higher fee than Nutmeg at scale; fewer portfolio customisation options
Moneybox — Best for Mobile-First Saving
- Portfolios: Cautious, Balanced, Adventurous — also cash savings and property products
- Fee: £1/month (under £500) then 0.45% platform + fund costs
- Min: £1
- Best for: Young savers; round-up feature for impulse saving; also offers Lifetime ISA and cash savings
Robo-Advisor vs DIY Index Fund — Which Is Right For You?
| Robo-advisor | DIY index fund (e.g. Vanguard) | |
|---|---|---|
| Fee | 0.45%–0.75% all-in | 0.22%–0.37% all-in |
| Portfolio construction | Done for you | You choose |
| Rebalancing | Automatic | Manual |
| Risk management | Risk questionnaire drives allocation | You decide |
| Best for | Hands-off investors | Those comfortable choosing funds |
| Annual cost on £20,000 | £90–£150 | £44–£74 |
For larger sums (over £50,000), the fee difference between a robo-advisor (0.6%) and a single index fund (0.22%) is £190/year. Over 20 years at 7%, that gap compounds to approximately £8,000. Self-directing becomes more worthwhile as the pot grows.
How to Choose
- Small pot, want simplicity: Wealthify or Moneybox (£1 minimum)
- Medium pot, want human touch: Moneyfarm (adviser consultations available)
- Larger pot, lowest fee: Nutmeg Fixed Allocation (0.25% + ~0.15% fund)
- Ethical investing: Wealthify (explicit ethical portfolio)
- Pension specifically: Nutmeg or Moneyfarm (both offer FCA-regulated SIPPs)
For platform-only investing with maximum control, see best investment platforms UK. For the simplest single-fund approach, see best ETFs UK.