Invest
Compare ISAs
Compare Stocks & Shares ISAs, Cash ISAs, Lifetime ISAs and Junior ISAs — tax-efficient savings and investment accounts from leading UK providers.
Choosing an ISA
Which ISA may suit your goal?
A starting point only — rates, fees and full eligibility sit on each product page.
- Compare Cash ISAs
Cash ISA
- Best for:
- Shorter-term or lower-risk cash saving
- Key point:
- Interest may be tax-free within ISA rules
- Main limitation:
- Rates and withdrawal terms vary
- Compare Stocks & Shares ISAs
Stocks & Shares ISA
- Best for:
- Longer-term investing
- Key point:
- Eligible investments can be held inside a tax-efficient wrapper
- Main limitation:
- Capital is at risk
- Compare Lifetime ISAs
Lifetime ISA
- Best for:
- Eligible first-home buyers or later-life saving
- Key point:
- Government bonus may apply under current rules
- Main limitation:
- Withdrawal rules and penalties apply outside permitted circumstances
- Compare Junior ISAs
Junior ISA
- Best for:
- Saving or investing for a child
- Key point:
- Money belongs to the child
- Main limitation:
- Usually inaccessible until the child reaches the relevant age
Side by side
Compare ISA types
Hub-level differences only — open a product page to compare providers.
| Feature | Cash ISA | Stocks & Shares ISA | Lifetime ISA | Junior ISA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Tax-efficient cash saving | Tax-efficient investing | First home or later life | Saving or investing for a child |
| Investment risk | No investment-market risk | Capital at risk | Cash or investments — risk depends on product | Cash or investments — risk depends on product |
| Access to money | Usually accessible, subject to product terms | Usually accessible, subject to product terms | Restricted — penalties may apply outside permitted uses | Generally locked until age 18 |
| Government bonus | No | No | May apply under current Lifetime ISA rules | No |
| Best for | Lower-risk cash savers | Investors with a longer horizon | Eligible first-home or later-life savers | Parents or guardians saving for a child |
| Main limitation | Rates and access terms vary | Investments can fall in value | Withdrawal penalties outside permitted uses | Usually inaccessible until adulthood |
ISA allowances
How ISA allowances work
Figures are tax-year-specific and come from one central rules object — not duplicated product copy.
Current rule
Current rules for: 2026/27
Overall ISA allowance
£20,000
Lifetime ISA contribution limit
£4,000
Junior ISA allowance
£9,000
You can usually split the adult allowance across eligible ISA types, subject to each product’s rules. The Lifetime ISA contribution limit forms part of the overall adult allowance. Junior ISAs use a separate allowance.
Rules last checked: 16 September 2026
Planned change
Not current law
Planned Cash ISA changes from April 2027
Under current government plans, the Cash ISA subscription limit for people under 65 is expected to reduce to £12,000 from 6 April 2027, while the overall ISA allowance remains £20,000. Different Cash ISA rules are planned for people aged 65 and over.
These are future rules and do not apply to the current tax year. Current figures above apply to 2026/27 only.
Planned-change last checked: 16 September 2026
GOV.UK — draft Cash ISA regulations (2027)(opens in a new tab)Saving or investing?
Cash ISA vs Stocks & Shares ISA
Depends on time horizon and risk tolerance — not personalised advice.
Cash ISA
- Cash savings
- No investment-market risk
- Interest rate may be fixed or variable
- Often better for shorter time horizons
Stocks & Shares ISA
- Investments
- Capital at risk
- Value can rise and fall
- Usually more suitable for longer time horizons
Neither option is universally better. The right choice depends on your goals, timeframe and tolerance for risk.
Compare Cash ISAs and Stocks & Shares ISAs.
ISA rules
Can you have more than one ISA?
High-level contribution rules — product pages cover type-specific limits.
- You can hold more than one ISA.
- How much you can pay in depends on the current tax-year rules and each ISA type.
- Transfers and new contributions are treated differently — a formal transfer is not the same as withdrawing and paying in again.
- Always check the latest HMRC guidance before contributing.
What is a flexible ISA?
Some ISAs allow certain withdrawals to be replaced within the same tax year without permanently using that allowance, subject to current rules and provider terms. Not all ISAs are flexible — check terms before withdrawing.
What if you contribute too much?
Do not intentionally exceed ISA contribution limits. If you think an error has occurred, contact your provider and follow current HMRC guidance. This page does not give remediation or tax advice.
Official guidance: GOV.UK — Individual Savings Accounts
Transfers
How ISA transfers work
Use a formal transfer if you want to preserve ISA treatment.
Step 01
Choose new provider
Compare fees, rates, investments and transfer support on the relevant ISA product page.
Step 02
Request ISA transfer
Ask the receiving provider to start a formal ISA transfer — do not simply withdraw and redeposit.
Step 03
Existing provider processes transfer
Your current provider receives the request and processes the move under current rules.
Step 04
Funds or investments move
Cash or investments arrive in the new ISA. Times and fees vary by provider and asset type.
A formal transfer of previous years’ subscriptions does not normally use your current-year allowance. Current-year subscriptions can be treated differently — confirm with both providers. Product-specific transfer detail sits on each ISA comparison page.
Tax-free does not mean risk-free
An ISA is a tax wrapper, not an investment itself. A Stocks & Shares ISA can still fall in value, and you may get back less than you invest.
Cash ISAs do not carry investment-market risk, but inflation may reduce the real value of cash savings.
Compare options
ISA, savings account or pension?
Different wrappers suit different goals — this is not a personal recommendation.
| Feature | ISA | Savings account | Pension / SIPP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access | Usually accessible (Lifetime and Junior ISAs more restricted) | Usually accessible, subject to notice or fixed terms | Generally inaccessible until minimum pension age |
| Tax treatment | Tax-efficient wrapper under current ISA rules | Interest may be taxable depending on your circumstances | Tax relief and growth rules differ from ISAs |
| Investment risk | Cash: no market risk. Investing ISAs: capital at risk | No investment-market risk on cash savings | Depends on investments — capital can be at risk |
| Best suited for | Tax-efficient saving or investing within annual allowances | Everyday cash savings outside an ISA wrapper | Long-term retirement saving |
| Main limitation | Annual contribution limits and product-specific rules | No ISA tax wrapper; interest may be taxable | Money is usually locked until pension age |
Before you open
Before opening an ISA
- Decide what the money is for and when you may need access
- Choose between cash and investments
- Compare rates, fees and charges on the product page
- Check withdrawal, transfer and flexibility terms
- Check provider regulation and protection for that legal entity
- Confirm current tax-year rules — avoid choosing on headline bonuses alone
How ISA protection can differ
Cash ISA
Eligible deposits with an eligible deposit-taker may be covered by FSCS deposit protection if that firm fails, subject to eligibility and limits (currently up to £120,000). Protection depends on the legal entity — not every brand or product is covered in the same way.
Stocks & Shares ISA
FSCS may apply in some firm-failure cases for eligible investment business, but it does not protect against normal market losses. Investments can fall in value. See each Stocks & Shares ISA page for provider-level detail.
FAQs
Common questions about ISAs
Extra points not covered above — not personalised tax or investment advice.
Our editorial approach
How we review ISA information
- HMRC rules checked against official guidance
- Current tax-year figures centrally maintained in one rules object
- Planned rule changes clearly labelled as not in force
- Commercial relationships do not determine factual guidance
Last reviewed: 16 September 2026
Tax rules last checked: 16 September 2026
Provider information last checked: 16 September 2026
Sources and further information
Reference links only — these organisations do not endorse WiT Money.
- GOV.UK — Individual Savings Accounts(opens in a new tab)
- GOV.UK — Lifetime ISA(opens in a new tab)
- GOV.UK — Junior Individual Savings Accounts(opens in a new tab)
- Financial Conduct Authority(opens in a new tab)
- FCA Register(opens in a new tab)
- Financial Services Compensation Scheme(opens in a new tab)
- MoneyHelper(opens in a new tab)
Found an outdated ISA allowance, rule or provider feature? Email contact@witfinancegroup.com. We review reported inaccuracies and update verified information promptly.
Next steps
Continue exploring
Compare providers on the dedicated product pages.
Cash ISAsViewStocks & Shares ISAsViewLifetime ISAsViewJunior ISAsViewSavings AccountsViewInvestment PlatformsViewPensionsViewFunds & ETFsView
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