Comparison: Pensions

Best UK SIPP Platforms 2026

Last reviewed May 2026

A Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) lets you control your own retirement investments. The right platform depends on your pot size, how often you trade, and whether you need a broad fund range or just a global tracker. Below we rank the main UK SIPP providers on what actually matters: ongoing fees, dealing costs, and the realistic break-even points where each one wins.

Our pick

Trading 212

For most UK passive investors with a pot under £100k, Trading 212 is hard to beat: zero platform fee, zero dealing costs, and full access to ETFs (which is all most index investors actually need). The trade-off is a shorter UK SIPP track record than incumbents and ETFs only - but for a low-cost passive portfolio, that's a good deal. Above £100k or if you need Vanguard's mutual funds specifically, Vanguard is the safer pick.

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Honourable mentions

Interactive Investor

Above £70k, the flat £12.99/month dominates every percentage-based competitor. At £200k, you're paying £156/year vs £300 at Vanguard or £900 at HL. The bigger your pot, the more this matters.

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Vanguard

Still the gold standard for "I just want to own a Vanguard global tracker and forget about it" investors. Slightly higher fees than Trading 212 but with the long-term track record and broader fund range (LifeStrategy, target-date funds).

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How we picked

Fees and rates verified from each provider's public fee schedule, last reviewed May 2026. We focus on the long-term cost for a passive investor holding mostly funds or ETFs - the audience this site is built for. Active traders, options users, and high-net-worth investors should run their own numbers.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest UK SIPP?
For pots under £100k, Trading 212 with its 0% platform fee and free dealing is the cheapest by a clear margin. Above £100k, Interactive Investor's flat £12.99/month structure typically wins because percentage-based fees grow with the pot while flat fees do not.
What is the difference between a SIPP and a workplace pension?
A workplace pension is set up by your employer with a chosen provider and limited fund options. A SIPP is opened directly by you with the provider of your choice and gives you full control over investments. Most people benefit from doing both: contributing to the workplace pension up to the employer match (free money) and using a SIPP for additional contributions where they want broader investment choice. Our SIPP vs workplace pension guide covers the full comparison.
Can I transfer my old pensions into a SIPP?
Yes, in most cases. Defined contribution pensions (the standard modern type) can usually be transferred into a SIPP. Defined benefit pensions (final salary schemes) require regulated financial advice if the transfer value exceeds £30,000, and the advice usually concludes you should not transfer. PensionBee specialises in DC consolidation; most other SIPP providers also accept transfers but require more paperwork.
How much should I have in a SIPP before switching providers?
It is rarely worth switching for under £20k because exit fees, time lost in cash, and admin friction outweigh the fee savings. Above £50k the case becomes clearer, and above £100k the difference between a 0% and 0.45% platform fee is several hundred pounds a year, which compounds significantly over a 30-year holding period. If you are tracking down old workplace pensions to consolidate, see our find lost pensions UK guide.
Are SIPP platform fees tax-deductible?
No. SIPP platform fees are not separately tax-deductible. They are deducted from inside the pension wrapper and reduce your overall return. This is why minimising fees matters: every 0.1% saved compounds tax-free across decades. The pension annual allowance and lifetime tax rules are unaffected by which platform you use.
How does a SIPP fit alongside an ISA?
Most UK savers benefit from doing both: pension up to any employer match (free money), then ISA for flexibility, then top-up pension for tax relief. Our ISA vs pension and LISA vs SIPP guides cover the order in detail. The right SIPP platform on this page is independent of how you split contributions.

Disclosure: Some links on this page may be affiliate links, which means we receive a small commission if you sign up. This never affects the rankings or which platforms we recommend. We only feature platforms that meet our editorial standards.