Direct Investing

INVESTMENTS

Invest with our award-winning platform. Good move.
Now with no monthly fee. Really good move.

Other charges, such as trading fees, apply. 

The value of investments can fall as well as rise so you may get back less than you invest. Tax rules can change and their effects vary depending on your individual circumstances. Please check the costs involved before transferring.

Why choose Direct Investing?

Direct Investing gives you the investment choice and research tools you need to help grow your money. Enjoy our award-winning accounts, expert insights and resources to help you work towards your financial goals.

Free to hold your investments

No customer fee on all investment accounts. Other charges, such as trading fees, apply.

Investment choice

Over 8,000 different investments to choose from

Accessible

Check your investments and trade anytime online or with the Barclays app

Award-winning

Best Buy ISA 2026, Best for Customer Service 2026 and Value for Money Winner 2026 from Boring Money.(1)

Award-winning investment platform

We were voted Best Buy ISA 2026, Best for Customer Service 2026 and Value for Money Winner 2026 from Boring Money.

Our costs and charges

Holding your investments with us

Free

No customer fee* on all investment accounts

Regular investing

Free

Available for funds, UK shares, ETFs and investment trusts

Buying or selling funds

Free

This includes our Ready-made Investments

Buying or selling shares

£6 per trade

Including ETFs, Investment trusts, bonds and gilts

*Customer fee is defined as the amount you pay to hold your investments with us and is sometimes referred to as a custody fee. This was charged as a percentage of the value of your investments (excluding cash) across your accounts and was taken monthly.

£25 per trade by telephone. Taxes may apply when buying shares. A foreign exchange and an international brokerage fee will be charged when trading international shares.

Funds, ETFs and investment trusts all have their own built-in fees that cover the costs of running the fund.

Choose your account

Investment ISA

Otherwise known as a Stocks and Shares ISA, this is the most popular account people choose when they start to invest.

You can pay in up to £20,000 per tax year into our award winning ISA.

Any returns you make are tax free and you can withdraw cash when you like.

Investment ISA

Investment Account

A flexible account if you’ve already used your ISA allowance for the current tax year OR you’re already paying into an ISA with another provider.

No limits on the amount you can invest and you can withdraw your cash at any time.

Investment Account

If you have investment accounts elsewhere, you can transfer them to us and benefit from having everything in one place. Transferring ISAs doesn’t affect their tax-efficient status and with any transfer, you should make sure that you don’t have to pay penalties or give up valuable benefits. Just let us know and we’ll manage the transfer for you.

Already have an investment account with us?

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Fund your account

You have three ways to fund your Direct Investing account. Choose the option that best suits you and get started in minutes with your very own Investment Account (GIA) or Investment ISA.

    1. Setup a direct debit

    Setup a regular Direct Debit from your chosen UK Bank Account

    2. Top up your account

    Top-up online or by phone using a UK Debit Card in your name

    3. Transfer funds

    Transfer in by moving money from your Barclays account

    Choose investments that suit you

    I’d like some inspiration

    Choose from one of our five Ready-made Investment funds based on the level of return you’re hoping for balanced against how you feel about taking investment risk

    Put together by our team of investment professionals, who monitor them regularly to make sure they stay true to their objectives

    Ready-made Investments

    I’d like to see the Barclays Funds List

    See the Funds List that our experts have put together

    Use funds to help balance your risk across different industries, geographic locations and investment types

    See our funds list

    I know what I’m doing

    Choose from thousands of investments including funds, shares, gilts and bonds

    Use the tools and insights in our Research Centre to make your own investment decisions

    Show me all investments

    Want a personalised financial plan designed around your long-term goals? See how Planning and Advice could help you. Eligibility criteria apply.

    Explore the service today

    Already have an investment account with us?

    Log in

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    Looking for Smart Investor?

    Direct Investing is the new name for Smart Investor. We’re making this change because we want to provide more clarity that this service is for customers who want to make their own investment decisions.

    You can choose from thousands of investments including funds, shares, gilts and bonds, and take advantage of our expert insights, research tools and resources to inform your decisions.

    Get the Barclays app

    Join the 10 million Barclays app customers. If the account’s just for you and you’re over 18, you can use our app.

    Get the Barclays app
    How to register

    Important information

    1. We were voted Best Buy ISA 2026, Best for Customer Service 2026 and Value for Money Winner 2026 from Boring Money.(Return to reference)

    2. Lines are open from 7:30am to 7pm Monday to Thursday, 7:30am to 6pm on Friday and closed during weekends and public holidays. To maintain a quality service, we may monitor or record phone calls. Call charges.(Return to reference)