Your goal
Know what you're investing for. Whether it's a house deposit, retirement or a rainy-day fund, your goal can help shape your choices.
Investments
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Get started with Investments by MoneySuperMarket
You can invest with a stocks and shares ISA, a general investment account, or both. Our low, transparent fees means more of your money stays invested and working for you.
✓ Trade for free: No fees when you buy or sell investments
✓ Low platform fee: Keep more of your money invested
✓ Clear options: Pick a ready-made fund or build your own mix
Remember, the value of investments can go up or down and you may get back less than you put in.
What is investing?
Investing is a way to grow your money over time. You put your money into things like funds, shares or bonds, with the aim of growing it.
Unlike cash savings, returns aren't guaranteed. The value of your investments can go up and down, so you could get back less than you put in.
Investing is usually best for money you won't need for at least five years.
Before you start, make sure you understand the risk, have an emergency fund to cover at least 6 months of essential spending and have paid off any high-interest debt.
How does investing work?
There are different ways to invest, but the basic steps are usually similar:
Choose how you want to invest: Pick a provider and open an account, such as a stocks and shares ISA or general investment account.
Choose your investments and pay money in: Pick what to invest in, such as funds, shares or ETFs (exchange-traded funds). You can usually pay in a lump sum, set up regular payments or do both.
Your money is invested: Once invested, your money can grow over time as the value of your investments rises. But values can also fall, so you could get back less than you put in.
What are the pros and cons of investing?
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Pros
Can help your money grow – Investments can increase in value over time, helping you work towards future goals.
You can start small – Many providers let you begin with a small amount and add more when you're ready.
Plenty of choice – You can choose from different types of investments to match your goals and comfort with risk.
Flexible ways to invest – You can often make one-off payments, invest regularly, or do a mix of both.
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Cons
You could lose money – The value of investments can fall, so you may get back less than you put in.
Returns aren't guaranteed – Unlike some savings accounts, there is no set rate of growth.
Fees can reduce your returns – Most investment accounts charge fees, which can affect how much your money grows.
It's not ideal for short-term goals – Markets can go up and down, so investing is usually better for money you won't need for several years.
What should I consider before investing?
Think about your goals, how much risk you're happy with, how involved you want to be and how long you can
stay invested.
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Your attitude to risk
Think about how much risk feels right for you. Higher-risk investments may offer higher returns, but your money could fall in value too.
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Your involvement
Choose how hands-on you want to be. You can pick to invest in a ready-made fund, build your own portfolio, or a mix of both.
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Your time frame
Consider how long you can invest for. Investing is best suited to longer-term goals, giving your money more time to grow.
Which investment accounts can I compare?
We can help you compare accounts from providers across the market and find one that suits how you want to invest. Whether you're saving for yourself, or your child, we can help you explore your options.
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Stocks and Shares ISA
Invest up to your annual ISA allowance each tax year. Any growth stays free from UK tax, helping you grow your money over the long term.
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Lifetime ISA
Save or invest up to £4,000 a year for your first home or retirement, with a 25% government bonus on what you put in, up to annual limits.
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Junior ISA
A tax-efficient account that lets you save or invest up to £9,000 a year for a child's future until they turn 18.
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Private pension
We've partnered with Profile Pensions to help you combine and manage your pension. This is a pension service rather than a comparison.
How long should I keep my money invested?
Investing is usually best suited to medium or long-term goals. As a rule of thumb, many people invest for at least five years to give their money time to recover from short-term market ups and downs.
If you’ll need to access your money sooner, a savings account may be more suitable. These don’t carry stock market risks, but they may offer lower returns over the long term.
Our expert says…
Investing isn’t just for those with hundreds of thousands of pounds and a deep knowledge of the markets.
Anyone with a couple of pounds they can set aside for a while could reap the rewards of higher returns. There are downsides of course.
Investments are riskier than bundling your cash into a savings account, and it’s important to look carefully at both the different options as well as the charges involved, especially as investing is a long-term game.
Kara Gammell Personal Finance & Insurance Expert
Not ready to invest? Save instead
With Savings by MoneySuperMarket, you can compare, open and manage savings accounts from multiple banks, all in our app – and earn SuperSaveClub rewards too.
Reward value based on deposit amount. T&Cs and restrictions apply.
Investments by MoneySuperMarket: Moneysupermarket.com Investments Limited is an appointed representative of P1 Investments Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA FRN 752005).
Reviewed on 27 Aug 2026 by
