The best Junior ISAs can be a great product to use when saving for a child’s future. The money can be built up gradually over time and can then be used when they turn 18 for anything from university fees, a gap year, or a house deposit.
The money is locked away until the child turns 18. You can choose from a cash ISA which pays interest or a stocks and shares account which is invested in the stock market.
Here we take a look at the best accounts available, for both types of Junior ISA.
Best Junior ISAs
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- 3.75% top-paying Junior cash ISA rate
- No-fee junior stocks and shares ISA
- Free £10 top-up Wealthify Junior Stocks and Shares ISA offer
What is a Junior ISA?
A Junior ISA is a tax-free account which you can use to save for a child’s future, up to a yearly limit (currently £9,000). This annual allowance can be split between a cash or a stocks and shares Junior ISA.
The money can’t be touched and when the child turns 16 they can manage the account and when they turn 18 it becomes a standard ISA in their name. The money is then theirs to use as they wish.
Junior cash ISA vs Junior stocks and shares ISA - what's the difference?
There are two different Junior ISAs to choose from, or you could open one of each as each child is allowed one cash and one stocks and shares ISA.
- Cash: You’ll be paid a fixed or variable amount of interest
- Stocks and shares: Money is invested in the stock market and returns depend on how your investments perform
There are pros and cons with each type of Junior ISA so think carefully about which might be right for you and your family.
Rachel Springall, finance expert for Moneyfacts, said: “Building a savings pot for a child’s future can help towards paying for university fees or building a fund to get them on the property ladder.
“Savers can choose a cash interest option or stocks and shares, which in the long-term, may well outperform the interest rates on offer today.
“The issue with a parent saving any cash for a child’s future outside of a JISA is the temptation to dip into the pot in emergencies. A JISA removes that option. If parents would like to keep the cash untouched by their children, say until they turn 21, they could approach a solicitor to discuss the options of locking any savings or potential inheritance money into a trust.”
The best Junior cash ISAs
| Provider | Rate (AER) | Minimum deposit | Annual or monthly interest? | Transfers in allowed | How to open |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skipton BS | 3.75% | £1 | Annually | Yes, but not from a Child Trust Fund | Post or branch |
| Beverley BS | 3.45% | £1 | Annually | Yes | Post or branch |
| Coventry BS | 3.10% | £1 | Annually | Yes | Post or phone |
| Monmouthshire BS | 3.00% | £10 | Annually | Yes, but not from a Child Trust Fund | Branch |
| Dudley BS | 2.95% | £2,500 | Annually | Yes (if from a Child Trust Fund this must be done when you apply) | Branch or by post |
| NS&I | 2.70% | £1 | Annually | Yes | Online |
All junior ISA accounts listed in the table are correct as of 24 November 2022, the information is supplied by Moneyfacts.co.uk.
Junior stocks and shares ISAs
When picking a Junior stocks and shares ISA you need to keep an eye on several factors including the minimum deposit needed, both monthly or as a lump sum, and the fees.
Investment companies usually charge an annual fee based on the amount of money held within an account. But other charges to watch out for include a fee for buying and selling shares and funds, withdrawals, and foreign exchange charges if a provider converts dividends or payments into sterling.
In the table below we’ve included and ranked the accounts by the annual charge but there can be other fees applied.
| Provider | Minimum deposit | Fees | User app rating (out of 5) | How to open |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fidelity International | £25/mth or £500 lump sum | No fee | 4.6 Apple / 4.3 Android | Online or phone |
| Vanguard | £100/mth or £500 lump sum | 0.15% per year | 4.7 Apple | Online |
| Bestinvest | £100/mth or lump sum | 0.20% up to £500,000 | NA | Online |
| AJ Bell | £25/mth or £500 lump sum | 0.25% per year (capped at £30 per year) | 4.7 Apple / 4.2 Android | Online |
| Nutmeg | £100 lump sum | 0.45% up to £100k, 0.25% beyond | 4.8 Apple / 4.4 Nutmeg | Onlien or in-app |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | £25/mth or £100 lump sum | 0.45% per year (capped at £45 per year) | 4.7 Apple / 4.4 Android | Online |
| Moneybox | £1/mth or lump sum | £1 monthly fee (free for first three months), 0.45% platform fee (charged monthly) | 4.8 Apple / 4.8 Android | App only |
| Wealthify | £1 lump sum | 0.60% per year (minus £10 top-up in year one) | 4.5 Apple / 3.4 Android | Online or in-app |
| One Family | £10/mth | 1.5% per year | N/A | Online or phone |
| interactive investor | £25/mth or £100 lump sum | Must open an ISA or Trading Account (£9.99/mth) before opening a Junior ISA. | 4.4 Apple / 1.8 Android | Online |
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