Best Junior ISA Providers UK 2025: Expert Comparison

As the cost of living continues to escalate, many parents and guardians worry about their children’s futures. Will they be able to pay for college, afford a car, or buy their own home?

Luckily, a junior ISA (Individual Savings Account) can give you an easy way to save money that grows tax-free, so the next generation has a nice chunk of savings to hit the ground running.

That said, choosing the best junior ISA in 2025 can be daunting. With so many providers offering different features, it’s important to find one that suits your needs and maximises your child’s savings potential.

In this article, we review the top junior ISAs available in the UK, comparing interest rates, investment options, and account flexibility so you can make the best decision for a child’s financial future.

Let’s dive into 3 of the best junior ISAs, comparing interest rates, fees, and minimum investments to help you make an informed decision.

Our expert score: 4.8/5

Pros

Cons

Hargreaves Lansdown (HL) has been a trusted name for over 40 years and is one of the UK’s leading investment and savings platforms—for good reason.

HL offers a fee-free junior stocks and shares ISA, with interest rates starting at 2.32% AER. Getting started is easy with a low initial deposit: You can contribute a £100 lump sum or set up a direct debit of £25 per month.

With a generous choice of investment options—including funds, UK and international shares, investment trusts, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and more—you’ll have plenty to choose from.

Why buy? Expert verdict

While the absence of junior cash ISAs may disappoint some, the low minimum deposit and investment options available with the junior stocks and shares ISA will surely appeal to many. With ready-made portfolios curated by HL’s expert team, HL is especially ideal for parents looking for a hands-off investment approach. Transferring junior ISAs and Child Trust Funds from other providers to HL is also easy, which is good news for those looking to switch.

You can open an account online in just 10 minutes, or by phone or post, if preferred. Plus, if you already have a personal HL account, you can manage your and your child’s ISAs in one place using HL’s convenient smartphone app.

Moreover, boasting over 200 awards—including Boring Money’s Best Buy Junior ISA and Best for Customer Service 2025—HL is a customer favourite, with their award-winning service team available to customers 6 days a week.

These features, among others, are why we’ve named HL’s junior stocks and shares ISA the best investment junior ISA.

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Our expert score: 4.5/5

Pros

Cons

Fidelity’s junior stocks and shares ISA provides access to more than 3,000 funds and 2,000 UK and international shares, investment trusts, and ETFs. Starting is simple with a low initial deposit: you can make a one-off contribution of £100 or set up a monthly direct debit of £25. The 2.99% AER interest rate also provides a helpful boost to funds.

You can open this fee-free junior ISA (JISA) online in minutes, and once set up, you can manage your investments online 24/7, either via the website or Fidelity’s dedicated app.

Why buy? Expert verdict

Fidelity has been awarded the prestigious Boring Money Best Buy JISA accolade for the past 3 years, thanks to its commitment to all-around excellent service.

With a UK-based customer service team available 6 days a week and expert guidance and articles to assist you, Fidelity’s junior ISA is a great choice for newbies dipping their toes into investing in junior ISAs.

Parents or legal guardians can browse from the complete list of investments, choose from expertly-picked favourite funds, or have a specially-crafted list of ideas based on their needs and preferences.

Fidelity simplifies transfers from other providers, too—just give the team the details of your account, and they’ll handle the rest. Plus, if you incur any exit fees from your previous provider, Fidelity will cover up to £500 per person.

While some may dislike the lack of a physical branch presence, Fidelity’s simple user interface and app make it a strong contender for tech-savvy users prioritising an easy online experience when investing. That’s why it’s one of the best stocks and shares junior ISA providers in the UK today.

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Our expert score: 4.3/5

Pros

Cons

The Junior cash ISA (2) account from Coventry Building Society (CBS) is a top choice for parents looking for a low-risk, high-interest savings account.

This fee-free account can be opened by post, phone, or in person, with a minimum deposit of £1. While it doesn’t seem to offer an online application option, the competitive 4.25% (variable) interest rate will likely draw many parents and legal guardians. Once opened, you can access the account online or through the CBS app.

Why buy? Expert verdict

B Corp-certified, CBS is part of a global community of businesses meeting rigorous standards for performance, transparency, and accountability.

With just a £1 minimum deposit required to open, this junior cash ISA is excellent for parents and legal guardians who may not have a large amount to deposit initially.

While CBS offers online banking via the site and a dedicated app, the limited availability of branches may be a drawback for parents who prefer in-person banking. Likewise, those seeking higher returns through stock market investments may be disappointed by the absence of a junior stocks and shares ISA option.

That said, you can easily transfer funds from other JISAs, including stocks and shares ISAs from different providers, as well as Child Trust Funds. Additionally, the CBS website explicitly states that its junior cash ISA is FSCS-protected, which covers you for up to £85,000 if the organisation experiences financial difficulties.

Combined with its high interest rate and positive customer feedback, CBS’s junior cash ISA is a great choice.

✍️ Have you used this junior ISA provider? Share a rating and review for Coventry Building Society on Review Centre.

There are 2 types of junior ISAs available today.

Junior cash ISA

This ISA is like a straightforward savings account where you put in a deposit and earn interest tax-free. The main difference is that once you’ve invested, your money is locked in until your child turns 18.

While there are some fixed-rate ISAs, junior cash ISA rates can often be variable. Even then, junior cash ISAs offer steady growth without the risk of market fluctuations, making them suitable for risk-averse savers.

Junior stocks and shares ISA

These ISAs let you invest your money in stocks, bonds, or other assets, again with an 18-year lock-in.

These accounts offer the potential for higher returns over the long term but come with higher risk, as the value of investments can rise and fall depending on market fluctuations. This type of JISA is better suited for those willing to take on some risk in exchange for the possibility of more significant growth.

When deciding on a type of JISA, consider the following:

A JISA lets parents or legal guardians build a financial “nest egg” for a child. These long-term savings accounts work similarly to adult ISAs, offering tax-free returns and interest. Here is some more information about how they work.

Only a parent or legal guardian of a child under 18 can open a JISA on their behalf, though anyone aged 18+ can contribute to the account. The child must be a UK resident and must not hold a Child Trust Fund (CTF) account. That said, some providers let you transfer funds from a CTF to a JISA.

Once the junior ISA is open, the parent or guardian remains in control of it until the child turns 18, at which point the child gains full access to the funds.

You can currently contribute up to £9,000 to a JISA each tax year from April 6 of the existing year to April 5 of the following year. Any contributions made during this time count toward the total limit.

This £9,000 annual allowance applies to the total contributions made for the year across both junior cash ISAs and junior stocks and shares ISAs, regardless of how many people are contributing to the JISA.

However, there’s usually no obligation to contribute every year, and you can often start or stop payments at any time. Check with individual providers for the exact terms of their accounts, as some may require a minimum deposit per month.

Finally, note that the amount you can invest in an ISA, including JISAs, can change, so monitor this every year.

A junior ISA offers tax-free returns on your investment. Deposited funds remain inaccessible until the recipient turns 18, meaning that the money has plenty of time to grow over time, particularly in a stocks and shares ISA.

This gives your child a stronger start in adulthood, offering a financial boost towards expenses such as university fees or a house deposit. Moreover, it’s a great lesson in financial responsibility and puts them in a financial planning mindset from their early years.

Unlike a regular cash ISA, which offers more flexibility, a junior cash or stocks and shares ISA doesn’t allow you to withdraw your deposited funds until your child turns 18, at which point they gain full control over the money—previous investors have no authority over how it’s spent.

You also can’t open a JISA without closing an existing Child Trust Fund. Additionally, you can’t invest more than £9,000 per tax year, so if you need to exceed this, a JISA may not be the best option for you.

Most providers allow you to open a JISA online, though some may require you to call them, send an application via post, or visit the branch in person. Here are some examples of what you’ll need when opening a JISA:

These requirements can vary, so check the terms and conditions with each provider before applying.

The biggest JISA providers are typically banks and building societies, such as Halifax, Nationwide, Coventry Building Society, and Loughborough Building Society. However, investment firms such as Fidelity, Vanguard, and Hargreaves Lansdown are also top choices for those seeking investment-focused junior ISAs.

These providers are well-regarded for their reliable services and varied investment options, making them popular choices for families looking to save for a child’s future.

When choosing a junior ISA for your child, consider the following:

Type of JISA

Decide whether you’d prefer the stability of a junior cash ISA or the potentially higher returns of a stocks and shares junior ISA to shortlist providers who offer your chosen type of JISA.

Interest rates

Compare interest rates across different JISA providers. Whether you opt for the best fixed-rate junior ISA or a variable cash JISA, if you’re unsure, pick the best rate available for now—you can always switch to another JISA later.

Providers’ fees

Carefully check each provider’s annual fees before you sign up, as these can vary widely between providers. In addition to account opening costs, make sure you’re aware of any additional fees for ISA transfers, account management, and so on.

Minimum deposits

Research the minimum investment requirement, such as a monthly minimum or a minimum initial deposit, to check if it aligns with your budget and preferences.

Investment options

For junior stocks and shares ISAs, review the range of investment options available and their associated risks. Decide on the investment types you’re interested in—stocks, bonds, ETFs, etc—and select a platform that provides these options.

Customer service

Research provider reviews, specifically around their customer service efficiency and availability.

Digital tools

Check which tools you’ll have at your disposal as a customer, including online banking services, dedicated apps, and resources you can use to manage your account and investments.

Provider’s reputation

Use sites like Review Centre to find a reputable provider with strong customer reviews and a solid track record in managing junior ISAs. Also, look at websites like Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s to ensure your chosen provider is in good financial standing.

We considered the following factors when curating our list of the best JISA providers.

A child can have 1 junior cash ISA and 1 junior stocks and shares ISA at the same time, but the total contributions to both must not exceed £9,000 in a tax year.

Child Trust Funds were previously available for children born between 1st September 2002 and 2nd January 2011. While these can no longer be opened, they can still receive contributions or be transferred to junior ISAs. Children’s savings accounts are also available, but these lack the tax benefits of junior ISAs.

While grandparents can contribute to a junior ISA, the account must initially be opened by the child’s parent or legal guardian. A grandparent would be able to open a JISA for a child only if they were the legal guardian.

A junior ISA provides a tax-efficient way to save for your child’s future. Choosing between a cash JISA and a stocks and shares JISA depends on your financial goals and how much risk you're willing to take. Meanwhile, the right provider can give you the best rates, investment advice, and good customer support, making it all easier.

Our review of the best junior ISA providers in the UK should leave you with plenty of insights and tips so you can set your child up for a brighter future.