Jasmine Birtles
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6 Best AI Investing Apps in the UK for 2026
Ruby Layram
27th Sep 2026
AI is now built into lots of the money apps you might already use. Some use it to invest for you. Some use it to spot how much you can afford to save. Others use algorithms to rebalance your portfolio or copy other investors automatically.
But not every app that calls itself “AI-powered” is doing anything very clever. So we looked at six AI and automated investing apps available to UK investors, what each one actually does, what it costs and who it suits.
A quick word before we start: these apps are there to help your investing, not to replace your own judgement. Always do your own research before you put money in.
AI investing apps compared
| App | What the AI or automation does | Minimum | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| eToro | Copies other investors’ trades automatically (CopyTrader) | $200 to copy a trader | Social and copy trading |
| InvestEngine | Managed ETF portfolios built and rebalanced for you | [CHECK: £100 or no minimum] | Low-cost, hands-off ETF investing |
| Plum | AI analyses your spending and saves or invests for you | £1 | Automating saving and investing |
| XTB | Auto-invest plans and market analysis tools | No minimum | Picking your own shares and ETFs |
| J.P. Morgan Personal Investing (formerly Nutmeg) | Managed portfolios matched to your risk level | £500 for a stocks and shares ISA | Managed ISAs and pensions |
| IG Smart Portfolios | Portfolios designed by BlackRock and rebalanced for you | [CHECK] | Long-term, low-effort investing |
Fees and minimums checked September 2026. They can change, so confirm on each provider’s site before signing up.
What are AI investment apps?
“AI investing app” gets used to describe a few different things:
- Robo-advisers. You answer questions about your goals and how much risk you’re comfortable with. The app picks a portfolio for you and rebalances it automatically. Most of these use rules-based algorithms rather than true AI.
- AI money assistants. These analyse your spending, income and goals, then suggest (or automatically move) money into savings or investments.
- Copy and automated trading tools. These mirror another investor’s trades, or buy on a schedule you set.
- AI research tools. These summarise news, earnings and price movements to help you make your own decisions.
If you’ve ever used a ready-made or managed stocks and shares ISA, a robo-adviser won’t feel very different. The main difference is that software, rather than a person, makes most of the day-to-day decisions.
Why use an AI investing app?
Save time on research
Automated tools can scan the market, pull out what’s relevant and present it in a simple way. It’s a bit like having a research assistant in your pocket.
Stay invested without watching the market
Managed and robo portfolios rebalance for you, so your investments stay in line with your chosen risk level even when you’re busy.
Take some emotion out of investing
It’s human to panic-sell when prices fall or buy too late because of FOMO. An automated plan follows the rules you set, which can stop you making knee-jerk decisions.
The risks of using AI to invest
AI investing apps aren’t risk-free. Here’s what to watch out for.
Getting out of your depth
An app doesn’t know your knowledge or experience. Some platforms make it easy to move into products that are far riskier than you need, like leveraged trading or CFDs. If you don’t fully understand a product, don’t use it.
Unregulated apps
Plenty of “AI trading” apps online are not regulated in the UK. If a platform isn’t authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, you may have no protection if things go wrong. Always check the FCA website before you sign up.
Handing over all the thinking
The biggest risk is relying on the app completely and skipping the research. AI tools should guide your investment strategy, not replace it. Past performance, including a copied trader’s track record, doesn’t guarantee future returns.
Learn how to navigate the market like a pro:
- How to invest in a bull market
- 7 investing habits to make you rich
- 10 common investing mistakes to avoid
6 AI investing apps for UK investors in 2026
1. eToro
eToro is best known for CopyTrader, which lets you automatically copy the trades of other investors on the platform. The minimum to copy a trader is $200, and there’s no extra fee for copying, although normal spreads and trading costs still apply.
Every account comes with a free $100,000 virtual portfolio, so you can try copy trading without risking real money. You can also invest in shares, ETFs and crypto in one place. eToro has over 40 million registered users worldwide and is regulated in the UK by the FCA.
What we like:
- Copy trading lets you learn from other investors’ strategies
- Free demo account to practise first
- Shares, ETFs and crypto in one app
Watch out for: copy trading can be highly speculative. You’re copying someone’s risk as well as their returns.
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may
go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
2. InvestEngine
InvestEngine was founded in 2019 and has become one of the UK’s most popular low-cost ETF platforms. It’s ETF-only, so you won’t find individual shares here, but you can choose from around 800 UCITS ETFs.
You can build your own portfolio or let InvestEngine manage it for you. DIY portfolios have no InvestEngine fees, and managed portfolios cost 0.25% a year, with ETF charges on top.
What we like:
- Managed portfolios are cheaper than most robo-advisers
- Fractional investing lets you top up from £1
- ISA, SIPP, general and business accounts available
- Regulated by the FCA
Watch out for: there’s no Lifetime ISA or Junior ISA.
3. Plum
Plum started as a saving app and now covers investing too. Its AI analyses your spending and works out how much you can afford to set aside, then moves money automatically.
In June 2026, Plum launched Plum Plan, a free AI-powered guidance service. It gives you a step-by-step plan and helps you choose the right amount, tax wrapper and investment option for your goals. Plum has been downloaded by five million customers across Europe.
What we like:
- Auto-saving works in the background, so you don’t have to think about it
- Invest in up to 3,000 US stocks and funds
- Cash ISA, stocks and shares ISA, Lifetime ISA and SIPP in one app
Watch out for: many features sit behind paid plans. Plum Plus costs £3.99 a month, Plum Boost £7.99 and Plum Max £14.99.
4. XTB
XTB is a good fit if you want to pick your own shares and ETFs but still automate your top-ups. You can set up auto-invest plans so your portfolio grows each month without you lifting a finger.
XTB offers 0% commission on shares and ETFs (up to €100,000 monthly turnover, then 0.2% with a minimum of £10). Uninvested cash earns 4% AER variable, and fractional shares start from £1.
What we like:
-
- Commission-free shares and ETFs within the monthly limit
- Interest paid on uninvested cash
- Flexible stocks and shares ISA
- Voted Best Low-Cost ISA by Boring Money in 2025 and 2026
Capital at risk. The value of your investments may go up or down. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and ISA regulations which may change.
5. Nutmeg
Nutmeg was one of the UK’s first robo-advisers. In November 2025 it was rebranded as J.P. Morgan Personal Investing. Existing Nutmeg customers carried over automatically.
You choose your risk level and goals, and the service manages a portfolio for you. It also added a Wealth Planner tool that shows your total wealth alongside tailored suggestions for reaching your goals. The minimum is £100 for Junior and Lifetime ISAs, and £500 for a stocks and shares ISA, pension or general account.
What we like:
- Stocks and shares ISA, Lifetime ISA, Junior ISA and pension options
- Available through the Chase UK app if you already bank with Chase
- Backed by J.P. Morgan
Watch out for: higher minimums than some rivals.
6.IG Smart Portfolios
IG Smart Portfolios are managed by IG and designed by BlackRock. They’re globally diversified and rebalanced automatically, so you can put your investing on autopilot.
The management fee is 0.50% a year, capped at £250 per account type. So if you invest more than £50,000, you don’t pay any extra management fee. ETF costs apply on top.
What we like:
- Portfolios designed by BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager
- Fee cap makes it good value for bigger pots
- ISA, SIPP and general accounts available
Watch out for: you can’t customise individual holdings
Your money is at risk. 71% of investors loose money with this provider.
How to stay safe when using an AI investing app
1. Check it’s FCA regulated
Before you sign up, search for the company on the FCA register. If it isn’t there, walk away.
2. Keep doing your own research
Even if an app does the heavy lifting, check in regularly. Make sure your portfolio still matches your goals.
3. Understand your risk level
Most apps ask you to choose a risk level. Higher-risk portfolios can deliver bigger returns, but they can also fall further. Only invest money you can afford to leave alone for at least five years.
4. Know what you’re paying
Add up the platform fee, the fund charges and any subscription. A few tenths of a percent makes a big difference over 20 years.
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Disclaimer: When investing your capital is at risk. Remember, the value of any investment can both rise and fall. Always do your own research.
MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor. Information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence.
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