Jasmine Birtles
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Nutmeg vs Wealthify: Which Robo-Advisor Is Better for UK Investors?
Ruby Layram
27th Aug 2026
If you’d rather have someone else build and manage your investment portfolio than pick your own shares or ETFs, you’re in “robo-advisor” territory, and Nutmeg and Wealthify are two of the best-known names in the UK. Both build ready-made, diversified portfolios and rebalance them for you, but they differ in fees, minimums and the range of portfolio styles on offer.
Here’s how they compare, fact for fact, using only what each platform publishes on its own site.
**This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are our own.
Features at a Glance
| Feature | Nutmeg | Wealthify |
| UK regulator | Nutmeg Saving and Investment Ltd, authorised & regulated by the FCA (firm ref. 552016) | Wealthify Limited, authorised & regulated by the FCA (firm ref. 662530) |
| ISA provider | Stocks & Shares ISA offered directly by Nutmeg; Pension offered via Embark Services Ltd (part of the J.P. Morgan group), a separately FCA-regulated entity | Stocks & Shares ISA offered directly by Wealthify Ltd; Cash ISA delivered in partnership with banking provider ClearBank |
| Investor protection | FSCS member; standard investment protection (up to £85,000 per person, per firm) applies to eligible claims | FSCS member; up to £85,000 protection on Stocks & Shares ISA/GIA/Pension. Cash ISA has separate protection of up to £120,000, covering both Wealthify and ClearBank per Wealthify’s official FAQ |
| Stock/ETF dealing commission | None. Nutmeg builds and rebalances your portfolio for you, so there’s no per-trade dealing fee | None. Wealthify manages the portfolio for you, so there’s no per-trade dealing fee |
| Platform / management fee | 0.75%/yr, reducing to as low as 0.25%/yr depending on the amount invested and the portfolio style chosen | 0.6%/yr flat fee on standard Original Plans; Ethical Plans show separate fund and trading costs of around 0.46%/yr |
| ISA custody / account fee | Included within the management fee above, no separate custody charge published | Included within the management fee above, no separate custody charge published; Cash ISA has no management fee |
| Minimum deposit | £100 for a Lifetime ISA; £500 for a General Account, Stocks & Shares ISA or Pension | £1,000 for Stocks & Shares ISA, GIA and Pension (£500 for Junior ISA); Ethical Plans have no stated minimum |
| Investment range | Ready-made multi-asset portfolios (Fully Managed, Fixed Allocation, Smart Alpha and Socially Responsible styles) built from funds and ETFs across roughly 10 risk levels, no self-select individual shares | Ready-made Original and Ethical investment Plans across five risk levels (Cautious to Adventurous), built from fund and ETF holdings, no self-select individual shares |
| Interest on uninvested cash | Bank of England base rate minus 0.35%, paid on cash held within a portfolio (per Nutmeg’s official help centre) | No specific rate published for incidental cash held within investment Plans; the separate Wealthify Cash ISA has its own published, variable rate |
| Standout / signature feature | Range of portfolio styles including an actively-managed “Smart Alpha” range built with J.P. Morgan Asset Management, plus optional access to human financial advice for larger pots | Dedicated Ethical Plans available across every account type (ISA, Pension, GIA, Junior ISA) with no minimum investment, plus a standalone easy-access Cash ISA product |
| Demo / practice account | No funded demo account; you can preview a suggested portfolio and risk level before funding an account | No funded demo account; a short questionnaire suggests a Plan and risk level before you commit any money |
| Customer support | Secure in-app message (“Nutmail”), webchat and phone (020 3598 1515); Mon–Thu 9am–5:30pm, Fri 9am–4:30pm | LiveChat (web and app), phone (0800 802 1800) and secure in-app messaging |
Regulation & Safety: Who Protects Your Money
Both platforms are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and are members of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which is the safety net that can compensate eligible customers if a regulated firm goes bust.
Nutmeg’s ISA and General Investment Account sit with Nutmeg Saving and Investment Limited, while its Personal Pension is provided through Embark Services Limited, part of the J.P. Morgan group and separately FCA-regulated. Wealthify Limited runs its ISA, Pension and General Investment Account directly, while its Cash ISA is delivered with banking partner ClearBank, which is why Wealthify’s official FAQ describes a higher combined FSCS protection limit of up to £120,000 for that specific product, versus the standard £85,000 that applies to the Stocks & Shares products on both platforms.
Fees Compared: The Cost of Buying and Holding
Neither platform charges a per-trade dealing fee, because you’re not picking your own investments – you’re paying for a managed portfolio service instead. Nutmeg’s headline management fee starts at 0.75% a year and can fall as low as 0.25% a year depending on how much you invest and which portfolio style you choose, so larger pots get progressively cheaper.
Wealthify keeps things simpler with a flat 0.6% a year platform fee on its standard Original Plans, while its Ethical Plans show separate fund and trading costs of around 0.46% a year on top. As with any fund-based investing, both providers’ underlying funds and ETFs carry their own small ongoing charges too, always check the current fee page before committing.
Stocks & Shares ISA Comparison
Both platforms offer a Stocks & Shares ISA as one of their core products, alongside General Investment Accounts, Junior ISAs and pensions. The practical difference for beginners is the entry point: Nutmeg’s minimums start lower, at £500 for a Stocks & Shares ISA (or just £100 for a Lifetime ISA), while Wealthify asks for £1,000 to open a standard Stocks & Shares ISA, Pension or GIA (£500 for a Junior ISA).
If a smaller starting amount matters to you, Wealthify’s Ethical Plans are the exception on their side, as no minimum is published for those.
Investment Range, Cash Interest & Unique Features
Neither platform lets you hand-pick individual shares, you’re choosing a ready-made portfolio and a risk level, and the provider does the rest. Nutmeg offers the widest range of portfolio styles, including Fully Managed, Fixed Allocation, an actively-managed “Smart Alpha” range built with J.P. Morgan Asset Management, and a Socially Responsible option, spread across roughly ten risk levels.
Wealthify keeps it simpler with Original Plans and dedicated Ethical Plans across five risk levels, from Cautious to Adventurous, with Ethical Plans available on every account type and no minimum investment.
On cash, Nutmeg publishes a clear rate for money sitting in your portfolio (the Bank of England base rate minus 0.35%), while Wealthify doesn’t publish an equivalent rate for incidental cash in its investment Plans, it does, however, offer a standalone Cash ISA product with its own published, variable rate.
Which Is Better for UK Beginners?
There’s no single winner here, it depends on what you’re optimising for.
- Starting with a smaller lump sum: Nutmeg’s £500 (or £100 Lifetime ISA) minimum is more accessible than Wealthify’s £1,000 standard minimum, unless you go the Wealthify Ethical Plan route.
- Ethical or sustainable investing as the priority: Wealthify’s dedicated Ethical Plans, available across every account type with no minimum, are the more purpose-built option.
- Wanting more portfolio choice or a path to human advice as your pot grows: Nutmeg’s wider range of styles, including its actively-managed Smart Alpha range and optional financial advice service, may appeal.
- Wanting the simplest possible fee structure to understand: Wealthify’s flat 0.6% fee is easier to reason about than Nutmeg’s sliding scale, though Nutmeg can end up cheaper on larger balances.
What to Do Next
- Decide whether a managed portfolio (Nutmeg or Wealthify) suits you better than a self-select platform where you’d pick your own stocks and ETFs.
- Use each provider’s own fee page to estimate the total cost – platform fee plus underlying fund costs – for the amount you plan to invest.
- Check that the account type you need (ISA, Junior ISA, Pension, GIA or Cash ISA) is actually available on your preferred platform.
- Read the relevant key features document on the provider’s site before applying, especially around risk levels and fees.
- Start with an amount you’re comfortable with, and review your portfolio choice at least once a year.
Risk disclaimer: This article is for information and education only, and does not constitute regulated financial advice. Investments can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you put in. Fees, minimums and rates mentioned are correct as of 27 August 2026 according to each provider’s official website, but are subject to change, always check current terms before opening an account, and do your own research or speak to a regulated financial adviser.
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