Affordable Investing: Top UK Platforms To Start From Just £1

Published: 24 Apr 2025 | Reading time: 5 min

Getting your money to work for you doesn't have to mean handing over hundreds (or thousands) upfront. Whether you're just dipping your toes into the investment world or looking to try a new platform without a big commitment, there are plenty of UK providers that let you get started with as little as £1.

Little and often can be more than enough

Starting small with regular investments gives you the perfect opportunity to dip your toes in the investment waters without risking a significant chunk of any savings.

This cautious approach is particularly valuable in today's unpredictable world, where geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, and global health crises can send markets plummeting overnight.

By investing small amounts regularly rather than one large sum, you're naturally safeguarding your portfolio against these volatile scenarios - buying at different price points over time (known as "pound-cost averaging") means you're never fully exposed to a single market downturn.

Plus, it can work out cheaper in the long-run, as Vanguard's James Norton explains:

- [Regular investing] helps to even out fluctuations in share prices because you buy more shares when prices are low and fewer shares when prices are high. Over time, this can lead to a lower average cost per share.
Imagine you invest £100 every month. One month, you might get 10 shares at £10 each. The next month, if the price drops to £5, you'll get 20 shares. So, you end up with an average cost of just £6.67 per share.

James Norton Head of Retirement and Managed Services, Vanguard, Europe

And the good news? Getting started is easier than ever, with many investment platforms now accepting monthly contributions as low as £1-50.