Moneyfarm is a UK managed investing service. You answer questions about your goals and attitude to risk, and Moneyfarm builds and runs a portfolio of exchange-traded funds for you. You pay for that management, so it costs more than doing it yourself on a platform. The question is whether you would actually do it yourself.
Capital at risk. The value of investments can fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you put in. Tax rules depend on your circumstances and can change. This review is general information, not personal advice.
Short verdict
Moneyfarm suits someone who wants to invest but knows they will not choose funds, rebalance or stay calm in a falling market on their own. On Moneyfarm's own example of a £20,000 portfolio, all-in costs come to up to 0.91% a year. Someone happy to buy one global index fund on a low-cost platform could pay a fraction of that. The extra is the price of having it done for you.
What Moneyfarm charges
| Cost | Rate | Per month on £20,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.45% | £7.50 |
| Platform fee | 0.25% | £4.17 |
| Fund costs and spread | Up to 0.21% | Up to £3.50 |
| Total | Up to 0.91% | Up to £15.17 (about £182 a year) |
Fees are a percentage of what you hold, so they rise with your balance. Moneyfarm's pricing page uses a calculator, so check the figure for your own amount there. Moneyfarm also runs a separate share-dealing service, where share, ETF and fund trades cost £3.95 each.
Managed versus doing it yourself
On £20,000, the gap between Moneyfarm's up to £182 a year and a simple do-it-yourself setup can be well over £100 a year, and it grows as your money grows. Over twenty years, with the difference compounding, that adds up to a meaningful sum.
Against that: the most expensive investing mistake is usually behaviour, not fees. Selling after a fall, chasing last year's winner or never getting started at all can cost far more than 0.5% a year. If a managed service is what keeps you invested and adding every month, it can be worth the price. Be honest with yourself about which investor you are.
How your money is protected
Moneyfarm is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and client investments are held separately from the firm's own money. If an authorised investment firm fails and cannot return what it owes you, the FSCS can pay up to £85,000 per person, per firm. That does not cover falls in the value of your investments.
Cash held at a bank is covered under a separate FSCS deposit limit of £120,000 per person, per bank, which applied from 1 December 2025. Moneyfarm also offers a Cash ISA. Check which bank holds that cash and which limit applies before you deposit a large sum.
What it does well
- No decisions to get wrong. Portfolio choice and rebalancing are handled for you.
- Low-cost building blocks. Portfolios use exchange-traded funds, keeping fund costs modest.
- The main accounts in one place: Stocks and Shares ISA, Junior ISA, pension (SIPP), general account and Cash ISA.
- Clear costs. The pricing calculator shows the all-in figure in pounds before you commit.
Where it falls short
- Dearer than doing it yourself, and the gap grows with your balance.
- Less control. You choose a risk level, not individual funds.
- Percentage fees on large pots. Once your balance is large, a flat-fee platform with a simple fund will usually cost far less.
Who it suits
Good fit: new or nervous investors who want a sensible portfolio run for them and would otherwise leave money in cash. Our guide to investing when you're nervous covers that decision.
Probably look elsewhere: anyone comfortable buying one or two index funds and leaving them alone. You can get similar diversification for much less.
Questions people ask about Moneyfarm
How much does Moneyfarm cost?
On Moneyfarm's own £20,000 example: a 0.45% management fee, a 0.25% platform fee and up to 0.21% in fund costs and spread, so up to 0.91% a year in total. Use Moneyfarm's calculator for your own amount. Checked 6 October 2026.
Is Moneyfarm worth the fee?
If it gets you investing and keeps you invested, it can be. If you would happily run a simple index fund yourself, you will usually pay less elsewhere.
Is my money protected with Moneyfarm?
Moneyfarm is FCA-regulated and holds client investments separately. If an authorised investment firm fails, FSCS compensation is up to £85,000 per person, per firm. Cash at a bank has a separate £120,000 deposit limit. Neither covers investment losses.
Sources
- Moneyfarm, Pricing: worked £20,000 example, products and share-dealing charges. Checked 6 October 2026.
- FSCS, Deposit protection limit, and what FSCS covers. Checked 6 October 2026.
Charges change. Check Moneyfarm's own site before you invest.
About this review
Slow Money Movement™ publishes general information, not personal financial advice. We are not authorised to give regulated advice. If you are unsure whether an investment or account suits you, speak to a qualified financial adviser.
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