Best of money and banking, 2026

Our annual roundup of the money products that earned their place across the year. Updated quarterly.

This page is for the time-poor reader who wants the answer without reading every full review. Click through for the detailed test methodology and full comparison.

Best current account

Chase UK, 1% cashback on debit card spending, no foreign transaction fees, best banking app. Free.

Runner-up: Starling Bank, better for cash deposits, 24/7 phone support.

Best business bank account

Mettle, free, includes free FreeAgent worth £228/year, FSCS-protected via NatWest.

Runner-up: Tide Plus (£9.99/month), best invoicing for high-volume freelancers.

Best easy-access savings

Trading 212 Cash ISA, 4.5% AER variable, tax-free, FSCS-protected, instant access.

Runner-up: Chip easy-access, for non-ISA money at 4.45% AER.

Best Stocks & Shares ISA platform

Trading 212, 0% platform fee, broad ETF and share access.

Runner-up: Vanguard Investor, for £50k+ portfolios using Vanguard funds at lowest absolute cost.

Best 1-year fixed-rate bond

Atom Bank or Charter Savings, typically 4.7-5.0% AER. Rates change weekly; verify before opening.

Best credit card (everyday)

Chase Reward, 1% cashback, no fee, no foreign transaction fees. Best free credit card.

Best credit card (travel)

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold, £195/year fee but pays back £550+ for adults travelling 2-3 times per year.

Best international transfer service

Wise, cheapest in our 14-transfer test across 6 currencies. No subscription required.

Runner-up: Revolut Premium for active multi-currency lifestyle.

Best UK mortgage broker

Habito, fee-free, app-first, fastest standard-case offer turnaround.

Runner-up: L&C Mortgages, better for self-employed and complex cases.

Best UK pension provider

PensionBee, easiest consolidation experience for old workplace pensions.

Runner-up: Vanguard SIPP, cheapest at scale (£375/year cap above £250k pot).

Best robo-advisor

Wealthify, simplest robo experience for UK adults wanting hands-off investing.

Runner-up: Moneybox, for UK adults under 40 wanting LISA + ISA + SIPP in one app.

Best life insurance broker channel

LifeSearch or Cavendish Online, fee-free brokers with whole-of-market access. Avoid TV-advertised over-50s plans.

Best income protection

Buy via fee-free broker (LifeSearch, Cavendish Online, ActiveQuote). Most under-bought insurance product for self-employed adults.

Best home insurance

No single brand, Compare the Market + MoneySupermarket + direct quotes from John Lewis Insurance + Aviva direct. Switch every renewal.

Best car insurance

Same approach, comparison-site cross-check. Add-ons most worth taking: thorough cover, no-claims protection. Skip: insurer-bundled breakdown.

Best travel insurance

Annual multi-trip policy from InsureAndGo or Staysure for adults travelling 2+ times/year. Saves £80-£200/year vs single-trip cover and offers better cover.

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