Junior ISAs remain one of the UK’s most popular tax-efficient savings products for children. For the 2025/26 tax year, the annual contribution limit remains £9,000. Parents and guardians can open a Junior ISA, and anyone, including grandparents, can contribute.

There are two types: Cash Junior ISAs, which pay interest and work like savings accounts, and Stocks and Shares Junior ISAs, which invest in the stock market. A child can have one of each type, but only one provider per type at a time.

This article outlines five well-known Junior ISA providers in 2025, including the Children’s ISA, focusing on what type of ISA they offer, ethical options, accessibility, and investment structure. This is not a ranking or endorsement.

Comparison Table

NatWest Junior ISA

NatWest offers a traditional Cash Junior ISA. Funds are saved in a tax-free environment, and the account earns interest. There is no exposure to investment markets. The product is accessible online and in-branch, and there is no ethical or religious screening applied to how savings are held or managed.

Hargreaves Lansdown Junior ISA

Hargreaves Lansdown provides a Stocks and Shares Junior ISA, with access to a wide range of investment funds, shares, and trackers. It is designed for parents looking for greater long-term growth potential. Ethical investment options exist, but must be selected manually. The platform is digital-first, and minimum investment begins at £100.

The Children’s ISA

One of our products is a Shariah-compliant Stocks and Shares Junior ISA, focused on Islamic investment principles. It avoids interest and companies involved in gambling, alcohol, arms, tobacco, and conventional finance. Minimum investment is low, starting from £10. The ISA is accessible online and aimed at families who want to align savings with religious or ethical values. We also offer a range of other investment ISAs with a variety of risk options, as well as ethical ISAs outside of the Shariah framework. Our new ISA application form is here. Remember, only the parent or guardian of a child can open a Junior ISA, but everyone can contribute. 

Nutmeg Junior ISA

Nutmeg offers a digital-only Stocks and Shares Junior ISA. Portfolios are risk-rated and include both standard and socially responsible options. Ethical screening varies by portfolio. The platform uses a robo-investment approach and requires a minimum of £100 to get started. All management is conducted online, with a focus on user-friendly dashboards.

If you’re comparing ethical options more broadly, you might also find our article on ethical Junior ISAs useful.

Lloyds Bank Junior ISA

Lloyds Bank provides a Cash Junior ISA with a fixed interest rate and no investment exposure. It’s a typical high street option for families seeking a low-risk place to save money for a child. The account is managed online or in-branch. It does not offer ethical screening.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Junior ISA allowance for 2025?

A: The annual limit is £9,000. This can be split between a Cash Junior ISA and a Stocks and Shares Junior ISA.

Q: Who can open a Junior ISA?

A: Only a parent or legal guardian can open the account. Once open, anyone, including grandparents, can contribute.

Q: Can a child have both types of Junior ISA?

A: Yes. A child can hold one of each, as long as the total annual contributions remain within the £9,000 limit.

Q: Are Shariah ISAs the same as ethical ISAs?

A: Not exactly. Shariah-compliant ISAs follow specific Islamic finance principles. Ethical ISAs may overlap, but are not always the same.

Q: Is a Cash ISA safer than a Stocks and Shares ISA?

A: Cash ISAs do not expose funds to investment risk. Stocks and Shares ISAs can go up or down in value, but based on historical averages, they will generally outperform a cash investment.