Top investment funds
View our most popular and best performing funds over various timeframes.
Please remember, investment value can go up or down and you could get back less than you invest.
Most popular funds with our customers
Here are the funds that are most purchased by ii customers in an ISA, SIPP or Trading Account.
Please note the data does not include Investment Trusts or ETFs.
Our most popular investments should not be taken as personal recommendations to buy or sell a particular fund - they are not intended to provide advice.
Top 10 most popular funds: March 2021
| Rank | Fund | IA sector | Ranking change since previous month | 1-year return to 1 April (%) | 3-year return to 1 April (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fundsmith Equity | Global | Up 1 | 29.6 | 61.2 |
| 2 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 80% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | Up 5 | 28.8 | 30.2 |
| 3 | Baillie Gifford American | North America | Down 2 | 105 | 187.8 |
| 4 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 60% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | Up 5 | 21.4 | 25.3 |
| 5 | Baillie Gifford Positive Change | Global | Down 2 | 79.3 | 130.7 |
| 6 | Baillie Gifford Global Discovery | Global | Down 1 | 74 | 106.7 |
| 7 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 100% Equity | Global | New entry | 36.3 | 35 |
| 8 | Baillie Gifford China | China | Down 4 | 58.4 | - |
| 9 | Baillie Gifford Pacific | Asia Pacific Excluding Japan | Down 3 | 86.5 | 83.4 |
| 10 | Vanguard US Equity Index | North America | New entry | 45.7 | 61.3 |
Source: interactive investor. Note: the top 10 is based on the number of “buys” during the month of March 2021.
Most purchased funds in February 2021
| Rank | Fund | IA sector | Ranking change since previous month | 1-year return to 1 Feb (%) | 3-year return to 1 Feb (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baillie Gifford American | North America | Up 1 | 105.35 | 202.56 |
| 2 | Fundsmith Equity | Global | Down 1 | 17.99 | 51.71 |
| 3 | Baillie Gifford Positive Change | Global | No change | 73.76 | 140.54 |
| 4 | Baillie Gifford China | China | No change | 59.74 | N/A |
| 5 | Baillie Gifford Global Discovery | Global | No change | 75.4 | 130.61 |
| 6 | Baillie Gifford Pacific | Asia Pacific Excluding Japan | No change | 74.91 | 88.17 |
| 7 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 80% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | No change | 8.7 | 22.26 |
| 8 | Baillie Gifford Long-Term Global Growth | Global | Up 2 | 83.46 | 148.15 |
| 9 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 60% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | Down 1 | 6.58 | 19.86 |
| 10 | Baillie Gifford Managed | Mixed Investment 40-85% Shares | New entry | 34.66 | 57.09 |
Source: interactive investor. Note: the top 10 is based on the number of “buys” during the month of February 2021.
Most purchased funds in January 2021
| Rank | Fund | IA sector | Ranking change since previous month | 1-year return to 1 Feb (%) | 3-year return to 1 Feb (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fundsmith Equity | Global | Up 1 | 11.5% | 45.8 |
| 2 | Baillie Gifford American | North America | Down 1 | 115.4% | 217.9% |
| 3 | Baillie Gifford Positive Change | Global | Same | 84.1% | 149.1% |
| 4 | Baillie Gifford China | China | Up 3 | 70.7% | _ |
| 5 | Baillie Gifford Global Discovery | Global | Same | 80.9% | 136.7% |
| 6 | Baillie Gifford Pacific | Asia Pacific Excluding Japan | Same | 66.1% | 76.5% |
| 7 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 80% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | Down 3 | 5% | 19.3% |
| 8 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 60% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | Same | 4.8% | 18.4% |
| 9 | Premier Miton UK Smaller Companies | UK Smaller Companies | New entry | 85.8% | 38.5% |
| 10 | Baillie Gifford Long-Term Global Growth | Global | Down 1 | 95.2% | 155.3% |
Source: interactive investor. Note: the top 10 is based on the number of “buys” during the month of January.
Most purchased funds in December 2020
| Rank | Fund | IA sector | Ranking change since previous month | 1-year return to 4 Jan (%) | 3-year return to 4 Jan (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baillie Gifford American | North America | +1 | 121.8% | 219% |
| 2 | Fundsmith Equity | Global | - 1 | 18.4% | 52.3% |
| 3 | Baillie Gifford Positive Change | Global | + 1 | 80% | 138.8% |
| 4 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 80% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | +1 | 7.6% | 22% |
| 5 | Baillie Gifford Global Discovery | Global | +1 | 76.8% | 129.4% |
| 6 | Baillie Gifford Pacific | Asia Pacific Excluding Japan | +1 | 60.3% | 74.7% |
| 7 | Baillie Gifford China | China | -4 | 55.9% | 64.5% |
| 8 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 60% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | No change | 7.8% | 20.4% |
| 9 | Baillie Gifford Long Term Global Growth | Global | No change | 95.6% | 162.6% |
| 10 | Baillie Gifford Managed | Mixed Investment 40-85% Shares | New entry | 33.8% | 58.1% |
Source: interactive investor and FE Analytics. Note: the top 10 is based on the number of “buys” during the month of December.
Most purchased funds in November 2020
| Rank | Fund | IA sector | Ranking change since previous month | 1-year return to 1 Dec (%) | 3-year return to 1 Dec (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fundsmith Equity | Global | No change | 16.6% | 52% |
| 2 | Baillie Gifford American | North America | No change | 110.5% | 211.8% |
| 3 | Baillie Gifford China | China | +2 | 55.5% | 57% |
| 4 | Baillie Gifford Positive Change | Global | -1 | 80.1% | 137.8% |
| 5 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 80% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | +2 | 6.3% | 21.5% |
| 6 | Baillie Gifford Global Discovery | Global | -2 | 61.9% | 123.9% |
| 7 | Baillie Gifford Pacific | Asia Pacific Excluding Japan | New entry | 62.4% | 73.8% |
| 8 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 60% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | No change | 6.5% | 20.0% |
| 9 | Baillie Gifford Long Term Global Growth | Global | No change | 96.3% | 154.9% |
| 10 | Legg Mason IF Japan Equity | Japan | no change | 43.6% | 66.9% |
Source: interactive investor and FE Analytics. Note: the top 10 is based on the number of “buys” during the month of November.
Most purchased funds in October 2020
| Rank | Fund | IA sector | Ranking change since previous month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fundsmith Equity | Global | No change |
| 2 | Baillie Gifford American | North America | No change |
| 3 | Baillie Gifford Positive Change | Global | No change |
| 4 | Baillie Gifford Global Discovery | Global | +1 |
| 5 | Baillie Gifford China | China | New entry |
| 6 | Baillie Gifford Japanese Smaller Companies | Japanese Smaller Companies | New entry |
| 7 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 80% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | -3 |
| 8 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 60% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | No change |
| 9 | Baillie Gifford Long-Term Global Growth | Global | -3 |
| 10 | Legg Mason IF Japan Equity | Japan | New entry |
Most purchased funds in September 2020
| Rank | Fund | IA sector | Ranking change since previous month | 1-year return to 1 Oct | 3-year return to 1 Oct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fundsmith Equity | Global | No change | 13.5% | 57.23% |
| 2 | Baillie Gifford American | North America | No change | 100.94% | 186.39% |
| 3 | Baillie Gifford Positive Change | Global | No change | 72.53% | 126.1% |
| 4 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 80% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | No change | 0.87% | 17.76% |
| 5 | Baillie Gifford Global Discovery | Global | No change | 59.54% | 109.35% |
| 6 | Baillie Gifford Long Term Global Growth | Global | No change | 93.87% | 146.99% |
| 7 | Baillie Gifford Managed | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | +1 | 26.93% | 48.98% |
| 8 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 60% Equity | Mixed investment 40%-85% shares | -1 | 1.78% | 17.21% |
| 9 | LF Blue Whale Growth | Global | New entry | 24.57% | 73.6% |
| 10 | Rathbone Global Opportunities | Global | -1 | 27.42% | 63.97% |
Best performing funds
Below are the top performing funds up to 1 April 2021. For a more comprehensive overview of fund, investment trust and ETF performance, read our latest update.
The data is provided by Morningstar, a global financial services firm. interactive investor accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies in the data.
Top 10 performers after 1 month
|
|
Total return % |
|
Sanlam US Dividend A GBP Acc |
9.9 |
|
VT Price Value A GBP Acc |
9.2 |
|
Jupiter Income Trust I Inc |
8.8 |
|
Jupiter Income Trust I Acc |
8.8 |
|
VT De Lisle America B GBP |
8.7 |
|
M&G North American Value GBP R Acc |
8.7 |
|
VT Argonaut European Income Opp R Acc |
8.6 |
|
Jupiter UK Special Situations I Inc |
8.5 |
|
BNY Mellon Brazil Equity GBP W Acc |
8.4 |
|
Fidelity Special Situations W Acc |
8.3 |
Top 10 performers after 3 months
|
|
Total return % |
|
Legg Mason RY US SmCp Opp X GBP Acc |
23.3 |
|
M&G Japan Smaller Companies GBP I Acc |
22.9 |
|
M&G Japan Smaller Companies GBP R Acc |
22.8 |
|
VT De Lisle America B GBP |
22.7 |
|
TB Guinness Global Energy I Acc |
20.9 |
|
Guinness Global Energy Y GBP Acc |
20.5 |
|
Premier Miton UK Smaller Companies B Acc |
20.3 |
|
Guinness Global Energy C GBP Acc |
20.2 |
|
Aberforth UK Small Companies Acc |
19.8 |
|
VT Cape Wrath Focus GBP A Net Acc |
19.3 |
Top 10 performers after 6 months
|
|
Total return % |
|
Legg Mason RY US SmCp Opp X GBP Acc |
61.2 |
|
Aberforth UK Small Companies Acc |
59.1 |
|
Premier Miton UK Smaller Companies B Acc |
57.0 |
|
VT Cape Wrath Focus GBP A Net Acc |
52.9 |
|
Quilter Investors Glbl Uncons EqR £ Acc |
52.3 |
|
Ninety One UK Special Situations R Acc |
52.0 |
|
Ninety One Global Special Sits R Acc |
51.7 |
|
Ninety One Global Special Sits A Acc |
51.3 |
|
Marlborough Technology Fund B |
51.2 |
|
Courtiers UK Equity Income I Acc |
50.1 |
Top 10 performers after 1 year
|
|
Total return % |
|
Premier Miton UK Smaller Companies B Acc |
160.6 |
|
Legg Mason RY US SmCp Opp X GBP Acc |
126.8 |
|
Marlborough Nano Cap Growth B Acc |
118.8 |
|
Marlborough Technology Fund B |
111.3 |
|
Baillie Gifford American B Acc |
105.1 |
|
VT De Lisle America B GBP |
95.2 |
|
VT Cape Wrath Focus GBP A Net Acc |
92.6 |
|
TM Stnhg Flm AIM B |
91.0 |
|
Janus Henderson European Smr Coms A Acc |
89.4 |
|
Marlborough UK Micro Cap Growth P Acc |
88.3 |
Top 10 performers after 3 years
|
|
Total return % |
|
Baillie Gifford American B Acc |
187.9 |
|
Marlborough Technology Fund B |
142.0 |
|
Baillie Gifford Positive Change B Acc |
130.8 |
|
Fidelity Global Technology W-Acc-GBP |
123.8 |
|
GAM Star Disruptive Gr Z GBP Acc |
122.9 |
|
Premier Miton US Smaller Companies B Acc |
120.7 |
|
Sanlam Artificial Intelligence Z GBP |
115.8 |
|
Lord Abbett Innovation Growth Z USD Acc |
115.6 |
|
L&G Global Technology Index F Acc |
113.2 |
|
Polar Capital Global Tech R Inc |
112.4 |
Top 10 performers after 7 years
|
|
Total return % |
|
Baillie Gifford American B Acc |
511.6 |
|
Polar Capital Global Tech R Inc |
499.5 |
|
Fidelity Global Technology W-Acc-GBP |
442.0 |
|
AXA Framlington Global Technology Z Acc |
368.3 |
|
L&G Global Technology Index F Acc |
360.8 |
|
Polar Capital Biotech I Inc |
349.2 |
|
Janus Henderson Glb Tech Leaders I Acc |
320.7 |
|
Legg Mason IF Japan Equity X Acc |
298.6 |
|
GAM Star Disruptive Gr Z GBP Acc |
297.4 |
|
Legg Mason IF Japan Equity A Acc |
287.6 |
How to use this data
The tables on this page showcase the best-performing funds including both active and passive or index funds.
You may see more specialist fund types featuring as the best-performing funds across the various timeframes. Such funds tend to invest in a single country, sector or commodity, and are deemed more suitable for adventurous investors as they carry greater levels of risk than more conventional funds, such as a global or regional fund.
Funds can be held in an ISA, SIPP, and other investment accounts. Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and may be subject to change.
Please do bear in mind that past performance is not a guide to future performance. The tables on this page simply offer a snapshot of the best-performing funds. Further research should be carried out to assess performance across different timeframes and market conditions. Moreover, it is prudent to look at performance on a yearly basis in order to ensure a strong long term performance track record is not just the result of one outstanding year.
The performance figures show the total return in sterling unless otherwise specified. Figures are calculated on a bid price to bid price basis or mid to mid for open-ended investment companies (OEICS), with net income (dividends) reinvested.
Choosing the right funds for you
With thousands of funds available to UK investors, seeking out the best investment funds can be a minefield.
Fund performance is only one aspect of choosing an investment - alongside other factors such as your investment goals and appetite for risk.
But to give you some idea of how funds perform relative to each other, we will regularly update this page with the best-performing funds over various timeframes.
As a rule of thumb, five years is widely viewed as the minimum holding period when investing in funds, as over the short term the stock market can be unpredictable.
Funds
Find out about investing in funds and explore our range of tools, investment lists and ready-made selections.
Investment Trusts
A type of investment fund that is traded on stock exchanges, like shares. There are several investment trusts featured in our Super 60 list.
Choose an account
Funds can be held in a SIPP, ISA, Junior ISA or Trading account. Choose an account which meets your needs.
Other investment ideas
Need help choosing the right funds? Check out our experts' Quick Start Funds, Model Portfolios, Super 60 and ACE 40 lists.
Quick-start
funds
Easy, straightforward investing. Six low cost funds selected by our experts. A simple way to help get you started.
ii Super 60
Discover a range of quality investment options for your portfolio. We’ve done the research so you don’t have to.
ii ACE 40
The UK’s first rated list of ethical investments - to help you invest in line with your personal values.
Model
portfolios
Four ready-made portfolios designed to help you meet your goals. Selected and managed by our experts.
Important information
Our most popular investments should not be taken as personal recommendations to buy or sell a particular stock or fund, and are not intended to provide advice.
The value of your investments can fall as well as rise and you may not get back all the money that you invest. Please note the tax treatment of these products depends on the individual circumstances of each customer and may be subject to change in future.