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Stocks & Shares ISAs outperform cash by over £100

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Caitlyn Eastell, Apprentice Press & PR Assistant
Caitlyn Eastell, Press & PR Executive 01603 476169 Email Caitlyn
11/12/2025
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Stocks & Shares ISAs outperform cash by over £100

As the long-term gap between Stocks & Shares and Cash ISAs widens, investors could be better off while cash savers see slower growth. Moneyfactscompare.co.uk analysis can reveal.

Stocks & Shares ISAs outperform cash by over £100

As the long-term gap between Stocks & Shares and Cash ISAs widens, investors could be better off while cash savers see slower growth. Moneyfactscompare.co.uk analysis can reveal.

  • Since 2010, the average cash ISA grew £100 to £130, meanwhile, around the same amount in the typical stocks & shares ISA grew to £233, that means investors are £103 better off for every £100 invested.
  • The average annual return for a cash ISA is 1.79%, while stocks & shares ISAs at 6.79% easily outpace inflation at 2.92%.
  • Turbulent returns on stocks & shares ISAs may make them more suited for long-term growth but may damage returns if money doesn’t stay invested for long.
  • Since 2010, the average cash ISA grew £100 to £130, meanwhile, around the same amount in the typical stocks & shares ISA grew to £233, that means investors are £103 better off for every £100 invested.
  • The average annual return for a cash ISA is 1.79%, while stocks & shares ISAs at 6.79% easily outpace inflation at 2.92%.
  • Turbulent returns on stocks & shares ISAs may make them more suited for long-term growth but may damage returns if money doesn’t stay invested for long.

 

Average rates

 

Average cash ISA rate (Moneyfacts Apr to Mar)

Stocks & shares ISA (annual average return: Nov-to-Nov - Lipper IM)

Inflation (2010-2025 - Bank of England)

2010-11

2.17%

-2.41%

4.46%

2011-12

2.55%

11.87%

2.83%

2012-13

2.25%

19.32%

2.56%

2013-14

1.69%

3.68%

1.46%

2014-15

1.53%

1.79%

0.04%

2015-16

1.46%

-8.17%

0.66%

2016-17

1.01%

21.67%

2.68%

2017-18

0.99%

-4.28%

2.48%

2018-19

1.24%

7.47%

1.79%

2019-20

1.20%

-1.44%

0.85%

2020-21

0.60%

31.24%

2.60%

2021-22

0.54%

-26.17%

9.10%

2022-23

1.99%

8%

8.60%

2023-24

3.88%

24.11%

1.25%

2024-25

3.77%

15.19%

2.40%

Average annual return (%)

1.79%

6.79%

2.92%

Source: Average cash ISA from Moneyfactscompare.co.uk.  *All stocks and shares ISA data based on Lipper IM Primary funds. Inflation figures from Bank of England

 

Compounded returns

 

Average cash ISA (Moneyfacts)

Stocks & shares ISA (Lipper IM)

Inflation (Bank of England)

2010-11

£102.17

£97.59

£104.46

2011-12

£104.78

£109.17

£107.42

2012-13

£107.13

£130.27

£110.17

2013-14

£108.94

£135.06

£111.77

2014-15

£110.61

£137.48

£111.82

2015-16

£112.23

£126.25

£112.56

2016-17

£113.36

£153.60

£115.57

2017-18

£114.48

£147.03

£118.44

2018-19

£115.90

£158.01

£120.56

2019-20

£117.29

£155.74

£121.58

2020-21

£117.99

£204.39

£124.75

2021-22

£118.63

£150.90

£136.10

2022-23

£120.99

£162.97

£147.80

2023-24

£125.69

£202.26

£149.65

2024-25

£130.43

£232.99

£153.20

 

 

Average rates

 

Average cash ISA rate (Moneyfacts Apr to Mar)

Stocks & shares ISA (annual average return: Nov-to-Nov - Lipper IM)

Inflation (2010-2025 - Bank of England)

2010-11

2.17%

-2.41%

4.46%

2011-12

2.55%

11.87%

2.83%

2012-13

2.25%

19.32%

2.56%

2013-14

1.69%

3.68%

1.46%

2014-15

1.53%

1.79%

0.04%

2015-16

1.46%

-8.17%

0.66%

2016-17

1.01%

21.67%

2.68%

2017-18

0.99%

-4.28%

2.48%

2018-19

1.24%

7.47%

1.79%

2019-20

1.20%

-1.44%

0.85%

2020-21

0.60%

31.24%

2.60%

2021-22

0.54%

-26.17%

9.10%

2022-23

1.99%

8%

8.60%

2023-24

3.88%

24.11%

1.25%

2024-25

3.77%

15.19%

2.40%

Average annual return (%)

1.79%

6.79%

2.92%

Source: Average cash ISA from Moneyfactscompare.co.uk.  *All stocks and shares ISA data based on Lipper IM Primary funds. Inflation figures from Bank of England

 

Compounded returns

 

Average cash ISA (Moneyfacts)

Stocks & shares ISA (Lipper IM)

Inflation (Bank of England)

2010-11

£102.17

£97.59

£104.46

2011-12

£104.78

£109.17

£107.42

2012-13

£107.13

£130.27

£110.17

2013-14

£108.94

£135.06

£111.77

2014-15

£110.61

£137.48

£111.82

2015-16

£112.23

£126.25

£112.56

2016-17

£113.36

£153.60

£115.57

2017-18

£114.48

£147.03

£118.44

2018-19

£115.90

£158.01

£120.56

2019-20

£117.29

£155.74

£121.58

2020-21

£117.99

£204.39

£124.75

2021-22

£118.63

£150.90

£136.10

2022-23

£120.99

£162.97

£147.80

2023-24

£125.69

£202.26

£149.65

2024-25

£130.43

£232.99

£153.20

 

Caitlyn Eastell, Spokesperson at Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, said:

“When it comes to building long-term wealth, investing through a Stocks & Shares ISA outperforms saving in cash. Since 2010, the average cash ISA grew £100 to £130, meanwhile, around the same amount in the typical stocks & shares ISA grew to £233, that means investors are £103 better off for every £100 invested.

“This gap is despite the stock market’s turbulence over the last 15 years, which was caused by Brexit, a global pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. It proves that staying invested, despite periods of volatility, pays off. But consumers that need access to their money within the next few years may be less inclined to invest because short-term market swings may damage their returns.

“Cash ISAs still play an important role, their more stable returns could be better suited for shorter-term goals that are more about preserving money as opposed to growing it, such as building an emergency fund.

“ISAs have been a popular topic of debate this year, especially as there has been a significant push for growth from the Government. The cash ISA limit will be reduced to £12,000 for those under 65 from 2027, and while it may push some savers towards investing, lots of work still needs to be done to shift the attitudes of savers that are more risk averse.”

Caitlyn Eastell, Spokesperson at Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, said:

“When it comes to building long-term wealth, investing through a Stocks & Shares ISA outperforms saving in cash. Since 2010, the average cash ISA grew £100 to £130, meanwhile, around the same amount in the typical stocks & shares ISA grew to £233, that means investors are £103 better off for every £100 invested.

“This gap is despite the stock market’s turbulence over the last 15 years, which was caused by Brexit, a global pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. It proves that staying invested, despite periods of volatility, pays off. But consumers that need access to their money within the next few years may be less inclined to invest because short-term market swings may damage their returns.

“Cash ISAs still play an important role, their more stable returns could be better suited for shorter-term goals that are more about preserving money as opposed to growing it, such as building an emergency fund.

“ISAs have been a popular topic of debate this year, especially as there has been a significant push for growth from the Government. The cash ISA limit will be reduced to £12,000 for those under 65 from 2027, and while it may push some savers towards investing, lots of work still needs to be done to shift the attitudes of savers that are more risk averse.”

Notes to editors

You are welcome to use part or all of this press release, so long as we are sufficiently sourced. We would appreciate a link back to Moneyfactscompare.co.uk.

Pioneering financial comparison technology for over 35 years, Moneyfacts Group plc is the UK’s leading provider of retail financial product data. Used by virtually every bank and building society in the UK, and supplied to the Bank of England, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Ombudsman Service, HM Treasury, Prudential Regulatory Authority and UK Finance.

Our expert research team monitors the thousands of mortgages, savings, credit card, personal loan, banking, life, pension and investment products in the UK.

Moneyfactscompare.co.uk is the financial product price comparison site, launched as Moneyfacts.co.uk in 2000 and rebranded to Moneyfactscompare.co.uk in 2023, which helps consumers compare thousands of financial products, including credit cards, savings, mortgages and many more. Unlike other comparison sites, Moneyfactscompare.co.uk shows whole of market data regardless of commercial bias, showing consumers a true picture of the best products based on the criteria they select.

For more information about us please see our key facts.

Broadcast

Our broadcast suite enables our finance experts to appear in-vision for television, and we regularly comment live on national and regional radio.

To arrange an interview for radio or television, please contact our press department. We have an in-house broadcast room.

 

Notes to editors

You are welcome to use part or all of this press release, so long as we are sufficiently sourced. We would appreciate a link back to Moneyfactscompare.co.uk.

Pioneering financial comparison technology for over 35 years, Moneyfacts Group plc is the UK’s leading provider of retail financial product data. Used by virtually every bank and building society in the UK, and supplied to the Bank of England, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Ombudsman Service, HM Treasury, Prudential Regulatory Authority and UK Finance.

Our expert research team monitors the thousands of mortgages, savings, credit card, personal loan, banking, life, pension and investment products in the UK.

Moneyfactscompare.co.uk is the financial product price comparison site, launched as Moneyfacts.co.uk in 2000 and rebranded to Moneyfactscompare.co.uk in 2023, which helps consumers compare thousands of financial products, including credit cards, savings, mortgages and many more. Unlike other comparison sites, Moneyfactscompare.co.uk shows whole of market data regardless of commercial bias, showing consumers a true picture of the best products based on the criteria they select.

For more information about us please see our key facts.

Broadcast

Our broadcast suite enables our finance experts to appear in-vision for television, and we regularly comment live on national and regional radio.

To arrange an interview for radio or television, please contact our press department. We have an in-house broadcast room.

 

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Rachel Springall Press Officer / Finance Expert
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Caitlyn Eastell Press & PR Executive
01603 476169
Email Caitlyn
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