Wombat review

What is Wombat?

Founded in 2017, Wombat is a digital investment app that lets you invest as little as £10 in a range of portfolio “themes” based on your beliefs and interests. You’ll also pay no account or trading fees on accounts up to £1,000, and can choose from a range of deposit and investing options.

How does Wombat work?

You can download the Wombat app for Android and iOS via Google Play and the App Store. Once you’ve downloaded the app, you’ll need to register an account by providing your bank details, ID and National Insurance Number.

You can invest as little as £10, and will not pay any subscription or trading fees on accounts up to £1,000. For accounts over £1,000, you’ll be charged a small monthly fee and platform fee. You can choose to add money to your account at any time, or set up an auto invest function to automatically add money to your account each month.

You have the option of a stocks and shares ISA, as well as a general investment account. Once you’ve set up your account, you’ll be asked to choose at least one portfolio “theme”, each of which represents a bundle of different stocks and bonds in the form of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). For example, the “Fly the flag” theme is comprised of local British companies, while “Pure Gold” lets you invest in a gold-bullion fund.

Wombat also offers a Round Up function, which lets you automatically round up your everyday purchases to the nearest pound. Your rounded-up change is then added to your account twice each month.

While Wombat does not offer direct financial advice, it does provide a learning hub that offers general investment guides and information.

Wombat themes

Like other robo-advisors, Wombat offers a number of investment portfolio “themes” that are designed to cater to your lifestyle, values and interests. There are currently 15 themes, each containing a number of ETFs. You can choose to invest in one or more of the following themes:

Wombat eligibility

You’ll need to meet the following criteria to open a Wombat account:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a UK resident
• Have a National Insurance Number

What products does Wombat offer?

Stocks and Shares Individual Savings Account (ISA). An ISA lets you invest up to £20,000 per year in a stocks and shares investment account, with any profits exempt from capital gains or income tax.

General Investment Account. This is a regular investment account with no upper investing limit, but unlike with an ISA, your gains will likely be subject to capital gains or income tax.

Pros and cons of Wombat

How much does Wombat cost?

Depending on the size of your account, there are a number of fees you will be charged when investing using Wombat.

Accounts up to £1,000

• No subscription fee
• No trading or transaction fees
• Fund provider fee

Accounts above £1,000

• £1 monthly subscription fee
• 0.45% platform fee
• Fund provider fee

Is Wombat safe?

Wombat is authorised by the FCA and covered by the FSCS, so your money may be protected up to £85,000 in the event that Wombat goes into default. Wombat also uses 256-bit TLS encryption to protect your personal data.

Like any other type of investment, your capital is at risk when you invest using Wombat and you may end up with less than what you originally invested. The performance of Wombat investment themes will vary, and there is no guarantee of return.

Frequently asked questions

• Will I pay tax on my investment profits?

  Yes, you will likely need to pay tax on any profits you make using a general investment account. Any gains you make with your ISA are not subject to capital gains tax.

• Where can I get the Wombat app

  The Wombat app works with both iOS and Android and can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.

• Does Wombat offer ethical investing options?

  Wombat offers a dedicated socially responsible ESG fund that only invests in ethical companies.

• How much do I need to invest with Wombat?

  You can invest as little as £10, with no upper limit. There are small fees for accounts above £1,000.