The investments that can be purchased via each platform vary depending on the service provider.
[1][2] Fund platforms enable investors to buy and hold their investments online, all in one place, with a degree of flexibility to alter their investments.
Many provide the opportunity to buy assets in-specie, which helps the investor switch investments without unnecessary charges.
Fund supermarkets are generally more transactional and are used for buying funds cheaply online, either by a financial adviser (on behalf of a client) or by the investor themselves.
In the United Kingdom, individual investors can usually hold a range of investments within several different types of 'tax wrapper', such as: The investments you can buy via these services and often hold on the platform itself can include: