How we compare

How we’ll compare and rank providers.

GoInvest will compare the banks and brokers offering the Investment Account on what matters most: what you pay each year, what it costs to open, how good the app is, which investments you can hold, and any sign-up offer. Every figure will come from the provider’s published terms, and we will show the date we checked it.

The table will start in the order we think suits most people best, for example someone investing part of the €12,000 annual limit. That order will never be influenced by what a provider pays us. You will be able to re-sort by annual cost, setup cost, app rating, or sign-up offer, and filter by the type of investment you want to hold.

To compare costs fairly, we will show what each provider would charge to hold €10,000 for a year, and say what we assumed. Setup fees are paid once, so we will show them separately.

Providers haven’t published their terms yet. Sign up for updates and we’ll email you when they do.

The calculator

The calculator compares the same investment in the Investment Account and in a standard ETF outside it. You choose how much you put in, for how long, the growth, and an annual fee to test with. The 1% tax is estimated on your balance at the end of each year. The real charge will use the average daily value and be collected by your provider, so treat the figures as a guide, not a bill.

Where the rules come from

The account rules used throughout the site, including the annual limit, the tax-free threshold, and the 1% rate, come from the Budget 2027 announcement of 6 October 2026, the Finance (No. 2) Bill 2026, published on 19 October 2026, and the CCPC guide, last checked 22 October 2026. The Bill has not yet passed, so details may change. Some details are still open, and we list those on the home page.

Assumptions in the calculator

Each year's contribution is capped at €12,000, the account limit. The starting balance is not a contribution and does not use your €12,000 allowance. An account will start empty on 1 July 2027, and the Finance Bill only allows cash to be paid in, so you can’t move investments you already own into it. The starting balance is only there so you can test a balance you expect to have built up.
Growth is a flat annual rate applied to your balance plus that year's contribution. It is an assumption you choose, not a forecast of market returns.
The annual fee is a typical rate you choose so you can see how fees affect your balance over time. Actual fees will depend on the bank or broker you pick.
The 1% tax applies to the average daily value of your account above €50,000. The calculator uses your balance at the end of each year as an approximation until the exact formula is published. The tax is charged on value, not on profit, so it can still be due in a year when your investments fall.
The standard ETF route uses the same contributions, growth, and annual fee as the Investment Account. It applies today's exit tax to gains every 8 years (deemed disposal), and to any remaining gain when you sell at the end. It is a simplified illustration, not tax advice.