Just spent way too much time comparing stocks and shares ISA providers, and honestly, the best performing stocks and shares ISA options really depend on your portfolio size. Wanted to share what I found because it's actually more nuanced than most people think.

So here's the thing - if you're sitting on less than 50k, AJ Bell YouInvest is genuinely solid. You're looking at around 31 quid for a 5k portfolio, 81 for 25k. Not the absolute cheapest everywhere, but the fees are capped and they've got a huge range of investments. Plus you get access to Shares Magazine which is a nice bonus. For mid-sized accounts, it's hard to beat.

Now if you've got serious money, like over 50k, Interactive Investor ii Plus changes the game. It's a flat 180 a year fee, which sounds like a lot until you realize how much you'd pay elsewhere. For a million quid portfolio, you're looking at 881 with AJ Bell versus way more with other providers. But fair warning - the platform can feel overwhelming if you're new to this.

Barclays Smart Investor deserves a mention too. Super transparent pricing, only 13 quid for a small 5k portfolio. You can manage it alongside your current account which is convenient. Hargreaves Lansdown is pricier but their educational resources are genuinely helpful if you value that support.

For the hands-off crowd, JP Morgan Personal Investing (used to be Nutmeg) is probably the best performing stocks and shares ISA option if you want ready-made portfolios. Around 48 quid annually for 5k. Vanguard's also worth looking at with their LifeStrategy funds - simple, includes tons of holdings, though you're limited to their own funds.

The key thing is you can stick up to 20k a year into these across all your ISAs combined. Returns obviously depend on what you pick, but FTSE 100 did 21.5% last year, averaging about 8% annually over the past decade. Most advisors reckon you should hold for at least five years since it's tied to the market.

Honestly, picking the best performing stocks and shares ISA provider comes down to whether you want to pick your own investments or prefer something managed. If you're confident picking stocks and funds, self-select works. If not, go ready-made. Either way, fees matter way more than people realize - small differences compound over years.