Reviews Archives - Page 9 of 14

March 16, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Investment ISA 2026 – Top Picks Before the Deadline

Last updated: 6 September 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Best investment ISA2026 Edit

The best investment ISA for every kind of UK investor

Finding the best investment ISA in 2026 really comes down to one question: what kind of investor are you? So instead of crowning a single winner, this guide matches the main UK stocks and shares ISA platforms to the people they actually suit, then compares them on the things that move the needle: fees, FX costs, choice of investments and how easy each one is to use.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Not financial advice. This article is for information only and reflects personal experience, not a recommendation. Because investing carries risk, always do your own research or speak to a qualified financial adviser before you act.

Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

The low-cost ISA we track most

For transparency, Lightyear is the low-cost Stocks and Shares ISA we use and follow most closely, so you will see it referenced throughout. It is also the account behind our living can AI turn £1,000 into £10,000 experiment. You can check its current ISA details and any live offer on our referral page before you decide anything.

See Lightyear ISA details

Published by Stiv in Apps, Finance, Investing, Reviews, Services

Tags: best investment ISA, Freetrade, invest tax free, investing, isa allowance 2026, ISA deadline, isa deadline 2026, JPMorgan Personal Investing, junior isa, lifetime isa, Lightyear, nutmeg investment review, nutmeg isa, robo advisor uk, stocks and shares isa, Trading 212, uk finance

March 13, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Stranger Things: The First Shadow Review – All Spectacle, Not Enough Story

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

This First Shadow review comes from a genuine visit to the Phoenix Theatre on London's West End, and it's a mixed bag. Stranger Things: The First Shadow is a visual spectacle that pushes the boundaries of what live theatre can do, but underneath all that dazzling stagecraft, the writing simply doesn't hold up. Two of its three stars are earned almost entirely by the effects team. Here's the full breakdown.

Cool Factor: 3/5 - Cool

Published by Stiv in London, Reviews, Theatre lover, West End

Tags: First Shadow review, London theatre 2026, Phoenix Theatre London, Stranger Things play, Stranger Things stage show, Stranger Things West End, theatre review UK, West End theatre review

March 7, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Freetrade Review UK: Honest Pros, Cons and Verdict (2026)

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute financial advice.

Cool Factor: 4/5

This Freetrade review UK covers everything you need to know before opening an account: plans, fees, what you can invest in, what real users say on Trustpilot, and where the app falls short. Freetrade has grown into one of the UK's most popular investing apps since the company was founded in 2016. However, popularity and quality are not always the same thing. This review is based on my own experience using the app, and I have dug into the plans, fees and real user feedback so you don't have to.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

Want a free share with Freetrade?

Freetrade's refer-a-friend deal gives a free share when you join, subject to qualifying conditions. The current offer and full terms are kept up to date on our referral page.

Get a free share with Freetrade

Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing, Reviews, Services, Tech News, UK Made

Tags: commission-free investing, Freetrade app, Freetrade pros cons, Freetrade review, Freetrade SIPP, Freetrade vs Trading 212, stocks and shares isa, UK investing apps

March 6, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best AI Assistant UK 2026: ChatGPT vs Claude vs Gemini vs Perplexity

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Choosing the best AI assistant UK users can trust in 2026 isn't as simple as picking the one with the catchiest name. Between Anthropic walking away from a $200 million Pentagon contract, a growing "Quit ChatGPT" movement, and genuine questions about where your data ends up, this is a decision that actually matters now. We've dug into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity and others to compare everything from pricing and privacy to military contracts and water consumption — all with a UK lens.

Published by Stiv in Apps, Reviews, Services, Tech News, Technology lover

Tags: AI chatbot comparison, AI comparison 2026, AI data storage GDPR, AI environmental impact, AI military use, AI privacy UK, best AI assistant UK, ChatGPT UK, Claude AI UK, Gemini AI UK, Perplexity UK, which AI to use UK

March 5, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

iPhone 17e UK: What You Actually Get for £599

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

The iPhone 17e UK launch lands on 11 March 2026 at £599 — the same price Apple charged for the 16e last year — but this time you're getting double the storage, MagSafe, and a faster chip. It's not a revolution. It was never meant to be. Here's our honest take on what Apple's cheapest iPhone actually delivers and where it quietly cuts corners.

Published by Stiv in Apple, Reviews, Tech News, Technology lover

Tags: A19 chip, apple, Apple UK, Back Market, budget iPhone, iPhone 16e vs 17e, iPhone 17e, iPhone 17e review, iPhone 17e UK, iPhone 2026, MagSafe, refurbished iPhone, smartphone

March 5, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Sprive vs Manual Overpaying: Which Method Pays Your Mortgage Off Faster?

Last updated: 19 July 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

I have been overpaying my Nationwide mortgage since October 2021, using Sprive's auto-save alongside manual payments, so this comparison is based on living with both approaches over four years.

If you are trying to pay your mortgage off faster, you have got two realistic routes: use an app like Sprive to automate overpayments, or just do it yourself with a standing order. This guide compares Sprive vs manual overpaying honestly. It is not here to sell you on either option. It is here to help you pick the approach you will actually stick with, because consistency is what moves the numbers.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view. This is information, not financial advice, and CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Trying Sprive anyway?

If the app route wins you over, the live sign-up offer and the claim steps are listed on our referral page.

See the Sprive sign-up offer

App or standing order? The comparison is below. For every Sprive guide in one place, see our Sprive guides hub, kept current as the app changes.

Published by Stiv in Reviews, Saving, Services, UK Made

Tags: mortgage overpayments, mortgage savings, Open Banking, pay off mortgage faster, personal finance, personal finance uk, remortgaging, Sprive, Sprive app, Sprive vs manual overpaying, UK mortgages

March 3, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 17e Buyer’s Guide: Every Upgrade That Matters

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Looks like Apple’s “affordable iPhone” is now a yearly habit, and the iPhone 16e vs 17e decision is basically: do you want MagSafe and more storage, or do you want to save cash on a still-solid phone?

The iPhone 16e brought the modern basics (full-screen design, Face ID, USB-C, 48MP camera) into the budget lane. The new iPhone 17e keeps the same vibe, but upgrades the bits you’ll notice every day: charging, storage, durability, and silicon.

Quick take: If you use wireless charging (or want magnetic car mounts, wallets, and snap-on accessories), the 17e is the easy pick. If you’re buying outright and see a chunky discount on the 16e, that’s when the older model becomes tempting.

Published by Stiv in Apple, Buying Guides, Reviews, Tech News, Technology lover

Tags: A19, apple, buying guide, iPhone 16e, iPhone 17e, iPhone comparison, MagSafe, uk deals, wireless charging

March 2, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Rose Wylie at the Royal Academy Review: A Look at the London Exhibition

By Tristan · Arts, exhibitions and creative culture

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

The Rose Wylie Royal Academy exhibition places one of Britain’s most distinctive painters within the formal context of Burlington House. Rather than framing Wylie as an outsider voice, the exhibition situates her practice within a lineage of British painting that values scale, gesture and visual directness. The result is not a retrospective spectacle but a measured presentation that clarifies the structural intelligence beneath her deliberately awkward surface language.

As with other focused RA exhibitions, the strength of the show lies in pacing. The galleries unfold in a steady sequence, allowing Wylie’s visual vocabulary to accumulate gradually.

Published by Tristan in Art Lovers, Artists, Reviews, Travel lover

Tags: Art editions, Burlington House, Contemporary art, Exhibition review, London exhibitions, Painting, RA London, RA shop, Rose Wylie, Royal Academy

March 1, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Can You Leave Octopus Energy Anytime? Exit Fees, Switching Rules, and What Happens Next

Last updated: 27 August 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Yes, in most cases you can leave Octopus anytime. However, the answer depends on which tariff you're on. If you're on a flexible (variable) tariff, there are typically no exit fees. If you're on a fixed tariff, things have changed recently. Since early March 2026, Octopus has reintroduced exit fees of up to £75 per fuel on new fixed deals. So the short answer is still yes, but the cost of leaving depends on your contract.

Quick summary

Flexible Octopus (variable): no lock-in, no exit fees.
Fixed tariffs (signed before March 2026): usually no exit fees, unless your specific deal included them.
Fixed tariffs (signed from March 2026): exit fees of up to £75 per fuel now apply on new contracts.
Cooling-off period: you get 14 days to cancel a new energy contract.
Switching speed: around 5 working days once confirmed.

If you're switching to Octopus rather than away, you can check the current sign-up credit here: Octopus Energy referral guide.

Switching to Octopus instead?

The live sign-up credit and how to claim it are tracked on our Octopus referral page.

View the Octopus sign-up credit

Published by Stiv in Reviews, Services

Tags: energy bills, exit fees, octopus energy, Ofgem, price cap, switching energy, UK utilities

February 17, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Google Pixel Watch 4 review (UK): gorgeous, clever, and very “pick a side”

Last updated: 17 February 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Quick summary: This Pixel Watch 4 review explains who it’s for (Android people), who it’s not for (iPhone people), and what’s actually improved.

Price check: UK prices tend to float between £279 (41mm WiFi) and £449 (LTE), depending on colour, strap, and retailer.

Check the Pixel Watch 4 41mm WiFi price
Check the Pixel Watch 4 LTE price

If you’re eyeing the Pixel Watch 4, here’s the truth: it’s not a neutral little timepiece. It’s an Android companion device with opinions. Pair it with an Android phone and it’s brilliant. Pair it with an iPhone and it’s basically a lovely, expensive reminder that tech companies enjoy building walled gardens.

Published by Stiv in Android apps, Reviews, Technology lover, Watch lovers

Tags: Android smartwatch, Fitbit, gadgets, Gemini, Google Pixel Watch, Pixel Watch 4, smartwatch review, UK tech, Wear OS