OptFolio for multi-asset tracking (UK view) – what to check before committing If the aim is “one screen” across ISA/SIPP/shares/property/cash, tools like OptFolio can be handy, but the usefulness comes down to
how it pulls data in and
how much manual upkeep you’re willing to tolerate.
1) The key question: automatic feeds vs manual updates Before getting too attached to any dashboard, check whether it supports:
- Open Banking for cash accounts (most do this well, but it’s usually limited to bank accounts, not investment platforms).
- Investment platform integrations (often the weak spot in the UK). Many trackers can’t reliably connect to Vanguard Investor, HL, AJ Bell, Fidelity, iWeb, etc. Some rely on file imports.
- CSV imports from your broker/platform (workable, but you’ll be importing regularly).
- Manual holdings (fine for property valuations, private investments, premium bonds, crypto, etc., but it becomes “another spreadsheet” if you’re updating lots of lines).
If OptFolio is mostly manual for ISAs/SIPPs and only automated for bank balances, it can still be useful for net worth, but it won’t feel “live”.
2) Multi-asset coverage: what “good” looks like For your mix (ISA, SIPP, shares, property, cash), a decent tracker should handle:
- Account wrappers: separate reporting for ISA vs SIPP vs GIA (useful for tax planning, even if you’re not going deep on it).
- Holdings-level detail: funds, ETFs, individual shares, cash, plus the ability to group by asset class.
- Performance that makes sense: time-weighted vs money-weighted returns, and clear handling of contributions/withdrawals (SIPP contributions especially).
- Property: ability to add a property as an asset, set a valuation method, and optionally track mortgage as a liability so net worth is accurate.
- Cash: multiple accounts, easy categorisation (emergency fund vs “dry powder” vs business cash if relevant).
If OptFolio lets you treat property properly (asset + mortgage liability) and keeps wrappers separate, it’s already ahead of many generic net worth apps.
3) Dashboard usability: what tends to matter in practice A dashboard is only as good as the questions it answers quickly. Useful views tend to be:
- Net worth over time (assets minus liabilities) with a clear date range selector.
- Asset allocation across everything (not just within one broker).
- Exposure breakdown (UK/US/Global, sectors, currency) if you hold ETFs/funds.
- Account-level drilldown (so you can spot “that one SIPP fund” skewing risk).
- Cashflow view (contributions, dividends, rent, mortgage payments) if it supports it.
If OptFolio’s dashboard is clean but doesn’t let you drill down or separate wrappers, it can feel more like a pretty summary than a decision tool.
4) UK-specific practicalities (often missed) A few UK wrinkles worth checking in any tracker:
- SIPP contributions and tax relief: does it show gross vs net contributions clearly? Some trackers muddle this and performance looks “wrong”.
- Dividends and accumulation funds: does it handle income properly, or does it just show price movement?
- Multiple currencies: if you hold US stocks/ETFs, does it show FX impact transparently?
- Fees: can you record platform fees, fund OCFs (usually not), dealing fees? Even basic fee tracking helps.
5) Security and data handling If it connects to banks or platforms, check:
- Whether it uses regulated Open Banking providers (and which one).
- What permissions it asks for (read-only is the norm).
- Whether you can use it without linking accounts (manual mode).
- Export options (so you’re not locked in).
6) Comparisons: what people often use in the UK Without knowing your preference (hands-off automation vs control), common alternatives people compare against are:
- Moneyhub – strong for Open Banking and net worth; investments can be hit-and-miss depending on provider.
- Sharesight – very good for shares/ETFs/funds performance reporting; less “all assets” unless you manually add property/cash.
- Google Sheets/Excel – still the most flexible for property + mortgage + wrappers, but obviously manual.
OptFolio sits in the “portfolio dashboard” camp; the question is whether it’s closer to Sharesight (performance depth) or Moneyhub (net worth breadth).
7) A sensible way to test OptFolio quickly If there’s a free trial or low-cost month, a good test is:
- Add one ISA, one SIPP, one property + mortgage, and two cash accounts.
- Check whether the net worth figure matches your own numbers within a tolerance you’re happy with.
- See how long it takes to update after a trade/contribution.
- Try exporting your data.
If you share which platforms your ISA/SIPP are on (e.g., Vanguard, HL, AJ Bell) and whether you want automation or are fine with monthly imports, it’s easier to say whether OptFolio is likely to fit or whether another tool will be less hassle.
