Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Hargreaves Lansdown vs Barclays, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Alongside the cost per trade, most UK online brokers also charge a monthly, quarterly, or annual management fee, which varies based on the account type and balance. Based on our thorough review, Barclays offers better pricing than Hargreaves Lansdown for share dealing.
Assuming a £30,000 portfolio size, here are the total annual costs for share dealing with both brokers, given different monthly activity scenarios.
5 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. per year, while Barclays would cost £105 per year.
12 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. per year, while Barclays would cost £75 or £147 per year.
36 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. per year, while Barclays would cost £75 or £291 per year.
120 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. per year, while Barclays would cost £75 or £795 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1 per year, while Barclays would cost £0 per year.
What type of trader are you?
New to the world of investing? See our picks for the Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners. More experienced traders should read our guide to the Best UK Trading Platforms for Active Traders.
When evaluating the investment choices offered by Hargreaves Lansdown and Barclays, both online brokers in the UK provide an impressive range of options. Both platforms support share trading, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts, catering to diverse investor needs. Additionally, both brokers offer advisor services for those who seek expert guidance. However, specific details on offerings like crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading are not provided, indicating that potential investors may need to research or inquire directly to gain full insights into these options.
In terms of recognition, Hargreaves Lansdown is rated highly, earning a 5-star rating for investment choices from UK.StockBrokers.com and achieving a remarkable 4th place ranking out of 21 brokers. Similarly, Barclays also garners a 5-star rating from the same source but ranks 9th for investment choices. This positions Hargreaves Lansdown slightly ahead in the rankings, suggesting a more comprehensive offering or user satisfaction in this category, though both brokers clearly deliver strong performances in terms of investment variety.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | ||
| Crypto Trading | ||
| Advisor Services | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
For UK investors seeking a feature-rich trading experience, Hargreaves Lansdown presents a strong option compared to Barclays. Hargreaves Lansdown allows traders to display corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, a feature that enhances decision-making. Additionally, traders can access a variety of tools, including 11 drawing tools and 15 technical indicators, while also adding index and stock overlays to charts. These features, combined with the capabilities to create alerts for stock price updates and access to real-time market data, make Hargreaves Lansdown a comprehensive choice for those desiring an in-depth analysis tool.
In contrast, Barclays offers a more fundamental trading setup. Though it provides a browser-based trading platform and allows users to set up alerts for stock price updates, it lacks the advanced charting options available with Hargreaves Lansdown. With no drawing tools or technical indicators offered, along with the absence of real-time market data, Barclays might appeal more to investors preferring a simpler platform without the complexities of detailed chart analysis. However, both providers ensure easy access to trading with their browser-based platforms.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 15 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
When comparing online brokers Hargreaves Lansdown and Barclays for their retirement account offerings, both platforms cater to UK residents with a range of options. For individual savings accounts, both Hargreaves Lansdown and Barclays provide ISA accounts, allowing users to save and invest with tax benefits. Additionally, both brokers offer SIPP accounts, enabling users to plan and invest for retirement with flexible contributions and tax advantages. By offering these key account types, Hargreaves Lansdown and Barclays give users the essential tools needed to manage their savings and retirement planning efficiently.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
In the UK, both Hargreaves Lansdown and Barclays cater to mobile-savvy investors by providing apps for iPhone and Android devices. However, when it comes to user satisfaction, Hargreaves Lansdown's mobile app shines with a 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, placing it at an impressive 10th out of 21 brokers. In contrast, Barclays' mobile app receives a lower 2.5-star rating, ranking it at the bottom of the list at 21st position. This suggests that users find Hargreaves Lansdown's app significantly more appealing and effective for their trading needs compared to Barclays'.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginners delving into investment education, Hargreaves Lansdown and Barclays both offer resources on various topics like share trading, funds, and retirement. Hargreaves Lansdown distinguishes itself by providing educational webinars, though it's unclear if these are archived for later viewing. In comparison, Barclays does not offer educational webinars. In terms of beginner-friendly education, Hargreaves Lansdown shines with a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking 4th out of 21 brokers, whereas Barclays garners 4.5 stars, placing it 10th. If you're starting your investment journey, Hargreaves Lansdown may offer more comprehensive educational support.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | ||
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
Hargreaves Lansdown and Barclays both provide comprehensive market research features that cater to investors in the UK. They each offer research reports for funds and allow users to view portfolio allocation by asset class. Additionally, both brokers supply research for shares, ETFs, funds, and bonds, ensuring investors have access to valuable insights across different investment types. However, neither platform provides research specifically for CFDs. This range of resources makes both Hargreaves Lansdown and Barclays strong contenders for investors seeking detailed market analysis.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Hargreaves Lansdown or Barclays? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Hargreaves Lansdown to be a better trading platform overall.
As the U.K.’s biggest investment platform for individual investors, Hargreaves Lansdown offers a wide range of investment choices for either beginners or seasoned investors. However, its fees are generally more expensive than rival brokers, which can become an issue for large investment pots.
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Barclays
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Hargreaves Lansdown currently does not offer crypto trading, whereas Barclays also does not provide crypto trading services, making both platforms unsuitable for investors seeking cryptocurrency options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Hargreaves Lansdown | Barclays | |
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| Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | Barclays Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Hargreaves Lansdown | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | |||
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Hargreaves Lansdown | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £11.95 | £6 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £8.95 | £6 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £5.95 | £6 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. | £105 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. | £75 or £147 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. | £75 or £291 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. | £75 or £795 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £135 | £75 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | Up to £1,125 | £0 - £525 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | Up to £625 | £525 - £650 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | Up to £1,250 | £650 - £850 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | Up to £1,000 | £850 and up | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £20 - £50 | £6 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £20 - £50 | £6 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £5.95 - £11.95 | £6 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £5.95 - £11.95 | £6 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £20 - £50 | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | Hargreaves Lansdown | Barclays | |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Hargreaves Lansdown | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 15 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | |||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
| Research | Hargreaves Lansdown | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Hargreaves Lansdown | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) |
| Overall Summary | Hargreaves Lansdown | Barclays | |
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| Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | Barclays Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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