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Hargreaves Lansdown vs Barclays 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

April 17, 2025

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.

Hargreaves Lansdown
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £1
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: Yes
Barclays
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £0
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: Yes

Fees

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.

query_stats 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.

Investment Choices

When comparing the investment choices offered by Hargreaves Lansdown and Barclays, both online brokers provide a wide array of options catering to UK investors. Each allows share trading, the trading of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (also known as gilts), and investment trusts, making them suitable for diverse financial strategies. In terms of additional services, both offer advisor services, enhancing their appeal to individuals seeking professional guidance. However, neither broker supports crypto trading, spread betting, or contracts for difference (CFD) trading, which may influence your choice depending on your specific trading interests.

Hargreaves Lansdown stands out with its fourth-place ranking among 21 brokers for investment choices as per UK.StockBrokers.com and maintains a perfect five-star rating, reflecting high satisfaction among users. Barclays also enjoys a five-star rating for its investment offerings, although it sits at a ninth-place rank in the same list. This difference in ranking might be a deciding factor for those prioritizing a broader selection of investment tools and options, despite both brokers receiving top scores for available choices. Regardless, each platform offers a reliable and well-rounded investment experience for UK traders.

Feature Hargreaves Lansdown logoHargreaves Lansdown
Barclays logoBarclays
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info No No
ETFs info Yes Yes
Funds info Yes Yes
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info Yes Yes
Investment Trusts info Yes Yes
Spread Betting info No No
Crypto Trading info No No
Advisor Services info Yes Yes
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars

Featured Offers


4.5/5 Stars

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4.5/5 Stars

Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.

Trading Tools

When comparing the trading tools of Hargreaves Lansdown and Barclays for UK investors, Hargreaves Lansdown provides a wider array of features. It displays corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, an option not available with Barclays. Chart enthusiasts will appreciate Hargreaves Lansdown's offering of 11 drawing tools and 15 technical indicators, whereas Barclays provides none. Additionally, Hargreaves Lansdown supports adding both index and stock overlays to charts, which isn’t an option with Barclays.

Both Hargreaves Lansdown and Barclays provide browser-based trading platforms and allow users to create alerts for stock price updates. However, Hargreaves Lansdown provides real-time market data, giving traders a significant edge in making informed decisions, while Barclays does not offer this feature. Neither platform currently supports adding notes to charts, leaving room for further enhancement in this area. Overall, for those prioritising comprehensive charting capabilities and up-to-date market information, Hargreaves Lansdown appears to be the more equipped option.

Feature Hargreaves Lansdown logoHargreaves Lansdown
Barclays logoBarclays
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 15 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 11 0
Charting - Notes info No No
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes No
Charting - Stock Overlays info Yes No
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes No

ISAs and SIPPs

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.

Mobile App

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.

Beginners and Education

For UK beginners looking into investment education, both Hargreaves Lansdown and Barclays provide resources on key topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement. Hargreaves Lansdown distinguishes itself by offering live educational client webinars, although neither broker archives these sessions for on-demand viewing. When assessed by UK.StockBrokers.com, Hargreaves Lansdown earned a perfect 5-star rating for its beginner educational resources, ranking fourth out of 21 brokers. In contrast, Barclays received a commendable 4.5-star rating, placing it at the tenth spot in the same ranking. This makes Hargreaves Lansdown a slightly more attractive choice for beginners seeking educational support.

Feature Hargreaves Lansdown logoHargreaves Lansdown
Barclays logoBarclays
Client Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) info No No
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes
Education 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.

Market Research

When comparing the market research features of online brokers Hargreaves Lansdown and Barclays, both platforms offer a comprehensive array of tools for UK investors. They provide research reports for funds, enabling informed decisions, and share detailed insights into portfolio allocation by asset class. Investors can access extensive research on shares, ETFs, and funds through both brokers. Additionally, both Hargreaves Lansdown and Barclays cater to bond investors with dedicated research. However, neither platform provides research for CFDs, keeping their focus on traditional investment vehicles.

Feature Hargreaves Lansdown logoHargreaves Lansdown
Barclays logoBarclays
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info No No
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info Yes Yes
Research - Funds info Yes Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes Yes
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes Yes

Hargreaves Lansdown vs Barclays Winner

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.

Feature Hargreaves Lansdown logoHargreaves Lansdown
Barclays logoBarclays
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Mobile App 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Website 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Hargreaves Lansdown or Barclays?

When comparing online brokers Hargreaves Lansdown and Barclays, neither platform offers cryptocurrency trading, highlighting a shared limitation for investors seeking exposure to digital assets.

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Compare

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Overall Rating Hargreaves Lansdown Barclays
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Mobile App 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Website 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Review Hargreaves Lansdown Review Barclays Review
Winner check_circle
Investments Hargreaves Lansdown Barclays
ISA info Yes Yes
SIPP info Yes Yes
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info No No
Funds info Yes Yes
ETFs info Yes Yes
Bonds - Corporate info Yes Yes
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info Yes Yes
Investment Trusts info Yes Yes
Spread Betting info No No
Crypto Trading info No No
Advisor Services info Yes Yes
Trading Fees Hargreaves Lansdown Barclays
Minimum Deposit info £1 £0
Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month info £11.95 £6
Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month info £8.95 £6
Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month info £5.95 £6
5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. £105
12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. £75 or £147
36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. £75 or £291
120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. £75 or £795
3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £135 £75
Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 info Up to £1,125 £0 - £525
Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K info Up to £625 £525 - £650
Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m info Up to £1,250 £650 - £850
Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over info Up to £1,000 £850 and up
Bonds - Corporate - Fee info £20 - £50 £6
Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee info £20 - £50 £6
ETFs - Fee info £5.95 - £11.95 £6
Investment Trusts - Fee info £5.95 - £11.95 £6
Telephone Dealing Fee info £20 - £50 info £25
Broker Screenshots Hargreaves Lansdown Barclays
Website Gallery (click to expand)
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
Education Gallery (click to expand)
Platforms & Tools Hargreaves Lansdown Barclays
Web Platform info Yes Yes
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 15 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 11 0
Charting - Notes info No No
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes No
Charting - Stock Overlays info Yes No
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes No
Research Hargreaves Lansdown Barclays
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info No No
Research - Funds info Yes Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info Yes Yes
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes Yes
Education Hargreaves Lansdown Barclays
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) info No No
Overall Summary Hargreaves Lansdown Barclays
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Mobile App 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Website 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Review Hargreaves Lansdown Review Barclays Review
Winner check_circle
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