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 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
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
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
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 15 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
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 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
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
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
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| 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.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
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Barclays
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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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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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 | No | No | |
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| 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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| 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 | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | Hargreaves Lansdown | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| 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 | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Overall Summary | Hargreaves Lansdown | Barclays | |
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| Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | Barclays Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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