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 investment accounts from Hargreaves Lansdown and Barclays in the UK, both brokers stand out for providing a broad array of trading choices. Investors with either broker can engage in share trading, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts. Notably, while crypto trading, spread betting, and CFD trading are unavailable through these platforms, both brokers offer comprehensive advisor services to assist clients in navigating their investment options.
In terms of ratings, both Hargreaves Lansdown and Barclays receive an impressive five-star evaluation from UK.StockBrokers.com for their investment choices. However, Hargreaves Lansdown edges out in ranking, coming in fourth out of 18 brokers, whereas Barclays stands at the ninth position. This slight edge in ranking might make Hargreaves Lansdown a more attractive option for investors seeking diverse investment opportunities within well-rated broker services.
| 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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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
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.
When comparing the mobile app offerings from Hargreaves Lansdown and Barclays, both brokers provide apps for iPhone and Android users in the UK. However, Hargreaves Lansdown distinguishes itself with a 4.5-star rating, placing it 10th out of 18 brokers according to UK.StockBrokers.com. In contrast, Barclays' app has been rated at 2.5 stars, ranking it 21st among its peers. This highlights the superior user experience and satisfaction found in Hargreaves Lansdown’s app compared to Barclays.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors in the UK seeking educational resources, both Hargreaves Lansdown and Barclays provide solid options, though they have key differences. Hargreaves Lansdown distinguishes itself by offering live educational webinars, enhancing the interactive learning experience, although these sessions are not available on demand. In contrast, Barclays does not offer educational webinars. Both brokers deliver comprehensive education on share trading, investing in funds, and retirement planning. When it comes to ratings, Hargreaves Lansdown shines with a five-star score from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking fourth out of eighteen brokers, while Barclays holds a respectable 4.5 stars, placing tenth. This might make Hargreaves Lansdown a more attractive choice for beginners prioritizing top-tier educational resources.
| 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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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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