Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Investor 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 Interactive Investor 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 - Interactive Investor would cost £79.83 per year, while Barclays would cost £105 per year.
12 trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £59.88 / £107.76 per year, while Barclays would cost £75 or £147 per year.
36 trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £59.88 / £203.52 per year, while Barclays would cost £75 or £291 per year.
120 trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £59.88 / £538.68 per year, while Barclays would cost £75 or £795 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £0 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 it comes to choosing an online broker in the UK, both Interactive Investor and Barclays provide a variety of investment options that cater to different investor needs. Both brokers allow share trading, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts. However, neither offers crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading. One notable difference is that Barclays provides advisor services, which Interactive Investor does not.
Despite offering similar investment choices, Interactive Investor is ranked higher than Barclays in investment choices according to UK.StockBrokers.com, with a rating of third out of 18 brokers versus Barclays, which ranks ninth. Both brokers were awarded a five-star rating for their offerings, reflecting their extensive range of investment opportunities. For UK investors seeking diverse investment options, each platform offers strong choices, but Interactive Investor holds a slight edge in industry rankings.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
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 | No | 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 provided by Interactive Investor and Barclays, it's clear that Interactive Investor offers a more comprehensive suite for active traders. Users can easily display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, an option Barclays doesn't provide. Interactive Investor also impresses with 18 drawing tools and 104 technical indicators for charting, whereas Barclays offers none. Notably, Interactive Investor supports adding notes and both index and stock overlays to charts, enhancing the analysis experience for investors, while Barclays lacks these features.
Both Interactive Investor and Barclays offer browser-based trading platforms and the ability to set alerts for stock price updates. However, Interactive Investor goes a step further by delivering real-time market data, a feature not available with Barclays. This makes Interactive Investor an attractive choice for those seeking detailed charting capabilities and timely market information.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 18 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When comparing online brokers Interactive Investor and Barclays for UK retirement accounts, both platforms offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). This makes either option suitable for investors looking to save for retirement or manage their investments in a tax-efficient manner. With both providing these essential account types, potential users should consider factors like fees, tools, and customer service when making a decision best suited to their financial goals.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of Interactive Investor and Barclays for UK users, both brokers provide apps for iPhone and Android devices. Interactive Investor’s app is highly regarded, earning a 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, and is ranked 7th out of 18 brokers for its mobile app functionality. On the other hand, Barclays falls short with a 2.5-star rating and a rank of 21st among the same group of brokers. This stark difference in user satisfaction and rankings highlights Interactive Investor as a stronger choice for those prioritizing mobile app capabilities in their online brokerage experience.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the educational resources available for beginner investors at Interactive Investor and Barclays, Interactive Investor stands out with its comprehensive offerings. It provides educational webinars, both live and archived for on-demand viewing, which Barclays does not offer. Both brokers deliver education on share trading, funds, and retirement, showcasing a shared focus on these vital investment topics. However, Interactive Investor earns a higher rating for beginner education, with a perfect 5-star score from UK.StockBrokers.com, compared to Barclays' 4.5 stars. Ranked second out of 18 brokers for novice investor education, Interactive Investor significantly surpasses Barclays, which holds the tenth spot. For UK investors new to the market, Interactive Investor offers a more accessible and well-rounded educational experience.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | 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 Interactive Investor and Barclays for UK investors, both platforms offer a comprehensive suite of tools to aid in making informed decisions. Investors can access research reports for funds on both platforms, with both providers also offering insights into portfolio allocation across different asset classes. They equally support research on shares, ETFs, and bonds, ensuring investors have access to critical information across a range of investment products. However, neither Interactive Investor nor Barclays provides research for CFDs, which may be a consideration for those interested in this type of instrument. Overall, both offer a robust set of research tools catering to a wide array of investment preferences.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
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, Interactive Investor or Barclays? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Interactive Investor to be a better trading platform overall.
The standout feature at Interactive Investor (ii) is its low flat-rate fees. Other investment platforms typically favour percentage fees for fund investing, although more brokers are now opting for flat fees. Our view is that Interactive Investor is a great platform for any investor, offering a wide range of investments for cheap prices on the whole.
| Feature |
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Barclays
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When comparing online brokers, both Interactive Investor and Barclays do not offer crypto trading options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Interactive Investor | Barclays | |
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| Review | Interactive Investor Review | Barclays Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Interactive Investor | 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 | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Interactive Investor | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £3.99 | £6 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3.99 | £6 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3.99 | £6 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £79.83 | £105 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.88 / £107.76 | £75 or £147 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.88 / £203.52 | £75 or £291 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.88 / £538.68 | £75 or £795 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £71.85 | £75 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £59.88 - £143.88 | £0 - £525 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £143.88 | £525 - £650 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £143.88 | £650 - £850 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £143.88 | £850 and up | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £3.99 | £6 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £3.99 | £6 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £3.99 | £6 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £3.99 | £6 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £49 | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Investor | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Interactive Investor | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 18 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | Interactive Investor | 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 | Interactive Investor | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | Interactive Investor | Barclays | |
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| Review | Interactive Investor Review | Barclays Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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