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Interactive Investor vs Barclays 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

August 06, 2024

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.

Interactive Investor
5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £0
  • 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, Interactive Investor offers better pricing than Barclays 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.

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

Interactive Investor and Barclays both offer a wide range of investment choices for those looking to grow their portfolio online. Both platforms support share trading, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts, providing robust opportunities for diverse investments. While neither offers crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading, Barclays does offer advisor services, which might appeal to beginners or those seeking guidance in their investment journey.

Simplifying the decision between these two brokers, Interactive Investor and Barclays are highly rated by UK.StockBrokers.com for their investment choices, each earning an impressive 5-star rating. When it comes to ranking among 18 brokers, Interactive Investor takes a slight lead, placing 5th, while Barclays follows closely at 6th. Both brokers excel in delivering comprehensive investment options, empowering investors with various paths to diversify their portfolios effectively.

Feature Interactive Investor logoInteractive Investor
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 No Yes
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars

Featured Offers


4.5/5 Stars

Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.

4.5/5 Stars

Low-cost US and UK shares.

Trading Tools

When it comes to online trading tools, Interactive Investor clearly stands out compared to Barclays. Interactive Investor provides a comprehensive suite of charting features, allowing users to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, a feature absent in Barclays' offerings. With 18 drawing tools and 104 technical indicators available, Interactive Investor far surpasses Barclays, which offers neither. Moreover, Interactive Investor users can annotate charts and add overlays of both indexes and stocks, options not provided by Barclays.

Both Interactive Investor and Barclays provide browser-based trading platforms and enable the creation of stock price alerts. However, Interactive Investor gains an edge with real-time market data, which keeps traders updated and informed, a service not available through Barclays. Overall, for trading enthusiasts seeking robust charting capabilities and up-to-date market information, Interactive Investor offers a superior toolkit compared to Barclays.

Feature Interactive Investor logoInteractive Investor
Barclays logoBarclays
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 104 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 18 0
Charting - Notes info Yes 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 retirement account offerings between Interactive Investor and Barclays, both platforms provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), making them viable options for UK investors looking to manage their retirement savings. Interactive Investor and Barclays each offer a range of investment choices within their ISA and SIPP accounts, enabling users to tailor their portfolios to suit their financial goals. Whether you're looking for a straightforward savings route with an ISA or seeking flexibility through a SIPP, both Interactive Investor and Barclays have options designed to help you achieve a secure financial future.

Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.

Mobile App

Both Interactive Investor and Barclays offer mobile apps available on iPhone and Android devices, catering to users who prefer managing their investments on the go. However, when comparing user satisfaction, Interactive Investor significantly outshines Barclays. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Interactive Investor's mobile app scores an impressive 4.5 out of 5 stars, ranking 12th out of 18 brokers for its mobile offerings. In contrast, Barclays receives a modest rating of 2.5 stars, securing the 16th position. These ratings indicate a smoother and more user-friendly experience for Interactive Investor app users, making it a preferable choice for investors seeking reliable mobile trading solutions.

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.

Beginners and Education

When comparing educational resources for beginner investors, Interactive Investor outshines Barclays with its comprehensive offerings. Interactive Investor not only provides live educational webinars but also archives them for on-demand viewing, a feature Barclays lacks entirely. Both brokers cover essential topics like share trading, funds, and retirement planning, ensuring that novice investors receive a well-rounded financial education. However, Interactive Investor’s superior educational support is reflected in its 5-star rating and top rank by UK.StockBrokers.com, while Barclays trails with a respectable 4.5-star rating, placing fifth among 18 brokers. For beginners seeking robust learning tools, Interactive Investor emerges as the clear frontrunner.

Feature Interactive Investor logoInteractive Investor
Barclays logoBarclays
Client Webinars info Yes No
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes 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

Interactive Investor and Barclays both offer a robust suite of market research features for their users, making them strong contenders in the online brokerage industry. Both platforms provide comprehensive research reports for funds, enabling investors to make informed decisions. They also give users a clear view of their portfolio allocation by asset class, which is essential for balancing investments. Additionally, both Interactive Investor and Barclays excel in offering insightful research on shares, ETFs, funds, and bonds. However, when it comes to CFDs research, neither platform provides this service. This alignment in features makes both brokers suitable for investors who prioritize access to detailed market analyses across a range of financial instruments.

Feature Interactive Investor logoInteractive Investor
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

Interactive Investor vs Barclays Winner

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 Interactive Investor logoInteractive Investor
Barclays logoBarclays
Overall Rating 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 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 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Interactive Investor or Barclays?

When comparing online brokers, both Interactive Investor and Barclays do not offer crypto trading options.

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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating Interactive Investor Barclays
Overall Rating 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 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 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Review Interactive Investor Review Barclays Review
Winner check_circle
Investments Interactive Investor 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 No Yes
Trading Fees Interactive Investor Barclays
Minimum Deposit info £0 £0
Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month info £3.99 £6
Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month info £3.99 £6
Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month info £3.99 £6
5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £79.83 £105
12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £59.88 / £107.76 £75 or £147
36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £59.88 / £203.52 £75 or £291
120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £59.88 / £538.68 £75 or £795
3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £71.85 £75
Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 info £59.88 - £143.88 £0 - £525
Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K info £143.88 £525 - £650
Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m info £143.88 £650 - £850
Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over info £143.88 £850 and up
Bonds - Corporate - Fee info £3.99 £6
Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee info £3.99 £6
ETFs - Fee info £3.99 £6
Investment Trusts - Fee info £3.99 £6
Telephone Dealing Fee info £49 £25
Broker Screenshots Interactive Investor Barclays
Website Gallery (click to expand)
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
Education Gallery (click to expand)
Platforms & Tools Interactive Investor 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 104 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 18 0
Charting - Notes info Yes No
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes No
Charting - Stock Overlays info Yes No
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes No
Research Interactive Investor 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 Interactive Investor 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 Yes No
Overall Summary Interactive Investor Barclays
Overall Rating 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 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 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Review Interactive Investor Review Barclays Review
Winner check_circle
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