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.
Your capital is at risk.
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.
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 Interactive Investor and Barclays for investment choices, both platforms excel in a variety of areas, yet some differences may guide your decision. Both Interactive Investor and Barclays offer a broad range of trading options, including share trading, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts. However, neither platform provides crypto trading, CFD trading, or spread betting. Notably, Barclays stands out for providing advisor services, which could be crucial for those seeking professional guidance.
In terms of recognition, both platforms have received a strong 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for their comprehensive investment options. However, Interactive Investor is ranked higher at #3 out of 21 brokers, compared to Barclays' position at #9. This ranking might influence investors looking for a platform that is highly regarded for its investment breadth in the United Kingdom.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual 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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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
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.
For investors in the UK looking for mobile trading options, Interactive Investor and Barclays both offer apps compatible with iPhones and Android devices. Interactive Investor shines with a 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, earning a commendable 7th place out of 21 brokers for its mobile app experience. In contrast, Barclays receives a modest 2.5-star rating, placing it at 21st position among the same group. This comparison highlights Interactive Investor as the stronger choice for those prioritising a high-quality mobile app for their investment needs.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginners seeking investment education, Interactive Investor outshines Barclays with its comprehensive educational offerings. Interactive Investor provides engaging client webinars that are also archived for convenient on-demand viewing, while Barclays does not offer webinars. Both brokers cover essential investment topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement, providing valuable insights for novice investors. However, the distinction is clear in their ratings; Interactive Investor garners a five-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com and ranks as the second-best among 21 brokers for beginner education. Conversely, Barclays receives a respectable 4.5-star rating but ranks tenth, indicating Interactive Investor's superior support for new investors.
| 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, both platforms offer a comprehensive range of resources beneficial for UK investors. Interactive Investor provides research reports on funds, just like Barclays. Investors can also view their portfolio allocation by asset class on both platforms, helping them better understand their investment distribution. In terms of specific investment types, both Interactive Investor and Barclays offer research on shares, ETFs, funds, and bonds, ensuring you have access to detailed information no matter your investment focus.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
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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 | |
| Mutual 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 | |||
| 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) | |||
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £0 - £250,000 | £59.88 - £143.88 | £0 - £525 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £143.88 | £525 - £650 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £143.88 | £650 - £850 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £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 | |
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| 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 | |||
| 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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