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Barclays vs Lloyds Bank 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

April 17, 2025

In this head to head comparison of Barclays vs Lloyds Bank, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

Barclays
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £0
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: Yes
Lloyds Bank
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, Barclays offers better pricing than Lloyds Bank 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 - Barclays would cost £105 per year, while Lloyds Bank would cost £95 per year.

12 trades per year - Barclays would cost £75 or £147 per year, while Lloyds Bank would cost £40 - £172 per year.

36 trades per year - Barclays would cost £75 or £291 per year, while Lloyds Bank would cost £40 - £328 per year.

120 trades per year - Barclays would cost £75 or £795 per year, while Lloyds Bank would cost £40 / £1,000 per year.

3 fund trades per year - Barclays would cost £0 per year, while Lloyds Bank 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

When comparing the online brokerage services of Barclays and Lloyds Bank in the UK, both offer a comprehensive range of investment options for those interested in managing their portfolios. Investors can trade shares, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts with both financial institutions. However, neither Barclays nor Lloyds Bank provides options for crypto trading, spread betting, or contracts for difference (CFDs), making them more suitable for traditional investment strategies. Additionally, both banks extend advisor services to assist investors in making informed decisions.

Despite their similar offerings, subtle differences exist in their market rankings. Rated five stars by UK.StockBrokers.com for investment choices, Barclays is positioned as the ninth top choice out of 21 UK brokers. Lloyds Bank, receiving the same five-star rating, edges slightly ahead, securing the eighth spot. For UK investors seeking a wide range of traditional investment choices with professional guidance available, both banks present as viable and reliable options.

Feature Barclays logoBarclays
Lloyds Bank logoLloyds Bank
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 Yes Yes
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars

Featured Offers


4.5/5 Stars

Low-cost US and UK shares.

4.5/5 Stars

Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.

Trading Tools

When comparing Barclays and Lloyds Bank for online trading tools, both provide a straightforward, browser-based trading platform that allows users to create alerts for stock price updates. This feature ensures that investors can stay informed about fluctuations in stock prices through both banks. However, neither platform allows for the display of corporate events like earnings or dividends on charts, limiting users who wish to visualize a more detailed financial calendar.

Investors seeking advanced charting options may find both Barclays and Lloyds Bank lacking. Neither platform offers drawing tools, technical indicators, or options for adding notes and overlays to charts. Additionally, real-time market data is not available through either service, which might be a drawback for traders requiring up-to-the-minute information for decision making. While the trading capabilities may fit casual investors, those needing more advanced tools might look elsewhere.

Feature Barclays logoBarclays
Lloyds Bank logoLloyds Bank
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 0 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 0 0
Charting - Notes info No No
Charting - Display Corporate Events info No No
Charting - Stock Overlays info No No
Charting - Index Overlays info No No

ISAs and SIPPs

For UK investors comparing retirement account options, both Barclays and Lloyds Bank provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). Barclays offers a straightforward path to setting up both ISAs and SIPPs, catering to those looking to grow their savings and plan for retirement with flexible investment choices. Similarly, Lloyds Bank provides both ISA and SIPP options, allowing customers to save tax-efficiently while choosing from a variety of investment opportunities. This makes either institution a viable choice for those seeking a reliable platform to manage their retirement savings with ease.

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

Mobile App

When comparing the mobile apps of Barclays and Lloyds Bank, UK users can access both iPhone and Android versions from each financial institution. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Barclays' mobile app holds a rating of 2.5 stars and occupies the 21st spot out of 21 brokers, suggesting room for improvement in user satisfaction and functionality. In contrast, Lloyds Bank's mobile app is rated at 3.5 stars and ranks 17th, indicating a better user experience and slightly stronger performance among similar services. Therefore, while both banks provide mobile compatibility, Lloyds Bank offers a more favorable app experience compared to Barclays.

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.

Beginners and Education

Beginner investors in the UK seeking educational resources from online brokers will find that Barclays offers a more comprehensive suite of learning materials compared to Lloyds Bank. While neither Barclays nor Lloyds Bank provides educational client webinars or archived recordings for on-demand viewing, Barclays stands out in offering educational content on share trading, funds, and retirement, subjects on which Lloyds Bank falls short. Barclays earns a commendable 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for its beginner education, ranking 10th out of 21 reviewed brokers, while Lloyds Bank receives 4 stars and ranks 14th. For novices eager to dive into the world of investments, Barclays provides stronger educational support.

Feature Barclays logoBarclays
Lloyds Bank logoLloyds Bank
Client Webinars info No No
Client Webinars (Archived) info No No
Education (Share Trading) info Yes No
Education (Funds) info Yes No
Education (Retirement) info Yes No
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.

Market Research

When comparing the market research features of online broker Barclays and Lloyds Bank, both providers offer research reports on funds, shares, ETFs, and bonds. However, neither offers CFDs research. A key distinction lies in portfolio management tools: Barclays allows users to see portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature Lloyds Bank does not provide. This can be particularly useful for investors looking to gain deeper insights into their investment diversification. Overall, while both platforms provide a broad range of research options, Barclays offers additional tools to assess portfolio distribution, which may enhance decision-making for some investors.

Feature Barclays logoBarclays
Lloyds Bank logoLloyds Bank
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 No

Barclays vs Lloyds Bank Winner

Which broker is better overall, Barclays or Lloyds Bank? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Barclays to be a better trading platform overall.

Barclays Smart Investor offers a wide range of investments and accounts and is a good value for those with a midsize portolio who like flat fees. On the downside, it can be complicated to open an account as a non-Barclays bank customer, and you can’t buy or sell investments through the app if you don’t have a Barclays bank account.

Feature Barclays logoBarclays
Lloyds Bank logoLloyds Bank
Overall Rating 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Mobile App 2.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Website 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 3.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Barclays or Lloyds Bank?

Both Barclays and Lloyds Bank offer online brokerage services but neither provides options for cryptocurrency trading, making them similar in their offerings for traditional investment products but not suitable for those seeking crypto asset investments.

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Compare

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Overall Rating Barclays Lloyds Bank
Overall Rating 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Mobile App 2.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Website 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 3.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Review Barclays Review Lloyds Bank Review
Winner check_circle
Investments Barclays Lloyds Bank
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 Yes Yes
Trading Fees Barclays Lloyds Bank
Minimum Deposit info £0 £0
Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month info £6 £8 - £11
Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month info £6 £8
Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month info £6 £8
5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £105 £95
12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £75 or £147 £40 - £172
36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £75 or £291 £40 - £328
120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £75 or £795 £40 / £1,000
3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £75 £44.50
Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 info £0 - £525 £40
Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K info £525 - £650 £40
Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m info £650 - £850 £40
Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over info £850 and up £40
Bonds - Corporate - Fee info £6 £8 - £11
Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee info £6 £8 - £11
ETFs - Fee info £6 £8 - £11
Investment Trusts - Fee info £6 £8 - £11
Telephone Dealing Fee info £25 £35
Broker Screenshots Barclays Lloyds Bank
Website Gallery (click to expand)
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
Education Gallery (click to expand)
Platforms & Tools Barclays Lloyds Bank
Web Platform info Yes Yes
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 0 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 0 0
Charting - Notes info No No
Charting - Display Corporate Events info No No
Charting - Stock Overlays info No No
Charting - Index Overlays info No No
Research Barclays Lloyds Bank
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 No
Education Barclays Lloyds Bank
Education (Share Trading) info Yes No
Education (Funds) info Yes No
Education (Retirement) info Yes No
Client Webinars info No No
Client Webinars (Archived) info No No
Overall Summary Barclays Lloyds Bank
Overall Rating 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Mobile App 2.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Website 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 3.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Review Barclays Review Lloyds Bank Review
Winner check_circle
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