Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Saxo 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 Saxo 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 - Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £51 per year, while Barclays would cost £105 per year.
12 trades per year - Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £72 per year, while Barclays would cost £75 or £147 per year.
36 trades per year - Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £144 per year, while Barclays would cost £75 or £291 per year.
120 trades per year - Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £396 per year, while Barclays would cost £75 or £795 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Saxo 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 comparing the investment offerings of Saxo and Barclays, both online brokers shine in providing a broad range of choices. Both Saxo and Barclays allow for share trading, ETFs, funds trading, corporate and government bonds, as well as investment trusts, making them strong contenders for diversified investment portfolios. However, Saxo stands out as it also offers CFD trading, which Barclays does not. On the other hand, Barclays complements its investment services with advisor services, a feature Saxo does not provide.
According to UK.StockBrokers.com ratings, both Saxo and Barclays earn a commendable five-star rating for their investment offerings. However, Saxo holds a prestigious rank as the top broker for investment choices out of 18, while Barclays follows at a respectable sixth place. Whether you're a seasoned investor or new to the market, either broker provides robust opportunities for expanding your investment portfolio, with each offering unique strengths suited to different trading needs.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | 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 |
|
|
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing online trading platforms, Saxo stands out with a broad array of advanced charting tools, offering 20 drawing tools and 64 technical indicators for a comprehensive trading experience. Traders using Saxo can add notes, index, and stock overlays to their charts, enhancing their ability to analyze and strategize. However, neither Saxo nor Barclays provide the feature to display corporate events like earnings or dividends directly on the charts. Both platforms do offer browser-based trading and allow users to create alerts for stock price updates, ensuring traders have access to timely information.
In contrast, Barclays falls short in the charting tool department, offering none of the drawing tools or technical indicators found in Saxo's platform. While it provides a user-friendly browser-based trading experience and supports alerts for stock price changes, Barclays lacks real-time market data, which could be a drawback for traders who need instant market updates. Overall, Saxo offers a more robust set of charting tools and features compared to Barclays, catering to traders who are seeking an in-depth analysis and comprehensive market engagement.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When comparing online brokers Saxo and Barclays for retirement accounts, both platforms offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). This makes them attractive choices for UK investors looking to grow their savings with tax-efficient options. Both brokers provide these essential retirement account options, enabling individuals to plan for their financial future effectively. Whether you're considering Saxo or Barclays, you can access ISAs and SIPPs to help meet your long-term investment goals.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of Saxo and Barclays, both brokers provide iPhone and Android apps, catering to users of the two leading mobile platforms. However, according to UK.StockBrokers.com, Saxo stands out with an impressive 5-star rating and is ranked as the top broker for mobile apps out of 18 contenders. In contrast, Barclays receives a modest 2.5-star rating and ranks 16th, highlighting a significant difference in user satisfaction and app quality between the two brokers.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing Saxo and Barclays for beginner investor educational resources, Saxo stands out with its top-notch educational webinars available for on-demand viewing, offering dynamic learning opportunities that Barclays lacks. While Saxo does not provide education specifically on share trading, funds, or retirement, Barclays fills these gaps with extensive educational content on these topics. However, Saxo's comprehensive webinar offerings have earned it a stellar 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, placing it at an impressive second out of 18 brokers in their ranking for beginner education. Conversely, Barclays, despite its detailed subject-focused education, holds a slightly lower 4.5-star rating and ranks fifth. This makes Saxo a leading choice for those prioritizing accessible and flexible learning formats, while Barclays suits those looking for targeted financial education.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | No | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of online brokerages Saxo and Barclays, both platforms provide comprehensive research reports for funds, shares, ETFs, and bonds, ensuring investors have access to versatile insights. They also offer the capability to view portfolio allocations by asset class, aiding users in making informed financial decisions. However, a key difference lies in CFDs research, which is available through Saxo but not offered by Barclays. Overall, both Saxo and Barclays deliver a robust suite of research tools, though Saxo has a slightly broader offering for those interested in CFDs.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | 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, Saxo or Barclays? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Saxo to be a better trading platform overall.
Saxo Markets’ trading platform is highly sophisticated and offers a huge range of international shares and funds. The biggest downside is the cost, as its charges are higher than its U.K. competitors. It's best suited for experienced investors rather than beginners.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Charges & Fees |
|
|
| Investment Choices |
|
|
| Mobile App |
|
|
| Website |
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Neither Saxo nor Barclays currently offer crypto trading, making these online brokers similar in their exclusion of cryptocurrency investment options.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Saxo | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | Saxo Review | Barclays Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Saxo | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | 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 | Saxo | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | From £3 or 0.08% | £6 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | From £3 or 0.08% | £6 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | From £3 or 0.08% | £6 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £51 | £105 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £72 | £75 or £147 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £144 | £75 or £291 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £396 | £75 or £795 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | 0.4% + 0% commission: £120 | £75 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | Up to £800 | £0 - £525 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £500 to £1,000 | £525 - £650 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | Up to £1,998 | £650 - £850 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £1,000 | £850 and up | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | €20 minimum | £6 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | €20 minimum | £6 | |
| ETFs - Fee | From $1 | £6 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | From $1 / £3 / €10 | £6 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £50 | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | Saxo | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools | Saxo | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | Saxo | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | 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 | Saxo | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | Saxo | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | Saxo Review | Barclays Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
IG Group Review
Saxo Review
eToro Review
Interactive Brokers Review
Trading 212 Review
XTB Review
CMC Invest Review
Vanguard Review
Hargreaves Lansdown Review
Halifax Review
Freetrade Review