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Trading 212 vs Barclays 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

July 31, 2025

In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 vs Barclays, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

Trading 212
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £1
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: No
Barclays
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £0
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: Yes

Your capital is at risk.

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, Trading 212 offers better pricing than Barclays for share dealing.

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

Trading 212 and Barclays offer UK investors a range of investment opportunities, though they cater to different needs. Trading 212 supports share trading and trading of ETFs and investment trusts, appealing to those who prefer a simplified approach to trading. Additionally, it offers CFD trading, a feature not available at Barclays. However, Trading 212 lacks options like crypto trading, spread betting, funds, and bonds trading, which might limit investors seeking a broader range of assets. Rated 4.5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com for investment choices, Trading 212 is ranked 16th among 21 brokers.

On the other hand, Barclays not only facilitates share and ETF trading, but also offers trading in funds, corporate and government bonds, and investment trusts. It stands out with its advisor services, which can be especially helpful for investors who benefit from professional guidance. Although it does not provide CFD and crypto trading, the variety in its offerings led Barclays to receive a full 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for investment choices, securing the 9th position among 21 brokers. This makes Barclays an attractive option for those seeking comprehensive investment services in the UK.

Feature Trading 212 logoTrading 212
Barclays logoBarclays
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info Yes No
ETFs info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds info No Yes
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info No Yes
Investment Trusts info Yes Yes
Spread Betting info No No
Crypto Trading info No No
Advisor Services info No Yes
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars

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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.

Trading Tools

When comparing online trading tools between Trading 212 and Barclays for UK investors, there are notable differences. Trading 212 excels in charting capabilities, offering 27 drawing tools and 106 technical indicators, whereas Barclays provides none. Additionally, Trading 212 allows users to add notes directly to charts, an option that Barclays does not support. Surprisingly, neither platform offers features such as displaying corporate events, or adding stock or index overlays to charts.

Both Trading 212 and Barclays provide browser-based trading platforms and the ability to set alerts for stock price updates, catering to real-time decision-making. However, Trading 212 edges ahead by offering real-time market data, a crucial feature that Barclays lacks. As UK investors compare their trading options, it is clear that Trading 212 provides a more comprehensive suite of charting tools and real-time insights, making it a preferred choice for those serious about technical analysis.

Feature Trading 212 logoTrading 212
Barclays logoBarclays
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 106 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 27 0
Charting - Notes info Yes No
Charting - Display Corporate Events info No No
Charting - Stock Overlays info No No
Charting - Index Overlays info No No

ISAs and SIPPs

When comparing online broker Trading 212 and Barclays for retirement accounts in the UK, it's important to consider the types of accounts each offers. Trading 212 provides Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), making it a viable option for those looking to invest tax-efficiently. Barclays also offers ISAs and additionally provides Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), giving investors an edge with more comprehensive retirement planning options. While Trading 212 keeps it simple with its ISA offerings, Barclays supports a broader range of retirement investment choices, appealing to those who are looking for both immediate savings and long-term retirement planning.

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

Mobile App

In the comparison between Trading 212 and Barclays, both online brokers offer mobile apps for iPhone and Android users. However, Trading 212 stands out significantly, earning a top rating of 5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, and is ranked as the third best among 21 brokers for its mobile app offerings. In contrast, Barclays receives a relatively modest rating of 2.5 stars and is ranked last at number twenty-one. This makes Trading 212 a preferable choice for those seeking a high-performing mobile app experience in the United Kingdom.

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.

Beginners and Education

When comparing Trading 212 and Barclays for beginner investor educational resources, both offer guidance on share trading and funds, yet neither provides webinars or on-demand recordings. However, Barclays goes a step further with education on retirement, which Trading 212 does not offer. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Trading 212 holds a 4-star rating for beginner education, while Barclays scores a slightly higher 4.5 stars. In the rankings of 21 brokers for beginner resources, Trading 212 is placed at number 13, whereas Barclays ranks slightly better at number 10, making it potentially more appealing for UK beginners seeking comprehensive educational support.

Feature Trading 212 logoTrading 212
Barclays logoBarclays
Client Webinars info No No
Client Webinars (Archived) info No No
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes Yes
Education (Retirement) info No Yes
Education 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.

Market Research

When comparing Trading 212 and Barclays for market research features, UK investors should consider their differing offerings. Trading 212 allows users to view portfolio allocation by asset class and provides research for shares, ETFs, but lacks reports for funds and bonds. Conversely, Barclays offers comprehensive research across all these categories, including funds and bonds, in addition to showing portfolio allocation by asset class. This makes Barclays a more suitable option for those seeking extensive market insights and detailed reports across a wider range of investment types.

Feature Trading 212 logoTrading 212
Barclays logoBarclays
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info No Yes
Research - Funds info No Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports info No Yes
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes Yes

Trading 212 vs Barclays Winner

Which broker is better overall, Trading 212 or Barclays? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Trading 212 to be a better trading platform overall.

Trading 212 offers commission-free share dealing and is a great option for those looking to simply execute share or ETF trades. Novice investors or those looking for more diversification through mutual funds may find better options elsewhere.

Feature Trading 212 logoTrading 212
Barclays logoBarclays
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Mobile App 5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Website 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Trading 212 or Barclays?

Neither Trading 212 nor Barclays offers crypto trading, making both online brokers equally limited for investors looking to trade cryptocurrencies.

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Compare

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Overall Rating Trading 212 Barclays
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Mobile App 5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Website 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Review Trading 212 Review Barclays Review
Winner check_circle
Investments Trading 212 Barclays
ISA info Yes Yes
SIPP info No Yes
Share Trading info Yes Yes
CFD Trading info Yes No
Mutual Funds info No Yes
ETFs info Yes Yes
Bonds - Corporate info No Yes
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info No Yes
Investment Trusts info Yes Yes
Spread Betting info No No
Crypto Trading info
Advisor Services info No Yes
Trading Fees Trading 212 Barclays
Minimum Deposit info £1 £0
Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month info £0 £6
Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month info £0 £6
Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month info £0 £6
5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info
12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info
36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info
120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info
3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) info
Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £0 - £250,000 info £0 £0 - £525
Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K info £0 £525 - £650
Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m info £0 £650 - £850
Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over info £0 £850 and up
Bonds - Corporate - Fee info N/A £6
Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee info N/A £6
ETFs - Fee info £0 £6
Investment Trusts - Fee info £0 £6
Telephone Dealing Fee info N/A £25
Broker Screenshots Trading 212 Barclays
Website Gallery (click to expand)
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
Education Gallery (click to expand)
Platforms & Tools Trading 212 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 106 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 27 0
Charting - Notes info Yes No
Charting - Display Corporate Events info No No
Charting - Stock Overlays info No No
Charting - Index Overlays info No No
Research Trading 212 Barclays
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info
Research - Funds info No Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports info No Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info No Yes
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes Yes
Education Trading 212 Barclays
Education (Share Trading) info Yes Yes
Education (Funds) info Yes Yes
Education (Retirement) info No Yes
Client Webinars info No No
Client Webinars (Archived) info No No
Overall Summary Trading 212 Barclays
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Mobile App 5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Website 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Review Trading 212 Review Barclays Review
Winner check_circle
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