Written by StockBrokers.com
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.
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.
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 - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Barclays would cost £105 per year.
12 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Barclays would cost £75 or £147 per year.
36 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Barclays would cost £75 or £291 per year.
120 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Barclays would cost £75 or £795 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £1 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 Trading 212 and Barclays for investment options, both platforms offer share and ETF trading as well as investment trusts. However, Trading 212 stands out with its inclusion of CFD trading, making it an attractive option for those looking to leverage their investments. In contrast, Barclays offers a broader range of investment options, including funds trading, corporate bonds, and government bonds (gilts). Barclays also provides advisor services, which can be appealing for investors seeking professional guidance.
Despite Trading 212's highly rated investment choices at 4.5 stars, it ranks 11th among 18 brokers analyzed by UK.StockBrokers.com. Barclays, with its more comprehensive investment offerings, secures a 5-star rating and ranks 6th, making it a favorable choice for those looking for a wider array of investment opportunities and advisory support.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing the trading tools of Trading 212 and Barclays, several differences become apparent. Trading 212 offers a robust suite of features for avid traders, including 27 drawing tools and 106 technical indicators for charting, which allow users to conduct detailed technical analysis. Additionally, Trading 212 provides the ability to add notes to charts, giving users the flexibility to annotate their observations directly. On the other hand, Barclays lacks these charting tools and indicators, limiting the depth of analysis users can perform.
Both Trading 212 and Barclays provide browser-based trading platforms and the ability to create alerts for stock price updates, making it easy for users to keep track of market movements. However, Trading 212 goes a step further by providing real-time market data, offering traders up-to-the-minute information crucial for making timely trading decisions. Barclays, in contrast, does not offer real-time data, which could be a significant limitation for those who rely on the most current market conditions. Neither platform displays corporate events or supports adding index or stock overlays to charts, but Trading 212's advanced charting capabilities do provide a more comprehensive trading experience overall.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 27 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When comparing online broker Trading 212 with Barclays in terms of retirement account offerings, there are some key differences to consider. Both Trading 212 and Barclays offer ISA accounts, providing tax-efficient ways to save and invest. However, when it comes to SIPP accounts, which allow individuals to save specifically for retirement and gain tax relief on contributions, Barclays offers this option while Trading 212 does not. Whether prioritizing flexibility in saving with ISAs or focusing on retirement with SIPPs, knowing these differences can help tailor your investment strategy to your financial goals.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Trading 212 and Barclays both offer mobile apps for iPhone and Android users, catering to modern investors on the go. When considering mobile app performance, Trading 212 shines with a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking 9th among 18 brokers reviewed. In contrast, Barclays, while offering the same app availability, receives a lower 2.5-star rating and is positioned at 16th. This makes Trading 212's app a favored choice for users seeking a reliable mobile trading experience, surpassing Barclays in both ratings and rankings.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing educational resources for beginner investors, Trading 212 and Barclays both provide essential information yet lack client webinars, whether live or archived. Both platforms cover topics like share trading and funds, making them suitable for starter investors. However, Barclays offers a more comprehensive educational suite by including resources on retirement, an area Trading 212 does not cover. With these educational offerings, Trading 212 holds a 4-star rating by UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking 11th out of 18 brokers. Barclays edges ahead with a 4.5-star rating, securing the 5th position. This makes Barclays a slightly better choice for those seeking a wider range of beginner investment education.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of online broker Trading 212 with Barclays, several distinctions emerge. Barclays provides more comprehensive research reports, including those for funds and bonds, which Trading 212 does not offer. Both platforms support portfolio allocation analysis by asset class and offer research capabilities for shares and ETFs. However, when it comes to CFDs, Trading 212 has an edge by providing research in this area, unlike Barclays. Whether you're looking to dive into funds or need detailed insights into bonds, Barclays may suit your needs better, while Trading 212 stands out for CFD research.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
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
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Barclays
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| Mobile App |
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Neither Trading 212 nor Barclays offers crypto trading, making both online brokers equally limited for investors looking to trade cryptocurrencies.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Trading 212 | Barclays | |
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | Barclays Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Trading 212 | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | No | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Trading 212 | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £6 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £6 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £6 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £105 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £75 or £147 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £75 or £291 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £75 or £795 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £75 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 | £0 - £525 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 | £525 - £650 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 | £650 - £850 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 | £850 and up | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £6 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £6 | |
| ETFs - Fee | 0 | £6 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | 0 | £6 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | Barclays | |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Trading 212 | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 27 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | Trading 212 | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Overall Summary | Trading 212 | Barclays | |
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | Barclays Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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