Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XTB 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, XTB 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 - XTB would cost £0 per year, while Barclays would cost £105 per year.
12 trades per year - XTB would cost £0 per year, while Barclays would cost £75 or £147 per year.
36 trades per year - XTB would cost £0 per year, while Barclays would cost £75 or £291 per year.
120 trades per year - XTB would cost £0 per year, while Barclays would cost £75 or £795 per year.
3 fund trades per year - XTB 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.
XTB and Barclays both provide a range of investment choices for individuals looking to trade online, but their offerings have distinct differences. XTB earns a solid 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for its investment choices, and ranks 14th out of 18 brokers. It supports the trading of shares, ETFs, and CFDs, providing good options for traders interested in these areas. However, XTB does not offer crypto trading, spread betting, fund trading, or trading in bonds and investment trusts, which might limit investors seeking a more varied portfolio.
Barclays, on the other hand, boasts a top-tier 5-star rating and ranks 6th among 18 brokers, reflecting its broader range of investment choices. Like XTB, Barclays offers share and ETF trading, but it surpasses XTB by also facilitating fund trading and trading in corporate and government bonds, as well as investment trusts. Additionally, Barclays provides advisory services, giving investors access to expert guidance. However, it does not offer CFD trading or crypto trading, similar to XTB. These differences make Barclays a more attractive option for those looking for diverse investment opportunities and professional assistance in their trading endeavors.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | No | Yes |
| Spread Betting | Yes | 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 provided by XTB and Barclays, there are notable differences in their offerings. XTB stands out with its ability to display corporate events like earnings and dividends directly on charts, a feature that Barclays lacks. Additionally, XTB offers an impressive array of 20 drawing tools and 39 technical indicators for in-depth chart analysis, whereas Barclays does not provide any drawing tools or technical indicators. Furthermore, XTB allows users to add notes to their charts, enhancing the analytical process, while Barclays does not offer this feature.
Both XTB and Barclays offer browser-based trading platforms and the ability to set alerts for stock price updates. However, only XTB delivers real-time market data, which can be crucial for making timely trading decisions. While neither broker currently supports the addition of index or stock overlays on charts, XTB’s more robust charting functionalities and access to real-time information give traders a more comprehensive toolset for managing their investments effectively.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When comparing online broker XTB to Barclays in terms of available retirement accounts, both offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), making them suitable choices for those interested in tax-efficient savings. However, if you're looking for a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP), Barclays stands out by offering this option, unlike XTB which does not provide SIPP accounts. This distinction might influence your choice depending on whether you prioritize having a SIPP as part of your retirement planning strategy.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of online broker XTB and traditional bank Barclays, both provide apps for iPhone and Android users. However, XTB stands out with a higher user rating of 4.5 stars as per UK.StockBrokers.com, significantly outperforming Barclays, which has a modest 2.5-star rating. In the rankings of mobile apps among 18 brokers evaluated, XTB takes the 10th place, showcasing its competitive edge, while Barclays lags behind at 16th. This makes XTB a preferable choice for those seeking a reliable mobile trading experience.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the educational resources offered by XTB and Barclays for beginner investors, both online brokers provide valuable learning experiences. Neither XTB nor Barclays offers live webinars or archived content for on-demand viewing, which may be a limitation for those who prefer structured webinars. However, both platforms include resources on share trading, helping novices enter the stock market with more confidence. Barclays further extends its educational offerings by covering topics related to funds and retirement, areas XTB does not address. Despite these differences, both XTB and Barclays are rated 4.5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com for their beginner education services. In overall ranking among 18 brokers, Barclays slightly edges out XTB, coming in at #5 compared to XTB's #8. Nonetheless, both brokers are strong choices for beginners looking to enhance their financial knowledge.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | No | 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 XTB to Barclays, there are notable differences and similarities that cater to varying investment needs. XTB stands out by offering extensive research on Shares, ETFs, and CFDs, and provides insights into portfolio allocation by asset class. However, they do not offer research reports for funds or bonds. On the other hand, Barclays provides comprehensive research support for Shares, ETFs, Funds, and Bonds, alongside fund research reports and an option to view portfolio allocation by asset class, but lacks CFDs research. Whether you are seeking robust support for derivatives like CFDs with XTB or are looking for a full range of asset research including bonds and funds with Barclays, each platform offers unique strengths for individual investor needs.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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, XTB or Barclays? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found XTB to be a better trading platform overall.
XTB has set itself up as a strong competitor in commission-free share trading. Its low fees and solid educational content will make XTB particularly attractive to newer investors. It does not, however, offer an ISA or SIPP.
| Feature |
XTB
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Barclays
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| Mobile App |
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Both XTB and Barclays do not offer crypto trading, highlighting a similar limitation in cryptocurrency investment options for users of these online broker platforms.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | XTB | Barclays | |
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| Review | XTB Review | Barclays Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | XTB | 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 | No | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | XTB | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £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) | N/A | £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 | N/A | £6 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | Barclays | |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | XTB | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | XTB | 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 | XTB | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Overall Summary | XTB | Barclays | |
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| Review | XTB Review | Barclays Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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