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.
For UK investors exploring online brokerage options, XTB and Barclays present distinct investment choices. XTB allows share trading, ETF trading, and CFD trading, appealing to those interested in a mix of standard and contract-for-difference investments. However, it does not offer opportunities in crypto, funds, bonds, investment trusts, or advisor services, potentially limiting options for those seeking a more comprehensive portfolio. Rated 4.5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com, XTB takes the 13th spot among 18 brokers for its investment choices.
Meanwhile, Barclays provides a broader array of investment options. In addition to share and ETF trading, Barclays users can trade in funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts. Investors also have access to advisor services, which may be beneficial for those needing expert guidance. Although lacking in CFD and crypto trading, Barclays’ robust offering earns it a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com and a ranking of 9th among 18 brokers. Both platforms cater to different investor needs, with Barclays catering more to traditional and advised investment strategies.
| 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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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When it comes to trading tools, XTB stands out with its comprehensive offerings suited for traders who rely heavily on charting. XTB users can display corporate events such as earnings and dividends directly on charts, a feature not available with Barclays. Moreover, XTB provides an impressive array of 20 drawing tools and 39 technical indicators, while Barclays does not offer any drawing tools or technical indicators. This gives XTB an edge for those looking to perform detailed technical analysis and make informed trading decisions.
Both XTB and Barclays offer browser-based trading platforms, ensuring easy access to trading from any location. They also both provide the ability to create alerts for stock price updates, keeping traders promptly informed about market movements. However, XTB further enhances the trading experience with real-time market data, a critical feature that Barclays lacks. While neither platform supports index or stock overlays on charts, XTB allows users to add notes, enhancing the ability to personalize and organize their trading strategies, another capability missing from Barclays.
| 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 with Barclays for retirement accounts, UK readers will find notable differences in their offerings. Both XTB and Barclays provide ISA (Individual Savings Account) options, enabling tax-efficient savings. However, for those interested in SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension) accounts, Barclays has the advantage as it offers SIPP options, whereas XTB does not. This distinction makes Barclays a more comprehensive choice for individuals seeking diverse retirement saving strategies, while XTB remains a straightforward option for ISA-focused savers.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
In the UK, both XTB and Barclays offer mobile apps for iPhone and Android, making it convenient for users to manage their investments on the go. However, when it comes to app quality, XTB clearly outshines Barclays. XTB's mobile app receives an impressive 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, placing it as the sixth best among 18 brokers evaluated. On the other hand, Barclays' app only garners a 2.5-star rating, ranking it at number 21. This stark contrast highlights XTB's mobile app as a more reliable choice for UK investors seeking a smoother and more efficient trading experience.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the educational resources for beginner investors offered by XTB and Barclays, both brokers achieve the same 4.5-star rating by UK.StockBrokers.com. However, XTB clinches a slightly higher ranking at 9th place compared to Barclays' 10th position out of 18 brokers. While neither XTB nor Barclays provides webinars or recorded sessions for ongoing learning, they both cover share trading education. Barclays further extends its educational offerings to include topics on funds and retirement, unlike XTB. This makes Barclays a more comprehensive choice for those looking to explore a broader range of investment topics.
| 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 XTB and Barclays, UK investors will find that both platforms allow you to check your portfolio allocation by asset class. Both brokerage services provide research on shares and ETFs, but they differ significantly in other areas. XTB excels with research on CFDs, which can be beneficial for traders interested in leveraged products, while Barclays does not cover this area. On the other hand, Barclays offers more comprehensive research for funds and bonds, areas where XTB falls short. Consider these differences to determine which broker aligns best with your investment research 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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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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