Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Hargreaves Lansdown vs Capital.com, 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, Hargreaves Lansdown offers better pricing than Capital.com 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 - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. per year, while Capital.com would cost N/A per year.
12 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. per year, while Capital.com would cost N/A per year.
36 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. per year, while Capital.com would cost N/A per year.
120 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. per year, while Capital.com would cost N/A per year.
3 fund trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1 per year, while Capital.com would cost £20 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 choices of UK brokers, Hargreaves Lansdown stands out as a versatile option with an array of offerings, including share trading, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), funds trading, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts. Additionally, they provide advisory services, making it a comprehensive solution for investors seeking diverse investment products. Hargreaves Lansdown's commitment to offering a wide range of options is reflected in its 5-star investment rating by UK.StockBrokers.com, placing it 4th out of 18 brokers evaluated.
On the other hand, Capital.com primarily focuses on contract for difference (CFD) trading and does not offer direct trading of shares, ETFs, funds, bonds, or investment trusts. While this platform may cater to those interested in CFD trading, it lacks the breadth of investment options available at Hargreaves Lansdown. This limited range of investment choices results in a 2.5-star rating for Capital.com, with no ranking among the top brokers in the UK for investment variety.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | No |
| CFD Trading | No | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No |
| Spread Betting | No | Yes |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | Yes | No |
| Investment Choices |
|
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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
For UK investors comparing online trading tools, Hargreaves Lansdown and Capital.com each offer unique features. Hargreaves Lansdown provides a platform with 11 drawing tools and 15 technical indicators, allowing for standard chart analysis. A useful feature on this platform is its ability to display corporate events like earnings and dividend dates directly on charts, helping traders anticipate market shifts. Additionally, Hargreaves Lansdown supports both index and stock overlays, further enhancing its charting capabilities. Although you can't add personal notes to charts, the platform's coverage of essential trading tools is comprehensive, complete with a browser-based trading platform, stock price alerts, and real-time market data.
Capital.com, on the other hand, impresses with an extensive suite of 18 drawing tools and a remarkable 77 technical indicators, offering traders a more substantial range of charting options. However, it lacks the ability to display corporate events on charts and to add overlays of indices or stocks. A standout feature of Capital.com is the ability for users to add notes to charts, a useful tool for those who want to keep personalized records of their strategies. In addition to offering a browser-based platform, Capital.com provides stock price alerts and ensures traders have access to real-time market data for timely decision-making.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 15 | 77 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 18 |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When comparing online brokers for retirement accounts in the UK, Hargreaves Lansdown and Capital.com present distinct offerings. Hargreaves Lansdown stands out by providing both Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), making it a versatile option for those seeking to manage their retirement savings through tax-efficient accounts. In contrast, Capital.com does not offer ISAs or SIPPs, which might limit its appeal to UK investors looking specifically for these retirement-focused accounts. This fundamental difference in available retirement products emphasizes the broader options that Hargreaves Lansdown provides for investing towards financial security in later life.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors seeking a user-friendly mobile trading experience, both Hargreaves Lansdown and Capital.com offer mobile apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. Hargreaves Lansdown's mobile app earns a strong 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, placing it 10th among 18 brokers for mobile app offerings. Similarly, Capital.com's app also holds a 4.5-star rating, although it lacks a specific ranking. Both apps provide reliable options for managing investments on the go, ensuring users have access to trading tools and features right at their fingertips.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing educational resources for beginner investors, Hargreaves Lansdown stands out in the UK market, offering educational client webinars, though these are not available on demand. Their educational offerings cover a range of key topics including share trading, funds, and retirement planning, making it an appealing choice for novice investors seeking comprehensive guidance. Hargreaves Lansdown's dedication to beginner education is reflected in its 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking it 4th out of 18 brokers. In contrast, Capital.com does not provide webinars or educational content specifically on share trading, funds, or retirement, earning it a 3.5-star rating from the same source, and it does not feature in the top rankings. This makes Hargreaves Lansdown a more favorable option for UK beginner investors focusing on education and preparing for informed investment decisions.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of Hargreaves Lansdown and Capital.com, Hargreaves Lansdown emerges as the more comprehensive platform for UK investors looking for detailed research options. Hargreaves Lansdown provides research reports on funds, shares, ETFs, and bonds, alongside tools to view portfolio allocation by asset class. Capital.com, on the other hand, does not offer research on funds, shares, ETFs, or bonds but does provide insights on CFDs and also allows users to see their portfolio allocation by asset class. Overall, Hargreaves Lansdown caters better to investors seeking in-depth research across a variety of assets, whereas Capital.com may appeal more to those focused on CFDs.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No |
| Research - CFDs | No | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | No |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Hargreaves Lansdown or Capital.com? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Hargreaves Lansdown to be a better trading platform overall.
As the U.K.’s biggest investment platform for individual investors, Hargreaves Lansdown offers a wide range of investment choices for either beginners or seasoned investors. However, its fees are generally more expensive than rival brokers, which can become an issue for large investment pots.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
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Capital.com
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In comparing online brokers, Hargreaves Lansdown and Capital.com both do not offer opportunities for crypto trading, which may be a drawback for investors interested in digital currencies.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Hargreaves Lansdown | Capital.com | |
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| Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | Capital.com Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Hargreaves Lansdown | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No | |
| SIPP | Yes | No | |
| Share Trading | Yes | No | |
| CFD Trading | No | Yes | |
| Funds | Yes | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No | |
| Spread Betting | No | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | Yes | No |
| Trading Fees | Hargreaves Lansdown | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £20 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £11.95 | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £8.95 | N/A | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £5.95 | N/A | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. | N/A | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. | N/A | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. | N/A | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. | N/A | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £135 | N/A | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | Up to £1,125 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | Up to £625 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | Up to £1,250 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | Up to £1,000 | £0 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £20 - £50 | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £20 - £50 | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £5.95 - £11.95 | N/A | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £5.95 - £11.95 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £20 - £50 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Hargreaves Lansdown | Capital.com | |
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| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Hargreaves Lansdown | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 15 | 77 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 18 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | Hargreaves Lansdown | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | No | |
| Research - CFDs | No | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Hargreaves Lansdown | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Overall Summary | Hargreaves Lansdown | Capital.com | |
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| Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | Capital.com Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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