Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of eToro vs Halifax, 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, eToro offers better pricing than Halifax 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 - eToro would cost £0 per year, while Halifax would cost £83.50 per year.
12 trades per year - eToro would cost £0 per year, while Halifax would cost £150 per year.
36 trades per year - eToro would cost £0 per year, while Halifax would cost £378 per year.
120 trades per year - eToro would cost £0 per year, while Halifax would cost £1,176 per year.
3 fund trades per year - eToro would cost $50 per year, while Halifax 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 the investment choices available through online brokers eToro and Halifax, distinct differences come to light. eToro shines with the availability of share and crypto trading, and it also supports trading of ETFs and CFDs. However, it falls short in offering funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, investment trusts, or advisor services. On the other hand, Halifax does not offer share and crypto trading, but it makes up for it with a comprehensive selection that includes funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, investment trusts, and professional advisor services. Both platforms allow ETF trading, providing a common ground for investors interested in this option.
Regarding their ratings by UK.StockBrokers.com for investment choices, eToro is awarded 4.5 stars, landing at the ninth position among 18 brokers. Halifax, with its more varied offerings, receives a higher rating of 5 stars, securing the seventh position. This comparison reveals that while both platforms have unique strengths, Halifax might appeal more to those seeking a broader range of traditional investment vehicles, whereas eToro is ideal for traders interested in more dynamic markets like cryptocurrency and CFDs.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | No |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | No | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | 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 eToro and Halifax, there's a striking difference in the offerings that cater to users' needs. eToro stands out with a wide array of 56 drawing tools and 106 technical indicators, making it a versatile platform for charting. It also allows traders to add notes, index overlays, and stock overlays to charts, adding layers of customization and analysis options. On the other hand, Halifax offers no drawing tools or technical indicators, meaning users miss out on these advanced chart functionalities. Both platforms provide a browser-based trading experience and the ability to create alerts for stock price updates, though only eToro delivers real-time market data.
For traders who value comprehensive chart analysis, eToro offers features that are not available on Halifax. The ability to incorporate notes and various overlays can be crucial for in-depth market analysis, which eToro uniquely provides. While Halifax does allow users to trade online and set price alerts, eToro's addition of real-time market data enhances the ability to act swiftly in dynamic market conditions. Considering these aspects, eToro offers a richer toolkit for traders who prioritize detailed chart analysis and timely market insights.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 56 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When comparing online brokers eToro and Halifax for retirement accounts, both platforms offer ISA accounts, allowing users to save and invest in a tax-efficient manner. However, there is a distinction when it comes to SIPP accounts; Halifax provides the opportunity to open a SIPP account, which is a personal pension plan offering additional retirement savings benefits. In contrast, eToro does not offer SIPP accounts. For investors prioritizing SIPPs for their retirement strategy, Halifax presents a more comprehensive option.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile apps of eToro and Halifax for trading, both brokers offer apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. However, users may notice a difference in user experience and satisfaction. eToro's mobile app has received a stellar 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking it an impressive 5th among 18 brokers for mobile applications. In contrast, Halifax's app has been rated at 3.5 stars, placing it 14th in the same ranking. This suggests that while both brokers provide functional and accessible trading platforms via mobile, eToro appears to deliver a higher level of performance and features valued by users.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing eToro and Halifax for their educational resources targeted at beginner investors, eToro stands out more prominently. Neither platform provides educational client webinars, live or archived, which might be a drawback for some users seeking interactive learning experiences. However, eToro offers education about share trading, whereas Halifax does not provide education on this topic or others such as funds and retirement. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, eToro has achieved a higher beginner education rating of 4.5 stars, ranking 10th among 18 brokers, whereas Halifax has a 3.5-star rating, placing it at 16th. Overall, eToro seems to be slightly more effective in catering to the educational needs of beginner investors.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No |
| Education (Funds) | No | No |
| Education (Retirement) | No | No |
| Education |
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|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of eToro and Halifax, it's clear both platforms have distinct strengths. eToro excels in offering comprehensive research capabilities for shares, ETFs, and CFDs, as well as the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class, which Halifax lacks. On the other hand, Halifax provides research for funds and bonds, areas where eToro is lacking. Both platforms offer shares and ETFs research, ensuring robust support for traditional investment strategies. Ultimately, the choice between eToro and Halifax will depend on individual investment preferences, whether it's the innovative tools offered by eToro or the extensive fund and bond research provided by Halifax.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
Which broker is better overall, eToro or Halifax? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found eToro to be a better trading platform overall.
eToro offers a wide range of assets and instruments and is well-known for its ‘social trading’ approach. It has among the lowest fees and best mobile app experiences of brokers we tested in the U.K., and offers a great starting point for those new to stock trading. Our analysis finds it better suited to short-term traders than long-term investors.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Mobile App |
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eToro offers crypto trading, providing a comprehensive platform for trading digital currencies, whereas Halifax does not support crypto trading, focusing instead on traditional investment options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | eToro | Halifax | |
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| Review | eToro Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | eToro | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | No | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | eToro | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £9.50 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £9.50 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £9.50 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £83.50 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £150 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £378 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £1,176 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | £64.50 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 | £36 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £9.5 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £9.5 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | £9.5 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | N/A | £9.5 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | eToro | Halifax | |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | eToro | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 56 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | eToro | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Education | eToro | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | No | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | No | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Overall Summary | eToro | Halifax | |
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| Review | eToro Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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