Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Fidelity International vs Halifax, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Your capital is at risk.
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, Halifax offers better pricing than Fidelity International 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 - Fidelity International would cost £127.50 per year, while Halifax would cost £83.50 per year.
12 trades per year - Fidelity International would cost £108 or £180 per year, while Halifax would cost £150 per year.
36 trades per year - Fidelity International would cost £144 or £360 per year, while Halifax would cost £378 per year.
120 trades per year - Fidelity International would cost £270 or £990 per year, while Halifax would cost £1,176 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Fidelity International would cost £1000 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.
For UK investors exploring online brokers, both Fidelity International and Halifax present diverse investment opportunities, though with some distinctions. Fidelity International offers services including share trading, ETFs, funds, and investment trusts, along with advisor services. However, it does not provide options for crypto trading, spread betting, CFD trading, corporate bonds, or government bonds (gilts). On the other hand, Halifax offers a similar range with the notable addition of trading in corporate bonds and government bonds, while areas such as crypto trading, spread betting, and CFD trading are also unavailable.
When evaluated by UK.StockBrokers.com, both platforms receive commendable recognition for their investment choices. Halifax boasts a perfect 5-star rating, ranking 7th out of 21 brokers, while Fidelity International holds a strong 4.5-star rating and ranks 12th. Whether you are interested in individual shares, diverse funds, or receiving financial advice, both companies offer a variety of options tailored to UK investors, with Halifax slightly more celebrated for its offerings.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | ||
| Crypto Trading | ||
| Advisor Services | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When comparing the trading tools of Fidelity International and Halifax, Fidelity International stands out with a comprehensive suite of features tailored to help investors make informed decisions. Fidelity International allows users to display corporate events on charts, utilize five drawing tools, and access 21 technical indicators, all of which empower investors with greater control over their analysis. Moreover, with the ability to integrate index and stock overlays on charts, Fidelity International offers an enhanced understanding of market trends directly within their browser-based platform. Halifax, in contrast, does not provide such extensive charting features, offering no drawing tools or technical indicators, and lacks functionality for displaying corporate events or overlays on charts.
Both Fidelity International and Halifax offer browser-based trading platforms, ensuring ease of access for users. Additionally, they provide the ability to create alerts for stock price updates, a vital tool for traders keen on staying informed of market movements. Fidelity International’s platform, however, is more geared towards those who seek in-depth analysis and greater customisation in their trading tools, while Halifax may suit investors who prefer a simpler approach to trading without the need for detailed charting functionalities.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 21 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 5 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
When comparing online brokers in the UK for retirement savings, both Fidelity International and Halifax offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) to their users. These types of accounts provide tax-efficient ways to save for the future. Whether you choose Fidelity International or Halifax, both platforms allow you to take control of your retirement planning. Consider factors such as fees, investment options, and digital tools to determine which broker best suits your financial goals and investing style.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors comparing mobile apps of online brokers, Fidelity International and Halifax both offer iPhone and Android apps. Fidelity International's app is rated 4 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com, while Halifax's app receives a rating of 3.5 stars. In terms of rankings out of 21 brokers, Fidelity International holds the 15th spot for mobile apps according to UK.StockBrokers.com, whereas Halifax is positioned at 18th. These ratings and rankings can help users choose the mobile banking experience that best suits their needs.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors in the UK seeking educational resources, Fidelity International offers a comprehensive array of materials, featuring live webinars that are archived for future viewing. Their educational content covers crucial topics like share trading, funds, and retirement, earning them a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com and placing them 7th out of 21 brokers for beginner education. In contrast, Halifax does not provide client webinars or archived educational content, leaving them with fewer resources for novice investors. Their focus on educational topics is limited, leading to a lower 3.5-star rating and ranking 18th by UK.StockBrokers.com. Fidelity International excels in providing accessible and useful knowledge to those just starting in the investment world.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | |
| Education |
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|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of Fidelity International and Halifax, UK investors might notice a few differences. Fidelity International provides detailed research reports for funds, enabling users to gain in-depth insights. On the other hand, Halifax does not provide these reports. Both platforms offer research on shares, ETFs, funds, and bonds, so investors can make informed decisions regardless of their preference for stocks or bonds. Moreover, Fidelity International allows users to view their portfolio allocation by asset class, an option not available with Halifax. Neither platform offers research for CFDs, narrowing the focus to more traditional investment vehicles. Overall, Fidelity International might appeal more to those seeking comprehensive fund research and a detailed breakdown of portfolio allocation.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Fidelity International or Halifax? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Fidelity International to be a better trading platform overall.
Fidelity offers thousands of investments to choose from and also offers financial advice for those wanting more direction. It's best suited to traditional investors who hold a range of accounts through the platform, enjoy the great research material available and who may also use Fidelity for financial advice. The platform can be expensive for those with portfolios of less than £20,000 and those with portfolios above £40,000.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
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Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Charges & Fees |
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| Investment Choices |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Education |
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Fidelity International and Halifax differ in their offerings, with Fidelity International not providing crypto trading options, while Halifax also does not support crypto trading, making them similar in terms of cryptocurrency availability.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Fidelity International | Halifax | |
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| Review | Fidelity International Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Fidelity International | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | ||
| CFD Trading | |||
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | ||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | ||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Fidelity International | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1000 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £1.50 or £7.50 | £9.50 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £1.50 or £7.50 | £9.50 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £1.50 or £7.50 | £9.50 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £127.50 | £83.50 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £108 or £180 | £150 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £144 or £360 | £378 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £270 or £990 | £1,176 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £105 | £64.50 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £90 - £875 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £500 - £1,000 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £1,000 - £2,000 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £2,000 | £36 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £9.5 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £9.5 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £7.50 | £9.5 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £7.50 | £9.5 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £30 | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | Fidelity International | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Fidelity International | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 21 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 5 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | |||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
| Research | Fidelity International | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes |
| Education | Fidelity International | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | ||
| Education (Funds) | Yes | ||
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Fidelity International | Halifax | |
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| Review | Fidelity International Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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