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.
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 looking to choose between Fidelity International and Halifax, it's important to consider both the breadth of investment options and ratings. Fidelity International offers a variety of investment products including share trading, ETFs, funds, and investment trusts, alongside advisory services. However, it lacks options for crypto, corporate bonds, and government bonds trading. Despite these gaps, it still secures a commendable 4.5-star rating for investment choices from UK.StockBrokers.com and ranks 12th out of 18 brokers.
On the other hand, Halifax shines with a perfect 5-star rating for its investment offerings, ranking 7th among its peers. While it does not provide share trading or crypto trading, it covers other avenues such as ETFs, funds, investment trusts, and notably, both corporate and government bonds. Halifax also features advisory services, offering a well-rounded selection that caters to a diverse range of investment preferences.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | No |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| 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 offers a more feature-rich charting experience. Investors can view corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts with Fidelity, a feature not available with Halifax. Fidelity also provides five drawing tools and 21 technical indicators to help analyze stock trends, whereas Halifax does not offer any. For those who appreciate layered data, Fidelity International allows for both index and stock overlays on charts, a capability that Halifax lacks. Both brokers share some similarities, like their availability of browser-based trading platforms and the ability to set alerts for stock price updates, but both fall short in offering real-time market data or the option to add personal notes to charts.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 21 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 5 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
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.
Fidelity International and Halifax both offer mobile apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices, catering to the digitally-savvy UK investor. According to UK.StockBrokers.com ratings, Fidelity International's app edges out Halifax's with a commendable 4-star rating compared to Halifax's 3.5 stars. In terms of rankings among 18 brokers, Fidelity International holds the 15th spot for its mobile app, while Halifax trails slightly at 18th. Whether you're seeking ease of use or features, Fidelity's app may offer a slight advantage over Halifax's platform.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors in the UK seeking educational resources, Fidelity International stands out against Halifax by offering a comprehensive suite of tools designed to guide new traders through their investment journey. Fidelity provides educational webinars that are accessible live and on-demand, covering crucial topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement planning. In contrast, Halifax does not offer webinars or targeted education in these areas, limiting the opportunities for new investors to learn. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Fidelity International is rated highly with five stars for its beginner education resources, securing a commendable 7th place out of 18 brokers. Meanwhile, Halifax receives a score of 3.5 stars and ranks 18th, making Fidelity a more effective choice for those new to investing.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | 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 Fidelity International and Halifax for market research features, UK investors will appreciate the more comprehensive offerings from Fidelity International. Fidelity provides research reports for funds and enables users to view their portfolio allocation by asset class, features not available with Halifax. Both platforms offer research on shares, ETFs, and funds. They also provide information on bonds, but neither offers research on CFDs. This makes Fidelity International a preferable choice for those seeking a broader range of market insights for informed investment decisions.
| Feature |
Fidelity International
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
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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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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Both Fidelity International and Halifax do not offer crypto trading, highlighting a gap in their online brokerage services for investors interested in digital currencies.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
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 | No | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
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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 | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | Fidelity International | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Education | Fidelity International | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | Fidelity International | Halifax | |
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| Review | Fidelity International Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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