Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Hargreaves Lansdown 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, Hargreaves Lansdown 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 - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. per year, while Halifax would cost £83.50 per year.
12 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. per year, while Halifax would cost £150 per year.
36 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. per year, while Halifax would cost £378 per year.
120 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. per year, while Halifax would cost £1,176 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1 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 considering online trading platforms, Hargreaves Lansdown and Halifax both offer an impressive range of investment options, each boasting five-star ratings from UK.StockBrokers.com. Hargreaves Lansdown provides opportunities in share trading, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts. Additionally, they offer advisor services to support your investment decisions. Similarly, Halifax matches this diversity by allowing investments in ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts, along with share trading and advisor services.
Although both platforms received top marks for their varied investment choices, there is a slight distinction in their overall ranking among 21 brokers. Hargreaves Lansdown secured the fourth spot, thanks to its comprehensive service offerings, while Halifax followed closely at the seventh position. Ultimately, whether you choose Hargreaves Lansdown or Halifax, both platforms cater to a broad spectrum of investor preferences, ensuring you find the right fit for your financial goals.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | 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.
Hargreaves Lansdown stands out in terms of charting features, offering users the ability to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, enhancing the trading experience. Investors benefit from 11 drawing tools and 15 technical indicators, allowing for detailed analysis and customization. Additionally, Hargreaves Lansdown supports index and stock overlays, providing a comprehensive view of market trends. A browser-based trading platform facilitates easy access to these features, complemented by real-time market data and the ability to set stock price alerts for timely investment decisions.
On the other hand, Halifax offers a more basic trading tool experience. While it does provide a browser-based trading platform and allows users to create alerts for stock price updates, it lacks the charting enhancements found in Hargreaves Lansdown. With no drawing tools, technical indicators, or the ability to display corporate events and overlays, Halifax's platform may require supplementary analysis for those seeking in-depth market evaluations. Despite these differences, both brokers cater to UK traders, depending on their preferences for simplicity or advanced trading features.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 15 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
Hargreaves Lansdown and Halifax both offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), making them appealing options for UK investors planning for retirement. Whether you're looking to maximize your tax-free savings with an ISA or manage your pension investments more actively with a SIPP, both brokers provide these essential retirement account types. Choose between Hargreaves Lansdown's diversified investment choices and extensive resources, or Halifax’s straightforward approach and seamless integration with existing banking services, to find the right fit for your retirement saving needs. With both options supporting ISAs and SIPPs, investors have access to tax-efficient financial tools to help secure their financial future.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
In the realm of online trading, both Hargreaves Lansdown and Halifax offer convenient mobile apps for iPhone and Android users in the UK. Hargreaves Lansdown shines with a commendable 4.5-star rating for its mobile app from UK.StockBrokers.com, placing it 10th among 21 brokers. In contrast, Halifax's mobile app receives a 3.5-star rating and is ranked 18th. This makes Hargreaves Lansdown the preferable choice for those seeking a more highly-rated mobile trading experience.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing Hargreaves Lansdown and Halifax for beginner investor educational resources, Hargreaves Lansdown stands out as a more comprehensive option. It offers educational client webinars and covers topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement, equipping beginners with a solid foundation. Conversely, Halifax appears to lack specific educational content in these areas. Hargreaves Lansdown holds a top rating of 5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com for its beginner education offerings, ranking 4th out of 21 brokers. Meanwhile, Halifax received a 3.5-star rating, placing it at 18th in the same category. This makes Hargreaves Lansdown a more appealing choice for novice investors looking for reliable educational resources.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | ||
| 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 online brokers Hargreaves Lansdown and Halifax for UK investors, several distinctions stand out. Hargreaves Lansdown provides comprehensive research reports for funds, a feature that is notably absent in Halifax's offerings. Both brokers offer insights into shares, ETFs, funds, and bonds, allowing investors a thorough understanding of these investment vehicles. Moreover, Hargreaves Lansdown enables investors to view their portfolio allocation by asset class, a useful tool for portfolio management that Halifax does not offer. Neither platform provides research for CFDs, making them less helpful for those interested in this investment option. Overall, Hargreaves Lansdown presents a more detailed package for those seeking in-depth market research and portfolio analysis tools.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
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, Hargreaves Lansdown or Halifax? 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.
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Hargreaves Lansdown
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Halifax
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Hargreaves Lansdown and Halifax both do not currently offer crypto trading, focusing instead on traditional investment options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Hargreaves Lansdown | Halifax | |
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| Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Hargreaves Lansdown | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | ||
| CFD Trading | |||
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Hargreaves Lansdown | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £11.95 | £9.50 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £8.95 | £9.50 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £5.95 | £9.50 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. | £83.50 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. | £150 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. | £378 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. | £1,176 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £135 | £64.50 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | Up to £1,125 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | Up to £625 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | Up to £1,250 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | Up to £1,000 | £36 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £20 - £50 | £9.5 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £20 - £50 | £9.5 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £5.95 - £11.95 | £9.5 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £5.95 - £11.95 | £9.5 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £20 - £50 | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | Hargreaves Lansdown | Halifax | |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Hargreaves Lansdown | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 15 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | |||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
| Research | Hargreaves Lansdown | 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 | Hargreaves Lansdown | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | ||
| Education (Funds) | Yes | ||
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) |
| Overall Summary | Hargreaves Lansdown | Halifax | |
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| Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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