Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG 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, IG 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 - IG would cost £136 per year, while Halifax would cost £83.50 per year.
12 trades per year - IG would cost £96 per year, while Halifax would cost £150 per year.
36 trades per year - IG would cost £108 per year, while Halifax would cost £378 per year.
120 trades per year - IG would cost £360 per year, while Halifax would cost £1,176 per year.
3 fund trades per year - IG would cost £0 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 exploring investment options, IG and Halifax both present a range of choices, but they cater to different types of investors. IG offers share trading and stands out with its ETF and CFD trading capabilities. However, it falls short in providing some diversifications like funds, corporate bonds, and government bonds (gilts), which are available through Halifax. For investors interested in investment trusts, both IG and Halifax offer trading opportunities. Notably, neither platform supports crypto or spread betting.
For those seeking guidance, Halifax provides advisor services, a feature absent from IG's offerings. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Halifax clinches a perfect 5-star rating for its investment choices and ranks #7 out of 18 brokers, whereas IG garners a commendable 4.5 stars, landing at #10 in the ranking. Thus, while both platforms have their strengths, Halifax stands out slightly with a broader array of investment products and advisory support.
| Feature |
IG
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | No |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | 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 it comes to trading tools, IG outshines Halifax by providing a more robust set of functionalities for traders. IG allows users to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, a feature not available with Halifax. Additionally, IG offers 19 drawing tools and 33 technical indicators for charting, which is significantly more comprehensive compared to Halifax's lack of these tools. IG also permits users to add notes to charts, a function absent from Halifax's offerings.
Both IG and Halifax provide browser-based trading platforms and the capability to set alerts for stock price updates, ensuring seamless digital access to trading activities. However, IG has a distinct advantage with real-time market data, keeping traders informed with the latest market movements, while Halifax does not offer this feature. Overall, IG's diverse array of charting tools and real-time data capabilities give it a considerable edge for traders looking for a detailed and dynamic trading experience.
| Feature |
IG
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When choosing an online broker for your retirement accounts, both IG and Halifax offer solid options. Each provides Individual Savings Accounts (ISA), allowing you to grow investments tax-efficiently. They also support Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPP), offering a flexible way to plan for retirement. Both platforms make it simple to manage these accounts, catering to varying investment needs and preferences. If you are exploring retirement account options, IG and Halifax are reliable choices worth considering.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Both IG and Halifax offer robust mobile applications compatible with iPhone and Android devices, providing handy platforms for online trading. In terms of user satisfaction, IG shines with a stellar 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, while Halifax receives a respectable 3.5 stars. Looking at their ranking among 18 brokers for mobile apps, IG takes the #6 spot, showcasing commendable performance and user experience. On the other hand, Halifax holds the #14 position, illustrating room for improvement. This comparison highlights IG's mobile app as a standout choice for those prioritizing top-tier mobile trading experiences.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the educational resources for beginner investors at online brokers IG and Halifax, IG clearly stands out. IG offers a robust selection of educational client webinars that can also be accessed on demand, while Halifax does not provide webinars. Additionally, IG covers a variety of topics crucial for beginners, such as share trading and retirement planning, whereas Halifax lacks educational materials in these areas. Neither broker offers education on funds. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, IG earns an impressive 5-star rating for its beginner education, ranking 7th out of 18 brokers, while Halifax receives a 3.5-star rating, placing it at 16th. For novice investors seeking comprehensive educational support, IG presents a more well-rounded option.
| Feature |
IG
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No |
| Education (Funds) | No | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of IG and Halifax, both brokers provide valuable insights but cater to different investor needs. IG stands out with its research reports for funds, shares, ETFs, and CFDs, offering investors a comprehensive analysis in these areas. However, it falls short in bonds and funds research, which isn't available. Conversely, Halifax delivers thorough research on shares, ETFs, funds, and bonds, but lacks in-depth insights for CFDs. Neither broker offers portfolio allocation by asset class, making them comparable in this aspect.
| Feature |
IG
|
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 | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | No |
Which broker is better overall, IG or Halifax? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found IG to be a better trading platform overall.
IG is an investment platform aimed at experienced investors looking to make frequent trades on the stock market, with thousands of shares, trusts and ETFs to trade. It offers a comprehensive and easy-to-use trading platform that is used by both private and professional investors.
| Feature |
IG
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Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Education |
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Both IG and Halifax do not offer cryptocurrency trading options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | Halifax | |
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| Review | IG Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | IG | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | 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 | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | IG | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0-£10 | £9.50 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3 | £9.50 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3 | £9.50 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £136 | £83.50 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £96 | £150 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £108 | £378 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £360 | £1,176 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | £64.50 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 / £96 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 / £96 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 / £96 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 / £96 | £36 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £9.5 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £9.5 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 - £8 | £9.5 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 - £8 | £9.5 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £50 | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
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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 | IG | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | IG | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | No |
| Education | IG | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | No | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | IG | Halifax | |
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| Review | IG Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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