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.
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, IG offers better pricing than Halifax for share dealing.
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.
IG vs Halifax for UK investors: both offer share dealing, ETFs, and investment trusts. IG also supports CFDs and crypto, but does not offer funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), or adviser services. Halifax does not offer crypto or CFDs, but it does provide access to funds, corporate bonds, gilts, and adviser services.
According to UK.StockBrokers.com, IG is rated 5 stars for investment choices and ranks 11th out of 21 brokers, while Halifax is rated 4.5 stars and ranks 7th out of 21. In short, IG suits those who want CFDs and crypto alongside shares and ETFs, whereas Halifax is stronger for funds, bonds, and advice.
| Feature |
IG
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | No |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
IG vs Halifax: For charting and trading tools, IG shows corporate events (earnings, splits, dividends) directly on charts and supports both index and stock overlays, plus notes on charts. It provides 19 drawing tools and 33 technical indicators, along with a browser-based platform, price alerts, and real-time market data. Halifax also offers a browser-based platform, price alerts, and notes on charts, but it does not display corporate events on charts, lacks index and stock overlays, and does not provide real-time market data. Its drawing tools total 8.
If you value more technical indicators, Halifax lists 95 compared with IG’s 33. If you prefer live pricing, on-chart corporate events, and extra context from index and stock overlays, IG may feel more complete for day-to-day trading in the UK.
| Feature |
IG
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 95 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 8 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
For UK investors looking into retirement account options, both IG and Halifax present viable choices with similar offerings. Both brokers provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), allowing for tax-efficient saving and investment for retirement. IG and Halifax cater to those prioritizing tax benefits and flexibility in their retirement planning. Whether choosing IG or Halifax, you can benefit from the availability of ISAs and SIPPs to support your long-term financial goals. Comparing these two brokers, you’ll find the assurance of accessible retirement solutions tailored for UK investors.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors seeking a reliable mobile trading experience, IG and Halifax both provide iPhone and Android apps to manage investments on the go. IG's app significantly outshines its counterpart, securing a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, while Halifax's app receives a more modest 3.5 stars. In a ranking of 21 brokers for mobile app performance, IG impressively claims the #2 spot, demonstrating its superior functionality and user satisfaction, whereas Halifax lags behind at #18. This comparison highlights IG's commitment to delivering a top-tier mobile trading platform compared to Halifax's offering.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginner investors comparing online broker IG with Halifax, IG stands out for education thanks to live client webinars and an on‑demand archive, plus learning on funds and retirement (but not share trading). Halifax offers no webinars or on‑demand content, yet does include guides on share trading, funds and retirement. Independent ratings from UK.StockBrokers.com place IG at 5 stars and 1st out of 21 brokers for beginner education, while Halifax earns 4 stars and ranks 18th.
| Feature |
IG
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | No | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
IG vs Halifax for UK market research: both brokers offer shares and ETF research, plus research reports for funds. IG also lets you view portfolio allocation by asset class, which Halifax does not. However, Halifax adds dedicated funds research and bonds research, while IG lacks bonds coverage and does not provide dedicated funds research. Choose IG if you want clear allocation insights; choose Halifax if you prefer wider coverage across funds and bonds.
| Feature |
IG
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | 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.
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IG
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Halifax
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|---|---|---|
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In the IG vs Halifax online broker comparison, only IG offers cryptocurrency trading, while Halifax does not.
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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 | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Mutual 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 | |||
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | IG | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £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) | |||
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £0 - £250,000 | N/A | £36 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | N/A | £36 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | N/A | £36 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | N/A | £36 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £9.50 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £9.50 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | £0 / £3.50 / £9.50 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 | £0 / £3.50 / £9.50 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £50 | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Halifax | |
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| Website 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 | 95 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 8 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | IG | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Education | IG | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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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