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 £0 per year, while Halifax would cost £83.50 per year.
12 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Halifax would cost £150 per year.
36 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Halifax would cost £378 per year.
120 trades per year - IG would cost £0 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 evaluating the investment choices offered by UK online brokers IG and Halifax, key differences emerge in their offerings and industry ratings. IG provides opportunities in share trading, ETFs, CFD trading, and investment trusts but does not offer crypto trading, spread betting, fund trading, bond trading, or advisory services. Halifax differs by not providing share trading, crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading. However, Halifax does cater to funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), ETFs, investment trusts, and offers advisory services.
According to UK.StockBrokers.com, IG is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for its investment choices, earning a ranking of 11th out of 18 brokers. In contrast, Halifax garners a 5-star rating and ranks 7th in the same category. This comparison highlights IG's strengths in share and CFD trading, while Halifax excels with a broader selection of fund and bond options alongside advisory services, which may appeal to UK investors seeking comprehensive financial guidance.
| 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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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When evaluating trading tools, IG stands out as a particularly strong option compared to Halifax, especially for those interested in active charting and real-time market data. IG provides traders with the ability to display important corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends directly on their charts, a feature not available with Halifax. Furthermore, IG offers a comprehensive set of 19 drawing tools and 33 technical indicators, allowing for detailed market analysis, whereas Halifax does not offer any drawing tools or technical indicators.
Both IG and Halifax offer browser-based trading platforms and allow users to set alerts for stock price updates. However, IG further differentiates itself by supporting real-time market data and letting users add notes directly to their charts, enhancing the ability to track and strategize trades. While neither broker offers the ability to add index or stock overlays to charts, IG's superior features in other charting tools provide UK traders with a versatile and informative 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 |
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.
Both IG and Halifax offer mobile apps for iPhone and Android users, giving UK investors flexible trading options on the go. However, there is a clear distinction in user satisfaction and performance with IG's app being highly praised, receiving a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com. In their ranking of 18 brokers, IG stands out at an impressive second place for its mobile offerings. In contrast, Halifax's app is rated at 3.5 stars and holds the last position, number 18, suggesting room for improvement in user experience and functionality. For those prioritizing mobile trading efficiency and reliability, IG seems to be the superior choice.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When it comes to educational resources for beginner investors, IG stands out significantly compared to Halifax. IG offers live and archived educational webinars, providing accessible learning anytime, whereas Halifax does not provide webinars. IG also covers essential topics like share trading and retirement planning, while Halifax lacks these offerings. Neither broker offers education specifically on funds. In terms of ratings, IG shines with a perfect 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com and holds the top spot out of 18 brokers for beginner education. In contrast, Halifax receives a modest 3.5-star rating, placing it at the bottom of the ranking. Overall, IG is clearly the superior choice for novice investors seeking comprehensive educational support.
| 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 market research features between IG and Halifax, there are several differences to consider. IG provides research reports for funds, allowing investors to explore investment opportunities, whereas Halifax does not offer this feature. Both brokers deliver insightful research on shares and ETFs, aiding decision-making for stock market enthusiasts. However, when it comes to funds research, Halifax stands out as it offers additional resources whereas IG does not. Trading enthusiasts interested in CFDs will appreciate IG's extensive research offerings, a service Halifax lacks. On the other hand, investors with an interest in bonds will benefit more from Halifax, as IG does not provide research in this area. Notably, neither IG nor Halifax offer a feature to see portfolio allocation by asset class. Overall, IG and Halifax cater to different aspects of market research, aiding various investor needs.
| 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
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| 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 | £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) | £0 | £83.50 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £150 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £378 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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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