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.
When comparing the investment choices available from IG and Halifax for UK investors, IG is a strong option for those interested in share trading, ETFs, CFD trading, and investment trusts. However, it does not offer trading in funds, corporate bonds, or government bonds. Additionally, IG does not provide crypto trading or financial advisory services. IG proudly holds a solid rating of 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com for its range of investment choices, placing it 11th out of 21 brokers.
Halifax, on the other hand, provides a wider variety of traditional investment products, including access to ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts, along with the added benefit of financial advisory services. Despite a lack of share, crypto, and CFD trading options, Halifax's comprehensive investment selection helps it earn a perfect 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, making it the 7th highest ranked broker for investment choices in the UK.
| Feature |
IG
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | No |
| 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 | 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.
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.
When comparing the educational resources for beginner investors offered by online brokers IG and Halifax, IG clearly stands out for its comprehensive offerings tailored to newcomers in the financial market. IG provides valuable client webinars, with the convenience of on-demand archives, and covers topics like share trading and retirement planning, ensuring new investors have access to quality education. Conversely, Halifax does not offer webinars or specific education in share trading or retirement, focusing less on these educational tools. Rated 5 stars for beginner education by UK.StockBrokers.com and ranked first out of 21 brokers, IG is a top choice for UK starters seeking thorough financial learning. In contrast, Halifax, with a 3.5-star rating and ranked 18th, offers less in the way of beginner-focused education.
| 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 |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features available through online broker IG and Halifax, IG provides research reports for funds, while Halifax does not. Both brokers share similarities as neither offers the ability to see portfolio allocation by asset class. When it comes to shares and ETFs research, both IG and Halifax are on an equal footing, offering comprehensive information. However, IG has an edge with funds research, whereas Halifax excels with bonds research and provides funds research which IG does not accommodate.
| Feature |
IG
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
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Halifax
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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 | |
| 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 | £0 / £96 | £36 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £0 / £96 | £36 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £0 / £96 | £36 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £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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| 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 | |||
| 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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