Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Investor 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, Interactive Investor 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 - Interactive Investor would cost £79.83 per year, while Halifax would cost £83.50 per year.
12 trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £59.88 / £107.76 per year, while Halifax would cost £150 per year.
36 trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £59.88 / £203.52 per year, while Halifax would cost £378 per year.
120 trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £59.88 / £538.68 per year, while Halifax would cost £1,176 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Interactive Investor 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 comparing the investment choices offered by Interactive Investor and Halifax, UK investors will find both platforms cater well to a variety of needs, although there are noteworthy distinctions. Interactive Investor excels with comprehensive offerings, providing investors access to share trading, ETFs, funds, and both corporate and government bonds, among others. On the other hand, Halifax matches these offerings and additionally provides advisor services to help guide investors. While both platforms share impressive ratings for their investment choices, with each receiving a perfect five stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, there are differences in rankings. Interactive Investor stands strong at 3rd place out of 21 brokers, outperforming Halifax, which holds the 7th position.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
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 | |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Interactive Investor offers a thorough set of trading tools that include the ability to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends on charts, a feature not available with Halifax. When it comes to charting, Interactive Investor provides a comprehensive experience with 18 drawing tools and 104 technical indicators, allowing for detailed and customized analysis. In contrast, Halifax does not provide these charting tools. For those who prefer a more tailored view, Interactive Investor also enables users to add notes, index overlays, and stock overlays to charts, options that Halifax lacks.
Both Interactive Investor and Halifax support browser-based trading platforms, making them convenient for traders who like to manage their investments online. Moreover, each platform offers the ability to set alerts for stock price updates, keeping you informed of market movements. However, Interactive Investor takes accessibility a step further by offering real-time market data, a service which Halifax does not match. These features make Interactive Investor a more versatile choice for charting tasks and accessing timely market information.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 18 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
When considering retirement account options for UK investors, both Interactive Investor and Halifax present solid choices with their Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). Interactive Investor provides a comprehensive platform with accessible ISA and SIPP accounts, catering to a wide range of investment needs. Similarly, Halifax offers ISA and SIPP accounts designed to help individuals plan effectively for retirement. Investors looking for reliable options will find both platforms accommodating, as they provide the essential accounts to help manage and potentially grow their retirement savings.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors choosing between online brokers Interactive Investor and Halifax, both platforms provide convenient mobile apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices, catering to on-the-go trading needs. Interactive Investor's mobile app stands out with a higher rating of 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, placing it at number 7 among 21 brokers for mobile app quality. In contrast, Halifax's mobile app holds a rating of 3.5 stars, ranking it 18th, indicating a less favorable user experience compared to Interactive Investor. These ratings suggest that those prioritizing mobile app performance may find Interactive Investor a more appealing choice over Halifax.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginners seeking educational resources from online brokers, Interactive Investor offers a comprehensive platform that excels in providing educational client webinars, including on-demand archived sessions, covering essential topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement. In contrast, Halifax does not offer webinars or specific educational content in these areas. Interactive Investor's commitment to education is reflected in its 5-star rating and #2 ranking out of 21 brokers by UK.StockBrokers.com, while Halifax holds a 3.5-star rating and stands at #18, making Interactive Investor a more beneficial choice for new investors eager to expand their financial knowledge.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | |
| 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 Interactive Investor and Halifax, UK investors will find several differences and similarities. Interactive Investor stands out by offering research reports for funds and the ability to see portfolio allocation by asset class, features not available with Halifax. Both platforms provide valuable research on shares, ETFs, and funds, catering to a wide range of investment preferences. For those interested in bond investments, both Interactive Investor and Halifax include detailed bonds research. However, neither platform offers research on CFDs, which may be a consideration for those interested in this financial instrument. Overall, Interactive Investor seems to provide a more comprehensive set of research tools compared to Halifax, especially for those who value detailed insights into funds and portfolio allocation details.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
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, Interactive Investor or Halifax? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Interactive Investor to be a better trading platform overall.
The standout feature at Interactive Investor (ii) is its low flat-rate fees. Other investment platforms typically favour percentage fees for fund investing, although more brokers are now opting for flat fees. Our view is that Interactive Investor is a great platform for any investor, offering a wide range of investments for cheap prices on the whole.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Charges & Fees |
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| Investment Choices |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Education |
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In comparing online brokers, Interactive Investor and Halifax, it should be noted that Interactive Investor does not offer crypto trading, while Halifax also does not provide crypto trading options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Interactive Investor | Halifax | |
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| Review | Interactive Investor Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Interactive Investor | 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 |
| Trading Fees | Interactive Investor | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £3.99 | £9.50 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3.99 | £9.50 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3.99 | £9.50 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £79.83 | £83.50 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.88 / £107.76 | £150 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.88 / £203.52 | £378 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.88 / £538.68 | £1,176 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £71.85 | £64.50 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £59.88 - £143.88 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £143.88 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £143.88 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £143.88 | £36 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £3.99 | £9.5 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £3.99 | £9.5 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £3.99 | £9.5 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £3.99 | £9.5 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £49 | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Investor | 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 | Interactive Investor | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 18 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Investor | 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 | Interactive Investor | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | ||
| Education (Funds) | Yes | ||
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Interactive Investor | Halifax | |
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| Education |
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| Review | Interactive Investor Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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