Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Robinhood UK 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, Robinhood UK 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 - Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year, while Halifax would cost £83.50 per year.
12 trades per year - Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year, while Halifax would cost £150 per year.
36 trades per year - Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year, while Halifax would cost £378 per year.
120 trades per year - Robinhood UK would cost £0 per year, while Halifax would cost £1,176 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Robinhood UK 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.
For UK investors navigating the online broker landscape, Robinhood UK and Halifax offer distinct pathways with their investment options. Robinhood UK allows share trading but lacks in other areas such as ETF trading, funds, bonds, and investment trusts. In contrast, Halifax facilitates trading in ETFs, funds, corporate and government bonds, and investment trusts while also providing advisory services—choices that are not available with Robinhood UK. However, neither platform supports crypto or CFD trading.
When it comes to ratings, Robinhood UK earns a modest 3 out of 5 stars for investment choices from UK.StockBrokers.com, placing 20th out of 18 brokers. Halifax, on the other hand, impresses with a 5-star rating, securing the 7th spot. The broader array of investment options from Halifax may appeal more to investors seeking diverse financial instruments and advisory support.
| Feature |
Robinhood UK
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | No |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | No | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | 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 charting tools, both Robinhood UK and Halifax fall short in some areas. Neither platform offers the ability to display corporate events like earnings, splits, or dividends on charts, nor do they provide any drawing tools or the capability to add notes. While Robinhood UK stands out slightly with three technical indicators available for charting, Halifax offers none. Both platforms lack the ability to add index or stock overlays, limiting the depth of visual chart analysis.
In terms of platform accessibility and market updates, both Robinhood UK and Halifax provide browser-based trading platforms, allowing trades to be executed directly from your web browser. They each support the creation of alerts for stock price updates, keeping investors informed of the latest market shifts. However, Robinhood UK sets itself apart by offering real-time market data, a feature not available with Halifax, making it a more appealing choice for those who prioritize staying updated with the latest market trends.
| Feature |
Robinhood UK
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 3 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When comparing the online brokerage options for retirement accounts in the UK, Halifax emerges as a leader over Robinhood UK. Robinhood UK does not provide Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) or Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), making it less attractive for those focusing on retirement savings. In contrast, Halifax offers both ISAs and SIPPs, providing customers with tax-efficient ways to save for their future. For UK investors looking to maximize their retirement savings, Halifax's comprehensive range of account options can offer more financial planning flexibility than Robinhood UK.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of Robinhood UK and Halifax, both platforms provide user-friendly options for iPhone and Android users, catering to a modern, tech-savvy investor base. Robinhood UK's app shines with a rating of 4 stars, reflecting its intuitive design and ease of use according to UK.StockBrokers.com, where it holds the 13th spot out of 18 in the mobile app rankings. In contrast, Halifax’s app, with a 3.5-star rating, lands at 18th place, suggesting there's room for improvement in its user interface and functionality. Whether you're a new investor or seasoned trader, both apps are readily accessible, but Robinhood UK may offer a slightly smoother experience.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When it comes to beginner investor educational resources, both Robinhood UK and Halifax have their strengths and limitations. Neither platform offers educational client webinars or archives these sessions for on-demand viewing. Robinhood UK provides guidance on share trading, while Halifax does not cover this topic. Neither broker offers education on funds or retirement, which could be a drawback for those seeking broader investment knowledge. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, both platforms are rated equally with 3.5 stars for beginner education. However, Halifax holds a slightly better position, ranking 18th out of 18 brokers, compared to Robinhood UK's 20th place, indicating a marginal preference among available options for new investors.
| Feature |
Robinhood UK
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No |
| Education (Funds) | No | No |
| Education (Retirement) | No | No |
| Education |
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|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
For UK investors comparing the market research features between Robinhood UK and Halifax, both platforms provide shares and ETFs research, making them accessible for those interested in these investment types. However, while Halifax extends its research offerings to include funds and bonds, Robinhood UK does not. Neither platform offers research specifically for CFDs, nor do they provide the option to view portfolio allocation by asset class. Additionally, both lack research reports for funds, though Halifax's broader research capabilities might appeal to investors seeking more diverse financial insights. This comparison highlights Halifax as a more comprehensive choice for market research, especially for those interested in funds and bonds.
| Feature |
Robinhood UK
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | No |
Which broker is better overall, Robinhood UK or Halifax? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Robinhood UK to be a better trading platform overall.
| Feature |
Robinhood UK
|
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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Both Robinhood UK and Halifax do not offer crypto trading, making neither platform suitable for investors seeking to trade cryptocurrencies.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Robinhood UK | Halifax | |
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| Review | Robinhood UK Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Robinhood UK | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | No | Yes | |
| SIPP | No | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | No | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | No | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Robinhood UK | 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 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 | £36 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 | £36 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £9.5 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £9.5 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | £9.5 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | N/A | £9.5 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | Robinhood UK | 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 | Robinhood UK | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 3 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | Robinhood UK | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | No |
| Education | Robinhood UK | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | No | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | No | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Overall Summary | Robinhood UK | Halifax | |
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| Investment Choices |
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| Review | Robinhood UK Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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