Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Saxo 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, Halifax offers better pricing than Saxo 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.
Comparing Saxo vs Halifax for UK investors, Saxo offers a wider range of markets. Saxo supports share dealing and cryptocurrency trading, which Halifax does not. Both brokers let you invest in ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, UK gilts, and investment trusts. If you want leveraged trading, Saxo also offers CFDs, whereas Halifax does not.
When it comes to support, Halifax offers advice services while Saxo is execution-only. Both are rated 5 out of 5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com for investment choices, but Saxo ranks #1 out of 21 brokers, with Halifax at #7—highlighting Saxo’s broader product range.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | No |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | 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.
Comparing Saxo vs Halifax for trading tools in the UK, both brokers offer a browser-based platform and let you set price alerts. However, neither shows corporate events (like earnings, splits or dividends) on charts, neither supports adding notes or index overlays, and both lack real-time market data.
The big difference is charting depth: Saxo provides 20 drawing tools and 64 technical indicators, plus the option to add stock overlays. Halifax offers none of these (0 drawing tools, 0 indicators, no stock overlays). If you value chart analysis and overlays, Saxo is the stronger choice; if you only need basic trading without chart features, Halifax may suffice.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
For UK investors seeking a retirement account, both Saxo and Halifax stand as viable options, each providing Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). These account types allow you to efficiently plan for your retirement while enjoying potential tax benefits. Whether you favor the innovative platforms and tools offered by Saxo or prefer the familiarity and longstanding reputation of Halifax, both services aim to meet your financial goals with flexible options for account management and investment strategies.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors seeking efficient mobile trading solutions, both Saxo and Halifax provide accessible apps for iPhone and Android devices. Saxo's mobile app stands out with a top-tier 5-star rating, securing the number one spot among 21 brokers as ranked by UK.StockBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Halifax's app, rated at 3.5 stars, ranks at a more modest 18th position. This comparison highlights Saxo's superior app experience, giving users a seamless trading interface, while Halifax offers a more average option in the mobile trading arena.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginner investors comparing Saxo vs Halifax education, Saxo clearly leads: it runs live client webinars and keeps them on demand, and offers straightforward learning on share trading, funds, and retirement. Halifax does not provide webinars or an on-demand archive, and lacks dedicated education on those topics. Reflecting this gap, UK.StockBrokers.com rates Saxo 5 stars and ranks it #3 of 21 brokers for beginner education, while Halifax earns 3.5 stars and ranks #18. If you value easy-to-access lessons and webinars you can replay, Saxo is the stronger choice.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of online brokers Saxo and Halifax, UK investors will find notable differences in their offerings. Saxo stands out by providing detailed research reports for funds, a feature absent in Halifax. Moreover, investors using Saxo can view their portfolio allocation by asset class, a capability Halifax does not offer. Both brokers offer research on shares, ETFs, funds, and bonds, catering to a wide variety of investment needs. Saxo's comprehensive approach to market research might appeal to those seeking in-depth insights into fund investments and asset allocation.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
Which broker is better overall, Saxo or Halifax? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Saxo to be a better trading platform overall.
Saxo’ trading platform is highly sophisticated and offers a huge range of international shares and funds. The biggest downside is the cost, as its charges are higher than its U.K. competitors. It's best suited for experienced investors rather than beginners.
| Feature |
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Halifax
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| Mobile App |
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In the Saxo vs Halifax comparison, online broker Saxo supports crypto trading, while Halifax does not.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Saxo | Halifax | |
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| Review | Saxo Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Saxo | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | No | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Saxo | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | $1 / £3 / €3 | £9.50 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | $1 / £3 / €3 | £9.50 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | $1 / £3 / €3 | £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 | 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1% | £36 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1% | £36 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1% | £36 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1% | £36 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | €20 minimum | £9.5 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | €20 minimum | £9.5 | |
| ETFs - Fee | From $1 | £9.5 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | 0.03/0.06/0.08% | £9.5 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £50 | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | Saxo | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Saxo | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | Saxo | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Education | Saxo | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | Saxo | Halifax | |
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| Review | Saxo Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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