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.
Saxo vs Halifax: both let UK investors trade shares, ETFs, funds, corporate and government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts. The key differences are in extra markets—Saxo also offers crypto and CFD trading, while Halifax does not. If you want access to digital assets or derivatives, Saxo has the edge; if you’re focused on traditional investments, either platform covers the core choices.
When it comes to guidance, Halifax provides advisor services, whereas Saxo does not. For overall breadth of investment choices, UK.StockBrokers.com rates Saxo at 5 stars and ranks it #1 of 21 brokers; Halifax scores 4.5 stars and ranks #7. Weigh these points alongside costs and platform features before choosing.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 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 UK traders, both offer browser-based platforms with price alerts, but neither provides real-time market data, corporate events on charts, or index overlays. If you need those specific features, you’ll have to look elsewhere or use companion tools.
For charting, Saxo includes 20 drawing tools and 64 technical indicators, plus the option to add stock overlays. Halifax supplies fewer drawing tools (8) but a larger indicator set (95) and lets you add notes to charts. In short, choose Saxo if you value more drawing tools and stock overlays, or Halifax if you prefer more indicators and the ability to annotate your charts.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 95 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 8 |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes |
| 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 beginners comparing online brokers, Saxo outpaces Halifax on investor education: Saxo runs client webinars and keeps them available on demand, while Halifax offers no webinars. Both cover share trading, funds and retirement, but UK.StockBrokers.com rates Saxo higher (5/5, ranked 3rd of 21) than Halifax (4/5, ranked 18th). If you want webinars plus a higher-rated learning experience, choose Saxo; if you only need basic guides on shares, funds and retirement, Halifax still covers the essentials.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
Comparing Saxo vs Halifax for market research, both brokers offer UK investors wide coverage across shares, ETFs, funds, and bonds, and both include research reports for funds. The main difference is portfolio insight: Saxo lets you view your portfolio allocation by asset class, making it easier to see how your money is spread, while Halifax does not provide this allocation view. If you value clear allocation tracking alongside broad research, Saxo has the edge; if you just need core research on shares, ETFs, funds, and bonds, Halifax still delivers.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| 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
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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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 | Yes | |
| 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 | £9.50 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | €20 minimum | £9.50 | |
| ETFs - Fee | From $1 | £0 / £3.50 / £9.50 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | 0.03/0.06/0.08% | £0 / £3.50 / £9.50 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £50 | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | Saxo | 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 | Saxo | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 95 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 8 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Education | Saxo | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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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