Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 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, Trading 212 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 - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Halifax would cost £83.50 per year.
12 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Halifax would cost £150 per year.
36 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Halifax would cost £378 per year.
120 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Halifax would cost £1,176 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £1 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 exploring online brokers, Trading 212 and Halifax present distinct options, each with their own strengths. Trading 212 stands out with its capability to trade shares, ETFs, CFDs, and investment trusts but does not offer crypto trading, spread betting, or fund investment. In contrast, Halifax supports trading in ETFs, investment trusts, and provides access to funds, corporate bonds, and government bonds (gilts), along with advisor services. Notably, Halifax does not facilitate share trading or CFDs. Therefore, the choice between the two may depend on whether an investor prioritizes direct share trading and CFDs or seeks a broader range of traditional investment products along with advisory support.
According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Trading 212 receives a rating of 4.5 stars for its investment selection, though it ranks #16 in terms of investment choices among 18 brokers due to its more focused array of offerings. On the other hand, Halifax garners a full 5-star rating and ranks #7, reflecting the broader spectrum of products it provides. Investors who prefer comprehensive investment choices may find Halifax more appealing, while those focused on trading shares and CFDs might gravitate towards Trading 212. Ultimately, the choice will depend on one's specific investment needs and preferences.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | No |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | 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 comparing Trading 212 and Halifax for their trading tools, both platforms have their unique features tailored for UK users. Trading 212 provides a significantly more comprehensive suite of charting tools with 27 drawing tools and an impressive 106 technical indicators, offering traders a wide range of options to analyze stock behavior. In contrast, Halifax does not provide drawing tools or technical indicators, which might be a limitation for those who rely heavily on chart analysis. Additionally, Trading 212 allows users to add notes directly onto charts, enhancing their ability to track and strategize trades, a feature that Halifax lacks. Both platforms offer essential functions, such as a browser-based trading platform and stock price alerts, ensuring that traders remain updated on market movements.
While neither platform supports the display of corporate events or overlays on charts, Trading 212 stands out with its provision of real-time market data, ensuring that traders have access to the latest information as they make critical decisions. Halifax, however, does not offer real-time data, which could impact the timeliness of trading decisions. Ultimately, for UK traders focusing on detailed charting and real-time market insights, Trading 212 presents a more feature-rich environment compared to Halifax's more basic offerings.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 27 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When comparing online brokers Trading 212 and Halifax for UK investors interested in retirement accounts, there are key differences to consider. Trading 212 provides Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), making it a viable option for those looking to save and invest tax-efficiently. However, it does not offer Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) accounts, which might be a drawback for investors focused on building their pension. On the other hand, Halifax caters to both needs by offering both ISAs and SIPP accounts, providing a more comprehensive range of retirement investment options. This flexibility makes Halifax an attractive choice for individuals planning for long-term financial goals through both ISAs and SIPPs.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of online broker Trading 212 to Halifax, both provide apps for iPhone and Android users, ensuring accessibility across leading smartphone platforms. However, Trading 212's app stands out with a top rating of 5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, placing it 3rd out of 18 brokers for mobile app usability. In contrast, Halifax’s mobile app, rated 3.5 stars, ranks significantly lower at 18th. For UK users seeking a seamless mobile trading experience, Trading 212's highly rated functionality certainly makes it a noteworthy contender.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginners exploring educational resources from online brokers, Trading 212 stands out with a focus on share trading and fund education, though it lacks webinars and retirement education, resulting in a 4-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com. In comparison, Halifax does not provide education on share trading or funds, nor does it offer webinars, both live and archived, leading to a slightly lower 3.5-star rating. Despite these limitations, Halifax manages to secure a spot at #18 in the beginner education ranking by UK.StockBrokers.com, while Trading 212 is positioned at #13 out of 18 brokers, reflecting its stronger emphasis on educating novice investors.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | No | No |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing Trading 212 and Halifax for market research features, both online brokers offer resources on share and ETF research, allowing investors to make informed choices in stocks and exchange-traded funds. Trading 212 additionally provides tools (such as portfolio allocation by asset class) and research options that Halifax lacks, specifically in CFDs. Conversely, Halifax supports investors with research on funds and bonds, which Trading 212 does not provide. Notably, neither platform offers research reports for funds, and portfolio allocation by asset class is available only with Trading 212. Overall, the choice between the two will depend on whether you seek a focus on CFDs with better portfolio tracking through Trading 212, or if you prefer comprehensive fund and bond insights offered by Halifax.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
Which broker is better overall, Trading 212 or Halifax? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Trading 212 to be a better trading platform overall.
Trading 212 offers commission-free share dealing and is a great option for those looking to simply execute share or ETF trades. Novice investors or those looking for more diversification through mutual funds may find better options elsewhere.
| Feature |
Trading 212
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Halifax
|
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| Overall Rating |
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When comparing online brokers Trading 212 and Halifax, it is important to note that neither platform currently offers crypto trading options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Trading 212 | Halifax | |
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Trading 212 | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | No | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | No | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Trading 212 | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £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) | £0 | £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 | 0 | £9.5 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | Halifax | |
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| Platforms & Tools | Trading 212 | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 27 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | Trading 212 | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Education | Trading 212 | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | No | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Overall Summary | Trading 212 | Halifax | |
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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