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.
When it comes to investment choices, Trading 212 and Halifax each offer unique advantages tailored for UK investors. Trading 212 provides access to share trading, ETFs, CFDs, and investment trusts, boasting a commendable rating of 4.5 stars for its investment choices. In contrast, Halifax shines with a perfect 5-star rating, offering a broader range of options, including trading in ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts. Furthermore, Halifax provides advisory services which can be particularly useful for investors seeking guidance.
While Trading 212 ranks 16th out of 21 brokers for investment choices, Halifax stands out at number 7, underscoring its diverse offerings. Investors prioritizing a wider variety of investment types and advisory services might lean towards Halifax, while those focused on specific areas like share trading and CFDs may appreciate Trading 212's offerings.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | 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.
When comparing the trading tools of Trading 212 and Halifax, it's clear that Trading 212 offers a more comprehensive suite for chart enthusiasts in the UK. Trading 212 provides an impressive range of 27 drawing tools and 106 technical indicators, catering to users who rely heavily on detailed chart analysis. Conversely, Halifax lacks these charting features altogether, which may limit the ability of traders who seek to conduct in-depth technical analysis. Additionally, Trading 212 allows users to add notes directly to their charts, a feature that is absent in Halifax’s offering.
Both Trading 212 and Halifax offer browser-based trading platforms and the capability to create alerts for stock price updates, ensuring traders remain updated on crucial market movements. However, Trading 212 further enhances its trading environment by offering real-time market data, a service that is not specified for Halifax. Overall, those prioritising advanced charting tools and real-time data might find Trading 212 to be the more appealing choice between these two platforms.
| 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 | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
For UK investors exploring retirement account options, Trading 212 and Halifax both offer unique features. Trading 212 and Halifax each provide ISA accounts, appealing for tax-efficient savings. However, if you're eyeing a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) for managing your retirement investments, Halifax has the advantage, offering SIPP accounts, unlike Trading 212, which does not. This distinction makes Halifax a more complete choice for those focused on a broad array of retirement account options. For a streamlined and tax-friendly investment platform, both brokers have attractive ISA options. Consider your specific retirement planning needs to decide which platform best suits your goals.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of Trading 212 and Halifax, UK investors will find both brokers provide applications for iPhone and Android devices. However, the user experience and quality differ significantly. Trading 212's mobile app shines with a top-tier 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, securing an impressive 3rd spot out of 21 brokers in their rankings. In contrast, Halifax's app receives a more modest 3.5-star rating, positioning it at 18th on the same list. This suggests Trading 212's app is more highly valued by users seeking a seamless and effective mobile trading experience.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When it comes to educational resources for beginner investors, Trading 212 and Halifax offer different strengths. Trading 212 stands out with educational content that covers share trading and funds, boasting a 4-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, while Halifax, rated at 3.5 stars, falls behind by not providing detailed educational material on these specific topics. Additionally, Trading 212 is ranked as the 13th best for beginner education out of 21 brokers, compared to Halifax's 18th place ranking. However, neither platform offers educational client webinars, which might be a consideration for those seeking interactive learning experiences.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | ||
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | ||
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of Trading 212 and Halifax, both platforms have their own strengths. Trading 212 allows users to see their portfolio allocation by asset class and provides research for shares, ETFs, and CFDs. However, it does not offer detailed reports for funds or bonds, which could be a limitation for some investors. In contrast, Halifax provides comprehensive research reports for funds, shares, ETFs, and bonds, but lacks features for portfolio allocation by asset class and CFDs research. This makes Halifax suitable for investors looking for deeper insights into traditional investment vehicles, while Trading 212 is ideal for those interested in a dynamic look at their portfolios and newer investment categories.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | ||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes |
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
|
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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When comparing online brokers Trading 212 and Halifax, it's important to note that Trading 212 offers crypto trading, whereas Halifax does not provide the option to trade cryptocurrencies.
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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 | Yes | ||
| Share Trading | Yes | ||
| CFD Trading | Yes | ||
| Funds | Yes | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | ||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | ||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | 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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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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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 | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | |||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | |||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
| Research | Trading 212 | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | ||
| Research - Funds | Yes | ||
| Fund Research - Research Reports | |||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | ||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | ||
| Education (Funds) | Yes | ||
| Education (Retirement) | |||
| Client Webinars | |||
| Client Webinars (Archived) |
| Overall Summary | Trading 212 | Halifax | |
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| Investment Choices |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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