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 comparing the investment choices available through Trading 212 and Halifax, significant differences emerge. Trading 212 offers share trading, ETFs, CFDs, and investment trusts. This makes it a suitable platform for those interested in diverse equity and derivative offerings, though it lacks options for funds and bond trading. In contrast, Halifax does not support share or CFD trading but provides a broader range of investment types, including ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts, along with advisor services for a more guided investment experience.
Both platforms have earned commendable ratings for their investment choices, with Trading 212 receiving 4.5 stars and Halifax earning a full 5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com. Despite its slightly lower rating, Trading 212 offers a straightforward approach for those focused on direct share and CFD investments. Halifax ranks higher at #7 compared to Trading 212’s #11 out of 18 brokers, indicating a more comprehensive suite of offerings for investors seeking a full spectrum of financial products.
| 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 |
|
|
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing the online brokers Trading 212 and Halifax, particularly their trading tools, key differences quickly emerge. Trading 212 excels in offering a more comprehensive suite of features for charting with 27 drawing tools and access to 106 technical indicators, whereas Halifax does not provide any. Additionally, Trading 212 allows users to add notes to charts, a valuable feature absent in Halifax's offerings. On the other hand, neither broker supports displaying corporate events or adding index and stock overlays directly on charts, maintaining a level playing field in these areas.
Both Trading 212 and Halifax offer browser-based trading platforms and the capability to create alerts for stock price updates, facilitating ease of use for traders. However, Trading 212 edges out with the provision of real-time market data, a feature that Halifax does not currently support. These distinctions underscore Trading 212's stronger focus on providing traders with robust tools and data essential for crafting detailed market analyses and timely trading decisions.
| 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 retirement account options, there are key differences to consider. Both platforms offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), allowing investors to save and invest tax-efficiently. However, if you're looking for a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) account, Halifax has the advantage, offering this type of retirement account to its users, whereas Trading 212 does not provide SIPP accounts. Understanding these differences can help you choose the right platform for your financial needs.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of Trading 212 and Halifax, both brokers provide apps for iPhone and Android devices, ensuring users have access to trading on the go regardless of their smartphone preference. However, Trading 212 stands out with a commendable 5-star rating for its mobile app from UK.StockBrokers.com, making it a top choice for traders looking for a seamless and highly-rated experience. On the other hand, Halifax's mobile app receives a 3.5-star rating, suggesting room for improvement in user satisfaction and performance. Additionally, out of 18 brokers ranked for mobile app quality, Trading 212 secures a higher position at #9, while Halifax trails behind at #14, highlighting Trading 212's stronger presence in the mobile trading space.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the educational resources for beginner investors, Trading 212 outshines Halifax in several key areas. While neither broker offers live or on-demand webinars, Trading 212 provides helpful educational materials on share trading and funds, which Halifax does not. Both platforms lack retirement education resources. In terms of beginner-friendly resources, Trading 212 holds a rating of 4 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com, ranking 11th out of 18 brokers, while Halifax is rated slightly lower at 3.5 stars, coming in at 16th. Overall, Trading 212 presents a stronger starting point for novice investors looking to learn more about specific investment topics.
| 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 |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of Trading 212 and Halifax, it becomes clear that both platforms offer extensive options for shares and ETFs research. However, Trading 212 stands out with its ability to show portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature Halifax lacks. While Halifax provides research reports for funds and bonds, Trading 212 does not. Conversely, Trading 212 supports CFDs research, whereas Halifax does not. Despite neither broker offering research reports for funds, potential investors can weigh these distinct offerings when choosing a platform that best suits their investment needs.
| 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
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Charges & Fees |
|
|
| Investment Choices |
|
|
| Mobile App |
|
|
| Website |
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
When comparing online brokers Trading 212 and Halifax, it is important to note that neither platform currently offers crypto trading options.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Trading 212 | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
IG Group Review
Saxo Review
eToro Review
Interactive Brokers Review
Trading 212 Review
XTB Review
CMC Invest Review
Vanguard Review
Hargreaves Lansdown Review
Halifax Review
Freetrade Review