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XTB vs Halifax 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

April 17, 2025

In this head to head comparison of XTB vs Halifax, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

XTB
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £0
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: No
Halifax
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £0
  • ISA: Yes
  • SIPP: Yes

Fees

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, XTB 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 - XTB would cost £0 per year, while Halifax would cost £83.50 per year.

12 trades per year - XTB would cost £0 per year, while Halifax would cost £150 per year.

36 trades per year - XTB would cost £0 per year, while Halifax would cost £378 per year.

120 trades per year - XTB would cost £0 per year, while Halifax would cost £1,176 per year.

3 fund trades per year - XTB would cost £0 per year, while Halifax would cost £0 per year.

query_stats 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.

Investment Choices

For UK investors seeking diverse trading options, XTB and Halifax offer unique advantages. XTB provides a platform for share and ETF trading, catering to those interested in stocks and diversified assets. Additionally, XTB excels in CFD trading, which might appeal to traders looking for leveraged opportunities. However, it does not support funds, bonds, or investment trust trading. Halifax, on the other hand, stands out with its extensive range of investment choices, including funds, corporate and government bonds, investment trusts, and ETFs. While Halifax doesn’t offer share or CFD trading, it provides advisory services to guide investors through their financial decisions.

When evaluated by UK.StockBrokers.com, XTB earned 4.5 stars out of five for its investment options, ranking it 13th out of 21 brokers. Conversely, Halifax received a perfect 5-star rating and is placed higher at 7th in the same category. This suggests Halifax may be more suited for investors looking for comprehensive investment opportunities and guidance, while XTB caters to those keen on specific asset classes like share and CFD trading.

Feature XTB logoXTB
Halifax logoHalifax
Share Trading info Yes No
CFD Trading info Yes No
ETFs info Yes Yes
Funds info No Yes
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info No Yes
Investment Trusts info No Yes
Spread Betting info Yes No
Crypto Trading info No No
Advisor Services info No Yes
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars

Featured Offers


4.5/5 Stars

Low-cost US and UK shares.

4.5/5 Stars

Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.

Trading Tools

When it comes to the trading tools offered by XTB and Halifax, UK investors may find significant differences in their capabilities. XTB provides a more comprehensive suite of charting tools, allowing traders to display corporate events like earnings and dividends directly on charts, a feature Halifax does not offer. Additionally, XTB presents users with 20 drawing tools and 39 technical indicators for in-depth market analysis, compared to Halifax, which lacks both. The ability to add notes to charts is another feature found in XTB, enhancing the trader's experience by facilitating detailed analyses and strategic planning.

Both XTB and Halifax offer browser-based trading platforms, as well as the ability to create alerts for stock price updates, providing some flexibility for traders seeking to stay informed on key price movements. However, when it comes to accessing real-time market data, XTB stands out by providing this crucial feature, whereas Halifax does not, which could potentially impact timely decision-making for active traders. Despite neither platform offering index or stock overlays on charts, XTB's extensive charting capabilities clearly set it apart as a preferable choice for traders who prioritize enriched chart interactivity and access to immediate market information.

Feature XTB logoXTB
Halifax logoHalifax
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 39 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 20 0
Charting - Notes info Yes No
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes No
Charting - Stock Overlays info No No
Charting - Index Overlays info No No

ISAs and SIPPs

When comparing online brokers XTB and Halifax for UK investors interested in retirement accounts, it's essential to consider the types of accounts each offers. XTB provides ISA accounts, allowing you to save or invest up to a certain limit each year without paying tax on gains. However, XTB does not support SIPP accounts, which are specifically designed for self-managed personal pensions. On the other hand, Halifax offers both ISA and SIPP accounts, providing a more comprehensive range of options for retirement savings and investment. Thus, if having access to a SIPP is important for your retirement strategy, Halifax might be a more suitable choice.

Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.

Mobile App

When comparing the mobile apps of online brokers XTB and Halifax, both are compatible with iPhone and Android devices, ensuring accessibility regardless of your smartphone preference. However, XTB takes the lead with a higher customer rating of 4.5 stars according to UK.StockBrokers.com, while Halifax trails behind with a 3.5-star rating. Users looking for a top-tier app experience may favor XTB, which is ranked 6th among 21 brokers for mobile apps, significantly outperforming Halifax, which is ranked 18th. These differences highlight XTB's edge in providing a more highly regarded mobile trading experience for users in the UK.

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.

Beginners and Education

For UK beginners seeking to enhance their investment skills, XTB and Halifax offer contrasting educational resources. XTB provides educational content specifically on share trading, positioning itself as a valuable resource for those interested in this area. In contrast, Halifax does not cover share trading in its educational offerings. Neither broker offers webinars, archived webinars, or education on funds and retirement, which might limit beginners looking for a broader financial education. Reflecting these differences, UK.StockBrokers.com rates XTB higher at 4.5 stars compared to Halifax's 3.5 stars, ranking them 9th and 18th respectively out of 21 brokers for beginner education.

Feature XTB logoXTB
Halifax logoHalifax
Client Webinars info No No
Client Webinars (Archived) info No No
Education (Share Trading) info Yes No
Education (Funds) info No No
Education (Retirement) info No No
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.

Market Research

When comparing the market research features of XTB and Halifax, several differences emerge that potential investors in the UK should consider. XTB stands out by allowing users to view portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature not available with Halifax. Both brokers offer research for shares and ETFs, giving investors insights into these areas. However, for those interested in funds, Halifax provides research while XTB does not. XTB shines in the analysis of CFDs, which isn't supported by Halifax. On the other hand, Halifax offers bonds research, a service that XTB lacks. Overall, the choice between XTB and Halifax for market research largely depends on the type of financial instruments an investor is focusing on and whether portfolio allocation visibility is important to them.

Feature XTB logoXTB
Halifax logoHalifax
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info Yes No
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info No Yes
Research - Funds info No Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports info No No
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes No

XTB vs Halifax Winner

Which broker is better overall, XTB or Halifax? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found XTB to be a better trading platform overall.

XTB has set itself up as a strong competitor in commission-free share trading. Its low fees and solid educational content will make XTB particularly attractive to newer investors. It does not, however, offer an ISA or SIPP.

Feature XTB logoXTB
Halifax logoHalifax
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Mobile App 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Website 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with XTB or Halifax?

Both XTB and Halifax do not offer cryptocurrency trading options to their users, making them similar in this regard for those considering online brokers based on crypto trading availability.

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Compare

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Overall Rating XTB Halifax
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Mobile App 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Website 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Review XTB Review Halifax Review
Winner check_circle
Investments XTB Halifax
ISA info Yes Yes
SIPP info No Yes
Share Trading info Yes No
CFD Trading info Yes No
Funds info No Yes
ETFs info Yes Yes
Bonds - Corporate info No Yes
Bonds - Government (Gilts) info No Yes
Investment Trusts info No Yes
Spread Betting info Yes No
Crypto Trading info No No
Advisor Services info No Yes
Trading Fees XTB Halifax
Minimum Deposit info £0 £0
Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month info £0 £9.50
Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month info £0 £9.50
Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month info £0 £9.50
5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 £83.50
12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 £150
36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 £378
120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) info £0 £1,176
3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) info N/A £64.50
Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 info 0 £36
Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K info 0 £36
Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m info 0 £36
Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over info 0 £36
Bonds - Corporate - Fee info N/A £9.5
Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee info N/A £9.5
ETFs - Fee info £0 £9.5
Investment Trusts - Fee info N/A £9.5
Telephone Dealing Fee info N/A £25
Broker Screenshots XTB Halifax
Website Gallery (click to expand)
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
Education Gallery (click to expand)
Platforms & Tools XTB Halifax
Web Platform info Yes Yes
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Stock Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 39 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 20 0
Charting - Notes info Yes No
Charting - Display Corporate Events info Yes No
Charting - Stock Overlays info No No
Charting - Index Overlays info No No
Research XTB Halifax
Research - Shares info Yes Yes
Research - CFDs info Yes No
Research - Funds info No Yes
Fund Research - Research Reports info No No
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info No Yes
Portfolio Allocation Breakdown info Yes No
Education XTB Halifax
Education (Share Trading) info Yes No
Education (Funds) info No No
Education (Retirement) info No No
Client Webinars info No No
Client Webinars (Archived) info No No
Overall Summary XTB Halifax
Overall Rating 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Charges & Fees 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Choices 4.5/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Mobile App 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Website 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Review XTB Review Halifax Review
Winner check_circle
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