Written by StockBrokers.com
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.
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, 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.
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 range of investment options offered by XTB and Halifax, UK investors will notice significant differences in the available choices for each platform. XTB provides opportunities for share trading, ETF investments, and CFD trading, catering to those interested in a more dynamic investment experience. However, it does not offer crypto, funds, or bond trading, and lacks advisory services. Meanwhile, Halifax shines in areas where XTB doesn’t, such as funds trading, bonds, and investment trusts, alongside providing advisory services – facilitating a more traditional, wide-ranging investment platform.
Both platforms have their strengths, but this is reflected in their rankings and ratings by UK.StockBrokers.com. XTB earns a commendable 4.5 stars for investment choices, though it ranks 13th out of 21 brokers in the UK. Conversely, Halifax is rated 5 stars, attesting to its broad investment offerings and holds the 7th spot in the rankings. For investors in the UK, the decision between XTB and Halifax will depend largely on whether they seek a more disrupted trading environment or a classic and comprehensive portfolio management approach.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | No |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | No | Yes |
| Spread Betting | Yes | 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 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
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
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.
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.
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
|
Halifax
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No |
| Education (Funds) | No | No |
| Education (Retirement) | No | No |
| Education |
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|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
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
|
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, 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
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Halifax
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| Mobile App |
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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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0 of 5| Overall Rating | XTB | Halifax | |
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| Review | XTB Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | XTB | 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 | No | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | XTB | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £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) | N/A | £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 | N/A | £9.5 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | Halifax | |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | XTB | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 20 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | XTB | 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 | XTB | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | No | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | No | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Overall Summary | XTB | Halifax | |
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| Review | XTB Review | Halifax Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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