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.
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.
For UK investors looking to compare options between XTB and Halifax, there are key differences in their account offerings. XTB provides share trading and trading of ETFs, along with access to CFDs, but does not support crypto trading, spread betting, funds, bonds, or investment trusts. Halifax, on the other hand, does not offer share or crypto trading but compensates with a wider selection that includes ETFs, funds, both corporate and government bonds, and investment trusts. Moreover, Halifax provides advisor services, an option not available with XTB.
When considering ratings, UK.StockBrokers.com scores XTB with a solid 4.5 stars for its investment choices, ranking it 13th out of 18 brokers. Halifax shines with a full 5-star rating, positioned at 7th place for its comprehensive investment options. For those prioritizing diverse investment products, Halifax seems more appealing, whereas XTB caters to those specifically interested in shares and CFDs.
| 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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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
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 offer apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. However, user ratings reveal a noteworthy difference in performance and satisfaction. XTB's mobile app receives an impressive 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, securing the 6th spot among 18 brokers for mobile app excellence. In contrast, Halifax's app, with a 3.5-star rating, trails significantly, ranking at 18th place. This suggests that while both brokers provide functional mobile apps, XTB offers a superior user experience appreciated by more UK investors.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK readers evaluating online brokers for beginner investor education, XTB and Halifax differ significantly. While neither XTB nor Halifax provide educational client webinars, live or on demand, XTB stands out with its offering of share trading education, which Halifax lacks. Both brokers fall short in offering resources for learning about funds or retirement topics. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, XTB is rated higher than Halifax with 4.5 stars compared to Halifax's 3.5 stars for beginner education. This places XTB at 9th out of 18 brokers, whereas Halifax is ranked last at 18th, making XTB a more favorable choice for newcomers seeking to learn about trading shares.
| 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 |
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Halifax
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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 | No | No | |
| 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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| 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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