Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Hargreaves Lansdown vs IG, 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, Hargreaves Lansdown offers better pricing than IG 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 - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. per year, while IG would cost £136 per year.
12 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. per year, while IG would cost £96 per year.
36 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. per year, while IG would cost £108 per year.
120 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. per year, while IG would cost £360 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1 per year, while IG 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 Hargreaves Lansdown to IG in the UK, both platforms provide opportunities for share trading and investing in ETFs and investment trusts. However, Hargreaves Lansdown stands out with additional offerings like fund trading and access to corporate and government bonds. In contrast, IG extends its range with CFD trading, appealing to those seeking more complex financial instruments.
Hargreaves Lansdown has the added benefit of advisor services, making it a comprehensive choice for investors who prefer a more guided approach. Rated five stars for investment choices by UK.StockBrokers.com, it ranks 4th out of 18 brokers. IG, while not offering the same breadth in traditional investments such as bonds and funds, is still a strong contender with a 4.5-star rating, positioned at 11th in the investment choices category.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
IG
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | Yes |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | Yes | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing the trading tools of Hargreaves Lansdown and IG, both platforms offer the convenience of displaying corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, alongside real-time market data. However, IG sets itself apart with a richer selection of 19 drawing tools and 33 technical indicators, compared to Hargreaves Lansdown's 11 drawing tools and 15 indicators. Additionally, IG users can easily add personal notes to charts, a feature not available with Hargreaves Lansdown.
Hargreaves Lansdown still brings unique strengths to the table, offering chart overlays for both indices and stocks, which IG does not provide. Both platforms feature browser-based trading platforms and enable users to set alerts for stock price updates, underscoring their commitment to keeping traders informed. Overall, the choice between these brokers depends largely on your individual trading preferences and the specific tools you value.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
IG
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 15 | 33 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 19 |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When comparing online brokers for retirement accounts in the UK, both Hargreaves Lansdown and IG offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), providing solid options for those looking to invest for the future. Hargreaves Lansdown, a well-established name, caters to a broad range of investment needs, while IG, known for its trading platforms, extends its services to include ISAs and SIPPs. Both brokers allow investors to grow their savings with tax-efficient accounts, though their platforms and user experiences may vary, each appealing to different investor preferences. Choosing between them will depend on specific needs and the features that matter most to you.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When considering the mobile app offerings of top online brokers in the UK, Hargreaves Lansdown and IG each provide apps for both iPhone and Android users. While Hargreaves Lansdown's mobile app boasts an impressive 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, it is ranked 10th out of 18 brokers. In comparison, IG's app achieves a perfect 5-star rating and holds the second spot in the same ranking. These ratings highlight IG's mobile app as a top choice for UK investors seeking a seamless and highly rated mobile trading experience.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors in the UK, both Hargreaves Lansdown and IG offer strong educational resources tailored to different needs. Both platforms provide live educational webinars, though IG stands out by allowing users to access these sessions on demand. When it comes to specific topics, Hargreaves Lansdown covers share trading, funds, and retirement, while IG offers insights into share trading and retirement but lacks material on funds. Both brokers receive a stellar five-star rating for beginner education from UK.StockBrokers.com, but IG takes the top spot in overall ranking, coming in at number one among 18 brokers, compared to Hargreaves Lansdown’s commendable fourth place. This makes IG a slightly more accessible choice for those who might want flexibility and comprehensive market understanding.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
IG
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of Hargreaves Lansdown and IG, both brokers offer research reports for funds and shares, along with insights into ETFs. Hargreaves Lansdown provides additional resources with the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class, and also covers bonds and funds research, offering a more comprehensive selection for investors interested in these areas. Conversely, IG shines in providing CFDs research, which Hargreaves Lansdown does not offer. While both platforms cater to UK investors with essential market insights, Hargreaves Lansdown’s offerings are more diverse in traditional investment options, whereas IG focuses more on contract for difference trading.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
IG
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
Which broker is better overall, Hargreaves Lansdown or IG? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Hargreaves Lansdown to be a better trading platform overall.
As the U.K.’s biggest investment platform for individual investors, Hargreaves Lansdown offers a wide range of investment choices for either beginners or seasoned investors. However, its fees are generally more expensive than rival brokers, which can become an issue for large investment pots.
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IG
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When comparing online brokers Hargreaves Lansdown and IG, neither platform offers crypto trading, making them similar in terms of cryptocurrency investment options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Hargreaves Lansdown | IG | |
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| Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | IG Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Hargreaves Lansdown | IG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | Yes | |
| Funds | Yes | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | Yes | No |
| Trading Fees | Hargreaves Lansdown | IG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £11.95 | £0-£10 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £8.95 | £3 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £5.95 | £3 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. | £136 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. | £96 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. | £108 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. | £360 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £135 | N/A | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | Up to £1,125 | £0 / £96 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | Up to £625 | £0 / £96 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | Up to £1,250 | £0 / £96 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | Up to £1,000 | £0 / £96 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £20 - £50 | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £20 - £50 | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £5.95 - £11.95 | £0 - £8 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £5.95 - £11.95 | £0 - £8 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £20 - £50 | £50 |
| Broker Screenshots | Hargreaves Lansdown | IG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Hargreaves Lansdown | IG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 15 | 33 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 19 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | Hargreaves Lansdown | IG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | No |
| Education | Hargreaves Lansdown | IG | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Hargreaves Lansdown | IG | |
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| Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | IG Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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