Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Hargreaves Lansdown, 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, IG offers better pricing than Hargreaves Lansdown 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 - IG would cost £0 per year, while Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. per year.
12 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. per year.
36 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. per year.
120 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. per year.
3 fund trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1 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 IG and Hargreaves Lansdown, both prominent online brokers in the UK, it’s clear they cater to somewhat different investor needs. IG shines with its comprehensive share trading, ETF, and CFD trading options. This variety makes IG a solid choice if you're interested in these particular markets. However, the broker falls short in providing services such as crypto trading, spread betting, funds trading, and bonds, limiting options for those interested in these areas.
On the other hand, Hargreaves Lansdown offers a broader range of investment choices. In addition to share trading and ETFs, it covers funds and both corporate and government bonds, offering a more well-rounded investment platform. Furthermore, it provides advisor services, which could be a significant advantage for investors seeking guidance. While both brokers receive high ratings from UK.StockBrokers.com for their offerings, with IG earning 4.5 stars and Hargreaves Lansdown scoring a perfect 5, it’s clear Hargreaves Lansdown's extensive options make it a higher-ranked choice for investment diversity.
| Feature |
IG
|
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | 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 comparing IG and Hargreaves Lansdown for trading tools, both brokers support displaying corporate events such as earnings, splits, and dividends on their charts. IG stands out with a larger arsenal of 19 drawing tools and 33 technical indicators, whereas Hargreaves Lansdown provides 11 drawing tools and 15 technical indicators. Crucially, IG allows users to add notes directly to charts, offering a more personalized experience. On the other hand, Hargreaves Lansdown shines by allowing users to add both index and stock overlays to charts, a feature missing from IG's platform.
Both IG and Hargreaves Lansdown offer browser-based trading platforms and provide real-time market data along with the ability to set alerts for stock price updates. This makes them both competent choices for traders who need immediate access to critical market information. Each broker offers different sets of features that can cater to varying trading needs, with IG appealing more to those who favour advanced charting customization and Hargreaves Lansdown to those who need overlay capabilities on their charts.
| Feature |
IG
|
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 15 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 11 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | Yes |
When considering online brokers in the UK for retirement accounts, both IG and Hargreaves Lansdown offer appealing options. Each provides Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), making it easy for investors to plan their financial futures. IG's platform offers a streamlined approach that caters to those seeking simplicity in managing their investments. Meanwhile, Hargreaves Lansdown is renowned for its extensive research resources and customer service, particularly beneficial for those who prefer comprehensive support alongside their investment tools. Both brokers cater to a range of investment needs, but the choice between them may hinge on the user’s preference for either IG’s straightforward platform or Hargreaves Lansdown’s in-depth resources.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing IG and Hargreaves Lansdown's mobile apps, both brokers offer dedicated apps for iPhone and Android users, ensuring accessibility on the go. For UK users looking for highly-rated mobile trading experiences, IG stands out with an impressive 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com and is ranked as the #2 choice out of 18 brokers. In contrast, Hargreaves Lansdown also provides a strong mobile trading platform, earning a 4.5-star rating and securing the #10 spot in the same ranking. With these ratings, IG's mobile app is particularly appealing for those prioritizing top-tier mobile trading capabilities.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginner investors seeking educational resources, both IG and Hargreaves Lansdown offer a wealth of options to learn the ropes. IG shines with its top ranking from UK.StockBrokers.com, providing engaging educational client webinars that are also available on demand for flexible learning. IG covers essential investing topics like share trading and retirement planning effectively. Meanwhile, Hargreaves Lansdown, rated equally with five stars, excels in education related to share trading, funds, and retirement, although it doesn't offer archived webinars. While both brokers provide high-quality beginner education, IG edges slightly ahead with its number one ranking among 18 brokers, thanks to its comprehensive on-demand learning resources.
| Feature |
IG
|
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of IG and Hargreaves Lansdown, UK investors will find that both brokers offer research reports for funds, shares, and ETFs, catering to a wide range of investment interests. However, they differ in other aspects; Hargreaves Lansdown provides insights into portfolio allocation by asset class, whereas IG does not. Additionally, IG provides research for CFDs, an area where Hargreaves Lansdown falls short. On the other hand, Hargreaves Lansdown offers more extensive research for funds and bonds, which IG does not cover. This makes Hargreaves Lansdown a comprehensive option for those looking to delve into fund and bond investments.
| Feature |
IG
|
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, IG or Hargreaves Lansdown? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found IG to be a better trading platform overall.
IG is an investment platform aimed at experienced investors looking to make frequent trades on the stock market, with thousands of shares, trusts and ETFs to trade. It offers a comprehensive and easy-to-use trading platform that is used by both private and professional investors.
| Feature |
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Hargreaves Lansdown
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When comparing online brokers IG and Hargreaves Lansdown, it's notable that neither platform offers crypto trading, focusing instead on a diverse range of other financial instruments and investment opportunities.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
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| Review | IG Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | IG | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | IG | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £1 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £11.95 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £8.95 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £5.95 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | £135 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 / £96 | Up to £1,125 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 / £96 | Up to £625 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 / £96 | Up to £1,250 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 / £96 | Up to £1,000 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £20 - £50 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £20 - £50 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 - £8 | £5.95 - £11.95 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 - £8 | £5.95 - £11.95 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £50 | £20 - £50 |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | IG | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 15 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 11 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | Yes |
| Research | IG | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No | |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
| Education | IG | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | IG | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
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| Review | IG Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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