Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Investor 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, Interactive Investor 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 - Interactive Investor would cost £79.83 per year, while Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. per year.
12 trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £59.88 / £107.76 per year, while Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. per year.
36 trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £59.88 / £203.52 per year, while Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. per year.
120 trades per year - Interactive Investor would cost £59.88 / £538.68 per year, while Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. per year.
3 fund trades per year - Interactive Investor 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.
Interactive Investor and Hargreaves Lansdown, two prominent UK online brokers, both offer a wide array of investment options to cater to diverse investor needs. Both platforms support trading in shares, ETFs, funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts, ensuring a comprehensive range of traditional investment opportunities. However, neither broker provides crypto trading, spread betting, or CFD trading options, reflecting their focus on more conventional market instruments.
While Interactive Investor and Hargreaves Lansdown share many similarities in their investment offerings, there are some differences. Hargreaves Lansdown stands out by offering advisor services, which can be a significant advantage for investors seeking personalized guidance. Both brokers have earned a commendable five-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com for their investment choices. However, in terms of rank, Interactive Investor places at #5, slightly trailing Hargreaves Lansdown's #4 position out of 18 brokers, highlighting their equally strong but distinct market positions.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | 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.
Both Interactive Investor and Hargreaves Lansdown provide robust trading tools for online investors, yet they cater to different levels of detail and functionality. Both platforms allow users to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends on their charts, as well as add index and stock overlays. They provide access through browser-based trading platforms and both offer real-time market data and the capability to set up stock price alerts, making them comparable in terms of basic accessibility and responsiveness to market changes.
However, Interactive Investor stands out for those who need a more advanced charting experience. It offers 18 drawing tools and 104 technical indicators, significantly more than Hargreaves Lansdown's 11 drawing tools and 15 indicators. Additionally, Interactive Investor supports adding notes to charts to enrich analysis, a feature not available with Hargreaves Lansdown. These enhancements make Interactive Investor particularly appealing for more technical traders seeking in-depth market analysis capabilities.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 15 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 18 | 11 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
When comparing online brokers Interactive Investor and Hargreaves Lansdown, it's clear both platforms cater well to those planning for retirement, offering a variety of account options. Each provides Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), allowing users to grow their investments tax-efficiently. Additionally, both Interactive Investor and Hargreaves Lansdown offer Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), giving investors greater control over their retirement funds with a wide selection of investment choices. Whether you're new to investing or planning your financial future, both brokers present reliable options to help you maximize your retirement savings.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Both Interactive Investor and Hargreaves Lansdown offer comprehensive apps for iPhone and Android users, making it easy for investors to manage their portfolios on-the-go. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, both brokers’ mobile apps earn a notable 4.5-star rating out of five, underscoring their functionality and user satisfaction. Despite the equal ratings, Hargreaves Lansdown edges out in rankings, securing the 4th position among 18 brokers, while Interactive Investor comes in at 12th. This suggests that while both apps are highly regarded, Hargreaves Lansdown might offer some additional features or usability that resonate more with users.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
Both Interactive Investor and Hargreaves Lansdown are strong contenders when it comes to educational resources for beginner investors. They offer educational client webinars, but Interactive Investor stands out by providing these webinars on-demand, giving users more flexibility. Both platforms cover essential topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement, making them comprehensive options for novices. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Interactive Investor and Hargreaves Lansdown are each rated 5 stars, reflecting their high-quality educational offerings. However, in terms of ranking, Interactive Investor leads the pack at #1 out of 18 brokers, whereas Hargreaves Lansdown is placed at #4. This distinction highlights Interactive Investor's superior resources and accessibility, making it a preferred choice for new investors seeking a thorough educational experience.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features between Interactive Investor and Hargreaves Lansdown, both online brokers provide robust offerings for investors. Each platform supplies research reports for funds and allows users to view portfolio allocations by asset class, ensuring informed investment decisions. Investors with a focus on varied asset types can benefit from both brokers, as they offer comprehensive research on shares, ETFs, and funds. However, neither broker extends their research services to CFDs. When it comes to bonds, both Interactive Investor and Hargreaves Lansdown include research, supporting users in developing well-rounded portfolios.
| Feature |
Interactive Investor
|
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Interactive Investor or Hargreaves Lansdown? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Interactive Investor to be a better trading platform overall.
The standout feature at Interactive Investor (ii) is its low flat-rate fees. Other investment platforms typically favour percentage fees for fund investing, although more brokers are now opting for flat fees. Our view is that Interactive Investor is a great platform for any investor, offering a wide range of investments for cheap prices on the whole.
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Hargreaves Lansdown
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Neither Interactive Investor nor Hargreaves Lansdown offer crypto trading services.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Interactive Investor | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
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| Review | Interactive Investor Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Interactive Investor | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | No | |
| Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Interactive Investor | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | £1 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £3.99 | £11.95 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3.99 | £8.95 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3.99 | £5.95 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £79.83 | £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.88 / £107.76 | £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.88 / £203.52 | £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.88 / £538.68 | £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £71.85 | £135 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £59.88 - £143.88 | Up to £1,125 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £143.88 | Up to £625 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £143.88 | Up to £1,250 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £143.88 | Up to £1,000 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £3.99 | £20 - £50 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £3.99 | £20 - £50 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £3.99 | £5.95 - £11.95 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £3.99 | £5.95 - £11.95 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £49 | £20 - £50 |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Investor | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Platforms & Tools | Interactive Investor | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 15 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 18 | 11 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Investor | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | No | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Investor | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | Interactive Investor | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
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| Review | Interactive Investor Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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