Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Hargreaves Lansdown vs Saxo, 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 Saxo 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 Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £51 per year.
12 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. per year, while Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £72 per year.
36 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. per year, while Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £144 per year.
120 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. per year, while Saxo would cost 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £396 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1 per year, while Saxo 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 it comes to choosing an online broker, both Hargreaves Lansdown and Saxo offer a variety of investment options to suit different needs. Hargreaves Lansdown and Saxo both enable investors to engage in share and ETF trading, as well as trading in funds, corporate bonds, government bonds, and investment trusts. While neither broker provides an avenue for trading cryptocurrencies or participating in spread betting, only Saxo offers CFD trading, which could be a decisive factor for some traders. Additionally, Hargreaves Lansdown stands out by offering advisor services, which can be invaluable for investors seeking professional guidance.
Both platforms are highly regarded for their investment choices, each receiving a solid 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com. However, they differ in their UK.StockBrokers.com rankings, with Hargreaves Lansdown securing the #4 spot out of 18 brokers, while Saxo takes the lead at #1. This ranking reflects Saxo's broader range of offered investment instruments, catering to a more diverse investor base. Ultimately, the choice between these two brokers will depend on individual investment strategies and whether additional services like advisor support or CFD trading are prioritized.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | Yes |
| 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 | 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 online brokers Hargreaves Lansdown and Saxo, several features stand out for each. Hargreaves Lansdown allows users to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on its charts, giving it an advantage in this aspect. Saxo, however, offers a broader range of drawing tools and technical indicators, with 20 drawing tools and 64 technical indicators compared to Hargreaves Lansdown's 11 drawing tools and 15 indicators. This makes Saxo a compelling option for those who rely heavily on extensive chart analysis.
Both platforms provide key features such as the ability to add index and stock overlays to charts and offer browser-based trading platforms, real-time market data, and stock price alerts. However, Saxo allows for added customization with the ability to annotate charts, a feature not available with Hargreaves Lansdown. Whether you prioritize comprehensive technical analysis tools or specific features like corporate events on charts will guide your choice between the two.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 15 | 64 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 20 |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
When comparing online brokers Hargreaves Lansdown and Saxo for retirement account options, both platforms offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). These accounts are designed to help individuals save for the future in a tax-efficient way. Whether you’re considering opening an ISA or a SIPP, Hargreaves Lansdown and Saxo both provide versatile solutions, making them reliable choices for managing your retirement savings online. Their offerings allow investors to choose based on personal financial goals and preferences, ensuring you can find the right fit for your retirement planning needs.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile apps of online brokers Hargreaves Lansdown and Saxo, both platforms are accessible on iPhone and Android devices. However, in terms of user ratings, UK.StockBrokers.com gives Saxo a standout 5-star rating, while Hargreaves Lansdown follows closely with a solid 4.5-star rating. Among 18 brokers evaluated, Saxo takes the top position for mobile apps, ranking #1, whereas Hargreaves Lansdown holds a respectable #4 spot. This makes Saxo slightly more acclaimed for its mobile offering, although both brokers ensure robust app accessibility for their users.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing Hargreaves Lansdown and Saxo for beginner investor education, both platforms offer educational client webinars; however, only Saxo provides archived webinars for on-demand viewing. Hargreaves Lansdown excels in covering a wider range of educational topics, including share trading, fund investing, and retirement planning, which Saxo does not offer. Despite these differences, both brokers receive a top rating of five stars from UK.StockBrokers.com for their beginner education resources. In terms of ranking out of 18 brokers, Hargreaves Lansdown is placed at #4, while Saxo holds a slightly higher rank at #2, indicating a slight preference for Saxo's overall educational offering.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing the market research features of online brokers Hargreaves Lansdown and Saxo, both platforms offer extensive research reports for funds, providing valuable insights for investors. Users of either service can also analyze their portfolio allocation by asset class. In terms of broader research, both brokers excel by offering research on shares, ETFs, and bonds. However, Saxo has the edge when it comes to research on CFDs, an area where Hargreaves Lansdown falls short. Overall, both platforms provide rich resources for informed investing, with Saxo offering slightly more in terms of comprehensive asset coverage.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | Yes |
| 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, Hargreaves Lansdown or Saxo? 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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Saxo
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While both online brokers Hargreaves Lansdown and Saxo offer a range of investment services, neither provides options for crypto trading.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Hargreaves Lansdown | Saxo | |
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| Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | Saxo Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Hargreaves Lansdown | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Yes | No |
| Trading Fees | Hargreaves Lansdown | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £11.95 | From £3 or 0.08% | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £8.95 | From £3 or 0.08% | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £5.95 | From £3 or 0.08% | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £51 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £72 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £144 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. | 0.12% + 0.08% (or £3) per trade: a minimum of £396 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £135 | 0.4% + 0% commission: £120 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | Up to £1,125 | Up to £800 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | Up to £625 | £500 to £1,000 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | Up to £1,250 | Up to £1,998 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | Up to £1,000 | £1,000 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £20 - £50 | €20 minimum | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £20 - £50 | €20 minimum | |
| ETFs - Fee | £5.95 - £11.95 | From $1 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £5.95 - £11.95 | From $1 / £3 / €10 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £20 - £50 | £50 |
| Broker Screenshots | Hargreaves Lansdown | Saxo | |
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| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Hargreaves Lansdown | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 15 | 64 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 20 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Hargreaves Lansdown | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Hargreaves Lansdown | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Hargreaves Lansdown | Saxo | |
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| Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | Saxo Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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