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.
Your capital is at risk.
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.
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.
Hargreaves Lansdown and Saxo both offer share trading, ETFs and funds, plus access to corporate bonds, UK government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts. Saxo also provides crypto and CFD trading, which Hargreaves Lansdown does not. Only Hargreaves Lansdown offers advisor services, while Saxo does not. Spread betting is not specified for either broker in this comparison.
For investment choice, UK.StockBrokers.com rates both at 5 stars; among 21 brokers, Hargreaves Lansdown ranks #5 and Saxo ranks #2. Consider Hargreaves Lansdown if you want a wide range of traditional investments with access to advice, or choose Saxo if you need CFDs and crypto alongside shares, ETFs, bonds and funds.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes |
| Advisor Services | Yes | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
For charting, Hargreaves Lansdown offers 11 drawing tools and 109 technical indicators, while Saxo provides 20 drawing tools and 64 indicators. Neither broker shows corporate events (earnings, splits, dividends) on charts, and neither allows notes or index overlays. Both do support stock overlays for comparing shares on the same chart.
Both Hargreaves Lansdown and Saxo have browser-based trading platforms and let you set price alerts. A key difference for UK traders is market data: Hargreaves Lansdown offers real-time prices, whereas Saxo does not.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 109 | 64 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 20 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When comparing online brokers Hargreaves Lansdown and Saxo for UK investors seeking retirement account options, both platforms offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). This means you can choose either broker if you want to invest tax-efficiently through an ISA or take control of your retirement savings with a SIPP. While both options provide similar account types, it's crucial to weigh aspects such as fees, customer support, and platform usability to determine which broker aligns best with your investment goals and preferences.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
Comparing Hargreaves Lansdown vs Saxo for mobile trading in the UK, both brokers offer apps for iPhone and Android, but Saxo stands out on ratings. UK.StockBrokers.com rates Hargreaves Lansdown’s mobile app 4 out of 5 stars and ranks it 11th out of 21 brokers, while Saxo’s app scores 5 out of 5 stars and ranks 1st out of 21. If top-rated mobile trading matters most, Saxo is the frontrunner, with Hargreaves Lansdown still a dependable choice for iOS and Android users.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors in the UK, both Hargreaves Lansdown and Saxo provide strong educational resources, including live client webinars that are archived for on-demand viewing. Each covers key topics such as share trading, funds and retirement, helping newcomers build confidence step by step. UK.StockBrokers.com rates both at 5 out of 5 for beginner education, though Saxo ranks higher overall (#2 of 21) compared with Hargreaves Lansdown (#5 of 21), so Saxo nudges ahead on league-table standing while Hargreaves Lansdown offers a similarly broad learning toolkit.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 of online brokers Hargreaves Lansdown and Saxo, UK investors will find both platforms offer comprehensive research tools. Both brokers provide research reports for funds, enabling users to make informed decisions about their investments. Additionally, both Hargreaves Lansdown and Saxo allow investors to view their portfolio allocation by asset class, helping them maintain a balanced investment strategy. In terms of specific research categories, both platforms offer extensive research options for shares, ETFs, funds, and bonds, ensuring investors have access to the latest insights and data across various financial products. This level of research accessibility makes both brokers appealing to investors seeking to deepen their market understanding and optimize their portfolios.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | 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.
Hargreaves Lansdown is a leading U.K. investment platform best known for its extensive range of investments, wide selection of account types, and strong support for long-term investors.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
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Saxo
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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Hargreaves Lansdown does not offer crypto trading, whereas Saxo does, making Saxo the choice for investors seeking cryptocurrency 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 | |
| Mutual 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 | |||
| Advisor Services | Yes | No |
| Trading Fees | Hargreaves Lansdown | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £100 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £11.95 | $1 / £3 / €3 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £8.95 | $1 / £3 / €3 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £5.95 | $1 / £3 / €3 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £0 - £250,000 | Up to £1,125 | 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1% | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | £1125 - £1750 | 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1% | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | £1750 - £3000 | 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1% | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | £3,000 - £4,000 | 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1% | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £20 - £50 | €20 minimum | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £20 - £50 | €20 minimum | |
| ETFs - Fee | £11.95 | From $1 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £11.95 | 0.03/0.06/0.08% | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £20 - £50 | £50 |
| Broker Screenshots | Hargreaves Lansdown | Saxo | |
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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 | 109 | 64 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 20 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | Hargreaves Lansdown | Saxo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| 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 | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Overall Summary | Hargreaves Lansdown | Saxo | |
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| Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | Saxo Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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