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.
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.
For UK investors exploring diverse investment choices, Hargreaves Lansdown and Saxo both present strong options. Both platforms provide share trading, ETFs, funds, corporate and government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts, making them suitable for a wide range of trading strategies. While neither platform supports crypto trading or spread betting, Saxo stands out by offering CFD trading, which Hargreaves Lansdown does not. Additionally, Hargreaves Lansdown caters to those seeking financial guidance through its advisor services, a feature not available with Saxo.
Both Hargreaves Lansdown and Saxo boast a top-tier, 5-star rating for investment choices from UK.StockBrokers.com. However, Saxo takes the lead in the rankings, securing the number one spot out of 21 brokers, whereas Hargreaves Lansdown follows closely behind, ranking fourth. These accolades underscore each platform's commitment to providing comprehensive investment options to meet diverse investor needs.
| 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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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When comparing the trading tools of Hargreaves Lansdown to those of Saxo, UK traders will notice several key differences. Hargreaves Lansdown gives users the ability to display corporate events like earnings and dividends directly on charts, which Saxo does not. However, Saxo outshines Hargreaves Lansdown with a more extensive selection of charting tools, providing 20 drawing tools and 64 technical indicators, compared to Hargreaves Lansdown's 11 drawing tools and 15 indicators. Additionally, Saxo users can add notes to charts, a feature not available with Hargreaves Lansdown.
Both online brokers support adding index and stock overlays to charts and offer browser-based trading platforms equipped with real-time market data. Furthermore, they allow users to set up alerts for stock price updates. Whether prioritizing chart annotations or the inclusion of corporate events, UK investors can find unique benefits with both Hargreaves Lansdown and Saxo to enhance their trading experience.
| 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 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.
When comparing the mobile app offerings of online brokers Hargreaves Lansdown and Saxo, both provide apps for iPhone and Android users, ensuring accessibility across major devices. However, Saxo takes the lead with a perfect 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, clinching the top spot among 21 brokers for its mobile app. In contrast, Hargreaves Lansdown holds a respectable 4.5-star rating and ranks 10th. UK investors seeking the best mobile trading experience may be inclined towards Saxo due to its superior app ranking and rating.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When it comes to beginner investor educational resources, both Hargreaves Lansdown and Saxo have their strengths for UK readers. Hargreaves Lansdown offers education on share trading, funds, and retirement, complemented by live webinars, though these are not available on demand. On the other hand, Saxo provides webinars that can be accessed anytime, enhancing convenience, but lacks specific content on share trading, funds, and retirement. Both brokers receive a perfect 5-star rating for beginner education from UK.StockBrokers.com, with Saxo ranking slightly higher at third place compared to Hargreaves Lansdown's fourth out of 21 brokers evaluated.
| 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.
For UK investors seeking in-depth market research through online brokers, both Hargreaves Lansdown and Saxo provide a wide array of features. Each platform offers research reports for funds, allowing users to make informed investment choices. They both provide tools to view portfolio allocation by asset class, maintaining a clear overview of your investments. Hargreaves Lansdown and Saxo both cater to shares, ETFs, funds, and bonds research, ensuring a broad spectrum of market insights. However, only Saxo extends its research to CFDs, making it a more versatile choice for those interested in exploring contract for difference investments. With these features, both platforms support investors in making informed decisions tailored to their financial goals.
| 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 | |||
| 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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