Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 vs Hargreaves Lansdown, 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, Trading 212 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 - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. per year.
12 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. per year.
36 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. per year.
120 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. per year.
3 fund trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £1 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 investment choices between Trading 212 and Hargreaves Lansdown, UK investors will find a range of options that cater to different needs. Trading 212 offers share trading, investment trusts, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and contracts for difference (CFDs) trading. In contrast, Hargreaves Lansdown provides a wider selection that includes share trading, ETFs, funds trading, corporate and government bonds (gilts), investment trusts, and advisor services, ensuring comprehensive investment coverage.
According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Trading 212 receives a commendable rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 for its investment choices yet ranks 16th out of 21 brokers surveyed. Hargreaves Lansdown, on the other hand, achieves a perfect 5-star rating and is ranked 4th, highlighting its broad array of investment options and financial services tailored to meet diverse investor needs in the UK. Overall, both platforms have strengths, but Hargreaves Lansdown offers a more extensive selection for those seeking a comprehensive investing experience.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | ||
| Crypto Trading | ||
| Advisor Services | Yes | |
| Investment Choices |
|
|
Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When comparing Trading 212 and Hargreaves Lansdown, both platforms provide a browser-based trading platform and offer real-time market data, ensuring that traders in the UK can stay informed with the latest updates. Trading 212 excels in the range of analytical features it offers, providing 106 technical indicators and 27 drawing tools for charting. Additionally, it supports adding notes to charts and setting up alerts for stock price updates. However, it does not support displaying corporate events or overlaying indices and stocks on charts.
On the other hand, Hargreaves Lansdown allows users to display corporate events such as earnings and dividends, as well as add index and stock overlays directly on charts. While it offers fewer charting tools, with 11 drawing tools and 15 technical indicators, the platform supports these advanced features for those interested in corporate data visualization. Whether prioritizing comprehensive charting capabilities or supplemental corporate data views, traders can choose the platform that best fits their trading preferences.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 15 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 27 | 11 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
For UK-based investors exploring retirement account options with online brokers, both Trading 212 and Hargreaves Lansdown offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), which can be an efficient way to grow investments tax-free. However, when it comes to Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), while Hargreaves Lansdown does provide this retirement account option, Trading 212 does not currently offer SIPPs. This differentiation is crucial for those prioritizing flexible retirement investment strategies. For a comprehensive retirement plan, the availability of SIPPs at Hargreaves Lansdown may give it an edge for some investors compared to Trading 212.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
In the UK, both Trading 212 and Hargreaves Lansdown provide mobile apps for iPhone and Android users, making them conveniently accessible for investors on the go. Trading 212 shines brightly with a 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, securing the third spot out of 21 brokers for its mobile app, reflecting its high user satisfaction and functionality. Meanwhile, Hargreaves Lansdown offers a competitive experience with a respectable 4.5-star rating, ranking tenth among its peers. Both options are solid choices for mobile investing, with Trading 212 slightly edging out in terms of user acclaim and rank.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investor educational resources, Trading 212 and Hargreaves Lansdown have some differences that could influence your decision. Hargreaves Lansdown provides educational client webinars, offering valuable opportunities for live learning, though neither platform offers these webinars archived for on-demand viewing. Both platforms offer education on share trading and funds. However, when it comes to retirement education, Hargreaves Lansdown stands out as the only provider. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, for beginner education, Trading 212 receives a 4-star rating and ranks 13th out of 21 brokers, whereas Hargreaves Lansdown boasts a higher 5-star rating and ranks 4th, making it a strong contender for those seeking comprehensive educational support in the UK.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | ||
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
For UK investors comparing online brokers, Trading 212 and Hargreaves Lansdown both provide a variety of market research features but have some differences. Both platforms offer users the ability to examine their portfolio allocation by asset class, as well as access research on shares and ETFs. Hargreaves Lansdown goes a step further by providing research reports for funds and bonds, which Trading 212 does not explicitly offer. While Trading 212 gives access to CFDs research, this feature isn't mentioned for Hargreaves Lansdown. These distinctions may influence your decision based on the specific investment insights you seek.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Trading 212 or Hargreaves Lansdown? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Trading 212 to be a better trading platform overall.
Trading 212 offers commission-free share dealing and is a great option for those looking to simply execute share or ETF trades. Novice investors or those looking for more diversification through mutual funds may find better options elsewhere.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Charges & Fees |
|
|
| Investment Choices |
|
|
| Mobile App |
|
|
| Website |
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
While Trading 212 provides users with the option for crypto trading, Hargreaves Lansdown does not offer this service.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Trading 212 | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Trading 212 | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | ||
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | ||
| Funds | Yes | ||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | ||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | ||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | |||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | Yes |
| Trading Fees | Trading 212 | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £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) | £0 | £135 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 | Up to £1,125 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 | Up to £625 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 | Up to £1,250 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 | Up to £1,000 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £20 - £50 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £20 - £50 | |
| ETFs - Fee | 0 | £5.95 - £11.95 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | 0 | £5.95 - £11.95 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | £20 - £50 |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Platforms & Tools | Trading 212 | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 15 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 27 | 11 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | ||
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
| Research | Trading 212 | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | ||
| Research - Funds | Yes | ||
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | ||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) |
| Overall Summary | Trading 212 | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
Trading 212 Review
Interactive Brokers Review
Hargreaves Lansdown Review
XTB Review
IG Group Review
eToro Review
Saxo Review
CMC Invest Review
Freetrade Review
Halifax Review
Vanguard Review