Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Hargreaves Lansdown vs XTB, 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, XTB 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 - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. per year, while XTB would cost £0 per year.
12 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. per year, while XTB would cost £0 per year.
36 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. per year, while XTB would cost £0 per year.
120 trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. per year, while XTB would cost £0 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Hargreaves Lansdown would cost £1 per year, while XTB 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.
Hargreaves Lansdown and XTB are two leading names in the UK online investing space, each offering unique advantages. Hargreaves Lansdown stands out with its comprehensive suite of investment options, including share trading, ETFs, funds, corporate and government bonds, and investment trusts. Although it does not offer crypto trading, spread betting, or CFDs, its investment choices secured a top-rated 5-star review and a #4 ranking out of 18 brokers from UK.StockBrokers.com. Additionally, Hargreaves Lansdown provides advisor services to support investor decision-making.
XTB, also a strong contender, shines with its share trading and ETF offerings, complemented by the availability of CFD trading for those interested in more dynamic market opportunities. However, it does lack options for funds, bonds, and investment trusts, and does not provide advisor services. Rated at 4.5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com and positioned at #13 for investment choices, XTB remains a popular choice for UK investors seeking a streamlined platform focused on a straightforward trading approach. Both platforms provide distinct pathways for investors, appealing to diverse trading strategies and preferences.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | No | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No |
| Spread Betting | No | Yes |
| 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.
For UK traders evaluating online broker options, both Hargreaves Lansdown and XTB provide comprehensive tools for charting and analysis. Hargreaves Lansdown stands out for its charting capabilities, allowing users to display corporate events along with index and stock overlays, though it offers fewer drawing tools and technical indicators compared to XTB. The platform supports browser-based trading, real-time market data, and creating alerts for stock price updates, but does not provide the ability to add notes to charts.
In contrast, XTB offers a richer set of charting features with 20 drawing tools and 39 technical indicators, enhancing the analytical depth for traders. It also provides the ability to annotate charts, a feature absent in Hargreaves Lansdown. However, XTB lacks the option for index and stock overlays. Like Hargreaves Lansdown, XTB offers browser-based trading, real-time market data, and stock price alerts, offering a solid alternative for traders who prioritize chart customization and technical insights.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 15 | 39 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 20 |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
Hargreaves Lansdown and XTB are two prominent online brokers offering different retirement account options catered to UK investors. Both provide ISA accounts, allowing individuals to save tax-efficiently. However, when it comes to SIPP accounts, Hargreaves Lansdown leads the way by offering this valuable retirement saving option, which is not available with XTB. For those prioritising a SIPP as part of their retirement strategy, Hargreaves Lansdown may be the more suitable broker, while XTB offers a worthwhile choice for those who only require an ISA account.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For those in the UK seeking efficient mobile trading experiences, both Hargreaves Lansdown and XTB deliver, offering apps for iPhone and Android. These brokers are both highly rated by UK.StockBrokers.com, each earning a commendable 4.5-star rating for their mobile apps. However, when considering overall rankings out of 18 brokers, XTB slightly edges ahead at
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For beginner investors seeking educational resources, Hargreaves Lansdown and XTB offer different levels of support. Hargreaves Lansdown provides live educational webinars, though they aren't available for on-demand viewing. Their educational resources cover diverse topics such as share trading, funds, and retirement, while XTB focuses solely on share trading education. UK.StockBrokers.com rates Hargreaves Lansdown's beginner education resources at a full 5 stars, ranking them 4th among 18 brokers, whereas XTB earns 4.5 stars and is ranked 9th. These differences make Hargreaves Lansdown a more rounded option for those new to investing in the UK.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Hargreaves Lansdown and XTB, UK investors will find distinct offerings from each broker. Hargreaves Lansdown provides comprehensive research reports for funds, shares, ETFs, and bonds, and offers insights into portfolio allocation by asset class, making it an appealing choice for diverse investment strategies. On the other hand, while XTB also allows investors to see portfolio allocation and offers research on shares, ETFs, and CFDs, it does not provide research reports for funds or bonds, making it well-suited for those focused on trading CFDs. Ultimately, the choice between them might depend on whether you prioritise diversified research features or specialised CFD research.
| Feature |
Hargreaves Lansdown
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | No | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Hargreaves Lansdown or XTB? 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.
| Feature |
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XTB
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When comparing online brokers Hargreaves Lansdown and XTB, both platforms do not offer crypto trading options.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Hargreaves Lansdown | XTB | |
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| Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | XTB Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Hargreaves Lansdown | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | No | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | No | Yes | |
| Funds | Yes | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | Yes | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | Yes | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No | |
| Spread Betting | No | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | Yes | No |
| Trading Fees | Hargreaves Lansdown | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £11.95 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £8.95 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £5.95 | £0 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £59.75 / £104.75 if in ISA. | £0 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £143.40 / £188.40 if in ISA. | £0 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £430.20 / £475.20 if in ISA. | £0 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £1,074 / £1,119 if in ISA. | £0 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £135 | N/A | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | Up to £1,125 | 0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | Up to £625 | 0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | Up to £1,250 | 0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | Up to £1,000 | 0 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | £20 - £50 | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £20 - £50 | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £5.95 - £11.95 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £5.95 - £11.95 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £20 - £50 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Hargreaves Lansdown | XTB | |
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| Platforms & Tools | Hargreaves Lansdown | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 15 | 39 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 11 | 20 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | Hargreaves Lansdown | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | No | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | Yes | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Hargreaves Lansdown | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Overall Summary | Hargreaves Lansdown | XTB | |
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| Review | Hargreaves Lansdown Review | XTB Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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