The best alternatives to Halifax are
- Fidelity International - UK-based stockbroker
- Charles Stanley Direct - UK-based stockbroker
- Interactive Investor - UK stockbroker
- Hargreaves Lansdown - UK-based stockbroker
Let's see in a bit more detail how the Halifax alternatives compare to Halifax and each other:
| Halifax | Fidelity International | Charles Stanley Direct | Interactive Investor | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 3.9 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.4 |
| Fees score | 2.2 stars | 4.0 stars | 3.8 stars | 3.3 stars | 2.7 stars |
| Account opening score | 4.0 stars | 3.0 stars | 4.7 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.4 stars |
| Deposit and withdrawal score | 3.8 stars | 3.8 stars | 3.8 stars | 3.8 stars | 3.8 stars |
| Web platform score | 3.5 stars | 3.7 stars | 3.5 stars | 3.8 stars | 3.7 stars |
| Markets and products score | 3.0 stars | 1.4 stars | 1.6 stars | 3.0 stars | 3.0 stars |
| Visit broker | Visit broker | Visit broker |
Why are these brokers considered good alternatives to Halifax? There are many areas based on which Halifax can be compared with others. When we say a given online broker is a good alternative to Halifax we mean these brokers are comparable in the following areas:
- The products they offer, meaning you can buy mostly the same things, i.e. stocks, CFDs, options, etc.
- The type of clients they target, i.e. beginners, experienced investors, or day traders.
Halifax alternatives recommendations
Brokers are different in a number of ways, which means each of them may be suitable for different people. Here's how they compare overall:
- Halifax is recommended for beginners and long-term investors
- Fidelity International is recommended for beginners and long-term investors focusing on the uk market
- Charles Stanley Direct is recommended for beginners and buy-and-hold investors focusing on the uk market
- Interactive Investor is recommended for beginners and investors focusing on the uk market
- Hargreaves Lansdown is recommended for beginners and buy-and-hold investors looking for great customer service and easy-to-use trading platforms
Important factors of finding Halifax alternatives
So far BrokerChooser has reviewed 82 online brokers in detail, which gives this comparison a solid starting point.
Not only that, but all of these brokers are reviewed using the exact same broker review methodology, which makes everything easily comparable. For each broker, we
- open a live account
- check over 100 criteria, with weighting based on readers' preferences
- refresh data regularly
Whether Halifax or one of its alternatives is the best choice for you is on the following five broker characteristics that most interest people:
Fees. There are different types of fees that your online brokerage may charge, and both the number and the size of these fees may vary significantly from broker to broker. Both of these aspects can impact your returns and your overall experience. Halifax is considered to be a rather expensive broker. This gives you a good chance to cut your costs by choosing a cheaper Halifax alternative.
Account opening. To open an account some brokers require at least €50,000 to be invested, while others don't set a minimum first-time deposit. The time it takes to open your account can be very different as well. At Halifax this is not a problem as you can have it ready on the same day you registered.
Deposit/withdrawal. The number of ways that you can deposit or withdraw money to or from your account matters a lot. For example, while you can make a deposit with a credit card at Halifax, this might not be the case at its alternatives.
Web trading platform. While online brokers are usually available on various platforms like mobile apps, tablet apps or desktop software, most people use them through their web platform in a browser. User-friendly trading platforms that offer many different resources can significantly increase your trading comfort.
Markets and products. A lot of people have specific products they would like to invest in. Knowing whether stocks, forex, mutual funds, and other products are available at the given Halifax alternative is a must.
Now let's dive into the details of how Halifax and its alternatives perform in the most important areas!
Halifax alternatives
Halifax
Halifax Share Dealing ("Halifax") is a UK-based stockbroker regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It was founded in 1996 as a subsidiary of Halifax Bank and later became a division of Bank of Scotland. During the financial crisis of 2009, the Bank of Scotland was acquired by Lloyds Banking Group, thus Halifax now ultimately is a member of this group, while still operating as a division of Bank of Scotland. Lloyds is publicly traded and listed on the London Stock Exchange, which helps keep it and its affiliates accountable.
Halifax only accepts UK residents as clients, but it does offer access to some international stock exchanges. We consider it a reputable broker because of its banking background, the parent company's transparent financial reporting and stock exchange listing, and its long track record.
Recommended for beginners and long-term investors
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low non-trading fees | • High stock trading fees |
| • Good options for deposits and withdrawals | • Very poor customer service |
| • Quick and easy account opening | • No mobile or desktop platforms |
Fees
Halifax has high trading fees for stocks/ETFs and average mutual fund fees. On the other hand, it has low non-trading fees, which is a positive.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low non-trading fees | • High trading fees |
| • No withdrawal fee | • High stock and ETF fees |
| • No inactivity fee |
| Halifax | Fidelity International | Charles Stanley Direct | Interactive Investor | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $16.3 | - | - | $10.4 | $15.5 |
| UK stock | $16.3 | $13.0 | $15.0 | $10.4 | $15.5 |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k
Account opening
Opening an account at Halifax Share Dealing is very fast and fully online. Nonetheless, we found the process less intuitive and less easy to maneuver compared to other brokers.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | • Not user-friendly |
| • Fully digital | • Only for UK residents |
| • No minimum deposit |
| Halifax | Fidelity International | Charles Stanley Direct | Interactive Investor | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $1,240 | $26 | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1 day | 1-3 days | 1 day | 1 day |
Learn more about Halifax minimum deposit here.
Deposit and withdrawal
Halifax Share Dealing offers free cash withdrawal through bank transfer and free debit card deposits up to £100,000. However, Halifax only allows GBP funds, which means that buying international products incurs a currency exchange fee.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Only one account base currency |
| • Free withdrawal | • Slow withdrawal - over 3 days |
| • No deposit fee | • Electronic wallets not available |
| Halifax | Fidelity International | Charles Stanley Direct | Interactive Investor | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | No | No | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No | No | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
Halifax offers a basic web trading platform that is easy to navigate. However, it does not offer much functionality, with the user directed to the public website to access for example research tools and safety information.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Clear fee report | • No research capabilities in the portal |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| Halifax | Fidelity International | Charles Stanley Direct | Interactive Investor | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.5 stars | 3.7 stars | 3.5 stars | 3.8 stars | 3.7 stars |
| Mobile platform score | - | 4.2 stars | 4.0 stars | 2.6 stars | 3.9 stars |
| Desktop platform score | - | - | - | - | - |
Learn more about Halifax's web trading platform in the detailed Halifax review.
Markets and products
Halifax offers stocks and ETFs from multiple international exchanges, as well as a good selection of funds. However, you cannot trade with other products, such as forex, CFDs or cryptos, and there are also no options or futures.
| Halifax | Fidelity International | Charles Stanley Direct | Interactive Investor | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | No | No | No | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bond | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | No | No | No | No |
| Futures | No | No | No | No | No |
| CFD | No | No | No | No | No |
| Crypto | No | No | No | No | No |
Verdict
Halifax Share Dealing is a reputable UK broker with low non-trading fees and access to international markets. There are free deposits and withdrawals from your account, and a quick and easy account opening process with the option to set up a UK tax-exempt ISA. This broker could be the right option for long-term investors that only initiate trades occasionally.
However, we believe that Halifax has not caught up with the competition. It has high stock trading fees and the customer support is very poor, it lasts very long for solving a problem. There are no mobile or desktop platforms available.
As your account will be ready within a few days and no inactivity fee is charged, feel free to try Halifax.
| Halifax | |
|---|---|
| Summary | UK stockbroker, part of Halifax (Bank of Scotland), owned by Lloyds Banking Group |
| Fees score | 2.2 stars |
| Recommended for | Beginners and long-term investors |
Halifax alternatives
Fidelity International
Fidelity International is a UK-based stockbroker. It was originally established in 1969 as the international investment subsidiary of US-based Fidelity Investments before being spun off as an independent business in 1980. It is a privately-held company and is regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Fidelity International is considered safe because it has a long track record and is regulated by a top-tier financial authority.
Recommended for beginners and long-term investors focusing on the uk market
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low fund fees and non-trading fees | • Limited product selection |
| • User-friendly trading platform | • High minimum deposit |
| • Great research tools | • Electronic wallets not available |
Fees
Fidelity International has low fund fees, but the stock and ETF fees are average. It has low non-trading fees as well: no inactivity or withdrawal fees are charged.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • No withdrawal fee | • Average stock and ETF fees |
| • No inactivity fee |
| Fidelity International | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | - | $32.8 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $26.7 | $33.2 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | - | - |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
Fidelity International's account opening process is quick and easy if you can be verified electronically. However, if this fails, you have to send your photocopied documents by post.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | • Minimum deposit is higher than $500 |
| • User-friendly | • Only for UK residents |
| • Fully online for most clients | • Offline account opening for clients who cannot be verified electronically |
| Fidelity International | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1,240 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1 day |
If you are interested more in Fidelity International minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
Depositing and withdrawing money is easy and free with a debit card and fast bank transfers at Fidelity International. However, electronic wallets are not available.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Electronic wallets not available |
| • Free withdrawal | |
| • No deposit fee |
| Fidelity International | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
Fidelity International has a good, user-friendly web platform that is easy to navigate. However, it is not customizable and only limited order types are available.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Clear fee report | • Limited order types |
| • Two-step (safer) login | • No price alerts |
| Fidelity International | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.7 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.2 stars | - |
| Desktop platform score | - | - |
Learn more about Fidelity International's web trading platform in the detailed Fidelity International review.
Markets and products
Fidelity International has a limited product portfolio. Only stocks and ETFs traded on the London Stock Exchange are available, but there is a good selection of funds. You cannot trade with forex, CFDs or cryptos, and there are also no options or futures.
| Fidelity International | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes |
| Bond | No | No |
| Options | No | No |
| Futures | No | No |
| CFD | No | No |
| Crypto | No | No |
Verdict
Fidelity International is a UK financial brokerage regulated by the FCA, a top-tier financial authority.
It is a great broker for beginners, as its platform is user-friendly and easy to navigate, and there are many useful research tools to guide you along the way. It is best suited for long-term, buy-and-hold investors with substantial assets or users with a regular savings plan, and has low trading and non-trading fees.
Its main drawback is its limited product portfolio, which includes only UK stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds. Also, a relatively high minimum deposit is required and you can't use electronic wallets for transferring.
If you are looking to start long-term investing and are OK with a limited selection of products, Fidelity International is a good choice for opening an account.
| Fidelity International | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Fidelity International is UK stockbroker regulated by the FCA. Originally established in 1969 as a subsidiary of US-based Fidelity Investments, it was being spun off as an independent business in 1980. It is privately-held. |
| Fees score | 4.0 stars |
| Recommended for | Beginners and long-term investors focusing on the UK market |
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Halifax alternatives
Charles Stanley Direct
Charles Stanley Direct is a UK-based stockbroker founded in 1985. It is regulated by the top-tier UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and its shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange.
Charles Stanley Direct is considered safe because it has a long track record, is listed on a stock exchange, and is regulated by a top-tier regulator.
Recommended for beginners and buy-and-hold investors focusing on the uk market
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low fund fees | • Limited product portfolio |
| • Great customer service | • Limited education materials |
| • Easy deposit and withdrawal | • Basic research tools |
Fees
Charles Stanley Direct has low fund fees and low non-trading fees, but its stock and ETF fees are not the most competitive on the market.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low non-trading fees | • Average stock and ETF fees |
| • Low fund fees |
| Charles Stanley Direct | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | - | $32.8 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $31.2 | $33.2 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | - | - |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
If you have a UK passport, the account opening procedure is quick and easy. If not, you have to mail in photocopied documents, making the process less convenient.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fully digital | • Available only to UK residents |
| • Low minimum deposit | |
| • User-friendly |
| Charles Stanley Direct | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $26 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1-3 days | 1 day |
If you are interested more in Charles Stanley Direct minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
Depositing and withdrawing money is easy and free with bank transfer at Charles Stanley Direct. Unfortunately, accounts are only available in British pounds.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Only one account base currency |
| • Free withdrawal | |
| • No deposit fee |
| Charles Stanley Direct | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
The web trading platform is user-friendly and delivers some of the usual basic functions. However, it lacks a safer two-step login, customizability, and advanced order types.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No two-step (safer) login |
| • Clear fee report | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Price alerts | • Limited order types |
| Charles Stanley Direct | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.5 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.0 stars | - |
| Desktop platform score | - | - |
Learn more about Charles Stanley Direct's web trading platform in the detailed Charles Stanley Direct review.
Markets and products
Charles Stanley Direct offers only UK stocks, ETFs, mutual funds and bonds. International stocks or bonds can be traded offline, but options, futures or CFDs are missing completely.
| Charles Stanley Direct | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes |
| Bond | Yes | No |
| Options | No | No |
| Futures | No | No |
| CFD | No | No |
| Crypto | No | No |
Verdict
Charles Stanley Direct is a UK stockbroker regulated by the FCA and listed on the London Stock Exchange.
On the positive side, it has low fund fees. Customer service is great, offering quick and useful answers. Deposit and withdrawal are easy and free.
The service has some drawbacks though. You can only trade UK stocks, ETFs and mutual funds online. Educational and research tools are limited.
As the minimum deposit is low and no inactivity fee is charged, feel free to try Charles Stanley Direct.
| Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Charles Stanley Direct is a UK broker, regulated by the top-tier FCA. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100, a stock index of the biggest listed companies in the UK. |
| Fees score | 3.8 stars |
| Recommended for | Beginners and buy-and-hold investors focusing on the UK market |
Halifax alternatives
Interactive Investor
Interactive Investor (ii) is the second biggest UK stockbroker, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It was founded in 1995 and incorporated in its current form in 2003.
UK investors can open ISA and SIPP accounts.
Interactive Investor is considered safe because it has a long track record and is overseen by a top-tier regulator.
Recommended for beginners and investors focusing on the uk market
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly web trading platform | • Limited product portfolio |
| • Fast and easy deposit and withdrawal | • Basic charting and analytic tools |
| • Great customer service | • Monthly account fee |
Fees
Interactive Investor has average trading fees, including low fund fees; while regular investments are free. On the other hand, there is a monthly account fee.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low fund fees | • Monthly account fee |
| • Regular investments are free |
| Interactive Investor | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $21.1 | $32.8 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $21.4 | $33.2 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | - | - |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
Opening an account with Interactive Investor is fast, fully digital, and involves no minimum deposit, but only UK addresses are accepted.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | • Only UK residents accepted |
| • Fully digital | |
| • No minimum deposit |
| Interactive Investor | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1 day |
If you are interested more in Interactive Investor minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
Deposit and withdrawal are easy, quick and mostly free. On the negative side, electronic wallets and credit/debit cards are not accpeted for withdrawal.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • No credit/Debit card withdrawal |
| • No deposit fee | |
| • Free withdrawal in GBP or EUR |
| Interactive Investor | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
Interactive Investor's web trading platform is easy to use, but there is no two-step login option, and the platform cannot be customized.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No two-step (safer) login |
| • Clear fee report | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Good search function |
| Interactive Investor | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.8 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 2.6 stars | - |
| Desktop platform score | - | - |
Learn more about Interactive Investor's web trading platform in the detailed Interactive Investor review.
Markets and products
Interactive Investor offers stocks, ETFs, funds, and bonds, but funds and bonds cover only the UK market.
| Interactive Investor | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes |
| Bond | Yes | No |
| Options | No | No |
| Futures | No | No |
| CFD | No | No |
| Crypto | No | No |
Verdict
Interactive Investor is one of the biggest UK brokers, and is regulated by the top-tier FCA.
It has a user-friendly and well-designed web trading platform. UK investors can open ISA and SIPP accounts. Deposit and withdrawal are easy and fast. Its customer service is great, giving you quick and useful answers.
Interactive Investor has some drawbacks though. Its product offer covers only traditional products, like UK funds and a rather average selection of stocks. Technical research tools are limited, and there is a monthly account fee.
As there is no minimum deposit and you can use great trading platforms, feel free to try Interactive Investor.
| Interactive Investor | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Interactive Investor is a UK-based direct-to-investor investment service. It is regulated by the top-tier FCA. |
| Fees score | 3.3 stars |
| Recommended for | Beginners and investors focusing on the UK market |
Halifax alternatives
Hargreaves Lansdown
Hargreaves Lansdown is one of the biggest UK-based stockbrokers. It was founded in 1981 and is regulated by the top-tier Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). In addition, it is a listed company and a constituent of the FTSE 100, a stock index of the biggest listed companies in the UK.
Hargreaves Lansdown is considered safe because it has a long track record, is regulated by a top-tier authority, and is listed on a stock exchange.
Recommended for beginners and buy-and-hold investors looking for great customer service and easy-to-use trading platforms
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Easy-to-use trading platforms | • High fees for stocks and ETFs |
| • High-quality educational tools | • Offline account opening for clients outside the UK |
| • Great customer service | • Only GBP base currency |
Fees
Hargreaves Lansdown has low fund and bond trading fees and there is no inactivity fee. However, the stock and ETF fees are high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low non-trading fees | • High stock and ETF fees |
| • No withdrawal fee | • Currency conversion fee |
| • Low fees for funds and bonds |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $31.4 | $32.8 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $31.7 | $33.2 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | - | - |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k for stocks and $20k for FX
Account opening
Hargreaves Lansdown's account opening process is quick and easy as long as you're in the UK and they manage to electronically verify you. If verification fails or you live outside the UK, you have to send the photocopied documents by post.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | • Offline account opening for non-UK clients |
| • No minimum deposit | |
| • Fully digital for UK clients |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1 day |
If you are interested more in Hargreaves Lansdown minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
Depositing and withdrawing money is easy and free with a debit card or fast bank transfers at Hargreaves Lansdown. Unfortunately, accounts are available only in GBP.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Only one account base currency |
| • Free withdrawal | |
| • No deposit fee |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
Hargreaves Lansdown's web platform is great. It is user-friendly and easy to use. However, it lacks a two-step login, customizability, and advanced charting is very slow.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No two-step (safer) login |
| • Clear fee report | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Good search function | • Charting is extremely slow |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.7 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 3.9 stars | - |
| Desktop platform score | - | - |
Learn more about Hargreaves Lansdown's web trading platform in the detailed Hargreaves Lansdown review.
Markets and products
Hargreaves Lansdown offers a lot of funds, and you can access an average number of stock markets. You can trade with forex, CFDs and cryptos via IG, another broker. There are no options or futures.
| Hargreaves Lansdown | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes |
| Bond | Yes | No |
| Options | No | No |
| Futures | No | No |
| CFD | No | No |
| Crypto | No | No |
Verdict
Hargreaves Lansdown is one of the biggest UK brokers and is regulated by a top-tier authority.
Its customer service is great, providing you with relevant answers within a short time. The web and mobile trading platforms are user-friendly and the educational tools are high-quality.
It has some drawbacks though: it has high fees for stocks and ETFs, account opening for clients outside the UK is not fully digital, and there is only one base currency (GBP).
As there is no minimum deposit and no inactivity fee, Hargreaves Lansdown is a good choice for opening a trading account.
| Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Hargreaves Lansdown is a UK broker, regulated by the top-tier FCA. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100, a stock index of the biggest listed companies in the UK. |
| Fees score | 2.7 stars |
| Recommended for | Beginners and buy-and-hold investors looking for great customer service and easy-to-use trading platforms |
Halifax alternatives
Bottom line
Based on our analysis, there are several good alternatives to Halifax. They all offer similar products and target similar customers. Here's a recap of the results in a table.
| Broker | Info | Recommended for |
|---|---|---|
| Halifax | UK-based stockbroker | Beginners and long-term investors |
| Fidelity International | UK-based stockbroker | Beginners and long-term investors focusing on the UK market |
| Charles Stanley Direct | UK-based stockbroker | Beginners and buy-and-hold investors focusing on the UK market |
| Interactive Investor | UK stockbroker | Beginners and investors focusing on the UK market |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | UK-based stockbroker | Beginners and buy-and-hold investors looking for great customer service and easy-to-use trading platforms |
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