The best alternatives to Halifax are
- Fidelity International - UK-based stockbroker
- AJ Bell Youinvest - UK discount broker
- Hargreaves Lansdown - UK-based stockbroker
- Charles Stanley Direct - UK-based stockbroker
Let's see in a bit more detail how the Halifax alternatives compare to Halifax and each other:
| Halifax | Fidelity International | AJ Bell Youinvest | Hargreaves Lansdown | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.4 stars | 4.2 stars | 4.6 stars | 4.6 stars | 4.5 stars |
| Fees score | 4.0 stars | 3.0 stars | 3.1 stars | 3.2 stars | 3.4 stars |
| Account opening score | 4.0 stars | 3.5 stars | 5.0 stars | 4.6 stars | 4.6 stars |
| Deposit and withdrawal score | 3.8 stars | 3.8 stars | 3.8 stars | 3.8 stars | 3.8 stars |
| Web platform score | 2.8 stars | 3.7 stars | 3.7 stars | 3.7 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Markets and products score | 3.2 stars | 1.9 stars | 3.4 stars | 3.2 stars | 1.5 stars |
| Visit broker | 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
- AJ Bell Youinvest is recommended for beginners and investors with small and medium portfolios 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
- Charles Stanley Direct is recommended for beginners and buy-and-hold investors focusing on the uk market
Important factors of finding Halifax alternatives
So far BrokerChooser has reviewed 101 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 one of the cheaper brokers, so if this is an important consideration for you, make sure you pick a similarly low-cost 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
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 stock and ETF trading fees are average. It has low non-trading fees as well: no inactivity or withdrawal fees are charged.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low fund fees | • Average stock and ETF fees |
| • No withdrawal fee | |
| • No inactivity fee |
| Fidelity International | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $22.9 | $0.3 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $23.4 | $22.3 |
| 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 copies of your 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 | $1,360 | $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 at Fidelity International. However, GBP is the only account currency and electronic wallets are not available.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Only one account base currency |
| • Free withdrawal | • Electronic wallets not available |
| • 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 | 2.8 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, covering only stocks and ETFs traded on the London Stock Exchange. However, there is a good selection of funds available.
| Fidelity International | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | No |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | No | No |
| Options | No | No |
| Futures | No | No |
| CFDs | 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 stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds. Also, a relatively high minimum deposit is required and you can't use electronic wallets for adding funds.
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 a UK stockbroker regulated by the FCA. Originally established in 1969 as a subsidiary of US-based Fidelity Investments, it was spun off as an independent business in 1980. It is privately held. |
| Fees score | 3.0 stars |
| Recommended for | Beginners and long-term investors focusing on the UK market |
Halifax alternatives
AJ Bell Youinvest
AJ Bell Youinvest was founded in 1995 and it is one of the biggest discount brokers in the UK. It is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and it is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
AJ Bell Youinvest is considered safe because it has a long track record, it's listed on a stock exchange, and is regulated by a top-tier regulator.
Recommended for beginners and investors with small and medium portfolios focusing on the uk market
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast account opening | • Limited product offer |
| • Easy to use trading platforms | • Basic technical research tools |
| • Great customer service |
Fees
AJ Bell Youinvest has low fund fees and the non-trading fees are also reasonable. Deposit and withdrawal are free. On the negative side, you will be charged a custody fee based on your trading history and asset volume.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low non-trading fees | • Custody fee |
| • No withdrawal fee | • Average stock fees |
| • Low mutual fund fees |
| AJ Bell Youinvest | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $22.8 | $0.3 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $23.3 | $22.3 |
| 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
Expect a quick, user-friendly and fully digital account opening process without a required minimum account balance. The downside: it's only available to UK residents.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | • Available only to UK residents |
| • Fully digital | |
| • No minimum deposit |
| AJ Bell Youinvest | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1 day |
If you are interested more in AJ Bell Youinvest minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
Deposits and withdrawals are free and the process is user-friendly. However, accounts are available only in GBP and one-off deposits cannot be sent via bank transfer.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Only one account base currency |
| • Free withdrawal | • Bank transfer is not available for one-off deposits |
| • No deposit fee |
| AJ Bell Youinvest | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/debit card | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
AJ Bell Yoinvest's web platform is user-friendly and well-designed. Two-step login is available and the fee reports are clear. On the negative side, customizability is limited and price alerts are not supported.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Clear fee report | • No price alerts |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| AJ Bell Youinvest | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.7 stars | 2.8 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.2 stars | - |
| Desktop platform score | - | - |
Learn more about AJ Bell Youinvest's web trading platform in the detailed AJ Bell Youinvest review.
Markets and products
AJ Bell Youinvest has a limited product portfolio, including stocks, ETFs crypto and funds. Popular assets like forex, options, futures, and CFDs are missing. Bonds can be traded only via phone orders.
| AJ Bell Youinvest | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | No |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | No | No |
| Options | No | No |
| Futures | No | No |
| CFDs | No | No |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
Verdict
AJ Bell Youinvest is one of the biggest UK discount brokers regulated by the top-tier FCA.
The broker's fees are average and the account opening process is fast and easy. The web and mobile trading platforms are user-friendly. Its customer service is great, you will get relevant answers in a short time.
There are some drawbacks though. You can trade only stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds and technical research tools are limited.
As there is no minimum deposit and no inactivity fee, feel free to try AJ Bell Youinvest.
| AJ Bell Youinvest | |
|---|---|
| Summary | AJ Bell Youinvest is a UK direct-to-investor investment platform. AJ Bell is listed on the London Stock Exchange and regulated by the FCA. |
| Fees score | 3.1 stars |
| Recommended for | Beginners and investors with small and medium portfolios 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 |
| • Low fund fees | • Currency conversion fee |
| • No withdrawal fee | |
| • Low fees for funds and bonds |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $27.3 | $0.3 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $27.8 | $22.3 |
| 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 electronic verification works. If this fails or you live outside the UK, you have to send 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 user-friendly and easy to use. However, it lacks a two-step login and customizability.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No two-step (safer) login |
| • Clear fee report | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Good search function |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.7 stars | 2.8 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 a good number of stock markets. However, other products such as forex, CFDs, options or futures are not available.
| Hargreaves Lansdown | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | No |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Options | No | No |
| Futures | No | No |
| CFDs | 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 quick and relevant answers. 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 | 3.2 stars |
| Recommended for | Beginners and buy-and-hold investors looking for great customer service and easy-to-use trading platforms |
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). In 2022 it was acquired by Raymond James Financial, Inc., which is an NYSE-listed financial services company, a constituent of the blue-chip S&P 500 index.
Charles Stanley Direct is considered safe because it has a long track record, its parent company 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 | |
| • No withdrawal fee |
| Charles Stanley Direct | Halifax | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | - | $0.3 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $26.8 | $22.3 |
| 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 | $22.6 | $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 | 2.8 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 3.7 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | No |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Options | No | No |
| Futures | No | No |
| CFDs | No | No |
| Crypto | No | No |
Verdict
Charles Stanley Direct is a UK stockbroker regulated by the FCA. Its parent company Raymond James Financial, Inc. is listed on the New York 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. It was acquired by Raymond James Financial, Inc in 2022, which is an NYSE listed financial services company, a constituent of the blue-chip S&P 500, a stock index of the biggest listed companies in the USA. |
| Fees score | 3.4 stars |
| Recommended for | Beginners and buy-and-hold investors focusing on the UK market |
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 2009 financial crisis, 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 transparent and 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 fees | • Weak product selection |
| • Good options for deposit/withdrawal | • Very poor customer service |
| • Quick and easy account opening | • No mobile or desktop platforms |
Fees
Halifax has low fees for stocks/ETFs, including commission-free international trades. On the negative side, there is an annual account fee.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low stock and ETF fees / Free stock trading | • Annual account fee |
| • No withdrawal fee | |
| • No inactivity fee |
| Halifax | Fidelity International | AJ Bell Youinvest | Hargreaves Lansdown | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $0.0 | $11.3 | $11.2 | $13.5 | - |
| UK stock | $10.7 | $11.3 | $11.2 | $13.5 | $13.0 |
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 takes place fully online. Still, we found the process less intuitive and less easy to navigate than at other brokers.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | • Not user-friendly |
| • Fully digital | • Only for UK residents |
| • No minimum deposit |
| Halifax | Fidelity International | AJ Bell Youinvest | Hargreaves Lansdown | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $1,360 | $0 | $0 | $22.6 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1 day | 1 day | 1 day | 1-3 days |
Learn more about Halifax minimum deposit here.
Deposit and withdrawal
Deposits and withdrawals at Halifax are free, but the latter can be slow. Also, Halifax only allows GBP funding, meaning you'll face a currency exchange fee when trading international products.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Only one account base currency |
| • Free withdrawal | • Slow withdrawal - over 3 days |
| • No deposit fee | • Electronic wallets not accepted |
| Halifax | Fidelity International | AJ Bell Youinvest | Hargreaves Lansdown | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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, but it doesn't offer much extra functionality, relying on the public website for most research tools or information.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Clear fee report | • No dedicated research tools on platform |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| Halifax | Fidelity International | AJ Bell Youinvest | Hargreaves Lansdown | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 2.8 stars | 3.7 stars | 3.7 stars | 3.7 stars | 3.5 stars |
| Mobile platform score | - | 4.2 stars | 4.2 stars | 3.9 stars | 3.7 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, along with a good selection of funds, but other popular product categories such as forex, CFDs or cryptos are not available.
| Halifax | Fidelity International | AJ Bell Youinvest | Hargreaves Lansdown | Charles Stanley Direct | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | No | No | No | No |
| Funds | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | No | No | No | No |
| Futures | No | No | No | No | No |
| CFDs | No | No | No | No | No |
| Crypto | No | No | Yes | No | No |
Verdict
Halifax Share Dealing is a reputable UK broker with low fees. 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.
In some respects, though, Halifax is lagging behind its competition. It has a weak product selection, as well as inefficient and unresponsive customer support. Halifax offers no mobile trading app or desktop trading platform.
As your account will be ready within a few days and no inactivity fee is charged, you should feel free to try Halifax.
| Halifax | |
|---|---|
| Summary | UK stockbroker, part of Halifax (Bank of Scotland), owned by Lloyds Banking Group |
| Fees score | 4.0 stars |
| Recommended for | Beginners and long-term investors |
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 |
| AJ Bell Youinvest | UK discount broker | Beginners and investors with small and medium portfolios 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 |
| Charles Stanley Direct | UK-based stockbroker | Beginners and buy-and-hold investors focusing on the UK market |
Still unsure? Use our broker finder and find the best broker for you or learn more about investing your money.
