The best alternatives to Hargreaves Lansdown are
Let's see in a bit more detail how the Hargreaves Lansdown alternatives compare to Hargreaves Lansdown and each other:
| Hargreaves Lansdown | DEGIRO | Saxo Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.8 |
| Fees score | 2.8 stars | 5.0 stars | 2.9 stars |
| Account opening score | 4.3 stars | 5.0 stars | 2.5 stars |
| Deposit and withdrawal score | 3.8 stars | 3.3 stars | 4.8 stars |
| Web platform score | 3.7 stars | 3.9 stars | 5.0 stars |
| Markets and products score | 3.0 stars | 3.6 stars | 5.0 stars |
| Find out more | Find out more | Find out more |
Why are these brokers considered good alternatives to Hargreaves Lansdown? There are many areas based on which Hargreaves Lansdown can be compared with others. When we say a given online broker is a good alternative to Hargreaves Lansdown 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.
Hargreaves Lansdown 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:
- Hargreaves Lansdown is recommended for beginners and buy-and-hold investors looking for great customer service and easy-to-use trading platforms
- DEGIRO is recommended for price-sensitive buy-and-hold investors and traders looking only to carry out transactions
- Saxo Bank is recommended for investors and traders looking for a great trading platform and solid research
Important factors of finding Hargreaves Lansdown alternatives
So far BrokerChooser has reviewed 71 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 Hargreaves Lansdown 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. The amounts Hargreaves Lansdown charges you are considered average. When picking an alternative, you could prioritize brokers that are cheaper than Hargreaves Lansdown.
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 Hargreaves Lansdown 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 Hargreaves Lansdown, 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 Hargreaves Lansdown alternative is a must.
Now let's dive into the details of how Hargreaves Lansdown and its alternatives perform in the most important areas!
Hargreaves Lansdown 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 high trading fees for stocks and ETFs. On the plus side, the fund and bond trading fees are low and there is no inactivity fee.
| 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 | DEGIRO | Saxo Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US stock | $14.3 | $0.6 | $10.0 |
| UK stock | $14.3 | $2.4 | $9.6 |
Includes spreads, commissions and financing rate for opening a position, holding for a week, and closing.
Position sizes: $2k
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 this 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 | DEGIRO | Saxo Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 | $10,000 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1 day | >3 days |
Learn more about Hargreaves Lansdown minimum deposit here.
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 | DEGIRO | Saxo Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $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 and customizability.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • No two-step (safer) login |
| • Clear fee report | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Good search function |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | DEGIRO | Saxo Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.7 stars | 3.9 stars | 5.0 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 3.9 stars | 4.4 stars | 5.0 stars |
| Desktop platform score | - | - | 5.0 stars |
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 | DEGIRO | Saxo Bank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | No | Yes |
| Fund | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bond | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes | Yes |
| CFD | No | No | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes | Yes |
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 | 2.8 stars |
| Recommended for | Beginners and buy-and-hold investors looking for great customer service and easy-to-use trading platforms |
Hargreaves Lansdown alternatives
DEGIRO
DEGIRO is a Dutch online discount broker. It is privately owned and was established in 2008 by former employees of another brokerage company.
DEGIRO is regulated by top-tier financial authorities such as the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) and the Dutch Central Bank (DNB). It is registered with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Amsterdam.
As of July 2020, DEGIRO no longer keeps a waiting list for new clients.
Recommended for price-sensitive buy-and-hold investors and traders looking only to carry out transactions
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • One of the lowest fees on the market | • Forex not available |
| • Regulated by multiple top-tier regulators | • Limited research and education |
| • Easy-to-use web and mobile platform | • No credit/debit card deposit |
Fees
DEGIRO has low trading and non-trading fees. In most asset classes, it is the best on the market. You can trade some ETFs for free once a month - a great deal for buy-and-hold investors.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low trading fees | • Higher trading fees for Asian and smaller European stock exchanges |
| • Low non-trading fees | |
| • Low stock and ETF fees |
| DEGIRO | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $1.4 | $28.9 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $5.3 | $29.2 |
| 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
DEGIRO no longer keeps a waiting list for new users, and no minimum deposit is required. The account creation process is once again fast and fully digital.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fast | None |
| • Fully digital | |
| • No minimum deposit |
| DEGIRO | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Time to open account | 1 day | 1 day |
If you are interested more in DEGIRO minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
DEGIRO deposits and withdrawals are free of charge via bank transfer. On the other hand, you cannot deposit funds using a credit or debit card.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Free withdrawal | • Credit/Debit card not available |
| • No deposit fee | |
| • Several account base currencies |
| DEGIRO | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
DEGIRO's web platform is simple and easy to use, even for beginners. On the negative side, you cannot set price alerts.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | • Limited customizability (for charts, workspace) |
| • Clear fee report | • No price alerts |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| DEGIRO | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 3.9 stars | 3.7 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 4.4 stars | 3.9 stars |
| Desktop platform score | - | - |
Learn more about DEGIRO's web trading platform in the detailed DEGIRO review.
Markets and products
At DEGIRO, you can access many markets and trade a lot of different products. CFD and forex are not available, though.
| DEGIRO | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes |
| Bond | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| CFD | No | No |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
Verdict
DEGIRO is a good choice if you want a simple platform and don’t want to spend too much on fees.
Transaction costs are generally very low. DEGIRO also has one of the best trading platforms for Europeans. In addition, the account opening process is now fast again, as a recent temporary waiting list has been scrapped.
On the other hand, education and research tools are limited. We should also mention that there is no forex trading, and most clients can only deposit and withdraw by bank transfer.
All in all, DEGIRO is a great online broker. There is no minimum deposit and no inactivity fee, so feel free to go ahead and give it a try.
| DEGIRO | |
|---|---|
| Summary | DEGIRO is a Dutch discount broker established in 2008. It is regulated by the Dutch FMA. As of March 25, 2020, DEGIRO introduced a waiting list for new customers. Longer than usual account opening times are expected. |
| Fees score | 5.0 stars |
| Recommended for | Price-sensitive buy-and-hold investors and traders looking only to carry out transactions |
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Hargreaves Lansdown alternatives
Saxo Bank
Saxo Bank is a Danish investment bank founded in 1992, providing online trading and investments. The company is regulated by several financial authorities globally, including the Danish Financial Services Agency (FSA) and the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Saxo Bank is a global service provider. In the different regions, its subsidiaries are present in the form of separate legal entities. The services offered by each entity might change slightly especially in case of their fees and products available to trade. In this review, we tested Saxo Bank UK.
Saxo Bank is considered safe because it has a long track record, has a banking background, and is regulated by top-tier financial authorities.
Recommended for investors and traders looking for a great trading platform and solid research
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Great trading platform | • High bond, options and futures fees |
| • Outstanding research | • High minimum deposit |
| • Broad product portfolio | • Lacks live chat and 24/7 availability |
Fees
Saxo Bank has average trading and non-trading fees overall. The fees for forex, mutual funds and stock index CFDs are low, while they are average for real stocks, ETFs or stock CFDs. Bond, options and futures fees are high.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Low fund fees | • Inactivity fee |
| • No withdrawal fee | • High bond, options and futures fees |
| • Transparent fee structure | |
| • Lower fees for Platinum and VIP clients |
| Saxo Bank | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple benchmark fee | $20.2 | $28.9 |
| Vodafone benchmark fee | $19.7 | $29.2 |
| EURUSD benchmark fee | $15.7 | - |
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
Saxo's account opening is fully digital, user-friendly, and available in most of the world. On the other hand, the minimum deposit is high in certain countries, and account verification can take longer.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Fully digital | • Minimum deposit is high in certain countries |
| • User-friendly | • Slow account verification |
| • Available in almost every country |
| Saxo Bank | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10,000 | $0 |
| Time to open account | >3 days | 1 day |
If you are interested more in Saxo Bank minimum deposit, this overview will help you.
Deposit and withdrawal
Saxo provides multiple deposit and withdrawal options free of charge on a user-friendly interface.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • Credit/Debit card available | • Electronic wallets are not available for deposit or withdrawal |
| • Free withdrawal | |
| • No deposit fee |
| Saxo Bank | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit/Debit card | No | No |
| Electronic wallets | No | No |
| Withdrawal fee | $0 | $0 |
Web trading platform
Saxo Bank's web trading platform is one of the best among online brokers. It's easy to use, but also provides features favored by professionals, such as an advanced order panel.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| • User-friendly | None |
| • Clear fee report | |
| • Two-step (safer) login |
| Saxo Bank | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|
| Web platform score | 5.0 stars | 3.7 stars |
| Mobile platform score | 5.0 stars | 3.9 stars |
| Desktop platform score | 5.0 stars | - |
Learn more about Saxo Bank's web trading platform in the detailed Saxo Bank review.
Markets and products
Saxo Bank's product portfolio is great. It covers all asset classes and a lot of markets globally. Mutual funds and crypto are the only areas where its selection could be improved.
| Saxo Bank | Hargreaves Lansdown | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | Yes | Yes |
| ETF | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| Fund | Yes | Yes |
| Bond | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| CFD | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
Verdict
Saxo Bank is a great broker, providing a complex and good service.
Saxo offers a user-friendly and well-designed trading platform, backed by great research. The product portfolio covers all asset types and many international markets.
It has some drawbacks though. The fees for bonds, options and futures are high. There is also a high minimum deposit for certain countries. Lastly, there is no live chat or 24/7 customer support.
In general, Saxo Bank is one of the best online brokerage companies out there. By opening an account, you will get a broad, well-developed service constantly responding to the needs of clients.
| Saxo Bank | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Saxo Bank is a Danish investment bank. It is regulated by more than 10 financial authorities, including the top-tier UK FCA. |
| Fees score | 2.9 stars |
| Recommended for | Investors and traders looking for a great trading platform and solid research |
Hargreaves Lansdown alternatives
Bottom line
Based on our analysis, there are several good alternatives to Hargreaves Lansdown. They all offer similar products and target similar customers. Here's a recap of the results in a table.
| Broker | Info | Recommended for |
|---|---|---|
| Hargreaves Lansdown | UK-based stockbroker | Beginners and buy-and-hold investors looking for great customer service and easy-to-use trading platforms |
| DEGIRO | Dutch discount broker | Price-sensitive buy-and-hold investors and traders looking only to carry out transactions |
| Saxo Bank | Danish investment bank | Investors and traders looking for a great trading platform and solid research |
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