Hargreaves Lansdown
Pros
- UK's largest retail investment platform with over 2 million clients
- Wide product range: funds, shares, ETFs, bonds, gilts, investment trusts, VCTs
- ISA, SIPP, Lifetime ISA, Junior ISA, and Junior SIPP accounts available
- No inactivity or withdrawal fees
- Free monthly Direct Debit regular investing for both shares and funds
- Extensive research tools, analyst ratings, and educational content
- Segregated client funds and FSCS protection up to ยฃ85,000
- No account charge for Junior ISA holders
Cons
- No demo account available
- Share dealing fee of ยฃ6.95 is higher than several UK competitors
- Fund annual charge is uncapped for smaller portfolios and can be expensive at scale
- New ยฃ1.95 fund dealing fee introduced from March 2026 where trades were previously free
- Annual share charge cap raised to ยฃ150 per year per account from ยฃ45
- FX conversion fees apply on all overseas share trades
- No CFDs, forex, crypto, or spread betting products