Both are FCA-regulated and FSCS-protected. The real difference is fees, account types and how each platform feels to use. Verified against each provider’s published charges.
Fees verified July 2026. Capital at risk. Information, not financial advice.
Fund investors who value guidance, tools and phone support.
Investors who want the fullest service, research and support and will pay a premium for it.
Tick what you need. No account, no email. The answer is on this page.
Tick what you need above and we'll tell you which of the two covers it.
Account availability verified July 2026. Capital at risk. Information, not financial advice.
Reviewers highlight helpful phone support and a straightforward transfer process.
The £7.50 share dealing charge and dated parts of the website draw criticism.
Read Fidelity reviews on TrustpilotService quality is the recurring theme: phone answered quickly, knowledgeable staff, smooth transfers.
Price. Even after the cuts, reviewers and commentators note cheaper alternatives for the same investments.
Read Hargreaves Lansdown reviews on Trustpilot| Fee | Fidelity | Hargreaves Lansdown |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | 0.35% up to £250k (0.20% above); £90/year flat if under £25k without a regular savings plan | 0.35% on funds up to £250k (tiered lower above); shares capped at £45/year in an ISA and £150/year in a SIPP |
| Share dealing | £7.50 per online trade | £6.95 per trade (cut from £11.95 in March 2026) |
| Fund dealing | Free | £1.95 per trade (free via regular investing) |
| FX fee | 0.75% tiered | 1% on the first £5k, tiered lower above |
| Stocks & Shares ISA | Platform fee applies | Platform fee applies |
| SIPP | Platform fee applies | Platform fee applies |
| Withdrawals | Free | Free |
| Minimum to start | £25/month or £1,000 lump sum | £25/month or £100 lump sum |
Fidelity is a solid full-service choice for fund investors. Fund dealing is free, the ETF and share service fee is capped at £90 a year, and the guidance content is some of the best of the big platforms.
Costs are less friendly if you trade shares often or hold a small account without a regular savings plan. Compare it against AJ Bell if you want similar breadth with lower dealing charges.
Hargreaves Lansdown is the UK's largest DIY investment platform and leans into service: fast phone support, deep research and every account type you might need. The March 2026 fee cuts made it meaningfully cheaper, with fund fees down to 0.35% and share dealing at £6.95.
It is still rarely the cheapest option. You are paying for service and breadth, so the honest question is whether you will use them. If not, AJ Bell offers similar range for less.
It depends on what you hold and how often you trade. Fidelity's platform fee is 0.35% up to £250k (0.20% above); £90/year flat if under £25k without a regular savings plan, against 0.35% on funds up to £250k (tiered lower above); shares capped at £45/year in an ISA and £150/year in a SIPP at Hargreaves Lansdown. On dealing, Fidelity charges £7.50 per online trade for shares and free for funds, while Hargreaves Lansdown charges £6.95 per trade (cut from £11.95 in March 2026) for shares and £1.95 per trade (free via regular investing) for funds. Fees verified July 2026.
Fidelity is best for fund investors who value guidance, tools and phone support. Hargreaves Lansdown is best for investors who want the fullest service, research and support and will pay a premium for it. Both are FCA regulated and covered by the FSCS.
On Fidelity's ISA: Platform fee applies. On Hargreaves Lansdown's ISA: Platform fee applies. Neither offers a flexible ISA, so anything you withdraw still counts against your annual allowance. Minimums are £25/month or £1,000 lump sum at Fidelity and £25/month or £100 lump sum at Hargreaves Lansdown.
Fidelity offers a SIPP (platform fee applies). Hargreaves Lansdown offers a SIPP (platform fee applies).
Fidelity scores 4.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot (Excellent) from over 6,500 reviews. Hargreaves Lansdown scores 4.3 out of 5 (Excellent) from over 21,000 reviews. The £7.50 share dealing charge and dated parts of the website draw criticism. Price. Even after the cuts, reviewers and commentators note cheaper alternatives for the same investments.
Yes. UK platforms accept ISA and SIPP transfers in, and you start the transfer with the receiving provider rather than the one you are leaving. Fidelity charges free on withdrawals and Hargreaves Lansdown charges free. Transfer as cash and you are out of the market while it settles; transfer in specie and you keep your holdings but it takes longer.
Fidelity or Hargreaves Lansdown, the account is the easy part. What decides when you can retire is how much goes in and for how long. Delphina works that out from what you already hold and what you pay in each month.
Free to check. No card required. Takes about two minutes.