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.
Investors who want the fullest service, research and support and will pay a premium for it.
Beginners building a habit, and first-time buyers using the Lifetime ISA.
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.
Service 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 TrustpilotUsers love the round-ups, the goal-based design and how painless it makes starting. 93% of customers surveyed in 2026 would recommend it.
The £1 monthly subscription on top of the platform fee is often flagged as expensive for balances under £5,000.
Read Moneybox reviews on Trustpilot| Fee | Hargreaves Lansdown | Moneybox |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | Funds: 0.35% up to £250k, 0.25% £250k-£1m, 0.10% £1m-£2m, nothing above £2m. Shares, ETFs and investment trusts: 0.35%, capped at £150 a year in the ISA, SIPP and Fund & Share account | £1/month subscription (waived at £5,000+) plus 0.15% to 0.45% platform fee |
| Share dealing | £6.95 per trade (cut from £11.95 in March 2026) | US stocks available, 0.45% FX fee |
| Fund dealing | £1.95 per trade (free via regular investing) | Free (fund fees apply) |
| FX fee | 1% on the first £5k, tiered lower above | 0.45% on US stocks |
| Stocks & Shares ISA | Platform fee applies | Subscription plus 0.15% on Moneybox funds or 0.45% on other funds |
| SIPP | Platform fee applies | 0.45% on the first £100k then 0.15% (other funds); 0.15% capped at £150 a year (Moneybox funds); no subscription |
| Withdrawals | Free | Free |
| Minimum to start | £25/month or £100 lump sum | £1 |
A 0.25% yearly fee gap sounds small. On £50,000 over 20 years it is about £5,900 (illustrative). Add your ISA and pension balances to Delphina yourself and see what your charges cost by retirement and whether you're on track.
See what my fees costIllustrative: £50,000, 5% a year growth before charges, 0.25% vs 0.50% a year in charges, no further contributions. Not a recommendation of Hargreaves Lansdown or Moneybox. Delphina is guidance, not financial advice.
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.
Moneybox is designed for getting started. Round-ups, weekly deposits and simple starter portfolios remove the friction that stops most people investing, and its Lifetime ISA is one of the most popular routes to a first home deposit.
The convenience has a cost on small balances: £1 a month plus up to 0.45% is one of the higher fee stacks here below £5,000 in non-Moneybox funds. The subscription drops away at £5,000, and Moneybox's own funds carry 0.15% rather than 0.45%, so the total depends on your pot size and fund choice.
It depends on what you hold and how often you trade. Hargreaves Lansdown's platform fee is funds: 0.35% up to £250k, 0.25% £250k-£1m, 0.10% £1m-£2m, nothing above £2m. Shares, ETFs and investment trusts: 0.35%, capped at £150 a year in the ISA, SIPP and Fund & Share account, against £1/month subscription (waived at £5,000+) plus 0.15% to 0.45% platform fee at Moneybox. On dealing, 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, while Moneybox charges US stocks available, 0.45% FX fee for shares and free (fund fees apply) for funds. Fees verified July 2026.
Hargreaves Lansdown is best for investors who want the fullest service, research and support and will pay a premium for it. Moneybox is best for beginners building a habit, and first-time buyers using the Lifetime ISA. Both are FCA regulated and covered by the FSCS.
On Hargreaves Lansdown's ISA: Platform fee applies. On Moneybox's ISA: Subscription plus 0.15% on Moneybox funds or 0.45% on other funds. Neither offers a flexible ISA, so anything you withdraw still counts against your annual allowance. Minimums are £25/month or £100 lump sum at Hargreaves Lansdown and £1 at Moneybox.
Hargreaves Lansdown offers a SIPP (platform fee applies). Moneybox does not offer a SIPP.
Hargreaves Lansdown scores 4.3 out of 5 on Trustpilot (Excellent) from over 21,000 reviews. Moneybox scores 4.4 out of 5 (Excellent) from around 4,800 reviews. Price. Even after the cuts, reviewers and commentators note cheaper alternatives for the same investments. The £1 monthly subscription on top of the platform fee is often flagged as expensive for balances under £5,000.
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. Hargreaves Lansdown charges free on withdrawals and Moneybox 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.
Hargreaves Lansdown or Moneybox, 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.