Both are FCA regulated and FSCS protected. The real differences are fees, investment range and how each platform feels to use. Here is the honest comparison.
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.
Index fund investors who want the lowest possible total cost and are comfortable with a newer app.
| Fee | Hargreaves Lansdown | Prosper |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | 0.35% on funds up to £250k (tiered lower above); shares capped at £45/year in an ISA and £150/year in a SIPP | £0 |
| Share dealing | £6.95 per trade (cut from £11.95 in March 2026) | Not applicable (funds and ETFs) |
| Fund dealing | £1.95 per trade (free via regular investing) | Free |
| FX fee | 1% on the first £5k, tiered lower above | None on GBP fund classes |
| Stocks & Shares ISA | Platform fee applies | Free |
| SIPP | Platform fee applies | Free |
| Withdrawals | Free | Free |
| Minimum to start | £25/month or £100 lump sum | No minimum |
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 TrustpilotEarly adopters praise the zero fees and responsive founding team; roughly 84% of reviews are five stars.
The review base is small and some users want more account types and a web version.
Read Prosper reviews on TrustpilotHargreaves 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.
Prosper's pitch is the cheapest total cost of ownership in the UK: no platform fee, no dealing fees, and refunded fund fees on a list of mainstream index funds. For a straightforward global tracker in an ISA or SIPP, the all-in cost can genuinely be zero.
The counterweight is maturity. It is a young platform with a small (if very positive) review base and no individual shares. If that trade-off suits you, the price is unbeatable.
A 0.2% fee difference is worth optimising. Knowing whether you are saving enough in the first place is worth far more. Delphina models your pensions, ISAs and investments and tells you where you actually stand.