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.
Cost-conscious DIY investors who want to keep every fee at zero.
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 consistently rate the app as easy to use and good value, and many mention the competitive interest paid on uninvested cash.
The most common criticisms are slow identity verification for new accounts and support that can take time to respond.
Read Trading 212 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 | Trading 212 | Hargreaves Lansdown |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | £0 | 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 | £0 commission | £6.95 per trade (cut from £11.95 in March 2026) |
| Fund dealing | ETFs only, £0 commission | £1.95 per trade (free via regular investing) |
| FX fee | 0.15% | 1% on the first £5k, tiered lower above |
| Stocks & Shares ISA | Free | Platform fee applies |
| SIPP | Free | Platform fee applies |
| Withdrawals | Free | Free |
| Minimum to start | £1 | £25/month or £100 lump sum |
Trading 212 built its name on removing fees. There is no platform fee, no dealing commission and no account charge on its ISA or SIPP. The only cost most investors pay is a 0.15% currency conversion fee when buying shares priced in dollars or euros.
The trade-off is scope. You can hold shares and ETFs but not traditional funds, and support is app-based. For an investor who wants a global tracker ETF inside an ISA at close to zero cost, it is very hard to beat on price.
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. Trading 212's platform fee is £0, 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, Trading 212 charges £0 commission for shares and eTFs only, £0 commission 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.
Trading 212 is best for cost-conscious DIY investors who want to keep every fee at zero. 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 Trading 212's ISA: Free. On Hargreaves Lansdown's ISA: Platform fee applies. Trading 212 offers a flexible ISA and Hargreaves Lansdown does not. Minimums are £1 at Trading 212 and £25/month or £100 lump sum at Hargreaves Lansdown.
Trading 212 offers a SIPP (free). Hargreaves Lansdown offers a SIPP (platform fee applies).
Trading 212 scores 4.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot (Excellent) from tens of thousands of reviews. Hargreaves Lansdown scores 4.3 out of 5 (Excellent) from over 21,000 reviews. The most common criticisms are slow identity verification for new accounts and support that can take time to respond. 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. Trading 212 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.
Trading 212 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.