Hargreaves Lansdown 2025 Review: Everything You Need to Know
Hargreaves Lansdown, the UK's largest investment platform, has garnered significant attention for its comprehensive range of investment options and robust customer service. However, its high fees have raised concerns among both novice and experienced investors. This review synthesizes various perspectives on Hargreaves Lansdown, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses, while providing a clear understanding of what potential users can expect.
Note: It's important to recognize that Hargreaves Lansdown operates under different regulatory entities depending on the region, which can affect user experience and protections. This review aims for fairness and accuracy by incorporating a variety of sources.
Ratings Overview
We evaluate brokers based on comprehensive research and user feedback, ensuring a balanced perspective.
Broker Overview
Founded in 1981, Hargreaves Lansdown has established itself as a leading player in the UK investment landscape. With over £130 billion in assets under administration and approximately 1.8 million clients, it offers a wide range of investment products, including stocks, funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and investment trusts. The platform is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), providing a layer of protection for investors' funds. However, it does not support leveraged trading or cryptocurrency investments, which may limit its appeal to some traders.
Detailed Breakdown
Regulatory Areas
Hargreaves Lansdown is primarily regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), ensuring that it adheres to strict financial standards. This regulation is crucial for maintaining investor trust, as it mandates that client funds are kept in segregated accounts, safeguarding them in the event of financial difficulties.
Deposit/Withdrawal Currencies
The platform predominantly operates in GBP, and while it does not support cryptocurrency transactions, users can invest in crypto-related stocks or ETFs. Withdrawals are typically processed within 1-5 working days, with no fees for deposits or withdrawals.
Minimum Deposit
Hargreaves Lansdown has a very accessible minimum deposit requirement of just £1, making it easy for new investors to start. However, to buy funds, users must invest at least £100 or set up a monthly contribution of £25.
Currently, Hargreaves Lansdown does not offer welcome bonuses or promotional incentives, focusing instead on providing a reliable and robust platform for long-term investors.
Tradable Asset Classes
The platform allows investments in a wide variety of assets, including:
- Over 8,500 UK shares
- More than 3,000 funds
- 1,400 ETFs
- 400 investment trusts
- Corporate and government bonds
This extensive range is a significant advantage for investors looking to diversify their portfolios.
Costs
Hargreaves Lansdown's fee structure is often criticized for being high compared to competitors. The platform charges £11.95 per trade for stocks and ETFs, which is among the highest in the UK. While there are discounts for frequent traders, the fees can quickly add up, particularly for those who trade frequently. For fund investments, there are no dealing charges, but annual management fees apply, which can be costly as the investment grows.
Leverage
Hargreaves Lansdown does not offer leverage for stock trading, which may deter some active traders. Instead, it focuses on providing a straightforward investment experience, which may appeal more to long-term investors.
Hargreaves Lansdown does not offer popular trading platforms like MT4 or MT5. Instead, it provides its proprietary web and mobile platforms, which, while user-friendly, lack some advanced features found in other trading applications.
Restricted Regions
Hargreaves Lansdown primarily serves clients in the UK and EEA. It does not accept clients from several countries, including the USA, Japan, and Iran, which may limit its global reach.
Available Customer Support Languages
The platform offers customer support primarily in English. Users can contact support via phone or email, but there is no live chat option, which some users may find inconvenient.
Repeated Ratings Overview
Detailed Analysis
- Account Conditions: Hargreaves Lansdown provides a variety of account types, including ISAs and SIPPs, but the complexity of fees can be a barrier for new users.
- Tools and Resources: The platform offers a wealth of educational materials, but it could enhance its analytical tools to better serve active traders.
- Customer Service and Support: Users generally report positive experiences with customer support, which is a strong point for Hargreaves Lansdown.
- Trading Experience: The high fees associated with trading stocks and ETFs may deter active traders, making it less appealing for those who trade frequently.
- Trustworthiness: Hargreaves Lansdown's long-standing reputation and regulatory oversight by the FCA contribute significantly to its trustworthiness.
- User Experience: While the platform is user-friendly, some users find the interface less modern compared to newer competitors.
- Fees: The high trading fees are a major drawback, especially for those looking to trade frequently.
In summary, Hargreaves Lansdown offers a robust platform with a solid reputation, extensive educational resources, and excellent customer support. However, its high fees and lack of advanced trading features may deter both novice and experienced investors seeking a cost-effective solution. This review highlights the importance of weighing the pros and cons before choosing Hargreaves Lansdown as your investment platform.
