Compare brokers side by side before you choose.

Compare trust, fees, platforms, and withdrawals. See the trade-offs and details worth checking before you choose.

Choose brokers

Pick 2-4 brokers to compare

The comparison reads the same evidence fields used by broker profiles, so users can scan scores, regulation, costs, platforms, withdrawals, and caveats side by side.

Broker 1

Broker 2

VS field	Hargreaves Lansdown hl.co.uk ETF BrokerMutual Fund PlatformETF	Fidelity fidelity.com Stock BrokerETF BrokerETF
Decision summary
Overall score

Trust score	91	100

Cost score	86	89

Platform score	92	94

Withdrawal score	89	89

Best for	UK residents using ISAs/SIPPs for long-term investing · Investors who want broad funds/shares/ETF access and strong UK support · Clients valuing established platform, app/web usab…	Evidence supports Fidelity as a U.S.-focused, highly regulated multi-asset broker for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds/CDs, options, cash management, managed portfolios, and sepa…

Watch out	Needs verification	Needs verification

Trust & regulation
Regulators	Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), United Kingdom Source	Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC is SEC registered and regulated by FINRA; FBS and NFS are members of NYSE and SIPC. Source
License numbers	FCA register numbers disclosed by HL include 115248 (Hargreaves Lansdown Asset Management Limited), 915119/901007 (Hargreaves Lansdown Savings Limited), 189627 (Advisory Services), and 166016 (Fund Managers). Source	FBS CRD# 7784 / SEC# 8-23292; NFS CRD# 13041 / SEC# 801-50706, 8-26740. Source
Regulated entities	Main regulated group companies: Hargreaves Lansdown Asset Management Limited; Hargreaves Lansdown Savings Limited; Hargreaves Lansdown Advisory Services Limited; Hargreaves Lansdown Fund Managers Limited. Source	Primary securities brokerage entities are Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (FBS) and National Financial Services LLC (NFS), each member NYSE/SIPC; advisory and crypto entities differ by product. Source
Negative balance protection	Not applicable to the core unleveraged investment platform products reviewed; no CFD/forex negative balance protection evidence found. Source	Not applicable/not disclosed as a CFD-style negative balance protection policy; margin trading can create debt/interest obligations. Source
Investor compensation	FSCS protection: up to £85,000 for investment business default; cash held with banks described by HL as protected up to £120,000 per institution, subject to aggregate balances and FSCS limits. Source	SIPC coverage up to $500,000/$250,000 cash plus Fidelity excess SIPC; FDIC sweep coverage may apply to eligible cash programs; important exclusions apply. Source
Restricted countries	UK-focused availability; UK-only website restriction conflicts with account comparison page allowing Fund and Share Account for UK and EEA residents. Source	U.S.-persons focused; sanctioned countries/prohibited parties restricted; no exhaustive country availability list found. Source

Trust & regulation

Regulators

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), United Kingdom

Source

Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC is SEC registered and regulated by FINRA; FBS and NFS are members of NYSE and SIPC.

Source

License numbers

FCA register numbers disclosed by HL include 115248 (Hargreaves Lansdown Asset Management Limited), 915119/901007 (Hargreaves Lansdown Savings Limited), 189627 (Advisory Services), and 166016 (Fund Managers).

Source

FBS CRD# 7784 / SEC# 8-23292; NFS CRD# 13041 / SEC# 801-50706, 8-26740.

Source

Regulated entities

Main regulated group companies: Hargreaves Lansdown Asset Management Limited; Hargreaves Lansdown Savings Limited; Hargreaves Lansdown Advisory Services Limited; Hargreaves Lansdown Fund Managers Limited.

Source

Primary securities brokerage entities are Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (FBS) and National Financial Services LLC (NFS), each member NYSE/SIPC; advisory and crypto entities differ by product.

Source

Negative balance protection

Not applicable to the core unleveraged investment platform products reviewed; no CFD/forex negative balance protection evidence found.

Source

Not applicable/not disclosed as a CFD-style negative balance protection policy; margin trading can create debt/interest obligations.

Source

Investor compensation

FSCS protection: up to £85,000 for investment business default; cash held with banks described by HL as protected up to £120,000 per institution, subject to aggregate balances and FSCS limits.

Source

SIPC coverage up to $500,000/$250,000 cash plus Fidelity excess SIPC; FDIC sweep coverage may apply to eligible cash programs; important exclusions apply.

Source

Restricted countries

UK-focused availability; UK-only website restriction conflicts with account comparison page allowing Fund and Share Account for UK and EEA residents.

Source

U.S.-persons focused; sanctioned countries/prohibited parties restricted; no exhaustive country availability list found.

Source

Costs & account conditions
Minimum deposit	Minimums vary: Fund and Share £0 to open; invest from £100 or £25/month. ISA/Lifetime ISA/SIPP £100 or £25/month. Active Savings/Cash ISA savings products start from £1 subject to product. Source	$0 to open a retail brokerage account; Fidelity states no account minimum and ability to invest with as little as $1; exceptions apply by account/product. Source
Spread from	Not applicable/not disclosed for the core HL investment platform; HL discloses dealing commissions, account fees and FX charges rather than CFD/forex spread-from pricing. Source	Not applicable to Fidelity's core U.S. stock/ETF brokerage model; securities trade by exchange/market prices rather than quoted CFD/FX spreads. Source
Commission	Online share dealing: £6.95 or £3.95 depending on prior-month trades; one-off fund trades: £1.95; monthly Direct Debit regular investing: no charge; phone/post: £29 per trade. Source	$0 online U.S. stock and ETF trades; $0 online options commission plus $0.65/contract; other product/service fees apply. Source
Maximum leverage	Not applicable; HL's public investment platform pages reviewed do not offer leveraged forex/CFD trading and present unleveraged investment accounts. Source	No universal maximum leverage ratio disclosed for Fidelity retail brokerage; margin borrowing is available subject to approval and margin requirements/rates rather than a single max leverage figure. Source
Deposit fee	No platform fee for deposits/top-ups identified; Direct Debit regular investing has no dealing charge. Source	$0 Fidelity fee for EFT and Fidelity does not charge wire fees; external banks may charge. Source
Withdrawal fee	No withdrawal/transfer-out fee for standard Faster Payment withdrawals; no exit fees. Source	$0 Fidelity fee for EFT and domestic bank wire withdrawals; foreign exchange wire up to 3% of principal; receiving bank may charge. Source
Inactivity fee	HL states there are no charges for inactivity. Source	No explicit inactivity-fee line found in official fee schedule; official account pages state no retail brokerage account fees/no account or subscription fees. Treat as needs manual confirmation before publishing as '$0 inactivity fee'. Source

Costs & account conditions

Minimum deposit

Minimums vary: Fund and Share £0 to open; invest from £100 or £25/month. ISA/Lifetime ISA/SIPP £100 or £25/month. Active Savings/Cash ISA savings products start from £1 subject to product.

Source

$0 to open a retail brokerage account; Fidelity states no account minimum and ability to invest with as little as $1; exceptions apply by account/product.

Source

Spread from

Not applicable/not disclosed for the core HL investment platform; HL discloses dealing commissions, account fees and FX charges rather than CFD/forex spread-from pricing.

Source

Not applicable to Fidelity's core U.S. stock/ETF brokerage model; securities trade by exchange/market prices rather than quoted CFD/FX spreads.

Source

Commission

Online share dealing: £6.95 or £3.95 depending on prior-month trades; one-off fund trades: £1.95; monthly Direct Debit regular investing: no charge; phone/post: £29 per trade.

Source

$0 online U.S. stock and ETF trades; $0 online options commission plus $0.65/contract; other product/service fees apply.

Source

Maximum leverage

Not applicable; HL's public investment platform pages reviewed do not offer leveraged forex/CFD trading and present unleveraged investment accounts.

Source

No universal maximum leverage ratio disclosed for Fidelity retail brokerage; margin borrowing is available subject to approval and margin requirements/rates rather than a single max leverage figure.

Source

Deposit fee

No platform fee for deposits/top-ups identified; Direct Debit regular investing has no dealing charge.

Source

$0 Fidelity fee for EFT and Fidelity does not charge wire fees; external banks may charge.

Source

Withdrawal fee

No withdrawal/transfer-out fee for standard Faster Payment withdrawals; no exit fees.

Source

$0 Fidelity fee for EFT and domestic bank wire withdrawals; foreign exchange wire up to 3% of principal; receiving bank may charge.

Source

Inactivity fee

HL states there are no charges for inactivity.

Source

No explicit inactivity-fee line found in official fee schedule; official account pages state no retail brokerage account fees/no account or subscription fees. Treat as needs manual confirmation before publishing as '$0 inactivity fee'.

Source

Markets, platforms & payments
Tradable assets	Shares, funds, ETFs, investment trusts, gilts and bonds, VCTs, LTAFs, ready-made investments and cash savings products. Source	Stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options, crypto, fixed income, bonds and CDs; Fidelity says stocks include domestic and international. Source
Trading platforms	Trade/manage online via website, the HL app, and by phone; phone/post trades carry a higher charge. Source	Fidelity.com, Fidelity mobile app, Fidelity Trader+ Web/Desktop/Mobile mode, and legacy Active Trader Pro Classic. Source
Account types	HL offers Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA, Fund and Share Account, Cash ISA, Junior ISA, SIPP, Active Savings, Junior SIPP and Bare Trust Account. Source	Broad account menu including taxable brokerage, retirement/IRA, cash management, HSA, custodial/youth, education, trust/business, managed and crypto accounts. Source
Deposit methods	Add money by debit card, Pay by bank/Easy bank transfer, manual bank transfer, Direct Debit and transfers in. Source	EFT/ACH, bank wire, check/mobile check, direct deposit, recurring deposit, Fidelity-to-Fidelity/account transfer, transfer of assets, and eligible payment apps. Source
Withdrawal methods	Withdrawals normally go to a nominated bank account; recent card top-ups may be refunded to the debit card; Lifetime ISA house purchase withdrawals go to conveyancer. Source	EFT/ACH, bank wire, paper check, Fidelity-to-Fidelity transfers, third-party/person-to-person transfers and eligible debit card/ATM access. Source
Withdrawal processing time	Same day before noon on a working day; next working day after noon/non-working day; 3-5 working days for some debit-card refunds; sell proceeds must settle first. Source	EFT withdrawals 1-3 business days; bank wire same day if submitted by 4 p.m. ET; paper check about 5-6 days. Source

Markets, platforms & payments

Tradable assets

Shares, funds, ETFs, investment trusts, gilts and bonds, VCTs, LTAFs, ready-made investments and cash savings products.

Source

Stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options, crypto, fixed income, bonds and CDs; Fidelity says stocks include domestic and international.

Source

Trading platforms

Trade/manage online via website, the HL app, and by phone; phone/post trades carry a higher charge.

Source

Fidelity.com, Fidelity mobile app, Fidelity Trader+ Web/Desktop/Mobile mode, and legacy Active Trader Pro Classic.

Source

Account types

HL offers Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA, Fund and Share Account, Cash ISA, Junior ISA, SIPP, Active Savings, Junior SIPP and Bare Trust Account.

Source

Broad account menu including taxable brokerage, retirement/IRA, cash management, HSA, custodial/youth, education, trust/business, managed and crypto accounts.

Source

Deposit methods

Add money by debit card, Pay by bank/Easy bank transfer, manual bank transfer, Direct Debit and transfers in.

Source

EFT/ACH, bank wire, check/mobile check, direct deposit, recurring deposit, Fidelity-to-Fidelity/account transfer, transfer of assets, and eligible payment apps.

Source

Withdrawal methods

Withdrawals normally go to a nominated bank account; recent card top-ups may be refunded to the debit card; Lifetime ISA house purchase withdrawals go to conveyancer.

Source

EFT/ACH, bank wire, paper check, Fidelity-to-Fidelity transfers, third-party/person-to-person transfers and eligible debit card/ATM access.

Source

Withdrawal processing time

Same day before noon on a working day; next working day after noon/non-working day; 3-5 working days for some debit-card refunds; sell proceeds must settle first.

Source

EFT withdrawals 1-3 business days; bank wire same day if submitted by 4 p.m. ET; paper check about 5-6 days.

Source

Loading broker comparison

Compare brokers side by side before you choose.

Pick 2-4 brokers to compare