AMarkets and Hargreaves Lansdown present a contrast between offshore CFD execution and UK-regulated, long-run investing infrastructure. The matchup tests regulation, long-term features, and global access.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose if…
Choose AMarkets if you want ECN pricing on equity CFDs and high leverage up to 3000:1. You gain MT4/MT5 with copy trading and broad product range, but accept offshore SVG/FSA regulation and CFDs only.
Choose if…
Choose Hargreaves Lansdown if you want a UK regulated platform with ISA and SIPP wrappers and a broad UK investment universe. You benefit from FSCS protection, extensive research, and reliable performance during market stress, but pay higher ongoing fees and fixed share dealing commissions.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 3.2/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | $100 | $1▼ lower |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | N/A |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | N/A |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | AMarkets | Hargreaves Lansdown |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Fail | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Fail | Pass |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Fail | Fail |
| No deposit fee | — | Pass |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Fail |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Fail | Pass |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Fail |
| IPO access | Fail | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Fail |
| Stock screener tool | Fail | Pass |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
Hargreaves Lansdown is the stronger choice: it rates 4.3/5 versus 3.2/5 for AMarkets, a gap that reflects clear differences across regulation, fees, and platform quality in our review.
AMarkets starts from 0. Current spread data is not available for Hargreaves Lansdown. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date spread and commission pricing.
Hargreaves Lansdown has $1, while AMarkets requires at least $100. This makes Hargreaves Lansdown more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Hargreaves Lansdown holds top-tier regulation (FCA), providing stronger investor protections. AMarkets may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Verify regulatory status on each regulator's public register before depositing funds.
For beginners, Hargreaves Lansdown requires a lower minimum deposit ($1), lowering the barrier to entry. Both brokers otherwise share similar beginner-facing criteria in our data. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each brokers's site.
AMarkets lists maximum leverage of 3000:1, while Hargreaves Lansdown lists up to 1:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
AMarkets charges $6 per trade on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Hargreaves Lansdown are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing. Stock commissions may be charged as a flat rate per trade or per share; confirm the exact structure on each broker's website.
AMarkets supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while Hargreaves Lansdown supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. AMarkets has exclusive access to cTrader and MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. Hargreaves Lansdown has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Neither AMarkets nor Hargreaves Lansdown is listed as offering commission-free trading in our data. Compare each broker's commission schedule directly, as fees vary by account type and the markets you trade.
Hargreaves Lansdown scores higher on investor protection criteria, with compensation scheme coverage and segregated client funds. For stock investors, confirming compensation scheme coverage ensures your assets are protected up to a defined limit if the broker becomes insolvent.
HL operates under FCA regulation with FSCS protection, offering higher perceived safety.
HL offers ISA/SIPP wrappers with drawdown capability and dividend reinvestment.
AMarkets provides MT4/MT5 with ECN pricing and high leverage up to 3000:1.
HL has a $1 minimum and broad UK investment options suited to new investors.
HL offers 20 exchanges versus AMarkets four, expanding international access.
AMarkets uses ECN pricing and competitive spreads, reducing trading costs relative to traditional models.
| 0.6 pips |
| N/A |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto | Bank transferDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto | Bank transfer |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Commission-free | No | No |
|---|
| Fractional shares | No | No |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | No | Yes |
|---|
| Extended hours | No | No |
|---|
| IPO access | No | No |
|---|
| Short selling | Yes | No |
|---|
| Regulators | SVGFSA | FCA |
|---|
| Platforms | cTrader MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses | None | 2 offers |
|---|
Hargreaves Lansdown outperforms AMarkets on editorial score due to stronger regulation and long‑term investing features.
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Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.2 / 5
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