Two well-known brokers face off on wrappers, research depth, and platform capabilities. The outcome hinges on which features matter most to your investing style.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose if…
Choose E*TRADE if you value commission-free stocks and ETFs and the Power E*TRADE platform.
Choose if…
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | N/A | $1 |
| Spreads from | N/A | N/A |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
| Deposit fee | Free |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | E*TRADE | Hargreaves Lansdown |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Fail | Pass |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Pass | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Fail |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Pass | Pass |
| Extended hours trading | Pass | Fail |
| IPO access | Fail | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Fail |
| Stock screener tool | Pass | Pass |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
E*TRADE and Hargreaves Lansdown share the same editorial score of 4.3/5. One concrete differentiator: platform availability and account types differ between them.
Hargreaves Lansdown requires $1. Minimum deposit information is not currently available for E*TRADE.
Both E*TRADE and Hargreaves Lansdown hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
Minimum deposit and negative balance protection data are not confirmed for this pair. Both hold top-tier regulatory status, meaning client fund protections apply to both. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site.
E*TRADE lists maximum leverage of 1:4, 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.
E*TRADE supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, while Hargreaves Lansdown supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile.
E*TRADE offers commission-free stock trading while Hargreaves Lansdown does not according to our data. Commission-free trading can reduce costs for frequent traders. Always confirm the current fee structure directly on each broker's website.
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.
Choose Hargreaves Lansdown if you want ISA and SIPP wrappers and a broad UK investment universe.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
E*TRADE offers commission-free stocks and ETFs; HL charges per trade.
Hargreaves Lansdown achieves higher trust/regulation scores and FSCS protection than E*TRADE.
Hargreaves Lansdown offers ISA and SIPP wrappers for long-term UK investing.
ETRADE provides Power ETRADE with advanced analytics and futures.
Hargreaves Lansdown requires only a $1 minimum deposit and offers ISA/SIPP wrappers.
Hargreaves Lansdown offers more exchanges than E*TRADE.
| Free |
| Deposit methods | Bank TransferACHWire TransferCheque | Bank TransferDebit Card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank TransferACHWire Transfer | Bank Transfer |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | Free ACH; $25 wire transfer | Free |
|---|
| Commission-free | Yes | No |
|---|
| Fractional shares | No | No |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Extended hours | Yes | No |
|---|
| IPO access | No | No |
|---|
| Short selling | Yes | No |
|---|
| Regulators | SEC FINRA | FCA |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses | 2 offers | 2 offers |
|---|
E*TRADE and Hargreaves Lansdown are closely matched overall. The single clearest differentiator is wrapper availability, with HL offering ISA and SIPP wrappers while E*TRADE does not.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.3 / 5
Score 4.3 / 5
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