Two brokers target different investing styles: HL leans toward long-term UK investing with a broad platform, while Pepperstone emphasizes global CFDs and active trading tools.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose if…
Choose Hargreaves Lansdown if you want ISA and SIPP wrappers with drawdown and dividend reinvestment.
Choose if…
Choose Pepperstone if you want 1,000+ stock CFDs and 24/5 live chat with advanced charting.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 3.9/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | $1 | No minimum▼ lower |
| Spreads from | N/A | 0 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | $7/lot |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Hargreaves Lansdown | Pepperstone |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Pass | Pass |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Fail | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | — |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Fail |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Pass | Fail |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Fail |
| IPO access | Fail | Fail |
| Short selling | Fail | Pass |
| Stock screener tool | Pass | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Fail | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
The scores are close: Hargreaves Lansdown rates 4.3/5 and Pepperstone rates 3.9/5. Hargreaves Lansdown has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
Pepperstone starts from 0. Current spread data is not available for Hargreaves Lansdown. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date spread and commission pricing.
Pepperstone has no minimum deposit, while Hargreaves Lansdown requires at least $1. This makes Pepperstone more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Hargreaves Lansdown and Pepperstone 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.
Pepperstone stands out for beginners: it has a lower entry point and provides negative balance protection, which caps losses at your deposited amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Hargreaves Lansdown lists maximum leverage of 1:1, while Pepperstone lists up to 20:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
Pepperstone charges $7 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.
Hargreaves Lansdown supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, while Pepperstone supports IRESS, cTrader, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, MetaTrader 4. Hargreaves Lansdown has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile. Pepperstone has exclusive access to IRESS and cTrader and MetaTrader 5 and TradingView and MetaTrader 4.
Neither Hargreaves Lansdown nor Pepperstone 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.
Both Hargreaves Lansdown and Pepperstone are covered by a compensation scheme according to our data, providing an additional safety net for your stock investments. Confirm the specific scheme and coverage limit that applies to your account before depositing.
Pepperstone is regulated by multiple authorities including FCA, ASIC, CySEC, BaFin, FMA and DFSA.
HL offers ISA and SIPP wrappers with drawdown and dividend reinvestment.
Pepperstone provides 1,000+ stock CFDs with advanced charting.
Hargreaves Lansdown offers ISA and SIPP wrappers with FSCS protection.
HL provides access to 20 exchanges, more than Pepperstone's eight.
Pepperstone offers 0.07%/side with £7 minimum, cheaper than HL's £11.95.
| N/A |
| 0.7 pips |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferDebit card | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPalSkrill |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transfer | Bank transferCredit cardPayPalSkrill |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Commission-free | No | No |
|---|
| Fractional shares | No | No |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | Yes | No |
|---|
| Extended hours | No | No |
|---|
| IPO access | No | No |
|---|
| Short selling | No | Yes |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA | ASIC CySEC FCA DFSA BaFin FMA |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile | IRESS cTrader MetaTrader 5 TradingView MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses | 2 offers | None |
|---|
HL edges Pepperstone on the higher editorial score due to its broader UK investment universe and reliability. Pepperstone leads on active trading and regulatory breadth.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.9 / 5
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