HL offers a UK-focused platform with ISA and SIPP wrappers. Swissquote delivers broad global access and custody with 60 exchanges.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose if…
Choose Hargreaves Lansdown if you value ISA and SIPP wrappers and a deep UK investment universe.
Choose if…
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | $1▼ lower | $1,000 |
| Spreads from | N/A | 1.7 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Inactivity fee | None | CHF 10/month (after 6 months) |
| Deposit fee |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Hargreaves Lansdown | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Pass |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Fail | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
Hargreaves Lansdown and Swissquote share the same editorial score of 4.3/5. One concrete differentiator: Hargreaves Lansdown requires a lower minimum deposit.
Swissquote starts from 1.7. 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 Swissquote requires at least $1000. This makes Hargreaves Lansdown more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Hargreaves Lansdown and Swissquote 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.
For beginners, two factors stand out: Hargreaves Lansdown requires a lower minimum deposit ($1), lowering the barrier to entry, and Swissquote provides negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Hargreaves Lansdown lists maximum leverage of 1:1, while Swissquote 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.
Hargreaves Lansdown supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, while Swissquote supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile. Swissquote has exclusive access to MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5.
Neither Hargreaves Lansdown nor Swissquote 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 Swissquote 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.
Choose Swissquote if you seek broad global exchange access and banking grade custody.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
Swissquote wins for safety due to FINMA licensing and CHF depositor protection up to CHF 100,000.
HL wins for long-term investors due to ISA and SIPP wrappers and DRIP options.
Swissquote suits active traders with short selling and advanced charting.
HL wins for beginners with a $1 min deposit.
Swissquote offers access to 60 exchanges, compared with HL's 20.
Swissquote offers lower per-trade costs (from USD 5 + 0.1% for US shares) than HL's £11.95.
| Free |
| Free |
| Deposit methods | Bank TransferDebit Card | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank Transfer | Bank transfer |
|---|
| 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 | DFSA FCA FINMA |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses | 2 offers | None |
|---|
HL and Swissquote are closely matched overall. Swissquote's access to 60 exchanges, versus HL's 20, is the clearest differentiator.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.3 / 5
Score 4.3 / 5
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