Are you confused about whether to choose IC Markets vs Hargreaves Lansdown as a broker for your investing needs?
In this side-by-side comparison, we analyse IC Markets vs Hargreaves Lansdown to help you understand how these apps compare on some of the most common features and make a better-informed decision about the best broker for you.
Below, you’ll find the pros and cons of each broker, as well as a comparison table that features the different fees charged, the financial instruments supported, the regulation, and more. Keep reading!
IC Markets vs Hargreaves Lansdown: In a Nutshell
CFD day traders
IC Markets is a reputable Australian CFD broker known for its robust trading infrastructure and competitive offerings.
The broker offers access to a wide range of financial instruments, including forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies, allowing clients to diversify their trading portfolios.
IC Markets provides various trading platforms, including MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and cTrader, which are renowned for their intuitive interfaces and extensive charting tools.
Reliability and security (UK investors only)
Hargreaves Lansdown is one of the biggest UK platforms for individual investors. It serves more than 1.5 million clients with over £120 billion AUMs.
You will find the most relevant financial instruments (Stocks, ETF, funds,…). It’s a bit pricey, but it makes up for it by being one of the most reliable brokers.
It is well-established, secure and regulated by the FCA. The customer service is market-leading, and their educational resources are superb.
Pros and Cons
IC Markets
Pros
- Low spreads - from 0 pips
- Acess to MetaTrader 4 and 5, and cTrader
- Wide variety of deposit/withdrawal methods
- 24/7 customer support
- Demo account
Cons
- Limited product selection
- No offer of real stocks and ETFs
Hargreaves Lansdown
Pros
- Excellent research and educational tools
- Great customer service
- No inactivity fee
- No withdrawal fee
- No minimum deposit
- High reliability and security
- Listed in the FTSE 100 index
- Has ISA, SIPP, and other products and services catered to british investors
Cons
- High trading commissions (UK and overseas shares, investment trusts, ETFs, gilts and bonds)
- Annual account charges for funds (up to 0.45%)
- No demo account
- Only one base currency: GBP
- High currency conversion fee (up to 1%)
IC Markets vs Hargreaves Lansdown: Side-by-side Comparison
- General Information
- Founded in
- Demo Account
- Account Minimum
- Interest on unninvested cash (annually)
- Products
- Stocks
- ETFs
- Bonds
- Funds
- Options
- Futures
- CFDs
- Leverage Products
- Forex
- Cryptocurrencies
- Commodities
- Fees
- US stocks
- EU stocks
- ETFs
- Cryptocurrencies
- Custody Fee
- Inactivity Fee
- Withdrawal Fee
- Connectivity Fee
- Currency Conversion Fee
- Security
- Regulators
- Investor Compensation Scheme(per person, per institution)
Franklin is a CFA Level III Candidate with 3 years of experience in Wealth Management as a Fund Research Analyst and the Host of the "Edge Over Hedge" YouTube Channel.
