Yes, Hargreaves Lansdown is good for buying index funds in the UK. HL is one of the UK’s largest stockbrokers and investment platforms, and it launched a new range of four “ready-made” index portfolio funds in July 2025. The funds invest using the firm’s active asset allocation methodology, applied to a portfolio of index funds and ETFs selected by BlackRock, one of the world’s largest index investors.
Hargreaves Lansdown is introducing the multi-asset index portfolio funds in response to a growing demand for index investing from its client base which has increased by 80% over the last two years according to the Bristol-based broker.
HL Ready-Made Index Funds
The new index funds will be available from June 6th and will complement the firm’s existing HL-managed ready-made fund range that was launched in 2023.
The four new Hargreaves Lansdown index funds are ranked by risk from most potentially profitable to least:
- HL Multi-Index Adventurous – asset allocation typically 100% shares – aiming for 90-110% volatility of global equity markets.
- HL Multi-Index Moderately Adventurous – asset allocation typically 80/20 split between shares and bonds – aiming for 70–90% volatility of global equity markets.
- HL Multi-Index Balanced – asset allocation typically 60/40 split between shares and bonds – aiming for 50-70% volatility of global equity markets.
- HL Multi-Index Cautious – asset allocation typically 30/70 split between shares and bonds – aiming for 30-50% volatility of global equity markets.
Hargreaves Lansdown CIO, Toby Vaughan said:
“HL clients’ investment in index funds has risen by more than two and a half times over the last 7-years, and the number of clients holding index funds as their main investment has increased by 80% over the last 2 years.”
“Our new ready-made multi-index investment portfolios add further choice for investors to meet that demand and are an easy cost-efficient solution for those looking to get started with investing.“
He added that
“They are part of our evolving strategy, which aims to expand and improve the range of investment options we provide to clients at all stages of their investment journey, from beginners to highly experienced investors.”
A move towards managed investments
Robo-advisors or digital wealth managers are becoming more and more popular as new investors enter the stock market in search of better returns. However, as HL has traditionally been a DIY investing platform, some investors may have been put off by having to choose their own investments. With that in mind the HL Index funds aim to be:
- Straightforward – investors can choose from either an active or index all-in-one portfolios
- Managed – there is no need to pick investments as expert fund managers make investment decisions
- Diversified – you can gain exposure to a range of investment styles and approaches in global investments.
- Rebalanced – the investment managers update portfolios to stay on track and stay aligned to the chosen level of risk.
- Clarity – it is possible to view investment performance, online or via the Hargreaves Lansdown app 24/7.
A balancing act
Hargreaves Lansdown built its reputation and its business by being a platform, offering third-party products and low-cost brokerage services to retail investors.
One can see why the firm, which has more than 2.0 million active investment accounts and £142.0 billion of assets under administration wants to offer more in-house products to its end customers, rather than just be a re-seller of and portal for other firms’ funds and services.
However, it must not lose sight of the values and business model that built the firm in the first place. Not least because its 40% share of the UK investing platform market makes it the number one target for its competitors.
Hargreaves Lansdown Index Fund Investing Expert Review: Updated 13/07/2026
Provider: Hargreaves Lansdown Index Fund Investing
Verdict: Hargreaves Lansdown is a good choice for those who want to access a wide range of index funds. However, the platform can get expensive for large index fund portfolios. To make index fund investing easy Hargreaves Lansdown analysts have selected a number of index funds from across the major sectors for the Wealth Shortlist.
Capital at risk.
Is Hargreaves Lansdown good for index funds?
Yes, Hargreaves Lansdown has around 280 index funds in their screener (excluding ETFs). HL also have what they call a “Wealth Shortlist” where their experts have curated a best buy list of index funds across a broad range of sectors to help investors build a diverse portfolio.
A good choice for those who want to include index funds as part of their overall portfolio. However, it can get expensive for large index fund portfolios.
Market Access: Hargreaves Lansdown offers access to over 330 standard index funds on its platform. There are also thousands of ETF index funds available.
Pricing: For Stocks and Shares ISA investors, Hargreaves Lansdown charges £2 per trade to buy regular index funds and £6.95 for ETF trades (£3.95 if you made more than 20 trades the previous month). Customers also need to pay account fees.
For portfolios with ETFs, account fees are 0.35% (capped at £12.50 per month). For portfolios with regular funds, fees are:
| Value of funds | Annual account charge |
| Up to £250,000 | 0.35% |
| £250,000 – £1mn | 0.25% |
| £1mn – £2mn | 0.10% |
| Over £2mn | No charge |
App & Platform: Hargreaves Lansdown’s platform and app are well designed and easy to use. However, they don’t offer features that some of the newer platforms offer such as commission free-trading and fractional shares.
Customer Service: Hargreaves Lansdown’s customer service is reasonable. Staff are helpful if you have a query, however, support is only available between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday and 9.30am to 12.30am on Saturday.
Research & Analysis: Hargreaves Lansdown offers a good amount of index fund research on its platform. To make index fund investing easy, its analysts have selected a number of funds from across a range of sectors for a preferred list called the Wealth Shortlist.
Pros
- £1 minimum deposit
- Wide range of index funds available
- Wealth Shortlist offers investment ideas
Cons
- No cap on fund fees
- Fees can be high
- Phone support only available between 8am and 5pm on weekdays
- Pricing (3.5)
- Market Access (4.5)
- Online Platform (4)
- Customer Service (4)
- Research & Analysis (4)
Overall
4Compare Hargreaves Lansdown To Alternative Index Fund Investing Accounts
| Name | Logo | GMG Rating | Customer Reviews | Annual Fees | Dealing Fees | CTA | Feature | Expand | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | GMG Rating | Customer Reviews | Annual Fees 0.1% - 0.25% | Dealing Fees £1.50 | Start Investing Capital at risk | Features:
| AJ Bell Index Fund Investing Expert Rating: Updated 13/0/2026Provider: AJ Bell Index Fund Investing Verdict: AJ Bell is good choice for those who want to keep costs low when buying index funds, as fund account charges start as low as 0.25%. AJ Bell have a wide range of index funds, and provide clients with free screeners and tools so they can find the most appropriate index to invest in through a fund. Is AJ Bell good for buying Index funds in the UK? AJ Bell is a solid option for those looking to include index funds in their portfolios. There is a wide range of products available and fees are very competitive. Market Access: AJ Bell offers access to over 300 standard index funds on its platform. There are also over 3,000 index-tracking ETFs available. Pricing: For Stocks and Shares ISA investors, AJ Bell charges £1.50 to trade regular index funds and £5.00 for ETFs. This £5.00 fee is reduced to £3.50 if you had more than 10 deals in the previous month. In terms of account fees, ETFs are charged at 0.25% (capped at £3.50 per month). For portfolios with regular funds, fees are:
App & Platform: AJ Bell’s platform and app are intuitive and easy to use. However, they don’t offer features that some of the newer platforms offer such as commission free-trading and fractional shares. Customer Service: AJ Bell’s customer service is generally good. You can speak to the customer services team between 8am and 7pm during the week and 10am to 2pm on Saturdays. Research & Analysis: AJ Bell offers a decent amount of research and analysis on its platform. It also offers a list of its Favourite funds. Pros
Cons
Overall4.1 | |||||||||||
 | GMG Rating | Customer Reviews | Annual Fees 0.1% - 0.45% | Dealing Fees £5.95 - £11.95 | Start Investing Capital at risk | Features:
| Hargreaves Lansdown Index Fund Investing Expert Review: Updated 13/07/2026Provider: Hargreaves Lansdown Index Fund Investing Verdict: Hargreaves Lansdown is a good choice for those who want to access a wide range of index funds. However, the platform can get expensive for large index fund portfolios. To make index fund investing easy Hargreaves Lansdown analysts have selected a number of index funds from across the major sectors for the Wealth Shortlist. Is Hargreaves Lansdown good for index funds? Yes, Hargreaves Lansdown has around 280 index funds in their screener (excluding ETFs). HL also have what they call a “Wealth Shortlist” where their experts have curated a best buy list of index funds across a broad range of sectors to help investors build a diverse portfolio. A good choice for those who want to include index funds as part of their overall portfolio. However, it can get expensive for large index fund portfolios. Market Access: Hargreaves Lansdown offers access to over 330 standard index funds on its platform. There are also thousands of ETF index funds available. Pricing: For Stocks and Shares ISA investors, Hargreaves Lansdown charges £2 per trade to buy regular index funds and £6.95 for ETF trades (£3.95 if you made more than 20 trades the previous month). Customers also need to pay account fees. For portfolios with ETFs, account fees are 0.35% (capped at £12.50 per month). For portfolios with regular funds, fees are:
App & Platform: Hargreaves Lansdown’s platform and app are well designed and easy to use. However, they don’t offer features that some of the newer platforms offer such as commission free-trading and fractional shares. Customer Service: Hargreaves Lansdown’s customer service is reasonable. Staff are helpful if you have a query, however, support is only available between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday and 9.30am to 12.30am on Saturday. Research & Analysis: Hargreaves Lansdown offers a good amount of index fund research on its platform. To make index fund investing easy, its analysts have selected a number of funds from across a range of sectors for a preferred list called the Wealth Shortlist. Pros
Cons
Overall4 | |||||||||||
| | GMG Rating | Customer Reviews | Annual Fees £47.88 | Dealing Fees £3.99 | Start Investing Capital at risk | Features:
| Interactive Investor Index Fund Investing Expert Rating: Updated 13/07/2026Provider: Interactive Investor Index Fund Investing Review Verdict: Interactive Investor offer a wide range of index tracker funds. A good choice for large index fund portfolios, as they offer good coverage and the fixed-fee model means that the bigger your account size gets, your costs stay the same. You can either pick your own or choose from some featured funds from their Super 60 investment list. Is interactive investor good for buying index funds in the UK? Interactive Investor is a sound choice for those seeking access to a broad range of index funds and a flat-fee structure. For those with large portfolios, it can be a very cost-effective platform. Market Access: Interactive Investor offers access to hundreds of standard index funds and thousands of index ETFs. Pricing: With this platform, there are three different fee plans:
App & Platform: Interactive Investor’s platform and app are well designed and offer a clean interface for long-term investors looking to track portfolios and execute trades. However, some users find the app a little basic. Customer Service: Interactive Investor scores well for customer support. However, while the phone team is generally knowledgeable and helpful, email support can be a little slow. Research & Analysis: On its website, Interactive Investor has a Research Hub which offers analysis and tools designed to help investors make better decisions. It also offers a Highly Rated Funds tool, to help investors build their portfolios.
Pros
Cons
Overall4.6 |
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