- Experts rate Hargreaves Lansdown's General Investment Account highly, noting its extensive range of account types and a robust research portal that supports informed investment decisions. The platform is praised for its wide market coverage, offering access to thousands of shares, funds, and bonds, although it can be costly for larger fund portfolios.
- Across 1779 user reviews on Good Money Guide, averaging 3.8/5, customers frequently commend the user-friendly app and website, alongside responsive customer service. However, some users express dissatisfaction with high fees and occasional difficulties in navigating the platform. Additionally, while many appreciate the comprehensive investment options, a number of reviews highlight concerns regarding customer support and account management issues.
Hargreaves Lansdown General Investment Account Expert rating
Our expert rating is the average of the areas listed here, each scored out of 5 by our team.Our experts have rated Hargreaves Lansdown General Investment Account across one key area of our review framework.
- Excellent5.0
Pros
- Thousands of UK and international shares, bonds & funds
- Ready-made portfolios with different levels of risk
- Excellent research and analysis
- An established and listed company on the LSE.
Cons
- Can be expensive for large fund portfolios
- Data not as good as it used to be
See full expert review
Our verdict
Hargreaves Lansdown (HL) has plenty of account types including a GIA and several types of ISA, plus an excellent research portal. There's access to thousands of UK and international shares, funds, ETFs, investment trusts and corporate bonds. Capital is at risk.
Capital at risk
Is HL's GIA a Good Account?
HL is good for investors looking for more than just somewhere to buy and sell shares. The platform offers the most account types of all the investment platforms we compare, including a GIA, stocks and shares ISAs, lifetime ISAs, and junior ISAs. Plus, it has one of the best research portals to help you choose your own investments. And it boasts some of the widest market coverage, including thousands of UK and international shares, over 3,000 funds, ETFs, investment trusts, and corporate bonds.
Fees
There is no account charge for shares in a GIA with HL. Funds are charged at 0.45% for the first £250,000. There's no charge for buying funds, but shares are charged at £11.95 per deal or £5.95 if you do over 20 deals per month.
Is HL's GIA Better than its ISA?
It makes sense to open a GIA only after you have exhausted your ISA allowance. With the GIA from HL, you can invest as much as you like but with an ISA you're limited to £20,000 a year in the tax-free wrapper.
What is HL's Platform Like to Use?
HL's investment platform is one of the best around. HL provides a huge amount of technical and fundamental data to help you choose investments.
Customer reviews for Hargreaves Lansdown
Customer ratings come from reviews left on this site. Every review is read and approved before it is published.Based on 1,779 reviews
- Excellent27%
- Very good38%
- Basic24%
- Poor7%
- Bad4%
Read customer reviews
solid and trusted platform, have...
solid and trusted platform, have used for over 30 years
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The best online brokerc
The best online brokerc
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Expensive to use but...
Expensive to use but adequate
Expensive, old fashioned website, unhelpful...
Expensive, old fashioned website, unhelpful staff.
Nil
Nil
Easy to use, fair value.
Easy to use, fair value.
First platform I used, no...
First platform I used, no only used for SIPP, expensive.
Used them for years best...
Used them for years best in class for me - rubbish accounting tools.
Woodford scandal left a lasting...
Woodford scandal left a lasting bad taste
Good, traditional trading service provider...
Good, traditional trading service provider
competent but a little basic...
competent but a little basic (especially in terms of research) and a little tired
Comprehensive
Comprehensive
good service, provides good info
good service, provides good info
Good service easy to use
Good service easy to use
A lot of data but...
A lot of data but expensive and the end of day valuations can't be trusted
HL used to be a...
HL used to be a market leading platform but I now find the experience, investment choice and fees underwhelming.
Trading expensive
Trading expensive
Poor website, data badly organised
Poor website, data badly organised
- Expert opinion: Hargreaves Lansdown full review