Is Hargreaves Lansdown good for ETF Investing?

Hargreaves Lansdown ETF Investing Customer Reviews & Expert Rating

The overall score out of 10 combines our expert rating out of 5 with the average customer rating out of 5.
8.1/10Very good

Based on 1,775 customer reviews and our expert analysis

  • Experts commend Hargreaves Lansdown ETF Investing for its extensive range of over 1,000 ETFs and robust research support, highlighting the platform's low minimum deposit and zero account fees for ETFs. However, they note that account fees for managed funds are higher, and the foreign exchange conversion fees can be significant, starting at 1%.
  • Across 1,775 user reviews on Good Money Guide, averaging 3.8/5, customers frequently praise the platform's user-friendly app, excellent customer service, and the wide selection of ETFs available. However, some users express dissatisfaction with high fees, particularly for buying shares, and report issues with account management and customer support responsiveness.

Hargreaves Lansdown ETF Investing Expert rating

Our expert rating is the average of the areas listed here, each scored out of 5 by our team.
4.3Very good

Our experts have rated Hargreaves Lansdown ETF Investing across five key areas of our review framework.

  • Pricing4.0
  • Market Access4.5
  • Online Platform4.5
  • Customer Service4.5
  • Research & Analysis4.0
Pros
  • Excellent ETF research
  • Low minimum deposit of £1
  • Zero account fee for ETFs
Cons
  • Account fees are higher for managed funds
  • Higher FX conversion fee starts at 1% (drops to 0.25% for deals over £20k)
See full expert review

Our verdict

Hargreaves Lansdown’s ETF platform offers a huge range of exchange-traded funds tailored to various investment strategies. They also have an expert research team that provides ETF investing ideas.
Capital at risk.

Summary

A very reliable way to invest in ETFs with one of the UK's largest investment platforms.


  • ETFs available: 1,000+
  • ETF account charge: £0 – 0.45%
  • ETF dealing charge: £11.95
  • Account types: GIA, ISA, SIPP, JISA, JSIPP

Fees: There is no account charge to hold ETFs in a Hargreaves Lansdown dealing account. But in a SIPP and ISA ETFs are charged at 0.45% capped at £45 per year. ETF dealing charges £11.95 per deal or £5.95 if you do over 20 deals per month.

Customer reviews for Hargreaves Lansdown

Customer ratings come from reviews left on this site. Every review is read and approved before it is published.
3.8Basic

Based on 1,775 reviews

  • Excellent27%
  • Very good38%
  • Basic24%
  • Poor7%
  • Bad4%
Read customer reviews
Excellent App but high buying fees
Neil Rimmer ·

HL is an excellent platform as it’s easy to use and set up. It does however have rather large fees when buying a share. Considering the number of clients they have I’m surprised they remain high and is the reason I am looking for an alternative for my Stocks and Shares ISA

My trust in their knowledge is key
Holly Jordan ·

When you are a newbie to investing, it can be overwhelming, there are sharks in the tank that you need to avoid, along with many obstacles to overcome. While no financial organisation can deliver guidance with a crystal ball - I have found Hargreaves's Lansdown to operate with expertise and business integrity with a focus on client satisfaction. This has led me to confidently invest in a safe and secure environment with top class educated guidance. I don't think you can do better than that.

Great value for Junior ISAs
John Zachary ·

Set up Junior ISAs for my kids last year with 0% commission on all trades into and out of the Junior ISAs has been an excellent way to get them started in investing. I use other resources for keeping track of my portfolio but the overall service provides excellent value for money.

SAFE AND SECURE LIKE A TRUSTED OLD FRIEND
James Gray ·

I have been a customer of Hargreaves Lansdowne for many decades, and I use the platform to manage my stocks and shares ISA, my SIPP, plus my Fund and Share Account.
The platform is easy to navigate
The choice of investments is wide ranging.
The customer service is very good, though not as good as it used to be since a cost saving exercise about a year ago.
Obviously, other platforms are cheaper, and for that reason I cannot give it five stars.
It is safe and secure like a trusted old friend, and long may that continue.

No fees on JISA is Great - Webstite Needs Improvement
Justin ·

Love the lack of fees on the product for the junior ISA. Really draws me in to make the most of the contributions that are made to it. However I really don't enjoy using the HL website to manage the JISA. It lacks a lot of the ease of use that you find in other products e.g. Invest Engine, Trading 212 that HL should be able to compete with. Just changing my contribution / d

Good
Neil Andrew harrison ·

Good service speed, feedback clear website

Investors
Kashif Zafar ·

My Friend made a small investment in Hargreaves Lansdown PLC . They are a United Kingdom-based digital wealth management service administering company. The Company provides a range of services, including stocks and shares individual savings account (ISA), Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP), share dealing, fund dealing, drawdown, cash savings, lifetime ISA and junior ISA.
There is so much to like about this company. They have money in the bank. The returns are enormous with ROC of 50% ROE of 46% and a healthy margin of 48%. Gearing is low. Liquidity is good. Analyst sentiment is reasonably positive. The fundamentals are excellent . Revenue is increasing . Operating profits are steady. Cash flow and working capital are all good.
I had a few reservations. New investment last year was 38% down year on year. However, this is understandable in a cost of lockdown crisis. In addition, compared to their peers, such as AJ Bell, they are not doing that badly.
Another drawback is that HL are not competitive for those who are just getting started with investing. Investors with a large portfolio are ok because of the platform fee cap. However, HL could well lose out to new platforms offering commission free trading and no platform fees.
I like the sound of the new CEO and a potential British ISA may bring in more clients.
All in all, this is a quality company that I bought at a low price (P/E 11) with a great dividend story (expected 6.6% this year). which they have consistently paid over the past 8 years: with no share dilution.
This will be a stock that I will hold and enjoy the dividend and probable capital accumulation

Will be transferring a JISA here as it is fee free!
Kishan ·

I will be transferring a JISA to HL as it is fee free and also pays interest on any cash held which my current provider does not.

Stocks & Shares JISA
Raj ·

Been using HL to invest for my daughter’s future. All transactions are quick and simple to execute. Buy & sell orders fulfilled smoothly. I also was impressed with their customer service and help in transferring in a cash JISA from Nationwide. The application process was easy and the response was swift.

Reliable and User-Friendly, but High Fees Make It Worth Exploring Alternatives
Ryan Letley ·

I've been a Hargreaves Lansdown customer for many years, and the platform does exactly what it says on the tin. It's generally user-friendly, reliable, and offers a wide range of investment options and app. However, it is undeniably expensive compared to other platforms. The fees add up, especially if you're an active investor. While I plan to continue using it for now, the market has become increasingly competitive, and it's worth exploring other options that offer similar functionality at a much lower cost.

HL is not acting in my best interests, I have been waiting over 6 weeks for my drawdown funds.
Ronald Keith Sainsbury ·

HL pensions staff have not been helpful, open or transparent with my drawdown application. I am still waiting after 6 weeks and have no confidence in their internal work processes. HL are not acting in my best interests.
I wish I had checked Good Money Guide and other sites before as others have experienced similar issues. Delayed payment appears a deliberate HL policy.

Hargreaves Lansdown Excellent
Jolita Hallas ·

HL currently is a market leader to my investment experience. Top service, top platforms, safe an secure with a large portfolio and great analytics. I would recommend.

Easy to use app. Moderate plans
Mark Hyde ·

App is pretty intuitive and decent value

Investment guide
Prajwal ·

I’ve been following Hargreaces Lansdown it has been helpful to understand present money and investing guide.

Good and safe
Daphne MacFarlane ·

They hold my shares. It’s an easy website to navigate.

Excellent service
Amanda WESTWOOD ·

I like the HL app which allows me to follow markets and my investment with ease. It was also very simple to set up.

investments
Anokh ·

professional competent and efficient
keep you updated trustworthy

AVOID AT ALL COSTS
Katrina Edmonds ·

1. I Sold isa to pay deposit for house. 2. I Changed my address which stopped me nominating a bank for transfer.
3. Spoke to them was asked to provide proof of house purchase which I did.
4. 10 days later despite an email saying they would be in contact in next few days I heard nothing.
5 Rang them , nothing had been done! I wasn't allowed to speak to the relevant department they don't speak to customers.
6. Looks like at least another week before I can even nominate my bank for a transfer exchange date is before that.
IF YOUR HAPPY TO BE ABUSED AND DONT WANT CONTROL OVER YOUR FINANCES HARGREAVES LANSDOWN IS THE COMPANY FOR YOU, FOR OTHERS AVOID THESE SOULLESS COMPANY.

Professional & efficient
Richard ·

People & platform - professional, competent & efficient. Overall, great value.

Does the job
Grant Holland ·

No fuss - just really good platform and service

We rate Hargreaves Lansdown as one of the best ETF investment accounts as HL has access to a huge range of UK and international Exchange Traded Funds. Plus the costs of holding ETFs are capped as they fall into their stocks and shares category.

Hargreaves Lansdown’s ETF platform offers a huge range of exchange-traded funds tailored to various investment strategies. They also have an expert research team that provides ETF investing ideas.

Overall, HL is a very reliable way to invest in ETFs with one of the UK’s largest investment platforms.

ETF dealing info:

  • ETFs available: 1,000+
  • ETF account charge: £0 – 0.45%
  • ETF dealing charge: £11.95
  • Account types: GIA, ISA, SIPP, JISA, JSIPP

ETF dealing fees: 

There is no account charge to hold ETFs in a Hargreaves Lansdown dealing account. But in a SIPP and ISA ETFs are charged at 0.45% capped at £45 per year. ETF dealing charges £11.95 per deal or £5.95 if you do over 20 deals per month.

Compare Hargreaves Lansdown to other ETF investing platforms below:

ETF PlatformETF Account FeeETF Dealing CommissionCustomer ReviewsMore Info
IG ETF Investing£24 pq£8 (Based on 746 reviews)Visit Platform
Capital at risk
Interactive Investor ETF Investing£4.99 pm£5.99 (Based on 1,125 reviews)Visit Platform
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Saxo Markets ETF Investing£00.10% (Based on 137 reviews)Visit Platform
Capital at risk
Hargreaves Lansdown ETF Investing£0£11.95 (Based on 1,775 reviews)Visit Platform
Capital at risk
Interactive Brokers ETF Investing£00.05% (Based on 1,375 reviews)Visit Platform
Capital at risk
Investengine£0£0 (Based on 1,635 reviews)Visit Platform
Capital at risk
AJ Bell ETF Investing0.25%£9.95 (Based on 1,103 reviews)Visit Platform
Capital at risk
Bestinvest ETF Investing0.4%£4.95 (Based on 109 reviews)Visit Platform
Capital at risk

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