Hargreaves Lansdown

4.4(2200)

FCA

Smartbroker+

4.1(890)

BaFin

Hargreaves Lansdown vs Smartbroker+

Head-to-Head Comparison 2026

Our Verdict

Hargreaves Lansdown has a higher rating of 4.4/5 compared to Smartbroker+ (4.1/5). The minimum deposit is lower at Smartbroker+ with 0 €. Smartbroker+ is BaFin-regulated, while Hargreaves Lansdown is supervised by FCA. Hargreaves Lansdown has been in the market since 1981, making it the more experienced provider.

Comparison Table

Criteria	Hargreaves Lansdown	Smartbroker+
Rating	4.4/5 (2200 reviews)✓	4.1/5 (890 reviews)
Regulation	FCA	BaFin
Fees	£11.95 per stock trade, ETFs from £0 (savings plan)	€0 at gettex (from €500) or from €4 at other exchanges
Min. Deposit	1 £	0 €
Instruments	Stocks, ETFs, Funds, Bonds, REITs	Stocks, ETFs, Funds, Bonds, Derivatives
Platforms	HL App, HL Web Platform	Smartbroker+ App, Smartbroker+ Web
Options Trading	No	No, no options trading
Spread (typical)	Stocks from £11.95 per trade (volume-tiered: from £5.95 above 20 trades/month), 0.45% p.a. platform fee for funds	—
Execution Speed	~30 ms (LSE Direct)	—
Founded	1981	2019
Headquarters	Bristol	Berlin

Detailed Comparison

Fee Comparison

Hargreaves Lansdown: £11.95 per stock trade, ETFs from £0 (savings plan). Minimum deposit: 1 £. Spread: Stocks from £11.95 per trade (volume-tiered: from £5.95 above 20 trades/month), 0.45% p.a. platform fee for funds.

Smartbroker+: €0 at gettex (from €500) or from €4 at other exchanges. Minimum deposit: 0 €.

Execution Quality

Hargreaves Lansdown

Execution: ~30 ms (LSE Direct)

Smartbroker+

No data available

Product Range

Hargreaves Lansdown (5 categories)

StocksETFsFundsBondsREITs

Smartbroker+ (5 categories)

StocksETFsFundsBondsDerivatives

Trading Platforms

Hargreaves Lansdown

HL App
HL Web Platform

Smartbroker+

Smartbroker+ App
Smartbroker+ Web

Regulation & Security

Hargreaves Lansdown is regulated by FCA (HQ: Bristol).

Smartbroker+ is regulated by BaFin (HQ: Berlin).

Who Is It For?

Hargreaves Lansdown

UK premium broker with comprehensive investment advice since 1981

✓ One of the most established brokers in UK since 1981

✓ Excellent research and analysis tools

✓ ISA, SIPP and junior accounts available

✗ Comparatively high trading fees

✗ Mainly focused on UK market

Smartbroker+

Low-cost trading with access to all German exchanges

✓ €0 order fee at gettex from €500

✓ Access to all German exchanges

✓ Wide range of savings plans

✗ No options trading

✗ Platform still evolving

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hargreaves Lansdown or Smartbroker+ cheaper?

Hargreaves Lansdown charges £11.95 per stock trade, ETFs from £0 (savings plan). Smartbroker+ charges €0 at gettex (from €500) or from €4 at other exchanges. The minimum deposit is 1 £ at Hargreaves Lansdown and 0 € at Smartbroker+.

Which broker offers more products: Hargreaves Lansdown or Smartbroker+?

Hargreaves Lansdown offers Stocks, ETFs, Funds, Bonds, REITs. Smartbroker+ offers Stocks, ETFs, Funds, Bonds, Derivatives.

Which broker is better regulated?

Hargreaves Lansdown is regulated by FCA. Smartbroker+ is regulated by BaFin. Smartbroker+ has BaFin regulation, which is particularly advantageous for German investors.

Is Hargreaves Lansdown or Smartbroker+ better for beginners?

Hargreaves Lansdown has a minimum deposit of 1 £ and offers HL App, HL Web Platform as platforms. Smartbroker+ has a minimum deposit of 0 € and offers Smartbroker+ App, Smartbroker+ Web. Smartbroker+ has the lower entry barrier.

Hargreaves Lansdown vs Smartbroker+: Which broker is better overall?

The choice between Hargreaves Lansdown (4.4/5, 2200 reviews) and Smartbroker+ (4.1/5, 890 reviews) depends on your needs. Hargreaves Lansdown: UK premium broker with comprehensive investment advice since 1981. Smartbroker+: Low-cost trading with access to all German exchanges.