Hargreaves Lansdown ISA & SIPP Review 2026

Overview

Hargreaves Lansdown is the UK’s largest investment platform with over 1.8 million clients and more than £172 billion in assets under administration. It’s often the default choice for UK investors — and with good reason. The platform offers the widest investment range of any retail provider, excellent research tools, and a highly regarded mobile app.

HL cut its ISA fund fee from 0.45% to 0.35% in March 2026, and it now applies a £1.95 dealing charge per fund trade. The trade-off is still cost overall — the percentage fee becomes expensive as your portfolio grows, even at the reduced rate.

Who is HL best for?

• Investors with portfolios under £50,000 who value breadth of choice and customer service
• Share and ETF investors who benefit from the £45/year ISA cap
• Investors who want the largest range of funds, investment trusts, and shares
• Beginners who value excellent educational content and customer support

Who should consider switching?

• Funds investors with portfolios over £50,000 — percentage fees become significant
• Cost-conscious passive investors — cheaper alternatives exist for index fund investing

See our guide: When does it make sense to leave Hargreaves Lansdown?

Fees

HL charges a tiered percentage fee on funds — 0.35% up to £250,000, falling to 0.25% and then 0.1% at higher tiers, with no annual cap — plus a £1.95 dealing charge per fund trade. For shares and ETFs, the fee is capped at £150/year in an ISA and £200/year in a SIPP, with dealing at £6.95/trade (or £1.50 via regular investing).

The fee cut took effect in March 2026 — always verify current charges directly with HL before making decisions, as rates can change.

Safety

HL is FSCS-protected up to £85,000 for eligible investments, the standard protection level for any FCA-regulated UK platform. As the largest and longest-established platform on this list (founded 1981), it also carries the lowest platform-risk profile of the providers compared here.

Verdict

HL is genuinely excellent — but you pay for the quality. If you’re investing in funds and your portfolio is growing toward six figures, the fees are worth reviewing. Use our calculator to see whether switching could save you money.